The Sun.
London, England, 1845-10-25 00:00:00

them to have their fill of it, was to risk a terrible derange-
ment of the body social.—(Loud cheers.) With the success
of your Institution made as clear as the sun, it is amusing,
it is more, it is instructive, to remember the prophecies of
certain men, who predicted that the very light that would
play about instruction such as yours would only herald what
to them appeared the total destruction of what they consi-
dered the best foundations of society.—(Cheers.) These
men have reminded me of a story I have read in one of
Captain Parry's voyages of a certain bear.—(Cheers and
laughter.) The poor beast had drifted upon a loose piece of
ice into the sun. And as he was borne into a yet warmer
and warmer latitude, he felt his footing melt and melt away;
and then, the story says, he growled and roared as though
heaven and earth were coming together.—(Loud cheers and
laughter.) And so was it with these men—and the species, I
fear is even now not wholly extinct—(Cheers)—they could
not conceive that the very current of time that was bearing
them yet nearer to the sun of knowledge, was not bearing
them to destruction. But it is not so, for it is not with men
as with bears.—(Cheers.) The tide that carries us on in
knowledge, which is power, gives to us that best, that noblest
element of power—gentleness, which, in the fullness of its
teaching, will bear all men to that happy end, of which
institutions like yours are the most hopeful beginning.—
(Lend and continued cheering.)
Mr. M. GIBSON congratulated them on the improving
prospects of the Athenxum. They heard in other places of
panics, and of stock being down in the market; but, judging
from that meeting, be might say the Athenasum stock was
at a high premium. It was an excellent investment; a per-
manent investment, which if it did not give a direct pecu-
niary return, offered one which money could not purchase,
but which all could attain in the advantages of true mental
culture. It was natural to foiled such an institution in a
commercial community. The genius of commerce was
diffusion, and not content with extending the material com-
forts of life, they were combined together for the purpose of
diffusing intellectual and moral blessing. The first English
printer, Caxtep, was a merchant, and that great mercantile
community leffs now engaged in extending through all its
members the blessings which the printing-press had
bestowed on society.—(Cheers.) Their friend Mr. Bright had
referred to Oxford and Cambridge ; he might also have
dwelt on the powerful influence which such societies
as this had on these older institutions, the universities
of the land. There was a time when it was thought dero-
gatory to men of noble birth to possess the commonest rudi-
ments of knowledge. They were told by Mr. Southey, in
his work on "The Progress of Society," that the time had
not long gone by when a nobleman would think it a test of
his high birth that he should be totally ignorant, and not
even be possessed of the power of reading and writing.
Was it possible to believe that such a state of things existed?
Such undoubtedly was the fact; and at our national univer-
sities degrees were conferred on men of high birth without
preliminary examination. But knowledge was becoming
spread through all classes of society, and the consciousness
that knowledge is power had brought on the necessity of
giving a sound education to men of all ranks and condi-
tions. He congratulated them on the success of their insti-
tution, and hoped that kindred societies would spread over
the length and breadth of the land, confident that with an
improved mental culture there would come happiness and
prosperity, and, with general education can led into practice,
additional force and effect would be given to those words of
Scripture, " Honour all men."—(Cheers.)
Mr. LOVER, who bad often appeared before the members of
the Manchester Athenaiurn as a public servant, was proud at
the invitation to come among them as a guest. He had tra-
versed every quarter of England, and had never met with so
intelligent an audience as in the manufacturing districts.
Many a time and oft, when, before the titled audiences of
Hanover square, lie had ventured to utter what he thought a
pleasantry to the cold simper of the "reserved seats," had he
longed for the generous laugh and ready sympathy of the
back seats of the Manchester Athenamm.—(Cheers.) He
had always found that the circles of society were like the
circles of the atmosphere—the higher, the colder they were.
—(Cheers.) He rejoiced that he had been enabled to be pre-
sent en that occasion to see so brilliant an assembly, which
was large enough to make half-a-dozen good audiences ; for
at one time he much feared he should have been prevented
by his engagements in another part of the country, for indeed
he might say he was almost in the same predicament with
Mr. C. Dickens, for the place he was very nearly detained at
was called Beddicomb.—(Cheers and much laughter.)
Mr. COBDEN proposed a vote of thanks to the Directors of
the Athenmum, to whom they were all so largely indebted fur
providing that delightful meeting. They were the first to
set the example of drawing from their privacy literary men
to take the lead in assemblies of that sort ; and in so doing
he thought they were placed in their proper sphere.—
(Cheers.) When Mr. Dickens two years ago came forward
from his closet to preside at their meeting, and when he saw
assembled around him all the wealth and intelligence and
influence of the district, be felt that there was an era in the
social history of the country.—(Cheers.) Literary men had
not held their true position in this country. 'While in France
the leading men, the natural leaders of the country, were
those renowned for their genius and intellect, in England
they held no social position, but were like hermits living in
their cells. The reason, he believed, was they did not know
the literary men of their country.—(Hear, and cheers.)
They were indebted to their Committee for making them
better acquainted with their literary men, and he
had little doubt that among other contributions to
public usefulness that institution had made, it would
be recorded that it had been instrumental in produc-
ing a new estimate of literary men, which would not stop in
their appreciation of them as the leaders and champions of
a large section of the most intelligent portion of the middle
classes ; but they would, ere long, see the men of science and
literature holding that rank which they did in France—
(Cheers)—and proud indeed:they would 'have reason to be
when they thought that the course of the Manchester Athe-
naeum bad contributed to so desirable a result.—(Loud
cheers.) They had Mrs. Caudle with them that night—
(Cheers and laughter)—and, therefore they must not forget
that the hour was getting on, and there were other amuse-
ments in store for some of them ; he would not, therefore,
'detain them with any further observations.—(Cheers. )
Mr. Hay WOOD seconded the motion, which was carried by
acclamation, and responded to by Mr. E. Watkins.
After a vote of thanks to the Chairman, and three cheers
for his lady, the seats were removed, and dancing com-
menced.

Two military bands were in attendance, and played during
the evening many favourite overtures and grand selections of
music.

IMPORTANT itAIL WAY AMALGA-

RATION.

A considerable sensation was caused yesterday, in Liver-
pool, by the intelligence of the amalgamation of the London
and Birmingham Railway- Company with that of the Grand
Junction, a measure which involves important and valuable
consequences to the proprietors, and will, it is expected,
lead to results very advantageous to the public.
On a calculation of the respective interests of the par-
ties, it appeared, that while the London and Bir-
mingham line yielded the full dividend of ten per
cent., the Grand Junction was in a condition to pay twelve
per cent., so that the equalisation of the two properties, for
equal dividends in future, required that the Grand Junction
shares should be " written up" twenty pounds per share ; and
it was, therefore, agreed that new shares, of twenty pounds
each, should be created free cf cost, to be added to the
original shares, and the whole formed into common stock,
entitled to common dividends from the Ist October inst. It has
been determined, also, we understand, that on the London and
Birmingham line: the Company will now commence being
their own carriers, and that a considerable reduction will
at once be made in the charges for the conveyance both of
goods and passengers, so as to render the calculations upon
which any project of competing lines may be based extremely
unpromising. By arrangements in progress the consolidated
company will proceed to establish what has long been con-
sidered a desideratum, a complete system of trunk lines from
London to Glasgow (via* the Carlisle and the Caledonian);
and from London to Holyhead; and across Ireland; and they
have decided to encourage in every way the formation, into
such trunk lines, of the most direct lines subserving the trade
of the country.—Liverpool Mercury.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.
GUILDHALL.

Daniel Garrett, who stands charged with 'committing nine
robberies from railway stations, was brought before Mr. Al-
derman .Hughes Hughes for final examination. The prisoner
looked pale and less at ease than before. He had been al-
ready committed on seven charges of felony.
Mr. Clarkson said he had a little evidence to add in one
case, that of stealing a black portmanteau with its con-
tents, value 201., the property of Mr. Daniel, of Bath, who
was a passenger on the Great Western Railway, on the 29th
of July.
Collard, the officer employed to superintend the railway
police, produced a pair of 'Wellington boots, which he took
from the prisoner's feet at the last examination.
Mr. Daniel identified them as part of the contents of his
portmanteau. A further portion was found at the prisoner's
lodging.
The depositions were read and signed, and the prisoner was
committed on this charge.
The depositions, as originally taken, respecting the stealing
of Mr. Prance's writing case, and upon which Garrett is to be
indicted jointly with Maynard. the estate agent, were then
read over to the witnesses, and
Mr. Alderman HUGHES Huonxs committed the prisoner
on this charge. -
Mr. Nash, clerk to Messrs. Swain and Co., the solicitors for
the prosecution, in reply to a question, stated that some pro-
perty supposed to have been stolen had not yet been claimed.
Mr. Clarkson applied for a certificate, allowing the expenses
already incurred.
Mr. Alderman HUGHES HUGHES said it was a case of the
utmost possible importance to the public, and therefore he
would grant the application.
The book-keeper at the Blossoms Inn appeared to answer a
complaint for not delivering five packages of fruit which
arrived at his inn, addressed to Edwin Price, No. 8, Three
Dagger-court, Cripplegate, within 24 hours after their arrival.
It appeared that the goods were sent by a van in due
time, but the driver had directions not to deliver them until
he had the innkeeper's demand for carriage, &c., 22s ,
first placed in his hand. The carman obeyed his order.
Price claimed that the goods should be first delivered, but
exhibited the 225., and offered to stake the money in the
hands of the nearest publican ; but the carman was im-
moveable, and drove off with the goods.
The book-keeper claimed the right to hold_ goods for the
carriage due in respect to than.
Mr. Alderman Wool) said it was necessary that he should
remove a misunderstanding upon the point. To prevent
frauds, and for the protection of the public, the law required
that the goods should be delivered within a certain time at
all events, and whether the carriage and porterage were paid
or refused. But the statute gave ample protection to the
innkeeper, for it provided that if a person received the goods
and refused to pay the proper charges, a warrant might be
forthwith issued by a magistrate, to bring the party before
him, and saddle him with costs for loss of time. He there-
fore fined the defendant 20s. for non-delivery.