The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-23 00:00:00

Denmark and the German Powers.

COPENHAGEN, Nov. 17.

The following proclamations have been issued by
King Christian through the Minister for Foreign
Affairs :

" We, Christian Ix., by God's grace King of
Denmark, &e., announce that by the treaty of peace
signed at Vienna on the 30th of lest month, we
have renounced in favour of their Majesties the
Emperor of Austria and the K:ng of Prussia all our
rights to the duchies of Mauenburg and Holstein,
and to the duchy of Schleswig south of the boundary
line, more precisely laid down in Art, of the treaty,
with the exception, however, of tte Island of Aeroe,
as well as to the Jutland enclaves situated to the
south of the same line upon the continent and upon
the islands, inclusive of the Island of Amrom. As
we have promised, in conformity with the aforesaid
treaty, we now release by this our present procla-
mation the inhabitants of all the territories thus
ceded, in general and in particular, from the fidelity
as subjects they owe to us, es well as from the oath
of allegiance each has specially taken to our person,
whether he be civilian or in military service, cler•
gyman or layman.

" Given at our capital of Copenhagen this 16th day
of November, 1864, under our Royal and seal.

(Signed)
(Countersigned)

" CHRISTIAN R.
" BLUME."

"Proclamation to our dear and faithful subjects
in the kingdom of Denmark, in Iceland, and in the
Faeroe Islands, and in the West Indian and Green-
land colonies :

" We, Christian IX., King of Denmark, &c., an-
nounce that since our accession to the throne in the
past year Denmark has been assailed by the severest
trials for us and you. The hopelessness of the struggle
was evident from the commencement if foreign as-
sistance did not outweigh the superiority our oppo•
nents possessed in numbers and munitions of war.
This assistance was not afforded us, and under these
circumstances any further continuation of the contest
would have served to undermine, if not entirely to
destroy, the future of the country.
,It was not want
of readiness still to make great sacrifices for the
country that counselled peace, but you felt with us
the responsibility which the present generation
owes to posterity.
" It became therefore our hard fate to conclude a
peace which annihilated the brightest hopes with
which we received the Crown, to preserve it entire
and uninjured as it has been worn for centuries by
the Danish Royal House. It became our sad fate
to see the monarchy divided, and the country which
had formed part of the ancient Danish realm from
time immemorial, and which a thousand years of
battle had not been able to tear from it, separated
from us. But the hardest trial of all to us has been
to know that portions of the kingdom itself and the
largest portion of that population in Schleswig
which belongs to Denmark by heart and language
have been compelled to see themselves severed from
the mother country and race.
" To you, whose further welfare is intrusted to
our care, we now issue our Royal word of hope in
the future and confident efficiency in the service of
the country. You will remember that union gives
strength to the weak, and that misfortune contains
a mighty power to bind men more firmly together.
You will rally round us in carrying out the act
which peace renders more than ever necessary.
You will labour with us at the development of the
country by wise laws and the use and promotion
of the rich resources with which nature has en-
dowed our country. We have lost much, but we
have not abandoned hope, and the future belongs to
whoever has an earnest will. As we reckon upon
your firm support in furthering the welfare of Den-
mark, so may you also count upon this being the
object of all our efforts.
" God bless our country.
" Given at our capital of Copenhagen this 16th
day of November, 1864, under our Royal hand and
seal.

(Signed) " CHRISTIAN R.
(Countersigned) " BLIIIIME "

" Proclamation to the inhabitants of the duchies
of Schleswig, Holstein, and Lauenburg, and also
to the inhabitants of the ceded Jutland enclaves in
Schleswig :

"We, Christian IX., by the grace of God King
of Denmark, &a., hereby proclaim that by a treaty
of peace concluded at Vienna on the 30th of Oct.
of this year, and now ratified by us, we have re.
nounced all our rights to the duchies of
Schleswig, Holstein, and 'Altenburg, as also
to certain of the enslaved portions of Jutland
situated in Schleswig, in return for which
latter a corresponding portion of Schleswig will
be incorporated into the kingdom of Denmark in
favour of their Majesties the Emperor of Austria
and the King of Prussia. We have, therefore, by
means of a proclamation issued in conformity with
the said treaty, released the inhabitants of the
ceded districts both from the allegiance and obe-
dience they have hitherto owed us as subjects, as
also the functionaries from their official oaths.
"Now that the painful sacrifice has been made to
which we have been compelled to submit by the
course of events, we feel ourselves impelled by a
desire once more to express to you, the inhabitants
of Schleswig, Holstein, Lauenburg, and of the ceded
enclaves, how deep has been our grief at the course
we have been forced to adopt.

" This grief will be understood and sha.ed by
many of you, for many must bear a lively recolleo•
tion of the happiness our fathers have enjoyed under
the mild and just sway of the Danish Kings, and in
how high a degree the development and the ge-
neral prosperity of which you may be proud, is attri-
butable to the endeavours of our lamented forefathers
for the furtherance of your welfare ; nor can you for-
get how many brilliant examples of fidelity to the
Danish King are recorded in your annals, and that
the ties which bound you to Denmark, even where
not consecrated by a common language and origin,
were firm and cordial. An inextinguishable re.
membrance of the fidelity so many of you have dis.
played towards us during our short reign is on-
graved upon our heart, and for this we return you
our warmest thanks. The Danish people will never
be able_to forget those who, on either side of the
Eider or in ever.loyal Lauenburg, have vied with
them in fidelity and love to their comm on father-
land.

"It was our proud hope to be able to dedicate
all our thoughts and endeavours to the security of
your well-being by close connexion with the
Danish people. We arc now forced to restrict our
wishes to a heartfelt hope that prosperity in future
may attend you.

" We include this cordial wish in our prayer to
God, who holds the happiness of nations arid the
destinies of kingdoms in His Almighty hand.
"To His holy keeping we commend you, both
now and hereafter, and send you herewith our final
greeting.

" Given at our capital of Copenhagen this 16th day
of November, 1864, under our Royal hand and seal.
(Signed) " CHRISTIAN R."

A Berlin letter (says the Pays) states that a great
difference of opinion on the subject of the Duchies
exist between the King and the Crown Prince on
the one hand, and Count de Bismark on the other.
The Minister desires, in the interest of those pro-
vinces, to prepare the way for their annexation to
Prussia, while the King believes in the legitimacy
of the pretensions of the Prince of Augustenburg.
A conflict between the will of the Sovereign and
that of the Minister may, therefore, be expected.
THE AMERICAN BLOCKADE.—Havannah, Nov. 2.
—The English steamer Flora arrived on the 29th
Oct. from Nassau in two days. By her we have the Bahama
Herald of the 26th, It reports the arrival of the Banshee
No, 2 from Wilmington in 48 hours ; also that the steamers
Florio and A. E. Fry got ashore outside of Charleston ; that
the Wando and the Talisman left that port on the 20th, but
had not since been heard from, and that the Lucy, Arm
strong, and Virginia has arrived in safety. Washington,
Nov. 0. —The following capture of blockade-runners eft
Wilmington were reported to the Navy Department to-day.
The prizes have arrived at Fortress Monroe :—The English
steamer Lucy was captured on the 2d inst., laden with 414
bales of cotton and 25 tons of tobacco ; the steamer Anna
was captured onMonday last,laden with 518 bales of cotton,
30 tons of tobacco, and 15 barrels of turpentine, making
seven captures and four destroyed blockade-runners within
the last 30 days.

Adult Education.

A conference took place last evening at the rooms of the

Society of Arts, John-street, Adelphi, in connexion with
the Metropolitan Association for Promoting the Education
of Adults, on the subject of the organisation and manage-
ment of night schools—Sir Thomas Phillips presided, and
briefly explained the object of the meeting, observing that
the importance of night schools as supplementary to the
education afforded to the working elasses in day schools,
and after they left the latter, was now generally admitted,
although perhaps few would go so far as a noble lord was
reported to have done the other
_day, and say that night
schools should supersede day schools.
The Rev. HENRY WHITE, MA , chaplain of the Savoy,
delivered an address, prefacing it by stating that he had
been largely mixed up in the conduct of night schools for
several years, and that he had seen reason to change some
of the opinions he had advanced four or five years ago. He
proposed to confine his paper to the following subjects :
" The need for night schools specially suited to boys of an
age stretching from 13 to 18. The desirableness of changing
the name of night schools to the more attractive name of
youths' club or institute. The best method of raising or
adapting buildings for the use of evening schools. The
advantage of reading and recreation rooms in connexion with
the evening schools. The classes most needed to be formed
for a boys' evening school. Are paid or voluntary teachers
most to be desired and encouraged ? HJW can night
schools be maintained on self-supporting principles ?" He
then dilated at some length on providing night schools
suited to boys between the ages stated, quoting a paper of
Mr Hollingshead's, published last year, pointing out the
difficulties under which " hobbledoys" labour for want of
congenial and profitable occupation in their leisure hours,
and deducing from his premises the value of providing night
schools, but under some other name, in which not only
should educational facilities, but opportunities for amuse-
ment and social enjoyment be provided. He suggested that
youths' clubs or institutes would be the more appropriate
name for the institutions he contemplated, as expressing
more accurately and attractively their proposed objects,
The class he proposed to benefit was the sons of working
men after they lift school. He recommended that the
National School-rooms should be used for these clubs or in-
stitutes, urging that it would be difficult to obtain the means
of providing other buildings for the purpose, and that were
it otherwise, the money spent in building or in rent might be
much better employed. Besides, he believed that in the
National Schools they would better secure the class of boys
they desired to influence, and that this use of these schools
would be advantageous in the education given in the day
schools. Again, there clustered round the National School a
variety of institutes, saving banks, &3., of which the youths
would avail themselves. He pointed out various other advan-
tages he anticipated from the adoption of this suggestion, as
the obtaining of the government grant, the assistance of the
national schoolmaster,and the sympathy of the parishioners.
He considered paid teachers would be necessary for these

night schools in addition to the voluntary educational and
other help which would doubtless be afforded. He attached
great importance to the assistance of ladies as a means of
refining the habits, thoughts, and manners of the boys. He
recommended compulsory attendance to at least three classes
weekly, and that there should be a discretionary power of
discipline. There should be a reading room, a place for
draughts, chess, and similar games, and opportunities within
certain limits for education and social intercourse. This re-
quirement might be met by devoting one hour previous to
and one hour atter ctudy for amusement. And in the sum-
mer months there should be provision for cricket, boating,
and gymnastics. He held it to be a vital point that these
institutes sho'ild be self-supporting, and in this respect he
admitted that he had committed an error in the institution
he founded some years ago at the Lowther Arcade. The
rate of payment must vary according to circumstances ; 4d
to 6d weekly had been found to meet the needs cf London
boys, but perhaps in the country 3d or 4d would be more
suitable. He considered there should be an entrance fee of
double the weekly payment, as an inducement to continu-
ous attendance, but there should be no extra payments for
lectures, classes, or entertainments. He recommended that

there should be periodical examinations and distributions of
prizes. All would he thought admit that some religious
guidance was requisite for the members of these institutes.
He would not exclude dissenters, but it was vain to expect
that a youths' institute could succeed upon the principle of
embracing all denominations. He bad seen many promising
institutions come to grief from the impossibility of getting
managers of different religious views to act together. If the
dissenters desired such institutes they should provide them
for themselves, but their starting point must be the Church
of England. (Hear, hear. )
Mr H. CHESTER followed, explaining the advantages of
examinations as carried on by the Metropolitan Association,
and showing the necessity of affording to the sons of the
working classes the means cf pursuing their education after
the period at which they usually left the elementary schools.
Re described the nature and form of the examinations of
the association; adding that none were examined under 16,
and that the examination papers were sent round to the
, localities where the pupils resided. He altogether dissented
from the opinions of the last speaker as to the religious ques•
tion, considering it of the greatest importance that members
of the different religious bodies should be brought to act to-
gether in the work of education, and he was happy to say
that he knew of several institutions in which members of
the different religious bodies laboured harmoniously together.
and with the best results. (Cheers.) He could elate that the
working classes were by no means indifferent to the value of
continuing their education after leaving the elementary
schools—on the contrary, there was a strong and even an
enthusiastic desire for it. The association did not confine
itself to youths between 13 and 18, to which
.Mr White's
paper was limited, but extended its facilities and its system
of examination to adults generally ; ant they actually found
people coming up of the age of 45 or 50, although the ma-
jority were between 16 and 22 or 23. As to using the na-
tional schools for the purposes of these institutes, he thought
much was to be said on both aides, and pointed out numer-
ous objections to the proposal.
Mr TABRUM, hon. secretary of the Islington Youths'
Institution, which had been alluded to by Mr White in the
way of illustration, offered some remarks explanatory of the
system there pursued and the beneficial results.
The Rev. B. F. SMITH, diocesan inspector of schools for
the archdiocese of Canterbury, gave it as his opinion that
what might be suitable for London would be perfectly in-
applicable for the country, when he considered that the
night schools should be educational exclusively, and quoted
his own experience of the value of rural night schools as
a means of continuing the influence of the national day
schools. Upon the point of recreation he recommended an
annual festival. When night schools had fail2d, he be li
-
lieved it was generally from want of proper teaching.
The Rev. Mr WHITTINGTON, principal of the City of
London College, for which he claimed the credit of having
been the first to establish night schools under the name of
the Metropolitan Evening Classes, believed the true secret
of the success of the classes established at Crosby-hall was
that amusement and instruction were combined. He ad-
vised that the proposed clubs or institutes should not be
held in the national schools, and that other teachers than
the national schoolmasters should conduct the classes. He
thought the attendance should be voluntary, but that there
should be a certain number of attendances at lectures to
qualify for the examination for priz?s. Upon the religious
questions, he objected to the exclusion of Dissenters, add-
ing that in the college with which he was connected they
had members of all denominations, and he could scarcely
conceive any difficulty in bringing members of the different
denominations to act harmonionsly with each other and
with members of the church fn the management of such
institutions.

Mr PEARSALL, secretary of the London Mechanics' In-
stitution, said such classes as had been spoken of by the
last speaker had existed in connection with that institution
for 40 years.

Mr FORD doubted whether, ,by adopting the title
" Youths Institutes, or Clubs," they would get the class of
boys intended, viz., the sons of mechanics, and those who
might be called the really working men. He was in favour
of " Night Schools" as the preferable title, and gave some
particulars as to the system pursued and the progress made
in a night school of which he was the conductor.
The Rev. W. BAIRD, of Clare-market, considered that
the broader tho religious basis on which they established
these schools the more certain they would b 3 to succeed.
While always anxious that the Church should maintain
her true position, he thought it most unwise that she
should set an example of intolerance. (Cheers.)
Mr BAKER, of the Bayswater Institute (which had
also Leen spoken of by Mr White), described the practice of
that establishment, the pupils in which, he said, were
chiefly of the working clas,zes, adding that the institute was
self-supporting, that it was open to all denominations, and
that the attendance was voluntary.
The Rev. A. B. Suter, Mr Whittingham, Mr Solly, Mr
Stock, Mr Currie, and other gentlemen connected with the
management of night schools and ragged schools in various
parts of London and the provinces, gave their experiences,
and offered suggestions, after which
The Rev. Mr WHITE replied, briefly remarking that the
Metropolitan Association, in connection with the Society of
Arts, really did come in to the aid of all the classes which
had been referred to.

The CRAIRMA.N said it was of the utmost importance in
dealing with this question of adult teaching, that all those
olasses should be included whose education now generally
closed at 12 or 13 years of age,

On the motion of Mr 11. CIIESTER a vote of thanks was
accorded to the Rev. INtr White for his address, and to Sir
H. Phillips for presiding.

ALEXANDRE DUMAS.—The Union stated that M.
Alexandre Dumas has recently been regaling the
inhabitants of Nismes with his literary compositions and
his cookery. He road to the members of the Cercla du Com-
merce several scenes of an unpublished drama, entitled
"Romeo and Juliet," imitated from Shakspere. He also
served up to a few friends a new dish of rabbit cooked by
himself, and likewise patronised a concert at the Hotel de
Ville. Of this last, one of the local journals remarks that
what was wanting in quantity was supplied by quality,
very few persons being present.