The Press.
London, England, 1855-12-29 00:00:00

Rigx.

IST

•
THE LATE COLONEL SIBTHOBP.
A PARAGRAPH upon the death of the late distinguished
member for Lincoln appears in the columns of the
Cor.stitutionnel of the 21st. That it was originally
written as a squib there can be no doubt; but the
gravity with which it has been literally translated and
transferred to the columns of our I'aris contemporary
is not the least amusing feature.
The Colonel Waldo de Laerdo Sibthorp, whose
death we lately announced, did not, as some journals
have stated, represent London in Parliament, but
was member for the borough of Old Sarum. He
was, as his name indicates, of French origin, and this
explains the sentiments of affection which he always
bore to our country, and which appeared in all his
speeches and writings. Colonel Sibthorp, at the age
of fifteen, entered the Royal Navy, and assisted
at the greatest naval battle of modern times,
that of Navarino, where he received a slight
wound in the left eye. However, not feeling
much sympathy for a sailor's life, he quitted the
profession, and entered the Last Indian army. At
the terrible battle of Ferzonghaboosh, and at the as-
sault of Whalker, the regiment in which the young
Captain Sibthorp served had the honour of being
foremost in the attack. After the submission of the
Sikhs he entered the service of the King of Oude, in
which be commanded the irregular cavalry of that
monarch. At the head of these troops (irregular
horse marines) ho distinguished himself on many
occasions, and received from the East India Company
the only decoration it has the power to bestow, the
Order of the Golden Key of the Brahmins (the
Brahmins' golden donkey). After an absence of ten
years Colonel Sibthorp returned to his native coun-
try, where the voices of his fellow-citizens quickly
carried him into the House of Commons. At the
commencement of his political life he took a position
in that assembly to which his vast experience, his
vivacity and wit, and his freedom from prejudice en-
titled him. He belonged to the Tory party. His
death is regretted by all, and the English journals
have pronounced many eloges over the illustrious
dead. The enormous fortune whiah Colonel Sib-
thorp leaves will revert to his son-in-law, Mr.
Chisholm Anstey, Director of the East India Com-
pany, and Common Councilman.

GERMAN OPINION UPON THE FALL
OF KARS.

UNDOUBTEDLY the most important result of this
event will be the exaltation of popular opinion in
Russia, where the masses can hardly be said to be in
favour of peace. But for this, however bight• ore
may estimate Monravieff, we are forced to admit ,Lat
the general state of the war is only slightly affected
by the fall of Kars—a fact that is conceded even by
the New Prussian Gazette. Kars may be called the
key to Asia Minor; the lock, however, is very rusty.
The natural obstacles presented by the country itself
through its want of roads and its long vacant tracts
are so great that Prince Paskiewitcht when he had
taken Kars, and even Erzeroum, in 1828, hardly
dared to proceed more than a few days' march in
advance. General Mouravieff is much too weak to
advance farther in this inclement season ; especially
now that Omer Pacha is actually before Kutais.
What we cannot understand is, not why the Turks
have done so little for the relief of Kars, but why the
English, if we except a few spirited officers, have
sent no aid to the distressed fortress. The Turkish
auxiliary troops formed by them into a contingent
were ready to take the field in Aprq last. The hitch
in the army, the petty jealousy of the officers in that
army against the Indian officers and the auxiliary
troops—this has been part of the reason. It is pos-
sible that the French do not evince the same ardour
as the English do for undertaking operations in Asia,
for otherwise we find it hard to comprehend why the
allies do not mete out their blows in that quarter,
where Russia is least able to parry them, and where
they would bo most deeply felt. To drive back the
Russians through the defiles of the Caucasus would
be tantamount to barring them out of Asia.—Cologne
G zzette.

THE. AUSTRIAN ARCHDUKE ALBERT, it is related, at
his late inspection of the French gendarmerie at
Rome, remarked to the captain of the corps, " Vous
avez un beau corps, Monsieur." The captain, whose
detachment consisted of only about fifteen men, and
being portly and obese himself, did not at first com-
prehend whether this eulogy was intended as per-
sonal or for his few veteran troopers, until the Arch-
duke relieved him from the embarrassment by adding,
" C'est dommage qu'd snit peu nombreux."
A camp of 40,01X1 men, it is authoritatively stated
will be at once formed at Cl, .rbourg, and another of
20,000 at Brest.
Mr. Baron Park's, it has been announced in the
Morning Post, is about to retire from the bench as
one of the Barons of the Court of Exchequer. The
learned judge, it is also stated, will be raised to
the peerage, under the title of Baron Ampthill,

SATURDAY,

THE REFORMATORY ESTABLISHMENT
AT METTRAY.
A LETTER from Lord Leigh, who recently visited the
Reformatory establishment at Mettray, has lately
appeared in the Times. His lordship appears to
have thoroughly investigated the system in vogue
there, and gives an interesting detail of the manner
in which the discipline of the establishment is carried
eut:--
There are twelve houses (exclusive of the farmhouses)
fur the boys, divided into three storeys ; the two upper
form the sleeping and living rooms, while the ground floor
is used for a workshop ; the family division, however, is
not carried out in the workshops, as boys of various fami-
lies are brought together to learn the same trade. M. de
Metz observes that it is very desirable to teach boys who
come from towns, and who belong to families practising
them, trades, as he says that he has found by experience
and former failures theimpossibility of inducing town boys
to attach themselves to country life. The children are
divided into families. A chef de famine, or employi, has
the constant superintendence of one of these families. He
is assisted by one of the slaves, or young men in training
to become masters hereafter, who does not, however, re-
main permanently attached to one family ; and by two
Peres sines, who are chosen from among and by the boys
themselves. The frires ainis are in the position of monitors,
and are distinguished by a red mark upon the sleeve of
their jackets. The chef de famille occupies a little closet
at the end of the children's bedroom, which is in shape an
elongated square ; therefore it is the more possible for him
to overlook the whole through a little window opening into
his room, 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 recom-
mended to us on many grounds, althongh I am not pre-
pared 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 apace. All
retire to rest at the same hour; only the little ones get up
later in the morning. A light is kept burning in the rooms
all night. Half the children sleep on one floor, half on
another. The chef de famille aleeps near one half, end the
slave near the other. The children have three meals
day—meat twice a week. The cost of their diet averages
44 centimes, or 40. It is the chef duielier who adjudges
the little rewards in money which are given to the best
workmen among the colons at the close of every three
months. The chef de famille puts his veto upon the reward
if the conduct of the child in the family has not been sa-
tisfat...iry. Part of the money is put into the saving bank
at Tours, and, I believe, one-fourth is at the disposal of
the child, at the discretion of the chef. 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. The
strictest discipline is observed, and nothing is overlooked.
Dry bread is an occasional punishment, but the cell is a
more frequent one. Every fault which has called for re-
proof is registered, and a most careful and detailed conduct-
book is kept, showing the behaviour of every child. Punish-
ment is administered for apparently trifling faults. We
found four boys in four cells on the occasion of our visit.
One was there for refusing to sing on the day before, two
for taking chestnuts, and the other for being found near
the cellar, where he had no business to be. I think it will
be allowed that these are not offences of a very grave
nature, and, as the discipline is so strict, that it is satis-
factory there were so few boys from a larger number.
There are six farms attached to the institution. The land
consists altogether of 2flo hectares, or about 520 English
acres. The farming is overlooked by a very gentlemanlike
person in the pay of M de Metz. The land appears well
cultivated, and a large stock of horses, cows, and pigs
is kept.
Lord Leigh says, in conclusion :
There are many things at Mettray, suggested by the mi-
litary spirit of the French, which would at first sight appear,
perhaps, impossible to carry out in an English institu-
tion, but I see no reason why the feeling of " honour,"
which I believe to be as strong in an English child as in a
French one, should not be appealed to with advantage in
an English reformatory. Why 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 has 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 other-
wise lost in collecting and adjuring stragglers, both young
and old. I must add that the children are first received
as innocent, and as having sinned without discernment,
and therefore irresponsible for their actions ; but when
they have been once admitted to the benefit of the instruc-
tions given them in the institution, they are considered to
be capable of discernment, and become subject to the strict
rules observed in the institution.

AN Ausrams OFFICIAL, it is told in the gossip
from Vienna, when lately asked how it was that
Austria should leave her Gallician frontiers almost
unprotected for the purpose of concentrating so
enormous a force in the principalities, replied :

The Emperor's Central Military " Chancellery " is well
served by its agents, and it is therefore aware that hardly
any troops are now in the kingdom of Poland Very
powerful forces are, however, being concentrated on the
Pritth. and in the southern part of Podolia, and Austria is
not inclined to be taken by surprise.

DECEMBER 29, 1855.

N ittraturt.

The History of England, from the Accession of
James the Second. By Thomas Babington
Macaulay. Vols. 111. and IV. London :
Longmans.
WE are not disposed to concur in the objec-
tions which are made to Mr. Macaulay's work
on the score of the length or fulness of the
narrative. These two volumes contain only
nine years of the reign of William 111., but
they are nine of the most important years in
our history, whether we regard the foreign or
domestic transactions they comprise. We ex-
pect from a modern historian not a mere sum-
mary of events extending over a very
lengthened period, but rather a complete ex-
position of events confined within a definite
period, and having that degree of complete-
ness which admits of some unity of design
and treatment. A history which relates to a
single reign, a single war, a single re•
volution, or a single course of political
transactions, is not necessarily a fragment.
On the contrary, such histories are, to the
limits of their intent, the most complete and
finished that we have, and eminently the most
valuable and instructive. our day espe-
cially, when books multiply so fast, and so
many able writers are in the field, it is much
better that separate authors should fully treat
separate epochs, than that they should follow
each other's steps over the same ground. It
is to be regretted that Mr. Macaulay did not
in the first instance propose to himself a com-
plete history of the Revolution of 1688; that
Revolution has its boundary lines, not only as
to actual occurrences, but as to causes and
consequences. It would naturally commence
with the accession of James 11., and it would
naturally end with the failure of Charles
Edward s enterprise in '45. By contemplating
a more extensive work than it is possible for
him to perform, we fear Mr. Macaulay's history
will want that completeness, propriety, and
unity of purpose which might otherwise have
marked it.
Whoever will glance at the contents of these
volumes will readily acknowledge the impor-
tance of the events they narrate. The third
volume commences with the proclamation of
William and Mary, and the first sentences
afford a fair specimen of Mr. Macaulay's rapid
and energetic but somewhat jerking style :
The Revolution had been accomplished. The decrees
of the Convention were everywhere received with submis-
sion. London, true during fifty eventful years to the
cause of civil freedom and of the reformed religion, was
foremost in professing loyalty to the new sovereigns.
Garter King-at-Arme, after making proclamation under
the windows of Whitehall, rode in state along the Strand to
Temple Bar. He was followed by the maces of the two
Houses, by the two Speakers, Halifax and Powle, and by
a long train of coaches filled with noblemen and gentle.
men. The magistrates of the City threw open their gates
and joined the procession. Four regiments of militia
lined the way up Ludgate-hill, round St. Paul's Cathedral,
and along Cheapside. The streets, the balconies, and the
very housetops were crowded with gazers. All the steeples
from the Abbey to the Tower sent forth a joyous din. The
proclamation was repeated, with sound of trumpet, in
front of tbe Royal Exchange, amidst the shouts of the

citizens.
In the evening every window from Whitechapel to Pic-
cadilly was lighted up. The state rooms of the palace
were thrown open, and were filled by a gorgeous company
of courtiers desirous to kiss the hands of the King and
Queen. The Whigs assembled there, flushed with victory
and prosperity.
In a single chapter there are described with
great animation the first measures of the new
reign—William's first Ministry—the temper of
the Parliament and the country—the Coalition
against France, and the declaration of war.
In the next chapter the affairs of Ireland are
related, from the commencement of the Revo-
lution to the raising of the siege of London-
derry ; in the next we have a view of
occurrences in Scotland from the elections for
the Convention to the battle of Killiecrankie,
with the death of Dundee and its consequences.
We need not proceed further. Each chapter
has a story of its own; and we must say that
the narrative is generally the more interesting
as it is the more full. The third volume is
occupied with the history of two years only.
The fourth ends with the treaty of Ryswick,
in 1697, and Williams triumphant entry into
London.