The Sun.
London, England, 1851-11-18 00:00:00

ST. JAMES'S NATIC'NAL SCHOOLS, CURTAIN

ROAD.

The opening festival of the National Schools 'in the
Curtain-road, held on Thursday (by an assembly of
nearly 500 ladies and gentlemen), was a most gratifying
sight, and, as well from the excellence of the arrange-
ments as from the efforts of the Rev. J. W. Markwell,
M.A., the incumbent, appointed a year since by the
Bishop of London, assisted by the Rev. H. Davis, M A.,
and the committee of ladies and gentlemen connected
with them. The collection amounted to 801. (a sum
of 1,2001. having been collect3d by the untiring exer-
tions of the Rev. J. W. Markland and the committee of
philanthrophists). We understand that the committee
have become responsible to a serious amount for this
spirited undertaking; and it is to be hoped, considering
the educational destitution of the surrounding neigh-
bourhood, and the wants supplied by these schools, that
the wealthy and generous who take an interest in
Church education will come forward to relieve the com-
mittee from a portion at least of the heavy respon-
sibility.
The edifice is about 115 feet long and 63 feet wide,
exclusive of the out-buildings and yards. The building
contains a acboel•room, 46 feet by 40, suitable for 300
boys; another, 40 feet by 30, suitable for 200 girls; and
an infants' school, 30 feet by 25;suitable for 120 children.

HONORARY REWARDS TO BRITISH

SEAMEN.

We have much pleasure, says the Shipping Ga-
zette, in reporting that the following medals or marks
of distinction have been sent by foreign Governments
to the British Government, for the respective persons,
and for the respective services, mentioned below.
Some of these have already been forwarded by the
Board of Trade to the persons for whom they are in-
tended, and the remainder will be delivered as soon
as the respective addresses can be discovered, viz. :
To Captain Lawrence, late of the brig Steadfast, a
silver medal of the Ist class, awarded by the French
Government, for receiving on board and taking to Ca-
racas the shipwrecked crew of the French vessel Cle-
mire.
To Captain Janes Mylie, late of the brig Eliza, a
silver medal of the first class, awarded by the French
Government, for receiving on board eight French sailors
in distress.
To Captain Robert D} et, late of the Eliza Shaip, a
silver medal of the lat class, awarded by the French
Government, fir giving assistance to the crew of the
French barque Guillaume Tell.
To Captain Edward Dane, late of the Princess Maude,
a silver medal of the Ist class, awarded by the French
Government, for having afforded assistance to five French
sailors in distress.
To Captain Wills, late of the Caroline Schenck, a
silver medal of the Ist class, awarded by the French
Government, for having received on board six ship-
wrecked French sailors.
To Captain John Urquhart and two of his crew, se-
verally, viz., William Robertson (or Robinson), and
John M'llonald, a silver medal, awarded by the Russian
Government, for havjng, when serving ou board the
Elizabeth, in 1849, rescued from droWning two Russian
sailors.
To Captain Farren, of the English schooner Eagle,
a diamond ring, awarded by the Turkish Government,
for saving the crew of a Turkish vessel, of Beyrout, in
1849.

THE SINGULAR ZOOLOGICAL
PROBLEM SOLVED.

The blanket or wrapper swallowed by the boa con-
strictor at the Zoological Gardens, in the Regent's Park,
was disgorged by the reptile in the night of Saturday,
the Bth instant, after having been five weeks and one
day in the animal's body. The watchman on going his
rounds that night saw the animal labouring to get rid of
the blanket, a part of which protruded from its mouth,
and be assisted it in doing so by taking hold of and
pulling the Wallet gently, for which act of kindness it
was thought that the Le,a seemed grateful, inasmuch as
it offered no opposition, and did not strive to injure him.
On examination the blanket was found to be much
shrunken in size, and it was divested of the greater
portion of the loose wool or hairy filaments composing
its surface; it was much saturated with moisture, and in
many parts covered by a slimy saliva. Originally the
blanket measured about five feet by tour feet, but like all
those used in the reptile house, it had bean folded in hell
and sewn together. There seems to be no doubt that
the following circumstances led to the gorging of the
blanket: Every Friday afternoon live rabbits or
pigeei.a are given to the boas, and these are devoured
by them, or suffered to remain is the cage, according
as these reptiles are hungry or otherwise. On the night
of the occurrence in question two rabbits had been given
to the boa, only one of which was eaten. It is conjec-
tured that when the boa coiled its body and seized the
rabbit, it must also have taken hold of a portion of the
blanket, which it slavered over as well as the body
of the rabbit, and then swallowed the blanket as a con-
tinuity of the rabbit. The boa was a present to the
Zoological Society; it was brought to England by an
officer, who gave it about four months ago; it is a very
fine one, but had not been in a healthy state, and was
just becoming lively and agile when the casualty took
place; it has now an extremely attenuated appearance,
and drinks frequently, probably because of the great
absorption of the liquids of its body by the blanket.
No blame whatever can attach to any person for neglect
or want of attention to the boa, because Mr. Hunt, the
head keeper, who was iu bed when the watchman went
to him, immediately dressed himself, and hastened to
the reptile house; but his apartments are on the ono-
site side, and at a considerable distance from the tunnel,
and when he reached the place the whole of the blanket
had disappeared. To guard against a similar occur-
ren::'e, it has been determined to take away toe blankets
at the time the rei4ilos of this class have their food left
in the cage.— Sividay Pver.

Dispatches were received y•-sttrday at the Colonial
office from the Governor of Gibraltar.

An inquiry has been held at Wolverhampton,
before the Under. Sheriff and a special jury, to as6ess the
compensation to be paid by the Oxford, NI, orcester, and %Vol-
verliamwon Railway Company for 423 yards of freehold
land, forming part of the site of 111 r. William Bailey's exten-
sive chemical works in liorsley-fields, and a,',,so for 2,011
square yards of prebendal lands adjoining the works, and
runni3g parallel with the intended goods station of the
Stour Valley line. The total sum claimed by the plaintiff
was 3,7411. Os. td. ; the jury gate a verdict for 1,7051. 43.
Ilia Excellency Sir Henry Bulwer, accompanied
by Lady Bulwer, is expected to embark. at the end of ;his
week for New York, en route to resume his diplomatic func-
tions at the seat of the American Government.