The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-10 00:00:00

Ethnological Society.

An ordinary meeting of this society was held yes-
terday evening—the president, Mr. Cranford, in the
chair—when three papers were read.

The first was by Mr. Campbell, consisting of some
notes on the Lapps, made at the request of Mr.
Crauford, during a journey in the autumn of last
year along the western and northern coasts of Nor-
way. Mr. Campbell's attention was particularly
directed to the stature of the Lapps, of whom he
took several measurements, which proved that they
are much more diminutive than other European
races. Some of the women were not taller than
4ft. Gin., and the men 4ft. 10in. The average of
12 measurements was sft. lin., which is about six
inches less than the average stature of Englishmen.
Mr. Campbell exhibited numerous sketches taken
during his journey, which represented the men and
women to be very good looking and remarkably
intelligent.
In the discussion on the paper, Sir Edward Bel-
cher, Dr. King, and Dr. Campbell took part. The
two former pointed out some general characteristics
in the manners of the Lapps which resembled those
of the Esquimaux, though the latter differ from
them greatly in stature. Dr. King expressed the
opinion that the inhabitants of the northern por-
tions of the globe diminish in size proceeding east-
ward from the western part of North America th
Lapland.

The next paper, contributed by Colonel Phayre,
chief commissioner of British Barmah, was " On
the Ethnology of Indo-Chinese Nations." The
object of the paper was to give an epitome of "The
Burmese Chronicle of Kings," a work preserved
with reverential care. The author of the paper
criticised the narrative, and came to the conclusion
that there was some historical basis for portions of
the legendary work.
The third paper, "On the Characters of the South
Sclavonic Races," contributed by Miss Irby, gave a
highly favourable description of the Bulgarians and
Servians, and contrasted them with the Greeks,
greatly to the disadvantage of the latter in their
moral and industrial qualifications, in the following
terms :—The Greek is ambitious and irascible—the
Bulgarian only tenacious of his own, and not easily
roused to anger. In quickness, acuteness, and
subtlety of intellect, the Greek is his superior ;
while the Bulgarian is strong in common sense,
steadiness, and perseverance. Unlike the Greek,
he is devoid of brag, vanity, or pretentiousness of
any kind. The Bulgarian is more industrious and
painstaking than any of his neighbours, and espe-
cially addicted to the cultivation of the soil. Even
in Servia Bulgarians carry on a great part of such
agriculture as there is. The superior cleanliness
and neatness of their houses is one of the charac-
teristics which first strike the eye of the tra-
veller from Greece. They are fond of
flowers, and cultivate their little gardens _carefully.
A. Bulgarian maiden, to complete her holiday
garb, places a flower behind her ear, and twines
flowers in the long plait of hair which hangs down
her back. One striking difference in the moral
character of Greek and Sclav is the honest simplicity
of the latter. Truthfulness the Greek rarely pos-
sesses as an instinct of his nature, though education
and habit may teach him the practice of truth. He
is sharp enough to know that honesty is the best
policy, and• clever enough to practise honesty when
the standard of society requires it. With Servians
or Bulgarians Englishmen have unfortunately little
intercourse. Those who have had any perceive in
them a truth and sincerity of nature which wins
respect and confidence.
The Rev. Mr. DENTIN, who had been for some
time in Servia, fully confirmed Miss Irby's favour-
able description of the people. He said they have
made great advances in civilisation during the last
three years, and were it not for their exclusion from
free communication with other parts of Europe they
would occupy an important position. The people
generally are better educated than those of any other
country, the Government having provided schools
for giving education of a high class to those boys
who exhibit indications of superior intellect. The
mineral resources of the country he represented to
be rich and abundant. The copper and iron are of
the best quality, and there is great promise of find-
ing gold, from the striking resemblance of the
physical and mineralogical features of the country
to the gold-bearing district of Australia. Mr. Dentin
also spoke highly of the Montenegrins, who, though
very poor, owing to the mountainous character of
their country, are considered the aristocracy of
Servia, and closely resemble: in character the High-
landers of Scotland.
The meeting then adjourned.

THE PROPOSED CHANGE IN THE AMERICAN MAIL
DESPATCH FROM LIVERPOOL.—The proposal to
change the despatch from Saturday to Friday was again
brought up at the council meeting of the Liverpool Chain-
bei of Commerce yesterday. Mr. Rathbone (chairman) said
a communication had been received from the American
Chamber of Commerce, who declined to follow up the sub-
ject, though Mr. Rathbone said he believed the American
merchants individually were friendly to the change. Mr.
Prange said that so far as his inquiries had extended this
was not the case, and he believed that even if the change
were made competition would cause a despatch by some
other lines than the present on Saturdays. He (Mr.Prange)
had been informed by Messrs. M'lver, of the Cunard Com-
pany, that they could not get their steamers ready for a
Friday's despatch without coaling on the Sunday. The
chairman said that, with one exception, all the chambers of
commerce in the country were friendly to the change.
NEW LIFEBOATS FOR NORTHUMBERLAND.—Two
fine new lifeboats, each 34 feet long, and built of
solid mahogany, accompanied by transporting carriages,
have just been sent by the National Lifeboat Institution to
Hauxley and Newbiggin, on the coast of Northumberland.
Their self-righting qualities were fidly and satisfactorily
tested a few days since in the Regent's Canal Dock. The
transporting carriages of the boats were also tried on the
occasion, and were found to answer admirably. The cost
of the Hauxley lifeboat was presented to the institution
by Eleanor, Duchess of Northumberland, and it is called
the Algernon and Eleanor. The Newbiggin lifeboat is also
the gift of a benevolent lady, named Miss Hopkinson, of
Brighouse, Yorkshire, through W. Anderson Ogg,o Esq.,kin
of Cheapside. The lifeboat is named the Will II
wo trust,
name. These two lifeboat establishments will,.
son, of Brighouse, after the donor's late brother of that
launched to-day the
Newbiggin Hauxley lifeboat was publicly
long remain monuments of the two philanthropic ladies.
coast,th
niat.meOlyf
y:—North-
umberland, The National Lifeboat Institution has
Saturday next.
Newbiggin lifeboat is to undergo the same ceremonyy one
3lifeboonatsthein
Holy Island, North Sun-
derland,narear stationedls
Boulmer, Alnmouth, Hauxley, Newbiggin,
umberland, Berwick-on-Tweed,
Culler-
n connectionortli-eas Nvi
Tynemouth No. 2,
coates, Tynemouth No. 1, TyDurham,
Whitburn, Sunderland,
Seaton Carew. Yorkshire : Mid-
dlesborough, Redcar, Saltburn, Whitby, tfpga_g,
u Scar-
borough, Filet', Bridlington, Homseri, and Withernsea.
ACCIDENT TO THE MARGATE LIFEBOAT.—we are
requested to state that the lifeboat to which the ac-
cident occurred on the 7th inst. at Margate was a private
one, belonging to the boatmen of that town, and was in no
way connected with the National Lifeboat Institution ; in
fact, it is a boat used for the salvage of property as well as
of life. The second lifeboat in that town, which is used
exclusively for the saving of life, is a self-righting boat,
and is the property of the National Lifeboat Institution.
A BODY FOUND IN THE THAMES.—Yesterday
afternoon, while the men at work on the Thames
Embankment were excavating in ono of the caissons oppo-
site the dry arch of Somerset House, they found an almost
complete skeleton buried many feet in the mud. The skull
bore marks of fracture. There was also a complete set of
false teeth sot in gold with spring sides, and also double
gold eye-glasses, proving the body to be that of some one
well to do. The clothes were almost entirely destroyed,
with the exception of one Wellington boot, of fashionable
make, and part of, apparently, a top coat, there being two
halfpenny pieces in the side pocket ; but no papers are dis-
coverable. The teeth are of recent fashion, and the body,
with the other things found, are in the safe custody of Mr.
Bell, the officer to the Coroner of the Duchy of Lancaster,
Mr. J. W. Payne, by whom an inquest will be held, should
it be deemed necessary.
The great fire in the St. Katharine's Docks ware-
housos is not yet wholly extinguished. Workmen are
employed in the removal of vast quantities of damaged
property, and powerful fire-engines are throwing water
on the places where the fire is still burning. It is likely
to be several days before all danger is past.

CAMBRIDGE HOUSE, PICCADILLY.—There was an
auction yesterday at the residence of the late Lord Palmer-
ston. By some strange wording of the advertisement it
led many to suppose that the effects of the late illustrious
statesman were to be disposed of. There was not the re-
motest foundation for the supposition. All the late Lord
Palmerston's effects had been removed from the house, and
all that was left thero belonged to the owner of the house,
Sir John Sutton.