The Sun.
London, England, 1870-12-16 00:00:00

SENDING SEEDS By POST.

The inconveniences attending the alteration in the
sample post have preEsed heavily on many branches
of trade, and it appears that it has occasioned much
loss and annoyance to -the nursery and seedsmen. A
meeting has been held in London by the representa-
tives of these trades to consider the recent postal
arrangements, and devise;if possible, sonic means of re-
turning to the old system. Under it the trade paid al. per
ounce for the transinission „of seeds, ..instead of is.
per ounce, as at present. The ,Secretary of the
Royal Horticultural .Society stated that the
Society sent out annually 1,000 packets of
flower see I and the same of vegetable seed.
The Society complain that the quadrupling of the
cost of tmeSmission not only affects their direct
interests, but injures horticulture generally, as the
present prohibitory rates militate against the develop-
ment of the objects for which the Society was incor-
porated. Letters were read from all the principal
firms in the nursery and seed. trades, detailing the
hardships which the writers had suffered in their
dealings. with their customers, owing to the sudden
determination of the Post Office to allow none but
genuine samples of merchandise to be transmitted by

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HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, Dec. 15.

The 'Queen went to Claremont this morning, accompa-
nied by the Duchess of Roxburghe. Her Majesty re-
turned in the afternoon.

Her Majesty's dinner party in the evening included
their Royal Highnesses the Princess Louise and Prince
Leopold, the Dean of Westminster, and Lady Augusta
Stanley.

CABINET COUNCIL.—The members of the Cabinet
assembled at three o'clock yesterday afternoon, and did
not separate till after seven p.m.
The last degree-day of Oxford this Term will
be Saturday, December 17th, when tem will end. Most
of the students who are not in the schools have, however,
" gone down" for the Christmas vacation.

Father Hyacinthe will deliver an address .on
" France and Germany " at the Queen's Concert Rooms,
Hanover-square, on Tuesday evening. The proceeds will
be devoted to the French peasants relief fund.

On Wednesday Miss Gladstone, daughter of Mr.
Robertson Gladstone, a Liverpool merchant and brother
of the Premier, was married at Childwall Church, near
Liverpool, to Mr. Thornewill, of the firm of Seager, Turn-
cliff, and Co., corn merchants, of Liverpool. Amongst
those,present during the ceremony were the Right Hon.
W. E. Gladstone and Sir Thomas Gladstone.

Mn. HEPWORTH DIXON.—On Wednesday night
Mr. Dixon was entertained at a dinner given in one of the
large rooms of the Langham Hotel by the gentlemen who
had been most active in securing his election to the London
School Board as one of the representatives of the
Marylebone district. Admiral Sir Edward Belcher
presided, and the guests included many well known
writers and men of eminence.

On Wednesday the sittings of the Judicial Com-
mittee were brought to a termination in consequence of
the indisposition of Sir J. Napier. The Committee was
expected to sit fof some time longer, but as three Privy
Councillors must attend, and as Sir J. Colvile and Sir R.
Phillimore were the only other members present, Sir L.
Peel being ill, the Court was obliged to be closed,
leaving about fifty appeals in the list, and a number more
ready.
- -

THE FLOODS IN YORKSHIRE.-:-The melting of
Monday's snow and the rainfall of Tuesday night have
caused the North Riding rivers to flow afresh. On Wed-
nesday the flood had receded 2ft. Gin. from the highest
point of Sunday, but the rivers have risen six inches, and
the lands are Again flooded. It is stated that the banks
have burst in various places in Rydale, having been
cracked by the long drought of last summer, and the pro-
longed inundation thus caused must be of serious conse-
quence to the farmers.
DISTRESSED PEASANTS OF FRANCE.—The Daily
News has received copies of letters which have been sent
to the Earl of Powis, as president of the Smithfield Club
in connection with the contributions of seed, corn, etc.,
off ered to French farmers in distress byEnglish agriculturists.
M. Drouyn de Lhuys, the president of the Society of Agri-
culturists in France, writes to say that he has communi-
cated the project to the French Administration, and he
sends .copies of the letters of the Minister of the Interior
in France and
,of one he has himself written to Mr. James
Howard, who has made some proposals in connection
with the scheme. In the former the Minister writes from
'rods to say that the offers of the English agri,
culturists will be most gratefully received and
must prove must useful to the invaded departments.
Orders will be given at Cherbourg or Brest for the con-
signments to be warehoused as soon as the intimation is
given that the grain and seeds are collected. M. Drouyn
de Lhuys writes to Mr. Howard to suggest that a com-
mittee be forded in England for the purpose of receiving
the stores and for Warding them to France. He also
thinks the French cultivators should make their wants
known by means if circulars and notices in the journals.
He fully appreciates the generous idea of the English
agriculturists in thus coining. to the aid of the French
peasants and farmers ruined by the war, and placing at
their disposal gratuitous contributions of cereals, roots,
and other seeds necessary for sowing their fields.
NOTICE.KINAHAN'S I.L. Whisky Depot. Kinaban
and Co. have removed to their new and spacious premises,
No. 6a, Great Titchficld-street, Oxford-street, leading
from Margaret-street, Regent-street, and Market-street,
Oxford-street. Kinahan s LL. Whisky.—This famous
and most delicious Old mellow spirit is the very cream of
Irish whiskies, in quality unrivalled, perfectly pure,
and more wholesome than the finest cognac brandy.
Can be obtained all over the kingdoin, in the well-known
sealed and labelled bottles, or in bond for exportation at
the Londo. Docks. Wholesale Agents to Messrs. Bass,
Guinuess...and Younger, and Dealers in. Foreign Wines
and ip►iriti.

THE LONDON SCHOOL BOARD:
DEPUTATION TO MR. FORSTER, M.P.

Yesterday a deputation waited upon Mr. W. E•
Forster, M.P., the Secretary of the Education Depart-
ment, at the offices, Whitehall, from the dissenting rate
payers of the Lambeth division, for the purpose of taking
into consideration the alleged irregularities in the
late elaction. The Rev. G. M. Murphy introduced the de-
putation, and stated that they had troubled Mr. Forster
in order to lay before him certain irregularities in the
School Board Elections, which were of great importance.
There had been a goOd deal of outside influence in the
matter, especially that of a clerical solicitation by the
Bishop of the diocese and also by • the Rev. Canon
Gregory.
Mr. Forster pointed out that these suggestions were as

to the best persons to vote for, and this was perfectly
legal, and the ballot did not intend to stop that in the
least. Gentlemen interested might, without any question,
do that.

Mr. G. M. Murphy objected that these gentlemen were
men of influence, and when they exerted their power
amongst ignorant people it was very undesirable.
Lavish expenditure, he also contended, should be included
in the illegal clauses, and finally he would suggest in
every future election by ballot there should be two doors,
one for ingress and another for egress. In many of the
polling places his people could not get in till eight o'clock.

He did not wish to trouble Mr. Forster further. He was
quite an advocate of the ballot, but although he
had been left out he did not think that

the ballot had been conducted viciously, but with
inexperience.

Mr. SimoN and Mr. PRITCHARD then spoke to irregu-
larities which they had noticed. The latter remarked on
the difficulties of filling up the ballot-papers without,
touters seeing in whose interest they were filled up.

Mr. PRICHARD said that he knew of two instances in
which persons voted twice, and they were quite willing to
come up and say so.
Mr. FORSTER said if any person voted twice it was
illegal under the ninetieth section of the Act..
He said he was glad that the elections hal
come to a favourable termination, and he was not
surprised to have some complaints against this election,.
but he had expected more. It was one of the most won-
derful elections that had ever been known in
London, . and he did not suppose that so many
had ever voted before. He had heard of one'
or two instances of improper conduct, but he
could not say anything about it as he had not heard the
other side. They must take into consideration that this
was a new election, exciting, he was happy to say, more
interest than any other election had done. (Hear, hear.)
Another feature was that it was a new mode of voting
quite distinct from parliamentary election, and it was also
a new constituency. With reference to the cases that had
been pointed out to him, he could only say that he thought
that, they would generally be altered at the next election.
Some suggestions had been laid before him, and one he
thought was of the utmost importance—that was that
there were no alphabetical lists of voters, and he
only wondered that they had gone on so well
without them. But they must remember that there would
be another election bill to come before the House, and that
the present bill only gave them the power up till September.
The hon. gentleman concluded by stating that great care
would be taken with the framing of the new Election
Bill.

A second deputation was received from the Roman
Catholics, introduced by Mr. Kavanagh, of a similar
nature.

THE LONDON SCHOOL BOARD.

Yesterday being the day appointed for the election of a•
president and secretary of the Metropolitan School
Board, a, meeting for that purpose was held in
the Court of Common Council at the Guildhall, under the
presidency of Mr. Alderman Cotton. All the members of
the board were present, amongst them being Lord
Lawrence, Mr. M'Cullagh Torrens, M.P., Professor
Huxley, Miss Garrett, M.D., Miss Elizabeth Davies, Sir
F. Lycett, Mr, Hepworth Dixon, Sir F. Tillotson, Dr.
Angus, Dr. Barry, Canon Cromwell, Mr. W. H. Smith.
M.P., Lord Sandon, and Mr. C. Reed, M.P.
The CHAIRMAN said they had met under peculiar cir-
cumstances—to carry out a very great and very important
Act of Parliament, and he was quite sure from the con-
stitution of the board and the spirit in which they had
assembled, that they would be one of the most harmonious,
united, and one of the best spirited bodies ever created
for the purpose of carrying out an Act of Parliament.

After sonne discussion, it was resolved at first to deter-
mine whether any salary should be attached to the office
of chairman.

Professor HUXLEY remarked that it would be perfectly
consistent with the terms of the Act of Parliament if
they earnest° a conclusion not to award the chairman at
all, and he would move that sthe office should
be held independently of payment, except that
which would be sufficient to cover personal expenses.
There were two theories respecting the chairmanship.
According to one, the chairman was to be the actual re-
presentative of the board, and the greater power of
the body was to be concentrated in his hands. In that
case the functions of the board would be limited ; they
would have not much more to do in practice than to
register the edicts of that powerful person, and he did not
think that was a position in which the members should be
placed. There were many who represented different
views and different interests, and they should see that
none should have predominance. (Hear, hear.) The
other theory was that which he held himself, and that
was that the chairman should be a person having the
charge of the high policy of the board, that he should
possess broad views and administrative capacity—a
person who would be looked to with respect, and would
have the tact to soothe the differences which might arise.
(Hear, hear.) In that case it would be desirable not to
pay the chairman, for the sake of the chairman himself,
for the sake of the board, and last, though not least -
though he was by no means pledged to economy—for the
sake of the ratepayers. (Applause.)
Mr. LUCRAFT seconded the resolution.
The Rev. J. MEE advocated the insertion of the words
"at present " in the resolution, so as not to embarrass
the future action of the board.
Miss GARRETT was entirely in accord with Professor
Huxley in his opinion as to what was best to be done on
the question.
After remarks pro and con, the resolution of Professor
Huxley was carried by a majority‘of 32 to 14.
It having been decided that the voting for Chairman
should be taken by ballot,
Sir T. TILsoN proposed Lord Lawrence as chairman of
the board, believing that the scientific and statistical in-
formation which he possessed, and the fact of his having
had the management of a large government, peculiarly
qualified his lordship to preside over an assemblage like
the present.
Mr. CHARLES BUXTON seconded the proposition.
, Mr. GOVER proposed Mr. Charles Reed, M.P., urging
that that gentleman's connection with the ragged school
movement well adapted him for the position.
This was seconded by Mr. SCRUTTON.
Mr. CURRY proposed, and Sir FRANCIS LYCETT seconded
Mr. M'Cullagh Torrens, M.P.
Professor Huxley was also proposed and seconded by
the Rev. Mr. Rogers and Mr. Clarke.
The voting was on the " exhaustive " system, and the
first result was Lord Lawrence, 21; Mr. Reed, 10 ; Mr.
Torrens, 9, and Mr. Huxley, 6. Professor Huxley
retiring, the second poll resulted as follows :—Lord
Lawrence, 22 ; Mr. Reed, 13 ; and Mr. Torrens, 11. The
issue then rested with Lord Lawrence and Mr. Reed, and
the former was eventually declared to be elected by a
majority of 29 to 17.
Lord Lawrence having acknowledged the honour con-
ferred upon him, Mr. Charles Reed was proposed by
Canon Cromwell as the Vice-Chairman. Professor Huxley
was also nominated, but retired in favour of Mr. Reed,
who was unanimously elected.
A discussion ensued relative to the officers that were
required for carrying out the business on the board,
but in the end a sub-committee, consisting of the
chairman, vice-chairman, and one member from each
division, was appointed to prepare a report and recommend
the salaries which should be paid.
This terminated the proceedings.

At a meeting of the Manchester and Liverpool
Agricultural Society on Wednesday, it was definitely
agreed that next year's show should be held at Liverpool.
The site proposed for the exhibition is at Spekelands, near
Edgehill, on some property belonging to Sir .Hardman
Earle. Liverpool is expected to raise a fund of £l,OOO or
£1,200, and the committee hope that Lord Derby will
undertake the duties of president.

SEED CORN FOR FRANCE.—AL'Drouyn de Lhuys,
late member of the Imperial Council, and President of the
Society of Agriculturists of France, has sent a letter to
the Earl of Fowls, President of the Smithfield Show
be made by
English Club, suggesting
agriculturists tat gifts
others,of se e w
d cornith a view of relieving
may
thellistress that seems to be impending over the devasta-
ted districts of. France. A public meeting will be held
on the subject in a few days. The French Minister of
the, Interior will order any gifts of corn to be stored in
French ports until it can be transmitted to the
districts where it is most needed.