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London, England, 1864-01-08 00:00:00

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THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 8, 1864.

WHERE CAN WE MEET AF E'ER THE
PANTOMIMES 7 My dear Fellow, Gentlemen sup
at EVANS', Covent-garden.

the point to be insisted upon, and this is precisely what a
good system of examination tends to develope. The Arch.
bishop of York said lately, and I quite agree with him, at
a meeting held for this same purpose, that there is no test
of knowledge like the pen. One may have " strong
opinions," as the phrase goes, upon some questicin, and
imagine one understands it thoroughly, but it is surprising,
when one sits down to write about it, how the consciousness
of imperfect or uncertain, or perhaps wholly deficient in-
formation comes upon one, and how much there is to be
supplied of which one would never have felt the want in
mere conversation. It is a commonplace to quote Lord
Bacon's saying—how that " reading makes a full man,
speech a ready man, and writing an exact man ;" but
though a commonplace, it is one of those sayings which
occur to one's mind because so exactly and universally true.
Do not fancy that this question of accuracy is unimportant.
I doubt if any man ever made himself eminent in any line
of business L-except, perhaps, as a popular speaker or
preacher—who was habitually careless in his habits of
thought. (" Hear, hear," and laughter.) The habit of
verifying facts belore we accept' them, with that which
necessarily follows upon it, the habit of suspending our
judgment where facts are not precisely known, and utterly
distrusting the first vague impressions we form, is not very
common even among educated classes, and upon that habit,
perhaps more than we think, both of our social comfort and
of our political wellbeing depends. Where every wild report
finds easy belief, where people rush to conclusions from hear-
ing one side of a story without waiting to learn the other,
where there is a general impatience to believe or disbelieve
without sufficient grounds for either, there one security is
wanting both against political exaggeration and against
individual injustice. I look on cultivation of what I may
call our "judging faculties" as one of the very first duties
which civilization imposes on the members of a community,
for though we may
,not tuts, mates' trates or politicians or
jurymen, we all have Co sit in judgment, as it were, on one
another—it is the necessary condition of social life—and to
weigh doubtful evidence in cases which concern ourselves.
Now, that power of judgment is not born in us. It has to
do, lam free to admit, with the moral as well as the
intellectual nature, and depends on temperament to
some extent. But it is an intellectual quality also,
and as such the result of experience and mental training.
The first condition is to get clearly and exactly the
facts before you; the next, to use the reasoning faculties
upon them. Now, it is in enabling men to do these things
that school teaching is mainly useful. Whether the form
adopted be mathematical—the study of figures and symbols,
or the study of language—the intention is the same. Ques-
tions properly put will discover whether memory and atten-
tion have been exercised in supplying the materials for an-
swers, and whetter those materials have been turned to
account—whether what has been read has been digested
also. And here let me say that I think the duty of an exa-
miner is to give the least possible prominence to—he cannot
exclude altogether—such questions as test the mere me-
chanical power of recollecting only, without any indepen-
dent action of the answerer's mind. (Applause.) You dont
want to know what a boy has learnt by rote; you want to
see what use he can make of it That test is equally applied
whether a lad is set to show his knowledge of a foreign
language, or to work a mathematical problem. But it is not
applied when the thing he is required to do is to answer a
variety of queries as to facts and dates, not always in them-
selves important, which may be, and often are, got up for
the occasion, and forgotten directly after. (Cheers.) That
kind of cramming, for it is nothing else, has no doubt the
merit of saving trouble to the teachers ; but it is mental la-
bour and training of the lowest kind, and is more apt than
anything else to create a disgust to reading in after life.
(Hear.) I notice this all the more because some reference is
made to the subject in the last Oxford report on these exa-
minations. I find the examiners say of the theological
teaching, " By far the most general defect was the almost
entire absence of any intelligent knowledge" of the matters
which had been verbally learnt. They go on--" Words
which boys use or hear every Sunday convey either no
meaning to their minds or a wrong one." Of the mathe-
matical part they say that "it is generally sufficient
in quantity, but there is a want of intelligence displayed
wherever the text is reproduced verbatim," In an earlier
report they speak of candidates who have " a verbal ac-
quaintance with the rules of grammar, but who utterly fail
in their application." And they end with a sentence which
conveys the whole moral of that which I have been trying
to urge upon you. " More marks would be gained and the
process would. be more beneficial to the candidates were they
to confine their reading within narrower limits, selecting
one or more of the optional subjects and learning them tho-
roughly, instead of endeavouring to obtain a less acquaint-
ance with the whole." (Hear, hear.) Now, lam glad to
cite these passages, partly for their own value, partly also
because they answer an objection which I have often hard
—that examinations promote cramming; meaning by that
word a temporary pretence of knowledge which is got up to
serve a special purpose, and useless in all other respects.
Not only do I believe that not to be the truth, but I believe
it is the very opposite of the truth. Cramming implies just
that show and parade of things superficia'ly acquired which
may impose upon parents who have forgotten their own
early teaching, but which will never impose on an examiner
who understands his business. (Hear.) The fault or the ten-
dency to the fault is in the school; the detection of it is the
duty of the examiner who teats the school. There is one
more word I have to say on a matter connected with
this. Many sensible people are afraid that by the in,-
creased stimulus of a wider competition we shall tempt
young boys to hurt their health by over-reading. That
is a reasonable apprehension, but it admits of an answer.
Overwork is seldom good work. We used to say when I
was an undergraduate at Cambridge that anybody who
had it in him to become a senior wrangler might become
one—that is, might obtain the highest distinction in one
kind which the university can give—by reading steadily
six hours a day. I believe that was true, and I hold it
certain that those, whether boys or men, who hurt their
health by over-study are not those who labour steadily, or at
a moderate pace, but those who neglect healthy exercise
and care in other respects, and more especially those who.
having been idlers for the greater part of their time, try
and make up lost ground by a desperate push at the last.
(Hear.) And now a word as to the success which these ex-
aminations have met with, It has been stated in the report
that after the first year (1858) the number of candidates fell
off, and has only just reached its original level. The
juniors were 750 in 1858, 573 in 1860, and 762 in the past
year. Does that imply failure ? I think not. It shows
that a great many came up not in the least knowing what
to expect, and having had some unpleasant experience in
the first year did not care to try again. (A laugh.) Out
of the first 750 only 280 passed, and no wonder that there
should have been some reluctance to incur such exposure.
But the effect has been good; for of the 762 who went up
last year 487 have passed, being a proportion of about 64
per cent., whereas the proportion in 1858 was only 31 per
cent. I take the returns of the junior candidates only in
order not to multiply figures ; but the others would give a
similar general result. Yt,u cannot have a better mea-
sure of the improvement in the act of teaching which
comparisons between school and school have
th,se yearly
created ; and when one considers that no class of men,
however excellent, like to have their pretensions criticised
and their shortcomings made public, least of all those who
exercise a kind of authority on a small scale, it seems to me
singular, and creditable to the schoolmasters as a body, that
so little opposition has been made in any quarter to the
whole scheme. I shall detain you no farther, but only men-
tion before I sit down that Manchester holds in these exami-
nations, as might be expected from the 'character of its
people, a place considerably higher than the average. You
sent up last year 157 candidates in all out of 1,029 from all
parts of England--that is, in round numbers, more than one-
seventh of the whole ; and if I assume that for this pur-
pose Manchester represents all the neighbouring towns, with
a population of perhaps a million altogether (Liverpool and
Leeds being both rival centres), you will have one-seventh
of the total number of students from one-twentieth of the
total population. So much for the numbers examined.
In point of success you stand a little, though only a little,
above the average, having passed 68 per cent. as compared
with a general average of 6i per cent. lam justified, there-
fore, in affirming that on your part a certain superiority
exists. But while I say that I must add also that, as a
Lancashire man, I shall not be satisfied, and I think you
ought not to be satisfied, until we make it more ma, ked and
more decisive. (Cheers.) It rests with you to accomplish
that ; the power is there. The will lam certain is not
wanting; all that is needed is to keep alive a strong and
healthy public interest in the matter, and that such interest
exists your presence here, the numbers that have met in
this room to-day, the character of this audience, and the
increasing popularity of these yearly gatherings are a suffi-
cient and satisfactory proof. (Loud applause.)
Mr. BAZLEY, M.P., and Mr. TURNER, M P., briefly ad-
dressed the meeting. Mr. Pender, M.P., was also present.
A vote of thanks to Lord Stanley for presiding termi-
nated the proceedings.
s I

Naval and Military Intelligence.

THE NAVY.

IIINAHAN'S
LLBRIAVNHDIYS" v. COGNAC,
This celebrated Old IRISH WHISKY rivals the finest
FRENCH BRANDY,
It i 4 Pure, Mild, Mellow, Delicious, and very Wholesome.
Sold In Bottles, 3s. Bd,, at the Retail Homes in London ; by
the Agents in the principal towns in England; or wholesale
at _ _

The Duncan, 81-gun screw line-of-battle ship, of 3,716
tons, and with an engine power of 800 horses, was commis-
sioned yesterday at Portsmouth by Capt. Robert Gibson
(1863) as the flagship of Rear-Admiral of the Red Sir James
Hope, K.C.8., appointed to succeed Sir Alexander Milne,
K.C.8., as Commander-in-Chief of the British squadrons
on the North American and West India stations. The
Duncan will make her maiden cruize under Sir Jas. Hope's
flag. In her various trials under steam since she has been
launched she has maintained a state of speed which for its
excellence and uniformity has been unequalled by any
other liner of equ,..l power. Her first trial took place on
7th of August, 1860, with a Griffiths' screw, the wind
being at a force of from 4 to 5, at a draught of water of
18ft forward, and 21ft 2in aft. On that occasion she at-
tained a mean rate of speed of 13 388 knots, the in-
dicated horse-power of the engines being 3,341'0. On
the 29th April, 1861, she made a second trial at a draught
of 18ft 3in forward and 21ft sin aft, but with the Griffiths'
screw changed for one of three blades on the common
pattern with the leading corners uncut, the weather being
nearly a calm, With this screw she realised a mean speed
of 13'322 knots, the engines exhibiting an indicated power
of 3,1673 horse. Her third trial was at the same draught
of water, and under the same conditions of weather, but
with a two-bladed screw on the Maudslay-Griffiths princi-
ple—that is to say, with tho M audslay shifting pitch. With
this she attained a mean rate of speed of 13.162 knots, the
engines giving an indicated power of 3,320-3. In a subse-
quent trial on the 29th of the sztne month, again at the same
draught of water, and with the weather nearly a calm, but
with a thfea-bladed common screw with its leading corners
cut, she attained a mean speed of 13.289 knots, with an in-
dicated engine power of 3,217-5. The engines were built
by the Messrs. Penn on their horizontal trunk principle.
The manning of the Duncan will absorb every seaman avail-
able to the authorities in the port.
Thememorandum issued from the Admiralty, dated Dec.
28, 1863, relative to the introduction of distinctive colours
to be worn with the gold lace stripes on the sleeves of naval
officers' uniform coats, is causing some difficulty, owing to
the manner in which it is worded. The opening paragraph
states that "her Majesty has been pleased to sanction the
introduction of distinctive colours between the gold lace
stripes," &c. ; and lower down the memorandum, in award-
ing the respective colours to the different branches, directs
them to wear alternate stripes, &c: Messrs. Galt, Gieve,
and Co., naval outfitters, of Portsmouth, have submitted to
the inspection of our correspondent at that port patterns of
sleeves which have been altered they say in accordance with
the Admiralty intentions. In these the distinctive colour
is confined to between the stripes of gold lace, but the colour
is shown with the curl or loop of the upper stripe. If, for
instance, this is the correct reading of the circular a staff
commander would receive on his coat cuffs, in addition to
his three gold-lace stripes and loop two stripes of Crimean
blue velvet between his three gold-laced stripes.
We understand that her Majesty has expressed a strong
opinion against any important change being made again in
the uniform of the Royal Navy.
An official announcement was issued some weeks ago at
Woolwich, by order of the Board of Admiralty, that a num-
, bar of shipwrights were required to be entered on the tem-
porary list of the dockyard establishment. By reason of
the demand for experienced mechanics of that class by
private firms at higher wages than those given in the Royal
ckyards, very few hands have applied at Woolwich in
answer to the demand, and the works in hand are subject
to much inconvenient delay.

B, GREAT WINDMILL-STRE KT, W.
Observe the Red Seal, Pink Label, and Cork branded
"Kinahan's LL Whisky."

THE WELLINGTON THREE SHILLING
DINNER, consisting cf Soup, Fish, Made Dish, Joint,
Sweet, &c.. is served daily from 3 to 9 p.m., and on Sunday
from 5 to half-past 8 p.m.

JOHN CATES, Manager.
The Wellington, St. James's-street.
Entrance, 160, Piccadilly.

ONE THOUSAND POIL
The undermentioned BANK
were (with others) fraudulently obt
29th day of August, 1863, by S•gm
the Jamaica Coffee-house and of W
and was afterwards arrested in Hun
3 of £2OO, Nos. 85128, 85129, and

NDS REWARD
of ENGLAND NOTES
tained in London on the
iund Ditrichstein, late of
northing, who absconded,
agary, viz. :

Dated 4th July, 1862.

84954
26 of £lOO, Nos. 42635 to 42654. and
12590 to 42696
26 of £5O, Nos. 88309, 88311, to.
88317
Nos. 89320 to 88329 .
Nos. 88332 and 88339 to
88346
51 of £2O, Nos. 22451 to 21500 and
19109

„ 19th May, 1863.

„ 20th April, 1863.

„ 21st July, 1863.

Payment of all the said notes has been stopped.
Wnoever will give suoh information as shall lead to the re-
covery of the Bank notes above particularised shall receive a
reward of £l,OOO, or a proportionate part thereof, according
to the amount recovered. Intormation to be given to Messrs.
ft. and S. Mullens, Sol citors, 7, [Poultry, London, E.C., or to
Inspector Hamilton, Detective Police-office, 26, Old Jewry,
London, B.C.
London, Ist January, 1864.

STEAM from LONDON to NEW YORK
I he British and American Steam Navigation Company
(Limited) will DESPATCH one of the undermentioned
Splendid Fast Screw Steamers TWICE EACH MONTH for
New York:—

Tons. Horse Power.
LONDON 2,500 500 ..... Capt. GLOVER.
WESTMINSTER 2,500 500 ..... Capt. Couch.
DUBLIN 2 5OO ..... 500 ..... Capt. PROUD.
NEW YORK 2 5OO ..... 500 ..... ( apt. HARRIS.
These magnificent vessels are unsurpassed by any ocean-
going steamer, and have accommodation for passengers re-
plete witn every comfort. The Line will commence early in
March ; the exlct date to be fixed in a latter announcement.
To load in the Victoria Docks.

For freight or passage apply to the Company's Agents,
Alfred Laming and Ca., 70, CornhilL

MESSRS. BOTT, JACKSON, AND CO.
execute COMMISSIONS on all races throughout the
year. Market price guaranteed. Remittances. London and
Westminster Bank. Post-uffice Orders payable at Camber-
well-park.
N.B.—Betting on the Waterloo Cup.
Address—BoTT and JACKSON, "Man of the World" Wine
Stores, George-street, Camberwell-park, London.

Her Majesty's 6 .gun paddlewhe3l sloop Hecate, Capt,
George H. Richards, on surveying service in the Pacific,
and ordered home in February last, made fast at the buoy
at Greenhithe yesterday afternoon. A telegram was after-
wards received at Woolwich dockyard announcing her
arrival there, and the captain's intention not to swing until
this morning, when he will proceed to Woolwich to make
preparations for being paid out of commission. Captain
Richards entered on the command of the Hecate in Septem •
ber, 1860.

The freight-ship Emily, in the service of the War De-
partment, laden with general stores for Malta, has com-
menced filling in her magazines at the powder-buoy off
Woolwich Arsenal with 2,000 barrels of prepared ammu-
nition.

The iron-cased screw steamship Royal Oak, 35, Capt. F.
A. Campbell, was removed yesterday (Thursday) from
Hamoaze into Plymouth Sound. The Royal Oak shipped
her powder in the afternoon, and will shortly be ready for
sea. •

The paddlewheel steamsloop Salamander, 6, Commander
the Hon. Carnegie, from Sheerness and Portsmouth,
arrived at Plymouth yesterday (Thursday) morning. She
is bound to Cape York, Australia, and will take out marine
artizaos to clear the country of trees, &c., for the purpose
of founding a colony.

Yesterday the mechanics at Chatham dockyard com-
menced cutting out the frames and making the necessary
preparation for the construction of the Lord Warden target
which the Lords of the Admiralty have ordered to be made
at Chatham, in order that it may be subjected to a variety
of tests of its strength at Shoeburyness. It will exactly re-
semble a section of the midships tilde of the Lord Warden
above the load water-line. The construction will differ in
several very important particulars from that of the Royal
Oak and the other wooden armour-plated frigates already
completed, the effect of which will be to render her very
little inferior in strength and solidity and shot-resisting
power to the most recently-constructed of our fleet of iron-
dads. In the squadron of armour-plated vessels recently
built the 41, inch armour plates are bolted to 18 inches of
teak planking, fastened to the oak timbers, which are in
turn held together by the longitudinals and tie-irons which
traverse the ship from stem to stern. This construction is
objectionable on several grounds, not the least of which
arises from the absence of a resisting medium between
the teak planking and the interior of the vessel to prevent
the flying off of splinters, which experience has shown are
invariably more disastrous in their effects on shipboard
than the passage of either a shot or shell through the
ship's sides. This important fact has not been lost sight
of in the construction of the Lord Warden, and it is ac-
cordingly intended to place an iron skin, formed of plates
an inch and a half in thickness, between her timber ribs and
teak planking, on which again will be placed her 59 inch

and 4f-inch trmour plates. The target now in hand at '
Chatham will be put together exactly on this principle, and
its trial at Shoeburyness is looked forward to with some in-
terest, and its form of construction is believed to combine
the greatest strength with the greatest shot-resisting power.
Yesterday the after portion of the keel was got in its place
on the blocks beneath the shed where the Lord Warden is
building, but, in consequence of the greater number of the
dockyard mechanics being employed on the Achilles, only
a comparatively small number are at work on the new fri-
gate. In a short time, however, at least 1,000 workmen
will be transferred to the Lord Warden, in the completion
of which every exertion will be used. Some alterations have
been made in the size of the vessel since the order‘for her
construction was received from the Admiralty, and the fol-
lowing will be her exact dimensions :—Length between
perpendiculars, 280 ft ; length of keel for tonnage, 233 ft
lliin ; extreme breadth, 58ft 9in ; breadth for tonnage, 57ft
2in ; breadth moulded, 56ft 4in ; depth in hold, 20ft in;
burden, 4,067 26-94ths tons.
By direction of the Admiralty a new iron caisson is to be
fitted at the entrance to No. 2 basin at Chatham dockyard,
instead of the wooden caisson recently removed, to allow of
the Achilles being undocked. The new caisson is now being
manufactured at the establishment of Messrs. Westwood,

Baillee, and Campbell, London ; but some delay has taken
place in its completion, in consequence of a misunderstand •
ing having arisen in respect of the exact size it is to be
made to allow of its being fitted into the granite sides of
the dock. The old caisson has been floated up the harbour
to the Anchor-wharf, where it is being taken to pieces by a
party of workmen.
In order to expedite the work connected with the prepa-
ration of the iron blooms for the new frigate Bellerophon,
at Chatham, the mechanics employed in the smithy have
commenced wol king at night.
The following appointments were made yesterday at the
Admiralty :—The Rev. W. H. Holman to be chaplain of
the Colossus, vice Fox, whose period of home service has
expired ; the Hon. Evelyn H. Ellis, midshipman, to the
Geyser; Edmond H. C. Smith, second master, to the Dun-
can ; Charles W. Baillie, W. M. Savage, Bever Van Horn-
righ, and John M. Ross, master's assistants, to the Duncan.

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