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

THE SUS, LONDON, TUESID►AY EVENING, DECEMBER 25, 1855.

I 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-hke person in the pay of M. De Metz. The
land appears well cultivated, and a large stock of horses,
coves, and pigs is kept. It must be an excellent thing,
I think, fur children to have the care and tending
of dumb animals—'Emollit mores, nee sinit esse 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 famille 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 buys 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 hung here and there with improving prints
and engravings, the subjects being fur the most part 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, are 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. S.nne of the boys, also, are formed into a fire-
brigade, and have rendered at times substantial assist-
anee in the neighbourhood, and only the other day saved
the village church of Mettray from destruction by fire.
The children arc 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 fir drawing ho reeeivee a little instruction in
it, but only in linear drawing. Evasion is looked upon
with much severity. If a boy has escaped afiagis hoisted
on the top of the church by day, and a lamp by night. A
reward of from 30f. 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 particuiar, 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 gond could never pos-
sibly be effec ed, for the attention of each one would be
divided by the whole number ; nor could the interest in
each other be awakened which now exists between the
chef de famille and his young people. As for the em-
ployes themselves, who are gentlemen by nature, if not
always by birth, it is quite impossible to see and converse
with these intelligent, well-educated, and benevolent
men without feeling how great must be their elevating
influence upon the character and general tone of the
boys. The two principal employes are in receipt of 160/.
per annum each. They are of a standard of intelligence '
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 iu an English
institution ; but I see no reason why the feeling of
honour,' which I believe to be as strong in an English
child as in a French one, should not be appealed to with
advantage in an English reformatory. Why should nut
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 has
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 ton 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 lee 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 having 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-
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 La 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 reformers 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. Pancras,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 Finchley.
The Rev. 'rims. 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 bold 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. Every attention was paid to her, and, she
says, had she been a lady, she could not have had more
attention paid to her atter 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 rabe-
pavers in that workhouse, against their new medical
officer.

The motion having been seconded and carried,
Mr. COOI'ER 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.
A.t the burial beard, Mr. Churchwarden FARRER 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—arrived at Finchley, and that in consequence of the
irregularity of the post in that district, the notice did
not arrive in sufficient time to get the extra grave space
prepared, and the bodies were placed temporarily in the
first grave till the additional ground could be got ready.
The board directed the superintendent, for the future,
always to have sufficient graves prepared in advance.

REPRESENTATION OF LINCOLN.—Mr. Charles Seely
has withdrawn himself as a candidate. for the representa-
tion vacant by the death ofaCol. Col. Sibthorp. The late
colonel's eldest son, Major Sibthorp, now stands alone,
and no doubt will he returned without opposition.
ALLEGED FORGERY IN A CASE OF LIINACY.—At the
Art
house Leeds, on Saturday last, before two of the
—our
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.
B. Wilkinson, assistant to Mr. R. G. Horton, of Leeds,
surgeon. It appeared that on the 3d of November last
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, and that she was insane ; and that
upon this certificate, and another one by Mr. Craven,
surgeon, of Swillington, she was committed to a lunatic
asylum, called the Retreat, at Armley, near Leeds.
There appeared to be no doubt about the insanity of the
girl, nor that the defendant had 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 the Public Journals.

(Front the Times of this clay.)
If the rumours of peace fall everywhere on un-
heeding ears it cannot he 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 is 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 east of Europe ;
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
Stattig• has boon to neparation limn Russian inte-
rests. Austria therefore has a chance of once
more becoming the leader of the Confederation.
On the other hand, tho King of Prussia sees with
apprehension the waning of his recent influence.
lie has had against him France, England, Austria,
and the opinion of the world. He was supported
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
no friend but the Czar, himself needing help and
consolation in adversity. We cannot doubt that
the Prussian King sees these dangers clearly, 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 bo 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 an I most compact of adversaries
merely by expeditions carried on with difficulty by
sea at a distance of 3,000 miles from home. But
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 uow 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.

(Prom the Daily News of this day.)
He is no true Englishman who has read the
tissue of falsehoods and fallacies put forward yes-
terday by the Times, with reference to the case of
Colonel Tut; without blushing. It is a national
reproach that an 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, he fought,
like a true man, against Austria. But this is not
the question at issue. The Times declares_ that if
any foreigner accused of a political crrimicee, weby
"his
original Sovereign enlists into our service,
will not allow him to be dragged away from under
the British flag." Colonel Turr (or 111. Turr, as
the Times affects to call him) was dragged away
from under the British flag." He was sent to Bu-
charest by the officer in command of our Land
Transport Corps, to which he was attached, to
purchase horses. He was seized by the Austrians,
on Turkish territory, while acting for the belloof
of the British army in accordance with. the com-
ands of his superior officer. If this was not
blueing "under the British flag," we know not
what can be so designated. The Times proceeds
—" He chose to accept a commission which took
him to. Bucharest, to the head-quarters Of au
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 be 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 are 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 seizing Colonel Turr, 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 even Admitting that diplo-