The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-01 00:00:00

Visit of the Duke of Somerset to Liverpool,

DISTRIBUTION OF PRIZES ON BOARD THE
SCHOOL-FRIGATE CONWAY.
The Duke of Somerset, First Lord of the Admiralty, de-
livered the prizes yesterday to the successful pupils on
board theachool-frigate Conway. Mr C. Mozley, the Mayor
of Liverpool, presided, and amongst those present were—
Lord E. St. Maur, Admiral Sir F. Grey, Captain Hall, Ad-
miral Robinson, Admiral Evans, Colonel Sir John
Jones, Mr Charles Mozley (mayor of Liverpool), Mr.
John Laird, M.P., Mr J. Bramley-Moore, M.P., Mr
J. C. Ewart, M.P., Lieutenant. Colonel M'lver, Mr R.
Brocklebank, Mr James Beasley, Mr J. B. Thomson,
Captain Sproule, Mr Joseph Hubback, Mr Horace
Turner, Mr S. G. Rathbone, Mr J. A. Tobin, Captain
Poynter, Captain Fisher, R.N., Mr David M'lver, Mr
Brandon Mozley, Mr Lewin Mozley, Mr John Cropper,
Captain Mown, and Mr J. Clint.
After some remarks from the Mayor—who stated that
five years ago the school commenced with 17 pupils, and
that it now mustered 123—the prizes were awarded. They
consisted of books, nautical instruments ; the gold medal of
the Liverpool Mercantile Marine Service Association (for
the greatest general proficiency in all branches of training
and education) ; a naval cadetship, presented by the Duke
of Somerset, won by J. A. Ward; and Admiral Eden's
nomination to a second-class naval cadetship, won by E.
H. H. Mosson. There was also a prize for proficiency in
nautical astronomy, given by Mr Brocklebank, and another
given by the Mayor for practical seamanship. The awards
having been made, the successful boys being heartily
cheered by the ladies and gentlemen present,
The Duke of SOMERSET said—Mr Mayor and ladies and
gentlemen, it has been a great pleasure to me to attend here
to-day and see the good work of this institution. I think
it has become one of the most valuable institutions of the
country; for what we want is a more educated class of sea-
men. In the progress of the world all classes must exert
themselves more and more to adapt themselves to the in-
creased proficiency of the age, and I look with great interest
and pleasure to the progress which has been made here since
this school was established. And now a word or two to the
boys who have got priz s. I would say to them, that to get
prizes in early life is well, but remember it is nothing unless
you persevere afterwards. If you have obtained prizes and
then afterwards lose your time, you have done worse than
nothing. You must use the abilities you possess regularly,
continually, and well, or you will not rise in the profes-
sion which you have choseu of in the general estimation
of society. To those who have not obtained prizes I would
say, do not be discouraged, for many who in the bginning
of life have not started with advantage have yet won the
race in the end. It is by steady perseverance that you will
get on, and to be discouraged at once is a great mistake.
Many of the first men in the country who failed in early
life;and at the beginning of their career, have by perseve-
rance risen afterwards far above those who seem to win at
the start in life. I trust, then, that all of you will go on
well, and remember this, that, raised as you are by your
knowledge and your position in society, you have also this
great duty to remember, that you are English gentlemen—
and through all your course of life never to do anything
that would discredit an English gentleman. (Applause.)
Keep that steadily in mind, and then, with the proficiency
and talents that you have, you may rise to any position in
the society of England. (Loud applause.)
Mr JAMES BEASLEY then proposed three cheers for the
Duke, which were given with great enthusiasm.
Mr RALPH BROCKLEBANK (in the absence of Mr Hop-
fall, M.P.) moved a vote of thanks to the Duke of Somerset,
observing that the interest which his grace and other Lords
of the Admiralty had shown in the success of the Conway
would stimulate the friends of the school to still greater

exertions.
Mr J. C. EWART, M, P., seconded the motion, which was
unanimously and by acclamation carried.
The Duke of SOMERSET, after acknowledging the vote,
said—l can assure you that in giving a cadetship to this
institution I have not acted without consideration and
thought, and I should not have done it had I not believed
that this institution would be well managed by the com-
mittee, and would be under the care of good and efficient
masters, (Hear, hear, and applause.) I called upon
Captain Powell, of the Britannia, to know how the boys
who came from this school were doing there, and 1 am
happy to say he wrote to this effect :—"Taylor and Finlay,
first class cadets, and Weaver, second class cadet, are all
doing extremel} well. They are industrious, gentlemanly,
and remarkably well conducted, and, even allowing that
they were some of the best boys from the Conway, they
reflect the greatest credit upon that establishment." Lan-
guage like this will, I believe, encourage the masters and
those who have the management of this ship, to carry on
the education as effectively as hitherto, and perhaps with
some little addition, for day by day we require a new
knowledge in the navy. We must have more education in
steam in connection with navigation. It cannot be long
overlooked, but must become a part of instfuction in the
navy; and, looking to all these things, I say that I have
given these cadetships not from any seeking e f popularity, or
any motive of that kind, but from an earnest desire that
the boys should be brought up in a manner that may adapt
them not only to the mercantile navy but to the royal navy
of England; and, seeing that these two navies are more
and more closely associated, it becomes of the greatest im-
portance that this institution should adapt and fit boys for
any position to which they may afterwards be called.
(Loud cheers.)
Mr JAMES BEASLEY proposed, and Captain SPROULE
seconded, a vote of thanks to the mayor, which was carried
unanimously, and the proceedings closed with three cheers
for the Queen.
The Duke of Somerset and some of the principal visitors
were afterwards entertained on board H.M. Majestic, and
the remainder of the afternoon was spent in the inspection
of the docks, the rams El Monassir and El Tousson, and
the foreshore at Tranmere, which Mr J. Laird, M.P., has
recommended to the Government as an excellent site for a
naval arsenal and dockyard. In the evening the mayor
gave a banquet at the Town Hall.
The duke spent a considerable time on board El Tousson
minutely examining all parts of the vessel. The boat's crew
from the Majestic turned the fore turret a number of times,
so as to show the speed with which it would revolve. During
this operation the duke and some other gentlemen remained
aside the turret. The duke and other visitors also in-
spected the Agincourt, an armour-plated vessel now build-
ing by Messrs Laird at Birkenhead.

REMARKABLE DISCOVERY.—A party of tin
streamers who are excavating on a place called
Gos Moor, in Cornwall, have discovered a layer of hazel
nuts at a depth of 24 feet from the surface, and lying be-
neath 4 feet of ground that had previously been excavated.
The shells of the nuts, of which there were many thou-
sands, were quite perfect, though black, but they contained
no kernels.
[ADVEILTISEDIENT.] - Holloway's Pills. Preventible
Diseases.—Many are the maladies which silently work their
way into the human system through miasma, noxious
vapours, and deteriorated air, which could all be dispos-
sessed by a few doses of these admirable pills. The vitiated
gases enter the lungs as we breathe, and there contaminate
the blood, which will convey the poisonous particles
throughout the body, unless some purifier, such as these
pills, be taken to cleanse it. Holloway's pills expel all
harmful matters from the circulation, and cleanse the solids
likewise from all treacherous impurities. Is not the whole
body formed from the blood, and the blood only ? How
necessary, then, does it become to all who value health to
employ oocsaionally wino means of purification.