The Express.
London, England, 1867-12-30 00:00:00

THE EXPRESS, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 30, 1867.

petition to this effect was signed by some of the
leading London bankers. A new Chaim loan had
been announced for two millions (nominally)
at a price, allowing for deductions, of
8l it per cent., and was speedily subscribed.
A new Spanish loan in Paris proved a failure. The
difficulties of the Atlantic and Great Western
Railway Company (United States) were exciting
attention.

On the 6th of February the Bank rate of dis-
count was reduced from 3i to 3 per cent. The
affairs of Overend, Gurney, and Co. were being
gradually elucidated, and as regards the share-
holders the prospects were estimated to be as
disastrous as they have since unfortunately
proved. The difficulties of the railway companies
continued to force themselves upon the public
mind, and as regards the Brighton especially the
auditors bad published a damaging statement re-
specting the accounts, by which, according to
their showing, interest had been charged to capital
as far back as 1860. A new Danubian Princi-
palities Loan for 1,264,4201. had been issued by
Messrs. FRUHLING and COWMEN at about 682.
Several colonial loans, chiefly for railway par-
poses, were in,roduced in this and the succeeding
months. During the same period was passed Mr.
LEEMAN'S bill to regulate the dealings in joint-
stock bank shares. Several attempts were
made to amend railway legislation, by Lord
REDESDALE among others, but they came to
nothing. The easiness in the money market was
proved by the reduction in the rate of interest
on Exchequer Bills from 4 to 3 per cent. The
introduction of the budget caused little or no
remark.

Tho year gradually wore on, with few events
of importance, except the growing distrust of the
public in railway property. In May the dispute
be...ween the directors and shareholders of the
Brighton Company came to a climax. Statements
and counter-statements were made on either side,
but in the end an entire change of management
was carried out. There appears some kind of
fatality in a seat at a railway board, since the new
directors began by committing the mistake of
ignoring, or rather postponing, the claims of
holders of the guaranteed shares. This unfortu-
nate decision has not only been prejudicial to the
stock of the London and Brighton Company, but
has likewise affected all the railways in the king-
dom.

In May an important contribution was made to
commercial statistics by the publication, through
the influence of Sir JOHN LUBBOCK, of the
Clearing House Returns. They have since
appeared regularly on the same day as
the Bank accounts. On the 30th the
Bank minimum rate of discount was reduced from
3 to 2} per cent., while money was freely offered
in the open market at 2}. In June a further loan
was issued by the Chili= Government for rather
more than 1,100,0001., to take up an equal por-
tion of the Internal Debt. About two-fifths of
the sum, however, had been already subscribed
in Chili, so that the transaction, as far as we
were concerned, was of no moment.
Another financial transaction was soon after
proposed—the conversion of the Spanish Passive
and Certificate Debts. As it, however, involved
the advance of a further amount of money from
the bondholders, it appears doubtful how far it has
been received. Some discussion was also taking
place respecting the affairs of the Midland Rail-
way, which was afterwards supplemented by the
announcement to raise 5,000,0001. additional
capital. On the 25th of July the Bank rate was
reduced from 2} to 2 per cent., the lowest rate
that has ever prevailed—save on two previous
occasions, in 1852 and 1862, when it stood for
several weeks at the same point. We have had no
change since July. Among the later opera-
tions for the year, we have had a small
Portuguese Loan, which has proved successful, and
a project for the conversion of the Greek Debt.
Of this last affair, it can safely be said in its
favour, that under no circumstances could the
bondholders, if they accept, be worse off than they
are now.

The future is not promising. What concerns
the British public more than anything else is the
condition of their railway property. That is of
even greater interest than the question whe-
ther half or two-thirds of the foreign governments
to whom we have lent money turn defaulters or
not. The present period is one of transition.
Let us hope and strive that it may turn out for
the best.

authors of such exploits as that at Cork, they must be
dealt with sternly, and suffer the utmost penalty of their
crimes. The palliation hitherto alleged for the conspiracy,
that its outbursts had been unacoompanied by any per-
sonal outrages, since the Clerkenwell explosion no longer
exists. The • Standard observes that the contretemps at
Cork is chiefly significant as proving that the authorities
have to do with a conspiracy which is formidably organised
and the leaders of which are constantly on the watch for
opportunities to do mischief. The moment we close our
eyes in fancied security the Fenian conspiracy will be
strong for mischief.
The Telegraph calls for the action of the executive
against the Irish uationalist press. It thinks it foolish
that we should allow such writings to circulate by
thousands through the English and Irish post, and yet
afterwards imprison or hang the poor dupes who act on
the teaching they contain.

J 8 TOPICS.

The Times points out numerous difficulties encountered
by the Abyssinian expedition. The Bombay government
has trusted overmuch to the supply of labour from the local
population, and mules bought at high prices were perishing
by wholesale. As to the water supply it is scarcely possible
to conceive anything more costly, more cumbrous, or more
likely to prove Inadequate than the distillation of ewe
water—only appropriate in the case of a ship's crew •
thousand miles from land—to the supply of many thousand
men and animals. The mules had no chain halters, with-
out which they are not safe, and the Sappers from England
had no warm clothing, blankets, or cooking utensils.
When such mistakes are made we may be thankful that
mattersarenotstill worse. We shall do betternext year, and
completely master the subject by the time we have found
out that the expedition was a mistake altogether from the
beginning, and that we have done no good to ourselves by
it, though, possibly, some good to others we don't care so
much about.

The Star never could wee any great advantage or any
peculiar dignity secured for us by Lord Stanley's limitation
of the case of the Alabama ; and thinks it would be to
England's honour not to allow a false dignity to stand In
the way of international good feeling.
The Post continues its attacks upon the administration
of the Foreign-office. The elder clerks, it says, had better
be superannuated ; some of the senior claim should be
sent to consulates to learn their duty, and be replaced by
consuls who know it already ; and those who are unfit for
diplomatic work must be dismissed to some harmless em-
ployment in another department of the public service.

The Daily News gives some account of the letter from
Mr. Samuelson, the member for Banbury, which has just
been printed as a parliamentary paper, describing his
visit to the great industrial establishments abroad. Every
page of the letter, the Daily lima says, shows how im-
portant the difiinsion of scientific education is to our work-
ing class. Everywhere it is found that our manufacturing
artisans and their foremen are unable, through deficiencies
of their early education, to put forth with effect the
splendid qualities with which Providence has endowed our
race.

Captain Sherard Osborn wiites to the Tina in favour
of another expedition to the Arctic Regions in verification
of a report which has been made that somewhere up in the
Arctic seas lies an unknown land. The gallant officer
appears actuated in his suggestion more by the desire to
find something to do for our naval officers and seamen
than by anything else. The French, it seems, are already
on the track, though M. Lambert, the originator of the sAl-
venture, has something more solid in view than a geogra-
phical problem. He expects to find whales up there—
though whales are the very things which the Dundee cap-
tain could not find—and to get the fruits of his enterprise
in a dividend from oil and bone.

The Times appeals to the directors of the Metropolitan
District Railway to date plainly why they do not go on
with the works which are neoesmuy to the construction of
the Thames Embankment between the Temple and Black-
friars. It is possible that, owing to the financial crisis,
the company have been disappointed in their fair expecta-
tions of raiaing money. Such a plea deserves considera-
tion ; bat if this is admitted to be " the real cads of the
delay" in private communication with the board, let it
also be admitted in letters intended for the public. The
only fact certain at present is that, by some incredible per-
verseness, a great and urgent public improvement is inde-
finitely delayed.

Cite Court.

OSBORNE, Bac. 28.

The Queen drove in the grounds yesterday after-
noon, accompanied by Princess Louise; and her Majesty,
accompanied by Prins. Arthur and Princess Beatrice,
walked oat this morning.
Prince and Princess Christian and Priam Leopold slsit
went out.

Prima' Louise and Princess Henrietta of Schleswig-
Holstein drove in the pounds.

DEC. 29.

The Queen drove out in the grounds yesterday after-
noon, accompanied by Princess Christian. The other
members of the royal family also went out.
The Queen, Prince and Princess Christian, Prboess
Louise, Prince Arthur, and Prinowis Henrietta of Schles-
wig-Holatein, attended Divine Service at Whippinghani
this morning.

The Rev. George Prothero, assisted by the Rev. R.
Duckworth, officiated, and administered the Sacrament of
the Holy Communion.

The Lady in Waiting to her Majesty, and the Equerries
in Waiting, were in attendance.
Prince Leopold ►nd Princess Beatrice attended the
morning service at Whippingham.

Despatches were received on Saturday at the Colonial-
office from the Governors of the Straits Settlements, Gib-
raltar, and Malta. Despatches were sent to the Governor
General of Canada.

THE QUEEN AND THE DEFENCE OF OSBORNE-
HOURS.—The following oorreepondenoe has passed between
the chairman of the West Cowes local board of health and
Lieutenant-General the Hon. Charles Grey :—" Cowes,
Dec. 21, 1867.—Sir,—The inhabitants of West Cowes
much regret that the necessity has arisen to take more
than ordinary measures to ensure the safety of her most
gracious Majesty the Queen, and I write, as chairman of
the local board of this town, to assure you that the
strongest feelings of loyalty are entertained by the inhabi.
tants of all classes, and nothing would be more gratifying
to them than to join in any act or demonstration which
should be the means of evincing their determination to
secure her Majesty's personal safety. If, sir, you can
point out any mode, whether by acting as special con-
stables or otherwise, that the population of West Cowes
can be made available, I am sure they would most unani-
mously join and heartily accede to your suggestion.—
I have the honour to be your obedient servant, James
MOORE." To the above letter, which, there is no doubt,
represents the feelings and wishes of every person in the
town, Lieutenant-General the Hon. Charles Grey re-
sponded in the following terms :—"Osborne, December 22,
18o7.—Sir,--I have had the honour of receiving and sub-
mitting to the Queen the letter written by you as chair-
man of the local board of health, in the name of the
inhabitants of West Cowes, expressing their regret
that any necessity should have arisen for the adoption
of extra precautions to ensure her Majesty's safety while
resident at Osborne, and offering their service., either
as special oonstables, or in say other way that may
best prove their loyal devotion to her Majesty's person
and family. Her Majesty commands me to say that she is
deeply touched by these loyal essununses on the part of
her subjects at Cowes, and very grateful for them. She
has herself never entertained the slightest apprehension of
her personal safety, though she has thought it right to
yield to the representations of her government by giving
her sanction to the precautionary measures which they
thought it prudent to adopt. It will be for the government
to consider whether anything more is necessary than has
been already done, and I have therefore, by her Majesty's
command, forwarded your letter to the Home Secretary,
who will judge how far it may be desirable to take .dean.
tap
of the offer of their services by the loyal inhabitant.
of C .was.—l have the honour to be, air, your very obedient
humble servant, C. 0 RET.—To J. Moore, Esq."
The Duke and Duchess of Buocleuch and Ladies
Sco't, the Marchioness of Abercorn, the Earl and Countess
of Fife and family, the Earl and Countess of Mount-
F.dgcuinbe, Lord and Lady Elobo and family, Colonel Hon,
W. P. and Lady Emma Talbot and family, Hon. Victor
and Lady Agneta Montagu, Sir William Fraser, Lord
Brougham, Lord Henry Percy, M.P., and Lady Louisa
Percy, the Marquis and Marchioness Camden, Lady
Houghton, Mr. and Mn. Baring, and other English (sari.
lies are at present resident at Cannes.

N.E.
N.
N.E.
N.E.
N.
B.L

sirs
E. 5.11.
E.N.L

KN.&
N.E.
N.N.L
W.N.W.

&remoter corrected and reduced to 32 deg. st sea level. The
letter. r 2 Oiling), a ketaadyl, Indicate direction of
motion of the mercury within last 1° hours. Thermometer exposed
in shade. Extreme force, with Its direction doling last 24 hours.
Z.—calm. Weather: b. - blue sky e. - clouds (detached ; 2.
fog : I.—lightning; shaty) : u—overcast
dull); r. —rain ; s.—snow; t.—thunder. gain.fall, snow or
hall melted), during hut 24 boars. Sea disturbance.

MR. SAMUELSON, M.P. ON TECHNICAL
EDUCATION.

Prom the Parliamentary printing-office has just
been issued the copy of a letter from Mr. B. Samuelson,
M.P., to the Vice-President of the Committee of Council
on Education, concerning technical education in various
countries abroad. The hon. member was appointed by
, the government on a special mission to inquire into
this subject. Mr. Samuelson, in summing up the
results of his investigation and observations, says, " I
I endeavoured to give a fair though brief amount of the state
of primary and technical education in France, Switzerland,
and Germany, as well as a very alight notice of some of its
features in Belgium. I have also attempted to show by
examples what is the condition of some of the leading in-
dustries in those countries. Ido not think it is possible
to estimate precisely what has been the influence of conti-
nental education on continental manufactures. That the
rapid progress of many trades abroad has been greatly
facilitated by the superior technical knowledge of the
directors of works everywhere, and by the com-
paratively. advanced elementary instruction of the
workers m some departments of industry, can
admit of but little doubt. At the same time it cannot
justly be said that their superior education has led
our neighbours to make any striking industrial improve-
ments. The manufacture of the more important textile
fabrics certainly does not owe its present advanced posi-
tion in any marked degree to continental inventiveness.
In the production of iron and steel also, if • step has been
taken in admire of us as regards some peculiar though
important products, this is due except perhaps in the
case of the steel castings of Bochum and Firminy, less
to the development of new discoveries than to a careful
and intelligent improvement of processes—common
to all, and to some priority in the utilisation
of resources at least as readily within the reach of our
manufacturers as of those of an other country. Our
Dr. Peroy's great work is tra into every continental
language, and used as a text-book in the continental
schools, whilst the improvements lately made abroad are
engaging the serious attention of our meteilionvists ; sad I
have not the least doubt that the pound which we have
lost will be speedily recovered both by our ironmasters and
our engineers, unless, indeed, a return of prosperity should
lead to • renewal of the contentions -between masters
and workmen which have canard such mischief to both.
It would be an event of national importance if the iron
and engine building trades, like those which I named at
the outset of this report, would establish boards of con-
ciliation. Even as I write lam rejoiced to learn from Mr.
Mundella that the lacemakers of Nottingham have followed
the example of the kindred traders of that town, and that
Sheffield is inclined to imitate them. It is not by the
payment of low wagee, or by the premature employment
and overtasking of children, that any great manufacturer
can be made to prosper in this country, but by mutual
forbearance and goodwill between those whose interests,
though debateable and opposite In detail, are identical in
the main. The cheap carriage of coal and iron on
our railways is another important condition of the
moccasin' pursuit of our great manufactures. Iron
ores are carried in Pianos at rates below
three-eighths of a penny per ton per mile : coal
is sent from Westphalia to every part of France,
Holland, and Germany at cue halfpenny per ton per mile,
including the use of wagons, and these rates are not un-
profitable. Iron is delivered from Serving, near Liege, into
the port of London, for 13s. per ton, or 3. cheaper than
from Wolverhampton. Railway managers are well aware,
though under the temptation of immediate returns they
sometimes overlook the fact for • time, that nothing tends
more to develop generaltraffic than slow tariff of materials.
Meanwhile, we know that our manufacturing artisans are
imperfectly taught, our agricultural labourers illiterate •
neither one nor the other can put forth with effect thr;
splendid qualities with which Providence has endowed our
people. Our foremen, chosen from the lower industrial
ranks, have not sufficient opportunities of correcting the
deficiencies of their early education. Our managers are
too apt in every case of novelty to proceed by trial and
error, without scientific principles to guide them ; and
the eons of our great manufacturers too often either
despise the pursuits of their fathers as mere handi-
craft, unworthy of men of wealth and education, or
else overlooking the beautiful examples which they
afford of the application of natural laws to the wants of
man, follow them solely as a means of heaping up more
wealth, or, at the best, for want of other occupation. To
the evils of such • condition not only our stateroom, but
also our people, are rapidly awakening ; and, the disease
being once acknowledged, I believe the remedy will soon
be applied. The extension of the half-time system by the
Factory Acts, and the insertion of education clauses in the
Workshops Act of last session, are the commencement of
• more serious movement in favour of universal elementary
instruction. If the principles of that legislation are
extended to agriculture, it will be a mere play upon
words to argue whether primary education shall or shall
not be compulsory ; for no young child will be allowed
to work unless it also goes to school. I cannot think
that apprenticeship schools are suitable to the general in-
dustrial conditions of Great Britain. They may, however,
be forced upon the employers by such trades as those at
Sheffield and elsewhere, which have combined to limit the
introduction of apprentices into workshops. In special
cases, such as those of some of our agricultural countiee,
where the supply of labour is in ozone of the demand, and
in Ireland they could probably be introduced with advan-
tage. But they fall properly within the province of bene-
volent individuals and societies, and their moms will
depend more than almost any other undertaking on the
udgment with which they are organised and superintended.
If I may venture to suggest some further measures, which
may, in my opinion, be speedily and safely adopted by the
State to promote education, I would sum them up as follows:
First, as to elemental, education. Let no child under
twelve be allowed to work until it can read and write.
Make it the duty of every parish to see that its children
have the mama of elemental," instruction. Encourage
elementary schools by special grants to establish advanced
classes. Assist the pupils of elementary schools who have
shown remarkable ability to continue their education in •
superior school. Secondly, as to technical education—
revise your science minutes and abolish the limitation to
working-class pupils of the capitation grants to 1111314111C41
teachers. It is simply a stumbhng-block to the weak con-
sciences of committee-men, and prevents the establishment
of classes remunerative to the teachers. Psy • larger
sum per head for the more difficult subjects, and
thereby remove the temptation of the teachers of science
schools to ride physiology end inorganic chemistry to death.
Give • thoroughly scientific training in Jernlynatreet to a
small number of young men, chosen, if you like, in part
from amongst your more promising " *ammo teachers," in
order to qualify them as professors of science. Distin-
guish between these sod the men who merely get up one
or two subjects in order to teach a science class. Supple-
ment local efforts to establish or to extend secondary or
superior scientific schools (not mere science classes), by
building grants or loans, and by the endowment or partial
endowment, under proper conditions, of professorships.
Begin with Manchester (if Manchester is not too proud),
whose citizens are trying to raise 100,0001. for the enlarge-
ment of Owen's College. Let one condition of assistance
to a scientific school be, that a perfecting school (Forthil-
dungsachule) shall be affiliated to it • and of the endow-
ment of a professorship, and the professor shall teach in
the perfecting school. Lastly, consolidate your depart-
ment of education."

" Argus" writes :—" The racing season which
terminated this month may be regarded as the longest on
record, and the worst that backers have ever known. It
has been remarkable also for the heaviest betting that has
ever characterised the English turf ; and had Crockford
been alive and played the strength of the game, as ha was
invariably wont to do, he would have won, on a moderate
computation, at least a quarter of • million. Of course
the victims have been the plungers, who have got them-
selves into such deep water that I am afraid extrication is
impossible. Of course estates will change hands, mort-
gages will have to be raised, consols sold out to meet those
debts of honour, and many a haughty patrician is so
anxious to contract a loan as the Papal States or the Mexi-
can empire. This is not an encouraging prospect, I admit;
but the remedy for it is at once simple end feasible, viz.,
to reduce the betting to more simple dimensions, so that
noblemen and gentlemen may not find themselves involved
in pecuniary difficulties for life by the untoward result of
• Derby or St. Leger, • Cesarewitch or Cambridgeshire."
WELLINGTON COLLEGE.—The school broke up on
Christmas-eve, and, ou the evening before, the annual
concert was given to • very numerous assemblage of
friends and neighbours._ _

THE Sillon;oHlEE unnza. —On Saturday after-
noon John Mapp was brought up on remand charged with
the wilful murder of the child Catherine Lewis at Long-
den on Sunday, the 22nd instant. The examination was
made in the oonnty gaol at Shrewsbury, and though the
day of remand bad been privately altered from that which
was originally fixed, and was consequently known to but
comparatively few persons, a large crowd had congregated
in the open space before the gaol, desirous to obtain a
glimpse of the principal witnessea. Mapp having been
already committed for trial on the coroner's warrant,
now appeared in his prison dress, and being
washed and cleanly shaven, presented a greatly
improved appearance. Some little additional evi-
dence having been given, the prisoner, after being duly
cautioned, mid, " Mr. Jones has spoken about my pocket
handkerchief being dirty and having stains upon it. I cut
my band a fortnight ago, and wrapped the pocket hand-
kerchief round it, and my mother washed it afterwards.
The brooch which was found in my pocket I bought on
Sunday night, as I was coming home from chapel. I
paid either threepence or fourpence for it, I don't know
which. I don't know the person I bought it of, for it was
dark, and Icould not see his face. I suppose the little
girl had given it to some One, and he sold it tome. There
was a bit of blood on the cuff of my jacket, but it was from
my nose. It bled on Sunday, and I wiped it with my
cuff and the back of my hand, and then I wiped my hand
on my trousers. That's how the blood came there. I bad
no knife in my pocket
ro at all on Sunday. I left it in the
pocket of my wOr • trousers on Saturday, and did not
see it again till M y, so how could I cut the little girl's
throat with it ? That's all I have to say." The prisoner
was then committed for trial

THE POLICE COURTS.
(THIS DAY.)

MANSION-HOUBM

THI DARING ROBBERY WITH VIOLENCE IN THE MT,
James Riley, 21, was brought up on remand before the
Lord Mayor, charged with stealing a gold watch and chain,
value 401.
The prosecutor, Mr. Charles; Kirby, wine merchant,
N 0.12, Crescent, Minories, was walking along Great Tower.
street about 7 o'clock in the evening, when the prisoner
came up and wrenched away his, watch and chain. At the
same moment the prosecutor was knocked down from
behind and kicked while on the ground. Prosecutor kept
hold of the prisoner, and a potioeman having come up, at.
treated by the cries of " Stop thief," he was given into
custody.
The case had been remanded in order that it might be
ascertained whether Riley was known to the police. Par.
tridge, the gaolor, now stated that no return had been
made in reference to him, but he believed that he had been
at this court before.

Mr. Kirby stated that a gentleman had called on him on
Saturday, and stated that • similar attack had been made
upon him, and an attempt m►de to steal his watch. He
(Mr. Kirby) believed th►t there was • desperate gang of
such characters in the neighbourhood.
The Lord Mayor committed the prisoner to Navigate to
take his trial at the Central Criminal Court.
SOUTHWARK.
_ _ MURAL OF STABBING.

Patrick Sullivan and Michael Harrington, two powerful.
looking men, were brought before Mr. Burcham, charged
with stabbing Mary Tindal, and wounding her eon, James
Tindal, in the face.
Mary Tindal, an elderly woman, said she was a widow,
and lived with her son at 6, Duke's-court, Maypole-alley,
in the Borough. She knew the two prisoners as living
near them ; and on Saturday night they forced their
way into her hones, and tried to get into her bed.
room. There were throe other men with them,
' and Sullivan seized bold of her and stabbed
her. Her son came to her &moistener, when he was also
attacked and received a wound on the head. While Sul-
livan was attacking them the prisoner Harrington tried to
drag him out of the house, but on the police making their
appearance they left and ran away. The prisoners were,
however, followed and taken into custody.
Mr. Burcham asked if she saw any instrument in Sulli-
van's hand.

Witnessreplied in the negative. He must, however,
have had some blunt instrument in his hand.
_ _

James Tindal said he was coming home to 'upper when
he saw a number of men is his mother's pl►ce attempting
to force their way into her room. Henn to her protection
when he received a cut on the bead. The prisoner Har.
rington was there, but he did not see him do anything.
Mr. Burnham said there did not seem to be sufficient
evidence to detain H►rrington, therefore he must be die
charged ; but as for the other prisoner, he must be re.
mended for the attendance of the surgeon who dressed
the wounds.

--
The magistrate has received a cheque for 51. sa. from
Meurs. Schilezze and Co. ; 51. 54. from Mr. James Rees ;
and 21s. from " H. G.," for the poor-box.

BABY FARMING IN ST. LUIZS.

INQUEST.—LIS DAY.)
This morning Mr. John Humphreys, coroner,
held an inquiry at the Crown Tavern, Whitecran-street,
St. Luke's, relative to the sudden death, while at nurse,
of Alfred Johnson, aged four months.
Mrs. Matilda Thorne, 7, Regent-street, City=
said that she was a widow. She received the d
child to nurse, a fortnight before its death, from its
mother. The mother told her that she was the
wife of • soldier, now on duty in Ireland, and
that her reason for putting the child out to nurse
was that she was obliged to go out to earn her living
at paper-bag making. She paid witness ss. a week for the
a ippurt of the child, and she said that after she paid her
rent she had only 10d. a day to live upon herself. At 3
o'clock on Christmas morning witness was awoke by
another child crying, and she found the deceased very
In fact it was as nearly dead as it could be. She kept it
in her arms ti l 6 o'clock when she took it to the mother's
address, but the mother was not at home. She had been
at work all night. The child was then quite dead. Wit-
ness brought the body beck again, and Dr. Steadman was
sent for. Her object in taking it to the mother's at 5
o'clock in the morning was that the mother might see a
doctor who she said had previously given some medicine
for it.
The Coroner—How many children do you keep at one
time, Mrs. Thorne'
Witness—Generally three. I never keep more than
four, for I find it impossible to manage so many. I have
one little boy of my own. I have no means whatever of
supporting myself and my son but by what I am paid for
these children. The price is generally ss. • week each.
The child of • man and his wife that I have now is paid for
at 6s. a week. Another child is that of a Derma. girl, who
pays ss, a week for it. That child is illegitimate ; indeed,
they are neatly all illegitimate.
The Coroner—You, no doubt, advertise for children?
Witness—Yes, sir, in the Clerkenwell paper. I
have only been engaged in minding children this way for
twelve months.
Coroner—And how many children have died during that
time!
Witness—Three altogether. One was brought to me in
• dying state to see if I could bring it regrind. One of them
I had from birth. It was the illegitimate child of • young
lady, and it lived for five months. It was born at my
place. I had advertised for a baby and the lady and a gen-
tleman came and asked me as a favour to allow the confine-
ment to take place in my room. That was the only case of
the kind. The other two children died at four months old.
I do not adopt children, nor do I intend to do so. I have one
room for which I pay 3s. 6d. a week rent. The mother of
this deceased child was very fond of it. and used to come
twice • week to see it. I fed it on milk and Robb's bis-
cuits, and the top crusts of loaves of bread. It was ailing
a little on Christmas-eve, but not sufficiently to make
me send for a doctor, as I always do when the children
get ill.
Mr. James H. Steadman. M.R.C.S., said that he was
called to the deceased on Christmas-day. It bad been
long deal There were no marks of violence on the body,
which was, however, very much emaciated. Witness had
been frequently called in before by Mrs. Thorne to see
children. He bad attended the young lady at her place.
Witness thought she was generally a careful, respectable
I woman, who attended to the children as well as she
omit&
The foreman said that whatever Mrs. Thoine might wish
to do with regard to the children, it was clear that the
system of baby farming was a bad one, for, by her own
showing, she had to support herself and her son, and
three or four other children and pay the rent of the room
out of the 15s. or 11. • week she was paid for the support
of the infants. It was manifest that somebody mast
rafter, for all could not be supported on such a pittance.
Mary Anne Johnson, • paper bag-maker, said that the
deceased was her illegitimate child, by • soldier who was
stationed in Ireland. She put out the chill to nurse
in consequence of not being able to support herself and
the child on 7s. • week, which was all the money she made
while she lityl the child to take care of. Seeing Mrs.
Thorne'. advertisement in the Clerkr, Nees, she took
the child to her. After that she made Vb. • week out
of that she paid ss. a week for the child, and 2s. 3d. rent.
She supported herself on 4a. • week. She
often eat up working until 10 and 1? o'clock at night.
" Many a day," said the witness crying, " I have lived
upon a penny roll, end bed nothinc else to eat. I did
th,t to annport my child. I could not support myself and
chill on 7e. a week."
Mr. Steadman, surgeon, said that the deceased had died
from congestion of the lungs. A child in that state would
require extra care, and it had only received one-fifth of
the attention that it ought to have received, for Mrs.
Thorne had to take care of five children, and she could not
give a mother's care to the deceased.
The Coroner having summed up, the jury returned the
following verdict :—" That the deceased died from con-
gestion of the lungs, from want of natural nourishment
and care on the part of Mrs. Thorne, she having four other
children to attend to, and the jury are of opinion that
some steps ought to be taken to alter the system of baby
farming, and they request the coroner to write to the
Home Secretary and lay before him a summary of the
evidence in the case of the deceased child."

FATAL FIGHT NEAR STAFFORD.-011 Saturday,
at noon, a young man named William Fodeo, a black'
smith, was charged before Messrs. 3. H. Webb and
W. T. Locker, at the police-office, Stafford. u.dh
the manslaughter of William Ratchford. The prisoner
was simply brought up to be remanded. but as
Mr. Enough, who appeared for the defence, indc,d
for bail, the bench wished to hear the evidence of
one of the witnories ; and Noah Evans, lehourer, WO"
called. He said that at about one o'clock on Friday after-
noon he was at Edward Martin's public-home, Houghton.
William Rotchford and William Simmonds were
fighting in the rick-yard. They fought shunt four
rounds, and then Ratchford struck Sininionds,
while lie was down. A man of the name of
Cockayne picked the latter up. and as he was doing 90 was
struck by Ratchford. The mionler and this well not for
when Ratchford attacked him also, hitting him in the
fere. There was DOW a fight between these two, hut they
bad only two rounds. At the end of the second round
Ratchford fell to the ground, and witnew went to hit
assist/woe. He noticed that his lips and eyes chano7o4
colour, and his face became yellow. As witness was hold-
ing his hands in water he sighed deeply three times end
expired. There was a scar on his left side. There was
also a little blood issuing from his nnerils. Deceased
never spoke after be fell. He e'rip,...l to fight. This
Well all the evidence produced. The bench remanded the
prisoner for a week, consenting to take boil.
SUDDEN DEATH IN WORCESTER CATHEDRAL —A
case of sudden death ocannvd at Worcester, yesterday
(Sunday), ender very melancholy circumstances. 141..•
I Brookes, builder and undertaker, of Springlardells.ll9-
tannia•equare, attended morning service at the catbnill".
and during the service expired in an apoplectic fit, Mt.
Bmokes's death occurring so suddenly, and whilst hers
taking part in divine worship, created • very sad feeling
throughout the city.

r. It
L. L W. It ,
Nairn . . 30.44 r 8.8. W.
Absrassa .4;r.16
Leith
Ardramaste 30.:: 341
G LI.
vaientla 30.2.6 r 1
cape Clear 30.20 r 44 ILL
Roches Pt 30.20r Kg&
Liveipool 30.44 49 8.1.
flotylmed .36r vs.s.
Pamsac• ,10.33r 401
_N.E.
.. Ind l3OlO
Itoolsatori 30.00r 7 L.E. 4
Plymouth
Weymouth 34r L 6
Portunoalh .34r IL 3
London
Yarmouth 37r 37 LK 4
Scarborough .1137 L. 3
6111444 130.40 r 40 LAS. 2
Hadar l3O 32 33 N.E. 7 -