The Express.
London, England, 1862-10-18 00:00:00

THE LITE MR. JOHN RIDDLE.

(Fran the Kentteit Mercury.)

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Our obituary for the week records the death of
Mr. John Riddle, bead master of the Nautical School,
Greenwich Hospital, whose remains will be conveyed to
their final restiug-place this day._ The deceased gentleman
wsa the sou of the late Mr. Edward Riddle, who in the
year It2l was appointed master of the Upper Naval School
in the institution, on the recommendation of Dr. Charles
Hutton, whose name is of European celebrity as • mathe-
matician. Dr. Hutton, who was himself a north country-
man, had been brought into correspondence with Mr.
Edward Riddle, at that time 'neater of a corporate institu-
tion at Newcastle for affording instruction in navigation,
by the contributions of the latter to the mathematical
section of the Ladies' Diary, which the learned doctor
for many years edited. Mr. Riddle found the system
of education pursued in the Greenwich school very little
ill advance of the rule-of-thumb practised by private
instructors in the neighbourhood of Tower-hill, where, with
the aid of Norio, young gentlemen who are " going to see
are taught navigation in three weeks. The new head-
master at once set heartily to work to reform • dare
of things so discreditable to the institution. He saw the
importance of the boys being made acquainted with
the theory of the science which it would be
the business of their life, as youths destined for
the sea service, to put into practice ; and with this
view he prepared and printed • work on naviga-
tion which has become a teat-book on the subject with all
who either teach, or endeavour to learn it, as • breach of
mathematical science. The result was that, within • few
years, the Upper School in Greenwich Hospital acquired a
reputation fur the soundness of the system of nautical in-
struction pursued in it which threw the college and schools
at Portsmouth much into the shade.
The useful labours of the elder Mr. Riddle were continued
for upwards of 30 years and he certainly retired from the
service fairly worn out by a faithful discharge of the duties
of his office. His son, Mr. John Riddle, who succeeded him
in the appointment, and who had been educated in the
school, has been eminently successful in maintaining for it
the high character it had obtained under the well-furnished
mind and indefatigable exertions of his respected parent.
Possessing equal energy and a tine oonstitution, it is pro-
bable that the public labours of the son would have been as
long and as valuable to the institution as thaw of the father
if he bad not been deprived of lifeby • simple accident whilst
in the discharge of his duties. It appears that on the
morning of the 25th ult. he was standing on a stool for the
purpose of taking • book from one of the shelves in the class-
NOM, and that by • slip of the foot he fell to the ground,
the back of his bead striking satinet the edge of a form.
on rising quickly he playfully remarked, " That's an awk.
ward blow, boys," and in • moment or two the effect of it
upon the brain became apparent, and he had scarcely power
of thoughte left to say to those around him, " kad me
home. He was at once taken there, and remained in •
state of insensibility till Saturday last, when death closed
the career of • man whom society could ill afford to spare,
and whose memory will long be cherished by all who
enjoyed the happiness of being classed among the number
of his friends. He died at the age of 4g, having • widow
and six young children to mourn one of the best of hus-
bands and most affectionate of parents. The irreparable
loss they have sustained has awakened more than ordinary
sympathy, heightened as their bereavement is by
tne sudden deprivation of the chief means of support
for so numerous and ac, young • family. Although
it is not the practice of the Board of Admiralty to grant
pensions to the widows of its civil servants, the fends of
Greenwich Hospital are so ample, and the claims upon pub-
hc gratitude of both father and son, who bore the name of
Riddle, so great, that we most sincerely hope means will be
found for some suitable recognition of the valuable ser-
vices they rendered both to the royal and commercial navy.
There is not a port in the world where merchant ships
are assembled that does not contain many commanded
by skilful men who were at one time pupils in the
Cpper School of Greenwich Hospital ; and we may
almost venture to say that one-half of the ships in the
British navy, at preeent afloat, owe much of their safety,
when at sea, to officers who derived their nautical education
either from the late Mr. John Riddle or his highly.gifted
father. This is public service of no ordinary kind. The
writer of this notice had the best opportunities for observing
the zeal with which it was rendered, having, for Z 3 years,
set at en opposite desk to that at which the elder Mr. Riddle
was fulfilling the laborious duties of his office, and for many
years neat to the desk at which the younger Mr. Riddle
was qualifying himself to become, eventually, his father's
successor.

As a contributor to the stores of science, and as author of
the important work to which reference ham been made, Mr.
Edward Riddle establishbd a claim upon public gratitude
which, apart from the separate claims of h e son, it is to
be hoped will be recognised, as it suitably and wady
might be, by the widow of the latter being placed on the
royal pension list. This, we have no doubt, will be done;
and it will probably be facilitated by the circumstance
that Commander Petley, of one of the royal yachts, who is
much in favour with her Majesty, and upon whose nau-
tical skill the safety of her children and her own precious
life lies often depended, received his profeuion►l education
in Greenwich Hospital School, under the elder Mr. Riddle,
sad who afterwards married the sister of tthe younger. We
froluently hear of pensions being granted to the de-
scendants of poets, and philosophers, end travellers, and other
intellectual persons who have rendered service to their
country, or advanced its honour. Here is a heart-broken
willow whose husband did both, and here are sic bereaved
young children whim father and grandfather elm, did both,
and it will be a discredit to the nation if some proviaion is
not made for them.

PREPARATION FOR THE EXECUTION OF THE CON-
EIMNED MERDERERS.—This morning the preparations
commenced in trot t of the gaol of Newgate, for the exe-
cution of the condemned prisoner, Catherine Constance
Wlhoo, a number of workmen being employed erecting
massive barriers along the entire front of the Old
Bailey from Newgate-street to Fleet-lane. The
wretched woman is daily visited in the condemned
cell by the ordinary of Newgate, the Rev. Dr. Davis, and
evinces* most becoming state of mind for one placed in her
awful 'action, though she still maintains her innocence,
and avers that Mrs. SOlLtilell died from natural causes.
She couverses freely with the female warden appointed
to watch her. To-morrow the condemned sermon
will be preached by the Rev. Dr. Davis ; none, however,
but the prisoners and the gaol officials will be allowed to
be present. The execution will take place at eight o'clock
on Monday morning. A more than usual concourse is
expected to be present, and the sheriffs have directed that
every precaution should be taken to prevent accident.
Mks. THISTLETHWAYTE.— " LADY PREACIIERR"—
The /lowness Courier last week inserted some observations
by Dr. Begg and Mr. Kennedy, of Dingwall, called forth by
the addressee delivered by Mra. Thiztlethwayte (Laura
Bell) at Gane. Hundreds flock to Garve every Sunday to
listen to this lady, and the interest, so far from diminish-
fug, seems to increase. In reply to the strictures of the
two Scottish divines, Mrs. Thistlethwayte sends the Courier
the following communication :—" Loch Luichart, Ding-
wall, October 4.—Dear Sir,—You will favour the Mlle
of truth by kindly stating in your next report that I have
sot appeared In any pulpit here. At the request
of malty I have, through grace, humbly declared the plan
of salvation by faith in • risen Saviour, the Lord Jesus
Christ—my object being to enlighten the poor, not the
rich. Dr. Den and Mr. Kennedy are both ignorant as
to what the true church of Christ is founded upon. It
certainly is not brick and mortar, but living atones bought
with the precious blood of • Lamb without blemish. (Ist
Peter, chapter ii. ; Hebrews, iii., 6 ; let Corinthians,
%) Also. 1 beg to state my Calling is not to preach, but
to wiu immortal souls through the Gospel message, and
when in that office Paul lays down how • woman should
be attired. (Ist Corinthians, xi., 5.) The testimouy of
Jesus is the spirit of prophesy (Revelations, :ix., 10); and
whosoever—man or woman, rich or poor—stands forth and
preaches forgiveness of sins through this man, Christ
Jesus, that person is prophesying. (Acts, x., 43, and will.,
,k),,8)..) Dr. Begg and Mr. Kennedy, 1 regret, have not
obeyed Paul's command in his Epistle to the Philippians,
iv., 3, nor can they be enlightened upon the last chapter
of the Rom ins. Was it not shadowed forth in the Old
Scriptures by the call of Aatoll'h sister Miriam, by De-
borah, and others, what the God of all grace would do for
His handmaidens when His holy spirit was poured out?
Did men only drink from that Spiritual Hock? What
says Peter in Acta ii.. 16.17? What was the conduct of
our Saviour towards the woman who touched the hem of
His robe? Did He allow her to hide out of sight? No ;1
Ile called her forth to tell all that had been dome for her
body, and bow much more shall she not speak when He
is healer of her once lost soul ? Alas, Ido not now
wonder that this mighty Saviour of sinners first appeared
to a woman and entrusted her with • manage to the
church in every age.' He well knew how her love and de-
votion would thus be attached. No delicate-minded woman
would ever think of epeaking in the assembly of blood-
bought people ; it is the true church, and there she mug
not speak. The unworthy writer quite forgives the gentle-
men who have caused her name to appear in • public paper,
and will pray that they may be filled with charity and the
truth as it is in Jesus.—A sinner saved by grace through
faith in the Limb of God, L Tmsrutruwarra."
hatottrost AND SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAYS.—
It is expected that at the board meetings of these comps-
!Ma, un Thursday, a method will be devised to rub oat the
now: of the difference between them out of which so much
noise has arisen respecting the Caterham branch. It is to
'oe lamented that any misuuderstaading should exist be-
tween companiee who severally perform their services so
well, and have heretofore worked together with praiseworthy
harmony.— Heraparh.
The late steamboat collision on the Tyne
ha/ been perfectly investigated. After three lengthened
Sittings the coroner and jury have concluded their labour,
aed the fullest 'opportunity has been afforded for the ex-
amination of all who could throw any light on this melan-
choly affair. Among the witnesses there was a general con-
currence as to the circumstances under which the accident
took place, and the cause by which it was brought about.
As indicated by the testimony, the occurrence was attri-
butable to the Tyeemouth being out of her proper mine,
soil a verdict accordingly was returned, all parties concerned
being thus exonerated from blame. It is to be hoped, how-
ever, that the recent catastrophe will lead to the exercise
'" Putter vigilance and care in the future. Nneonstle
aironitle.
The population of New South Wales in 1836 was
75,07. and in 1861 it was 350,860 ; vir., 198,488 mates and
152,372 females.