The Sun.
London, England, 1869-06-11 00:00:00

JUN ' 11, 1869

2'llE ARCILBISH OP OF CANTETWUDY.

Some months ago a number of influential laymen, wttn
the Lord Mayor and Mr. G. Moore at their head, having
formed a high opinion of Dr. Tait during the time that ho
was Bishop of London, determined, when he was trans-
lated to the Archiepiscopal See of Canterbury,
to present a portrait of him to the Bishop's Palace at
Fulham. The commission was entrusted to Mr. Sydney
llodges, who has painted a very admirable full-length
portrait of the Archbishop. This picture was on Thursday
presented at Mr. Graves's, Mall-Mall, to the Bishop
of London, in the presence of the subscribers,
the Lord Mayor, and the Sheriffs of London.
The subscribers were wholly laymen, although several
clergymen desired to contribute. The Bishop of London,
in acknowledging the presentation, spoke of the excellent
qualities of his predecessor, and the valuable legacy he
harl left them in his munificence and zeal. •

SUND,AY AND RAGGED SCHOOLS

EXEMPTION BILL.

On Thursday a meeting to devise the best means to
be adopted for securing the passing of Mr. C. Reed's bill
exempting Sunday and Ragged Schools from local taxation,
was held at the Westminster Palace Hotel.

Mr. C. Heed occupied the chair, and amongst those
present were Mr. Baxley-, M.P., Mr. A. Cross,
M.P., Mr. Baines, M.P., Mr. Pell, M.P., Mr.
Serjeant Simon, AT.P., Mr. J. Briscoe, M.P., Mr. Mellor,
M.P., Mr. M'Arthur, M.P., the Hon. W. Egerton,
Mr. Armitstead, M.P., Mr. C. Turner, M.P.,
Mr. Muntz, M.P., Mr. Ilibbert, M.P.
The CHAIRMAN, having referred to the efforts that had
been made in Parliament in former years to getSundayand
ragged schools exempted from taxation, said they must allbe
agreed that it would be a wise thing to test the feeling of the
new House of Commons. They would, no doubt, meet
with obstacles from the Government in getting their bill
passed, but they must set about the task with all ear-
nestness.

Mr. BAZLEY observed that nothing could be more
unjust than the principle of taxing the benevo-
lence of the country. Whatever might be the case
with the great endowed schools, it was certainly not fair
to those which were supported by voluntary contributions.
He trusted that Mr, Reed's bill would be well supported.
In answer to a question from Mr. Wright, Birming-
ham, the chairman said his bill did not embrace
elementary schools.

Several speakers deprecated any addition being made to
the bill, Mr. Cross reminding the meeting that the opposi-
tton of the Government would be so great that it would he
very unwise to strengthen their hands by anything like
disunion.

Serjeant SIMoN urged that deputations should at once
wait upon the Chancellor of the Exchequ(r.
Mr. EGERTON thought it would be better to influence
the -House of Commons first.

Mr. HIBBERT supported this view. Let them fight the
question out in the House.

Mr. BAZLEY said the Government had much more
respect for votes in the House than they had for deputa•
tations out of the House.

Mr. JOHNSTON, as an Irish, and Mr. ARMITSTEAD, as a
Scotch member, each warmly supported the object of the
meeting.

Mr. BAINES was strongly of opinion that justice, com-
mon sense, and religion were all against the imposition of
a tax on Sunday and ragged schools.

Mr. BRISCOE quite agreed with previous speakers that
if they asked too much from the Government they would
probably get nothing. It was absolutely necessary that
the meeting should be unanimous.

Mr. GHENT, secretary of the Ragged School Union,
pointed out that it was absolutely certain that if the tax-
ation of ragged schools continued, many of them must be
closed.

Mr. M'ARTIIUR would have no faith in a d(putatk.., to
Mr. Lowe, but he would suggest that the facts of the case
should be stated to Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Goschen,
without asking for any expression of their opinion.

MARRIAGE OF LORD LYTTELTON.---The marriage
of the Right Hon. Lord Lyttelton, Lord-Lieutenant of
Worcestershire, with Mrs. Mildmay, was celebrated on
Thursday morning, at Perrystone, near Ross. The wed-
ding was a very quiet one. His lordship has been a
widower ten years.

THE MILITARY KNIGHTS OF WINDSOR.—The
death of Major John M. Hewson has occasioned a vacancy
in the Lower Foundation of the Military Knights of
Windsor. Major Hewson died on Monday, in his 71st
year, after a long and painful illness. This veteran officer
retired on full pay from the 89th Regiment of Foot, and
obtained his appointment as a Military Knight of Wind-
sor about three years ago.

THE TRIAL OF A CHIEF CONSTABLE.
The trial of Major Beswick, late Chief Constable for
Birkenhead, was resumed on Thursday at the Central
Criminal Court. The Major was charged with forgery. In
defence the prisoner stated that he had been imposed upon,
and called several witnesses as to character, amongst
others Sir H. Storks. The jury found the prisoner guilty,
but strongly recommended him to mercy on account of
the character lie had received. The prisoner was sen-
tenced to five years' penal servitude.

A JURY OF SMITITS.—The other day, at the
Sheffield County Court, a case came on for trial which
was to be heard before a jury. Each juryman, on being
sworn, answered to the name of "Smith," and Mr.
Hartley, the clerk, experienced some difficulty in deter-
mining mho were the right persons. This could only be
ascertained by calling out the residence of each Smith.
After the jury had been empannelled, the Smiths formed
a line, and Mr. Blackburn said: "Are you all Smiths?
Then I have no objection."

ROYALTY IN SCOTLAND.—A despatch, dated
Wick, Thursday, is as follows :—" Her Majesty's steam
yacht Vivid, with his Royal Highness Prince Arthur on
board, arrived at Stornoway on Monday night, on a
tour through the Hebrides. Being desirous that his visit
should not be accompanied by any demonstrations there
was no public display, but a large crowd cheered him
on landing next morning with Colonel Elphinstone and
Lieutenant Pritchard. On Tuesday his Royal Highness
visited Stornoway Castle, accompanied by Mr. Munro
Chamberlain, for Sir James Matheson, who is now in
London. He then visited some -Druidical remains at
Callenish, sixteen miles from Stornoway, and thereafter
spent Tuesday in rod-fishing, at which he was very suc-
cessful. The Prince enjoyed his visit exceedingly. The
Vivid sailed hence on Wednesday morning."
CHARLES DICKENS AND WASHINGTON IRVING.—
The following letter from Charles Dickens is published in
a recent number of the Round Table:—" Washington,
February 9, 1868.—My clear Sir,—Your reference to my
dear friend, Washington Irving, renews the vivid impres-
sions reawakened in my mind at Baltimore but the other
day. I saw his fine face for the last time in that city.
He came there from New York to pass a day or two with
me before I went westward, and they were made among
the most memorable of my life by his delightful fancy
and genial humour. Some unknown admirer of his
books and mine sent to the hotel a most enormous
mint-julep wreathed with flowers. We sat, one on
either side of it, with great solemnity (it filled a
respectable-sized round table) ; but the solemnity was of
very short duration. It was quite an enchanted julep,
and carried us among innumerable people and places that
we both knew. The julep held out far into the night, and
my memory never saw him afterwards otherwise than as
bending over it with his straw with an attempted air of
gravity (after some anecdote involving some wonderfully
droll and delicate observation of character), and then, as
his eye caught mine, melting into that captivating laugh
of his, which was the brightest and best I have ever
heard.—Dear sir, with many thanks, faithfully yours,
CHARLES DICKENS.—Charles Lanman, Esq., Georgetown,
D.C."
THE SUTHERLAND GOLDFIELDS.—A despatch
which appears in the Northern Ensign, dated from Helms.
dale, states that the Duke of Sutherland visited the
diggings on Wednesday, when those selected for the pur-
pose sank a shaft on the level ground of the Strath near
ICildonan Lodge. The result did not come up to the expects.
tions of those interested, a few particles of gold being all
that remained in the dishes after the stuff was washed out,
The Duke did not consider the prospect sufficient to
warrant further proceedings, and accordingly gave it to be
understood that sinking would have to be discontinued in
the meantime. He stated that the revenue derived from
the diggings was not sufficient to cover the expenses in con-
nection with them. The diggers are generally dissatisfied
at the insufficient nature of the search, and consider that.
in order to ascertain whether rich deposits really exist or
the Strati:, some thirty or for;-,y hales cught to be sunk,
and a thorough investigation made at various points along
the valley, a few dishfuls of stuff from the bottom of one
shaft being, in their opinion, not a sufficient test. The
workings on the Suisgill and Kildonan burns are still
being carried on, but many of those engaged in the work
are making very little of it, and have lost much of their
former courage and good spirits. Numbers of those that
took out claims last month got very tired of the daily
round of hard work and little pay, so that when their montl
expired they did not renew their licenses, and left the
district. A good many fresh hands have, however, ap.
peared on the scene, and up to Saturday some eighty-two
licenses had been issued for this mouth, and a considerable
addition is expected to be made to the number. It won',
appear that the Duke has been much gratified by the
discovery 'of gold on his estate, and that he entertains
kindly feelings towards the discoverer. Ile brought with
him on this occasion a valuable gold watch, which he pre-
sented to Mr. Gilchrist •