The Sun.
London, England, 1860-01-18 00:00:00

Africa, and the dangers and difficulties braved by
3PCLINTocK and his companions in the Arctic
Seas. The study of biography it was less neces-
sary to inculcate. Few departments of literature
are more generally attractive, and, we need not add,
more generally instructive. Practice is always
more powerful than precept, and the steady up-
rising of an honest and energetic man of the lower
classes to wealth and honour teaches a more for-
cible lesson to those of his own early position than
any institution or instruction can afford them. A
working man can never call his situation hopeless
or discouraging with the lives of GEORGE, STE-
PHENSON and many another British worthy before
him. While on this topic, Mr. MONCKTON MILNES
quoted a remark made to him by a nobleman who
had risen to the highest judicial rank entirely by
his own exertions, who said, " I can conceive
nothing happier than the life of a man who was
born in the lowest condition of society compatible
with good education, and who through life has
gradually risen to the highest position." Fortu-
nately the class spoken of now extends to very
wide limits. A good education, in its plain Eng-
lish sense, is now, thanks to these and similar in-
stitutions, placed within the reach of all steady and
respectable labourers.
We may hope to see the beneficial effect of the
diffusion of knowledge more clearly in a few years
time than now ; when a knowledge of the laws of
political econony will enable the working classes to
see the short-sighted folly of strikes and combina-
tions, which are truly like children's passions—
punishing themselves for the sake of wounding
others. On the subject of national education Mr.
CIIILDERS made some excellent observations.
Having recently returned from a visit to the United
States he took occasion to comment upon the degree
of mental cultivation he met with in America. He
spoke ♦ery highly of the system there adopted, and
though not denying that great faults and evils ex-
isted in the government of the States, he thought
they were far more advanced in national
education than ourselves. While tra-
velling on railways he said he usually found
two out of every three passengers reading. The
new generation now springing up would, ho hoped,
be in education and morals far superior to their
We quote the following passage as
worthy of notice .

precursors.

"No doubt America had great difficulties to contend
with, and the existence of the abominable system of slavery
in her midst gave rise to passionate ebullitions of feeling,
and an apparent contempt for the obligations cf morality
which shocked them in England ; but he could assure them
that the great middle class of that country, forming three-
fourths of its population, was educated and temperate, and,
so long as it remained so, he believed they would never hear
of any serious disruption in the States. He might also say
that that class, whatever might be said by individuals,
looked upon war with this country as morally impossible.
Their attention had been directed by Mr. Milnes to the im-
portance of studying political economy, and he would just
say, that when he went to America one of the first questions
he asked was, Have you any strikes here ?' They laughed
at the idea, and replied by asking, Do you suppose that a
reading people would indulge in such a thing ?' He was
told that all classes were familiar with books, the knowledge
of which in England was confined to few, and that the
people were not only satisfied as to the absurdity of strikes,
but that every time a strike occurred in England they de-
rived the benefit by a transfer of the wealth and enter-
prise of the mother country."
The modifications of the French tariff, which we
may hope will inaugurate an era of peace and free
trade for the Continent, wen also alluded to by the
speaker, who, in conclusion, begged his hearers not
to shrink from the possession of a "little learn-
ing," if much were out of their reach. The
meeting was addressed by several other speakers
on similar topics, and we trust the members of the
Institute separated impressed with the practical
value of knowledge, and with their energies
quickened and ambition excited by the sympathy
and encouragement of able and intelligent men.

his Excellency the Ambassador of France and
the Countess de Persigny left Albert-gate House yesterday
afternoon for "Windsor Castle.

Madame Rucker, the wife of the Minister-Resi-
dent from the Hanseatic Cities, gave birth to a daughter
on Monday last, at her residence in Eaton-square. The
mother and infant are progressing favourably.

The Duke of Newcastle arrived in town yester.
day from his seat, Clumber Park.

The Earl and Countess of Clarendon and the
Ladies Villiers will return to the Grove, near Watford, to-
day, from visiting Lady Marion Alford, at Ashridge Park,
near Berkhampstead.

The Right Hon. Sir Charles Wood will come to
town to-day, from Hickleton Hall, Yorkshire. Lady Mary
and Miss Wood are expected on Monday.

DINNER TO LORD DERBY.—The Mayor of Liver-
pool has invited the Earl of Derby and several of the prin-
cipal magnates of South Lancashire to dine with him at the
Town-hall, Liverpool. The date of the dinner is not at
present announced.

_
His Grace the Duke of Northumberland, on the
eve of leaving England for Spain and Portugal, for the
winter (says the 21-oveastle Chronicle), directed his agent at
Northumberland Houso, Mr. Thomas Williams, to send to
Mr. Robert Story, our Northumbrian poet, a hundred bot-
tles of sherry, with his grace's compliments, and the ex-
pression of a hope that he would find inspiration in the

The Liverpool papers announce that Garibaldi's
youngest son is studying at a school kept by an Italian
gentleman at New Brighton, on the Cheshire side of the
Mersey.

THE AMERICAN MAILS.—The United States
Government have contrated with the Liverpool, New
York, and Philadelphia Steamship Company for the con-
veyance of the United States mails between New York
and Liverpool on the old Collins' days for the remainder of
the winter.

MAILS TO AND FROM JERSEY AND GUERNSEY.—
The auxiliary mails to and from Jersey and Guernsey, by
way of Weymouth, have ceased ; and the mails forwarded
via Southampton have been increased to four each week.
The mails will be despatched from London on the evening
of Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, and will be
received in London on the mornings of Monday, Tuesday,
Thursday, and Friday.
THE OUTWARD WEST INDIAN AND PENINSULAR
MAILS*,—SOUTHAMPTON, Tuesday.—The La Plata, with
the West Indian mails, left this afternoon. Her specie
consists of £633,000. Also on board, quicksilver, value
£1,860; jewellery, value £3,950; and a general cargo.
The passengers number 73, and amongst them aro Lieut.
11. J. Coddrington, R.N., Lieut. F. L. G. Little, ILA.,
Captain Wray, R.E., Lieut. Clayton, Mr. Woodfull,
R.E., Lieut. E. Barkley, R.N., Lieut. F. G. Shaw, R.N.,
kc. Ihe Nepaul, Captain C. Vincent, with the Peninsular
mails, als3left this afternoon. She took out no specie, had
12 passengers, and a general cargo. The Atrato is expected
hourly.

THE BRITISII SOLDIER'S LOVE FOR HIS OFFICER.
—An affecting instance of the British soldier's love for his
officer has just been recorded in the beautiful church of
Wyko Regis, near Weymouth, where a tablet of chaste &-
sign has been erected to the memory of Lieutenant Sidney
Swaffield, of the 51st Light Infantry, by the officers, non-
commissioned officers, and men of the company to which he
belonged. A photographic sketch of the tomb erected to
him in India has also been kindly forwarded to his parents,
with many expressions of sympathy and condolence from
the officers of his regiment. The tablet was designed by
Mr. Hale, of Baker-street, Portman-square, who received
much commendation for one executed by him in memory of
the revered Captain H9dley Vicars, of the 97th Regiment,
in Beckenham Church.

PRICE OF GOLD.—The quotation of gold at Parir
is about 1 per milled, and the short exchange on London is
25.071 per £1 sterling. On comparing these rates with the
English Mint price £3 17s. 101 d. per ounce for standard
gold, it appears that gold is at about 3-10ths per cent. dearer
in Paris than in London. By advices from Hamburg the
price of gold is 423 per mark, and the short exchange on
London is 13.3 a per sterling. Standard gold at the
English Mint price is therefore about 3-10ths per
cent: dearer in Hamburg than in London. The course of ex-
change at New York on London for bills at 60 days' sight is
about 109 per cent., which, when compared with the Mint
proportions between the two countries, shows that the ex-
change is slightly against England • and, after making
allowance for charges of transport and difference of inte-
rest, the present rate leaves no profit on the importation
of gold from the United States.
TUE FIRE AT MR. DARBY'S FIREWORK FACTORY.
—Upon making inquiries last nig,bt our reporter was in-
formed that the hree unfortunate men who were so seriously
injured by the ignition of firowork composition, and who
are still in the hospital, are progressing favourably, and it
is hoped that they will in a few days be able to resume their
eniployment. The accident, it now appears, was caused
from a quantity of " coloured fires" drying in front of the
stove becoming ignited and communicating with other goods
in one of the back workshops. Mr. Darby had taken every
precaution to avoid 'such an accident as unfortunately hap-
pened by having wooden buildings placed upon his back
grounds for carrying on each description of work used in
the trade, and had it not been for the heated and sulphurous
fumes of the composition, and the door being closed, every
one in the building might have rushed out into the yard,
as they can at Mr. Mortram's firework factory at Walworth,
without sustaining any danger.

- - _
MUSEUM OF PATENTS, SOUTH KENSINGTON.—
Number of visitors for the week ending Jan. 14. Mornings,
1,081; evenings, 1,2 M, total, 2,335. Since the opening of
the lkluseum free daily (May 12, 1858), 178,873.