The Sun.
London, England, 1846-10-26 00:00:00

FLOUR FRoll CALCUTTA,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Tayistock Hotel, Friday Evening.
SIR,—In the third column of the third page of your
publication of this evening, I observe a paragraph re-
garding the importation of East Indian flour, which you
appear to consider as something remarkable. For your
information I b2g to inform you that it is by no means
novel or extraordinary. Flour has been imported into
this country from Calcutta to a great extent during the
last eighteen years, being the produce of the " Calcutta
Strand Flour-mills," and recently of the " Cossipore
Establishment." It is not, however, adapted fur htniT;n
consumption, but ex2lusively employed as " sizing " for
manufacturing purp Res.
Whilst on the subject, I may remark, that wheat to
any extent might be imported from the rich and feaile
Tallies of the Ganges were the ports of this country oi.en
to its free admission.—l have the honour to subscribe
myself, Sir, your most obedient servant,
AN EAST INDIA MERCHANT.

COMMERCIAL TRAVELLERS'
SCHOOLS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Commercial Travellers' Schools, 51, Cheapside,
October, 1846.
which
Sin,—From the lively
you exhibit on
all occasions to promote education, I venture to urge
p
upon your attention the following outline of an istitu-
don, now being formed for the purpose of clothing,
maintaining, and educating, the orphans and children of
deceased and necessitous commercial travellers.
This institution had its origin at a meeting of a few
commercial travellers in the month of July, 1845, who
being deeply impressed with the necessity for such an
institution, they at once resolved upon exerting them-
selves, and their influence with others, in order to found
one which should be creditable to the founders and
beneficial to the unprovidet children of their necessitous
brethren. Their first applications for subscriptions were
directed to their fellow travellers, who, ere six months
had elapsed, subscribed 3,0001. and upwards in aid of the
projected schools. Such an exhibition of zeal on the
part of the travellers, and earnest of their intention to
unite in raising and supporting this institution, was not
without its beneficial effects upon the principals of the
commercial firms, as is testified by the books of the
society, in which the names of nine firms, who have
subscribed one hundred guineas each, twelve who have
subscribed fifty guineas each, and ten who have sub-
scribed twenty guineas each, already appear. In the
month of July, 1846, (being twelve months only after
the suggestion for the formation of the schools), the
amount subscribed was 6,0001., the only expenses which
the society had incurred, were those of rent, printing,
and stationery ; their secretaries, managers, canvassers,
and collectors, were all honorary and zealous officers.
I mention these facts, not as boasting of a large fund
collected at a little expense, for you will be fully aware
that until the fund be increased three or fourfold the
benefits of this institution must be limited ; but I refer
to them as being an encouraging omen of what the tra-
vellers and their principals intend to do, and as an as-
surance that what they have generously begun will be
liberally supported to maturity. At present no public
canvassing has taken place, no extraneous power has
been called into action, but the individuals who first pro-
jected the institution, aided by their fellow-travellers,
have effected these satisfactory results—results produced
by voluntary means, and carrying with them a full
assurance that they will be followed by the speedy fell
of an everlasting monument to record the
benevolence of the travellers of the United Kingdom,
and the generosity of their principals.
I would also call your Attention to the principles upon
which the projectors of the institution are laying its
foundation. The schools will be open to the children of
both sexes between the ages of seven and eleven, and
they will remain upon the foundation until the age
of fourteen. The children of parents of every religious
denomination will be alike eligible—the peculiar tenets of
their parents' religious professions will be strictly ob-
served, and their influence upon the child in no manner
interfered with in the course of instruction. With
View to produce concord, and avoid all distinction of
religious profession, the Church of England has been
agreed upon as the public place of worship to be attended
by all. Upon this foundation it is intended that all
shall be taught Christianity and morality, without any
interference with the peculiar sect which their parents
may profess. All will be eligible who shall be found
deserving.
With such liberal principles for the foundation, with
such zealous operatives as the commercial travellers for
its strength, and with so praiseworthy an object in view,
nothing, I believe, can retard or prevent the prosperity
of this benevolent undertaking, so long as the travellers
continue to exercise their united endeavours in its behalf.
The Committee of Management are now directing
their attention to obtaining the patronage of the royal
family and nobility, to the formation of canvassing com-
mittees throughmit the kingdom, and the arrangement of
a set of rules to carry out the design of the institution.
Their anxious endeavour is to obtain a sufficient fund to
distribute the benefits of the schools as soon as possible
Apologising for the length of this communication,
I remain, Sir, your very obedient servant,
GEORGE LAWRENCE, Hon. Sec.

LONDON AND BLACKWALL RAIL
WAY.

On Friday a meeting of shareholders in the London and
Blackwell Railway was held at the George and Vulture
Tavern, Cornhill, for the purpose of considering what
measures ought to;be adopted for improving the position
and prospects of the railway. Major Richardson was
called to the chair.
Mr. BRYSON, through whose instrumentality the
meeting had been got up, and who represented the inte-
rests of some very extensive shareholders, stated at some
length the considerations which had induced him to call
his brother shareholders together. He would strongly
advise the shareholders to make an offer of the London
and Blackwell line to the Eistorn Counties or the Lon-
don and North-Western, and he had every reason to
believe that, whatever proposals they made to those com-
panies, would be favourably entertained. Indeed, he
thought it proper to inform the meeting that he (Mr. B.)
had had an interview on the subject with Mr. y
the chairman of the London and North-WesGlternnn, Company, and from what passed on the occasion he felt
justified in saying that the London and North-Western
were very anxious to obtain the London and Bliekwall
line. He concluded by strongly recommending the
shareholders to take the affairs of the company into
their own hands, and no longer to trust to the efforts of
the present directors.
Several other gentlemen then addressed the meeting,
each succeeding speaker taking substantially the same
view of the matter as that which had been taken by
Mr. Bryson. Eventually a motion was made and una-
nimously agreed to that a committee be appointed to
wait on the directors, in order to institute in
-
vestigation into the state of the company's affair a rigid and
to ask an explanation on various points of their conduct,
respecting which the shareholders are dissatisfied • and
iu the event of the directors refusing to furnish the de-