The Sun.
London, England, 1844-10-05 00:00:00

-Ant

LONDON, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 5, 1844.

The great ineeting which took place on Thursday
last at the Manchester Athenaeum, of the various
literary societies and mechanics' institutes of that
and the neighbouring towns, is one of those signs of
the times which it is impossible to contemplate
without the sincerest satisfaction. Men of all parties
and shades of party here met as on neutral ground ;
political asperities were laid aside ; the Conservative
fraternised with the Whig, and the Whig with the
Radical ; the aristocratic landowner rejoiced to
hold out the right hand of good-fellowship
to the humbler manufacturer, and coveted
no other distinction than such as might
be awarded to him for his intellectual powers. It
was delightful to see such men as Lord JOHN MAN-
NERS, and Messrs. SMYTHE and D'lsaaELl, who
occupy a high position in society, abandoning all
conventional claims to notice, and desiring only to
produce an impression on their Manchester hearers
by the lustre of their elo.quence, the force of their
reasoning, and the truth and elevation of their
sentiments. The speeches delivered by these
gentlemen— more especially those of Messrs.
DISRAELI and SMYTHE—are among the most
impressive we have read for many a long day,
exhibiting not merely a copious flow of poetic
imagery, very rarely to be met with in these days of
matter-of-fact Utilitarianism, but giving utterance to
valuable truths not less lofty than fervent and gene-
rous in their character. But twenty short years ago,

how would the proud, exclusive aristocracy of England
have started—how would their conventional preju-
dices regarding rank and pedigree have been
shocked—had one of their own equestrian Order
presumed to hold language like this at a meet-
ing of mere Manchester manufacturers :—" Gentle-
men, the very Ambassadors now sent to us from
foreign courts are, so many reproaches to
our neglect of letters. Who is the Ambassador
from Russia ? A man who has risen by his pen.
Who is the Ambassador from Sweden ? An author
and a historian—the historian of British India. Who
is the Ambassador from Prussia? An author and a
professor. Who is the Ambassador from Belgium ?
Again, a man who has risen by literature. Who is
the Ambassador from France ? An author and a his-
torian. Who is the Ambassador from, I had almost
said, our fellow-countrymen in America ? Again,
an author and a professor I" Independent, high-minded
language like the above is enough to make the bones
of an aristocrat of the old exclusive school shake in
their ancestral tomb. What, a member of his own
patrician Order indirectly advocate the raising of
mere plebeian men of letters to posts of high
political distinction—posts which should be held,
as of old, solely by the PELHAMS and the NEW..
CASTLES—men who are born statesmen by virtue of
hereditary descent, and who lay claim to superior
wisdom as an inseparable adjunct to their Peer's co-
ronet: Monstrous heresy! Flagrant assault on the
exclusive privileges of rank and blood ! So would

claim an aristocrat of the old school. But, thank GOD,
the youthful generation of our nobility are, many of
them, of a different mettle to their more bigoted sires !

The striking historical vicissitudes of the last half
century and upwards have not been regarded by them
with indifference ; they have derived valuable lessons
from the stirring events that have been passing in the
world about them ; they have seen the broad cur-
rent of public opinion pressing on, in spite of all the
dams and locks that aristocracy conjointly with
priestcraft has set up to check its progress ; and
seeing this, they have wisely and nobly resolved to
fall in with the temper of the times, and to become
conspicuous among their fellow-countrymen rather
by their intellectual wealth than the lucky accident
of birth, since, after all, intelligence is the only true
lasting power—the power that moulds individuals and
nations—that hurls down the showy Falsehood, how-
ever exalted be the pinnacle whereon it is perched,
and uplifts the sterling Truth, no matter how humble
or disregarded be its position among men. We say
no more than the strict truth, when IN e say that
by far the best speeches at the Manchester
Athenaeum were made by those who were the
most distinguished among the meeting by their posi-
tion in society ; and we may search among the re-
cords of Parliament for the last ten or a dozen years,
without finding such displays of the truest and purest
eloquence—that, namely, of thought and sentiment—

as characterised the orations of Messrs. SMYTHE and
D'IsEkELL

The late deplorable calamity at the Haswell Col-
ery has attracted, as was naturally to be expected,
an extraordinary degree of sympathy for the melan-
choly fate of its victims, and the scarcely less de-
plorable bereavment of their surviving connexions.
Upwards of one hundred human beings, engaged in
the honest pursuit of their laborious and dreary call-
ing, were swept out of existence by a sudden escape
and explosion of that noxious gas which is always
generated in greater or lesser volume in coal work-
ings. Nearly as many more, in the various relations
of wives and children and dependent kindred, have
been in a moment deprived of their natural protectors
and supporters. The dead have perished without
warning; the living are left without provision for
their future subsistence. No one survives to tell the
tale of this frightful disaster ; so that its cause, and
the manner of its operation, are left to conjecture, or
to be collected from the opinions and experience of
witnesses who had either quitted the pit before the
explosion took place, or who have examined it since.
But these witnesses, so far as the laborious examina-
tions of the coroner's inquest have yet gone, seem to
concur, all of them, in the declaration that up to a
period of within half an hour of this dreadful blast,
they had found the pit "exceedingly well ventilated"
—some aver that it has been always considered by
them "particularly safe ;" and others deposed that
they had never been employed in workings where so
powerful a stream of fresh air was kept up. One of
the men examined before the inquest has already
proved that, at times, this stream was so powerful,
that he and his fellow-workmen have been obliged to
solicit the master worker to moderate it, by shutting
to " the brattice." But whether the mischief origi-
nated from the displacement of a " judd" (one of the
supporting pillars of the mine which is taken away
when the adjacent chamber or space is worked only)
or by the incautious exposure of a lighted Davy
lamp to the air of the mine—this fact, which it might
have been so essential to the interests of humanity
and science to have ascertained, can, now, never be
duly ascertained. Upon all reasonable assumption
we may, probably, infer that, notwithstanding the
vague, though general impressions, of the witnesses
whom we have referred to, there must have been a
large previous accumulation of the fatal " coal damp,"
as it is called ; and we must own to a strong pre-
possession that, had any adequate scheme of mining
supervision been in operation, under due authority
and efficient management, the great probability is
that this desolating sacrifice of human life might have
been avoided. So much we feel ourselves justified in
assuming; and in doing so, we feel that we neither
anticipate nor prejudice the finding of the coroner's
jury

Now, this brings us again to notice a matter which
we have often, and very recently, urged upon the at-
tention of our readers—namely, the slovenly and dis-
4raceful manner in which pending Bills, and all the
anconcluded measures of the session, are hurried on
with railroad velocity and reckless carelessness, as
the Parliamentary recess or prorogation approacheP,
to the limbo of legislation defunct before maturity.
They are pitchforked, by wholesale, into the great
cemetery of " a second time this day six months."
When the next ensuing session is commenced, the
same initiatory proceedings, the same tedious pre-
liminaries of debate, and announced amendments,
have to be gone through again, to the great hindrance
of public business, the grievous waste of public time,
and the exclusive profit and pleasure of the Parlia-

ment printer and her MAJESTY'S Stationary-office.
These, however, are simply inconveniences. That

. .
the same practice may occasionally lead to graver and
more lamentable results we are not sure that this
very call of the Haswell Colliery does not demon-

strate. On our table we have hid for the last fort

night, among other Parliamentary prints then issued,
a copy of "A Bill for establishing District Registers
of all Mining operations in England and Wales,
prepared and brought in by Mr. HoDGsoN HIND and
W. ORD, and ordered by the House of Commons to
be printed, Ist of August, 1844." This Bill, there-
fore, had it been introduced earlier—or had it, after
its introduction at this later period of last session,

been carried through both Houses, received the royal
assent, and passed into a law—this very Bill might
have established such a precautionary and salutary
mining supervision as we advocate. For what is its

object, as we collect it from the preamble ? That "it
is expedient to establish a systematic registration of

all mining operations carried on throughout Eng-
land and Wales and in the Isle of Man, for better

preventing- the loss of human life, the occurrence of
many grievous and unexpected injuries to mining pro-
prietors, and the large and fruitless expenditure of
capital and labour which result from an entire igno-
rance, or an imperfect record of mining operations."
There was, some months ago, a memorable strike

among the pitmen. Some new hands—a few, at
least, there were for the first time working in this

pit, are sacrificed in this terrible explosion. How
possible is it that, from their want of a minute or
practical acquaintance with the nature of the various

workings—which were considered by the more ex-
perienced miners to; be dangerous—these poor fel-
lows may have, by some momentary imprudence
or other, originated the explosion ? How pos-
sible is it that, had there existed " a systematic re-
gistration " of the " mining operations " of the Has-
well district, this " loss of human life " might have
been " better prevented." In such a case it might
not have fallen to our painful lot to publish that an-
nouncement which has created so vivid a sensation
throughout the metropolis, of one of the most hideous

casualties that has occurred in our mining districts
for these thirty years past. The Bill would have
fully embraced all the regulations, the want of which

has, perhaps, been the proximate cause of this memo-
rable calamity. The classification of its clauses goes
under the following heads : General Provisions ;
Officers and Offices for Registration ; Expenses of
the Act; Notice of Registration; Mode of Ditto;
Inspectors of Registers and Copies ; Evidence ; Po-
licies; Accounts of Registrars; Injuries to Mines
after Registration ; Power of Board of Trade, &c.

Madrid journals of the 27th ult. have been re.
ceived. The Gazette contains two decrees for effect.

ing sayings in the War Department—one reducing
the supplies allowed for the equipment of recruits,
and the other for suppressing the military libraries
established last year. The saving is reckoned at
12,000,000 reals. The QUEEN was to open the ses-
sion of the Cortes at the Palace of the Senate, not,
as had been the custom, in the Hall of the Deputies.
On the 16th the French had evacuated the island of
Mogadore, and next day all their ships of war had
left for Algesiras.

The Three per Cents. were done at 288 for cash,
and 281 at 60 days; the Five per Cents. at 20i for
cash, and 21 at 60 days ; the Floating Debt at 66 at
60 days ; the Debt without Interest at 68 for ca.h,
and time.

On Thursday afternoon the. King and Queen of
the FRENCH, Madame ADELAIDE, and the Duke DE
MONTPENSIER left St. Cloud for the Chateau d'Eu.
They were accompanied by the greater portion of
the members of the Court, who will accompany
LOUIS PHILIPPE on his visit to England. M. GUIZOT
and Admiral DE MACKAU were to leave Paris on
Sunday for Eu, where they will join his MAJESTY.
The QUEEN and Madame ADELAIDE will remain at
Eu till the return of the KING from England. They
are all expected to be back in Paris by the 20th of
this month. The Duke DE NEMOURS, the Prince
DE JOINVILLE, the Duchess of ORLEANS, the Duchess
DR NEMOURS, the Princess DE JOIN VILLE, and the
Duke and Duchess of SAXE COBURG, will remain at
St. Cloud during the absence of his MAJESTY. Some
of the papers state, that at a Council of Ministers
held on Wednesday, an ordinance was passed con-
ferring upon the Duke of NEMOURS all the powers
of royalty during his MAJESTY'S absence, and ap-
pointing him Lieutenant-General of the Kingdom.
These functions are not to be exercised but in a case
of extreme necessity, and the act is a mere measure
of precaution. The Constitutionnel says, "We are
assured that the Minister of War has just dispatched
to the generals commanding the military divisions
particular instructions relative to the KING'S ap-
proaching absence from France."
The Siecle and National have two brief articles
particularly fitted to keep up a bad feeling between
England and France at the time Louis PHILIPPE is
about to pay a friendly visit to Queen VICTORIA
That from the Siecle is not entitled to the slightest
credit, but we give it as follows, to show the mis-
chievous spirit which prevails among certain parties
in France :—" Sir ROBERT WILSON, governor of
Gibraltar, openly says that the peace concluded be-
tween France and Morocco will not last; he is trying
to enlist all the refugees and adventurers he can find
for Morocco; he promises them money and rapid
promotion. On the other hand it is well known that
he is employing every means to irritate the Emperor
ABDERRHAMAN against us. It is the same Sir
ROBERT WILSON who, in order to dispel the fear
which a war with Spain might give to Morocco, has
negotiated and procured peace between these two
Powers. Sir R. WILsoN displays in all these mea-
sures, and betrays in his language, too much perse-
vering animosity to permit of one's supposing that he
is acting without the English Government's approba-
tion." The following is the article in the National:—
"England has required from our Ministers that they
should conclude peace with Morocco, without taking the
precaution or receiving the guarantees usual in such
cases. We possessed points of occupation on the coast of
Morocco, which would have served as a pledge. We
abandoned them because England was mistrustful of our
warlike ardour, and feared that, by retaining possession
of Mogadore until the execution of the treaty concluded
with Morocco, we might infringe on the balance of power
in Europe. The French Government obeyed. We may,
therefore, be accused hereafter of many crimes, but cer-
tainly not of ambition in the style of Napoleon. The
English, however, whose moderation is proverbial, and
who, as every one knows, respect the European equili-
brium, are labouring to secure the monopoly of the
passage across the Isthmus of Suez. They have al-
ready marked out their stations by fortified houses be-
tween the two seas, and they are now about to con-
struct a railroad, by which they will retain possession
of the two extremities and monopolise the road. This
is the fifth pacific conquest which we would be wrong
to attribute as a crime to the ambition of the Bri-
tish Government, for what can be more philanthropic
than to connect the least with the west by means of
a railroad ; and why not return thanks to the Power
which is willing to beeome the gatekeeper of the
commercial wicket between the two worlds ? But this
is not all. There is in the other hemisphere another
isthmus which separates the Atlantic from the Pacific
Ocean, and the piercing of which has for a long time
occupied all the nations of Europe. The English have
consequently directed their eyes to that quarter. They
have considered that if ever the Isthmus of Panama gave
a passage to vessels from Europe proceeding to China or
to India, it would be well for them to have the key of it.
They have in consequence, without noise or without
consulting any Government, adjudicated to themselves
an entire kingdom. It may he recollected that England
blockaded, without any plausible pretext, the port of
Saint Jean de Nicaragua, and no complaint was made.
She now takes possession of the entire kingdom of Mos-
quito. If the piercing of the isthmus be practicable, she
will effect it, not for the advantage of commercial na-
tions, but for their own. This mode of proceeding is
conformable to the genius of England, and we cannot
be astonished at the complaisance with which our rulers
egard the successive encroachments of the great mari-
time power. Have they not all declared that France
could not become a naval power ?"

The loan of 300,000,000 francs (12,000,0001.) had
been contracted for by Messrs. ROTHSCHILD, in Three
per Cents., and was to appear in Saturday's llioniteur.
THE BOURSE—TuunspAy' OCT. 3.
First Highest Lowest Last
Price. Price. Price. Price.
?tench Flys perOnts• ....• 118 85 .. 118 85 .. 118 55 .. 118 60
Three per Cents.— • 81 95 .. 82 .. 81 90 .. 81 90
Bank:of France
Laftitte Bank, I,ooof. SharesiCBs ..1085 ..1085 ..1085
Mercian Bank.... • • •• • • 662 50 .. 662 50 .. 662 50 .. 662 50
Belgian Fiyes,lß3l.
1840 •••••• •• 106 .. 106 .. 106 .. 106
1842 .• •—• 1071 .. 1071 .. 1071 .. 1071
B;anish Passive . 51 .. 51 .. 51 .. 5
Threes ••••• • • • • • • 351 • • 351 • • 3.51 • • 351
Active •• ••• • •• 321 .. 321 .. 32 .. 32
krtuguese Five per Cents.. 48/ • • 48/ •• 481 • • 481
eapolitan •••• .. •• .. 98 73 .. 98 76 .. 98 75 .. 98 75
Ito wawa

RAILWAY SHARES.
St. Germain... • 925 .. 925 .. 925 .. 925
Versailles, • • • • • • 385 .. 385 .. 385 .. 385
V ir5ai11e5,L.8......• • • • 260 .. 260 .. 258 75 258 75
Rouen 985 . 985 .. 988 • • 985
Konen to Havre •
Orleans ..... • 982 50 .. 982 50 . • 982 50 .. 982 50
strivemrg to Bale • • • l6l 25 .. 262 50 .. 261 25 .. 261 25
Avignon to Marseilles...• • • 760 .. 760 . 760 .. 760
RAILWAY SHARES FOR THE ACCOUNT, OCTOBER 15.
Rotten • • ...• • • 987 50 .. 987 50 .. 987 50 .. 987 50
1 toUen to Havre•• .• •• •. 751 25 .. 751 25 .. 751 25 .. 751 25
0 leans • • • •• • • 985 985 .. 985 .. 985
Stalteburg to Bale 262 50 .. 262 50 .. 261 25 .. 261 25