The Press.
London, England, 1856-09-27 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

To obtain this result he thought a system of evening
schools in connection with the lyceums should be es-
tablished, at which class instruction, tested by fre-
quent examination, should be carrried out in prefe-
rence to the more general system of education by
lectures :

Government have already taken some steps in this di-
rection ; they have permitted certain of the apprentices
who have not gone to training colleges to become assistant-
masters, with paid stipends of 251., on condition that they
devote three or four evenings a week to instructing evening
schools, and they have also made grants of books and
materials for the purpose ; but I confess I should regard
all these means as something subsidiary and provisional,
and believe that something more decisive is required for
the general establishment of evening schools. It would
seem to me possible, for example, that, taking such a town
as Oldham, surrounded by manufacturing villages at a
moderate distance, that connected possibly with this
lyceum, or, if not connected with this lyceum, then with
some central school, there might be formed a group of
subsidiary institutions—evening schools—in the neigh-
bouring villages ; and that for such a group of schools there
might be an itinerating master, who might, for instance,
teach classes in some central school on two evenings of the
week, and might go out and teach at the other schools on
the remaining four evenings of the week, either one each
evening or giving two evenings at each school ; and by
combinations of this kind we might greatly diminish the
expense of the individual schools, while very greatly in-
creased efficiency might be given to them.

Sir John then alluded at length to the mode of in-
struction followed in lyceums, and urged the neces-
sity of teaching art and design :

Now, we are not dependent upon any country for the
inventions dependent upon machinery. The Americans
are active rivals with us ; we find that in almost every
department of trade they make some improvements in the
machines which have been introduced in this country.
Even in agriculture we receive machines from America;
but there is no great desire in this country to ascertain
what is being done in other countries in machinery. It is
far otherwise with everything that relates to art. We have
agencies established in every part of the world, to give us
at the first moment the French designs as soon as they
appear in the market ; and we are to a very great extent
dependent in our print, shawl, and muslin trade upon the
French. 1 think this ought not to be. I think it does
not arise from any want of native talent ; I think it arises
simply from the fact that we have not had institutions in
this country for the cultivation of the native talent that
exists, and that the drawing class which it is one of the
objects of the Department of Science and Art to found
ought to be connected with every one of those mechanics'
institutions.

Mr. HEYWOOD, M.P., then briefly addressed the
meeting, urging the desirability of establishing a
free library at Oldham.
Mr. W. J. Fox, M.P., in an eloquent speech, called
in question Sir J. K. Shuttleworth's approval of the
Government educational measures, and protested
against them as narrow in principle, imperfect
in detail, and unequal to the wants of the population.
Sir J. K. SHUTTLEWORTH replied briefly to Mr.
Fox's observations :

He heartily concurred in almost everything Mr. Fox had
said, but in speaking of the measures of the Government
the hon. member appeared to have overlooked the great
controversies and struggles by which the present ethics-
tional position had been attained. The Government had
not been at liberty to disregard the operations of the great
religions bodies of this country through centuries of exec•
tion. But no one was more conscious than he (Sir J. K.
Shuttleworth) was of the defects of the present system, or
more desirous of the extension of education ; at the same
time that no one could more fully appreciate the exceeding
force of those barriers which impeded educational pro-
gress, and the extreme difficulties with which the Govern-
ment had to contend, not only in the House of Commons,
but everywhere else. The sincere convictions of the peo-
ple of this country were not to be trifled with, but must be
treated with respect in every step that was taken.
The meeting concluded after various other ad-
dresses had been delivered.

THE USE OF InoN in the construction of ships of
war was alluded to in a paper read last week before
the Institution of Mechanical Engineers by M. Pietro
Conti, Sardinian commissioner. In this communica-
tion, M. Conti discussed the inconvenience experienced
in iron ships of war from cannon-shot in penetrating
a ship so constructed, causing a wide rent in each
side of the vessel. M. Conti propos Ni that the lower
part of the ship should be made of iron, as at pre-
sent, out that, above the line of penetration, only
the frame should be of iron, with timber planking.
To obviate, however, the easy destruction of the iron
frame by shot, ho proposes to take advantage of the
known propensity of shot to deviate from its line
when it meets obliquely a resisting surface. He
would have the frames built in a peculiar manner,
with a horizontal section, consisting of two triangles,
and the bisecting line perpendicular to the side of
the vessel. Thus the shot, if it should chance to
strike the frame, either from the outside or the in.
side, would be likely to deviate to the right or left,
and would only open a hole easily to be repaired in
the wooden planks.

919

SIR EDWARD LYTTON AND THE AMERICAN
MINISTER AT HITCHIN.

SIR EDWARD Lyrrow, at the annual dinner of Um
Hertfordshire Agricultural Society held at Hitchin,
on Tuesday, in proposing the health of the Ameri-
can Minister, briefly alluded to the late misunder-
standings between the two countries, which he
hoped were " in a fair way of being tranquilly settled
upon terms which may equally consult the honour
and the dignity of the two nations." Sir Edward
Lytton paid Mr. Dallas a high compliment :

It was at a very anxious and critical moment for
the two countries that I first saw him, but I imme-
diately felt sure that he Wal the right man in the right
place; and since he has honoured me with a visit under
my own roof-tree, with his amiable and accomplished
family, I have had on all occasions to admire the clearness
of his intellect, the depth of his observation, the dignified
simplicity of his manners, the transparent kindliness of
his heart, and (if he will allow me to say) the felicity
with which he unites the natural patriotism of an American
citizen with a just appreciation of all that is really excellent
and sterling in the dear old land of his own fathers. Well,
I told him that if he would honour me with a visit, he
would be sure, at least, of a hearty English welcome in
an old English country house. But his heart is so large
that the welcome of an individual does not content him,
and I ant so proud of my guest that the welcome of an
individual does not satisfy me for him ; and, therefore, he
is here to-day to receive the welcome of all classes and of
all parties of Englishmen in this great national meeting.
Gentlemen, may those cheers with which I know you will
receive the toast that I am about to propose be borne
across the Atlantic, and assure the United States of our
affection for their people and of our respect for their
representative. I give you the " Health of his Excellency
William Dallas, ➢linister Plenipotentiary from the United
States of America ;" and allow me to add one sentiment—
Lasting concord between America and England. (Loud
cheers.)

Mr. DALLAS, • who was very warmly received,
replied :

In no field of social action are the United States better
entitled to your estimation than in the very one with
which this banquet is connected. They recognise the
agricultural interest; the interest of their planters and
their farmers is the predominant interest, the interest that
wields the power, originates the wealth, nourishes the
freedom, and promotes the happiness of their entire
people. I wish I felt competent and at liberty to engage
a few moments of your attention in adverting to American
movements similar to your own. They are numerous in
every separate State of our confederacy, impelled as here by
the highest intellect and the truest patriotism ; their com•
bined result might be regarded as an offering not wholly
unworthy of your acceptance.

Sir EDWARD LrrTos then rose to propose the toast
of the evening, " Prosperity to the Herts Agricul-
tural Society." Remarking upon the astonishing
progress made by the present generation in agricul-
ture, the improvement in the breed of stock, and the
increase in the average quantity of crops, Sir Ed-
ward Lytton observed that, with respect to modern
improvements—and he agreed with Lord Lonsdale
that the two great agricultural problems of the day
were the application of mechanical power to cheapen
labour, and of town4ewage to increaser rut ,theapen
manures—it was the better interest of th farmer
to watch and apply profitable results than to AI empt
unprofitable experiment. He was not one of those
" pompous amateurs " who thought it necessary at
agricultural meetings to lecture farmers upon all
they ought to do and all they ought to learn :
I dare say you may have observed—l have very often—
with a good-humoured amazement, that some smooth-
spoken gentleman who would rather bite his tongue off
than tell a merchant at Liverpool how to manage his
counting-house, or a cutler at Sheffield how to make knives,
no sooner finds himself at an agricultural meeting than he
thinks it incumbent on him to enlighten the farmers upon
every detail of their business, from the materials of their
manures to the very shape of their ploughs. Now, T fancy,
gentlemen, that as practical men you are not inclined very
much to respect that kind of advice, and it is enough for
me to assure our distinguished kinsman from the Units d
States of my perfect persuasion that your own general in-
telligence and acute sense of your own interests will induce
you to give fair play to every experiment which may be
shown to be really profitable, and therefore conducive to
the general purposes of husbandry.
The subject of "Agricultural Statistics" had been
discussed at every meeting; it was fair, therefore, to
allude to it at this. To the particular bill of last
session, the farmers, as a body, were unanimously
opposed ; and justly so, from the odious machinery it
employed and the vexatious principle of inquisitorial
investigation it embodied. The farmers resisted t
because they were Englishmen, but they were not
opposed to a good, judicious, and conciliatory system
of agricultural statistics. Yet although that bill in
itself was objectionable in principle, agricultural
statistics Sir Edward Lytton considered were of
essential good, and he would earnestly advise the far-
mers as a body, if a conciliatory and good bill were
introduced, to give it their favorable attention.
Having said what was a bad bill, he explained what
he thought would be a good one

In the first place I would dispense altogether with the
machinery of the roor•Law Board, or any other board that

920

is connected with rates and taxes. Agricultural statistics
sh mid be collected through the statistical department of
the Board of Trade, which is never a taxing department,
which might put itself into communication with local
agricultural societies and farmers of influence and popu-
-1 tray in the different districts. Every farmer should have
fie option of making his returns under sealed covers to
Vie statistical department of the Board of Trade with the
o'osest privacy unl confidence. And, gentlemen, above
s'l, the bill should be entirely on the voluntary principle.
T tere must be no pains, nor penalties, but the farmers
sh mld be allowed to make their communications willingly
or not at all.

T lege principles were carried out in Belgium and
Sa Aland with the happiest results, and if a similar
co iciliatory system were adopted in England it
wo ild meet with similar success. Sir Edward Lytton
the i entered into the prospects of the society, and
into matters of local interest and detail. Before
concluding, he alluded to the change which had oc-
curred in Europe since his address last year, and
expressed his opinion upon the Peace:—

When I last addressed you as president of this society
On war was raging, although the flags of England and
Fra.ice were at that time waving over the walls of Sebastopol.
I dtd my best then to encourage and animate the hearts of
my countrymen, for while the war lasted I went into it
he trt and soul, as I trust I ever shall d when my country
is e 'gaged in a severe struggle with a powerful enemy and
in a righteous cause. Since then,. however, it has pleased
her Nlajesty to accept peace, and we are now treating the
reoe it enemy, not to c irtridges and bombshells, but to
coin dimenta and congratulations. Now, of the terms of
that peace the least said the soonest mended. I don't
thin't there is any one man of any party who can conscien-
tiously declare that he thinks the terms of peace were such
as to compensate this country hr her expenditure of
bloo 1 and treasure, and it is perfectly clear that we have
not finally adjusted the balance of Europe. But that peace
bbcane inevitable, with all its drawbacks, the moment it
bee& ne clear that France was resolved to accept it. The
practical good sense of Englishmen sufficed to show that
it could never be the policy of this country to carry on a
war of invasion on the boundless territory of Russia single-
handed, or with a reluctant ally. Peace has been made
then, not so much out of content with Russia as out of
respect for France.

Sir Edward Lytton then alluded to the lamentable
want of efficiency in all our military departments
at the commencement of the war; and, although lie
was opposed to large standing armies as unwise and
exhaustive of the country's resources, he world have
what army there was highly trained and efficient, and
he would maintain the militia as a nursery for the
regular service, for he could not contemplate the
state of the Continent without serious anxiety, and a
firm belief that sooner than expected some employ-
ment would be found for the large standing a:mies
of continental sovereigns. This question of peace or
war affected every class in this kingdom—none more
than the agricultural :
If ever war should be forced upon us in a just cause,
upon whom is this country to depend ? I will do justice
to the bravery of our town populations; I know that for
the long Pndurance of a war we must rely greatly upon the
grandeur of our commerce and upon the returns derived
from our manufactures; but I say that for the tough
materials of the war we must go to the agricultural inhabi-
tants of the country. It is our peasantry that furnish the
hest reci figs, and it is the high spirit of the yeomanry,
farmers, and country gentlemen, who can carry on a con•
xe4t, with good heart and hope when the merchant begins
to tremble and the manufacturer to complain. And is
there nothing in these societies which tends to our success
in war, as well as to our prosperity in peace? In the first
place they circulate intelligence which leads ns to distin-
guish the cause of quarrel, anti decide upon its necessity
and justice. Next they tend to augment these national
resources which are the sinews of war, and which would
preserve this country from the calamity of famine should
any foreign fleet out us off from a foreign market. More-
over, they bring us altogether, as to•dav, from the peer to
the peasant, in common sympathy and union, reminding
us that we are the children of the same soil which we
have enriched with our industry, and will protect with
our blood.

TN TITS NEW COUNTY COURT ACT about to come
into force there are several clauses of considerable
importance to landlords, extending the recovery of
premises where the rent does not exceed 501. a year,
in a summary manner, and preventing actions of
ejectment in the superior courts. Where the term
has expired in property where neither the value of
the premises nor the rent is not more than 501. by
the year, a plaint may be entered, and, in default of
the tenant giving up the same, the bailiff may enter
and give the landlord possession. In plaints for the
recovery of possession the plaintiff may recover his
rent where the same does not exceed 50/. Further,
the act provides that where there is half a year's
rent dna, and the landlord has a right to re-enter,
possession may be given by the county courts. A
provision in the new act permits that, in an action of
contract brought in a superior court, where the claim
does not exceed 501., a judge may, on application of
either party, after issue joined, order the cause to be
tried in any county court and the judgment to be
served in the superior court.

THE PRESS.

goad ant( jastion.

Her Majesty the Queen and Royal Family continue
at Balmoral. _ _

Miss Nightingale had the honour of an interview
with the Queen on the 21st.
Her Majesty has received a succession of distin-
guished visitors during the week.
His Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge has
left town for Sir G. Wombwell's seat in Yorkshire.

His Royal Highness the Prince cf Orange left
Balmoral on Wednesday last, and has since sailed
from Scotland for the Hague.

The Duke of Rutland has of late materially im-
proved in health. His grace remains at Belvoir
Castle with Lord John Manners and other members
of his family.
The Earl of Malmesbury is about to make some
stay in Paris.
The Earl of Derby has recovered his health. The
noble earl remains at Knowsley for the present.

The Duke and Duchess of Bedford hive returned
to Woburn Abbey, Bedfordshire, from visiting the
Duke and Duchess of Leinster, at Carton-house,
Maynooth.
The Duke of Cleveland has arrived at Raby Castle,
Durham, from visiting the Duke and Duchess of
Richmond, at Gordon Castle, near Fochabers, N.B.
The Duchess and Lady Augusta Poulett have also
arrived at the castle from town for the winter.

The Marquis and Marohioness of Salisbury will
receive company at Hatfield-house, Herts, about the
middle of the ensuing month.

plittral.

Ma. Fox, M.P., addressed his constituents at
Oldham on Wednesday, and reviewed the progress of
the session, which he characterised as ont of
" nonentities." The two Houses had been waiters,
not upon " Providence," but upon " Palmerston."
In fact, there had been nothing else but waiting all
round. The House of Commons had been waiting
for the people to agitate for reforms, and the people
had been waiting for the House to originate re-
forms. The House of Lords had waited for bills
from the Commons, and the Commons waited for re-
jections from the Lords; while both Houses bad been
waiting for a dissolution, and Lord Palmerston had
been waiting to be put into such a minority, on a
party question, as would warrant him in dissolving.
Mr. Fox then passed iu review the few measures of
the session, and oxplained his votes. He then
alluded to the general state of political affairs.
In his opinion the Conservatives could never
again govern the country, and Lord Palmerston
had received some broad hints as to the man-
ner in which he must set about it The divisions
on the Ballot, the Civil Service, the National
Gallery, the Appellate Jurisdiction, and the
Bishops Retirement Bills were strong hints to the
noble lord that the country would not be content
without some retorms. Although he approved of
the peace, he complained of Lord Palmerston's con•
duct with ref :rence to the Crimean commissioners,
who were " meanly deserted" by the Government.
But above all did he complain of the noble Premier's
reserve as to his future domestic policy :

When the war was finished, when peace was certain,
and when he called his supporters together to look the
future in the face, I certainly did expect, and I think now
that he ought to have given the country, a programme of
his domestic policy. He ought to do it now. He should
tell us how he means to arrange and conduct the domestic
affairs of this country. Are we to go on blindfold from
session to session? Is there to be no adjustment of war
taxation? Is there to be no extension of the represents-
tire principle ? Is there to be no check on the sordidness
and domination of ecclesiastical authorities? Are there to
be no means of carrying on that gteat progress throughout
the country which has been begun by the people them-
selves, and only needs the Government to give it free
course in order to establish the most glorious results ? I
hear nothing of all this. He is said to have summoned
the members of his Cabinet to meet together in November,
in order to propound the bills which they wish to prepare
for the next session ; and I suppose after that we shall
know *something; and so we still remain in the state which
I described at the beginning—of waiters upon Providence
and upon Palmerston.

Mr. Fox concluded his address by a peroration
against aristocratic Government, and expressing a
hope that her Majesty, for the future, would only
select for her servants those who came with a good
character from the people.

nlttrapolitan.

THE ROYAL BRITISH BANK.

THE shareholders of the above bank held a meeting
at the London Tavern on Saturday, in order to ascer-
tain from the board of directors the real position of
the bank. After a brief introductory speech by the

SATURDAY,

chairman Mr. EansutE, Mr. Cor.EmAx the accountant
placed the following balance statement of the affairs
of the bank before the meeting :
To total amount of liabilities .. £539,131 12 9
Capital 158,735 0 0
Reserved Fund .. .. • • .. 14,6202 8 8

#.712,009 1 5

By total amount of assets.. .. t 188,044 8 11
Losses .. 270,412 13 0
Adjnsting interest account 10
Charges and expenses 7,1(13 11 to
Preliminary expenses .. 15,793 11 11
Liabilities on bills rediscounted .. 1,305 U 0
Welch works cost (exclusive of in-
terest) .. .. .. .. 106,453 4 9

£712,009 1 5
Mr. Coleman also entered into an explanation of his
balance-sheet. Some of the directors had incurred
debts to the bank which were still unliquidated.
Amongst them were Mr. Gwynne, of Essex-street,
13,6401., and Mr. M'Gregor, M.P. for Glasgow,
7,302/. As far as he had been able to ascertain,
there had been no increase of bad debts since the
present governor had been in the chair. The debts
of Gwynne and M'Gregor were doubtless bad debts.
Mr. Humphrey Brown, M.P. for Tewkesbury, owed
the bank 70,0781., which he estimated as a total loss.
Mr. Cameron, the manager, owed the bank directly
21,2001., and the indirect loss by his traffic in shares
was 8,7521. Mr. Cameron, in justification of his
debts, represented to the directors that he had
policies on his life to the extent of 10,0001., that he
had property at Dingwall worth 10,0001., and that he
had claims upon other persons to the extent of
4,0001. Upon an examination he (Mr. Coleman)
found that the policies were charged to their full
value, and he believed that the Dingwall property
had been valued for a purpose. He did not think
that the bank, out of the whole amount of Mr.
Cameron's debts, would realise more than 4,0001.
Mr. Mullens (who was dead) had liabilities to tho
extent of 7,000/. The whole of the debts of the
officials amounted to 121,840 E, while the other bad
debts and losses, which he explained in detail, swelled
the total loss account to 270,4121. 13s Od.

A long and stormy discussion ensued upon these
astounding disclosures, Mr. GODDARD, a share-
holder, proposing a resolution—" That the past and
present directors of this bank (excepting always the
three gentlemen who became directors on Ist Aug.
last), by their systematic misapplication of the funds
of the bank, had shown themselves utterly unfit for
the post they occupied, and unworthy of the confi-
dence of this or any other proprietary."
The resolution having been seconded,
The CHAIRMAN declined to put the resolution,
which be declared to be a lie.

Mr. GODDARD said it was true in every particular.
If the chairman would not put the resolution, ho
would put it himself.
The resolution was put in that form, amid loud
cries, and declared carried.
Mr. OWF.N, a former director, gave same curious
details as to the manner in whicli the business of the
bank had been conducted :

When all arrangements for starting this concern bad
been made, Mr Cameron was appointed our manager, and
we soon found the evil of having a manager who had
never previously been connected with any bank in London.
By reason of that circumstance arose a number of difficul-
ties. I will state what occurred two years and some months
ago, when I left the bank. Why, shortly before that time
I did not know that there was a single shareholder in-
debted to the hank to the amount of 10,0001., either for
discount or advances. I at one time heard a whisper of
some complaints that there was a large sum due by one of
them on account of discounts, and I asked one of the book.
keepers as to the matter. He told me that there were
securities for the entire amount. That statement was
true; for the debtor was Mr. Charles Wharton, and he
paid the concern every halfpenny he owed it.
A SHAneitotztan : Then, sir, you were taking money
under false pretences. You were a paid director, and were
therefore bound to have known those things.
Mr. °wets : Things may be done when men are asleep.
They were done downstairs ; and I was told that when I
shut the parlour door I had nothing to do with the bank.
Mr. Cameron said that no director must bring hit. own
bills to he discounted before the board. Yes; he said that
such bills should go to the general manager, for if they
were brought before the board we should never get mer-
cantile men of high character to bank with ns. In this
ignorance was I until one occasion, when Mr. Cameron
was taken so dangerously ill that he was not expected to
recover, and it was thought that he would die very shortly;
and in consequence of his illness, the chairman and some
of the other directors made some inquiries, which dis-
closed to us that Mr. Cameron had a book with a private
key, which we had never seen. It was never seen by any
one but Mr. Cameron, and when the chairman opened
that book we were all indeed astonished. And here,
gentlemen, I would allude to Mr. Sheriff Kennedy. I feel
bound to say, gentlemen, that lie regretted that his official
duties prevented him from giving us more of his time ; but
when this book was discovered he brought forward as
strong resolutions as could have been framed by any
' gentleman, directing that everything in the book should