The Press. — London, England, 1857-01-24 00:00:00

'YB of freemen in the world; while some man, in whose de- livery no fault could be detected, except the one defect of that earnest conviction which lloscius himself could not teach if the man has not got it, would be indeed admired as a firework, but would never guide like a star. As it is in the House of Commons, which is but the representative of the national mind, so it is with all life throughout these nations. The earnest man wins way for himself, and earnestness and truth go together. Sir Edward then offered to the students a few maxims for their conduct through life : Never affect (he said) to he other than you are—either richer or wiser. Never be ashamed to say "I do not know." Men will then believe you when you say, " I do know." Never be ashamed to say, whether as applied to time or money, " I cannot afford it "—" I cannot afford to waste an hour in the idleness to which you invite me—l cannot afford the guinea you ask me to throw away." Once establish yourself and your mode of life as what they really are. and your foot is on solid ground, whether for the gradual step onward, or for the sudden spring over a precipice. From these maxims let me deduce another—learn to say, " No " . . with decision; " Yes" with cantion—" No " with decision whenever it meets a temptation ; " Yes " with caution whenever it implies a promise. A promise once given is a bond inviolable. A man is already of consequence in the world when it is known that we can implicitly rely upon him. I have frequently seen in life a person preferred to a long list of applicants for some important charge which lifts him at once into station and fortune merely because he has this reputation, that when he says he knows a thing, lie knows it ; and when he says he will do a thing, he will do it. Sir Edward Lytton then stet3d that he should place the sum of fifty guineas in the hands of the professors, leaving it to their discretion to select such subjects as experience may suggest most useful or pleasing to the general body of the students. In addition he proposed to the highest class of the scholars a prize of thirty guineas to the candidate who will most worthily render into lyrics, Greek or Latin at the choice of the competitors, one of the immortal songs of Robert Burns. Sir Edward concluded his address in the following words: — To you—to the men of your generation—is consigned the latter half of that century which your fathers enriched with such stores, and adorned with such trophies. Before your energies spreads a dominion never compassed by the eagle of the Cesare, extending from the first well-spring of civilisation under Indian palm•trees to the last vent of its redundant flow amidst Australian pastures. To your aid science contributes inventions which would have seemed to your progenitors fables as wild as the wings of Diedalus or tl►e talisman of Abaris. To you the earth is daily re vealing new mines of gold, and the heavens are vouch. safing new stores of intellectual light. Legislation for you has solved many of the problems that perplexed your fathers; and questions which at the dawn of th►s century threatened to rend society are now peacefully settled. Compared with those who have gone before you, you have little to reform—you have infinitely more to peril. Such is the account which the trustees for half the century have rendered to those who are born to enjoy the inheritance of the half that follows. Filled with a sense of that magni ficent bequest, and of the sublime responsibility it in volves, go forth, students of Glasgow, and be in your turn the administrators of time, for the approval of Providence and for the benefit of man. The Lord Rector then sat down amidst reiterated and rapturous cheers. In the evening Sir Edward Lytton was entertained at a public dinner in the Corporation-hall. The Lord Provost was in the chair. After the usual loyal and complimentary toasts had been drunk, the Lord Provost in a highly eulo gistic speech invited the assembly to join with him in giving a hearty welcome and dedicating a flowing bumper to the health of Sir Edward Bulwer Lytton. Sir EDWARD in replying said that the Roman emperor wished that Rome had a single neck that be might strika it through at a blow : I wish Glasgow had one single hand, that I might grasp it in one grateful pressure—that it has not is my only re• gret. I was received with so much love by the learning of our famous university that the remembrance of it will last as long as I exist, and I am received to-night by the wealth and the enterprise of this great city with unexampled splendour, elegance, and refinement; but, when I beard that national air which just preceded my rising, I could not help deeply regretting that the shortness of my stay does not allow me also to wake acquaintance with the great mass of the population of Glasgow, including her mechanics. The speaker referred to one of his predecessors in the Lord Rectorship of the University, the poet Campbell, and said:-- I knew him as a personal friend, and could appreciate that nable mind so exquisitely sensitive, and that heart which was so shy of revealing itself to strangers, but which always expanded more to those with whom he felt he could interchange hopes and sentiments. When he was elected by the students of Glasgow to the office of Lord Rector, I can conceive no one to whom that elevation could give the emotion of so much pride and primitive affection. I envy him the feeling of pride when he came back to the scenes of his youth, after having gained the admiration of his fellowmen. and had learned the truth of the saying, " 'tis distance lends enchantment to the view ;" and after having indicated in the richness of his song the pleasures of that hope for which he had lingered, and which was then realised. The Earl of ELGIN proposed " The Success of the rniversities." lie panegyrised the university system, 'tll 13R1ss. saying that they were democratic in the best sense of the word, while they were also essentially Con servative. After some other toasts the assembly separated. lib.. TRANSPORTATION AND THE F ALKLAND ISLES. Mu. C. W. EDDY hes this week addressed a letter to the Times recommending the establishment of a penal settlement upon the Falkland Islands. Mr. Eddy admits that the climate is " inhospitable," but he regards such a climate as "the very best adapted for convicts " - - A rude and boisterous climate will stimulate their ener gies, will compel them to exercise and labour, to keep the lifeblood circulating in their veins. It seems that it is not considered too inhospitable a climate for pensioning our military settlers upon ; but our pet convicts, the darlings, must be nursed in the luxurious lap of some soft and genial clime. Never, sir, was a more fatal mistake made than that of sending large numbers of one sex exclu sively to a warm luxurious climate—to axone in which the animal passions run riot. The resources of these islands he describes as follows : _ . It will not grow corn. No ; but it grows potatoes to per. fection. Its humid climate is favourable to all kinds of esculents; it produces spontaneously the Tussack grass, which feeds large herds of the finest wild cattle, whose hides are an article of rapidly-increasing value; it pastures herds of wild horses and droves of pigs. A country which yields subsistence to the military pensioners, and which enables cattle, horses, and pigs to increase and multiply, is not to be despised. It possesses peat in abundance for fuel, arid a bush which burns while green ; the. fresh sod for rais ing temporary shelter, and, there can be no doubt, clay for more permanent buildings. Though corn does not ripen well, yet oats, in all probability, would succeed ; and what more do we want? Are not these all the elements which have for ages supported a dense population in Ireland and the Western Highlands? But these are not their only resources. The neighbouring coasts of ➢lagellan's Straits abound in seals of the largest species and in whales, and swarm with fish. Nor are these valuable fisheries likely to be soon exhausted, for the vast submarine forests of weed (which grows there to the length of sixty fathoms) afford a shelter and refuge which protect them from wholesale destruction. Another inexhaustible source of wealth and prosperity exists on the neighbouring coasts of Tierra del Fuego, which are clothed with the largest description of timber, down to the water's edge. Here is a resource for ship-building and also for maintaining a supply of timber for refitting ships, and this leads me to the great value of these islands in a national point of view. Mr. Eddy proposes to form a good refitting dock in one of the numerous and secure harbours on the coast:-- This single work, I don'thesitate to say, would be of the greatest national importance, while it would lay the founds. tion of success and prosperity to the colony. It is esti mated that a ship going in there for repairs or refreshment would save from ten days to a fortnight as compared with the loss of time involved in going into Rio ; but this is the least part of it. Imagine a ship di:masted off the Horn ; how is she to get to Rio? While the Falkland Islands even a disabled ship could generally reach with the prevailing S.W. winds. • - - The position of the islands, too, he considers remark ably favourable for a penal settlement:-- They are not in the neighbourhood of any civilised country, and the planting of convicts there could not give rise to angry remonstrances or complaints from any foreign power or colony of our own. The escape of prisoners thence need not be apprehended, for if they landed on Patagonia they must starve. The distance from England also is just what it should be—only half that of Australia. and the cost of transport consequently propor tionably less, while it is sufficiently remote both for our selves and our colonies. Mr. Eddy then enters into the details of his system of colonisation, which offers certain advantages to ticket-of•leave men, such as the guarantee of a free passage, a few acres of land, and labour at the public works. The prisoners should also be employed upon the public works, or let out on the assignment system. Governor Rennie, late governor of these islands, has replied to Mr. Eddy's letter, and corrects various "erroneous assumptions which his imperfect know ledge of the climate and soil has led him into." Go vernor Rennie writes that it is impossible in these islands to live by cultivation alone. In the first place, the soil is either fine peat or intolerably stony, so that it costs about 301. to clear and prepare a single acre. In the next, after repeated experiments, he is con vinced that neither barley, wheat, nor oats, can he raised in any quantity, if at all on the islands. The produce of these islands is cattle and poultry, and these can be reared in any number. With re• spect to finding work for the convicts, Governor Rennie says that a dock would be enormously ex pensive, and almost impracticable from the nature of the ground, and the slight rise and fall of tide—not more than six feet. Roads are not wanted, for water carriage is much easier for heavy goods, and draining valueless land would not be a profitable occupation. After the cattle of the Falkland Islands the fisheries may be reckoned the pursuit next in importance ; but Governor Rennie considers that employment unsuited to prisoners, "who, with the SAIIITAI3AY, necessary boats required, might escape on board of whalers, who are, especially the Americans, not at all particular as to whom they engage." The cattle farmers, he observes, could never employ any num ber of prisoner., and nearly the whole of the cri.- mina's must be maintained by the Government. With respect to the safety of the islands as a prison, Governor Rennie, in conclusion, observes I doubt exceedingly the great safety of the Manna Islands as a prison. If you make regulations of a very stringent character you will diminish the attractions of the islands as a touching port for refits and refreshment. No vessels, excepting under circumstances of real distress, would ever come there, as the freedom and healthy recreations of the crews and passengers would be seriously interfered with for the necessary security of the convicts, and of course if the discipline is less perfect escape would by no means be difficult. The convicts during their sentences would despair of ever settling permanently in a . colony, which, although healthy, offers so few pleasurabler or profitable prospects, and as soon as freed the able bodied among them would quit the islands, leaving the• helpless or idlydisposed a permanent burden on the, Government. ANOTHER STORY OF AN INNOCENT MAN unjustly convicted is related in the Times of last Monday by Mr. Brady, M.P. The case occurred " within, the last four years." Mr. T—, a young man of high character, with respectable family connections, was employed for twelve years in one of the largest firms in the " Manchester line " in the City, the last three of which as buyer for the establish-. ment ; in that capacity he laid out on an average. from 40,0001. to 50,000/, a year. In the early part of the year 1853 he left town for Manchester by the. night mail ; on arriving at station he ehatiaed: his mind, and determined not to proceed to Moves cheater that night. By accident he took up the wrong carpet bag—a policeman stopped hint, and, finding him in possession of a Manchester ticket, took him to the station-house. Expostulation was vain, He declared his innocence and asked for his own bag,, but the reauest was looked upon as part of the. sharper's dodge. After a little further ceremony he, was consigned to a cell for the night, to wait his, ar amination. He implored permission to write to. his: wife, but so great a favour could not be granted., The accusation, even at this early stage, had clone its, work. Excitement set in, and in the agony of Weo distress he conceived the futile design of attempting to escape. The attempt was made andifailed, and from that moment his fate was sealed. Without being permitted to communicate with his friends he was examined before the magistrates, and committed to. the county gaol. A gentleman of high character in the City intended to be present at the trial, to speak, to character. But the fatality which in the first In stance befell him, pursued him with unrelenting: perseverance. The names of the witnesses for cha-• racter were called; but as the trial unfortunately took. place twenty.four hours earlier than in the ordinary. course was expected, they were not present. The. jury, without leaving the box, found him guilty; the. judge approved the verdict, and Coe poor man was: sentenced to some years' imprisonment. Mr. Brady. goes on to relate that in prison the unhappy man be came idiotic, and his innocence having been subse quently established, he was removed to a private, asylum, where he died an idiot. His poor widow. na " now, with a shattered constitution and skeletons form, stitching from daylight till twelve o'cboelk at, night, to obtain a most miserable and scanty for her three helpless surviving children." . Mr. P au k ! has since written, acknowledging the numeronr, o ff er* of assistance to the widow, sent to him, stating that a committee of managemertli will bri appointed. and a list published of subscriptions* d into beasts. Mastermann's. A SCHEME FOR MIDDLE-CLASS EDUCATION ham been started in the west of England. Mr. Thomas. Dyke Acland, eldest son of Sir T. D. Adam!, hies propounded a plan for the practical education of the middle classes in the west of ngland. An associa tion has been formed, and a progra m m e i ssue d i n which it is stated that whilo the education of the upper classes is promoted by the recent improve ments in the universities and the examination tests in public schools, and that of the lower classes is zealously aided by the exertions of the benevolent and by Government grants, "the middle classes bear the whole cost of the education of their own children, and that they derive less aid from ancient endowments and from the public purse than any other branch of the community." It is, therefore,. intended to offer prizes for competition to boys educated in the west of England, with a view tcs• employments in agriculture, arts, manufactures, and commerce, the objects aimed at being a good general education, in conformity with the common opinion: of Englishmen, that skill in farming, handicraft, and trade is best acquired by practice. At the annual' meeting of the Exeter Literary Society, Sir S. Northcote advocated the scheme, and it has already received a large and encouraging measure of support from men of various positions ill life and different.. religious greeds,