The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-09 00:00:00

1. he Home for Illegitimate Children.

On Saturday afternoon an important investigation involv-
ing the management of an institution of which the. Marquis
Townshend and other benevolent persons are the patrons
established for the nursing and care of illegitimate children,
at No. 35, Great Coram-street, Russell-square, under the title
of the "Infant Home," took place before Dr. Lankester,
coroner for Central Middlesex, at the Guildford Arms,
Guildford-street. The inquest was held on the body
Charles Webster, aged eight weeks, the offspring of a young
woman, a servant, Which had died suddenly in the institu-
tion. The mother of the deceased was present.
The Coroner reinarked: that from circilmstances whidh had
come to his knowledge in connection with the extraordinary
mortality which had occurred in the "Home," being from
a report he had received '5O per cent:, or 85.0ut of 70, he
thought it highly desirable, both for the sake of the insti-
tution as well as the satisfaction of the public, that in this
instance a rigid inqUiry should take place.
Mr. N. 11. Stevens, of 14, Finsbury-crescent, honorary
surgeon to the institution, stated its character and objects,
whichwas to help those -OM by treachery had been betrayed
into the misfortune of being mothers of illegitimate
children, and who are anxious to recover themselves to re-
enter service, by receiving and nursing their children, so as
to enable them to regain their character by removing the
obstacle out of their path, and making a return to reputa-

tion, self-respect, and usefulness possible. For this purpose
the Home, which was a branch of the " Infants' Home," in
Bryanston-place, Bryanston-square, had been established
and illegitimate children were received, nursed, and cared for
upon certain conditions and guarantees at a nominal charge
of 2s. per week. The deceased was one of these little un-
fortunates, whose mother had been seduced under very
heartless circumstances, and on its admission some few
weeks back was in good health. It took cold, and bron-
chitis supervened, and during the early part of last week
it died very suddenly. A post-mortem examination in-
dicated that it had died from the disease named, and it
was stated that it was common in infants to do so from
its effects. In reply to the 'question as to the large
mortality, Dr. Stevens explained that, being the offspring
of vice, the great majority of the children were admitted
in a half nourished and most emaciated condition, and
frequently died two or three days after their admission.
After they had been in the institution for some little time
improvement was, however, very great, and the health of
the children on the whole was perfectly satisfactory. Such
diseases as had attacked the children had arisen purely
from a constitutional susceptibility ; but the health of the
majority had been considerably and undoubtedly improved
by 'their residence in the Home.
After hearing other evidence as to the care and attention
with which the unfortunate children were treated,
The Coroner remarked that it was a gratifying fact to find
that so far from any blame attaching to the institution, it
was just the opposite. He viewed the establishment of such
an institution as a step in the right direction. It was sadly
to be feared that the crime of infanticide, now so shockingly
prevalent, might be traced in a great measure to the straits
and dreadful desperation to which poor young persons were
frequently reduced, and that too often, in the first instance,
the murder of their offspring was the consequence, and then
in the failure of any other means of subsistence they were
tempted to betake themselves to a life of sin and shame.
Such an institution was, therefore, most praiseworthy, and
as to the mortality, no doubt it arose from the circumstances
so fully explained by the medical officer.
The jury fully concurred in the views of the coroner,
and a verdict of " Died from natural causes" was recorded.

THE NEW SCOTTISH JUDGE.--Mr. David Mure,
M.P., Lord Advocate under Lord Derby's Government, is
likely, we have some reason to believe, to be appointed to
the seat on the bench vacant by the resignation of Lord
Mackenzie. The gown is understood to have been de-
by the Solicitor-General and by Mr. A. R. Clark.
givointment will create a vacancy in the re-
Mr. Mure's -LA. for which he was returned, at the
presentation of
lw a majority of only nine over
general election of .Liberal candidate.—Scots-
.Mr. Lamont, of Knockdow, Wt.

man.
A BALLET GIRL FRIGIITFULL; BURNT.—
Another of these lamentable accidents, wiili un-
happily have been of too frequent occurrence, took piZo
on Friday night at the Britannia Theatre, whereby a young
woman, a ballet dancer, has sustained very serious injuries.
The unfortunate girl, whose name is Ellen Geary, was en-
gaged as one of the comps de ballet. Her services were first
called into requisition in the transformation scene of the
pantomime, which comes on about nine o'clock. In order
to give effect to this change it is necessary that the corps
occupy different positions on the - stage—some on an emi-
nence at the side of the wings, and others on the stage.
Geary's position was one of those at the wings, to reach
which she was in the habit of ascending a wooden ladder
placed somewhat closely to the wing lights, in conse-
quence of which the manager, who it is evident took some
precaution against a contingency such as that just hap-
pened, placed a man at the foot of the ladder to guard
the dresses of and to assist the ballet girls in their ascent.
I The girl, it appears, was behind time in going from the
dressing room, in consequence of which the man,
who bad previously been at his post, ventured
to go away for a few minutes, in which interval
Geary arrived, and without waiting for the return of the
man, at once ascended the ladder, and while doing so, the
back part of her skirt caught. She instantly discovered
the fact, and, with great presence of mind, flung berself
upon her face. A wet blanket, which is always kept in
readiness at the prompter's door, was thrown over
This , as
well as a bed, which is used in one of the scenes. at
once extinguished the flames, but, notwithstanding, thed
girl was frightfully burnt up to the shoulders. Dr.
her re-
Lennar
was in immediate attendance, and re
comraended
moval to St. 13artholoram'o Hospital.

heard at all is the voice of flatterers—the voice of
those who have neither head nor heart, neither
knowledge nor principle. Hence the executive is
encouraged to pursue its fancies ; and although every
military misfortune of this country is palpably and
confessedly due to the personal interference of Mr.
Davis, the legislature continues at each session to be

his subservient tool, and to furnish new incentives
to perversity, new means of mischief. It will not
be sufficient for the executive to have lucid intervals.
Congress and the Southern public must change their
attitude, adopt a more distinct and manly tone,
deal with their own affairs with more resolution,
keep the executive in the path of duty, and curb it
with a peremptory hand when it interferes with
things beyond its capacity. Great adversity has
fallen upon us ; but the power of the Southern
States is not broken. The resources are enormous,
and on no side is the breach irreparable. Of all
external dangers, there is not one that cannot be
successfully met. But a greater danger is within ;

'oily vested with licenses, and flattery to encourage

folly. No calamity which has happened ,is in itself
ruinous ; but what will ruin us is—that the Govern-

went should go on to do, and continue to do,
the identical acts which have made calamity
by the necessary sequence of cause and effect. The
more harmony and the more concord, and the more
self-abnegation we do evince under such circum-
stances, the more rapid is our progress to destruc-
tion. Let us determine that the course of the ship
shall be altered ; with that determination will be
found the means to compel the change.