The Sun.
London, England, 1849-04-12 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—Taking up your valuable paper of the 22d
instant, I observe a letter on the distressed con-
dition of the London compositors. As a means for
alleviating this pressing distress, the writer proposes
(what
paperat mutsatx vaenr, sh
advoerrttl
iys e
mt aeknet place), auct
ye )the r. ,
By epeal of
repealing
the former the Compositor says—" The treasures of
literature for a small sum would be placed within
reach of the working classes." This is perfectly
true; but what advantage would there be in providing
a cheap literature for the poor, when we consider
the appalling fact that, out of the population of Eng-
land and Wales, no less than five millions are totally
unable to read their mother tongue, and a still far
greater number are unable to read with that mecha-
nical ease and correctness which makes reading either
pleasant, profitable, or intellectual? These numbers
we may conclude to be wholly distributed among the
working classes. Now, were this immense mass
converted into readers, with the repeal of this noxious
tax upon the food of an enlightened mind, we might
hope for an increased demand for books, and a very
extensive one for cheap periodicals, and especially
newspapers, and which latter, for those produced for
the value of twopence, ought to be accommodated
with a halfpenny stamp for their free transmission
by post. But now comes the difficulty, how are these
masses of the people to become readers ? Will the
present system of education and the national schools
effect this end ? No; nor would they were they
ever so widely extended ; it is impossible for the
children of the poor to spend the necessary time at
these schools to drag through the conflicting intri-
cacies of the English alphabet and spelling book.
Years must elapse before they can be classed among
the reading community. But the spell is now
broken ; it is possible to make the whole of the
working classes readers—thanks be to the two gen-
tlemen by whose praiseworthy and philanthropic
efforts it is being brought about. It is the
" spelling reform " to which I allude, and
which has fur its object to change the
absurd, inconsistent, and, strictly speaking, ignorant
orthography, in which the English language has
hitherto been presented to the reader, and to substi-
tute one which shall represent to the eye the lan-
guage as it is heard from the mouth ; this is to be
accomplished by the adoption of the Phonetic Alpha-
bet invented by Messrs. Pittman and Ellis, of Bath,
by which every sound we use is accurately and
simply represented. By use of this alphabet the task
of learning to read and spell, as has been fully and
satisfactorily proved, is reduced from years to months;
in some cases weeks alone will suffice. To those who
have been teachers, and others who know the disad-
vantages under which we have hitherto laboured,
these assertions will scarcely be credited ; but they
are facts which every day's experience tends to estab-
lish ; and they are facts of such high importance that
behoves every one to lend his assistance to the
furtherance of this great reform, by which alone we
may expect to arrive at that "consummation devoutly
tobe wished"—the education and consequentelevationrting
constitute education, they aie the
of the working classes. Not that reading and w
mere
tools o
pro-
ceeded r it,o.
without which, however, no education
can
od which will be
a.
ceeded with and very little commenced.
Nor will the education of the poor
and the increased
demand
grap i 1c reform, on
rational and truthful principles ; its benefits to the
English nation are incalzulable, and yet little dreamed
of but by a few.
roe from
m booksth is be
great the extentortho of good

The object of my intrusion is to direct your
attention to the moven3ent.—l am, Sir, &c.,
A READER OF " THE SUN."

March 31, 1849.

ERECTION OF AN IRON LIGHTHOUSE ON THE
IRISH COAST.—The foundation for an iron lighthouse
to be erected on the Fastnett Rock, about six miles
from Cape Clear, has been completed, and its base filled
up with solid mason work, and secured with all possible
care. It is nineteen feet in circumference, and it is in-
tended to raise it to seventy-five feet to the summit of
the lantern, fourteen of which have been already com-
pleted. The summit of the rock barely affords space
sufficient for the necessary sheds for the workmen.
These sheds are very strongly constructed, and secured
to the solid rock by massive chains, and seventeen per-
sons take shelter therein, a large steam-vessel acting as
a tender, and conveying stores and provisions thereto;
but such is the exposed situation of the rock, that for
days together no communication can be kept up but by
a leather bag hauled through the surf. The effect of the
sea in a recent gale baffles all description; all the sheds
were filled with water, and one of them has been washed
down—derricks and cranes, with other materials, swept
off the rc,ck, and a large anvil of three cwt. and upwards
taken from its summit as if it were a feather; and not-
withstanding all that has been written about the height
of a wave, the men affirm that the sea ran several feet
higher than the roof of the tower before it broke, and
that the waves that passed the rock out of breaking dis-
tance were far more than ten feet above their level,
which was nearly 100 feet above high water mark. The
foreman, a very intelligent man, is now at Crookhaver,
preparing the stores for the spring, or fine weather. lie
has no apprehension as to the stability of the tower,
which is of cast iron, in large pieces, and screwed toge-
ther—beautifully cast, and of amazing strength.—The
Architect.

TAKING TIIE VElL.—Tuesday the solemn cere-
mony of the reception of a young la,dy into the order of
the Sisters of Mercy took place in the chapel of the
Most holy Trinity, Parker's-row, Bermondsey. The
chapel was thronged with fasbionably-attired ladies, and
several noble lords, members of the Catholic Church,
were also present. The postulant upon this occasion was
a Miss Barry, the daughter of highly conLected parents,
who have only recently returned from India, after a
lengthened sojourn. The young lady, who is said to
possess a large fortune in her own right, devotes it all to
the service of the order with which she has coopected
herself.