The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-06 00:00:00

John Churchill.

The author, a zealous sanitarian, has, he informs
us, for some years been engaged in preparing for
delivery in London a series of plain and simple lec-
tures on the education of man—his object being :
First, to urge upon the serious consideration of
the upper and middle classes the fearful effects of
certain errors (and these susceptible of eradication)
in the systems under which their children are for
the most part trained ' • and, secondly, to point out
the deplorable physical and moral condition of the
national poor, and the absolute necessity of the
cordial co-operation of large bodies of philanthropic
men and women to rescue them from the sin and
misery which have been forced on them. The lec-
ture before us is the sixth of the course (none of
which, somewhat strange to say, have been deli-
vered), and the reason why it has been published
first is the paramount importance of the subject.
For proof of which Mr. Hopley quotes Sir James
Clark. "Nothing," says that eminent authority,
" contributes more effectually to strengthen the
constitution and render it capable of bearing the
vicissitudes of climate than the constant respira-
tion of pure air. On the other hand, nothing
tends more certainly to weaken and relax the sys-
tem and render it susceptible of the impression of
a cold and humid atmosphere than breathing im-
pure air." In dealing with this vital subject the
authorexhibits most or the qualifications of a popular
lecturer. His style is unusually forcible and lucid,
the matter is well arranged, he is thoroughly verged
in his subject, and he is unmistakeably in earnest.
The important part the lungs play in the vital eco-
nomy, the quantity of air they inspire, the neces-
sity of its being pure in order to revivify the
" dead blood " traversing their network, the need
of perfect ventilation in the school-room and the
dormitory, the evils resulting from overcrowding,
the helpless condition of the poor in relation to
sanitary natters, and the steps already taken and
which ought to be taken to improve their condi-
tion—these subjects and others are dwelt on with
great ability and vigour. It is stated on
authority that one hundred thousand persons
die annually in this country of preventible
diseases—i.e., diseases engendered ley neglect !
and that, though the existing ventilation of courts
and alleys prevents the pestilential gases having
their origin there from being immediately fatal,
those gases are mingled with the atmosphere,
w i
es barseabtyhehderbmy
etahneestQuseuebn.
uponwbic ,h
etri iutsh
rloonaed cads,
ject. Determined to drive the truth home, if pos-
sible, to the inhabitants of the West-end of Lon-
don, he demands—.

" Why in your families do you see such pallid faces
Why even in your healthiest districts is the rose of
health unknown Why do you rarely behold in your
town-nursed children that gushing overflow of life, so
beautiful, to notice in the innocent, healthy, happy
young " I address myself to anxious and judicious
parents. You have taken care that your children should
constantly obey the laws of exercise and diet ; you have
clothed them judiciously ; you have thought on the
importance of cleanliness ; you have sent them early to
rest, have taught them to rise early, have ventilated
their dormitories and schoolrooms, and in every way
have studied their health and happiness. Then, why
are they so pale ? why so easily affected by morbific in-
fluences ? why so liable to headaches, stomach pains,
and other causes of unhappiness ! Look for your answer
'to the atmosphere. Look to the various plague-spots
of the metropolis. Look to the neighbourhoods inha-
bited by your poor. Think that God is just, as well as
wise and loving • and will nut have his poor the only
sufferers, but bids his laws to spread the poisons gene-
rated in vile districts, even into parks and palaces.
Look, then, to your atmosphere for the cause of pallid
faces. Think of the foggy vapours constantly arising
from this vast ill-drained, cesspooled area. Think that
every particle of floating moisture is capable of holding
in suspension many times its own volume of gaseous
poison, and see the cause of paleness and general debi-
lity in the forced infringement of the law of respiration."
The lecture is enriched by valuable statistical
information, and the reader will not be surprised
to learn has reached a second edition. Mr. Hop-
ley promises to be a more than usually effective
lecturer. We sincerely wish him God-speed.

The Young Lady's First French Book. By R.

Aliva. Hope and Co.

One of the best, if not the best Elementary
French Book for young ladies. We have seen the
object of the author, which is to make the rules,
idiom, and pronunciation of the French language
readily intelligible, interesting, and easy to be
acquired by the learner, being achieved to admirL-
flon by a method at once natural and ingenious, if
not wholly new. The method, in fact, is precisely
that by which, as the author remarks, little chil-
dren have since the beginning of creation learned
how to speak ; the same through which the children
of many eminent families, by being placed under
French nurses, can speak French uncommonly well
before they are able to read English." In brief, it
may be described as one which substitutes careful
but not over-exacting viva you tuition ; the ex-
ample of the young lady's fellow-pupils, and les-
sons judiciously adapted to hor comprehension for
wearying routine and a practically unintelligible
argon. By this plan it is hardly possible for lady-
pupils to fail in acquiring what so few hitherto
have acquired from before the times of Chaucer
even to the present day—viz., a correct knowledge
of the idiom of the " language, and a pure pro-
nunciation, as well as a ready flow of words and a
graceful utterance. A vocabulary of the French
and English, and of the English and French of all
the words used in the book is appended.

Helps Towards the Physical, Intellectual, and
Moral Elevation of all Classes of Society. By
Thomas Hopley. John Churchill.
These consist mainly of extracts from the pre-
ceding lecture, and aro designed for general circula-
tion, being printed on thin paper, to go by post,
and published at a cheap rate.

BANQUET IN HONOUR OF THE MARQUIS OF WEST.
MINSTER.—A public banquet in honour of the Marquis
of Westminster, and in celebration of the erection of
the New Market-house, Shaftesbury, which has been
erected entirely at his l
i ordsh, s expense, took
th aenldeadrirntgy agriculturists persons sat
place on Thursday last, n tde building referred
tdoo.wnUtio.dvainrndesr,ofeotmwpri
hundredonngal
l
of the district, and many connected by trade and profes-
sion with the town of Shaftesbury. The chair was taken
of Langton-house. On his
14 j
t. J.
lreftahre"Mhaarrqs°u% Esq., of
S'r E. B. liftker,
Bart., K. Seymer, Esq., M.P., John Du Boulay,
Esq., Rev. H. Boucher, Rev. H. T. Glyn, Robert
Graves, Esq. ; and on hie left the lion. W. H. B. Port-
man, M.P., Sir John D'Oyley, the Rev. H. F. Yeat-
man, John Floyer' Eski M.P. John Hussey, Esq.,
Rev. Harry Bower, H. Esq,,
Esq., H. P. Cain
bridge, Esq.,
Rev. H. Blackmore, J. R. Lyon, Esq.,
W. Batton Esq., &c. After the dinner the health of
the noble marquis was proposed and drunk with much
enthusiasm, and the proceedings generally were of a
very friendly and harmonious character,--Salisbury
JoUrAgl.