The Sun.
London, England, 1834-10-23 00:00:00

LITERATURE,

LARDNER'S CABINET CYCLOPJEDIA,
OY THE STUDY OF NATURAL HISTORY.
Longman and Co., ,1834.
This work comprehends a variety of subjects, and
raaY in some respects be said to encroach on the
volume we have already noticed, on the Biography of
Eminent Zoologists. It commences with a rapid
sketch of the
principal writers on this topic, shows its
importance to the various classes of society, treats of
the science itself, and ends with what indeed appears
the main object of the volume, the decline of the science
RI this country, and the little encouragement it has
met with from the wealthy and the noble. That the
author lays an undue stress on his own particular pur-
suit is undeniable ; but this weakness, for it is a
majority weakness, is absolutely essential to success with the
of mankind ; it is given only to a few to
grapple with science equally in the detail and in the
14848;'40 comprehend the beauties of an extended
laad,s
cape it is requisite to stand upon the mountain,
aod this is not granted to the many. As an instance
ef. the very limited view of our amiable Naturalist, we
give the following extract, which, we take it, rivals the
sliblimest strains of poor Isaac Walton, one of those
!IV-natured dreamers, who move in the narrowest of
be Possible circles, and whose vanity never offends,
ot,eause it never comes in collision with the objects of
ieuera, or because its very feebleness is the guarantee of
infers' ,
if piN.
VAry'be enthusiasm of naturalits is very apt to surprise ordi-
ples.l'ele ; but it may be explained on very simple pri nci-
al gre,,4yery one, raised above the condition of a clown, is in
sees, het or less degree sensible of the beauties of nature, as
stronger fine landscape ; but on none do such scenes make a
habit impression than upon the painter. He, and he alone,te
v4,1.e to analyse, as it were, the picture before him, and
llPtans. d how that general effect, which is merely. judged of
dotiislers as a whole, is produced in detail. By being able to
app..; he feels the beauty of picturesque scenery in a much
they : he
.4 '.+Oirist
,degree to others. The same feelings influence the.
walks abroad with others, and admires with
he general beauties of nature, but his perceptions of
%en' are keener, because he understands them better. A
atelisind little circumstances, unobserved by ordinary eyes,
the b• his attention, and call forth his delight ; the plants,
Ita,°
." us, or the ' creeping things,' that he meets with, are
mode"him by name; he understands something of their
if sta of
life; they come before him as old acquaintances, or,
tiottsitew ones, they are doubly welcome. While his compa-
i be are wondering, and inquiring of each other the name of
is
septiful flower, a curious insect, or an uncommon bird, he,
with 4,"11 at a loss for a reply. He is, in fact, conversant
ipkti tuose things before him, which are strangers tohis corn-
ttad.°zls. And as we always feel pleasure in proportion. as we
stst--
o ..ad thatwhich produces it, so does this feeling fre-
pen+, ,
tkai."Y rN.e to enthusiasm both with the painter and the na-
il 'vst: \hen these two pursuits, indeed, are united, we can
th4andi"inagine‘ a higher degree of intellectual gratification
that which they afford."
voiThe latter half of this amusing and instructive
sei,4llle is chieily devoted to the consideration of
usenet- as it exists in this country, and to the methods
pktr fq its encouragement. The author contrasts the
osteuage that science receives abroad with the hollow
e4eittatious and selfish Meccenases, who in England
doces'rther it with their assistance. Well and truly
T.
•iie observe,
dente That the majority of our societies for the promotion of
that e a,re mainly, if not exclusively, formed for the wealthy.;
ante,t tneY are, essentially aristocratic : 2. That, at this
are there is no mode of distinguishing, from their lists, such
4,..• lsa"tutinal from such as are really working members: and,
•gto sile4
Ltne honour wch once accompanied the admission
'Asocieties has hi
much deteriorated."
gate he observes :
I)Jithaiollee,j3oard of Longitude became almost useless, from
luse by unscientific men ;it was thus brought into
'34se IT, and was abolished in 1828. Of the three light-
'iaish ht°,4l:ds, 'by that fatality which impends overeveez
eke . ..titution,' not one of all the numerous members
,_ 44„aucihsels3:Plan.of science, or is even acquainted with those
g'eutio, ' optics which regulate the condensation and dis-
fiffuse ~,, °I that element which it is their sole business to
,i!sclualifieQ4l' the deep. That Boards so constituted are totally
ac*uear adoption - judge of improvements or inventions offered for
is
by quite natural. There is a remarkable in-
the i..'_.reeorded
the writer we have just quoted, wherein
iztt tub"thr of a new compound lens, after vainly endeavour-
le -.4)o(lrrtiafiw the attention of our
.Boards' to his discovery, had
, ~arae,, . cation of seeing it claimed some years after by a
irisoce4,toreigner, and universally introduced on the coasts of
• b.'inittatias a new and important improvemeeerntsiiienrelsighptrheovere
lirly theuinno,
stwdhaile the li gi
eh tlausreepse,uep
are
r nstill, as it is asserted,
‘,Pi)l°lnaie,„ted by tllgeroollsl unscientific methods.' If any mis-
'lltel,,7°ll of atronage calls for an immediate reform, it is
olt 440- thesepestablishments, wherein is largely involved the
°le-` human life, and the loss of large property. Mr. Bab-
laelduces oth r instance, bearing strongly upon this ex-
' t!ta-r„ of scientific men from the national councils, which is
tka —cite to thepurpose • 6To those who measure the ques-
-1,, of „ e . .—
bouttla national encouragement of science by its value,
,141,a us, shillings, and pence, I will here state,' observes Mr.
Nge, ' the following fact :—A short time since, it was dis-
N`r,.._bY Government that the terms on which annuities had
44,,,tr4 anted by them were erroneous, and new tables were.
,the e". by Act of Parliament. It was stated at the time
, erroneous tables had caused a loss to the country of
It'lle'oef' 2,000,000. 3,000,0001. sterling. The fact of the
t 1 and
h
N„,.ose annuities being a losing concern, was long known
"'Vol, and the Government appear to have been the last to
bo zned on the subject." -.-
4144 facts like these require any comment ? For
4144 rieS the British aristocracy have enjoyed a more
411it:egal possession' of this country : all its wealth,
(lay ofresources, have been in their hands ; and the
t) 417 reckoning is coming—beyond human wisdom
latgert, it--:when they must account to the nation at
4 h:' their stewardship, and much do we fear that
'll • teY balance will be found against them, and a
.I°tit
‘ll,l b Y tot less strict in demanding retribution. It
l'eNi e asked what have the nobles done with the
th which filed f' tell. they did not earn, but which was con-
I'll, qr.° them. by a generous and unsuspecting people ?
h
l'lhriceristver muse be, " for ourselves we have fenced
l''')viir parks
and built palaces ; for the multitude we have
4'l vcii- the workhouse when they are honest, and the
Is ell they are dishonest."
* it t
'4ll th ell to be inferred from these remarks that we
NI: destruction of one important feature of our
11531 e 4itY? Far from it. We could wish to see the
the 43'7 /tore noble, but this is not to he effected, as
?111N1t,ist°eracy themselves seem to think, by fresh
4‘tOntl greater privileges : they will become more
0 t'llt4t;l4) both in reality and in seeming, by the aban-
'Pet) of 'lf Their usurped powers, and by the throwing
18:44ce.' titled honours to the distinguished in art,
84°4; °r literature. On this head we might take a
.to._
atie Is p '4 the leading powers of the continent :•---
N:tlie:,;(4e, in the nineteenth century, indifferent to her
~‘•4l4",„"oVrt,Ps? And does she suffer her philosophers to live
eer4, I, Vtid unrewarded? Let the names of La Place,
;:apric et p,a,r4ot, and Cuvier, created by the Government
tttin'ts of.'''''ice, and esteemed by the intellectual world as
tiered' Wt`„enee, exonerate our neighbours from such ingra-
ker._ a nee,ith, the mammon of this country, is here consi-
tt tl't; f),,'-'sarY requisite for attaining the honours of the
'lutit:4P ave,4 it is differ,lnt in all other countries. We know
PutWetis :Re extant of " worldly goods" possessed by the
tera4l,l°ll f„,,, just named ; but they have never had the re-
. ." tode-;•l°Ying more than what, among us, would be
"1, *ata independence.
burn
*•• * * „
the sub °die
L°ll sOrdinaffe We will, either to the leading powers or to
kih•g—ws it '-'1 states of Europe, the same fostering protec-
•;:t4l--erespe:t‘f•
I,Prussia has risen to a proud pre-em
4311.,cleirltiazdenieitt'erataihree attachment of the reigning family. to
is well known ; and has spread its vivi-
-4),°11.1. I,i' to the institutions and the philosophers of that
tt; to Not
ot to
ast -ern with ~.mention the celebrated Humboldt, who has
tlit. a loathe learr'"inorary and pecuniary rewards, and Lich-
,r ,tent,7 list ril,
.eo. and accomplished traveller and natural-
I, I'Ni ePattot gut be given of other names,. celebrated in
f‘ra; ftwour, gut
of science, who repose in the sunshine
„tet Wellisur ~ toad are enabled to devote themselves,
itiatsll,4 known the investigation of abstract truth. It is a
ail 4ttch4 Phalos„L'uat, at " the congress of German natu-
% to th 'tient ofv",ers, which took place at Berlin. in 1828,
h'i"l'lg eof'cieneestu: King and of
.the Royal Family of Prus-
-1 ;prated the firstas most strikingly displayed. On the
lay ted traveller (lay ofthe meeting,Baron Humboldt, the
+Ye"- sots aveller
bledl3, twee in the
and chamberlain to the King, gave a
b, o,s, thFive hum concert -room attached to the theatre.
ON , 's oceasiered persons of rank and talent were assem-
t r.iae,, ta.as illostt. ii ; and the King of Prussia himself ho-
-11143a': of . forei:sus assembly with his presence. Several
k„'ed rrsrAas. 'ld% States the Prussian nobility, and the fo-
kliatrenthßied with I,vere also present. The Princes of the.
.ktiost
wt to the 2in tife cultivators of science, and the hen--
11.4 mostlot F.elebrineefPohrei:s
;tiler, ith the
pas:ian Throne was seen in eaTest
of.hi own or other. kemefedso,ms thate_
4:4ot,4itshereas.l,lles theirm.oarleenetsspaneet thy
11 irngatural history,
The spieettive.d more
did
of Jacquin, be celebrated be-

tanist, who travelled for years at the public expense, were
given to the world at the cost of the Emperor, and their au-
thor rewarded with an office under his patron. No sooner were
the enchanting regions of Brazil open to the researches of
European naturalists, than a corps of savans were formed at
Vienna, completely supplied with every assistance, and con-
veyed to Rio de Janeiro in ships of war, as a fit retinue to
attend the Archduchess of Austria, then united to the King
of Portugal. Another fart, by which the comparison we are
now making will be better elucidated, ref: ards the celebrated
F. Bauer, who, through the strong representations of Sir
Joseph Banks, was engaged as botanical painter to the expe-
dition under Captain Flinders. Truly and faithfully did he
perform his duties, and returned to England with portfolios
filled with inimitable drawings ; but our Government thought
themselves too poor to follow up what they had so well begun.
No measures were taken to publish, or turn to any use, what
had thus been acquired--Bauer was neglected, and thrown
upon his own resources. But this injustice to so distinguished
a man was not viewed with indifference by other nations. He
was invited to Vienna, with the assurance of protection ; and,
disgusted with British liberality, he left this country, and ended
his days in the enjoyment of a pension from the Austrian Go-
vernment. We are accustomed to look upon Russia as a half-
civilized nation, where the arts and sciences are still in their
infancy. If this be true (whiCh every year renders more
questionable), what is the reason that so many distinguished
individuals of the Academy of Sciences of St. Petersburgh
are maintained at the public expense, and that the Govern-
ment has, on all occasions, exhibited the most generous in-
dulgence to her philosophers and artists ?' Nor can we hope
that a comparison with the minor kingdoms and States of
Europe will tell in our favour, or give an indirect sanction to
the apathy and ingratitude of England. The Court of Ba-
varia is now, as it was during the reign of the late King, the
rendezvous of all men of science and literature ; for there they
feel assured of being received with the honour due to their
high attainments."

It is the same in Sweden—the same in fact in every
country except Spain, Turkey, and Great Britain I
It is something to be either the alpha or the omega of
such a triumvirate.

SHIPPING INTELLIGENCE-(THIS DAY.)

(FROM LLOYD'S.)

DEAL, OCT. 22..2-Wind W. N. W., moderate. In the course
of last evening the wind gradually shifted from N. by E. to
N. W., and at midnight was about W., at which point it has
since continued, blowing fresh.—The Millicent, for Jamaica,
which sailed in the course of last evening, has put back this
day at noon, and remains. Arrived the transport Barnes,
No. 11, from the westward : and Albion, Burrell, from Leg-
horn. Remains the Anna Wilhelmina, for Nantes. The
Chieftain, for St. Vincent's, passed last night. Three p.m.—
The Colonist, for Barbadoes, has just put back. Five p.m.—
An outward-bound South Seaman off the Foreland putting
back, no signal. The rest of the outward-bound that sailed
yesterday keep to the westward.
PORTSMOUTH, OCT. 22—Wind N.N.E. to W. N.W.—
Arrived the Achilles, Duhean, from London for St. Helena.
Put back the Prince Regent, Bouchier, for Bombay.
PLYMOUTH, OCT. 21.—Wind N. N. W.—Arrived the Maria,
Tozer, from Denia ; Sylph, Cumming, from Malaga ; and
Alert, Hare, from Sines.
FALMOUTH, OCT. 21.—Wind N. W. to N., fresh breezes.—
Arrived the Active, Adams, from Denia ; and Elizabath, from
China for Quebec, off the Bird Islands the 30th September.
MARGATE, OCT. 22.—Arrived the Seahorse, Armstrong,
from Limerick.

DOVER, OCT. 22.—Arrived off port the Clarence, Traill,
from the River de Loupe.
SOCTHASIPTON, OCT. 21.—Arrived the George Canning,
Byron, from Denia.

'COWES, OCT. 22.—Arrived the Pulteney, Mowat, from
Georgetown ; Clare, from Matanzas.
HOLYHEAD, OCT. 20.—Arrived the Margaret, Roper, from
Quebec.

BEAUMARIS, OCT. 20.—Arrived the Belby, Eden, from
Pernambuco ; and the Hardware, Jones, from Zante.
LIVERPOOL, OCT. 21. Arrived the Tino, Ellis, from Zante.
Sailed the Bridget, Crosbie ; and the Kent, Cowbro, from
Bombay.

YAR;IOUTH, OCT. 22. —The Rebecca, of Shields, is reported
to have been driven out of the Downs during the late gale, and
was seen in company with two French fishing vessels water-
logged, the crew having left her.

His Majesty's ship Madagascar is not arrived at Portsmouth
rrom the Mediterranean, as stated on the 21st inst.

VESSELS ENTERED INWARDS AT THE
CUSTOM-HOUSE, OCT. 22.
Sir Edward Banks, Norwood, from. Hamburg ; Dart, Stra-
nack, Ostend ; Amelia, Weeks, Oporto ; Mulgrave, Coulson,
Calcutta ; Asia, White, Quebec ; Mountaineer, Smith, Que-
bec ; Regard, Cropton, Quebec ; Grange, Brie, Quebec ;
Queen, Scott, Quebec ; Poland, Embleton, Petersburg ; John
Hunter, Mills, Metis ; Glaphyra, Pearson, Antigua ; Druid,
Treadwell, Antigua; Antigua Planter, Cherry, Antigua ;
Beetles, House, Trieste ; Rachel, Ratcliff, Cadiz ; Favourite,
Monkman, Cadiz ; Montague, Turnbull, Rio Janeiro; Nymph,
Watson, Smyrna ; Waterloo, Coxen, Charente ; Leda, Morey,
Metis • William, Cabley, Lisbon; Rapid, White, Lisbon ; Sil-
via, Watts, Malaga.
ENTERED OUTWARDS FOR LOADING, OCT. 22.
Lord Strangford, Latta, for Hamburg ; Brunswick, Brown,
Hamburg ; Earl Bathurst, Kennedy, Rotterdam ; Mauricio,
La Puente, Corunna, Vigo, and Cadiz ; Peranto, Canish,
Trieste ; Sophia, M‘Nair, Calcutta and Canton; Matilda,
Moore, Syra and Constantinople ; Westbrook, Freeman, Ja-
maica ; Lady Clarke, Foreman, Jamaica ; Nautilus, Turner,
Mogadore and Sylva.
CLEARED OUTWARDS WITH CARGO, OCT. 22.
Unido, Hauxwell, for Teneriffe ; New Phoenix, Barton,
Madeira and Jamaica ; Eliza Jane, Frindley, Algoa Bay ; Far-
ham, Wake, Havre ; Wellesley, Blissett, Jamaica ; Attwood,
Morfee, Antwerp; Planet, Barkley, Jamaica; Europe, Wild-
burn, Barbadoes ; Johanna Tauner, Thorsen, Christiana ;
Jupiter, Dawson, New Orleans; John, Sandescombe, Corunna.
CLEARED OUTWARDS IN BALLAST, OCT. 22.
Haabet, Singdoilhin, for Norway ; Constance, Brettelos,
Cherborg ; Gogstart, Hansen, Norway ; Navarino, Pellirino,
Odessa ; Trois Sceurs, Merlin, Gravelines.

ARRIVALS AND DEPARTURES.-SCOTCH
WHARFS.

The frequently crowded state of our columns prevents us
giving daily this description of useful intelligence.
HORE'S WHARF.
Arrivals, Oct. 21.—At four P. M. the Margaret and Jane,
Capt. Turner, from Banff, with corn, butter, pork, and her-
rings. The Sarah, James Scott, Master, from Ballyshannon,
Irerand, with oats.
Oct. 22.--At four P.M. the Mary, of Peterhead, A. Murri-
son, Master, from Peterhead, with herrings. The Happy Re-
turn, John Sellar, Master, from Borrowstowness, with coals.
The Ploughman, William Edwards, Master, from Banff, with
a cargo of herrings. The Marmion, Captain Laird, from
Wick, with a cargo of herrings. The Brutus, William
Syme, Master, from Fraserburgh, with a cargo of herrings
and provisions.
Advice.—The Peterhead Packet, William Taylor, Master,
from Peterhead to London, with a cargo of meal and provi-
sions, left that port on the evening of the 18th inst.