The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-28 00:00:00

phered, perchance some of the lost books of the Roman
historian ?nay b^ novk restored to the literary world. A

suar.;i nianwierip, was Ltiso tuned in the case,also written
on parchment, and about a foot square in size, but the
writing of this is very illegible ; on the back are the
words "Ad Agricolam." Agricola is the Latin for a
husbandman. But it was the name of the Governor of
Britain under the Emperors Vespasian, Titus, and
Domitian. These interesting relics, which, probably, owe
their good preservation to the close manner in which
their case wf.l3 sealed up, have been, in the meantime,
carefully taken to Moffat Nlante, ar.d the Society of Anti-
quarians has been informed of the discovery. It is an
historical fact, that the Romans entered Scotland by
Annandale, and distinct eviden2e of their presence may
be seen at Burnswark and other places in the vale of
Annan. Some years ago a copper cooking vessel, appa-
rently of Roman workmanship, was found a few miles
below Moffat. The Avon valley presents at the present
_time a very remarkable appearance. In a wild, past ral
district, where farmhouses and cottages are miles apart,
and where, until lately, everything seemed in a state of
nature save the line of the mail road, thousands of men,
aided by modern machinery, are now engaged in the
stupendous works necessary in railway formation. A
valley which lately looked as if it had been undisturbed
since the creation, appears for the first time to be brought
under the influence of the active world without, to take
its part in one great object of the age—the increase of
intercourse and annihilation- of distance.—Dumfries
Courier.

STATUS OF THE EDUCATOR.
Dr. Leonard Schmitz, rector of the High School,
Edinburgh, has addressed the following letter to Mr.
Connor, Chairman of the Glasgow Teachers' Associa-
tion :

" 1 I, Carlton-terrace, Edinburgh, Nov. 26, 1846.
"Sir,—ln reply to your circular and letter of the 24th
inst., I beg to say, that I most cordially approve of the
movement which is going on in Glasgow for the purpose
of improving the education of the young, and of elevating
the standing of the teacher. The subject is one of the
utmost importance, and I am glad to see that associa-
tions are forming in England as in Scotland to effect
those most desirable objects. It is scarcely yet a twelve-
month since I had an opportunity of observing Scotch
education and the status of Scotch teachers, but lam al-
ready so deeply impressed with the deficiencies in both
respects, that nothing could give me greater pleasure
than to make my views public, and thus to contribute
my mite to the amelioration of both ; but unfortunately
my hands are at present so fully occupied with other
matters, that I cannot spare the time to draw up such
a pamphlet as I would wish to put forward. The same
circumstances also prevents me taking a prominent, or
as you seem to wish, the leading part, in the movement
here at E linburgh. I regret this the more, as many of
thu leading teachers here seem to be satisfied ; and be
ing comfortable themselves, like to think that others are
so also, or at least are disinclined to bestir themselves
for improvement, as it is far easier to go on in the way
one has been accustomed to than to strike into new
paths. I have not yet had an opportunity of consult-
ing my colleagues, but I shall make a point of doing so
as early as I can ; and I address these lines to you that
you may, without delay, be in possession of my personal
views, the principal ones of which I will here put d3wn,
because by their adoption I feel convinced that educa-
tian would rise, and that the teacher would become
honoured and respected here as he is in the continental
states :

" 1. No boy should be allowed to advance from one
class of a school to a higher one until he is really fit for
it. Much useful time would thus be gained, parents
would be more honestly dealt with, and would know in
proper time whether their sons are fit for a profession
or not.

" 2. Teachers should not, like artisans, receive the
fees from the hands of the boys, but all fees should be
paid to a secretary or treasurer appointed for the pur-
pose.

" 3. All the income of a school should go to a com-
mon fund, out of which the teachers should have salaries
proportionate to their rank and merits, like all other
public functionaries.

" 4. The present system of making teachers dependent
upon the number of their pupils is wrong in the ex.
treme, in as much as it compels the teacher, like a shop
keeper or tralesrean, to have recourse to puffing and all
manner of trickery to get customers. It places the
teacher on a level.with shoemakers and tailors ; with
this difference, that every man can judge of the goodness
of a pair of shoes, and the fairness of their price, whereas
few are capable of judging of the merits of a teacher. In
the present system, the trickster has often the advantage
over a sound and intelligent teacher.
" 5. In order to raise the intellectual character of the
teacher, it is necessary that no one should be admitted
to the gener.,l class of a university who cannot give evi-
dence of having previously acquired a certain amount of
knowledge. There must be a standard for admission to
a university. At present unripe lads go to a university,
and after attending a session or two, during which the
professor has been obliged to act the part of a drudging
schoolmaster, the young men get into office, and become
teachers, without the slightest notion of the high voca-
tion of a teacher. There should in every university be
separate courses on Paedagogic, &c., for those who wish
to become teachers.

"G. No one should be appointed teacher, without
passing through a strict examination, not only in regard
to his acquirements, but also as to his qualifications for
communicating knowledge.
" 7. There shoull be proper authorities to dismiss a
master, if he is found unfit or negligent in the discharge
of his duties.

"I might mention 'many other points and prove the
the truth of my assertions by argument, as well as by
my own experience, but I trust the few remarks I have
here made, and which I consider to be of vital im-
portance, may be of some use to you. If any one will
undertake to form an Association in Edinburgh, of suffi-
cient respectability, I shall, with pleasure, do all that
lies in my power to promote its objects.
I have the honour to be, Sir, your obedient servant,
" C. W. Connor, Esq." L. SCHMITZ.

SPORTING IN TELLIGENCE
HUNTING APPOINTMENTS.
Her Majesty's staghds meet the first day after the frost,
at Winkfield Row—at 11.
Sinnington hds., Tues., Cawton ; Fri., Dalby-10, hds., Tues., Deighton Village; Thurs., Kennels;
Sat., Worsell Toll-bar-10L.
Bedale Ws., Wed., Sleningford Park ; Fri., Catterick Bridge
—lO%.
Cleveland lids., Thurs., Upleatham-14
Mr. Hildyard's hrrs., Tues., Sunny Cross ; Fri., Potts.
Lord Lonsdale's hrrs., Tues., Weston Turvill ; Fri., Halcot.
"Mr. Drake's hds., Tues., Shelswell Park ; Thurs., Bicester
Windmill; Sat., yiield
Lord Parker's hds., Tues., Thame Park; Fri., llarpsden
--10%.
PyteLley lids., Wed., Dodford Village; Fri., Cottesbrook ;
Sat., Finedon—i- to 1.
Mr S. Lowndes's hds., Sat., Winslow-11.
Cambridgeshire hds., Wed., Warden Village; Fri., Caxton
Gibbet-101.
Lord Reclesdale's lids., Wed., Bradwell Grove; Fri., Ey-
ford ; Sat., Blenheim-101.
York and Ainsty lids., Tues., Red House; Thurs., Pill
Moor Selsev ; Sat., Escrick Park.
Vale of White Horse lids., Tues., Barnsley Park; Thurs.,
Charlton Gate; Sat., Swindon Town.
Tiverton lids., Wed., Exbridge, near Dulverton ; Sat.,
Stoodleigh House-1014.
Baron Rothschild's staghds., Thurs., Aston Abbots-11.
Surrey staghds, Tues., Wickham; Sat., Reigate.
Berkshire lids., Wed., Hinton house; Fri., Step Farm.
Mr. Brand's lids., Fri., Aston Bury.
Devon lids., Thurs., Parke Bovey-11.
F. B. hds., Fri., Stonemason's Arms-101/.
Havdon lids Wed., Star Plantation ; Sat., Capon's Cleugh.
Mr. Hellier's lids., 'rues., Tewer on the Moor ; Thurs.,
Burgh on Bain; Sat., Haugh-101.
Wigton hds., Thurs.. Red Deal; Fri., Church llill.
Oakley lids. Thurs., Kempston Wood; Sat., Putnoe Wood
toll.
Puckeridge hds., Wed. Waddington ; Sat., Curnbelow-10i.
North Huish hrrs., Wed., Skerraton Gate; Sat., Brown-
ston Cross-10.
Kingston Village ; Fri., Holbeton
Mr. Roe's hds., Wed.,
Sir Henry Seale's hds., Tues., Slapton Bridge ; Fri., Holme
Cot-10%.
Tindale lids., Thurs., Cocklan
Mr. Watson's hds., Wed., Eadington ; Fri., Butterwell-
-10%.

ADVENTURES OF AN EXPRESS TRAIN.—On Tues-
day night, at six o'clock, an express train on the York
and Newcastle Railway left Darlington, being about an
hour and a half behind its usual time, having been de-
tained by the snow. The road was heavy all the way,
and an additional engine was put to at Belmont, but
there was no stoppage caused by the snow till they
reached Washington, which it did about eight o'clock on
Tuesday night. At Washington station the train
stopped half an hour, and it being reported there that
the line was passable, it proceeded; but it had not gone
more than half a mile when it was brought to a stand-
still. The engine-men and stokers, who were prepared
with shovels, partially cleared away the snow which had
drifted in the path of the engine's, arid the steam was
again put on. Another half mile was got over, but fur-
ther progress was found to be impracticable. The snow
drifted round the carriages with such rapidity, that in a
very ifew minutes it was found impossible to move them
either one way or the other, and the snow gathering
around the engine, soon extinguished the fires, and
rendered all attempts at self-extrication hopeless.
In this dilemma, what was to be done? awe)
gentlemen, second-class passengers, determined on
walking onward through the snow ; and away
they went steering in the direction of the telegraphic
wires. As they have not been heard of since, it is pro-
bable they succeeded, after many difficulties, of course,
in reaching their destination, wherever it was. One
gentleman, returning from the hymeneal altar, having
been married but a few days previously in London, and
was bringing home his bride, suggested to his cara sposa
the expediency of returning to Washington, where a
comfortable bed might be found more convenient for
repose than the interior of a railway carriage, and the
suggestion having been approved, the adventurous pair
essayed the difficult and dangerous task. There were
other ladies in the train, which comprised fifteen pas-
sengers in all, including the two that had already de-
parted, but none thought proper to imitate her example.
Five gentlemen escorted the bride and bridegroom, leav-
ing behind them, in the train, three ladies and three
gentleun n, who remained there till noon on Wednesday,
when they also repaired to Wellington, under the guid-
ance of the engine-drivers, leaving Donaldson, the guard
of the train, alone. All parties reached Wellington in
safety, and found comfortable accommodation at the inn
near the station, and at the village in its vicin►ty. This
is perhapa the first instance on record of a railway train
having been buried in the snow.

FOREIGN CATTLE.—The Sir William Wallace
steamer, arrived at Blackwall frcm Boulogne, has brought
another entire cargo of live cattle, comprising forty-two
cows and 600 sheep, the produce of France.