The Sun.
London, England, 1827-03-13 00:00:00

asked, or motion made, which Trill elicit something as to the
filture prospects of the country, from the existing members of
the Administration. In the mean time, when all is agitation, it
is useless to add to the chaos of rumour, of doubt, and uncer-
tainty, which so universally prevails ; and we can only, therefore,
wait (somewhat impatiently, it is true) the developement of
events, which cannot, we should think, be much longer procras-
t i nated. —Morning Herald.

Those well informed politicians, who not only contrive
to know every thing which is to happen, but every thing
which never will happen, amused the town yesterday with
positive intelligence of Mr. Canning's resignation, the
Right Hon. Gentleman carrying with him out of the Ca-
binet the Chancellor of the Exchequer and Mr. Huskis-
son. Why Mr. Canning should have chosen this particu-
lar moment to withdraw himself from the elevated station
he fills, not only in the Councils of the British Empire,
but in the• eyes of all Europe—why he should cast from
him the vlendid reward of a life of honourable ambition
(for a splendid reward it must be to any man, be his ta-
lents or his rank what they may, to direct the policy of
England, and so to exercise an influence, more or less im-
mediate, over the destinies of the whole civilized world)—
why he should seek to stop the machine of Government,
by deranging all its movements, at a moment when both
the foreign and domestic exigencies of the State require
its steady and uninterrupted action—why, we say, these
projects should enter into the imagination of this popu-
lar and powerful Minister, at the present moment, are
points far beyond our comprehension. Were we, indeed,
as deep in Cabinet secrets, and alleged Ministerial in-
trigues, as some of our contemporaries, those matters, which
now appear to us so inexplicable, might be at once plain
and intelligible. But, in the absence of such knowledge, we pro-
fess ourselves utterly unable to believe that Mr. Canning has the
d'sposition, or his Colleagues the power, (conceding for the sake
of argument, that they have the inclination), to uns-ttle a system
of Government, by giving undue influence to petty discords,
which has obtained a degree of public confidence, certainly not
surpassed by any Administration that ever presided over the affairs
of this country. It is idle to advert to the late division upon the
Catholic Question, as among the causes of the supposed schism.
Mr. Canning declined office, consistently and honourably declined
it, when invited to join a Ministry, which was pledged to refuse
what is foolishly called Catholic Emancipation. With the same
consistency, and with the same regard for individual honour, he
accepted office, when the principle was recognised, that this ques-
tion should not be treated as a Cabinet measure, but left open and
unfettered, to make its way as time and circumstances might direct.
The result of Sir Francis Burdett's motion, leaves his position
unchangeable—and, why, therefore, seek in that result an
imaginary cause for an imaginary effect ? Assuming to ourselves
neither the gift of prophecy, nor the knowledge of State secrets,
we will, notwithstanding, venture to assert, that whenever the
time arrives for making those definitive arrangements, which the
afflicting situation of the Earl of Liverpool has rendered necessary,
it will be found that the chasm to be supplied will involve no
difficulties, and lead to no changes, affecting the principles which
have hitherto formed the basis of the Administration.—New
Times.

CITY of LONDON LITERARY and SCIENTIFIC

INSTITUTION.

On Wednesday evening a numerous and highly respectable
Meeting of the Friends and Members of this institution was
held at Albion Hall, for the purpose of receiving the Annual
Report and the Return of Officers elected to conduct it for the
year ensuing. W. G. Prescot, Esq. the Banker, was called to
the Chair.

The Secretaries reported, that John Smith, Esq. M.P., of the
firm of Smith, Payne, and Smith, had been elected President,
and the following Gentlemen Vice-Presidents :—Sir Peter Laurie,
James Mill, Esq. (the author of the " History of British India,") •
George Ward Norman, Esq. (Bank Director), H. J. Present,
Esq. Banker, W. Speir, M.D., C. Powlett Thompson, M.P., C.
M. Williams, Esq., George Grote, jun., and John Abel Smith,
Esq. Bankers, were chosen Treasurers ; Wm. Ellis, Esq., W.
Prescot, Esq., and W. Whitmore, Esqrs., Auditors. This Re
turn was warmly applauded.
The SEcnnTanv read the Report of the Committee of Ma-
nagement, which represented that the advantages of intellectual
cultivation and amusement were highly appreciated by the com-
mercial and professional youth of the City, who had, even under
the general commercial depression of the last year, continued
steady and zealous in the salutary pur.sAs -ale institu-
tion gave them facilities. It was anticipated that, in the course
of the ensuing spring, they would be enabled, by the zeal of the
friends and members of the Institution, to commence the building
of a capacious Theatre for the delivery of lectures, adjoining their
library and reading-rooms in Aldersgate-street. The Auditors
Report stated, that there was a small balance in the hands of the
Bankers, in favour of the Institution.
Mr. SKADWELL in moving the reception of the report, said,
those who presided over the Institution had endeavoured to avoid,
as much as possible, the defects of some of the more ancient and
established modes of teaching the languages, which were admira-
bly described by one eminent linguist, whose words (which he
should quote to them) were stamped with the high authority of
one of the most learned bodies in the kingdom. In page 174. of
" The Etymological Dictionary," by the Rev. Walter White,
which was published at the expence of the University of Cam-
bridge, and it was to be presumed, therefore, its contenteaccorded
with the opinions of the chiefs of that body, they might read the
following declaration :—" It should seem to be as if in the pro-
cess of learning Greek and Latin we bad endeavoured to solve one
of the most difficult problems which has ever been proposed in
the doctrine of maximums and minimums ; the acquisition of the
least possible knowledge with the greatest possible labour.—
(Laughter.)—There are few of us, I imagine, who are not able to
testify from their own experience, that no problem has ever been
more felicitously solved in theory or more efficiently produced into
practice ; wherever we turn our eyes, the effects of this process
are always visible and always the same." Now to the commercial
youth of this metropolis—to those who by their industry might be
expected to become its future merchants and traders, time was as
money, and they could not afford to throw it away for those things
which in ninety-nine cases out of a hundred, were never of any
real use to those who had spent the most valuable part of their
lives in their acquisition. The problem therefore to be solved in
this and other similar Institutions, was the acquisition of the
greatest possible useful knowledge by the least possible labour or
expenditure of time or money.—(Applause.)—He concluded, by
urging them to make individual exertions, not less for the sake of
the example, than for their own advantage.—(Applause.)
Mr. J. W. GILBERT urged the members, who had gained
more knowledge than others in any department, to communicate
it to them by means of lectures.
One of the Members observed, that lie had paid great attention

to modern improvements, particularly to those new modes of ob-
taining knowledge ; but one improvement in their reading-room
had particularly struck him. He had seen a gentleman there
with the Times in his hand, and the Chronicle safe under his
elbow. --(Laughter.)—He had seen the same person sitting on
the Globe, holding the Sun under one arm, with the other ap-
plied to secure the Courier, which he was reading. He won-
dered where he would find room to secure a fourth.—(Loud

laughter.)—He hoped, that from motives of compassion to
others, this practice would be abstained from.—The Report was
agreed to.
Thanks were voted to the gratuitous lecturers and other
donors.
_ _ _

A warm discussion took place as to the eligibility of placing
gratuitous lecturers under the same advantages as those who sent
donations.
Thanks were voted to the Chairman, and the Meeting sepa-
rated.

AMERICAN NAMES.—In an Insurance Office ad-
vertisement, published in a late number of the New York En-
quirer (now lying before us) we find among the Directors the
name of Andrew Muzzlemug Arcularius Peter Sharpe. What a
name for a waltzer at Almack's ! What a refreshing cognomen
for a young lady (should this gentlfmaen be ever lucky enough to
obtain a wife) who will he content to be called such names as
Mrs. Muzzlemug Arcularius Sharpe ! We recommend these
baptismal appellations to the consideration of sentimental novelists
.—Lady Morgan to wit.
A DIABOLICAL TRICK.—On Friday evening, a
teacher of dancing held a practising in his rooms, at which there
were about 25 couples present. Among others there were two
students of medicine, who contrived (during the dancing of the
Scotch quadrilles,) to infuse into a jug of toddy a dose of tartar
emetic, sufficient to produce the most violent effects upon all the
company. Suspicion fell upon the toddy, which was immediately
sent to an apothecary for the purpose of being analysed ; and
some idea may be formed of the consternation produced upon all
who had partaken of it, when it was announced that it contained
poison. Its effects were now alarming upwards of twenty vo-
miting at once, and some of the ladies lying apparently dead.
The young men were taken to the Police Office ; but, we regret
to say, the evidence was not thought sufficient to warrant their
commitment.--Edinburgh Weekly Chronicle.