The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-26 00:00:00

THE HERO OF SCINDE.

THE NAPIER TESTIMONIAL.
On Saturday afternoon, the Committee of the Napier
Testimonial assembled at the United Service Institution,
in Whitehall-yard, for the purpose of taking into con-
sideration the state of the hinds at their command, and the
amount of subscriptions still outstanding. Among those
who were present were—theßight Hon. the Earl of Ellen-
borough, the Right Hon. the Earl of Harrington, Gene-
ral Aitchison, Lieut.-Colonel Kennedy, Captain Claxton,
R.N., George Jones, Esq., R.A., and several other gen-
tlemen who have taken either an active part, or a lively
interest, in the project of raising somewhere in the streets
of our metropolis a suitable public monument to comme-
morate the late illustrious General Sir Charles James
Napier, the heroic conqueror and administrator of Scinde,
the glorious victor of Meannee and Hyderabad.
The Earl of Ellenborough having been voted into the
chair, the report of the joint secretaries, dated July 22,
1854, was then read by Colonel Kennedy. It proved
to be a report in every respect, we are bound to say,
eminently satisfactory. It showed that, notwithstand-
ing the suggestion circulated by the committee, recom-
mending that subscriptions should be restricted to small
sums, yet the subscribers had been so numerous, and
some of their contributions so liberal, that an amount
has already been realised, amply sufficient, it is calcu-
lated, to raise a statue twelve feet high, namely, one of
colossal dimensions. This, according to the estimates
obtained—estimates of a reliable character, and provid-
ing, moreover, that the first class of artists that the

country furnishes shall be employed in the design and
erection of the monument. As illustrative of the satis-
factory operation of the principle of small subscriptions
recommended, it may be well to give the following quo-
tation from Major Wynyard, Birmingham, when for-
warding his 10th list :—" In forwarding this last list
likely to be sent from hence, a significant fact should be
noted. The ten lists have contained, besides the contri-
butions of other classes, the unsolicited subscriptions of
upwards of 1,600 pensioners from the Coventry, Glou-
cester, Northampton, North Stafford, Shrewsbury, and
Wolverhampton districts, and in a period of great priva-
tion and high prices."
It was next intimated by the report "That a simul-
taneous movement having been set on foot in India for
the erection of a public testimonial in that country to
the memory of the late Sir Charles Napier, it has not
been deemed advisable to take any very active steps to
bring the subscription list for the home monument before
the Indian public."
The gross amount of the subscription list reaches the
large total of 2,7081. Os. 53/4d. The amount actually paid
into the bankers', 2,3991. 19s. Bd. Incidental expenses,
1171. 10s. 6d. The sum actually in bank, 2,2821. 9s. 2d.
Altogether, as already observed at the outset of the re-
port, it is estimated that a sufficient sum has even now
been secured to the funds of the testimonial to supply
the amount requisite for the raising a gigantic metal
statue of the Hero of Scinde upon a huge granite pedes-
tal. The report here adds—" That several subscribers
and members of the committee have expressed an opi-
nion as to the eligibility of giving an additional record by
the erection of a tomb, somewhat in accordance with
the accompanying design, over the body in the Ports-
mouth churchyard ; but hat the family desire to erect
this tribute themselves, and measures are accordingly
being taken for its execution."
Finally, the Report said, "That a change having
taken place in the organisation of the Scinde Camel
Corps, the commander of that corps has forwarded the
colours of that regiment, with a request that they may
be placed in the Portsmouth Military Chapel, inserting
under them a marble tablet, with Vie following inscrip-
tion, all of which has been executed according to his de-
sire,
viz. :

" `The standards waving above this tablet are conse-
crated to the memory of General Sir Charles Napier,
G.C.8., the conqueror of Scinde, by whose genius the
Scinde Camel Corps was formed. Happier than most con-
querors, he secured the affections of the vanquished by a
wise and beneficent rule of that noble province which his
valour and military skill had won for his country. May
his glorious name animate the breasts of British soldiers in
the day of battle !' "

So closed the report, with the signatures of J. P.
Kennedy, Lieut.-Colonel, and C. Claxton, Captain,
R.N., as the joint secretaries.
The following resolution was then proposed by J. G..
JONES, Esq., seconded by H. KENNEDY, Esq., and una-
nimously resolved—
" That Messrs. Drummond, the Oriental, the Union,
and any other bankers or individuals, who may have re-
ceived subscriptions, be authorised and requested to pay
to Messrs. Cox and Co. the balances now in their hands
respectively, and any moneys that may hereafter be received
by them, on account of the Napier Testimonial."
Another resolution was then proposed by the Earl of
HARRINGTON, seconded by Captain CLAXTON, and una-
nimously resolved—
" That the Earl of Ellenborough, Lieut.-General Ait-
chison, and Colonel Kennedy, be appointed trustees of the
funds, and that the signatures of two of them be sufficient
for business transactions; and that the trustees be autho-
rised and requested to invest the moneys subscribed in
Government securities, as to them shall seem best."

Subsequently a third (and final) resolution was pro-
posed by General AITCHISON, seconded by Lieut.-Colonel
KENNEDY, and unanimously resolved—
" That an executive sub-committee, composed of the
following noblemen and gentlemen, be authorised to take
such steps as they shall think desirable to obtain designs
and estimates for a fitting statue of the late Lieut.-General
Sir C. J. Napior, with a pedestal, to be erected in
London ; and to obtain a desirable site upon which to erect
the same, and finally to conclude such arrangements and
bargains as they may think advisable for the speedy execution
and erection of such pedestal and statue, and that three
members of the executive committee shall form a quorum :
His Grace the Duke of Richmond ; the Right Hon. the
Earl of Ellenborough ; the Right Hon. the Earl of Har-
rington ; the Right Hon. the Earl of Devon ; General
Lord Seaton, G.C.B. ; General Sir John F. Burgoyne,
G.C.B. ; General Sir George D'Aquilar, K.C.B. ; General
Aitchison • J. G. Phillimore, Esq., M.P. ; George Jones,
Esq., R.A. ; H. A. Kennedy, Esq. ; the Joint Secretaries,
Captain C. Claxton and Lieut.-Colonel J. P. Kennedy.
The committee then adjourned—everything being
now satisfactorily arranged for the speedy carrying out
to a successful completion of this very noble and na-
tional testimonial.

ROYAL HIGHLAND SCHOOL SOCIETY.

On Saturday last the Rev. Alexander Fletcher, D.D.,
accompanied by Mr. Mackie, secretary, had the honour
of a conference with the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury,
at Addington-park:

The Lord Archbishop having been educated at the
same college as the secretary, and other pleasing remi-
niscences, rendered the visit highly interesting, while
his grace's reception of the venerable chaplain was no
less cordial. But the chief object of the visit was to
present the most grateful thanks of the society for his
grace's late pious advocacy of one of the oldest mis-
sionary and educational institutions in the kingdom,
having been incorporated by Royal charter in 1709 ; and
to represent the many difficulties which, through his
grace's kindness and condescension, had been so happily
removed. Public dinners having become no longer a
profitable medium for working a public benevolence,
the secretary had endeavoured to propitiate the advo-
cacy of the ministers of the gospel. Some, whose place
it was to respond to his repeated solicitations, having
declined, he appealed to his grace, and, through his be-
nign example, several worthy clergymea have since
readily consented to preach in behalf of the charity.
The excellent prelate returned a most gracious answer,
and the party retired, highly delighted with their re-
ception.
Another clergyman, a visitor of Dr. Fletcher, was
present at the interview, who was much moved by the
courtesy and condescension of the highest dignitary in
the Church, whose urbanity of manners has become
a proverb in this country. On Sunday the Rev. A.
Fletcher, D.D., preached in behalf of the institution in
the Rev. 8,. Redpath's chapel, Wells-street, Oxford-
street, in the forenoon, to a highly respectable and
attentive auditory, selecting for his text Proverbs six.
2 " That the soul be without knowledge it is not good."
In the course of his sermon he expatiated on the infinite
worth of the soul, and the sublime importance of Bible
education.

He compared all the riches and treasures of the world,
the wonders of creative genius, and the vast stores of
wealth, all brought together, to the value of the soul of
a ragged babe on the breast of a beggar, and he de-
clared that all the wealth of the world could not be
taken in exchange for that single soul.
The Highland School Society had more than 12,000
juvenile immortals under their daily care, besides adult
and Sabbath schools. From these had been sent out
hundreds to every corner of the world, who had been
useful members of society.
He drew no uncommon picture in mountain life when
he described the joy of grandfathers, fathers, and other
old people listening to the juvenile missionary reading
the word of Divine Truth. The eloquent sermon of the
worthy Doctor was followed by the Rev. Ranald Mac-
pherson, the minister of the Scots Church, Swallow-
street, who only a week or two since delivered two ser-
mons for the same benevolent purpose.
Being a native of the Highlands, he gave a must in-
teresting account of the country. He compared other
charitable institutions which fed, clothed, and educated
children whose parents were iu comfortable circum-
stances, many above the middle ranks, and those poor
suffering children in the Highlands who were educated
for less than ss. a-year. He deprecated the practice of
converting those charities which were founded for the
poor into seminaries for the rich, who were sheltered in
the asylums which rightfully belong to the children of
penury, who are left to wander about in rags, friendless,
and destitute of any means of subsistence except by
beggary and theft. He had no wish to conceal such
disgr,,.ceful facts. On whatever plea of custom, or of
civil law, this perversion of the stream of charity is
sought to he justified, it is, in reality, nothing better
than a downright spoliation of the truly necessitous.
It was the meanest and most atrocious crime that why
was perpetrated coolly and deliberately by men
were caled by the name of Him who voluntarily became
poor that by his poverty the needy might be enriched.
He drew a line of demarcation betwixt such charities as
the one for which lie pleaded ; the smalinesi of the ex-
pense of education ; the poorly-paid but well-educated
schoolmasters, whose salary averaged from 18/. to 201.;
and the provision for superannuated teachers, who, by age
or infirmity, were incapable—the old men about 101.,
and the women about St.
But we cannot follow thebe preserved
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ar that
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Dr. Fletcher's by the secretary,
as tnt
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umplis he has obtained over the secret enemies of this
excellent society, it any such there be.
-

ARRIVALS FROM AUSTRALIA.—The Blaclifriars, from
Sydney, and the British Isles, from Hobart Town, ar•
announced, but their quantity of gold, if any, has not
yet been, ascertained.

PUBLIC-HOUSES ACT IN SCOTLAND-THREAT-
ENED ASSAULT 02V THE MORAL FREEDOM
OF THE CITIZEN IN ENGLAND.