The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-27 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING-; NOVEMBER 27, 1856.

LECTURE BY EARL STANHOPE AT THE WIL-
TON MECHANICS' INSTITUTE.

(From the Salisbury Journal.)
On Thursday evening Earl Stanhope gave a lecture on
" Geography" to the members of the Wilton Mechanics'
Institute, at the National School-room, which was densely
crowded on the occasion with the most respectable families
of the town and neighbourhood. The Right Hon. S. and
Mrs. Herbert, who had been entertaining a party of visi-
tors, including the Lord Bishop of Oxford, Sir C. Wood,
Bart., M.P., .1. Holford, Esq., and other distinguished
guests, were prevented from attending, in consequence of
intelligence having been received during the day of the
death of Prince Woronzow, Mr. Herbert's uncle. The lec-
ture was listened to with deep attention, and the noble
lecturer was frequentl3 applauded during its delivery.
The Rev. R. S. CHERMSIDE, in opening the proceedings
of the evening, said that it was his painful duty to apo-
logise for the absence of the patron of the society, who, in
consequence of the melancholy intelligence having been
received that day of the unexpected death of Prince Woron-
zow, only brother of the late Lady Pembroke, was not
able to attend in person to present his noble guest. He had,
however, commissioned him (Mr. Chermside) to express his
regret at being unable to attend on that occasion ; and with
these observations he would now introduce to the society
Earl Stanhope. (Applause.)

Earl STANEIOPE said that when he undertook, at the re•
quest of those who took the principal part in their chairs,
to deliver a lecture, he was left free as to the choice of a
subject, and he had selected " Geography," because he
thought ho could throw out some hints as to a more practical
course which should be adopted in studying this science.
He need not urge upon his hearers the great importance
of this study, for,none can doubt its utility in many points,
not only as to its own facts, but as collateral to many other
branches of study. The two main pillars of history were
chronology and geography. Thus, if an alleged historical
fact were doubted, there was no better test than that of
geography ; and by this means it must be possible to dis-
cern the true from the false, and thus to ascertain what
facts were entitled to our belief. To us, however, as na-
tives of England, there were some special reasons to com-
mend this study, especially in connection with the events
of the last few years. Who amongst us would wish to re-

main ignorant of those who brave feats of arms which had
been successively performed by our fellow-countrymen in
the East, or of the names of those places where the gentler
womanly virtues hati succourod the sick and wounded sol-

dier ? (Hear.) Such noble deeds of courageous daring
and of Christian charity could not bo devoid of interest.
Again, the study of geography had special claims upon our
attention when we considered there was no portion of the

world in which our colonial possessions were not more or
less extended. Who, for instance, would wish to be like

the old lady who was mentioned in Sir Thomas Munro's
journal, who asked him when he was going out as Gover-

nor of Madras, to step over and deliver a letter to her son

at Calcitta—(laughter)—places which were further dis-
tant than London and the Orkney Isles. After many

other observations on this subject, his lorttbhip next

proceeded to observe that many facts in connection
with our knowledge of geography corroborated the

Statements made in ancient times. Thus, for instance,
1,800 years after Ovid had written his ILtamorpho3o3

the origin of the source of the Nile still remained for dia•

covery. He then quoted from Addison's version of the
story of Phaeton the description of the flight of the rivers,
. _

which concludes as follows :

" The frighted Nile ran off, and underground
Concealed his head, nor can it yet be found."
The position of the head or fountain of the Nile was still
the greatest deficiency in the geographical knowledge of
the day. The noble lecturer next proceeded to point out
the most efficient mode of studying geography. He did

not, ho observed, pretend to have made any new discovery
(n this head; but as the more common mode was a great
tax on the memory, he was of opinion, from experience,
that a much shorter method could be adopted. The gene-
ral plan was to commit some book to memory which con-
tained the names of the rivers, seaports, inland cities, and

towns of various countries. He did not think this method

,he best, because it required much study, and was a great
,ax upon the memory. His advice was, not to study gec-

graphy as a separate science, but whenever they read his-
tory, to look out the places which were referred to on a
map. There was hardly any trouble in this method, while

at the same time it tended to fix the names of places firmly

on the memory. It was impossible for any one to take up
a newspaper to read without feeling the importance of a
knowledge of geography ; and, by the means which he had

pointed out, the memory would become much more reten-
tive than it array of man.. ..o..l3l.‘UVtiliect in an
~.
a lump This method of studying geography, however,
involved one thing—youshould never read history without
having a map before you, and there were plenty of maps

which could be procured at the present day at a very low
price. He also advised his hearers to couple withothis mode

of study the perusal of interesting books of travel, some of
which were equal to the most delightful novels. His own
experience had suggested to him this course, and he could
only say if it should benefit only one person who was thei.
present he should feel highly gratified. With respect to books
on the subject of geography, he might observe that none
ranked higher than those which were written by English
ladies. Mre. Somerville had never been surpassed by her

works on this science in connection with geology ; and
Lady Falmouth had written a most excellent elementary
work on this subject. His lordship next proceeded to

observe that not only was the study of geography most
useful, but a knowledge of this science could be employed
as a testing point in history and criticism. Take, for ia-
stance, one of the great events of the world—the battle of
Marathon. We had at the present time the authority of only
bdeefseetnedthaes
one side, the testimony of the Greek historians, the Persian
10
Here, O 0 t
he
n Athenians
woulds 0 00,
f 0 0 O
geography. Persians.
records being silent. The Greek historians stated that
advantagesnianyas
One of our own countrymen, Col. Lemke, had measured the
plain, and had proved by the number of feet and yards that
it was impossible that 500,000 persons could ever have stood
on this ground. This proved what had often been suspected,
that the account of the Greek historians was an exaggera-
tion. Here then was an instance of geography as applied to
history; he would now refer to the case of a book which
was well known, and which was, in fact, one of the most
delightful works of fiction that was ever published, the
novel of " Gil Blas," which was written by a Frenchman,
named Le Sage. The story was represented as taking
place on Spanish ground, and so jealous were the Spaniards
of the fame of this celebrated work, that it had been
asserted Le Sage was not the author, but that he found a
manuscript in the Spanish language, which he translated
into French. In this work, while there was found an ac-
curate knowledge of Spanish life and scenes, there were
many mistakes in a geographical point of view, whichit
was impossible for any one who had travelled through the
country to have made. The noble lord then cited several
cases in illustration of this point, observing particularly
that in " Gil Blas" it was stated that Grenada could b e
reached from Madrid in four days, whereas it would take
more than twice four days to perform the journey. He
next pointed out the groat interest which could not fail to
be excited by a comparison of countries at the present time
with the descriptions which were given of them in ancient,
or even in mediaeval times, and referred to Virgil's descrip-
tion of the climate of Italy, which was not at all borne out
by the climate in that country at the present day, which
had evidently undergone considerable variation through the
space of 2,0u0 years. He then observed that the study of
geography was connected with sublime speculations, seeing
that we had been enabled to determine the precise figure of
the earth, which was net completely spherical, but pro-
jected at the equator, and was flattened at the poles. This
had been determined by several modes, but more especially
by the pendulum, the mere act of its swinging determining
the precise figure of the earth. Did not this seem really
marvellous? He would endeavour to explain this in a few
words. What was it that made the pendulum to swing to
and fro ? It was the action of two forces—the one being a
propelling power, and the other force was that of attraction.
The propelling power was the same here as at the equator,

but the power of attraction varied, and the vibrations of
the pendulum were consequently longer or shorter as the
pendulum receded from or was nearer to the equator. By
the light of science, too, man had been enabled to calculate
the weight and measure of this great globe; and surely
such results could not be devoid of interest to the inquiring
mind. In proportion, too, as our knowledge increases, do
the most interesting discoveries come crowding upon us.
How interesting it was to read of the extinct races of birds
in New Zealand, some of which wore much larger than
the ostrich, being no less than 11 or 12 feet high. The
size of these birds was not, however, a matter of uncer-
tainty, for that able man, Professor Owen, was at this
moment, at the British Museum, constructing and repro-
ducing the skeleton of one of these gigantic birds. His
lordship then referred to the condor of South America,
and related an anecdote from a work written by Sir Francis
B. Head, describing a fight between one of those immense
birds and a Cornish miner, in which the latter came off
victorious. He then alluded at great length to the national
characteristics of South America, referring with much plea-
sure to the Journal and Researches of Mr. Chas. Darwin,
a work which, he stated, was full of interest, containing a
great mass of important matter respecting Buenos Ayres,
and which he recommended to the perusal of his hearers.
In dwelling on this part of his subject, the noble lord par-
ticularly alluded to the discovery of that gigantic and
wonderful plant, the Victoria Regis, and observed that
Sir Joseph Paxton had stated that the manner in which
this plant grew had first suggested to him the idea of the
supports of the Crystal Palace. (Applause.) He then
pointed out the contrast in South America between the
lofty Andes and the plains which extended hundreds of

miles, observing that such high mountains.and vast plains
were generally found together, and there Were geological
reasons which accounted for this fact. Ydr a long time
the Andes had been supposed to be the highest mountains
in the world, but the loftiest spot which gad hitherto been
discovered was the highest peak of the Himalayan moun-
tains in Asia—and it was possible that still higher spots
might yet be found—while the lowest poin% in the earth
was the Dead Sea, in which we are told in the Old Testa-
ment are engulphed the guilty cities of the Plain. His
lordship then narrated many anecdotes of the manners anil
customs of the people living in south America, quoting
from Mr. Darwin's interesting volumes. Htiobserved that
although some of the inhabitants of Buenos Ayres were
very rich, having thousands of cattle, sou of them were
so ignorant that they thought England; ,London, and
North America were allione place, while others said that
England and North America were close together, and
that England was a large town in the cer,tre of London.
Others were astonished at the act of washing the face, and
some of the people eyed Mr. Darwin with great suspicion,
believing that an Englishman was only another name
for a Turk. After many other observations, his lord-
ship went on to observe that a groat moral inference
might be drawn from a comparison of our awn with other
countries, and he then proceeded to refer to the climate of
Italy, which had been described by poets as being so 'charm-
ing and attractive, and cited from the works of Dr.r. Laing
and other travellers a few of the evils arising from the heat
and malaria in that country. He then referred to the new
discoveries which had taken place in Africa, and alluded to
the travels and researches of two missiceoari)s, named Kraff
and Redman. The latter had reached a point in Eastern
Africa which no European had over reached before, and
had seen something glitter above the horizon which ap-
peared like a mountain of snow. If they considered the im-
mense height of A mountain under the equator with snow
on its summit, it might be found to be superior in height
to the Andes or Himalaya mountains, and here perhaps
may be discovered the long-sought-for sources of the Nile.
It was curious to observe what account the people gave of
this mountain. They had no idea of snow, but they repre-
sented the mountain as guarded by evil spirits from the ap-
proach of men, and they stated that several persons who had
ascended the mountain had been attacked by those malig-
nant spirits, and had returned with the loss of their fingers
and toes; in other words, they had come back frost-bitten.
They had suffered most severely from the cold, and had
ascribed its effects to malignant fetiches. (Applause.) The
gentlemen to whom he (Lird Stanhope) had referred wero
men of high respectability, but they were not acquainted
with the classics. They had, however, furnished a state-
ment which was of the deepest interest to the classical
reader. They had heard, while in Africa, of a race od
pigmies, and they had witnessed enormous flights of crane a.
This circumstance had brought to his (Lord Stanhope'sj
mind a passage in Homer, which had been considered
as a fiction, that there was a place in Africa where the
men were fighting against the cranes. (Applause..)
After many other observations the noble lord said thn.t
he trusted however much his hearers might profit by such
a study as that to which he had alluded, they woul d
never cease to look with reverence to the Creator of all,
whose attributes were manifested in his numerous works.
He trusted they would look up to him with feelings of de-
votion; more especially living as they did within sight of
that beautiful cathedral which had been erected by the
wisdom and piety of men in by-gone ages. It was scarcelly
necessary that he should counsel them to regard such a
structure in a reverent spirit. He was sure that when they
heard the times in which that magnificent building w.as
erected termed a dark age, they would pause before tkuy
admitted the correctness of such an epithet ; for whatevcer
might have been the peculiar religious opinions of the mem
by whom it was built, they could not be regarded with
other feelings than those of reverence and respect. Hie
lordship then referred to the great Lord Clarendon, tine
historian, who, it was stated in his memoirs, when living
service in that
approached,
in this neighbourhood, never lost an opportunity of daily
visiting t hmeodrre he
ai , and
frequentedwho, at sh
the daily
a ago
edifice the nearer he hoped he was drawing to the gates of
stated thatthe theca
heaven. He trusted that with such feelings they would
contemplate that great work, and that they would feel
inspired with a proper reverence for all the works of a
benevolent and gracious Creator. In conclusion he would
say :
~

AU are but parts of one stupendous whole,
Whose body Nature is, and God the soul.
That changed through all, and yet in all the same ;
Great in the earth, as in the ethereal frame
Warms in the sun, refreshes in the breeze,
Glows in the stars, and blossouss in the trees,
Lives through all life, extends through 6,41 extent, -
.I3l.,;;iii;sin-C;t7-I.4soul7linfor7l9".":reniOC-tal part,
As full, as perfect, in a hair as heart ;
As full, as perfect, in vile man that mourns,
As the rapt seraph that adores and burns :
To Him no high, no low, no great, no small :
He fills, He bounds, connects, and equals all."
The noble earl resumed his seat amidst the applause of
his hearers.

The Mayor of WILTON (Mr. James Nightingale) pro-
posed a vote of thanks to the noble lord for his very inte-
resting lecture.

The Rev. R. S. C. CIIERMSIDE seconded the motion,
and in doing so paid a graceful compliment to the noble
earl as the historian of the Georges, and who (ho observed)
was better known by the name of Lord Mahon.

This resolution was adopted with acclamation, and his
lordship having returned thanks the company separated.

MEETING OF BUENOS AYRES BOND-

HOLDERS.

A meeting of the holders of Buenos Ayres bonds was
held yesterday, for the purpose of considering the new
proposition made by the Government of the Republic,
and forwarded to Messrs. Baring Brothers, as their
agents of communication with the bondholders.

Mr. J. D. POWLES having taken the chair, congratu-
lated the meeting on an ultimate exhibition of fairness;
on the part of the Buenos Ayrean Government. The
terms for the arrangement of the English debt are as
subjoined :

In payment of the interest in arrear to the date when
ahmro
loodfuelritaisr, new Bonds
gseucahm
bondsaaats as
mayl
being
gbe issued of
.201,teraesntd
from
eara.
acnha,
the final settlement takes place, and for its entire
a
be convenient to the bond-
amount,
From 1861 to 1865 inclusive 1
after the year 1861, as follows : entitled
te or
cent.n
per annum.
From 1866 to 1870 11
From 1871 and after " )1
A sinking fund being setapart from 1861 from the new
bonds until their entire redemption of per cent, Per
annum (one half), or say the 200th part of the whole
amount, or if more agreeable to the creditors, the Govern-
ment propose that 3•4119 the
of
whole amount
of the arrears of interest (or 75 per cent.) only
be recognised, issuing in payment of this
sum, bonds to bear interest as follows :
From 1861 to 1865 inclusive, 1 per cent. per annum.
From 1866 to 1870 „ 2
It If
From 1871 and after 3
There still being set aside from 1861 ;a sinking fund for
such new bonds uetil their entire redemption, per cent.
per annum (one-half), or say the 200th part of the whole
amount. In any event the Government of Buenos Ayres
will remain at liberty to apply to the redemption of the
new bonds, by means of public or private purchase, any
sums which it might find convenient at any period after
their issue, and even before said bonds commence gain-
ing any interest whatever.
In payment of the deficiency arising (36,0001.), be-
tween the sum assigned for the payment of interest on
the original debt in 1857 and 1858, and what is esta-
blished in the contract, there will also be issued, at a
fitting opportunity, new bonds under the same condi-
tions proposed for the payment of the interest due to
date.
Any arrangement which may be settled upon the pre-
ceding bases will not take effect until after having been
approved by the Leeislative Chambers, towards which
end the Government of Buenos Ayres will cause it to be
presented to them as soon as concluded.
The CHAIRMAN said whatever merit was due for the
obtainment of these terms, ought to be given to Mr.
Parish and Mr. Gire, their commissioner.
A BONDHOLDER asked if the offer had been made by
the Minister, or only by Messrs. Baring ?
Mr. PowLES replied that it was from the Government,
who left it to Messrs. Baring to see it carried out. If
the bondholders approved of it, it would have to be sent
back to Buenos Ayres to be ratified by the Government
there. Messrs. Baring would have no power to alter
the terms without the approval of the Government.

Mr. ROBERTSON gave the greatest credit to the com-
mittee for their exertions, ha, thought if any amend-
ment to the terms should be thought of, the whole ques-
tion had better be referred haA to Messrs. Baring for
their exertions being used in behalf of the bondholders.
The CHAIRMAN said it was of no importance if the
bondhGlders wished the matter now left it, their hands to
obtain any improvement that might be deemed advisable
by the committee.
Mr. CAPER thought one advantage they would obtain
would be, to get, very probably, three per cent. on the
arrears of interest.
A BONDHOLDER thought Messrs. Baring would he able
better to obtain any amelioration than the committee ;
perhaps three per cent on the whole.
In answer to a BONDHOLDER.
The CHAIRMAN said the
.first proposition was most
approved of by the committee, because it did not involve
any sacrifice of principle.
After some discussion it was proposed to leave the new
proposals altogether in the hands of Messrs. Baring, in
order that they might conclude the negotiation for the
adjustment of the said iebt on the bases contained in the

Propositions now made, subject to such amendments as
may he deemed most conducive to the interests of the
bondholders.
Mr. TAsKER approved of the terms now proposed,
and of the rnatter being/ now left to Messrs. Baring.
The / errs, or bases of the agreement, were then agreed
to, au, a vote of thanks was passed to Mr. Parish, to
tMi
()r GT
t.; si . andin bringing
go
thetbe
matter Earl of C I
0 tahree n
presenton, for
satisfactorytheir e
position.

[PRICE 4D. STAMPED sr).

Naval and Military Intelligence.

His Royal Highness the General Commanding-io-
Chief will hold a Levee at one o'clock on Saturday next.
The Dublin papers announce the death of Lieutenant-
General Alexander Thompson, Colonel-in-Chief of the
74th Highlanders, now in India. The name of the gal-
lant veteran has been long associated with his efforts to
improve and cultivate the wildest parts of the far-west of
Ireland, Connemara. He died on the 23d
.inst., at his
seat, Salruc-house, situate on the Little Killeries.

An application has been made by Col. U. Sandbam,
the director of the Royal Engineers' establishment at
Brompton, to the authorities, to allow the troops under
his command to be employed in the destruction and re•
moval of old Rochester-bridge. The application was
made in consequence of the very favourable opportunity
which presents itself for exercising the officers and men
in the demolition of ponderous works, and of the success
which attended the destruction of the immense docks at
Sebastopol by the troops belonging to the Royal Engi-
neers. The authorities have accorded permission for the
men of the Sappers and Miners to be employed in the
undertaking, and a party of the Royal Engineers, under
the command of Captain A. Schaw, R.E., have been
engaged for a few days past at old Rochester-bridge
waking the necessary preparations for its removal.
soon as the troops have removed tire upper portions of
the bridge the piers and foundations will be destroyed by
means of submarine explosions, in which undertaking the
most skilful of the divers belonging to the corps will be
employed.
The depot of the sth Fusiliers, under the command of
Captain W. Lyons, is to proceed on Monday next from
Chatham to Pembroke, for the purpose of being attached
to the depot battalion now forming at that station. The
depot of the 40th Regiment, under the command of
Captain M. E. Smith, will also proceed from Chatham to
Ternplemore soon aclhe tiebe.seary preparitiomi for
that purpose have been completed. The head-quarters
of the sth Fusiliers are at the Mauritius, and of the 40th
in Australia.

Yesterday the troops belonging to the various cavalry
and infantry regiments now stationed at St. Mary's Bar-
racks, Chatham, to the number of upwards of 1,500 non.
commissioned officers and men, were assembled at the
Casemate Barracks for the purpose of witnessing the
selection of those men for whose discharge from the ser-
vice an order had been received from the Horse Guards.
On the troops being paraded Adjutant J. Pope announced
the names of 386 men who had been ordered to receive
their discharge, and at the same time made each man
acquainted with the amount of pension, varying from 6d.
to 2s. per day, each was to receive.
The Government have taken land at Freshwater East
for the purpose of having the troops properly trained to
the use of their arms at long ranges. This land which is
most advantageously situated for rifle practice, is at
some little distance from Pembroke Dockyard, and has
been fitted with large iron targets, at which practice will
shortly commence. Lieut. Bishop, 18th Foot, is the
instructor in musketry. The front of the roof over No. 1
slip has been taken down to allow the enlargement neces-
sary to meet the increased length of the new class men•
of-war. The greatest activity prevails in the dockyard,
extra time having been worked by all classes of mechanics.
A very interesting souvenir of a memorable event in
naval history was presented yesterday to the gunroom
officers of H.M.S. Shannon, at Portsmouth. Tnis con-
sisted of a box handsomely mounted in silver, and gilt
inside, richly chased and embossed with, the shamrock,
rose, and thistle, bearing the following inscription :--
"Box made from part of a beam of the United States'
frigate Chesapeake, captured in single combat by H.M.
frigate Shannon, in Boston Bay, United States, let of
June, 1813. Presented to the gunroom mess of the
Shannon as a perpetual memorial of that action by Rear.
Admiral Provo Wallis, senior surviving Lieutenant."
The following letter from the gallant donor accom-
panied the gift :
" Funtington-house, near Chicester, Nov. 24.
"Gentlemen,—Will you permit me by the hands of
the Messrs. Emanuel, her Majesty's jewellers at Ports-
mouth, to present to your mess a snuff box made from
part of a beam of the late United States' frigate Chesa-
peake, to be considered (if you will do me this honour)
as belonging to the present or any future ship bearing
the name of " Shannon ?"—I have the honour to be,
gentlemen, your most obedient servant,
" PROVO WM. P. WALLIN,
"Rear-Admiral, and senior surviving Lieutenant of the
Shannon. in her action with the Chesapeake.
" To the Officers of H.M.S. Shannon,
Gunroom mess, Portsmouth."

It is almost needless to say the officers of the Shan-
non feel highly complimented by Admiral Wallie'b
present. _ _ _

Her Majesty's sailing corvette Vestal, Captain T. S.
Thompson, arrived at Spithead yesterday from the
North American and West India station. She sailed
from Antigua on the morning of the -14th ult., arrived at
elperi—len-ciCXathaailthitaS42gBattlefiviiaintlVEV
to the 13th ; passed the bark Corinth's on the 12th,
under close-reefed topsails. There bad been upwards of
900 cases of yellow fever, and about 70 deaths. The
troops were in camp at St. George's. Vestal's bowsprit,
foremast, and mainmast are sprung and fished. She
brought home Captain Farmar of the Royal Marines,
invalided from her Majesty's ship Nile, and the Hon.
Thomas Price, Tr zasurer of Antigua. The Vestal has
been in commission between four and five years. On
first making her out this morning, soon after daylight,
she appeared to be in a very dangerous locality, having
let go her anchor near a dangerous shoal, known as the
"Horse Bank," to the eastward of the narrow chanLel
from the Nab light-vessl to Spithead. Her position
being discovered, signals were made for Sprightly,
tender, Master Commander George Allen, and Echo,
steam-tug, Mr. Harding, to proceed to her assistance,
as it would have been running a great risk in Vestal's
attempting to get under weigh with the wind at W. by
N. The above steamers took her in tow, and attended
on her until she was safely moored at Spithead. The
Sprightly brought supernumeraries ashore, and shortly
att.,,r orders came down for Vestal to proceed to Chat-
ham, at which port she will dismantle and pay off.
The proceedings at Haslar lake, connected with the
slip way for hauling up the screw gun-boats have not
yet realised the expectation formed. Every assistance
has been rendered by the factory and smithy department
of the dockyard, but it appears that the engine which
was to work the cradle is not above one-third the power
it should be (at present only eight-horse power). A
gun-boat had got about half-way up when the wheel
broke, and so the matter must rest until a new wheel
is made, which may possibly take about a week.
The Lord of the Isles, Captain Maxton, left Ports-
mouth on Tuesday for Hong Kong.