The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-28 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

Tlllll DAT.—Merning, 4h. 16m.— Afternoon, 4h. 38m.
To-Monitow.-Morning, sh. Om.—Afternoon, sh. 24m,

";*
Cdt #'*.=l4%

LONDON, FRIDAY, SEPT. 28, 1866.

An interesting meeting-took place at Exeter on
Wednesday last, when the medals and prizes were
presented to the successful students at the last
election. Sir STAFFORD NORTIICOTE, who presided
on the occasion, delivered an admirable addreft,
which was well received. The right hon. gentleman
observed with great justice that it would be a far
better arrangement if they had one great field day
for the presentation of all prizes, &c., connected
with the examinations in the place. By this means
they could assemble many influential persons, and
there would be this advantage that they would
not run the risk of putting one portion above
the other. There exists, indeed, a great
necessity for the education of the country to be
more harmonised, and the sooner those concerned
in the matter will bring the various branches to-
gether, the better it will be for the interests of the
Community. Sir S. NORTIICOTE has evidently well
considered the matter carefully, and his opinions
deserve more weight in consequence. It appears
that in Leeds the system he advocates has already
been adopted with considerable success, and a
degree of interest is thus excited, and an importance
attached to the distribution which they could not
otherwise assume. Very true were the observations
made as to the difficulties that present themselves
to those who teach science. They have to create a
feeling of need for it, as it were, in the minds of the
people before they can hope to make any consider-
able progress, and attain any great degree of sue-
England, in this respect, is in the back-
ground, partly owing to the practical turn
of mind which is
in the English character, which regards
scientific teaching as impracticable." A sort of
prejudice has long been entertained against what
has been called the
oiogies," and this has con-
duced to retard the progress which otherwise would
undoubtedly have been made. Gratitude is due to
those distinguished persons who have laboured to
forward this great work among us. It never could
answer in this age of progress to keep the old plan of
neglecting the relative bearings of things, and merely

CCSS.

looking at the work before us in the least compre-
hensive way possible. "It is necessary," as it is
here expressed, to " work by the rule of art as well
as by the rule of thumb."
We have no reason to despair of ultimately ob-
taining all we desire on this point when we survey
the progress which has been made by those who
have been trained by the Government. In 1859
only 59 candidates appeared for mastership, and last
year the number was augmented to 169. In 1860
only nine classes existed with 500 scholars, but now
there are as many as 484 classes, with 6,835 scholars.
These are facts which speak for themselves, and
need no comment to give them force or expression.
Education is, indeed, the great advantage which
all the middle and lower classes possess over those of
a former generation. It is the true distinction, and
however much Mr. BRIGIIT and his friends may de-
clare that its consideration need not enter into the
question of fitness of franchise, it is the main point
after all. Unhappily great changes are being made
in this important matter, and as Sir S. NORTII-
COTE said, " the days have passed when a man
who has failed in everything else, is regarded as
being able to teach boys to read and write." An
instance of the change that has taken place in the
public appreciation of science was aptly given by
Mr. COLERIDGE, M.P., who briefly addressed the
meeting. lie said that he left college much in the
position of the man described by Professor FARA-
DAY, " as being unable to give the details of the
working of the steam engine, and would be puzzled
to describe the construction of the aneroid barome-
ter." The habits of strict attention and sustained
inquiry that are induced by this study are truly
most beneficial.

Lectures and addresses at Mechanics' Institutes
are now getting the fashion, for the winter session
of such institutions is beginning, and it is customary
for the presidents to deliver inaugural addresses.
The presidents, thanks to that kindly sympathy
between classes which, in spite of Mr. BRIGHT, is
becoming more and more characteristic of English
life, are usually gentlemen occupying a very different
social position from the members of the institutes
themselves. This does not prevent the speakers
from entering heartily into the interests of the
association, nor does it hinder them from arrest-
ing the attention of their hearers. Very
often they are able to throw a new light upon some i
perplexing question, to make useful suggestions, or
to decide impartially between some rival claims.
Lookers-on, they say, sec most of the game, and in
the same way an independent observer who is not
personally affected by the issue of the discussions,
nor identified with local parties and interests, may
be able to foru a more accurate judgment, to sug-
gest a wiser course than those more immediately
concerned. Certainly the address delivered by the
Earl of HARROWBY at the Midland Institute, at
Birmingham, on Monday last, gave ample evidence
of a hearty interest in the welfare of the association,
and of an enlightened judgment as to the principles
on which it should be conducted. This institute is,
as may be supposed, an association of considerable
importance. The mechanics of Birmingham and
the Midland Counties possess a high degree of
natural intelligence, quickened by the nature
of their employments and the pressure of competi-
tion. It was necessary in addressing such an
audience to utter something more than courteous
platitudes or vague generalities. Lord HARROWBY
began by admitting the difficulty which he felt in
assuming the headship of institution. " Surely,"
he said, " the town which nearly a century ago
could boast of a IhrrToN, a PRIESTLY, and a WATT
among their fellow-citizens, cannot need to bring
a country gentleman from thirty miles off to
tell them of the importance of education, or
if, stimulate them to fresh exertions in its
cause." Lord Hannower, however, found
something useful to say, for he boldly faced the
practical difficulties which attend the intellectual
cultivation of a man who from his early youth up-
wards has been forced to devote himself to some
industrial pursuit. Not only is this necessary for
earning his living, but because in most mechanical
or industrial pursuits it is imperative to begin at a
very early age. " It is in vain," said Lord HAR-
ROWBY, while speaking on this subject, " that edu- 1
cationalists and philanthropists remonstrate and en-
large upon the advantages of prolonging the years
of school. The necessities of life are too strong—
they prevail over all general reasoning ; the boy or
young man goes to work or into actual business
with little more in his possessien than the imple-
ments by which knowledge is acquired." How,
asked the noble Earl, is this difficulty to be met,
and how can the contending claims of practical life
and mental cultivation be reconciled ? This is, in
fact, the great difficulty in the way of edu-
cating the lower classes not merely enabling
them to read and write, but to attain that
degree of intelligent proficiency which shall
make them take pleasure in intellectual pursuits. As
Lord llannowsY remarked, the Legislature has
done something by restricting the hours of labour
for the young ; but this does not solve the problem
so far as the elders are concerned, and it is on
this subject that Lord HARROWBY made a very
valuable suggestion. Mechanics' Institutes were
as we all know, founded in a great measure to
supply the deficiencies of early education ; and
if they have not fully succeeded in all that was
expected from them it has been not because they
aimed at too little, but too much. The very fact
of a man being unfamiliar with literature, unaccus-
tomed to study, makes him less disposed to serious
mental application after his work. It is true there
have been notable exceptions, in which some of the
very highest names on the roll of science have risen
from the ranks : 'nu 011 MILLER, HUMPHREY DAVY,
rise
intellects whose acuteness nothing
to the memory, and prove to
uasndthmatanthy theroeaerres
i
can blunt, spirits whose indomitable perseverance no
impediment could daunt ; but these aretheeanics,
excep-
tions, not the rule, and the powers of Mechanics'
Institutes have acted too much on the principle that
every intelligent mechanic was a HUGH MILLER in
disguise. It is useless to expect hard and continu-
ous mental application from the great body of men
after working hours. We do not find it in the really
educated classes, those whose whole youth has been
spent in schools and colleges. How many gentle-
men of the middle ranks, on returning from their
chambers or their offices, settle themselves to a care-
fulstudy of scientific or historical works ? We doubt
whether the proportion would be foiled to be very
much greater than it is in the Mechanics' Institutes,
and we agree with Lord llARaowsy that the 800
or 1,000 students included in the Industrial classes
of their institute form a subject for congratulation.
" In so busy a community," said the noble Presi-
dent, " we must not expect too much. It is not
every youth who, after having spent a busy day,
engaged in manual craft or behind the counter, or
at the
Pityetiedests wish the bodily powers or the mental
well exhausted, is prepared to find
his repose rather in mental exertion than in mere
recreation." One great reason in Lord HARROWBVS
Opinion of the limited success attending mechanics'
institutes has been their rigorous exclusion of thetwo
most generally interesting topics, religion and politics.
It was feared the introduction of such topics might
create discussions Meng the members, and would

limit the number of supporters. This policy Lord
ARROWBY believes, and we think with reason, to
ba a mistaken one. Few, he says, seek instruction
simply for its own sake. The two things for which
the busy or the working man cares about beyond
his own business are generally these very two that
prudence has excluded from discussion. Yet, as
Lord HARROWBY justly urged, the working
man must form a judgment upon them ;
and how can he form a sound one with-
out information ? He does not advocate party
discussions or sectarian disputes, but he asks whether
there is no neutral ground. Might not subjects be
selected in politics sufficiently remote from our
own day to avoid exciting angry feeling, and yet
calculated to lead to an increased knowledge of
ancient and modern history, and to enlarge the
judgment on public affairs? And with regard to
religion, is there, he asks, no common meeting-
place ? " Could not the evidences of our common
faith be made matter for most interesting and
common instruction, a subject which can be
studied equally in the words of the Uni-
tarian Nonconformist LARDNER, of the English
Churchmen BUTLER, PALEY, WIIAT ELY, and
DANIEL WILSON ; of the Presbyterian CHALMERS,
or the Roman Catholic Abbe FRAYPINON, without
awakening the jealousy of sects or churches ?" The
arguments by which Lord HARROWBY supported his
views were sound and forcible, and commended
themselves to the attention of the audience. No
doubt a wise and cautious introduction of these
great and pressing topics among the studies of these
institutes would not only add largely to their at-
traction; but materially increase their usefulness ;
and we hope the directors will give the question
their earnest consideration, since they are framing
laws for men, not for schoolboys, and if they wish
to enlarge their views and to cultivate their intelli-
gence they could hardly choose a more effectual
method.

Mr. IL HUME, the honorary secretary to the Eyre
Defence and Aid Fund, has forwarded for publication
two communications which cannot fail to attract
attention. The first is from the secretary of one of
the London branches of the Reform League, and
contains the following astounding resolution :
" That this meeting expresses the deepest sym-
pathy with the gentlemen who form the committee
for the purpose of bringift to justice Mr. EYRE,
ex-Governor of Jamaica, for the murder of Mr.
GORDON, and this meeting pledges itself to support
that committee to the best of its ability."
It now really seems as if those who are
the self-constituted champions of reform were
resolved to damage their cause as much
as possible in the sight of all sensible individuals.
Not content with the senseless clamour they raised
about the meeting in Hyde Park, they now turn to
subjects totally unconnected with the object they
have set before them. What connection can pos-
sibly exist between Reform and the question of the
Jamaica outbreak ? It is quite scandalous that a
great question which affects the interests of the
community should be mixed up with the cabals of
those who further the cause of intolerance and
prejudice. These zealous propagators of the
slanders on Mr. EYRE'S reputation will find
themselves very much mistaken if they think
that they will succeed in convincing others of
the reasonableness of their opinions ; but we would
warn them of the great injury they are doing to
their own political reputation, and the damage done
by their means to the cause of Reform altogether.
It is not by exhibiting themselves as its advocates,
and then veering about to suit the prejudices of a
faction, that they will ever impress themselves
upon the minds of their fellow-men. They
have no right to compass things as they
are doing, and they will serve no ' other
end than that of making themselves contemptible
in the opinion of straightforward persons by their
pertinacious course, while they injure the cause
they pretend to serve by dragging it forward in au
unsuitable manner.
The other comunication referred to is from Sir
SAMUEL BAKER, and it is a positive relief to peruse
it after the foregoing letter. He states that his
previous letter on this subject has produced so
malignant an expression of hostility" from the
enemies of Mr. EYRE, that he now cannot refrain
from thinking that a section of Englishmen are
not contented with the course pursued by her
MAJESTY'S Government, but have determined to
institute a criminal prosecution against Mr. EYRE
on a charge of wilful murder." The consequence of
this extraordinary and uncalled-for proceeding is
emphatically stated in this letter to be that Mr.
EYRE, after a long life devoted to the service of his
country, has lost his official position, stipend, and
claim to pension, and it is now sought to " ruin him
both in reputation and in purse by a combination of
his countrymen, who have subscribed so large a
sum for his prosecution that it will entail
an enormous expenditure for the costs of
his defence." We trust that this earnest exposi-
tion of the state of the case will not be
without its effects, and that those who have hitherto
kept aloof from the affair will now come forward,
as a single act of justice, to one who has been ma-
ligned and oppressed. It is time for independent
parties to bestir themselves when the upholders and
promoters of the faction are so numerous, and are
acting in so determined a manner. We are glad
that Sir S. BAKER has spoken out after this deter-
mined fashion, and we entirely agree with him that
a great portion of Mr. EYRE'S countrymen should,
as Englishmen, " support him against a sys-
tem of persecution that is humiliating to
the character of England." It is, indeed,
lowering to the dignity of our nation in
the eyes of foreign countries that any
class or section among us should so connect them-
selves as to persecute one who has rendered signal
services to his country. It will not do for the sake
of justice that Mr. EYRE should be left to the
mercies of these men, and it will not do for the sake
of consistency that the honoured name of Reform
should be traduced after the fashion that is thus
threatened. Let those who really admire and appre-
ciate the cause rally round one who has been the
victim of intolerance and prejudice, and so bring
these perverse and mistaken individuals to their
senses by showing them the errors of their way in
directing such an " intensity of hatred, malice, and
all uncharitableness against Mr. EYRE."

T
H
E PROPOSED RAILWAY TUNNEL BENEATH THE
MERSEY.—Yesterday a letter was read to the Mersey
Dock Board from Mr. Alexander G. Lynn, the engineer
acting for Mr. Fowler, one of the chief promoters of the
scheme for the railway tunnel under the Mersey, stating
that the Liverpool and Birkenhead Railway Companies
intended to proceed in the next session to obtain powers
to construct a similar tunnel. Mr. Lynn asked thoco-opera_
tion of the board, in order that the commerce and traffic of
the dock estate might not be interfered with, and that the
best arrangements for all parties and the public might be
made. Mr. Lynn also asked for the assistance of Mr.
Lyster, the dock engineer, whose experience in marine
engineering is varied and extensive. The letter was re-
ferred to the Works Committee for consideration.

--------
A MAN KICKING HIS UNCLE TO DEATH.—Yester-
day, at the Police-court, Barnsley, Charles Choppell was
remanded till Monday, charged with manslaughter. It
appears that the prisoner and his uncle, Mr. W. Choppell,
farmer, were drinking together at the Crown Inn, near
Penistone, when a quarrel arose between them. Soon after
they met near a stack-garth in. the neighbourhood, when
the prisoner attacked his uncle and kicked him in so fright-
ful a manner that he died between eight and nine o'clock
ou Tuesday night...-Diancheacr ceurkT•

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
P./..RIS, Thursday Evening.

The Moniteur gives an account of some very in-
teresting operations of the ironclad fleet before
Biarritz, under the orders of Vice-Admiral Baron de
la Ronciere le Noury. It was composed of the
Magenta, the ironclad frigates Pflaroine, Magnanime
and la France, and the avisos Forbin and Renard.
The Emperor, Empress, and the Prince Imperial,
accompanied by the Duke de Leuchtenbourg, Mar-
shal O'Donnell; General Fleury, the Prussian Am-
bassador, the Minister of the United States, the
Ambassadors of France at Madrid and St. Peters-
burg, and the local authorities went first on board
the Magenta, and afterwards visited the other
vessels. The Emperor examined the artillery of the
Magenta with great attention. Firing took
place, and the Emperor convinced himself
that the guns, which weigh about 21 tons,
can be easily worked in a heavy sea. At
Biarritz the sea is generally rather rough, but in
spite of the oscillations and the tossing of the vessels
his Majesty and the young Prince went on board
all the vessels. The experiments lasted three hours,
and on their conclusion when the party landed they
were greetedwith heartfelt acclamations, which rent
the air. More experiments are to be made with
the formidable artillery of the Magenta.
The AS iecle says Although iu Germany there
is a general suspension of arms and there are joyous
acclamations in the avenue of Charlottenburg peace
is not yet established on a solid basis. The work
undertaken by the Cabinet of Berlin meets with
obstacles. Whilst the bourgeoisie of Frankfort com-
plains of the destruction of their ancient franchises,
the town of Hanover protests by insurrectionary
movements. On Friday last, on the occasion of the
anniversary of the ci-devant Prince Royal Ernest
Auguste, groups of workmen and disbanded sol-
diers paraded the streets, and broke the windows of
a shop, the proprietor of which had in the morning
refused to allow white and yellow sand to be thrown
on the front of it. (These are the Hanoverian
colours.) They rifled the shop of M. Schrader, who
had exhibited the Prussian colours. These are symp-
toms which ought to excite attention, and they
prove that the Prussian Government can only enlist
the sympathy of the population by introducing ex-
tensive and liberal reforms. Saxony continues to
resist the demands of Prussia. The negotiations,
suspended from time to time, are only renewed to
be again interrupted."

The Marquis de Boisy, who was chiefly cele-
brated for his attacks upon England and the Eng-
lish, died yesterday morning, at his chateau at
Manly, near Versailles, in his 68th year. Strange
to say, although the Marquis was Bach an enemy to
the English in speech, he adopted every English
comfort in his house, and I believe his second wife,
the Marchioness, is an English lady, the Countess
Guiccioli. He became a Senator on the 4th of March,
1853. In his politics he was " everything by turns
and nothing long." He supported and attracted
every Ministry according to fancy or the inspiration
of the moment. He has been Royalist, Republican,
Monarchist, and it may be said Revolutionist. One
day (the 18th July, 1843) he was called to order no
less than ten times, but in spite of remonstrance he
generally pursued the uneven tenour of crimination,
abuse, and reproach. One day during the session
previous to the last he excelled himself in his invete-
racy towards England, and called upon France to
make war without delay, promising to be him-
self at the front of the attack. He will be
missed in the Senate, where the proceedings are
sometimes very flat ; but the absurdities of the Mar-
quis were certain to excite amusement and laughter.
A letter from Berlin, dated Sept. 23, says :—" It
is believed that when the Royal manifesto announc-
ing the annexation of the States to Prussia shall
appear it will contain the announcement that his
Majesty intends to assume the title of King of
Prussia and Westphalia, nn the ground that Hanover
and Cassel formerly were included in the ancient
kingdom of Westphalia. It is also stated that the
orange colour will be added to the two others of the
Prussian flag, which will thus become a tricoloured
flag—black, white, and orange."
The Austrian Government will also immediately
issue a manifesto.

More manifestations of earthquakes are recorded.
On Saturday last at 3 a.m., at Menton in the South
of France, a violent shock alarmed the inhabitants.
It was instantaneous, but marked its presence by
shaking the furniture in the rooms. From the
direction of this shock it is supposed by scientific
observers that convulsions are likely to take place
on the coasts of the Mediterranean, and that
volcanic erruptions from Mount Vesuvius will suc-
ceed. It is an ascertained fact that when earth-
quakes take place, Vesuvius has always sympathetic
and violent eruptions.

The Constitutionnel gives a memoir of the lately
deceased M. Baciocchi, the Emperor's principal
chamberlain, and says that just before the Empress
left Paris for Biarritz her Majesty paid him a visit.
The next day her Majesty sent him word to keep in
his bed-room as her Majesty had kept it in hers at
the moment of the birth of the Imperial Prince
a treasure the most precious of the Crown of France.
It is a reliquary, consisting of a portion of clothing
belonging to Jesus Christ, a piece of the veil of the
Virgin Mary, and a bit of the shroud of St. John
the Baptist. In the midst is a souvenir of Charle-
magne, which the magistrates of AU-la-Chapelle
gave to NapoleOn I.
The weather has continued fine to-day, and the
temperature has been seasonable and agreeable.
A day or two ago an ingenious fellow, who in
general lives " anyhow," took it into his head to
give an illustration of the last mode of being able to
sell things cheap. A truck was at a door in the
Rue de la Chapelle filled with vegetables, rabbits,
poultry, and other nice articles. Its owner being
very much engaged at a wine shop, our hero wheeled
off the truck and sold the goods at such astonish-
ingly low prices that before the right owner of the
truck could reach him he had sold almost the whole
of the goods and pocketed the money. He was,
however, suddenly stopped in his mercantile career
by the police, who conducted him to prison.
Never, perhaps, was a bill of exchange drawn
for " value received " under such strange circum-
stances as were disclosed a day or two ago before
the Tribunal of the Deux Sevres. In the commune o
Melle, in that department, live Mr. and Mrs.Dorange.
They have for a neighbour a farmer named Brain.
Some mouths ago they invited him to supper, and
all was gaiety. Just as he was going home to bed,
however, Dorange seized a knife and threatened to
kill him if he did not immediately sign a bill of
exchange for 1,000 f., the price " of the favours of
his wife." Dorange made Brain swear by "his
fathers" that he would go next day to a notary,
and sign the bill as if it were given as security
for money lent. Brain did so. Upon reflection,
however, and protesting that he had never had the
" value received," and not liking to pay at maturity
a bill obtained by intimidation, he gave informa-
tion to the authorities, and the result was the trial
of the husband and wife on the charge of fraud and
violence. The wife swore that on the 13th of April
last (she recollected the date because it was " wash-
ing-day") Brain promised her I,ooof. "for forget-
ting her duty to her husband." The husband was
convicted and sentenced to two years' imprison-
ment. The Court, however, absolved the wife from
the charge.

A BURGLAR CAUGHT IN A CHIMNEY.—Early yes-.
terday morning, a young woman, who is an assistant
to Mr. Booth, pawnbroker, Bury, heard a noise proceeding
from some part of the promises as if a person were being
suffocated. Obtaining the assistance of a neighbour she
proceeded to search the premises, but for some time she
was unable to tell whence the sound proceeded. At last
she discovered that they came from a chimney on the
second floor, and on looking up she saw a man stuck fast.
He was crying loudly for help. The police were informed
of tho circumstance, and on some of them ascending the
roof they discovered tho man a few yards below. He
had intended robbing Mr. Booth, and had adopted this
means of obtaining entrance, but when he bad descended
a few yards he could go no further, and could not return.
He remained in this perilous position from two o'clock in
tho morning until nearly seven, and his appearance when
in the presence of some hundreds of
spectators
stowlhigili, o
ha
d hoard of the affair, was doleful in the
extreme. }Bs name is James Moore? and he is stated to be
a returned wuvict.