The Press.
London, England, 1854-09-30 00:00:00

THE PRESS.

order dated 28th April, 1853 :—Over 3 and under 5 years,
219 ; over 5 and under 10 years, 364 ; over 10 and under 15
years, 167; over 15 and under 20 years, 89; over 20 and
under 25 years, 46 ; over 25 and under 30 years, 31 ; over
30 and under 85 years, 22; over 35 and under 40 years, 17 ;
over 40 and under 45 years, 6 ; over 45 and under 50 years,
4 ; over 50 years, 9—total, 974. Amount of purchase-
money paid by English, Scotch, and foreign parties,
2,249,0401. 12s. 6d. Gross proceeds of sales :-13y public
auction in court, 9,103,348!.'25. 81.; by provincial auctions,
confirmed by the commissioners, 2,014,6981. 10s. • by private
contract,confirmed by the commissioners, 2,331,2401. Ios. 9d.
—total, 13,509,2931. 3s. sd.

Distribution of funds: Gross amount of money distri•
buted in cash and stock, 9,236,811/. 13s. 9d, ; total amount
of absolute credits allowed to incumbrancers who were pur-
chasers, 1,:40,8221. Os. lid —10,627,6331. 19s. .sd.
The difference between the amount realised by the sales
and the funds distributed is thus accounted for : Funds
allocated in trust, where some of the trustees have died;
provisional credits, not yet made absolute; payments
already ordered by the commissioners, and not called for
by the parties entitled thereto ; the purchase•money of re-
cent sales, not yet lodged; the balance of cash and Govern-
ment stock standing to the credit of the commissioners in
the Bank of Ireland.

• THE DERRY RAILWAY MURDERS.
CERTAIN comments of the Times upon the late
atrocious attempt to overset a railway train at Derry
have called forth the following letter from Mr. R.
Bateson, of Castruse, one of the party who experienced
so providential an escape on that occasion
" Sir,—Having seen my name mentioned in a recent
article of the Tones, as connected with circumstances pre-
ceding the diabolibal attempt to destroy 800 excursionists
returning from Derry to Enniskillen, and as the informa-
tion whereon your article was founded has been evidently
communicated by an incorrect and prejudiced correspondent,
may I request you, as an upholder of the great principle
Audi alteram purism, to give insertion to the following brief
statement of facts, which will enable yournumerous readers
to judge whether I acted for the best or not ? I am the
more anxious that you should do so, as I have a relative,
Sir Robert Bateson, of Belvoir-park, who, if I have acted
ong, should not participate in the blame:
" Towards the end of August a number of the m embers
of a benevolent society in Derry determined to make an
excursion to Enniskillen. In this they were joined by
other persons and a number of Apprentice Boys (a club in
existence since the siege of Derry ). I mention the different
parties composing the excursion to show that there was
nothing of what is called 'party spirit' in it. The people
of Enniskillen heard of the intention, and notified to the
intended excursionists that, if they postponed their trip
for a few days, they would endeavour to give them some
entertainment on their arrival. Their arrangements would
not admit of delay, and consequently on their arrival they
got a welcome and such hasty refreshment aa the time for
preparing would admit of.

" Less than three weeks since, without any invitation
from Deny or any communication from Enniskillen, the
inhabitants of that town and neighbourhood decided on
taking an excursion to Derry : on this being known in the
latter place, a message was sent to Enniskillen, saying that,
if the excursion was delayed for a week, means would be
taken to entertain them on their arrival ; but the arrange-
ments of so many persons had been so prepared as nut to
allow the delay, and a committee was hastily got together in
Derry to make what preparation the time would admit of,
and to collect means to defray the attendant expenses.
Subsbriptions were asked and obtained from men of all
political opinions, and three days only before the appointed
day a deputation from the committee called on me to re-
quest that I would take the chair at the entertainment. I
asked if there was anything likely to cause excitement, and
was answered that everything of that kind—such as banners,
music, 43,:c.—was to be avoided ; in short, that it was merely
an excursion party, and the sole object of the committee
was to return the compliment they had already received. I
immediately acceded to their wishes, as my constant line of
conduct has been to lake part as frequently as opportunity
permits in such meetings, as it not only creates a kindlier
feeling among different classes, but is the surest means of
maintaining order and propriety of conduct at them. What
I had reason to expect the result fully proved, for a more
orderly, well-conducted, and happier body I never saw before,
composed, as it was, of eight hundred persons, consisting
of every age, sex, and condition of society. After the party
round the platform on the ramparts broke up, Lord
Enniskillen accompanied me to the cathedral, where the
usual service was taking place : some hundreds of the party
went there also. At the termination of the service the re-
freshment-hall was opened, where accommodation was
four hundred • time. Each - less

afforded to _ at a . . party sat
than an hour, and was succeeded by four hundred more,
and on their retirement nearly the same number came in.
There were no touts but the Queen's health and a welcome
to the party, and Lord Enniskillen, who responded to the
latter, and myself were the only speakers. Lord Ennis-
killen retired with the first party, but I remained till the
whole entertainment concluded. The same touts were
given to each change of the guests. The waving of flags,
Orange speeches, &c., were in nubibsts, where they still
remain, unless they are fixed in your correspondent's
imagination. In the short interval that elapsed between
conceiving the intention and the coming of the excursion
several rumours were circulated through the country. To
show their absurdity and malignity I need only mention
one—that the Enniskilleners were coming to pull down
the new church erecting by the Roman Catholics in Derry.
I regret to say that among the persons by whom these ru-
mours were spread, and probably formed, were soi•disant
Protestants, whose only object could be rolitical hostility
or to court popularity with the Roman Catholics, by the
respectable portion of whom they could not fail to be des.

-

927

pised for their duplicity and meanness. Though these
absurd and mischievous falsehoods might have had some
effect with the lower class, yet the fact is, the hostility was
directed against the party as a body of Protestants, the very
name of whose residence is a stumblingblock to the dis-
loyal, being one of the strongholds of those constitutional
loyalists whose consistent and determined bravery occa-
sioned Ireland to be at this moment an integral part cf
the British dominions. Butisir, had you, osthose ease-
elated with you in couductirg the Times, been conversant
with the locality whence the excursion train proceeded,
you would have been enabled to form such au estimate
of the nobleman who accompanied it as to render this
letter unnecessary. I am thoroughly convinced that no
Irishman of intelligence, whatever his political or reli-
gious opinions may be, would believe that Lord Ennis•
killen would be a party to any movement that could give
unnecessary pain to his fellow•countrymen. He is so justly
appreciated and beloved that, had any fatal results to him
followed this atrocious attempt, it would have raised a wail,
and, perhaps, consequences throughout the whole north of
Ireland, which the entire of Great Britain would have
shuddered at hearing.
" Before concluding this letter, allow me to observe that
not very long before the Enniskillen excursion there had
been one from Perry to Strabarie and Omagh ( the line
being only opened so far at the time) ; the party was ex-
clusively Roman Catholic, and it was accompanied by
banners and music, yet it never received the smallest an-
noyance, going or returning ; besides, there have been
special trains of the same religionists, to lay the founda-
tions or open places of worship on Sundays ; and on no
occasion have they been interfered with. :There is not a
single one of the Sunday excursion•trains in England,
against which I had hoped Protestant England would have
raised her voice, which is unattended with scenes and con-
duct which (to speak mildly) are very unsuitable to the
Sabbath observance of the place of its arrival or departure ;
and to•days's paper contains an account of the scandalous
proceedings of an excursion-train from Birkenhead to
Bangor, which, had the party been under the control of
those whose kind intentions were so abused, would have
terminated differently. Notwithstanding, I am certain,
from the respectability of all the persons composing the
Enniskillen excursion•train, that their conduct would have
been as orderly and free from offence as it was, even had
Lord Enniskillen not been at its head; but his being there
made assurance to that effect doubly sure, and satisfied me
before, as thoroughly as I am convinced now that it is
over, that on that occasion 1 occupied the place best calcu-
lated to promote order and good•fellowship. And I trust,
sir, from what I have said, that 3 ou, or at. least your readers,
will now think that I was better there than at home, which
I am always ready to leave when the claims of my country
or friendship should call me. Though I have already
spoken more of myself than I would wish to do, yet allow
me to add that I am not an Orangeman, however much I
esteem the individuals of that body and value the services
they have rendered; and I may further say that, at a meet-
ing held on the 22nd of September to express the public
opinion, and offer a reward for the discovery of the per-
petrators of the crime, and provide for the sufferers by it,
I called on my Roman Catholic countrymen present to
name the time or place, act or word, whereby I ever
offered them the smallest affront or annoyance. The call
neither was nor could be answered.

".I have the honour to remain, sir,
" Your obedient servant,
" ROBERT BATESON, of Castruse.
" Castruse, Londonderry, Sept. 23."

THE ROYAL Bucas AGRICULTURAL Socury held
their annual plou;hing-match and prize distribution
on Wednesday, at Buckingham. The ploughing
gave great satisfaction to the judges, and the prizes
both to donors and recipients. Among the prizes
were three, amounting to 51., presented by Mr.
Disraeli, M.P., to the agricultural labourers of the
county who had brought up the largest families by
their own earnings, without parochial relief ; three
other prizes, amounting to 31. 10s.' to single male
hired servants in husbandry who had lived the longest
period, not less than five years, in the house of their
employers. The same number, amounting to a like
sum, to single female hired servants in husbandry
who had lived the longest period, not less than three
years, in the house of the same masters. To the
labourers in husbandry who bad been employed,
without intermission, the longest period on the same
farm, four prizes, amounting to 81. ss. To the
ploughmen whose work on the field was judged the
best, four prizes, amounting to 61. To the drivers of
the successful teams, being boys under sixteen years
of age, four prizes, amounting to 1/. There was
also presented to every unsuccessful ploughman
2s. Bd., and to every driver Is. Mr. C. G. Du Pre,
M.P., presented 51., divided into fuur prizes, to as
many lads, under twenty-one years of age, who had
ploughed half an acre in the best manner within four
hours. At the conclusion of the out-door ceremonies
of the day the members of the association and their
friends adjourned to the White Hart Hotel, to partici-
pate in the usual anniversary banquet, over which
Mr. Philip Box, of Checkmore, presided.

Corrow FISHING-NETS have lately been manu-
factured with the best effect in Perthshire. Several
of these cotton nets have been used during the past
season on the fishings of the Tay, and have answered
every expectation. They are lighter and softer, and
consequently easier to draw, than the common hemp
nets, and are capable of being dried more perfectly,
besides possessing other good qualities which recom-
mend them to the general use of fishers.

928

yittraturr.

Scenery, Science, and Art. By Professor D. T.
Ansted, M.A., F.R.S., &o. London : Van

Voorst.
THIS is a volume of diversified nature from
the pen of one of the most accomplished of our
English men of science. As a geologist and
a mining engineer Professor Ansted enjoys
a high reputation, and his general knowledge
is both various and exact. Ho can take, as is
required, either a popular or exactly scientific
view of a subject. His present production is
of a mixed character. Those portions of it
which relate to geology and to mining deserve
the attention of men of science, while much
light matter is interposed in the volume to
make it popular and readable. In most cases
we feel that authors would do better if their
productions were considerably reduced in
quantity; but we could have followed Pro-
fessor Ansted very pleasantly and profitably
through a second volume of matter similar to
what he has published here.
Within the compass of three hundred octavo
pages Professor Ansted has printed his notes
of scientific excursions in France, Switzerland,
Germany, Spain, Sardinia, Africa (Algiers),
and North America. He can describe natural
" scenery " so well as to justify its specification
in his titlepage ; but he is evidently not
learned in " art," though he has a conven-
tional power of appreciating its triumphs.
When " science" is his topic he writes with
the firmness of tone and absence of mere
parade of knowledge that indicate thorough
familiarity with the subjects under discussion.
His remarks on Sardinia, Algiers, and certain
peculiarities of America, are the best portions
of the volume. We perceive, also, that he has
appended his three letters on slavery in
America as they appeared in the columns of
the Times. Our readers may recollect that
his remarks on that painful question attracted
much attention at the time.
We have often thought that peeps behind
the scenes of some of our great scientific
societies would be very amusing. The sight
of philosophers, divested of professional robes,
conducting themselves like mere ordinary
mortals, might be made as comical as Macbeth
taking a glass of strong waters before he
" goes on" for his dagger.scene, or the gentle
Desdemona calling for a bottle of porter after
having been smothered by Othello. Professor
Ansted thus records, in ludicrous terms, a
feast of the French Geological Society at
Porrentrny :
The dinner was by no means first-rate—indeed, I have
the authority of French and German, Russian and Italian,
Swiss and American, for calling it, as it really was, execrable.
I am almost sorry to put it on record, the thing was done
with such hearty good-will ; but the fact is undeniable. I
should not forget, however, the giant of the table—a huge
trout, nearly three feet long, brought in ou a board because
no dish could hold it, and as unfit to eat as it was extra-
ordinary to look at. After dinner we were regaled with a
geological dessert, consisting of sucrifactiona of terebratulte
and other shells ; of a model in sugar of the Mont Terrible,
or some other Jura mountain ; and tact, not least, of a
number of real ammonites and terebratulte, put up in
paper, with crackers ; showing a fine example of the con-
nection of the physical sciences in thus enlarging the mind
of the maker of bon-bons, while the philosopher with no
less astonishment found a fossil where he had been accus-
tomed to look for barley-sugar. After dinner and two or
three toasts—the dinner having lasted three hours—most
part of the company joined the ladies above, where dancing
had already commenced. The ladies were—as ladies
always must be—charming, and, as there was a pretty
sprinkling of Germans and one Pole, there was no lack of
variety : but, however difficult, I must neglect them, that a
life or two may be devoted to the dresses of the gentlemen.
Among our number there were a very few who had come
provided for such emergencies ; and one especially, a hand-
some young exquisite from Paris, was attired in the very
pink of fashion, with hair covering four-fifths of his face
and gold and jewels about as large a proportion of his
waistcoat. Contrasted with these was the dress of the rest
of us, which may be thus described :—Coat with or without
ways for walking, but not for
extraordinary ; trousers all
feet covered with thick boots, or
being our condition with regard
I all kinds, waltzes, gallopades,
up notwithstanding with great

tails, and adapted in various ways for walking, but not for
TIT'IS4A
ing;
.waistcoat nothing extraordinary; trousers all
, co • . t Islaiik ; and the feet covered with thick boots, or
"` • ' . : fng shoes. This being our condition with regard
a 4 ._ ~
4; ~ • „ (Kik, t dances of all kinds, waltzes, gallopades,
• 4- %o•lo.frtioe) were kept up notwithstanding with great
it; 4
' .--L 1- .:* to PO .
li : ''''`. • :"Ie
, f tre/ f these learned itinerant so-
il,.
f
: . •
• , • - rev
, much debated, and not always
ilk.. rit,...;L 2 :at ste. We have read outpourings
it
~ ••-:,oi ` ' and vulgar declamations against
ita• • , 'NV-1 %-.`