The Sun.
London, England, 1856-12-19 00:00:00

PROFESSOR CHRISTMAS'S LECTURE.

The seventh lecture of this truly interesting course
was delivered at the bon-if, of the Royal Society of Lit.
erature, on Tuesday, the 16th inst. Before the Professor
commenced the subject of the present lecture, however,
be adverted once more to the " Golden Ass" of Apuieiva,
some one bavi g demurred at his pronouncing the book
a moral one; but this he showed to be the case, inas-
much as the pictures of depravity therein contained were
true to those times, and necessary to the author's views
in writing the work, while in the translation of Sir Geo.
Head every objectionable expression or passage is omit.
ted, and thus purified the book may be read by any one
with advantage. He then proceeded to give a most lucid
and fluent account of the various philosophical and politi-
cal romances which were most remarkable in ancient and
more modern times. Seven authors were particularly cited
—Plato, Hippodainus, Euhemerus, and Thepompue
among the ancients, and Sir Thomas More, Lord Barn,
and Harrington, in more recent ages. As only a few scat-
tered fragments remain of the other three ancient writ-
er., the Professor dwelt more particularly on the
"Republic" of Plato, pointing out its beauties, and
noting where this admirable philosopher was mistaken
in Some of his ideas, adding a vivid eulogium on the
rare beauty of his style. He then proceeded to the
" Utopia" of Sir Thomas More, the " Nova Atlantis"
of Lord Bacon, and the "Oceana" of Harrington ; but
neither time nor space will allow of our entering into
the details of the various imaginations of those distin-
guished men. We can only add, if Professor Christmas
had already given proof of his wonderful talent for trac-
ing and clearly following out the various threads of a
subject, he now surpassed himself. Seven different
authors, with their different works, were passed in re-
view, clearly and distinctly, from Piat and his "Re-
public," to Lord Bacoii and his "Nova Atlanti-," or
18,„nd ofp►~er; and las'ly, flarr•ngroo and his
" Oceans '--and if, as he said,
the BIYIO of .oine of three
writers is dry in the extreme, he navertneless contrived
to draw from their paged matcria:e for a most delightful
and amusing lecture, which was listened to with deep
attention by a very numerous and distinguished audi-
ence, among whom were sonic literary celebrities.
The chair was occupied by Sir John Dorat.

The next and last lecture of this course was announced
for next Tuesday, the 23d inst. The subject---" Moro
recent Philosophical Romances."

CANADA CGMI'ANY.

At a meeting of the Canada Company held yesterday,
Mr. C. Franks presiding, a division of assets of U. 10s.
per share, free from income tax, was agreed to, and the
statement of account was adopted. A lengthened discus-
sion of an irregular character was entered into with respect
to the position of the undertaking. It was complained by
some of the proprietors that the dividend, instead of being
maintained at a steady average, had been increased from
21. to 71. per share without the provision of an adequate
reserve, and that immediately after the maximum payment
a decrease in receipts now rendered it necessary to recede
11. 10s. por share. Great fluctuations have consequently
taken place in the price of the stock, the quotation, which
was 1821., having lately descended to 100 or 103. A course
of this kind, it was contended, must interfere with the
prosperity of the company, while it unsettled the resources
of those who relied upon the receipt of regular dividends
from a judicious management of the available revenue.
The chairman explained that the increase in the rate of
distribution mentioned had been justified by the state of
the accounts, and that the directors, in making the later
payments, had not acted upon their own judgment, but
upon the expressed wish of a considerable majority. The
cpinion being that it was politic, after making due allow-
ance for outstanding libilities, to divide the amount of
assets in hand, that course had been adopted, and the act of
Parliament recently obtained sanctions the proceeding,
although it thee not strictly enforce it. A number of the
proprietors supported the statement of the chairman, but
they at the same time exhibited a desire to be furnished with
increase() information, particularly respecting the quantity
of land, and its situation in relation to railway and other
local improvements. A debate involving this and other
topics followed, in the course of which it was stated that
the results of the present accounts have been influenced by
the condition of the money market in Canada, the pressure
experienced preventing sales and causing collections to be
more difficult. It was not desirable in such a period to
force the land, the company being in a condition to wait
for a change in the financial circumstances of the colony.
Some of the lots which had been previously valued at
about 4s. were included in late sales at 15s. per acre. The
latest advices showed a recovery, and the letters from the
commissioner were of a more encouraging character. With
regard to presenting a more copious report on the position
and prospects of the undertaking, the directors promise to
give the question full consideration, and to augment the
amount of information, if possible, at the next meeting in
March. A vote of a testimonial, in value 1501., to Mr.
Pero?, the late secretary, who has retired at an ad sauced
age on his full salary of 400/. per annum, was carried by a
large majority.