The Sun.
London, England, 1851-08-15 00:00:00

sensitiveness as savouring of an insane chivalric
pride, and, in that expanded spirit of philanthropy
which would remove all bars and bolts from a dwell-
ing-house, induce the owner to leave all his drawers
stir' coffers unlocked, and to walk about the streets
with his handkerchief and the end of his purse bang-
ing out of his pocket in amiable reliance on the meek-
,iess and integrity of his fellows, they regard a.
musty and unworthy of an enlightened confidence
that time honoured ad age—"Sivispacem, bellum para."
seriously speaking, those gentlemen are—giving them
full credit for sincerity of purpose and absence o 4
,inister design—political quacks. They seem to
think that PAOVIDENCE has fallen asleep, and that i-
,s their province to undertake the regeneration of th.
-lumen race. That a time will yet come in the worin'e
-tistory when the principles of peace will b.
triumphant, when there will be a genuine brother-
iood of nations united in the bonds of a prevailing
Christianity, and co-operating in the development of
he arts of civilization and peace, we as dutifully be
lieve as they can ; but it is a mere piece of blina
absurdity to suppose, that, in the present ominous con-
lition of continental Europe, transitionary to catas-
trophes which it is not for us to determine, th,
logmas of any school can magically alter the current
if affairs, and instantaneously lull the conflictiug
Jassions of humanity. It will not do for us to be
Quixotic to the risk of our own undoing.
the amelioration of human nature is no'
to be precipitated by instruments however
well-meaning, nor will it, we grievously suspect, b -
ound to be materially pushed forward by any self-
lauded nostrum, whether it be clairvoyance, vege-
'arianistn, or Peace Congressism.
If our well-intentioned friends would devote their
exertions to matters of practical utility, and to tb.
furtherance of practicable objects, we should un-
feignedly rejoice at beholding their estimable qualifier
lirected into commendable and profitable channels.
Without striving to drag 4STR2E& back on earth
before her time—constituting themselves a sect of
moral " jumpers"—there are matters which it be-
noves Reformers, deserving of the appellation, to
fake in hand with an earnestness of purpose, to work
out in a persevering and business-like manner, not
with desultory and fitful mouth-service. The bulk
of the people require to be clearly enlightened as to the
crying necessity of financial reform. The inequalities,
hardships, and absurdities of the existing fiscal system
are paralysing the wall-being of the middle and
tower classes. Electoral reform is imperatively de-
manded commensurate with the progress of the na-
tion. The latter, indeed, should be strenuously
agitated during the recess, for the admission made by
the PREMIER of his disapproval of the continuance of
that abominable absurdity—the property qualifica-
tion for Members, and the support given to the in-
troduction of the ballot by several Members of her
MAJESTY'S Government render the abolition of the
one, and the adoption of the other, matters of certain
attainment at no distant day. The more emphatically
the voice of popular urgency makes itself heard in
high places, the more speedy and facile will be the
,egislation of two points in that scheme of reform,
which, sooner or later, with, or despite of Whig aid
And Conservative opposition, must become the
law of the land. Extension of the suffrage, on
the broad, boniest principle that every man
directly contributing his quota towards the na-
tional exigencies should likewise have the
,a-ivilege, or more properly speaking, the right of di.
reedy participating iu- the selection of the represen-
taives of the people in the Commons House of Par-
:iaroent ; an equitable arrangement of electoral
districts, whereby the representation may be duly
apportioned, and popular sentiment satisfactorily
enunciated,—these, and such like measures, are pro-
perly the immediate objects for active consideration
on the part of those who are desirous of working for
the substantial benefit of their countrymen. Who-
ever will direct his energi-s to the promotion of con-
stitutional freedom, and the diminution of the bur-
dees of taxation, will effect far more good in his gene-
ration, and contribute more towards the substantial
happiness of his brethren, than if he were to harangue
by the hour on the blessings of defencelessness, and
the iidernalism of gunpowder, in Exeter-hall. Frank-
fort-on-the Maine, or wherever the prosers of the
Peace Congress may yet prefer to pitch their
platform.

ROBBERY BY AN OFFICIAL AT TUE GREAT Ex-
HIBITIoN.—A new person has been appoiuted to a most lu-
crative .ituation in the Great Exhibition, occasioned by the
sudden dismissal of cne of its officers, who, it appeared, was
placed in a department where the money proceeds of each
day were deposited. A watch was aet upon the individual
in question in consequence of his suspicions conduct, and one
of the Sappers and Miners detected him purloining the
money. The " man of war" instantly apprised one of that
most useful class, " the detectives," of the tact, and in a short
time afterwards the officer hinted to the delinquent that he
must search his pockets. This h .ving been done the guilt of
the entrusted cfflzial was discovered, and Superintendent
Pearce set the electric telegraph at work to know from
Winds,,r what was to be done in the matter, but, strange to
say, the answer received amounted to not to detain the pri-
soner. Such being the case, he, of course, instantly left the
Exhibition out of custody, but appeared at his station yes-
terday (Thursday) morning, when be was instantly ordered
to leave the building, contrary, apparently, to is expecta-
tions, for he had thought that " influence" would have re-
stored him.

DEATH OF Da. STANr•RD.—This well-known
gentleman died at Windsor on the 6th inst. The deceased was
much and deservedly respected in professional and private
life, and had very successfully practised as a physician in
that town for the last 30 years. Dr. Stanford served with
the expedition to Hanover in 1805; at the capture of Ma-
deira in 1807; and subseq ently in the Peninsula, with the
Buffs and the 29th. He was present in Sir John Moore's re-
treat nom Corunna, in the battles of Talavera, Busse°.
and Albuhuera, in retreat to and defence of the lines of
Torres Vedras, the pursuit of Messina, the actions of
Pumbal, Redinha, and Campo Mayor, and first siege of
Hadajos. In 1814 he accompanied the expedition to
America, and was present at the attack and capture of the
forts of Castine and Machine. He served also in the
campaign of 1815, including the capture of Paris. Dr.
St2.ntord was professionally employed at Cooling during the
epidemic lever in 1812. He received a medal and clasps for
the battles of Telave a and Albuhuera, in Spain. Au in-
stance of his uncompromising spit it in the discharge of his
duty was di.played during the retreat from Talave-a. The
wounded of the division was sent to the rear, and the doctor
had charge of the men of till brigade to which he belonged.
A Spaniard complaine that the wounded mf-n were trouble-
some, and the commandant ordered them o be encamped as
a punishment. The doctor represented the danger of such
an arrangement, declaring that the men were so badly
wounded as to render it likely that exposure to the cold
night air, after the hot days. would prove fatal to them.
The men were kept in quarters, and not one of them died,
whilst iu the brigades that %ere encamped several men
perished. Dr. Stanford had attained his 69th year, and has
leer no family. J. F Stanford, Esq., M.P. for Reading, is
the nephew of the deceased, but it is understood that his
property has been bequeathed to the hon. gentleman's brother,
Sir Robert Staudford.

TkIMP EST IN LOWESTOPT.—•-(FrOMI a Corre4pon-
dent.)—On Wednesday afternoon, at four o'clock. the at-
mosphere became oppressive, the clouds increasing from the
south-west. The lightning began abut half-past eight
o'clock P Bs. Between nine and ten o'clock the electrical
corruscatiens were incessant; a smart shower fell for half an
hour. At twenty minutes before ten o'clock a severe flash
of forked lightning and at the same time a ball of fire fell
into the sea, which was followed by a loud continued ru 1 of
thunder. The brilliancy of the electricity was so great that
ships might be distinctly seen at a distance of three miles.
This might be termed an electrical exhibition of the hea-
vens. There were many persons to view its effects on the
see, the lightning displaying various colours. At times it
gradually passed to the north-cast. The moon shone bright
at eleven o'clock ; the wind during the time was from the
south-west and light. The barometer fell in the afternoon.
Tne lightning ce,ranued to play in the distance until after
m.dniglit. 1 bays not heard of any damage done by the
storm. Thursday, 10 A.m., wind Lesh, breeze west, with
rising clouds.

FATAL ACCIDENT.---An inquest was held yester-
day by Mr. Bethord, at Charing-eross Hospital, on the body
of William John Leitch. who met his death under the
iug circumstances Deceased, who was a carpenter, was ern_
on Monday week, at Professor de Waldeck's new
theatre of optical illusions, at Hungerford- hall. He had oc-
casion during his work to go to the roof of the building in-
side to fix a block, when he fell through the ceiling to the
ground, a height of thirty-three feet. When taken up he
was insensible, but after recovering at the hospital he stated
that when he got up to the roof the heat was so suffocating
that he fainted away, and lost his foothold. Mr. Dalton, the
house-surgeon, stated that, in addition to other severe
ries, he had suffered compound fracture of the spine. The
jury returned a verdict of " Accidental death."

LIVERPOOL D. CH C.,ALNIITTEE. -- LIVERPOOL,
TIRAISDAY.—At ihe meeting of the new dock committee,
to-day, Mr. Cnarles Turner was elected chairman, stud Mr.
Francis Shand, deputy chairman. In our report yester-
day we gave the names of Mr. Charles Saunders and Mr.
Wye Williams as having been elected. On a revision of
the voting-list, however, Mr. M. in; Nicol
was found to
have 366 votes, at;d Mr. John Lockett, 348; while Mr.
,r Charleshe t;
o latter, Saunderstherefore,
rehittodre,3l4o.2statnhceiirßelr. C
ieetiWye
on.m‘o%ltamype 3ap'e.7r..
STATE OF TRADE.—MANCIDISTER, AUG. 14.—The
market is fully as active as on Tuesday, and in come de-
scriptions of goods there is even more business doing, with
a continued hardening of prices. Longcloths and T cloths
continue to move off, and the business of some of the fa-
vourite makers is only limited by their power to supply the
demand. in several counts of yarn, as well as cloth, buyers
have also
prices,
adifficulty in supplying their wants without giving
higher
eveno. atanda
slightare notad
vaahnicee.to
The Germans
fot-
areim mgeidviiantge
delivery
out oulers more freely for yarns, and tbr the Levant end tor
the Russian markets there is ul.o a fair inquiry. Printing 1
cloths and narrow ahirtings fully sustain last quotations,
and the demand of most kinds appears to be fully equal to
the production.

- .
WEST INDIA COTTON.-_A vessel just arrived from
Barbadoes has brought twenty-four bales of cotton as it pot'
tion of her cargo 0f Weet India produce.