The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-25 00:00:00

and such amusement as they could not relish but
for that education.

Mr. Fox, at the meeting to which we have re-
ferred, was undoubtedly right when he attributed
much of the ill 'success attending mechanics' insti-
tutes to their Umited objects ; to the " low and
narrow views taken by their founders." By no
means denying the great utility of science in con-
nection with the practical engagements of the
mechanic, yet, if pursued "to the exclusion of
works of taste, works of imagination, and works
of general literature, a great mistake is made ;
imagination has made its discoveries as well as
learning and logic, in fact we owe to imagination,
perhaps, more discoveries than to any other
faculty," in this view we thoroughly concur.
There has been a hard dry character about nearly
all the school and institute instruction yet given.
We are a nation naturally grave enough, in all
conscience, and there is no reason why our educa-
tional system should increase that tendency. The
effort is, we fear, to debar young persons unna-
turally from that kind of reading which appeals
chiefly to the imagination ; it should be to train
that faculty as well as others ; to teach the dis-
tinction between the truly beautiful and the
tawdry attempts at imitation, and thus to furnish
to the adult through life the means of enjoyment
without dissipation. We know that we, as well
as Mr. Fox and Lord STANLEY, are dealing some-
what in geueralities, but the truth is that specific
suggestions would be of little service. The right
conception is what is wanted. The means are at
hand in, every library, almost in every book-stall.
Mr., Fox was also right in boldly confronting a
part of the otherwise able speech of Sir J. B.
StEUTTLEWORTH, by objecting on principle to the
basis of the present Government plan of educa-
tion. It is a premium on sectarian education ;
on training Episcopalian boys, Congregationalist
boys, Methodist boys, and the boys of any sect,
to regard the sectarian differences of their parents
as sacred, if their own—contaminating, if those
of others ; to separate in good-will those who
should be trained from infancy to regard each
other only as fellow-citizens, neighbours, and
brothers ; their mutual differences being thus felt
to be of the most trivial consequence compared
with their points of agreement. Bigotry is tena-
cious of life enough, without being unnaturally
prolonged and fostered by our training of our
boys and girls. It would be of the happiest ten-
dency if, in childhood and youth, the time when
life-long tendencies and attachments are formed,
the school was untangled with the sectarian
bigotry which disgraces our land—than have
actually, as things are, to learn in later life that
their religious differences make no difference be
tween them in the sight of their MAKER, and
ought to be no cause whatever for alienation.

THE BRITISII FLEET FOl NAPLES.

It is, we believe, the intention of the Government to
despatch half.a-dozen of our first-class screw gun-boats
to Naples. At Spithead at the preseit time, eight of
this class of vessels, well manned and provisioned, are
awaiting sailing orders. In addition to these vessels,
there are at Spithead, all ready for instant sailing, the
Caesar, 91, screw ; the Colossus, 81, strew ; Dauntless,
33, screw ; Malacca, 17, screw ; Gqvgon, 6, paddle ;
Perseverance, 6, screw ; and Urgent, 6, screw.

LATEST NEWS.

The Paris correspondent of the Times (second
edition) says :
" The departure of the ultimatum is still de-
layed, but this is not to be attributed to doubt
or hesitation, but to a desire carefully to mature
it, and not to act with precipitation. There can
be no doubt that it will go, and that within a
day or two, unless in the interval intelligence
should come that the King of Naples has given
way. It is not, however, in expectation of this,
or in any sanguine reliance on the success of
Barcn Hubner's good offices, that the slight delay
occurs, which may rather be explained by a re-
gard to the deliberation and dignity proper to be
observed in such grave circumstances. Reports
have been current of an interview between Count
Walewski and the M trquis Antonini, in which
strong representations were said to have been made
by the latter ; but no importance is to be attached
to this, and indeed the affair as it now stands may
be considered as removed altogether beyond the
scope of the Neapolitan Minister at Paris."

The correspondent of the Morning Post (second
edition) says—

It is probable that the present week will pass
over before the French and English Governments
take any decided steps regarding the departure of
the squadron for the Bay of Naples. lam igno-
rant of the reason why a delay has occurred unless
it be dictated by an impression that conciliatory
news may be expected from Naples.
General Martini, the Austrian Ambassador at the
Court of the Two Sicilies, left Vienna on the 22d
for Naples. We may therefore conclude that the
Cabinet of Vienna has definitely agreed as to what
position the King of Naples shall assume, and how
far he is to resist or comply with the demands of
England an d Fran ce. The assurance of some answer
coming from the Cabinet of King Ferdinand by
telegraph is the cause, I am told, why the Allied
squadron is not already approaching the Bay of
Naples. Not to expect a Shuffling answer when
such Governments as that of Naples and Vienna
unite would be a proof of forgetfulness of the
past. We have no reason to anticipate anything
but an attempt to evade the demands made
on his Sicilian Majesty by promises to amelio-
rate the political condition of the Two Sicilies at
some future period. The dignity of the Crown
will probably be put forth, &e., &c., and Austria
will—having suggested the reply—approve of
the same ; urge France to withdraw her action,
and leave England isolated. Perhaps that is the
very best thing that could occur. At all events,
from all I hear, it is well that her Majesty's Go-
vernment should be prepared for a repetition of
that trickery which the Cabinets of Vienna prac-
tised throughout our late dispute with Russia.

A Berlin letter of the 19th, in the Nuremberg
Correspondent, says :—" Accounts from Vienna
represent that the object of the visit of Baron
Hubner to the King of Naples is to induce him
to accept, not all the demands of the Western
Powers, but the more important of them, and to
come to an understanding with him as to their
details. In the event of the King consenting to
this, Austria offers to act as mediatrix, so as to
cause the Western Powers to accept the conces-
sions be may offer. The appearance of an en-
croachment on the sovereignty and independence
of the crown of Naples is to be avoided, if the
King can be brought to an arrangement. A
period will, it is true, be fixed for the execution
of the engagements of the King, but it will not
be made too short, and the execution of the mea-
sures will be abandoned to the Neapolitan Go-
vernment itself. These details come from a very
good source."

The contingency so valorously contemplated
by Sir JOHN FALSTAFF in Windsor Forest, to
wi'; the heavens " raining potatoes," would hardly
100 paralleled in extravagance if we said the
Leavens have of late years been dropping mile-
stones on the track of the agricultural interest.
Easily moved, but slow to move, our agricultural
friends have really been " moving on," as a per-
usal of the reports of their annual society meet-
ings would abundantly testify, were their pro-
gression not, as it is, too patent to render the
infliction, as some might deem it, unnecessary.
Not only have they set their shoulders to the
Agricultural wheel, but they have taken to fill up
the ruts of Protection, and supply themselves with
less cumbrous vehicles for carting their produce.
The Anglo-Saxon blood so long slumbering in them
has undergone the process of oxygenisation, and
pulses through their veins with something like
pristine vigour. Depending more and more on
themselves, they have learnt the wisdom of self-
reliance, and acquired the thews and muscles,
and, to a more limited extent, the intelligence
and the enterprise, to turn their experience to
good account. Wo are heartily glad of it, and
in proof of our good-will recommend them not to
loiter, but to set up the milestones on their way
with all reasonable despatch.
The reader has but to turn to another column
to find a fresh proof of the progress being made
by the agricultural community. In our report
of the proceedings at the Herts Agricultural So-
ciety's Annual Meeting, which was honoured, it
will be seen, by the presence of the American
Minister to the English Court, he will find the
distinguished chairman, Sir E. B. LYTTON, Bart.,
administering some good advice to his bucolic
hearers in relation to agricultural statistics.
Nothing, it may be said, is easier given, and few
things seldomer taken, than the article in ques-
tion. True ; but the proof of progress to which
we refer is not the administration of good advice
by the chairman—though that is something—but
the manner in which it was received. Granted,
the pill was coated with sugar and otherwise
adroitly exhibited, and excited no tumultuous
expressions of gratitude ; but there were notice-
able marks of approval, unaccompanied by any of
disapproval ; and this, when the sturdy resolu-
tion of the farmer in defence of his real or sup-
posed interests is taken into account, must be
regarded as significant of decided progress. It is
something to find the farmers of Herts, who, we take
it, are not 'n advance of their brethren elsewhere,
listening, after this fashion, to a denial of their
being opposed tu "a good, judicious, and concilia-
tory system of agricultural statistics", though that
denial was couched in a vindication of their in-
telligence. It may, however, be deemed invidi-
ous in us to draw more attention to this subject,
since to dwell on it is to bring to recollection the
facts that in Ireland and Scotland no difficulty is
found in obtaining agricultural statistics, while
the need for them is palpable to any intramural
intelligence. Among the more salient points of
the bucolic speech of the hon. baronet may be
noticed his frank endorsement of the dictum of
Lord LONSDALE ," that the two great problems
which agriculturists had to solve were—first, the
degree to which mechanical inventions might be
applied in cheapening human labour ; and, se-
condly, the degree to which the sewage of towns
might be used to cheapen the cost of those
manures with which they were already familiar.'
A dictum, let us say creditable to the utterer,
being characterised by much practical good sense.
Not less noticeable are the comments of Sir E.
B. LYTTON on " the precious peace," and the
declaration of his opinion that "we ought care-
fully to cherish that militia (for the most part
taken from the class of agricultural labourers) of
which they were so proud as a nursery for the
regular regiments of the line." We have left
ourselves but little space to notice the CHAIR-
MAN'S generously-conceived and happily-worded
speech, by which the health of the American
Minister was prefaced, nor
.that high-class
gentleman's reply ; suffice it to say generally of
both they were worthy of each, and admirably
c Aculated to promote good feeling between the
t tvo countries at a time when such feeling is
likely to be of essential service to the cause of
liberty.

A letter from Galatz of the" 9th says :—" The
commission on the frontiers of Bessarabia has
traced the frontier from the sea to Bolgrad,
where it arrived last evening. This having been
done in the course of a week, it may be hoped
that the whole frontier can'be traced by the end
of the month, or by the beginning of October.
The commissioners are to leave to-morrow with-
out stopping at Bolgrad. The frontier was traced
by means of an ordinary plough, which accom-
panied the commissioners. The dispute relative
to Bolgrad has not yet been terminated, and the
commissioners are waiting for instructions about
it."

"A letter from Athens," says the Emancipa-
tion of Brussels, " states that the representatives
of England and France have handed to the Pre-
sident of the Council a list of a Ministry drawn
up by them in common. The Queen Regent has
not accepted this list, alleging as a reason the
absence of the King."

FRANCE.

PARIS, WEDNESDAY EVENING.

It i, rumoured here that the Emperor Napoleon
will shortly meet the Emperor of Russia at Nice.
" The Emperor and Empress," says a letter from
Biarritz, " on Sunday heard mass at the chapel of
this place. In the afternoon, the Sisters of Camp
de .Prats, accompanied by those of the Misericorde
and the hospitals of Bayonne and St. E-prit, were
received at the villa, and saw the Prince•lmperial,
the Empress herself conducting them to the room
in which his Imperial Highness was lying. Their
Majesties afterwards conversed with them for some
time, and again inquired as to the number of the
poor in the neighbourhood, the resources of their
establishments, and other details. In the evening
there was a reception and ball at the villa."

M. Jerome Bonaparte and his son arrived at
Havre the evening before last, and alighted at the
Hotel do l'Europe.

The Moniteur publishes a decree promulgating
the Castotns bill voted by the Legislative body
during the last session.

BOURSE, Sept. 24.—The panic still continues,
and heavy sales produced a further decline in R3nte
and Shares ; but prices afterwards rallied, and the
tone of the market has considerably improved.
The following were the last quotations :

Cash. fr. s. End of Month
4i per Cents (xd) 9l 50 —f. —e.
3 per Cents 69 50 63 45

New Loan

69 20

Bank Shares 4,100 Roman
Credit Mobilier 1,660 Austrian
Belgian Five 5........ Spanish Threes
Piedmontese(s). 9O 59 Home Debt 39

z=l, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING SEPTEMBER 25, 1 ;,!.cfi: