The Sun.
London, England, 1840-09-23 00:00:00

METEOROLOGY.

A report by Sir David Brewster, on Meteorologica
Observations, made by him at Kingussie and Inverness,
ryas read in Section A. Some of the details are curious.
The extraordinary relations or results, the close coinci-
dence of widely-spread observations, and the authority
of such eminent individuals as Sir David Brewster and
Professor Forbes, promise an abundant harvest, but not
in the spirit of sow the wind and reap the whirlwind,
but literally as ye sow so shall ye reap. Sir David
Brewster, for he was the first in thiscountry to give the
impulse to this meteorological inquiry on the grand scale
upon which it is conducted under the auspices of the
British Association, has sown the seeds of fixed laws for
atmospherical changes mid planetary action, traces of
which have already sprung up, and which, if wisely nur-
tured, will doubtless ripen and give great increase.
It is most curious to observe the curves, the mean
hourly annual curves, of temperature,pressure, humidity,
wind and calm, and rain, as derived from periodical ob-
servations of the thermometer, barometer, hygrometer,
anemometer, and pluviameter, projected on diagrams.
It is impossible to behold them and think without being
impressed with the idea that among them some most
intimate connection must exist, and that, although as
yet no constant quantities or functions have been deter-
mined whence law can be derived, still, ere long, such
ionetions must be known. For instance, it is seen that
invariably an increase of temperatare precedes a rise of
wind, that certain winds prevail at certain hours, and that
the critical interval, in relation to temperat9re,.but which
it would occupy too much spaco to explain, is uniform
or nearly so, varying possibly with elevation, at every
station where it has been observed—at Leith, at Inver-
ness, at Fyinouth, at Trincomalee: at Kandy, at
Colombo, at Trevandrum, nt Nova Zembla, at Phila-
delphia, and at stations in Nerth America. Observa-
orts of the globe., and I sincerely trust will
tions of this character arc being made and recorded in
attended with the wishcd-for results. Those
conducted at T
who, on the r
h numerous
'ransactiens ofl the-
Association, in India, are at the ex-
iPrsritneveolhomf
eTrhefvatiihchorrre
f
Association, and on the nature of meteorol •
Pc
ecinpste oof the t le
meteorological ob-
servations belag explained to him, immediately ordered
an observatory to be erected, and furnishedth e means
to purchase the requisite instruments.

THE FONTAINEBLEAU PA RRICIDE.—A hor-
rible murder took place at Fontlinelileau, on the 17th
instant. Two elderly p rsons who had retired from trade
in Paris to Fontainebleau, Vi cr e at cards on the evening of
that day, when a son, 1:-..itli whom they were on bad terms,
called upon them and demanded money, which they re-
fused to give, but they permitted him to sleep in the house.
During the night the maidservant, hearing cries in the
room of her master and mistress. rushed out of the houseom
and called in the nearest sentinel. On entering
the father and mother were found with their throats
after
and just expiring. The son had quitted ihe
the commission of hi; dreadful crime, and has not yet
y
been apprehended, thaetsrocut,

EVENING EDITION.

THE PRINCE OF IMPUDENCE.

The one most noted amongst the subalterns of the
turf is Jerry—Jerry, the Prince of Impudence. He
is dressed in an admiral's old coat and cocked hat.
HEs fingers are ornamented with rings, and he wears an
eye-glass. He accomplishes his purpose by the most
barefaced effrontery ; and he is a good sample of how
far the quality of impudence cap carry a man. He
will tap a nobleman or gentleman on the shoulder, and
ask, " Oh, how do you do ? How's my Lord this.
and the Hon. Miss that—l hope they are so and so:'
Some are led to believe that Jerry is insane. They
were never more mistaken in their lives ; and under
that impression become a purchaser. He will
stop the highest personage in the realm. Even
George IV. has taken him by the hand; and
Jerry says he was his particular friend. Dur-
ing the present year, he managed to supply Prince
Albert with racing cards for Ascot at Windsor Castle ;
and he once offered himself as a candidate to represent
the borough of Wells in Parliament ! As in all pro.
fessions, trades, and callings, money can be earned,
Jerry has not gone without his reward. Jerry has wade
money. But Jerry's every-day habits are extremely
peculiar. He has a way of spending his money rather
extraordinary. He will purchase at those races which
he visits expensive watches, pieces of the very best silk,
&c., for which he pays without obtaining a receipt, and
which he disposes of in a way which ensures profit. A
short time ago this led him into trouble. He went
from Doncaster to Manchester, and took up his abode at
a lodging-house previous to the Heaton Park races. A
robbery had taken place in that town ; and the very
house where Jerry stopped at was searched by the po-
lice. The stolen property resembled that which he
had previously purchased and paid for. His box was
broken open ; suspicion was awakened ; Jerry could
produce no proof of purchase ; Jerry was appre-
hended and lodged in the New Bailey. He knew
that he was innocent. The close corporate principle
of the List Criers, to which allusion has been pre-
viously made, was here called into requisition ; for
Jerry may be said to belong to that honourable com-
munity. A common council was immediately sum-
moned, and they swore that they would see their
old friend righted. A sympathy subsists amongst
all the members of the turf. Oae undertook to be

the spokesman and the manager. Mr. - was ap-
plied to : he listened to the relation of the circum-
stances. " We'll have him out," said the squire. Two
carriages of gentlemen drew up to the New Bailey, when
Jerry was to be examined. The Magistrates listened to
these honourable and spirited advocates. They saw, in
the absence of all proof, that there had been a mistake.
Jerry was set at liberty. l'be gentlemen immediately
subicribcd a handsome stake for Jerry for the loss of
his time ; and when they mounted their carriages to
depart, a more hearty cheer never burst from any body
of men, than from the corporate body of List Criers.--
Doncaster Gazette.

THE ORPHANS.

A SKETCH FROM LIFE.

Moving slowly along Princcs•street one day lately,

I heard the measured tramp of numerous little feet
behind me. Turning round, I saw that this sound
proceeded from about a hundred boys and girls belong-
ing to one of the charitable institutions. It was a
pleasing sight so see these children appear happy ; they
had the hue of good health on their countenances ;
their dress was plain, but comfortable and clean ; no
phantastic grotesquely cut clothes disfigured their little
persons, nor did they wear any badge to tell the world
that they were children of misfortune.
I entered into conversation with one of the teachers,
who informed me that they were going to view the Zoo-
logical Gardens, and that, with such a prospect before
their, they were quite delighted. The little troop
turned up St. Andrew-street, and, as I was going in
the same direction, I moved along in the front, con-
versing with one of the boys, the girls being all
behind. Going down St. Andrew-street South, my
attention was directed towards two young boys about
14 years of age. Each was driving a small cart,
drawn by a pony. The first boy, when he saw the
children, called out to his young friend, who was a little
behind, and the moment his eye caught the sight he leaped
from the cart with a spring, crying out "James, see
my sister, I'll see my wee sister." He drew his horse
quickly to the side of the pavement, and left it alone
the instant the girls came towards him. Just as he com-
menced his anxious search his horse moved off, he
sprung to its head and checked its progress, and, in
an instant, he was at the front ranks of the girls,
keenly glancing along the line to discover his little
sister. Being all dressed alike, it was not easy to
distinguish any one in particular without the
strictest search. On they passed, but his sister came not.
Poor boy, thought I, his kind heart will be doomed
to suffer a disappointment, as his little sister does
not appear to be amongst them, and, from his sorrowful
look, he thought so too. They all passed but two—
his face glowed with delight—his sister was one of
them, the anxious boy rushed to her, and grasping one
of her hands in his he placed his other gently on her
neck, and could only say " Mary." The little girl, who
appeared to be about seven years of age, looked up. and
oh such cestacy ! she was by the side of her brother.
She clasped her little arms around him, and her sweet face
was lighted up with smiles. He bowed down his head to
catch the few hurried words she spoke to him, and to let
her hear his little tale. He took his eye from off her face
but once, and only once, and that for a moment, and this
was to see that his pony was still Where he left it. The
poor brute seemed to be sensible of the sacred mission
on which its conductor had gone, as it moved not. He
again bowed down his head to breathe into the ear of
his beloved and loving sister his few partiib, words, for
he could not go any farther : they grasped each other's
hands and exchanged looks of tenderness, and the little
girl moved on with her companions. His eyes saw no-
thing but that one loved object—they followed her
along. The children in front turned down York-place,
and, before she was out of her brother's view, she turned
round, and, with a sweet smile, held out her hand in
token of adieu. The boy started as her face met his
gaze, and moving one step forward held out both his
hands—the next moment she was hid front his sight.
He slowly returned towards his horse, and, whilst a
tear moistened his eye, and a cast of melancholy shaded
his countenance, there was still something like an ex-
pression of satisfaction and pleasure on his features.
He mounted his little cart, and, as I turned from be-
holding this affecting scene, there was a dimness over
my eyes which took a few applications of my hand
kerchief to remove.
This was food for reflection : I thought on the
thousands who never knew what it was to want the
fostering care of a mother, or the anxious solicitude
of a father ; again, upon the thousands who are thrown
upon the charity of strangers, friendksa and alone.
These two young creatures, perhaps, spent their first
years under one roof, and slept in each other's arms.
The one is now (taming his bread, humbly, but honestly ;
while the other is enjoying the benefits of an excellent
institution. Their meetings are few, but sweet, and,
as in the present case, doubly so. May the remem-
brance of their present lonely situation endear them
more firmly to each other ; and if the world should
smile upon them, may they never forget the days of
their youth, and may they consecrate a portion of their
means towards the support of those institutions which
shelter and protect the orphan child.—Edinburgh
TV eeklg Chronicle.

TIIE COUNTESS GUICCIOLI.—I dined yester-
atcrvdisaiyt;atsh—e
is
InHnoeunsei,inwphroevreedthine
hCeoruntessGttice
English.
livolhieins
wone
dh the ladeladies iini
utitioe s
odtrtaewr
iinngg- rdoeocrd
y,
.ci
oonffge-el
ewgass
ti
an
bt ri oc
1-
G. had a table between us. I then ventured to touch
wdreuejcroeeindseedatn out, whereon to deposit our cups. I,and Madame t
upon Lord Byron ; the subject evidently interested her.
I repcatedseveral passages:from his " Childe Harold," with
which she seemed quite familiar. She then asked me to
give her some of my imitations of him from the " Rejected
Addresses." These she did not teem quite so well to
comprehend. I told her all I knew of him before he went
abroad, to which, like Desdemona, " the did seriously in-
cline," Bysshe Shelley she denominated a good man.
Leigh Hunt's name she pronounced Leg "Tonle. With
tears in her eyes she then descanted upon the merits and
failings of the departed.—James Smith's Memoirs, kc. •
TOWER OF LONDON.—To what a host of his-
torical recollections does this antique building give rise !
What a number of celebrated characters in the eventful
page of history have been committed to its gloomy pre-
cincts, from which they have emerged only to end their
lives by the bands of the executioner. The two young
Princes, Edward V. and his brother the Duke of York,
were both murdered here by the cruel mandate of Richard
111. The pious and virtuous Lady Jane Grey and Lord
Guildford Dudley, her husband, were also put to death
within the verge of the Tower. The last time this fortress
was used as a state prison was in 1820, when Thistiewood
and the other Cato-street conspirators were confined here.
Four of them were found guilty, and suffered at Newgate.
Tradition states that in one of the rooms of the White
Tower, Sir Walter Raleigh wrote his far-famedof the World.—A Summer's Day at Green I_.
ch. History
uring the
7 'll
A CONTUMACIOUS OVERSEER.
---During
et, a novel
revision on Tuesday at York, before
AboutMr twelve o'clock
and extraordinary scene occurred.
I was
ial
no d,
A ,er
walked heret o ea
about
bmt
oemunti
rousidering this a legal demand i
c, taking this expression
t)o
ni chaving o 1.
the
Sir." The oversees, we supeposnoisy,
and, assuming the
his
list overseerseal i interruptede d
n n .
T es
ea thediA barrister,es,,rnlecd aGn neonbttyl
he ieninasari
nsyt
nionougt.
ineruttltieron.t%:r,giticir,
j3.leipsrityrio:tle.the list." The barrister,
al tender, repeated his
evidently believing, !,
I,
addressing the overseer,
in its literal sense, betheea.amweeraminoo.arut a
le,
On this
ofo, attitudeo'clock,
, andof
Barrister, addressing
against the
said,(l
cannot
complaints partiality
the
ha
ve the b
tl
hee,
f the Court
° Do you know,
said "
'lO prison for your conduct ? 'flee latter indignantly
Y°' - .. Have you though? show your authority."
theiie rooyoenr,s,e
replied,The
• a were greatly amused with the discussion, and a
andicnc ,
frifind gently drew the turbulent overseer on to the seat,
and quietly informed him that had it bech the old gentle-
man who sat as Revismg Barrister lest year he would have
been sent to York Castle. The reply was, " D—n the
Castle ! I' won't wait three hours here," Business was
then resumed.—Halifax Guardian.
expression,
an
nw orator,

VENING DIT 0N •

P 1T of the PUBLIC JOURN ALS.

• FROM TZIE MORNING PAPERS OF THIS DAY.
( From the lYlorniny Chronicle.)
We consider the work entitled " Chartism," written
by Mesers. Lovett and Collins in Warwick gaol, as of
so reuch interest in its connection with the condition
and improvement of the working classes, that no apo-
cau he requisite for returning to the subject. As
an eases' ore popular education, it is entitled to serious
attelition. One of the writers, Mr. Lovett, identifies
himself with the authorship of a previous tract on this
sulijoet, Nshich we had occasion to mention in terms of
high and merited commendation. The topic is not
riessr to him. The school arrangements, which are des-
eribed at considerable length, show that he has bestowed
much careful attention and thought upon the details
of his plan. And the specimens of " lesson cards,"
scientific and moral, are so well drawn up, that
they would form very useful aids for the intelii-
sent teacher, and not inappropriate subjects for the
eopuler lecturer. These facts are evidence that
the topic has not been taken up for a temporary pur-
pose. Sonic errors and crudities might probably be de-
tected on a close examination, but generally the work
free from such glaring superficialities, fallacies, blun-
dering,s, and incongruities, as present the:nselees in the
oublieations of many of the Tory clergymen and digni-
;aries by whom the subject has been handled since it was
aelde a party question. The writers evidently know
enore about the matter than the Bishop of Exeter or
tee Rev. R. Wilberforce. But our main reasons for
directing public attention to the work would apply,
were its contents of a much inferior description. They
ere, first, that it tends to guide the Operatives to exer-
tions for their own improvement of a practicable and
resist useful character ; and, secondly, that it opens a
fair prospect of abating the alienation that has of late
existed between the different classes of the community,
anti of uniting them in beneficial co-operation.
(From the Morning Advertiser.)
" Is there to be a Holy Inquisition in England, and
is the Editor of the Titees to be the Grand Inquisitor ?"
These are questions which are in many men's mouths.
Alderman Harmer is not to be Lord Mayor of Lon-
don, because his opinions on religion—no, not his opi-
'dons, for he has distinctly denied them to be such,
but the opinions of the Editor of a newspaper in which
he has an interest—are contrary to the opinions of the
Editor of the Times. Really we are arriving at a
strange pass ? If opinion against practice is to deter-
mine the fitness of candidates for civic offices, where are
we to stop? Whatever the opinions supported by the
_Dispatch may ha, it is yet to be shown that Alderman
Harmer is so iolltienced by them that he cannot be an
efficient Chief Magistrate. He has been many
years before the public as a Common Coun-
cilman, as a Sheriff, as an Alderman, as a Magis-
trate, how comes it to pass that those bad opi-
nions of the _Dispatch have not produced their evil
fruits on his conduct while he served those offices
The late Lord Mayor, Alderman Wilson, we believe,
was his co-Sheriff. Did that amiable and exemplary
gentleman, Conservative though he be, complain that
,he doctrines of the Dispatch made his colleague a less
efficient, a less zeacus, a less diligent enforcer of the
laws than himiel: ? Alderman Harmer is a Magistrate ;
has anybody charged him with being less a terror to
aril-doers, and a praise to them that do well, than any
of his brother Magistrates ? Yet he has been, during
the whole time, just in the same position with regard to
the Dispatch. If the Dispatch have not made him a
bad Sheriff, a bad Alderman, or a bad Magistrate,
how is it to make him a bad Lord Mayor ? Let many
years of experience on one side go against a few isolated
and unconnected passages in the Dispatch on the other.
Mr. Walter, one of the proprietors of the Times, is an
enemy of the New Poor-law—he avows, he glories in
;t—it is his own opinion, not merely the opinion of
one of the servants of the various proprietors of the
Times—yet would any one say that Mr. Walter would
be a bad Magistrate on that account, or that he would
cease to enforce those laws which he has all his life, as
at good citizen, felt bound to enforce, and officially en-
breed ? If it would be unjust to deprive Mr. Walter
of the County 'Magistracy because the Times in 1830
was a Radical, or because the Times in 1840 is a Tory,
it not equally unjust to seek to deprive Alderman
idarmer of that position which a long and blameless life
of public services has fairly earned for him, though the
Dispatch may be as much a zealot for its own opinions
as the Times was, is, and ever will be ? " Judge not
lest ye be judged," is a divine command. "Do unto
others as ye would that others should do unto you," is
another. By which of these commandments would the
Tinres like to be judged itself in this case ? The
tette, thank God, has gone by for men to refuse
to each other that which is just merely on the ground
of difference of opinion. "To deal damnation round
the land, on each we judge HIS foe" belonged to a
former age, it belongs not to this. If the Times seeks
to raise a war-whoop of religion against a public func-
tionary against whose fitness for office it has nothing
else to allege—where will it stop? If orthodoxy is to
be the Shibboleth of the Civic Chair, whit is to be the
precise rule by which we shall judge—is it to be the
orthodoxy of the Oxford Tracts, or the orthodoxy of
the Exeter pamphlets ? The Times accused Alderman
Harmer of being an Old Bailey attorney. He is not
one. The Times accused Alderman Harmer of feasting
the Livery at Ingress Abbey. It was obliged to confess
that it was then mistaken. Now what would en honour-
able man, what would agent/man have done under such
circumstances ? Would be not have sought to repair the
injustice he had committed by an immediate and full
retractation ? Did the Times so act ? Did it not add I
insult to injury when compelled to confess its misstate-
ments ? We are happy to hear that reasonable and
upright men, who refuse to be blinded by prejudice, and
will not mix themselves up with personal quarrels—who
will not make the successful opposition to the election
of Mr. Walter for Southwark, a groundwork for oppos-
ing the election of Alderman Harmer to the Civic Chair,
are bestirring themselves in all quarters—that a counter
address is about to be signed, and that without seeking
to derogate from the fair claims of the Times as an able
and influential public journal, Will deny its right to dic-
tate to the City of London who shall or who shall not
be its Chief Magistrate.
(From the Morning Herald.)
The Poor-law Commissioners have published another
of their annual Reports. The document which those
functionaries have now submitted to the public is as
unsatisfactory as all its predecessors. All the predic-
tions of the original supporters of the new Poor-law I
have been signally falsified by the result. The new
Poor-law, as the world was assured, was destined to
effect immense savings to the nation, as well
as to " elevate the morality of the labouring classes."
The effect of the new Poor-saw on the labouring
classes has been to convert a large propor-
tion of them into enemies to the institution of pro- I
party. The effect of the new Poor-law on the
national wealth has been to withdraw a large portion of
that wealth front the maintenance of productive indus-
try—and to introduce forms and modes of public ex-
pense utiknown to the old constitution. In almost
every union in England the rates are rising rapidly—al-
thoueh every effort is used by the men who work the
new Poor-law, to reduce the expense; attending its ope-
ration. Then among the collateral expenses (so to
speak) of the new Poor-law must be set down the ex-
pense of a rural police, and of all those other contri-
vances for checking that disaffection to which the new
Pew-law itself gives rise.
(From the Morning Post.)
The Palace-patronised Globe has no less than two
feeding articles yesterday evening full of waspish re-
marks upon the Tories, and of weak commendation of
the Whigs. What's the matter now, to provoke such
manifest indications of being ill at ease ? 13 it possible
that all this ill-humour is vented because the day was
wet and uncomfortable, and other topics of remark did
pct happen to present themselves ? The ingenious and
philosophical Globe ought not to be thus affected by
such contingencies. Well, then, has our Contempo-
rary heard any bad news—any intelligence to make
doubtful the forbearance of the leading
Conservatives
when Parliament re-assembles? Something, we fear,
mast have gone wrong with our gentle Contemporary,
either in reality or instupposition, to induce the excecl-
ing Isetfulness of
thaty•es into the
We must not
forget, however, ti midst of its bitter com-
plaints our Contemporaryas interjected some curious
fo,lilgorv:l,ntng h
it: a sample :
i nfo "in'hietie°sns.eneeT fe
\‘
the popular pert of our mixed ins 9 o:snr:,
al at Ine da 'at
such nagtiis,ptno,,,issviil:odinst
to enlarge the basis of thorn institutions,
appears necessary to admit the new demands and ir.flu.
ences which have grown up in sceiety."
We must not for the future be surprised at the want
of exactness and firmness in the conduct
is n(
ofuct ) thenlo
more
ht
urs:,
since the very •` essence of their
policyml "
a " general leaning aht disposition" towards the
popular parts of our institutions. It is not often that an
" e.--•sence" is EU diffuse and undecided in its character.
And it is not merely that the essence of Whiggery
consists
rivrely in a general leaning and disposition
towards certain views of policy, but even this lean-
ing and this disposit:oniare only occasional ; that is
to sly, " at such times as it appears necessary to aarnit
the new demands and influences which have grown up
in society." Now, all the force of this philosophy de-
perels upon the real nature of the above limitation. " At
such times as it appears necessary." As it appears to
'ph", 9lf the " disposition" to make liberal enlarge-
mews, and so forth, is °Lily to exist when such things
appear to the Wbigs to be necessary—if this be the es-
sence of Whi;rgisni, why, where after ad le it
great
liheralilrf ? The Tories arc ready to enlarge the basis
mixed institutions when from the state of society
it a p pf!,11.-4 to ttgeyr
necessary so to do. The whole
matter de
upon the different views of that shiest
eorestitirtes a necessity.

FROM THE DAMN PAPERS OF YESTERDAY.
(I_Fr"" the Globe.)
Tilere is a well-Known story of two Athenian archi-
te,ts, one of whom told the people, at great length, the
fin:! thiegs he 'I" eaP.6l,, and the other contented
hirnielf via saying —" Aa he has talked about, I will
The Athamans thought the shorter speech the
`Lr. to the purpose. The Times has dilated largely

on the fine things the Tories will do in office. That
party, it sems, has not enjoyed any fair " official
opportunity of showing its policy under the great con-
sti; utional reforms of our time." The Times, therefore,
loth promise and vow the following things for them, as
these interesting " babes of grace" cannot yet dispense
with such solid sponsors
" They will resist organic changes in the Cons'ution,
not only because, as Lord John Russell once oddly ob-
served, it is inconvenient to have a revolution every year,'
but because such changes, whatever be the time selected,
are in themselves injurious to that very people whose ad-
vantage is pretended to be the object of them. They
will oppose the repeal of the Union, because the separa-
tion of the empire is the weakness of its people. They will
maintain the provision or the Church, because an esta-
blished religion is the people's best security for their pro-
perty, their peace, and their happiness, present and final.
They will give to each existing institution the benefit of
that fair presumption in its favour wh;ch arises from the
very fact of its existence, in opposition to the theorists
who assure us that whatever is is wrong.' But where
abuses are proved,' where time has gathered dust or
fraud has bred corruption, where remains of obsolete
legislation lie like fallen logs across the path of im-
provement, where fair principle is crippled by foul prac-
tice, where the natural freedom of individuals is narrowed
for any other purpose than the good of the whole—in a
word, wherever reform has an honest meaning, the Con-
servative party are prepared to adopt, to encourage, to
assist it."

There is only one particular in this new manifesto of
Toryism, to save it from the charge of entire plagia- '
risen from Whig principles. This is the unqualified
dogma of resistance to all organic changes, " whatever
be the time selected"—as invariably injurious in them-
selves. This never has been, and never can be, a
Whig principle, for the essence of Whiggism is a
general leaning towards the popular part of our mixed
institutions, and a disposit'on to enlarge the basis of
those institutions, at such times as it appears necessary
to admit the new demands aad influences which have
grown up in society. The refusal of all organic changes,
" whatever be the time selected," we are willing to re-
gard as a real distinction between Tories and Whigs ;
but the implied imputation upon the latter, of being opt
to sanction such changes lightly, is contradicted by their
whole recent conduct, and indeed (with characteristic
inconsistency) is every now and then admitted to be
false by the Tories themselves, when it suits their pur-
pose to persuade the Radicals that they have no motive
for supporting Ministers.
(From the Standard.)

Great as arc the universally-admitted conveniences of
railroad travelling, its advantages are in a fair way of
being counterbalanced by the selfish and reckless indif-
ference to the safety and comfort of their passengers
which has been manifested of late by several railroad
Companies—an evil which can only be remedied by
some stringent legislative enactment which shall com-
pel the serious attention of such speculators to its
consequences. In an age of utilitarianism like the pre-
sent it is tyt surprising that such a mode of conveyance
should have become popular. We have not, however, as
yet arrived at that pitch of commercial enterprise which
constitutes" going ahead" of our neighbours the sumnzufn
bosium of human existence. Still less can we be brought to
believe that, for the sake of additional speed in travel-
ling, we ought to sacrifice personal comfort and the
safety of lite and limb. The numerous and dreadful
accidents which have occurred upon various railways in
England during the last few months, and the many in-
stances of neglect, insolence, and imposition which have
been practised up. ti the public by the servants of such
Companies, have completely satisfied us that they have
been laid under much too slight restriction from tho first.
The principal and most important complaint against them
is one which, however it may be diminished, cannot, for
some time at least, be wholly remedied. It is affirmed
(and several of the recent railway catastrophes afford
abundant evidence of the fact) that the lives of thou-
sands of people are hourly intrusted to persons destitute
of any scientific knowledge, and paid a rate of wages for
their services, which no person in the possession of
such knowledge would consent to receive. It is noto-
rious, that beyond some previous practice on the tenders
which convey earth from one part of the road to another,
and the knowledge which they are enabled to acquire
whilst stokers of engines, whose management is hereafter
to be entrusted to them, they are as destitute of practical
as they are of theoretical knowledge. That such a
mode of arrangement is susceptible of improvement
cannot be doubted. A larger rate of remuneration
would most likely induce persons infinitely better qua-
lified co undertake such situations. This would add,
no doubt, to the expenses of the Company ; but the in-
creased confidence it would create would more than
compensate for it ; for the knowledge that the property
and lives of several hundred human beings of all ranks
in society are entrusted to a man in the receipt of from
20s. to 2:as. a-week, wholly unacquainted with the nature
of the machine he is conducting, must of itself deter
hundreds, and even thousands of persons from availing
themselves of such modes of conveyance.
(From the Courier.)
We yesterday laid before our readers two important
documents in reference to the Eastern question—a copy
of a despatch from Marshal Soult to the Baron De
Bourqueney, dated Paris, July, 1839, and of a memo-
randum addressed to Lord Palmerston by M. Guizot,
of the date of July 24, 1840, both strikingly illustra-
tive of the view the French Cabinet all along took of
the Eastern dispute, and of the most likely as well
as eligible mode of bringing it to an amicable ter-
mination. We may dismiss the Marshal's despatch with
the brief remark that its spirit and tenour perfectly
ac-
cord with the sentiments and views more fully and more
clearly developed in the note addressed to Lord Pal-
merston, by the distinguished and keen-sighted states-
man that now so opportunely occupies the post of French
Ambassador in this country. The latter gives a clear,
careful, and correct exposition of the motives by which
France has been actuated from the commencement of
the negotiation with the other Powers of Europe for the
settlement of the dispute between the Porte and Egypt ;
and of the objects at which alone she aimed through-
out, namely, the continuance of peace and the preserva-
tion of the balance of power in Europa. M. Guizot's
argument assumes the form of a temperate and well-
seasoned remonstrance both against the policy of the
treaty of July, and the inefficiency and danger of the
means determined upon by the Four Powers for carry-
ing it into execution. France, be tells Lord Palmerston,
deems as ill conceived any project that aims at wr 'st-
ing from Mehemet Ali by force of arms the portions
of the Turkish empire he at present occupn ;
and as by no means advantageous to the Sultan, as it
would be only restoring to him that which he con' l
neither rule nor retain ; she also looks upon such t
course as in no way conducive to the maintenance e f
the balance of power in Europe, as, while it would ad
nothing to the strength or available resources of the
Sultan, it would materially weaken a vassal who might
lend, it required, a powerful assistance to defend the
empire at large. There is great force, but little novelty,
in this argument of M. Guizot ; it is moreover well and
temperately put.