The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 15, 1864.

• to found flourishing families in other countries, of
L the well-trained servitors who hold respectable posi-
t tions ; when we see all this, and ask ourselves
what these boys and girls might have become
had they been left entirely to the evil influences
which surrounded them, we shall appreciate
in some degree the good effected by the Ragged
School Union. While it was still matter of dis-
cussion under what form of national education the
lower strata of our population should be reached,
before it was decided whether that education should
be gratuitous or paid for, secular or religious, our
ragged school teachers set to work. In waiting for
these various questions to be settled, for the claims
of conflicting interests and prejudices to be recon-
ciled, they resolved to do what they could i❑ the
least expensive, least exclusive, and simplest man-
ner. That " Union," which has now become a re-
cognised element in our community, was at first
but an uncertain and isolated movement ; but
where poor rooms and scanty accommodation were
once forced to content teachers and pupils, we now
see substantial buildings, bearing on their front
that title which might well surprise a stranger—
" Ragged Schools." The work they have accom-
plished is best told in the words of Lord SHAFTES-
BURY'S appeal. He says :—" We show our success
by quoting the opinions of the magistrates, of the
police—by citing the diminished records of juvenile
delinquency; by stating the numbers we have sent
t 3 her MAJESTY'S colonies ; and, specially, by re-
ferring to the thousands we have placed in trade
and domestic service, whose conduct both justifies
and repays the care their friends have bestowed
upon them." In another aspect of the case, Lord
SHAFTESBURY justly considers the ragged school
system is of considerable benefit to the public at
large. It unites in the ranks of its teachers per-
sons of the most varied classes and positions, bind-
ing them together by the one common bond of
sympathy and fellow labour. As a proof of this,
Lord SHAFTESBURY cites a memorial addressed to
him some few years back, which was signed by
2,300 male and female ragged school teachers.
" The memorialists represented 175 different call-
ings, passing through every gradation of society,
from persons of independent incomes, to the dock-
yard labourer and the wretched needlewoman. Such
a combination, he adds, was never before seen in
any nation of the world, and it proves how widely
and how deeply the need of these institutions is
felt." The state of affairs which the noble president
of the Union brings before our notice is, therefore,
to be deeply regretted, and we cannot but hope that
the prompt liberality of the public will do forth-
with something to remedy it, It seems that the
society has suffered severely from its efforts to keep
up the schools during the period when the distress
in Lancashire diverted so much of the national
charity from its accustomed channels. So low
have its funds fallen, that at the beginning of last
month the balance at the bankers amounted to no
more than six shillings ! This statement is made
on indisputable authority, therefore we cannot hope
that the case has been overstated. As a further
incentive to public benevolence, it may be men-
tioned that 27,000 destitute children are educated
in these schools. Let us consider what a vast and
formidable army of criminals and outcasts is hero !
How heavily shall we be taxed by their sins and
their vices. Assuredly, as THOMAS HOOD'S labourer
sings, the money saved upon their early training
will be demanded with heavy interest for the gaol,
the hospital, the workhouse, to which their future
steps will most probably lead them. Surely, then
this appeal will not be made in vain, but help wi

be forthcoming for this great and good work,
whether from regard to the interests of justice and
order, or from feelings of common humanity,

The Plot against the Emperor of the French

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlB,,—Accusations of every description have been,
since the arrest of four Italians in Paris charged
with an attempt against Louis Napoleon, heaped on
me by the organs of the French Government, and
repeated by the English press.
It has always been my known habit not to dis-
cuss accusations put forth against me by avowed
enemies, and I feel a special dislike to do so when
the accusations come from the agents of a man who,
as far as in him lies, is by mere brutal force depriv-
ing my country of the unity which she claims, and
making Rome the basis of operation of the bri-
gandage infesting the South of Italy.

Yielding, however, to solicitations of dear Eng
lish friends, I do declare,—

That I never did instigate anybody to kill Louis
Napoleon ;

That I never did give to any man bombs, air-guns,
revolvers, or daggers for that purpose;

That Trabuco, Imperatori, and Saglio are entirely
unknown to ma; -

That, therefore, the meeting summoned at Lu-
gano, the absurd place of sub-lieutenant given to
Imperatori in a brigade of four men, and the giving
of the photographs to the men, are absolutely false-
hoods;

That my photographs with my autograph at the
bottom, are sold for the " Venice Emancipation
Fund," at the office of the Unita Italiana, at Milan,
and elsewhere ;

That no letter, with or without money, has ever
been addressed by me to Greco in Paris.
Greco I know. Hundreds, I might say thousands,
of young men belonging to our national party of
action are known to me. Greco is an enthusiastic
patriot, who took an active part in the enterprises
of 1860 and 1861 in the South of Italy; and he has
had, as such, contact with me. Any note of mine
in his possession, if there be any, must, however,
belong to at least nine or ten months ago.
Enough in reply to accusations hitherto merely
grounded on French police reports.
I am, Sir, yours faithfully,
Jan, 14. JosEnt MAZZINI.

Her Majesty's New Paddle Yacht Albert

The Alberta commenced her trial some time
since at Portsmouth, but, as will be remembered
from our reports of the trial at the time, it was not
concluded, owing to the breakibg down of one of
her paddlewheels. Yesterday, the necessary repairs
and strengthening of her wheels having been com-
pleted, and the tide serving for the purposz.,, the
Alberta completed her trials, under the superinten-
dence of the port officials, preparatory to being
pronounced ready for the service of her Majesty.
At 12.30 p.m. she steamed out of the harbour, the
weather being very thick at the time, and creating
most serious doubts whether the trial could take
place.

On reaching the trial ground in Stokes Bay the
marks on shore could barely be distinguished, but
soon afterwards the atmosphere clearing a little, the
yacht was at once put on the mile," and six runs
at full boiler power were obtained, with the follow-
ing results :

No. of Time. Speed of Ship. Steam. Vacuum. Revolutions
run. m. s. Knots. lb. of engines.
1 3 49 15.72 t 27 27k 49
2 4 16 14'063 28 266 47
3 3 48 15.789 28 276 49
4 4 7 14.575 23 276 49
5 3 41 15'2.9 28 274 491
6 4 10 14'400 28 296 49
The first mean speed of these runs was, in knots,
14.892, 14.926, 15.182, 15.432, and 15.344 ; the
second means were, 14.909, 15.054, 15.307, and
15.388. The mean speed of the yacht at full power,
with and against the tide and wind, was exactly
15.164 knots. At half boiler power, so far as could
be managed by , shutting off half the boilers, the
following results were obtained :—First run, 3min.
45sec. : speed 16 knots; second run, 4min. 43sec. ;
speed, 12.721 knots ; third run, 3 min. 49sec. ; speed,
15.720 knots; fourth run, 4min. 49sec. ; speed,
12.631 knots. The first means of these give
14 360 knots, 14.221 knots, and 14.176 knots ;
second means, 14.291 ;knots and 14.148 knots
and mean of means, 14.219 knots. In
making the circles the results were as follows :
With full power, starboard helm, half circle, (min.
26see. ; fall do., 2cain. 58sec. ; port helm, half circle.
lrain. 283,ac. ; full do., 2min. 30sec. The angle of
the rudder was in both instances 241 deg. With
half-boiler power the circles were made with the
results as follows :—Starboard helm, half circle,
lmin. 59sec.; full do., 3min. lOsec. Port helm, halt'
circle, 1 min. 37sec. ; full do., 3min. 3sec. The helm
in both cases had an angle of 251 deg. The machinery
worked admirably—we might almost say better than
any yet seen afloat. The speed of the yacht as
attained yesterday, which was really under the
most favourable possible circumstances of wind
and weather, does not, however, at all
' correspond with the power developed by her en-
gines. A fair rate of speed was certainly obtained,
but this was only done by the power and effi-
ciency of the yacht's engines, and not at all by her
form of hull. On the contrary, it is almost impos-
sible to imagine a vessel to perform duty as the
Queen of England's yacht more unsuited for the
purpose. She has been built, according to Admi-
ralty designs, to ply between Osborne and the main
land with a less rolling motion, a less draught of
water, and a greater amount of deck and cabin ac
commodation than is now possessed by the screw
yacht Fairy. In all these very desirable qualities the
Alberta falls far short of the Fairy. The
Alberta is not fast under steam ; she has very scant
accommodation, indeed, on deck or below, and she
draws far too much water to allow her to supersede
the Fairy for general work in her Majesty's service,
for the Trinity-pier in Cowes-harbour, or for

Osborne-pier.
Yesterday was a day of smooth water and very
little wind, but the sea curled up under the
Alberta's bows, when at the measured mile, nearly
level with her upper deck, while at the same time
a sea followed on each quarter almost sufficient to
break over the ship, and under full speed the after-
deck is continually swamped with the sea flung
on board. The Alberta, in fact, is nothing more
than a thing without form, driven through the
water by tremendous engine power, but not worthy
the position of a yacht for her Majesty's private
service, and a perfect disgrace to her designers.
Had she been deaigned for any other purpose
than for the Queen's private use our criticisms
would have been far more severe.

IRONMAS TEES' QUARTERLY MEETING,

BIRMINGHAM, Thursday Evening.
The second of the meetings of the iroamasters o

this district was held in this town this aftern9,on.
The attendance was one of the largest that has been
seen for many years, and was composed of a section
of all those who are in any way interested in the
trade. The distant iron-producing districts were well
represented, as were also the shippers and home
consumers. From 2to half-past 3 o'clock the hall
was crowded, and considerable animation was mani-
fested. The amount of business transacted was not
on a par with this, but that it is to be traced to the

fact of many of the ironmasters not being in a posi-
tion to accept more orders in addition to those they
have on their books ; otherwise the demand for bars
to-day was so considerable that large orders would
undoubtedly have been given if buyers could have
insured their speedy execution ; but such is the con-
dition of the trade at this moment that many con-
sumers and others have orders out, and are unable to
get the iron delivered. But, notwithstanding the
existence of this peculiar, indeed it may be said ex-
ceptional, condition of the trade, there was a very
good amount of business done, much more than could
have been anticipated, looking at the very large
quantity of finished iron which had been previously
sold.

Perhaps that which mainly contributed to draw
together so large an assembly was a desire to ascer-
tain the feeling of those who are engaged in the
trade, and to gather if possible some idea relative to
the future of prices. On that subject the tone of the
ironmasters was full of confidence, and that was
borne out by the eagerness displayed on the part of
some buyers who were present to increase their
orders; to such an extent was this, that a further
advance in prices was much discussed, but checked
by the leading members of the trade. As to the
tenour of the latest advices from America there is no
doubt whatever iron is to be had for shipment to
that quarter at any price, and some of the Liverpool
houses have offered contracts to makers of finished
iron which would keep them engaged during the
greater part of the year. In such circumstances, it
is no wonder that this meting was characterised
by a marked and unusual buoyancy.
The transactions in pig iron were on a moderate
scale ; consumers would not go beyond £4 108, or at
most £4 12s .6cl for hot-blast iron, all mine; and, as
most of them were well bought prior to the last rise
in the price of the finished commodity, they will
be content to use up their stocks,and whatever sup-
ply is not yet delivered before extending their pur-
chases. The quantity of pig-iron used ia, however,
very large at this moment, and in less than a month
consumers will again have to come to the market,
and in all probability have to pay an advance on the
present price. The cold-blast iron is firm at £5 10s.
Ironstone, the yield of the district, is in good de-
mand, at advancing prices, and a considerable
quantity of foreign ore is coming in,
The spirit which characterised this meeting at
the commencement was maintained to the close. In
that respect it is a long time since such a quarter-
day has been experienced.
Oa reference to the earnings of the thick coal
colliers mentioned in the report of th© Wolver-
hampton meeting, it was not intended to convey the
idea that the rate of wages is les. per day, it being
iu fact 55., but that the men may and do earn from
7s. 6d. to 10s. at the advanced ecale.
After the meeting the members of the association
and some of their friends dined at the lien and
Chickens Hotel.

A COLOSSAL MAF OF CHINA ! 200 YEARS OLD.
—The Museum of Prague has just received ,a
valuable gift, consisting of a colossal map of China, com-
posed of eight largo rolls of paper, neatly fitting each other.
This work was executed in the 17th century by some Catho-
lic missionaries, under tho Emperor Kang-Hi. The
Chevalier Lipowski purchased it lately during his stay in
China of a family which had been ruined by the war.
BIRD Music ON THE PIANO.--Herr Golmick has
issued, through the house of Spina, at Vienna, a very clever
four-hand composition for the pianoforte, called "Les
Petites Fauvettop," which seeks to imitate the singing of
various birds.