The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-24 00:00:00

S 'ET Ny DECEMBER 24, 1846. PrucE 51%

Legislature, understanding its duties, would have
met such a proposition in this spirit :—" Upon
the most skilful arrangement of houses in
towns and cities that can be devised, it is difficult
to admit to the rooms sufficient light and air. This
difficulty must ,necessarily increase as a city enlarges,
and the number of streets and houses increase.
We ought, under such circumstances, rather to offer a
bounty to builders for plans that they may secure to
houses the admission of the largest amount of light and
air. Nature which has made those elements indispensa-
ble to human existence, has provided them fur the us(
of human beings freely, in unlimited abundance. It i,
not for us to step in between God and the people, and
by laying a tax upon the light of Heaven and the breath
of life, to render them absolutely unattainable by large
classes of the population." A wise Legislature, under-
standing its duties, would have acted in accordance with
this feeling ; for it would have foreseen what has actually
happened, that the operation of the window duties would
be to shut out the sun from multitudes of human beings,
and to compel them to breathe, in darkened rooms, a
poisoned air. The consequences to the people of breath
ing this poisoned air have been fully shown ; but th(
consequences of living in dark rooms, to which no ray
of sunshine ever penetrates, are not so gererally known,
though they are well understood by those who have
attended to the subject.

A COLUMN FOR CHRISTMAS.
In Swan's " Journal of a Voyage up the Mediterra•
rean, 1826," is the following account of a Greek Christ-
mas.—" Thursday, January 6th. This being Chri.stmas•
day with the Greek Catholics, their churches are adorned
in the gayest manner. I entered one, in which a sort of
rarce-show had been set up, illumed with a multitude
of candles. The subject of it was the birth of Christ.
who was represented in the background by a little waxen
figure wrapped up in embroidery, and reclining upon an
embroidered cushion which rested upon another of pink
satin; this was supposed to be the manger where he
was born. Behind the image two paper bulls' heads
looked unutterable things. On the right of the Virgin
Mary, and on the left of the Eastern Magi, taper clouds,
in which the paper heads of numberless cherubs ap
peared, enveloped the whole; while from a pasteboard
cottage stalked a wooden monk, with dogs, and sheep,
and camels; goats, lions, and lambs; here walked a
maiden upon a stratum of sods and dried earth, ano
there a shepherd flourishing aloft his pastoral staff. The
construction of these august figures was chiefly Dutch:
they were intermixed with china images and miserable
daubs on paper. In the centre a real fountain, in mi-
niature, squirted forth water to the ineffable delight of
crowds of prostrate worshippers."
In Catholic times, at Christmas, people presented

loaves to the Priest on the authority of the direction in
Leviticus 22d—" You shall offs two loaves to the
Priest." At set feasts a whole boar (whence brawn at
this season) was put upon their table, sometimes it was
richly gilded. The custom of bringing in the boar's
head is well known, and to this day it is practised with
much ceremony at Queen's College, Oxford.
At Rouen, after the Te Deum, in the nocturnal office
of the vigil of Christmas, the ecclesiastics celebrated
the" office of the shepherds in the following manner .
The image of the Virgin Mary was placed in a stable
prepared behind the altar ; a boy from above, before the
choire, in likeness of an angel, announced the nativity
to canons or vicars, who entered, as shepherds, through
the great door of the choir, clothed in tunics and long
robes. Many boys in the vaults of the church, like
angels, then began the " Gloria in Excelcis." The shep
herds, heating this, advanced to the stable, singing,
"Peace, good will." As soon as they entered it, two
priests in dalmatics, attired as if women, who were
stationed at the stable, said " Whom seek ye ? " The
shepherds answered, according to the angelic annuncia-
tion " Our Saviour Christ." The women then opening
the curtain exhibited the boy, saying, " The little one is
here, as the prophet Isaiah said." They then showed
the mother, saying, "Behold the Virgin." Upon these
exhibitions, they bowed and worshipped the boy, and
saluted his mother. The office ended by their returning
to the choir, and singing" Hallelujah," &c. &c.
CHRISTMAS PIE.

The following appeared in the Newcastle Chronicle,
6th January, 1770 :—" Monday last was brought from
Howick to Berwick, to be shipped for London, for Sir
Henry Gray, Bart., a pie, the contents whereof are as
follows, viz. : 2 bushels of flour, 20 lbs. of butter, 4
geese, 2 turkeys, 2 rabbits, 4 wild ducks, 2 woudc)cks,
6 snipes, and 4 partridges ; 2 neat's tongues, 2 curlews,
7 blackbirds, and six pigeons : it is supposed a very
great cariosity, and was made by Mrs. Dorothy Patter-
man, housekeeper, at Howich. It was near nine feet in
circumference at bottom, weighed about 12 stone, took
two men to present it ; was neatly fitted-with a case, and
four small wheels to facilitate its use to every guest wbo
felt inclined to partake of its contents at table."

THE CHRISTMAS DAYS IN LONDON.
(From Hone's " Every Day Book.".

Symptoms of the returning season of Christmas are
approaching, for the rustics are standing at the street
corners with boughs of clustering berry-holly with
pointed leaves, glossy laurel, and the pink-eyed lauris-
tina;—the cheesemonger packs a dandy sprig of ever-
green in the centre of his half butter tub, and hangs the
griskins and chines at his door-posts ; the show of
Christmas beasts is advertised, and graziers and come-
up-to-town farmers loiter here to see the prize cattle
adjudged to the best feeders; butchers begin to clear all
obstructions, and whiten their shambles, and strew saw
dust on the pavement, and to the avenues to the scale.,
and little counting-house box, in which sits the female
accountant " brisk as a bee" and full of the " Ready
Reckoner;" fishmongers are no less active in showing
the large eels and dainty fish that are fresh as a daisy;
sprats arrive in abundance, and are cried up and down
alleys and streets with wondrous competition; pew-
openers now buy yew, laurel, holly, and other ever-
greens to jie in bunches on the sconces and interior parts
of churches; poulterers are early at market, and their
shops hung up to the first story with all the varieties of
ornithology; the greengrocer is decorating his windows"
with the best fruits and most attractive spices; and every
one everywhere appears disposed to provide himself with
all reasonable comforts and enjoy himself to the fullest
on Christmas Day.
HOLIDAY CHILDREN, BY LEIGH HUNT.

One of the most pleasing sights at this festive season
is the group of boys and girls returned from school. Go
where you will, a cluster of their joyous chubby faces
present themselves to our notice. In the streets, at the
panorama, or play-house, our elb()ws are constantly as-
sailed by some eager urchin whose eyes jest peep be-
neath to get a nearer view. I am more delighted in
watching the vivacious workings of their ingenuous
countenances at these Christmas shows than at the sights
themselves.

From the first joyous huzzas and loud-blown horns
which announce their arrival, to the faint attempts at
similar mirth in their return, I am interested in these
youngsters.
Observe ;the line of chaises with heir swarm like
loads hurrying to tender and exultinglaarents, the sickly
to be cherished, the strong to be amused ; in a few
mornings you shall see them, new clothes, warm gloves,
gathering around their mother at every toy-shop,
claiming the promised bat, hoop, top, or marbles ; mark
her kind smiles at their ecstacies ; her prudent shake of
..the head at their multitudinous demands : her gradual
yielding as they coaxingly drag her in her patience with
their whims and clamour, while they turn and toss over
the playthings, as now a sword, and now a hoop is their
choice, and like their elders the possession of one bauble
does but make them sigh for another.
View the fond father, his pet girl by the hand, his
boys walking before, on whom his proud eye rests,
while ambitious views float o'er his mind for them, and
make him but half attentive to their repeated inquiries ;
while at the museum or picture gallery his explanations
are interrupted by the rapture of discovering that his
children are already made acquainted with the different
subjects exhibited. Stretching half over the boxes at
the theatre, adorned by maternal love, see their enrap-
tured faces now turned to the galleries, wondering at
their height and at the number of regularly placed heads
contained in them, now directed towards the green
cloud which is so lingeringly kept between them and
their promised bliss. The half-peeled orange laid aside
when the play begins; their anxiety for that which they
understand ; their honest laughter which runs through
the house like a merry peal of sweet bells ; the fear of
the little girl lest they should discover the person hid
behind the screen ; the exultation of the boy when the
hero conquers. But, oh, the rapture when the panto-
mime commences ready to leap out of the box, they
joy in the mischiefs of the clowns, laugh at the
thwacks he gets for his meddling, and feel no
small portion of contempt for his ignorance in not
knowing that hot water will scald and gunpowder
explode ; while with head aside to give fresh energy
to the strokes, they wring their little palms against each
other in testimony of inherent delight. Who can behold
them without reflecting on the many passions that now
lie dormant in their bosoms, to be in a few years agitat-
ing themselves and the:world. Here the coquette begins
to appear in the attention paid to a lace frock or kid
gloves for the first time displayed, or the domestic tyrant
in the selfish boy, who snatches the largest cake, or
thrusts his younger brother and sister from the best
place. At no season of the year are their holidays so
replete with pleasure; the expected Christmas-box from
grandpapa and grandmamma; plum-pudding and snap-
dragon, with blind man's buff and forfeits; perhaps to
witness a juvenile play rehearsed and ranted; galanteo
show and drawing for twelfth cake; besides Christmas
gambols in abundance, new and old. Even the poor
charity boy at this season feels a transient glow of cheer-
fulness, as with pale blue face, frost-nipped hands, and
ungreatcoated, from door to door, he timidly displays
the unblotted scutcheon of his graphic talent, and feels
that the pains bestowed are his own, and that for once
in his life he may taste the often desired tart, or spin a
top, which no one can snatch from him in capricious
tyranny.
We must now conclude, our space being exhausted,
but not without wishing heartily to our readers—" A
MERRY CHRISTMAS, AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR!"

REDUCTION IN CAB FARES.—Yesterday several
cabs, with placards announcing that they were running
at 6d. a mile, were conveying passengers at that rate in
different parts of the metropolis, much to the chagrin of
the rest of the fraternity, who greeted the drivers of
those vehicles, as they passed the different cab ranks,
with jeers and shottts of fierision.

STATE EDUCATION.-LORD
MORPETH.
YORK, TUESDAY EVENING.—The half yearly meeting
f the York and Ripon Diocesan Board of Education
rvas held in York this afternoon, and was attended by a
numerous and highly influential assembly. There were
present—Lord Morpeth, Lord Wenlock, the Lord Maynr
of York (George Hudson, Esq., M.P.), the Bishop of
Ripon, the Archdeacons of Cleveland and of the East
tiiding of Yorkshire, the Rev. Canon Harcourt, the
lion. Howard, George Legard, Esq., Egerton
Vernon Harcourt, Esq., a great number of the clergy
of the city and county, and a vast concourse of the laity.
The business of the meeting was prefaced by an ex-
amination of the pupils in the newly-established Tho-
mson Training School, which was conducted by the
Lord Bishop of Ripon, the Venerable the Archdeacon
if Cleveland, and the Rev. the Principal of the
Institution.
Lord MORPETII presided, and, in acknowledging a
vote of thanks at the conclusion of the proceedings of
.he day, he spoke as follows :—As this question has
been moved, seconded, and regularly put to the meeting,
allow rue, though I feel most unwilling to inflict any
lengthened trespass upon you, after you have been
Already detained so long, to offer a few words of ac-
knowledgment and remarks.—(Hear, ht ar.) I must in
candour say that I was invited here to-day to eat my
dinner—(A laugh)—but, considering the time of year, it
has been very judiciously thought that people would not
like to stay so late away from their homes ; and I, for
one, feel quite satisfied with the feast of reason, and
with the intellectual repast that has been set before
us.—(Applause.) As I am, unhappily for my self; not
so constantly resident in this neighbourhood as I have
been during the tew preceding years, and am now, in-
feed, more confined to the streets of London than to
those woods and forests with which I am nominally
associated, I have not had that opportunity of making
myself acquainted with the most recent proceedings
and actual statistics of this institution, as a person ougnt
to be, to be properly qualified to address you. But I
reel that confidence, both in the principles upon which
it is founded, and in the superintendence and manage-
ment which are brought to bear upon it, that I am al-
ways ready, at a moment's warning, to express that
confidence, and to take part in its proceedings.—(Ap-
plause.) For instance, with reference to the examina-
tion of this day, I certainly feel, in some slight
particulars, that those who have been brought before us
have exhibited that timidity and nervousness which are
incidental to an exhibition of this nature; but I have
every reason to believe, and to be assured that their in-
struction, in all essential points, is carefully and skil-
fully conducted, and that they are thoroughly well
grounded in all those branches of knowledge in wnich it
is most expedient they shoull not be deficient.—(Ap-
plause.) And I think the Lord Bishop of Ripon has done
well—and what is there that he does not do well ?—in
-,ringing forward the actual testimony borne by the
different clergymen of the district to which masters
have been sent from this establishment, which is just
the sort of corroboratory testimony of which we stand
most in need, and which affords the best encouragement
for us to persevere in those efforts which have been so
far bestowed on the institution.—(Applause.) Of course
I feel that in this place, and on this occasion, it will not
be fitting in me to enter into any of those controverted
questions which have excited public attention of late to
a considerable extent, and which may be made the sub
ject of discussion, and possibly of difference in the _Le-
gislature. I will not encounter the topic as to how far
the State ought to act—how far the State ought to
move—or how far the State.oaght to stand aloof with re-
spect to the education of the people. I may, perhaps,
without incurring the imputation of great rashness,
venture to conjecture that the fittest course to pursue
would be, not that which is indicated by an extreme
view on either side of the case. I think it cer-
tainly possible that the State may meddle too much,
or leave alone too much; for, in dealing with such
a question—like the dinner we are not to eat—
there is always the double risk of things being over-
done and under-done.—(Laughter and applause.) But
I will certainly further venture to say, that with respect
to the country at large, I am not satisfied with the exact
state of things which prevails at present. I think there
is a call for more schools than we have—l think there is
a call ler better schools than many of those we have—l
think that many of our systems are still imperfect—that
many of our masters are ill qualified for their office, anal
almost all less well paid than we would wish.—(Hear,"
hear.) And speaking here, in the midst of this institu-
tion, and in this comely and suitable building, in which
I am now glad to see it housed, I, for one, do not regret
the assistance that has been conferred by the State in
addition to local contributions and private munificence.
But one thing I think is absolutely clear, and in stating
it I may challenge contradiction, that whatever the State
may do—whether it shall leave the work of educa-
tion entirely alone, or whether it shall proceed so
far as the most venturous interferers would wish,
it is quite plain that there would still be much more
which private effort, superintendence, private generosity
must always do the best, and will frequently alone be
able to do —(Applause.) Therefore I will express my
cordial hope, in concurrence with one of the resolutions
which has been adopted this day, that all of you who
are here present—all who are pleased and interested
with the exhibition we have witnessed—will feel en-
couraged to lend still more of a helping hand to an
institution which, I venture to pronounce, not only in
its present state, a source of great credit, but which

I am sure is capable of becoming a source of great
credit, to a tar greater degree, to that large and im-
portant country to which we belong, and that you will,
each of you in your separate spheres, and according to
your several opportunities, supply that, which I am
sure, if you leave alone, no one else will exactly supply.
—(Applause.) Ido not propose to touch now upon the
question of the yeoman school. Many of you will be
aware that that is a subject in which I have taken a
deep interest, and about which I feel extremely anxious.
I have had an opportunity, however, of touching upon
the subject before, and for that reason, as well as for de
mining you an undue length of time, I will abstain from
entering further into it at present. You will see that
the building is fast approaching to completion,—at least
one-half of what we first intended it to be; and I hope
from the encouragement we shall receive from those
parents who choose to send their children to that insti-
tution, and from the more direct contributions of friends,
we shall be enabled to double that building as at present
erected, and also to procure a model farm and other
appliances of that sort, which will be peculiarly useful
to promote the object of such an institution.—(Applause.)
In bringing these few remarks to a conclusion, allow me
to exchange some brief congratulations upon the cir-
cumstance of our having Met to-day for the first time
under this roof, and transacted the business of the insti-
tution in its own home. Let us all unite in wishing
it well, and in hoping that its whole future progress will
correspond with the auspicious beginning which, I
trust, we think it has this day received.—(Applause.)
My own fervent hope and prayer is, that this
institution will be a chosen and a favoured spot for sound
instruction, for practical acquirement, and, fur polite
accomplishment. I will hope that all those high and
gentle influences will dwell, my young friends, not only
in your school-rooms and your lecture-rooms, but in
your play-grounds, and in all your leisure hours, as well
as in all your hours of tail.—(Hear, hear.) We do not
wish you to strain after a superficial gloss and glitter,
which will receive the momentary applause of society ;
but to study and foster those amenities of life—those
refinements of character—those graces of the heart—
those real good manners which the worldling may learn,
but which the real Christian must possess.—(Cheers.) I
cannot but think that even the very site of this building
has been most happily and most appropriately chosen.
Your institution, from its original object, and from
the nature of its composition, is closely connected with
the National Church. Well, you see directly before you,
morning, noon, and evening, the most beautiful fabric
connected with the Church of England, and I hope you
will never look at its grey walls and massive roofs,
towering as they do above the more humble building
around them, without remembering that you yourselves
ought to aspire to rise above the grovelling cares and the
low passions of the life around yqu ; and that you will
never see the first beams of the 'morning, nor the last
hues of evening reflected from its shiniiig pyramids, or
its gorgeous traceries, without remenittering that there
are still more exquisite proportions in the harmony of
well-regulated affections, and that there are sunsets still
more valuable in an honest spirit and in a well-spent
life.—(Applause.)

DWELLINGS. OF THE POOR.
The first annual meeting of the members of the Me-
tropolitan Association for Improving„, the Dwellings of
the Poor was held yesterday, at the offices of the Asso-
ciation, 19, Coleman-street. Among the gentlemen pre-
sent were the Right Hon. the Earl of Radnor, Viscount
Ebringtun, M.P., Mr. G. A. Kilgour, Mr. J. Kemplay,
Mr. Charles Gatliff, &c. Mr. John William Tottie, the
deputy-chairman, presided, in the absence of Sir Ralph
Howard, M R .

The SECRETARY read the report, an exceedingly in-
teresting document, which set forth that the Parlia
mentary Committee appointed to inquire into the health
of towns disclosed a state of circumstances connected
with the domestic habits and dwellings of the poorer
classes in the metropolis fearful to contemplate,
and urgently calling for a remedy. In numerous
cases whole families, parents, sons, and grown up
daughters, and in some, even two or three families,
resided together, dsy and night, in a single room,
and yet for that miserable accommodation the most
extravagant rents were paid. Two cellars 3c. per
week, parlour 45., first floor, 4s. 6d., second floor,
45., and attics, 3s. The entire rental of one street
in Drury-lane occupied in that way was 2,0001.
per annum, while the average rental in Westminster for
a single room, not twelve feet square, was 2s. 1 lid.
rigorously exacted every morning. After mentionin
that a royal charter had been granted to the association,
the report went on to state that an agreement for a lease
for 99 years, at a rental of 90/. per annum, had been
entered into with the Brewers' Company, for a piece of
ground opposite to the church in the Old Pancras-road,
leading from King's-cross to Camden-town, which was
considered well adapted to the purpose, being situate in
the immediate neighbourhood of a crowded district, and
on a healthy and well-drained site. The object of the
erections was to ensure to each family the greatest
amount of accommodation at the lowest practicahle ex-