The Sun.
London, England, 1840-08-13 00:00:00

EVENING EDITION.

IDLAND COUNTIES RAILWAY.
_LTA_ NIGHT TRAINS BETWEEN LONDON. THE
MIDLAND COUNTIES, AND THE NORTH OF
THE PRINrIPLES OF POPULATION AND ENGLAND.
THEIR C, )IVN EXI,,N ITH HUMAN The Vublie are respectfully formed,
that on and after
HAPPINESS,MoNnav NEXT, the 18th instant, a NIGHT MAIL
TRAIN will
Evening,
EUSTON STATION at Nine o'Clock
Br ARCHIBALD .41.150. v, F R S E., Sheriff of Lanark- for RUGBY, LEICESTER, LOUHBO-
shire, 6,c. 6,e. iRnOtt7GH, DERBY, NOTTINGHAM, SHEFFIELD,
2 Vols. Edinburgh, 1840. LEEDS, YORK, and HULL; returning from these places
In the preface to this work Mr. Alison tells us so as to arrive at Euston Station at Five o'Clock in the
that three editions of the first seven volumes of
Morning.
Notice I% ill be given of the time of starting to and
the History of Europe during the French Revo- from the different Stations.
lution ' had issued from the press before the By Order,
Leicester, Aug. 13, 1840. J. F. BELL, Secretary.
eighth (volume) was published, and that the work
has been translated into French and Getman before
it was even completed in its own language." Sti-
mulated, apparently, by this unexpected popularity,
and willing, according to the proverb, to make hay
while the sun shines, Mr. Alison appears to have
cast about for another work which his present
great name might sell ; and, finding amongst his
papers, a " draft of a work on the Principles of
Population, composed in the years of 1809 and
1810, when the author had just terminated his
philosophical studies at the University," he hashed it
up with long dissertations about the Voluntary and
State Church principles—about the reciprocity
system—about the Corn-laws, and about managing
and providing for the poor--with speeches about
colonization, copious extracts from Gibbon and
Make Brun, and school-boy dissertations on history;
and, diluting the mass with a verbose and tilted
style, till the original draft, which seems to have
been a very small dissertation, had swelled into
two thick octavo volumes, lie has published it
rather as a supplement to, than a separate work
from, the History of Europe during the French
B.evolution." A more palpable attempt to make a
book sell, which is a great bundle of contradic-
tions and irrelevant dissertations, by the help of a
great name and a pompous title, it has rarely been
our lot to witness.
Mr. Alison's great objects, in his puny disserta-
tion, miscalled " Principles of Population," appear
to have been first to establish a different ratio be-
tween the increase of human oeings and of human
subsistence, from that laid down by Mr. Malthus ;
next, to show that as the world becomes peopled,
checks to populousness arise from the nature of
things, from reason and prudential motives ; and,
finally, to prove that the misery of mankind, in
other communities than our own, and particularly
in past times, was and is caused by misgovern-
roent—a principle which the author puts mainly
into abeyance, when he treats of that Government
of which he is a subordinate, but, we believe, an ac-
tive and bustling member. When a gentleman of
high character and high station writes a book, we
expect that the contents shall correspond with the
title ; but any person the least acquainted with the
subject will see, by running over the titles of Mr.
Alison's chapters, as well as by adverting to the
objects he has in view, that the title and contents
of his book do by no means correspond.
We object to it, first, that, like Mr. Malthus's
book—which he, by the bye, even after it had
reached a third edition, continued modestly to en
tile an " Essay on the Principles of Population"—
it is confined to one aspect of the subject, and
leaves another wholly unnoticed.
Taking a cursory but comprehensive view of the
history of man, it is apparent that in every age the
progress of civilization, the increase of knowledge,
the growth of skill, the advancement of the arts,
and the increase of population have gone hand in
hand. There is no insiance of a people increasing
in knowledge and civilization, and decaying in
numbers. Every where, however, we find instances,
"from ancient Egypt to ancient Rome, from ancient
Rome to Italy of the middle ages, from Italy to
Kentucky, of vast improvements in the fine and the
useful arts, coincident with an increasing population.
Those who have looked at the matter in some de-
tail see that an increasing population necessarily
carries with it an ever-extending division of labour,
the influence of which, pervading all the sciences as
well as the manual arts, causes a perpetual in-
crease, in an accelerating ratio, of knowledge and
skill. It applies to the means of subsistence as
well as the embellishments of life ; so that while
England or the United States may t ow contain 20
times, or even 100 times, as many people as they
contained at the commencement of their known his-
tory, the great multitude is much better provided
with the means of subsistence, and at a less cost of
labour, man for man, than when the wild and scat-
tered inhabitants had to struggle with the wilder
beasts of the forest for a precarious and wretched
subsistence.
It cannot be denied that the increase of popula-
tion has always been coincident with social improve-
ment. Population may hence be described as
the name of the material or physical fact, of which
the term society expresses the mental fact. They
are body and soul. The principles of population,
under this aspect, are the principles of society, and
as no change takes place in the mind without some
corresponding physical change, so there is no social
phenomenon which is not connected with an in-
crease or decrease of population. Now, Mr.
Malthus, and, following his lead, Mr. Alison, have
overlooked and have not explained any of the bene-
ficial consequences of an increase of population.
They seem to imagine that the progress of man-
kind in improvement is an accidental circumstance,
and never attribute it to that increase of population
which they dwell on as the source of all social diffi-
culties. A work worthy of the name of the " Prin-
ciples of Population" should trace, at least in out-
line, all the phenomena to which population gives
rise ; but these authors confine themselves merely
to its effects in creating a co-extensive demand for
food, without not'cing that it carries with it—for
labour is the source of all food—a corresponding
means of supply. We must, therefore, stigmatise
Mr. Alison's book as being a very short-coming
as well as a contradictory performance, and to be
about as unworthy of the name of " Principles of
Population " as a book would he of the name of
" Principles of Navigation " which took into con-
sideration only the resistance of the waves:, and
wholly omitted the propelling powers by which man
is enabled to overcome it.
So much for Mr. Alison's great deficiencies—we
pass to his contradictions. These are more numerous,
and will occupy more time. We trust we may be
excused if we at present drop the subject, to re-
sume it to•morrow or on some following day. If
the Times, day after day, for a month, may occupy
a column, or a column and a half, with a criticism
on Lord Brougham's Demosthenes, which f,s of
the smallest possible comparative importance, we
may be excused for occupying a column for two or
three days, in pointing out Mr. .t 'l errors on a
subject •
which is of vital ir,,portarce to the good
government and happi:,ess of society. We shall
now stop, therefore, and resume the notice of Mr.
Alison's work at our leisure.

LITERATURE.

Jugt ieady, in 2 vols. Bvo., bound, with upwards of Forty Il-

I4strations,
THE THAMES AND ITS TRIBUTA-
RIES

By CHARLES3iACKAY, Esq.
Richard Bentley, New Burlington-street,
Publisher in Ordinary to her Majesty.

ROYAL SURREY THEATRE.
Fourth week of Haines' Historical Spectacle, "Jane of the
Hatchet." Overwhelming succe”, and increasing desire of
the Public to witness it--the military evolutions of the hun-
dred Feicale Warriors, grand Tableaux d'action, and the ge-
neral effects in this extraordinary production, attract innu-
merahle crowd., and create universal admiration and de-
light it will consequently be repeated every Evening.
THIS EVENING, AUG. 13.
Will be acted a Grand Historical Spectacle, of unequalled splen-
dour, entitled
JANE OF THE HATCHET.
Supported by the entire strength of the Company,
and One Hundred Female Warriors.
After which,
THE MAD ACTOR.
In which Mr. Buckingham wilt give his imitations of London
Performers.
To conclude with
ALICE GRAY.

ROYAL SURREY ZOOLOGICAL GARDENS.
EIGHTH WEEK, and CONTINUED BRILLIANT SUC
CESS of BEETHOVEN'S BATTLE SINFONIA,
With its novel and effective Introductions!!
GRAND PROMENADES MUSICALES ET
CHAMPETRES,
By Godfrey's unrivalled Band.
Programe of the Concert for August oth, 11th, and 13th.
Overtures—Maid of Artois, Egmont Quadrilles—L'ln-
dien (first time), St Petersburgh, Le Rendezvous de Chasse.
Waltz—Die Berggeister. Terzetto fom S aramuccia " Che
fai que con questo." Duetto from Mose in Egitto—" Ah si
puoi." Grand Selection from Robert le Diable. Melange des
Danses from Le Corsair. Fantasia from Oberon. And
BEETHOVEN'S GRAND BATTLE SINFONIA,
By the augmented Band, with instruments of novel construe-
, tion, wad 340 rounds of artillery and musketry, giving the most
vivid realization of the events of the Battle of Vittoria.
fhe vast Panorama al Fresco of Iceland and its Volcanoes, by
Danson—Breaking up of the Ice—Melting of the Snows—
Release and Departure of the Discovery Ship.
Carter's astonishing " Koniaphostic," or " Lime Light.
Eruption of Mount Hecla, &c.
On Monday, Tuesday. and Thursday next.
ADMISSION ONE SHILLING.
Feeding Hour of the Carnivora, Five o'Clock.
Concert commences at Six.

TO CORRESPONDENTS.
Will " Secretariu.," who writes from Manchester, favour us
again with his address, which we have mislaid?

Ii WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE TOMORROW.
rrnme '5 minutes after 72. I Evening 10 minutes alter 3

ne Publication of the Evening Edition of Tint SUN com-
menced at 20 minutes after Three.

-
• - 4p.
• - •

IXL

LONDON:
THURSDAY, AUGUST 13, 1840.

The men-of-war which France is preparing, and
the men-of-war which England has ready or is
building, will be of little use without men. While
so much is, said, therefore, in d►fferent Journals,
to the propriety of having our ships in an efficient
condition, let us remind the public of the difficulty
which has generally prevailed of obtaining seamen.
We believe that it is now very considerable, and is
iikely to be greater than ever, should a war arise on
a question of such remote interest as the indepen-
dence of Turkey, and should the old, and vile,
and truly Conservative method of manning the
fleet by impressment be again had recourse to. It
a perfectly free and voluntary enlistment be esta-
blished, if better wages and more honourable treat-
ment be given, our fleet will r)t want fbr
seamen. Should a war arise, in which the
United States were not concerned, and, should
proper wages and proper treatment be guaranteed
to the seamen, we have no doubt that many would
flock to our ships from American vessels. But
they will not come if impressment be used, and if
wages be kept at their present rate. With our prodigi-
ously numerous maritime population—for the number
of persons able to serve on baard men-of-war is not
to be told by the number of persons actually em-
ployed in sea-going ,hips, but includes a multitude
of men working boats on the river—we can man
in a shorter time a larger fleet than all the rest of
Europe put together ; but to obtain that end, so
desirable, should our country be threatened with
war, it is indispensable that justice be done the
seamen—that the service be made voluntary—that
the highest places be opened to merit, not exclusively
bestowed on the aristocracy, and that the ships be
not made eternal prisons. Let these just and
therefore wise measures be adopted, and our country
may laugh to scorn the threats of any and every
enemy ; ►et them be neglected or despised, relying
on the old Conservative practice of impressment,
and the country may tremble at the threat of every
foe. We are not only, as the Times said a day or
two ago, a divided people, but in our divisions we
are amazingly unjust, or we should never have tole-
rated, much less applauded, the shameful treatment
which our brave seamen have received.

We are glad to see that the Dissenters are be-
g rfrrilig to rouse themselves from their slumbers on
the Church-rate question. Their late inactivity
has had the usual effect of rendering the Church
more insolent and overbearing in its deportment to-
wards them. At Rochdale a fierce conflict has
just terminated, which, according to some accounts,
gives the victory to the opponents of the tax on
conscience, according to others to its supporters.
We consider the n.ere matter of numercial
triumph as of small import.ance compared with that
of the stout battle which has been fought for reli-
gious independence against the mind-enslaving
principles -,-,i an earth-sprung, State-supported cor-
rupti.r.in of Christianity. When five thousand or
'dtx thousand persons, in one parish, are found
enrolling themselves as determined enemies to
the infamous system of extortion, by which the
Church supports itself at the exr,ense of those who
not only derive no benefit from it, but who look upon
i, as " destroyir.g more souls than it saves,"
we make no account whatever of the particular and
immediate result of such hostility. It may, or it
may riot, be successful in defeating a Church-rate
in a given locality, but it tells with fatal effect against
the system. It strikas a deadly blow at the thing
called " Church"—a blow which will be felt after
Church-rates shall have been abolished, in the
alienated affections of the people, and in their ihs-
enthralment from that irrational prestige with which
so many regard as sacred whatever has been long
established.
Among the six thousand opponents of Church-
rates in Rochdale, it is possible there may be a good
many not on other accounts hostile to the Church.
Will their defeat—supposing them to have been
defeated on this occasion—cement more closely
their attachment to the Establishment ? We trow
not. If we read human nature aright, every such
defeat is an incalculable loss both of character and
strength to the Church of England. Our advice,
therefore, to all who view State Establi:hments
of religion as we do, that is, as contrary to
the letter and spirit of the New Testament, and—
which is a necessary consequence—inimical to the
best interests of mankind, is to oppose Church-
; rates by every means in tneir power, without re-
, gaid to the chance of success or defeat. The good
cause will be benefited either way.
As to the result of the poll at Rochdale, we may
observe that it appears to have been brought Lbout
by the neck-or-nothing exertions of the Vicar
aid his party. This 'Rev. Gentleman, of whom
the public have htard before now, is stated to have
played a trek which gave his party a small ma-
jority, hut which will, at the same time, invalidate
the whole proceedings. Parson MOLESWORTH,
I it is said, announced that the poll would close at
i a certain hour each day; but finding that there was
kc.oEhuliEß.—The fine warm weather of : a party brought up, who would turn the tide in last wTHoE \NAt.Td until Monday evening, about seven :
oVock.''when it' twas succeeded by a sprinkling shower, i.p-
;Iris favour if allowed to vote after the hour ap.
parently the result cf a thunder-storm at a distance. Since finalclosing, hekept it open be
.
then the weather has continued to be unsettled, occasional vond that time, and thus gained what is proclaimed
pointed for the
slight showers falling yesterday; but we hope that we by - dof Tory trutepet a great triumph.
shall noon have a return of that fine weather which i, so
nocessmy and so much desired, fur the ripening of the . IChurch much good of such triumphs I
i 7 SOOll
%; e wish i the
crops and the securing of the harvest.—Mcotchester Since the above was in typo, the arrival of the
Qua/dial. Manc,heacr Guardian has put us into possession

FUNERAL OF THE LATE EARL
OF DURHAM.

NEWCAST----.....---LE
•UPON-TYNE, MONDAY.
This being the day appointed for the
obsequies of
'the late Right Hon. John George Lambton Earl of
Durham, the movement of carriages and
nd h
wards mid-day here was altogether of a striking rse
s
tobeen understood
the venerable
'
a tnot-
i
animated order, bending their way
mansion of Larnbton Castle, it having
that the bereaved family of deceasedthesa ark personalof nd-
att e
Earl would appreciate the compliment of
and lamented
m
aav:ie on the part of his friends, as
attachment on so solemn an occasion. Hence the
th
at-
tendance was most numerous and notrespectable,s
e.
unlu3,..
from this town, but, as might be expected, fro
del-land, South Shields, and Durham.
At I I a.m. the great bell of our metropolitan Church,
saint Nicholas, commenced tolling, and continued to
do so till four p.m. (a ceremony heretofore never per-
formed here except for departed Royalty), and the same
solemn notes were poured forth from the Church of St.
Mary's, Gateshead, for the same length of time,while the
numerous shipping in the harbour hoisted the:r colours
halt-mast high, the customary sign of mourring. Al-
though my reminiscence extends to half a century, I re-
collect no demonstration of the kind so solemn ant: im-
posing in its character, in this locality, as was this day
exhibited in of regi,ril to the memory of the
departed Earl of Durham. No doubt so marked a
trlhute of respect will be balm and consola'ion to his
o tlieted and sorrowing family. It is prop .r to add, that
the whole of the shops and pliers in the borough of
Gateshead were closed throughout the day, anti LA Suo-
derland and S.itith Shields the same general suspens:on
of business took place.