The Sun. — London, England, 1861-11-25 00:00:00

THE BANK 01 DEPOSIT AND NA TIONAL ASSURANCE AND INVESTMENT ASSOCIATION. TO THE EDITOR OF THE ST;N. Sir,—Herewith you will receive the report of Messrs. Harding, Pallein, Whinney, and Co., on the affairs of this disastrous institution. We consider every attempt to bring the affairs into bankruptcy opposed to the true interest of the depositors, entailing additional costs to the estate without any advantage. We believe we can, through the Court of Chancery under the Acts of Parliament now in force, exercise as full power as ,can be exercised in the Court of Bankruptcy. We are endeavouring to make arrangements whereby needy depositors can receive assistance so soon as the probable amount of the dividend which will be payable has been ascertained. We arc, Sir, your obedient savants, CHAS. HENRY EDMANDS, GIBBS AND TUCKER, Joint Solicitors to the Committee. 1, New•inn, London, W.C., Nov. 23. " BANK OF DEPOSIT. "THE NATIONAL ASSURANCE AND INVESTMENT ASSOCIA. TION. I To the Committee of Depositors in the National Assur. ance and Investment Association. " Gentlemen,—ln accordance with your request, and at the desire of depositors who communicated personally with us, we have made a searching investigation into the affairs of this company, and now beg to submit the result of our labours as embodied in the accompanying statements and in the following report : " The National Assurance and Investment Association appears to have been formed by deed poll, bearing date the 2Sth of May, 1841. The parties thereto were John Blunt, John Elijah Blunt, Edwarl Hamilton, Joseph Macardy, John Yato Lee, William Preston Landor, Joseph Heapy Watson, Robert Scurr Scowler, and Robert Henry Wilson. The said deed provided that the association should consist and be composed of the persons before named, • and of such others as should thereafter become members thereof, either as assurers or as the holders or proprietors of stock and should signify their consent, either express or implied, to the agreement or declaration thereby made, or execute the deed of settlement,' which it was intended should be prepared. The objects of the association were stated to be : " 1. The mutual insurance of lives, endowments, and deferred sums and annuities. " '2. The receipt and investment of money in progressive stock, either for accumulation by adding the annual interesst to the principal sum, or tor yearly income by paying the in. terest as dividend. " ' 3. The granting of loans upon real 'and personal se _ _ eurities, and advances upon investment stock.' " The association was, on the Bth of January, 1815, for mally registered at the Joint-stock Companies' office, pur suant to the 7th and Bth Victoria, cap. 110, sec. 58, as a joint-stock company, existing on the Ist of November, 1844. " Shortly after the date of the deed poll, the business of the association was commenced and carried on under that deed until December, 1851. The first place of business was at No. 4, Lancaster-place, Strand ; and from 1854 to the present time at No. 3, Pall-mall-east. There have also been numerous agencies in various parts of the kingdom, and there are now branch offices at Aberdeen, Bath, Birming ham, Brighton, Bristol, Dublin, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Gravesend, Liverpool, Lewes, Manchester, Northampton, and Portsmouth. At Bath and Bristol there are local boards of management. " In December, 1851, a deed of settlement was prepared which bears date the 9th day of that month. It has been executed by the following persons, who have acted as directors—viz., Lord George Paget, Matthew Hutton Chai tor, Nicholas Dernys, Joseph Macardy, Frederick John Mai illier, Peter Morrison, William Simpson Potter, William Henry Rough, Charles Saunders,George Forbes Thompson, James Adair, Benjamin Boothb), Lord Keane, William Wells,Edward John Hobhouse,and Joseph Hullett Browne, and by Henry Murray and John Chapman Dale, as cove nantees. This deed provides that the parties thereto and every other person who had effected or should effect any assurance with the association, 'on condition -of parti cipating in profits,' or who then was or should become the holder or proprietor of any stock of the association,' should so long as such persons kept their policies in force, or should continue to hold or be proprietors of stock of the as sociation, be and continue an association by the name of the' National Assurance and Investment Association.' " The funds of the association were directed to be divided into three classes, viz.: "' The Mutual Investment Fund,' to be ' composed of that portion of the moneys received and to be received for investment, and of the additions to be made thereto from time to time by accumulation and otherwise,' such mutual stock to be exempt from all liability arising out of the as surance department. " The Mutual Assurance Fund,' to be composed of moneys received and to be received in respect of asstvancei on lives, 'on condition of participating in profits thereof.' " ' The Genral Fund,' to be composed of meneys re ceived and to be received for investment in the capital stock of the association (which was limited to X 100,000), and of all:moneys received in the assurance department other than those belonging to the Mutual Assurance Fund. " The holders of mutual stock' were to be ' entitled to such interest on the amount of the stock held by them, not exceeding at any time the rate of 5 per cent. per annum,' as should be from tTme to time determined by the board of management, to be payable solely out of the profits,' which should have accrued out of the said mutual investment fund.' If such profits should be more than sufficient for the payment of interest, it was competent for a general meeting to direct the division of the surplus by way of bonus among the holders of mutual stock,' which had been created more than six months. " The qualification of a director, until the ordinary gene ral meeting in the year 1857, was that he should hold stock to the amount of £lOO, or a mutual policy or policies to the amount of £999. After such meeting in the year 1857 the qualification was that he should hold stock to the amount of £250, or a mutual policy or policies to the amount of £1,998. " The deed further provides that ordinary general meet ings:of the members of the association should be held in every year after 1856 ; also that 50 members of the associa tion, being each of them a proprietor 'of paid-up stock of the association' to the amount of £2OO, or being the holder of a policy for not less than £999, might at any time require the dirt ctors:to call an extraordinary meeting of the asso ciation. It will be observed that no distinction is here made between the proprietors of " capital stock' and the proprie• tors of ' mutual investment stock. " The names of the several persons who have acted -- as directors of the association since June, 1851, with their re spective qualifications (if any), will be found annexed to this report. . . " This deed was not registered at Joint-Sbck Companies' dike, the association not being within the provisions of the Joint-Stock Companies' Act, 7th and Bth of Victoria, cap. 110. "In June, 18.54, an Act for granting certain powers to the ' National Assurance and Investment Association,' 17th of Victoria, cap. 43, was passed. This Act contains pro visions relative to the members of the association, which will no doubt be found to have an important bearing upon their rights and liabilities. By the 13th section, individual members are to be reimbursed out of the funds of the asso ciation, or 'by contribution from the holders of capital stock of the association,' and by the 15th section, contribu tion is to be paid by ' each holder of capital stock,' in ' such proportion,' as the amount of capital stock held by such capital stockholder shall bear to the total amount for the time being of the capital stock of the association.' "Many of the printed documents issued from time to time contain the words and figures 'capital stock, £100,000,' but it door not appear on investigating the ' capital stock' account that the amount ha 3 at any time exceeded 120,050 103. Of this amount only £8,593 10s. appears to have been paid for in cash. £7,100 appears to have been " sue_d in satisf ac ti on o f c l a i ms aga i ns t th e ass ociation ; and entered£l,337 to ( making up the £20,050 10s.) arises from amounts the credit of parties as cash payments by them for capital stock. Such amounts, however, were not really paid, but were at - the same time charged to them in another account as loa ns , and which ',' The entries last referred T h e ns appear remain in unpaid a ho i d 0 . ks under dates December, 1852, sand D s se o ember, 1853, and of the amo unts so enterel a su m of £ 0 appears in the name of the Marquis of Abercorn, and a Similar name of Lord Templemore; who,ea sum of £5Ol in the memorial s a are included as the t rus tees of the association in a September, 1854, made and enrolled izaguelianiiteielpd ;rat -mat the 6th of to toe 19th section of the 'National .ment Association Act, .1854.' A. sum of sr,oo-030 appearsn 't in the name of Lord Keane, one of the directors; a li i mof £1,500 in the name of William Simpson Potter, another of the directors; and sums of £3OO and £lOO in the name of Nicholas Dennys, also one of the directors ; the remaining portion of f • the £1 357 is composed of smaller sums. The amount of ' capital stock' held wag varied from time to time by additions thereto and by amounts which appear to have la ,cn repaid to or credited in account with parties upon the repurchase of their stock. The follo wing s t a tement shoals the variation and the total amount of ' capital stock' held on the 31st of December in each year: — Additions Amounts Amount held on Year. during the Repurchased Dec,. 31 Year. or Cancelled. in eac h Year. £ s. d. £ s. d. £ s. d. „,. 1852 .. 6, 307 7 6 1111 .18i i 3 13,743 26 . .... f. 0 0 0 .. 20,000 10 0 A 1 A .. 100 10 0.. 19,900 0 0 55 • • .. 19,000 0 Q 556' .. .. 19,000 0 0 1857 .. .. 19,000 0 0 1858 .. 300 0 0 .. 19,600 0 0 1859 .. 700 0 0 .. 18,900 0 0 1860 . . 5,500 0 0 .. 13,400 0 0 -:k` No change appears to have taken place in the 'capital 6404 , V accounts since December, 31, 1860. `llls 'capital stock,' which appears to have been re- P uxell * 464 or cancelled in the year 1860, is entered in the capital 1147'1) 7e , ttl kl yi etlg,+ : :in th e names o f L or d G eor ge Paget k l Anger. The sum appearing_ to havp . ;0... - .. . LAI been repaid to Dr. Rayner was £l,OOO for capital stock of the same amount of which he had been the holder from 1853. With Lord George Paget an arrangement appears to have been made by which ' capital stock' for 500 (held by him from 1853) was given up in exchange for ' invest ment stock' certificates for £2,520. "By the Approximate Statement of Affa - i s' at the 31st of October last, it will be seen that the total liabilities amount to £364,636 3s. Id., and that the assets are not ex pected to realise more than £55,086 13s. 4d., leaving the large deficiency of £309,549 9s. 9d. Upon discovering that the amount which the assets would be likely to realise would be but small in comparison with the extent of the liabilities, we considered that a strict examination into the transactions of the company during the past 10 years was absolutely requisite ; and the result of investigating and analysing the accounts will be found in the ' deficiency account.' We do not find that any profits have at any time arisen from the business which has been carried on. In every year the total amount allowed for interest on de posits has exceeded the amount charged to borrowers, while the income derived from the assurance department has never been sufficient to meet the expenses incurred at the chief office, branches and agencies. The difference between income and expenditure (the recognised loss in each year) has been from time to time been written off in reduction of the ' stockholders' fund,' the assurance fund,' and (after those funds had been exhausted) din reduction of the annuity fund. The annuity fund consisted of sums paid for the purchase of annuities. The business of the association in this department had been very ;small until the year 1858, when an arrangement was made with the Defender Fire and Life Insurance Company, by which the liabilities in respect of foreign annuities granted by that office were undertaken by the National Assurance and In vestment Association. Since that time the business has materially increased ; but with few exceptions the annuities have been purchased by persons resident in France, who in most instances re iuired that the purchase money should be invested in French Rentes or other securities, in the joint names of the annuitants and of the company, until by the death of the annuitant the amount was released. Under these circumstances, it was not possible to exhaust the annuity fund,' nevertheless, by entries in the books a re duction from time to time appears to have been made, so that at the 31st of December, 1860, the balance appearing to the credit of that account in the books was only £62,536 17s. Ild., whereas the actual amount of the in vestments existing, and beyond the control of the associa tion, was about £156,690. " The following analysis of entries contained in the books shows the gradual prcgress of the insolvency fram the year 1852. The amounts inserted in the first column do not in clude any losses by bad debts or by unsound investments, as it does not appear that such items have at any time been dealt with : Loss by Interest and Amount appearing Expenses to Dec. to be due to De - Year 31 in each year. positors on Dec. 31 in each year. £ s. d. £ s. d. 1852 .... 4,969 10 0 4,303 8 0 1853 .... 12,259 610 30,543 0 5 18.54 .. .. 18,105 15 5 79,196 16 4 1855 .... 33,804 17 5 118,205 15 9 1856 .. .. 48,782 5 6 164,822 12 5 1857 .... 66,661 16 5 179,740 17 3 1858 .... 92,376 3 1 226,362 8 1 1859 .... 112,628 15 0 296,078 9 0 1160 .... 147,935 14 9 348,096 18 9 " The debts due to the association appear to be for moneys advanced and interest thereon, and in some few cases for ' capital stock.' From an examination of the bonds and other securities held, we have come to the conclusion that the loss by doubtful and bad debts will be very little short of £65,000. The largest amount owing by any debtor is £16,280, which sum appears to be due from M. Julian Ber nard, and the security held is a mortgage of shares in Ber nard's Patent Boot and Shoe Company (Limited) ; at the present time these shares have no market value. There are amounts, also, appearing to be due from the following joint stock companies —viz., the State Fire Insurance Company, the Consols Insurance Association, the Agricultural Cattle Insurance Company (winding up), the Alderahott Manure Company, the British Provident Life Assurance Company (winding up) the Mitre Assurance Company (winding up), the North of Ireland Mining and Pier or Harbour Com pany, and the Times Fire Insurance Company. Included in the list of debtors are the following trustees end direc tors, viz. :—The Marquis of Abercorn (for capital stock), £500; Lord Templemore (for capital stock) £500; Lord Keane (for capital stock), £5OO ; William Simpson Potter , £4,334; James Adair, £945; Nicholas Dennys, £7 20 ; and the Hon. B. Boothby, £2BO. _ . "Large losses also appear to have resulted from arrange ments entered into with L'lmperiale, the State, and the Defender Assurance companies, and with the agent or ma nager of the Livorno Bank of Commercial Credit, in Leg horn. In 1854 an agreement appears to have been entered into with L'lmperiale Assurance Company (which carried on its business in Paris), by which the National Assurance and Investment Association subscribed a portion of the capi tal of that office and became interested in the business. The connection continued until 1858, and including the expenses incurred, appears to have resulted in a loss to this associa tion of nearly £20,000. With respect to the State Fire In surance Company, the loss has been far more considerable. This office was established in Dec., 1853, and the advertise ments contain the following names of directors who are or have also been directors of this association : • " The Right Hon. Lord Keane, Chairman. "Major James Adair, Royal-crescent, Notting-hill. " The Rev. W. Bean, 6, Angel-road, Buixton. " The Hon. B. Boothby, Judge of the Supreme Court, Adelaide. " Peter Carstairs, Esq., 1, Portland-terrace, Richmond. " Henry Clark. Esq., M.D., Southampton. " Nicholas Dennys, Esq., F.G.S., Devonshire-road, Holloway. "Peter Morrison, Esq., Managing Director, 44, Per - chester-square, Hyde-park. " Wm. S. Potter, Esq , 1, Adam-street, Adelphi. "Wm. H. Rough, Esq., M.A., Sandown-lodge, Brixton. "The deed of settlement of the State Fire Insurance Company has been signed by Mr. Peter Morrison, as the ' Managing Director of the National Assurance and Invest ment Association,' for 50,000 shares of £1 each. On these 50,000 shares calls to the extent of 14s. per share have been made, and the amount paid by the association in respect of such shares has been £35,000. This transaction may possibly involve some farther liability on the part of this association. A Petition for the winding-up of the State Fire Insurance Company has been presented, and is now pending before the Vice-Chancellor Wood. " The arrangements entered into with the Defender Life Assurance Company in 1858 were for the transfer of a por tion of the business of that office, and the more fully to secure existing and future business ; and to continue it under the same name or style a considerable number of shares in that company was purchased. All the business of .the company had been then disposed of to different offices, and the shares had merely a nominal value. Tho company not having been dissolved, the new proprietors ar ranged that all subsequent transactions should be carried on in the name of the Defender, although virtually on the responsibility of the National Assurance and Investment Association. "In 1859, several payments, amounting in the aggre gate to £7,477 16s. 6d., are stated to have been made to or on account of one F. Garelli, described as the gerant ' or manager of the Livorno Bank of Commercial Credit, at Leghorn, with whom arrangements had been made to the effect that the Livorno Bank should become proprietors of capital stock of the National Assurance and Investment Association to the amount of £80,000; no cash was to be paid by the bank, but the amount was to be secured by the deposit of' certificates for shares in the capital of the bank. This arrangement appears to have been carried out so far as the exchange of certificates, but some of the ' Capital Stock' certificates of the association were circulated. and the above amount is alleged to have been expended in buying them up. The certificates of shares in the Livorno Bank are still among the securities, but we have not valued them in the statement of affairs. " The books which have been kept by the association are in an imperfect state ; the system upon which they were commenced was a good one, but unfortunately this was not strictly carried out, owing to which large sums of money amounting in the aggregate to £36,279 ss. Bd., received over the counter by one of the cashiers, were not properly entered, and no account whatever was kept of the manner in which this sum was disbursed. Up to the present time we have only succeeded in tracing the application of £30,871 125., leaving £5,403 4s, 6d. still unexplained. The account of the managing director, Mr. Peter Morrison, is also in an unsatis factory state, and requires further adjustment. At present he seems to be indebted to the extent of £1,235 Ils. 7d. His remuneration appears to have been by a commission of 5 per cent. upon life assurance premiums, and of 2 per cent. upon the purchase-money for annuities, and by fees as director. The commission appears to have amounted to £7,937 3s. ld., his fees as a director to £2,191 Bs.—making together £10,128 Ils. Id. ' ." We have endeavoured, in the shortest time possible, to .p . resent a statement to the depositors which should contain a broad outline of the general features of the ease. There velligatio are many ma tt ers w hi c h nee d f ur th er i nqu i ry , some o f whieh, NCith details o f m i nor t ransac ti ons , ma y he r eafter fo fu r r th the in the r subject t of 7w ot a lle l n r o r t ep el o u r c t i ; d b at u e t awneyathirenagatcaisfilceuld calculated to remove the unfavourable impressions which will be created by the p erusal of the present statement. " It will, no doubt, be observed that throughout this re port we have abstained from making any comment or ex pressing any opinion r e l a ti ve to the which have co me under our notice. W e have do re ne ett so ere intentionally, as the effect of some of the transactions, as weuasthe con duct and liability of those who have during th e past 10 years h a d the management of the affairs of the association, will, no doubt, form the subject of consideration elsewhere. " We are, Gentlemen, yours obediently, HAR DINO, PULLEIN, AND CO. ' Accountants. 44 3, Bank - b uildin g s, London, Nov. 23, 1861;' APPROXIMATE STATEMENT OF AFFAIRS, OCT. 31, 1861. DR. LIABILITIES. £ s. d. To amount appealing to the credit of sundry depositors, holders of " Investment Stock " certificates ...... 2,038 7 6 To sundry creditors .............. To sundry creditors fully secured, as per I contra, £ll,BOO. ;To liabilities in respect of life auurauco . Is policies, transferred to the Waterloo Life Assurance Company in September last, — amount assured £97,009 ls. 6d. To liabilities in respect of annuties, amount ing in the aggregate to about d 14,000 per annum. £364,636 3 1 In September last an arrangement was made with a com pany in Paris—La Caisse des Families—by which these re sponsibilties of the National Assurance and Investment Association were to be assumed by La Caisse des Families, upon the transfer being made of French Rentes and other securities then standing in the joint names of the annui tants and of the company. (It is not supposed that any claims against this estate will arise out of these liabilities.) Cu. By cash : At bankers' • In hand By sundry debtors : Considered good .. 24,402 15 5 Considered doubtful... £52,802 16 2 Considered bad 21,337 9 7 ASSETS, s. d. 32 7 7 26 10 4 2 B. d. G 8 17 11 74,140 6 9 Estimated to realise.... 13,000 0 0 13,000 0 0 37,402 15 6 Amount carried to deficiency account .... 61,140 5 9 By property es timated to re alise By securities held bycreditors, estimated value Less amount of claims as per contra .. 11,800 0 0 Surplus 65,086 13 4 (L 54,742 would be required to pay 33. in the pound.) By deficiency 309,549 9 9 £364,636 3 1 DEFICIENCY ACCOUNT FROM JUNE 1, 1851, TO OCTOBER 31, 1861. To deficiency : —As per ap- £ s. d. £ s. d. proximate statement of af fairs To amount of capital stock Less amount repurchased 15,380 0 0 To amount received in respect of life assurance premiums, &c 64,384 3 7 Less amount paid for reassur ance and for claims - 37,066 12 8 _ _ To amount received as pur chase-money for annuities : By , transfer from the Defender Fire and Life Assurance Company £69,313 13 1 Amount re ceived from sundry per- SODS -- 203,688 16 0 Less amount now invested in French Rentes and other se curities in the joint names of annuitants and of the com pany 176,893 0 0 -- 26,795 16 0 Difference in balancing books not yet recon• cited 398 0 3 £389,189 18 8 CR. a. d. £ 8. d, By amount allowed to deposi tors for interest 84,057 5 2 Less—Amount charged to borrowers, &c 23,709 11 4 60,347 13 10 By preliminary expenses, including cost of establishing branches .. 20,175 1 8 By expenses as under .. Advertising, chief office 25,426 2 1 Salaries 15,695 15 11 Rent, rates, taxes, repairs, &c. 10,855 5 7 Printing, station ary, stamps,&c. 6,628 16 10 Incidental ex penses, medical fees, &c .. 6,823 6 8 Law charges.... 2,303 16 10 Travelling ex penses Directors' fees 13,705 15 10 82,737 6 9 Agency expenses at 14 branch offices Advertising, salaries, rents, travelling, printing, medical fees, petty disbursements, and fees of local direc tors 35,101 15 4 Expenses in con nection with theFrenchAn4 nuity business, and with L'lmperiale Co., in Paris 11,322 13 0 46,424 8 4 Commission— Allowed to agents and others 17,615 1 8 Allowed to ma naging direc tor in lieu of salary.. .• • • 7,937 3 1 26,452 4 9 154,613 19 10 By amount paid to annuitants 67,621 2 9 Less Amount received from Frenchßentesl4,947 6 10 Investments:re alised upon deaths of an nuitants ..... 11,901 12 6 -- 26,848 19 4 30,772 3 5 By losses as under 117,872 16 6 Shales taken in L'lmperiale Assurance Co .. 7,900 0 0 Shares in the State Fire In surance Co Bad and doubtful debts—esti mated loss by.... Property—estimated loss on realising F. Garelli and others ..... 7,477 16 6 117,872 15 6 By cash deficiency not yet ex plained £389,189 18 8 " HARDING, PULLEIN, AND CO. " 3, Bank-buildings, Nov. 23." NB. GLADSTONE ON ,MIDDLE• CLASS _EDUCATION IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS. OXFORD, FRIDAY. A highly important meeting was held in the Sheldonian Theatre this afternoon, for the purpose of promoting the establishment of cheap public schools for the lower middle classes. The Vice• Chancellor occupied the chair, and among those present wero the Bishop of Oxford, the Bishop of Rochester, the Bishop of Chichester, the Right Hon. Mr. Gladstone. The Vice-Chancellor opened the proceedings in an elo quent speech, in which he explained that the object of the meeting was to procure the sanction and support of the University for a class of schools which had been established by Mr. Woodard, in Sussex, and which was the beginning of a great movement throughout the kingdom for the esta blishment of public boarding schools, for the sons of the upper class of tradesmen, farmers, clerks, &c., at payments from £2O to £3O a year, and to support a scheme for the erection of premises to accommodate 1,000 boys, sons of small shopkeepers and others of what might be termed the lower middle class, near Shoreham, The masters of such schools to be clergymen, graduates, and trained school. masters. The Chancellor of the Exchequer moved the first resolu. tion, which was as follows :—" Considering the growth of intelligence among the lower classes, owing to the impulse given of late years to education, the establishment of public boarding schools for the education of the lower and middle classes, which may be cheap and self-supporting, is of great national importance." After some preliminary remarks, eulexistic of the scheme of Mr. Woodard as established and - iil 'action at Hurstpierpoint and Shoreham, the right hon. gentle Man proceeded to address himself to the general ques tion of education among the middle classes and the advan tage of public schools. Ho said— Mr. Vice Chancellor—Tho place in which we are assembled is no inappropriate place, and the framers of the resolution have reminded us that this is no inappropriate time, for stating the object of the work they have in hand. The resolution I am to move states that the grow th of intelligence among the lower classes is the reason why the establishment of certain schools among the middle and lower classes is of great national importance. There can be no doubt thtit we have reached an epoch at which the wise munificence of the Legislature directed to the cause of popular education in its broadest sense has produced a great and visible effect upon the general intelligence of the masa of the population, and depend upon it there is no com munity that can be in a perfectly healthy state without something in the nature of a pressure upwards. As the sap rises from the ground in vegetable nature, so it is in the various stages of human society : with a stagnant lower class no society can do well—no country can be power fal or secure. (Cheers.) On the recognition of that principle the Universities of England have, from the first, been founded; and although in the lapse of time a larger portion of their special work has come into immediate con nection with the higher orders of the community, yet even now they cannot afford to disregard that rich mine of wealth in the lower strata of society, from which fresh treasures may ever more be obtained to vary, to enrich, and to enlarge the resources of mind, of talent, and of character, which the et universi ty h ou u u s t ben r :aa has to t ra i n an d t o a pply t o th e s ervice of this Y adtloifekitesniendsitaituthtieons. lowestß ueltesweheiel,eainnd amongst telligence thehas mesami ddle of classes,th the pop population, atthioen,th ad v antageer eca n o b f e w n h o t he i d e o h ub m t r tha w t ood ard low er has addressed himself speci a ll y , i s at this mom ent in a position r of some danger. And itle no un ki ndne ss terms, because nothing is more di ffi cult-8s: a s a io y w so a t u n d pl u a n in . t perceived, though sure, are social movements—nothing is more difficult than to bring home to the mind of the members of any class the dangeis that it may 4.aya THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 25, 1861. incurred in losing its relative position, and I an sure that experience must arouse us and compel us to say hat at this moment in many parts of the country—and I world venture to speak more particularly of some of the ma:ufacturing and commercial districts—the lower middle ;lasses, and even something above the lower middle classes are in dam- ger of being supplanted and outstripped in thitrace of busi ness and of life, owing to the great advantagis that have been made by the great masses of the populaton, especially the rising generation, and tho want of corresponding advan- tages by the lower middle classes, Ido nit believe that any danger will ever arise to any communiy from excess, or I would rather say from an abundance a education in quantity, provided only the quality be good,and the distri bution just. Of late years I think we nuy say that the higher classes have received no inconsiderabe stimulus. A great change in our political constitutifn some thirty years ago has brought the higher classesthroughout the country, and especially in the sphere of public life, into _close and immediate connection and fair 3ompetition with the middle classes of the community. %at has been the result of that competition. I thinl 1 may ven ture to speak as a witness, and I stile, and state con• fidently, that the result of it has been to itimulate the ex ertions of that higher class in the fulfilaent of public and social duty. But in so stimulating the exertions and calling for its powers, which were necessarily tilled forth in that competition, it strengthened—not weakened—strengthened and confirmed the position of that higher class in the esteem of their countrymen, and in the exereis of their great so- cial power and influence. There is a claps, however, which, lying between tho wealthy portion of the community and he poorer, has not yet received its fair share of attention It is right, if wo move forward, that we should move for ward all together—(cheers)—and we owe it to those friends whose efforts we have met to-day to encourage, that they have aimed, and I believe aimed with success, in directing public attention to a flaw and a defect in our proceeding which has not as yet met with a full and adequate remedy, viz., this, that while the political movement; which have taken place have put the upper classes of England upon their mettle, and while the liberality of the legislature has been the means of greatly bringing forward the lower classes of the population—the literality of the legislature, I must not say alone, but aided in the main by the self-devotion and self-sa- crifice of the clergy—whilst this has taken place in these two great portions of society, up to the present time there have been no corresponding efforts, and no corresponding advan tages have been achieved among those who are too high in the social scale to take advantage of the benefits conferred by the national schools, and too low in the scale to take ad- vantages either of the grammar schools or the universities of the country. (Hear.) We may say with truth that it is but fair that we should recollect that that class for which we are now pleading is the only.needy class. The wealthy or the comparatively wealthy portion of the community de rive immense advantages from the foundations which are furnished by our universities, our public schools, and our grammar schools, while the power portion of the community derive immense pecuniary aid both from the indulgent libe rality of others and from the direct action of the public ex chequer. But there is a class which up to this moment may with truth be called the only unaided class of the com munity, and which on that ground has the strongest pos sible claims on our exertions ; and were it for no other pur pose than to place them on a footing of relative equality to the rest of their fellow-countrymen, I think that alone justifies the attempt. (Cheers.) What are the schools then to be, for which we are called on to give our aid as well as our hearty and cordial verdict of approval. I must say I cannot but admire the thoroughly English spirit in which Mr. Woodard has addressed him self to his work. (Cheers.) He desires that these schools shall be cheap, and at the same time self-supporting. While he has justly limited his demand to the necessities of the case, he does not ask you to become the permanent almoners of these schools. When they are in full action they will be self-supporting schools, but he asks the University to give them the powerful aid which its recognition will convey. (Cheers.) Above all, he seeks to give this portion of the community the immense advantage over and above all other considerations of what we call and thoroughly know by the name of public schools. (Cheers.) There is nothing, I believe, which to foreign ears has a greater sound of pa radox than the lanuage of an Englishmyn when he speaks of the benefit of public education. It certainly does seem that if there is not an exclusive, yet that there is almost an exclusive, adaptation of this peculiar institution to the soil —I may say the moral soil—the moral and social climate of England. It is not necessary for us to ask whether they are institutions well suited for the world at large. Our own particular sphere is large enough, God knows for ourselves, and for our humble and feeble efforts ; but we do know that for centuries past these institutions have taken such root in England that although they owe their existence only to the action of private motives and private liberality, yet there is no law on the statute book, no law or portion of the legislative government of the country which is more distinctly and more pertinaciously asserted in this nation than the necessity Eof that institution which we call our public schools. (Cheers.) While we desire that knowledge should be communicated, we desire also that it should be imparted in an atmosphere of freedom ; while we desire that discipline should be received by the young, we desire also that that discipline should not deviate or diverge into a ser vile, mechanical obedience. (Cheers.) We desire that edu cation should grow up in conjunction with freedom, becalm, in point of fact, freedom is an essential constituent of human virtue—(cheers)—and it is following the constitution which the Almighty has given to the human race when we say that we will, even in the training of the young, combine the im parting of knowledge with the allowance of every opportu nity for the exercise of self-control, with the exercise of thought and reflection, even within those limited spheres of public opinion which tend to repress the waywardness and the selfishness of individuals by the well-considered convic tions of others. (Cheers.) Certainly it was with no small and no disagreeable surprise that I learnt the results of Mr. Woodard's efforts in what I should conceive one of the most difficult parts of his undertaking—namely, the establish ment of public schools at so cheap a rate. His figures, I confess, are startling, and almost alarming; and I think that his experience in past years is the best proof of what he will do in future. Whether he will succeed in establishing schools such as he speaks of,with 1,000 boys, I do not know ; but if he succeeds in establishing schools that will bear the same• relative position to other schools which the Great Eastern bears to other ships, I am convinced that they will enjoy a much more favourable breeze of public opinion, and many less misfortunes than unhappily the Great Eastern has had to sustain. (Hear.) There is another point upon which, as it seems to relate more particularly to my own occupations at this moment, I may make a remark. I can not help stating that I feel a profound admiration for Mr. Woodard's talents as a financier. (Cheers.) lam not ac quainted in any degree with the nature of his establish ments, and therefore I must take his budget as he himself pr. esents it. But lam bound to say that it is a marvellous thing; and if it had not been to some degree tested by ex perience I should have thought it almost impossible that for so small a sum as that which is mentioned he should be able to give such food, such lodging, and such educa tion to the young as it is established by undoubted testi mony that they receive in these establishments. And that reminds me of another point. Mr. Woodard may be a good political economist and an enlightened philanthropist ; but this I will say, he has sought a deeper source of strength, because he has taken his ground upon Christian prin ciple, Christian love, and Christian self-denial ; and that very cheapness which he has achieved could not have been obtained without appealing to higher motives in order to induce teachers of high attainments and cultivated minds to give themselves to a work that some would have found irksome and repulsive. True Christian philanthropy mu st have its source in the deepest principles of our religion ; and those schools which are to be public schools would not have been worthy of y our support, and would not have de served and attained the popularity they enjoy, had they not also been Christian schools, or had they presented to the eye the phantom of an undefined and shadowy Christianity. Mr. Woodard has sought for the source of his strength in the principles of Christian action, he has based the constitution of these schools on the Christian laws and institutions of the country, not on any individual or theoretical estimate of his own, but on that which we know and understand on the rule and usage which are agreeable to the ideas and the history of this university, and the religion and constitution of the people of England. (Cheers.) I think it a wise rule that if we are to carry down the principle of public schools to the lowest parts of society to which they can be made applicable, so, likewise, wo should carry downwards the application of that important principle that it is desir able to keep the education, not only of the higher, but of all classes of the community, in the hands and under the direction of the clergy. (Cheers.) It is not that a lay man may not be an able and intelligent teacher, but it is not reasonable to ask from men in the lower middle classes that they should themselves institute minute inquiries into the standard of religious instruction conveyed in every particular school throughout the country, for it would be asking what is incompatible with their condition, occu pation, and means of judgment. It is our business to offer them institutions which bear on their very front and forehead the assurance that within their pre • cincts is to be given ,a religious education, as understood in the sense in whicn it has ever been understood by tie people of England ; and for that religious education the communication of instruction in a large part l y the clergy is, in my opinion, an absolute and indispensable security. (Cheers.) It is from them that wo have a right to expect conformity to the laws and standards under which they are to teach, and permit me to say that it is not alone for the sake of the clergy I desire to see them still discharging in the main those great functions, but because it is one of the closest, ono of the most effective, and perhaps one of the most affectionate bonds of union between the clergy and the laity; and the reacting influence of the laity through the machinery of education on the clergy themselves is one of the main securiti es for that harmony of the great portions of the Christian community which is indispensable to the real prosecution of the work of the Church. (Cheers.) It is not merely that when these schools are opened they should be placed under the supervision of some one who is called reverend, but we have a right to expect from the founder of public schools for the middle classes some security for the placing them in harmony, not only with what he believes to be the general sense of the Church, but also with its local institutions distributed throughout the country. (Hear.) I think thereforo that it is en efementary and indispensable principle of the establishment of a new class of public schools that they should be placed under the visitorship of the bishop of the diocese. The plan which we are called on to support is so plain and intelligible, as well as so valuable, that it requires much less than the usual efforts to entitle it to confidence. The founders of these schools have, I con fess, it appears to me, entitled themselves to your vigorous and hearty support. In every social respect, and therefore I will say in every political respect—speaking, of course, of the larger aspect of politics—in every political respect, in every moral and religious respect, they have done that which we are entitled to expect at their hands in supplying this grand social want. I trust they will create a new bond of union among all classes of society; and if so, they will be entitled to command the hearty support of every good citi zen and every earnest Christian. The right hon. gentleman resumed his seat amidst loud cheers The Bishop of OXFORD seconded the resolution in an able speech, and it was carried unanimously. Other resolutions pledging the meeting to support the scheme for tho establishment of the schools were also moved and carried, and _ _ The proceedings were brought to a close by a vote of thanks to the chairman. ANOTHER MILITARY MURDER. ALDERSHOT, SUNDAY. Before the mingled horror and indignation awakened by the last recorded military tragedies has had time to subside—while Sergeant-Major Kennedy lies on his bed of agony, his life trembling in the balance—and at a time when it was thought the example made at Corfu would have had a salu tary effect in checking the ferocity of crime which now appears so unhappily prevalent in the army, the camp of Aldershot has again been startled by another dreadful murder, so uncompromising in its savageness, so unprovoked by any extraneous cir cumstances, and exhibiting in its commission so much blood-thirstiness of purpose, that it cannot be accounted for by any preconceived notions of the nature of man or the ordinary incentives to crime. The scout of the tragedy is the West Block, Per manent Barracks, where the 78th Highlanders have been quartered for some time--a regimen whose gallant actions and exemplary behaviour up to the present time have challenged the admiration of the whole camp. From information gathered on the spot, it ap peals that on Saturday evening, at a quarter past eight o'clock, Sergeant John Dixon and Corporal William Campbell, the orderly sergeant and cor poral of No. 3 company, proceeded to call the roll of the company at tatto in the usual way, and on entering No. 11 room a private was holding the light, the corporal calling the roll, and the sergeant noting the names of the absentees. While thus en gaged, Private Thomas Jackson took his rifle from the rack, and in an instant discharged it at the sergeant. The ball passed in at the right shoulder blade of the unfortunate man, passed through his body diagonally, and made its exit at the left breast. It then entered the right shoulder of the corporal, which it passed through, and next went through a partition into the non-commissioned officers' bunk, struck against the opposite wall, when it flattened and rebounded. Poor Dixon turned partly round and fell forward on his face, and almost in an instant ceased to exist. The only words he ejaculated were " Who did it ?" To which Jackson replied, " I did it, old boy." As soon as the report of the rifle was heard Pri vates William Marshall and Alexander Milligan rushed upon Jackson and secured him, and with the assistance of some others convey'•d him to the guard-room. He was there placed in the strong room with another prisoner, who was confined for being drunk, the ser4eant of the guard not then knowing his crime. Directly afterwards Marshall informed the sergeant that Jackson was charged with murder, and on the sergeant entering the cell for the purpose of handcuffing him, he found that the prisoner had made an attempt to strangle the drunken man, and said he certainly would have murdered him but for the sergeant's entrance. While the irons were being put on he said to Mar shall (who,.being employed at rifle instruction, was always present in the room when the prisoner was dismissed from drill) that had the room been clear his intention was to load ten rifles, and fire them at the regiment on parade. The report of the occurrence having quickly cir culated in the town, we proceeded to the West Block, and at first could hardly realise the fact that so dreadful a deed had been perpetrated so shortly before_ There was no one to be seen nor a voice to be heard, except the solitary, " Who comes there ?" of the sentinel. The stillness seemed as awful as the deed. On arriving at the covered parade our attention was directed to a light in the second gal lery on the south side, to which we directed our steps. On gaining this point, the first person we encountered in the dark was Colonel Ewart, the ' officer commanding the regiment, who expressed the utmost horror and indignation at what had taken place. On entering the room No. 11 we observed the body of poor Sergeant Dixon lying on his face, covered with gore. He was dressed in his white jacket and tartan trouers. We at once perceived that the miscreant must have been very close to his victim when the rifle was discharged, as it had actually burnt the jacket round where the ball entered. Sergeant-Major Pocock very kindly took us to Corporal Campbell, who was in his own bed in the next room, his wound having been at- tended to and dressed by Drs. Jee and Humfrey. He was lying comparatively easy, the ball having gone through the shoulder clear of the chest. Cap tain Evans (55th Regiment), the Brigade-Major, now arrived, and had a consultation with Colonel Ewart. Mr. Superintendent Howard also arrived at the same time, and the Colonel and Captain Morgan having directed Mr. Howard's attention to the body, arrangement was made by Dr. Jee for its conveyance to the dead-house. A stretcher was brought in, and the body placed upon it. A most horrid sight presented itself as this was being carried into effect. The features of the dead were unrecognisable from the pool of gore in which they had lain, until a sponge had been applied; his clothes were also saturated with blood. The moment that the colonel's lady heard of the dreadful occurrence she proceeded to the ser geant's quarters to console the widow, and this kind-hearted lady remained with her several hours. Dr. Jee was also indefatigable in attendance on the bereaved woman, promising; her that she should see the body of her husband before it was conveyed to the dead-house. This promise he fulfilled, for the body was brought to her door, when, with a look of unutterable melancholy, and with feelings which must have corresponded, she gently raised the hair of the deceased's head, gazed in his face, and re tired. The colonel's lady accompanied her to the door of her quarters. The body W 43 then conveyed to the dead-house, where it awaits a coroner's in quest, which will take place on Tuesday. The Rifle No. 232, belonging to Jackson, was handed to Mr. Superintendent Howard. It was found to have an exploded cap on, and appeared to have been recently discharged. A loose packet of ammunition was then handed to Mr. Howard, one round of which was deficient. The cover of this packet bore the name of Private D. Munroe. The Colonel and C , ptain Evans having held a converss tion with the Superintendent respecting the pri soner, stated that the military authorities had no power in England to deal with cases of murder, and they therefore thought it advisable to hand him over at once to the civil power, the Colonel ad vising Mr. Howard, as the prisoner was such a dreadful character, to be prepared for any violence he might offer. These officers then accompanied Mr. Howard to the guardroom. There the prisoner was brought from the cell where he was confined, handcuffed, and dressed only in his tartan trowsers and shirt. He is a light-haired, strong, broad set, beardless youth, about five feet six inches in height, and bore a careless bravado sort of aspect as he was brought forth from the guardroom. He was led out by . the police, one on cacti side, and the Colonel sent an escort of 12 men of the guard, together with the sergeant-major, to render assistance in case of need. Under this strong escort of civil and mili tary power, the prisoner was conveyed to the police station. There was found on the prisoner a snap cap, and a percussion cap. It appears that previous to the occurrence be had been in a canteen, and was heard by Private Andrew Cormick to say that he would have some one's life that night. While be log searched in the cell of the regimental guard room he stid he would shoot all the -. When charged at the police-station with murder, he mani fested the utmost indifference, and said, " Sure, it won't make any difference to me ; not a bit." Sergeant John Dixon is 35 years of age. He en listed ginto the 78th Highlanders on the 23d of April, 1845, and has occupied the position of ser geant for about five years. He was present with the regiment throughout the Persian and Indian campaigns. He married at Fort George in Nov., 1859, and leaves a widow in an advanced state of pregnancy, and one child 15 months old. He was a native of Gloucester, and generally respected in the regiment. Corporal - Wm. Campbell is in his 22d year, and is a native of Forfar, in Scotland. He joined the regiment in 1859 ; he is a smart, useful soldier. Yesterday morning it was found that the bone of his upper arm was much shattered , a nd a portion of it was removed, since which we understand he is going on favourably, and is now in the general hospital. The miscreant, Thomas Jackson, is only 20 years of age, and is a native of Barnardcastle, near Dur ham. He enlisted in June, 1858, by special autho rity, being under age. He deserted in August, 1858, and subsequently enlisted into the 39th Regi ment, under an assumed name. It is supposed that his right name is Johnson. He was brought back -to the 78th ,Begiment in October, 1860, at Edin burgh, and while there was tried for breaking his rifle and smashing a window, for which offence he was sentenced to six months' imprisonment. Since his release he has been a most desperate character. Being on recruit drill, he had no ammunition of his own when the murderous intention entered his head, and that with which he accomplished his design belonged to Private Munroe, who occupied the next bed to Jackson in the barrack-room. It is supposed that he must have loaded his rifle pre vious to going into the canteen. For damages F. ad sale of his kit be was £ll in debt to his captain. Directly after the occurrence, Dr. Jee, the medical officer of the regiment, was in attendance, and despatched a messenger for Dr. Humfrey, the prin cipal medical officer, who quickly arrived, and rendered in conjunction with the former gentle man, every assistance in his power. It is a noticeable fact, that when the report of the rifle was heard, a man who was standing out side the barracks was observed to make off; and Jackson, after being arrested, said " There are to be some more shot ; it is to be done on the 15th, or before Christmas." As may be imagined, the greatest excitement with reference to the dreadful deed prevails among the civilian population around, the more so on ac count of the motive which instigated the crime being shrouded in mystery. It is, indeed, said that Ser geant Dixon was heard on one occasion to tell Jackson that he was a nuisance to the Company ; but this requires confirmation, and, supposing it to be true, would not furnish anything like an adequate motive for so fearful a crime. SPORTING INTELLIGENCE. SHREWSBURY RACES.—SATURDAY. Match, 2b sovs each. One mile and a half. Mr. Clutterbuck's Forest Hind, Bat 71b .. (J. Daley) w. o. Mr. Parry's Newton Lass, Bst 71b Handicap Sweepstakes of 3 soya each, with 20 added, for 2-yr-olds and upwards. Half a mile. Mr. W. Scott's Pupil, 2 yrs, Est 21b (car Est 41b) (J. Daley) 1 Mr. Bruce's Lord of the Manor, 5 yrs, Bst 81b (G. Fordham) 2 Mr. Devereux's Grant, 2 yrs, sst 71b ... (J. Grimshaw) 3 Mr. G. Angelr s Entomologist. 2 yrs,. bat 31b (T. French) 4 Mr. Whittaker's David Ann, 3 yrs, Est 31b (Wheatley) 5 Betting-9 to 4 agst Lord of the Manor, 7to 2 agst Pupil, 4 to 1 agst Grant, 5 to 1 agst Entomologist, 7 to t agst David Ann. Won cleve , ly by three parts of a length, a head dividing the second from the third ; Entomologist was next, David Ann last. Grant was afterwards sold by auction to Mr. Cliff. Handicap Plate of 20 soya, for all ages, winners extra Three quarters ofa mile. Mr. Godding's Lady Peel, 5 yrs; Bst 61b ....(Fordham) 1 Mr. Payne's Gwellyan, 4 yrs, fist 61b (G. Parsons) 2 Mr. Devereui's Sherwood, 3 yrs, 6st (H. Taylor) 3 Mr. Barber's Ellen, 4 yrs, 7st 61b .... (Entwistle) 4 Betting—Even on Ellen, 3 to 1 agst Sherwood, 4 to 1 each agst Lady Peel and Gwellyan, Lady Peel winning by a herd, whilst a head only separated the second from the third, and third from Ihe fourth. Handicap Plate of 25 BOYS, for 3-yr-olds and upwards. The winner to be sold for £25. Five furlongs. Mr. Lincoln's Duplicity, 3 yrs, 7st 101 b (Clement) 1 Mr. Matthew's Orion, 3 yrs, 7st 81b (Midgley) 2 Mr. T. Hughes's Chantress, 6 yrs, Bst .... (D. Hughes) 3 Mr. C. Green's Solferino, 3 yrs, 7st 51b ....(Ellingham) 4 Mr. C. Morgan's British Workman, 6 yrs, Bst (H. Grimshaw) 5 Betting-2 to lon Chantress, 4to 1 agst Duplicity. Won easily by three lengths, a head separating the second and third ; Solferino and British Workmen w re both beatten off. The winner was bought in fcr 60 guineas. Nursery Plate (Handicap) of £4O, for 2-yr-olds. Three quarters of a mile. Mr. W. Nelson's Peahen, 7st llb (J. Plumb) 1 Mr Coverdale's Harmony, Est 71b Mr. Richardson's Pinkepoe, 6st 121 b (ca ried 6st 131 b) (H. Grimshaw) 3 Mr. T. Hughes's Real Jam, Bst. . (D. Hughes) 4 Dorritta, Pupil, and Earl of Surrey also ran. Betting-6 to 4on Real Jam, sto 1 agat Pupil, 6to 1 agst Dorritta, 100 to 15 aget Peahen, 10 to 1 agst Pinke poe. Won easily by two lengths, Harmony beatinT, Pinkepoe for second place' by a length, half a length divided the third and fourth, Dorritta ass fifth, Pupil sixth, Earl of Surrey bringing up the rear. Handicap of 3 soya each. with 20 added, for all ages. One mile. 14r. Devereux's Sherwood, 3 yrs, 6st (H. Taylor) 1 Capt. Coates's Libellous, 4 yrs, Bst 51b (Clement) 2 Mr. Bruce's Lord of the Manor, 5 yrs, Bst 131 b (G. Fordham) 3 Mr. Barber's Ellen, 4 yrs, 7st 81b (Entwistle) 4 Betting—Even on Libellous, 6 to 2 agst Sherwood. A good race, Sherwood winning by a head ; three lengths separated the second from the third ; Ellen beaten off. The Autumn Steeplechase (over the Now Course) of 100 soy's, added to a Handicap Sweepstakes of 10 sovs each, sft ; winners extra. About three miles and a half. Mr. Adey's Premier, aged, 9st 51b, in 31b ex (J . Knott) 1 Mr. B. Land's Yorkshire Grey, aged, lOst 131 b, in 71b ex (B. Land, jun.) 2 Mr. 'Jason's Pine Apple, aged, lOst lib, in 71b ex (W White) 3 Mr. J. Wood's Heads or Tails, aged, 10st. in 71b ex (M.'Lean) 4 Romeo, Pactolu , , Martyr, Marmion, and Unknown also ran. - - Betting-7 to 2 apt Yorkshire Grey, 4to 1 agst Mar mion, 5 to 1 agst Pactolus, 100 to 15 each agst Premier and Pine Apple, 100 to 12 agst Unknown, 10 to 1 agst Martyr. Pine Apple, Premier, Pactolus, and Martyr were the leading four over the first few fences, Yorkshire Grey head ing the next lot, Romeo bringing up the rear. In rounding the turning flag along the flat Premier went ahead, Pine Apple taking second plaee, Pactolus, Martyr and Yorkshire Grey next ; Romeo having refused was nearly a quarter of a mile in the rear, and shortly afterwards was pulled up. No further change of importance occurred until coming along the battoin of the course the second time, where Pre mier had a clear lead, with Martyr second, Pactolus and Heads or Tails, side by side, next ; Yorkshire Grey filth, Marmion, Pine Apple, and Unknown a long way in the rear. On coming over the third fence from home Yorkshire Grey passed Pactolus, and too,, the fourth place, gaining ground every stride. He was second on entering the course, but lying so far back was unable to reach The Premier, who won easily by a length; Pine Apple and Heads or Tails came up the course side by side, the former obtaining the third place, being placed a bad third, whilst a neck only divided the third and fourth; neither of the others passed the post. Selling Hurdle Race of 3 sovs each, with 20 added ; for taree-yr-olds and upwards ; mares and geldings allowed 31b ; with selling and other allowances ; winners extra. About one mile and three-quarters, over six flights of hurdles. Mr. ti. Sly's Yorkshire Miss, 5 yr-) 10st 91b (R.Slv, jun.) 1 Mr. Egginton's Mary Stuart, 4 yrs, lOst 61b (X2O) ( •. Holman) 2 Mr. Allibone's Ingestre, 4 yrs, lOst 81b (£2O) (T. Ablett) 3 The following also ran:—Ataman, Emily Harris, Al chymist, Eheu, Orion, Caliph, Forest Hind, Mavourneen, and Sol ferino. Betting-2 to 1 agat Mavourneen, sto 1 agst Ataman, 6 to 1 agat Mary Stuert, 100 to 15 agst Emily Harris, 10 to 1 agst any other offered. M on easily by four lengths ; the same separating Mary Stuart and Ingestre; Alchymist was fourth, Ataman filth; Orion and M.avourneen the two last. The winner was bought in for 35 guineas, and Mr. C. Green claimed Ata man. The Logner Steeplechase Handicap Plate of £5O. Winners extra. Two miles and a half over the new course. Mr. Bateler's Duhellon (lat Gorsehili), 6 yrs, lOst llb (Martin) 1 Mr. Holman's Sunbeam, 6 yrs, Oat 61b.... (G. Holman) 2 Mr. Adey's Lord Lovell, 6 yrs, 9bt 41b (J. Knott) 3 The following also ran :—Dunboyne, Pantomime, Phy sician, and Outlaw. Betting-2 to 1 agst Sunbeam, 7to 2 agst Duhellon, and 6 to 1 agst any other offered. Won by a head. Lord Lovell was a bad third. The others did not pass the post. THE GRAMMAR SCHOOLS OF THE LAST GENE RATION.—How the old sensations came over me as I call up the subject 1 There was gobbling one's breakfast, in order to bo passing under the old gateway as the nine o'clock bell rang, and the run through the streets, with a light or heavy heart, as the case might be. I have at my fingers' ends the very feel of the greasy calf-skin of the Latin Grammar.(the Eton one), and of the dogs'-ears of the Eutropius, or the better-liked Ovid. Then there were the three hours in school, from nine to twelve —at first in tolerably lone to little boys , but becoming shorter, even to the point of indifference , as years went on , . I seem to hear the peculiar resona nce of the masters voices in that vaulted hall, and to see the shafts of s anti gh t thrown through the tall poi ,ted window, My class-fellows rise up in me mory, with their young voices, their provincial dialect, and their respective degr()es of ability. The sing-song of the grammar rules, the stupid blundering of the dunces which formed the staple school-jokes, and the sense of gratification from the able performance of a superior boy—all this and much more carries me back to school, as school was to me from seven to fifteen years of age. Then there was the playtime in that glorious playground, the Cathedral Close. The caw of the rooks in quiet school hours, and the shouts of the boys from noon till one o'clock dinner hour, and again at five in'the afternoon ; the delectable ball games and races, and the runnings and hidings behind those pro digious old elms; and the quizzing of the old ladies and clerical gentlemen, and the other cathedral functionarie:, who were always passing through the Close—these old images are leading me away from my subject—middle class eduction as it has been, and us it will be,—Once a Week. BENSON'S WATCHES AND CLOCKS.- Perfection of mechanism."—Morning Post. Gold watches, sto '(0 guineas; silver watches, 2 to 50 guineas. Benson's new Illustrated Pamphlet. free for two stamps, descriptive of every construc tion of watch, enables persons in any part of the world to select with the greatest certainty the watch best adapted to their use. Watches sent free and safe by post on receipt of a remittance. W. Benson, 43 and 31, Ludgate-hill, 10 and 17, Cornhill, London B.C. Established 174/ r , V. I • DIABOLICAL OUTRAGE BP TRADE , UNIO.AISTS AT SIEEFFIELD. SHEFFIELD, SATURDAY. This morning another of those diabolical out rages for which She Meld has become unenviable took place in Acorn 10:reet. It seems that for some time there has been a strike" amongst the fender. .trinders of Alderman H. E. Hoole, Green-lane Works, and as one or two men have gone into work, these have been sinCled out by the turn-outs specially to insult and amlop. One of the men who have gone in, named Wastnidge, resides in Acorn-street, Shalcsmoor, and he was singled out as the first victim of the system Of terrorism which has existed since the strike. The bons( in which Wastnidge resides is one of a row of cottages opposite the gates of the Cannon Brewery. Shortly after one o'clock the person who resides next door to Wastnidge heard hedvy , footsteps in the street, and the next moment a. crash, as of breaking glass. While she and her husband were getting up to ascertain the cause an explosion, which seemed to shake the house to its foundation, took place. The man (who is em ployed at the brewery) hastily dressed himself and ran into the street, and a number of the neighbours whe had been awakened by the explosion, were also out of th€ir houses in a few moments. They were joined immediately by William Thompson, who forced open the door of the h)use, and made his way upstairs, whilst the others fetched a Jadder to rescue the inmates, inasmuch as they saw escape from the garret was almost cut oftty the flames. In_ the chamber a large tin can filled with powder and other combustibles had been thrown, and in this chamber an old woman, named Rourke, a lodger, was sleeping. Her screams and the noise of the broken glass aroused Wastnidge, and his wife and child, who were sleeping in the garret. Mrs. Wast nidge got a light and ran down into the chamber. She saw the bottle on the floor, with a fusee smok-• ing, and instead of throwing it back through the the window, she lifted it up, and was examining it, when the explosion took place. She escaped by a miracle being killed upon the spot, but her night dress was set ou fire, and she received dreadful in juries upon the face, arms, and abdomen. She ran up stairs, and in her progress, of course, fanned t'tte flames. Mrs. Rourke was very seriously injured, and she ran down into the cellar. The bed clothes in the garret were ignited by contact with Mrs.. Wastnidgo's night dress, and for a few minutes the: death of the whole family seemed inevitable., The neighbours in the street, however, placed a ladder against the garret window, and Mrs. Wastnidge attempted to descend. The poor crea— ture was almost blinded by the injuries upon her face, and in " feeling" for the head of the ladder, after she had got out upon the sill of the window, she fell. Fortunately the ladder broke her fall, or otherwise she must have been killed upon the spot. She was at once assisted by the neighbours. Wast nidge followed, carrying his young child (a boy) in his arms, but after descending a few steps he was almost suffocated by the smoke pouring through the chamber windows, and he fell. His child was caught in the apron of a man standing at the foot of the ladder, and was not hurt, and Wastnidge rolled down the ladder, which materially broke the force of the fall. The old woman had by this time been fetched from the cellar, and the four sufferers were put in a cab and taken to the infirmary, where they received every attention from the officers of that invaluable institution. Mrs. Wast nidge, it is said, cannot recover. COUNTRY MA Ritiii6. ._._ YORK— Nov. 23. The supply of wheat at this market to-day was small. Market steady, and sales made at last week's prices. In barley a fair business was transacted, in favour of buyers. Oats well supported, but a poor in luiry. Beans a limited supply, with an active demand. Wheat, red 60s to 63s 1 Oats.... 23s to 2 4 s White do .62s to 668 ; Beans 48 to 60i Barley .32s to 38s f Peas ....—s to --8 Malt, 68s to 70s per qr. ; rye. 36s per qr. ; flour, 46s to 48s per sack. NORWICH—Nov. 23. Wheat to-day was in short supply, and last Saturday's prices were fully supported for the best descriptions. Of barley there was not such a good show, and prices Were in, favour of the buyer. Flour unal ered. White wheat 608 to 68s I Red wheat 56s to 64 Malting barley....39s to 40s I Chevalier barley 37 , to 38s New d 0.......... 37s to 39s I Oats.. to —5 Flour, 443 Od to 44s Od per sack from the miller. NORTHAMPTON—Nov. 23. At this corn-market the supply of wheat was only mode rate to-day, and the tone of the business was rather quiet, with recent rates scarcely supported-46s to 60s for old, and 58s to 64s for new. A fair business in barley: — malting 34s to 41s, grinding 29s to 31s per qr. Oats in moderate show, at previous prices—quoted at 24s to 355 per 24 stone. Beans, old, 38s to 465; peas, 38s to 455. Rye, 37s to 42s ; malt, 70s to 74s ; flour, 40s to —s per sack. LEICESTER—Nov. 23. The supply of wheat to• day was not an average one, and prices were no higher than of late. White, 63s to Qs —red, 40s to 63s per 36 stone. Barley inactive, but a fair show, grinding, 30s to 33s ; malting, 33s to 37s per qr. oats, 24s to 35s per 24 stone. Beans were in request —new, 408 to 42s ; old, 38s to 46s per 38 stone. Fine flour, 45s I Seconds, 43s I Thirds, 41s per 20 stone. CAMBRIDGE—Nov. 23. Scarcely an average supply of wheat to-day, and the trade ruled inactive—prices being barely the same as last week's rates—white, from 60s to 645; red, 66s to 60s. Barley a dull inquiry—malting, 34s to 40s ; grinding, 30s to 335. Oats were steady at 22s to 28s. Beans were sold at 42s to 44s per qr FOREIGN MAIL PACKET _UST. MAILS DUE. Australia and Mauritius, via Southampton. Dec 19. via Marseilles Dec 13. Brazil and Cape Yards, by British packet. Dec. 4. Cape of Good Hope, Ascension, and S:. Helena Dec. 2. China, Penang, and Singapore, via Southampton. Dec. 2. via Marseilles —Nov. 27. Falkland Islands .. Gibraltar, via Southampton .... Dec 26. India (Calcutta), and Ceylon, via Southampton Dec. 2. via Marseilles Nov. 27. India (Bombay), via Southampton Nov. 25. via Marseilles Dec. 5. Lisbon Nov —. Malta, Egypt, and Aden, via Southampton Nov. 25. via Marseilles Nov. 27. Newfoundland Nov. 27 Oporto and Vigo U. S. and British N. America, by Brit. packet Nov. 27; .....1. .b y U.S. packet by Canadian packet Nov. --• W.C. of Africa, Madeira, and Teneriffe Dec. 1 0 . Bahamas, via New York' Mexico •••• Nov. 28. All parts of West Indies, including Chili, Peru, } Nov. 28. California,and British Columbia.. [ A DVERTISEMENT.I —Holloway's Ointment and Indisputable Facts.—The merits of these remedies have been and are acknowledged in both hemispheres, and few would presume to impugn the experience of the whole world. Testimonials from all parts vouch for their effici ency as curatives. The Ointment soon displays its virtues in overcoming abscesses, swellings of the joints, enlargement of the glands, cutaneous eruptions, sores, ulcers, and in allaying inflammation and pain in rheumatism and gout. It heals by cleansing all animal fluids with which it comes in contact, and promotes a sound and permanent cure It removes all obstructions to the free circulation through the minutest vessels, and repairs mischief by constantly secur ing pure blood. The Pills effect internally what the Oint ment accomplishes externally. BIRTHS. HILL.—On the 22d inst., at Sandwich, the wife of G. A • Hill, Esq., LL.D., of a daughter. LAW.—On the 22d inst., at The Caves, Banwell, Somerset, the wife of Captain James Adeane Law, of a son. ROBERTS —On the 22d inst., at Hampton-court, the wife of Charles Roberts, Esq.. of a son. WHITE.—On the 23d inst., at 45, Upper Bedford-place, Russell-square, Mrs. W. White, of a daughter. MARRIAGES. B EMAN—HOLDEN. —On the 21st inst., at Aston-on - Trent, the Rev. John Fitzherbert Bateman, M.A., rector of Lopham, Norfolk, to Susan azabeth, eldest daugh ter of Edward Anthony Holden, Esq., of Aston Hall, Derbyshire. COLLIER—BATEMAN.—On the 19th ins', at Asthalleigh, Oxon, John Colli+r, Esq., of Putney, urrey, to Emily Westall, the only daughter of Henry Bateman, Esq., of Asthalleigh. DEATHS. KELLY.—On the ':oth inst., at Brenchley, Kent, Richard ugent Kelly, Esq , Commander R.N., aged 71. wis.—On the 21st inst., at Brighton, Elizabeth, third daughter of Vice-Admiral Sir Richard Onslow, Bart., K. 0., C. 8., and relict of Lieut. Robert Lewis, R.N. MoyLE.—On the 22d inst., at 28, Maddox-street, the Rev. George Moyle, M A., of the Grammar School, Chudleigh, Devon, aged 47. OSBORNE.—On the 19th inst., at Oakley, Cheltenham Lieut. Seymour Osborne, R.N., aged 22. SKINNER.—On the 19th inst., at Aberdeen, Wm. Skinner, Esq., advocate, aged 55. VINING.—On the 20th inst., at Camden-town, William Vining, Esq., aged 78. LONDON : Printed and Published by MURDO YOUNG, of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at THE SUN Office, No. 112,Strand, in the Precinot of the Savoy. in the County at MlldlcreX• Monday. November 25, 1861.