The Sun.
London, England, 1841-01-29 00:00:00

NAVAL INTELLIGENCE.

( From the Brighton Gazette. )
PLIITSMOUII, JAN. 28.—The Indus, 84, Captain Sir
James Stirling, will remove from her hulk during the week,
and proceed to Spithead to complete her crew. The
Tweed, 20, Commander Douglas, will go out,of the bar.
hour in a few days, (ported for the South American
station.

The Snake, 16, in Sheerness Basin, and Bittern, 16, at
this port, are to be brought forward for commission.
The steam frigate Salamander, Commander Henry, re-
mains at Sheerness, under Admiralty orders. Iler desti-
nation is not accurately known.
The Dee steamer, Commander Slierer, and brig Satel-
lite, 16, Commander Robb, are ordered home from the
North Amer:can station. The latter was at Bermuda,
on the 15th ult., all well, refitting. The Dee left Ha-
lifax, it is supposed for England, on the Bth November;
but as she has not yet arrived, must have taken a cir-
cuitous route.

The ships at Spithead are the Iris, 26, a new corvette,
Capt. Hugh Nurse, and Pelican, 16, Commander Napier
the former destined for the Cape and West African station.
Both are awaiting Admiralty orders to proceed.
The Calliope, 26, Captain Herbert, and Samarang, 26,
Captain Scott, are on their way from the Brazils to the
coast of China, to join Rear-Admiral Elliot.
The steamer Alban, Mr. King, Muster, is rt fitting in
the harbour, to proceed to the Irish ports, when ready, for
men for the Navy.
The Cracker cutter, Mr. Hogg°, will in a day or two
return to Jersey with .tores and provisions for the Sea-
flower cutter.

The brig Nautilus, 10, Lieut. Beaufoy, is ordered to
proceed to Plymouth from the north coast, to refit for fo-
reign service.

The brig Rapid, 10, Lieut. Tryon, is nearly ready for
sea. She is to be in future attached as a tender to the
Royal George yacht.
AT SPITHEAD.—Iris, 26, and Pelican, 16.
IN HARBOUR —Queen, Victory, Indus, Tweed, Royal
George yacht, Excellent, Cracker, Rapid, Alban, Echo,
and flag tenders.
13

RADFORD MARKET.—There continues a fa • ir
demand for low and middle qualities of combing wools,
and prices, if not higher, are very firm. There is a
very indifferent sale for finer qualities. The prospects
of the Yarn market are bettering, and the spinners
are asking higher prices. They are not, however,
generally obtained, as it is impossible for the manufactu-
rers with their present prices to give an advance. There
is an average business doing in pieces. The stocks are as
low as we ever remember knowing them at this season.
Prices unvarying. York Courant.

SIR ROBERT PEEL'S ADDRESS
ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A LIBRARY
AND READING-ROOM AT TAMWORTH.

(From the Staffordshire Advertiser.)

Our readers arc aware that the Right Hon. Sir Ro-
bert Peel has come forward most liberally to assist in
the establishment of a library and reading-room for
Tamworth and its neighbourhood. We understand
that Sir Robert has given the munificent sum of loot.
towards the object, and has kindly accepted the office
of President. The institution is founded on a compre-
hensive basis, without reference to rank or to political
and religious distinctions. Sir Francis Lawley, Bart.,
is the Chairman of the Managing Committee.
The Committee of Management and the Book Gin:-
mittee having been appointed, a public meeting
was held on Tuesday last, the 19th instant, at the
Town-hall, Tamworth, the Right Hon. President hav-
ing consented to deliver on that day an address explana-
tory of the objects of the institution.
The Town•hall was crowded on the occasion.
Sir R. Peel was accompanied by Lady Peel and
two sons.
At one o'clock,
Sir It. PEEL rose, and addressed the assembly as
follows:—It has been usual, on the foundation of an in-
stitution similar to that which it is now proposed to
establish in this town, to open the proceeding with an
inaugural lecture or address, explanatory of the objects
of the institution, and of the regulations on which it is
proposed to conduct it ; and in conformity with that
practice, and because I am sincerely desirous of faith-
fully discharging the functions which belong to the ap-
pointment to which I have been recently elected,
I have willingly undertaken to perform a dnty
which is generally assigned to the office of
President. I feel that I shall best perform that
duty by attempting to explain to you, in very simple
and very perspicuous language, the views of those who
have taken a leading part in the establishment of this
institution, and the advantages which we think it holds
out to those who are willing to become members of it.
I feel perfectly convinced that on such subjects as the
extension of knowledge and intellectual improvement
it would be vain to hope to discover any novelty, either
of argument or expression. I conceive that on such an
occasion, and in such a meeting as this, any parade of
learning would be an idle affectation ; and if I do add
anything to the simple explanation of the objects of this
institution, it will be to recal to your minds truths which
are very obvious and very trite, but which do not, gene-
rally speaking, exercise a practical influence upon the
conduct of men that corresponds with their obviousness
and with their importance. It is proposed to establish a
library and a reading-room, for the advantage of this
town and neighbourhood—the reading-room to be
open for certain hours of every day (with the
exception of particular holidays and Sundays),
under such regulations as the Committee of ma-
nagement shall determine. It is proposed that
the library shall be open to all persons, and
that they shall be permitted, under certain re-
gulations, to have books from the reading-room at
their own houses, for the amusement and instruction of
themselves and their families. We propose that the
advantages of this institution shall be open to all per-
sons of all descriptions, without reference to political
opinions or religious creed, who shall have attained the
age of fourteen years. We propose that the institu-
tion shall be open to the female as well as the male
portion of the population of this town and neighbour-
hood ; because we consider that we should have done
great injustice to the well-educated and virtuous
women of this town and neighbourhood, if we had sup-
posed that they were less capable than their husbands
or their brothers of benefiting by the instruction which
we hope to give, or if we had supposed that they
were less interested in the cause of rational re-
creation and intellectual improvement. We pro-
pose, also, that they shall have equal power and
equal influence in the management of this institu-
tion with others, being well assured that the influ-
ence which a virtuous woman can hold (if it be neces-
sary to call it into action) will always be exercised in
favour of whatever is sound and profitable in respect to
knowledge, and whatever is decorous and exemplary in
respect to conduct. It would be presumptuous in me
to anticipate the decision of the Committee of Manage-
ment on many points which are reserved for their con-
sideration ; but I do hope it may be possible hereafter,
and at no distant period, to extend the advantages of
this institution beyond those which are contemplated in
the printed paper. I hope that it may be possible to
make some arrangement, by which, at some hour of the
day, not interfering with the hours set apart for reading,
it may be possible for parents to take their children be-
low the age of fourteen, that they may benefit
by access to the maps or globes, or books of
reference, which may be deposited in the library.
I hope, also, that we are laying the foundation
of a great treasury of knowledge—of stores more
various and more rich than those we at present con-
template. For instance, I am not too sanguine in hoping
to live to see the day when it may be possible in this
district, not deficient itself in mineral productions, and
bordering upon a great division of England that is preg-
nant with iron and coal (the great incentives, to human
skill anti industry), to form a collection of minerals
most interesting to a mind inquisitive after knowledge,
and facilitating the comprehension of such treatises
as may te written, and such works as may be pub-
lished, on mineralogy and such kindred subjects. It
is proposed, also, if our funds will permit, to cause the
delivery of plain and popular lectures (comprehensible
by all) on such subjects as astronomy, botany,
and mineralogy—upon the recent improvements that
may have been made in the arts and manufactures—
upon the application of scientific discoveries, and on the
result of the experience of practical observers as to
agriculture and to those various trades and occupations
which chiefly engross the attention of this district of the
country. These are not, I trust, over sanguine expec-
tations. I think the acquisition of knowledge has a
great tendency to multiply itself ; and if I can only
persuade you to enter upon that delightful path, I am
sanguine enough to believe that there will be open to
you gradual charms and temptations which will iaduco
you to persevere.—(Applause.) 'The library that we
shall form will, I trust, contain works not merely con-
nected with abstract science, but treatises corning home
to the daily business and daily interests of those who
arc concerned in the pursuits of active industry. Now,
let me take two departments of knowledge, on which I
think most useful information might be deposited in u
library of this kind. Let me first speak of works con-
nected with agricultural improvement, and let me make
an earnest appeal to that most valuable and respectable
class of society, I mean the ftirmers of this country, to
whom we arc so much indebted for their general deport-
ment, whose respectability and success are intimately
connected with the best interests of this country.
I am perfectly prepared to hear from them that they
receive with great distrust the advice of persons who are
not practically connected with farming. No one is
more deeply satisfied than I am that it is much easier
to talk of farming than to farm. lam not surprised
that they (the farmers) distrust the theories of specula-
tive farmers. lam not surprised that they listen with
distrust to the result of experiments much more exten-
sive than their capital enables them to engage in. I
consider those feelings to be perfectly rational and per-
fectly natural ; but, on the other hand, if the farmers
of this neighbourhood (because they are practical
farmers) think that their experience is all-sufficient
—if they think that they have nothing to learn—if they
think they can safely neglect the opportunities of acquir-
ing knowledge connected with their proper business, let
me tell them that they labour under a greater and more
dangerous delusion than the gentlemen who undertake
to instruct thorn.—(Applause.) If you are satisfied

with the limited experience that your own farm affords
—if you really believe that the farming in your parti-
cularparish admits of no improvement—let me remind yuu
that these were the impressions entertained 50 years
since, and 100 years since, by practicalf ariners, who then
thought, I have no doubt, that there was nothing to ho

earned,and that there could be no advantage in attempt-
ng to benefit by the experience and experiments of others.
Now, with respect to works on agriculture, which might
be included in the library of this institution, let me ask
any reasonable man, whatever might be his practical ex-
perience, whether he does not think it highly probable
that advantages might be derived by his having access,
on the payment of one shilling quarterly, to such in-
formation as may be deposited in this library ? [The
Right lion. Baronet referred to the information con-
tained in treatises on agriculture, mentioning Remarks
on Thorough Draining and Deep Ploughing, by Mr.
James Smith.] Was it possible there could be any harm
—not in a farmer being forced to adopt this system of
farming—but in hearing what was the result of experi-
ments ? This little book was given to him (Sir R. Peel)
by that eminent man, Dr. Buckland, the great geologist,
on his return from Scotland, after having had an oppor-
ntAulnri.t
sy
treatisemo ift
Iten
had
aei g t
lately the
improvet lion.re
ce
ve
Bemda rn t s
eAt on
ne t
Report
ai ei r
tuf d'aoirn3mg thetoof
Diseases to which the Wheat Plant is liable," ob-
served, that if the farmer told him that he bad informa-
tion on the subject already, he would inform him that
Professor Henslow, the Professor of Botany at Cam-
bridge, had stated, in reference to treatises written for
a prize offered by the English Agricultural Society for
the best essay on this subject, that it was evident to him
(Professor Henslow) that the authors were ignorant of
many facts well known to scientific men for many years,
respecting the nature of those diseases, and the causes
producing them ; and that in point of fact no one
treatise was deemed deserving of the prize. It ap-
peared to him (Sir Robert Peel) that the farmer,
whatever importance he might attach to practical expe-
rience, could not deny that he might derive great be-
nefit from reading treatises on this and various other
subjects—such as the proper time for laying manure on
the ground, the chymical properties of that manure, and
the liability of the volatile parts flying off into the atmo.
sphere. It had been also suggested that popular lectures
might become a subject of the greatest importtance, upon
the simplest method of keeping account of profit and loss.
—(Applause.) Now, he was informed that nothing could
be more imperfect than the accounts which were kept