The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-21 00:00:00

Commerce at 7.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Manager, Mr. W. H. Swanborough.
THIS EVENING, ON AND OFF.
Followed by THE MAID OF HONOUR.
After which (20th time) MAZOURKA. Messrs. Honey,
Turner, &c. ; Marie Wilton, Simpson, &c.
To conclude with MARGATE SANDS.
Commence at'.

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irI9MOSES AND SON
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V. MOSES AND SON'S
n 4. Establishments are closed (very Friday evenin
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All articles are marked the lowest prices in plain figure,.
Any article not approved of will be eXchanged, or the money
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COALS.—The LILLESHAL L COMPANY'S
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Direct from their own Collieries.
11Earquis'. ..... .245. per ton. Double ..20a. per ton.
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Deep ...21a,
~
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Best Coke .................15s. per chaldron.
Terms cash.
JOHN SCOTT, Sole Agent.

'THE THIRD EDITION OF "THE SUN,"
Containing thLast SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,
pia had Every an ot
G. Iw GLMNIE, NEWS Acmix,
No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park.

SURVEYING AT SEA.—A paragraph has gone the
round of the papers relating to a recent extraordi-
very transparency of the ecu at Deal, the bottom being dis-
tinctly visible at a considerable depth. The statement is
somewhat suggestive, and I am induced to ask whether
come useful purpose might not be served in tho examination
of sea bottoms for telegraphic and other purposes, by an
arrangement which should enable investigators to look
straight downward or diagonally from the interior of a ship,
either with or without the aid of telescopic apparatus. A
good-sized disc of clear glass might, I imagine, be so fitted
and so placed in the ship's hull as to avoid danger of frac-
ture or other risk. With the full glare of mid-day shining
on the surface, and the spectator standing in the dark in-
terior of the hull, several feet below the sea level, the cir-
cumstances would be favourable to careful survey over much
larger areas than the simple act of sounding affords cognia•
ance of,—Correspondent of the Brander.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
face am—Morning, lh. 46m.—Afternoon, 2h. Sm.
ro-moßßow.-Morning, 2h. 44m.—Afternoon, 2h. 47m.

.#1 iTr,

LONDON, SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1864.

It seems difficult to say where some people can
stop in their course when once they have let loose
the bonds that curb the inordinate desires of ambi-
tion and the extreme cupidity of greed and gain. A
few months ago, had any one predicted a tenth part
of what has occurred in the German Danish war
now unhappily raging, who would or could have
given credence to the prophecy ? Would not all
sage statesmen and sapient lookers on of events have
declared that there was gross exaggeration, or grie-
vous prejudice in the mind of the prophet of evil.
It is true that in most wars, it is difficult in the ex-
treme to foretell the probable turn that things may
take. No one very likely believed that the Ameri-
can war would have been of such an extended dura-
tion, or have been waged with such determined
virulence on one aide, and resisted with such
invincible perseverance on the other. Still, when
we look at the secondary details of the war in
the North of Europe, the chief thing that strikes
our notice is the want of consideration that pre-
eminently distinguishes the Prussian troops. Apart
from all disputes as to the right or wrong of the
question, there remains this unquestionable fact to
dwell upon, that the nation now so conspicuous in
the attack is unfortunately equally remarkable for',
rapacity and tyranny, in all smaller details and
minor arrangements. It is not at all consistent with
the style and character of modern warfare to carry
on matters in the manner which the Prussians have
done. From the outset we have been shocked at
their encroachments, and dismayed at their into-
lerance, but lately these ruthless aggressors and
pitiless assailants seem to have surpassed them.
selves. It is a scandal to all Europe to witness
these shameless proceedings and unprincipled tace
tics, but it would appear that even these extreme
measures will be suffered to take place, and the viola-
tors of the laws of nations allowed to proceed, and
lay waste all before them. It is perfectly monstrous
to contemplate the plans concocted by the German
States and carried out with such scrupulous observ-
ance, whateaer obstacle may be interposed. Thus,
when the united efforts of several nations had ar-
ranged a Conference, the least that was expected
was that the primary rules and regulations should
he observed. Instead of this we find there is not
the slightest attempt to affect any compliance with
demands, obedience to injunctions, or conformity to
proposals. For any real good that the Danes are
deriving from the long talked of mediation
of the great Po wers, it might just as well have been
left alone. Indeed, so far as there can be any
satisfaction derivable from the idea of influence, the
whole plan has turned out a desperate failure. No
one who peruses the statements furnished by the
eye-witnesses of the course of action pursued by the
allied armies can persuade himself that any defer-
ence is being paid to our opinion, or attention given
to the indignant expressions that have emanated
from the people of this country. In the first place,
by some ingenious shuffling and dexterous jugglery,
it was so contrived that the armistice should turn
out of no effect. After it was an openly acknow-
ledged fact that one of the conditions agreed to at
the Conference was that there should be a cessation
to the grievous impositions enforced from
the inha-
bitants of Jutland, it is disgraceful to reflect upon
that the Prussians did actually levy contributions
and exact the fulfilment of their demands. Not
satisfied with this, however, the next step was to
give up the shallow pretence of adhering to the
engagements altogether. When we consider that
Earl RUSSELL informed the House the other even-
ing that the armistice certified that the contribu-
tions demanded from the Jutlanders should cease,
and that the armies of the invaders should pay for
all they required, we must confess to being deceived
and misled by the subsequent conduct of the Prus-
sians. All that Lord ELLZNBOROUGIi said was
strictly true, both in word and deed, as relates to
their rapacity and cruelty ; his indignar.:,
protest, his manly scorn, and his honest con-
tempt for such underhand ways and w,principled
:
actions, were all put to silence an hushed up on
the plea of a period having arri7eed to the sufferings
and a stop being put "co the evil. So far all
might have been w.ell, but when we hear of
one thing after exother which confirms the fears we
began to estertain regarding the nothingness and
unworthiness of the truce, we are tempted to believe
that the allies have gone from bad to worse, and,
not content with victims in Denmark, they have
made dupes of the parties who have been assisting
at this Conference. No other interpretation can be
put upon the events that have recently transpired,
and it remains to be seen what next step will be taken
by a nation that eclipses all others by its most
unblushing effrontery, while it sets at nought the
recognised principles that actuate civilised nations,
and refuees to concur in any plan for mitigating
the sufferings of a much-tried people, while resort
is had to the force of arguments instead of the strife

at arms. When the Pruesians go on so far as wan-
tonly to destroy property, and to rifle, rob, and
plunder to enrich their own States, it must be said
that they are going back many generations to the
days of barbaric warfare, and are forgetticg the
prestige that may have been conferred upon their
nation by the deeds of ancestors more amenable to
the influence of reason, justice, and humanity. Mr.
WHITESIDE the other night very properly called
the notice of the House to these startling facts, and
asked the attention of the Under-Secretary for
Foreign Affairs to the subject. Mr. LATARD, in
reply, stated that he had seen the reports alluded
to by the hon. and learned gentleman, but he could
not vouch for their accuracy. He also mentioned
that it had been understood that after the armistice

had been agreed upon the levying of contributions
was to cease. It certainly makEs very little diffe-
rence what is believed, or how much is expected by
cur Ministers, for nothing affects the imperious
nature of their friends in Berlin, or moves their im-
practicable resolutions. The dismay end conster-
nation which must fill the minds of our Ministers
when they behold their allies thus wantonly out•
raging public opinion, and provoking grave conse

quences, doebtlel,s affords a subj:ct for ridicule to
Count VON EIS:HARK end his coadjutors. They
fancy thernselve quite free and nnfottered to follorc
the bent of their inclinations,
and enjoy the fruits
of their triumph ; but a different day may dawn
on their path from any that they expect or desire.
It cannot be that Denmark is to b© sacrificed, and
all Europe remain quiescent. History might point
out some striking scenes in her antiquated scroll;
but there are some nations that will not hear
reason, like the infatuated individuals who are
blind to their own interests and deaf to the teach-
ings of friendly advisers and well-wishers. The

same ignorance, real or affected, was manifested by
the Government when it was mentioned that the
Austrian squadron was supposed to be proceeding to
the Baltic. Really if all that those in high places
can do is to conjecture what is going to be done,
and imagine that other States will accede to
what is right and reasonable, but possess no
influence to make them do so, or to restrain their
mischievous tendencies, the post of Ministers seems
neither very pleasant nor very profitable, nor can•
ducive to personal fame, nor calculated to enhance
public welfare.

The Whituntide holidays have not been suffered
to pass over without a display of Parliamentary
eicquence in the provinces. The occasion was,

however, a little out of the beaten track, and the
addresses did not concern themselves in any way
with those political questions which are now agitat-
ing Europe. The speakers were the Dake of
ARGYLL and Mr. ROEBUCK, and the event which
called them together was the annual conference of
the Yorkshire Union of Mechanics Institutes, held
in Sheffield on Wednesday last. Mechanics insti-
tutes have often enough proved the topic of popular
addresses, but there were some features in the meet-
ing of Wednesday which rendered it exceptionally
interesting. It represented no inconsiderable con-
junction, but a union of institutes, with an aggregate
of 23,000 members, which is now celebrating its
twenty-seventh anniversary. It includes a hundred
libraries, which boast of possessing 137,000 books,
and of having issued during the year 318,000. It
seems that some persons had proposed to add to the
peculiar features of these institutions some of the
working men's clubs, recently organised, but the
members resolved, after some discussion, to adhere
to their original constitution, and to retain the pro-
minence of those educational objects for which their
union was originally formed. Yorkshiremen are
famed for being hard headed and hard working, so
that they can afford to keep to the severer studies
for their recreation, and if the results of the present
system are satisfactory, as, from the statistics we
have given above, they appear to be, it is certainly
wiser to continue the course which experience has
proved successful, instead of adding to the super-
structure an adornment not contemplated at the
time of the original foundation. The Duke of
ARGYLL, in his very able and sensible address,
observed that the name of mechanics institute had
become almost a byword, from the common belief
that it represented an institution of which the
members were not mechanics; but from what he
learned of this Yorkshire gathering, such an accu-
sation could not fairly be brought egainst it. The
noble duke expressed his hope that in the course of
time the union would include all societies and estab-
lishments which had for their objects the educa-
tional improvement of the great body of the popu-
lation. The question of national education is
pressing more and more upon public attention, and
the deficiency hitherto existing with regard to our
middle and lower classes, has given rise to much
well directed effort to bring about a better !Pate of
things. The Society of Arts has been a valuable
auxiliary in this good work, and especially so by
the system of public examinations and rewards
which it upholds. The spirit of competition and
emulation is thus evoked, and the honourable
ambition, which is so great a stimulus to exertion, is
called into beneficial action, thus supplying a want
which greatly retarded the progress of our average
scholars of the lower classes. No doubt there are
many students whom remarkable ability or strong
natural taste will urge to unremitting application
and energetic study, but such will always be the
conspicuous exceptions to the ordinary rule, and it
is right and necessary to consider the great body
of students, rather than the gifted few who
may need no such incentive. Anothsr valuable
feature of the examination system is to
guard against that superficiality of instruction
only too common. The revelations of the Civil
Service Commissioners brought vividly before the
public the urgent need of some reform, and those
who ridicule the competitive system, and main-
tain that it is absurd to expect a clerk to answer
questions that might puzzle a pedant, will, per-
haps, be startled to learn that out of 2,334 can-
didates rejected during these examinations, only
183 were rejected without tameing failed in writing,
spelling, or the commonest rules of arithmetic.
Such statistic proves, es the Duke of ARGYLL
remarked how very slovenly and inaccurate is
,
the education now being given to the middle and
working classes. Such education, however pre-
tentious, must entirely fail in its real object—in
cultivating the reasoning faculties, and fitting a
man the better to perform his duties, whatever
his adhere of action. No such complaint is made
against the higher classes, thanks to the efficacy
of the public school system, whose advantages
may, in the opinion of the Duke of ARGYLL, be
brought in some measure within the reach of
Yorkshiremen by an Educational Union, with a
regular method of public examinations and prizes.
But a charge of another kind is often brought
against our great public schools, which it is im-
portant that associations of this kind should care•
fully avoid. They are accused of neglecting
natural science, a department of study whose prac-
tical interest and value to the working men exceeds
almost any other, What can be a more fascinating
study for an engineer than the laws which regu-
late force, and rule the expansion of steam ?
What more gratifying to the busy workers of
Birmingham or Sheffield than the study of the
qualities of metals, and the manner in which
many important discoveries were worked out by
humble toilers like themselves ? The lives of the
kings and heroes of the past may entertain their
hours of leisure, but the study of the laws of nature
will be with them in their daily work, will show
them to what purpose the strength of the strong
arm or the cunning of the skilful hand is applied ;
how one law rules or counterbalances another, how
the great principles of science are eternal, immu.
table and perfect like their Almighty ruler. With
regard to the often-talked of discrepancy between
science and faith—a discrepancy only perceptible
to those whose intellects fail to appreciate the one,
or whose hearts are insensible to the influence of
the other—the noble Chairman spoke pointedly and
impressively, not as a mere didactic teacher, but
as one who from hie acquirements in scientific
knowledge had good right to state the light in
which such theories appeared to him. He main-
tained, also, the duty of the State to provide for
the education of its members,
and after dilating on
the merits of the Factory Act, he contended that it
was quite as reasonable that the landed proprietor
shoul be bound to see to the eduction of the
children of the agricultural labourers whom he em-
ployed es that the manufacturer should be corn-
Filed to see to the education of the children whom
he employed. Mr. ROEBUCK, who always befriends
any association for the popular benefit, gave hearty
encouragement to the dwellers in his constituency
in their efforts for self-improvement. It had always,
he declared, been ono of his dreams that working
men might derive as much pleasure from intellec•
tuol eources as the clauses above them. Whettae.r
this vision will ever be fully realised remains to be
proved by the future; at all events such assemblies
as this Yorkshire gathering tend to hasten the good