The Sun.
London, England, 1862-03-27 00:00:00

We are requested to insert the following corres-
pondence

London, March 12, 1862.
Gentlemen,—ln reference to the intention which it is the
object of this letter to communicate, I am desirous to ex-
plain that from a comparatively early period of my commer-
cial life I had resolved in my own mind that, should my
labours be blessed with success, I would devote a portion of

the property thus acquired to promote the intellectual,
moral, and physical welfare of my fellow-men, wherever,
from circumstances or location, their claims upon me would

be the strongest.
A kind Providence has continued me in prosperity, and
consequently, in furtherance of my resolution, I, in the year
1852, founded an institute and library for the benefit of the

people of the place of my birth, in the town of Danvers, in
_ _ _

the State of Massachusetts, the result of which has proved
in every respect most beneficial to the locality, and gratify-

in; to myself.

After an absence of 20 years I visited my native land in
1857, and founded in the City of -Baltimore, in the State of

Maryland (where more than 20 years of my business life
had been passed) an institute upon a much more extended
scale, devoted to science and the arts, with a free library,

coinciding with the character of the institution. The corner

s' one was laid in 1858, and the building is now completed;
but its dedication has been postponed in consequence of the
unhappy sectional differences at present prevailing in the
United States.

It is now 25 years since I commenced my residence and
business in London as a stranger; but I did not long feel
myself a stranger or in a " strange land," for in all my com-
mercial and social intercourse with my British friends dur-
ing that long period, I have constantly received courtesy,
kindness, and confidence. Under a sense of gratitude for
these blessings of a kind Providence, encouraged by early
associations, and stimulated by my views as well of duty as
of inclination to follow the path which I had heretofore
marked out for my guidance, I have been prompted for seve-
ral years past repeatedly to state to somo of my confidential
friends my intention at no distant period, if my life was
spared, to make a donation for the benefit of the poor of
London. Among those friends are three of the number to
whom I have now the honour to address this letter.
To my particular friend, C. M. Lampson, Esq., I first men-
tioned the subject five years ago. My next conversations
in relation to it were held about three years since with my
esteemed friend Sir James Emerson Tennant, and with my

partner, J. S. Morgan, Esq. I also availed myself of oppor-
tunities to consult the Right Rev. Bishop M'llvaine of
Ohio, and with all these gentlemen I have since freely con.:

versed upon the subject in a way to confirm that original
intention.

My object Icing to ameliorate the condition of the poor
and needy of this great metropolis, and to promote their
comfort and happiness, I take pleasure in apprising you
that I have determined to transfer to you the sum Of
£150,000, which now s ands available for this purpose on
the books of Messrs. George Peabody and Co., as you will
see by the accompanying correspondence.
In committing to you, in full confidence in your judg-
ment, the administration of this fund, I cannot but feel
grateful to you for the onerous duties you have so cheer-
fully undertaken to perform, and I sincerely hope and trust
that the benevolent feelings that have prompted a devotion
of so much of your valuable time will be appreciated, not
only by the present, but future generations of the people of
London.

I have few instructions to give or conditions to impose,
but there are some fundamental principles from which it is
my solemn injunction that those entrusted with its appli-
cation shall never under any circumstances depart.
First and foremost among them is the limitation of its
uses absolutely and exclusively to such purposes as may be
calculated directly to ameliorate the condition and augment
the comfort- of the poor, who, either by birth or esta-
blished residence, form a recognised portion of the popula'
tion of London.
Secondly. It is my intention that now, and for all timer
there shall be a rigid exclusion from the management of
this fund of any influence calculated to impart to it a cha-
racter either sectarian as regards religion, or exclusive in
relation to local or party politics.
Third. In conformity with the foregoing conditions, it is
my wish and intention that the sole qualification for a par'
ticipation in the benefits of this fund shall be an ascertained
and continued condition of life such as brings the individual
within the description (in the ordinary sense of the word)
of "the poor" of London, combined with moral character
and good conduct as a member of society. It must there-
fore be held to be a violation of my intentions if any dui,'
qualified and deserving claimant were to be excluded either
on the grounds of religious belief or of political bias.
Without in the remotest degree desiring to limit your
discretion in the selection of the most suitable means °f
giving effect to these objects, I may be permitted to throw
out for your consideration, amongst the other projects
which will necessarily occupy your attenti,n, whether .
may not be found conducive to the conditions specified above
for their ultimate realisation, and least likely to present
' difficulties on the grounds I have pointed out for avoidancot,
to apply the fund, or a portion of it, in the construction 01
such improved dwellings for the poor as may combine in the
utmost possible degree the essentials of healthfulness, coo-
fort, social enjoyment, and economy.
Preparatory to due provision being made for the formal
declaration of the trust and for its future management and
appropriation, the sum of £150,000 will be at once trans-
ferred into your names and placed at your disposal, for
which purpose I reserve to myself full power and authority
But as a portion of the money may probably not be required-
for some time to come, to meet the legitimate purposes
COnd
templated, I would suggest that, as early as possible after
the organisation of the trust, one hundred thousand pounds
(£100,000) should be invested for the time being in your
names in Consols or East India Stock, thus adding to the
capital by means of the accruing interest, and the stock so
purchased can be gradually sold out as the money is wanted
for the objects designated. Meantime, pending the preps-
ration of a formal trust-deed, you shall be under no respon-
sibility whatever in respect of the fund, or its investment
or disposition.
With these preliminary stipulations I commit the fund
to your management, and to that of such other persons as,
by a majority of your voices, you may elect, giving you the
power either to add to your number (which I think should
not at any time exceed nine) or to supply casual vacancies
occurring in your body. It is my further desire that the
United States Minister in London for the time being 8110'114
always, in virtue of his office, be a member of the trust? i
unless in the event of his signifying his inability to act n
discharge of the duties.—l have the honour to be, gentle-
inen, yours very faithfully,
(Signed) GEORGE PEABODY.
To his Excellency Charles Francis Adams, United States
Minister in London.
The Right Hon. Lord Stanley, M.P.
Sir James Emerson Tennent, K.C.S., LL.D., Ite'l
London.
Curtis M. Lampson, Esq., London,
Junius S. Morgan, Esq., London.

London, 15th March, 1862.
SIR,—We have to acknowledge the recoipt of your lettet
of the 12th inst., apprising us of your munificent approprit''
tion of one hundred and fifty thousand pounds towards
ameliorating the condition of the poor of London ; and jo;
timating your wish that we should act in the capacity
whichof
:
trustees for the application of this fund on principles
you have indicated for our guidance.
Whether we consider the purity of the motive, the Wag:
nituda of the gift, or the discrimination displayed in select
ing the purposes to which it is to be applied, we cannot but
feel that it is for the nation to appreciate, rather than for
a few individuals to express, their gratitude for an act 0
beneficence which has ftw parallels (if any) in moderll
times.

For ourselves, we are deeply conscious of the honour imp
plied by the confidence you have reposed in us as the Oral'
nistrators and guardians of your bounty ; and it only
remains for us to assure you of the satisfaction with wilielf`
we shall accept this trust, and the zeal with which we 8101'
address ourselves to the discharge of its duties so soon f'g'
its precise nature is sufficiently defined, and the arrange
ments for its administration sufficiently organised.—Fil"
faithfully yours,

CHARLES FRANCIS ADAMS•
STANLEY.

J. EMERSON TENNENT.
C. M. LAAIPSON.
J. S. MORGAN.
To George Peabody, Esq., London.

THE him LORDSHIP OF THE TREASURY.--it
app ears that, notwithstanding his defeat at Longt°ll Colonel Luke While is to retain the office of Irish Lord °
the Treasury. His want of a seat in the House of C°!'
mons will be a source of some embarassment to the Govel';
went. It is rumoured that a vacancy will ere long ..
place in the representation of an Irish borough, will
representative is very seldom in his seat in Parliament'
and that Colonel White may probably become a candidtite.
ANECDOTE OF A PYTHON.—The pythons in tile
Zoological Gardens are fed with rabbits, which theY de;
stroy by winding round and crushing them ; they are thea
more easily swallowed. The bones forming the jaws
face, so to call it—unlike what is seen in mamalia, when
they are firmly locked together, and where the lower .P‘
moves on closely bound hinges—are al loose and unc011„,
netted, except by skin and ligaments. A very remarlold,:
circumstance occurred her& some years ago. A l'lr'„f
python, in a well-secured cage containing others, and
these one nine feet long, was fed one evening with thre;
guinea pigs and a rabbit. The next morning the pYtll°,
nine feet long was missing, and, as an escape was irel'°";
sible, the question arose, what could have become of
The truth was soon evident ; the other python, not roue
larger than itself, had swallowed it. flow it was done,
one could tell, as it must have happened in the night.
Or
victim may have been torpid and incapable of resistance, ,
a terrific struggle have occurred before it was overporereati
but the fact was evident, in the victor lying torpid, 0;
bloated to double his ordinary dimensions. Pyth liate';,
lag; a sight in the Zoological
Gardens. In "Ca
Family Paper. ssell