The Sun.
London, England, 1841-09-30 00:00:00

THE LATE M. DE CANDOLLE.

' The death of this eminent botanist, and excellent man,
will be regretted throughout the civilized world. He was
' a native, we believe, of Geneva, where he had resided
for the last quarter of a century, and formed always an
object of attraction among the intellectual society of that
' quiet and delightful city.
M. do Candolle's earliest literary labour was in 1813,
when he produced his " Elementary Theory of Botany,"
in an octavo volume, at Montpelier ; and which appeared,
in 1819 in a second edition; at Paris. In this work the
erudite author laid down the special and fundamental
principles of this science, which after a lapse of some
years has never been contradicted, and which, for its
worth, was in the succeeding year translated into German,
and laboriously enriched with notes, by Cl. Rmmer, of
Zurich. His most elaborate work, in which he arranges
and classifies the whole vegetable kingdom, was published
by him when he was resident in Geneva, about the close
of October, 1816. It is . written in Lath), and entitled
" Regal Vegetabilis Systema Naturale," and was sub-
sequently, in 1838, given, in 'a Parisian edition, to the
world by Treuttel and Wurtz.
•If M. de Candolle had any reason to be proud of his
literary labours, it was assuredly in this instance. Ac-
cording to his catalogue of the botannic books consulted
by him towards the formation of these volumes, whose
faithful minuteness of detail and accuracy make them in-
estimable guides, no fewer than three thousand volumes
passed under his observation. But these were not all ;
for on looking into his book we find appended a note,
observing, " Auctores aut libri in hac enumerations non
designati, inquirendi suet, si vetustiores, in Halleri Bib-
recentiores in Banksii Biblioth," &c. &c, ;
so that near upon four thousand tomes pour the rich
stream of their contents into his " Systema Naturale."
Those alone who know by actual sight what M. de
Candolle's Herbarium is in reality, can speak as to its
completeness and magnificence. From all parts, and
from the first men—from the plants of Europe, as well
as from the exotics of the tropical and new worlds—M.
de Candolle's shelves and cases wero lavishly furnished.
I)esfontaines had contributed many of the specimens of
Atlantic plants; Delille and Coquebert-Montbret .the
Egyptian plants ; while those of Mogadorc and tho Ca-
naries were furnished by Broussonnet ; those of Madeira
by Christopher Smith, our countryman ; the Australian
specimens were contributed by Labillardiere and Brown;
the American by Bose and Lagasca ; the Siberian and
Russian by Fischer ; the Hungarian by Kitaibel ; those
of the India, Japanese, and Chinese regions, by Delos-
sert and Lambert ' • to which sumptuous list were also to
be added species of all kinds from Thibaud, and of the
great botanists•Cavanilles, Nee, Ruiz, and Pavon, who
had made vast collections of Spanish plants in their tra-
vels through that, country, together with Caribbean spe-
cimens from. Swartz and Yadir ; American by Fraser
and Michaux ; and African, collected by Smeathman and
Bruguiere. • •
Such was the extent of this magnificent Herbarium as
'supplied by his foreign friends, in addition to the access
• which he had to every botanical garden atd museum in
his own country. When in London, also, be revelled
•among the rich treasures thrown open to him by the late
Sir JOseph Banks, which contains, as all scientific men
are aware, the noblest foreign plants in existence. To J.
E. Smith, Esq., the author of the " Flora Britannica," he
was accustomed to confess himself under peculiar obliga-
tion, and never mentioned that gentleman's " Herbarium
Linnmanum" without a feeling of professional delight.
W. H. Hooker, Esq., D. 'Turner, Esq., as well as Messrs.
Sims, Ker, Aiton, J. Walker, and Lee, were among a
few of the most prominent scientific gentlemen who
were proud to correspond with him, and enrich him
with their own valuable memoranda.
M. de Candolle's last elaborate and learned work on
" Vegetable Organography" is too well known to the
scientific world to need further mention of it here, and
Mr. Benjamin Kingdons has given it, by translation, that
'standing among our botanic text-books which its intrin-
sic worth and authority demands.
The whole learned world appears to have courted the
name of M. de Candolle. At Geneva, where he deli-
vered the chief part of his lectures, he was Member of
the Sovereign Council, Director of the Botanic Garden,
Honorary Professor .of Natural History, and President
of the Society of Arts of that city. St. Petersburgh
was not behind hand in claiming him as her son, and in-
vested him with the title of Member of the Imperial
.Academy of Sciences in that city. Paris, Stockholm,
!Turin, Munich, Haerlem, Nap:es, and Brussels, severally
owned him as a Member of their Royal Academics. The
Royal Societies of London, Edinburgh, and Copenhagen,
as well as the Linniean and Horticultural Societies,
equally claimed him in their muster-rolls of talent. In
addition to these he bore the honorary title of Knight
Commander of the Legion of Honour.
This is one of those deaths which leave a large gap in
the world, and one which is not easily filled up. As far
only as the narrow limits of this article allow us to see,
the several Societies, with the crowds of literati which
belong to each, are but a small portion of the great
throng who will lament his loss and venerate his memory.
THE LATE M. LAPORTE.

The death of M. Laporte, who was known so widely
to the world as the able manager for nearly twelve years
Of the Italian Opera, and by every one regarded also in
the'personal light of a very excellent actor, is certified
by letters from Corbeil, near Paris, where he died on
Saturday last, of apoplexy.
M. Jean-Francois Laporte was the son of a French
comedian, whose I:tar/Nein was in much request at the
Paris theatres; . his mother was also an actress in the
same capitaL He first came, to London with a French
company upon a theatrical speculation, namely, the first
starting of a French, 'Theatre in this country, and which,
at its appearance, was much patronized by the fashionable
world at large. These performances were then given in
the little theatre in Tottenham-street, which bus since
been under the lessecship of Madame Vestris, and now
known as the Queen's Theatre. The circumstance of
French plays in England being a novelty, most of the
exclusives and travelled of the day brought these per-
formances into reputation. and they were chiefly sup-
purled by the talents of M. Laporte himself, who was
very happy as a comic actor.
Possessing quick parts, M. Laporte soon obtained a
very, competent knowledge of English, and appeared, if
we remember rightly, upon the boards of ])rury itself,
acting English characters with much judgment. From
this time his success was great, and he made himself
master of many hundreds by engagements and benefits
at various theatres, which gradually accumulated
more and more as he himself was parsimonious in his
ways of living. IL Laporte now became a person of con-
sequence among the frequenters of the theatres, and was
the admired, if not admirable representative, of the best
comic creations of Moliere. His fame was co-equally
divided with Dowton and Farren, Potier and Perlet.
At length, in 1828,. Ebers, who had long been a re-
spectable and active manager of the Italian Opera, and
who, though unsuccessful, had carried it on with spirit,
resigned, and immediately there was a keen canvass for
the hire of, the theatre from year to year. Among the
competitors were Laurent, a Frenchman, a most dashing
speculator,., who had already the English theatre
in Paris, a theatre in Brussels, and branches
of theatres on other parts of the Continent.
Another was Price, the manager at once-Of Drury-
lane and another theatre at New York. Besides
these, there were so many other candidates for the Opera
House, that a certain Duke,, not over-encumbered with
wealth; declared his profound astonishment that there was
so much money on earth to be disposed of in scenery
and singing.. ,

.... . . , . . .
On this occasion Laporte was the highest bidder, and
having become lessee of the Opera, for four seasons con-
tinued to conduct it so as to make money. During his
administration it must be confessed that we had an op-
portunity of hearing the best singers in the world ; and
we are indebted to him for the best specimens of dancing
and instrumental music, in the persons of Taglioni and
Paganini. He assembled for a series of seasons within
the walls of the King's Theatre the best company in
Europe.
As a pleasant memento of the past, and a useful refe-
rence hereafter, the following comparative statement of
the principal performers who appeared during M. La-
porte's management, will serve as a curious record of the
rich treats which he turnished,we may say, to the world:-
1828. 1829. 1830. 1831. •
Oreaa, OPERA. OPERA. OER P•.
1/'omen. ' :" 'Women. . Women.
Pasta Sontag Malibran
PatonVLPI alearis:atpuna edr
i tine . a n
Sontag Malibran Blasi)
Schulze ' Monticelli Lalande
Caradori. '- • Pisaroni • Petralia
Brambilht : Speechi Specchi Ayton
Castelli Castelli Castelli Beck

- Maid
Castelli
-
• , Men. : ~: ' Men.' Men. Men.
Curioni,," ' Doneelli Donzelli Curioni
Zuatelli ' Curioni Curioni Davide
Velluti ''' ' Zuchelli Lahlache Rubini
Torri ' Bordogni Anibrogi
IL)aebßlaecghneis
PortoPellegrini Galli Santini
Dc Angell ' Gratiani Deville Santini
Neville: Leev ill Vasseur Dc Angeli De Angeli
: Do
• De Angeli Deville
The principal performers in the ballets during his
management were, Ilivcard, Albert, Gosselin, Paulini,
Coulon, and the inimitable Taglioni.
Having, ,at the close.of the season in 1831, realised a
good sum, M. Laporte resigned the managership of the
Italian Opera; and left it. to enjoy the fruits of his suc-
cess on. the Continent. In that year Mr, Alonck Mason
became lessee, at the enormous rent of 16,000 L, but his
speculations proved unsuccessful.
In the :ensuigg.year Laporte again took the house,
and has, up to the, present time, been its faithful manager.
The history of this aristocratic place of amusement
since that period is still fresh in the memory of the
public ; and it is therefore, needless to say more than
that he was perhaps the best manager of the Italian
Opera that has appeared, a man of great activity and
perseverance, and, we believe, of high integrity and
honour. his death will be greatly lamented. Perhaps
no man was so generally known by the great singers,
musicians, and actors of the present day.

A MAN KILLED BY HIS OWN BULL.—On
Monday
morning last, Mr. Samuel Gething, aged 67, of English
Bieknor, went into a turnip field, for the purpose of driving
a bull back into the pasture from which it had strayed, when
the vicious animal turned upon him, knocked him down, tossed
him with his horns several times in the air, and trampled
him when he lay on the ground. Mr. Gething's son, %he
I%as • at ,work ia an adjoining field, ran, in company with
another man, to ,his father's assistance, and drove the bull
away, ,when it vrpa found that the poor old man was most fright-
fully mangled, and insbreast-bone and ribs were completely
smashed. He survived about an hour, when death put an end
to his sufferings. '''An inquest was held on the body, before
John Cook, Esq.; and a verdict returned in conformity with
the evidence. Some of the jurymen expressed a desire that
the ball should be destroyed, but the Coroner stated he had
no power to make any order to that effect. Cheltenham
Journal.
said the
willt take
otrhdeAnltynosrentsoe Wofiltithees ;mneelito.
A HARD HIT..—" I will take the sense of the
immediatelyagainst
nrsetp lYi eo du ""
ing, and beat you out and out."

Vld N 1 NG kitYli*

ItA 1% V

Z-7*%`V.:4,7
QUARTERLY RE VIE W—No. CXX X 17.1
Murray, Laudon. 1341.
:414 tic-=,.e'
A duller Number than this, first, in the se, • . s‘„H",e-St(
••
tion of subjects, secondly, in the mode car trea ,cr•••;,q..
-
them, has nut appeared ior years past. The u,n-.
article that can oe said to excite curiosity in
tiro
slightest degree, is the one on "The Old and New ""' rsiciAi
Ministries ; and even this—notwithstanding the gfla
nature of the theme, which is sufficiently piquant
under existing circumstances—will please none
but the most purblind Tory reader, tbr it is written
without point and without vigour—is as shallow in
argument, as it is wordy and wire-drawn in
manner; and abounds in Italicized phrases and
expressions, as if the Reviewer were conscious
that, without such helps, we should never dis-
cover that there was anything worthy of notice
in them. Sir Robert Peel is, of course, praised
to the skies, particularly as a " wise man,
and an honest man," two qualiticatious which
we have yet to find in hint—Ulll42SS, in-
deed, cunning be synonymous with wisdom, and
• vacillation with honesty. " Buckingham and
Coombe on the United States" is a notice of two
bulky works that have recently appeared on this
most hackneyed of all hacknied subjects. It is
a tame and heavy affair, with the exception of the
passing hit at Mr. Coombe's phrenological
system, which is fair game enough, tor phrenology
is but one of the myriad buns at which. that
Proteus,.. Quackery, loveA to disguise himself,
" Patchwork " is a review of Captilin. Hallia
latest volumes of travels, which, though published
but six months since, are already forgotten. , We
know not whether the gallant author will be most
pleased or displeased with this review, for tint
gall is mixed up with the honey in nearly equal
portions. If the critic pats Tim eucouragingly
on the back in one sentence, in the next he layti
on the cat with all the zeal of Lord Cardigtai
drummers. But the lash is not undeserved, for
Captain Hall, though frequently a lively, enter-
taining writer, is apt, fur whole pages together,
to degenerate into a 'mere twaddler; and, in-
stead of a manly inquisitiveness as to matters
worthy of a traveller's attention, exhibits far
too much of Jemmy Boswell's paltry, re itless
curiosity respecting the veriest trifles. t ketches
of the Irish Peasantry" is the best; as t is the
most instructive, paper in the Numbtr. The
spirit that pervades it is temperate and toierant ;
though, as might be expected, a disposition is
shown toattribute thesulterings of Ireland many
but their real cause, mis-government. Let the
Reviewer blink this part of the question us
he may, it is notorious that halt the pre-
sent ills that distract the Sister- country
are to be referred to the long misrule
of Toryism. In " Elphinstone's History of In-
dia," some interesting details are . given of the •-
rise and progress of Budhisin in the East—a
gieme which the late Mr. Upham has treated
"with signal ability. The Reviewer also gives
a brief cursory sketch of the famous Sultan
Akber, but we had rather that he had dis-
pensed with a notice of this well-known Monarch,
and furnished us, instead, with some particulars
of his successor, Jehangueir, who if not so re-
nowned, was a far more curious, chdractor—a
whimsical compound of bigotry and toleration—
of shrewdness and ineptitude—courage and
cowardice—cruelty and benevolence. It was the
boast of this odd-natured despot, when half=
drunk at night—fur he was an inordinate •
toper- -that he equally respected the character of
our Saviour and Mathomet, because they both
equally declaimed against the odious • vice of
intoxication ! 'For want of some more entertain-
ing extract, we quote the Reviewer's remarks on
the rise of the Mogul empire :
With the house of Timour, as we have said, com-
mences the magnificent period of Mahometen dominion,
that which awakens our interest. and offers splendid
pictures for historical composition, and characters which
command attention, as of far higher order than the tur- •
baned warriors who headed their fierce hordes in a deso-
lating %lat. of conquest, wal hewed their way to empiee
with the cimitar. Baber is the first sovereign of Maho-
metan India who arrests us by thn! simple grandeur of
his character, the perfect picture of the lite of vicissitude,
of adventure, and enterprise, by which Men rise in the
East to power,—one day a magnificent king at the head
of a mighty army, the next a solitary fugitive in the,
desert, but gradually forcing his way to become the
founder of a splendid dynasty. But the grandeur of
this whole race, and the magnificence of the sovereigns
of Delhi, culminate in Akber. Though perhapt the.
arts, especially architecture, reached, a, higher degree of
sumptuousness and skill under his son Shalt Jehan, on
the whole, Akber concenters the full -glory of the
dynasty. It is a most -tempting subject for reflection—
now that European influence is spreading throughout
India, modifying alike by its social peculiarities both the
stern and inflexible Brahminism. of the Indian; and the
less artificial, but not more pliant, Islamism of the Ilus
sulman; now that the lineal deseendant of Timour, of •
Baber, of Akber, of Shah Jelian, and of ,Aurng,zib, has
long been an idle pageant in the hands of a company of
English merchants—to contrast the state of India under
Akber with the character of the contemporary sove-
reigns of Europe.

OSSIAIV'S GENUINE REMAINS.
Smith, Elder, and Co., London, 1841. •
For this curious volume, which contains'a pre-
liminary dissertation from the pen of Mr. Patrick
Macgregor, we. are indebted to the
Society of London, under whose express pa-
tronage it has been brought out. It is 'a 'collec-
tion of the genuine remains of Ossian, " less'
Ihulty"—as we are assured in the
,Preface—
" than the version of Macpherson, who; while
he professes to translate literally, omits and 'adds
whole lines,. and alters at pleasure. Not only
was he often misled by his hurry and his igno-
rance of the idionttkitt he very frequently de.
parted from the senseufthe original, with a.viewr
either to improve the style, or to obviate antici-
pated objections, and sometimes to gratify his
own prejudices." We believe there is little
doubt now that Macpherson's " Ossian" was any=
thing but a genuine work ; even Sir Walter
Scott gave it up as such ; and, if we are not Mis-
taken, Allan Cunningham has borne testimony
to the same effect; nevertheless, spurionS though
it may be, it will long continue to interest young
'and imaginative renders, for there is a fascina-
tion in its wild imagery, a splendour and, vigour
in many of its descriptions, and a deep pathos.in
not a few of its sentiments, that can never fail
to awaken -interest at a period of life when
the feelings exercise a more • powerful sway
than the judgment. Of the accuracy of the
translation before us, we cannot pretend
.te,
itself
speak, being unacquainted with the °lir' Ina'.
(Gaelic; it is characterised, howevesruig:
uni-
form simplicity of diction, and by such imagery
as would have been most likely to
to a self-taught Highland poet, at the,ar un_ civilized period at which Ossianis
supiinged ;to
have written.

OLD COINS.—The ingenious (Aunt Cayus,
the restorer of painting in encaustic, ~;ays,. " to read an
inscription on a silver coin which has become obliterated
by wear, put the poker in the'fire' ; when red hot; place
the coin upon it, and the inscription will plainly
,appear
of a greenish hue, but will. disappear as the coin coors."
This method was practised at the mint to disedver Ora
genuine coin when the silver was called in. . . . • ; ' .
MIRACULOUS ESCAPE.—Yesterday •mming;
at an early hour, the family of Mr. Bowe, linendraper,
of Great Queen's-street, Lincoln's Inn-fields; 'was-
alarmed by its having been ascertained, that' lyrilig
woman in the employ of Mr. Bowe hadojn'''‘lrd'
to ascertain the. hour from the working-me“, • em-
ployed
at the next house, proceeded from lieni-i1*F0,„,,,, _
on to the leads of the adjoining house,- andsoeizeir
with;
over the parapet it is supposed that she
a surgeon.
giddiness, and, shocking to relate,
seventy feet into the area below. Mr. Harvey.ination, the poor
was immediately sent for, and, onexeitemm
comparative]} slight
girl was found to have sustained
of one of her shoulders. injury, consisting of a dislocation of
elbows.
and a slight wound on one of her
fell froCn'asa height of
has visited the
' , with heavy showers of companicd
which has cemmittOd
last two days,
~
TIIE LATE GALE.—
country during the
arters, anti caused t.tieli damage
great mischiefin various
quarters,
and in the DOv.iis.On Monday
A violent
_ 1. s in, hurricane, ac.
to the shipping on the coast
n raged with great Violence ;.the
il and the ruin fell' its
wind blew in gusts and
or no mischief his .134
On the river little
injury' .
torrents.
shore theto. the' yeiiii.
and Tuesday nights the
caused ; but on
trees
has been most extensive Inc r
plantations and
shes
and low lands are in many
London. The mar
and the pastures in • Essex- near
' .rtiowed, and
~,
places 13" under water. The night of TuesdaSt
the Thames
which arrived yesterday appeared' to
ships and steamers.
and many were delayed several hotiri
suffered by it,
da few which were exerted-last event
was a fearful oanree,and the gale was tremendous. '' All 'the
have __
It was squally during the wholo'Of
frig
rain fell.
yesterday and much
, , , &mous ACCIDENT.--Last evening, alioti%
seven o'clock, as the omnibus called Tagliont, iiipiiiii,
.by tihmedsitolortma,rrain%de . .
in the opposite direeta6 ' •
between King's-cross and the Elephant and Castle,- was
driven, the collisieis
approaching the foot of 131ackfriars-bridO it, eft in
41?
both contact
vehicles with
bae
icnabg comingous
dreadful. The cubinan wally thrown headlong. to a &risk-
derable distance, and was conveyed in a senseless state in
St. Bartholomew's Hospital. The near horse. of the
omnibus was killed upon the spot, while the 'eab'Zh&is,o
was so injured as to be for ever rendered
nuservieeah44
It is impossible to say with whom the blame rests. . ..-
" What will London become ?" iS a 'question
which may well be asked when the rapid extension of its
numerous streets, squares, &e. is contemplated. Ono
Contract recently entered into by Messrs. Cubitt, the
nent builders, is for six thousand houses near Belgrave-
square. The sewerage of the ground, now in progress.„
will alone cost no less a sum than 25,000/..—Cunitridge
Advertiser. •
Hop-picking is now at its height in.this county;
by the end of next week . it will have been nearly completed;
We are happy to hear that the fruit comes-lathe:crib largo. than was anticipated.—Hereford gv.......