The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-09 00:00:00

LONDON, FIRI)AY, DEC. 9, 1864.

Sir JOHN PAKINGTON, in his speech at Bir-
mingham the other day, on the subject of Home
Defences, made some remarks well R orthy of con-
sideration, The right hon. Baronet always speaks
in a decided manner, and without any effort at
rhetorical flights he impresses his auditory with
the soundness of his opinions and the practical
nature of his views. In commencing his discourse
Sir J. PAKINGTON paid a tribute to the Yeomanry
Cavalry, and expressed a wish that the Government
should cease its persecutions against that respected
body of the service. Year after year are the at.
tempts made but without success so far, although
as is here humorously described, "they first hit out
one fist and then the other fist, to try if they could
knock down the Yeomanry of England." The right
hon. Baronet declared that he thought the Yee.
manry might be considered as the " cavalry force"
of the Volunteers of the country. Lord HERBERT
often had given it as his opinion that it would be
too costly to maintain the Volunteer principle with
cavalry. There is great truth in these remarks,
and it is difficult to account for the constant at.
tacks of the Government upon this body, unless it
be that they are desirous of pleasing their peacedat-
any-price friends. Mr. COBDEN and Mr. BRIGHT
are never weary of expatiating upon the folly of
such institutions, and their evil influence appears to
bpread further than it ought in such a case.. As a
Proof of the advantages of the systtm Sir J. PAK-
-INGTON adverted to the recent strike, and said that
if the Yeomanry had been called out to pre.,
servo the peace, when
the disturbance lasted
so long, there would have been a much
more satisfactory state of things. The die.
tricts from wilt" the police were taken were left
unprotected, and many persons
were greatly dissa-
tisfied at such proceedings. Pa"ing en to the more
immedive subject under discussion, the right non.

baronet observed that the present wee the first time
that anything like a permanent Volunteer Service
had been established in this country. The great
national movement which produced the splendid
development of power at the commencement of this
century was essentially a temporary affair, and
that Volunteer Service was a special one. After
the experience of some years those best competent
to judge will coincide with this observation, that
the effect of the Volunteer movement is most sue-

cessful by its influence abroad. This Volunteer
movement has impressed the powers of Europe
more than any other event has done with the in-
fluence and the power and the irresistible strength
of England. It is, indeed, most fortunate that
such an event should have occurred of late years,
for we need something to vindicate our national
character, after the scandalous manner in which
our administrators have held it up to the eyes of
surrounding nations. Nothing could have more
forcibly impressed the foreign states than the spec•
tacle of unity so fully revealed in this movement,
and it also proved that the spirit of England was
not extinct, but could at any requisite moment rise
to meet th 3 emergency. There can be no doubt
that had not this great demonstration been
made, we should by this time have
been put to ,serious inconvenience in some
shape or other by the insidious designs and the bold
attempts of unscrupulous allies or covert foes. Sir
J. PAKINGTON alluded to another striking advan.
tags in this force, which was that it bound all
classes together in unity. Whatever may be their
political differences or their class divisions, in this
undertaking they meet on neutral ground, one in
spirit and sentiment, to defend the rights of their
common country. Also we notice here men.
tioned one of the chief characteristics of this affair,
the zeal and rapidity with which the force was in-
augurated, which of itself was a warning to foreign
Powers that they could not easily mistake to profit
by. Doubtless some of those sage statesmen who
regulate affairs in distant lands believed that the
English were slow to settle any matter not inti-
mately associated with trade and commerce, but
they must have recognised their mistake when,
almost instantly as it were, they found the peaceful
land covered with preparations for war. In some
respects it reminds oae of the striking scene in the
" Lady of the Lake," where RHODERIC Dim waves
his hand and discloses to the astonished Saxon the
magnificent array of "Ben Ledi's living side," that
I more surprised was FITZJAMES when he saw

"That every tuft of broom gave life
To plaided warriors armed for strife,"

than were our friends and allies across the Channel
and on the Continent of Europe at our display. Sir
J. PAKINGTON declared that he thought it one of
the proudest days of English history when, shortly
after the Volunteer force was thought of, twenty
five thousand men defiled before the QUEEN,
showing already in that short period of
time a discipline and an organisation which
astonished even the warmest admires of that move-
ment. The right hon. baronet very properly cen•
sured those who criticised this undertaking, and
said that it was unwise to arm every man and let
him know how to use his musket. This is very
forcibly shown to be a mistake, and, on the con-
trary, that nothing is more likely to conduce to the
general peace and prosperity of the country than
uniting all classes together in unity to resist the
encroachments of the enemy. It is astonishing
what errors persons will fall into who get crotchets
into their heads, and it is therefore satisfactory that
one so well calculated to express an opinion as Sir
J. PAKINGTON should come forward to denounce
the mistakes as mischievous in their tendency and
unfounded in their origin. It is curious that so
little opposition has been made to this movement,
considering the many who are involved in it one way
or another, and this proves that what is here said of
its united principle is true, for the Volunteer move•
ment is a thoroughly national one to all intents and
purposes, and thus it would be out of character
if it were not so recognised and appreciated. Still
the general absence of awkward feelings is a proof
that great care and caution have been exercised by
all who have had a prominent part in its inaugura-
tion, and the success which has now crowned its
efforts is no mere chance, but because the under.
taking was strictly in conformity with the spirit of
the age, and appealed to the genius of the people it
represented.

The inconveniences and dangers of London
streets are Demme so apparent that continual efforts
are being made to relieve the extreme pressure.
Not only are the busy City thoroughfares becoming
every day more liable to stoppage and blockade, but
even the pleasure loving, idle West has troubles
and dangers of its own, one of them being so glar-
ing as to necessitate immediate reform. Reforms
of all kinds, however, are, as we know, very easy to
tattle about, but very difficult to obtain ; and ac-
cordingly the Park lane improvement, much es it
has been discussed, seems as far dr as ever. The
Metropolitan Board of Works have, as in duty
bound, taken up the matter energetically, naturally
expecting that the Crown and the Government
would meet them half way in their efforts to im-
prove the Metropolis and to benefit the public. In
this anticipation they appear to have been griev-
ously mistaken, judging from Mr COWPER'S rever.
tion of their deputation on Monday last. The First
Commissioner expressed his satisfaction at the
Board's having taken the matter in hand, remark-
ing upon the great inconveniences attending the
present crowded state of Park-lane, where he had
heard that it was a common thing for accidents to
happen daily. When it came, however, to the con.
sideration of ways and means a change came over
him, and the one point on which he insisted through-
; out the interview was that the Crown, far from
assisting in the improvement, should have full com.
pensation for any property taken or affected by the
alterations. He could make no suggestions as to
the best way of carrying out the scheme, he
would give no opinion as to its merits;
his thoughts were centred on the one point
which appeared to him of most importance—
the money must come out of the pockets of the rate.
payers, and the Board need neither expect monetary
assistance from the Government nor relinquishment
of rights from the Crown. When the discomfited
delegates ventured to remonstrate against this hard
sentence, they were satirically reminded that Lon-
don was a wealthy city, and ought to be broken up
if it could not find money for so desirable an improve.
ment. One of the members observed that it was
not that the Board and the metropolis could not give
the money, but that they did not wish to tax the
ratepayers more heavily. To this Mr COWPER
turned a deaf ear, merely saying that the Crown
would be bound to claim compensation for any re-
versionary interest, which was not encouraging.
The Crown, he said, was in the same position as
any other landowner, but it is surely natural to
suppose that the Crown has a greater interest in
the welfare of the metropolis than a private indi-
vidual. Mr COWPER has shown himself a very
vigilant guardian of the Crown rights, but it is to
be questioned whether he is quite so faithful a re.
presentative of the rights of the people, and he
should remember that he is a public servant as well
as a guardian of Crown property. The ratepayers
of the metropolis are already texed heavily enough,
and of late additions have been mare to the general
burdens for objects of public benefit, such as the
abolition of toll-gates, &c. This is quite fair and
proper, but it is too much to say that they are not
only to bear the whole burden of making
this expensive alteration, but to compensate
the Crown for all
reversionary interests.
l'arkslana is a very
important thoroughfare,
though not at all constructed in a manner suitable
tOian extensiTe.traffio. Its souther end especially

is very narrow and curved so as to impede the
traffic greatly, while it is farther hindered by the
frequent:stoppages of waggons, carriages, cabs, &c.,
at the doors. Some years ago, when it was
scarcely used by the general public, it served very
well for the quiet aristocratic life of its inhabitants,
but of late years the whirl of business has reached
even to these fashionable quarters, and the want
of another and better thoroughfare, north and
south, becomes daily more urgent, Cabs are not
allowed in the Park itself, so that there is no direct
public thoroughfare, with the solitary exception
of Park-lane from Bond-street to Kensington.
Siuce the great increase of railway travelling and
the construction of Victoria Station, the north and
south traffic at the West-end has immensely in•
creased, and all the cabs coming from Bayswater
to 'W estminster, and many from the Paddington
terminus to the Victoria, and vice versa, pass up
and down the unhappy Park-lane. No wonder,
under these circumstances, that accidents happen
daily ! The marvel would rather be if they were
not common, when we add the fashionable and ge-
neral traffic to the railway passengers. The Board
proposes three ways of relief, One is that car-
riages should pass out of the Park-gates into Pic-
cadilly, and that an opening should be made into
Kensington on the other side, which could be done
without inconvenience. Another suggests the
opening of ,Hamilton-place for carriages and
cabs, and the third is the widening
of Park-lane. One gentleman went so far
as to propose the opening of the park itself,
on the plea that the idlers who enjoyed it ought
not to interfere with the convenience of the busy
part of the public. Mr. D'ImeTGER, however,
forgets that the public interests are deeply con-
cerned in the maintenance of their few open places
of recreation. Hyde-park is free to all who come
on foot at all events, and it would be a great hard•
ship to deprive the thousands who resort there
on summer evenings of the peep at Nature which
its trees and grass affords. Men of business are
apt to be quite as encroaching in their way as
men and women of fashion, but the public would
be very unwilling to see any of their beautiful
parks interfered with, either east or west. There
is another plan which has not been suggested by
the Board for relieving the western traffic—the
opening of a thoroughfare through Mayfair, This
seems to be a very excellent suggestion, since it
could ba done with much less difficulty and ex•
pense than the widening of Park-lane. In any
case, however, the public have a right to expect
that the whole weight should not fall on them as
ratepayers when they already contribute so largely
to other branches of the public revenue. The
matter will doubtless be brought before Parliament
this session ; but between the conflicting interests
we are inclined to think with Mr. HEALEY that
he Park-lane improvement is still a long way off.

Mr. Fechter in the Character of Ruy Bias,

TO THE EDITOR OP THE SUN.

Sir,—Permit me to assure you, on the authority
of Mr. Fechter, who is much gratified by your
thoughtful and eloquent notice of the performance
of " Roy Blas," that the version now reproduced
at the Lyceum Theatre is literally the same as that
in which he appeared at the Princess's Theatre,
without the omission of a single incident or word.
The impression resting on the mind of your dra•
matic critic is evidently caused by the performance
of the original French drama.
I remain, Sir, faithfully yours,
I enclose my card. R. L.
December 9, 1861.

MISS BATEMAN AT THE GLASGOW THEATRE.
ROYAL.—The interest attending the performances of
this accomplished actress in Glasgow, says the Glasgow
Daily:llerald, continues to increase as the term of her en-
gagement draws near. Night after night the theatre has
been crowded almost from the very commencement, and
on Tuesday night and last night great numbers could not
obtain admission for love or money. Since Miss Bateman's
arrival here, we understand, she has had several very
tempting offers from English managers, one of whom ten-
dered a hundred guineas for a single night's performance
of "Leah," Owing to previous arrangements, however,
Miss Bateman has been obliged to decline all these offers;
and as she cannot possibly prolong her stay in Glasgow
after Saturday night, every lover of the histrionic art who
desires to see the "mirror held up to nature" as it ought
to be, and as it rarely is, would do well to look out for
tickets of admission without delay.
MIDDLE-CLASS EDUCATION IN THE WEST—The
annual distribution of prizes and certificates awarded
at the Oxford and Cambridge local examinations during the
past year to the pupils of the Devon County School took
place on Tuesday. This school was the first practical step
in Devonshire towards obtaining schools for the middle
classes, It chief promoter was the Rev. J. L. Brereton, the
rector of the parish, and a prebendary of Exeter Cathedral,
who was most cordially assisted by the late and present Earl
Fortescue and several other county gentlemen and noble-
men. The school has progressed most satisfactorily, and
there are at present about 50 boarders in the institution, in
addition to a number of dayboys. Several scholarships are
annually competed for, and at the recent University local
examinations the pupils have passed most satisfactorily.
The Oxford University made West Buckland one of its
centres, and the managers have adopted the satisfactory plan
of sending in not merely a few selected pupils to these
examinations, but the whole of the upper classes. The un-
dertaking has proved so successful that it is now proposed
to establish a county college for Devon, Cornwall, and
Somerset, with the object of offering inducements and op-
portunities for lengthening the ordinary period of educa-
tion ; and in addition to provide a profession of teachers—
including professors, tutors, and schoolmasters for the
middle classes—and to determine the debated question
whether it is practicable to combine general and special
education. Earl Fortescue presided at the meeting on
Tusday, supported by Mr J. W. Buller, M.P,, Mr T. D.
Acland, the Rev. J. L. Brereton, and a numerous company
of county gentlemen and clergy. Earl Granville, K.G.,
the Bishop of London, end Sir Stafford Northcnte had also
accepted invitations to be present, but Royal commands
requesting the attendance of the noble earl at Sandringham
prevented his attendance; a family bereavement was the
cause of the hon. baronet's absence, end the venerable pre-
late arrived at Castle-hill (the seat of Earl Fortescue) too
late to be present at the interesting proceedings. After the
loyal, constitutional, and patriotic toasts had been disposed
of Earl Fortescue distributed the prizes, and then proceeded
to propose " Success to the Devon County School," coupling
with the toast " The Health of the Rev. J. L, Brereton."
The school, his lordship observed, was no longer an experi-
ment, but a success. The institution was founded for an
independent class, and it was no small element in its success
to find that it was paying its working expenses. (Hear,
hear.) It was now ten years ago that he had first endea-
voured to call attention to the important question of middle-
class education. N early 30 years ago the great and good
Dr Arnold had dwelt on the deficiency of provisions made
for the education of the middle classes. Now it was not as
then a question of importance, but the question of impor-
tance. The noble earl referred to the fact that a Royal
Commission, in which several west countrymen were in-
eluded, was about to examine into this matter—to the at-
tention which the Royal Agricultural Society and the So-
ciety of Arts were devoting to the subject ; and the number
of county schools which were now springing up in various
parts of the kingdom; and concluded by adverting to the
proposed County College, the objects which it had in view,
and to the growing importance of the agricultural class in
the country, and to the necessity of farmers' sons being so
trained as to avoid the two extremes—sticking to fast to
what is old, and rushing too quickly to what is now.
(Cheers.) Prebendary Brereton responded in a long speech,
WEST SUFFOLK ELECTION.—BUDA ST. ED•
MUND'S, Dec. 8. —The election of a member to
serve in Parliament for the western division of Suffolk, in
the room of Earl Jermyn, elevated to the Marquisate of
Bristol on the death of his father, took place here to-day.
Three waggons had been disposed as a kind of hustings in
front of the Angel Hotel, but as the weather was dull, and
resolved itself finally into a disagreeeblo drizzling rain, the
Iligh Sheriff, Sir G, N. Broke-Middleton, and the suppor•
tors of Lord Augustus Hervey, the solitary candidate, held
the "special county court" prescribed by the writ on the
stops of the hotel. The attendance of electors or persona of
any kind was at first extremely small, but by the time the
Under-Sheriff (Mr A. Cobbold) had laboriously waded
through the writ about 100 persons had probably collected.
Lord Augustus Hervey, having been proposed and se-
conded, was declared by the High Sheriff duly elected.
The hon. member then returned thanks, and the proceed-
ings terminated.

The English frigate Racoon has arrived at Mar-
seilles from Gibraltar. The Prussian frigate Niobe took
heir departnrl from Brest this crkorniog.