The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-22 00:00:00

TOWER-HILL INDUSTRIAL SCHOOLS.
LAYING THE FIRST STONE.

THE COSTS IN THE MORDAUNT CASE.

In Lord Penzance's Chambers on Tuesday morning Mr.
Inderwick, on behalf of Sir Charles Mordaunt, applied
that £3OO, which had been paid to the respondent's
attorney for costs of maintenance, pending the hearing,
should be allowed in the taxing of the costs of the
hearing as against the petitioner.—Lord Penzanee could
not separate the costs from the maintenance, and therefore
made no order,—A further application was made by Mr.
R. Searle, on behalf of the guardian ad litem. He
said that the respondent had been placed in the hands of
certain persons by order of the court, and her relatives
were not allowed by Sir Charles to see her ; and he now
applied that the blood relatives of Lady Mordaunt should
be allowed to see her.—Lord Penzance said that it was a
matter in which he could not interfere.

Setting apart all mere differences of religious faith or
creed, there can be no doubt whatever that when the
members of the Roman Catholic Church undertake any
good work for the amelioration of suffering or the training
of the human faculties to some useful end, they enter upon
this self-imposed task con amore, and with that one com-
mon unity of purpose that always so strikingly
characterises their beneficent efforts ; and which,
in itself, must be simply admirable to all sects
of the Christian community. Whether it be a
magnificent bazaar in the noble Free-Trade Hall of Man-
cnester, or the initiation of an industrial school in the
very centre of the lowest purlieus in our modern Babylon,
ladies of distinction and high rank are ever foremost in
the attempt to elevate the moral and mental status of
those who are socially beneath them ; and being friendless
themselves, therefore they more need help from those
whose influence and worldly means can give it.
Looking at the broad question in this general
light, it was a pleasant thing, on this glorious mid-
summer afternoon, to see one of the most densely popu-
lated and dismallest localities in our overcrowded metro-
polis, brightened and irradiated, so to speak, by the
presence of rank, fashion, and beauty—all combining by
their presence, their sympathy, and aid to the accomplish-
ment of a result in a purely practical form, which, in its
way, will do more to solve one of the great social enigmas
of the age than all the sectarian arguments and
sage deliberations which have nightly occurred
within the precincts of the palace at Westminster.
Here, almost on the site, a recollection of which conjures
up historic recollections of the most painful kind, we find
a lady, distinguished as a member of the ex-Royal Family
of France, unpretentiously " laying the first stone" of an
inornate structure hereafter to be devoted to the recla-
mation of children from vicious courses, and the, fitting
them by educating and training them for honest labour,
to become useful members of society, and in which they
will have hereafter to fight the stern battle of life. The
other gratifying feature presents itself, the commingling
of ladies and gentlemen of different denominations to
eradicate the dire effects of crass and stolid ignorance,
which is one of the greatest social evils of the day. In no
part of London, perhaps, than in this densely-packed
human hive are the beneficial influences of wise teaching '
and good example more strongly needed. Surrounding
our old metropolitan citadel are numberless abodes of
poverty, of honest, struggling toil for daily bread, and also
of crime. Growing up amidst these habitations there
are many hundreds of young untrained minds,
which it is sought to direct in the right path.
In fact the Tower-hill District is exceptional in respect to
population and indigence. There are 1,500 children who
require to be educated and reformed. One-third of these
have access to temporary schools of an inadequate kind ;
and a noble effort has now begun, under the auspices of
H.R.H. the Princess Marguerite of Orleans, the very
Rev. Monsignore Capel, the Earl of Denbigh, the Duke
of Norfolk, and a distinguished number of ladies and
gentlemen. The site in Chamber-street has already been
paid for out of the funds raised for the day and night Indus-
trial Schools, which will accommodate upwards of 1,000 ;
and the cost of the schools is estimated at £2,500. The
proceedings commenced about half-past three o'clock.
The ceremony took place in the temporary schoolroom.
At the head of the room was placed a substantial block
which was to be the corner, or rather " first" stone of the'new
building. There was a goodly company present. A crimson
covered dais was erected around the stone, and above it was
a canopy entwined with graceful festoons and devices in
evergreens and beauteous summer flowers. Whilst the
audience was quietly expectant of the coming ceremony,
there arose softly above a hushed and subdued murmur
of voices the solemn notes of the organ and delicately
manipulated by the skilful hands of the Chevalier Lem-
mens. Then came an exceeding fair procession of little
maidens, all of whom seemed to have a wreath of hair
that had been touched and gilded by the radiant sun-
beams. They were all clad in simple white garments,
and looked very pretty as they defiled along to the front
of the platform. The Very Rev. Monsignor Capel and
others of the Roman Catholic priesthood. The fair, bright-
eyed, and smiling young scion of the memorable house of
Orleans, who was attired in one of the most simple yet
charming costumes of the period, was led to her seat
amidst suppressed admiration and applause by Lord
Denbigh, the chairman of the building committee.
As soon as her royal highness had taken her
position on the right side of the stone, her youthful sister,
by whom she was accompanied, occupying a place on the
other side, a flaxen-haired little maiden, advanced and
with low voice, but well modulated accent read to the
Princess the following simple address from the children
connected with the school :
" In the name of the religious fathers of this Church of
the English Martyrs, of all the benefactors and well
wishers of this mission, and of our parents, who
earnestly desire for us the blessing of a good Catholic
education, we the Irish children of the Tower-hill district
gratefully thank your Royal Highness for having come
this day to lay the foundation stone of our future schools.
May God bless and reward you for this act of kindness,
and we feel honoured and gladdened by your 'presence.
It rejoices our hearts to see, for the first time after the
lapse of many centuries, a Catholic Princess—a Royal
daughter of St. Lewis—amongst us poor children of St.
Patrick. We thank you for the interest ypu take in all our
works of charity. We wish you every prosperity on earth,
and in heaven a crown as bright as that of your namesake
and patron saint, the blessed Queen Margaret ; and we
beg you madame, to accept these simple flowers as a
token of our humble gratitude."
Another pretty child then came forward and presented
to the Princess Marguerite and her sister two beautiful
bouquets of the choicest flowers of the season.
Her Royal Highness gracefully acknowledged the com-
pliment, and the ceremony of laying the foundation
stone was then proceeded with under the superintendence
of Mr. Young, the architect.
The Earl of DENBIGH gave some interesting details of
the mission, and said the success which had resulted from
it was mainly due to the unceasidg efforts of Father Ring
and his brother clergymen.

The Rev. Father RING followed in a clear and concise
speech, showing the benefits that had been conferred
upon the Irish community, whom the mission was espe-
cially intended to benefit. The assistance received from
even the poorest persons in the district and letters from
other wealthier friends of the Church led him to hope
for the best results.

The Earl of GRANABD moved a resolution in support of
the object of the mission, which was eloquently seconded
by the Very Rev. Monsignore Capel, and adopted unani-
mously.

A special vote of thanks was accorded to the Princess
Marguerite, who quietly acknowledged the compliment,
and the proceedings closed with a benediction. Last, but
certainly not least, in our hurried note of the proceedings
we must mention that Madame Lemmens-Sherrington
sang the delightful " Ave Maria" of Cherubini with a
tenderness of sympathy and expression that literally
enchanted her select and enthusiastic audience.

THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.

The Select Committee of the House of Commons on the
subject of the Abyssinian Expedition resumed its sittings
on Tuesday.

Mr. Adamson, a city merchant, and contractor for the
supply of steam coal, was examined, and stated that his
firm offered to deliver best Cardiff steam coals at Annesley
Bay at the rate of 78s. per ton. The offer was
made in the early part of 1868, and the reply
received from the Admiralty was that they
were not prepared to accept the offer. The only
reason given us was that they had made an arrangement
with the Peninsular and Oriental Company for the supply
of coal. Subsequently they renewed an offer for the
supply of 5,000 tons. They had at the time a vessel called
the Scotland, 1,100 tons burden, on her voyage to Bombay,
having on board 1,700 tons of coal. The price of coal at
that time at Bombay was 88s., and they offered to deliver
it at Annesley Bay at 725. per ton, but the offer was
refused. The offer was made before the arrival of the
ship at Bombay. At that time they knew that the Go-
ernment were buying coal on disadvantageous terms.
Had their offer been accepted in the first instance a con-
siderable saving would have been effected. The amount
of the freight during the time she was engaged was about
£4,680, which was in excess of the sum which would have
been paid had the offer for the delivery of the coals at
Annesley Bay been accepted.
Sir Stafford Northcote was then examined, and stated
that so far from throwing cold water on the
plan proposed by Captain Sherard Osborne and the
Telegraph Construction Company, they gave their offer
every consideration, and it was only after the matter had
been twice considered, by the Treasnry and the Indian
authorities, that they came to the conclusion that, inas-
much as the cable could not be laid before the 15th of
December, and as they had hopes that the ob-
ject of the expedition might be accomplished by
the mere landing of the troops, it was not
necessary to incur the expense especially
as the Commander-in-Chief could, by running
despatch boats to Suez convey his orders with consider-
able rapidity. They had no doubt of the immense utility
of the cable if it could only be completed in time. With
respect to the stores, which were afterwards useless, he
did not think that any of those supplies would have been
stopped in consequence of having the telegraph.—After
some further evidence the committee was adjourned.

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EN ENING, J UNE 22, 1870.

SPANISH AFFAIRS.

The question of Slavery has been discussed in the
Spanish Cortes. Signor Castela was in favour of the im-
mediate suppression of slavery. He showed that an in-
crease of prosperity often followed upon the extinction of
slavery. His speech was well received. The proposed
vote of censure on the civil and military authorities was
rejected.