The Sun.
London, England, 1855-12-25 00:00:00

TRADE WITH THE WEST COAST OF
SOUTH AFRICA.

MEDICAL OFFICERS UNDER THE
BOARD OF HEALTH.

THE IZEFORMATO.RY ESTABLISHMENT

AT METTRAY.

The following instructions from the General Board of
Health to local boards on the duties and qualifications of
medical officers of health may be useful in relation to the
pending choice of officers of health by the new metropo-
litan authorities : •
"The officerof health is appointed is order that through
him the local sanitary authority may be duly informed of
such influences as are acting against the healthiness of the
population of his district, and of such steps as medical
science can advise for their removal ; secondly, to exe-
cute such special functions as may devolve upon him by
the statute under which he is appointed ; and thirdly, to
contribute to that general stock of knowledge with regard
to the sanitary condition of the people and to the pre-
ventible causes of sickness and mortality which, when
collected, inethodised, and reported to Parliament by the
General Board of Health, may guide the Legislature in
the extension and amendment of sanitary law.
"The duties of the officer of health will be to the fol-
lowing effect :
" 1. He will make himself familiar with the natural
and acquired features of the place, with the social and
previous sanitary state of its population, and with all
its existing provisions for health—namely, with the
levels, inclinations, soil, wells, and watersprings of the
district ; with its meteorological peculiarities ; with the
di,tribution of its buildings, and open spaces, paved or
unpaved, of its burial-grounds and lay-stalls ; with the
plan of its drains, sewers, and water supply ; with
the nature of its manufacturing and other industrial
establishments ; with the house accommodation of the
poorer classes, and their opportunities for bathing and
washing ; with the arrangements for burial of the
dead, and with the regulations in force for lodging-
houses and slaughtering-places, for the cleansing of pub-
lic ways and markets, and for the removal of domestic
refuse. And if he be the first officer of health appointed
in his district he will, without unnecessary delay, fur-
nish to the local authority a connected account of these
matters so far as they relate to the public health, mak-
ing thereon such practical suggestions as he may think
applicable.
f 2. He will invite communications relating to the
sanitary wants of the district from the resident clergy,
the medical practitioners, registrars, relieving officers,
and other persons or societies engaged in the visitation
of the poor.
8, He will take the best means in his power t) be-
come acquainted from week to week, and in times of
severe disease from day to day, with the deaths and
sicknesses in his district ; and he will inquire to what
extent they have depended on removable causes.
" 4, With the assistance of such subordinate officers
as the local board may empower him to direct and su-
perintend he will watch his district, taking care to
bring its several parts under examination as often as
their sanitary circumstances shall require, and especially
observing those places which have previously given oc-
casion of complaint, or been subject to sickness. He
will inquire as to the cleanly, wholesome and weather-
proof condition of houses ; as to their due ventilation
and not overcrowded condition ; as to the efficiency of
their drainage and water supply ; and as to the absence
of dampness and offensive effluvia in and about them.
He will examine from time to time the drinking waters
of the place, and will observe whether provisions are
offered for sale in any damaged or adulterated state
that is hurtful or illegal. He will occasionally visit all
burial-places, and see whether they give any ground for
complaint, and he will habitually observe the slaughter-
ing-houses of the district and other industrial estabeclish-
ments which are liable to emit offensive (espially
animal) effluvia.
" 5. He will report to the local board weekly, annu-
ally, and at such intervening times as may require it :
" Weekly, on all deaths (classified according to age,
cause, and locality), and, so far as may be practicable,
on all important sickness of the district ; on such
newly observed unwholesome conditions as the local
board can remove; and on the completion, progress,
or neglect of improvement in matters previously re-
ported on.
" Annually, on the sanitary transactions of the year
(especially as to the removal of former evils, or the crea-
tion of new establishments for sanitary purposes), on
whatever incidental changes have been wrought in the
physical state of the district, and on the sickness, mor-
tality, and atmospheric conditions of the period—using
for these reports, as far as convenient, tabular forms and
other compendious arrangements ; and in every case
where he refers to an existing evil, stating what sanitary
rule, measure, or appliance he deems best for its mitiga-
tion.
"G. He will attend the local board when required,
will he present at some convenient appointed place as
often as may be needful for the receiving of complaints,
and in whatever is to be done for the abatement of un-
wholesome conditions will give all fitting instructions,
superintendence, and aid.
" For the proper performance of these duties special
qualifications in science are required. These lie in pa-
thology, including vital statistics, and in chemistry,
with natural philosophy.
"In pathology, because the science implies an exact
study of the causes of disease in their relation to the
living body—a study of what they are, and how they
act, and why they seem to vary in operation.
" In vital statistics (properly a section of pathology),
because by analysing the composition of various death
rates, and by learning how the pressure of particular
diseases differs under different circumstances of climate,
season, dwelling, age, sex, and occupation, definite
standards of comparison are gained, without which the
officer of health could not estimate the healthiness or un-
healthiness of the population under his charge.
"in chemistry (accompanied by microscopical obser-
vation), because without such aid there can be no accu-
rate judgment as to the impurities of air and water, dan-
gerous impregnations of soil, or, poisonous admixtures in
food ; and because the same science also guides the ap-
plication of deodorising and disinfectant agents.
"In natural philosophy, because many nuisances are
traced, and many questions as to ventilation and over-
crowding are answered by its laws ; further, because by
its aid, the officer of health studies the atmospheric
changes, and learns the climate of his district, important
steps in proceedine, to speak of its diseases ; and finally,
because natural philosophy, in conjunction with chemis-
try, renders him competent to report on many manufac-
turing processes alleged to be hurtful to health, and on
the sufficiency of such means as are employed to reduce
the evils ascribed to them.
" The branches of knowledge here spoken of are pasts
of every extended medical education, for curative and
preventive medicine are founded on a common basis ;
but they are not the parts which have most direct rela-
tion to the treatment of disease. The most distinguished
practitioner of a neighbourhood may, indeed, happen to
be also the person best qualified for a sanitary appoint.
ment ; but the reverse must often be the case, for not
all members of the medical profession can afford equal
leisure to cultivate those distinctive studies ; and it will
imply no disparagement of men, actively and skilfully,
engaged in the treatment of disease, if the special quali-
fications in question should sometimes be found in other
members of their profession rather thaw in them.
" On the other hand, it is important for local boards
to know that the host training for the general duties of
the medical profession is also the beat training for the
duties of au officer of health ; and, in choosing among
candidates, who have not previously held sanitary ap-
pointments, those who have to elect may properly rest
on the evidences of general aptitude for a medical career,
especially where testifying to methodical and industri-
ous habits, to competent powers, with some previous
discipline in scientific observations, to sober judgment,
,and to thorough conscientiousness in the investigation
and statement of facts.
" The duties of an officer of health will not usually be
inconsistent with his devoting a portion of his time to
certain other professional engagements. But, where pos-
sible, it will be well to debar him from the private prac-
tice of his profession-1, because the claims of such
practice would be constantly adverse to those of his
public appointment, the duties of which (especially at
times of epidemic disease, when his official activity would
be most needed) private practice could scarcely fail to
interrupt and embarrass ; 2, because the personal rela-
tions of private practice might render it difficult for him
to fulfil his frequent functions of complaint ; and 3, be-
cause with a view to the cordial goodwill and co-opera-
tion of his medical brethren, it is of paramount import-
ance that the officer of health should not be their rival
in practice, and that his opportunities of admonitory in-
tercourse with sick families should not even be liable to
abuse for the purposes of professional competition.
" Objections of this nature will not generally bold
against the officer of health being professionally con-
nected with the medical school or hospital of his town.
Provided such engagements are not of too engrossing an
amount, its will conduce to the efficiency and estimation
of an officer of health that he be thus kept conversant
with the practical aspects of his profusion, and have
given some security for keeping pace with its scientific
progress.
" It may happen that the extent of duty to be re-
quired from the officer of health in a particular district
would not justify the local board in allotting such a
salary to the office as would enable its holder to dispense
with the income derivable from private practice. But
in cases of this description the object would be equally
fulfilled if the local boards of neighbouring towns or
districts would combine in engaging and remunerating a
properly qualified person, on the understanding that he
should he precluded from private practice, and should
act as officer of health for the two or more boards con-
curring in the appointment.
"Dec. 20." " W. COWPER, President,

MST-OFFICE IMPEDIMENTS TO AUSTRA-
LIAN COMMUNICATION.
Some time ago we stated that Mr. Hamilton, of Old
411-street, Liverpool, had chartered a vessel to convey
"Ime iron bi idge-girders to Aspinwall, for the use of the
'4l)arna Railway, whose traffic is so rapidly increasing.
he girders were not ready for shipment by the barque
,athorn, 445 tons, which bad to be despatched on the
'411; but as an evidence of the fast-growing trade be-
:t,een this country and the west coast, via the Isthmus,
'ls worthy of remark that, though the Hathorn was
of a short time on the berth, and little care was taken
linake known her intended departure for so unwonted
destination (for a sailing ship), there were put on board
hundred packages for the Pacific. These goods
thus reach San Francisco, Valparaiso, Callao,
'llayaquil, and the other adjoining markets, most pro-
be disposed of, aud further orders for fresh sup-
;"es on the samples so sent be half-way back to England
gain, before goods consigned by the route round the
)Ora can have reached the west-coast. The difference
4the cost of freight by Panama is scarcely appreciable
compared with the gain of time, arid the consequent
"antage of qUick returns, by the Isthmus. Strange
,'Mugh, however, just as the superiority of this route
''r rapid intercommunication is becoming apparent to
mercantile world, and just as it becomes doubly de-
trable that, by widely spreading the knowledge of these
acts, private enterprise should be stimulated to do by
l'ay of the Isthmus what the Government of England
'4ll do no way at all, namely, open a direct postal route
'etween England and our Australian and New Zealand
,
'ePendencies, the authorities at St. Martin's-le-Grand,
'oith the extraordinary infatuatioa which has recently
)larked their pet formancee, have loaded all journals sent
tin, Panama with an additional rate of 2d., which, in the
;,ase of newspapers, virtually amounts to a prohibition.
Thus, if our fellow-citizens on the other side of the great
American continent, from the extremity of Chili to
Vancouver's
Island, and in our nonsense possessions
la the Southern Ocean, would know what is going
41 in the mother country, they must pay an enor.
ons additional rate on their papers, or else be content
(0 receive the news after being ventilated by a voyage
llla third of the globe additional. But it is not even
6rbtional with them to make a selection. The additional
,
must be prepaid, or else the paper goes round the
l'orld by either Cape. Observe the hardship of
• this. Hundreds in Australia and along the west coast
subscribe in advance the ordinary stipulated sum for
their papers by the year, or two or three years, as the
ease may be.. Suddenly one-half the cost of the paper is
added in the shape of postage. What is the English news-
°Nader to do If he pays the postage he knows not if
his subscriber will be willing to reimburse him ; if he
does not pay it he knows that his subscriber is placed at
most serious, disadvantage in receiving news—it may
be of the most vital consequence in commercial matters
--from three, to perhaps three times three weeks staler
than his rival in business, who is provided with intelli-
Renee transmitted through the Isthmus. The excuse for
this new tax is the heavy expense of the Panama transit.
But in truth it is to mitigate some of the consequences in
loss of revenue occasioned by that incredible bonder
Pointed out by Sir Cusack Roney in his late correspondence
!Pith Mr. Rowland Hill. On the abolition of the penny
Impressed stamp, except for postal purposes, the authori-
ties, 80 far from giving the colonies any scheme, which
;was perfectly unintelligible, except in this one
particu-
, that' the Canadian, West Indian, Austra-
lian, and other analogous readers of English journals
Weald thenceforth have to pay some 70 to 100 per cent.
More for his paper than before the alteration. Shamed
out of this absurdity and injustice, though not without
4 stout defence of the plan, a la mode ge Balaklara, as
piece of superlative wisdom and equity, St. Martin's-
le-Grand rushed into the opposite extreme, and struck
off both impressed and affixed stamp ; so that, while it
cost 11d. to receive a London morning newspaper by
Post in Liverpool, it was carried to the antipodes for no-
thing, as also to many parts of the European Conti-
bent. The preposterous sacrifice of revenue thus occa-
Sinned was also demonstrated by the gentleman just
named ; bat as he had secured his point in reference to
Canada, he cared not to continue the exposure. After
a while the authorities, calculating on the obliviousness
of the public, or careless as to whether the blunder were
remembered or not, revoked their folly to the extent of
iMposing ld. on every English paper delivered in the
colonies. But there is a combination of the two ori-
ginal blunders, and a supervening third one, in the ex-
Pedient now hit upon. The public are told that the right
Way to send papers to certain parts is by Panama ; but,
in the same breath, it is announced that a fiscal barrier
is erected across the Isthmus, and that, without paying
this monstrous 2d., old news, and old news only, can be
received in the parts enumerated, some of them the most
important its the possession of the British Crown. Re-
Pulsive as is. the aspect the matter wears now, its pro-
"Pective features threaten to be still more obnoxious.
Though successive Colonial Ministers, Mr. Labouchere
included, have treated the question of direct steam com-
ixienication with the Pacific as if no such places as Aus-
tralia and new Zealand existed, it is gratifying to know
that, both here and in the United States, and at Auck-
land, Melbourne, and at Sydney, progress is being made
in the organisation of means that shall give regular
and frequent despatches of mails and passengers be-
tween England and the antipodes, via the Isthmus.
But in proportion as this design is carried out, so will
the disadvantages • increase to those who will not pay
the 2d. ; for as the transmission of news direct is acce-
lerated, so will news by the old rcund•about route
of the Capes wax more and more antiquated by com-
parison. That the pretence of the Panama Rail-
'Ray tariff being the cause of the additional 2d.
ie obviously absurd is proved by the fact that the New
York merchants find it cheaper to forward such bulky
and ponderous articles as coal and building materials,
and to receive coffee, pearl-shells, dye-woods, and all the
West coast produce across the isthmus, instead of in
Sailing vessels byi the Horn. Such being the case, it is
rather too great a strain on our credulity to be assured
that the British mail bags must be lightened, or those
interested in their contents mulcted in the fashion that
is to come into operation on the Ist of January next.
The Royal West India Mail Company now run their
boats to Colin, or Aspinwall, as the Americans call it,
and will soon, probably, complete the other half of the
Service from the Panama side of the Isthmus to Mel-
bourne and Sydney, as they have such ample resources
and facilities of doing. But at present they ask for no
increase of remuneration for the existing moiety ; and
the least our British Post-office might do would be to
Wait till such claim upon them affords some apparent
justification for their claim on the public.—Liverpool
Albion of yesterday.

PARISH OF ST. BOTOLPH, BISHOPS-

GATE.

Yesterday a vestry meeting of the inhabitants of this
parish was held in the vestry-room, for the purpose of
making a church rate, in pursuance of an Act of Parlia-
ment, made and passed in the sixth year of the reign of
his Majesty King George the Fourth, chap. 176, and for
the transaction of other business connected with the
parish; the Rev. Dr. Russell, the rector of the parish,

presided.
The CHAIRMAN said the first business on the paper was
the making a church rate, and he had the satisfaction of
stating to the meeting that for the next 10 years the
rate would be 100 guineas less than it had been for the
10 years preceding, and 5251. less than it was when he
first came to the parish. The rate, as they must be
swan?, was made under an Act of Parliament. e
church
wardens had the making of it, but they mustTh do

o in public vestry.
Mr. PERRY said, eo fax as the commutation of tithes
was concerned in reference to the act referred to, the
churchwardens could no doubt levy a rate, but he denied
that without the authority and sanction of the vestry
assembled they could do so in respect of any expenses
relative to the conducting of the worship of the church,
such as the payment of organist, pew-openers, and so
forth.
The CHAIRMAN stated that the whole of the sum now
levied as ohurch-rate, was so levied under the Act of Par-
liament for commuting the tithes of the parish. By that
act it was ordained that a sufficient assessment should be
made, to cover the sum 2,5001., which bad been com-
muted in the shape of the tithes of the parish, and
therefore it was not an assessment on the inhabitants,
but it was only carrying out the requirements of the
act. Since he, bad come into the parish the SUM had
been reduced by 525/.
Mr. PERRY still thought that the commutation of the
tithe had nothing whatever to do with the conducting of
the public worship in the church. That .was a matter
which appertained exclusively to the inhabitants, and it
was for them in vestry assembled to sanction each ex-
endituro.
Mr. ABRAHAMS was of the same opinion. The act of
Parliament merely related to the commutation of tithe
in respect of the rector; it had nothing whatever to do
with the other expenses of conducting public worship in
the church. However, as they bad appointed, last
Easter, the officials for whose benefi
or t a portion
thought of the
rate now demanded was to be apptioned, he
they could not do otherwise than provide for the pay-
ment of them.
Mr. BRIGGS, the churchwarden, said the rate was
yearly decreasing, as during the past year it had been
fivepence and fourpence in the pound per quarter, it
was now only intended to ask a rate of three-pence in
the pound.
A rate of threepence in the pound for the purposes
required was accordingly agreed to.
Mr. PERRY gave notice that at next meeting he would
make a motion to the effect that all sums appertaining to
the expenditure consequent on the celebration of public
worship in the church be separated from the general
vote taken for that purpose, under the Act for the Com-
mutation of Tithes.
itThe CilratcsswaeßßN then said that he bad next to ask
the vestry to vote him a rate for the relief of the poor
for the current quarter. He was sorry to say that such
rate would bo somewhat high, as be found they would
require to strike a rate to the extent of ls. sd. in the
pound. He bad also the disagreeable intelligence to
give them that next quarter there was every probability
of the rate being higher.
After some discussion the rate was agreed to ; and
the meeting concluded with a vote of thanks to Dr.
Russell, fur his conduct in the chair.

THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

At one time it seemed probable that yesterday would
have been observed as a holiday throughout London, and
the Crystal Palace Company, with their usual fore-
thought, put forward an attractive programme for the '
purpose of meeting the demand of the liberated metro-
politan sight-seers, who it was thought would have taken
the opportunity of visiting the building. But, as our
readers are aware, yesterday was as busy a day as any
in the year, and the palace was not so crowded as might
otherwise have been expected. However, a numerous
and most respectable audience were present yesterday,
who listened with attention to the judicious selection of
music which was performed by the magnificent bands of
the Royal Artillery, the Coldstream Guards, and the
Crystal Palace Company, which played separately and
in
concert throughout the clay. The grand finale of the
national airs of the Allies was given by the united bands
with powerful effect, and elicited much applause.
The concert will be repeated to-morrow, when it is
expected that a large number of visitors will be pre-
sent,

THE ROBBERY OE JEWELLERY AT PORTSMOUTH. A
reply to an application of the mayor and magistrates of
Portsmouth was received yesterday (Sunday) from the
Hoare Secretary, tc the effect that her Majesty's pardon
would be extended to any accomplice in the late burglary
at Messrs. Emmanuel's of that port, who shall give such
information as sht.lllead to the conviction of the offender
or offenders. This is an addition to the 1001. reward.

F, SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVEN INC:, DECEMBER 25, 1855.

of Charity undertake the housekeeping of the establish-
ment ; an account of all that will be required of them
on the coming day is handed in to them the evening be-
fore by the controller of the finances.
"There are six farms attached to the institution. The
land consists altogether of 260 hectares, or about 520
English acres. The farming is overlooked by a very
gentleman-like person in the pay of M. De Metz. The
land appears well cultivated, and a large stock of horses,
cows, and pigs is kept. It must be an excellent thing,
I think, for children to have the care and tending
of dumb animals —' Emollit mores, sec sinit use feros.'
The farm buildings are as simple as possible—just such
as the colons are likely to find themselves in in afterlife.
Each of these farms has a separate establishment with
a:separate kitchen,—there being but one kitchen for the
principal stock of buildings which I have hitherto spoken
of. To each farm is attached a chef de famine and a
respectable farm labourer and his wife, who is house-
keeper and cook. The boys employed on the farms
only associate with the body of boys employed otherwise
on Sundays and feast days, when they go up to enjoy
their holydays together. They are employed to work
hard, and to adhere altogether to agriculture ; they
sleep in hammocks like the rest, and sleep, eat, and
learn in the same airy barn-like room. The walls in all
the rooms are hang here and there with improving prints
and engravings, the subjects being for the most port re•
ligious or military. There is a large, rough, wooden
and thatched open outhouse put up in a field, where the
children are made to break stones in wintery, rainy
weather. They all do their work by the piece, so
as to excite and accustom each child to industry.
The boys, moreover, aro made to practise gymnastic
exercises, and everything they do they seem to do
heartily.
"A ship has been put up—on dry ground, of course
—for the boys to gain as much knowledge as they can
of seamanship, and an old sailor is engaged to instruct
them. Some of the boys, also, are formed into a fire-
brigade, and have rendered at times substantial assist-
ance in the neighbourhood, and only the other day saved
the village church of Mettray from destruction by fire.
The children are taught singing, but only as a means to
the grand ends ; and in order not to give an opportu-
nity for individuals to distinguish themselves, or for the
creation of fine solos, they are very much taught to sing
in parts, or at least only in masses ; and if a boy shows
any turn for drawing ho receives a little instruction in
it, but only in linear drawing. Evasion is looked upon
with much severity. If a boy has escaped a flag is hoisted
on the top of the church by day, and a lamp by night. A
reward of from 00f. to 40f. is given to the person bringing
the boy back. It is scarcely possible, without a personal
visit to Mettray, to form a correct idea of the amount of
study and attention which is devoted to the considera-
tion of every particular, and of every child in par
ticular. The family division makes this easy by con-
centrating the attention of the several employes allotted
to the same number of children ; if assembled in an un-
divided mass the same amount of good could never pos-
sibly be affected, for the attention of each one would be
divided by the whole number ; nor could the interest in
each other be awakened whisk now exists between the
chef de famille and his young people. As for the em-
ployc,s themselves, who are gentlemen by nature, if not
always by birth, it is quite impossible to see and converse
with these intelligent, woll-educated, and benevolent
men without feeling kow great must be their elevating
influence upon the character and general tone of the
boys. The two principal employes are in receipt of 1601.
intelligence
and annum each. They are of a standard of
and ability which would insure their advancement in
any profession, and one feels their devotion to be the
more admirable. M. De Metz has been particular in
placing his employes in a respectable and comfortable
position, and has built for the two principal ones excel-
lent houses a little apart from the houses for the boys.
The wives of these two gentlemen are perfect ladies,
and we had the pleasure of meeting them at dinner at
M. De Metz's house.
" There are many things at Mettray, suggested by the
military spirit of the French, which would at first sight
appear, perhaps, impossible to carry out its an English
institution ; but I see no reason why the feeling of
honour,' which I believe to be as strong in an English
child RE in a French one, should not be appealed to with
advantage in an English reformatory. Wily should not
we have the table of honour hung up where every one
can see it, upon which is inscribed the name of every
child whose conduct during the last three months bas
not called for punishment ! With regard to the almost
military discipline and order with which the children go
through their movements before and after work or
meals, I consider that by it a great saving of time is
made, and five or ten minutes upon every change of
movement are saved which would be otherwise lost in
collecting and adjuring stragglers, both young and old.
" Let me mention and recommend, too, the box
placed within general reach, pour lcs objets trouves, which
is a delicate way of allowing a boy whose temptations
have been stronger than his virtue to listen to the re-
proaches of his conscience, and without being pub-
licly brought to shame, to restore the theft which
lies heavy on his soul.
" I will say no more of Mettray at present, except
that the instruction given is firmly based upon reli-
gion, and includes reading, writing, and arithmetic,
but very little beyond it.
"Lesson hours do not exceed one or two hours a-
day. I must add that the children are first received
as innocent, and as baying sinned without discern-
ment, and therefore irresponsible for their actions ;
but when they have been once admitted to the benefit
of the instructions given them in the institution they
are considered to be capable of discernment, and be-
come subject to the strict rules observed in the insti-

THE

'ATE&

- - -
The following notice of the establishment a t
Mettray is from the pen of Lord Leigh, who has
employed a short visit in France in the useful ob-
ject of gathering personal experience and informa-
tion of the various institutions of this class in the
country of our neighbours and allies. They were
addressed in a letter to a member of the committee
employed in carrying out the plans of such an in-
stitution in Warwickshire, in which the noble
writer has from the first taken an active part. The
letter, intended only for the use of those acting in
his own county, may be equally useful in others :
" Aecording to your request, I propose to send you
a short account of one or two of thereformatory institu-
tions which I have seen in France, but I shall confine my
observations chiefly to elettray. The conduct of the Co-
lonic Agricele of Mettray has the advantage of resting
entirely with oar admirable friend M. De Metz, who
first set the institution on foot about 17 years ago, in com-
pany with a friend, the Vicomte de Bretignieres de Cour-
teilies. It has been supported by private subscription,
by his own and by his friend's benevolence, and by as-
sistance from Government at the rate of 70c., or 7d. per
head a-day, with a gift of 351. en the admission of the
child into the colony, and 351. at the close of two years
more, with an annual subscription of 50,0001. (2,0001.
English money), lately diminished to 25,0001., or 1,0001.
The present number of children is 681, and of employes
fed at the expense of the institution 56. The buildings
stand in the middle of a flat open plain, remote from any
town or laree village, without wall or enclosure of any
sort, for the purposes at least of confinement. The church
stands in the middle of the buildings at the further end.
It is open at all times, but service is only performed in
it on Sundays. M. De Metz observed on this point that
he objected to daily service, on the ground that the work-
men
ioeuhl dhbaed
b unableeenitnoe
nal tetaetnedd it,e as
nd
e
that
had ati non i j deroeeprryi yeu fftlYiefcewt on the mind. The colon, when first
he found himself unable to attend daily service, would feel
that he was neglecting a duty, and when at war with his
own conscience would soon give up going to church at
all. In speaking also of La Grande Trappe, which
is in the hands of monks, M. de Metz said that, although
he had not seen it, he feared upon this principle
that it was probable, that when once the young detenu re •
stored to the world found out how dissimilar real life was
from what he had hitherto seen of it, and the impossibi-
lity of carrying out the religious practice to which he
would have been most likely trained in Ls Grande Trappe
there would be great danger that, his eyes over-opened,
and the constraint once removed, he would become wholly
reckless and neglectful of the observances which the law-
ful business of the world still gave time for. At the
same time the children have full liberty, the church
doors being open, if they wish to spend a few minutes
in prayer to do so, but if they desire to do this it must
be during the hours placed at their disposal for play.
These hours are the hour after dinner and the two half-
hours after breakfast and tea. The boys are divided
into families of, in general, from 30 to 50 each, to which
families they remain attached during the whole period
of their detention ; and when they return to visit Met-
tray, when out of a situation, they invariably seem to
turn again to their old family. We ourselves saw a pro-
mising young soldier who had been wounded in the Cri-
mea, and was now quartered at Tours, revisiting his
old haunts and the house in which he bad been brought
up, and when the children were being marshalled, as they
always are to the sound of music in martial order pre-
paratory to meals or return to labour—assisting in get-
ting the little ones of his former family into their proper
rank and place. There are 12 houses (exclusive of the
farm-houses) for the boys, divided into three ster-eys ; the
two upper form the sleeping and living rooms, while the
ground floor is used for a workshop ; the family divi-
sion, however, is not carried out in the workshops, \s‘s
boys of various families are brought together to learn
the same trade. M. De Metz observes that it is very'
desirable to teach boys who come from towns, and who
belong to families practicing them, trades, as he says
that he has found by experience and former failures the
impossibility of inducing town boys to attach themselves
to country life. He started with the idea that he might
exclude trades altogether, but his long experience has
taught him that this did not answer ; nevertheless, he
makes a very great point of agricultural occupations, and
something less than half the whole number of children
are employed directly upon the farms. To return to the
family division, to which I conceive the success of Met-
tray to be greatly due. I am of opinion that this system
alone allows of attention to every individual child, which
is indispensable to the reformation of each individual
character, while it procures for children, who have per-
haps never experienced them before the happy influences
inspired by the love of home. A chef de famille or em-
ploye; has the constant superintendence of one of these
families. He is assisted by one of the eUve,s, or young
men in training to become masters hereafter, who does
not, however, remain permanently attached to one fa-
mily ; and by two Pyres ainjs, who are chosen from
among and by the boys themselves. The freres aines
are in the position of monitors, and are distinguished by
a red mark upon the sleeve of their jackets. M. De
Metz is at very great pains, in introducing new boys, to
place them judiciously as regards the families. For ex-
ample, in France there is a great difference of character
observable in different provinoes, and be takes care that
the volatile nature of one disposition shall be balanced
by the steadiness, not to say stolidity, of another. The
family division presents great advantages on the intro-
duction of any number of boys into the institution ; for
when there is an accession of bad boys—who, if turned
in with ever so great a number of others, would remain
a nucleus of evil, attracting all the evil round it till it
swelled and corrupted the whole mass--by a careful
subdivision, and by introducing but one or two boys
into a family of improved and improving cha-
racter, the spirit of evil is probably soon repressed
by the preponderating good around, and no per-
manent injury is done. To return to chef de famine.
He occupies a little closet at the end of the children's
bed-room, which is in shape an elongated square ; there-
fore it is the more possible for him to overlook the whole
through a little window opening into his roem, added
to which the children lie with head and feet alternating.
No conversation whatever is allowed during the hours
for work, meals, or sleep. The hammocks (which the
children at Mettray all sleep in) were recommended to
us on many grounds, although I am not prepared to
give a decided opinion myself upon them. M. De Metz
said that in summer the boys lie in them in comfort
and decency, with scarcely any covering whatever, and
in winter very little makes them snug and warm, not to
mention the great economy of material and of space.
The supports for the hammocks on the outer side are in
the daytime booked to the walls, and at night, at a
given signal from the chef, are dropped into grooved sup-
ports, projecting from the posts which support the roof,
and stand out in the room. Though stout beams, they were
easily lifted by the children together. All retire to rest
at the same hour, only the little ones get up later in the
morning. A light in kept burning in the rooms all
night. Half the children sleep on one floor, half on an-
other. The chef de famille sleeps near one half, and the
e/eve near the other. The children have three meals
a-day--meat twice a- week. The cost of their diet averages
45 centimes, or Ad. The trades the childre* learn are
various tailoring, shoemaking, sabot making, with
blacksmiths', wheelwrights', and carpenters' work ; and
they also make agricultural implementer. They take
turns to assist in the domestic services of the house and
kitchen. Washing is done every day in an admirably
organised laundry, and the boys wash their own clothes.
It is the cleef d'atelier who adjudges the little rewards
in money which are given to the best workmen among
the colons at the close of every three months, to the
amount of aboot 31f. for the best, with a graduated scale
down to the Stb, if the family consists of from 40 to 50
boys, but only down to the 4th if it consists of from 20
to 30.
"The chef de familia, however, puts his veto upon the
reward if the conduct of the child in the family has not
been satisfactory. Whatever the reward may be, it is
always doubled if the recipient is in the position of a fare
aine. Part of the money is put into the savings-bank at
Tours, and, I believe, one-fourth is at the disposal of the
child, at the discretion of the chef, but the account-
books are entirely in the hands of the controller of the
finances of the establishment. A boy in receipt of any
money has to make payment for any part of his dress
which requires to be renewed before the stated time ar-
rives at which fresh clothing is given out, which other-
wise is all furnished by the institution. On the other
hand, if his clothes are found in good condition at such
time he receives the benefit of it by having the money
which would have been laid out in clothes placed to his
account. The dress is uniform and extremely simple,
and just what would be if working at home—viz., a
plain brown blouse or short tunic, canvas trousers,
sabots, and straw hat. The money in the bank is paid
to the boy on his leaving Mettray, unless, by his desire,
it is allowed to remain yet longer. Tho boys wash in
open sheds, attached to the various houses, and connect-
ing them at the back. There is a large fountain at hand,
from which they carry the water in large tubs to the
sheds. Twice :'a-week they are taken in divisions to a
reservoir to baths and learn to swim in summer.
" The strictest discipline is observed, and nothing is
overlooked. Dry bread ie an occasional punishment,
but the cell is a more frequent one. Every fault which
has called for reproof is registered, and a most careful
and detailed conduct-book is kept, showing the be-
haviour of every child. Here are seen at a glance his
name, previous residence, habits, health, appearance i.
detail, the crime for which he was convicted, every pos-
sible information which can be gleaned with regard to
himself and his family, with a most careful and complete
report of his behaviour since admission. When a fault
calls for punishment, before it is inflicted upon the child
he is made to retire into a cell, which takes for the time
being the name of Salle de Reflation; he is kept there for
an hour or so, and meanwhile the directeur reviews his
conduct-book, takes into careful consideration the pre•
vieus circumstances and conduct of the boy, his general
character, his advantages and disadvantages, and, hav-
ing carefully weighed them and taken time to collect
himself, and give the boy leisure to reflect upon his fault,
he is in a position to pronounce, as far as human discern-
ment goes, the exact measure of punishment deserved
by the child. Those confined to cells have an hour's ex-
ercise a-day in chopping wood, or in some similar occupa-
tion. The cells are bare rooms, with sufficient light and
air for breath. Punishment is administered for apparently
trifling faults. We found four boys in four cells on the
occasionofoounrvisit. One was there for refusing to sing
the
two
ear fothretaelteilnlagr, thwehstenreutsh,osnhdad ntheo bI
ottsheir.
for
ba before,
eig found
ness to be. I think it will be allowed that these aro not
offences of a very grave nature, and, as the discipline is
so strict, that it is satisfactory there are so few boys
from a larger number. The cells are so placed and
arranged that those in them, although unseen, can be
admitted to take part in the church service, at the back
of the altar of the churcb, on Sundays, Eight Sisters

(From the Times Correspondent.)
NEW Yonx, Dec. 12.—Another week has passed
away without an organisation of the House or a
Message from the President, and the public must
wait for the official announcement of the views of
the Administration upon the questions pending be-
tween thin Cabinet and the British Government
until the Speaker can be chosen. To tell the truth,
the public care very little about the question, and
would wait as long as Congress pleased without
grumbling, if that were all the trouble occasioned
by the delay. It is impossible to say when this
controversy for the Speaker's chair will end. The
Fusionists have been able to carry their vote as
high as 107, the Administration vote remaining
steady at 74 or 75, and the remaining vote being
divided among enough independent candidates to
prevent any one from receiving a majority. Each
day the telegraph has promised a union that will
elect a Northern Fusion Speaker, and each night
has falsified the predictions of the morning. One
writing from New York cannot follow all the shift-
ing scenes of Washington politics—cannot judge
whether such predictions were well justified when
made, nor why they have failed of fulfilment. I
can only chronicle the end when it shall come.
Until the organisation is effected everything must
stand still in Washington, for all the attention of
that idle and excitable metropolis is absorbed in the
solution of the question of whether the north or
the south shall have the formation of the commit-
tees of the House. Meanwhile, the Message is
kept most commendably secret, and even the gossip-
ing correspondents of the journals do not venture
to speculate upon its contents. In fact, until de-
livered, it is an unshaped as well as unborn child,
and its author holds pen in hand to cor-
rect, alter, or modify from day to day as
circumstances may direct. So far as British poli-
tics are concerned I am told that it will be mode-
rate in tone. I hear of nothing new in relation to
what is now called here the Crampton question.
The discussion into which the British Government
have entered in regard to the violations of the neu-
trality laws of this country is not exactly satisfac-
tory to the Cabinet at Washington. It is regarded,
I am told, as evading the true issue by a sort of
special pleading, instead of coming at once to
the point, and making some sort of amcnde. The
Washington Union, however, ceases to direct the
vials of its wrath at the head of the British lion.
Instead of that it now aims them at the Times and
Lord Palmerston. In its issue of the Bth it closes
a long article of unusually strong language with
the following more peaceful strain :
" It was in England, as well as in the United States,
the all but unanimously-expressed conviction that the
British Government had committed a grievous error in
its attempts, whether ley infraction or evasion of the
law, to levy troops in the United States ; that if, in the
face of obstinate perseverance in those attempts by Bri-
tish agents, the American Government, while striving
in good faith to maintain our national neutrality, had
been forced into something of peremptoriness of act or
language, it was not for the British Government to com-
plain of that consequence of its own wrongfulness ; that
there exists no cause of hostility between the two coun-
tries emanating from the American Government ; that
the interests of both nations are identical, and dictate
peaceful relations ; and that the time has come in the
history of the United States when the British Govern-
ment, and Lord Palmerston especially, must cease to
imagine that England alone has the right to be great,
and must perceive, and act upon the perception, that
the British race in the United States has irrepressible
destinies of greatness before it which should be honoured
and admired, not envied or fretted, by-the British race
in Europe. We therefore augur from what has occurred
the best results. We in the United States, everybody
knows, appreciate the value of a friendly intercourse
with Great Britain. If in the present war we hare
seemed to be a little repelled from her, it is because, not
content with telling us in words that the object of her
alliance with France is, after humbling Russia,' then
to look to the United States, she has during the last
three years gratuitously intermeddled with our affairs
at every turn--first in reference to Cuba, then in the
Bonin Islands, in the Sandwich Islands, in the Ayes
Islands, off the Falkland Islands, in Dominica, in Ecua-
dor, above all, in Central America. Her diplomatic
agents have acted as if they had circular instructions in
blank to obstruct any or all enterprises of the United
States, right or wrong. We trust and believe that no-
thing is necessary but to have the British people dis-
tinctly perceive and understand the vicious and mis-
chievous spirit which, from the day of the sack of Wash-
ington to the present time, Lord Palmerston has mani-
fested towards the United States. We think it, needs
only this to insure the most cordial relations between
Great Britain and the United States."
As soon as the Message is delivered we shall
know whether, and how far, these are the views of
the Government ; and until it is delivered it is not
easy to tell what those views are, for, unfortunately,
the Cabinet at Washington, ike all Cabinets, is
composed of diverse elements, which are not always
capable of immediate solution, and will not always
stay in solution when that desirable state of things
is once brought about.
As I have before said, both in this letter and in
every one which I have written since these difficul-
ties assumed their present shape, there is no popu-
lar opinion in- America that there will be any
trouble. The speculators in stocks have used the
rumour to depress the " fancies" on the faith that
even the rumour of a possibility of a discussion of
differences between the two Governments (to put
the contingency as remote as possible) would affect
such a delicate thing as .a fancy stock in a heavy
gambling transaction. But beyond this lam unable
to learn that the slightest effect has been produced.
Even the troubles in Central America, fraught, as
they are, with future difficulties, do not excite
anxiety or create alarm.
The difficulties in Kansas, which appeared so
alarming, as reported by the telegraph a week since,
fade into much less magnitude as we get detailed
reports. You will receive by this mail the proclama-
tion of Governor Shannon, calling on the militia,
which will give you the impression that actual civil
war rages on the borders. But, on the other hand,
all the free State accounts of the matter speak of it
as of little importance, and represent Lawrence as
being perfectly quiet. We have not yet the mate-
rials to judge where lies the right in this contro-
versy ; but I am inclined to think that it will turn
out that the "difficulty" has been exaggerated, and
that both parties have been disposed to make the
most of it to influence the election of Speaker now
going ou at Washington. But there is great danger
in calling so excited a population to arms, and the
issue is watched with great anxiety.
Money remains much as when I last wrote. There
will be a heavy shipment of gold by the Atlantic ;
but many suppose that the shipment must really
be made at a loss. There is no reason for any
stringency in our market, except the response to
the London market, and until the rates fall there
we can hardly expect ease here.
The shipments of breadstuffs continue. The
canals were closed the day before yesterday, not
before winter was on us and made it necessary.
Before closing most of the produce shipped in them
had been got through to tide water. The railroads
now have the entire carrying of the western pro-
duce to the Atlantic until the opening of naviga-
tion next year.
Mr. Griswold has resigned the presidency of the
Illinois Central, and Mr. W. H. Osborne has been
appointed in his place, and has gone to Illinois to
enter upon the active discharge of his duties. The
land sales for the month of November amount to
nearly $1,200,000 ; and for the year 1855 they will
reach, as officialy reported, to the enormous sum of
$5,300,000. From this should be deducted the sales
of preemption rights. The directors' estimate is
far exceeded when that is made.
The Northern Light, just arrived from California,
brings $326,000 in gold, and San Francisco dates
to the 20th ult. The Walker-Kinney Government
on the Isthmus had concluded a treaty with the
United States' Minister there, and had despatched
one of the leading Fillibusters to Washington ac-
credited as Minister, to secure its ratification here.
They had also issued proposals to colonists from
the United States to settle, offering, as inducement,
the gift of a tract of land. The new Ambassador
also holds out a further tempting inducement in
the form of a lump of gold, which he says is the
product of the country. If we can trust their own
account of themselves they are getting on swim-
mingly.

tution.
" I have been so lengthy upon Mettray that I have
no time to discuss other institutions. Of the three
or four others I saw in France I like Lo Petit Lu-
willy, near Rouen, the best. Petit Bury, near Paris,
seemed to me to be conducted upon ♦ery objectionable
principles, and not upon the family system.
" M. De Metz and other French reformer's congra-
tulate themselves upon the superiority of the French
law over the English, as they are able to receive
children direct into their institutions ; whereas our law
sends them first to prison, and thereby disqualifies
them for ever for the army and navy."

ST. PANCRAS BURIAL BOARD-IM-
PORTANT INVESTIGATION.

Yesterday, at the Vestry-hall, St. Pancrae,special meet-
ings of the directors of the poor and of the burial board
were held, for the purpose of investigating the statements
which had been made in reference, in the first place, to
the treatment of a woman, named Knight, and her
child, whilst an inmate of the workhouse ; and, se-
condly, as to there not being sufficient grave space pre-
pared at the new cemetery at Fincbley•
The Rev. Thos. DALE, M.A., vicar, presiding at the
meeting of the burial board, and Mr. Wright at the
board of directors. At the board of directors it was
stated that Mrs. Knight was lying in the infirmary
seriously ill, from a fall off the hearse on her return
from attending the interment of her child at the ceme-
tery, and it was resolved that Mr. Churchwarden Farrer,
Mr. Baker, and Mr. Glazier should go to the infirmary
and take down in writing the poor woman's deposition.
Upon their return they read the following as her state-
ment :—" Sarah Knight states that she fell from the
hearse in consequence of missing her hold of the top-
ping.' It was entirely an accident, and no blame im-
puted to any person. She was warmly clothed, but felt
very cold. livery attention was paid to her, and, she
says, had she been a lady, she could not have had more
attention paid to her after the accident. The graves
were not ready, in consequence of some mistake. Her
child, she says, received every attention from the medi-
cal officer of the infirmary, and she repeatedly expressed
herself to that effect."—Present Mr. Churchwarden
Farrer, Mr. Baker, and Mr. Glazier.
Mr. STOCKTON, in moving that this statement be en-
tered upon the minutes, said it was a complete answer
to the slanders of an idle and dissolute pauper named
James, who had been 16 years living upon the rate-
payers in that workhouse, against their new medical
officer.
The motion having been seconded and carried,
Mr. COOPER moved, and Mr. STOCKTON seconded, a
resolution, directing the temporary hire of a black
painted omnibus of the contractors for the interment of
the parochial poor, to convey 12 relatives, two in each
case, if possible, to the cemetery, to attend to the inter-
ment of their deceased relatives.
After some discussion this resolution was carried.
At the burial board, Mr. Churchwarden FAKEER at-
tended to explain some statements in reference to the
non-preparation of a sufficient number of graves for the
interment of the poor, attributed to him in the Daily
News of -Wednesday last, reflecting upon the burial
board. That gentleman denied that he had in the
slightest degree imputed blame to the burial board,
although he felt strongly upon the subject sufficient
graves had not been prepared.
The investigation was entered into, and several wit-
nesses were examined, from whose evidence, it appeared
that on the 11th inst., 16 bodies—double the usual num-
ber—arriveoft inle, and that in consequence of the
notirr e gu
arrivel r irregularity
yinsu
wisufficient
postnt.timi
en
ttoh that
td itshter i c
extrat, t h
gravenoti c
span.o did
and the bodies were placed temporarily in the
prepared,
hagerrebados::
board
dl their c
directed
additional
the
superintendent,grou ndcouldf
for
re
the
et
future,ready
always to have sufficient graves prepared in advance.
-

IttrEVENTATioN OF LINCOLN.-Mr. Charles Seely
has withdrawn
headhimelf as a candidate for the representa-
tion vacant by eath of Col. Sibthorp. The late
colonel's eldest son, Major Sibthorp, now stands alone,
and no doubt will be returned without opposition.
ALLEGED FORGERY IN A CASE OF LIINACY.-Ai the
Court-honse, Leeds, on Saturday last, before two of the
magistrates of that borough, Mr. Lewis, of London, soli-
citor, appeared on the part of the Commissioners in Lu-
nacy and preferred a charge of forgery against Mr. W.
It. Wilkinson, assistant to Mr. R. G. Horton, of Leeds,
It appeared that on the 3d of November last
surgeon.
the defendant signed a certificate with Mr. Horton's
name, alleging that he (Mr. Horton) had attended a young
woman named Ann Ash, daughter of a publican at Swil-
lington, near Leeds, anti that she was insane ; and that
by
Mr.
Craven,
upon thiscesrvitiifinciantget,onan, dsheanwoathsecromonmeitbt
d to alunatic
asylum, of
called the Retreat, at Armley, near Leeds.
There appeared to be no doubt about the insanity of the
girl, nor that the defendant bad signed Mr. Horton's
name without his leave or knowledge. In extenuation
it was shown that Mr. Horton had been ill, and unable
to attend to his business during the past summer, and
that the defendant had permission to act for him, and
sign his name to medical certificates for benefit societies.
Mr. Bond, of Leeds, appeared for the defendant. The
magistrates committed the latter for trial at the next as-
sizes for the county of York, but admitted him to bail,

Spirit of

Journals.

matic forms require that the Porte should take the
initiative, has our Government, by its accredited
renresentative at Constantinople, called upon the
Divan to do so ? Turkey is the weakest of all the
Allied Powers, and to expect it to provoke the hos-
tility of Austria—unless it be well assured of the
support of the rest—by resenting an injury that
touches England as deeply as itself, is unreasonable.
If the Turkish Ministers shrink from a bold asser-
tion of its rights, it is for the English Government
to insist upon their making the formal application
to Austria, and pledge itself to bear them. It is
for the English Government to insist upon the con-
currence of all its allies in its efforts to vindicate
its right and honour, assailed while making
common cause with them, and because it is
making common cause with them. There
can b© no excuse for the British Government
if it abandons to his fate a faithful servant who has
been placed in a situation of extreme hazard in the
discharge of a mission which it has imposed upon
i
him. Let tgo to work with all the formality that
the veriest diplomatic pedant can require, but let
it avail itself promptly and energetically of the
forms which diplomacy offers it to work by. If
Colonel Turr is not liberated, unharmed, by the
Austrians, England is dishonoured.
The Times attempts to palliate the base and
cowardly course it instigates the British Govern-
ment to adopt with regard to Colonel Turr by seek-
ing to raise up prejudices against him. It talks of
" democrats called into existence by the abortive
revolutions of 1848, and scattered over the face of
the earth by the re-action of the next year." It
hints at the " ingratitude" of the exiles who have
been protected by Great Britain. It insinuates
that the proscribed have been "guilty of offences,
moral or politi.ial." All these iuuendoes are part
and pvr.•el o i he insiduons attempts that have of
late been systematically made to persuade the
English public that the friends of liberty on the
Continent who were defeated in 1849 ought to be
placed beyond the pale of the protection of inter-
national law. They are proofs of the inveteracy
and pertinacious activity of a faction among us
who would fa;n see England making common
cause with the Continental despits against all sup-
porters of popular rights throughout Europe. If
Englishmen have any regard for their characters
as free men and lovers of liberty, they will at
once silence these insidious slaves by a stern
rebuke and disavowal of their servile principles.
The prating is doing us incalculable harm with
the liberals of the whole civilised world.
Everywhere men are beginning to suspect that
the old English sympathy with heroic efforts and
self-sacrifice in the cause of freedom is becoming
extinct. The English Government is beginning to
be classed with those which combat lfree thought,
free utterance, and free action, at times with the
brute force of mere mercenary soldiers, at times
by the worse agency of police spies.

(From the Ti;ncs of this day.)
If the rumours of peace fall everywhere on un-
heeding ears it cannot be denied that the events
which have produced them have much significance.
It may, indeed, be a sign of credulity to expect that
a few weeks will close the great contest which forty
years have prepared, and that the armies of the
West will before spring is far advanced take their
final leave of the old battle-fields, which are now
historic names. The natural conviction of every
one is, that such a cause, such exertions and sacri-
fices cannot be defrauded of their legitimate results.
It seems clear that, unless Russia consent to the
full demands of France and England, the war must
go on ; and that she will consent no one ventures
to anticipate. The great preparations for the next
campaign will not then prove useless ; the batteries
and mortar-boats will not •lie cumbersome hulks in
our naval ports, the stores of arms will not be piled
up in readiness merely for another war. But yet
the events which are now passing will have their
consequences. It is probable that the mediators
of
to-day will in a few months quit their middle
position. Although the Western Powers may not
openly be assisted by the arms of Austria and
Prussia, there is every reason to believe that these
empires will find it necessary to declare fully their
accordance with the views of the allies and their
censure of the course which the Czar has adopted.
No one can have watched the military and diplo-
matic events of the present year without seeing
that their tendency has been to make neutrality
impossible. Twelve months since the armies of
France and England were in a situation which
might be called perilous. They had, indeed, won
victories, and were in no danger of being driven
into the sea, but in the eyes of Europe, as well as
in the opinion of some of their own leaders, they
were likely to fail in the great object for which
they encamped on Russian ground. The death of
Nicholas and the succession of a younger and less
arrogant monarch did much to weaken the deter-
mination of the Austrian Emperor, while financial
difficulties almost bound the Cabinet of Vienna to
persist in peace. This was the moment when the
policy of neutrality was most loudly advocated and
seemed almost justified by events. But since then
every day has made such an equilibrium less stable.
The fall of Sebastopol has delivered 200,000 of the
allies from a difficult and dreary task to which
their honour bound them. It has endangered the
whole Russian coast, and made the conquest of en-
tire provinces a work to be looked for at once.
Still more has the cause of the Western Powers
gained from the manifestation of unflinching obsti-
nacy of purpose by the British people. The popu-
lar feeling of this country is the vital force of the
whole war, the spring which keeps in movement
all the machinery of cabinets and armies. Since
it is clear that this country will make no hollow
peace, and that, whatever may have gone before,
England is now about to put forth a strength
worthy of her name, the German Powers have felt
that the war is about to assume a terrible earnest-
ness, which will make indifference impossible and
affected moderation a folly. But the power of the
allies is less alarming to neutrality than the weak-
ness of Russia. Allowing for the exaggerations of
sanguine or ignorant writers, there is sufficient
testimony that the difficulties of the enemy are
great and rapidly increasing. Discontent prevails
among powerful classes, for the trader is cut of
from the great mart of the world, and the wealthy
deferred from intercourse with the chief seat of civi-
lisation. The losses in men are ill repaired by a con-
scription of youths, while money fails by the destruc-
tion of the country's nascent commerce. The Ger-
man Powers seem fully aware that the continuance
of the war must lead to the supremacy of France and
England both in the north and
therefore, even although we may look on them as
preserving their former feelings towards us, yet we
may look for their earnest interposition to bring
the war to an end, and expect that they will deeply
resent the obstinacy of the Czar, should he expose
himself and them to evils not inevitable.
That these are not merely speculations is proved
from our foreign correspondence. We learn that
Austria has communicated to Prussia the prelimi-
naries agreed upon by the Western Powers, and
called upon her to urge their acceptance at St.
Petersburg. It is with the two great German
Powers that we have chiefly to do, It is plain that
the recent compact with Sweden has startled the
two monarchs. A defensive alliance, even though
conditional, is a bold step for a State so small and
so ill-situated as Sweden, and the conclusion of it
has roused Austria especially to the consciousness
that Russia's political greatness has for a time de-
parted. Francis Joseph is therefore more and more
anxious to play some decided part, and not only to
gain influence in Europe, but to extend his power
over those minor German States which vacillate
between him and his Prussian rival. It has been
seen for many weeks that the tendency of these
States has been to separation from Russian inte-
rests. Austria therefore has a chance of once
more becoming the leader of the Confederation.
On the other hand, the King of Prussia sees with
apprehension the waning of his recent influence.
He has had against him France, England, Austria,
and tho opinion of the world- Ile wag enpported
by Russia and the minor States which are ruled by
Sovereigns akin to the Russian dynasty. Now that
the great northern empire is weakened, distracted,
and beaten, the German Kings and Grand Dukes
are falling away from his side. He will soon have
DO friend but the Czar, himself needing help and
consolation in adversity. We cannot doubt that
the Prussian King sees these dangersclearly, and,
if he wishes worthily to obey the commands of his
late kinsman, and really to befriend that kinsman's
heir, he will do his best to enforce assent to the de-
mands of the Western Cabinets.
We have always felt that the continuance of the
war must end in at least a moral league against the
common enemy. The burdens of a state of hostili-
ties must before long be felt even by neutrals, and
then the blame must fall on the nation which, with-
out hope of success, prolongs the contest merely in
a spirit of senseless pride. Some months since,
when Austria shrank from executing the treaty
which she had concluded, the apprehensions of
many added bitterness to their reproaches. It was
regarded as an almost desperate enterprise to at-
tack the hugest and most compact of adversaries
merely by expeditions carried on with difficulty by
sea at a distance of 3,000 miles from home. Bnt
it was by a wise impulse that the two Governments
resolved to persevere, and to leave time to bring
into action the alliance which existed in principle.
That time seems now not far distant. It will, how-
ever, best become our dignity, and conduce to our
interest, to make no supplications for foreign aid.
That aid will come most readily when we have
shown that we least need it. Such is the action of
human nature in States as well as individuals.
The part of the allies is to prepare for the contest
with renewed vigour on the largest scale. For the
present arms must decide the question ; it has
emerged from the domain of diplomacy, and not
yet returned to it. When successful war has given
us the mastery, we may then expect that both foes
and neutrals will acknowledge the justice of our
claims and the force of our reasoning.

RUSSIAN RESOURCES ON THE CASPIAN.

A Ihrtforashire incumbent, in writing to a contampo-
rary, says:—The possible transfer of warlike operations to

georgia in the course of the next few months makes it a

matter of some interest to aicertaiu the means of tran-

sport possessed by Russia in the Caspian Sea, which
may be employed for the purpose of conveying reinforce•
meats and materiel to her Asiatic army. As all direct
information on this subject is difficult to obtain, and as,

even if obtained, it would be desirable to have some test
of its correctness, perhaps the kollowing inferences,
which are drawn from an analysis of the statistical table'
published by the Board oflTrade, may deserve a place in

your columns.
It appears that the total annual traffic of the Russian
ports of the Caspian, taking both entrances and clear-
ances, and an average of the four years 1849-1852,
amounts to 32,053 tons, borne in 451 bottoms.
Now, as no country Las any ports upon the Caspian
but Russia and Persia, it follows that by deducting the
amount of the Perso-Russian trade from this total, the
retuainderilwill represent the sea-borne traffic between
the Russian ports only.
The annual Perso-Russian trade in Russian vessels
amounts to 23,151 tons, in 261 bottoms, which gives an
average tonnage of about 88 tons to each ship. From
the small extent of the sea we cannot suppose that less
than two double voyages are made every season by each;
from which it may be inferred that the number of such
vessels is not greater than about 70.
The annual Perso-Russian trade in Persian vessels
amou,,ts to 1,137 tons, in 35 bottoms, which gives
an average of 32 or 33 tons to each barqae. It is
obvious that these must be mere coasters—sncb, for
instance, as the Per-i-bazaar boats, which go to
Baku for the purpose of getting rock salt and
naphtha, and take thither rice and other provisions
in exchange. The small importance of these craft makes
it scarcely worth while to estimate their number ; but
from the shortness of the voyages which alone they can
undertake, it is clear that it must be very small.
Deducting, now, the Perso-Russian traffic from the
total Russian trade on the Caspian, there remains only
7,765 tons, borne in 152 bottoms. It appears from the
tables that, during the three years 1850-1852, a very
few Persian bottoms were employed in the intercourse
between the Russian ports. Making allowance for
these, there will result an annual intercourse between
the Russian ports on the Caspian, measured by 7,600
t nns, borne in 148 bottoms, which gives an average of
little more than 51 tons to each vessel employed ; and
the number of these, reckoning only two double voyages
in the year for each will be under 40.
If we only remember that this cipher measures the
amount of sea communication between Astrachan,
Gourien, at the mouth of the Oural, and Alexandrowsk,
on the eastern shore of the Caspian, as well as that be-
tween Astrachan and Derbend and Baku on the western
it seems impossible to believe that the supplies to the
Russian army in Georgia did, before the outbreak of the
war, came down the Lower Volga and thence into the
Caspian ; and, if so, it is perfectly certain that they
either were conveyed over the pass of Daniel, or—which
I believe to have been the case—were landed on the east
coast of the Black Sea, and thence reached Tiflis by the
route which now lies before the illustrious Turkish Com-
mander. It is, indeed, a melancholy reflection that
Kars should have fallen after so gallant a defence—most
melancholy, if its fall should turn out to have resulted
from apathy, or anything worse, on the part of those
whoFe duty it was to succour it ; but that the misfortune
is one in the slightest degree likely to affeet the pros-
pects of the war is an idea which, so long as the Allies
hold possession of the seaboard of the Euxinc, there is
surely no reason whatever to entertain. If the triumph
serves the purpose cf saving the honour of the Emperor
of Russia, and inclines him to submit 'to reasonable
terms of peace, some good will come out of evil ; but
that it should be made a ground for modifying these is a
conclusion which, I should fancy, neither our own Fo-
reign Minister nor our illustrious ally will be so good.
natured as to accept for an instant.

SHIPWRECKS-SERVICES OF A LIFE.
BOAT.

TENBT, Dec. 22.—An opportunity was presented on
Wednesday last of fairly testing, for the first time daring
a ale of wind from S.E., the o life-boat of this pla
,-,„
and' the result of the trial was in every respect satisfso
tory ; indeed it was well it was so, for the next day
(Thursday) both the life-boat and her crew were sever ay
tried, but they behaved admirably ; their unflinching
courage and untiring energy, dashing with the life-b oat
through a succession of broken seas, against a str.mg
gale, was loudly applauded on shore.
About four p.m. on the latter day, the schooner Age-
noria, of Bideford, having been disabled in consequence
of her sail* having been blown away, and other casual-
ties, while running for this pier, was observed to became
unmanageable, and to drive on shore near St. Caiihe.
tine's Rocks. The sea made a complete breach over %et.
The life boat was immediately- manned and launched.
Alter a hard pull through the heavy breakers, the life-
boat reached the wreck, and succeeded in taking off the
three hands. The mated
in of the
the vessel had,
band
een
crewunf of
unfortunately
washed overboar
drowned.
At 9 p.m. intelligence was brought to the life-boat's
crew that another vessel was on shore near Gaiter Point,
shout two miles from this place. No time was lost in
procuring horses to take the lift'-boat to the nearest
place for launching her. This was succom•fully accom-
plished, in the midst of a fearful sea.
The crew of the life-boat manfully peraevered, not-
withstanding that each successive sea broke over them,
and about midnight they succeeded in reaching the
wreck, and took her crew on board in an exhausted
state. A lad, about 16, who was in a state of insensi-
bility, was dragged along the deck into the life-boat.
lie continued in this state several hours after he was
taken to a farm-house in the neighbourhood. Another
boy was forcibly drawn up from the cabin and placed in
the boat, and the crew, consisting of five hands, were
safely landed. The vessel soon after began to break up,
and subsequently became a total wreck. She proved to
be the French schooner Alexandre, of Nantes, from
Cardiff to Nantes, with coals.

(From the Daily News of this day.)
He is no true Englishman wilco has real the
tissue of falsehoods and fallacies put forward yes-
terday by the Times, with reference to the case of
Colonel Turr, without blushing. It is a national
reproach that au English journalist has been found
mean and shameless enough to pervert facts and
principles in such a manner, with a view to encou-
rage our Government to commit an act that would
stamp them with indelible infamy. Colonel Turr,
according to the Times, " was not only a deserter,
but was in arms with the Hungarians." This is
not true. He was no deserter. He served in a
Hungarian regiment ; be belonged to the national
army of Hungary ; and when his country was at
war with the Austrian Government, be fought,
like a true man, against Austria. But this is not
the question at issue. The Times declares thatif
any foreigner accused of a political crime by, e
his
original Sovereign enlists into our service,
will not allow him to be dragged away from under
T y
M. urr :v as
the British flag." Colonel Turr (or ed
the Times affects to call was
was sgeugt to Bu-
dra aa
from under the British flag. He
charest by the officer in command of our Land
h he was attached, to
purchase horses. i
Transport Corps, toi
lie h
wic
was seized by the Austrians,
on Turkish territory, while acting for the behoof
of the British army in accordance with the com-
mandsman of his superior officer. If this was not
being
der the British flag," we know not
• d•
The pds :
what Call DO SO uosign
e chose to acceptate a. commisT
si onimes
whichrocee took
him fi
to Bucharest, to the head-quarters of an
Austrian general, and the station of his own re-
giment. He was apprehended, and, though
it may be considered a slight to England that any
one employed in our service could bo so treated,
yet diplomatic interference, according to national
law, can only come from the Sultan, on whose terri-
tory the act was committed." We demur to this doc-
trine so dogmatically laid down. England, France,
and Sardinia arc at this moment allied with Turkey,
and engaged in a war to maintain the integrity of
the Turkish dominions and the Sultan's authority
within them. By seizinc, Colonel Tun-, the Times
admits the Austrians have violated the rights of
the Sultan in his own territory. The Allies have
a right—it is their duty—to resist this aggression
upon the Sultan's sovereign rights. England, or
France, or Sardinia, or all in concert, may take the
initiative as well as the Sultan, in protesting against
such an infringement of the law of nations, and de-
manding redress. But eves admitting that diplo.

DISGUSTING BARBABITY.—It is not often that in the
quiet little town of Accrington we have to record such
disgraceful proceedings as those which it is now our
duty to lay before the public, and which occurred on
Sunday last. On that day, early in the forenoon, hun-
dreds of persons might be seen hastening towards Ham-
bleton, to witness a wrestling match between two young
men, Richard Riley, Plantation Mill-square, and James
Hacking, Warner-street, Accrington, the former betting
30s. to 20s. In due time all the preliminaries were ar-
ranged, there being hundreds of spectators. Hacking
stripped himself naked, with the exception of his stock-
ings, and to work they went, pulling each other about as
a tiger would his prey, for about an hour andfive
minutes, when they both gave up, neither being
victo-
rious. Hacking's body presented a frightful spectacle ,
the blood running down in several places ; and in many
places the flesh was torn from his bones, and hung like
this barbarous
meat on butcher's hooks, the crowd, while ug
on not
on the
work was going on, shouting at times and
combatants. During all the time thiswas g
somewhat
' r,oin g
a policeman was present ; and it does appear
strange that such disgusting
much boast, not hear
and
pitch and toss, and th.isdwono
me t
e
every Sunday to a grea sas the one above de
scribed can take place,-
epolice, of whom we so
word about it. After the
wrestling was over, manyone
of the crowd began playing at
rk 8 ourcwean s carried on nearly the
whole day, and is ca
in the outskirts of Accrington
xtenti—Proton Guaralatt.

This life-boat belongs to the Royal National Life-boat
Institution, London, and was recently altered at Lime-
house to Mr. James Peake's plan. She had only just
returned to her station before she was called on
to
rescue the crews of these two vessels, who would, in,
all probability, have perished but for the life•boat s
opportune assistance.

RAILWAY AND OTHER ACCIDENTS FROM THE SIMIAN
THAW.—The sudden thaw on Saturday led to several
accidents in Lancashire, and much delay in the arrival
of railway trains. The temperature began to rice in the
evening, and soon after eleven o'clock there was a fall
of snow. At twelve it was succeeded by rain. The
mail which left Manchester at twenty minutes past ten
' that night, by London and North-Western line, was
much delayed 13y a fall of sleet between Sandbach and
Crewe, and was run into by a heavy goods train follow
jug in the same direction. The guard was in great
danger, but was able to jump off before the collision
occurred. A gentleman in one of the carriages
.wa3 se.
P
verely cut about the face and head. The u trams from
Bangor and Chester, and the down trains from Glouces•
ter and Worcester were much delayed by the change
rails.n
gof
weather, and the consequent slipperiness of the
In Manchester a great number of water-pipes burst
during the night, and much property was damaged in
the warehouses.