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

Mr, Aptommas's Harp Recital,

'SURVEYING AT SEA.—A paragraph bat gone the
round of the papers relating to a recent extraordi-
nary transparency of the sea at Deal, the bottom being dis-
tinctly visible at a considerable depth. The statement is
somewhat suggestive, and I am induced to ask whether
rows useful purpose might not be served in the 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 cognis•
anee of,—correspondent of the Bulkier,

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 shaliVng and dexterous jugglery,
it was so contrived that the armistice should tarn
out of no effccr. 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 inhae
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 H 01283 the other even-
ing that the armistice certified that the contribu-
tions demanded from the Jutlenders 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 ELLENBOROUGII said was
strictly true, both in word and deed, as relates to
their rapacity and cruelty ; his indignant
protest, his manly scorn, and his honest cone
tempt for such underhand ways and unprincipled
actions, were all put to silence and hushed up on
the plea of a period having arrived to the sufferings
and a stop being put to the evil. So far all
might have been well, but when we hear of
one thing after another which confirms the fears we
began to entertain 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 Danmark, 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 refuses to concur in any plan for mitigating
the sufferings of a much-tried people, while resort
is had to the ferce of arguments instead of the strife
at arms. When the Prussians go on so far as wan-
tonly to destroy property, and t 3 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 forgetting the
prestige that may have been conferred upon their
nation by the deeds of ancestors more amenable to
the n
influenceE
I
theDE o
of reason,
night very properly called
justice, and humanity. Mr.
the notice of the House to these startling facts, and
the
asked the attention of the Under-Secretary for
Foreign Affairs to the subject. Mr. LAYARD, 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 teen agreed upon the levying of contributions
was to cease. It certainly makcs 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 come
quences, doubtless affords a subject for ridicule to
Count VON BISMARK and his coadjutors. They
fancy themselve quite free and unfettered to follow
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 cermet bo that Denmark is to be sacrificed, and
all Earope 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•
.. iogs of friendly adlieers and well,wiehers, The

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 Duke 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
wonting 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 against 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 state 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. Another 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 having failed in writing,
spelling, or the commonest rules of arithmetic.
Such statistics proves, as 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 sphere 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.
Bata charge of another kind is often brought
egainst 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, imtnue
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 his 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
shouldchildren ll bound
of
thea g r
iteou l
tsee
rea l t
loe
hteheer e er de uwa thi
whom
mn oh fe
et 1
nh e.
ployed as that the manufacturer should be com-
pelled 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 one of his dreams that working
men might derive as much pleasure from intellec-
tual sources as the classes above them. Whether
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

This accomplished harpist gave another of his
well-known harp recitals on Wednesday last, at the
Hanover-square Rooms. The entertainment con-
sisted exclusively of performances on the harp, but
the great variety of the music selected prevented it
from besoming tedious. It is Mr. Aptommas's
object to bring this now neglected instrument again
into favour, and 'no, therefore, endeavours to display

its capabilities to the fullest extent. Many persons
who like the harp very well as an accompaniment,
imagine it is fit for little else. This idea Mr.
Aptommas combats by showing that it possesses
sufficient power and expression to render due cif, ct
to some of the great chef d'ceuvrce of the classical
maeters. The first part of Wednesday's selection
consisted entirely of such specimens as Beethoven's
"Moonlight Sonata," Mendelssohn's "Songs
Harmonious" Marche Funebre,"
Blacksmiths," were
aWndiththouetimlniVoorrdtasl,".,
all successively given, the last being perhaps the
best. The second part consisted of Mr. Aptommas's
own arrangements, which proved him to be no less
ingenious in adaptation than skilful in execution.
The two fantasias in Welsh and Irish airs were
especially pleasing, from the variety and popularity
of the melodies selected. Altogether the perform-
ances were decidedly successful, and the rooms
were fully and fashionably attended.

Mr. Webster and Mr. Boucicault.

TO THE EDITOR OF TIIE SUN.

Sir,—Mr. Webster, in his reply to my letter,
admits my statements. If I decline to notice or to
imitate his epistolary style, it will, I trust, serve
to prove the general propriety of mine. He has,
however, introduced other and irrelevant state-
ments, two of which I beg your favour to dis-
pose of. I never availed myself of my absence
in America for seven years to bar my debt. On
my return to this country in 1860 I paid all
claims against me, without question as to their
justness or unjustness; and many I paid that
could have bcea contested had they not
been turned into debts of honour by the
Statute of Limitation. I am obliged to say that
this matter was publicly investigated at my late
bankruptcy and cited to my credit—a fact well
known to Mr Webster when he dispersed his calum-
nies without selecting his facts. He states that he
has held an I 0 U of mine for £2OO since the year
1853. If he will search further, he should be able

to find a score of similar documents representing
casual transactions, and spread over the ten pre.
viola years, but which, with careless reliance, I
presumed he had destroyed. If this document
truly represented a debt owing by me to
Mr Webster is it credible that during a period
of two years, from 1860 to 1862, when his weekly
payments to me were frequently from £3OO
to £4OO, he should never have reminded me of this
I 0 U, nor suggested that such a debt was owing ?
Whila, remembering my fortunate and opportune
career at the Adeiphi, there may be soon© wbo will
ask if Mr. Webster owes me nothing? and if his
present and past conduct towards me represents his
usual way of meeting such obligations ? Mean-
while, I reflect with pleasure that I have never, by
word or act, molested or interfered with him; nor
indeed have I paid any attention to his singular and
restless animosity until obliged by his uncalled-for
display of it to do so.—Your obedient servant,
Manchester, May 19. DION BOUCICAULT.

Volunteer Review in Hyde-park,