The Express.
London, England, 1864-03-18 00:00:00

ASYLUM FOR IDIOTS.

As there is no other condition of frail humanity
so utterly helpless as that of idiocy, no an asylum when the
unfortunates who are addicted with it may be received,
oared for, and subjected to curative process more or less
effectual, is one that ought to command special support.
No one who has visited the very interesting establishment
at Earlswood can fail to have been struck with what may
be done by a systematic course of medical treatment. Those
who have not had the opportuuity of going over Earlswood
Asylum, inspecting its admirable arrangements, studying
its management, and observing the results in the gradatioes
of mental improvement which the patients exhibit accord-
ing to the ioeger or shorter period that they base been
under the care of the mediae' gentlemen, or the
greater or lesser amount of latent intellect which '
those geetlessee have bed to draw forth and develop, will
be surprised at the complete refutation which practical ex-
perience gives to the generally accepted notion that for
idiocy there is no cure. The committee of the asylum
wisely throw open the doors of the building to all comers :
the public are not only permitted but urged to visit it, and
judoe for themselves ; and • more interesting and instruc-
tive day can nowhere he spent, or one better calculated to
awaken oar best sympathies, than at the handsome and
admirably-planned building which attracts the eye of the
railway traveller about a mile below the Reigate station, on
the Brighton line. The camber of patients now domiciled
in the institution is 363 of both eszes— partly elected oe the
foundation as recipienta of charity, and partly by annual pay-
ment. Next month 30 more will be elected, bringing the
number up to nearly 400. This, however, by no means re-
premets the amount of mental weakness or imbecility
which exists in this metropolis, and seeks for some allevia-
tion within the walls of this or kindred institution, yet to
'be formed. There are at the present moment upwards of
200 applicants for admission at Earlswood which the resources
of the establishment are unable to accommodate. There is
also the drawback of • heavy debt, exceeding 9,000 f., in-
curred in the erection and furniture of the buildiug, which
most be cleared off before any effort can be made to
open wider the doors. One great object of the anniversary
dinner, which was held yesterday at the London Tavern,
under the presidency of Mr. C. Buxton, M.P., was to clear
off this debt, and to free the charity from those pecuniary
liabilities which at prevent fetter its exertions and limit
ita usefulness. Of the 9,0001. the members of the
committee and a few of their friends have con-
tributed 5.70(1. ; • friend has promised 500 guineas
conditionally towards making up the deficiency ; and the
result of the very eloquent appeal node last night by Mr.
Buxton wen a further augmentation of the fund to the ex•
tent of nearly 2.500 f. There was also • subscription of
1,1534 announced from Liverpool. A pleesibg feature in
the benevolent conviviality of the occasion was the pre-
sence of ladies at the dinner table. The musical
arrangements were under the government of Mr. Lawler,
who was assisted by the Misses Emily Spiller and Julia
Elton, and Means. Alontem Smith adSvdoey Naylor.
le further peomotioe of the more immediate object of the
committee, there is to be a bazaar or fancy fair held in July
at the Hanover-square Rooms, make the patronage of the
Queen, the Duchies of Cambridge, sad the rule of our
female aristocracy.

The trial of Walsh at the Waterford assizes was
concluded on Wednesday. and resulted in a verdict of wilful
murder. Sentence of death was passed, the prisoner, how-
ever, protesting his innocence.
Mona TNAN at E$ AND ILTTIR TEAM ETlR.—This
applies to the largest sad best stock of spring and suearser
patterns ever submitted for public. approval The world-famed
16s. trousers at Alfred Webb Miles. the originator's only eats-
blishiasat. 711, BrookAtmet, lisnoresoqusee. Established 1841
—(Adrortlipement.

(nom ors owl' amnia)
SHEFFIELD, THIMSDAT.
This morning communications addressed to the
Mayor at the Council Chamber contained upwards of 7001.
forwarded by private Individuals for immediate distribution,
and a large sem of money has been received at the different
banks, the amount of which had not been made up at the
time of despatching this parcel. Altogether tho subscrip-
tions already received amount to over :X/,000/., and then
are applied by eleven committees composed of the mem-
bers of the council and the principal inhabitants.
A district has been allotted to each committee, and the
first proceeding has been to seek out a number of peewee
who knew the neighbourhood well, sad was acquainted
with the circumstances of its inhabitants. A large store of
clothing has been sent to the Town-hall, and is given out as
fast as the requisitions from the different committees come
in. An immense mar of wearing apparel has been distributed
in this manner. Measures have also been taken to prevent
overcrowding is the dwellings of the poor, mid the
mieseqnset spread of malaria. Naturally enough
those who escaped sought for immediate shelter in the
houses of their neighbours, who ware in many cases equally
poor with themselves. That refuge was cheerfully accorded
them, and in no cue that I have beard was " the bit and
the sup" denied. This, however, occasioned great over-
crowding in many cottages which were partly submerged.
Nese tbs: relief committees have been appointed many
families sad Individuals have bees removed to the high',
part of the town. A portion of the public subsaip-
thins has been devoted to the cost of clearing
away the enormous quantity of mud washed into
the cellars. Care bas bees taken to employ
as far as was possible in this labour those who were them-
selves sufferers, and from the loss of their tools and the de-
struction of the milli had been thrown completely out of
employment.
Last night the Mayor of Sheffield addressed a circular
letter to the mayors of corporate towns in other parts of the
kingdom, asking their co-operation in raising money for the
relief of the sufferer'. The information which reached
here a day or two ago that the Prince of Wales
would head the subscription created the live-
liest feelings of gratitude. Already public meet-
ings are announced to be held in Manchester, Bir-
mingham, Leeds, Hull, Rotherham, and the adjacent towns ;
and the manner in which the call for help has been re-
sponded to affords another noble example of the ioeshaus-
tibia bounty of Englishmen towards their countrymen in
disuses. The various committees are doing their work not
the lees effectively became° they ars doing it silently and
without bustle and parade, but many months must elapse
before the deluged district will present the scene of busy
and cheerful labour that it did before the inundation.
Great iodignetion has been manifested in Sheffield at the
statement made in a Loudon peony paper, that the work-
men of Sheffield were a coarse, drunken, and brutal set of
men, and also ►t the exaggerated charge made against the
people of plundering.

FRENCH AID FOR THE SCFFLEERE.—Tha follow-
ing letter appears is yesterday's Galignani, together with an
intimation that the proprietors of that paper will be happy.
in accordance with the suggestion of the writer, to transmit
to the proper quarter any subscriptioes that may be for-
warded to them :—" Our hearts are all moved by the recital
of the dreadful calamity that has just desolated a fair,
populous, and thriving district of our dear England. As-
suredly the first emotion of every English heart will be
a wish to do what may be done to succour those who
have thus suddenly bees reduced from comfort and
prosperity to dearest and poverty. With each a desire,
and remembering that too dal qu i cito dot, let us
who reside in this city make no delay, but by a
ready, active, and practical sympathy testify that • the
English in Paris feel a deep and lively interest in the sor-
rows as in the joys of their native land. I feel sure that
you will be rawly to receive subscriptions, and to transmit
them to suitable lands in England. I would suggest, be-
Odes, that appeals be made from the pulpit by the English
clergymen and ministers in Paris ; and as there may be
many to whom, whilst willing to do their share, neither of
these ways of giving may be convesieut, I would propose
also a personal canvass by a few friends having a little
leisure for it, who should be furnished with andeetials at
recognised authority.—Evocagua
March 15."