The Sun. — London, England, 1855-12-25 00:00:00

TRADE WITH THE WEST COAST OF SOUTH AFRICA. MEDICAL OFFICERS UNDER THE BOARD OF HEALTH. THE IZEFORMATO.RY ESTABLISHMENT AT METTRAY. The following instructions from the General Board of Health to local boards on the duties and qualifications of medical officers of health may be useful in relation to the pending choice of officers of health by the new metropo litan authorities : • "The officerof health is appointed is order that through him the local sanitary authority may be duly informed of such influences as are acting against the healthiness of the population of his district, and of such steps as medical science can advise for their removal ; secondly, to exe cute such special functions as may devolve upon him by the statute under which he is appointed ; and thirdly, to contribute to that general stock of knowledge with regard to the sanitary condition of the people and to the pre ventible causes of sickness and mortality which, when collected, inethodised, and reported to Parliament by the General Board of Health , may guide the Legislature in the extension and amendment of sanitary law. "The duties of the officer of health will be to the fol lowing effect : " 1. He will make himself familiar with the natural and acquired feature s of the place, with the social and previous sanitary state of its population, and with all its existing provisions for health—namely, with the levels, inclinations, soil, wells, and watersprings of the district ; with its meteorological peculiarities ; with the di,tribution of its buildings, and open spaces, paved or unpaved, of its burial-grounds and lay-stalls ; with the plan of its drains, sewers, and water supply ; with the nature of its manufacturing and other industrial establishments ; with the house accommodation of the poorer classes, and their opportunities for bathing and washing ; with the arrangements for burial of the dead, and with the regulations in force for lodging houses and slaughtering-places, for the cleansing of pub lic ways and markets, and for the removal of domestic refuse. And if he be the first officer of health appointed in his district he will, without unnecessary delay, fur nish to the local authority a connected account of these matters so far as they relate to the public health, mak ing thereon such practica l suggestions as he may think applicable. f 2. He will invite communications relating to the sanitary wants of the district from the resident clergy, the medical practitioners, registrars, relieving officers, and other persons or societies engaged in the visitation of the poor. 8, He will take the best means in his power t) be come acquainted from week to week, and in times of severe disease from day to day, with the deaths and sicknesses in his district ; and he will inquire to what extent they have depended on removable causes. " 4, With the assistance of such subordinate officers as the local board may empower him to direct and su perintend he will watch his district, taking care to bring its several parts under examination as often as their sanitary circumstances shall require, and especially observing those places which have previously given oc casion of complaint, or been subject to sickness. He will inquire as to the cleanly, wholesome and weather proof condition of houses ; as to their due ventilation and not overcrowded con dition ; as to the efficiency of their drainage and water supply ; and as to the absence of dampness and offensive effluvia in and about them. He will examine from time to time the drinking waters of the place, and will observe whether provisions are offered for sale in any damaged or adulterated state that is hurtful or illegal. He will occasionally visit all burial-places, and see whether they give any ground for complaint, and he will habitually observe the slaughter ing-houses of the district and other industrial estabeclish ments which are liable to emit offensive (espially animal) effluvia. " 5. He will report to the local board weekly, annu ally, and at such intervening ti mes as ma y re q uire it : " Weekly, on all deaths (classified according to age, cause, and locality), and, so far as may be practicable, on all important sickness of the district ; on such newly observed unwholesome conditions as the local board can remove; and on the completion, progress, or neglect of improvement in matters previously re ported on. " Annually, on the sanitary transactions of the year (especially as to the removal of former evils, or the crea tion of new establishments for sanitary purposes), on whatever incidental changes have been wrought in the physical state of the district, and on the sickness, mor tality, and atmospheric conditions of the period—using for these reports, as far as convenient, tabular forms and other compendious arrangements ; and in every case where he refers to an existing evil, stating what sanitary rule, measure, or appliance he deems best for its mitiga tion. "G. He will attend the local board when required, will he present at some convenient appointed place as often as may be needful for the receiving of complaints, and in whatever is to be done for the abatement of un wholesome conditions will give all fitting instructions, superintendence, and aid. " For the proper performance of these duties special qualifications in science are required. These lie in pa thology, including vital statistics, and in chemistry, with natural philosophy. "In pathology, because the science implies an exact study of the causes of disease in their relation to the living body—a study of what they are, and how they act, and why they seem to vary in operation. " In vital statistics (properly a section of pathology), because by analysing the composition of various death rates, and by learning how the pressure of particular diseases differs under different circumstances of climate, season, dwelling, age, sex, and occupation, definite standards of comparison are gained, without which the officer of health could not estimate the healthiness or un healthiness of the population under his charge. "in chemistry (accompanied by microscopical obser vation), because without such aid there can be no accu rate judgment as to the impurities of air and water, dan gerous impregnations of soil, or, poisonous admixtures in food ; and because the same science also guides the ap plication of deodorising and disinfectant agents. "In natural philosophy, because many nuisances are traced, and many questions as to ventilation and over crowding are answered by its laws ; further, because by its aid, the officer of health studies the atmospheric changes, and learns the climate of his district, important steps in proceedine , to speak of its diseases ; and finally, because natural philosophy, in conjunction with chemis try, renders him competent to report on many manufac turing processes alleged to be hurtful to health, and on the sufficiency of such means as are employed to reduce the evils ascribed to them. " The branches of knowledge here spoken of are pasts of every extended medical education, for curative and preventive medicine are founded on a common basis ; but they are not the parts which have most direct rela tion to the treatment of disease. The most distinguished practitioner of a neighbourhood may, indeed, happen to be also the person best qualified for a sanitary appoint. ment ; but the reverse must often be the case, for not all members of the medical profession can afford equal leisure to cultivate those distinctive studies ; and it will imply no disparagement of men, actively and skilfully , engaged in the treatment of disease, if the special quali fications in question should sometimes be found in other members of their profession rather thaw in them. " On the other hand, it is important for local boards to know that the host training for the general duties of the medical profession is also the beat training for the duties of au officer of health ; and, in choosing among candidates, who have not previously held sanitary ap pointments, those who have to elect may properly rest on the evidences of general aptitude for a medical career, especially where testifying to methodical and industri ous habits, to competent powers, with some previous discipline in scientific observations, to sober judgment, ,and to thorough conscientiousness in the investigation and statement of facts. " The duties of an officer of health will not usually be inconsistent with his devoting a portion of his time to certain other professional engagements. But, where pos sible, it will be well to debar him from the private prac tice of his profession-1, because the claims of such practice would be constantly adverse to those of his public appointment, the duties of which (especially at times of epidemic disease, when his official activity would be most needed) private practice could scarcely fail to interrupt and embarrass ; 2, because the personal rela tions of private practice might render it difficult for him to fulfil his frequent functions of complaint ; and 3, be cause with a view to the cordial goodwill and co-opera tion of his medical brethren, it is of paramount import ance that the officer of health should not be their rival in practice, and that his opportunities of admonitory in tercourse with sick families should not even be liable to abuse for the purposes of professional competition. " Objections of this nature will not generally bold against the officer of health being professionally con nected with the medical school or hospital of his town. Provided such engagements are not of too engrossing an amount, its will conduce to the efficiency and estimation of an officer of health that he be thus kept conversant with the practical aspects of his profusion, and have given some security for keeping pace with its scientific progress. " It may happen that the extent of duty to be re quired from the officer of health in a particular district would not justify the local board in allotting such a salary to the office as would enable its holder to dispense with the income derivable from private practice. But in cases of this description the object would be equally fulfilled if the local boards of neighbouring towns or districts would combine in engaging and remunerating a properly qualified person, on the understanding that he should he precluded from private practice, and should act as officer of health for the two or more boards con curring in the appointment. "Dec. 20." " W. COWPER, President, MST-OFFICE IMPEDIMENTS TO AUSTRA LIAN COMMUNICATION. Some time ago we stated that Mr. Hamilton, of Old 41 1-street, Liverpool, had chartered a vessel to convey "Ime iron bi idge-girders to Aspinwall, for the use of the ' 4l )arna Railway, whose traffic is so rapidly increasing. he girders were not ready for shipment by the barque ,athorn, 445 tons, which bad to be despatched on the ' 411 ; but as an evidence of the fast-growing trade be :t,een this country and the west coast, via the Isthmus, 'ls worthy of remark that, though the Hathorn was of a short time on the berth, and little care was taken l inake known her intended departure for so unwonted destination (for a sailing ship), there were put on board hundred packages for the Pacific. These goods thus reach San Francisco, Valparaiso, Callao, 'llayaquil, and the other adjoining markets, most pro be disposed of, aud f u rther orders for fresh sup ;"es on the samples so sent be half-way back to England gain, before goods consigned by the route round the ) Ora can have reached the west-coast. The difference 4 the cost of freight by Panama is scarcely appreciable compared with the gain of time, arid the consequent "antage of qUick returns, by the Isthmus. Strange ,'Mugh, however, just as the superiority of this route ''r rapid intercommunication is becoming apparent to mercantile world, and just as it becomes doubly de trable that, by widely spreading the knowledge of these acts, private enterprise should be stimulated to do by l'ay of the Isthmus what the Government of England ' 4l l do no way at all, namely, open a direct postal route 'etween England and our Australian an d New Zealand , 'ePendencies, the authorities at St. M a rtin's -le-Grand, 'oith th e extraordinary infatuatioa which has recently ) larked their pet formancee, have loaded all journals sent t in , Panama with an additional rate of 2d., which, in the ;,ase of newspapers, virtually amou nts to a p rohibition. Thus, if our fellow-citizens on the other side of the great American continent, from the extremit y of Chili to Vancouver's Island, and in our nonsense possessions l a the Southern Ocean, would know what is going 41 in the mother country, they must pay an enor. ons additional rate on their papers, or else be content ( 0 rec e i ve the news after being ventilated by a voyage lll a third of the globe additional. But it is not even 6 rbtional with them to make a selection. The additional , must be prepaid, or else the paper goes round the l 'orld by either Cape. Observe the hardship of • thi s. Hundreds in Australia and along the west coast s ubscribe in advance the ordinary stipulated sum for t heir papers by the year, or two or three years, as the ease may be.. Suddenly one-half the cost of the paper is added in the shape of postage. What is the English news °Nader to do If he pays the postage he knows not if his subscriber will be willing to reimburse him ; if he does not pay it he knows that his subscriber is placed at most serious, disadvantage in receiving news—it may be of the most vital consequence in commercial matters - -from three, to perhaps three times t hree weeks staler than his rival in business, who is provided with intelli- Renee transmitted through the Isthmus. The excuse for t his new tax is the heavy expense o f the Panama transit. But in truth it is to mitigate some o f the conse q uences in loss of revenue occasioned by that incredible bonder Pointed out by Sir Cusack Roney in his late correspondence !Pith Mr. Rowland Hill. On the abolition of the penny Impressed stamp, except for postal purposes, the authori ties, 80 far from giving the colonies any scheme, which ;was perfectly unintelligible, except in this one particu , that' the Canadian, West Indian, Austra lian, and other analogous readers of English journals Weald thenceforth have to pay some 70 to 100 per cent. More for his paper than before the alteration. Shamed out of this absurdity and injustice, though not without 4 stout defence of the plan, a la mode ge Balaklara, as piece of superlative wisdom and equity, St. Martin's le -Grand rushed into the opposite extreme, and struck off both impressed and affixed stamp ; so that, while it cost 11d. to receive a London morning newspaper by Post in Liverpool, it was carried to the antipodes for no thing, as also to many parts of the European Conti bent. The preposterous sacrifice of revenue thus occa- Sinned was also demonstrated by the gentleman just named ; bat as he had secured his point in reference to Canada, he cared not to continue the exposure. After a while the authorities, calculating on the obliviousness of the public, or careless as to whether the blunder were remembered or not, revoked their folly to the extent of iMposing ld. on every English paper delivered in the colonies. But there is a combination of the two ori ginal blunders, and a supervening third one, in the ex- Pedient now hit upon. The public are told that the right Way to send papers to certain parts is by Panama ; but, in the same breath, it is announced that a fiscal barrier is erected across the Isthmus, and that, without paying this monstrous 2d., old news, and old news only, can be received in the parts enumerated, some of them the most important its the possession of the British Crown. Re- Pulsive as is. the aspect the matter wears now, its pro "Pective features threaten to be still more obnoxious. Though successive Colonial Ministers, Mr. Labouchere included, have treated the question of direct steam com ixienication with the Pacific as if no such places as Aus tralia and new Zealand existed, it is gratifying to know that, both here and in the United States, and at Auck land, Melbourne, and at Sydney, progress is being made in the organisation of means that shall give regular and frequent despatches of mails and passengers be tween England and the antipodes, via the Isthmus. But in proportion as this design is carried out, so will the disadvantages • increase to those who will not pay the 2d. ; for as the transmission of news direct is acce lerated, so will news by the old rcund•about route of the Capes wax more and more antiquated by com parison. That the pretence of the Panama Rail 'Ray tariff being the cause of the additional 2d. ie obviously absurd is proved by the fact that the New York merchants find it cheaper to forward such bulky and ponderous articles as coal and building materials, and to receive coffee, pearl-shells, dye-woods, and all the West coast produce across the isthmu s, instead of in Sailing vessels byi the Horn. Such being the case, it is rather too great a strain on our credulity to be assured that the British mail bags must be lightened, or those interested in their contents mulcted in the fashion that is to come into operation on the Ist of January next. The Royal West India Mail Company now run their boats to Colin, or Aspinwall, as the Americans call it, and will soon, probably, complete the other half of the Service from the Panama side of the Isthmus to Mel bourne and Sydney, as they have such ample resources and facilities of doing. But at present they ask for no increase of remuneration for the existing moiety ; and the least our British Post-office might do would be to Wait till such claim upon them affords some apparent justification for their claim on the public.—Liverpool Albion of yesterday. PARISH OF ST. BOTOLPH, BISHOPS- GATE. Yesterday a vestry meeting of the inhabitants of this parish was held in the vestry-room, for the purpose of making a church rate, in pursuance of an Act of Parlia ment, made and passed in the sixth year of the reign of his Majesty King George the Fourth, chap. 176, and for the transaction of other business connected with the parish; the Rev. Dr. Russell, the rector of the parish, presided. The CHAIRMAN said the first business on the paper was the making a church rate, and he had the satisfaction of stating to the meeting that for the next 10 years the rate would be 100 guineas less than it had been for the 10 years preceding, and 5251. less than it was when he first came to the parish. The rate, as they must be swan?, was made under an Act of Parliament. e church wardens had the making of it, but they must Th do o in public vestry. Mr. PERRY said, eo fax as the commutation of tithes was concerned in reference to the act referred to, the churchwardens could no doubt levy a rate, but he denied that without the authority and sanction of the vestry assembled they could do so in respect of any expenses relative to the conducting of the worship of the church, such as the payment of organist, pew-openers, and so forth. The CHAIRMAN stated that the whole of the sum now levied as ohurch-rate, was so levied under the Act of Par liament for commuting the tithes of the parish. By that act it was ordained that a sufficient assessment should be made, to cover the sum 2,5001., which bad been com muted in the shape of the tithes of the parish, and therefore it was not an assessment on the inhabitants, but it was only carrying out the requirements of the act. Since he, bad come into the parish the SUM had been reduced by 525/. Mr. PERRY still thought that the commutation of the tithe had nothing whatever to do with the conducting of the public worship in the church. That .was a matter which appertained exclusively to the inhabitants, and it was for them in vestry assembled to sanction each ex endituro. Mr. ABRAHAMS was of the same opinion. The act of Parliament merely related to the commutation of tithe in respect of the rector; it had nothing whatever to do with the other expenses of conducting public worship in the church. However, as they bad appointed, last Easter, the officials for whose benefi or t a portion thought of the rate now demanded was to be apptioned, he they could not do otherwise than provide for the pay ment of them. Mr. BRIGGS, the churchwarden, said the rate was yearly decreasing, as during the past year it had been fivepence and fourpence in the pound per quarter, it was now only intended to ask a rate of three-pence in the pound. A rate of threepence in the pound for the purposes required was accordingly agreed to. Mr. PERRY gave notice that at next meeting he would make a motion to the effect that all sums appertaining to the expenditure consequent on the celebration of public worship in the church be separated from the general vote taken for that purpose, under the Act for the Com mutation of Tithes. itThe CilratcsswaeßßN then said that he bad next to ask the vestry to vote him a rate for the relief of the poor for the current quarter. He was sorry to say that such rate would bo somewhat hi g h, as be found t he y would require to strike a rate to the extent of ls. sd. in the pound. He bad also the disagreeable intelligence to give them that next quarter there was every probability of the rate being higher. After some discussion the rate was agreed to ; and the meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to Dr. Russell, fur his conduct in the chair. THE CRYSTAL PALACE. At one time it seemed probable that yesterday would have been observed as a holiday throughout London, and the Crystal Palace Company, with their usual fore thought, put forward an attractive programme for the ' purpose of meeting the demand of the liberated metro politan sight-seers, who it was thought would have taken the opportunity of visiting the building. But, as our readers are aware, yesterday was as busy a day as any in the year, and the palace was not so crowded as might otherwise have been expected. However, a numerous and most respectable audience were present yesterday, who listened with attention to the judicious selection of music which was performed by the magnificent bands of the Royal Artillery, the Coldstream Guards, and the Crystal Palace Company, which played separately and in concert throughout th e cla y . The g rand finale of the national airs of the Allies was given by the united bands with powerful effec t, and elicited much applause. The concert will be repeated to-morrow, when it is expected that a large number of visitors will be pre sent, THE ROBBERY OE JEWELLERY AT PORTSMOUTH. A reply to an application of the mayor and magistrates of Portsmouth was received yesterday (Sunday) from the Hoare Secretary, tc the effec t that her Majesty's pardon would be extended to any accomplice in the late burglary at Messrs. Emmanuel's of that port, who shall give such information as sht.lllead to the conviction of the offender or offenders. This is an addition to the 1001. reward. F, SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVEN INC:, DECEMBER 25, 1855. of Charity undertake the housekeeping of the establish ment ; an account of all that will be required of them on the coming day is handed in to them the evening be fore by the controller of the finances. "There are six farms attached to the institution. The land consists altogether of 260 hectares, or about 520 English acres. The farming is overlooked by a very gentleman-like person in the pay of M. De Metz. The land appears well cultivated, and a large stock of horses, cows, and pigs is kept. It must be an excellent thing, I think, for children to have the care and tending of dumb animals —' Emollit mores, sec sinit use feros.' The farm buildings are as simple as possible—just such as the colons are likely to find themselves in in afterlife. Each of these farms has a separate establishment with a:separate kitchen, —there being but one kitchen for the principal stock of buildings which I have hitherto spoken of. To each farm is attached a chef de famine and a respectable farm labourer and his wife, who is house keeper and cook. The boys employed on the farms only associate with the body of boys employed otherwise on Sundays and feast days, when they go up to enjoy their holydays together. They are employed to work hard, and to adhere altogether to agriculture ; they sleep in hammocks like the rest, and sleep, eat, and learn in the same airy barn-like room. The walls in all the rooms are hang here and there with improving prints and engravings, the subjects being for the most port re• ligious or military. There is a large, rough, wooden and thatched open outhouse put up in a field, where the children are made to break stones in wintery, rainy weather. They all do their work by the piece, so as to excite and accustom each child to industry. The boys, moreover, aro made to practise gymnastic exercises, and everything they do they seem to do heartily. "A ship has been put up—on dry ground, of course —for the boys to gain as much knowledge as they can of seamanship, and an old sailor is engaged to instruct them. Some of the boys, also, are formed into a fire brigade, and have rendered at times substantial assist ance in the neighbourhood, and only the other day saved the village church of Mettray from destruction by fire. The children are taught singing, but only as a means to the grand ends ; and in order not to give an opportu nity for individuals to distinguish themselves, or for the creation of fine solos, they are very much taught to sing in parts, or at least only in masses ; and if a boy shows any turn for drawing ho receives a little instruction in it, but only in linear drawing. Evasion is looked upon with much severity. If a boy has escaped a flag is hoisted on the top of the church by day, and a lamp by night. A reward of from 00f. to 40f. is given to the person bringing the boy back. It is scarcely possible, without a personal visit to Mettray, to form a correct idea of the amount of study and attention which is devoted to the considera tion of every particular, and of every child in par ticular. The family division makes this easy by con centrating the attention of the several employes allotted to the same number of children ; if assembled in an un divided mass the same amount of good could never pos sibly be affected, for the attention of each one would be divided by the whole number ; nor could the interest in each other be awakened whisk now exists between the chef de famille a nd his young people. As for the em- ployc,s themselves, who are gentlemen by nature, if not always by birth, it is quite impossible to see and converse with these intelligent, woll-educated, and benevolent men without feeling kow great must be their elevating influence upon the character and general tone of the boys. The two princip al em p loyes are in receipt of 1601. intelligence and annum each. They a re of a stan d ard of and ability which would insure their advancement in any profession, and one feels their devotion to be the more admirable. M. De Metz has been particular in placing his employes in a respectable and comfortable position, and has buil t for the two principal ones excel lent houses a little apart from the houses for the boys. The wives of these two gentlemen are perfect ladies, and we had the pleasure of meeting them at dinner at M. De Metz's house. " There are many things at Mettray, suggested by the military spirit of the French, which would at first sight appear, perhaps, impossible to carry out its an English institution ; but I see no reason why the feeling of honour,' which I believe to be as strong in an English child RE in a French one, should not be appealed to with advantage in an English reformatory. Wily should not we have the table of honour hung up where every one can see it, upon which is inscribed the name of every child whose conduct during the last three months bas not called for punishment ! With regard to the almost military discipline and order with which the children go through their movements before and after work or meals, I consider that by it a great saving of time is made, and five or ten minutes upon every change of movement are saved which would be otherwise lost in collecting and adjuring stragglers, both young and old. " Let me mention and recommend, too, the box placed within general reach, pour lcs objets trouves, which is a delicate way of allowing a boy whose temptations have been stronger than his virtue to listen to the re proaches of his conscience, and without being pub licly brought to shame, to restore the theft which lies heavy on his soul. " I will say no more of Mettray at present, except that the instruction given is firmly based upon reli gion, and includes reading, writing, and arithmetic, but very little beyond it. "Lesson hours do not exceed one or two hours a day. I must add that the children are first received as innocent, and as baying sinned without discern ment, and therefore irresponsible for their actions ; but when they have been once admitted to the benefit of the instructions given them in the institution they are considered to be capable of discernment, and be come subject to the strict rules observed in the insti- THE 'ATE& - - - The following notice of the establishment a t Mettray is from the pen of Lord Leigh, who has employed a short visit in France in the useful ob ject of gathering personal experience and informa tion of the various institutions of this class in the country of our neighbours and allies. They were addressed in a letter to a member of the committee employed in carrying out the plans of such an in stitution in Warwickshire, in which the noble writer has from the first taken an active part. The letter, intended only for the use of those acting in his own county, may be equally useful in others : " Aecording to your request, I propose to send you a short account of one or two of thereformatory institu tions which I have seen in France, but I shall confine my observations chiefly to elettray. The conduct of the Co lonic Agricele of Mettray has the advantage of resting entirely with oar admirable friend M. De Metz, who first set the institution on foot about 17 years ago, in com pany with a friend, the Vicomte de Bretignieres de Cour teilies. It has been supported by private subscription, by his own and by his friend's benevolence, and by as sistance from Government at the rate of 70c., or 7d. per head a-day, with a gift of 351. en the admission of the child into the colony, and 351. at the close of two years more, with an annual subscription of 50,0001. (2,0001. English money), lately diminished to 25,0001., or 1,0001. The present number of children is 681, and of employes fed at the expense of the institution 56. The buildings stand in the middle of a flat open plain, remote from any town or laree village, without wall or enclosure of any sort, for the purposes at least of confinement. The church stands in the middle of the buildings at the further end. It is open at all times, but service is only performed in it on Sundays. M. De Metz observed on this point that he objected to daily service, on the ground that the work men i o e u h l d h b a e d b unable eeni t n o e n a l t e t a e t n e d d it, e a s nd e that had a ti n on i j de r oe e pr r y i y e u ff tlYi e f c ew t on the mind. The colon , w hen first he found himself unab le to attend daily service, would feel that he was neglecting a duty, and when at war with his own conscience would soon give up going to church at all. In speaking also of La Grande Trappe, which is in the hands of monks, M. de Metz said that, although he had not seen it, he feared upon this principle that it was probable, that when once the young detenu re • stored to the world found out how dissimilar real life was from what he had hitherto seen of it, and the impossibi lity of carrying out the religious practice to which he would have been most likely trained in Ls Grande Trappe there would be great danger that, his eyes over-opened, and the constraint once removed, he would become wholly reckless and neglectful of the observances which the law ful business of the world still gave time for. At the same time the children have full liberty, the church doors being open, if they wish to spend a few minutes in prayer to do so, but if they desire to do this it must be during the hours placed at their disposal for play. These hours are the hour after dinner and the two half hours after breakfast and tea. The boys are divided into families of, in general, from 30 to 50 each, to which families they remain attached during the whole period of their detention ; and when they return to visit Met tray, when out of a situation, they invariably seem to turn again to their old family. We ourselves saw a pro mising young soldier who had been wounded in the Cri mea, and was now quartered at Tours, revisiting his old haunts and the house in which he bad been brought up, and when the children were being marshalled, as they always are to the sound of music in martial order pre paratory to meals or return to labour —assisting in get ting the little ones of his former family into their proper rank and place. There are 12 houses (exclusive of the farm-houses) for the boys, divided into three ster-eys ; the two upper form the sleeping and living rooms, while the ground floor is used for a workshop ; the family divi sion, however, is not carried out in the workshops, \ s ‘ s boys of various families are brought together to learn the same trade. M. De Metz observes that it is ver y ' desirable to teach boys who come from towns, and who belong to families practicing them, trades, as he says that he has found by experience and former failures the impossibility of inducing town boys to attach themselves to country life. He started with the idea that he might exclude trades altogether, but his long experience has taught him that this did not answer ; nevertheless, he makes a very great point of agricultural occupations, and something less than half the whole number of children are employed directly upon the farms. To return to the family division, to which I conceive the success of Met tray to be greatly due. I am of opinion that this system alone allows of attention to every individual child, which is indispensable to the reformation of each individual character, while it procures for children, who have per haps never experienced them before the happy influences inspired by the love of home. A chef de famille or em ploye; has the constant superintendence of one of these families. He is assisted by one of the eUve,s, or young men in training to become masters hereafter, who does not, however, remain permanently attached to one fa mily ; and by two Pyres ainjs, who are chosen from among and by the boys themselves. The freres aines are in the position of monitors, and are distinguished by a red mark upon the sleeve of their jackets. M. De Metz is at very great pains, in introducing new boys, to place them judiciously as regards the families. For ex ample, in France there is a great difference of character observable in different provinoes, and be takes care that the volatile nature of one disposition shall be balanced by the steadiness, not to say stolidity, of another. The family division presents great advantages on the intro duction of any number of boys into the institution ; for when there is an accession of bad boys—who, if turned in with ever so great a number of others, would remain a nucleus of evil, attracting all the evil round it till it swelled and corrupted the whole mass--by a careful subdivision, and by introducing but one or two boys into a family of improved and improving cha racter, the spirit of evil is probably soon repressed by the preponderating good around, and no per manent injury is done. To return to chef de famine. He occupies a little closet at the end of the children's bed-room, which is in shape an elongated square ; there fore it is the more possible for him to overlook the whole through a little window opening into his roem, added to which the children lie with head and feet alternating. No conversation whatever is allowed during the hours for work, meals, or sleep. The hammocks (which the children at Mettray all sleep in) were recommended to us on many grounds, although I am not prepared to give a decided opinion myself upon them. M. De Metz said that in summer the boys lie in them in comfort and decency, with scarcely any covering whatever, and in winter very little makes them snug and warm, not to mention the great economy of material and of space. The supports for the hammocks on the outer side are in the daytime booked to the walls, and at night, at a given signal from the chef, are dropped into grooved sup ports, projecting from the posts which support the roof, and stand out in the room. Though stout beams, they were easily lifted by the children together. All retire to rest at the same hour, only the little ones get up later in the morning. A light in kept burning in the rooms all night. Half the children sleep on one floor, half on an other. The chef de famille sleeps near one half, and the e/eve near the other. The children have three meals a-day--meat twice a- week. The cost of their diet averages 45 centimes, or Ad. The trades the childre* learn are various tailoring, shoemaking, sabot m aking, with blacksmiths', wheelwrights', and carpenters' work ; and they also make agricultural implementer. They take turns to assist in the domestic services of the house and kitchen. Washing is done every day in an admirably organised laundry, and the boys wash their own clothes. It is the cleef d'atelier who adjudges the little rewards in money which are given to the best workmen among the colons at the close of every three months, to the amount of aboot 31f. for the best, with a graduated scale down to the Stb, if the family consists of from 40 t o 50 boys, but only down to the 4th if it consists of from 20 to 30. "The chef de familia, however, puts his veto upon the reward if the conduct of the child in the family has not been satisfactory. Whatever the reward may be, it is always doubled if the recipient is in the position of a fare aine. Part of the money is put into the savings-bank at Tours, and, I believe, one-fourth is at the disposal of the child, at the discretion of the chef, but the account books are entirely in the hands of the controller of the finances of the establishment. A boy in receipt of any money has to make payment for any part of his dress which requires to be renewed before the stated time ar rives at which fresh clothing is given out, which other wise is all furnished by the institution. On the other hand, if his clothes are found in good condition at such time he receives the benefit of it by having the money which would have been laid out in clothes placed to his account. The dress is uniform and extremely simple, and just what would be if working at home—viz., a plain brown blouse or short tunic, canvas trousers, sabots, and straw hat. The money in the bank is paid to the boy on his leaving Mettray, unless, by his desire, it is allowed to remain yet longer. Tho boys wash in open sheds, attached to the various houses, and connect ing them at the back. There is a large fountain at hand, from which they carry the water in large tubs to the sheds. Twice :'a-week they are taken in divisions to a reservoir to baths and learn to swim in summer. " The strictest discipline is observed, and nothing is overlooked. Dry bread ie an occasional punishment, but the cell is a more frequent one. Every fault which has called for reproof is registered, and a most careful and detailed conduct-book is kept, showing the be haviour of every child. Here are seen at a glance his n ame, previous residence, habits, health, appearance i. detail, the crime for which he was convicted, every pos sible information which can be gleaned with regard to himself and his family, with a most careful and complete report of his behaviour since admission. When a fault calls for punishment, before it is inflicted upon the child he is made to retire into a cell, which takes for the time being the name of Salle de Reflation; he is kept there for an hour or so, and meanwhile the directeur reviews his conduct-book, takes into careful consideration the pre• vieus circumstances and conduct of the boy, his general character, his advantages and disadvantages, and, hav ing carefully weighed them and taken time to collect himself, and give the boy leisure to reflect upon his fault, he is in a position to pronounce, as far as human discern ment goes, the exact measure of punishment deserved by the child. Those confined to cells have an hour's ex ercise a-day in chopping wood, or in some similar occupa tion. The cells are bare rooms, with sufficient light and air for breath. Punishment is administered for apparently trifling faults. We found four boys in four cells on the occasionof o ou n rvisit. One was there for refusing to sing the two ear fo th r e ta e lt e i l n la g r, th w e h st e n re uts h , o sn h d ad ntheo bI ot ts he i r . for b a before, eig found ness to be. I think it will be allowed that these aro not offences of a very grave nature, and, as the discipline is so strict, that it is satisfactory there are so few boys from a larger number. The cells are so placed and arranged that those in them, although unseen, can be admitted to take part in the church service, at the back of the altar of the churcb, on Sundays, Eight Sisters (From the Times Correspondent.) NEW Yonx, Dec. 12.—Another week has passed away without an organisation of the House or a Message from the President, and the public must wait for the official announcement of the views of the Administration upon the questions pending be tween thin Cabinet and the British Government until the Speaker can be chosen. To tell the truth, the public care very little about the question, and would wait as long as Congress pleased without grumbling, if that were all the trouble occasioned by the delay. It is impossible to say when this controversy for the Speaker's chair will end. The Fusionists have been able to carry their vote as high as 107, the Administration vote remaining steady at 74 or 75, and the remaining vote being divided among enough independent candidates to prevent any one from receiving a majority. Each day the telegraph has promised a union that will elect a Northern Fusion Speaker, and each night has falsified the predictions of the morning. One writing from New York cannot follow all the shift ing scenes of Washington politics—cannot judge whether such predictions were well justified when made, nor why they have failed of fulfilment. I can only chronicle the end when it shall come. Until the organisation is effected everything must stand still in Washington, for all the attention of that idle and excitable metropolis is absorbed in the solution of the question of whether the north or the south shall have the formation of the commit tees of the House. Meanwhile, the Message is kept most commendably secret, and even the gossip ing correspondents of the journals do not venture to speculate upon its contents. In fact, until de livered, it is an unshaped as well as unborn child, and its author holds pen in hand to cor rect, alter, or modify from day to day as circumstances may direct. So far as British poli tics are concerned I am told that it will be mode rate in tone. I hear of nothing new in relation to what is now called here the Crampton question. The discussion into which the British Government have entered in regard to the violations of the neu trality laws of this country is not exactly satisfac tory to the Cabinet at Washington. It is regarded, I am told, as evading the true issue by a sort of special pleading, instead of coming at once to the point, and making some sort of amcnde. The Washington Union , h owe ver, ceases to direct the vials of its wrath at the head of the British lion. Instead of that it now aims them at the Times and Lord Palmerston. In its issue of the Bth it closes a long article of unusually strong language with the following more peaceful strain : " It was in England, as well as in the United States, the all but unanimously-expressed conviction that the British Government had committed a grievous error in its attempts, whether ley infraction or evasion of the law, to levy troops in the United States ; that if, in the face of obstinate perseverance in those attempts by Bri tish agents, the American Government, while striving in good faith to maintain our national neutrality, had been forced into something of peremptoriness of act or language, it was not for the British Government to com plain of that consequence of its own wrongfulness ; that there exists no cause of hostility between the two coun tries emanating from the American Government ; that the interests of both nations are identical , and dictate peaceful relations ; and that the time has come in the history of the United States when the British Govern ment, and Lord Palmerston especially, must cease to imagine that England alone has the right to be great, and must perceive, and act upon the perception, that the British race in the United States has irrepressible destinies of greatness before it which should be honoured and admired, not envied or fretted, by-the British race in Europe. We therefore augur from what has occurred the best results. We in the United States, everybody knows, appreciate the value of a friendly intercourse with Great Britain. If in the present war we hare seemed to be a little repelled from her, it is because, not content with telling us in words that the object of her alliance with France is, after humbling Russia,' then to look to the United States, she has during the last three years gratuitously intermeddled with our affairs at every turn--first in reference to Cuba, then in the Bonin Islands, in the Sandwich Islands, in the Ayes Islands, off the Falkland Islands, in Dominica, in Ecua dor, above all, in Central America. Her diplomatic agents have acted as if they had circular instructions in blank to obstruct any or all enterprises of the United States, right or wrong. We trust and believe that no thing is necessary but to have the British people dis tinctly perceive and understand the vicious and mis chievous spirit which, from the day of the sack of Wash ington to the present time, Lord Palmerston has mani fested towards the United States. We think it, needs only this to insure the most cordial relations between Great Britain and the United States." As soon as the Message is delivered we shall know whether, and how far, these are the views of the Government ; and until it is delivered it is not easy to tell what those views are, for, unfortunately, the Cabinet at Washington, ike all Cabinets, is composed of diverse elements, which are not always capable of immediate solution, and will not always stay in solution when that desirable state of things is once brought about. As I have before said, both in this letter and in every one which I have written since these difficul ties assumed their present shape, there is no popu lar opinion in - America that there will be any trouble. The speculators in stocks have used the rumour to depress the " fancies" on the faith that even the rumour of a possibility of a discussion of differences between the two Governments (to put the contingency as remote as possible) would affect such a delicate thing as .a fancy stock in a heavy gambling transaction. But beyond this lam unable to learn that the slightest effect has been produced. Even the troubles in Central America, fraught, as they are, with future difficulties, do not excite anxiety or create alarm. The difficulties in Kansas, which appeared so alarming, as reported by the telegraph a week since, fade into much less magnitude as we get detailed reports. You will receive by this mail the proclama tion of Governor Shannon, calling on the militia, which will give you the impression that actual civil war rages on the borders. But, on the other hand, all the free State accounts of the matter speak of it as of little importance, and represent Lawrence as being perfectly quiet. We have not yet the mate rials to judge where lies the right in this contro versy ; but I am inclined to think that it will turn out that the "difficulty" has been exaggerated, and that both parties have been disposed to make the most of it to influence the election of Speaker now going ou at Washington. But there is great danger in calling so excited a population to arms, and the issue is watched with great anxiety. Money remains much as when I last wrote. There will be a heavy shipment of gold by the Atlantic ; but many suppose that the shipment must really be made at a loss. There is no reason for any stringency in our market, except the response to the London market, and until the rates fall there we can hardly expect ease here. The shipments of breadstuffs continue. The canals were closed the day before yesterday, not before winter was on us and made it necessary. Before closing most of the produce shipped in them had been got through to tide water. The railroads now have the entire carrying of the western pro duce to the Atlantic until the opening of naviga tion next year. Mr. Griswold has resigned the presidency of the Illinois Central, and Mr. W. H. Osborne has been appointed in his place, and has gone to Illinois to enter upon the active discharge of his duties. The land sales for the month of November amount to nearly $1,200,000 ; and for the year 1855 they will reach, as officialy reported, to the enormous sum of $5,300,000. From this should be deducted the sales of preemption rights. The directors' estimate is far exceeded when that is made. The Northern Light, just arrived from California, brings $326,000 in gold, and San Francisco dates to the 20th ult. The Walker-Kinney Government on the Isthmus had concluded a treaty with the United States' Minister there, and had despatched one of the leading Fillibusters to Washington ac credited as Minister, to secure its ratification here. They had also issued proposals to colonists from the United States to settle, offering, as inducement, the gift of a tract of land. The new Ambassador also holds out a further tempting inducement in the form of a lump of gold, which he says is the product of the country. If we can trust their own account of themselves they are getting on swim mingly. tution. " I have been so lengthy upon Mettray that I have no time to discuss other institutions. Of the three or four others I saw in France I like Lo Petit Lu willy, near Rouen, the best. Petit Bury, near Paris, seemed to me to be conducted upon ♦ery objectionable principles, and not upon the family system. " M. De Metz and other French reformer's congra tulate themselves upon the superiority of the French law over the English, as they are able to receive children direct into their institutions ; whereas our law sends them first to prison, and thereby disqualifies them for ever for the army and navy." ST. PANCRAS BURIAL BOARD -IM PORTANT INVESTIGATION. Yesterday, at the Vestry-hall, St. Pancrae,special meet ings of the directors of the poor and of the burial board were held, for the purpose of investigating the statements which had been made in reference, in the first place, to th e treatment of a woman, named Knight, and her child, whilst an inmate of the workhouse ; and, se condly, as to there not being sufficient grave space pre pared at the new cemetery at Fincbley• The Rev. Thos. DALE, M.A., vicar, presiding at the meeting of the burial board, and Mr. Wright at the board of directors. At the board of directors it was stated that Mrs. Knight was lying in the infirmary seriously ill, from a fall off the hearse on her return from attending the interment of her child at the ceme tery, and it was resolved that Mr. Churchwarden Farrer, Mr. Baker, and Mr. Glazier should go to the infirmary and take down in writing the poor woman's deposition. Upon their return they read the following as her state ment :—" Sarah Knight states that she fell from the hearse in consequence of missing her hold of the top ping.' It was entirely an accident, and no blame im puted to any person. She was warmly clothed, but felt very cold. livery attention was paid to her, and, she says, had she been a lady, she could not have had more attention paid to her after the accident. The graves were not ready, in consequence of some mistake. Her child, she says, received every attention from the medi cal officer of the infirmary, and she repeatedly expressed herself to that effect."—Present Mr. Churchwarden Farrer, Mr. Baker, and Mr. Glazier. Mr. STOCKTON, in moving that this statement be en tered upon the minutes, said it was a complete answer to the slanders of an idle and dissolute pauper named James, who had been 16 years living upon the rate payers in that workhouse, against their new medical officer. The motion having been seconded and carried, Mr. COOPER moved, and Mr. STOCKTON seconded, a resolution, directing the temporary hire of a black painted omnibus of the contractors for the interment of the parochial poor, to convey 12 relatives, two in each case, if possible, to the cemetery, to attend to the inter ment of their deceased relatives. After some discussion this resolution was carried. At the burial board, Mr. Churchwarden FAKEER at tended to explain some statements in reference to the non-preparation of a sufficient number of graves for the interment of the poor, attributed to him in the Daily News of - Wednesday last, reflecting upon the burial board. That gentleman denied that he had in the slightest degree imputed blame to the burial board, although he felt strongly upon the subject sufficient graves had not been prepared. The investigation was entered into, and several wit nesses were examined, from whose evidence, it appeared that on the 11th inst., 16 bodies—double the usual num ber—arriveoft inle, and that in consequence of the notirr e gu arrivel r irregularity yinsu wisufficient post nt.tim i e n t t o h that t d i t s h t e r i c extrat, t h grave noti c span.o did an d the bodies were placed temporarily in the prepared, hagerrebados:: board d l the ir c directed additional the superintendent,grou ndcouldf for re the et future, ready always to have sufficient graves prepared in advance. - IttrEVENTATioN OF LINCOLN.-Mr. Charles Seely has withdrawn headhimelf as a candidate for the representa tion vacant by eath of Col. Sibthorp. The late colonel's eldest son, Major Sibthorp, now stands alone, and no doubt will be returned without opposition. ALLEGED FORGERY IN A CASE OF LIINACY.-Ai the Court-honse, Leeds, on Saturday last, before two of the magistrates of that borough, Mr. Lewis, of London, soli citor, appeared on the part of the Commissioners in Lu nacy and preferred a charge of forgery against Mr. W. It. Wilkinson, assistant to Mr. R. G. Horton, of Leeds, It appeared that on the 3 d of November last sur geon. the defendant signed a certificate with Mr. Horton's name, alleging that he (Mr. Horton) had attended a young woman named Ann Ash , daug hter of a p ublican at Swil lington, near Leeds, anti that she was insane ; and that by Mr. Craven, upon this c e s r vi ti i fi n c i a n t g e t , on an , d she an w o a th s e c r om on m e it b t d to alunatic asylum, of called the Retreat, at Armley, near Leeds. There appeared to be no doubt about the insanity of the girl, nor that the defendant bad signed Mr. Horton's name without his leave or knowledge. In extenuation it was shown that Mr. Horton had been ill, and unable to attend to his business during the past summer, and that the defendant had permission to act for him, and sign his name to medical certificates for benefit societies. Mr. Bond, of Leeds, appeared for the defendant. The magistrates committed the latter for trial at the next as sizes for the county of York, but admitted him to bail, Spirit of Journals. matic forms require that the Porte should take the initiative, has our Government, by its accredited renresentative at Constantinople, called upon the Divan to do so ? Turkey is the weakest of all the Allied Powers, and to expect it to provoke the hos tility of Austria—unless it be well assured of the support of the rest—by resenting an injury that touches England as deeply as itself, is unreasonable. If the Turkish Ministers shrink from a bold asser tion of its rights, it is for the English Government to insist upon their making the formal application to Austria, and pledge itself to bear them. It is for the English Government to insist upon the con currence of all its allies in its efforts to vindicate its right and honour, assailed while making common cause with them, and because it is making common cause with them. There can b© no excuse for the British Government if it abandons to his fate a faithful servant who has been placed in a situation of extreme hazard in the discharge of a mission which it has imposed upon i him. Let tgo to work with all the formality that the veriest diplomatic pedant can require, but let it avail itself promptly and energetically of the forms which diplomacy offers it to work by. If Colonel Turr is not liberated, unharmed, by the Austrians, England is dishonoured. The Times attempts to palliate the base and cowardly course it instigates the British Govern ment to adopt with regard to Colonel Turr by seek ing to raise up prejudices against him. It talks o f " democrats called into existence by the abortive revolutions of 1848, and scattered over the face of the earth by the re-action of the next year." It hints at the " ingratitude" of the exiles who have been protected by Great Britain. It insinuates that the proscribed have been "guilty of offences, moral or politi.ial." All these iuuendoes are part and pvr.•el o i he insiduons attempts that have of late been systematically made to persuade the English public that the friends of liberty on the Continent who were defeated in 1849 ought to be placed beyond the pale of the protection of inter national law. They are proofs of the inveteracy and pertinacious activity of a faction among us who would fa;n see England making common cause with the Continental despits against all sup porters of popular rights throughout Europe. If Englishmen have any regard for their characters as free men and lovers of liberty, they will at once silence these insidious slaves by a stern rebuke and disavowal of their servile principles. The prating is doing us incalculable harm with the liberals of the whole civilised world. Everywhere men are beginning to suspect that the old English sympathy with heroic efforts and self-sacrifice in the cause of freedom is becoming extinct. The English Government is beginning to be classed with those which combat lfree thought, free utterance, and free action, at times with the brute force of mere mercenary soldiers, at times by the worse agency of police spies. (From the Ti;ncs of this day.) If the rumours of peace fall everywhere on un heeding ears it cannot be denied that the events which have produced them have much significance. It may, indeed, be a sign of credulity to expect that a few weeks will close the great contest which forty years have prepared, and that the armies of the West will before spring is far advanced take their final leave of the old battle-fields, which are now historic names. The natural conviction of every one is, that such a cause, such exertions and sacri fices cannot be defrauded of their legitimate results. It seems clear that, unless Russia consent to the full demands of France and England, the war must go on ; and that she will consent no one ventures to anticipate. The great preparations for the next campaign will not then prove useless ; the batteries and mortar-boats will not •lie cumbersome hulks in our naval ports, the stores of arms will not be piled up in readiness merely for another war. But yet the events which are now passing will have their consequences. It is probable that the mediators of to-day will in a few months quit their middle position. Although the Western Powers may not openly be assisted by the arms of Austria and Prussia, there is every reason to believe that these empires will find it necessary to declare fully their accordance with the views of the allies and their censure of the course which the Czar has adopted. No one can have watched the military and diplo matic events of the present year without seeing that their tendency has been to make neutrality impossible. Twelve months since the armies of France and England were in a situation which might be called perilous. They had, indeed, won victories, and were in no danger of being driven into the sea, but in the eyes of Europe, as well as in the opinion of some of their own leaders, they were likely to fail in the great object for which they encamped on Russian ground. The death of Nicholas and the succession of a younger and less arrogant monarch did much to weaken the deter mination of the Austrian Emperor, while financial difficulties almost bound the Cabinet of Vienna to persist in peace. This was the moment when the policy of neutrality was most loudly advocated and seemed almost justified by events. But since then every day has made such an equilibrium less stable. The fall of Sebastopol has delivered 200,000 of the allies from a difficult and dreary task to which their honour bound them. It has endangered the whole Russian coast, and made the conquest of en tire provinces a work to be looked for at once. Still more has the cause of the Western Powers gained from the manifestation of unflinching obsti nacy of purpose by the British people. The popu lar feeling of this country is the vital force of the whole war, the spring which keeps in movement all the machinery of cabinets and armies. Since it is clear that this country will make no hollow peace, and that, whatever may have gone before, England is now about to put forth a strength worthy of her name, the German Powers have felt that the war is about to assume a terrible earnest ness, which will make indifference impossible and affected moderation a folly. But the power of the allies is less alarming to neutrality than the weak ness of Russia. Allowing for the exaggerations of sanguine or ignorant writers, there is sufficient testimony that the difficulties of the enemy are great and rapidly increasing. Discontent prevails among powerful classes, for the trader is cut of from the great mart of the world, and the wealthy deferred from intercourse with the chief seat of civi lisation. The losses in men are ill repaired by a con scription of youths, while money fails by the destruc tion of the country's nascent commerce. The Ger man Powers seem fully aware that the continuance of the war must lead to the supremacy of France and England both in the north and therefore, even although we may look on them as preserving their former feelings towards us, yet we may look for their earnest interposition to bring the war to an end, and expect that they will deeply resent the obstinacy of the Czar, should he expose himself and them to evils not inevitable. That these are not merely speculations is proved from our foreign correspondence. We learn that Austria has communicated to Prussia the prelimi naries agreed upon by the Western Powers, and called upon her to urge their acceptance at St. Petersburg. It is with the two great German Powers that we have chiefly to do, It is plain that the recent compact with Sweden has startled the two monarchs. A defensive alliance, even though conditional, is a bold step for a State so small and so ill-situated as Sweden, and the conclusion of it has roused Austria especially to the consciousness that Russia's political greatness has for a time de parted. Francis Joseph is therefore more and more anxious to play some decided part, and not only to gain influence in Europe, but to extend his power over those minor German States which vacillate between him and his Prussian rival. It has been seen for many weeks that the tendency of these States has been to separation from Russian inte rests. Austria therefore has a chance of once more becoming the leader of the Confederation. On the other hand, the King of Prussia sees with apprehension the waning of his recent influence. He has had against him France, England, Austria, and tho opinion of the world- Ile wag enpported by Russia and the minor States which are ruled by Sovereigns akin to the Russian dynasty. Now that the great northern empire is weakened, distracted, and beaten, the German Kings and Grand Dukes are falling away from his side. He will soon have DO friend but the Czar, himself needing help and consolation in adversity. We cannot doubt that the Prussian King sees these dangersclearly, and, if he wishes worthily to obey the commands of his late kinsman, and really to befriend that kinsman's heir, he will do his best to enforce assent to the de mands of the Western Cabinets. We have always felt that the continuance of the war must end in at least a moral league against the common enemy. The burdens of a state of hostili ties must before long be felt even by neutrals, and then the blame must fall on the nation which, with out hope of success, prolongs the contest merely in a spirit of senseless pride. Some months since, when Austria shrank from executing the treaty which she had concluded, the apprehensions of many added bitterness to their reproaches. It was regarded as an almost desperate enterprise to at tack the hugest and most compact of adversaries merely by expeditions carried on with difficulty by sea at a distance of 3,000 miles from home. Bnt it was by a wise impulse that the two Governments resolved to persevere, and to leave time to bring into action the alliance which existed in principle. That time seems now not far distant. It will, how ever, best become our dignity, and conduce to our interest, to make no supplications for foreign aid. That aid will come most readily when we have shown that we least need it. Such is the action of human nature in States as well as individuals. The part of the allies is to prepare for the contest with renewed vigour on the largest scale. For the present arms must decide the question ; it has emerged from the domain of diplomacy, and not yet returned to it. When succe ssful war has given us the mastery, we may then expect that both foes and neutrals will acknow led g e the justice of our claims and the force of our reasoning. RUSSIAN RESOURCES ON THE CASPIAN. A Ihrtforashire incumbent, in writing to a contampo rary, says:—The possible transfer of warlike operations to georgia in the course of the next few months makes it a matter of some interest to aicertaiu the means of tran- sport possessed by Russia in the Caspian Sea, which may be employed for the purpose of conveying reinforce• meats and materiel to her Asiatic army. As all direct information on this subject is difficult to obtain, and as, even if obtained, it would be desirable to have some test of its correctness, perhaps the kollowing inferences, which are drawn from an analysis of the statistical table' published by the Board of l Trade, may deserve a place in your columns. It appears that the total annual traffic of the Russian ports of the Caspian, taking both entrances and clear ances, and an average of the four years 1849-1852, amounts to 32,053 tons, borne in 451 bottoms. Now, as no country Las any ports upon the Caspian but Russia and Persia, it follows that by deducting the amount of the Perso-Russian trade from this total, the retuainderilwill represent the sea-borne traffic between the Russian ports only. The annual Perso-Russian trade in Russian vessels amounts to 23,151 tons, in 261 bottoms, which gives an average tonnage of about 88 tons to each ship. From the small extent of the sea we cannot suppose that less than two double voyages are made every season by each; from which it may be inferred that the number of such vessels is not greater than about 70. The annual Perso-Russian trade in Persian vessels amou,,ts to 1,137 tons, in 35 bottoms, which gives an average of 32 or 33 tons to each barqae. It is obvious that these must be mere coasters—sncb, for instance, as the Per-i-bazaar boats, which go to Baku for the purpose of getting rock salt and naphtha, and take thither rice and other provisions in exchange. The small importance of these craft makes it scarcely worth while to estimate their number ; but from the shortness of the voyages which alone they can undertake, it is clear that it must be very small. Deducting, now, the Perso-Russian traffic from the total Russian trade on the Caspian, there remains only 7,765 tons, borne in 152 bottoms. It appears from the tables that, during the three years 1850-1852, a very few Persian bottoms were employed in the intercourse between the Russian ports. Making allowance for these, there will result an annual intercourse between the Russian ports on the Caspian, measured by 7,600 t nns, borne in 148 bottoms, which gives an average of little more than 51 tons to each vessel employed ; and the number of these, reckoning only two double voyages in the year for each will be under 40. If we only remember that this cipher measures the amount of sea communication between Astrachan, Gourien, at the mouth of the Oural, and Alexandrowsk, on the eastern shore of the Caspian, as well as that be tween Astrachan and Derbend and Baku on the western it seems impossible to believe that the supplies to the Russian army in Georgia did, before the outbreak of the war, came down the Lower Volga and thence into the Caspian ; and, if so, it is perfectly certain that they either were conveyed over the pass of Daniel, or—which I believe to have been the case—were landed on the east coast of the Black Sea, and thence reached Tiflis by the route which now lies before the illustrious Turkish Com mander. It is, indeed, a melancholy reflection that Kars should have fallen after so gallant a defence—most melancholy, if its fall should turn out to have resulted from apathy, or anything worse, on the part of those whoFe duty it was to succour it ; but that the misfortune is one in the slightest degree likely to affeet the pros pects of the war is an idea which, so long as the Allies hold possession of the seaboard of the Euxinc, there is surely no reason whatever to entertain. If the triumph serves the purpose cf saving the honour of the Emperor of Russia, and inclines him to submit 'to reasonable terms of peace, some good will come out of evil ; but that it should be made a ground for modifying these is a conclusion which, I should fancy, neither our own Fo reign Minister nor our illustrious ally will be so good. natured as to accept for an instant. SHIPWRECKS-SERVICES OF A LIFE. BOAT. TENBT, Dec. 22.—An opportunity was presented on Wednesday last of fairly testing, for the first time daring a ale of wind from S.E., the o life-boat of thi s pl a ,-,„ and' the result of the trial was in every respect satisfso tory ; indeed it was well it was so, for the next day (Thursday) both the life-boat and her crew were sever ay tried, but they behaved admirably ; their unflinching courage and untiring energy, dashing with the life-b oat through a succession of broken seas, against a str.mg gale, was loudly applauded on shore. About four p.m. on th e latter day, the schooner Age noria, of Bideford, having been disabled in consequence of her sail* having been blown away, and other casual ties, while running for this pier, was observed to became unmanageable, and to drive on shore near St. Cai i he. tine's Rocks. The sea made a complete breach over %et. The life boat was immediately- manned and launched. Alter a hard pull through the heavy breakers, the life boat reached the wr eck, and succeeded in taking off the three hands. The mated in of the the vessel had, band een crewunf of unfortunately w ashed overboar drowned. At 9 p.m. intelligence was brought to the life-boat's crew that another vessel was on shore near Gaiter Point, shout two miles from this place. No time was lost in procuring horses to take the lift'-boat to the nearest place for launching her. This was succom•fully accom plished, in the midst of a fearful sea. The crew of the life-boat manfully peraevered, not withstanding that each successive sea broke over them, and about midnight they succeeded in reaching the wreck, and took her crew on board in an exhausted state. A lad, about 16, who was in a state of insensi bility, was dragged along the deck into the life-boat. lie continued in this state several hours after he was taken to a farm-house in the neighbourhood. Another boy was forcibly drawn up from the cabin and placed in the boat, and the crew, consisting of five hands, were safely landed. The vessel soon after began to break up, and subsequently became a total wreck. She proved to be the French schooner Alexandre, of Nantes, from Cardiff to Nantes, with coals. (From the Daily News of this day.) He is no true Englishman wilco has real the tissue of falsehoods and fallacies put forward yes terday by the Times, with reference to the case of Colonel Turr, without blushing. It is a national reproach that au English journalist has been found mean and shameless enough to pervert facts and principles in such a manner, with a view to encou rage our Government to commit an act that would stamp them with indelible infamy. Colonel Turr, according to the Times, " was not only a deserter, but was in arms with the Hungarians." This is not true. He was no deserter. He served in a Hungarian regiment ; be belonged to the national army of Hungary ; and when his country was a t war with the Austrian Government, be fought, like a true man, against Austria. But this is not the question at issue. The Times decla res thatif any foreigner acc use d of a political crime by, e his original Sovereign en li s ts into our service, will not allow him to be dragged away from und er T y M. urr :v as the British flag." Colonel Turr ( o r ed the Times affects to call was was s g eu g t to Bu dra aa from under the British flag. He charest by the officer in comm and of our Land h he was attached, to purchase horses. i Transport Corps, toi lie h w ic was seized by the Austrians, on Turkish territory, w hile acting for the behoof of the British army in accordance with the com mandsman o f his superior officer. If this was not being der the British flag," we know not • d• The pds : what Call DO SO uosign e chose to accept ate a . commis T si on imes which rocee took him fi t o Bucharest, to the head- q uarters of an Austrian general, and the station of his own re giment. He was apprehended, and, though it m ay be considered a slight to England that any one employed in our service could bo so treated, yet diplomatic interference, according to national law, can only come from the Sultan, on whose terri tory the act was committed." We demur to this doc trine so dogmatically laid down. England, France, and Sardinia arc at this moment allied with Turkey, and engaged in a war to maintain the integrity of the Turkish dominions and the Sultan's authority within them. By seizinc , Colonel Tun-, the Times admits the Austrians have violated the rights of the Sultan in his own territory. The Allies have a right—it is their duty—to resist this aggression upon the Sultan's sovereign rights. England, or France, or Sardinia, or all in concert, may take the initiative as well as the Sultan, in protesting against such an infringement of the law of nations, and de manding redress. But eves admitting that diplo. DISGUSTING BARBABITY.—It is not often that in the quiet little town of Accrington we have to record such disgraceful proceedings as those which it is now our duty to lay before the public, and which occurred on Sunday last. On that day, early in the forenoon, hun dreds of persons might be seen hastening towards Ham bleton, to witness a wrestling match between two young men, Richard Riley, Plantation Mill-square, and James Hacking, Warner-street, Accrington, the former betting 30s. to 20s. In due time all the preliminaries were ar ranged, there being hundreds of spectators. Hacking stripped himself naked, with the exception of his stock ings, and to work they went, pulling each other about as a tiger would his prey, for about an hour andfive minutes, when they both gave up, ne ither being victo rious. Hacking's body presented a frightful spectacle , the blood running down in several places ; and in many places the flesh was torn from his bones, and hung like this barbarous meat on butcher's hook s , t h e c rowd, while ug on not on the work was going o n , s houting at times and combatants. D u ring all the t i me thiswas g somewhat ' r, oin g a policeman was p re sent ; and it does appear strange that such disgusting much boast, not hear and pitch and toss, and th.isdwono me t e every Sunday to a grea sas the one above de scribed can take place, - e police, of whom we so wor d about it. After the wrestling was over, many one of the crowd began playing at rk 8 ourcwean s carried on nearly the whole day, and is c a in the outskirts of Accrington xtenti—Proton Guaralatt. This life-boat belongs to the Royal National Life-boat Institution, London, and was recently altered at Lime house to Mr. James Peake's plan. She had only just returned to her station before she was called on to rescue the crews of these two vessels, who would, in , all probability, have peri s h e d but for t he life•boat s opportune assistance. RAILWAY AND OTHER ACCIDENTS FROM THE SIMIAN THAW.—The sudd e n thaw on S aturday led to several accidents in Lancashire, and much delay in the arrival of railway trains. The temperature began to rice in the evening, and soon after eleven o'clock there was a fall of snow. At twelve it was succeeded by rain. The mail which left Manchester at twenty minutes past ten ' that night, by London and North-Western line, was much delayed 13y a fall of sleet between Sandbach and Crewe, and was run into by a heavy goods train follow j u g in the same direction. The guard was in great danger, but was able to jump off before the collision occurred. A gentleman in one of the carriages . wa3 se. P ver ely cut about the f a ce and head. T he u trams from Bangor and Chester , a n d the down tr ains from Glouces• ter and Worcester were much delayed by the change rails.n gof we ather, and the consequent slipperiness of the In Manchester a great number of water-pipes burst during the night, and much property was damaged in the warehouses. ti, A t~ '.6-.":. - I