The Sun.
London, England, 1846-09-12 00:00:00

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LONDON, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 1846.

During the last two centuries a grand principle
has been gaining ground amongst the civilised nations
of the globe—a principle which has gradually in-
noculated the minds of the populace, has infused into
them something of the more elevated ambition of
philosophy, has imparted an astonishing impetus to
intellectual enterprise, and is now rapidly tending to
the improvement of our social condition, and facili-
tating the revelation of the secrets of nature. Ever
since the unsound theories of ARISTOTLE were exploded,
and the inductive and experimental system pro-
pounded instead, that mighty principle has been accu-
mulating to itself additional vigour, and its paramount
claims upon the attention of man have been suc-
cessively recognised by one army of disciples
after another. We mean the principle- that more
enduring glory may be acquired, and more substan-
tial advantages achieved, by the extension of human
knowledge than by any other earthly endeavour that
the imagination of mankind can conceive. That glori-
ous principle, first germinated in the chamber of the
philosopher, has been already disseminated to an
astonishing extent among the multitude. The con-
quest of the difficulties of science, the fabrication of
the masterpieces of art, the simplification of the
abstruser studies, and the application of the various
laws which regulate matter to our own use and ad-
vantage, are considered to be amongst the noblest
objects for the attainment of which the human intel-
lect can strive ; and this, not merely by the
mechanician, the astronomer, the chemist, or the ma-
thematician, but by agriculturists, merchants, and
.civilians indiscriminately. The good seed sown by
BACON and by DESCARTES have even now yielded
harvest a hundredfold. The people see that in
striving for the extension of knowledge they are not
pursuing any beautiful illusion ; they see that while
they are elevating their minds by the contemplation
of the universe, and appeasing a delightful curiosity
by analysing its portions, they are conferring practi-
cal benefits upon society, and satisfying many of our
corporeal wants, The allurements of philosophy have

proved themselves to be unlike the aerial music and
the golden showers of CALIBAN : the most extrava-
gant visions have been realised by yielding to those
allurements.

All the incalculable advantages which may be con-
ferred upon mankind by the diffusion of knowledge may
be, in some measure, estimated by the extraordinary
blessings already derived from that source. Many
eminent personages have been so impressed with the
truth as to have devoted the energy of many years to
the popularisation, as it may be called, of science
generally. Lord BROUGHAM has fought that good
fight in England. AL Anaco has done so in France;
others have arisen in other countries who have en-
eavoured to emulate the conduct of their predecessors.
Excellently, however, as such efforts are calculated
to inform the people of the facts which have already
been acquired, and to foster those germs of discovery
which are lying dormant in so many quarters of the
community, much remains to be done before the
great crusade after knowledge can be ade-
quately commenced. It is not merely necessary to dis-
seminate the fruits which have been already culled,
but it is necessary to sow fresh seed and to irrigate
the soil anew, so that fresh fruit may be produced
for future distribution. The facts already accumu-
lated by philosophy are marvellous enough, it i., true,
but additional facts must be divulged and collected :
the march of science has only just commenced. The
source of all our discoveries and inventions must,
therefore, be consulted, if we hope to obtain
more of similar blessings : the national intellect must
be kept in a healthful and constant state of activity,
and this never can be done systematically, unless
the most eminent of our philosophical minds are
brought, periodically, into collision. From the
interchange of thought consequent upon the assem-
blage of such men ; from their mutual collation
of arguments and calculations; from the sub-
mission of the results of their several labours to the
scrutiny of each other ; from their constant retrospec-
tion of what has already been accomplished, and from
their constant survey of w hat still remains to be
accomplished, most material advantages must neces-
sarily follow—the stores of philosophy must
thereby be increased by the addition of new data—
unexpected trains of ideas will be occasionally sug-
gested by this communion of intelligent and original
minds—and those trains of ideas may ultimately lead
to the detection of some of the great motors of matter.
The secret of steam-power was not developed under
half such propitious auspices—or the mystery of
the compass—or the combination of lenses into a
telescope—or the phenomena of electricity—or the
venous and arterial circulation.

The British Association, now assembled at South-
ampton, occupies, to our thinking, the eminent position
which we have endeavoured to illustrate. It forms a
kind of guarantee that human knowledge shall not re-
trograde ; it is a national stimulus to the national intel-
ligence of great Britain, and, by inference, to the in-
telligence of other countries. To our mind, it fulfils
precisely the office which was so much wanted : it
promotes science by that interchange of thought be-
tween contemporary philosophers which we have al-
ready particularised as so necessary. By deriding this
Association, as some individuals are unfortunately
accustomed to do, derision is cast indirectly upon
such men as Sir JOHN HERSCHEL, Sir DAVID
BREWSTER, Dr. BUCKLAND, Sir RODERICK MURCHI-
SON, LEONARD HORNER, Professor WHEATSTONE, and
others, who by their illustrious efforts in the vineyard
of knowledge have conferred so much that is valuable
upon humanity, and have thereby entitled themselves to
so much deference. The Society for the Diffusion of
Useful Knowledge was formerly maligned as likely
to generate a feeling of infidelity among the popula-
tion,—this outcry originated among the pharisees of
religion, and if believed by its authors was clearly
the result of a purblind bigotry. the British
Association is taxed with being productive of no prac-
tical benefit to science,—that baseless aspersion can
only originate in something akin to indifferentism as
to the avowed objects of the Association.

The discourse uttered yesterday evening by Sir
RODERICK IMPET MURCHISON, the president for this
year, was a magnificent retrospect of what
has been already achieved through the instrumenta-
lity, under the immediate auspices, or at the sugges-
tion of the British Association. That eloquent and
comprehensive discourse was a refutation—if any was
really required—of the charges levelled at that emi-
nent body. It enumerated with a masterly per-
spicuity the deeds which had been done since
the first establishment of the Association,
—the geographical discoveries under Sir JAMES
Ross ; the meteorological observations at the Royal
Observatory of Kew ; the zoological researches of
FORBES and OWEN ; the geological labours of its
associates ; the monster telescope of Lord
ROSSE ; the ichthyological works of Sir JOHN
RICHARDSON ; the dynamical mathematics under
ROBINSON, and the engineering of RENNIE. In
proposing a vote of thanks to the eminent Professor
who delivered that discourse, Lord PALMERSTON en-
larged in glowing and beautiful language upon the
advantages as well as pleasures resulting from the cul-
tivation of scientific knowledge, and especially the ad-
vantages resulting from such societies as the British
Association. To the noble and deserved eulogium
passed upon that association by her .NIAJESTY'S Secre-
tary for Foreign Affairs, we refer the reader. It con-
denses into a few brief sentences the merits of its
members and the beneficent consequences of its
meetings. One beautiful sentiment uttered by the
Noble Lord incidentally we cannot refrain from
placing directly before our readers' attention. Re-
ferring to the contemplations and results of science,
Lord PALMERSTON observed :---

" They are not only useful as conducing to the enjoy-
ment and to the prosperity. of mankind; but they must
have a considerable and salutary effect on the minds of
men, for is it possible that those who are in the enjoy-
ment of great and overweening prosperity must not be
brought to feel a more proper sense of their position,
when they see the utter insignificance of this globe as
compared with the mighty universe, which the telescope
of Lord Rosse unfolds to the eye? and is it possible,
on the other hand, that those who, broken by misfor-
tune, are bowed down by affliction, should not find a
source of resignation and of patience is that science by
which they are more especially reminded of the great
duration of time, and which shows the small period of
time during which they are destined to suffer in this
world, as so small and insignificant compared to the great
eternity to which they belong, as is a grain of sand to
the earth which they inhabit, or that earth itself to the
mighty universe of which it forms so small and insigni-
ficant a portion?"

As calculated to disseminate these lofty considera-
tions, as well as to extend the scope of human intel-
ligence, we look with peculiar satisfaction on the an-
nual meetings of the British Association.

The general half-yearly meeting of the proprietors
of the South-Eastern Railway Company took place
on Thursday, when the directors presented the usual
report respecting the state anti prospects of the com-
pany. The document was looked for with much
anxiety, in order that the public might know under
what pretences the managers would attempt to justify
the late increase in the fares and charges for con-
veyance, and also whether they were prepared to
brave the storm of public opinion, and to persevere in
the unwise and injudicious course they had adopted,
or gracefully to acknowledge their error, and make
all the amends in their power for the mischief already
done and the odium incurred. It was also hoped that
in the event of a continuance by the directors in their
suicidal policy, an earnest protest would be offered
by the general body of the proprietary,
and that the sense of the meeting would
be testified in the strongest manner against
the recent change—a change which was adopted by
the directors on their own responsibility, without the
opinions of the general body with respect thereto
being asked for, or desired.
The report (a copy whereof appeared in The Sun
of yesterday) was chiefly remarkable for its total
disregard of the interests of the public. In every
line it breathed the spirit of monopoly. The whole
end and object appears to be, how and by what
means can the greatest amount be extracted from the
pockets of the public ? It is not pretended that the
former reduction of rates was not attended with be-
nefit to all classes ; that a larger sum was not thereby
earned by the company, and made divisible amongst
the proprietors. On the contrary, it appeared that
the increase, as compared with the corresponding
half-year of 1845, before the reduction had taken
place, was 37,653 first-class, 87,712 second-class,
and no less than 271,068 third-class passengers ;
on the latter an increase of more than 200 per cent.
True it was that a greater quantity of ground had

been travelled over, consequent upon the opening of
the Tunbridge `Veils branch, and that from Ashford
to Canterbury and Ramsgate, but it will be found
that the increase more than correspond( d to the ad-
ditional distance, and it is well known that it takes
some time fully to develope the resources of a rail-
way, and that a far less number of passengers have
recourse to it during the first months of its existence
than when it has been for some time in operation; a
great increase of profit may therefore reasonably be
looked for from the several branches on future occa-
sions. The directors, however, seize on the fact, that
notwithstanding the increase in the amount received,
and in the number of persons carried, the amount per
mile per week earned, in 1845, was greater than that
earned during the last half-year, to say
that it thereby became incumbent on
them to reconsider the scale of passenger
fares, and to adjust them as seemed reasonable, after
the experience gained on a trial of twelve months at
the greatly reduced rates. This is the only explana-
tion they condescend to give, the only apology they
offer to the public for the great additional charges
they have made at the close of a session of Parliament,
during which they relied in the strongest manner on
the reductions they had previously effected as giving
them a claim upon the nation, and as sufficient in
itself to overrule the claims of a rival company, offer-
ing great advantages to the inhabitants of the northern
parts of Kent, and to all continental travellers; they
do not mention how much less was the amount per
mile earned during the last half-year, nor how that
was calculated. They could not possibly suppose
that branches just opened would have earned
as largely per mile as the main trunk,
which had been in full operation for no less than ten
years, and which enjoyed peculiar advantages as
being (for the present) the route by which a great
majority of travellers to the continent must travel.
We call upon the directors, if they wish to be sup-
posed to have acted in a fair and boner file manner, to
publish a comparison of the rates per mile earned
over the same ground on the fares in operation during
1845 and during the corresponding period of the
present year, at the reduced rate ; without pretending
to the power of divination, we will venture to pre-
dict that it a ill be found to have been more remune
rative at the cheaper rate. If this be the case, what
can be said of the conduct of those who put forwaril,
as an argument to justify the increase of fart a,
certain circumstances, when, if the facts con-
nected therewith were fully and truly set forth, it
would appear to be strongly in favour of the
other course. Let the directors, then, if they wish
to be acquitted in the eyes of the public, state what
the earning has been during the corresponding por-
tion of the years 1845 and 1846, or the portion that
was, during both periods, opened to the public—say
from London to Dover, exclusive of the branches.
Lord TORRINGTON, in seconding the adoption of the
report, ventured to attack the public press of the
country for the animadversions which they, in
the honest and fearless discharge of their
duty, thought it necessary to pronounce on
the conduct of the directors in raising the
fares of the line He expressed his regret " that
the writers, without looking into the facts, and with-
out making inquiries into the circumstances, should
make such statements, that they should have opened such
attacks without strong and serious grounds on which
to base their assertions." Now, with all respect for his
Lordship, we conceive that there were ample grounds
for the observations offered. Those contained io
The Sun were based on the simple fact of the in-
crease of rates, which has been found to be opposed
to the experience of the past, which has clearly estab•
lished that in every instance in which reductions of
fares have taken place there has been a more than
proportionate increase of traffic, and that there has
been a mutual benefit to the public and the coin
panies therefrom. We also thought that this pro-
ceeding was peculiarly objectionable on the part of
the South-Eastern Company, being in violation of
an implied contract with the public. Their advo-
cates had made the committee-rooms resound with
praises of their disinterested conduct in the reduction
of their fares, an argument of which they re-
ceived the full benefit. We pointed out
how unjust it was that persons Rho, on
the faith of the existing fares, had taken country
residences along the line should now be subjected to
a greatly increased expenditure; that it was very
unfair, not only to compel persons to travel an addi-
tional distance by a circuitous route, but also to
charge them for the extra space. These were the
arguments used in The Sun, and we defy the Noble
Lord to show how they are in any manner shaken
by the very lame explanation offered, and to which
his Lordship referred with so much complacency. He
took peculiar credit to the company for charging only
one penny per mile for third-class passengers. We
believe that the Legislature are fairly entitled to that
praise, and not the company. Mr. SALOMONS made
an appeal to the proprietors highly creditable to
himself to induce them to retrace their steps; but,
with some few honourable exceptions, the assemblage
were blinded by mistaken views of fancied pro-
fits, and disregarded the prudent and sensible ad-
vice offered. We again emphatically warn the com-
pany to pause. Should they persist, a heavy retribu-
tion must await them ; the public will not suffer
themselves to be treated in such a manner with im•
punity. They may now domineer in fancied security,
but they will awake to the disagreeable consequences
at a very early period of the next session of Par-
liament.

The attention of the Irish landlords has been
thoroughly awakened to the circumstances in which
they are placed, and various suggestions are offered
from day to day for the consideration of the Govern-
ment. Food must be provided for the starving multi-
tudes, and the obvious and natural source from whence
that provision is to be obtained is the land of the
country. The necessities of all must be fully met by
the produce of the soil, before any portion can be applied
to the superfluities of any. It has been well stated in
the memorial of the Central Relief Committee of
the baronies of Upper and Lower Kells and Fore, to
the Lord Lieutenant, " that the case which they are
now called on to meet differs, not only in degree, but
also in the nature of the evil, from that which they
had to contemplate last season." Last year there
was a pressing but temporary deficiency, and
there was a reasonable ground for hoping
that on the arrival of the next harvest
the emergency would have passed away, and
that the ordinary channels of supply would have
been available to the public support. That expect&
tion has vanished. The evil must now be dealt with
as a permanent one. It would indeed evince a sad
want of foresight, an idiotic blindness, if some means
were not adopted to pmduce a greater quantity and
different quality of food for the multitude from that
which has been withdrawn from their use. This can
only be produced by an increased degree of cultiva-
tion, an extra quantity of labour applied to the soil,
and a more judicious selection of the description of
crops to be raised therefrom. Few who are entirely
dependent on a single crop will venture on one so
likely to yield no return as the potato. The farmers
will scarcely be willing again to risk the chance of
such a lottery, or to let their ground for such a
purpose to persons who, in the event of a
failure, will be wholly unable to remu-
nerate them therefor. There must be means
adopted for the adequate employment of the
labouring population, so that each man may be cer-
tain, in return for his exertion, of procuring a suffi-
ciency of plain food for himself and family, and the
shelter of an humble roof. This he has a right to
demand from his country, and it must be provided
for him, whatever may be the difficulties, the impe-
diments in the way of so doing. The necessity is
admitted by all—the only question is as to the means
by which it may be effected. Last year large sums
were raised by voluntary contributions. It can
scarcely be expected that similar funds can be pro-
cured to meet the present distress. Many, who gave
freely according to their means, would be unable to
afford an equal subscription at present. Neither
would it be just, if it were practicable, to look solely
to voluntary gifts ; those who are disposed to act most
justly to provide employment on their own estates
for persons having a fair claim thereto, would also be
disposed to act most generously, and thus a double
burden would be imposed on them, while the
heartless and inhuman would escape the performance
of a solemn duty. Neither would it be just that the
means should be provided from the public ex-