The Sun. — London, England, 1855-01-01 00:00:00

rSOCIATION OF SCHOOLMASTERS OF GREAT BRITAIN. The proceedings at the annual meeting of this associa tion; were resumed on Friday morning, at St. Martin's Hall, Long-acre, Mr. T. Tate, mathematical professor of Kneller Hall Collegiate Institution, in the chair. Mr. THOMAS CRAMPTON, master of the Brentford Public-school, proceeded to deliver his lecture on "The Teaching of Common Things." He said the subj e ct hich he had to introduce had lately occupied a large share of public attention. It was, in fact, the topic of the .clay in regard to elementary education ; and, if rightly pursued, it would be worthy of enduring popu larity. He conceived that schoolmasters had the great charge of the general education of the child committed to them. Practically, and by implication, they stood in -the important position of parent to many of these poor children, who might he truly regarded as orphans, so far : as the want of home training, and the judicious care of a parent was concerned. They were indeed responsible to the Great parent of all to do their very best, lest any of those "little ones" should perish. He could not, therefore, but regard it as an imperative duty on the part of the schoolmaster to examine the propriety of teaching any • subject that might be proposed for school instruction. Theorists not only differed on what ought to be taught, but also on every detail of method how to teach. For instance, they had lately heard a great deal about the bad writing of the middle and lower classes of Englard. . The inspectors took this as seriously as the members of the Royal Society did Charles ll.'s celebrated query, Why a live fish placed in a tnJ of water s h ou ld no t in crease the weight th ereo f ? or, allowing Lord Pal merston to have been more than usually serious in the matter, they might first doubt the fact, and assert the writing of the middle classes of England to be generally -excellent. But granting it to be otherwise, how to re medy it ? " You don't write half enough large hand," smid Mr, Watkins; "It's no use writing large h an d a t Jill," said Mr. Jelinger Symons, "it's utterly absurd." From the ; elaborate method of Mulhauser, which came gut .witti the direct patronage of Government, we inferred that the slope of the letter was important, as books were hued on, purpose to secure this point. Now, what did Lord Palmerston say ?—" Don't slopt 'em at all ; make a .em like print." (A laugh.) One declaimed against the alternation of thick and thin upstrokes and downstrokes. Imitate Italian hand," cries another, which was simply thick.upstrokes and thin downstrokes. For all this, what ;Were they to do? If they attempted the impossibility of follOiring all these directions, we might certainly succeed developin g a true aristocratic handwriting. He did mot question tbe sincerity of these advocates for particu jar.plans9r subjects. Unfortunately, they were rather too Sincere, io that their enthusiasm for their favourite sub ject involved .the ignoring of others. They had been taught to regard . reading, writing, and arithmetic as the indispensable milk, bread, and meat of education, and could not find time duly to attend to these with so much daily work for music, so much for drawing, so much for science, so much.to learn phonics, and so much to unlearn phonics. They found it simply impossible to got through half this work in six hours daily teaching, and they were therefore compelled to be eclectic even if they had not wished it. He thought too little regard had been paid to the idiosyncrasy of each teacher. Every one knew best what his main tendencies were, and every one knew that he taught best that which he loved. Though they had each of them powers of mind to acquire respectable knowledge of many things, yet they did not act wisely in opposing those leading characteristics of s out nature which had been formed by an all-wise Creator for the evident purpose of developing high and varied results. They should not be ashamed of not knowing many things, aye, and not teaching many things also, so that they "occupied," in a persevering, hopeful spirit, those talents that God had graciously committed to them. Re hoped, therefore,' that they should agree as to the propriety as well as necessity of electicism in regard to subjects propesed for teaching, and not be driven from their duty by the sudden rush of any subject into temporary popularity. He admitted the value of many new subjects propounded, and did not the least question the sincere and benevolent mo tives of the propounders ; but they must pause, and see first whether they had time, and then ability, to .teach the new subject, which they had better not at tempt until they could do it eff.eiently and consistently with the attention required by other indispensable duties. Many a humble schoolmaster might do more service against the Goliath of Ignorance with the simple sling and the s t one t h at he could use well, than by the sword s' and armour, the costly apparatus and elaborate methods, which would h-ut encumber him. The grand aim of in tellectual discipline was doubtless to increase the powers of the mind, so as to enable man more fully to became acquainted with the works and arrangements of Provi dthenoce•nd to u se suc h knowledge in the best way for rnie g g lit ood be of g m en a e n r k a i i n t A knowledge of abstract scie n c es „t- y regarded as va luable for enablin g hem to obtain a b etter knowiedee of the c oncre t e . Th e discipline of the mental powers teas thought t o b e th e sole aim of education, irrespective of the utility or practical value of,the subjects thus employed for mental trainirg. The classics and the ma thematics theref ore held f or a l ong time, and do no w hold to a great I extent, the position of exclusive educational agents Put he thought it would be admitted that these c studiei had not been so sienall • improvements of the b hum a nysu r e a c c e e s . sfu T 1 h i e n se th s e tud p i r e a s e ,. classics especially, practica l were for m any centuries exclusively - pursue d I a s objects as well as methods of learning ; and still the dark ages existed —still the scholastio philoeephy reigned—still the sun went round the earth —still general ignorance and seini-barb irism prevailed, poor suffering limn:atilt:- took refuge in t he , tyranny of king; front the lawfesSrie , s Science was not, frledein Was ant, Science priestciait, opprLsion, eceraiTel)t%-a thin; of Ly and by there arose a 830 )a, as the first and of common thin,ge. lie gle e as the g• at m etho d tea che rof teaching this subject, c'aeeieal k had not only Lt( d to deve.l.p r but nimmeli hindered and obscured. The imbeetive - philosophy taught' mankind how to em ploy • the mental powers in investigating the real objects of nature, and how to melee these subservient to the best purposes of !Inman happiness. Some time after there 31-03 f! England's great mental plilloeopher, John Lez l ee. He told manki n d th at the human mini could be best trained by appealing to the perceptive faculties and exercising the leglelpowetresaociniiiovbjepertoedonfeoqbasveravlua: tion. This' philosop h y a nd this able fruit by its inherent vitalit y, and without any uni versity- or scholastic patronage. They had sufficient proofs, however, of the value of physical science in de veloping great minds without university assistan ce i n the great names o f J ames W att, It ,bert Ferguson, Ark wright, -Crompt on , an d th e present illustrious Faraday, - among scores- of secon d ary names that might be men tioned, Ho thought they could place the third great department ,of human knowledge, the investigation of physical science, as far as they could carry it out in our schnele, under the tern " common things." The want of inductivenenn in truth, characterised too much of our teaching. - Our text bunks teem formed on the idea that the development of the reasonin g faculty by m eans o f the reading lesson was no t worth consideration ; we had plenty of deecriptivnicesons of all sorts of thingsand in all sorts of etyles; but lie was unaware of a single inductive lesson in Ml the reading hocks in common use. If the niere inculcation of facts were their object, they had only to take a qearter of an hour daily from writing, arithme tic, grammar, and some other subjects, and devote these to reading text books .f lmat any one's fancy might tern " canenion things." They had, however, something fa higher to do. It was their duty to be masters of their own business,. and therefore they might welcome "com mon things " in our daily tenitine as the vehicle for the training of the mental facul: ies, chiefly those Of induction by means of perception. Ho should much recommend the preparation of notes of lessons. First, on account of the refreshing of the teacher's mind by such exercises ; and secondly, as helps to the memory in giving the lesson. He would carry out the valuable Pestalozzian plan of using the object where possible. They knew that Lord Ashburton attributed the development of his own mind very much to the six months he studied in the university of Genes a. "There," he said, " I did not, indeed, learn much, butt my eyes were opened to mark and understand what had before passed unheeded, Faculties were called • into play which lay till thenundeveloped, and I found my mind ripen more rapidly during these few months, than in years previoui." Ws perhaps scarcely estimated the immense importance of objects as appealing to the eye in teaching, He would next recommend the preparation of a number of simple experiments. For example, how simple, yet how suggestive, the m ere b urn i ng a p i ece o f paper before th e c l ass : why the paper ignited so readily —why the flame ascends—why it increased so rapidly when held below the other portion of the P a er—why it burnt very s l ow ly i n a h orizontal position— w hy it p would probably go out held above the paper. These • 'questions would open a pretty extensive range of fact s , and highly practical lessons would necessarily follow, as the lying doWn and avoiding the natural tendency to run in the 'open air when the clothes caught fire—the smothering, covering, preventing access of air to the fire —in fact to procure its c essa ti on . H e supposed most schoolboys had to clean boots and shoes. Let them inves tigate why they used the bard brush for brushing off the dirt, and why a softer one for shining—why the blacking must be rubbed while damp to produce a polish, and why, if left to get dry, it would turn to a dull white. Additional interest would be thus given to common employments, and, generally speaking, the ratio/de of any labour would invest it with a charm that would ensure its better performance, as well as make it a vehicle for thought ful improvement. "Seed thou a man diligent in his business," said the wise man, "he shall stand before kings ; he shall not stand before mean men." And this he believed to be true in every con dition te andinev - s en ge . of h They might trace the course Poorest clod hoppers, and fin d examples o i n h f ens lad doing better b n oreac thant r more clever athis w ork, , . • . others. He took a first place , gonward among n a bo i r n s , p a w nnfirsit, k2 p i la e c p e . • a mong men. His couree w as • his conditi-ms o f f succ ess he inuet rise. lie might lie p e lt e d by eilv.Y, p u s h ed down by unkindneSn while he was true but, lik e a cork came, up be cae, and , to himself, las s , wl e ile • Voices ; and The hi story nma.rdzind :Va3 !Li 11 of such ins . is °rid C: 1 ol.i not keep h im down • many of them bail their first movem dir ectly traced ente to tem ) etliimin g occmi on or particular- circunistaiii. nl,i it ,t.h.y 'vet,) uetitied 1 0 re eardiog as educational. 'alley ;led then but to apply the match, or, rather, to l.sy tim train of common sense to common things, having full hope and confidence th a t sines would in due time I,e • 7 7;i g nited, and produce, if not brilliant, at least usef it _ isteneite, in exploding ignorance, (Tear. ) T*, and removing the lurking pl a y s e e rt , u ,T v in i l e'4: the discussion followed on the topics started in the 7 •411-4,. ; , iestu,ge• of Mr. Crsanptor, in which Mr. lot masses of -- ueltneas ler, tr.rG. Rearley, the Chairman, and other gemtlemen 4 . 4.111 5-et,44 took , iiart; and wieoto of thanks wareunanireoualy Nsif•-:744l4iteete -\ f - eceideti. to the lecturer. ,a •• Later in the day lectures were delivered by .J. Ta Ilea rd, corresponding- secretary of the associ a ti o n , on . 9~`~'d~ ''..,•...,,,,.. THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 1, 18b5 death of Michael Leary, a labourer, by inducing him to drink chloride of zinc for ale. It appeared that the deceased had been some time suf fering from the effects of the pernicious dose. In the course of the last week his condition became much worse, and his death being evidently near at hand, the magistrate went and took his dying statement. The following was his deposition :—" To the best of my knowledge, about feur months ago, I was at work with the prisoner, and was his labourer. We were at work in the back yard of Mr. Brain, the leather cutter in Powis•street, Woolwich. The man had been at work at the closet. We were going to another job, and the prisoner says to me—' I have had some gin this morning, and there's some ale in the bottle that stands by the fence.' The bottle was standing by the fence. No other bottle was there. I went back to the bottle. When he told me there was ale in it, I said, Is there ?' and he said I might as well go and have some. I went and found the bottle, and put it to my mouth. It kept burning me. I think I took about a mouthful. It slipped down in spite of me. I went back to where he was, and said to him, There is oil or something in the bottle that has poisoned rne.' He said, What ! walk along, that will work off.' He said, It's a had job ; why didn't you smell it ?' He didn't say that there was another bottle, or that it was a mistake. I have been suffering from it ever since." The officer, 67 It, who was in charge of the case, in formed the magistrate that Leary died on Friday. The chloride of zinc was kept on the premises for deodorising purposes. A workman was called, who stated that there "rat. no ale in a bottle about the place. Mr. Train said he should remand the prisoner until the result of the coroner's inquest was known. A post-mortem examination of the body would be made. COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS' SCHOOL. On Saturday evening the annual dinner in aid of the Commercial Travellers' School took place at the London Tavern. About two hundred gentlemen were present. Mr. Charles Dickens was in the chair ; and amongst the other guests were Messrs. Albert S:nith, P. Cunning ham, and Horace Mayhew. After the usual loyal toasts had been duly honoured, The CHAIRMAN proposed the toast of the evening, " Success to the Commercial Travellers' School." He said that he thought it might be assumed that most of those present knew something about travelling—he did not mean travelling in distant regions and foreign coun tries, though he dared say some of them had associations connected with that—but about travelling within the limits of the United Kingdom. He dared say most of them had had their experience of extinct fast coaches— Quicksilvere, Taglienis, Tally-hoe, Telegraphs, and what not ; that they had "heard the chimes at midnight" in postchaises, and driven gigs along interminable roads, through slush and darkness, into little country towns with no visible population except half-a-dozen smock , frocks smoking pipes under the lee of the Town-hall, half-a-dozen shining umbrellas, as many pairs of wet I legs, and a washed out dog or two. (Laughter.) They could all, be had no doubt, if so minded, discourse about their recollections of the Talbot, the King's Head, the Royal, or the Lion of those days. They had all been to that room on the ground floor, on one side of that inn yard, not quite free from a certain fragrance of tobacco, where the cruets on the sideboard were obscured by a collection of great coats hanging from the wall ; where driving seats waylaid them at every turn like humane mantraps ; where that county member, framed and ghteed, was continually presenting that petition which had somehow made him glorious in the county, though nothing else had ever come of it ; where the book of roads always wanted the first and last dozen pages ; and where some man who had arrived alone at some unholy hour of the night, known only to the nearest turnpike man and the porter, was eternally having breakfast by himself at any period of the day. (Applause.) He had no doubt they could all, if they would, be very eloquent upon the charms of their favourite hotel—its bar, its stables, its vast amount of posting, its enormous cheeses, its head waiter, its capital idea of pigeon-pie, its 1820 port, their chaste and innocent admiration of its land lady, and possibly their fraternal regard for its chamber maid. (A pplause and laughter.) A celebrated drama tic critic once wrote of a famous actress, renowned for her virtue and beauty, that she "gave one the idea of being elegantly gatberable to one's arms." Perhaps some of those present in their time might, in a perfectly ho nourable and irreproachable way, have a similar mental tribute to the ladies associated with the administration of their favourite inns. (Laughter.) With the travel ling characteristics of later times they were equally familiar. They knew all about that station to which they had taken their ticket, although they had never been there. They knew that if they arrived at it after dark they should find it a mile and a half from the town —the old road abolished, and the new road only go ing to be made—half the neighbourhood pulled down, and the other half act yet built up. They knew all about that porter on the platform, who, with the best intention fn the world, could do nothing parti cularly efficacious in regard to their luggage, except look at it with a bell in his hand—about that particularly short omnibus out in the dark which brought one vio lently up by the crown of one's head, and about that "fly" which was never there. They knew how instantly the whole station world disappear when the •train had gone away. They knew all about that long bewilder ing grope in the lark to the "New Railway Hotel," which would be a capital hotel when the custom came, but which at present had nothing particular to offer in place of refreshment except a liberal smell of damp mor tar and new lime. (Laughter.) He recalled these little incidents of home travel as an introduction to the main object of their assembling. Every traveller who had a home of his seen learned from his wanderings to prize it the more in the intervals of his return to it ; if he had ne home, he learned the same lesson unselfishly in re gard to the hernes of other people. Therefore, one might be prepared to learn that commercial travellers as a body knew how to prize the domestic relations from which their pursuits so frequently severed them ; but nothing could be more delightful, more generous, or more convincing testimony of this than their founding and maintaining tho school for the children of deceased and necessitous members of their body which now appealed t* the assembly in mute but eloquent language from the gallery. [The children of the school had been sta tioned in the gallery at the lower end of the room,] It was to support that school that they were met that night. It was to roof in the building which was to shelter and comfort the children of deceased aid decayed friends that their active sympathy and exertions were now soli cited. They knew how to put their hands to the plough, for he was informed that they last year raised for these schools no less a sum than 8,0001., and that while one-half of that sum consisted of new donations, the annual subscriptions for the support of the school were only diminished by the nominal sum of 30/. He would not urge upon them the casualties of life and travel, the ♦icissitudes of business, the claims of friend ship, and the bond of brotherhood which there ought always to be among men united in one common pursuit. They had already recognised these considerations so nobly that he would not presume to lay them before them. Suffice it to say that he did not believe it was in their nature to do things by halves ; he did not think they could do so if they tried, and he had a moral cer tainty that they would never try. To those who were not members of the commercial travellers' body, he would whi.per the adage, "Heaven kelps those who help themselves," The commercial travellers having been true to themselves, it was clear to him that their visitors and supporters came there as a sort of accredited celestial re pre,entatives—no doubt with that aid in their pockets which the precept taught them to expect. (Applause.) The toast was drunk with much enthusiasm, after which the children of the school, who were in the gallery, sang a vocal piece, and then walked through the room. Mr. ROBERTS proposed "The health of the Chairman," which was duly honoured. The CHAIRMAN briefly acknowledged the toast, and proposed the health of Mr. eo. More, the treasurer of the school fund." Mr. MOOl IP,', in respondicg, stated that he had on the previous day obtaimd 150 annual subscriptions in Man chester. He hoped the institution would be opened, free from debt, in June next. • A list of subscriptions was then read, amounting to about 800 d. The CHAIRMAN proposed " The healths of Messrs. Albert Smith, Peter Cunningham, and Horace Mayhew." Si many travellers had recently gone up Mont Blane, either in fact or is fiction, so that he had had pro posals for the formation of a company to employ Sir Joseph Paxton to take it down— (laughter)—but only one traveller had been able to bring Mont Blanc into Piccadilly, and to make the ascent so easy that the most timid lady might undertake it without dagger or fatigue. Mr. Albert Smith was undoubtedly a traveller ; and though he (the chairman) did not know that he took many orders, yet he could testify, on behalf of the chil dren of his friends, that he vva-i most liberal in giving them. Mr. Peter Cunningham was a traveller, not Only in right of having edited Goldsmith's " Traveller," and of ether works, bat also in right of that admirable handbook which proved to have been a traveller in the right spirit through the labyrinths of London. They had also among them his friend Mr. Horace Mayhew, well known for his books of lively social adventure, and he therefore proposed that they should drink the healths of these three gentlemen. The teat having been duly honoured, Mr. Smith sang "G-alignani's Messenger," and Messrs. Cunningham and Mayhew briefly returned thanks. Several other toasts were drunk, the list cericluding, as usual, with " The Ladies ;" and the proceedings did not terminate until a late hour. EXTRAORDINARY CHARGE OF FORGERY. The magistrates of Hertford were engaged on Friday in investigating a charge against Mrs. Emily Harriet Geraldine Morris, described in the Hertford Mercury (out authority for the present report) as tie wife of Mr. Win. Morris, of the Stock Exchange, and ofllen hall, East Barnet, of haying forged the acceptance of her husband to a bill of exchange for 1,5001. Mr. Cooper, the barrister, was for the prosecution, and Mr. Huddlestone for the prisoner. It appeared that tke prisoner married, in 1341, a lad of seventeen, the son of an eminent printer in London, but in consequence of the unhappy character of the union, the parties were separated, and a divorce from bed and board obtained in an ecclesiastical suit; the pro ceedings had, however, never been so far complete as to enable her to marry again. Notwithstanding this, she, in the year 1846, married Mr. William Morrie, In 1853 that gentleman took Willen Hall, East Barnet, and er,aged with Messrs. Duppa and Collins, of Oxf.ird-street, to fit and decorate the place, and the prosecutor in this case, Mr. Arthur David Owen, their principal manager, went down to eupetintend the work at Willen Hall, when an intimacy sprang up be tween him and the prisoner, she, to use his own words, making love to him first. The work was completed in December, 185, and after that prosecutor upon a good many occasion* visited the prisoner during the absence of Mr. Morris. In February, 1854, prosecutor received a letter of whicli the following is a copy :—" You can do nie a great service ; I believe you will. It is in a way which bad better not be written about. lam here all alone every day till four or five o'clock ; can you come down, or, rather, will you come down l The best way will be to take a cab. God blew you!—HaatßlET." The prosecutor went down and saw the prisoner, who asked him to lend her a large sum of money upon property, which she said was settled upon her at her marriage. This he declined ; and she then asked if be would cash a note of hind, signed by her lilisba.nd. Ho said he would, as he thought her husband quite sate ; but, as he could not find the money him self, should like some collateral security. She raid she would place in his hands her diamonds, which were worth 3,000/. To this he assented, and took the ante and jewels, which slia sealed up, and said were not to be opened until the bill was taken up ; and, after de ducting 4001. as interest for the six months of its data, handed her over 1,1001. From something that sub,e quently transpired he opened the jewel case, and found the whole to be paste and imitation of the mest worth less description. He subsequently took proceedings upon the bill against Mr. Morris, who repudiated the claim, and swore that the signature was a forgery, and not the least like his handwriting. Under these circum stances a warrant was placed in the hands of Forrester, and the lady, who had absconded, was, during the week, apprehended in Paris, and brought over here upon the charge of forgery. The bench, having heard the evidence, committed her for trial, expressing their readiness to take bail—the prisoner in 2,000/, and two sureties in 1 3 000/, each. RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE. LONDON AND NORTH WESTERN AND GREAT WESTERN. It appears that the agreement between these com• panies for putting an end to competition on their lines was signed by the chairmen of both companies on the 14th ult., and comes into operation to-day. The agree ment stipulates that the fares, rates, and charges for every description of traffic shall be the same on both lines, between the same places or towns to which both companies are competitors for traffic, whether alone over their own railway, or elsewhere in alliance, by through booking or otherwise, with the other companie-, or per sons over any other lines of railway, or by any other means, to or from places beyond their own railways. The fares, rates, and charges between all such places shall be fixed from time to-time by mutual agreement, or, in case of difference, by a third person previously selected. The rates of goods include collection and delivery by the companies or their agents within specified districts, and the deduction to be made for collection and delivery shall be defined, and be the same for both companie.. No special rates or time bargains shall be made without mutual consent. No reduction is to be made, directly or inctrectly, from the fares and charges by way of dis count or allowance, nor by season return tickets, or ex cursion tickets available by regular trains, nor by re booking intermediately or otherwise. The third-class trains shall be agreed on, and there shall be no increase of third-class accommodation beyond that necessary for the requirements of the several districts. In case of difference the matter is to be subject to the decision of the referee. The scale of excursion fares shall be fixed by agreement, er by the referee in case of difference. Each company is to be held responsible for all acts of its respective agents in relation to its traffic arrange ments, rates, and conditions - of the agreement. glioild either company desire to alter any rate or fare it is to give five clear days' notice (Sundays excepted) in writing to the other, at the London stations of the companies, am& failing acceptance of the proposed change after three clear days from the day of notice, it may then give notice to refer the matter to the referee, who shall forthwith decide the question, upon hearing the views of both from one person on behalf of each com pany. Provision it also made for any violation of the agreement, in which case, should the referee determine that the violation of the agreement had been intention ally made by the company, its servants or agents, a penalty of seven times the amount of the particular fare or freight improperly charged, or, in other respects of ViolittiOn, ilt penalty of such amount as the referee shall determine shall be paid to the aggrieved company. The agreement is for three months certain, and to continue' until determined by notice in writing of one month on either side. the method of teaching grammar ; by the Rev. John Curwen, on the tonic sol-fa mode of teaching singing. The remainder of the sitting was devoted to business of a routine character chiefly. Before the meeting separated, Mr. Brookes, master of the Jews' Western School, inquired whether the second rule of the society, who declared that none should be members except those which made the Bible the basis of all instruction, was in , tended to exclude masters who did not proceed on that principle ? He himself was of the Jewish religion, but Le knew that many others in the same position with himself would be glad to join in the great objects of the society, and thus dispel sectarian feeling, it that rule were not urged. After some discussion it was found that no rule could be altered except by previous notice of one month before the annual meeting, which notice must be given by a member. A member undertook to give this notice, and the matter stands over for deliberation at the next annual meeting. POLICE INTELLIGENCE.—Dec. 30. MARYLEBONE.—JZob Salt, a sullen-looking middle-aged man, was placed at the bar before Mr. Long, charged with the following most atrocious con duct towards George Kemp, living in Haverstock-place, Camden-to Complair ant, around whose head was a bandare, de posed, that on the previous Saturday he was in the corn pany of the prisoner at a beer-shop, and that a quarrel arose between them, some fighting ensued, and com plainant knocked prisoner down. Mr. Long—Now come to the biting off your ear. Where did that take place ?—Complainant : After the quarrel I looked into a beer-house in Ferdinand-street, on my way home, and while on the settle, partaking quietly of a glass of ale, the prisoner entered ; ke sat down close to me, and after remaining quiet for some minutes, he, without saying a word ; threw one arm round my waist, and seizing me firmly by the collar, bit off part of one of my ears. The piece fell from his mouth, and was picked up from off the floor ; some par ties hearing me cry out came to my assistance, and rescued me after much difficulty from the prisoner's hold. Prisoner also endeavoured to fasten his teeth into my nose, and would no doubt have succeeded in his object had not my cries had the effect of bringing instant aid. Other witnesses were examined touching the brutal outrage. The portion of the ear which had been torn away by prisoner's teeth wits produced by Jesse, one a the war rant officers of the court ; it was nearly two inches in length and about half as inch wide. The prisoner, who had scarcely anything to say for himself, was fined fit., the magistrate at the same time remarking that but for the previous quarrel and ad mitted assault he should have sent the case to the sessions. LAMBETH.—Mr. Herring, the relieving officer of the parish of St. Mary's, Newington, attended before the Hon. G. C. Norton, in compliance with a message from that magistrate, to answer some questions, and give an explanation of his conduct as regarded some poor people, who had been sent to him from the court to be relieved. For several days past a considerable portion of the time of the magistrates at this court has been occupied by the exceedingly distressing complaints of the poor of the district entitled to relief from the pa rish, but more particularly the parish of Newington. The applicants frpm this parish not only complained of not receiving relief, but of the harsh and unkind treatment which they received at the hands of the officers. On Friday there were not less than twenty seven cases from Newington parish alone, and Mr. Norton, finding that they were cases in which the par ties should have been relieved by the parish officers, and not from the poor-box, desired Dixon, one of the sum inoning officers, to take three of the worst cases to Mr. Herring, and tell him they were deserving his imme diate attention. From these three Herring selected one woman, and said that she had been before the board of guardians on the Thursday, when she was offered three leaves of bread, but that she refused them ; and believ ing, therefore, that she had imposed on the magistrate. requested him to take her back to the court. Dixon did so, when the woman at once acknowledged she had been before the board, and refused to accept the three loaves for this reason, that they would be of no use whatever to herself and her family in the state they were in. Her husband was ill, and unable to ears. anything ; her three children in a state of nakedness, and a room without a fire, and she would ask what use:three leaves of bread 0001,1 be to her with a family in such a state. Dixon, the officer, corroborated the statement of the poor woman as respected the state of her children, and said said that a greater scene of misery and wretchedness he never witnessed than that which the unfortunate child ren presented. He also said that he had learned that the persin whose duty it was to visit the family, and on whose report the guardians acted, had never gone upstairs to see the state of the children. _ _ Mr. Norton observed that this was precisely what he thought. From what he had seen of the guardians of Newington parish he Lelieved them to be most humane and kind ; and he felt perfectly certai❑ that if a proper representation had been made to them, as it should have been, they would not have allowed the poor family to remain in their present.wretched state, or con fine their order to three loaves of dry bread. Mr. Herring (in an impudent tone—Why charge me with all this ? I was only acting on the board's order. Mr. Norton—l'll tell you why ; because it was your duty to have visited this poor family yourself, and not to have allowed somebody else to go, who merely asked a few questions at the door, and then made a false re nresent•ition to the guardians as to the actual state of the finally. I have had to do with a great many re lieving in my time, but I can say that I have never had to complain of the conduct of any one of them to the same extent that I have of yours. There are at present no less than seventeen applications in the outer office who have been refused relief from your parish, and insist on your inquiring into their cases, and relieving them, or dealing properly with them. A decent looking female who stood in the witneAs box, addressing the magistrate, said that her husband had been ill for some time, and her two children not much better, and all three, as welt es herself, had not tasted a morsel of food for a day and a half, and though she had represented these facts to Mr. Herring, he re fused to do anything for her. Mr. Norton—Thee, but for the half•crown I gave you last evening, you might have been with your family with out a morsel until this time, so far as Mr. Herring is concerned ?—Poor woman—Yes, sir, that we might until this morning, when he (Mr. Herring) assisted ice with two loaves; but what are two loaves to a sick family ? Mr. Norton—Now, Mr. Herring, you hear the state ment of this poor woman, and I request that you will at once attend to her and the other cases, and if you do not, I shall know then what to do. Mr. Herring here snatched up his hat, and left the court in a hurried manner, and certainly not accompa nied by the blessings of his auditory. • 8 ti W n i inEoSnTs AclhlaNrgSi charging h R Tn Lo rd refusing to pay a cabm an Monte a g 1 e appeared t o a his legal fare. ir thethe hired ChdaerfelensdaSnet a o r n s, t t he he 6 c t o h m n p i l t a „ f ina ro n m t, torn of the H aymarket. He drove to the Athenaeum Club, an d then carried the defendant to his residence, said the rhe rank w rt h(bty 7, Park•street, Westminster. The servant brought com plainant out sixpence as his fare, but he demandol a shillinc, for the distance. His lordship admitted the facts, but said that ho had been in the habit frequently of riding the same distance for sixpence, and he should be very glad to have the queation settled by measurement. He should, how ever, be happy to pay the money to the cabman, and remunerate him for his loss of time. He could then have the distance measured without further troubling him. It was sugge toy by the m ag i strate that the better be deposit ss. e ach, and have t h e ground me asure d before the cabman was paid. In pur suance of thi s suggestion the distance was measured, and proved to be 90 yards over the mile. THAMES.--Leteis Colgan and Pa y h ,prNiseolaseorns:sltarne landlady, wife, a respectable young couple, tvernen-e Cowan, r his stealing a silver watch, hair guard and g ldhake-ye,dinwtihthe said her bus.d welling-house, No. t L' t •lleY, where thez ir a s r . e T l:d o g rA i p ng so . n, band's silver watch, to which a guard and key tached, was hanging u p i n th e kitchen on Frida w y e tn re or a n t. inn'. She last saw the wat c h i n i ts usual place at 11 o'clock. She went out twice in the course of the morn ing, and on the second occasion met one of her single young men lodgers, named Campbell, who had a fur nished room, and partook of his meals in the kitchen, coming in as she went out. At 3 o'clock she missed the wateb. She did not mention her loss to any one until her husband came home at half-past 6in the evening, 'mod then suspicion fell on the prisoners, who were at floras the greater part of the day, and went out before her husband came home. The witnes s was cross-examiaed by Mr. Daniel for the prisoners, a n d she 'mild not assign a reason for sus pecting the prisoners instead of the single young man lodger. The witness wa s under examination a long time, and the ti me of the court was wasted, for the real commenced her e thief was pointed out in court before Mrs. Thompson evidence Mr. Crawley, assistant to Mr Wo ods, pawnbroker, produced the wa t c h, and it was n not pawned by either of the prisoners, but by th e single alluded to by Mrs. Thompson, and wh out om he pointed in court. Mr. Yardl e y —Th ere is net a tittle of eviden the prisone rs . Di scharge them ins l ta o n u t n ly g , maeanedn t t h e a l gl e oadingsetr single you ng man l odger stand in their place. Henry Campbell, 20, was then arraigned, and de scribed himself as a casemaker. B-fore the case against him proceeded, Mr. Cowan (of the firm of Cowan and Brabant), water-proofers in the City, complained that his son had been given into custody on a most unfounded charge, and had suffered the de4radation of being placed in a felon's dock, where he had stood for the last half hour. Ms son was his traveller, in the receipt of a guinea per day, besides ex penses, and was an honest and respectable young man. lie vval very indignant that his son should have been placed in such a disgraceful position. Mr. Yardley-4 don't wonder, sir, at your indigna tion ; I must say yoer son and his wife are entirely exo nerated, and ought not to have been given into custody. Mr. Crawley said the watch was pawned for 11. on Friday afternoon. lie thought the prisoner Campbell was the man who pawned it, Police-constable Lovell, No. 345, K, said he had just searched the prisoner and found 17s. 6d. upon him. Mr. Yardley—l shall remand this young man until Thursday next. WOOLWICH.— TN. Smith, a middle-aged man, by trade a bricklayer, was charged with having caused the HOPE v. HOPE. The Tribunal of the First Instance of the department of the Seine, under the presidency of M. DebeHerne, has lately been occupied by a suit brought by Mr. Adrian Hope against Mrs. Adrian Hope, calling upon her to give up to him the custody of his two sons, in conformity with the two orders of the Lo r d Ch an cellor made during last year. M. Duyergler, Mr. Hope's advocate, opened the pre -1 ceedings on the 20th ult. The court, after hearing his argument, and the reply of M. Herbert, Hrs. Hope's advocate, as well as M. Duvergier's rejoiner, adjourned the summing up of the Procurour-General and the judgment of the court till that day week. On Wednesday, the 27th, M. Moignon, substitute for the Procureur-General, made his conclusions in the following terms : "You are aware of the situation of the parties in this cause. It is, in fact, most simple. Mrs. Hope is the (laughter of General Rapp. She has instituted against her husband a divorce suit before the English Ecclesiastical Court. Before this court has pronounced judgment, Mrs. Hope'has further desired to determine the position of two of her children who are under her care : she has chosen to have his position decided by the French tribunals. The French tribunals have pronounced on her demand. They have declared that the mother shall retain the cus atoevd e y r a o l f d h e c e r r e etwof thec h i l e d o r u e r n t , h but e c t o h n e fi y r I m i a s v d e t a n d i s d e d d e -- c s a i n on d --that the custody of the children, thus confided to th e mother, should be maintained only until the competent tribunals should have pronounced. What are the com petent tribunals ? In what character, and to what ex tent have the French tribunals decided ? In the first place the French tribunal has not pronounced as admi nistrator of the French Jaw. It has decided between foreigners who were not subject to its jurisdiction, and who could not become so. It has, therefore, confined itself within the narrowest limits of the narrowest con ception relating to foreigners residing in France, and with reference to whom measures of protection are neces sary. Suck is the character which decisions of the French tribunal must necessarily have in the case of a foreigner. As he is not under our jurisdiction, we can • not impose a judgment upon him ; the measures which we take with reference to him can only be taken. for the purpose of protection. This is so true, especially in the matter now before you, that the tribunal and the court have repeatedly said, ' Our decision will only remain valid until the day when the competent tribunals have decided.' What are the competent tribunals ? Mr. Hope has taken pro ceedings before the Lord Chancellor of England. The Lord Chancellor has decided that the children ought to be given up to Mielr father, because, according to the English law, it is the father who is the guardian, it is the father who is the protector of the children ; and, said the Lard Chancellor in stating the reasons of his decision, there must be very strong grounds before they can be withdraws from this guardianship and protection. The Lord Chancellor, I repeat, has decided that the children should be restored to their Either. This first decision required to be rendered executory, and it was indispensable, then, to submit it to you. You have bees called upon to give your opinion, and you have refused to order the execution of the sentence of the Lord Chancellor, because it has appeared to you open to appeal, and be cause you were not aware whether in this ease an appeal is or is net suspensive. Reference has bees made to the Lord Chancellor. He has fully explained the juris prudence of his country, and its mode of regarding such questions. He definitively declared that appeal to the House of Lords was net suspensive, and his decison was sovereign and executory, appeal notwithstand ing. Moreover, turning to the bar, he said, ' Speak ing before an English bar, I need not enter further into the question, because every one knows here that my decision is sovereign, and that appeal to the House of Lords does not suspend its execution.' After having 'wide thiseleclaration, the Lord Chancellor confirmed his first sentence, namely, that according to the English law the custody of children belongs to the father,' unless there are some grounds for excluding him—that, as no grounds exist against Mr. Hope for depriving him of the exeteise of his paternal authority, the children ought to be restored to him. You are now again called upon to carry into effect the decision of the Lord Chan cellor. For our part we do not hesitate to say that we think the execution of the sentence ought to be immedi ately ordered. What is the question for the judge who is called upon to decide on the present application ? He has to consider whether the decision was pronounced by the competent tribunal, whether there is anything in it contrary to the French law, or to public order in France ; finally, whether the judgment referred to him has, in truth, the charaCter of a judgment. As for the competence of the tribunal whicn has pronounced, it is incontestible. The English law declares the Lord Chancellor the protector of all minors. Moreover, the Lord Chancellor points out in his decision that the ecclesiastical court is Rot in this matter disqualified to decide, because —unlike the rule which prevails in our country--that court, called upon to deal with the question of divorce, cannot pronounce on that of the custody of the children. It must confine itself exclusively to the rules and principles which regd. late the special matter submitted to it, namely, the sepa ration de corp., or divorce. There is no room, then, for doubt or dispute. As regards the disposal of the children, it is the Lord Chancellor, and the Lord Chan cellor alone, who represents in England the competent jurisdiction. Has the decision of the Lord Chancellor the character and force of a judgment ? Clearly, yes, since the Lord Chancellor, with the law of his country before him, declares his decision paramount. Finally, is this judgment contrary to the French law? Clearly, no. We have no enactment to the effect that, in a suit of separation de corps, the children shall neces sarily be given up to the party who institutes the suit. Consequently, there is no obstacle to your im mediately declaring the sentence of the Lord Chan cellor executory. It has, it is true, been said, ' You are not a registry office ; you do not merely register the decisions of foreign tribunals which are submitted to you ; you pronounce in some sort a new decision, and it is this which ought to prevail.' When the question is of property situated in France, I can understand this; but in a case of two foreigners over whom we have no jurisdiction, are we to criticise the judgment which has been pronounced, and to say that the judge has decided wrongly? Are we to enter into all the details of English law, with which we are unac quaiuted ? Are we, a Paris tribunal, sitting in Paris, to amend a decision emanating from an English judge, re siding is England ? When the parties have appeared before the Lord Chancellor, when he has heard both sides fully, when he has been able to appreciate, with a knowledge of the facts, the arguments which each has put forward, are we, a French judge, going to hear the parties anew ? Are we to give a hearing, on the oke hand, to Mrs. Hope, who states that her two children are ill, that one is weakly, and that the health of the i t o this n other is v er y d e li cate; or, on t h e other, to-Mr. Hope, who st a t es, en the contrary, that his children are in good health, an d that he will place them in a house where they will b e perfectly well oared for ? Are we going to listed s dispute tat s i whensimts of m the r L or d o ps and Chancellor his wifeh e la ? e a rd the o ppos i telt is impossibl e . Each has his Gi He his mission, to per form. Th e English judg es decide in j England ; we French judge s may be contented to decide i n F rance. T o t h e English au th orities belong contrary disput i e le s r b to et t w he ee l n aw E s n o g r lis t h o subjects, a n d w h en the y h ave pronounced, it is the French auth or i t i es to order the e i x n e c on m a o t f t t e h r e b r e s f o e r n tences, if they are not the public o r d er o f oar country. . the court the p r i nc i ples have bee n recognised rig t h h t e s re a is nothing here co n t rary to our legislation respected ; we think, th ee, that tho court wifideclarree executory the sentence of the Lord Chancellor. In the name of Mr. Hope, it is asked that, pending the suit of separation de corps, the children may be placed in a I school where they may receive all the care which they may require. For our part, we see no inconve nience in this arrangement, and we cannot doubt that the court will give effect to the conclusions of Mr. Hope. The President subsequently pronounced judgment to the following einet :—The order of the Lord Chancellor of the th of A ugus t, l as t y ear , i s d ec l are d executory in France. The boys are to be placed in some neutral domicile until the definitive decision ( viz., in case of ap peal to the Cour Imperiale) to prevent their being with drawn from Franc e or Paris. Articles belonging to Mrs. Hope in the house at the Quai d'Orsay are to bo returned to her. The school in which the boys are to be tem porarily placed net defined. EEPRESENTATION OP SUNDERLAND. --111 r. Fenwick has t a ken th e fi e ld i n opposition to Mr. Seynaour, In a brief addr ess t o th e electors, he say s •—".A.t th e lir gent request of a large number of the electors of the borough, I have consented to come forward as a candidate to supply the vacancy created by 'William Rigby Seymour becoming a placeman. My political opinions arc well known to the electors of Sunderland. They are essentially liberal, and such as aIL sections of the liberal party may honestly support,"— Sunderland Tinter. DUNDEE AND ARBROATH. The half-yearly meeting of this company was held on Wednesday at Aundeo ; Mr. G. Armistead in the chair. The report stated that a balance of 555/. was brought from last account and added to the gross revenue of 14,5401., making 15,9851. From this was deducted 6,8041. for working expenses, and 1,2891. for rates and taxes, leaving 6.992/.; out of which 6351. was deducted for relaying a portion of the line, 6371. for interest on loans, and 1,6671. for dividend on the 5 per cent. guaran teed stock, leaving a surplus of 4.0511. The directors recommended a dividend on the 251. shares at the rate of Y per cent. per annum for the half-year, amounting to 3.0001., and leaving 1,051/. to be carried to the next tccount. There was a decrease in the receipts as coin pared with the corresponding period of last year of 6161 , and in the working expenses of 172/. The goods . traffic hetween Dundee, and the Edinburgh, Perth, and DtAidee line via Broughty Ferry, had been withdrawn, and a decrease in the revenue was the consequetii&. This decrease, however, It ad to some extent been compensated by an improvement in the receipts for passengers and general goods traffic. The di rectors were gradually removing the original rails, chairs, and sleepers, &c., of the main line, and replacing them with new and substantial rails, &c. The amount taken out of current revenue for this purpose was equal to 12s. 6d. per cent. upon all the ordinary stock of the company. The - revenue since the 31st of October showed an increase over the corresponding period of last year of 1061. A joint working arrangement had been entered into with the Aberdeen Railway Company, whereby this company's new goods station at Arbroath and the Aberdeen goods station there are thrown into one, and worked as a joint station for both companies. This artangente;t came into operation on the Ist of De cember, and would be the means of reducing the work ing expenses. The new railway between the main line and the Carmyllie district would be opened for traffic about the end of January. The CIAIRMAN moved that the report be adopted, and that a dividend at the rate of 3 per cent. per annum be declared for the half year. Mr. WHITSON said they must endeavour to prevent the depreciation of their affairs, and it was probable that at the next meeting he should bring under their consi deration the propriety of devolping the traffic even en Sundays, instead of having it swept away by the boats. He did not see why they should not afford the earns facilities on their line as those between London and Brighton—places in which there was as much intelli gence and as much divinity as at Dundee or Arbroath. Mr. FORREST complained that the accounts did not show how all the money had been expended. There ap peared a deficiency in the revenue account of 9221. Within three years 50,000/. of additional capital had been expended on the line, being about 3,000/. per mile, and a large increase in the traffic would be required to render the outlay profitable. He concluded by moving an amendment, to the effect that a committee of investi gation be appointed to consider and report on the affairs of the company. The CetinniAN said, the ledger war, open to any share holder who chose to examine it. He had no objection to the appointment of a committee. A long discussion ensued, in the course of which it was stated that 6,000/. would be required for relaying. the line, 6,000/. for a new station, and 3,0001. for sun dries, making together 15,0001., which would enable them to close the capital at about 318,000/. Mr. FORREST withdrew his amendment, and the mo tion of the chairman was carried unanimously. MIDLAND GREAT WESTERN. A special meeting of this company was held on Thurs- day, at Dublin, to consider the propriety of introducing a bill in Parliament for enabling the ce , npany to make branch railways from Longford to Strokestnwn, and from Athenry to Tuain ; Mr. J. Ennis in the chair. The CHAIRMAN stated that the object of the meeting was to obtain the opinion of the shareholders on the question of extensions. There was a difference of opinion among► the members of the board on the subject t;f pro ceeding with the project. He moved, as a matter of form, that the application to Parliament be approved, which was seconded. An amendment was proposed to the effect that, in consequence of the present circumstances of the country and the prospects of the money-market, it is not pru dent to proceed further with the extentions to Strokes town and to Tuam ; but that a railway into the county of Mayo ought to be undertaken by this company as son as the counties of Roscommon and Mayo shall agree as to the best course for such a line, and the state of the money-market shall render it practicable. After some observations from Lord TALBOT DE MALA RIDE and Mr. HONE, the amendment was carried, and the meeting separated. BAGENALSTOWN AND WEXFORD. The ceremony of cutting the first sod on this line took place on Thursday at the village of Borris, on the estate of Mr. A. Kavanagh. Lady IL Kavanagh performed the ceremony of cutting the first sod amid considerable applause. The directors and a large number of persons distance of 14 e l s t 4 e were p. h p r r o e s u e g n h t . h e T p h r e o line ty w o i l f l A rt i i r n . f r a! aliy o i n te vanagh, who has placed the requisite land at the disposal of the company, on most favourable terms to the latter. d lt uc is e, ex a p n ec d te a d t thtahtethsaemlienetiwmiell c b o e n r fe e r m a u g ne re ra a t t iv b e en t e o tit th on e the district, which it appears is rich in agricult ura l pro shareholders. NORTH-EASTERN. The Bratnhope Tunnel on the Leeds northern portion of the above company's undertaking is to be re-opened for traffic to-day. The tunnel is 21 miles in length, and owing to the falling in of a portion of the roof on a pas senger train in September last, it has been undergoing careful repairs for nearly three months. It is now be lieved to be perfectly safe, having been carefully ex amined and repaired. PHOTOGRAPHY AN AID TO ADMIN ISTATION OF CRIMINAL JUSTICE. Mr. J. A. Gardiner, the Governor of the Bristol Gaol, has just addressed a circular letter to the Gover nors of others of her Majesty's gaols in the United Kingdom, in which he states : _.... "The advantages which I have myself seen derived from the use of photography as an aid to the adminis tration of criminal justice are such that I am induced to make an effort to procure its general adoption through out the kingdom. " The importance of being enabled in the cases of all hardened criminal to prove previous convictions must bo too self-evident to dwell upon ; neither does it require argument to show that the difficulties hitherto in the way of such proofs have been always numerous and often insurmountable. " When the convict has been sent back for a second time to the same gaol the required evidence has been easily procurable, but it is well known to all who have been concerned in criminal administration that the most cunnin are g, in tl i i g e ra m t o o s ry t sk ii ie i ll t , i l i , ei a r m i l i t h he most its;t daring hat offend ers they do onot op b e u n t locate t t l h i e e t i u r s themselves e in s t a o particularwherever tthoewr n e is or th d e is m tr o i s e t t, field for crime, or where the chances of plunder most present themselves ; that this is the case will be attested by the police of almost every large city, whose experi ence will have failed to connect the most extensive and best - planned robberies with- their resident known thieves. " A knowledge of the foregoing truths induced me a few years ago to desiderata some mode by which de scriptions of committed prisoners suspected of previous convictions might be circulated among the governors of leading gaols, but numerous difficulties at first presented themselves ; periodical visits of inspection might be useful, but they would have two great disadvantages— first, they would withdraw the governor or confidential officer too frequently from his gaol duties ; and, secondly, they would entail expenses which the counties could not bear. Written descriptions, in very marked cases, might be effectiye ;, but, as in the great majority of instances it would be found impossible to make them sufficiently pre. cise, they would only tend, where persong were gent to identify, to frequent disappointments and useless ex pense. " Photography then suggested itself to nay mind, and it became at once apparent that if I could devise some means of making the operation sufficiently sudden, I might, in scores of cases, even without the knowledge of the prisoner, procure his likeness, a very icon of himself, of which, being capable of multiplication to any extent, I might transmit a copy to wherever it might promise to lead to useful results. "Twelve months continuous study of the system has enabled me to perfect it. I have now an apparatus in my gaol which I use daily. I have rendered it most sub servient to the object for which it was designed, and through its use have brought to justice several hardened offenders who, being unknown in my neighbourbood, would otherwise have escaped with inadequate punish ment. "J. IL came into the Bristol gaol upon commitment fur trial a perfect stranger to me and my officers ; he was well attired, but very illiterate ; the state of his hands convinced me that he had not done any liar work, while the superiority of his apparel over his at tainments led me to su=p , !ct that he was a practif.ed thief. I forwarded his likeness to several places, and soon received information that he had been convicted in London and Dublin. The London officer who recog nised him by his portrait was subpoenaed as a v4tness, picked him out from 30 or 40 other prisoners, and gave evidence on his trial in October last which led the Re coMer to sentence him to six years' penal sers it ude. " J. D. came to the gaol wholly unknown ; h:s per son and manners induced me to suspect that it was not his first appearance in a place of confinement ; and, having made several copies of his portriat, I sent them round to the governors of different prisons. lie was recognised as having been convicted at Wells ; the neces sary witness was subpoenaed, his former conviction proved, and he was sentenced to four years' penal servitude, "I could mention several instances in which some most notorious thieves, strangers to this part, have been brought to proper punishment. " Such having been my own experience, I now appeal to the governors of o th er gao l s t o a id me i n carrying out the system upon a broad and a national scale. The cost of an apparatus complete will not exceed 101., and it may be worked at an expense of about 51. per annum. "I have only to add my wish that you should bring this communication under the notice of your visiting justices, and to say, should the authorities of any dis trict consider that I can help them, by instructing their officers in the exercise of this most useful art, I shall be happy to do so." TIM NEW MiTROPOLITANCATTLE MARKET. Yesterday Mr. IL L. Taylor, the chairman of the Markets Improvement Committee of the Corporation, in company with Deputies Holt and Obbard, and Messrs. De Jersey, Symonds, Grimwarde, Pead, Rowley, and SymondQ, members of the committee, visited the new Metropolitau Cattle Market, at Copenhagen-fields, for the purpose of examining the progress of the works. This visit was understood to be the last which will be made by the committee for this purpose, prior to the final opining of the market, which, if nothing super venes, it is intended to open on Thursday, the 25th of January, 1855. Daily, since our last notice, the hun dreds of men engaged have been actively employed. The lieensed houses are nearly ready for fitting up, and will shortly be occupied ; but the two taverns, the City Arms and the Queen's Arms, which are very extensive structures, are approaching completion, though, as yet, a long way from being fit for habitation. The major part of the pens and rails are finished, and the banking houses are ready for the garniture of such establish mints. The slaughter-houses, public awl private, are ready for letting, and the small experimental but ex ceedingly neat •' dead-meat market" only awaits the fitting up of the iro❑ rods and hooks upon which the carcasses will be hung. The major part of the paving is completed, and the market now appears, as a whole, really worthy of the great corporation under the aus pices of which it has been erected, and sufficiently capa cious for the wants of .upwards of two millions of the meat-consuming population of this vast metropolis, space being on all sides preserved for a ♦ery consider able extension, if required at any future period. LEAF FROM LLOYD'S LIST. An interesting tabular return has just been published in Lloyd's List of the casualties to shipping reported to Lloyd's during the month of January last. They are thus classified :—Vessels totally wrecked, 145 ; part of cargo saved, 12 ; whole or nearly so of cargo saved, 3; sunk, 32 ; raised, 6 ; abandoned and lost, 42 ; ships re covered after being abandoned, 6 ; stranded, whose sub sequent fate was not reported, 155 ; stranded, but after wards got off, 179 ; ships got off with loss of part cargo, 5 ; missing, 10 ; condemned after striking, &c., 5 ; con demned from other causes, 4 ; ships touching the ground and sustaining trifling damage, 6 ; total casualties, 610. What a fearful list of disasters for a period of only one month. It will be observed that no return has been made of the sacrifice of life on these occasions. We believe, however, that we are within the mark when we Ante that probably 1,000 persons have perished from these accidents. But no account is rendered to Lloyd's of the frequent disasters to boats and their crews which happen to those individuals who are compelled, in some way or another, to seek a livelihood on the borders of the sea. Although we cannot subscribe to the dogma that, by increased nautical skill, and the continued improvement of ship-building, sea and land travelling could be brought to the same degree of security-- for it is not in the power of man to control the stormy elements—yet we do be lieve that by the diligent cultivation of these sciences, shipwrecks could be very materially lessened ; and we trust that, when the excellent clauses of the new Mer chant Shipping Act will be brought into full operation, disasters at sea, as far as Rigfish ships are concerned, will be considerably less numerous than unfortunately they are at present.-From the Journal of the National Life-boat Institution for January. RUSSIAN CONSCRIPTS. A foreigner in St. Petersburg informed me that he bad "gone to see the recruits that morning, but there did not seem to be much patriotism among them ; there were nothing but sobs and tears to be seen among those who were pronounced fit for service, whilst the rejected ones were frantic with delight, and bowed and crossed them Selves with the greatest gratitude." The most dis tressing scenes may be seen in the streets, among the bands of recruits—they, their mothers and sisters, or wives, all weeping together as they walk along ; for the women, with innate tenderness, accompany them for many miles out of the town, unwilling, until the very last moment, to bid the objects of their affection adieu for ever; whilst the latter, in entering the Russian army, like the condemned in Dante's "Inferno," leave all hope behind. Desertions are, of course, extremely frequent ; and since the commencement of the war they are fifty times multiplied. if one may judge from the uurnerou, groups of miserable wretches, heavily chained, met with almost hourly in the streets of St. Petersburg. lam sere it was enough to make one's heart ache with sorrow and irdignation to look on their grief-stricken faces and thin figures, which seemed as if they had been wandering with the wolves in the wilderness, to escape from the cruelty of their fellowmen. Once or etasweehi\ceesriadllemsooefltdaiaordsgrrowo:uttirlyfie,sx'oeenrdi bayonets horrible ets w ethanre walk i n t g h es o e n . which was seated one of their comrades, holding in his arms what was certainly the corpse of some un happy deserter who had just received the punishment for his fault, his head shaking listlessly from side to sides and his arms hanging straight and rigid, the living shadow of death on his sharp and painful Features, show ing that the heavy lash had at last relieved him from his misery. In looking round on the broad streets of the cepital, and seeing in contrast with so much suffer ing, and misfortune the gaudy carriages of the nobles, and their gaily-dressed occupants, who seemed so wholly busied in the pursuit of pleasure that they could not spare a single moment to reflect on the unhappiness of their fellow-creatures. I was often tempted to ask myself whether, if entreaty were made, as in times of old, "to spare the city for ten's sake," the domes and towers of St. Petersburg would still stand to cast their shadow on the earth ? No one can have any idea of the effect on the population these continual conscriptions produce unless he has seen it. When we were leaving the country we passed through nearly 1,200 versts of Russian and •Polish land ; excepting recruits, we scarcely saw a young man in any of the villages. There were only very old peasants with the women and children ; even young lads were drawn away, and the chausdes, or post. roads, were all being mended by women and girls.—The Englishwoman in Russia. _ow m s e a s y s n i. L ei. P S A:r a EL T Piccadilly. Albemarle-street, Ob. B. Solomous, opticians, 39, la rA co ri xx vE o ft ir T rN m e ß G N l . A 3 sts — s?. STIAoRnirINATND" HEARING.—GP. Newly-constructed Spectacl e power. The valuable advan is, that vision tage derived from this invention becoming im pairedand strengthened, and very aged the enabled to employ their sightemaalu l t ecubt t c e mbara n u l gtt o e, s i t . Leases sel-e— o o fp s cr e e—opposite i g t greatest e st Yorkil transparent ot . e l . is preserved nmpieifin:uiontengsopcoarewuepe o Ira cath ey nse d e o w n i with t i ti .e e ci s t ele e n s t e h s e o f f i a . to the dangerous effects of further powerful assistance. Deaf ness—New Discovery.—The Organic Vibrator, an extraordi nary powerful, small, newly-invented instrunient for deafness, entirely different from all others, to surpass anything of the kind that has been, or probably ever can be, produced. Being of the same colour as the skin, is not perceptible ; it enables deaf persons to hear distinctly at church and at public assemblies ; the unpleasant sensation of singing noises in the ears is entirely removed ; and it affords all the assist ance that possibly could be desired. By her Majesty's Roys. Letters Patent for valuable and extraordinary improvements in the most powerful and brilliant Telescopes, Camp, Race course, Opera, and Perspective Glasses, to know the distances of objects viewed through them —of great importance to the army, navy, and others. These telescopes poFsess such extra ordinary powers that some 31 inches, with an extra eye piece, will show distinctly Jupiter's moons, Saturn's ring, and the double stars ; with the same telescope can be seen a person's countenance three miles and a half distant, and an object from 16 to 20 miles. They are of larger and all sizes, with increasing powers accordingly ; while their vary ing from 4 to 6 inches enab'e us to discover more than the above, and the Georgian, with his 6 satellites, &c.—Th e R oya l Exhibiti on, 1 851.—V duable, newly-invented, very small, powerful waistcoat-pocket glass,the size of a walnut, by which a person can lie seen and known 11 miles distant ; they answer every purpose on the race-course, and at the opera houses, country scenery, and ships are clearly seen at S to 10 miles They are invaluable for shooting, deer-stalking, yachting, to sportsmen, gentlemen, gamekeepers, and tourists. Opera, race-course, camp, and perspective glasses, with wonderful power.-39, Albemarle-street, Piccadilly. Observe-opp°- , Site the York Hotel, COUNTRY MARKETS. HADDINGTON CORN MARKET—DEC. 2. W USA T . BARLEY I OATS. STIAS I I, First B 2s Od 37 8 3d 32 s Od 49s D i Second 73s 3d 34s 8d 1 29s 8d 47s 9 0 1 Third 6os Od 30 s Od 1 27s Od 45s a Total quantity of wheat in market, 643 qrs ., 557 o ° l o barley „ 700 qr s., 646 0 0 , 1 oats 1, 526 qrs., 507 ea" . p, beans „ 108 qrs., 87 60 AVERAGES PER IMPERIAL QUARTER. Wheat, 3/. 13 3 4-12ths I Barley, ...11. 14 8 8.121 1 , Oat , ' ••• 11. 9 8 10-12ths 1 Beans, 21. 7 9 3.12 n Of PP DALKEITH GRAIN MARKET—DEC. a. Qrs. Best. Current. Ittferi' 393 Wheat 84 s 0,1 00s Od 1602 Oats 3ls 8d oos Od, ... ...... 22s 995 Barley 36s 6d oos Od ..... .... 295 93 Peas & beans 51s Od es Od AI3EaDEEN—DEC. 29. -- - The prices of grain to-day are—Oats, COs Od to 004 e jt _ A lbs pes Lusbel; new oats, 24s 6d to 25s Od, 40110 r bushel ; bere, 31s Od to 31s 6d, 531bs per bushel • harlot; :10s 61 to 31 s Od, 531b s per b us h e l ; wheat, red, oos 0 4,a 61s Od, 621bs per bushel ; wheat, white, 68s Od to 72. 621 b, per bush e l ; oatmeal, 19s Qd to 20s Od per b° l , i ' n ant., , r)Gs Od to 58s Od per sa,±. Provisions—Beef, pay; ,;d to 8d ; mu tt on , litt o, Gd to 84 ; veal, ditto, 7d to 90:1. pork. per lb, Os to Os 61 ; salmon, per lb, i s Od to OP ~i ; ralbbits, each, Oil to Od ; tallow, per stone, 5s 9d to Osl i : potatoes, per peck, 8 ( 1 t o O s 9il • butter, per lb, lid to 11, eggs, per doz, Os 101 t o O s 11:1; hens, per pair, 3s 0 0 0 3s 64 ; chickens, ditto, 2s 01 to 2s 64 ; ducks, ditto, to 2s 61 ; ducklings, ditto, 2s Gd to 4s Od ; turl 3s 61 to 4s Od ; geese, ditto, .2s Gd t o 3 s ; bolo ; for exportation (present care), per c w t, 82 s t o - 00 8 ditto (summer cured), 00s to 00s Od ' • eggs, wholesale Pr l _l per dozen, 6d to 7d ; 41b loaf, Til; 21b loaf, 3 1 ,d; tine small, Os Od to 'Os Od ' • pork, large, Os Od to Os v" lamb, per qr., Os to. Os Oil; cheese, per imperial It 4 r 5s 6tl to 78. SEABORNE MAILS. (N signifies that the mails are sent from the General Ti by the night—and M by the morning—despatch.) Osy whqn made uy in General Post- Office, London.* From w) at Pori DispKtc.heu. Liverpool - ILiTerpool ... ISouthwaptcro Southampton tel Dover •• •••• (Plymouth Dover Isouthatnptoi, Beutharapton Dover •• •• •• Tiouthampten Jai). Soethampron Various ports TjAO 'Southampton Southampton rd; Southampton IDover •• ,• •• Southemptori , Dover lDarer ......)Twl douthampton,Deg Southampton 440' London Southampton /ll' Dover pal' Sou hamptOLl Pipit ,uth •• Dover Dover.. •• a ld olj head Tign Southampton o l Southampton) Liverpool ••• ,P°". Dover.... So ut h amptenl II Dover ......1 gouthainp ton Various Dover ITO Southampton sou t ham p ton Yarlous ports Dover •• f•, Dover .... 1 Southampton, 1 io uthampte4l4 the malls vi,* Leeption of tho , h will by deirat‘"' COUNTRIES. tornerica(byitrit.pack)/. kmerice. cby United Sts. paellei) imerica (by U • States packet) ..........N Australia (via South ampton) . Ditto (via Marseilles) Ditto (via Cape of cfoeo HOPS) 411 •• •• IDS •• , Yesi Coast; kiexandria.......... kiexandria ?anamas ........... Brazil .... • • • • • MI fiuenos Ayres .. M ,;ape of Good flooe ;ape of Good Flope ..N ape de Verde eylon (see In lia) • leylon ;banner ...N .'bins (see Ladle) onstantinople . onst4ntinopte ........ of Europe Id tt N Egypt (see India) t?rance ..... • .. M N litrrzltat.. 'lreece (see India) .;reytown M lainburgh N I l.tvannah ...... NI :folland ! londura,: M' ndi3 (viaSontoampt )31 fndia (via Marseilles)3l l ;,:mtan Isles (see India) . Ireland N qadeira 31 %ladeira Is,lta (see India) Ilia .N 1 Aauritius (see Indial puritlus ........ N Mexico . N4ines . 2.; Now iirmada ►+ New ?apal Btate, . NI eninswa M Para P9rt Natal ruseany Venezuela .......... bi Van Diemen's Land Ow Anitralla) hest Indies , , When any of these da Apatchei on the followir Aouthampton), and the ;!. preceding da,. every Friday .. !Jan. 4 IJan 9 'Dec. 4 ....... • • • • t3cl of the month .. 4,9, 24, & 30 of Ith & 20th of ram. 17th of the month 9th of the month.. 9th of the month.. 9th of the wont'- Wod.,&Frh 21 &17th of moot '8,13,18,25,&28 of in 4th 29th of mo , +. T let: daily . . . Twice daf1y...... 4,7, 17, 20, 27 of rn 2nd & 17th of mon. Tuesday & Friday 2nd of the montl Dai1y............ 17th of the month. th k 20th of m.m. 19th&25th of month 17, 17, Sc 27 of mon twice daily '7, 9, 17, & 27 of m. 9th of the month 23d of month •• .. l i B, 18, & 28 •f mon [l4th of tho month toll of the month. sth 15th25thof mor.. 2d & 17th of montl , By private skip .. ithlsth2sthofinon. 7th I7th27thofmon & 27th of mon !By private ship..; sth 15 thlsth2s thoftnon. l I2d & 17th of mouth 1 2 4 mc I 7th o month Ltes fall o t a .4 , 1114 ig day, with the ex galta, both of whlol WIND AND WEATHER REPORT' SATURDAY, DO Stations.. Course of Wind. State of WeatkeP Greenwich W. . Overcast. Lothbury Dublin S.W Fine—Very WWI . Liverpool Holyhead W Kam . Bangor S.W Cloudy. • Derby S.W... Cloudy. Stamford W. Fine. Masborough Norman ton. Chesterfield S.W Fine. Nottingham Burton-on-Trent S. Leicester S. W Cloudy. I:righton W. Foggy— Cold. Ipswich Leeds Lowestoft W. Fine. • Great Grimsby Boson S.W. Cloudy. Yarmouth N.W Fine. Southampton W Fine. Portsmouth Poole Dorchester W ............. Fine. Bristol W . . Fine. Plymouth Torquay S. W.......... Unsettled. Taunton N. N.W. . ... Fine. Bath Gloucester W. Cardiff W Fine. Swansea Eta verford west ... W Cloudy. Manchester W. Cloady. Bradford N.E Cloudy. Sheffield N.E. Fine. Wakefield Carlisle Lancaster Whitehaven Maryport . S.W Cloudy. Stoke-on-Trent ... W Fine. York /Intl .W Bridlington Whitby Scarborough Sunderland Berwick W Very windy. Goole Edinburgh W Fine. Aberdeen S.W Bain. Perth Forfar E. Cu par N.W... Rain. :tirlim, , Greenhill S.W Rain. Duiitiou Kirkcaldy S Rain. Hague W Fine. 1 1 WHAT DOES THIS MEAN ?—A lett er from , ,- 6 , 26th, in the Universal Germ an G aze tt e o f Leipsl c h ____.‘The negotiations relative to the f u t u re roll 0 1) the Principalities with the Porte will commenc e /1 Ist January at Constantinople. The propositioo,o 4 l upon between the great powers w ill f orm the '' them, aid it is thought that they will not MO letter Cardiff, f t r wd e aomtye years, r r s . , any great objections on the part of Turkey." 3 i e n r g h o e u v s e e r , y bproosksiebr:tz lot,/ [ADviansimixTl-11olloway's Ointment Sir t i o y particularly ef fi cacious in curing bad legs. ---Ext May, 1854 :—" To Abram after W t trying Professor ,11°' Sir,—l beg to inform you that my wife had abr 0 , / it was pronounced incurable. Not knowing b ° , l l) determined on giving your ointment a trial. vio , / n l early sing . had a visible effect on it. I persevered ilL'd and in an astonishing short period every 0 °,14;/ healed, and s h e i s ena b led to wear her boot, 19.11. Al had been prevented doing for some tire IV , Sold by a ll druggists and at Professor WO' establishme n t s , 244, Strand, London, and 80, lane, New York. BIRTHS. OF A SON. On the 28th ult., the lady of Major Calodon EBB H. M. 89th Regiment. OF A DATIGHTZB. On the 29th ult., at 2, Upper George-street, fir? square, the wife of Theodore Thring, Esq. On the 27th ult., at Kintuck, in the county e t meath, Ireland, the wife of W. Pollard Urciubs" MAR MARRIED. On the 10th of October, at Lahore, John Henri Esq., Bengal C.S., to Ann Lilli as, e ld es t d aug ht e r 01 ' Charles Cheape, 51st 8.N.1. On the 28th ult., at St. Peter's Church, Jersey, Lysons Price, Esq., son of Ralph Price, Esq., of " o f ham, Kent, to Louisa Georgina, second daughter late Charles &triton, Esq., H.M. 41st Regt. DIED. l o g; On tho 2Eth N ov . l as t , a t S cu t ar i , o f rem itt e nt o brought on by incessant attention to the sick and and by exposure t,n the heights near Sebastopol, v a , , Browne, E sq ., surgeon , 95th Regt., aged 31. Se ' of panied the Staff all th roug h th e battle of the Alsi was also present at other engagements. On the 22d ult., at St. Andrew's, Fifeshire, P r ' kechnie, late of theltoval Staff Corps. Oa the 22d ult., at Upton Parsonage, Cheshire, Forster Dalton, Esq., aged 90. LONEON : Printed and Published by MURDO 1 7 ° of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at The Sun Offi e e, %roe Strand, in the Precinct of the Savoy, in the coo AMMON; Monday, JiklaUP47 1, 1854. • _ • r, e.. - - t : a I .... 1! • t. , di - i Za ..~ r; ILTI - 4 U)1 d e , Th 111., 114 1 .110 -stbi j fOri A t