The Sun.
London, England, 1844-04-13 00:00:00

LITERATURE.

THE ZOIST ; a Quarterly Journal of Cerebral. Pliy-
s;ology and Mesmerism, and their Applications to Hu-
man Welfare. Bailliere, Regent-street. -
We have observed with much gratification the pro-
gress of this able periodical, the fifth number of which is
before us. It is devoted, as its title implies, to the
kindred sciences of mesmerism and phrenology L—kindred
in so far as both relate to the nervous system ; phreno -
logy applying exclusively, indeett, to one portion--the.
brain, while mesmerism seems to embrace not 'only the
brain and the nerves arising more immediately from it,
but, in addition, ail the other nerves of the body ''and
the two sciences, when fully carried out, may be ex-
pected to constitute a complete-physiology of the nervous
system. In the prospectus, after speaking of the two
sciences separately, the editors say:—
" The extraordinary phenomena elicited during the
excitation of the cerebral organs by means of mes-
merism, and establishing a connection between the two
sciences, constitute another department, demanding The
most serious attention and investigation ; and the aid=
mate results of whieh may transcend in value and utility
all that man has yet dared to hope . from science. Let,
what many facts render probable, be once established,
viz., that this stare of increased activity can be rendered
permanent and carried into the natural state, and who
does not catch a glance of a mighty engine for man's
regeneration, vast in its power, and unlimited in its ap-
plication, rivalling in morals the effects of steam in me,
chanics?''

This first number contains a powerful article on Phre-
nology, or Cerebral Physiology, us it is more appro-
priately named ; an equally powerful article on Mes-
merism ; several minor Original Communications on
both subjects ; and a.. pretty full report of the Proceed- •
ings of the London Phrenological Society. The leading
articles in this number are introductory, and' will hardly
boar curtailment . The second number has an admirable
article on " Our Criminal Code," advocating- the moral
treatment of criminals, in opposition to the system of
punishment now in operation, and denouncing particu—
larly the. punishment of death;—" With our present
knowledge, when we look back, it does appear strange
that society should have been so long occupied in s
punishing men instead-of searching after the causessof
criminal actions," &c...." That the judge and jury should
investigate all, the circumstances occurring during a
long course of criminal conduct, unanimously express
their abhorrence of the. particular crime for which the
prisoner is arraigned, by returning a verdict which nes
cessarily consigns him to the gibbet, and yet never ask
themselves the question why does this man differ from
us?" &c...." The punishment of death is one of the blots
which still characterise our semi-civilised condi-
tiun."..." We take 'not our ground on the inex-
pediency of retaining the punishment ofdeath in our penal
code, but we proclaim the immorality and injustice of
such a proceeding. It is immoral, because it is our duty
to endeavour to reform and improve our brother, and
not to destroy him. It is unjust, because we can pre •
vent him from committing crimes, by adopting other
measures ; and because we have no.right to destroy a
bong who is acting according to organic laws, in other
words, whose action* are necessary. On 'what ground
is it continued ? It is not beneficial to the criminal, for
he is destroyed. Neither is it beneficial to those who
have not committed crimes. The latter may be divided
iiro two classes ; one composed of beings who are a
law unto themselves,' and who , under the ordinary
temptations attending their career, never commit what
may bs called a criminal action ; the other composed of
beings, who, from an ill-balanced brain, and the addition
too frequently of most unfavourable external circum-
stance-, are disposed to recognise no law, but to have
recourse to force and cunning upon all occasions; and
adopt proceedings suggested to them by this organism,.
and for which society, ignorant of the natural laws, con-
deinns to various kinds of punishment, and frequently to
the scaffold. What good effect is gained by such a
course ? An execution excites no feeling of terror
amongst those predisposed to commit a crime similar to
that fbr which the unfortunate being is suffering. The
security of the social state is not increased. Man is not
to be reclaimed by exciting his fears ; the hypocrite
may become more hypocritical, and the coward and
demon more slavish and wily, but surely such a con-
summation is not to be desired ; this, certainly is not
the aim of judicious legislation. Destroy -the sinner,
and you destroy the tendency to sin in his neighbour !
Torture and kill an individual in the presence of as-
sembled thousands, and affectionately tell them to be-
hold his agonies, and to reap moral instruction ! Can
greater- ignorance be manifested.? Yet this is the
course pursued in civilised. Britain. Does the specimen
of legatiied destrustiveness, exhibited by an execution,
excite the moral organs in those witnessing it ? Quite
the reverse ; it is a direct stimulant to the animal
organs. How absurd then the notion of elevating
and 'improving man, by presenting to his notice the
destruction of the most unfortunate, pitiable, and de-
graded specimens of his species. Ferocity and barbarian
ruthlessness still characterise our criminal law. Ignor-
ance and indifference are still personified on the judicial
bench ; for there physiological science is not studied,
and moral promptinso are uncared for."
"It may be asked, if this
_punishment is abolished,.
what do you propose to substitute ? an what principle
do you intend- to govern men, and to punish offenders?
Individuals who have committed actions which are op-
posed to the safety and stability of the social compact'
should be confined ; not for the purpose of punishments:-
but solely with the object cf. reformation. A Govern,'
ment framing laws for the -regulation and control of a
people, should have the power. to• seclude those indivi-
duals who break these laws ; and,aluring the seclusion,
dross measures should be adopted most calculated to
enable the offender to recover and retain his lost station
in society. Those who have committed crimes against
life, rye those whose actions and cerebral conformation
prove them to be. incapable of free intercourse with their
neighbours- vs ithout the -cammittal: of crime, should be
confined for, life, and be considered moral patients,
more fitted for the wards of a moral infirmary than for
the treadmill, the solitary
.cell, or the scat old," &c.
These extracts will suffice to show the general bear-
ing of the article, for the more complete working out
of which, we must refer our readers to the work itself.
This, and the Third Number also, contains cases of the
cure, of a variety of diseases by means of, mesmerism
from Dr. Eiliotson. After stating that for six years he
had carefully and constantly investigated the powers
of Mesmerism over different diseases," and had employed
a former pupil at University College to mesmerise for
him during the whole of that period, Dr. Eiliotson says,
" I have found it one of the most important remedies,
and accumulated a great amount of decisive evidence of
its marvellous powers, even when all other means have
failed in the hands of the most noted practitioners. This
evidence I shall gradually send. to your publication. It
would probably not be received by the medical journals,
and 1 should indeed be unwilling to transmit it to any
medical journal or society, since the conduct of the me
dical profession has been so disgraceful, both intellec-
tually and morally. My statements will, I know, be
relied upon. They are not only true to the letter, but
are the result of the most patient and careful labour,
gone through with no view to emolument or reputation,
but for the love of acquiring and disseminating know-
ledge. I have never received a fee and never will, for
practising mesmerism, from the humblest or the highest.
.. . . Reputation is out of the question. The
medical profession being totally ignorant of-the subject,
have thought proper to stigmatise me as a fool, a
visionary, a madman, aye, and a quack, for under-
standing something of it. Their ignorance and
conceited obstinacy have been my disgrace. From
being thought a 'careful and conscientious ob-
server," a most skilful physician in ascertaining the real
nature of a disease, and in employing remedies ' • a great
contributor to the improvement of the medical art,' and
worthy to have the largest.and most leading practice ;'
destined to divide the town with Dr. Chambers, who
was to be the Halford and I the Baillie of the day,' pos-
sessing the hilliest claim to be physician in ordinary to
the Monarch styled the first physician of the age,' in
letters brought by patients without end, the only effect
of which was to make me work the harder, that I might
one day really deserve such commendation, I was all at
once considered destitute of all my previous knowledge
and skill, incapable of observation and investigation, and
unworthy of any practice," &c. The Doctor goes on
in this and the succeeding Numbers to detail some highly
interesting cases of insanity, St. Vitus' dance, palsy,
and deafness and dumbness cured by mesmerism. Vie
have not room for any further extracts at.present, but
shall return to the subject on a future occasion.

. .
On Thursday a Court of Directors was held at the
East India House, when the new Directors elected on Wed-
wsday last, viz., Sir Robert Campbell, Bart., Mr. James
Weir Hogg, M.P., Hon. Hugh Lindsay, Major-General
Archibald Robertson, Lieutenant-Colonel William Henry
Sykes, and Sir Henry Willock, K.L.S., took the oaths and
their seats. Mr. John Shepherd was chosen Chairman, and
Sir Henry Willock, K.L.S., Deputy-Chairman, for the year
ensuing.
THE STONE PIER AT GREENIVICH.—OII Tuesday
considerable alarm was excited on the stone pier in con-
sequence of a further .portion of the structure having
twehe
given way. It will be rememberedt
a
months since several of the main
wh pilesich burst
dangerousa Estatendthe
pier was greatly dilapidated, in
it has ever since remained. Latterly some additional
beams were placed to prevent the floating barges from
knocking down the wall, but the action of the tide has
been so strong as to have a contrary effect to that in-
tended,' and the upper part of the erection has been 40
battered as to be forced in, whilst the part under water
has bulged out and sunk, so that competent judges have
expressed their fear of the whole front falling into the
westerntironillikilelsranbfltehnextetit.
Orderscorner
have also
; at thecrt
cracked
tot !m e a
hare been issued by the Lord Mayor for the immediate
rg
removal of the baes, which at present afford
the only
prospect of safe landing at the pier and it
tremely likely that notwithstanding, ;th lip
enormousthe appears
outlayex:.
present pier will fall into utter. uin. The eating
barges of the We.
ti.
aterman's pier are. also to be removed
by order of the :Lord Ma •
yor.
LIABILITY OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT TO SERVE
'ON JURIES.--FINING JURORS.—At the recent session of
the peace for the City of London, held at Guildhall on
Saturday last, sonic delay took place in the formation of
the Grand Jury, by the non-attendance of the gentle-
men summoned, several of whom were fined 101. for not
answering to their names, whilst one gentleman, who had
been fined on two former occasions for non-attendance, and
wished to be excused on the present, was told that be would
be excused, but would be placed on the.grand jury list
of the Central Criminal Court, where he would be en-
gaged for a week, instead of only about an hour at the
•sesSion. On the name of Mr. Richard Sanderson being
called, Gore, the. summoning officer, said that gentleman
claimed to be exempt on the ground that, he was a Mem-
ber of Parliament. `rhe Recorder-L-That will nut excuse
him from serving whilst the House is not sitting. When
was the summons served ? Gore—On the 28th of
March. The Recorder—Then the service. is not good,
;Ind Mr. Sat:46-Bmi must be excused ; the
,ilouse was
then sitting. _ Mr. Sanderson was then told that he need
not wait.

WORKMEN- A r47,..,4-;;), ~----:7-,4:
The following is, an_ extrac li,ik-* i 7: %e. e...", etice
given before the Factory COIL. .." ..... : ' by; 111 x. E..
Rose, a millwright and .etiginee ~`Ak 144'*ut:ked at
several places on the Continent; iiio,4W-k7r
Vii= -•-•
"Is a mat: with thirty-five so. veAr4 'i . ' nce
better off than a man with Is. 6dtiiv ;ang P ..- --:.-4‘'-
....,___
cording to their way of life, certtiru*WtA Viltie4
had generally little plots of ground which their Wive....
cultivated, and his wages seemed to
,be for other
things than necessaries. A man there is satisfied .
with a deal coarser clothing than those here, and the. -
climate was so warm that very little did in summer.
They seemed.to be more contented to their work than •
men are here. They were mostly Protestants et
Mulhausen, and after going to the church of a morn-
ing,
where they were regular enough, then could go
out into the country to dancing; or skittling, Ur ail% .
ferent games and pastimes, and so they seemed to go.
more content to • their work again-; .for :here i maw
~.
must break a day if he wants to get. a, little ,diversion.
Should you say the French were a sober set ?----L. ..
Yes, they appeared a very comfortable set of people.
I am very well pleased with them for my own part.
I did not see them get beastly drunk as working-
men are inclined to do here.

What amusements or innocent recreations has a
working-man here on a Sunday ?—None at all that
know, but taking a walk in the country, which is not
forbidden that I know of.

Did you go to church at Mulhausen ?—Yes ; but
from not so well understanding the. language, it made
it a ery awkward. Igo to the-old church here pretty
regularly, hut having the care of Mr. ,Roberts ma-
chinery, and living on the premiaes, I cannot
ways go.
Judgingfrom what you saw in France and S
land, do you think it conducive to the morality and
good conduct of the working class that they should
spend a portion of Sunday in such recreations as 'you
have described ?—Judging from what I saw there, I
should say that it was much better than the way. in
which people are forced to.spend Sunday in England.
It is a thing I have thought of ever since I WaS
there. Here a man can do nothing but go to the
public-house on .a Sunday, and he goes with the in -
tention to get drunk, as it were ; and sit drinking
glass atter glass ; there, people going out.to dances and
different games, and having different recreations
at the places where they go, such as cards and
dominoes, can cheerfully enjoy themselves, drinking
but little. But here a man can do nothing at a,
public-house, if he goes there, but drink, and he can
go nowhere else on a Sunday. It seemed to me that
they' went easier and happier to their work again
therothan they do here. Everybody has a right to
his own opinion ; but, after what I saw there, I alb
confident that nothing; would be more conducive to
'the good behaviour of working class here than fur
them to have such innoaent recreations on a Sunday
as they have there. I was left fatherless myself here
at seven years of age, and I went to a Methodist
Sunday school in Lever-street, where I was taught
hymns and prayers, but nothing of reading and writing,
when a young fellow with whom I was acquainted
S
took me to a unday school in Mosley-street, belong-
ing to the Unitarians, where they taught reading-end
writing on a Sunday. This I found of great service.
lam not a Unitarian. I know that children do nut
get any good by being taught prayers and hymns, as.
I was at a Methodist school. They sing anti say-,
but don't understand them. Something useful should
be got into their heath. There ate thousands of
children that go to Methodist schools : they are never
taught anything but to read. the Bible, and not to
write. lam sure they should be taught something
else. Judging from myself as a child, and from
others that I have seen, I consider the manner. the
Methodists treat their. children in Sunday schools. a
.complete loss of time; it keeps them out of the streets,
and that is all.

. Then your opinion is,- that religiciii among, the
working class would not be injured by spending the
Sunday in England as they do in France and S witzer-
land ?—I do really consider it would be improved;
for even now, if a young fellow wants a little
recreation on a 'Sunday, he gets up early and takes a
stroll into the. country, and comes home in the middle
of the day tired, and then he thinks of a public-hose.
But if he knew that, after the Middle of the day, be
-could go out into the country to cheerful society and
lively meetings, I do really believe he Would be More:
apt to go to church of a morning. I was struck with,.
the advantages. that the working class seemed tome.
to have in France and Switzerland over us here ith
spending their-Sundays. It does produce there what
I never see in England. •

THE LATE - FATAL FIRE 1N OXFORD-STREET:
FUNERAL OF THE StTFFErtmts.L-Yesterday afternoon the
mortal remains of Mrs. Williams and her two children were
removed from the. house tf herbrother, Mr. Abbott, O.lkensed
victualler, in High-street,. St. 'Giles's, to their last resting-
place, -at Kemal-green cemetery. The funeral was an-
nounced to take lace at two o'clock, and long before that
time crowds of-persons were collected round the how.,
anxious to catch. a glimpse of the mournful procession. W.
-are sorry to say that Mr. Williams (the husband-) ,bas,..haett
out of his mind since eight o'clock yesterday morning, and he,
w-ss so violent between eleven and twelve o'clock that tts,siq,
once was sent for, and he was obliged to be strapped dOWn;
therefore he was quite unconkiOns of the funeral. It must
be a source.of gratification to the friends of the deceased
lady to hear of the respect which was paid to her upon this
melancholy occasion. • With one or two exceptions, all the
shops around the neighbourhood where the tire took plat*
-were dosed. The bodies of the servants had, from the time
they were dug out of the ruins, been lying at the undertakers',
and they were. yesterday conveyed to, and met the procession_
at the cemetery.
DESTRUCTIVE FIRE.—OR Tharsday, the tar Lund
naphtha distillery at Bromley-common, the property of Mr.
Bethel!, was destroyed by fire, together with a considerable
quantity of valuable materials used in the business. -Thc:
origin of the calamity is not ascertained; but the &now
made their first appearance in the counting-house, and,
owing to the inflammable nature of the property, all th
efforts made to stop the conflagration were unavailing. Mr.
Bethell was not insured.

EASTER EXCURSIONS.—The number of passengers
on the Eastern Counties Railway, froin Easter Tuesday
to Wednesday inclusive, was 13,454, of which 5,439 till-
yelled into the country, and 8.015 up to town. On this,
as on the Brighton and Dover lines, the greater propor--
Aion of traffic was up to the metropolis. The excurs
tickets issued on the Brighton line, from Mondav,
Wednesday inclusive, was 5,720, and on 'Easter Mr,nauv
and Tuesday, to Dover, 1,270. The number of passen-
gers on the Blackwall line, on Easter Monday vat;
13,570 ; on Tuesday, 10,220; and on Wednesday 8,970.
the chief proportion of which were visitors to Greenwich
Fair.

WINDSOR STEEPLE-CHASES.—It having been found
that the severe injuries sustained by Mr. Newton's
brown gelding Napoleon, in .falling in taking a ditch.
about 10 feet wide, on the first day of the Windsor
Steeple-chases, while running for the Hack Stakes, were
of so serious a nature as-to preclude, all chance of its re-
covery, it was killed on Wednesday evening. Upon an
examination then taking place its back was found eo be
broken. This makes the third horse which has 'been
destroyed in consequence of injuries sustained during
the first day's races. The other two were Lord Glamis
black gelding the Stranger, aged, and Captain!Sutton's
Jessie, by BrutandorC6 years old. The Stranger ran
in the Handicap steeplechase, Jessie in the Military
steeple-chase, and Napoleon in the Hack chase—the only
three races run that day.
LONDON PEACE SOCIETT.—A meeting under dab
auspices of this Society was held on Wednesday, in the Ilan-
street Chapel, Bethnal-green. Mr. Edward Perry, of Bisliore,-
gate-street, presided. He stated the object of the meeting.
A resolution to the effect that war is inconsistent with the
spirit of Christianity and the interests of mankind, was moved
by Mr. John Larrith, and seconded by the Rev.
Aveling, of Kingsland. In proposing the resolution, 5..
Larrith stated that he had been twelve years in the Army,
: I
ja.:-
but had left it as he considered that military servitude was
totally, inconsistent with the Christian religion. When the
Chairman was about to put the resolution, a person in the
body of the chapel observed that it was impossible to put,:
down war till every man of twenty-one years of age had E:
voice in the election of Members of. Parliament. It was theat
explained by the Chairman that the London Peace Society,
eelf
years, had never, with
which has now been in existence for nearly twenty-tirrht
of the political movements of the day, and however ranch
the members of the Society might individually entertain the opinions embraced in the People's
Charter, it would
forward be extremely injudicious to bring them
any in the slightest degree, identified it
oa the pre-
sent occasion. The resolution was put and. carried by mega-
illation. The Rev. John Jefferson, of Stoke NeWingtoe,
secretary orthe Society,-Spoke at considerable length, entere
iug into arguments deduced from Scripture, i
principles for•which they contended, cow dings" withport of
a resolution that the efforts of the Peacerocint -
to
nTol.h-taeg
the public mind on Christian dto e decided an one a
public opinion in accordance therewith,-
were deserving sup-
port. This was seconded by the Rim W. Tyler, of Spital-
fields, and unanimously agreed to. A declaration in accord-
ance with these resolutions was afterwards read to the meet-
ing, and numerously signed.
JOHN KEMBLE IN PALSTAFF.—John Kt mble it is
well known entertained the intention of acting the elm •
meter of Falstaff ; indeed, unless we are much mistaken
his appearance in the part was `actually announced.
From this undertaking, however, he was dissuaded by his
friends, who could see nothing of the humorous fat;
knight in the grave and dignified, representatives of the;
heroes of old Rome. But far ether than the ceniesr-
tional stage-Falstaff; the model. followed more or t• s,
closely by the generality of acteass, was Kemble's notion
of that extraordinary Shakspelittei character, the Falstaff'
of Henry the Fourth, not he of The Merry Wive* Of
Windsor, for between them there, are wide differences iu
many essential respects. Dr. ~.Meginn, in his "Slid;;`
speare Papers," says—" we must observe that he (Fal-
staff) never laughs. Others kenigh with him, o: at him,
but no laughter from hith who occasions or permits it.
Ile jests with a sad brow. The wit a hivh he profusely
scatters about is from the beats. not the heart. Its s`•
.
tire is slight, and never mall/ nant or affronting ;
I.tili it is satirical, and seldom joyous. It is •anytitiog
but fun. . • • I fear that's hie conception of the chit- ,
meter could never be rendered popular on the stage; but.
I have heard in private the purt of FalFt.4 read with :4.
perfectly grave, •
solemn, slow, deep, ar.ii sonorous, seise„
touched occasionally somewhat witb the broken tone of:
age, from beginning to endovith, e.dmirable effect. Bea
I can imagine him painted accortYing to my idea. lie is'
always caricatured, and so he: is in the acting." •
liemble's conception of the chit' reeler bear any affinity to
this of Dr. Maginn's (which not unlikely it did)eiiii
performance, though it mil,' at not at once hate sup•
-
planted the popular idea of Li a. John, would at least have,
taught the public that he wit: something superior to the
mere fat buffoon to which flu iy bad thereto been swede-
tooled. . . . .• ,