The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-02 00:00:00

PORTPATRICK.

The half-yearly meeting of this Company was
held at Strauraer on Friday, the Earl of Stair iu the
chair.

The report was taken as read.

The CHAIRMAN, in +moving the adoption of the
report, referred to the satisfactory and liberal man-
ner in which the Caledonian Company were work-
ing the line, and the excellence of the arrangements
for the steamboat traffic between Stranraer and
Belfast. During the last two months the traffic
with Ireland, especially in cattle, had very much,
increased, and also the traffic on the line generally,
not only in passengers, but in goods and stock.
There was therefore a prospect_ of better times for
the company. As to the postal service with Ireland,
Portpatrick harbour was finished, and it was hoped
that the Government would accept the company's

The report stated that 17,840 shares had been ap-
lied for and allotted, which would provide the direc-
tors with ample funds, as far as could be ascer-
tained, to cover the cost of the enlargement of the
Fray Bentos establishment, and the purchase of the
land and construction of the works contemplated in
Entre Rios. The directors believed that the produc-
tion of the extract of meat would amount in 18G7
to 500,0001 b. or 600,0001 b. The quantity of ex-
tract of meat to be sent from Fray Bentos for ac-
count of the new company up to the 31st December
next might probably be from 50,0001 b. to 60,000111,
The quality was unexceptionable, and was furAy
borne out by the supervision and analysis of Baron
Liebig, the director of the scientific department of
the company. The directors continued to zeceive
from the manager of the General Depot, :.it Ant-
werp, the most assuring accounts of the increasing
demMid for the extract, not only in Europe, but
elsewhere, and it seemed a matter of little doubt
that they would be able to dispose of all they could
manufacture at remunerating prices. One pound of
this extract contained the soluble parts of 301 b. of
fine meat, either beef or mutton, free from fat or
gelatine, corresponding in quantity with about
451 b. of English butchers' meat, inclusive of - the
usual quantity of fat and bones. It was used not
only for medical, but much more extensively for
household purposes,. and when its real value wan
understood the apparently high price would be
found moderate.

The report was adopted, and a vote of thanks
to the chairman and directors concluded tho pro-
ceed;ngs.

Inwadation of the Loire.

ORLEANS, Sept. 29.
The worst fears of this community have been re-
alised since [ wrote to you on Thursday evening,
and the flood of 1866 will leave behind it as sad a
history as those of its terrible predecessors in 1846
and 1856. I have already described to you the state
of matters up to Thursday (27th), at 6 p.m. On
that day the Loire was still flowing somewhat in its
usual d'rection, though its descending torrents were
strewed with the wrecks of many farmsteads, tim-
ber-yards, and other centres of domestic and in-
dustrial life. The lower parts of the town, too,
were under water ; and the tremendous torrent, as
it roared through the 16 arches of the railway
bridge, and the nine arches of the bridge which
connects ()Hee 4,J:A
on that night it was hoped that the dykes would
would prove sufficient to keep the river in its course.
The authorities, however, had for days before beea
preparing themselves and the community for a very
different issue. During the whole of Thursday there
were-no doubt grave misgivings as to the security
of the dykes which protected St. Marceau and the
adjoining districts of country. From break of day
to midnight, with unceasing activity, the removal
of families, cattle, and property of every descrip-
tion went on under the superintendence of the
authorities, and boats and rafts arrived from Paris
to be used in certain dreaded contingencies. When
I left the suburb of St. Marceau between 10 and 11
o'clock on Thursday night this work had slackened,
but was still going on, and the whole population
was afoot, having been prohibited from sleeping
that night in their threatened houses. These roders
extended to • a large area on the St. Ainrceau
side of the river, covered with streets, villas, farm-
houses, vineyards, and abounding in nursery gar-
dens. When I passed homewards, about midnight,
by the temporary office of the prefecture, a notice
was being put up for the information of the eager
crowd. It was to the effect that the water at Glen
and at the bridge of Orleans was nearly ,stationary,
but was not subsiding. The access leading to sub-
merged localities was guarded by gendarmes and
lighted by flaring torches to prevent persons being
drowned through ignorance of the danger which
surrounded them. All was calm and quiet, though
uninvited crowds perambulated the streets. Never-
theless the crisis of a terrible catastrophe was at
hand.

At one o'clock on Friday signal guns and the
blast of the bugle gave a last note of warning to the
doomed district ; . and soon the cry went wildly
through the town that the dykes had given way, or
as the Orleans vulgar phrase expresses it, " les leves
oLt creves." The first breach was made about six
miles above Orleans, at a place opposite the Chateau
de 'lsle, where the dykes form an angle or bend.
Once made the breach soon Winne enlarged, and
in a minute or two there was rushing through it a
torrent which with unchecked fury desolated a wide
expanse of country, and in its course sweeping right
across the populous suburb of St. Marceau. It was
in this sad state that I saw St. Marceau early on
Friday morning--a foaming yellow torrent running
ground was low, the tops of garden walls
through houses and gardens ; and in some places,
ofs -of houses only appeared above the
awnhde rteh
et hr
oe
tt
he waters.tops of isolated Wherever
flood. During the day I ascended the towers of
the cathedral, which command an unbroken view of
the plain far and near. The spectacle was distress-
ing. What was a day or two ago one vast gard
Iofturricnhendes:nywasnowawaste of
telescope I a
saw
houses, or whole villages monuments of the dis-
astrous catastrophe of the night.
The amount
of damage done by the Loire in this immediate
neighbourhood must exceed millions.; what the total
loss is throughout the whole course of the river no
one dare guess at for a long time to come. lam
glad to say that the number of lives lost is very
small. Two men employed on the farm of the
Chateau de l'
Isle,
sle, reported this morning to have
been carried down and drowned, were during the
day fromrescued
1 for safety. . .

The bridge at Olivet, over the Loiret (an impor-
tant tributary of the Loire), has given way. The
omnibuses between Orleans and Olivet are replaced
by boats. A great part of the road is under water.
Olivet is t% league from Orleans, and the road to it
passes through St. Marceau.

CORNISH PILCHARD FISHERY.—Although the
season has advanced so far without any success of moment
to report, the hopes of the fishermen ou the south coast of
Cornwall have most suddenly rovived in tho last few days,
consequent on a moderation in the weather. On Thursday
two seines at Coverack, and three seines at Porthalla shot,
and on Friday no loss than five seines belonging to. St.
Maivo's shot in the western bay of Falmouth. All these
have enclosed fish, which are being tucked, and many
thousands OT:l.4ogsheads are expected to be lauded, espe-
cially as finer Weather seems to have set in. No news
from the Korth coast up to Saturday evening. - _
CRYSTAL PALACE.—ONE SHILLING
day, Oct. I.—Admissions on payment, 4,011 ; ditto by
season tickets, 1,077—total visitors, 5,088,

IF
AIFEBOAT SERVlOES.—During the storms
of the past twenty months the National Lifeboat
trtitution, by its life boats and other means, contributed to
the savin ; of 1,250 persons from different wrecks on our
coasts. The Institution also expended £42,420 In the same
period on its lifeboat establishments, in addition to granting
£3,302 as rewards.
The Committee of the Institution earnestly A ?PcEAL to
he for ASSISTANCE to enale them to eet the
ontinued heavy demands on the Institution's 172 lifeboat
cata.blishments.
Contributions are received by the London untry
and co
hankers ; and by the Secretary, Richard Lewis,l
Esq., at the
astitution, 14, John-street, Adelphi, London.

pII ILLI P S, Mayor.—ln a MEETING or AS-
I
SEMBLY of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Liverymen
of the several Companies of the City of London in Common
/fall assemtled, at the Guildhall of the 6 said City, ou Satur-
d Ly, the 29th day of September, 186,
Resolved, that forasmuch as at the last Common Hall it ,
was required of the Lord Mayor that au inquiry should
be wade into the allegations of the Bridge Masters, that
they were obstructed in tho performance of their
duties under the Charter ; but inasmuch as uo such re-
p hes been presented, but on the contrary a report ofthe
Common Council on the subject, it be referred to the Coin-
puttee of Liverymen, to which shall be added the names
of the mover and seconder of the motion and amendment,
and Mr. John Robert Taylor to inquire into the question
and that the e,o-operation of the present and the succeed-
ing Lord Mayor be given, and that the Report of the judg-
ment in the case be made to the next Common Hal Office of
l.
Resolved, that a copy of the Report on the
iltidge Master be printed, and be obtainable by any Livery-
Joan at the Town Clerk's Office on application, free of cost.
Resolved, that the whole of the Resolutions passed this
day in Common Hall be advertised in the usual newspapers.
WOODTHORPE.

THEATRE ROYAL DRITRY-LANE.—SoIe
Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. CHATTERTON.—
I'ROSPECTIVE ARRANGEMENTS.—This day, Oct. 2,
and during the week, Shakspere's Tragedy of MACBETH.
o conclude with Shakspere's COMEDY OF ERRORS.
Monday, Oct. 8, and during the week (Saturday excepted),
tihaksp.-re's Tragedy of SING JOHN, being the last five
nights it can be performed previous to the Christmas holi-
days in consequence of` he numerous novelties in prepara-
tion. To conclude ith Shakspere's COMEDY OF
RRRORS. Saturday, Oct. 13, Monday, Oct. 15, and during
the week, Shakspere's Tragedy of MACBETH. To con-
clude with THE BEGGAR'S OPERA. Saturday, Oct. 20,
will be-produced for the first time on the English Stage,
in respect to several of its chief scenes, a Romantic Play,
in Four Acts, entitled FAUST, adapted from the Poem of
tioethe, by Bayle Bernard. Principal characters by Mr.
J'helps, Mr. Barry Sullivan, Mr. H. Talbot, Mr. W. Ilarri-
fon, Mr. T. Swinbourne, Mr. Henri Drayton, Master Percy
Roselle, M.
T. Mead, Mr. James Johnstone, Brothers
Webb, Mr. Edmund Phelps, Mr. Barrett, Mr. H. Sinclair,
Mr. Barsby, Miss Amy Sedgwick, Mrs. Herman Vezin
Madame Jenny Baur, Miss Poole, Miss Rebecca Isaac;
Mrs. 11. Vandenhoff, Miss Florence Bennett, Miss Adelaide
Geller, Miss Isabel Adams.—The Scenic Department
under the direction of Mr. William Beverley. Stage
ALanager, Mr. Edward Stirling.

THITATRE ROYAL, HAYAIARKET,
;Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Bucks one,
TIIIS EVENING, THE HEIR-AT-LAW. Messrs. Buck-
stone, Chippendale, Compton,larren, Rogers, Braid, Gordon,
Wethersby, Maidames Chippendale, Moore, Hill, Ac.
Atter which tho BALLET DIVERTISSEMENT. Misses
Christine and Agnes Healy.
Concluding with lIIS FIRST CHAMPAGNE. Messrs.
in
Compton, Farren, Clark, Braid. White, &c.o. esck la"
Yitzwilliam, 11111, Laws, Lovell, A
Commence at Seven.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.—
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Pechter.
THIS EVENING, and during the week.—Mr. and Mrs
DION BOUCICAULT in the new Drama, " TUE LOG
/ST KE."
z—At 7 o'clock, NURSEY CHICKWEED.
Pertorrnances L
Widdicomb, Moreland, D. Evans, and Miss K.
Messrs. I
111andiord.
At a Quarter before 8. the new Drama. in Four Acts, THE
LONG STRIKE, written by Dion lioucicault. The New
Scenery by Mr. 'l. Greive and assistants. Messrs. S Emery,
Wid•Acomb, Fitzpatrick, Dalton, D. Evans, Anderson,
Newbound. Stanley, Lomas, Moreland, Andrews, Reynolds,
And J. C. Cowper.
To conclude with UP IN THE WORLD.
Acting Manager, Mr. H. Barnett.. Stage Manager, Mr. W.
West.
Box-office open daily from Ten till Five.

HE LONG STRIKE.-ROYAL LYCEUM
TTiIEA.T Lt.E,-- Johnny Reilly (an Irish Sailor), Mr. D.
)3uucicAult ; Jane Learoyd (a Factory Girl), hils. D. Bouci-
cault. At 7 o'clock.

ItOYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.
Sole Lessee and Manager. Mr. (leo. Vlnint.T.
WINTER SEASON.—LLIANCREVIVA E. L OF THE TRIPLE
A
N.B.—Doors open at Half-past Six, performances to com-
mence at Seven.
THIS EVENING, a Comedy, in Three Acts, by John
Oxenford, Esq , entitled TH E TRIPLE ALLIANCE Mand
r.
Vining, Mr. J. G. shore; Miss K. Rogers, Miss NeilCson,
Itlrs. Buckingham White.
Alter which, at 9 o'clock, THE HUGUENOT CAPTAIN.
by Witts Phillips. Esq. Mrs. Stirlinz, Miss Neilson, Miss A.
Thomson; Mr. J. G. Shore, Mr. G Honey, and Mr. Vining.
Grand Ballet of Botiemians, in which MM. Flageolet, Clo-
doche, Comete, and Normande, wilt appear. Scenery by Mr.
F. Lloyds.

TIIEATRE ROYAL ADELPIII.
sole Proprietor and Mana4er, Mr. B. Webster.
T LI'S EVENING, TH llt IS TIG Messrs. Stekhen-
son, Eburuc, Horn r ; DErtc.
Alttr which, A SHEEP IN WOLF'S CLOTIIIo,G. 3liss
Ka e I erry (tier Itnd appearance in this Theatre, ; Jae ers.
Bitpngt9n, Stuart, Shaw ; Mirs "I urtle, &c.

Liverpool had scarcely been welcomed,
Chamber
curred to the leading members of theof
Commerce to give a more substantial expression to
their congratulations. It was accordingly resolved
to invite the principals in the affair to a grand ban-
quet, and no pains were spared to do honour to the
' occasion. The rooms were appropriately decorated
with festoons of cables, corals, and real sea-weed,
\
in token of the enterprise and adventure which had
invaded the mermaid's domain ; and over the ban-
' queting table, from the centre of the room, hung in
triumph the victorious grapnel which raised from
its ocean bed the long lost cable of 1865, thereby
doing most important service to the cause of sub-
marine telegraphing, both theoretical and practical.
The guests formed an important body. The chair
was taken by Sir S. No RTHCOTE, as President of the
Board of Trade, and another Minister of State was
present in the person of Lord STANLEY, whose
address was one of the principal events of the even-
ing. The American Consul and the Prime Ministers
of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick were prominent
among the guests, and the chairman of the Great
Ship Company, Sir CHARLES BRIGHT, and all the
principal parties interested in the exploit were pre-
sent, with one exception. Mr. GLASS, who has been
so closely associated with the whole undertaking,
both in its failure and its success, has unfortunately
succumbed to his exertions in the very moment of
triumph, and was prevented by serious illness from
attending the banquet. In the course of the even-
ing the Chairman read a communication of a very
gratifying nature from Lord DERBY, which stated
her MAJESTY, who has always taken a deep interest
in the project, desired to bestow some mark of her
approval on those gentlemen, to whose energy, per-
severance, and exertion its success is mainly due.
Accordingly she has directed that Messrs. GLASS
and CANNING, Captain ANDERSON, and Professor
THOMSON should receive the honour of knighthood,
and that baronetcies should be conferred on Mr.
SIMPSON, the deputy chairman of the original com-
pany, and Mr. GOOCH, M.P. The claims of Mr.
CYRUS FIELD to recognition are considered by the
QUEEN to be equally great, but she is unwilling to
interfere with the functions of the American
Government, who will no doubt promptly re-
ward his great services to both nations. Unfor-
tunately the rules of the naval service and the
statutes of the Order of the Bath prevent Lord
DERBY from conferring on Captain ANDERSON any
mark of public favour more connected with his own
profession; but, after all, the highest honours which
these enterprising men can receive, must fill short
of the gratification which they must derive from the
consciousness that their great work has been carried
to a successful issue. Much is, of course, due to
the great development of scientific skill and know-
ledge in our time, but no theories could
have been put into practice without the
good old English qualities of courage,
determination, and perseverance which our Atlantic
cable layers have so strikingly displayed.
The speeches delivered at the banquet were very
well worth hearing, and those most connected
with the subject of the evening gave some interest-
ing scraps of information regarding the cables. Mr.
HORSFALL, M.P., while addressing the company, ex-
cited some merriment by reading a telegram just
received from Newfoundland, in which Mr. COL-
LETT, the superintendent, informed them that the
weather was fine, and the cod-fishing excellent I
Mr. WILLOUGHBY SMITH assured the meeting
that the cables were the best ever yet
laid, and he mentioned, in illustration, that
when near Heart's Content he telegraphed an invita-
tion to dinner to Mr. COLLETT at Heart's Content
station, via Newfoundland, and he received an an-
swer within five minutes. Sir CIIARLES BRIGHT, in
1 avalLuvugu
the loss from the failures was considerable the ex-
perience which had been gained from those very
failures had been most valuable. lle had, he said,
no doubt as to the durability of the present cables,
and they are already being worked at a very large
profit, although the land lines on the American side
are still, as we know, imperfect. The delay occa-
sioned by the state of these lines prevented the
receipt of a message from the PRESIDENT, which was
expected to be read at the meeting. Mr. ELLIOrr
informed the company that the next cable would be
laid direct to New York, an announcement which
was received with loud applause. Such a line
would, indeed, be a triumph of telegraphic skill,
and would be of almost incalculable value to both

countries.
Lord STANLEY'S speech was principally on that
union of the nations of which the Atlantic
Cable is at once an emblem and an encouragement.
"England and America," said Lord STANLEY with
truth, " are united by an enterprise which appears
to me the most marvellous triumph of mind over
matter, of man over nature, that the annals of
science have yet recorded." what will be the
effect, asked the noble lord, of this instantaneous
communication? On our colonies it can be hardly
other than beneficial, seeing that it will not only
keep the Home Government au courant with the
state of things in the colonies, but when any
interference is necessary they will be able to do so
with far more effect and to much more advantage.
The diplomatic aspect of the question also, as Lord
STANLEY remarked, was very important. It has
been said that the opinion of foreign nations is an
anticipation of the judgment of posterity ; and al-
though Lord STANLEY would not go so far as to
endorse that sentiment absolutely, he observed that
lookers-on were often better able to judge of
what was passing than those who were in the midst
of the fray, and that England and America were
both in a position to give mutually fair and tem-
perate criticism of one another's proceed-
ings. Lord STANLEY, however, is not a
speaker who shrinks from the disagreeable
side of his subject, and he did not hesitate to admit
that there might be, as there had been, mutual
criticism, which, instead of being fair mad tempe-
rreessuL i
tempe-
rate, was hasty, partial, and passionate. "He did
not believe," he said, "that
fro
m suchm criticismutu alinterest. resulted
from hostility, but
rather,
have sometimes thought that England and the
United States are like two individuals related by
common family, both of whom would be sorry should
family ties, both interested for the credit of their
any real harm happen to the other ; but not always
agreeing in ideas, and not being of a reticent dis-
position, however friendly,
their opinion
now and then using the
privilege of relationship to express
of each other's affairs in a manner which,
though it may be frank, is not always
judicious or agreeable." This was a happy illustra-
tion, and not less appropriate was Lord STANLEY'S
reminder that the use of a common language ren-
dered the position more difficult, since no man spoke
to his friends in precisely the same terms as he would
speak of them, and that, thanks to the press, every
word said by either country of the other was also
said to the other. It was well that the direction of
our foreign affairs should be placed in the hands of
a statesman who 40 thoroughly appreciates the value
of a good understanding between the two great free
peoples, and who believes indeed that on the union
of the two natioll3, more than on any other earthly
thing, the future of civilisation depends." Such a
sentiment found its appropriate expression at the

banquet held in honour of that bond of unionwhich
science, skill, and enterprise have just completed
between the peoples of the Two Worlds.

The Middle-Class Education Movement has of
late excited a great deal of attention, and deservedly

so, for it is a matter of paramount importance to

the welfare and wellbeing of society, and cannot
be overrated in its effects. Yesterday was the
occasion of the first of a series of public schools
being opened, which have been designed under a
charter of incorporation from the Crown, for the

education of children in the middle classes,

especially those of clerks, artisans, and small

tradesmen. This may be considered on the
whole as the first practical result of all that

has been said and done by many influential
men in this respect. It is satisfactory to
notice that all went favourably, and the affair was
successfully inaugurated. No one of thought or
reflection can disagree with the matter, for it relates
to the interests of the community, and may be
justly deemed a step in the right direction, for it
provides for the wants of those who have been
greatly neglected hitherto with one thing and an-
other. A building in the City-road has been
selected for this first attempt, and its locality is an
excellent one. The Lord Mayor and two of the
members for the City were present at the in-
teresting ceremony, and his lordship declared
that he was gratified in assisting at what
he believed to be " one of the greatest and
and most useful national undertakings of modern
times." We entirely agree with the Lord Mayor

that, while there is much to be proud of in the
arts, sciences, and manufactures of this country,
" the popular education of the people, up to within
a recent period, had been a blot and a disgrace to
this great country." Very true was also his sub-
sequent remark that education, besides cultivating
the mind and refining the taste, was essential to
all artisans and mechanics in a certain degree, for
if they neglected it they would find themselves
left behind by their competitors in other lands.
A glaring instance of the want of education
in England is shown by the report of the
Registrar-General to the effect that there are thou-
sands of men and women who affix a cross to their
names on.their marriage, being unable to read.
Further on in the proceedings the Lord Mayor ad-
dressed a word of encouragement to those who
sought to learn the modern languages, declaring
that he himself owed his present position in life to
a smattering of modern languages; hence he advised
others to follow his example, for the " result had
been what he hoped it would be to many of the
brave boys outside—Lord Mayor of the city of
London. Mr. GOSCHEN made some appropriate
remarks, and gave it as his confident opinion that
the undertaking in question was destined to have a
most happy future, and that it would be a great
success. Mr. GOSCUEN wisely observed that those
who arranged this school should make it their chief
object to " concentrate their energies upon those
few branches of education which were absolutely
essential to any one entering upon an active sphere
of life. If those who enjoy the advantages of this
school cannot remain for a long period, then it
seems a pity that they should undertake more than
they can acquire with perfectness and precision.
The fact that there were applications for three
hundred boys to be admitted to this school before
it was opened, is quite enough to show the necessity
for it ; and in every respect we may congratulate
the public upon its successful inauguration. It is a
good beginning of a work that has long been re-
quired, and those who have the opportunity cannot
better employ their energies than in training up the
youth of the industrial classes for that station whicl

• %et, '•••• .1

,beral education.