The Press.
London, England, 1856-10-11 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

the agricultural districts, purely chimerical. The
farmers would never stand it. They would not
listen to the idea of an alternate ploughboy. That
notion should be dismissed at once and for ever ;
but the ploughboy would still have ample opportu-
nities of instruction during the long evenings of
autumn and winter. Mr. H. Cole remarked that,
come what might, the people must be educated. It
was all nonsense for the farmers to say that they
would not stand it. Whether they liked it or not,
they would have to stand it. And why not they as
well as the manufacturers! The subject then
dropped, and, after some further discussion on minor
points, the report was unanimously adopted, and the
meeting separated. The members dined together in
the evening.

THE TURKS REFORMATORY was inspected last
Saturday by a number of ladies and gentlemen in-
terested in the institution. At the conclusion of a
minute inspection, Mr. Benyon, one of the original
founders, called a meeting, and addressed the audience
with reference to the progress of the reformatory.
He said that twenty-one boys at present were in the
establishment, and related some anecdotes of their
conduct. It had been, both morally and indus•
triously, exceedingly good :
Their diligence in field labour was shown by the crops
which had been harvested, and some knowledge of tailor•
big and shoemaking, which formed part of the industrial
occupation and helped to economise the expenditure of
the establishment, had been acquired. During the busy
time of haymaking and harvest some of the boys had been
employed by the neighbouring gentlemen and farmers, and
their conduct had been entirely satisfactory. As the habits
of domestic life formed the basis of the system pursued at
the school, all the inmates of the house took their meals
together, in order that the boys might have constant inter-
course with their master and his family, and might be
brought as much as possible under their influence. By
this means the spirit which ought to unite the members of
one family was encouraged, superintendence was con-
stantly maintained, and care and attention were bestowed
upon each boy according to his character and disposition.
The effect of such treatment was shown in the readiness
with which the boys conformed to their new life and the
good feeling which prevailed in the house. Only two in-
stances of attempts to abscond had occurred. One boy
from Hardwicke, who was free to go, left without notice,
but after some months' absence returned and was refused
readmission. On another occasion a boy was tempted
away by Reading Fair, but was at once brought back and
placed in confinement, when his schoolfellows joined in a
petition for his pardon. One boy, however, declined to
support the petition, giving as his reason, that "if a boy
was fool enough to run away it served him right to be
punished." Provision was now made in the school for
thirty-five boys, and the additional buildings required for
that number had recently been completed. The cost of
the maintenance of the boys was entirely covered by the
sum allowed by Government (7s. a week each), but it was
necessary to defray the establishment charges, the repairs,
and contingencies by an annual subscription. These ex-
penses, which varied according to the number of the boys
and the profits of the land which they cultivated, were
estimated at about 1001. per annum. The law which
required parents whose children were committed to the
reformatory to contribute to their maintenance was strictly
enforced by an officer specially appointed by Government
for that duty. The experience which the founders of this
institution had had, enabled them to state, without hesita-
tion, that the principle upon which the reformatory system
was based was sound. It aimed at saving the outcast,
whose ignorance and necessities had led him into crime,
by making his maintenance and enducation go hand in
hand ; it made the parent pay the penalty of his negligence
by obliging him to contribute to the cost of his child's
reformation ; it united Government inspection and national
aid with private effort and individual philanthropy, and it
appealed to humanity as well as to Christian benevolence
and sympathy.
Resolutions confirming the proceedings of the
manager, and approving the manner in %Ihich the
reformatory had been conducted, were then agreed
to, and the meeting was brought to a close.

THE NEW FREE-TRADE Hut at Manchester was
opened on Wednesday with a great deal of ceremony.
Mr. Wilson, the chairman, in an opening speech
explained the object of the institution, which was as
a monument to the memory of the free-traders, be-
sides being intended to promote the assembling of
learned societies and lecturers to disseminate in-
struction among the people. In order to calm the
apprehensions of any one who might view the mag-
nificent building with alarm, Mr. Wilson begged to
inform them that—

The merchants and traders by whom it had been
erected were those who had spent nearly a million of
money in instructing the public before they asked the
sanction of Parliament for the ratification of the views
which they advocated. The same men within the last two
years hail spent 1,0001. in dispersing " The Charter of the
Nations " among the foreign Governments of Europe, with
the view of the work being placed in public libraries as
a means of intluencinq public sentiment; and now they
had expended 40,000/. in the erection of the building in
which they were assembled. Such men were not likely to
do anything at variance with the constitution or institutions
of the country.

Mr. Milner Gibson, M.P., touched upon politics, and
spoke at great length with the view of showing that it

969

would be impossible to carry out a free trade policy,
unless taxation were lightened through the reduc!
tion of our enormous expenses for naval and mili-
tary establishments. Peace was now restored, ard
the great financial and parliamentary reforms so
long needed should be carried out. Government,
however, were inclined to turn public attention to
the affairs of other countries—" to busy giddy
minds with foreign quarrels"—and by that means
attract notice away from their own duties. He did nct
wish to lay down any law of foreign interference, but
he thought the English people enjoyed a strong ten-
dency to interfere unnecessarily in the affairs of otter r
countries. Mr. Gibson, in conclusion, alluded to
Mr. Bright, and stated complete repose would, be
believed, restore him to health. Mr. F. Chetham,
M.P., Mr. W. Brown, M.P., and Mr. Heywood, M.P.,
each followed with a brief speech in favour of frce
trade, and resolutions of thanks to the proprietors
and directors were proposed and duly passed. Later
in the evening a ball was given to upwards of 2,000
persons.

THE Bishop of Exeter and the Tiverton Burial
Board are yet in hot water. The new cemetery at
Tiverton, recently opened for interments, has a wall,
dividing the Church from the Dissenters' ground, of
about a foot in height. The Bishop of Exeter, on
being applied to to consecrate the ground, oonsentAd
to do so, provided that the "middle wall of partition"
was four feet instead of one foot high. Upon this
the burial board applied to the Mayor of Tiverton to
convene a public meeting of the inhabitants to advise
the board on the subject. A meeting was accordingly
held in the Town-hall, last Saturday, the mayor pre-
siding. Mr. Patch moved, by way of satisfying the
bishop, that a sunken fence be constructed, but only
six persons out of a crowded meeting voted for it ;
and a resolution was carried by a large majority
advising the burial board to await the provisions of
the bill on the subject which is to be brought before
Parliament in the ensuing session, and in the mean-
time to agree to no further division of the ground.

THE WINDSOR STEEPLECHASES will be renewed
this year, and are fixed for the 27th and 28th of
November. Although the list of stewards is not yet
complete, Captain Lyon, 2nd Life Guards, Colonel
Berkeley, Scots Fusilier Guards, Captain Wilkins, of
the 11th Hussars, Mr. Craven, Ist Life Guards, and
Captains Bulkley and Seymour, as local stewards,
have consented to act.

WIFE-BEATING is said to have found an advocate in
the person of the Rev. George Bird, late rector of
Cumberworth, near Huddersfield. The rev. gentle-
man is reported in the county papers as going about
delivering a course of lectures on the subject, main-
taining that it is a man's duty to rule his own house-
hold ; and that if his wife refuse to obey his orders
he is justified, according to the law of God,in beating
her in order to enforce obedience.
THE DANGER OF WALKING close to the den of a
wild beast was shown on Saturday night last at
Batty's menagerie, at Birmingham. A man impru-
dently approached too near the den of one of the
tigers, when the animal suddenly struck out at him
across the face with its paw, and tore skin and flesh
off in strips. The man was carried out fainting and
bleeding profusely.
THE MANAGEMENT OF COLLIERIES was a question
entertained at a meeting at Dudley last week of the
mine agents of South Staffordshire and Worcester-
shire. After the delivery of many addresses, a com-
mittee was appointed to examine " the present special
rules for the management of collieries, and preven-
tion of accidents in mines, with a view to their better
adaptation to the wants of the district; and to con-
sickr the propriety of recommending such alterations
and additions thereto as might be deemed most
advisable to render them less objectionable and better
suited for the purpose for which they were originally
framed."
THE LIVERPOOL NEW LIBRAIY AND MUSEUM
prize of 150 guineas for the best design has been
awarded to Mr. Allom, of Thornhill-chambers, St.
Martin's-lane, and the second prize of 100 guineas to
Mr. Holmes, of Bury—both subject to the opinion
of the surveyor as to whether these designs can be
executed for 20,0001.
Kosstrru is about to visit Manchester, early in
November. He will deliver three lectures upon the
present state of Italy and the Concordat. Ile will
extend his visit to Edinburgh, and deliver a special
address to the workmen and mechanics of that city.
LORD BROUGHAM, who recently completed bis
seventy-eighth year, has been spending some time in
Westmoreland. The noble and learned lord has
recovered his health to some extent, and walks much
about the neighbourhood.
Mn. THOMAS CAmmix, actuary of the savings-
bank at Bromley for upwards of thirty years, ab-
sconded a short time since, leaving a deficiency of
5001. in his accounts. It is stated that no depositor
who has made a deposit according to the rules of
the bank will suffer any loss by the frauds of the
actuary.

MI

r

970

A WATERSPOUT formed and fell at Crompton Fold
and Weymoss, near Oldham, on Sunday evening
last. The brooks in the immediate neighbourhood
were of course flooded, and a considerable amount of
damage was done to the property adjoining.
THE BISHOP OF OXFORD has consented to deliver
the opening lecture for the winter season at the
Reading Literary Institution.
A CONGRATULATORY ADDRESS tO Lord Belper has
been agreed upon by the Corporation of Derby.
SIR JOSEPH PAXTON, M.P., at the Bakewell farmers'
dinner on Wednesday, criticised the sentiment
recently propounded at an agricultural meeting by
Sir James Graham with respect to the untoward in-
fluence which freedom in Russia might exert on the
condition of the English agriculturist:—
Sir James Graham must have let such a doctrine slip
in an unguarded moment, for, in truth, whenever coun•
tries became free they ceased to be competitors with Eng-
land in corn. Last week, for instance, we had 16,000
quarters of corn from Russia, and only 4,000 from
America, showing that where commerce was carried on in
a free country there was a less amount of corn exported
than where the people were enslaved. If Russia were as
free as England, arts, manufactures, and other commer-
cial pursuits would flourish more and agriculture less.

Having spoken in favour of a system of agricultural
statistics, he remarked that, as far as he could gather
from conversations with many farmers in that part of
the country, they were desirous that any measure
connected with agricultural statistics should be
carried out on some principle, and that they should
not be burdened with an expensive machinery for its
execution.

THE REV. DAVID WILLIAMS, D.C.L., Warden of New
College, was elected Vice-Chancellor of Oxford on
the Nth, in the room of the Rev. Dr. Cotton, whose
term of office had expired.