The Sun.
London, England, 1844-01-01 00:00:00

THE THREE HUNDREDTH ANNI-
VERSARY OF THE PUBLICATION OF

• ------
THE COPERNICAN SYSTEM.
On Saturday, the 30th December, a meeting was held
at the Chambers of the Literary Association of the
Friends of Poland, to commemorate the above event.
A great many Poles, as well as distinguished friends of
Poland, were present. Among the latter we noticed
Lord Dudley Stuart, the Hon. Colonel Leicester Stan-
hope, Colonel Watson, the Rev. Dr. Worthington, John
Wood Esq., Chairman of the Excise ; Professor Ber-
nays, of King's College ; W. D. Saull, Esq., member of
the Astronomical Society ; Dr. Gardner, Thomson
Hankey, Esq., &c. &c.
Lord D. STUART, having taken the chair in virtue of
his office of Vice-President (the President being absent),
shortly explained that the objects of the Association
were of a literary, political, and charitable nature, and,.
although circumstances had for some time compelled it
to devote nearly the whole of its attention to the latter
objects, still that it was not unmindful of the former,
and when any opportunity arose of attending to the first,
it gladly embraced it. Many of the Poles having ex-
pressed a desire that the present year, the three hun-
dredth since the work of Copernicus on the solar system
was first printed, should not be suffered to elapse without
some public notice of that event, the present meeting of
the Association had been called. It would give an
opportunity for refuting the absurd attempt which had
been made of late years to deprive Poland of the honour
of counting Copernicus among her sons. It was no
wonder the Poles should be anxious to repel such an in-
justice. Spoliated and oppressed, they had nothing left
them but the proud recollections of former glory.
These—and one thing more, hope—alone remained
to them. May that hope, said his Lordship, be one day
fulfilled to the utmost of their wishes.
Colonel SZYRMO then read a paper which he had pre-
pared for the occasion. He gave an online of the state
astronomy was in at the age of Copernicus. Entering
upon the Copernican system, he extolled its superior
merits in application to geography, navigation, and espe-
cially in its legitimate province, astronomy, where it has
paved the way to the vast discoveries in the succeeding
three centuries. He dwelt upon the sensation the great
work of Copernicus produced in Europe after it appeared
in print, and mentioned the singular fact that the first
copy of it the astronomer received when on his death-
bed, and died on the same day. He had bestowed on it
thirty-six years, and published it only at the solicitations
of his friends. The lecturer refuted the notion of Coper-
nicus being a German as absurd, it being of recent date,
and unsupported by any historical document. Not one
word is said by his biographers, ancient and modern, in
confirmation of it. Copernicus was born in 1473, at
Thorn, which was a town of Regal i. e. Polish Russia.
That province formed at his age an integral part of
Poland, and continued for 300 years after him to belong
to that kingdom, until the first partition of it in 1772.
Besides, the father of Copernicus was not a native of
Thorn, but settled there as a citizen of Cracow (Civis
Cracoviensis). Copernicus acquired the rudiments of
Greek and Latin in his native town, and completed
his studies at the University of Cracow, at that time
celebrated for mathematics. The most eminent of the
professors there was Albert Brudzewski ; the astrono-
mer was his pupil. His life was considered by the lec-
turer under manifold aspects. He described him as a
student at Padua, where Copernicus was graduated
doctor of philosophy and medicine, and in his character
as professor of mathematics at Rome ; as, a recluse,
after his return to Cracow, when maturing his great
astronomical system, and, subsequently, in the character
of a priest and a canon of Warmia ; as the ad-
ministrator of the demesnes of the Bishopric,
and as an opponent to the Teutonic Order in
Prussia, whom he considered as foes to Poland and
aliens to the Prussian people ; as a nuncio to the Polish
Diet at Grandentz, and calculating like Newton, debated
money currency, and proposing a plan to the States for
reducing it to an uniform standard in the whole kingdom;
as a physician administering medicaments to the
peasantry, by sshom, on that account, he was worshipped
like a deity (ut rumen quochlum) ; as a civil engineer
who constructed hydraulic machines for supplying the
town with water, and so forth. The sketch he gave of the
astronomer's posthumous fame was not less interesting,
and having, in a tour through Prussia, himself visited
all the places where Copernicus resided, he minutely
described the house, and the interior of it, where the
philosopher was born, and the observatory, where he
made his observations. In the portraits he had seen of
him he discovered a strong resemblance to Roger Bacon ;
and mentioning the representation of Copernicus on the
ceiling of the Picture Gallery at Greenwich, with the
firmament over his head, and his solar system in his
hand, he said—" Nowhere could a fitter association of
Copernicus be made than in that place of England's naval
glory, and in the very asylum of the seafaring men who,
on their voyages to distant regions, might be said to
hang on the abyss and to tread on the stars." Colonel
Szyrmo added a description of the inauguration of the
bronze statue of Copernicus (by Thorwaldsen), which
took place at Warsaw, in 1830, and at which he was
present.
Several excellent and interesting speeches were then
delivered by Colonel Watson, the Rev. Dr. 'Worthington,
Mr. Wood, and others, who expressed their admiration
of the discourse which had been delivered by Colonel
Szyrmo, and their full concurrence in his views ; and
thanks having been voted to that gentleman, and to Lord
Dudley Stuart, for his conduct in the chair, the meeting
separated.

SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY,
On Saturday, a special general meeting of the Pro-
prietors in this Company was held at the Nine Elms
station, Vauxhall, Mr. William Chapman, Chairman of
the Board of Directors, presiding, to take into considera-
tion the propriety of extending the line to Salisbury,
Newbury, and Epsom. There was a numerous attend-
ance of Proprietors, amongst whom were Mr. Chute,
NI.P., Mr. Trewart, M.P., and several gentlemen attend-
ing as a deputation from Salisbury.
Mr. MortGAN, the Secretary, read the Directors' Re-
port, from which it appeared that Mr. Locke, the en-
gineer, had completed the survey of the proposed line to
Epsom, and which, by the construction from the parent
line of five miles of railway, touching at Ewell, would
bring Epsom within fourteen miles of Vauxhall,
the cost of the line being estimated at 51,0001.
and the traffic at 5,4121. per annum, of which a
large amount would be derived from carrying visitors to
the races. The proposed Salisbury Railway, from the
Bishopstoke station, by Romsey, somewhat under 22
miles, might be completed for 2301., having the advan-
tage of forming a good communication between the ports
of Portsmouth and Southampton. The total estimated
revenue to bo derived from traffic would be 25,0001, of
which 14,000/. would accrue from passengers, so that,
allowing 40 per cent. for the working expenses, there
would be 7 per cent. profit on the investment. The
Directors did not propose the construction by themselves
of the proposed railway to Newbury, but proposed to
accept a lease of it in perpetuity, at a rental of 3i
per cent. The length of the branch would be about
16 miles, and could be constructed for 200,0001., the
traffic being sufficient, and more so, than to replace at
least 7,0001. a-year. The Directors further proposed,
on account of the accession of traffic, to increase the
public accommodation at the Nine Elms station, either
by removing the booking-offices, &c., to a new site next
the Wandsworth-road, or by transferring thither a por-
tion of the goods trade. The Directors proposed that
the requisite capital for these branch lines, the New-
bury excepted, should be raised amongst the Proprietors,
and concluded their .Report by suggesting that they be
empowered by the Proprietors in the next session to
apply for an Act of Parliament, authorising the con-
version of the share capital of the Company into str
The CHAIRMAN addressed the meeting at consi,lt rable
length on the topics contained in the Report, represent-
ing the great advantages that would accrue to the
parent line by the construction of these tributary rail-
ways, in addition to the traffic which it at present de-
rived from its being one of the great arteries of commu-
nication by means of Portsmouth and Southampton,
with India and China, from its connexion with
the shipping at Portsmouth and the military
station at Gosport, and the general traffic of
the south-western parts of England. The New-
bury branch had the support of Lord Carnarvon, Lord
Craven, and Lord Bolton, and the support of his Grace
the Duke of Wellington. A branch to Guildford was
also under consideration.
A long and animated discussion followed, in which
Mr. Chute, Mr. Trewart, Mr. Tite, Mr. Gilbert, and
others took part. Ultimately resole' is embodying
the propositions contained in the Directors' report were
passed unanimously, and the meeting separated.

TnE NELSON MONUMENT.—For some days work-
men have been employed on a new se,nlding around the
statue, the architect having found, as every passer-by
had found long since, that from some defect, either in the
Position or structure of the statue, it had a most awkward
appearance. The deformity, it is said, is caused by that
part of the base representing a cable, which completely
hides the legs, and orders have been given to diminish
its proportion. We are not inclined to find fault with
Mr. Railton, who has erected a very beautiful pillar, the
only Corinthian pillar of such a height in the world ;
but we have often wished, en viewing the statue from
Whitehall, that it might be speedily dashed to the
ground by a hurricane. It is a disgrace to the arts in
the present day, and, we fear, cannot be mended.
DRURY-LANE THEATRE.--The unprecedented at-
traction of the Bohemian Girl, and the new Pantomime,
has filled the theatre nightly ; and, amongst others, we
have noticed :—His Royal Highness the Duke of Cam-
bridge, Duke of Devonshire, Earl of Chesterfield, Earl
of Cardigan, Earl of Wilton, Baron and Baroness Brun-
now, Earl and Countess of Harrington, Marchioness of
Conynghtun, Countess of Westmoreland, Count Nessel-
rode ; Ladies Fitzroy Somerset. Strathaven, Jersey,
Dungannon, Graham, Strafford, Mary Berkeley, Towns-
end, Villiers, Seymour, Mary Ross, Sheffield ; Lords
Castlereagh, Dover, Ossulston, NV. Beresford, Clifton,
H. Russell, Seymour, De Manley ; Baron Knesebeck ;
General Sir Do Lacy Evans, Sir Frederick Trench,
Bart. ; Sir Henry Hunloke, Bart.; Sir Henry Webbe,
Bart.; Hon. Cecil Forester ; llon. Mr. Greville ; Hon.
Mr. Anson, Hon. Miss Tollemache.
METROPOLITAN IMPROVEMENTS.— On Friday, in
consequence of orders from the Commissioners of Woods
and Forests, the occupiers of the .everal houses facing
Great St. Andrew's-street, Seven-din'.:;, removed their
goods and furniture, preparatory to their being taken
don n for the improvements in that neighbourhood, for
which purpose they will be sold in a few days. When
removed, there will be a direct floe from Upper St.
Martin's-lane, into Broad-street, St. Giles's, which will
make a very spacious street. The houses which formed
Middle-row, Ilolborn, have been demolished for the
same object. Several houses in Plumptre-street, nearly
' opposite to Great St. Andrew's-street, have been pur-
' chased by the Commissioners, end will be pulled down
as soon as possible, in order to form the line from Ox-
' ford-street to Holborn. Many Louses in this line, dur-
ing the last few weeks, have been cleared away.