The Sun.
London, England, 1859-09-21 00:00:00

EXTRAORDINARY CBARGE.

At the Exeter Guildhall on Saturday, before the
Mayor, Capt. Tanner, and a full bench of magi-
strates, Mr. Charles Ashburnham Floyd, a cornet
in the oth Lancers, the depot of which is now
stationed at the Exeter Barracks, was charged with
indecently assaulting a young married woman,
named Eliza Ann Cobley, the wife of a porter. The
evidence of the complainant was of a most extraor-
dinary character. She stated that on the night of
the Bth of September she was walking in the Cow-
ley-bridge-road, when she was accosted by the
defendant, who asked her to take a walk with him.
She refused, telling him that she was a married
woman, and that she was goine. home. He said,
"'The more safe for that," and then endeavoured to
force her into Bury-meadow. When they came to
a lane defendant put his arm round her waist, and
forced her into it, and here he made improper over-
tures and took indecent liberties with her. For
nearly two hours she was detained by the defendant,
and repeatedly resisted the attempts he made upon
her. When she arrived home her clothes were very
much disarranged, and on her husband asking her
the reason she told him all the circumstances. The
defendant told her that his name was Floyd, and
that he was going into the barracks. In cross-
examination by Mr. Gray, who appeared for the
defendant, the complainant (Omitted she did not
raise any alarm when the defendant took liberties
with her, and that although a soldier passed them
when in the lane, she did not appeal to him for
protection. She swore positively that Mr. Floyd,
who was in court, was the gentleman who assaulted
her, but he was not then in military uniform. In
order to get away from him when she did she said
she agreed to meet him the next night, but she did
not keep her appointment. As her husband was
annoyed, she wrote to Mr. Floyd asking him to
meet her, in order that he might apologise to her
husband, and thus prevent a public exposure. The
diction and orthography of the letters were of a
very peculiar character, and highly amused a large
auditory, among whom were several of defendant's
brother officers. The following is one of the
epistles :

"Exeter, Sept. 14.
it •
be of youonce more that you will alow youself
to see me on those very Particlar Terms as you have De-
stroyed my happyness with my husband complete as I told
you at the Time you would and he says he will have the
low for it he this Day would not be Put over from having
a Police officer and search the Barracks for you but I Told
to him and he let it alone if you would only See me and
hear what I want to Say to you Do see me this Evening at
half past Seven o Clock at the lower Part of Northerny
oposete the new railway you can be on the last Seat Down
and I will be there at that Time Precisly Pont fail let me
beg of as I woe oblige to say how keep me from being in
home Timo and what you ware but not Telling you name
to him. " A. CORLEY."
Mr. Floyd's oral reply to the communication was
that he knew nothing of the writer. For the de-
fence, Mr. Agnew, a cornet in the 9kh Lancers, was
called, and positively stated that the defendant was
with him and other gentlemen the whole of the
day in question in the barracks, and they sent the
evening
ta.olgleegthederthfrarth7e oa'scslacuckl;
9 and 11. The solicitor who conducteol the case for
the complainant said he was perfectly satisfied that
an alibi had been proved, and that his client must
have made a mistake. The Mayor disc "sled the
case, made some strong remarks on the conduct of
The
between a
the complainant, and observed that no imputation
utonotkilpte
or any of his
brother officers.
whatever rested on the defendant

action was performed at
-___==_------
RESCUE FROM DnowmNG.—X letter in a con-
temporary my
dPe°,r Islear says:—,, A gallantof Wight, on Friday last, which deserves note.
A gentleman fell into deep water from the pier at Ryde,
and, being unable to swim, had sunk twice, when Mr. Geo.
R.N., hearing a cry, rushed to
suc-
ceeded in saving the drowning man. His own life, how-
ever, was nearly lost in the attempt, for the sinking man
clutched him round the neck and drew him under water,
IVehsitpeohte,aand,dmt
sitdrsihpippimnganow
his
and but for the timely arrival of aboat, probably two corpses
jacket, jumped in, and
would have been brought ashore. If you think a brave
action, done by a youth of 17, worthy to be recorded, per-
' haps you Will give a place to this letter.

necessity. of abolishing the term of 41.441Xt In-
fantry," and„ converting the corps of Royal Mad
rines into marine artillery. Virtually they are so
now, and if-Colonel Simmons- -should at any time
be at any of the head-quarters of the Marines, ld
him visit the gun-shed -there the men and officers
are so ably,instructed by the gunnery officers in
the ship gun exercise. As rifle marksmen they are
certainly equal to any soldiers of the Line. Their
proficiency in this particular should, I think, be
kept up.
I have- for some years -been-eonvinced -of the-ne-
cessity of a standing navy, nor can I discover how
better to acquire it than by substituting Marines
for blue jackets. 'Perfect gunners, they, fire in a
high state of efficiency and discipline, and, I am
convinced that the experiment need only be tried
to be approved.
to Sbier,trli:dh.otLiledtmauctnhanli-
okfe-Nthc-var f°bell°MailningedexoPneriainpleall:
the reverse of the present practice. Instead of a
detachment of Marines.and a crew of blue, jackets
let us have a crew of Marines and a detiehment of
blue jackets. But, Sir, in order that there shall be
no 'mistake, great care must be observed in the se-
lection of the captain in command. -Without wish-
ing to be in the slightest degree invidious, I cannot
forbear to name one officer who, from an intimate
knowledge' of his professional merits, together
with his great intelligence, would, in my humble
opinion, 'be ,Well calculated to carry out the experi-
ment. I mean Capt. Robert Mends, C. 8., late flag
captain to the much-lamented Lord Lyons.
I would with -to ask, of -what use is all that
enormous top weight in the shape of masts and
yards ? As we look upon our Channel fleet lying
at anchor at Spithead, I readily grant that the
masts and yards add greatly to its appearance; but
I must own that I view them as things gone by.
Sooner or later this enormous additionalexpenseto
the country must give place to a style of rigging
now very generally adopted in our merchant
service. I' -
If you Should think these remarks worthy of a
place in your paper, you will oblige me by publish-
ng them.
I have the honour to be, Sir,
Your obedient humble servant,
H.

Sept.. 16.

TO ME EDITOR OF 'THE 3,TIMES.
Sir,—l have read your article -ppm this subject
with plea Sure, and none. more Siiitusoithe one in
last. Friday's impression, in which ye point out
the untouched resources of the country:" -- •
I have under my care 50 youths belonging to the
reformatory, class, and I think that, in stamina and
training, they are well adapted for the navy. They
have had, at least, two years of wholesome and cor-
rective discipline, and have learnt to obey orders
em .h ir! companies, and perform
sainmdpslieg nmaillsi;tatorymranri
oc
entsrepair their own clothes and,boots, use sail needles.
and stitch canvas, scrub- a room, make-a
-bed; and
do a little rough cookery. They can swim- well,
climb a long rope, and sit en the truck hearl of -our
40 feet mast. Here, then, are, I think, the
,elements
of a good sailor, while for dashund bottom, I will
answer 'for them that, in the day of trial, they will
rank with the men who shouted victory at Irafal-
gar, or with those who as bravely met defeat and
death on the shores of the Peiho.
But, sir, the navy refuses to take this, as I think,
useful class of boys. On what ground I cannot
tell. Perhaps moral contamination is feared, and
certainly after " Jack" has had a few weeks' cruise
in certain parts of London or Portsmouth, it would
be as well to keep him from the evil communica-
tion of the reformatory boy. Still, this regula-
tion does not- exist with regard to the army.
What is the fine line,',then, that keeps him from
the navy ? Mr. Cave's letter shows that there is
nothing to fear from this class of lads. Why, then,
is a boy from a certified reformatory like mine or
the Akbar only to be got into the navy sub rose !
Break this barrier, and every year the State paid
reformatory shall add a valuable addition to the
defences of the, country.
This question affects the managers of these
schools equally with the public. The -value of a
reformatory does not consist so much on its situa-
tion or system as in the right disposal of the boy at
the period of his discharge. To fail here is to fail
everywhere. To send London or town boys back
to their old haunts, even after years of training,
is to risk all ; for, in addition to the power of old
habits and associations, the semi-public life of a-boy
in these schools of discipline does, to a certain extent.
unfit him for the ordinary situations which towns
offer, and to send him abroad as an emigrant is at
once a costly proceeding and a possible loss to the
country, while to place him on board our Royal
Alberts and Goliaths is to fix him in the home of
his own choice, and for which he is well furnished
by his reformatory training. But a barrier
exists, and you, Sir, will do the State service if
your well-timed article should destroy this impedi-
ment and allow an honourable entrance into the
navy for a class of boys who, in all the essentials
of a British sailor, will bear comparison with any
in the service.
I am, sir, your obedient servant,
W. J. CORDEL lER.
Ford-house; Bow, Sept. 19.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.
Sir,—l have just hul the pleasure of read-
ing in your paper of to -day one of the
most admirable, because most usefully sug-
gestive, articles which ever marked the active
and accurate vigilance of the Times. It st tes the
reasonableness of recruiting both navy and army by
boys from workhouses and reformatories. I recog-
nise without hesitation and wish to illustrate the
common-sense of the proposal. There was brought
before me yesterday a lad of 17 years of age accused
of theft, who had already been six times convicted
of the same crime. In October, 1857, I sentenced
hire to imprisonment for 15 months. He repeated
the offence after his liberation in the course of the
summer of this year, and was sent by a police ma-
gistrate to gaol for 60 days. Nothing cured him.
He was again a thief, when his whole previoushis-
tory was resuscitated. He avowed his guilt with
the most cheerful alacrity, while I did not hesitate
in the face of the public court to confess that I really
did not know what to do with such a case, and that
I personally revolted against the duty imposed on
me of literally burying alive a young man at the
very period of life when the seeds of the whole
practicaliata th e p
runsme fitstlens ensrs,
ao
tf
Inc iaasnt o
ngphet
nt o be quickened
r snmeicind
of
fruit. But I was obliged to send him to prison for
18 months. Our whole system, depend upon it, is
a monstrousmistake and fallacy. No prison, no re-
formatory, will ever, by theoretical inculcation of
what is right, make the slightest impression on any
such juvenile offender. And even if their teaching
or discipline had any effect for a time, and while
the boy was within their walls, what is he to do
when his sentence is over, and he is sent once more
into the world ? The whole world rejects him. The
thing is nonsense. Your ideas, if carried out, would
save to the nation and to themselves thousands of
young spirits who, having gone astray under in-
citements, or temptations, or compulsions, or
examples of which nobody sitting always beside
a comfortrble fireside can have the slightest con-
ception, are—l say it sternly and openly—
instead of being bettered or helped, made use-
less, and crushed for ever by prisons and reforma•
ngfd otiinie and
awakened
to
khenuemdan self-
consciousness of of what a man can do when he
tories. Send them to the navy and army, and, by
doing so, not only save to the State an useless ex-
tphe
the
ds ietruvii ee ,e bauntag
ti vheen
tost
strength
works with others and when others will work with

him.
I havo the honour to be, sir, your obedient ser-
vant, NT. GORDON: Sheriff of Midlothian.
Jon-
Sheriffs' Chambers, Edinburgh, Sept. 16.

thaEnAtnlile'EnßuTmis:rOu7T.l—lC()t
of indigestion (dyspepsia), flatulency, constipation, nervous,
bilious, and liver complaints, cough, asthma, consti-
pation, and debility effected by Du Barry's delicious
extraordinaryhing can
nres be
wmithoroeur ratersodsiteiinnge
Health-restoring Revalenta Arabica Food. We
give a few :—" "Winchester, December 3, 1847.
Gentlemen,—l am happy to be able to inform you that the
person for whom your Revalenta was procured has derived
very great benefit from its use ; distressing symptoms of
dropsy, dyspepsia, and constipation of long stand-
ing have been removed, and a feeling cf restored
h ealth induced Having witnessod the beneficial
efkcts in the above mentioned case, I can with confi-
dence recommend it, 6:c. &-,c . John Shorland, late surgeon,
9601 nevi t ~—Cure 'Na. 48,314: Miss Elizabeth 'Yen-
, nen •
near Liverpool—A cure of ten years' dys-
pepsia, and ally. _
.ure
No. 46,814--Mr. ~..n • , •
qn 11 Lydon L • ter, of t •
, eices er, vko years diar-
Cure No. 52,612—The Dowager Countess of Castle-
rhoca.—
°Dually years nervous irritabili ty,bile, and indigestion.
stuart,
In tins, at Is. 6d.; 11b., 3s. ; 21b., ss. 9d. ; 51b., 125.; 121 b.,
265. The 10
b. and 121 b. tins carriage free, on receipt of post-
office order, Du Barry and Co., 77, Regent-street, London.*
Fortnuni, Mason, and Co., 182, Piccadilly; Abbis, 60,
Gracechurch-street ; 4, Cheapside ; 63, and 150, Oxford-
street; 330 and 451, Strand • 49 and 60, Bishopsgate-
street ; 85, Tottenham-cottri-road. Also at Dublin,
Bewley and Draper ; at Edinburgh, Raimes and Co.,
at Liverpool, Nixon and Thew ; at Manchester, Sharp and
Scott; at, York, Rximes, Blanchard, and Co.; at South.
twapton, Randa)l and Son.

BENSON'S WATCHES.
" Perfection of mechanism."—Nornlng Post.
Gold Watches 4 to 100 guineas.
Silver Watches
33 and 34, Ludgate-hill, London, E.C.
etnd 2 stamps for Benson's Illustrated Pamphlet on Watches.

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA,
COVENT-GARDEN.
Under the manazement of Miss LOUISA PYNE and Mr.
W. HARRISON, will Open for the Season on MONDAY,
Oot. 3d.
Acting Manager—Mr. E. Murray.
Stage Manager Mr. E. Stirling.

THEATRE-ROYAL, • HAYMARKET.
Lessee, Mr. J. B. Buckstone.
THIS EVENING the performances will commenee with
SHIM STOOPS TO CONQUER. Miss Amy Sedgwick.
After which, LEND ME FIVE SHILLINGS. Mr. Buck-
None.
pad HALLOWE'EN.
Commence at 7.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.—This
Theatre win OPEN on SATURDAY next, September
se, with a new Drama, by J. Oxenford, Esq., entitled IVY
BALL ; the scenery by Messrs. T. Grieve and W. Telbin. To
conclude with a dramatic tableau in Watteau colours, by J.
Z. Planche, Esq., entitled LOVE AND FORTUNE ; the
•cenery by Mr. W. R. Beverley. During the recess the Thea-
tre has been redecorated.

NEW THEATRE - ROYAL, ADELPHI.
Sole proprietor and Manager, Mr. Benj. Webster.
This splendid New Theatre, replete with every comfort,
an
WILL OPEN for the Season on MONDAY, Sept. 26, 1 85BUR-
ADELPHI DRAMA, COMEDY, FARCE, d
LESQ.IifE, and ADELPHI EFFECTS ! ! I—On which ocsa-
sion Mr. Benjamin Webster, Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. David
Fisher (his first appearance at this theatre), Mr. Paul Bedford,
Miss Woolgar (Mrs. Alfred Mellon), Miss Henrietta Simms,
ac., Sic., will appear. The performances will consist of a
MAMA (2d time), of the highly successful piece of ONE
TOUCH OF NATURE ; a new Farce, by J. M. Morton, Esq.,
Called LOVE AND THE ROOD
and the popular Burlesque
of THE BABES IN THE WOOD.
The Box-office will be opened on Thursday, Sept. 22, and
every day after, from 10 to 5. No charge for securing seats,
nor for bills of performance. All fees to servants of this
establishment are strictly prohibited.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Lessee and Directress, Miss Swanborongh
THIS EVENING, THE GOOSE WITH THE GOLDEN
EGGS.
Followed by THE VERY LATEST EDITION OF THE
LADY OF LYONS.
After which, A SCHOOL FOR COQUETTES. Misses
Swanborough, Oliver, and Lavine.
Commence at 7 o'clock.

CANTERBURY HALL CONCERTS.—
ZVICRY EVENING.—The Music of Verdi's Opera of
DLACBETH (now first made public in England at these Con-.
Worts), the extraorainary Violin Performances of the cele-
brated Infant DELEPIERRE FAMILY, and the usual
Topa Goncer t.
Comic Vocalists —Messrs. George Hodson (the Irish C
&an and Mimic), W. T. Critchfleld, and E. W. Mackney. ome-
Beyeral interesting Pictures are added to the Fine Arts
Gallery. The suite of Halls have been re-decorated and
heautMed, and constitute one of the most unique and brilliant
sights of the metropolis.
Will shortly be produced, a Grand Selection" from Meyer-
beer's new opera of DINNORA.

THE WEATHER.—Strx ONCE, SE7T3MBER 21.
THZII24OICSTEIt, DT THE SHADE.
66—highest since soon yesterday.
57-.. lowest this morning and during the night.
60—this day at loon.
BAItomETEB.-29.45; a fall of half an inch since yesterday.
WIND, Westerly; rough, wet, and stormy, with sun-
shine. This day is the Autumnal Equinox, and the
weather is very unsettled.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
THIS DAT.—Morning, 7h. 37m.—Afternoon, Bh. 23m.
To-Moßitow-Morning, 9h. 12m.—Afternoon, 10h. 2m,
am.. 4................."•••••••••......

THE SUN.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 1869,

Suggestions continue to be hazarded by corre-
spondents in almost every department of our forces
as to the best mode of manning the Navy. But
the true principle, after all, is better pay, better
usage, with a proper reform in the Mutiny Bill.
Seamen are as kind and good-hearted as other
people, and can appreciate good conduct in their
officers accordingly. What they chiefly dread is
the tyranny so frequently and so unmercifully
exercised by some commanders, who mistake their
duty, by using severity instead of kindness, to en-
sure smartness. A good seaman is ever smart when
duty requires ; but to be always harassed and kept
on the qui vivo without any reasonable necessity
disgusts good men, and gives a bad name to the
service- Men are frequently flogged for a mere
trifle or misapprehension ; and, if not flogged, they
are put in the black list, and kept there from
wilful caprice. This degrades men in their own
estimation, and renders that odious, which would
otherwise become a pleasant duty, for sailors pride
themselves on meritting the good opinion of their
fellow-men and the respect of theii officers.

Experience daily proves that the working of our
naval system must be altered to meet the require-
ments of the age. Steam has introduced a new
element into the management as :well as the
fighting of our ships. Steam has greatly altered
the character of navigation, and must be met
accordingly. Whatever changes may become
necessary should be made with care and simplicity.
Improvements will duly present themselves in our
experience. But, first of all, we must have men.
The late Board of Admiralty have deserved
well of their country by making provision for a
good reserve. We quite agree with the Times that
in order to get good men and keep them, tempting
inducements must be held out in the shape of pre-
sent pay, with increasing pension according to
length of service, good character, and severe wounds.
These and more promotion to deserving men from
before the mast, would act with magical effect on sea-
faring people, and even on landsmen too. Young lads
would enter willingly, and become an excellent
nursery for seamen in after years. There ought
not to be so much squeamishness in receiving young
men as there was lately displayed with regard to

entering volunteers.
Now, with respect to our Marine force. Years
and years past, we have impressed on those in
power the expediency of increasing that force and
making them all learn the practice of Artillery.
But advice is thrown away on those who fancy
themselves above responsibility. Now, however,
they must conform to the exigency of circumstances
or give place to those who will, for the national
safety is paramount to all other considerations.
Suppose the present Marine force were aug-
mented, say to 48,000 men. Divide that force into
three watches of 16,000 each. Let one watch be
always on board ship, for a given time ; let the
second watch nit= our forts and do duty as Coast-
guardsmen, and let the third watch be at the
head-quarters of the several divisions, or em-
ployed where wanted. Then to perfect these
/nen in their several duties on land as well as
on board ship, let the watches relieve each
and thus we shall have a force
other in due time,
prepared for any service
and inured to every requ-
site duty. As coastguards-men they would be on
the watch to prevent smuggling, and
be ever on
the alert to meet invasion when that dreaded bug-
bear adventures on our coast.
Then as to manning our ships, the proportion
or
seamen and marines—marine artillery, for they
would all be drilled for that service, the proportion
must depend upon the actual working of our steam
navy—be it one-third more or less according to
circumstances. Coals are wasteful expense where
wind can be turned to account for nothing. We
.may be for months blockading an enemy's
ports,
bait the decisive arbitrament of action is only for a
dam, or it may be an hour. Why, then, waste what
it is costly to get and no loss to husband P
In ease of any sudden emergency we could, by
having such a disposable force of marines at hand,
say 32,000, double or even treble our home Navy
rat once, by dividing the crews of ships in commission

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