The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-26 00:00:00

AUGUST RS, '71846.

THE CITY CHARITY SCHOOLS.
The Lord Mayor having transmitted a letter to the
trustees of Lady Hollis's Girls' School, in consequence
of the statement made by the father of a rl named
Fanny Wettentiall, who gave evidenceon thegi examina-
tion of Smith, upon the charge of the murder at the
Guildhall eoffee-house, his Lordship received the an-
swer copied below. The father of the girl, it will be
remembered, stated that the education of the poor chil-
dren who were sent to that school, was most scandalously
neglected, and that fur one who appeared to have re-
ceived any benefit at all, crowds were in a state of the
greatest ignorance, in testimony of which he instanced
the fact of his daughter's inability to write her own
name.

" Red Cross. street, Cripplegate,
22d August, 1846.
"My Lord Mayor,—ln answer to youretter addressed
to the trustees of Lady Girls' School. with refer-
ence to a statement made by the father of a child named
Fanny Wettenhall, I am diree:ed by the trustees to in-
form your Lordship, that the school contains 120
children, 110 of whom are clothed, 10 admitted upon
probation, and the whole are educated upon the National
system, and are divided into three distinct classes.

"In obedience to a decree of the Court of Chancery,
a mistress is appointed by the trustees, who is assisted in
the education of the children by five teachers, exclusive
of five assistant teachers, selected from the first-class
scholars. A competent Toaster is also engaged to instruc:
the children in writing and arithmetic, and who are in-
variably selected from the first and second class scholars,
consisting of upwards of 60 children. The child Fanny
Wettenhall, although having been some time in the school,
from want of capacity and attention did not make that pro-
gress in her education which the school is calculated to
impart, consequently was unable to arrive above the
thin-class scholars. She has recently been withdrawn
from the school by her parents on the plea of illness of
her mother, being two years befose the appointed time
of her leaving.
"I am also directed by the trustees to state that the
institution has always been under the management of
one mistress, the present mistress having conducted the
school for the last twenty-two years, to the entire satisfac-
tion of the trustees, who meet monthly tos uperintend and
transact the general affairs connected with the institu-
tion.—l have the honour to subscribe myself your Lord-
ship's most obedient humble servant.
"JOHN ELLIS, Secretary.
"To the Right Hon. John Johnson, Lord Mayor."
The LORD MAYOR said, in speaking of the above
communication, that he did not consider the trustees,
' having such ample funds, were doing their duty in
throwing so much labour on an old and faithful servant,
and that they ought at once to provide a competent as-
sistant to her, and a separate writing-master for the
girls. The father of Fanny Wettenhall had stated, that
she had been four years at the school, and it was quite
evident that she must have been most grossly neglected,
for she was obliged to substitute a mark for her name;
and even that mark was miserably scrawled, at the same
time that the girl, who was twelve years of age, showed
by her answers that she was far from being destitute of
capacity, the principal ground upon which they defended
the institution. He trusted that, at a time when such
powerful arguments were used to show the necessity
of general education, that there existed a strong
competition amongst all educational establishments, the
school in question would give some proof of the posses-
sion of a kindred spirit. He recollected that a few
years ago a similar complaint was made against the
system and practice of the Bishopsgate school by a
policeman, whose child afforded a deplorable specimen
of the laxity which prevailed in that institution. The
complaint met the public eye through the press, and a
few days ago he had the satisfaction to observe that the
Bishopsgate school was a model to which the charitable
establishments of the City might look with great ad-
vantage to themselves.
The following circular has been sent to the sub-
scribers and other friends of the "Cripplegate Within
Ward Schools," in consequence of the publication of the
statement made by the father of the girl alluded to in
the letter; and the Lord Mayor expressed a hope that
the impression, no doubt created against these schools,
would be removed by a general notice of the fact.
(eoPv.)
" To the Subscribers and other Friends of the Cripple-
gate Within Ward Schools.
" Gentlemen,—My attention has been directed to
some observations made before the Lord Mayor in the
Justice-room of the Mansion-house, on Tuesday last,
the 18th instant, which reflect severely on what was
designated the " Cripplegate School," but upon inquiry
it is found to be the one in the WARD WITHOUT, and
not for those schools you so kindly patronise in the
WARD WITHIN.
" It is unfortunately the second time that our schools
have been exposed to an unjust impression in the minds
of the subscribers through the general name of Crip-
plegate, omitting to add the word " WITHOUT," which
would have exempted them from the present charge.
" I trust you will not think this explanation unneces-
sary on the present occasion, being anxious that you
should appreciate the unwearied exertions of the com-
mittee, for the advancement of the objects of your bounty,
in useful knowledge and good moral and religious in-
struction, and that I may not appear wanting in due
respect for the confidence placed in me as your treasurer.
I am, with much respect, your obedient servant,
JOHN BRADBURY, Treasurer.

" 6, Aldermanbury, August 22, 1846."
Alderman WILSOIT, who was present when the Lord
Mayor commented upon the letter, said he had much
pleasure in bearing testimony to the exertions made in
his ward (Castlebaynard Ward) to promote the advance
of education amongst the poor. The greatest interest
had peen taken by the inhabitants in the grand object of
the charity, and an infant school had sprung out of their
recent labours. He rejoiced to be able to state that the
energies of the teachers seemed to increase in proportion
to the necessity arising from the numerical increase of
the children, and he attributed a vast deal to the several
meetings which had taken place at the time the subject
of serving the ward schools was so warmly discussed at
Guildhall. He had just received notice to attend a
meeting of the friends of the Castlebaynard Ward
School, on the 28th inst., upon the subject of the funds,
the investment thereof, and the state of the schools.

THE BALLOON RACE. —On Monday two balloons
ascended from Cremorne Gardens—the object, as stated by
the announcement, being, by a race, to show their aero-
nautic powers. The extraordinary excursion attracted a very
numerous company, larger than on any other farmer occa-
sion—above 10,000 persons being present, a great portion of
whom were composed of foreigners. The machines were
the "Coronation,' in which were Mr. C. Green, the veteran
aeronaut, who made the 340th aerial voyage, and Captain
Davies; and the " Albion," which carried Mr. H. Green,
the power of each not being able to take up any one else,
and before starting Mr. C. Green was compelled to part
with several pounds of ballast. Upon being sufficiently in-
inflated (the gas, as on a former occasion, being supplied
through the new gasometer) the balloons went in a direc-
tion west by south. The ascending power of Mr. Green's
being soon apparent, as it speedily rose above that of his
brother, and as it rose, veered more towards the west.
Upon the other balloon rising it got into a similar current
of air, but did not obtain a much higher altitude, and they
kept in that position, Mr. C. Green being in advance as
long as they were visible. They remained in sight above
twenty minutes.
RIOT AT HAWARDEN.—On Monday evening, a riotous
affray, originating from some domestic quarrels, occurred a
Hawarden ; and to such a pitch and so great an extent did
the tumult proceed among the working classes of the place,
who made themselves partizans to the squabble, that it was
found necessary to send to Chester for the military to quell
the disturbance. As the infantry had left the Castle on that
day, and the regiment which was to replace them had not
arrived, a detachment of artillery armed with their muskets
was ordered to the scene of action, where their arrival
restored order. In consequence of this unexpected demand
for military aid, Chester Garrison, with its stand of 40,000
arms, was left, on Monday night, under the guard of the
glazed hat battalion of the city police !—Carnarvon Herald.
The lead ore miners of Alston-moor, Allendale, and
Weardale, have engaged the services of Mr. Thomas Bow-
m an, of Boal Cleugh, as their oculist, at the rate of sixpence
er man per annum.
LAMENTABLE SUICIDE BY A YOUNG FEMALE.--011
Monday Mr. J. Payne, the Deputy-Coroner, held an in-
quest at the Grapes Tavern, Tooley-street, Southwark, re-
specting the death of Miss Sarah Hester Peirce, aged six-
teen years, the niece of Mr. Thomas Lobb, the landlord
of the above house. It appeared from the evidence that
the deceased was barmaid to Mr. Lobb, but for some time
past she had suffered severely from pains in the head, for
which she had been under the occasional treatment of Mr.
Walker. The deceased was of very religious habits, and
usually occupied her time by reading the Bible. On Sunday
morning the deceased was much worse, and Mr. Lobb
procured some pills for her, which she took in the bar.
Immediately afterwards the deceased became very restless
with 'pain, and left the bar as was supposed to lie down.
About half-past eleven o'clock, one of the servants went to
her bedroom, but found the door fastened. An alarm was
raised, and when the door was forced the deceased was dis-
covered lying on the bed, which was saturated with blood.
She held a razor in her right hand, which was also wet with
blood. She had a wound in her throat which seemed to
have been inflicted by herself. Mr. Pettigrew, the surgeon,
was called in, but the deceased had been dead about ten
minutes. The deceased had inflicted the fatal injuries whilst
lying on the bed, and death must have been almost instan-

Caneous. The Coroner remarked on the lamentable nature
of the case, after which the jury returned a verdict of" Tem-
porary insanity."
SERIOUS AND FATAL ACCIDENTS.-011 Monday after-
noon a shocking accident occurred to William Martin, a
brewer's drayman in the employment of Messrs. Barclay and
Co. It appears that the poor fellow was walking. alongside
his dray in Whitechapel-road, when, by a sudden jerk. occa-
sioned by the application of the whip to the horses, a small
cask of beer was thrown from the cart, knocking him down
in a state of insensibility. A surgeon was in prompt at-
tendance, and upon examination it was found that one of
his legs was broken and the other very severely fractured.—
The following shocking accident occurred on Monday at
King's-cross to an elderly gentleman named Warner, who
was seated at the front corner of a Paddington omnibus,
proceeding along the New-road in the direction of Battle-
bridge, when one of the foremost wheels of the vehicle broke,
throwing him, together with the driver, violently to the
ground. Before either were enabled to rise or assistance
could be procured, both wheels of a cab passed over the legs
of the former. Upon being picked up, the unfortunate
gentleman, who was understood to be a surgeon, presented
a shocking appearance, a frightful wound being inflicted on
the right side of his head, from which the blood flowed lite-
rally all over his person. Although sustaining other very
severe injuries he was perfectly sensible during the occur-
rence, the dressing of the wounds, and the conveyance to his
residence in the Lower-road, Islington, where he now lies,
little hope being entertained of his recovery. No blame ap-
pears to be attached to the driver of the omnibus No. 371,
but to the originator of the second occurrence wilful negli-
gence was imputed, inasmuch as he did not attempt to stop
his horse, either before or after the accident took place.—
Whilst attempting to reach a boy out of the river at Tower-
stairs, on Monday, a lad, whose name and residence was not
known, fell into the river and was drowned. The assistance
of a boat and Waterman was obtained a speedily as possible,
but not before the body was washed away. No exertions
were omitted on the part of those who witnessed the occur-
rence to save the unfortunate lad, who might have been re-
covered, but far the swell of the water occasioned by the
passing of the Waterman stem-beat, No. 4.

MILITARY REFORM.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Srn,—l am no man of war, hut I think there are sub-
jects in connexion with the army on which a civilian
may exercise his common sense without impertinence.
Whether, in the present state of the army, corporal
puni:liment can he safely dispensed with, is a point on
which professional opinions ought to have due weight,
but whether that state be a creditable one to the profes-
sion, and to the country, is a question to be referred to a
more impartial and less technical tribunal.
We hear a great deal of the bad materials from which
the rank and file of our army are recruited ; but we
never hear a word of the incompetency of our "soldier
officers" as a body, though, I believe, there is no fact
more notorious to the rest of the world. I believe if a
military foreigner were called upon to name those points
which distinguish our army for good, he would not lay his
finger cn the epaulettes. I believe that the military re-
putation of the British soldier is higher than that of his
officer. I believe that the success of our arms is far
more owing to the indomitable pluck and endurance of
the ranks, than to the stra!akgic, abilhi, a of their leaders,
whose mistakes have been often retrieved by the mere
courage of their followers, and converted into glorious
triumphs.

Then again, how do the British officer and soldier
compare in what we may call their civil life—in their
habits and manners, as far as we see of them at home ?
It is pleaded by those who, as Ben Jonson says,
" Flay men alive
Before they kill them,"
that our British soldiers are the off-scourings of the
labouring classes. It may be so, but may I ask in what
relation do their officers, as a body, stand to the middle
and higher classes ? Taking into consideration the dif.
ierence of rank and education, are the morals and con-
versation of the mess-room much more exalted than
those of the canteen ? Are not country quarters a pro •
verb of insipidity and excess ? It is all very well to
complain of such wholesale strictures upon " an honour-
able profession," "a gallant body of men," and so forth.
No doubt there are distinguished exceptions, but what
are they amongst so many ? How many of our officers
of the line know anything of the art of war, beyond the
mere details of the parade ground, of engineering, of for-
tification, of tactics on a large scale? And yet in an
army like ours, distributed over every part of the world,
and liable to every kind of warfare, the officers ought to
be eminently practical men, full of resources, and a
knowledge of every branch of their profession. I hap-
pened a short time ago to be in a colony which has been,
and is not unlikely again to be the seat of war, and of all
the persons I met with, those to whom the defence of the
province was intrusted seemed to me the most ignorant
of the history of the past, and the prospects of future
campaigns.

IC may be that the pay and pensions of British sol-
diers are inadequate, but we shall never have better
men till we have better officers, and we never shall have
better offs.-ers until we select them on a more rational
and less exclusive system, and require other qualifica-
tions than those of birth and fortune. Why should the
army be the only profession in which advancement de-
pends not on industry and talent, but on a purse of gold
or descent? Why should not privates be eligible for
commissions when they have passed through the lower
grades of the service with credit, and displayed, as many
of them would if the opportunity were given, extra-
ordinary abilities? The cavalier was no match for the
yeoman, and the marshals of Bonaparte did not spring
from the patrician race. Depend upon it, the profession
of arms, like eve y other, will be none the worse for a
little infusion of plebeian blood.

When such a reform is effected, the army will cease
to be the last refuge of poverty and crime. It will
supply the ordinary incentives to good conduct, the
ordinary rewards of superior abilities; the officers will
no longer be coxcombs, nor the men ruffians; and there
will be an end to these barbarous and intolerable
punishments, which are a diszrace to our country, our
age, and our religion.—l remain, Sir, your obedient
servant, CIVIS.

THE LATE EARTHQUAKE AT
LEGHORN.
_

By a letter from Leghorn of the 17th of August we
have accounts of a dreadful earthquake in that town and
the volcanic district of Maremmes. The account was
brought over to Marseilles by the Sardinian steamer
under the orders ofCapt. Scribanis :—" This town has ex-
perienced an earthquake, which has thrown the inha-
bitants into the greatest state of alarm. On the 14th
inst., at 50 minutes p.m., the first shock was felt, hav-
ing been preceded by a subterranean noise. The shock
lasted from seven to eight seconds. The oscillations
were r.t first perpendicular, and as ifproduced by a rising
up of the earth taken from the south-east to the north-
east, and repeated five or six times. Household furni-
ture was displaced and thrown down, the church bells
violently agitated. The noise produced by the cracking
of beams and the walls which ope:o41, gave warning of
an impending catastrophe. The inhabitants, terrified,
threw themselves into the stre:q, evincing the greatest
fear and despair; women throwing themselves down on
their knees, imploring the Madonna de Montenero, the
patroness of the town; the men making the sign of the
cross, and hastening to the residence of their fawilies to
give them succour. During the night several other
shocks were felt; the earth seemed to be in a continued
convulsion. The sky was free from clouds, but there was
a thick mist in the air which produced a melancholy on
the mind. The palace occupied by M de la Rocheluu-
cault, the French Minister, has been much damaged. A
stone from the ceiling fell on the chair Madame de la
Roehefoucault had left a few minutes before the earth-
quake. The house of M. l3renier, Consul general, ha-
' also suffered; at an angle it sunk, and all the inside
walls are full of crevices and shaken. No Frenchman
established at Leghorn has been pers finally injured,
or his property damaged. The villa established by
NI. Moreau, the son of the cashier of the Bank of
France, has been seriously daulaged. M. Moreau passed
the night in a carriage in his garden. The earthqaal“
was more violent and did more damage in the country
round, and great disasters have occurred, eipeciall v in the
Maremmes, a volcanic country, which still bears the
signs of a subterranean influence. Whole villages have
been thrown down in the Saulia, Lorenzana, Osciano,
and Casciano, the centre of the oscillating motion, and
at about five leagues from Leghorn. At Voltera, a
government prison fell, burying several prisoners.
The number of persons killed are stated to be, in
all the districts, 38, and 140 wounded, of which 58
seriously. The effects of the shock extended to Pisa.
The vaulted roof of the old Church of St. Michael
fell at the first shock. The congregati,,n had just
left the building after divine service. The houses of the
town were shaken, but the shock being less than at Leg-
horn did riot cause so much damage. Several natural
phenomena occurred. Spouts of muddy and b ding water
sprung out of the earth. A lake has been formed in a
sunken space of land. All the villas in the neigh-
bourhood of Pisa have been considerably dampgecl.
l'he farms and peasants' dwellings have more or

less suffered on the whole liise of the shock.
The inhabitants are in the greatest state of alarm,
which is increased by the recitals of the disasters
caused by former earthquakes in this quarter. The
inhabitants have a full recollection of the earthquakes
In the years 1798 and 1316. It is not forgotten that in
1798 the town of Sienna was threatened with total
lestruction by shocks which lasted nine days. The last
shock in particular caused many victims. During the
last four days]the earth has not ceased to shake at in-
tervals. Looking to the state of the houses at Leghorn,
a smart shock would evidently complete the ruin of the
town. A portion of the inhabitants have left the town,
many arc bivouacing under tents in the public places,
many are on board the boats. The Government has lost
no time in sending into the rural districts engineers,
medical men, medicine, and provisions. It is stated that
on the 10th of August a slight shock of an earthquake
was felt in the city of Naples, but fortunately without
any injury being done."

MELANCHOLY OucURRENCE.
It is our painful duty to record, this week, the death
of Mr. Michalow:ki, a Polish gentleman of high rank,
and who once held the position of major in the Polish
army, but who has recently resided in this city and de-
voted his time to the teaching of languages. The un-
fortunate gentleman had been in the habit of
visiting Penrith every Tuesday, in his professional
capacity, and thence usually proceeded to Long Marton
Academy, to give instructions to the pupils of the Rev.
Shepherd; but, on Tuesday last, he had only reached
Brampton-lane, within a mile of the academy, when by
.;orne accident, he fell from his gig, and was severely and
fatally injured. He was found, about half-past three
o'cicok, lying by the side of the road, by au intelligent
lad named Atkinson, who had picked up his stick
and umbrella, and 'at this period Mr. Mi-
chalowski was enabled to speak, and, in answer to
the inquiries of the boy, to say that he had lost
his horse and gig, and required assistance. The gig, in
the meantime, had been taken to the academy, where it
was immediately recognised, and the Rev. Gentleman
promptly proceeded in search of the driver, to whom he
was ultimately guided by the boy Atkinson. The suf-
ferer was then unable to give any coherent answers to
the questions of Mr. Shepherd; but the fact of his wiping
his coat subsequently with his handkerchief, where it was
soiled, showed that he had nat lost all consciousness. In-
deed he was afterwards able to enter the gig with very little
assistance; but on sitting down he gave evidence of being.
seriously affected. lie was immediately conveyed t tho
Spread Eagle Inn, Kirkby Thore, where medical aid was
promptly procured, and every assistance was rendered
by the worthy clergyman ; but Mr. Michalowski lin-
gered in an insensible condition until five o'clock on
Wednesday morning. An inquest was held upon the body
on Wednesday evening before Mr. G. Thomp,on, one of
the coroners of the county of Westmoreland, when no
circumstances transpired which could explain the cause
of the calamity, beyond a severe wound on the back of
the head, which showed that he had been thrown or fallen
from the gig ; but the fact that a sum of money and
his gold watch were found on his person, proved that he
had not been exposed to any violence. The jury accord-
ingly found a verdict, " That the deceased died by a fall
from his gig, but from what cause there was no evidence
to show.' The body was brought to Carlisle on Thurs-
day morning. Mr. Michalowski has left a widow and
two young sons to lament this sudden bereavement. He
had resided many years at Dumfries, and was deservedly
held in the highest esteem, and during his short stay at
Carlisle, his great abilities and excellent conduct had
gained him many friends, by whom his sad catastrophe
is deeply regretted.—Carlisle Patriot.

GENERAL STEAM .',..IAVIGATION COMPANY.—The half-
yearly general meeting of this corporation was hel4l yester-
day, at their offices, 69, Lombard-street; Mr. \Vilkin in the
chair. A report from the directors, and a statement of the
accounts for the half-year ending the 30th of June last, were
read to a large assemblage of the proprietors. The report
was very satisfactory, the result of the last half•year's opera-
tions rivalling that of the most prosperous the company ever
had. After declaring the usual dividend, the cordial thanks
of the proprietors were voted to the chairman ana to the
directors, for their unabating zeal in the promotion of the
company's intorest%