The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-21 00:00:00

considerably calmed down, so that there will no
longer be the excuse of the impassionate impulse of
the moment, or the bewilderment of sudden and
violent charges when the trial of the Southern Pre-
sident comes on. Let us hope, therefore, that it
may be conducted in a manner not altogether un-
worthy of the greatness of the interests involved
and the dignity of the American people.

A public meeting of some importance was held.
yesterday at Willis's Rooms. lts object was the
discussion of the new scheme for middle-class edu-
cation, which appears to be based upon sound and
practical principles. It commends itself to the real
and substantial friend of public education, since it
does not depend on chance aid or eleemosynary con-
tributions, but is intended to stand upon a firm and
self-supporting basis. As Mr. GLADSTONE, who
made the speech of the occasion, justly observed,
there has hitherto been a great want in our educa-
tional system. The great public schools, with al
their deficiencies, made a noble provision for the
upper classes, and within the last half century
the establishment of the national school system
has fully supplied the requirements of the lower
ranks. But there still remains a very large gap,
which the old grammar schools of the country can-
not attempt to fill. Many of these grammar schools
are well endowed, and some of them bear a very
high character, so that it has been said it would
be wiser to reform them and extend their sphere
rather than to begin laying new foundations.
But Mr. GLADSTONE showed his hearers that all
such plans were necessarily very tardy in their re-
sults, since they were necessarily hampered by local
feeling and private interest, and rapid progress
could not be hoped for. Under these circumstances
he urged upon the meeting the advisability of
supporting this scheme of self-supporting pub-
lic boarding-schools for the lower middle classes.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer declared that
it was not his intention to follow the prevailing
fashion of the day and flatter the middle classes ;
but there could be no doubt of its social and poli-
tical importance, and consequently it was indis-
pensable to the welfare of the country that they
should have the means of self-culture. The right
hon. gentleman remarked that so good a provision
was now made for the culture of the working classes
that if the middle ranks hoped to keep their supe-
riority it must be by means of an improved and en-
lightened education. The knowledge imparted un-
der this system is to be sound and thorough, such
knowledge as will qualify the boys for their subse-
quent careers at the desk, the shop, or the office.
It is not entirely new, since its promoter, Mr.
WOODARD, explained to the meeting that there are
already in existence a cottage for training middle
class schoolmasters, a public boarding school in the
same building for the sons of tradesmen, farmers,
and clerks at a payment of £2O to £3O a-year, and
a cheaper school at Shoreham where board and edu-
cation are attainable for 14 guineas a-year. There
is a very wide circle of struggling men with large
families who would eagerly seize such an oppor-
tunity to give their boys a sound education, pro-
vided that the instruction is really thorough and
the board properly sufficient. A very little inquiry
will enable them to ascertain these facts, when the
new system will be accepted as a great boon, for the
lack of a good education in early life has too often
been a hindrance to genius and enterprise, while to
less gifted minds it has frequently proved a hope-
less stumbling block in their career.

After a prolonged investigation the verdict of the
jury in the Staplehurst affair has been ene of man-

slaughter against the foreman of the platelayers and
the district inspector. After minute investigation,

and upon mature consideration, it will doubtless

appear to the public that this is a fair decision to
come to. The safety of the numerous travellers
who throng our railway-lines render it imperatively
necessary that some decisive step should be taken
to check the deplorable carelessness which so exten-

sively prevails, and, however much we may regre

the individual suffering or inconvenience which a
stern judgment may entail, in a general view
of the question we must admit the fairness of the
decision, and acknowledge its desirability. The rules
and regulations which the company make are very
good in their way, and appear to ward off the chance
of a catastrophe, but the jury thought fit to append
a resolution to their verdict, stating that "when pos-
sible notice seould be given from a previous station
of any works involving the breaking of the line."

Fortunately, for the right comprehension of the affair
and the fulfilment of justice, there has been ample
opportunity afforded to those investigations of
the affair, and the evidencehas been clear and con-
clusive throughout. It so frequently happens that
those upon whose testimony the jury must rely to
acquire a complete version of such casualties are the
first to fall victims themselves and are much dis-

abled, and, therefore prevented from attend-
ing. In this case it has been otherwise, and
therefore it seems specially pointed out as one
which should serve as a landmark in railway acci-

dents, a solemn warning which the past holds out
to the present, and a sure guide which it offers to
the future for the avoidance of such mischances.
When the various rules are examined which the
Company have for the prevention of accidents, it
seems strange that any calamity of such a nature as
that at Staplehurst could have taken place ; but
experience is the best test of any work, and it has
shown that more precautions must be adopted. It
appears that BENGE, the foreman of the platelayers,
" mislooked his time-book." It was his duty to
choose a time for repairs, when the rail was vacant,
and likewise to see that signals were made while he
was working. By the most unfortunate mistake,
BENGE took the time for the " boat train" for
Saturday, instead of Friday, and thus announced
to his men that the train was 5.20, instead of 3.15.

It may readily be seen how much this had to do
with the matter, and it will, doubtless, occur to
many that it would be wiser and safer to make two
persons examine the time-book instead of leaving
such a momentous charge in one hand. However,
the carelessness was annoying, and amounted to
pability, that prevailed on that Friday which will
be so painful a reminiscence in many households for
years to come. The signals which, if properly
attended to, would have prevented the mistake
already mentioned from doing much mischief, were
almost entirely neglected. Really when one peruses
this evidence it seems only surprising that railway
accidents are not more frequent, and timid and
nervous persons have certainly more right to
give way to their fears and alarms than some
anxious individuals have thought. Nothing can
possibly excuse the mal-administration of the
Company's rules which took place. Instead of
going back one thousand yards, the signalman only
went five hundred, and instead of putting down
fog-signals
at every 250 yards, and two at the end
of the distance, he only took two with him and put
none down. This is most extraordinary conduct, but,
according to the evidence it is more the rule than the
exception. One of the platelayers actually stated in his
evidence that he knew nothing of fog-signals, and
that he did not recollect having ever seen one used,
though they had taken up a good many rails. No
wonder that accidents are prevalent when such a
course is pursued, and those who have been fre-