The Express.
London, England, 1851-12-20 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 20, 1851.

rents I propose to reduce accordingly, will not look upon
this reduction u a premium on bad fartning. I honestly
mane that, to a certain extent, these rents have in many
instances been reduced because the tenants have not made
those enanions which they should have done—l find several
farms la this position. I know it is impossible for them to
recover their position without sacrifice upon my part, and
I hope they will meet my miens in a corresponding
manner, endeavour to alter their position, and to revive
their farms. (" Hear," and cheers.) Look at the po-
sition in which some of these farms will stand if a
bad farmer will insist upon going on as heretofore. I have
eubmitted to this reduction in the valuation, not because,
in many instances, the land is worse, but because they arc
content to vegetate upon the land, and really to do nothing
more. lam not speaking rashly. There are farms upon
the estate which it is not possible, with justice to themselves
or other parties, that the present holders can cultivate.
There are men with farms of some size who have not stall-
' cient stock for &small cottage farm, and occupying perhaps
as many acres as those who have got ample stock and
good thriving cattle, sheep, fowls, pigs, increasing every
year. I wish to impress upon your minds that there are four
Dallies to these hareaine. a matter as be-
tween landlord ancrtenant ; but as landlord lam bound to
look to the interests of all these four parties. These par-
ties are—first, the estate, which ought not to be damaged
by your neglect.; secondly, the tenant, whom the land-
lord may know is raining himself, and bringing his
children, and himself to,the workhouse, by his idleness or
want of thrift; thirdly, the lanillotd ; and fourthly, there I
is the public; and I say that the latter, which is too often
put out of consideration altogether, is a very important
party, and greatly interested in the proper cultivation of
the soil. We ought not to allow the land of this country to
go out of cultivation or to deteriorate, not because it will not
pay, but because we will not cultivate it. (Cheers.)
Tow, with respect to what I would wish to do in the
future, I would wish, so far as drainage works are con-
cerned, that those very heavy pulls on the capital of the
small farm. r, by calling upon him to do such works him-
self, ought to be spared, and that the farmer should be
allowed to turn his capital to other purposes in
connexion with the cultivation of the land, im-
provement of the stock, and other purposes. I
believe the right system is for the landlord to take
upon himself this work, and charge the tenant five per
cent. (Cheers.) I shall arrange with Mr. Hemming shortly
to carry out the details of this plan, so tar as my means
will allow. (Cheers.) I wish I could carry it out gene-
rally upon the whole estate at once; but as this cannot be,
I shall be ready to confer with any tenant who is ready to
exercise his skill, and who has capital for the purpose, upon
the principle of my finding the tiles and he the labour.
(Cheers.) Another point to which I must refer is the state
of the buildings upon the estate. There are some which
I cannot contemplate without sorrow, and the more because
it is at present utterly impossible for me to put them into
that state in which I would wish to see them. I am quite
sensible of the want in this respect, and will endeavour to
co-operate with the tenants, as far as practicable, in putting
them in a position more creditable and more serviceable to
that good farming which I run anxious to see adopted.
I am not one of those who deprecate altogether the exist-
ence of u,grectuents between landlords and tenants. I think
the prejudice on the subject has arisen very much in conse-
quence of a wish on the part of some landlords to make
what may be called one-sided agreements. I doubt much
whether a well-considered and liberal agreement would not
in this country and upon this estate be more really advan-
tageous than any general tenant-right bill which the legis-
lature could pass. Such an agreement has been drawn up,
and lies in the office at present, and if any of you choose to
take an opportunity of looking over it, and making any
suggestions, which I am most anxious to obtain, they
shall be duly and well considered before the agreement
is adopted. (Cheers.) I now come to other groat
requirements of this estate—the condition of some of
the church's upon it is very bad ; there is an almost entire
want of schools ; and the state of the cottages is sadly dis-
creditable. With respect to the schools, I believe there is
hardly a district in England of the same extent as this
which is so deficient in ths means of education. It is really
a crying evil. Not only is there no education for those of
the labouring classes, but even the children of the farmers
are uneducated, because there are no means by which it is
possible for this farmer to send his children six or seven
miles daily to a school. There is one school in the centre of
the estate, the condition of which is disgraceful, and little
or no good is to be derived from it. This is a want to which
I have already turned my attention, and I shall not
be satisfied till I seo in each village a school capable of
containing all the young children in that village,
and till another is built near the centre which shall
be available for the better duns of the farmers
who may desire to send their children to be educated.
(Cheers.) In the carrying out of this object I must look
to you for due support. It is your vital interest to give
it to me. You cannot with to see either your children
or those of your labourers growing up in a state of hea-
thenish ignorance ; and I am confident, when you turn
attention to the subject, I shall obtain your co-operation.
(Cheers.) The state of the cottages is very had. They are
not merely out of repair, but they are so crowded that mo-
rality and decency are set at detisuice. I ant anxious to I
correct this. It is impossible not to feel a pride—l hope
a proper pride—in looking round upon this estate, and See-
ing the length of time which many of the tenants have
farmed thew land. It is, indeed, a system of hereditary tenan-
cics, which has its evils, no doubt, but which certainly tends
t o produce great attachment between landlord and tenant-
Upon the melancholy occasion upon which you were kind
nough to attend last year, 1 felt that I was not contraven-
ing the will upon which I acted, when I declined the attend-
' auee of any trieod or neighbour, however exalted his rank,
or kind his feelings ; and yet not only allowed, but invited,
the tenantry upon the whole of the estate to attend. Wish-
ing that the duty should not be performed by hired hands,
I asked eight of the oldest of the tenants to carry the pall.
Of those who attended, there were two at least whose an-
cestors and themselves Lail held their farms for 300 years,
and I believe that there was not our of the men who
could not produce receints for rent fur something like '2OO
years, and it is remarkable that the families of the gight cot-
tage tenants who bore the coffin to the grieve had been on
the estate for centuries. This is, I think, a mutter of just
pride. I now sit down, thanking you most sincerely teethe
kindness you have shown rue, and expressing an earnest
hope that I may never meet you except as a friend, and
with the mutual sentiments which 1 believe we now feel to-

SIR CHARLES NAPIER AND THE MEDI-

TERRANEAN COMMAND.

Sir Charles Napier has published a correspondence
between himself and the Premier, of which the following
are the principal portions:—

"TO LORD JOHN RUSSELL.

" 18, Albemarle-street, April 11.
"My Lord,—You finished your not very pleasant letter
on the 2.ith of January, 18a, by stating, ' Your brilliant
services on the coast of Syria evince the energy and bold-
ness of your professional character, and will always be re-
membered by me.' Now, my lord, as it is to be presumed
Sir William Parker is not to remain in the Mediterranean
all his life, your lordship has an opportunity of re-
warding 'my brilliant services.' The appointment to
the Mediterranean command is, I believe, a Cabinet
question, or at all events, it is not made without the con-
currence
of the First Minister of the Crown and Lord'
Palmerston. I therefore request your lordship to take my
services into consideration, and I venture to say they have
not been surpassed by any admiral in the _Vary List.
Your lordship is no doabt aware, had I not displayed the
' energy and boldness' you have thought proper to compli-
ment me upon, that the probability is this country would
have been involved in war and our foreign policy over-
thrown. The time may again come when an experienced
and an energetic ottLer may be wanted in the Mediterra-
nean, and I feel neither my health or energies as yet im-
paired. Sir Francis Baring thought proper to tell me that
he 'doubted my discretion ' —not a very complimentary
opinion to be given by a First Lord of the Admiralty to an
officer of my standing, but he declined to tell me on what
occasion. Could it have been at any period of my
services during the war ? They were approved by
every admiral and Admiralty I served under. Could at
have been when I dethroned the usurper Miguel, and
put a constitutional queen on the throne of Portugal ?
Could it have been when I upset the Grand Prince of
Lebanon, the ally of Mehemet Ali, defeated his son, and
drove his troops out of the mountain ? Could it have been
when I stormed Sidon and made the garrison prisoners ?
Could it have been when I served as second in command at
Acre ? Or could it have been when I signed a treaty with
Mehemet Ali, which was approved by Lord Palmerston,
and all the foreign ministers in London, in opposition to
the ministers of the Sultan and all the foreign ministers at
Constantinople ? Another word, my lord, and I have done.
You disapproved my letters, nevertheless, they have done
much good. Many of the evils I pointed out have been
remedied, and if my suggestions were attended to there
would have been money enough saved in the dock-yards to
make it unnecessary for the Chancellor of the Exchequer to
lay on a house tax.—l have the honour to remain, your
lordship's obedient servant, " CHARLES SANER."
To this letter Lord John Russell returoid the following
answer:

" Downing-street, April 11.
"Sir,-1 remember very well the pas.s.ute in my letter of
the 2.5 th January, IS,O, to which you allude. Nor have I
in any way altered my opinion. The energy and decision
evinced by you ou the Man of Syria in ISIO were, I con-
ceive, among the main causes of the success of the critical
interference in which, with other powers of Europe, we
were then engaged. The Mediterranean COTLIIIIAIIti is not
naw vacant, and Ido not know that it will soon be so. 1
must preserve my opinion quite unfettered till that period
arrives, and 1 can only say at present, that when Sir
Francis Baring consults me on the subject 1 shall weigh
only the merits of the officers who may be eligible to that
important appointment."
In Septendwr Sir Charles again addressed Lord John
' Russell, and, referring to the intention of Sir Francis
Baring to C+,IIIVT the command of the Mediterranean on
Rear-Admiral Dunthui, he recapitulated some of his most
brilliant services, and concluded as follows:—. Fur these
I services, my lord, I was made a commodore and a
and got waters from the allied powers, and Sir Robert Stop-
! ford was appointed Governor of Greenwich Hospital; he
also got foreign orders. Now, my lord, there is no blinking
the question; the government were either aware that these
successes were owing to my exertions, or they were guilty
of very great injustice in not conferring a peerage on tile
commander-in-chief, instead of refusing him a baronetcy.
When your lordship became Prime Minister I was op-
pointed to command the Charting squadron, which 1 held
for only two years, to the entire satisfaction of the Admi-
ralty and the government, and when Sir Francis Baring
came into office he hauled my flag down. When the
squadron was reformed the following year, instead of re-
appointing me, which was my natural right, the command
WAS conferred on nn- late second in command. These are
the rewards I have received fur saving a ministry and pre-
venting • war with France. Compare these services,
my lord, us well as my war services, with those
of Admiral Hondas. Without meaning any dispa-
ragement to him, to whose personal merits I ren-
der full justice, I must be allowed to say he has'
not had the opportunely of performing services of equal
importance; he hardly ever saw a shut fired, and has not
been actually at sea for upwards of 30 years, with the ex-
ception of going as Sir -William Parker's flag captain to
Lisbon, for a few months, upwards of 20 years ago. Ask
yourself then if I have not reason to complain of the in-
tended arrangement. My lord, I feel almost ashamed to
speak of myself, but I have no interest with any party. I
owe my position to my sword alone, and I cannot believe
that the Prime Minister of this country, so famed for jus-
tice and straightforward conduct, will permit the services I
hare performed to the State to go unrewarded."
Lord John returned the following reply to this communi-
cation:

" litho, Oct. 4.
" Sir,—l have received your letter of the 29th of septcm-
ber, and considered its contents. lem far (tom disputing
the value of your services, but in making the appointment
of a successor to Sir William Parker in the Mediterranean
command, it all be necessary to choose an officer who shall
possess the full confidence of the government as well as of
the Board of Admiralty—he must be an officer on whose
seeresy and discretion the Queen's ministers can fully rely.
I am sorry to say that, notwithstanding your many brilliant
exploits, I could n it place in you that implicit confidence
which is required.-1 remain, sir, your most obedient ser-
vant, "Jolly RUSSELL."

Wye take the following passages from Sir Charles Napier's
rejoinder :
" Gedsham Rectory, Oct. 7.
"My Lord,—l have received your letter. Had you been
as candid in your reply to my first as you are now, your
lordship would have saved yourself and me some trouble.
Your lordship's present opinion of me and your opinion
when I was serving both in Syria and in the Channel are
not the same. There was no want of confidence in my
'seems,. and discretion' then ; I must, therefore, conclude
you ore now punishing me at the suggestion of the First
Lord of the Admiralty for exposing eur defenceless state
and wasteful expenditure. Had your lordship read the
notes to my letters you would have seen that these abuses
are in a great measure corrected. w hen I was last em-
ployed I enjoyed the entire confidence of that upright and
just man, Lord Aucklaiail, and his Board, which 1 shall at a
future time take an opportunity of showing; and I venture
to say I also enjoyed, and still enjoy, the confidence of Lord
Palmerston, and I have no doubt he will tell you so if you
ask him.

wards each other; and, that at the end of my career, ru
or your sons as the care may be, may look upon my memory
as that of a landlord who bad not neglected his duty, or acted
otheraise than sou to have justly endeared himself to you.

ST. PANCRAS AND MARYLEI3ONE FREEHOLD LAND
SOCIETV.—On Thursday evening a public meeting, in con-
nexion with the above society, wa.s held at Mr. Brooks',
171, Tottenham-court-road ; Mr. Eerwood in the chair.
Mr. Spong, the secretary, stated that since the commence-
raent of the society two years ago, 1,700 members hail been
enrolled and 2,300 shares subscrbed for. The amount of
cash paid in was 10,0001. Six estates had been purchased,
two of which bed been allotted, and a third would be dis-
tributed among 600 members.
GREAT FIRE AT A PIANOFORTE MANUFACTORY.—
Shortly before three o'clock yesterday morning, the inha-
bitents of Camden Town and miles far distant were aroused
from their beds through an alarm of tire at the extensive
establishment of Messrs. Collard and Collard, pianoforte
makers, Oval-road, Camden Town. The person who first
gave the alarm was an officer of the S division; and so
large was the seat of the disaster seen to be, that before
the expiration of a quarter of an hour, Superintendent
Ferguson, three inspectors, and about 200 constables, were
drawn to the scene of destruction, to render assistance. By
that time the St. Pancras engine, as also several of the A,
B, and C section brigade engines, had arrived, under the
direction of Mr. Superintendent Braidwoud, Mr. Staples,
foreman of the C district; as also Mr. Conuorton, with the
engine of the West of Eugland Company. This powerful
force having arrived, every means were resorted to for a
supply of water from the street mains, but water could only
be supplied for one engine out of ten. The flames spread
with uninterrupted fury, and ere the engines could be re-
moved to the side of the canal, every fluor (four in number),
together with their contents, was burning. The most daring
zeal was exhibited by the firemen in endeavouring to pre•
serve the lower part of the building, but the formation of
the interior defeated all their exertions, and ere 4 o'clock
had passed the whole pile was one blazing mass, presenting
an awful and yet imposing appearance. k rem each window
of the six circular floors were emitted huge bodies of flame,
while from the roof rose a dense volume of fire and sparks,
the whole forming a scene peculiarly striking and
grand. There being nothing to preserve of tht
flaming pile, the firemen directed their efforts to the
adjacent premises, which at times stood in great peril
of being fired. After considerable labour the conflagration
was arrested, although for several hours the engines were
kept in active operation throwing water upon the burning
ruins. Some alarm was created for the safety of the lofty
blackened charred walls of the building. and in order to
prevent accident a sufficient fuze was kept round the pro-
perty to keep workmen and others out of the reach of
danger. The loss attending the conflagation will doubtless
reach a considerable amount. Nearly 200 workmen were
employed at the factory, and on the floors were many valuable
instruments completed and ready for removal, and as many
more in course of manufacture—in all perhaps between 200
and 300—the whole of which were consumed. the loss of
the workmen's tools will also amount to a serious sum. In
the absence of all satisfactory proof as to the cause of the
i fire, it is conjectured that some oily cotton waste or rags
I may have spontaneously ignited, and thus have led to the
disastrous event. 'the firm, we understand, are insured
is the West of England, Scottish Union, Norwich Union,
and two other offices to the extent of 18,0/04.
MORE enese OSINIRESES.—A new company has
just started on the Surrey side of the water, called the
" Union Omnibus Association," for the accommodation of
I the inhabitants of Lambeth and the Borough-road. The
I company has placed five omnibuses, that run between Lam-
' beth-walk and the Bank at the low fare of twopence. They
start every ten minutes from the Jolly Gardeners, Lam-
beth-walk, after eight o'clock in the morning, and proceed
along the Borough-road, Stones'-end, to the Bank. They
also leave the latter place every ten minutes. They seem to
fill very well, and there can be no doubt that the public
will patronise them, especially as it is a route which never
has been attempted b.fore, and very much wanted by the
inhabitants of Lambeth. _ _

The subjoined letter brings the correspondence to a
close:—

" M•rchietoun, Dec. 10.

"My Lord,—l told you in mrlast letter that I should at a
future time show you that I enjoyed the full confidence of
Lord Auckland and his board. I now beg to send you,
not only extracts of letters from Lord Auckland, but also
from Lords Melville, Mioto, Palmerston, Ponsonhy, Sir
Francis Baring, Sir Charles Adam, Sir William Parker,
Adninal Dundas, and Mr. Ward, late Secretary of the
Admiralty. I have also many others to the same effect
much too voluminous for your lordship's perusal. These
letters will show your lordship that you are not justified in
the opinion you have formed of me. Indeed, my lord. Ido
not believe it is your opinion, but only a cloak to cover an
act of injustice. In your first letter you told me you ehonld
only weigh the merits of the officers eligible for the
Mediterranean command. You then thought Admiral
Dundas would be a vice-admiral, and you could easily
throw me overboard, as not being eligible; but when you
decided not to wait till that time, it was necessary to find
another excuse to get rid of me, and that was by telling
me that I was not to be trusted. I don't dispute, my lord,
your right to appoint to the Mediterranean command whom
you please; but I dispute your right to damn my proles,
atonal reputation by sending me the letter you have done.
This is nut the time, my lord, to affront an officer who has
rendered some service to his Queen and country, when
France, with an army of 400,000 men, is in a blaze. Your
lordship is renowned for writing indiscreet epistles, and, as
it would be a pity to withhold your last, I shall send it to
the press.

THE ORIENTAL CAMPANT'S STRAW-PACKET BEN-
TINCIL, Captain Adam Kellock, arrived at Southampton
this morning with the heavy portion of the India mail,
which was landed under the charge of Lieut. W. H. Brady,
R.N., Admiralty agent. Her dates are :—Malta,Dee. llth;
Gibraltar, 15th..
SERMON-LANE RAGGED SCHOOLS.—Yesterday a
handsome new edifice which has been erected for these
schools was publicly opened by a meeting of the friends of .
the undertaking. The institution had its origin in a ragged
school commenced some years ago by a city missionary
tamed Thompson; and after some vicissitudes it was estab- !
fished in two small rooms in Sermon-lane, Liverpool-road, '
Islington. A committee of ladies and gentlemen WAS then
formed to assist in the work, which was carried on so suc-
cessfully that an intimation was at length received from the
sanitary committee to the effect that the number of chil-
dren must be reduced or larger premises provided.
To aid in the latter project a bazaar was act
on foot which yielded the handsome sum of 1901. 12s. to
which subscriptions were added, making a total
of 3021. lls. 9d. A piece of land opposite the temporary
schools was procured and cleared of the filthy hovels with
which it was covered, and in the room of which the hand-
some building opened yesterday has been erected, The
edifice is externally a pointed structure of brick, with stone
dressings. The roof is of good pitch ; and, internally, the
timbers are shown with good effect. There is a large up-
per and lower school, with class rooms and other appen
dages ; and, as a whole, the arrangements appear to be as
convenient as the appearance of the building is pleasing
and picturesque. Its total cost, including the purchase of
_Bg/DGE._ site and fittings, has been 5711. 24.11 d., leaving thus a sum
-..s.seitMlNED SUICIDE AT LONDON
a person of very of 271/. 111. 2,1. yet to be raised. The accommodation pro-
Last evening, shortly after seven o'clock,
was observed tided is sufficient for about 259 children, and the average
gentlemanly appearance, and attired in black,
by a City police. constable looking over the stone work on i attendance hithert9 has been about 120. The meeting last
the upper side of the bridge, near the Fishmongers'-hall, I evening was presided over by Mr. John Roden, and was
and before the constable could reach the unfortunate man, ! addressed by the nevi. J. Starey and J. N% or, Mr. Charles
he ran to the first reco4, where he jumped on to the seat Henry Love!, My. .Anderson (assistant secretary of the
and thence precipitated himself into the river. Nothing Raggtlitrool mon), and W. Thompson, missionarywas seen or heard of him afterwards.