The Sun.
London, England, 1863-08-01 00:00:00

TIIE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, AUGUST 1, 1863.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, July 31.

The inauguration of the New Atlantic Mail
steam Packet Company took place yesterday on
board the Adriatic in Kingstown harbour under the
most auspicious circumstances. This magnificent
vessel, which has been lying in the harbour since
Saturday, has been visited by great numbers,
and, from her size and beauty, and the fit-
ness and excellence of all her arrangements
and appointments, she has excited' universal
admiration. Yesterday a sumptuous banquet was
given by the directors to the Lard-Lieutenant.
of Ireland, the Lord Mayor of Dublin, several
peers, and a large number of our leading gentry
and merchants, representing all churches, parties,
and interests. It would be difficult to get together
in Dublin a m re influential assemblage on any sub-
ject, nor could an entertainment have been got up
with a more liberal spirit, in better taste, or hove
passed off in a more satisfactory manner. Every-
thing was of the best, and the supply most profuse
The weather was all that could ba desired for a fete
on hoard ship, and no ship could furnish better
accommodation for such a purpose. Lord Carlisle
arrived at Kingstown at had-past 1 o'clock, and
was reuived at the landing-steps of the Royal St.
George Yacht Club by Captain De Courcy and
Lieutenant Bolton, of her Majesty's ship Ajax,
by whom he and his suite were conducted to the
pinnace of the Ajax. The blue-jackets gave the
customary salute by tossing oars. On the arrival of
the pinnace opposite the Ajax a Royal salute of
21 guns was fired, and the yards were manned.
The guests who had by this time arrived on board
the Adriatic had a flue opportunity of witnessing
the pretty nautical spectacle of a stately man of war,
covered from trucks to lower yard arms by her brave
crew, cheering lustily and waving their hers. His
Excellency was received on board the Adriatic by
Mr. John Chapman, chairman of the company, Sir
John Gray, Alderman Reynolds, and others of the
directors, and Captain Nicholson, the commander;
the band of the 11th Regiment, which was sta-
tioned on deck, playing the National Anthem. Tne
dejeuner was laid out in splendid style in the mag-
nificent saloon. The chair was occupied by Mr.
John Chapman, chairman of the company, having
on his right the Lord-Lieutenant, and on his lett
the Lord Mayor, Lord Clancarty, Lord Clonbrook,
and Mr. William Dargan. The health of the Queen,
the Prince and Princess of Wales, having beer.
proposed in appropriate terms and duly honoured,
the Chairman gave " the Lord-Lieutenant and
prosperity to Ireland," remarking that his family
had been deeply indebted to Lord Carlisle, and that
the sunniest days of his life were those of his boy-
hood, when he was driven through the majestic
groves of Castle Howard. He regarded it as an
extraordinary circumstance that now, a white-
haired man, he was there proposing his lordship's
health as Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland. The toast
was received with enthusiasm. In responding,
Lord Carlisle said:—

aun
"I do not forget that it is not open to me to take any
credit to myself or to my colleagues injutshtley
duelmperial
tothose
h
vwero innmoet,i_igtfoalrlyseton foot
whatever merit may b
de . It is no
the
undertaking,
part of our present Laciness, however, to refer to
the contests or controversies of the past, and I
fully subscribe to the philosophy of the old motto, All's
well that ends well.' With respect to the future, I yield to
no one in the heartiness of my wishes for the complete suc-
cess of the undertaking; and I am sure that the proceedings
of the company could not have been better inaugurated than
on board the magnificent vessel in which we are nowassem-
bled—this sumptuous ocean palace, in which I am only too
proud to discharge the function assigned of old to the
ADdogriesstie. of
(LoudVen eicep—ploefus.) may all happy influences flow
the State to our new
from this auspicious connexion ; safe be your voyages, pro-
pitious your winds, large your cargoes, skilful your captain
active and healthy your crews, and remunerative your re-
turns; and if I may express any further wish distinct from
the internal affairs and functions of the company itself, it
would be that when this noble vessel has sped its useful and
civilising errand across the Atlantic, may it bring back to
us the joyful tidings that the blood of our brethren had
ceased to flow in murderous conflict, and that the nations
and races once more repose iu peace." (Applause.) ,
Lord Carlisle then proposed, in complimentary

terms, the health of the chairman, which was re•
ceived in the warmest manner, and acknowledged
in a lively and effective speech.
Other toasts followed, after which the assembly
broke up, some of the company remaining for a
dance on deck in the evening, to which many ladies
were invited. Altogether, the inauguration of the
Galway line was a very p easant affair,

Transportation to the Australian Colonies.

An influential meeting of Australian colonists and
others was held yesterday at Willis's-rooms, King-
street, St. James's, to consider that portion of the
report of the royal commission on secondary punish•
moats which recommended transportation to Wes-
tern Australia,—Sir Charles Nicholson occupying
the chair.

The CHAIRMAN, in opening the proceedings, said
that the commission on secondary punishments had
recommended that all male convicts who were not
disqualified for removal to a colony, should be sent
to Western Australia during the latter part of their
punishment, and adverted to the alarm and indig-
nation with which an announcement by the impe-
rial government of their intention to carry cut
such a recommendation would be received through-
out Australia. The whole colonists were strongly
opposed to transportation to Western Australia.
because as the convicts would, after a time, either
obtain absolute freedom or conditional pardons, they
would, as a matter of course, find their way to the
older colonies, and tend to increase the insecurity

to life and property which now unhappily existed.
If this odious system were carried out it would not
only cause great excitement in the colony, but pro-
duce a strong feeling of resentment towards the

imperial government ; and though the colonists
were as loyal as any of her Majesty's subjects
he believed that they would through their legis-
latures, adopt some retaliatory measures which
would be in derogation of the royal prerogative,
and all loyal subjects of the British Crown would
deeply deplore. He therefore trusted that they would
unite in making the most energetic representations
on the subject at the foot of the throne or to her
Majesty's highest and most responsible advisers.
(Cheers.)
Sir STUART DONALDSON, as an old colonist, not
only endorsed what had fallen from the chairman,
but thought that the adoption of the recommenda-
tion of the comaiissioners would be extremely dan-
gerous to the amicable relations between the valu-
able colonies of Australia and the mother country.
The resolution which he had to propose was to this
effect :—" That this meeting views with the greatest
alarm, and desires to protest in the strongest terms
against the recommendation contained iu the
report of the Royal Commission on Secondary
Punishments, viz :—' That, with the exception
of those who are physically or otherwise unfit for
it, all male convicts sentenced to penal servitude for
any term of years should be ultimately sent to
Western Australia.' That, in the event of such re-
commendations being carried into effect, great and
irreparable injury will be inflicted on the neigh-
bouring colonies of Australia and New Zealand,
inasmuch as they would inevitably become the final
receptacles of the criminal population thus sent
forth from the United Kingdom."
After several other speakers had addressed the
meeting the resolution was carried, and a committee
formed to bring the subject under the attention of
the authorities at the Colonial-office.

THE NEW ACT ON PRISON MINISTERS.—The aet
has just been printed for the amendment of the law
relating to the religious instruction of prisoners in county
and borough prisons in England and Scotland. It is to
apply in England to all gaols, prisons, and houses of cor-
tion, and in Scotland to all local prisons. Where the num-
ber of prisoners confined and belonging to some church or
religious persuasion differing, if in England, from the
Church of England, and if in Scotland from the Church of
Scotland, is so great'as in the opinion of the Justices' County
Board or other persons having the appointment of chaplain
in the prisons to require the ministrations of a minister of
their own church or persuasion, the justices and others may
appoint a minister, and they may, if they think fit, award
to him a reasonable sum as a recompense for his services,
such sum to be deemed a part of the expense of the prison.
Rules are to be made by the visiting justices as to the ad-
mission of ministers, and the keepers of the prisoPs
are to
keep a register of the religion of the inmates.

THE STORY OF SCHILLER'S REMAINS.

An interesting article, i❑ Macmillan's Magazine
for August, describes how that Schiller died in
straitened circumstances, and was interred in the
Kassengewolbe, a public vault at Weimar. Among
the ardent admirers of the poet was a young man
named Schwabe, who was greatly incensed that the
remains of Schiller should be consigned to such a
resting-place. Twenty years afterwards Schwabe
became Burgermeister, and during his civic reigt,
it was proposed to " clear out" the Kassengev, olbe.
Schwabe was horrified at the prospect of Schiller's
dust being ignobly sent to the four winds of heaven,
and he determined, if possible, to rescue the poet's
remains. He ransacked the grim vault on several
occasions, but without result, and at last the people
of Weimar became so indignant at whet they con-
sidered the desecration of the dead that he was
obliged to proceed secretly in his pious labours :
" To find the skull was now his utmost hope, but
for that he should make a final struggle. The keys
were still in the hands of Bielke the sexton, and
the sexton, of course, stood under his control. He
sent for him, bound him over to silence, and
ordered him to be at the churchyard at midnight
on the 19th of March. In like manner he sum-
moned three day-labourers in which he confided,
pledged them to secrecy, and engaged them to be
at the same place at the same hour, but singly and
without lanterns. Attention should not be attracted
if he could help it. When the night came, he him-
self, with a trusty servant, proceeded to the entrance
of the KassengewOlbe. The four men were already
there, In darkness they all entered, raised the trap-
door, adj usted the ladder, and descended to the abode
of the dead. Not till then were lanterns lighted; it
was just possible that some wanderer might
even at that hour cross the churchyard. Schwabe
seated himself on a step of the ladder and
directed the workmen. He smoked hard all the
time; it made the horrible atmosphere less intoler-
able. Fragments of broken coffins they piled up i❑
one corner, and bones in another. Skulls as they
were found were placed in a heap by themselves.
The hideous work went on for three successive nights,
from 12 o'clock till about three, at tie end of which
time 23 skulls had been found. These the B urger-
meister caused to be put in a sack and carried home
to his house, where he himself took them out and
placed them in rows on a table. It was hardly done
ere he exclaimed, "that must be "Schiller's!" There
was one skull that differed enormously from alt the
rest both in size and shape. It was remarkable, too,
in another way : alone of all those on the table it
retained an entire set of the finest teeth, and Schiller's
teeth had been noted for their beauty. But tbere
were other means of identification at hand. Schwabe
possessed the east of Schiller's head, taken after
death, by Klauer, and with this he under-
took careful comparison and measurement. The
two seemed to him to correspond ; and of the 22
others, not one would bear juxtaposition with the
cast. Unfortunately the lower jaw was wanting,
to obtain which a fourth nocturnal expedition had
to be undertaken. The skull was carried back to
the Gewolbe, and many jaws were tried ere one was
found which fitted, and for beauty of teeth cor-
responded with the upper jaw, When brought
home, on the other hand, it refused to fit any other
cranium. One tooth alone was wanting, and this
tooth, an old servant of Schiller's afterwards de-
clared, had been extracted at Jena in his presence.
Having got thus far, Schwabe invited three of the
chief medical authorities to inspect his discovery.
After careful measurements, they declared that
amongst the 23 skulls there was but one from which
the cast could have been taken. He then in
vited every person in Weimar and its neighbour-
hood, who had been on terms of intimacy with
Schiller, and admitted them to the room one
by one. The result was surprising. With-
out an exception they pointed to the same skull as
that which must have been the poet's. The only
remaining chance of mistake seemed to be the pos-
sibility of other skulls having eluded the search, and
being yet in the vault. To put this to rest, Schwabe
applied to the Landsclaaftscollegium, in whose re-
cords was kept a list of all persons buried it the
Kassengewolbe. It was ascertained that since the
last "Blearing out" there had been exactly 23 in •
terments. At this stage the Burgermeister saw him-
self in a position to inform the Grand Duke of
Goethe of his search and its success. From both
he received grateful acknowledgments. Goethe
unhesitatingly recognised the head, and laid stress
on the peculiar beauty and flatness of the

teeth. The Oberconsistorium thought proper to
protest, and, as one good effect of what had
happened, to direct that the Kassengewolbe should
in future be kept in better order. * * * Dan-
necker's collossal bust of Schiller had recently been
acquired for the Grand Ducal library, where it had
been placed on a lofty pedestal opposite the bust of
Goethe, and in this pedestal, which was hollow, it
was resolved to deposit the skull. The consent of
the family having been obtained, the solemn depo-
sition was delayed only till the arrival of Ernst von
Schiller, who could not reach Weimar before the
autumn. On Sept. 17 the ceremony took place. A
few persons had been invited, amongst whom, of
course, was the Burgermeister. Goethe dreaded the
agitation and remained at home, but sent his son to
represent him as chief librarian. A cantata having
been sung, Ernst von Schiller, in a short speech
thanked all persons present, but especially the Bur-
germeister, for the love they bad shown to the me-
mery of his father. He then formally delivered
his father's head into the hands of the younger
Goethe, who reverently receiving it, thanked
his friend in Goethe's name, and, having dwelt
on the affection that had subsisted between their
fathers, vowed and guaranteed that the precious
relic should henceforward be guarded with anxious
care. Up to this moment the skull had been wrapped
in a cloth and sealed; the younger Goethe now made
it over to the librarian, Professor Riemer, to be un-
packed and placed in its receptacle. All present
subscribed their names, on which, the pedestal hav-
ing been locked, the key was carried home to Goethe.
None doubted that Schiller's head was now at rest
for many years. But it had already occurred to
Goethe, who had more' osteological knowledge than
the excellent Burgermeister, that the skull being in
their possession, it must be possible to find the
skeleton. A very few days after the ceremony in
the library, he sent to Jena, begging the professor
of anatomy, Dr. Schroeter, to have the kindness to
spend a day or two at Weimar, and to bring with
him, if possible, a functionary of the Jena Museum,
Farber by name, who had at one time been
Schiller's servant. As soon as they arrived, Goethe
placed the matter in Schroter's hands. Again the
head was raised from its pillow and carried back to
the dismal Kassengewolbe, where the bones still lay
in a heap. The chief difficulty was to find the first
vertebra; after that all was easy enough, With
some exceptions, comparatively trifling, Schroeter
succeeded in re-produing the skeleton, which then
was laid in a new coffin lined with blue merino,'
and would seem (though we are not distinctly told)
to have been deposited in the library. Professor
Schroeter'a register of bones recovered and bones
missing has been both preserved and printed.
The skull was restored to its place in the pe-
destal. He expressed surprise that the bones of
Germany's best beloved should be kept like rare
coins, or other curiosities in a public museum.
In these circumstances, the Grand Duke
wrote Goethe a note, proposing for
hisapproval
that the skull and skeleton of Schiller should
vau e
lt
eeunitnd and provisionally depositedor
in
the
bials& and
which the Grand Duke had builthofuid
o
otherwise
his bone, until Schiller's family feasible, Goethe
determine.' No better plan seemingo of a durable
sarcophagus. mb
himself gave orders for the cons
th 1827, in pre-
re
On Noveer 17 ,
Goethe, Coudray, and
sense of the younger removed from the
ter reconstructed the
and fessor Schro
Riemer, the
in
bead
this
d was
new and more sumpluous
entire skeleton
Pro
pedestal,finally
in
abode, which we are
told was seven feet in length,
and bore at its upper end, the name Schiller,'
That same afternoon
Goethe
in letters of cast iron.
went himself to tho library and expressed his
satisfaction with all that had been done, At last,
on December 16th, 1827, at half-past five
in the morning, a few persons again
met at the same place, The Grand

Duke had desired—for what reason we know
not—to avoid observation ; it was Schiller's fate that
his remains should be carried hither find thither by
ast
n i
ht eeablnti 1 Ise
instant
nn
ttd in h
hien
recessest the
silent ni fl hpo tria
the
erme ,
hoanit
la burned
wpweherirscehi
nthdea abo
ut
raised Not a
the
ercod wfaans
asupdokceanr,ribeudt
itthaowseayp.reTsehnetybwenatlkfeodr
along through the
cloudy ; some of thpeaprkar;tythehandi
they reached the avenue that led
g luhaptn twteoranstsh. co o lledve andmh
een.
tery the moon shone out as she done twenty-
two years before. At the vault itself some other
friends had assembled, amongst whom was the
Mayor. Ere the lid was finally secured, Schwabe
placed himself at the head of the coffin and re-
cognised the skull to be that which he had
rescued from the Kessengewolbe. The sar-
cophagus having then been closed, and a laurel
wreath ;did on it, formal possession, in name of the
Grand flake, it was taken by the marshal. The key
was removed to be kept in possession of his Excel-
lency the Gen eimerath von Goethe, chief of the In-
stitutions for art and science.
is This key, in an en-
velope addressed by Goethe, said to be preserved
in the Grand Ducal Library, where, however, we
have no recollection of having seen it. The 1 pro-
visional' deposition has proved more permanent
than any other. Whoever would see the resting-
place of Goethe and Schiller must descend into the
Grand Ducal vault, where, through a grating, in
the twilight beyond, he will catch a glimpse of their
sarcophagi."