The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-11 00:00:00

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Thursday afternoon the
sion, Depot Brigade, Royal Artillery, commaotled
by Lieut.-Col. R. Talbot, was assembled on the
parade ground of the headquarters at Sheerness, to
witness the distribution of medals for long service
and good conduct to several members of the bri-
gade. The troops formed three sides of a hollow
square, when they were addresFed in a few appro-
priate word by Col, W. R. Nedham, commanding
the garrison at Sheerness, who afterwards handed.
ITke medals to tl..e fortunate recipients—Sorg.
Bombardier Hull, and Gunners Wm. Stephens had
Jdroes Graham, rho have each served for a period,
of 21 yeirß.

PRICE ...4d.
STAMPED ....sd.

Naval and Military Intelligence.
---

THE NAVY.
Her Majesty's screw steam corvette Scylla, 21
guns, 400 horse-power, was commissioned for ser-
vice on the East India and China stations, on Wed-
nesday last, at Sheerness, the pennant being hoisted
by Master John Jones, for Capt. S. G. Cresswell.
The vessel's fitments are being completed with the
greatest rapidity, and she will be ready for sea in a
few days.

The following detachments of the depot P..0pl
Artillery yesterdayleft head quarters, WoolAicb, for:
Col. Macirt':ire, Capt.
cGarmarbersise,nnd,ayannedb, e:hanrksoend,
iotnobbo:d tKhenotrt,rnopfoli:
I(.:3:udnrvilLiisan,vgo:eat:operta:L:iidn;r:iscok,::lo.iLne,niettuis.:Litlacartiry, Gamb.kr,
men,
-•
15 Women, and 16
children.officers wives, 149

The Gibraltar, 81, screw ship, 3,721 tons, and
800-horse power, fitting for ma at Devonport, is to
have a complement of 860 officers and men, and
will be commanded by Capt. James Charles Pre-
vost, The Gibraltar was launched at Devonport on
the 16th of August, 1860, and is now for the first
time being put into commission, and it is reported
her first station is to b 3 the Mediterranean. Capt.
Prevost entered the Navy in 1829, and, previous to
his promotion to commander, which took place on
the 22d of October, 1844, he served in the Mediter-
ranean, at Lisbon, on the North America and West
India Station, and at Portsmouth. He was com-
mander of the Vernon, 50, on the South American
station and in the East Indies ; of the Portland, 50,
flagship in the Pacific, from August, 1850, to the
spring of 1854; and commanded the Satellite, 21,
on the last mentioned station from September, 18,66,
until the spring of 1861.

Improvements in
Modern Schooling.

Not only are tbQ 'oooks now used in teaching the
anthdeLmatiinndvicaasttel pthroevpeda,rtbonft
mlluscilinghigher style of scholarship, and
part of the pupils to a more intelligent
rudiments of Gref
yi
Oi
theltehaedmethodteacher
oth the
s
dv? Tye eciation of what they learn. Although we are
surprised to find some clinging with amiable
tenacity to the old " Eton Latin Grammar,"—whicti
we had fancied the labours of Kennedy, Donaldson,
and others had long superseded,—we congratulate
these on their adoption of "an easy and pleasant

The massive screw shaft for the iron frigate
Achilles was landed yesterday at tke Centre-wharf,
Chatham Dockyard, from ore of the transports
which had conveyed it round from the establish-
ment of Messrs. Sohn Penn and Son, Ureenwich,
who are making the 1,250-horse power engines
for the Achilles. The screw shaft is one of the
finest specimens of brass castings ever produced in
this country, and it is finished and polished in the
most perfect manner. Its gross weight is 3 tons,
Bcwt., 2qrs., 31b., and its diameter clear, 2ft. 2in.
The mechanics are now boring the passage in which
the shafting will be inserted. This operation, which
has been some days in progress, will be completed
during the present week.

method for the perfect acquisition of that gram-
mar." Until quite lately, the only idea of teaching
Latin consisted in making the boy learn by rote
unintelligible rules, written in the very language he
was studying to acquire, in the fond hope that some
time or other he would be able to understand and
apply them: It is encouraging nowadays to find
masters using the grammar as a book of reference
before it is committed to the memory as a system of
rules, explaining beforehand the form, usage, or
construction on which the rule is founded, and in
various ways leading their pupils to regard the
grammar as made for the acquisition of the lan-
guage, and not the language for the acquisition of,
the grammar. To be able to repeat the rule was
the first and great commandment with the school-
master of the last generation ; to understand the
principle and quote an illustration of it is tae
wisertheir
demand made by our present teachers, on
youthful scholars. It were needless te. Enlarge on
the benefits, direct and indirect, resTaitiag from the
single change.

The steam dredging machine has been employed
at the entrance to Chatham harbour, near Folly
Point, for several weeks past in removing a spit of
sand and in deepening the river at the spot selected
for mooring the large iron frigate Achilles, 6,079
tons, when she has been floated out of the dock,
where she is rapidly approaching completion. Under
the direction of Commander Pope, Queen's harbour-
master at Chatham, suitable moorings are being laid
down at the harbour's mouth, as she could not be
moored alongside the dockyard without taking the
ground at low tides.
Two dockyard transports are now employed in
removing the collection of stores from the naval
establishment at Deal to Chatham, prior to the Deal
dockyard being abolished, and its site disposed of
by the Government. The quantity of stores already
landed is very large, but a considerable proportion
is altogether useless for naval purposes: In accord-
ance with instructions from the Admiralty, Mr.
Hutchens, one of the assistant master-shipwrights
at Chatham, proceeded yesterday to Deal to make a
survey of the remaining stores, in order that the
delay and expense of removing materiel ultimately
proving valueless may be avoided. The stores con-
nected with the victualling department will not be
landed at Chatham, but are to be forwarded direct
to Deptford.
The Pioneer, 6, screw despatch vessel, Comman-
der F. C. Robinson (acting), arrived at Spithead
yesterday morning, from the Australian station,
after a long passage, having sailed from England
from Sydney, on the 12th pf April last. The
Pioneer arrived at St. Vincents, Cape de Verde, on
the Bth of August, and sailed from there again on
the 11th, bringing with her a mail from her Ma-
jesty's steamer Himalaya, which was coaling there
in prosecution of her voyage out ward from England.
She called at Madeira on the 27th day of August,
and ascertained that the Virago, 6, paddle sloop,
sailed thence on the previous day for Halifax, Nova
Scotia. Fine weather was experienced by the
Pioneer on her passage home until making the
Channel, where she fell in with strong S.W. winds.
Mr. Phillips, late paymaster of her Majesty's ship
Eclipse, a few naval invalids, and two naval invalids
from the Tien-tsin, Commander Nicolas, received on
bcinoo
ma
the
ei as
stpi
otihno e C
ne
deeaar
at Portsmouth
of
.ae
so rt
s passengers.o
oo ud
thlio
i up I,
Ta came
yh ,e 1 to
Bpszbe
by England
Pioneer
w Com-
mander
May, and proceeded to China. While on
that station Commander May received ;his promo-
tion to post rank, and was succeeded by Comman-
der O'Reilly, who remained in the ship until after
her arrival on the Australian station, to which she
had been detached from the China squadron.
Having lost his life by an accident while on horse •
back ashore at Brisbane, Commander O'Reilly was
succeeded by first Lieut. Robinson, who brought
the vessel home to England. The acting rank of
this officer will doubtless be confirmed by the
Admiralty on paying the ship out of commission.
The following appointments were made on Wed-
nesday at the Admiralty :—Capt. S. G. Cresswell
to the Scylla ; Lieut. J. A. F. Luttrell, Lieut.

Another improvement, hardly less valuable, seems
to us to lie in the greater attention paid to philology
in its various branches as an aid in teaching. How
many boys, for example, thirty years ago, under-
stood the meaning of a " case ?" On the other
hand, what a light must be thrown now on the
chaos of genitives and datives, when most pupils
are shown by their teachers at the beginning tb at
these case-endings only serve the purpose of the
prepositions which are placed before English 'words
—that the " i " and "o" in " domini," " domino,"
simply express the "of" and " to" of their own
tongue, and when the knowledge of eren the rudi-
ments of French and German will be made to illus-
trate by contrast the point in question ! The same
holds in a still greater degree with etymology.
Nothing is calculated to enlist a young pupil's at-
tention, improve his meniory, and make him see the
use of what he is learning so much as the percep-
tion of the likeness between his own speech and,
what he hears called " the dead languages." It is
not that this was omitted by former schoolmasters,
but their attempts were, to say the least, inc,elici-
tous—even if their false etymology has not con-
tributed in some degree to discredit the true, Hap-
pily, we shall not hear again raa —" I breathe,"
derived from the first and last letter of the alpha-
bet, as the first and last thing done iv life ; or 6' chic ,
traced to the reptile "d c¢ar" to Eve. Every
new dictionary and lexicon a-40a something valua-
ble to this branch of study, and the increased ac-
quaintance with the modern languages makes its
introduction still more 'welcome to the learners. Let
an intelligent boy once have the likeness, not be-
tween single words merely, but (say, for instance)
between the French and Latin conjugations pointed
out to him, and a curiosity and mode of inquiry will
have been awakened in him, which will csao
rais-
ing for itself and solving after a fashion, on
aimilar pro-
blems in each day's lesson.
A third point on which we car.not but think we
have advanced is the diminishe a stress laid on mak-
ing Latin verses. We are "perfectly aware of all
that can be urged in their favour, as teaching the
delicacies of the language, cultivating general taste,
supplying a correct pronunciation, and so forth ; but
while we should be the last to undervalue these re-
sults when gained by the few, we cannot forgat the
time wasted, the honest labour sacrificed, tide more
valuable subjects neglected, by the mans who never
gain any of the said results at all. Of all the unsavoury
sacrifices presented at the shrine of Parnassus we can
conceive none equal to the " notaswase verses" written
by boys at their first school. Yet till quite recently
Latin versification formed. A necessary and impor-
tant part in the classatr.l training of private as
well as public schoo,ial
; and there was no greater
epoch in a boy's I;,fQ than when he first succeeded
in making Blaaass horse " wander in wide fields,"
according co the correct measure of a Latin
hexanr2te,r. We have a hearty satisfaction in the
thouglA that it is no longer deemed necessary for a
boy to have made some ten thousand Latin verses
(more than are contained in the " /Eneid ") before
he is nineteen years old ; that except for boys who
are likely to distinguish themselves at the Univer-
sity, the system is now rarely retained ; and that
the time once expended in hunting out epithets in
the " Gradus," is free to be used more wisely on
subjects not less beneficial to the mind, and infinitely
more valuable for life.
And here, perhaps, lies the crowning improw-
ment of all. While the classics are taught enore
intelligently, other subjects are made of scarcely
less importance. Arithmetic, mathematics, history,
and perhaps the rudiments of natural tei,,nce, are
now put on nearly an equal footing wittl the study
of Virgil and Homer, Caesar and Xenophon. It
can no more be said of the youtag Englishman or
his preceptor, that his Mat, object is " not to
reason, to imagine, or to invent, but to conjugate,
decline, and derive." Many are beginning to
believe, with Dr. 'Donaldson, that the study
of Latin and Greek should not even be entered
upon till 41,
tenth or eleventh year of
age, and 'that the previous years of boys
are 'better spent in acquiring the geography
and hid Tory of their own country, and storing their
memory with passages from their vernacular litera-
ture. However this may be, it is certain that in all
the better private schools a wiser adjustment be-
tween the classical and non-classical part of instruc-
tion is now made with due reference to what may
be known or conjectured respecting the pupil's
work and prospects in life. The boy who is to enter
business at fifteen or the army at sixteen, has not
only not to swallow the same dose of Greek para-
digms and Latin exercises as his companion 'who is
destined for the University, but he is also furnished
with the instruction that will best fit him for his
calling. Such subjects as mathematics and moderta
languages are not regarded in the light of " extras,"
to be left to chance teachers, but are being more and
more incorporated with, the regular schoolwork,
taught with the same precision and treßted with the
same importances as the rest. There is yet, no doubt,,
much to be done; but with improved books, better
qualified teachers, and juster notions of education,
with the various examinations challenging emula-
tion, testing acquirements, exposing the incapable
schoolmasters, and recommending the successful--
we may fairly hope to see a still greater improve-
ment in the method and results of our privr,ta,
school teaching than any we have hitherto attar
red
—London Review.

Duncan Stewart, Lieut. G. G. Hunt, and Lieut. J.
E. Pringle, to the Scylla ; Albert Warren, assis-
tant paymaster to the Blenheim ; and R. J. Willis,
assistant clerk, to the Duke of Wellington.

THE ARMY.
The subjoined general order, dated Horse Guards,
the 31st inst., in reference to distinctions obtained
by the several regiments of cavalry and infantry
engaged
in quelling the mutiny in India, was pro-
mulgatedyesterday
ts The Queen, m
.commemoration of the services of the
undermentioned regiments in restoring order in her Ma-
jesty's Indian dominions, is graciously pleased to command
that the words ' Delhi," Lucknow," Central India,' re-
spectively be borne on their standards, colours, or appoint-
ments, &c.

"Delhi-6th Dragoon Guards, 9th Lancers, Bth, 52d,
60th, 61st, 75th, 101st (late Ist Bengal Fusiliers), and 104th
(late 2d Bengal Busiliers) Regiments.
" Lucknow-For defence of Lucknow-sth, sea, 64th,
78th, 84th, 90th, and 102 d (late Ist Madras Fusiliers). For
relief of Lucknow-91h Lancers, Military Train, sth, Bth,
23d, 53d, 75th, 82d, and 93d Regiments.
For capture of Lucknow-2d Dragoon Guards, 7th
linssars, 9th Lancers, Military Train, sth, 10th, 20th, 23d,
34th, 38th, 42d, 53d, 78th, 79th, 84th, 90th, 93d, 97th, 101st
(late Bengal Fusiliers), 102 (late Ist Madras Fusiliers) Re-
giments, and the Rifle Brigade.
"Central India-Bth Hussars, 12th Lancers, 14th Hus-
sars, 71st, 72d, 80th, 83d, 86th, BSth, 95th, 108th (late 3d
Madras Europeans), and 109th (late 3d Bombay European)
Regiments.
64 command of his Royal Highness the Field-Marshal
Commanding-in-Chief.--Chief.
"A, H. HORTFORD,
Deputy Adjutant-General,"
A review of the troop in garrison at Ports-
Mouth took place on Southsea-common yesterday
afternoon, and a large number of residents and
visitors assembled to witness the proceedings. The
force consisted of three regiments of infantry, the
55th under Col. Hume, 53d under Major Harenc, and
Ist battalion 2d under Col. Holcombe, mustering
together.,l,663 of all ranks, and on each flank was
drawn up a battery of field Armstrong artillery-
on the right the " I" battery of the 4th Brigade of
six 12 pounders under Lieut.-Col. Barnston, and on
the left the " K" battery of six 12 pounders under
the command-in-chief of Lieut.-Col. Anderson, C.B.
Major-Gen. Lord W. Paulet, C. 8., the General
commanding the district, reviewed the troops, who
afterwards performed an animated series of field
manwuvres.
D ;tachments Of various regiments aro under
orders to proeml 14.) Portsmouth, to embark is the
it troop chi r• Adventure, Commander Lethbridge, on
••
ins 11th inst. for conveyance to Canada-viz., 61
men of the Grenadier Guards, 62 men of the Scots
Fusilier Guards, 20 men of the 30th Regiment, 15
men of the Rifle Brigade, 15 men of the Military
Train, 32 men of the 16th Foot, 32 men of the 17th,
30 men of the 47th, 53 men of the 63d, with the
above will embark 72 men of the Royal Artillery