The Sun.
London, England, 1846-12-24 00:00:00

Sl7 N 7 DECEMBER 24, 1846.

Legislature, understanding its duties, would have
met such a proposition in this spirit :—" Upon
the most skilful arrangement of houses in
towns and cities that can be devised, it is difficult
to admit to the rooms sufficient light and air. This
difficulty must necessarily increase as a city enlarges,
and the number of streets and houses Increase.
We ought, under such circumstances, rather to offer a
bounty to builders for plans that they may secure to
houses the admission of the largest amount of light and
air. Nature which has made those elements indispensa-
ble to human existence, has provided them fur the usE
of human beings freely, in unlimitt d abundance. It i,
not for us to step in between God and the people, and
by laying a tax upon the light of Heaven and the breath
of life, to render them absolutely unattainable by large
classes of the population." A wise Legislature, under-
standing its duties, would have acted in accordance with
this feeling ; for it would have foreseen what has actually
happened, that the operation of the window duties would
be to shut out the sun from multitudes of human beings,
and to compel them to breathe, in darkened rooms, a
poisoned air. The consequences to the people of breath-
ing this poisoned air have been fully shown ; but tht-
consequences of living in dark rooms, to which no ray
of sunshine ever penetrates, are'not so gererally known,
though they are weir understood by those who have
attended to the subject.

PRICE SD.

STATE EDUCATION.—LORD
MORPETH.
YORK, TUESDAY EVENING.—The half yearly meeting.
of the York and Ripon Diocesan Board of Education
was held in York this afternoon, and was attended by a
numerous and highly influential assembly. There were
present—Lord Morpeth, Lord Wenloelt, the Lord Mayor
of York (George Hudson, Esq., M.P.), the Bishop of
Ripon, the Archdeacons of Cleveland and of the East
Riding of Yorkshire, the Rev. Canon Harcourt, the
lion. Ifoward, George Legsrd, Esq., Egerton
Vernon Harcourt, Esq., a great number of the c:ergy
of the city and county, and a vast concourse of the laity.
The business of the meeting was prefaced by an ex-
amination of the pupils in the newly-established Dio-
,zesan Training School, which was conducted by the
Lord Bishop of Ripon, the Venerable the Archdeacun
~f Cleveland, and the Rev. the Principal of the
Institution.

Lord MORPETII presided, and, in aeknowledging a
vote of thanks at the conclusion of the proceedings of
he day, he spoke as follows :—As this question has
been moved, seconded, and regularly put to the meeting,
allow me, though I feel most unwilling to inflict any
lengthened trespass upon you, after you have been
already detained so long, to offer a few words of ac-
knowledgment and remarks.—(Hear, hear.) I must in
candour say that I was invited here to-day to eat my
dinner—(A laugh)—but, considering the time of year, it
has been very judiciously thought that people would not
like to stay so late away from their homes ; and I, for
one, feel quite satisfied with the feast of reason, and
with the intellectual repast that has been set before
us.—(Applause.) As I am, unhappily for my self; not
so constantly resident in this neighbourhood as I have
been during the few preceding years, and am now, in-
deed, more confined to the streets of London than to
those woods and forests with which I am nominally
associated, I have not had that opportunity of making
myself acquainted with the most recent proceedings
and actual statistics of this institution, as a person ought
to be, to be properly qualified to address you. But. I
feel that confidence, both in the principles upon which
it is founded, and in the superintendence and manage-
ment which are brought to bear upon it, that I am al-
ways ready, at a moment's warning, to express that
confidence, and to take part in its proceedings.—(Ap-
plause.) For instance, with reference to the examina-
tion of this day, I certainly feel, in some slight
particulars, that those who have been brought before us
have exhibited that timidity and nervousness which are
incidental to an exhibition of this nature; but I have
every reason to believe, and to be assured that their in-
struction, in all essential points, is carefully and skil-
fully conducted, and that they are thoroughly well
grounded in all those branches of knowledge in woich it
is most expedient they should not be deticieut.—(Ap-
plause.) And I think the Lord Bishop of Ripon has done
well—and what is there that he does not do well ?—in
twinging forward the actual testimony borne by the
different clergymen of the district to which masters
have losen sent from this establishment, which is just
the sort of corroboratory testimony of which we stand
most in need, and which affords the best encouragement
for us to persevere in those efforts which have been so
far bestowed on the institution.—(Applause.) Of course
I feel that in this place, and on this occasion, it will not
be fitting in me to enter into any of those controverted
questions which have excited public a tention of late to
a considerable extent, and which may be made the sub-
ject of discussion, and possibly of difference in the Le-
gislature. I will not encounter the topic as to how far
the State ought to act—how far the State ought to
move—or how far the Statmaght to stand aloof with re-
spect to the education of the people. I may, perhaps,
without incurring the imputation of great rashness,
venture to conjecture that the fittest course to pursue
would be, not that which is indicated by an extreme
view on either side of the case. I think it cer-
tainly possible that the State may meddle too much,
or leave alone too much; for, in dealing with such
a question—like the dinner we are not to eat—
there is always the double risk of things being over-
done and under-done:—(Laughter and applause.) But
I will certainly further venture to say, that with respect
to the country at large, I am not satisfied with the exact
state of things which prevails at present. I think there
is a call for more schools than we have—l think there is
a call for better schools than many of those we have—l
think that many of our systems are still imperfect—that
many of our masters are ill qualified for their office, an.i
almost all less well paid than we would wish.—(Hear,
hear.) And speaking here, in the midst of this institu-
tion, and in this comely and suitable building, in which
I am now glad to see it housed, I, for one, do not regret
the assistance that has been conferred by the State in
addition to local contributions and private munificence.
But one thing I think is absolutely clear, and in stating
it I may challenge contradiction, that whatever the State
may do—whether it shall leave the work of educa-
tion entirely alone, or whether it shall proceed so
far as the most venturous interferers would wish,
it is quite plain that there would still be much more
which private effort, superintendence, private generosity
must always do the best, and will frequently alone be
able to do.—(Applause.) Therefore I will express my
cordial hope, in concurrence with one of the resolutions
which has been adopted this day, that all of you who
are here present—all who are pleased and interested
with the exhibition we have witnessed—will feel en-
couraged to lend still more of a helping hand to an
institution which, I venture to pronounce, not only in
its present state, a source of great credit, but which
I am sure is capable of becoming a source of great
credit, to a far greater degree, to that large and im-
portant country to which we belong, and that you will,
each of you in your separate spheres, and according to
your several opportunities, supply that, which I am
sure, if you leave alone, no one else will exactly supply.
—(Applause.) Ido not propose to touch now upon the
question of the yeoman school. Many of you will be
aware that that is a subject in which I have taken a
deep interest, and about which I feel extremely anxious.
I have had an opportunity, however, of touching upon
the subject before, and for that reason, as well as for de-
taining you an undue length of time, I will abstain from
entering further into it at present. You will see that
the building is fast approaching to completion,—at least
one-half of what we first intended it to be; and I hope
from the encouragement we shall receive from those
parents who choose to send their children to that insti-
tution, and from the more direct contributions of friends,
we shall be enabled to double that building as at present
erected, and also to procure a model farm and other
appliances of that sort, which will be peculiarly useful
to promote the object of such an institution.—( Applause.)
In bringing these few remarks to a conclusion, allow me
to exchange some brief congratulations upon the cir-
cumstance of our having met to-day for the first time
under this roof, and transacted the business of the insti-
tution in its own home. Let us all unite in wishing
it well, and in hoping that its whole future progress will
correspond with the auspicious beginning which, I
trust, we think it has this day received.—(Applause.)
My own fervent hope and prayer is, that this
institution will be a chosen and a favoured spot fcr sound
instruction, for practical acquirement, and for polite
accomplishment. I will hope that all those high and
gentle influences will dwell, my young friends, not only
in your school-rooms and your lecture-rooms; but in
your play-grounds, and in all your leisure hours, as well
as in all your hours of tsll.—(Hear, hear.) We do not
wish you to strain after a superficial gloss and glitter,
which will receive the momentary applause of society ;
but to study and foster those amenities of life—those
refinements of character—those graces of the heart—
those real good manners which the worldling may learn,
but which the real Christian must possess.—(Cheers.) I
cannot but think that even the very site of this building
has been most happily and most appropriately chosen.
Your institution, from its original object, and from
the nature of its composition, is closely connected with
the National Church. Well, you see directly before you,
morning, noon, and evening, the most beautiful fabric
connected with the Church of England. and I hope you
will never look at its grey walls and massive roofs,
towering as they do above the more humble building
around them, without remembering that you yourselves
ought to aspire to rise above the grovelling cares and the
low passions of the life around you ; and that you will
never see the first beams of the morning, nor the last
hues of evening reflected from its shining pyramids, or
its gorgeous traceries, without remembering that there
are still more exquisite proportions in the harmony of
well-regulated affections, and that there are sunsets still
more valuable in an honest spirit and in a well-spent
life.—(Applause.)

DWELLINGS OF THE POOR.
The first annual meeting of the members of the Me-
tropolitan Association for Improving the Dwellings of
the Poor was held yesterday, at the offices of the Asso-
ciation, 19, Coleman•street. Among the gentlemen pre-
sent were the Right Hon. the Earl of Radnor, Viscount
Ebrington, M.P., Mr. G. A. Kilgour, Mr. J. Kemplay.
Mr. Charles Gatliff, &c. Mr. John William Tottie, the
deputy-chairman, presided, in the absence of Sir Ralph
Howard, M.P.

The SECRETARY read the report, an exceedingly in-
teresting document, which set forth that the Parlia-
mentary Committee appointed to inquire into the health
of towns disclosed a state of circumstances connected
with the domestic habits and dwellings of the poorer
classes in the metropolis fearful to contemplate,
and urgently calling for a remedy. In numerous
cases whole families, parents, sons, and grown up
daughters, and in some, even two or three families,
resided together, day and night, in a single room,
and yet for that miserable accommodation the most
extravagant rents were paid. Two cellars 3s. per
week, parlour 45., first floor, 4s. 6d.,- second floor,
45., and attics, 3a. The entire rental of one street
in Drury-lane occupied in that way was 2,0004
per annum, while the average rental in Westminster for
a single room, not twelve feet square, was 2s. 1 lid.
rigorously exacted every morning. After mentionin.;
that a royal charter had been granted to the association,
the report went on to state that an agreement for a lease
for 99 years, at a rental of 90/. per annum, had been
entered into with the Brewers' Company, for a piece of
ground opposite to the church in the Old Pancras-road,
leading from King's-cross to Camden-town, which was
considered well adapted to, the purpose, b..ing situate in
the immediate neighbourhood of a crowded district, and
on a healthy and well-drained site. The object of the
erections was to ensure to each family the greatest
amount of aeoommciation at the lowest practicahle ex-

pense. The rooms were to be so contrived that an
ample quantity of light would be secured to each,
I while every set would be perfect and independent of
others. Each dwelling was -
at the rate of 40 gallons
and the means of carry
through a shaft accessible froth the sculler
building which the association purposce
consist of twenty-one sets of two
sets of three rooms, of various sizes,
above conveniences attached, thus furnishing ciwt Dings
proportioned to the requirements of different families,
ann to their means of payment. in cases were there
were two bed-rooms, each bed-room would have a sepa-
rate entrance from the sitting-room, and the larger
bed-rooms a fire-place. Under the slate sink in each
also b
sculleryeameat-safe fix
would be
sttheexternal box, .uld
The living rooms would be furnished with a range,
boiler, and oven, and the shutters in the ground-floor
rooms so contrived as to form a table during the day.
A considerable space in the front of the building,
formed by the projection of the wings, would be en-
closed by iron rails, so as to afford a protected space
for the children of the residents. A large space 'would
also be left at the back fur a drying ground. The corn •
wittee of works had carefully examined all the systems
and plans that had been suggested for ventilation,
but they regretted to state that no plan had
come under their consideration which appeared
to them sufficiently ee cure from the danger of
failure to warrant their adoption of it. Accord-
leg to the present mode of assessment, each set. of
rourns having four windows was liable to 7-id. per Week
window duty, while a similar set of rooms in the Albany,
or in the inns of court, or in either of the universities,
was liable to a tax of only lid. per set---i, special ex-
emption in favour of the wealthier classes. The directors
confidently hoped that an alteration in the mode of
rating would shortly be effected. The plans for the
new building were now complete, and only awaited the
official seal of the authorities under the Metropolitan
Building Act for the commencement of the works.
Since September, 1841, 1,155 shares had been allotted,
almost entirely among the wealthy and aristocratic
classes. By the financial statement it appeared that
7,963/. 10s, had been received; 2,094/. 3s. 7d. expended;
and thats,B69/.. 6s. sd. remained in hand.
On the motion of the Earl orßanzeon the report was
received and adopted. The Noble Earl remarked that
the Metropolitan Association for the Improvement of
the Dwellings of the Poor was one of the most humane
and useful institutions he had ever heard of, and ex-
pressed his willingness to promote its object by every
means in his power.
A PROPRIETOR inquired whether the directors had
entered into any contracts for the erection of the
works.
The CRAIRMAN replied in the affirmative. A con-
tract had 13,en taken for 12,3451. The directors were
sanguine in the expectation that the works would
be completed within twelve months from the present
time.—(Hear, hear.)
The SECRETARY, for the information of the meeting,
observed that it had been calculated that the rents, as
fixed, at sums varying from 3s. to 6s. 6d„ would realise
a total rental of 1,4721.
After seine other forinal business, thanks were voted
to the chairman, and the meeting separated.

to be supplied
r clay, and w

tn; on r

ten having the

RAILII A 1 IN TELL g;ENCE.
TIIE RIVAL LINES TO WINDSOR.

STAINES. WEDNESDAY EVENING.—This afternoon, a-
ver) numerous meeting (nearly two hundred being pre-
sent). of the inhabitants of Staines, Stanwell, Ashford,
Bediunt, Felthain, Wraysbury, Littleton, and Lareham,
was held at the Literary Institution, fur the purpose of
taking into consideration the railway schemes proposed
to pass through those parishes. The London and South-
Western Company was represented uy Count Eyre and
Colonel Henderson (two of the directors), and Mr.
Drake, one of the solicitors; Mr. William Chadwiek,
vice-chairman, and the following provisional directors of
the Windsor, Staines, and South-Western Company
were also present:—Messrs. Frederick Ashby, J.
Bedborough, Captain Currie, R.N., Charles Finch, and
Apsley Fellatt. There were likewise present—A. 11.
Wood, R. Taylor (Lord of the Manor of Staines), Her.
Mr. Govett (Vicar), Dr. Heale, Dr. Simmons,
Henry Ashby (banker), IL S. Mawe, Messrs. E. and J.
Ashby, Holgate, Baker, Maunder, Maddeforcl, Allcutt,
Slarke, Harris, Hickman, South, Jackson, J. Adams, W.
Reed, &c.
Mr. R. S. Mawe, of Ashford House, took the chair..
Mr. CHADWICK, deputy-chairman of the Windsor,
Staines, and South-Western, addressed the meeting at
considereble length, and pointed out the great advan-
tages and conveniences which would accrue to the inha-
bitants of that town and its vicinity by the Windsor,
Staines, and South-Western branch being carried into
operation. The contemplated line would not only open
a communication between Staines and the town of Brent-
ford, but it would also connect Staines with Richmond
and Kew. He expected some gentleman was present on
the part of the Great Western Company, to give such
explanation as the meeting might require. As some mis-
apprehension existed is the minds of many persons with
reference to the extension of the Great Western Rail-
way from Paddington to Lambeth, he could assure the
meeting that, according to the notices that company had
given, they could proceed no further. They had applied
fur no powers to enable them to go either to London or
Waterloo bridges.—(Hear, hear.) The South-Western
projected line would enable passengers from Windsor,
Statues, and their vicinities to proceed to London-bridge
—an accommodation and an advantage a hich could not
fail to be considered of the highest importance.—
(Cheers.) The policy which had always been advocated
by the South-Western Company had been to charge the
very lowest possible amount of fares, and to give to the
public all the advantage of cheapness which it was pos-
sible for them to enjoy. Ile was quite convinced, when
the saving to be effected in point of distance, and ex-
pense was taken into consideration, independently of its
connecting Staines and its neighbourhood with every
part of Loudon, that the South-Western scheme could
not fail to be looked upon as by far the most superior
line, in every respect, of the two.—(Hear, hear.) Mr.
Chadwick concluded by expressing his desire to give any
further explanation the meeting might require.
THOMAS ASHBY, Esq., then rose and said that, be-
lieviog the line proposed by the South-Western Com-
pany to be the only one which would confer any benefit
on the neighbourhood, he felt great pleasure in proposing
the following resolution, which had his most cordial
support :—" That this meeting, having considered the
relative merits of the projected schemes (for affording
railway accommodation to the parishes and places before
mentioned in the notice calling this meeting) as pro-
moted by the Great Western and South-Western Rail-
way Companies respectively, are of opinion that the
lines proposed in connection with the latter railway are
calculated to accommodate the traffic of the district in a
rumour far superior to that projected by the Great
Western Railway Company, in addition to which they
offer a position and choice of stations in London, which
it is utterly impossible to obtain by means of any lines
connected with the former, and this meeting, therefore,
pledges itself to support the Windsor, Staines, and
South-Western schemes by every means in its power."
The resolution having been seconded by WILLIAM
REED, Esq., of Bedfont.

Mr. litTctuNas said he hoped there was some one pre-
sent on the part of the Great Western Company.
The CHAIRMAN put the question to the meeting, but
no answer was elicited.

Mr. APSLEY PELLATT observed that he had always
taken a deep interest in the welt Leing and prosperity of
the town and its neighbourhood. The prospect of their
having a railway to connect Staines with the metropolis
had new assumed a position of so favourable a character
as to enable them to make combat with even that power-
ful body, the Great Western Railway itself.—(Hear,
and cheers.) The merits of the South-Western branch,
coupled with the wishes of certain parties in very high
quarters at Windsor, led them to look forward to the
most satisfactory results. He would nmind the int et-
ing that the Great Western Company were only seeking
frsomhaPpapydditnogtsotnatteo.Nithnaet
Efoirmpsraenrds tono extend
further.theicie line
wea
there were no fears entertained of their meeting with any
opposition from the landed proprietors. The town of
Staines, especially, had given to the scheme a vast
and large amount of .support. With reference to the
mode which was adopted a short time since at Windsor,
of packing the meeting hell at the Town-hall, by per-
sons sent there by the Great Western Company, he must
say it was not to the credit of Mr. Saunders, and others
connected with that establishment, to have adopted such
unfair means to carry their measure.—(Hear, hear.) He
had only to hope that those assembled would afford such
support to the South-Western scheme as would give a
tone to other meetings of a like nature which take place
in the neighbourhood, and where the Great Western
pi-ople would be afraid, as they were to-day, to show
their faces.—(Rear, hear, and loud cheers.)
Colonel lIENDERSoN having entered into several ex-
planations of the plans of the South-Western Company,
and expressing his regret that no one was present to
explain the proposad plans of the Great Western Com-
pany, because he was sure the superiority of the one
over the other would be so manifest. _ _

The resolution was put by the Chairman, and carried
unanimously,-
Dr. HEALE rose to propose the second resolution,
which was to the following effect:—" That petitions to
both Houses of Parliament be prepared, in accordance
with the last resolution, and that the Members for the
counts of Middlesex be requested to present ono of such
petitions to the House of Commons, and to support the
prayer thereof." The Doctor said—After the unanimous
feeling which had been manifested by the meeting,it was
almost superfluous to add a single word in commendation
of the line. The townspeople of Staines had carried for-
ward their project against one of the most unprincipled
confederacies ever formed.

The resolution was at conded by the Rev. Mr. G OVETT,
and unanimously adopted.

_ .
After some further diseussion,in which Mr. RitchingsA
Mr. Holgate, and Jlr. licrr tch lc part,

It was moved by Mr. ADAMS, and seconded by Mr.
BARER, that the resolutions should be advertised in the
London papers, and copies of them transmitted fo the
London and South-Western; and the Windsor, Staines,
and South-Western Railway Companies.

HOLIDAYS AT THE COMMON-LAW OFFICES.—The
Masters of the several Courts of Queen's Bench, Com-
mon Pleas, and Exchequer will not attend to transact
business at their respective courts until after Wednesday
next. The Judgment, Rule, and Writ Offices, of each
court will also be closed for the purposes of business to-
morrow (Christmas Day), and continue closed until
Wednesday next. Notwithstanding the closing of the
offices, the days allowed by the practice of the court, or
by an order of the' court or judge, for pleading, replying,
rejoiniuc, &c., will run as usual, and the parries, in case
of default, at. liberty to sign judgment it the time has
4-x fired on Wednesday in‘a Lung, there being no express
exception in the Uto,..‘rmit) Process Act for those
lays being treated as dies non, as in the case of the
Thursaay before Good Friday, and the Wednesday in
Etwer week,

ROYAL SURREY THEATRE.
Lessee, Mrs. Frances Davidge.
On SATURDAY EVENING Next
Will be performed an original Drama, entitled THE HAND OF
CARDS—GAME, LIFE, STAKES, DEATH. The characters will
be supported by the whole of the talented Company.
To conclude with a grand fairy Pantomime, called THE KING
01' THE CASTLE ; or, Harlequin in the Land of Dreams. Har-
lequin, Herr Detain; Pantaloon, Herr R. Deulin ; Columbine, Mdlle.
Theodore ; Clown, Herr E. Dentin.

MORTALITY IN TII E METROPOLIS.--1 he total
number of deaths registered in the metropolitan districts
during the week ending Saturday, the 19th inst., was
1,262-50 amount, we regret to say, considerably above
the average of the five last autumns, in which the mor-
tality stands as 1,000. Under the head of zymotic
(epidemic, endemic, and contagious) diseases, the deaths
(171) fall, fortunately, a good deal short of the autumnal
average, but under almost every other class of disease a
very great increase of mortality is perceptible. Thus,
the deatl.s from diseases of the brain and nerves were
151 for the week, while in the average they stand as 151;
those from affections of the lungs and organs of respira-
tion amount to the enormous number of 525 for the
week, against 313 in the average; and those from dis-
easeeaes of the heart and bloodvessels to
.52, against 29.
deaths from violence, privation, cold, and intern-
pei twee, daring the
being - . During week were very nearly double the
am;umnal average,
46 against 2 D •
Ig the
same period 1,311 births wel.e re v,tered in the metro-
:an exutas over t:.© mortality of po I i tan districts, bew, Lb
only 49,
'l4

:

THE WEATIJER.—SUN OFFICE, DECEMBER 24.
r.IIERMOMETER, Lowest, 34; Highest, 39; Noon, 33.

BAROMETER, 29.29 —WIND E., rain.