The Sun.
London, England, 1847-07-17 00:00:00

EDUCATION OF IDIOTS.

A German newspaper contains the follo • wing .• --
"The instruction of idiots has succeeded; the problem
thooretically, and practically, has been solved by Mr.
Sargent, in conjunction with M. Sacks, first teacher
of the Deaf and Dumb Institution of Berlin. So
fully assured are the Prussian Government of the
complete efficacy of the system, that a portion of the
Deaf and Dumb Institution of Berlin is to be set
apart as an hospital for idiots, where the most effect-
ive methods of education can be tested and carried
out. All were imbeciles intrusted to the care of M.
Sargent : they were twelve in number. After a
lapse of some months those who could hear were
learning to speak, some were beginning to draw and
write, and some to sew : some played more cor-
rectly, and sang and danced as other people ;
all appeared neat and cheerful, improved in mind
and body. A deaf boy, who was one of the worst cases,
washed and dressed himself daily without . assist-
ance, and was learning to draw ; he made his picture
upon a slate, and evinced quite a passion for his em-
ployment. Most of them appeared in a hopeful way
to attain ultimate restoration to the rank and society
of rational beings. M. Sequin, of Paris, was also in-
trusted with the care of ten idiots, who were inmates
.of the Hospital of Incurables, and who formed the
subject of his experiments. In his observations or
treatise, he gives a lucid statement of the moral and
intellectual condition of his dives, also accurately
describing their habits. His task was an arduous
one, and such as would have made many an indi-
vidual shrink from attempting it. He had to en-
counter a Babel of discordant sounds, hideous and
unearthly cries, and the most determined resistance
at first to controul, on the part of almost all these
children. But in spite of every difficulty, his
labours were attended with the most marked success,
as the following will show in his own words. He says-
-Ist. I have developed and applied, as much as the
material means permitted, the muscular system of the
childreh. 2d. The nervous irritability of several has
disappeared or sensibly diminished. 3d. They have
learned to run, jump, and perform several gymnastics
so useful in early life to young children. 4th. They
have learned to seize hold of, handle, throw, and carry
burdens, the weight of which surpassed even the ordi-
nary strength of their age. sth. Five among them
have learned to read, write, count, to a certain limit,
which encourages the hope that they are yet capable
of being further improved by instruction. The no-
tions of the children, too, have become precise and
exact : ideas have begun to form themselves in their
minds, and to manifest themselves in their conduct
and speech ; obedience and morality, principles which
had to be entirely ereated in them, have begun to re-
gulate a portion of their actions and their existence.
On a calm review of the labours of this excellent man,
one cannot but be struck with the fact that obsta-
cles which formerly appeared insurmountable, in the
education of idiots, have been overcome, and the ds•
velopment of hidden powers have been made apparent,
to an extent quite beyond human calculation. Doctor
Guggenbuhl, a young German physician, has devoted
his talents and his property, likewise, to the great and
noble purpose of ameliorating the condition of the
youthful idiots. Such is his zeal to alleviate the con-
dition of this unhappy class of sufferers, that he has
sold his property in order to purchase a house and
premises where he may .be enabled to conduct his
benevolent object with great prospects of Atkccess.
There he resides with his family of idiotic children.
The most encouraging results have followed ;
and by the published reports he has put forth
of the working of his institution, and the teti-
nicia-tof those ware 'have Vted there, he 112 s
earned aNue?teme in Gibrritany, among such as are
heat able to appreciate his disinterested labours. What
an amount of misery may be relieved in this our
fallen world by the establishment of kindred institu-
tions, to elevate the creature from his isolated, forlorn,
and hopeless condition, to the social pleasures of life,
the pursuits of science, and the advantages of edu-
cation. The public mind, through the press, needs
only to be informed of the rise and progress of such
institutions which have done so much fur the benefit
of mankind, and the alleviation of misery in one
its worst forms, to be awakened to the importance of
raising one of a similar character in this country
commensurate with the wants of the population. It
is not too much to hope that a benevolent Christian
people, whose aims and purposes in the cause of phi-
lanthropy embrace the universe, will be alive to the
appeals that are made on behalf of the poor, neglected
and wretched idiot, and, by a generous impulse of
noble and right-hearted feeling, decide that England
shall no longer remain in the back ground, forgetful
of these outcasts of society.—Correspondent of the
Medical Times.

At the meting of Spanish bondh elders on Thurt-
day, it turned out that the smart scheme which was to b.
suomitted for their further delusion had mainly hail it
origin with the very puty upon whom more than any
one else the responsiodity had been placed of resisting
any renewal of the fraudulent evasions which hate
hitherto been so successfully practised. The gratuitous
surrender of 12 per cent. of their property was in a
great measure the happy device of Mr. Henderson, at
Senor Salamanca, it appears, had merely intimated that
if the bondholders should consider ,that step to be a
desirable one, he had no doubt he could succeed in effect-
ing the arrangement for them, and in inducing his col-
leagues to avail themselves of the proceeds. The meet-
ing, however, although assured by letters from Mr.
Henderson that the plan w,iuld render the stock worth
60 which is now only worth t 3, appeared not to be able
to comprehend how the faith of the Spanish nation
would be likely to prove more binding upon a hat
would remain after the proposed slice had been given
up, than in the case of the original obligation, aid
perhaps feared that a further offering to the rapa-
cious dishonesty of their debtor would only stimulate,
so soon as the gift had been swallowed, the appetite
for more. Mr. Henderson had also failed to explain
the process by which the sale in the public markets
of the 8,000,0001. of stock to be surrendered for the use
of the Spanish Government would operate to raise the
price from 23 to 60, and under these circumstances the
proposition was decidedly waived, the meeting intimating
that they would prefer for the future to wait a direct
communication from the Spanish Minister. Meanwhile
it was proposed that the bondholders should be careful
to avoid any strong remarks that might irritate the aen-
wive honour of the Spanish people and Government,
that amity and conciliation should be the order of the
day, and that a distinct pledge should in all possible
cases be exacted from candidates at the approaching
election that they would, upon the requirements of the
bondholders, make the subject a national one, to the ex •
tent, it is presumed, of sending an army to Spain, and
plunging Europe into war. With regard to the first of
these recommendations—the adoption of a system of po-
lite cajolery—the meeting seemed decidedly of (*mon
that it would he advisable, and that the Spanish (.1:!:
vernment, unused as they it ; the co
are to intrigue of any inf..
woald be completely deceived by how
be
ever, to the effect that the claims shou;d forthwithno.
made a war question, not appearing to follow in strictly
se
lotcal connexion, was for the present aeclaa aside.—Timis.
EITRAORDINARY SUICIDE.
man names James Hubbard, aged y
belt
—Thursday
52 ursearYs, morning a
of No. 25,
Norfolk-street, Southwark.bridge-road. committed
messed was a es inet-rna er, bolt
employment. At an
dltesatprpuecatirsontuhnadtetrhethed.following sninignulasbr.circumkstanscteaste:
desponding
ifno r
caocnoBn„
premises, discovered the deceased in a
early hour in
71i ud ee• nr ac
embreto n°4—tinolgaut hit eboeef got out of bed, and pro.
ceeded into the yard, and after some time his wife, on
at the bottom of the water-butt, quite
butt,
ussearchingw sd, When lie g
generally
a ly found
supposedthere wmaussntohwavaeterruinn tnhuot
tsitting
hich, it
through the deceased kicking the plug out during his
struggles.AofTl BY DROWNING.—On Wednesday evening,
the name of Samuel Cox, apprentice to a printer,
a lds,
bathing wasthe Its Rent's Canal,while near 111
Maiden-lane-bridge.
isaonme
.e
roi tdhgeer. boysi)r Drags
were instantly in attendance
covered till four o'clock on Thursday s
!
was
As
ddeciviaidredendonatTthhuerraadteunathu.ux
rtsdthaye
mhondrnyilwiga.s not re-
g.
hperal
enat
r.
lypemr e
ea
tni
in)
gu f
the London Joint Stock Bank. It appears, according to
the report, that the net profit for that period amounts to
34,6631. Is. 6d. which which, after paying the sum state'',
will still leave 16,633/. is. 6d. to be disposed of at the
conclusion of the year. The amount of the guarantee
fund on the 31st of December last was 120,117/. 14s. 3.1.;
but, with the addition of 1,801/. 15s. 3d. interest at the
rate of three per cent. for the half-year, it now stands at
121,9191. 95. 6d.
COERUPTION llie FRANcE.—The late Minister of
Public Works, M. Testa, whose conduct cannot bear the
teat of invesdgation, has been convicted by a committee
of Peers of having sold the concession of a mine of rock
salt, This rook has proved ono which M. Teste's repu-
tation has split upon. Salt is usually considered to be
a preservative apinfloolTUglOn; but in this instance it
has turned out otherwiter.P:vitch.

CHARGE OF MANSLAUGHTER
AGAINST AN AFRICAN CAPTAIN.
Captain Witt, of the Sw(fisure, belonging to Thomas
Tobin, Esq., was brought up before Ir. Rushton,
charged with having caused the death of a seaman,
named Alfred Roland, by knocking him down and kick-
ing him, on the Bth of January last, whilst lying in
Bonny River, Africa, from which ill-treatment ho
lingered until the 16th of that month, when he expired.
James Anwell, a seaman, stated that he shipped in
Liverpool on board the Swifisure, bound for Bonny
River. On their arrival out, on the Bth of January,
Alfred Boland, a Swede, and himself, wero ordered to
" shackle the chains," and Boland taking the wrong end
the captain struck him and knocked him donn, shame-
fully kicking him when down. The deceased then went
below, but was Imm dial, ly ordered on deck by the cap-
tain. Ills body was covered with blue marks from the
effects of the ill-usage he had received. The captain
also struck him in the eye, which was very much dis-
coloured. He died on the 16th of that month. They
had a surgeon on le aid of the Swifisure ; but another
was sent for—Mr. Tuck, the surgeon of the Princess
Royal, then lying in the same river—who attended 13o-
lend until his ti, ath. Witness arrived in this port on
Thursday last, and the reas ,n why he had not given in-
formation earlier was becatve the captain was out of
town. Deceived wes never well atter he was first struck
and kielied on the Bth January.
The prisoner said he was quite unprepared f, r any de'
fence at present, but he wished to have the evidence of
the 1,,g-book, from the entries in which it would be found
that the statement made by the witness would not agree
in reference to the medical of who attended the de-
ceased ; and he likewise wi.hed the magistrrte to allow
him time to obtain court 1, and to consult with the mem
.liolrhstZeacatittoteadpptehaer,
client& to whom the Swifisure belongs.
suretieslr ptoriasnonswerertothbeacilharinget.:
Liverpool Courier.

PIRACY—FOUR 11.1 EN KILLED.
The MuyoConstitution publishes the following from
correspondent at Westport:—
On Saturday, 4th instant, the schooners Olive Brandt
and Sarah were plundered off Eagle Island, on the Erria
coast, of five tons of Indian meal each; and on the.sth
instant the schooner Ranger, on her way to this pow
was attacked in Blacksod, and 170 barrels of meal taken
off. The pirates, in their hurry quitting the vessel, loft
one of their party after them, who has been handed One
to the police here.
On the 7th instant the Emily Maria of Sherries, s
snack laden with Indian corn, was attacked near Inniskest
but the Captain having applied to the Commander of
the Emerald cutter, now stationed in Broadhaven, for the
marines which were on board, the people wade so deeps.
rate an attack that the marines resolutely defended the
property under their care, and shot four of the plun-
derers dead, and wounded several others. It is to be
hoped that this melancholy occurrence will put a stop to
plunder on the Erri.

FEARFUL ACCIDENT.
A sad tragedy occurred in the neighbourhood of In-
verness last Thursday. Mr. Rose, one of the most
respectable and wealthy inhabitants of the town, his son
(a lad about fifteen), his two daughters, and another
gentleman, Mr. Latham, left town on that morning with
a carriage and pair to visit the Fall of Foyers and the
surrounding scenery. At the rocky pass of Inverfarkeirg,
about thirteen miles from Inverness, the road becomes
very rugged and uneven, and the approach to the bridge,
thrown across the torrent which tumbles through the
glen, is sso steep and dangerous, that most travellers
alight from their vehicles and perform that part of the
journey on foot. On their way to the Fall the party
adopted this precaution ; but on their return, when it
was debated whether they should again walk that part
of the road or not, they, fatigued probably by rambling
about the Fes, resolved to remain in the carriage. At
the steep approach leading to the bridge, the weight a
the carriage pressing upon the horses, they grew restive,
and one of the reins breaking, they became unmanage-
able. At or on the bridge a sudden jerk threw the
youngest lady, who was sr ated on the top, off into the
bed of the torrent, a height of between thirty and forty
teet. The same jerk threw her father and the driver off;
but luckily they fell on the bridge. One of the horses
tell over, and hung struggling in the harness; the other
retained its footing, and strove desperately to keep it.
Ultimately, however, it was &weed over, and, falling
undermost, was killed upon ti • sip ,t. The carriage and
its occupants shared the fate of the horses ; it turned
round in the air, and fallinz, wheels uppermost, on the
poor girl who was first thrown off, was dashed to pieces.
Some labourers wr,rking near the place used every
exertion to extricate the sufferers, and medical assistance
was iminediaitly sent for to Inverness. The injuries of
the youngest lady were so severe that she lingered
insensible till the next morning, and then expired. liar
sister is very severely injured, and her brother's skull is
tractured. Both lie in a precarious state. Mr. Letham
is much cut and bruised, and has sustained a serious
injury in the knee. Mr. Rose and the driver escaped
unhurt.—Scotemln.

1 DREADFUL ACCIDENT.—On Tuesday afternoon,
about three o'clock, a melancholy occurrence, attended
with loss of lite, took place at Mersevnills, Stockport,
belonging to M.issrs. Kershaw and Co. A young me-
chanic, named Iliacegirille, had been winking in a well
about thirty feet der p, for the purpose of loosening a
valve connec..eil with the gasometer pit; he remained
down the first time about a quarter of an hour, nail then
aurae to thy. top to breatho more ireely. In a few
minutes he descended attain, and as he could not be
heard at work, and returet d nu answer on being shouted
to, another mechanic, named Horton, went down and
found him sensele,s at the bottom. Ile called to the
foreman of the mechanics, Leech, to come to assist-
ance. wh ), without hesitation, complied, ILA was in the
act of pushing behind Homan, aho bad g. t lirscr girdle
on his shoulder, wh. ti Huro) necaine faint and found
his senses going. lle immediately ascended the ladder
alone and threw down a rope, which lit coining emaneled
at the top, Leech called out t., him to cut it off, which
lie instantly did. In the course of a minute or two
afterwards he called out to Leech to come up the ladder
and bring the end of the rope with him, but, receiving
no answer, alter again calling, he ran for further assist-
ance; on returning, a light was lowered into the pit,
and an explosion took place. This co alarmed the men,
that no ono durst descend. Dr. Rayner was sent for,
and arrived in ten minutes; no one would venture to
descend, so he fastened a nipe round his body, and went
down about twenty feet Finding that the air was not
so impure but that it could be respired for a short time,
he ascended, when a man named Wood volunteered,
under the direction of Dr. Rayner, to go to the bottom.
A ordered
ropt o
e.
shout rope was
teervite,dryrtzned
he
micaltn and
check
heaag •
at th
He succeeded in laying hold of one of the bodies, but
w's
had not strength to bring it up, so be came to the
top, and, after breathing the fresh air for a
few minutes, took courage, got to the bottom
as speedily as possible, laid hold of Bracegirdle, and
both were pulled to the surface. The latter exhibiting
no signs of life, he was immediately taken into the
open air, his wet clothes removed, hot water applied to
the chest and cold water dashed in the face ; he shortly
boom to move and breathe gently, and by perseverance
fur some time was restored, but remained unconscious
for some hours. Another man was sent down the pit as
soon as possible to get Leech out., but the air had beci me
more impure, and in the course of two minutes ho was
pulled up senseless. A lamp was put down, which was
extinguished, and on being repeated a alight explosion
took place. This cleared the air somewhat, when a
third man, named Stanny, volunteered to go down. lie
succeeded in putting a rope round the foot of Leech,
and at the second descent round the other, and thus ho
was taken out ; but though every means were tried, he
did not exhibit any sign of life ; his mouth was full of
sand and small stores, so that he had, doubtless, been
first rendered senseless by the gas, and then drowned by
the rush of water from the gasomet, r pipe. lie has lett
a wile and two children, the youngest about a month
old. He was a man very highly respected by his em-
ployers and fellow workmen. It is probable that Leech
hid died before Bracegirdle was got out ;
sitting upright, the former lying dews. Bracegirdle
about
was in about three quarters of an ho
been first taken out,
hour and a quarter.the latter_ was
Had Leechhave_
sacrificed,n
most likely both lives would _ _
übrthe_ace
f and
p.revTiohuealsydrkepgoloryteedt.radTehies
hands by the first explosien.
—The condition of the cotton
STATE or TRADE.
Bracegirdle was slightly scorched about
loon and shirt branch is in better state
drawer, pantaloon,
than the stocking mane
hosiery trade is the
samfaectuares
not worse than it has been for several weeks past, being
in rather an improved condition to what it was is the
winter and spring months. The bobbin-net trade, it is
admitted on all sides, is in a very dull state, the German
houses being still, contrary to former ex • nee equally
as flat as the English manufactories. Pi,eriebelieveecituhaerye
is rather more activity with some of the French houses.
who it is apparent are preparing for the Bespeaks fair
next month, to which place British lace is admitted upon
paying a transit duty. The
muslin lace has for the
present received rather a check; but there is an exten-
sion of the silk bobbin lace trade, the article being made
on the machines in a dyed state. We are sorry 60 add
that the warp lace trade, rhowa but feeble indication of
amendment.—Nottingham Review.
According to the details of the vessels entered
inwards, it appears that the return for the port of London
shows an increase of 26 vessels and 18,782 tonnage, the
numbers for 1846 being 349 vessels and 148,926 tenure
and for 1847, 375 vessels and 167,708 tonnage- 4"
Liverpool return shows an increase of tyro vessels and
,e
1,608 tonnage; the Bristol and Hull re.
re turn for Clyde
turn
of 11 vessels and 3.989 tonnage;
-and sih and 4,753
and other ports an increase of
15tvbee vessels
whole statement of
ton-
nage, making a gross increase on
Among the items con-
-54 vessels and 29,132 tonnage
be mentioned the increase in
stituting this result may
stated at 26 vessels, from
' arrivals from the Mauritius,
ls from Singapore Penang 10 yes.
Bombay 10 vessels,
13.!411
Islands 11 and
vessels. The
sole, and from the Philippine
l decrease has occurred in arrive from China,
wincing a. The clearances outwards Calcutta, and Arabi establiee
purl of London of 37
a decrease in the P vessels and 9,6F39
' tonnage , the numbers being 247 vessels and 109,291 ton-
nage In 1846, and 210 vessels and 99,602 tonnage in
1847. There hen been a .decrease to the extent of 19
vessels and 2,616 tonnage in the case of Liverpool, and
of 13 vessels and 959 tonnage in the case of Clyde
and other ports. The only instance of increase is mani-
fested by the return from Bristol and Hull, where the
number of clearances exceeded those of last yeas by
, 5 vessels and 2,080 tonnage. Making allowance for
this exception, the total decrease then appears to
' amount to 64 vessels and 11,184 tonnage; the chief
points in which a falling off has occurred being Cal•
cults, Bombay, Ceylon, Arabia, Mauritius, and the
Cape of Good Hope. On the other band, a sliltht
la-
t crease has taken place in the clearances of eleeels to
Singapore sod New South Wales.