The Sun.
London, England, 1853-05-25 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR, —My attention has been drawn to a paragraph
in The Sun newspaper, headed " Shocking case of desti-
tution and starvation at Buriton, near Petersfield."
As this statement is incorrect in several particularsj
beg you 'will do me the justice of inserting the following
statement.
Thomas Searle, of the parish of Buriton, was taken ill
on Friday the 29th of April. I visited him on the next
day, and he was also on that day attended by the medi-
cal man, and plentifully supplied with animal food by
his employer.
On the following Tuesday he died suddenly in a faint-
ing fit, produced not by starvation, but by exhaustion,
resulting from improper exertion while labouring under
influenza, complicated by subacute inflammation of the
lungs.
Thinking it a proper case for inquiry, I sent to Mr.
Fey, the Superintendent of the Police at Petersfield, sug-
gesting the propriety of an inquest being held on the
body, in order to ascertain the precise cause of death.
The verdict was, as you have correctly stated, "Died
by the visitation of God."
When in work, Thomas Searle was in the receipt of
nine shillings per week ; when sick, he had ten shillings
per week from a benefittsociety of which he was a mem-
ber, receiving at the same time eight loaves of bread
from the parish.
With regard to rent, it is now nearly three years since
he has paid any.
It may not be superfluous to add that, a week before
he was taken ill, he had received fifteen or sixteen
pounds of mutton from a relative living at Portsmouth.
The statement circulated by you in reference to my
ecciosiastical income and preferment is incorrect in every
particular.--I am, sir, your obedient servant,
JOHN M. SUMNER.
Buriton-rectory, Petersfield, May 23, 1853.

[The paragraph alluded to was from a corresponden
—ED. Suii.]

SPECIMENS OF SCULPTURE.

Among the numerous works of sculpture at the pre-
sent Exhibition of the Royal Academy there are two
which we are induced to notice with especial approba-
tion. One of them is part of a monument in marble,
to be erected to the memory of a most excellent
man and an eminent judge—the late Right Hon. Sir
John Bernard Bosanquet, one of her Majesty's Justices
of the Common Pleas. It is a relievo, representing
" Religion consoling Justice in her grief," and displays
artistic and mental powers of no ordinary kind, being
admirable in composition, treatment, and depth of sen-
timent. The other work to which we would direct
attention is a sketch for a proposed colossal statue, the
idea of which appears to us so fine and new in art that
we feel assured it will soon be commissioned by some
patron of art to be carried out to its full heroic propor-
tions. It represents "The High Poet-priest of Science -
advocating the great modern precept, STUDY NATURE,'
inscribed on the tablet held in his hand." From this
original and all-embracing conception an unquestionably
grand yet simple ideal statue can be made of a stupen-
dou3 venerable man, greater than "Plato the wise, or
large-browed Verulam —a man who, in due time,
is to come and impart to the human family the
clear light of science, poetry, and reverence, with
a lustre and charm such as have never yet been
witnessed—at least in the historical period. To
illustrate the intention of the sculptor more fully, we
here give the passage quoted by him in the Catalogue of
the Exhibition from Emerson's Representative Men. It
is this—" The world still wants its poet-priest, a recon-
ciler, who shall see, speak, and act with equal inspira-
tion : for knowledge will brighten the sunshine ; right
is more beautiful than private affection ; and love is
compatible with universal wisdom." To intimate also
the full meaning of the precept inscribed on the tablet,
we subjoin the words of Du Marsais, who says pro-
foundly, that " without the study of Nature man can
have neither firm principles nor true happiness ;" and
the great Bacon himself remarks that the sublime object
of this high study is " not to build a capital or erect a
pyramid to the glory of man, but to found the temple of
the universe in the human intellect !" Both this fine
sketch for a statue and the preceding monum.sntal re-
lievo in marble are by the same sculptor, Mr. Joseph
Edwards—a name at present but little known, but not
to remain so if true merit is to meet with deserved
success.

THE ()BLEARS Rem-ILL—On the 2d of June his Royal
Highness the Comte de Paris will receive confirmation
in the Ronasai Catholic Church ; and at the same time
his brother, the Due de Chartres, will be admitted to
the Holy Communion. The Princess and the Duchess
of Orleans are expected at Claremont at the end of this
month, from their residence at Kitley, near Plymouth.
ENROLLED PENSIONERS.—Yesterday the enrolled out-
pensioners of Chelsea Hospital commenced their annual
drill—the north division assembling in Regent's-park,
the south on Kennington-common, the east in the Tower-
ivoat, and the west in Hyde-park. The whole of the
metropolitan divisions, including those from Greenwich
and Woolwich, will be reviewed in Hyde-park on Wed-
nesday, the Ist of June.
ACCIDENT IN HYDE PARS.—Mr. Stanley, of 16,
GrosvenoT-square, met with a severe accident in Rotten-
row on Mo-aday afternoon. He was cantering his horse,
and came in contact with another gentleman who was
riding fast, by which a fracture of the upper portion of
the tibia, with displacement, occurred. Dr. J. B. Daniell
was passing near the spot, and accompanied Mr. Stan-
ley to his house in .a cab, when Sir Benjamin Brodie was
'sent for.
MEETING OF LETTIIR-CA.RRIERS.—A meeting of the
General Post letter-carriers was held on Monday even-
ing at the Bell Tavern, Wood-street, preliminary to
petitioning the Postmaster-General for an advance of
wages. Every one must feel that this meritorious and
hard-working class of the community are very inade-
quately paid for their arduous labours, and we cannot
doubt that, on their case being properly represented at
head-quarters, an addition will be made to their salaries.