The Sun.
London, England, 1870-01-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 7, 1870.

' they might. Lovers of adventure may remember
the record of the wreck of the Elephant
schooner on Taylor's Bank, in Liverpool Bay,
last October. The New Brighton did good
service on this occasion, and the crew suc-
ceeded in saving one out of twu men who were in
great danger. Some idea of the extent to which the
operations of the society are carried on may be formed
from the fact that at yesterday's meeting rewards
amounting to £563 were granted to the crews of 56
lifeboats for services during the recent heavy storms,
besides rewards granted to the crews of shore boats
for saving life from wrecks on our coast. Payments
were also made on the several establishments round
the island, amounting to £2,040. It is satisfactory
to know that there is a creditor as well as a debtor
side to the account, and that liberal contributions to
the funds were announced from all quarters of the
kingdom.
We learn from the current number of the Lifeboat,
the journal of the society, that several additions have
been made to the stations during the year. At
Southend, Cantyre, N. 8., a handsome lifeboat has
been presented by the family of Mr. KER, the
gift having a touching significance, from the
fact that the donor's eldest son was drowned
on the weatherbeaten coast of Argyle. This station
is permanently endowed by Mr. KER, and an excel-
lent site has been granted for it by the Duke of
ARGYLE. Our Manchester friends have carried their
energy into their support of the association, a four-
teenth boat having been presented to it by Man-
chester men. Llandulas, on the Welsh coast, has
been selected for the site in preference to Abergele,
of the railway disaster memory. The merchants of
Mincing-lane have also shown that those who " live
at home at ease" have thought and care for those who
incur the perils of the seas in carrying on their commerce
and have perpetuated the not very euphonious name
of their place of resort on the shores of Montrose, by
the gift of an amphibious " Mincing Lane" and a
sum of money for its maintenance. The Society has
lost warm supporters in the late Earl of DERBY and
the Marquis of WESTMINSTER, Lord DERBY having
been indeed one of its presidents. We cannot doubt,
however, that fresh assistants will come forward and
give steady and liberal help to a work which has
everything to recommend it to popular feeling. The
Society has irresistible claims on those whose fortunes
are due to commercial enterprise. It has two very
powerful arguments for those who travel, as most
Englishmen do, pretty frequently, across the Chan-
nel or the Irish Sea. The heroism displayed by the
lifeboat crews on almost every emergency forms
another invincible ground of appeal to all who
can appreciate self-sacrificing devotion to duty. The
old sturdiness and fortitude of Englishmen, are not yet
extinct in spite of all modern effeminancy. 'When
the case is most desperate, and any attempt at suc-
cour appears little short of suicide, volunteers are
still ready ; and the disappointment which not un-
frequently follows the noblest effort never damps the
energies or chills the courage of the coast heroes on
the next occasion. Take, for example, the record of the
adventures of the Donna Nook lifeboat on the Lincoln
coast during a fearful storm in last October. She bad
succeeded in reaching the steam whaler stranded on
the Slatekem, and had brought ashore 25 men.
Soon after she returned another schooner was
driven ashore. The lifeboat was again launched
and the crew made a gallant effort to reach the
wreck, but the force of the wind and sea was so
great that the boat was beaten back. A second,
third, and fourth attempt was made, but with the
same result. The men were by this time nearly
exhausted by their determined and gallant endea-
vours to reach the Wreck ; but a fifth attempt was
being made to launch the life-boat, when the vessel
began to break up, and in a few minutes was a com-
plete wreck, and all on board unhappily perished.
The oldest inhabitants on that part of the coast
stated that they never remembered so terrific a
gale. The beach was literally strewn with pieces
of wreck, and the cargoes of these vessels and of
others wrecked on that part of the coast. Of the
heroism displayed at Ramsgate we have already
spoken. Had the life-boats been less prompt or less
efficient, it is certain that the loss of life would have
been much larger than it was. But, in fact, the
same story goes on all the year round, north and
south, east and west, wherever the weather-beaten
ship is driving on the coast, the shipwrecked sailor
clinging to the spar, drifting in the oarless boat,
or any other of the manifold perils of a sailor's
career are threatening life and limb. We cannot
hope by the utmost vigilance to reduce our ship-
wrecks to a very small amount, although there is no
question that a better system of inspection would con-
siderably diminish the disasters in the coasting trade.
Our commerce is so vast, and the traffic on our coast
so incessant, that were they less dangerous than they
are, we must still apprehend a pretty long
chapter of accidents. We should therefore
congratulate ourselves that through the agency of
this society there is help always at hand for the
shipwrecked mariner, and that what human power
and skill and devotion can do will be done for his
rescue in the face of the most desperate peril.

Mr. CHARLES DICKENS, as President of the Bir-
mingham and Midland institute, has been distributing
the prizes and certificates awarded to the successful
students of the year. The interesting ceremony took
place last evening at the Town Hall, and the affair
went off very successfully. Mr. DICKENS said that
when Le last had the honour to preside over a meet-
ing of the Institution he alluded to the superabun-
dance of publiz speaking which distinguished the
present time, but that it would not require much self-
denial on his part to practice what he then preached.
Respecting the occasion which called them together,
he remarked that there was success in all honest
endeavour, and that there was a victory gained
in every gallant struggle that was made. lie
considered, therefore, that some honour was due
to all who had struggled to obtain the prize, be
they successful or unsuccessful candidates. He
assured every " losing competitor" among his hearers
that he had still won much, very much. Mr. DICKENS
in this respect set a good example to those who
distribute prizes and rewards on similar occasions,
for it is too often the way to dwell with particular
emphasis upon the merits of the triumphant can-
didates, and to ignore altogether the efforts of
those who may in reality be more deserving
in some particulars though chance or fortune
has decided against them in the struggle.
The prizes, as the President reminded the recipients,
were called rewards, because they represented what
was above all price what was stated in no arithme-
tical figure=, and what was one of the great needs of

the human soul " encouraging sympathy." All
students present, or to come in the Institution, could
feel certain that they did not work neglected or un-
friended, but that they were felt for, stimulated and
appreciated, and the tokens of approval bestowed
upon their companions were proofs that they were
cared for, and their services acknowledged. After
the interesting ceremony of distributing the prizes
had taken places, which Mr. DICKENS enlivined
with characterist is adroitness, as in advising a young
lady named " WINKLE" to change her name, after
the distribution was over, some general sub-
jects of importance were touched upon. Mr.
DICKENS referred to a late confession of
his political creed, in reference to some obser-
vations of Mr. DIXON'S. lie then said that he
had very little confidence in the people who governed
them, " people" there being spelt with a small " p"
but that he had great confidence in the people whom
they governed, the " people there being spelt with a
large " P." This brief explanation bad been in-
versely explained, in acme quarters, be was sure,
with no evil intention. "Perhaps as the

inventor of a certain extravagant fiction,
but one which I do say was rather frequently
quoted as if there were grains of truth at the
bottom of it—a fiction called the ' circumlocution
office ;" and perhaps, also, as the writer of an idle
book or two whose public opinions are not ob-
scurely stated—perhaps in these respects," said
Air. DICKENS, " I did xot sufficiently bear in mind
HamLET's caution to ' speak by the card, lest
equivocation should undo' me." In order that
there might be no mistake as to what he
did mean, he re-stated his meaning in the words of
a great thinker, great writer, and great scholar, in
his " History of Civilisation in India." In this it is
said that lawgivers are nearly always obstructors of
society, instead of helpers. When they have suc-
ceeded it has been because they have implicitly
obeyed the spirit of their time, and they have
been the mere servants of the people. This
definition is rather refreshing at the present
day when so much extravagant talk is heard of th,l
wonderful doings of statesmen and ministers, as if
they had been moving mountains, when very often
they have only been carrying out their own favourite
schemes in the most ingenious manner.

MR. CHARLES DICKENS'S EXPLANATION.
Mr. Charles Dickens has been making speeches at Bir
mingham. He distributed on Thursday the prizes to the
students of the Midland Institute. In the course of his
addresses he explained the epigram uttered in the same
town which caused so much attention a few months ago.
When I was here last autumn (said Mr. Dickens) I made,
in reference to some remarks of your respected member, Mr.
Dixon, a short confession of my political faith, or perhaps
I should better say want of faith. It imported that I have
very little confidence in the people who govern us, please to
observe " people there with a small p "—but that I have
very great confidence in the People whom they govern—
please to observe thorn " People with a large P." This
was shortly and elliptically stated, and was, with no evil
intention I am absolutely sure, in some quarters inversely
explained. Perhaps as the invention of a certain
extravagant fiction, but one which I do say was
rather frequently quoted as if there were grains
ot' truth at the bottom of it—a fiction called the
Circumlocution Office ;—and perhaps also as the writer
of an idle book or two, whose public opinions are not
clearly stated,—perhaps in these respects I did not
sufficiently bear in mind Hamlet's caution to speak by the
card, lest equivocation should undo me. Now I com-
plain of nobody, but simply in order that there may
be no more mistake as to what I did mean, and as to
what I do mean, I will re-state my meaning,
and I will do so in the words of that great thinker.
great miter, and great scholar, whom death unfortunately
for mankind, cut short, in his " History of Civilisation
in India.'—" They may talk as they will about reforms
which Government has introduced and the improve-
ments to be expected from legislation, but whoever
will take a wider and more commanding view of human
affairs will soon discover that such hopes are chime-
rical. They will learn that lawgivers are nearly always but
obstructors of society instead of its helpers, and that in
extremely few cases only their measures will turn out
well; their success has been owing to the ct that, con-
tsary to their usual custom, they have implicitly obeyed
the spirit of their time, and they kayo been as they
always should be, the mere servants of the people tc
whose wishes they are bound to give a public and legal
sanction."
Before giving out the prizes, Mr. Dickens said :—We
have now to distribute the rewards which have been
brilliantly won by the most successful competitors in
the societies' lists. I say the most successful because
to-night that should be particularly observed. I think
that there is a success in all honest endeavour, and
that there is some victory gained in every gallant
struggle that is made. To strive at all involves a
victory achieved over sloth, inertness, and indifference,
and competition for those prizes involves besides, in the
vast majority of cases, competition with, and mastery
asserted over, circumstances adverse to tho effort made ;
therefore every losing competitor among my hearers may
be certrin that ho has still won much, very much, and that
he can well afford to swell the triumph of the rival who
has opposed him in the race. I have applied the word
rewarded to these prizes ; and I do so not because they
represent any great intrinsic worth in silver or gold, but
precisely because they do not. They represent what is
above all price, what can be stated in no arithmetical
figures, and what is one of the grave needs of the human
soul—encouraging sympathy. They are an assurance to
every student present, or to come, in your institution,
that he does not work either neglected or unfriended,
but that he is watched, fat for, stimulated, and appre-
riated. Such an assurance conveyed in the presence of
ehis large assembly should strike to the breast of every
recipient that thrill which is inseparable from any great
united utterance of feeling—is a reward:to my thinking
as purely worthy of the labour, as the labour itself
is worthy of the reward, and by a sensitive spirit can
never be forgotten.
One of the prize taxers was a Miss Winkle, a name
suggestive of "Pickwick," which was received with
laughter. Mr. Dickens made some remarks to the lady
in an undertone; and then observed to the audience, "
have recommended Miss Winkle to change her name."

REDUCTIONS AT CJIATIIA3I.--It is understood
that a return has been ordered by the Lords of the Admi-
ralty of all the labourers employed in Chatham Dockyard
who are in possession of pensions for military or naval
service. What is the intention of obtaining such infor-
mation may be surmised—the selection of such men in
any reduction of hands. An uneasy feeling has been
created by the expectation that a very large reduction will
take place.

TRUST DEEDS.—An important order has been
made by the Chief Judge in Bankruptcy with refesence to
inchoate trust deeds, or such as were in in progress of exe-
cution by the debtor to registration (for which twenty-
eight days is allowed) at the time of the new Act coming
into operation. The question having been raised in seve-
ral such cases, his lordship said he was clearly of opinion,
looking at the terms of the repealing sections of the Act,
and at the new rules and orders, that all such deeds must
be considered as " pending business," and be allowed to
proceed to registration.

THE TROPPMANN KNIFE.—The Liberte mentions
a curious incident which occurred during the trial of
Troppmann. At the end of the last sitting, and at the
moment of leaving the court, a gentleman, leaning over
the heap of articles collected by the prosecution, took up
the too famous knife and was looking at it attentively
when the attendants of the court drove the
audience towards the doors, and at the same instant put
out many of the lights. All went out, and it was not
until they had reached the bridge that the too-inquisitive
individual informed a neighbour among the audience that
he had got the weapon. What was to be done? To keep
it was a serious matter ; it was too late to take it back.
He was just going to throw it into the Seine, but recol-
lected himself, and knowing that his friend wrote for the
press gave it to him, begging him to return it to the clerk
of the court. His friend faithfully carried out this trust
neat morning, but first took an impression of the singular
weapon which chance had thrown into his hands. It is a
wretched clasp-knife opening without a spring, such a
knife as might be bought for five sons, out of repair be-
sides one of the rivets which fasten the blade to the
handel being broken. It is surprising when one remem-
bers the details of Troppmann's crime that so much can
have been done with an instrument so weak and so diffi-
cult to manage.

TILE WORKING CLASSES AND THEIR MEAT.—
It is curious to observe (remarks the Pall Mall Gazette),
that seventy years ago the question of supplying the work-
ing classes with salt beef from Ireland was discussed in
like manner as we now talk of supplying them with
preserved meat from Australia. In the second
report by the Lords' Committee of 1800 on " the
present scarcity of corn," the following passage
occurs :—" With respect to meat, it has been stated to the
committee that the cheaper parts of beef and mutton may
be applied with great advantage in point of expense, to the
food of labourers, particularly if mixed with rice. But
there is another resource which might be resorted to, and
that to a considerable extent. Your committee have learnt
that there is a largo quantity of salt beef now in the
London markets, and that more is daily expected from
Ireland, where the price is considerably lower than last
year. This beef is now sold at such a price that it may
be applied with very great advantage to the food of the
poorer clasws, especially if mixed with rico. In Scotland
it is used in broth and mixed with vegetables ; buw
it has not yet been brought into any general use in
England, though upon the trials hitherto made by mixing
it with rice and with peas, it has been received us a
very acceptable article of food, particularly as a substi-
tute for bacon, the price of which is now unusually high."
As to any attempt at organisation and making most of
meat by mixing it with rico and peas, we ha-1 not as yet
done much to carry out the recommendation of this corn
mittee; but then it must be -rememl cred that it is only
seventy years since this. rs.wort was made, and it takes us
a century to scratch our heads, and then r.nother century
to conquer our prejudices; but 130 years hence we fully
intend not onV to have organised kitchens, but also to
in)Dr9ye on our present method of ooki,DC, "

POLICE INIELLIGENCE.—Ms Day.

MARLBOLOUGH- STEET.

A CHEAP HORSE AND THE RESULT.— William
Wedge, carman, and Elizabeth Wedge, his wife,
of City Gardens' Road, City-road, and William
Brackenborough, carman, of Coombes-street, City-
road, appeared before Mr. Knox to answer the
complaint of the Royal Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals—the first two named for caus-
ing a horse to be worked in an unfit state, and the
last prisoner for working it.
Mr. Charles Hall, a gentleman, residing in
Oakley-square, saw Brackenborough driving a
horse, attached to a van, laden with linen, and
seeing it was lame and apparently suffering excru-
ciating pain, he spoke to Brackenborough, who
said it was only suffering from a soft corn. lie
told Brackenborough that he had better take
the horse home, and that he should com-
municate with the Royal Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, and did
so, and on going with Smith, one of the
officers of the society, to Wedge, he said his wife
had sent out the horse ; and that, knowing it was
lame, he did not intend to send it out ; and Mrs.
Wedge said she scnt it out, but did not know it
was lame.

Smith said the horse was dreadfully lame, and
Mr. Cherry said that it was suffering from disease
of the coronet, and no rest could cure it. He would
like to ask how much was given for the horse.

Wedge, who appeared very ill, said be gave £6
for it, and had worked it two years.
Mr. Cherry said it was a low-priced horse, and the
present case was the result.

Mr. Knox fined Mrs. Wedge 205., and ordered
her to pay 12s. Gd. costs, and fined Brackenborough
10s. and costs.

HIGHWAY ROBBERY IN REGENT-STREET.—Thos.
Duggan, a printer, was charged before Mr. Knox
with assaulting Miss Emmeline Gibbous, of No. 9,
Hornton-street, and stealing her purse containing
money.

Miss Gibbons said that between four and five
o'clock yesterday afternoon she was with her cousin,
looking in the window of Mr. Dyer, jeweller, of
Regent-street, when the prisoner came up and put
his hand over her bag, and then screwed the right
arm round and wrested her purse, which contained
£1 Bs., from her hand, she being obliged to let go
through pain. The prisoner then ran down Vine-
street, but was afterwards caught by a gentleman
and taken to the station.

Miss Edith (Mixers, of No. 45, Air-street,
Regent-street, cousin to Miss Gibbous, gave similar
evidence.

Mr. John Tuckett, of No. 66, Great Russell-
street, Bloomsbury, said he was crossing Warwick-
street to Glasshouse-street when he saw the prisoner
run up Great Vine-street, Regent-street, followed
by three young ladies. The prisoner then ran into
Glasshouse-street, where he lost sight of him for a
few minutes, he having evidently gone into a
shop. Having ascertained from the young ladies
that they had been robbed he waited, and on the
prisoner coming out of a shop he seized him, upo❑
which he gave up the purse, and asked him to let
him go, but he took him to the station.

Mr. Knox said the police were iiuch indebted to
Mr. Tuckett.

The prisoner said he had nothing to say, only
that he was hungry at the time, and that he had
never been in such a plac3 before.
Mr. Knox, in committing the prisoner for trial,
was sorry to have to trouble Mr. Tuckett, but
such a thing as a highway robbery with violence at
such a place and at such a time was such a shock-
ing thing, that it must be put a stop to.