Northern Times.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1860-01-24 00:00:00

NORTHERN DAMN TIMES.

VOLUNTEER MOVEMENT.

The Earl of Sefton has addressed the following letter
to Captain Bousfield; of the Ist Lancashire Volunteer
Rifles :

Loudon:January ,21st. 186 O„
Sin,—l have the konour to infOrm you that, her Majesty has
been graciously pleased to approve and accept the services of
company of rifle volunteers at Liverpool, under the Act 44
George 111., c 54, in connection with the Ist and-16th Lanca-
shire Rifle Volunteers. ,
This Company. together with the Ist and 16th companies,
have been formed into one corps, and numbered as the FIRST
in the county of Lancashire.
The maximum establishment of this corps will consist of
one caPtain-commandant; two captains, three lieutenants,
three ensigns, and'3oo men of all ranks.—l am, sir, • Tour
Obedient ser cant, SEFTO.N.
To. N. Bousfield, Esq., Captain Ist L.R.V.

THE VICTORIA RIFLES.—We ate glad to announce
that the services of this company have been accepted by
her Majesty. They now rank as the 32nd company of
Lancashire Rifle Volunteers, and their establishment
will consist of one captain, one lieutenant, one ensign,
and 100 men of all ranks.

RAGGED
NIG SCHOOL UNION.-MEETING
LAST HT.

• The twelfth annual public meeting of the Liverpool
Ragged School Union was held in Hope-hall, Hope-
street, last evening. His Worship the Mayor, T. D.
Anderson, Esq., presided; and amongst the gentlemen
on the platform were—The Rev. Thomas Moore, the-
Rev. J. Bardsley, the Rev. G. Bowden, the Rev. J.
Patterson, the Rev. V. M. White, the Rev. J. R.. Welsh,
the Rev. J. Graham, the Rev. J. C. Milleri J.
M'Diarmid, ; Thomas Bell, Esq. ; James Burt,
Esq. ; W. H. Jones, Esq. ; S. Martin, Esq. ; John
Cropper, Esq. ; Adam Hodgson, Esq. ; Alexander
Balfern, Esq., &c. The general attendance was
somewhat small—a circumstance which might be readily
accounted for from the unfavourable state of the
weather.
The Rev. J. R. WELSH opened the proceedings with
prayer.
The Honorary Secretary read several letters of
apology from gentlemen who were unavoidably absent,
including communications from the Rev. Dr. M'Neile,
the Rev. Mr. Lester, Mr. S. Holme, the Rev. IL S.
Brown, Mr. J. J. Stitt, the Rev. Dr. Hume, &c.
His Worship the MAYOR, who was received with
applause, said==-Ladies and Gentlemen, I have accepted
the invitation of the committee of the Ragged School
Union to take the chair this evening, not only because
I feel a deep interest in the ragged school system, but
because / wish, if possible, in some measure to make up
for the absence of one who has usually presided on the
occasion of your annual meeting of the society, and who
is prevented by illness from doing so on the present oc-
casion. I need not say that I refer to your excellent and
indefatigable chaiiinan and my esteemed friend, Mr.
Edward Heath, to whom this society is so deeply in-
debted: (Applause). I regret there are not more here
this evening to •testify the interest that they take in
ragged schools, as well as to ,show their sympathy for
those who are carrying on thebut no doubt a
great many are prevented by the wetness of the evening.
The object of the society is expressed in its second rule,
which states that it is to encourage and assist the ragged
schools in which religious instruction is given solely
frOnt the Bible, and where the authorised version alone
is used. The chief mode in which the union encourages
ragged schools, is by visiting them through their
excellent superintendent, Mr. Gillespie, of whose de-
lotion and zeal in the cause perhaps too much cannot be
said (applause), and the manner in which they assist them,
independent of the advice and superintendence they give,
is by making small grants to deserving schools which
cannot altogether support themselves. We are all aware
that a great deal has been done of late years in this
town, and throughout the country, in the cause of
education, and that a large number of schools have been
built for the children of the artisan, and for what I may
perhaps term the higher portion of the working classes.
But not so much has been done as ought to have been
done, or might be done, for those of'the poorer and more
destitute classes. The system adopted by the State has
had a tendency to produce this. As you are aware,
great encouragement has been given by the Committee
of the Council of Education, towards the building and
supporting of schools in the country, which have been the
means of doing incalculable good, and at which I heartily
rejoice. But their principle, as perhaps you are aware,
has been to help those who were willing to help them-
selves—a very good principle indeed, when it can be
carried out, but, as you will observe, it leaves those who
can do nothing for themselves without assistance. Now,
I should wish they would not confine their grants to
those who can do something for themselves, but that in
certain cases it should be extended to those who can do
little or nothing. (Hear, hear.) I am quite aware that
there are difficulties in carrying out this, and that the
State has to adopt general rules upon which they act ; but
still I think that these difficulties might be overcome,
and, by the aid of their able and intelligent inspectors,
they might find out ragged or other schools
which were properly conducted and deserving of
assistance; and that they might contribute towards
their support. (Applause.) Before sitting down, I can-
not help congratulating you,. as promoters of ragged
schools, upon the great diminution which has taken
place in crime within the last year or two, and particu-
larly in the number of juvenile criminals, to which I
have not the slightest doubt the ragged schools have
contributed very materially. (Applause.) As has been
Well observed, if we expect to make much impression

upon crime in this country, we must commence by edu-
cating and instilling moral and religious principles into
the youth of our country ; and it is foie' this purpose that,
I think we are all bound to encourage as much as pos-
sible the, formation and the carrying on of ragged
schools. The numbers that attend the Ragged Schools
of Liverpool have been placed in my hands by the
honorary secretary ;" and I think you will be rejoiced to
hear that the total numbers in the industrial evening
and day' schools that have attended during "tha past
year are estimated at 6,974, being an increase of 400
over the attendiince last year. (Applause.) 'And' of
these it is computed that upwards of one half, 3,690,
are pow able to read, and upwards of 480 have passed
from the' schools and obtained situations during 1859.
(Hear, hear.) I will not detain you: longer, but will
call upon the secretary to read the report.
Mr. BURT, the honorary secretary, then reads the
report of the operations of the union during the past
year. The report stated that the result 9f the society's
operation had been as fruitful of good during
Lytheeesrtyperas,gwtr,ehaaots by cirenhidsaintoywnwasprevions year. An additional
industrial school had been opened in Kirkdale.
personal awardedexertions tto
had Rev.org a
nilk slerd.
sm o
e institution.nn tuetomexfeperrpesoreiuneis:
inl
yyeet
experienced, and
it banks
aer
nn.
dadGuie in connection
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committeeea committeesnpd i
Thar admirably mo
esii
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services
iaihl
et:li
ihenihdstsei
ihotsyvl
fee
earnestly
rpecatlaaltillnoeloeeafddi
ablestfer establishlod ner
schools." A deficiency in the number of teachers had
beenv
ol
superintendent,ai
Summing up the result of their ' operations, the com-
mittee saw ample reason to thank God and take courage;
and, in conclusion, earnestly appealed for increased
support"to the movement, for which there was so much
se )pe in a town like Liverpool.
The Rev. T. Moonz moved the first resolution,
affirming the adoption of the report, and nominating
the committee of management for the ensuing year. He
strongly and eloquently advocated the claims of the
union and alluded in pointed terms to the great di-
minution in the number of juvenile criminals, as an
evidence of the use and success'of ragged schools.
Mr. JOHN CROPPER seconded the resolution, which
was agreed to unanimously.
The Rev. G. BOWDEN moved the second resolution:—
" That this meeting hears with much satisfaction the
success which, by the blessing of God, has attended the
operation of the Liverpool Ragged School Union during
the past year, and recommends it to the increased support
of the Christian public in its efforts to promote the
spread of sound kcriptural instruction amongst the
destitute children of this town." He commenced by
complimenting the Mayor for delighting to preside over
a ragged school meeting, and' for again consenting to
become a praise to those who do well. (Hear, hear.)
The reverend gentleman, in au earnest address, advo-
cated the claims of the Ragged School Union on the
Christian sympathies of the public.
The Itev. J. PATTERSON seconded the resolution. He
contended that society was interested in this movement,
for if they did not seek the poor ragged children and
educate theta, a burden would fall upon society and they
would have to be supported in our gaols, our peniten-
tiaries, or our workhouses. But they should not only
regard these children in their relation to, society, but in
relation to God and to eternity.
A collection was here made In aid of the funds of the
society, during which a hymn was sung.
The Rev. V. M. Warra moved the concluding reso-
lution,. which thanked the teachers for their efforts, and
lamented that there were so few of them comp! rativcly.
Mr. 31‘.T.,imotto seconded the resolution, which was
carried by acclamation.
A vote of thanks to the Chairman terminated the
' _
proceedings. -

THE DIVING.OPERATIONS AT THE WRECK
OF THE ROYAL CHARTER.

The Whitstable and Liverpool divers who have been so
successful in their operations in recovering the scattered
treasure and gold from the sunken wreck of the Royal
Charter, were a few days since surprised by an order,
arriving from the underwriters, directing the operations
to be stopped, and the men to be discharged, although
at the time they were finding gold, and were in the
act of weighing a large piece of the wreck, under
which large quantities were expected to be found. The
cause of this stoppage is, no doubt, attributable to the
fact of the underwriters having recovered more than the
amount of gold that was on freight, and which was
insured. 'A portion of the gold is supposed to have
belonged to many of the unfortunate passengers, and
the qaesfion now to be settled is, what is to be done
with the surplus ? In the absence of all proof as to
whom it belongs, no mark or anything being on several
of the bars of gold, nuggets,. quartz, &c., by which it
might be identified, a difficulty prevails, whether the
underwriters are justified in taking possession of the
remainder of the sunken treasure. It is thought they
will eventually do so, they having defrayed all expenses,
amounting, it is understood, to about £2 per cent.
Up to the 14th instant, the date that the divers knocked
off work, the total extent of the treasure recovered was
as follows :-23 boxes of gold, 272 bars and ingots, and
57 broken pieces of geld, 14,8881 sovereigns, 381 b. of
gold nuggets, 2751 b. of gold dust, 496 rupees, six shitlings, a gold pin, and several small articles. All the
boxes of gold and a great malty of the bars bear the
marks contained in the Royal Charter's manifest, and no
doubt canbe entertained of their identity. The remainder,
it will be impossible even to identify. Out of 40,000
sovereigns she is stated to have on board, it will be seen
by the above that only 14,8881 sovereigns have been
found. The amount of gold she had on freight was
about £335,000, and the passengers, it is generally be-
lieved, had at least among them gold to the extent of
£120,000. It is, therefore, evident that there remains
a large amount to be recovered.