The Express.
London, England, 1864-12-27 00:00:00

TO THI IDITOR OP THS 11XPIX85.

you admit the followiug appeal to
public benevolence ! Two years ago died one of the fore-
most philanthropists of the age—the Rev. G. C. Smith—
leavieg • widow. sow 80 years of age, entirely destitute.
He founded all the societies for the social and isligioos
welfare of sailors, especially that magniiimot scheme for
saving seamen from crimps sad thieves, the Sailors' Home.
The latter days of Mr. Smith were spent in almost po►erty,
sod he was buried by public aid. His widow is quite help.
less, requiring the coostant attendance of a name, the en-
peons of which poor relatives really cannot meet. A few
small sobecnptioam have been raised, bat they are neither
adequate to the necessities of the case, nor worthy the
claims of so useful a man.

Contributions have been kindly received by Daniel Pratt,
Esq., Entiah Standard-alias, Bolt-court, Ylest-street.—l
am, du., A POOh IiELATIVE.

A SHERIFF'S GOOD INTENTIONS FRICSTRATED.
The HumpAire yerdch, of Saturday states that Ilr.
Sheriff tmenuel, of Southampton, had determined this
veer to go beyond the generosity on the occasion 1111100 S the
holders of that office in Southampton, the provision of
abundant good cheer for the debtors in the prisms. He had
determined to pay the debts for which they were impri-
soood, thus setting them free. Unfortunately his intentions
too soon became known, and an amusing result was the
consequence. The custom prevails in the county
court, where the greater proportion of the busi-
ness transacted consists of plaints preferred by "
men," of granting warrants of commitment of defendiurtafor
limited periods us Its hearing of summonses after judgment,
but to suspend their execution clueing the pleasure of the
plaintiffs, is order to give the poor debtors an opportunity
of meeting the demands upon them. Mr. Emanuel's gene-
rous offer at once presented to this large class of plaintiffs •
capital opportunity for the collection of hitherto considered
had debt*, whilst to those who did not feel disposed from
their own resources to discharge• their liabilities, au easy
method was thus provided by which they may be relieved
from future claims. 'the county court bailiff glottal that they
were all at once called upon to do • thriving and unexpected
trade, mod on Friday the arrivals in the debtors' ward of
the prison were so numerous as to call the attention of
the officials to the circumstence, and Mr. Emanuel was
at once communicated with, in order to prevent his being
victimised in the way which was intended by the abuse of
his good intentions in such a cunning hut seatidalous wan-
ner. The worthy sheriff proceeded on Friday to the gaol,
and there a numerous group of county omit debtors met his
view. "And who pat you barer he said to one. The
answer was, " A tallymen." " And who you?" he asked •
second. The same reply, "A tall) Mill." To • third he
addressed himself in • similar meaner, and was once more
told, " A tallyman." The trick was now fully ex-
posed, but ilr. Emsnuel helm determined that,
though Iris original intentions must be abandoned,
they should have • good dinner, and inquired for how
many be should provide. "Oh." maid the official,
" the county court bailiff told us there would be at least
another dozen to-morrow," and a tousle could not help
venting her wrath at the detection of the trick by exclaim.
ing, " Why I shouldn't have come here but that I thought
you were going to pay the debt for me, and I should getout
free." We seed hardly add that the sheriff departed with
hie mind a little enlightened as to the frailties of human
nature, but notwithstanding the imposition attempted to
be practised upon him, he did not forget that it was Christ-
maa time, and he charitably ordered • bountiful dinner
on Sunday fur as many ay, under such extraordinary cit.
culminates, happened to be in the debtor' ward to partake
of it.

THE STUDENTS AT EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY.

The following circular has been issued by the
Senates Acadernicua of the Uaiversity in regard to the dis-
graceful uproar which took place oa the occasion of the
delivery of the venerable Principal's inaugural address to
the students :

The Senates Andemicia, in the discharge of their duty
as entrusted with the discipline of the university, have to
inform the students st large that oa Saturday, the 19th
ult., on of their number was brought before the &sates
for interruption the Principal's aunual address-* breath
of discipline which it was impossible tor the Senates to
page without notice and punishment. As the offender
was a fiat year's student, sod acted under the indurate
of evil example shown by not a few of his comrades,
sad as he spontaneously and promptly add:rind to the
Principal a letter of regret and apology for his offence,
cheSenstue have one it to be consistent with their duty to
indict, in this particular COM, the most lenient punishment
which it was in their power to proacianos, viz., that of ass-
sure and reproof before the Sonatas. Under other circum-
stances, it might not have been possible to exercise this leui-
, may ; but, even had they felt constrained to use severity.
the Senates Academicus trust that the students would not
fad to eye that, in upholding the discipline of the university,
the Sonatas are influenced by no other consideration than
affection for the students and lineal* regard for their into-
. rests. Cooecions themselves of no other feeling. the Snake
Academic= take advantage of this opportwuk to impress
upon the students pamally the mischsof which is certain to
arise if they do not, by their own act and lease of right, put
an end to thenedaskso us bkethataf gentleasim and scholars,
which kis crusggmraeceedd this asininity ea the osmium of the
manual in scion adder ;of the Priacipel for several
years pest. It is true that this misconduct hem been consaed
to • portion of the sunsets. Bat, in the fact that it has
been at all tolerated by the students, the disgrace falls upon
the whole body. The sanests ought to know that repeated
acts of the same kind on former occasion have called down
epos them the caesarian the public beyond the walls of the
university. The censure has been repeated by parties at a dis-
tance ; and an impression prevails very widely that the au-
dents of the Unvereityal Edinburgh aresystematkallyturba•
lent and uncootrolkole. Tat Senna need nos say teas
this impremioe is erroneous, since the same students, who
have acted so indecorously on such occasion as that of the
19th ult., cannel themselves in their cleans in an orderly
land becoming meatier. Bat the unayounble impression
' thus received by the public is sot unreasoisable ;
asfortnastely, the unanimity has suffered in coasequenes.
These considerations will compel the Senates to use
greater severity if unfortunately any serious breech of
academic discipline should own in future. They have
hitherto been vary unwilling to do so, because the rustica-
tion or expulsion of a student suspends or stops altogether
his 'decokes at this or say other univenity in %beon=
Kingdom, and,. ocergeguntly, prevents him sewing say
nled profesmon. Bat mach inj to an iadivideel most
1 oearnt be permitted to interfere with ury
the intermit@ of the whole
body of the stadeats. The Seesaw Amami= look with
anddimeos fat the sympathy sad ae-opesatioe of the peat
body of their strident', in preventing, foe the inters, each
scenes se were enacted this year. The is a matter in which
all the members of the uneasily, es well students se ma
femora, ere moaned ; sad it is earnestly hoped that the
present will prove the lest constant's which it ma he head
secaisaary to allude to may way toss edam so ia
self, yet so fruitful of bad aossequeoced to all oemornisd.