The Sun.
London, England, 1847-12-23 00:00:00

,
DECEMBER 23, 1847
•

demand justice, and they would never rest satisfied
until they obtained it. His adopted son was entitled
to, and would claim all his property. He was the son
of a first cousin of the Raja. What he would ask, did
the directors intend to do with reference to his sur-
viving relative ? He would bring the subject before
the next Court.

The CHAIRMAN said ho would not go into a case
which had already been decided in that Court seven
or eight times. The directors had that day received
official
_information of the death of the Raja. The
directors did not know that the climate of Benares
disagreed with him until he (the Chairman) received
a letter to that effect from Mr. Thompson, and they
immediately sent out a dispatch directing that he
might be removed to any other place he pleased.
He should meet the present motion by one for an
adjournment. .

Mr. Tuomrsox opposed the motion, and in doing so
made use of some very strong language, for which he
was repeatedly called to order by the Chairman,:who
at length told him that he filled the unenviable posi-
tion of a public calumniator.
The motion for an adjournment was at length put
and carried by 27 to 6.
The Court then adjourned.

RAGGED SCHOOLS—St.PANCRAS.
The first annual meeting of the Philips's Gardens
Ragged School Society was held yesterday evening
at the St. PancrasVestry-rooms. It was very nume-
rously attended, the greater portion of the audience
consisting of ladies.
At seven o'clock Lord Ashley, 111. P,, was called to
the chair.
The Noble CHAIRMAN commenced the proceedings
by reminding the meeting that it was customary on
such occasions for the Chairman to address those
assembled upon the subject which had called them
together, and in conformity with that custom he felt
it was his duty to address a few very brief observa-
tions to them with respect to the very interesting
subject of the progress which the " Ragged Schools"
had made since their establishment.—(Hear, hear.)
The success which had attended the efforts of the
founders of these schools was most remarkable, and
he hoped that it would be an encouragement to others
to follow their example throughout the length and
breadth of the land.—(Cneers.) Since he presided
at a meeting on this subject in St. Pancras, a
year ago, he had experienced many opportunities of
witnessing the condition of the children from whose
class the attendants at the Ragged Schools were
drawn ; and he had found, every day, reason to thank
God for what had already been done in the way of
giving an education to these children.—(Hear, hear.)
They had now .5,500 children at their schools, all re-
ceiving instruction, and all made each day more sus-
ceptible of moral improvement. They were, when the
society took them in its hands, ragged, forlorn, and
destitute creatures, and now they were all receiving a
good secular and religious education.—(Hear, hear.)
It was impossible to calculate the advantage which the
Ragged Schools conferred, unless one went into the
districts from which the attendants of these schools
came, and took the measure and gauge of the moral
and physical degradation in which those who resided
in such districts were placed ; and it was impossible to
witness that state of degradation without feeling thank-
ful to God that already so many poor children had been
rescued from it, and without feeling courage to go
much farther with such a good work. The chief
point to which he now wished to direct the attention
of those assembled was, the great advantage which
must arise from the establishment of a class of indus-
trial education. It was peculiarly necessary to teach
these children habits of useful and profitable employ-
ment, for they were of a peculiar class and character,
and totally unlike children born of honest, and indus-
trious, and hard-working parents ; accustomed as
they were to vagrancy and violence of every kind,
they required to have ideas of industry carefully im-
planted in their minds by showing them the advan-
tages that resulted from such a course. It was not
difficult to effect that desirable object, for children
who had come into the schools fourteen months ago
with no idea whatsoever of the advantages of indus-
trial occupation, were now fitted by the teaching of
the schools for any humble employment which might
offer—(Cheers)—and trained to habits of industry,
order, and sobriety.—(Hear, hear.) In the West-
minster " Ragged School" that fact was exhibited
in a striking manner, inasmuch as the majority
of the scholars were clothed in garments made
by themselves.—(Cheers.) They had laid down
as a rule in Westminster that, however ragged a
child was when he entered into the school, be
should remain so until he had learned to make things
for himself. That might appear severity, but it held
out an inducement to the child to make an effort, and
when the advantageous results which followed the
effort became apparent to him; he began to learn the
value of industry. When they did not require things
for themselves any further, they were desired to as-
sist their brothers or sisters, or colleagues, in this re-
spect, and thus good, moral, and kindly feelings were
implanted in their minds ; feelings the very reverse
of those which they entertained when they were, as
they termed it themselves, "on the sneak," or " on
tramp." He would earnestly request of those who
were present to go down to Westminster and witness
the effect of the system which had been established
there, for it had been eminently successful.—
(Cheers.) If in other schools it was advantageous
to have a certain portion of the day devoted to
industrial education, it was peculiarly desirable
in these schools, which were intended for a peculiar
class, as far separated in their habits and ideas
from the ordinary run of children, almost as any
species of animal could be from another of its genus.
.le could state from his experience that nothing could
present a greater contrast with the ordinary moral
and social con iition of the children of honest hard-
working parents than the condition of those poor
children, and industrial education for them was there-
fore the more desirable. He hoped that they would
all continue their exertions, for after their best endea-
vours to improve the condition of those forlorn crea-
tures, there would still remain much to be done.—
(His Lordship resumed his seat amidst loud cheers.)
The SECRETARY then read the report, from which
it appeared the girls attending the school were now
constantly instructed in sewing and other plain work
by many charitable ladies, who most kindly under-
took the office. It was also proposed to establish, as
soon as sufficient funds were obtained, a system of in-
dustrial education for the boys.
Several other gentlemen having addressed the
meeting, thanks were voted to the Chairman, and the
assembly separated.

WHAT A GENTLEMAN MAY DO, AND WHAT HE MAY
NOT 110.—He may carry a brace of partridges, but not a
leg of mutton. He may be seen in the omnibus-box at
the opera, but not on the box of an omnibus. He may
be seen in a stall inside' a theatre, but not at a stall
outside one. He may dust anather person's jacket, but
must not brush his own. He may kill a man in a duel,
but ho mustn't eat peas with his knife. He may thrash
a coalheaver, but he mustn't ask twice fbr soup. He
may pay his debts of honour, but he need not trouble
himself about his tradesmen's bills. Ho may drive a
stage-coach, but he mustn't take or carry coppers. He
may ride a horse as a jockey, but he mustn't exert
himself in the least to get his living. He must never
forget what he owes to himself as a gentleman, but he
need not mind what he owes as a gentleman to his
tailor. He may do anything, or anybody, in fact within
the range of a gentleman—go through the Insolvent
Debtors' Court, or turn billiard-marker; but he must
never on any account carry a brown paper parcel, or
appear in the streets without a pair of gloves.—Comic
Almanac.

POST-OFFICE REGULATIONS ON CHRISTMAS-DAY.

—The moneporda-office in A ldersgate-street, opposite
the General Post-office, St. Martin's-le-Grand, the
branch offices, Lombard-street, the Borough, Charing-
cross, and Old Cavendish-street, as well as those in

the different parts of the metropolis, will be closed on
Saturday (Christmas-day) both for paying and granting
orders. The deliveries from the General and London
District Post-offices will not be after twelie o'clock, but
the General Post and receiving-houses will be open till
the usual hour, both for letters and newspapers. Bills of
exchange, &c., coming due on Saturday will be payable
to-morrow at the different banking-houses and merchants
in the City and West-end.
CALLINGTON MINING COMPANY.—Yesterday the
quarterly meeting of this company was held at the offices
of Mr. Stainsby, 44, Finsbury-square. By the accounts
submitted for the three months ending September last, it
appeared that the reserve fund had increased to
6101. 19s. 6d., and that there was a credit of about
1,400/. This account bad been considerably diminished
by the fall in the price of lead. The sales of silver lead
ore for the three months amounted to 5,945/. 9s. 7d., the
silver ore to 311. 165.,9d., and the copper ore to 6691. 10s.
The cash balance was 298/. 7s. 6d. The chairman
said the directors had been considering over a dividend
of ten shillings per share, but thought it had better be
postponed a little longer, when they expected to make it
twenty shillings per share. After some discussion the
meeting adjourned.
GLASGOW.—LORD RECTOR AND THE UNIVERSITY.
has now been officially announced to the students
attending the university that Colonel Mure, M.P. for
the county of Renfrew, will be installed on Tuesday,
the 4th proximo, when he will deliver his inaugural
address, having been unavoidably prevented from doing
so immediately before the Christmas holidays, as stated
in a former paragraph,—.North British M ail.
The Right Honourable Sir John Cain ITobhouse
and Miss Hobhouse left town yesterday for Eirlstoke
Park, Wilts, for the holidays.

[PRICE SD.

THE WINDOW TAX.
TO THE EDITOR OF' THE SUN.
Sia,—l observe in your paper of to-day a no-
tice of a meeting held at the Marylebone Vestry, for
the purpose considering the means of obtaining the
repeal of the window-tax, which was considered to be
one of the first and most important steps in the pro-
gress of sanitary reform. At the meeting Lord
Duncan is reported to have stated, that unless he
received some assurance from the Government that
this tax should be abolished, he would move it as an
amendment to some of their measures, alluding, I
presume, to the contemplated sanitary Bill. Now,
Sir, I readily admit that no sanitary enactment can
be complete, which does not provide for the repeal of
the window tax ; for all writers on hygiene, have
shown the importance of air and light in the promo-
tion of health ; and it is evident that we cannot have
a sufficient supply of these desiderata so long as the
present unjust tax is allowed to exist. It is, there-
fore to be hoped that Lord Morpeth will be able, in
the forthcoming Health of Towns Bill, to make pro-
vision for repealing the tax on windows. But should
it so happen that, in the estimation of some of the
members of Government, the present state of-our
financial affairs will not sanction such a step, and that
the repeal of the tax in question must be postponed a
little, why, I would ask, should that cir-
cumstance
,induce any one to offer an impe-
diment to the sanitary Bill ? If the Bill
be like its predecessor of last session it will
contain many valuable provisions ; and it would, I
think, be unwise to oppose a measure which is con-
fessedly good, but which is not quite so perfect as it
might be. Besides, I cannot but think that a little
reflection would convince any one that repeal of the
window-tax, although very essential as a part of a
general sanitary scheme 'would he a_ very poor sub-
stitute for the promised Bill. It would, in fact, be
like beginning at the wrong end, for where is the
use of giving facilities for increasing the number of
windows in dwelling-houses, in order to admit more
light and air, unless you have previously taken care
to remove the causes which tend to vitiate the air,
such as imperfect drainage, accumulations of filth,
&c. I remember recently attending a poor person in
a lodging-house, and on expressing my surprise that
the window was not opened to allow a little fresh air
to enter the room, I was told that there was a filthy
cesspool immediately beneath the window, the exha-
lations from which were so offensive when the window

was open, that they were intolerable. Being desirous
of ascertaining whether such was the fact, I raised
the sash, but the effluvia that entered soon induced
me to close it. In a case like this—and similar ones
may readily be found—of what use would repeal of
the window-tax be, as a single measure, and as a
substitute for others,?
It has, however, been shown, in evidence taken by
the Health of Towns' Commissioners, that the win-
dow•tax may he so modified as not to cause the evils
which are attached to it in its present form ; and,
should a total repeal be unattainable at present, this
modification may probably be adopted.
Allow me to apologise for occupying your columns,
but I could not refrain from expressing my opinion
that the real advocate of sanitary reform will not act
consistently in endeavouring to counteract the phi-
lanthropic efforts of Lord Morpeth and the 'other
members of Government, by proposing to substitute
repeal of the window-tax as a preliminary step. '
Yours, obediently,
JAMES ORWIN.

Worcester, Dec., 1847.

CHRISTMAS BOXES.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sin,—l perceive, from several reports which have
appeared in your paper from time to time, that a
fierce agitation is being set on foot for abolishing
Christmas boxes. May I, through your columns,
call the attention of these conservators of the people's
morals (qy. their own pockets ?) to one fact, which
doubtless they have often, if not always, availed
themselves of, viz., that there is no law which com-
pels the payment of them ? Then why attempt to
imbue those who are generously inclined with their
own selfish feelings, under the cant of morality ?
Time-honoured custom i has usually awarded them ;
and long may they remain to provide the means of
spreading joy and gladness where otherwise all would
be cheerless. Thousands in this metropolis can look
to this source alone to repay them for the day's work
lost unto them, or to provide something, small
though it may- be, yet still sufficient to remind them
of the festivities enjoyed by others. Again, wages
are regulated with direct reference to the supposed
emoluments receivable from this source in numerous
places. May I ask these pseudo-moralists if; by
abolishing these, they will not be abettors in defraud-
ing men placed in such situations ?
I will not trespass further, but trust to your well-
known sense of justice for some notice of this ; and
remain yours obediently,
AN OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT.
Southampton-buildings, Dec. 20, 1847.

DEFENCELESS STATE OF THE

COUNTRY.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
SIR-I am glad that so great an authority as the
Duke of Wellington has directed the attention of
Government to the defenceless state of the country.
I think much might be done to protect us without in-
creasing our intolerable taxation. Instead of having
a few enormous naval establishments, why not have
moderate-sized ones at the entrances of our principal
rivers—the only vulnerable points—for no enemy
would be so foolhardy as to attempt to lard on an
exposed coast. I believe the Government are con-

templating something of the kind. I suggest, at the
mouth of the Humber, as they have secured forty
acres of land at the east side of the immense dock
making at Grimsby. A militia would be of no use.
It could not prevent half-a-dozen foreign war-steamers
going up to Hull in the night, destroying the town and
shipping, and departing before daylight. All rivers
are not navigable in the dark, like the Humber, but
several are, and these are where the enemy would
annoy us. In the next war we shall suffer dreadfully
in the destruction of property if our rivers are not
defended ; but I cannot imagine that any enemy
would attempt to conquer the country. If the Go-
vernment would consult Captain Washington and the
other Tidal Harbour Commissioners, they would
obtain some valuable information, which I greatly
suspect they need. I have no objection to the people
turning out as volunteers for a fortnight in a year to
learn their exercise, but do not let us be burdened
with a militia.

remain, Sir, your obedient servant,
A CONS PANT READER.

THE WARDMOTES.-STATE OF

THE POLLS.

The polling in the four contested wards was con-
tinued yesterday, with the following results :
BILLINGSGATE (8 MEMBERS).—Curling (deputy),
63; R. M. Philipps, 66; R. Bower, 65 ; J. Knill, 65;
W. Williams, 65 ; W. G. Barnes, 64 ; J. Roberts, 64 ;
*J. Causton, 43 ; 11. H. Piper, 31. Mr. Causton is
the new candidate. The poll re-opens at three o'clock
this afternoon, and will finally close at four.
COLEMAN-STREET (8).---Allan (deputy), 83;
*Webster, 88 ' • Hall, 84; Hale, 84 ; Davies, 81;
Bracher, 73 ; Perkins, 69 ; *Valiance, 60 ; Johnson,
62. Mr. Webster and Mr. Valiance are the new
candidates. The latter gentleman is a solicitor, and
it will be recollected took an active part in the pro-
secution of the notorious Barnard Gregory.
FARRINGDON WITUOUT (16).—Obbard (deputy),
131; Bedford (deputy), 123; Anderton, 116; Isher-
wood, 114 ; Walter, 112 ; Williams, 112 ; Buck-
master. 109 ; Barnatd, 105 ; Taylor, 105 ; Edkins,
97 ; *Bates, 95 ; Hodgson, 94; Lias, 90; Fox, 89 ;
Turner, 87; *Lees, 85; Galloway, 61; Prender-
gast, 58.

POETSOKEN (B).—Wright (deputy), 80 ; Jutsum,
79; Parker, 75 ; Chriitie, 75 ; Kilby, 72 ; Thomp-
son, 67 ; Hayward, 65 ; *Vile, 52 ; Danford, 51.
Mr. Vile, a respectable licensed victualler, is the new
candidate in this ward. We did him an unintentional
act of injustice yesterday, in describing him as at the
bottom of the poll.

EXTENSIVE CONFLAGRATION.—Last evening,
about a quarter before ten o'clock, a fire attended with a
serious destruction of valuable property, broke out upon
the extensive range of premises belonging to Messrs.
Alfred Bennett and Henry Morton Burton, engineers
and millwrights, carrying on businc .s! llolland-street,
Blackfriars-road, near Blackfriars-bridge, and for some
time it was feared that the whole of the property would
have fallen a prey to the fury of the destructive element.
Before eleven o'clock there could not have been less than
several hundred square feet of property in one complete
blase. The firemen, however, nothing daunted, the in-
stant they could obtain an adequate supply of water,
had their machines called into operation. The flames
were safely subdued by half-past eleven o'clock, but not
before the pattern lofts and the turnery were completely
gutted. The damage done must, at a moderate calcula-
tion, amount to several hundreds, if not a few thousand
pounds. The origin of the disaster is unknown.
The drafts of the North-Western Bank of India
were yesterday refused acceptance by Messrs. Glyn and
CO., their London agents, until the arrival of the next
mail. This is a joint-stock bank, established at Meerut,
has
paid 1842, with a paid, up capital of 300,0001. It
paid dividends at the rate of 12 per cent. per annum,
4nd its deposits and other liabilities are supposed to
ftge between 100,0004 and 150,0001.