The Sun.
London, England, 1832-10-02 00:00:00

UNIVERSITY OF LONDON.

Yesterday the lectures at the University of London
commenced by the delivery of au introductory lecture by
Dr. Elliotson, which was remarkable for the good sense
and sound principles which it disclosed. The Professor
said that the establishment of the University of London
formed an era in the history of England. The foundation
of a university in the first metropolis of Europe was in
itself a memorable event, but the foundation of that uni-
versity upon the principles and plan which distinguish it,
was an event so novel and important in all respects, that
it would be regarded as a striking feature of the age when
pourtrayed by the very latest historians. That the largest
and wealthiest city in Europe should have been destitute
of a university, of a great seminary in which all science,
art, and literature could be learned, was no less extraordi-
nary than lamentable, and the more so since the other ca-
pitals of Europe afforded the advantage of an university
to their inhabitants and the surrounding provinces. One
would naturally imagine that where the largest mass of
people was collected, where the greatest accumulation of
talent and information existed, was where the means of
instruction were the roost abundant, and where the liveliest
activity prevailed. In that spot would be seen the fairest
and most copious fountain of knowledge, at which not only
the young inhabitants of the city might drink, but to which
the youth of the provinces would repair, rather than that
those of the city should be compelled to seek the best in-
struction in the provinces. In the case of medicine this
deficiency was the more remarkable, because medicine
cannot be properly taught unless in the midst of a large
population. That there was at the beginning of the 19th
century in Great Britain, no full and complete school of
medicine, or no university affording a perfect medical edu-
cation, capable of conferring privileges and honours, within
400 miles of the metropolis, would never cease to excite
wonder as long as it should be remembered. The neces-
aity of going from London to Edinburgh for the purpose
of obtaining a full medical education and a degree, was an
absurdity which a century hence would scarcely be cre-
dited. But the principles and the plon of the University
rendered the event so much more striking, that had a uni-
versity already existed in the metropolis, upon the prin.•
ciples and plan of the two ancient English Universities,
and now been reformed to the principles and plan of the
University of London, that even would have been almost
as memorable an occurrence. The grand principle of the
University is to afford instruction to all, and to bestow
whatever honours it shall have the power of bestowing
upon all whose proficiency is distinguished. The rule of
conferring no honour, of conferring eligiblity to appoint-
ments upon no merit, however great, among pupils, un-
less they professed to hold certain opinions upon religious
history and doctrine, and in testimony of their sincerity
signed a specific number of articles, and thus declared them.
selves members of a particular sect, was a principle truly
barbarous, and not in accordance with the present period
of society. No one could demand an examination for a
fellowship at the College of Physicians, in virtue of any
degree but that of Oxford or Cambridge, and no pupil
could obtain a degree in the Universities unless he signed
the 39 articles. If it were urged that the English Uni-
versities were intended for the supply of the church of

England, the answer was easy. The church had a
right to possess Universities, and to see them as ex-
clusively endowed with privileges in regard to itself
as it desired, but those Universities ought not to
possess the exclusive power of bestowing a single
privilege not in reference to the church, while they
exacted a declaration of certain religious opinions from
their candidates. The objection lay, not against those
statutes, but against the exclusive possession of privileges
in matters not relating to the church, by institutions
which had such statutes ; ardently, therefore, did he desire
to see equal privileges enjoyed by the University of Lon-
don, and by whatever other universities might arise, with
the same generous and rational principles. Where no
such comprehensive institutions existed, each religious de-
nomination had a right to a university of its own, en-
dowed with equal powers of granting degrees and conferring
priveleges ; because proficiency in knowledge was of equal
value and merit in men of all creeds, and we had no right,
while ascertaining the literary or scientific attainm, nts of a
person, to inquire of him what are his religious opinions,
much less to withhold knowledge, or what was nearly the
same thing, the honours which were devised as the incen-
tives to the attainment of knowledge in youth, from any
one, because his faith, or shade of faith, was not precisely
the same as our own. But a university exclusively for
every sect, in imitation of the principles of the two ancient
English universities, would be impossible ; at least, a uni-
versity of high pretension, and a magnificent institution
like the University of London, while it was calculated to
answer every purpose, had this great advantage, that by
bringing together the youth of all sects, it liberalized their
feelings, taught them toleration and forbearance towards
other creeds and doctrines, and proved to them that how-
ever correct their own opinions appeared, others of dif-
ferent opinions might likewise lead a virtuous and
religious life—might still perform no less than they
themselves their duty towards God and their duty
towards their neighbour. The generous and manly
principle of offering education, and the honours of
industry and talent, to the youth of all creeds and
sects, so that no one hereafter should be compelled to
lose a university education and university honours in Eng-
land, because he happened to have been born of parents
who did not rear him a member of the church of England,
involves the necessity of teaching the religious doctrines,
and enforcing the religious observances, of no one party in
particular,—in truth, no other doctrine and observance
than that in which all agree,—that which is the end of all
religion,—that which Paley in one of his sermons allowed
to be the sole purpose of the revelatio❑ of the most solemn
doctrine of the church—morality. The learned professor
then observed, that natural religion and morality were as
well taught in the University of London as in any other
Univo rsity, and stated, from his personal observation, that
the students of the former would bear comparison in every
point of principle and conduct with the youth of any
similar institution in Europe. He then endeavoured to
establish the superiority of the plan of the University of
London over that of the Universities of Oxford and Cam-
bridge, and next communicated to his audience the grati-
fying intelligence, that an hospital, connected with the
University, was about to be immediately established, which
he had good reason for believing would shortly rival any
other hospital at present existing in the metropolis. He
then concluded with the following words :—" The Uni-
versity is now prospering. Great advantages have re-
sulted from the establishment of a committee of manage-
ment within the council, and of a senatus academicus.
All labour assiduously—all are animated with the liveliest
desire to promote the institution. One good feeling per-
vades us all, and each is willing to postpone his own im.
mediate advantage to the general good, knowing that this
is, after all, the surest as well as the most honourable path
to our immediate success."

SEPTEMBER AGRICULTURAL REPORT.

This has been a most delightful month, not only
as relates to agricultural pursuits, but to the health
and comfort of the whole creation. Never do we
recollect a September so free from atmospheric hu-
midity or convulsions. _

Rumours were prevalent in the early part of the
month, that both the standing and growing corn
had been greatly damaged by the strong winds and
heavy rains that fell between the 20th and 27th
ult. ; but September has brought to a close, even in
the most backward parts of England, a harvest pro-
ductive of as rich, as abundant, and, generally speak-
ing, as well harvested a crop, as the oldest farmer
recollects to have witnessed. Most of the new
corn that we have seen, particularly the wheat and
barley, has been exceedingly fine. A few sprouted
samples have made their appearance at market; but
their number, and the quantity, have been, we have
good reason to believe, most grossly exaggerated.
It has been generally retnarked that, notwith-
standing-the absence of rain, the pasture herbage,
and other natural, as well as seed, grasses have
appeared fresher, have vegetated faster, and are
more luxuriant than on the 24th of June, and that
the depastured stock is thriving faster than at any
period of the summer. Several farmers have oh-
strved that rain was wanted for the purpose of
affording a good season for the wheat seeding, and
to water the growing turnips, which began to ma-
nifest a thirsty appearance; but they all admit that
they do not recollect a September in which the
harvest, or any other branch of field labour, met
with so little interruption from atmospheric vio-
lence or humidity. Heavy complaints, however,
are made as to the immense quantity of foreign
grain (not less than 140,000 quarters) that had
recehtly fallen into our corn markets. They com-
plain also of the manner in which they are teased
by their landlords, and by candidates themselves,
for their vote and interest at the approaching gene-
ral election! Yet, they say, they " delight in con-
tested elections, because they are good for trade 1"
This may be true, as far as relates to producing an
increase of money in certain branches of industry,
by withdrawing it from its secret hoards ; but will
this be a fair equivalent for the vice, dissipation,
debauchery, deception, party-spirit, and ill-will that
it will occasion ? Certainly not. As to the pro-
mises of candidates, or even their profession of cer-
tain principles, a cautious Frenchman would say,
" C'est 71C pas connoitre les aspirants cue de
compter sur leur promesses ;" and a cautious Eng-
lishman will say, " to calculate upon the promises
of candidates is not to know them !"

Some of the newspapers have been congratulating
their readers on the prospective increase of the reve-
nue, arising from the before-mentioned quantity of
foreign corn paying the home consumption duty.
But they seem not to be aware that this is only
robbing Peter to pay Paul. This increase has issued
from a source of ruin, from the holders having been ob-
liged to lose the whole, or more than the whole,amount
of the duty—nothing short of 150,0001.—through
being necessitated to dispose of it. Thus many are
nearly, if not entirely, ruined, whilst the English
grower, ❑otwithstanding the abundance of his har-
vest, is apprehensive that prices will be so reduced
as to cause him to share their fate.

Both wheat-sowing and the hop-harvest corn,
mepced with the month; they became general about
the 10th, and have gone on well to the present,
with the exception of the wheat having stood in
need of rain to moisten its bed. In Kent hops are
said to be beneath, in other districts fully up to, an
average growth. The picking is expected to be
brought to a conclusion, should the weather continue
fine, about the 10th of October,

Store sheep and lamb!;, store beasts and pigs,
horses, milch cows, wool, barley, and old hops,
have fully supported last month's prices ; wheat,
oats, beans, beef, mutton, lamb, veal, hay, and
straw, have fallen considerably ; peas have greatly
advanced in price. New Kent and Sussex hops, in
pockets, which have been in good supply, have sold
to some extent, at from 10s. to 15s. per cwt. above
the prices of those of 1831.

The parish of Marylebone, which has now
become so considerable a portion of the metropolis, was
originally a small village formed by French refugees.

In the year 1671, the dimensions of our first-
rates were, length of gun deck, 165 feet; breadth of
beam, 46 feet; depth in hold, 19 feet 2 inches;
burthen in tons, 1,550. Of this class was the old
Britannia, which was launched at Chatham in 1682.
In 1719, the Royal William was built in this
Dock-yard. She was originally of 100 gunF, and
was one of the ships that went to relieve Gibraltar
in the year 1782, and was afterwards for many years
a guard ship at this port. Her dimensions were,
length of gun deck 174 feet, being an increase of
nine feet; breadth of beam 50 feet, being an in-
crease of four feet ; depth in hold 20 feet, being an
increase of 1 foot; burthen in tons, 1,869, being
an increase of 219 tons. In the establishment
of 1745, our first-rates were further increased,
their dimensions being then, length of gun deck
178 feet; breadth of beam, 51 feet; depth in hold,
21 feet 6 inches; burthen in tons, 2,000.
The present guard ship at this port, the Victory,
of 104 guns, was launched at Chatham in 1765.
The length of her gun-deck was 186 feet; breadth
of beam, 51 feet 6 inches; depth in hold, 21 feet G
inches; burthen in tons, 2,164. In the early part
of the last war our first-rates were of the following
dimensions :—Length of gun deck, 190 feet
breadth of beam, 52 feet 4 inches; depth in hold,
22 feet 4 inches ; burthen in tons, 2,278. In
1790, the Ville de Paris, of 112 guns, was ordered
to be built at Chatham, and she was launched in
1795, her length of gun-deck being 190 feet 3
incites ; breadth of beam, 53 feet, 3 inches ; depth in.
hold, 22 feet 3 inches; burthen in tons, 2,351.
The next increase in the dimensions of our first
rates was in the Hibernia, of 120 guns, which was
ordered to be built in the same year, 1790, at Ply-
mouth, hut she was not launched till fourteen years
after, in 1804. The length of her gun-deck was 202
feet 84 inches; breadth of beam, 53 feet 2i inches;
depth in hold, 22 feet 6 inches; burthen in tons,
2,508. The Caledonia, of 120 guns, came next, and
was laid down in 1794, at Plymouth, but not
launched till 1808. Her dimensions were, length
of gun-deck, 205 feet; breadth of beam, 53 feet
6 inches; depth in hold, 24 feet; burthen in tons,
2,620. The Caledonia has since been doubled by
increasing the size of her timbers, adding to her ex-
ireme breadth 1 foot.

On the lines of the Caledonia were built the
Britannia, at Plymouth; the Howe, at Chatham ;
•he Nelson and the Royal George, at Woolwich ;
the Prince Regent, at Chatham ; and the St. Vincent,
at Plymouth. The Nelson has also since been
doubled by having an additional G-inch planking on
each side, outside the bottom.

The next alteration was merely an increase of one
foot in the beam in order to enable the ships to
carry an increased weight of ordnance; of this de-
scription is the Neptune, launched at this port on
Thursday last, the Royal Frederick, to be laid down
on the slip on which the Neptune was built ; the
Royal William, at Pembroke; the St. George, at
Plymouth; the Trafalgar, at Woolwich; and the
IVaterloo, at Chatham. These latter are all of the
same dimensions, viz, length of gun-deek, 205 feet
7 inches; breadth of beam, 54 feet 7 inches; depth
in hold, 24 feet; burthen in tons, 2,700.
It must be remarked that there were formerly in
the Navy various other classes ofthree-decked ships,
besides those of 100 guns and upwards. Thus, in
the reign of 'William and Mary, in 1691, ships of 80
guns on three decks were established, and con-
iinued to be built till the year 1756. These ships
varied in tonnage from 1,100 to 1,595 tons. Those
which were built in 1745 were of the following di-
mensions :—Length of gun-deck, 165 feet; breadth
of beam, 47 feet; depth in hold, 20 feet. The 90
Lon ships, on three decks, which were built between
the years 1677 and 1745 varied in tonnage from
1,307 to 1,730 tons. The dimensions of the largest
ships of this description were, length of gun-deck,
170 feet ; breadth of beam, 48 feet 6 inches; depth
ins hold, 20 feet 6 inches. Our old 98-gun ships,
such as the Barfieur, which was built at Chatham,
in the year 1768, had their length of gun-deck 177
feet 8 inches; breadth of beam, 50 feet 5i inches;
depth in h01d,21 feet; burthen in tons, 1,947. This
class of ships were, however, found to be too wide
for their length ; and, in consequence, the Prince,
which was built at Woolwich, in 1788, and the
Ocean, which was built at the same port, in 1805,
were both lengthened 17 feet; the former in dock
It this yard in 1796, and the latter on the stocks at
Woolwich, in 1798.

The largest first-rate we have ever had in our
ports, was the Commerce de Marseilles, a French
ship, which was taken at Toulon by Lord Hood in
1793. She was brought to Spithead, where she
was fitted. The length of her gun-deck was 208
feet 4 inches; breadth of beam, 54 feet 9i inches;
depth in hold, 25 feet inch; burthen is tons,
2,747. The present dimensions of the French first-
ates of 120 guns, are, length of gun deck, 209
feet 9 inches; breadth of beam, 54 feet 7 inches;
depth in hold, 27 feet 2 inches. This class of ships
are intended to carry on their gun deck thirty-two
30-pounders, which are about equal to our 32-
pounders; on the middle deck thirty-four 30-poun-
ders; and on the main deck, quarter deck, and fore-
astle, fifty-four 24-pounder long guns and 30-
pounder carronades.

Our account having extended itself to a length
far beyond what we anticipated or intended, we will
only add that, during the early part of the last war
our first rates carried 42-pounders on their gun
decks, but which were subsequently exchanged for
32-pounders in all, except the old Royal George
and Britannia, both of which, we believe, continued
o carry their original 42-pounders, until they were
unfit for service. We shall, from time to time, as
occasions may offer, continue our notice of altera-
tions and increase made in the other classes or rates,
of ships in his Majesty's Navy.

FATAL AssAuLT.—Yesterday, a Coroner's
Jury assembled at the Poor-house, St. Michael's, St. Al-
ban's, to inquire into the death of an inhabitant of the
neighbouring town of Redburo, an aged and deformed man,
u:uned Jotite POULTEIt. It appeared that while in com-
',any with another person, named PEACOCK, the deceased
was attacked, on Saturday evening, on the footpath near
St. Alban's, by an athletic young fellow, named WILLIAM
tion. Oa hs whoi knocked
uhpimthedodweene,ast:dithexoupot acra ated with
JOIINSON, as did his companion, but to no
Jouirsort made a second attack, and, with a violent blow,
sr proroa-
oroke the deceased's jaw, which was forced into the mouth,
Ile never spoke afterwards. Some ineffectual assistance
was afforded, but ultimately the deceased was placed over
the rails by the road side, where he was left, and in the
morning was discovered quite dead. The delinquent was
taken into custody, and alter an anxious inquiry into the
causes of the death of the deceased, and a post mortem
examination by a surgeon, the Jury returned a verdict of
Wilful murder," and the prisaner has been committed to
llertford gaol.

FATAL ACCIDENT.--On Sunday afternoon
about five o'clock, as Mr. GEO. WYATT, of Judd-street,
Hrunswick-square, was returning in a gig from Richmond,
accompanied by a young lady to whom he was shortly to
b, united, on passing the bridge at the entrance o Brent-
ford, the horse took fright, and dashed into the town with
ungovernable fury; when in the narrow part, at the cor-
ner of the Half-acre, the off-wheel corning in contact with
one of the Isleworth coaches, the shafts broke, and they
were both thrown out with great violence. They were
conveyed into the Crown pubic-house, and medical assist-
ance immediately procured. Mr. WYATT'S skull was found
to be fractured, and life was extinct. The young lady,
whose natne did nut transpire, had her arm broken in two
places, and was otherwise seriously bruised. Mr. WYATT
was a
i respectable young man, holding a responsible situ-
ation n one of the first Manchester houses in the City, and
was the sole support of a widowed mother and sister,
whose feelings, when the horrible event reached them,
~.lonot be described. The horse was fortunately stopped
without any further damages,

FINE ARTS.

ENGRAVINGS FROM TILE WORKS OF

H. LIVERSE GE.

The name of Liversege is one that deserves
to be held in respectful remembrance by all lovers
of the fine arts. He was a painter of high
promise, but who was cut off prematurely, ere yet
the bud had time to expand into the flower.
Three engravings from some of his most ad-
mired pictures are just now lying before us. We
have not had the good luck to see the orginals
from which they were taken ; but the concep-
tion (which the engravings of course preserve)
convinces us they must be of a high order of
genius. The " Weekly Register" is most to
our taste, for it is fullest of truth and character.
A political cobbler, of a shrewd, sly, determined
cast of countenance, is busy poring, with spec-
tacles on nose, over a number of Cobbett's Re-
gister. It is plain the perusal is a matter of
steady, serious duty, which he would as soon
think of neglecting as his daily meal. The atti-
tude of the man is capital, and the tokens of the
craft, by which he is surrounded, in excellent
keeping. " Captain Macheath" is spirited, but
with too much the air of an Italian bravo about
it. Gay's Macheath was, as Polly called him,
" a fine gentleman,"and not a " sallow, sublime,
sort of Werter-faced man." The " Inquiry" is
good, but does not tell the story with sufficient
point and distinctness. All three engravings
are entitled to considerable praise.