The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-27 00:00:00

gilYn Ora

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.--This Day.

MARLBOROUGH-STREEL

BOXING-DAY DISORDERLIES.—A number of persons of
both sexes, as usual on the morning after Boxing-day, were
brought before Mr Tyrwhitt charged with drunkenness and
disorderly conduct. The magistrate, making a little allow-
ance for the occasion, discharged most of the defendants,
and in other cases imposed light fines. Some of the de-
fendants were charged with assaults, the only noticeable
case being that of William Coslett, a letter.carrier, and
John Robinson, no occupation, who were charged with
assaulting police-constables 126 and 143 C. The defendant
Robi^ son went into an oyster shop in Dorset-place, Pall-
mall, and behaved in a very unruly manner. He struck
and spat in a constable's face, and then Coslett came up and
interfered on behalf of Robinson. Mr Tyrwhitt committed
Robinson to prison without a fine, and fined Coslett ss. On
the whole, the charges of drunkenness were less numeraus
this year than for some years past.
COMMITTAL WITHOUT A FINE TOR AN ASSAULT.-Wm.
Crowdy, a tailor, was charged before Mr Tyrwhitt with
violently assaulting Sergeant Cole, 23 C.

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, Dec. 26.
Her Majesty the Queen, their Royal Highnesses
Princess Helena, Prince Arthur, Prince Leopoia,
and his Serene Highness Prince Leningen, attended
Divine service at Whippingham Church yesterday
afternoon, attended by the DJwager Countess of
Mount-Edgcumbe, the Hon. Lucy K.:Tr, and 11.1,j3r.
General the Hon. A. Hood.

Prince Leningen arrived at Osborne on Saturday
on a visit to her Mijesty.

The D Icheas (Dowager) of Grafton is not going
Lo Cannes, as was erroneously announced.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury have
a small and select party staying at Hitfield House, Herts.
The Earl and Countess of Lichfield are entertain-
ing a select family party at Shugburgh Park, Staffordshire.
The Earl of Ihverley, accompanied by Lady
Louisa Percy, has arrived at Ditton, Torquay.
The Countess Dalawarr (Baroness Buckhurst)
has been detained in town from indisposition, which has
prevented the noble earl and her ladyship going to Buck-
hurst Park for the Christmas, as was arranged, The Mar-
chioness of Salisbury came to town at the end of the past
week to visit hor ladyship,

The Sergeant said that between 8 and 9 o'clock the pre-
vious evening he was called to the Red Lion public-house
King-street, Regent-street, by the landlord, in consequence
of there being a fight going on between some tailors. He
assisted in clearing the house, and separated the prisoner
and another man who were fighting together, the prisoner
being very violent, and saying that if he had his scissors he
would put them into the man he had been fighting with. He
persuaded the prisoner to go away, and he pretended to do
so, but ran after the man and struck him in the eye. He
(the Sergeant) then took the prisoner into custody, when he
gave him (the Sergeant) a severe kick in the groin, causing
him great pain and sickness all night. Two persons having
come to his assistance, he succeeded in getting the prisoner
to the station, on the way receiving severe kicks.
Mr Tyrwhitt committed the prisoner for a month with
hard labour.

Baroness Biome gave birth to a son on Sunday
morning, at the Hanoverian Legation in Grosvenor-place,
The baroness and infant are progressing favourably.

New Agitation in Ireland.

The following remarkable article appears in the
Irish Times of Friday 23d D..cember :
" A formidable looking requisition addressed to
the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor is the prelude to
that new organisation for creating division among
the Irish people, which the Irish Times was the
first to notice and to condemn. The requisition
called upon the Lord Maynr to convene an aggregate
meeting to inaugurate an agitation for " the aboli-
tion of the Established Church," for a measure of
tenant right, and for free education—whatever may
be understood under those terms. The Lord Mayor
signalises the last days of his office by undertaking
to preside at the meeting for such objects. This
agitation, however, has not even the merit of
being indigenous. It is en importation from
England, transferred to Irish soil by wire-
pullers who fear to let their na ues appear.
It originated with the Radical Dillwyns of
the House of Commons. who have by their
votes emphatically marked their hostility to
Ireland. One of her Majesty's Secretaries of State
very recently adopted the theories of the West-
minster Review, and urged the Chartists and Radi-
cals of England to join with parties beiieved to have
influence in Ireland, and to combine for the special
purpose of maintaining the Whigs in their posses.
sion of power. The abolition of the Established
Church, the destruction of the territorial rights of
landowners, the division of the people of Ireland
into two hostile camps, the setting class against
class and creed against creed, are the worthy
means about to be adopted—that Ireland may be
misgoverned as she has been. Ireland peaceful
and united is thought to be dangerous. Division
is the least costly, and the most effective means
of keeping a nation depressed, for the strength
which should be consecrated to the elevation of
our common country can be employed in tearing
her asunder, while character is lost and sympathy
alienated by the furious, though futile acerbity of
political and polemical feuds.
" To the requisition is appended a long list of
names, but infinitely shorter than what might rea.
aonably be expected. At the head of the list are the
names of some who, no doubt, do possess influence
in the proper sphere. The great majority of the
signatures have no address attached, and this is a
sufficient indication of the position of the parties.
It must at once strike every one, including those
who promoted the requisition, that there is not any
name there of a payer of rentcharge. Yet the abe.
lition of the Established Church is demanded as it
all the signatories suffered grievously from that
ancient charge upon property. We do not see
amidst the names that of any great landed proprie-
tor who patriotically is ready to surrender the right
of property, and to make the tenant the real owner
of the soil. However influential some of the signa-
tories may be in their own sphere, even they must
confess that they have not been able to command the
support of any powerful prty. The public voice
has already decided that the more respectable per•
sons in the list are not those who should
properly take the lead in a political agitation o
this kind.

"It is with very great regret we witness this re.
vival of old organisations for the old motives. An
association, formed of all classes and creeds for thr
advancement of cur common country and the social
benefit of every man in it, would have commanded
universal approval and support. But this organi-
sation, taken up in anticipation of the dissolutio❑ of
Parliament, is but a Whig Radical artifice to de-
stroy the Irish vote in the mit Parliament 1)3
sowing dissension through the people, and creating
several parties in the Irish representation, so that
unity or unanimity on any Irish question would be
impossible, Such organisations have been tried in

Ireland whenever the exigencies of a ministry set
their instruments at work. They ended always in
breaking up the ties which should exist between the
different classes of our countrymen, and gained no-
toriety, and eventually a place for a few who had not
the courage to place themselves at the head of
movements, though they clutched eagerly at the
sordid advantage to be gained. This organisation
will be fomented, carried on, and will collapse like
all the rest. It is plain, from the list of names,
that the intellectual and independent Roman Ca-
tholic laity do not sympathise with it. These are
well aware that previous associations were ' got up'
and managed,' not for the benefit of those who
were induced to take a prominent part in them,
but for the advancement of a few who remained in
the background at first, and only came forward
when promotion was in view, to make pledges and
to break them. But, by such agitations industry
is paralysed, agriculture neglected, dissensions,
often deadly, are excited, and Ireland is
powerless. A Minister may emile in derision
upon all efforts to raise Ireland to the posi-
tion she has a right to enjoy, when he
beholds one-half of the people arrayed in religious
feud against the other.

" The aggregate meeting is declared to be open
to the citiztns of Dublin and others. It would be
an easy thing to collect a vast number of persons
who are opposed to the objects of the movement to
express their dissent and opposition to the proceed-
ings. Such a course has actually been proposed;
but we would earnestly recommend all dissentients
to stand aloof from the proceedings, and let the
agitation and excitement be confined to those who
find pleasure in them. The resolutions passed at a
meeting got up as this has been can have no possi-
ble influence or weight to further the obj.cts desired
by the requisition. It would be a very false step
indeed to take notice of the meeting by attending,
or recognising the platform as the suitable place to
discuss the abolition of the church or the destruction
of the rights'of propErty.'

The Gloucester Journal contains the following let-
ter from Lord Fitzhardiuge :—" To the Gentlemen
and Farmers Residing within the Limits of the Country
Hunted by Lord Fitzhardinge.—Berkeley Castle, Dec. 22,
1864.—Gentlemen,—The Rev. Sir E. Colt has a small
farm surrounded by my fox coverts ; his tenant, Jamas
Cox, of Wandsell, 1-tas shot several coxes lately and avows
that he will destroy every fcx that he can get at, and 'the
small covert belonging to Sir E. Colt is full of
trays set for the hounds. I have done all I pos-
sibly can to induce the rev. baronet to interfere to
prevent his tenant from adopting such a selfish pro-
ceeding, He will not state his grievance, neglects
to answer my letters, and ende by writing so discourteously
that further attempts at conciliation on my part are pre,
eluded. Under these circumstances I shall be forced to
give up the country, unless by your united endeavours you
can induce the rev, baronet to prevent the said James Cox
from pursuing this unneighbourly and selfish course of
proceeding. I will ask the favour of all hunting gemle-
men and farmers, within the limits of my hunting country,
to meet here and discuss this affair on 'Thursday, the 29th
of this month, at eleven o'clock. The hounds will meet at
twelve o'clock on that day, in the Castle meadow.—Y-urs
truly, FITZHARDINGE,"

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 27, 1864.

Institution of Civil Engineers,

After the reading of the report a Telford medal and a
Telford premium of books were presented to Mr W. Lloyd ;
a Telford medal to M. Pernolet ; a Telford medal and the
Manby premium, in books to Mr G. H. Phipps; Telford
premiums of books to Messrs. J. B. Redman, W. Parkes,
T. Sopwith, jun., J. M, Heppel, and G. R. Burnell; and
Watt medals to Messrs. I'. Sopwith, jun., W. Bridges
Adams, and J. Cross.

The thanks of the institution were unanimously voted to
the president for hie attention to the duties of his office ; to
the vice-presidents and the other menebere and associates
of council for their co-operation with the president, and
their constant attendance at their meetings; to Mr. F. J,
Bramwell, as the originator of the present movement for
the establishment of a benevolent fund in connection with
the profession to Mr Charles Menby, honorary secretary,
and to Mr James Forrest, secretary, for the manner in
which they had performed the duties of their offices; as
also to the auditors of the accounts, and the scrutineers of
the tallot for their services.

The following gentlemen were elected to fill the several
offices on the council for the ensuing year :—John R.
M'Clean, president; J. Fowler, C. H. Gregory, T. Hawk-
sley, and J. S. Russell, vice-presidents ; Sir William Arm-
strong, W. H. Barlow, N. Beardmore, J. Cubitt, T. E.
Harrison, G. W. Hemans, J. Murray, G. R. Stephenson-
C. Tignoles, and J. Whitworth, members ; and John Aird
jun., and A. Ogilvie, associates.
The meeting was then adjourned until Tuesday, Jan. 10,
when the monthly ballot for members would take place,,
and the discussion would be resumed upon Mr J. Taylor's
paper on " The river Tees."

A MESSAGE FROM THE SEA.—On Friday evening
last, while Mrs Bentley Foster, of Filey, was walk..
ing on the sands, she perceived a small parcel being washed
up by the tide, which, on being taken up, proved to be a
bottle wrapped up in a piece of silk, and tightly corked.
When broken it was feuud to contain half a sheet of note-
paper, upon which was well written as follows:—" Ship
Louisa, off Deal, November 29, 1864. A merry Christmas
and a happy New Year to all our friends in England, from
a party of emigrants to Auckland, New Zealand."
SERVICES OF THE CAPE OF GOOD HOPE LIFE-
BOAT.--A violent gale of wind from the south
east visited the bay of Port Elizabeth, Care of Good Rope,
en the 18th of 02tober last. An excellent lifeboat, built
four years since in London under the superintendence of
the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, was fortunately
stationed at the port. The sea at the time was very high,
and the bay was quite white with foam. The barque Bal-
larat, of Port Elizabeth, was observed during the night to
drift ashore on the Bight. Efforts were made to rescue the
crew by an open boat, but unhappily when near the wreck
-the steer-oar broke, and a sea striking the boat she was cap-
sized end over end, and three of her brave crew were
drowned. The Sailors' Friend lifeboat afterwards went
off, and succeeded in saving the whole of the wreck's
crew.

The annual meeting of this institution—Mr John Fowler,
vice-president, in the chair, was held on Wednesday. In
presenting an account of the proceedings during the past
12 months, the council reported that the characteristic
feature of study, progressive development, was never more
fully exemplified, in any similar period, since the first
establishment of the institution. The meetings had
proved very attractive, the discussion had been well sus-
tained, the library was fast becoming rich in all professional
and scientific works of this and other countries, the num-
ber of members and associates had greatly increased, and
the financial condition was very satisfactory. The im-
portance to engineers of being connected with the in-
stitution was felt more and more every day ; and
although the time had not airlved when it was
considered imperative for every one practising the pro-
fession to have received the diploma of the institution, yet
in general opinion it might fairly be said that that
position heel been attained. On these grounds, there-
fore, it was more than ever essential that the quali-
fications of all candidates for admission should be
most scrupulously examined; and that the members should
satisfy themselves, before signing any proposition paper,
that the person so recommended, possessed such character,
practice, and experience, as to entitle him to the distinction
he sought. There had been 23 ordinary general meetings
during the session, when 11 papers had been read, many
of the evenings having been entirely occupied by discus-
sions. The communications related to the details of erection
of three lighthouses or facilitating the navigation of the
northern portion of the Red Sea; to the causes of the de-
cline in the duty of Cornish pumping engines; to the cir-
cumstances which determined the velocities of Mum and
reflux, and consequent scour, attendant on the final closing
of embankments for reclaiming land from the sea, or from
a tideway ; to a description of the features of, and changes
in, that portion of the east coast of England between the
Thames and the Wash Estuaries ; to the actual state of
the works in the Mont Cenis Tunnel, perhaps the most
important and interesting work of civil engineering in
the present day; to an inquiry into the resistences to
bodies passing through water; to the Santiago and Val-
paraiso Railway; to the structure of locomotive engines,
fur ascending steep gradients, when in combinanon with
sharp curve:, and to the impedimental friction between wheel
tires and rails; to the distillation of coal and the manufac-
ture of coke; and to the machinery employed in sinking
artesian wells on the continent. With regard to the publi-
cation of the minutes of proceedings, it was stated that
volumes xxi. and xxii. would shortly be issued, and that the
general index to the series of volumes from i. to xx, inclu-
sive, in itself a volume of about 400 pages, was also nearly
ready, A new edition of the catalogue of the library was in
preparation, in continuation of that issued in 1851, now out
of print. At that date the library contained upwards of
3,000 volumes and 1,500 tracts; now the collection
amounted to about 5,500 volumes and 3.000 tracts. The
tabular statement of the transfers, elections, deceases, and
resignations, showed that the number of elections had been
93, of deceases 25, of resignations 6, and of erasures 7, leav-
ing an effective increase of 63, and making the total number
of members of all classes on the books on Nov. 30 last 1,095
This was an increase of nearly 5.3 per cent, in the past 12*
months. The deceased announced during the last year had
been--Francis Baird, Thomas Bartlett, John G. Bodmer,
Thomas Casebeurne, Charles Dean, Joseph Gibbs, George
Hurwood, James Jones, Rhys Wm. Jones, Edward Oliver
Manby, George Meredith, George M. Miller, Wm. C.
Mylne, Richard Roberts, Win, Simpson, and Adam Smith,
members; John S. Atkinson, Win. Bagnall, Fredk. Law-
rence, Wm. Llewellin, Thomas T. Mitchell, Robert Ran-
some, Charles Fredk. Stuart Smith, Alfred Thompson, and
Arthur Wightman, associates. This list included the names
of many very old members, several of whom had been en-
gaged under the first president, Telford, as well as one of the
six founders of the institutien—Mr James Jones—who in
its early day acted as secretary, and whose death, at an ad-
vanced age, was the result of a lamentable accident. The
abstract of the receipts and expenditure fur the year ending
the 30th of November last, as prepared by the auditors,
showed that the payments during the 12 mouths had
amounted to £2,955, against receSpts from all sources of
£4,414; and that the amount obtained from subscriptions
and fees alone, without including the dividends upon in-
vestments, and the sums derived from other sources, had
exceeded the disbursements by about £450. The council
had therefore been again enabled to add to the institution
fund by the purchase of £1,200 4 per cent, debenture stock
of the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway Com-
pany. On comparing this statement of accounts with the
average of the previous 10 years, it appeared that the total
income now exceeded that average by nearly 40 per cent.,
while the inrease in the disbursements during the same
period had been less than 20 per cent. The realised pro-
perty of the institution now comprised General funds
£10,819 12s 10d; 2 Building fund, £1,751 Os id ; and 3.
Trust funds, £9,970 12s 7d, making a total of £22,541. Ss
Bd, as against £20,649 16s 2d at the same period last year.
The propriety of establishing a benevolent fund in connec-
tion with the profession received the serious consideration
of the council before any steps were taken to ascerta'n the
views of the members generally. It was well pointed out
by Mr F. J. Bramwell (M. Inst. C.E.), with whom the
present proposal originated, that in most, if not
in all, other professions and occupations there
was a regularly organised system for the aid of des
cayed members when in necessitous circumstances ; and
that, as the civil engineers already formed a numerous and
increasing body, in some respects more liable to those mis-
fortunes and vicissitudes which were known by experience
to overtake those following other pursuits, it was incumbent
on the profession that some business-like action should be
taken in reference to soliciting subscriptions for individual
cases, now unfortunately found to be frequently requisite.
Private inquiries among a tow of the members of the insti-
tution having shown that such a fund, if properly managed
and adequately supported, could not fail to be productive
of immense good, it was determined to appeal to the gee
neral body, and the result had been such a response as
fully to justify the course which had been pursued. Al-
ready from 224 contributors donations to the amount of
£21,884, and annual subscriptions to the extent of £lB7
had been promised. Of these contributors 97 were donors
only, 14 were both donors and annual subscribers, and 113
were annual subscribers. At the meeting recently held
in the rooms of the institution the fund was formally
established, and that portion of the general committee,
which it was recommended should be elected by the
contributors was appointed. At the same time the com-
mittee was requested to prepare a scheme, with bye-laws
and rules, far the administration of the fund, and to report
the reeutt of their deliberations to a general meeting of the
confributors, to be set umoned for Jan. 17 next. The coun-
cil would not venture t i anticipate what might be the issue
of the considerations of the committee; but they felt assured
that a measure so calculated to enhance the character of
the profession would be cordially supported, and on every
ground they commended it to the most favourable notice of
the members. It should be the constant endeavour to make
the institution the depository of the accumulated know.
ledge of all the members, and all should strive so
to sustain and consolidate the institution that it
might continue truly and faithfully to represent the
important interests committed to the care of tha_civil en-
gineer,