The Sun.
London, England, 1856-01-31 00:00:00

M. DE LAMARTINE.

A new p,priodical, we observe, is announced to
appear almost immediately from the hand of this
illustrious man—a: monthly serial, to be entitled
Gettes Fcia zili.er tic Litterature. The character of
the undertaking is distinctly enough foreshadowed
through advertisement. It will be a publication,
so says the prospectus, designed to promote the
study of universal literature in every age, in
every country, iii every language ; and to do this
at once with care and intelligence. It is proposed
by M. de Lamartine, through this new organ
of his opinions as a man of letters, that he shall
from time to time, through its pages, criticise
the more remarkable works of all times, of all
lands, of all tongues—and illustrate them by ap-
propriate commentaries. The great author
striving by these means to inspire the taste and
regulate the judgment of even the more illiterate
among his contemporaries. A noble design—a
design not unworthy of the genius, and the
patriotism, and the eloquence of M. de Lamar-
tine. An ambition befitting the poet of
" Jocelyn," the historian of the " Giron-
dins," the • creator of " Raphael," the
Tribune of February ! An apparently feasible
enterprise, this is, moreover, this same scheme of
a monthly magazine to be entitled Cours Familier
dc Litteraturc—Par Lamartine de l' Academie
Francaise. Feasible, we meau,,as an instructor of
vast masses of the French population, both lettered
and unlettered. For the subscriptions are fixed
at no more than twenty francs altogether ! So
that the periodical will be within the reach of al-
most everyone. Within their reach—and tempting
their grasp by how many attractions! For example:
It will be written entirely by the hand of La13311,1'
tine ! Lamartine, in other words, is to be not
merely the projQ.ctor, er editor, or conductor—he
is to be the author, the exclusive author of the
entire production. It is to be published and
administered by himself alone. It is to be intel-
lectually, as it were, bone of his bone and flesh
of his flesh—the direct emanation of his
genius, already productive of so many was'
ter-pieces. It is to be not so much a
course of rhetoric as a course of taste and
discrimination. It will be written throughout
in the style of familiar conversation, that style,
of all the most pliant and plastic, and universally
adaptable. It will be, in effect, a series of
" gossips" between the writer and tie reader,
de omnibus rebus—to appear be it said briefly
—a " chat" a month ! The work, alreadY
penned to the extent of several volumes, will
be continued during at least four years from
the date of its commencement. The first instal-
ment, we are informed, is to appear immediately.
May the seed thus thrown into the furrow
fructify—may it rise and flourish perennially 1.
M. de Lamartine seated in health, and honour,
and happiness, as beneath the shade and the
fruitfulness of his own fig-tree, during many a
fair, sunshiny season to come, under the over-
shadowing leaves of his own popular Cours Fanti.
tier de Litt6raturc !

ELECTRIC AND INTERNATIONAL T.ELE-

GRAPH COMPANY.

The half-yearly meeting of the proprietors was held
yesterday at the company's office, Lothbury ; major-
General Wylde, C. 8., in the chair.
The SECRETARY (Mr. J. S. Fourdrinier)read the notice
convening the meeting.
After the usual preliminaries,
The CHAIRMAN laid upon the table the balance-sheet
and statement of receipts and expenditure of the company
for the half-year ending Dec. 31. He regretted to say
that he occupied the chair that day in consequence of
the resignation of their late chairman, Mr. Ricardo. It
might not be universally, though it was generally, known
to the shareholders present, that. it was to Mr. Ricardo
they principally owed the formation and existence of the
company. (Hear.) It was owing to his talents, and
energy, and perseverance that they were able to over•
come the obstacles that presented themselves in the first
instance, a►id to obtain the act of incorporation to form
the company. No doubt he was ably assisted by the
gentlemen associated with him, but still great obstacles
and difficulties were overcome, which could not have
been surmounted wei e it not forthe talents, perseverance,
and energy witich be brought to the task. He should also
ruentieu coat the obstacles and difficulties, as they must be
aware, were greatly increased in consequence of the in-
vention being one that was new to the public, and be-
cause neither the railway c impanies, the commercial pub-
lic, nor the public in general, in the first instance, were a.
all aware of the advantages that were offered to them
The increase in the number of messages from year to year
eleaily proved this, and he did not believe that they bad
arrived at the maximum yet. (Hear.) He thought,
however, he had said enough to justify the regret he
felt at Mr. Ricardo havieg resigned, and to justify the
shareholders to join with him in that regret. The
The el:airman then called attention to the half•yearly
report of the engineers, showing the progress of the
worke. He moved the adoption of the balance-sheet
and statement of accounts.

Several questions having been put with respect to the
accounts, to which explanations were given by Mr. Ri-
cardo, the moti n was agreed to. A dividend of 14s.
3d.. ..per share was declared.

The retiring directors and auditors were re-elected.
Mr. HENCHCLIFFE moved a resolution to the effect
,hat the proprietors of the company desired to record
;heir sense of obligation to their late chairman (Mr.
licardo) for the services which he had rendered to the
company, and also proposed that a suitable testimonial
should be presented to Mr. Ricardo. (Applause.)
Mr. 'COOKE (a director) rose to second the proposition.
He said that he should offer to the meeting an explana-
tion of his reasons for doing so. It was the first time
that he had publicly avowed it, but he did now avow it,
that he was the original inventor of the practical tele-
graph. He said that, principally to the energy and
talent of Mr. Ricardo assisted by an eminent engineer
then present (Mr. Bidder), was to be attributed the
establishment of the electric telegraph as at present
existing in the United Kingdom, and extending itself
over the continent and in America. He had met with
better fo-'one than that which generally befel
yenta's, in tbt-tining the munificent and enlightened
aQsist,,.ee of Mr. Ricardo, and had to confess his and
tie telegraph's obligations to that gentleman. He
confessed himself a partisan in the matter to a certain
extent, but he was yet convinced that all who_ had. hadnlidstdrae
winolu:
taion nopdpuorrintugntihtye otefnwitnessing l‘isir.Rie chairmanship
ardo's ad
sire to join in presenting him with some testimonial for
his exertions, labour-, and talents, more substantial than
a mere vote of thanks. He only differed from the hon.
proprietor on one point. He thought that the money
for a testimonial should not be voted from the company's
funds, but should be raised from a fund to be formed
entirely of private and altogether voluntary subscriptions,
and he begged, while seconding the motion, to propose
that a "committee be formed from the shareholders and
directors to carry the proposal of presenting a suitable
testimonial to Mr. Ricardo ir.to effect. (Cheere.)
Mr. RAWSON, Manchester, said that although ho dif-
fered from Mr. Ricardo regarding some practical ques-
tions, he was happy to bear his testimony to the exer-
tions he had made for the company.
The motion was then unanimously agreed to.
Mr. J. L. RICARDO, after expressing his acknowledg-
ments, said that whatever labours he had gone through ,
were amply recompensed by so gratifying a compliment.
That those labours had been great he mu-t admit, and
at one time so extreme were the difficulties that he al-
most despaired of success in bringing the telegraph to
its present proud position ; indeed at one period there
were but ten shareholders left, and• they had bought up
all the shares that the holders were endeavouring to get
rid of. They were then losing 3001. per week. In seek-
ing rest from the labours of his chairmanship, he was
gratified to think that he left the company in the best
possible position. Their prosperity would go on in.
creasing, because the telegraph was only in its infancy.
(Applause.)
The meeting then separated.