The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-19 00:00:00

The Homeless Boys of London.

The ceremony of inaugurating her Majesty's ship
Chichester as a training school for the homeless boys
of London took place yesterday in one of the dry
docks in Mr. Green's shipbuilding-yard, Poplar.
The movement, of which the Constitution of the
Chichester as a school for nautical instruction is an
extension, began in July, 1852, when a refuge for
homeless and destitute boys was opened at 19,
Broad-street, Bloomsbury. At first only six could
be received, but as the friends of the refuge were
augmented the number was increased, so that in
1857 the present premises at 8, Great Queen-street,
Lincoln's-inn-fields, were taken, and since that time
the returns show that about 100 strays and waifs of
the London streets have been received weekly into
this admirable institution. Since the establishment
of the refuge down to the end of the year 1865
1,016 boys were admitted, and during the same
period 758 left for the navy and merchant services,
for situations at home, and for emigration to the
colonies. During the present year, in consequence
of revelations which showed that boys of tender
years were obliged to associate with men of the most
debased character in the casual wards of the metro-
politan workhouses to which they were compelled to
have recourse for shelter, the pr in-lotus of the re-
fute resolved on making a strenuous effort to rescue
as many of these poor children as their influence
could reach from the contaminating evils to which
they were exposed. Accordingly, on the 14th of
February last, an invitation was given to the boys
accustomed to sleep in the casual wards of London
and other nightly haunts to come to supper at the
refuge, and nearly 200 accepted the invitation.
During the evening Lord Shaftesbury, who pre-
sided, having questioned the boys as to their
mode of life, asked them if they would be willing to
go on board a ship if such were provided for them,
and the hands of nearly all the poor and destitute
guests were held up as an answer to the inquiry.
Among those who accepted the invitation of the
cemrnittee there were few who were not suffering
from some infirmity, and we were struck ourselves
by the large proportion of them who were lame.
Ophthalmia was perceptible in the tender eyes of
many, while skin diseases had manifestly set their
marks on almost all. Some had lost one or both
parents or had been deserted ; others had never
known their fathers or mothers. They slept at night
in the casual wards, under sheds, on doorsteps, on
carts or waggons ; in fact, wherever they could rest
their heads, after trying to eke out existence during
the day. Yesterday the Chichester was arrayed in
her gayest bunting, and an awning, on which the
flags of all nations were tastefully distributed, was
erected over the whole length of the upper deck,
on which the ceremony of inauguration was held.
At 2 o'clock Lord Shaftesbury took the chair, being
supported by the Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, the
Sheriffs, Sir Stafford Northcote, M.P., President of
the Board of Trade; Mr. It. Culling Banbury, M.P.,
and others, while the body of the temporary en-
closure was filled to its utmost capacity by a fashion-
able audience of ladies and gentlemen. On his lord-
ship taking the chair, the boys who had been chosen
to occupy the ship were introduced, and the little
blue jackets,attired in their new naval costume, pre-
sented a most interesting and picturesque appear-
ance. Prayer having been offered up, Mr. William
Williams, the secretary, read a statement detailing
the history of the institution, after which Lord
Shaftesbury proceeded to address the meeting. lie
said he felt unspeakable delight and gratitude at
seeing so large an assemblage around him, notwith-
standing the time of the year and the diStance from
town of the place in which they were collected. It
betokened a vast amount of feeling and sympathy
with the work they had in hand, and God grant
that their feeling and sympathy would be matured
into practice to sustain the institution amidst all
the difficulties which surrounded it. Ho could
in his own experience support the statement made
by Mr. Williams, whose zeal in this good cause
could not be overrated. What that statement said
of the miserable condition of the boys of London was
far below the mark. This project was no longer an
experiment ; its efficacy had been proved. Take the
most naked, ragged, wretched children of the streets,
breathe upon theta the breath of life, and they be-
came equal to the highest in the land. A year ago a
large number were taken into the refuge, and 70 or
80 added every week at haphazard. What was the
result? That not a single act of insubordination
was recorded. It had been said that the children of
the poor should have recourse to industrial and cer-
tified schools. Where were the industrial and cer-
tified schools ? After all the inquiries they were able
to make they were not able to find more than two for
the population of 3,000,1)00 souls in thei metropolis;
400 could be received on board the Chichester, and
200 could be sent away every year to recruit the
number of our active seamen. lle trusted the time
I was near at hand when the English sailor would be
remarkable, not for drunkenness and insubordina-
tion, but for sobriety and self-control. Sir Stafford
Northcote, the Lord Mayor, and Mr. Sheriff Wa-
terlow having addressed the meeting, the proceed-
ings closed with three cheers for Lord Shaftesbury.
The ship will shortly leave the dock and go to
Greenhithe, that being the spot appointed for her
destination.

—Porcelain, Earthenware, and other Fancy Pot-
tery : Biscuit, hard and soft porcelain, fine earthen-
ware, with coloured glazing, &c.; biscuit of earthen.
ware. Class 18. —Carpets, Tapestry, and other
Stuffs for Furniture : Carpets, moquettes, tapestry,
velvet pile, &c. ; carpets of felt, cloth, cloth shear-
ings, silk or floss silk ; straw matting and mats,
Indiarubber matting. Furniture : stuffs of cotton,
wool, or silk, plain or figured; horsehair tissues;
leather cloth, moleskins, &c. ; leather hangings and
for covering furniture ; oilcloth. Class 19.—Paper
Hangings : Paper hangings, block printed and ma-
chine printed ; flock paper and paper marbled,
veined, &c. ; paper for making mill board, for bind-
ing, &c. ; paper with artistic designs ; blinds, painted
or printed. Class 20.—Cutlery Knives, pen.
knives, scissors, razors, &c. ; cutlery of every de-
scription. Class 21.—Gold and Silver Plate :
Church plate, ornamental plate, and plate for the
dining table ; gold and silver toilet articles and
writing materials, &c. Class 22.—Bronzes and
other Art Castings and Repouss6 Work : Statues
and bas-reliefs in bronze, cast-iron, zinc, &c. ;
bronzes for ornamental and decorative purposes ;
imitation bronzes in cast-iron, zinc, &c. ; cast-
ings coated ith metal by the galvanic
process ; repousse work in copper, lead, zinc,
&c. Class 23.—Clocks and Watches : Separate
part of clocks, clocks, time-pieces, watches, chro-
nometers, regulators, seconds-indicators, stop-
watches, &c. Apparatus for measuring time : Hour-
glasses, water-clocks, electric-clocks. Class 24.
Apparatus and Processes for Heating and Lighting :
Fenders, fire-places, grates, stoves, and hot-air
stoves ; accessory objects for heating, kitchen stoves,
apparatus for heating by gas ; apparatus for heating
by the circulation of hot water or hot air, ventilating
apparatus, drying apparatus, drying stoves ; ena-
m-llers' lamps, blow-pipes, portable forges ; lamps
for illuminating purposes fed with animal, veget-
able, or mineral oils; accessory objects for lighting
matches ; apparatus and accessory objects for
lighting by gas ; lamps for the electric light, appa-
ratus for the use of the magnesium light, &c.
Class 25.—Perfumery : Cosmetics and pomatutus,
perfumed oils ; essences, extracts and scents, aroma-
tic vinegar ; almond paste, perfumed powders, pas-
tille=, and scent bags ; perfuin:,,s for burning ; toilet
s..ap. Class 26.—Leather Work, Fancy Articles,
and Basket Work : Small articles of fancy furni-
ture, liqueur cases, glove-boxes, caskets, &c. ; lac-
quered articles; boxes, jewel-boxes, dressing-cases,
purses, pocket-books, note-books, cigar- cases ;
turned, engine-turned, carved, engraved articles in
wood, ivory, tortoise-shell, &c., snuff-boxes, pipes,
combs and brushes generally ; fancy basket-work,
wicker-work for bottles, and articles in fine straw.
This group is to be found exclusively in Gal-
lery 111.

MADAME S TODARE.

Not long ago we werehocked to hear of the
sudden and premature death of a gentleman whose •
reputation was widely extended. Colonel Stodare
had but just announced that his performance was
about to be varied by a new series of tricks and
illusions, when the announcement was followed by
that of his death. We have no doubt that many
young people grieved over the gifted magician with
selfish grief at the loss of an anticipated plea-
sure. We certainly had no expectation of seeing
the magician's vacant place so admirably filled.
The secrets of his art bad been confided to a pupil,
and the Colonel's mantle fell on one every way
qualified to take the wand he dropped. To the
wonder of the performances
sensesbysleightanodf hand,bafae
which so completely d
ingenuity to discover the means, are added three
illusions which are such marvels of ingenuity that
they must be seen to be appreciated. The first is
the Sphinx. Madame Stodare appears on the stage ;
she places a box on a stand having four legs under-
neath, which every one in the llall can plainly see.
The stand is a simple stool, with nothienasguiplrynobrernetwtohveacea
bythan
a mere framework. The box is about a couple
of feetthe lady.squ square,
Tahneddioanloegte is
whichi is
kept
Madame Stodare and a head inside this box. She
opens the lid and a Sphinx's head is revealed to the
audience. She then seats herself on the plank com-
municating with the audience and directs the
Sphinx to open its eyes, to turn its head from side
to side, to smile, and then to give an account of
Egypt. All this is performed in so natural a way
that the head must be the head of a human being,
yet it is perfectly incomprehensible where the body
e illusioncitizens
t
t fize eat;
can be. The Marvel of Mecca follows, and again
the illusion is complete. In this Madame Stodare
seats herself on a high ottoman, her dress is
gathered and pinned up in folds around her person,
the magician removes the ottoman, and Madame
Stodare appears to the spectators floating in the
air. We were about to write suspended, and sus-
pended, we suppose, it mast be, for there are no
props beneath her. About this there can be no
mistake, for the magician passes a stick beneath
the reclining figure, and a hundred keen eyes are
looking around in amazement to obtain some clue,
b
tazl e t
hnz
Baskete
h bewildered
audienceuth
te curtain
wrapped
falls and leaves
in mystery.
wishCieohloiniaesl
fSetr,odyaeraer'ss
continued
dd
toI puzzle
of London. Madame Stodare n
now steps into the
basket, which is first shown to
the audience with
its bottom complete. It is placed on the skeleton
stand, the sword is drawn, and the magician
stabs the basket • irs every part, the cries of
the lady are loudly heard,
the sword comes
out covered with blood, and, illusion though we
know it to be, there is still a sensation of horror,
so completely are our senses deceived. The bn'ket
is taken from the stand, the lid is opene.l, and
turned on its side, when the astonished spectators
see the interior empty, and the bottom still com-
plete. While. all eyes are concentrated on the
empty basket the curtains of a private box are
withdrawn, and the handsome lady, whose cruel
fate was creating so much commiseration, bows
gracefully to her assembled patrons. Then the
children go home to prattle to their parents and to
each other, of the incomprehensible wonders they
have seen, and to ask questions of their puzzled
elders which the magician alone can satisfactorily
answer.

K
ttt -
it Jr4t4 SUlt
-or 1111

LONDON, TVEDNESDAY, DEC. 19, 1866.

The good people of Berlin seem to have their
hands pretty full just now with one thing and
another. The KING and the Ministers are busy in
ping the KING and the Prince of SAXONY, and
the Chamber of Deputies are working hardtogoent
through their labour in order that they may close
the 22d. The Budget in its entirety, as amended,
was finally adopted yesterday, and this is the first
time the Budget has been publicly discussed and
voted by the Chamber. Previous to its adoption
Count BIS3IARCK declared that although the Budget
in its present form might be looked upon as a
virtual rejection of the Government's demands,
yet that they would consent to accept it rather than
(by exceeding the limits prescribed by the Budget)
to appear as if they were not respecting the rights
of the house regarding its control over the Budget.
This sounds very fine, but we should not be very
much surprised if it turn out in the long run that
the Ministerial endeavour, upon which so much
stress was laid, turns out a failure, and that they
begin their old game again. At any rate it is a
significant thing that Count BISMARCK should have
had to apologise, as it were, to the Chamber, and
promise to respect their decisions when contrary to
his own plans; it shows that the arrogant Minister
thinks it necessary and expedient to take heed to his
ways, instead of braving their opinion, as he has
hitherto done. As we expected, the éclat with which
the war surrounded him has now disappeared, and
left him in a state of complete uncertainty as to
how he can manage matters, so as not to exhibit him-
self to the world in the mortifying position of being at
war with his own Parliament just as he claims to
hold supremacy over all North Germany. It is said
that the state of BismAncK's health is such that he
will hold interviews with as few people as possible;
and it may be so, but it is not the less a fortuitous
circumstance, since he must be greatly puzzled to
get through some of his conversations with the
fureigu representatives and others at this awkward
juncture.

BY a Governmental order thirty young Hano-
verians have been arrested at Ilimburg, where they
went to embark for New York, iu order to escape
s_,rving in the Prussian army this a direct
contradiction to the statements of ents of those who per-
sist in &cla,rin,g that it will be a lasting benefit and
signal blessing to Germany to have 7 ,
ve these enanges
effected by the Prussian Government. What can
be more arbitrary than such a decree as this referred
to, and where can we, where dare Nye, look for pro-
gress and prosperity when such tyranny rule 3 the
day ? It has come to something, indeed, if the
subjects of the King of PRUSSIA are not
free to come and go ; they are, indeed,
instead of advancing towards a higher
state of freedom, becoming assimilated to the
condition of serfs and slaves. To make a powerful
army under his command, and to drain the resources
of all the States accorded to his dominions for this
Purpose, seems to be the one object of King
WILLIAM'S policy; and to further this end he and
his Ministers make all secondary and subservient.

I The return of Vile Registrar-General, for the
week ending last Saturday, is on the whole very
favourable. The mortality was less by 80 than the
average number, so that the public health is in a
satisfactory condition. We have as yet had no ex-
treme cold, and the milder. weather spares many
who succumb to the stern rule of King Frost. Per-
haps it is due to the mildness of the season that the
epidemic still lingers among us in some parts, show-
/ ing itself here and there, mostly among the young,
and in low, unhealthy districts. Two deaths
Ifrom cholera, and twenty-five from diarrhoea,
occurred in the week, the two first tak-
ing place at Woolwich and Bethnal-green.
" Isolated cases," says the Registrar-General, "still
demand the vigilant attention of the authorities,"
and we trust that the fact of the dreaded disease still
showing itself so late in the year will serve to keep
up that vigilant watchfulness which is so very apt ti
sleep as soon as the danger is supposed to be over."
The secret of the success of London in controlling
an epidemic so fatal on the Continent is believed
by the Registrar to be easily explained. " The
supply of impure water was at once arrested ; the
water engineers grew careful; the sewage was now less
inefficient than it had ever been before South London
was drained ; the health officers became vigilant ;
premonitory diarrhoea was treated ; every case as it
occurred was published to the world, and the cholera
excreta were destroyed by carbolic acid and other
disinfectants." Great credit was, undoubtedly, due
to the Mansion-house Committee, whose wisely
organised system of relief encouraged the local com-
mittees to examine personally into the condition of
the suffering poor. The liberality of the public
subscriptions enabled those gentlemen to relieve
promptly and liberally those cases of urgent dis-
tress which, unattended to, would infallibly
have swelled the list of deaths, while the
several convalescent institutions set on foot by the
benevolence and self-denying exertions of private
individuals were so instrumental in saving a great
number of lives, and in restoring to sound health
many whose enfeebled condition could scarcely have
resisted a return to the area of the epidemic.

Englishmen and women are never wanting in
sympathy and helpfulness towards their suffering
' fellows, and, unfortunately, there have of
late been continual claims upon their assis-
tance. In reading the report of the Registrar-
General of the deaths throughout England for the
week, we can scarcely fail to remember how large
a number of lives have been sacrificed in that week
who are not recorded in the list before us. The
terrible disasters in Yorkshire and Staffordshire, un-
paralleled as they are in the list of such calamities,
call upon all forcibly at this Christmas season to
do whatever lays in their power to mitigate the
dLaster which they have occasioned. As the
Archbishop of York yesterday observed iu his im-
pressive address to the local meeting, " All that they
could do might fail to stanch the tears of the widows
and orphans, or reinstate the village he had that
day passed through in happiness and enjoyment as
it was a few days ago. Still, whatever consolation
arose from sympathy of man with man—whatever
consolation arose from the knowledge that starva-
tion had been warded off from the door—such con-
solation it would be their duty to afford, and he was
sure all would be willing and glad to give it."
Already the subscriptions have amounted to a con-
siderable sum, and they wiil no doubt continue to
flow in with liberality. The Prince and
Princess of WALES were among the foremost
of the subscribers, and her MAJESTY,
as was previously stated, has readily helped the
funds. No doubt ample provision will be made not
only for the immediate distress, but for the provi-
sion of those aged persons and young children de-
prived of all means of support by the deaths of their
relatives in the mine.

There has been much talk of latelyears about the
deficiencies of our national representation, and almost
every class can find advocates for the neglected or
insufficiently appreciated claims of its members.
Mr. HOWL, of Nova Scotia, in his recent pamphlet*
on the Organization of the Empire, brings forward
another proposal, and would admit to the English
House of Commons representatives from those
colonies which have Legislatures of their own, and
where the system of responsible government is in
operation. He would not permit such members to
be chosen haphazard, but would have them taken
from their Cabinets, each self-governing colony
sending One or more members according to its size,
population, and general importance. He holds that
the millions who are influenced by British legisla-
tion, and who may at any moment be drawn into a
war by the action of the English Parliament, and
would therefore allow them to send thither men who
may fairly be taken as representing the opinions of
the majority of the population. The originality of
this proposal has been recently disputed, another
of the Inner
claiming
inrgrittoom.htsavßeApilsoTprolut, propounded
similar
Ig,eenintplelne:anci
of
years ago. Into that aart
scheme many
question, however, we need not at present enter,
merely examining Mr. Ho wE's arguments from his
own point of view.
He is of opinion that such a method would
have a beneficial effect upon colonisalthpe tenure o
politics, be-
cause cause in all broad questions—such a
land in Australia, the relations withstchheMe naoiriesthine
New Zealand, the confederation scheme
British American provinces—the coloniaplal:tliianlisatenrds
would have to explain their policy to iin
highly competent judges. "No man," he says,
" would come here with a bad case ; and, if he did,
no wise man would persist in a line of policy which
had been patiently reviewed and condemned by the
House of Commons in his own presence after a fair
discussion, in which he had been heard at large."
He does not think it likely that all the self-govern-
ing colonies would send these members when they
had no special grievance to discuss or policy to re-
present, but the knowledge that they had the right
to send them, not only to discuss local questions, but
to take part in the great debates on issues of peace or
war, would, he thinks, add a new element of
strength and cohesion to the empire. As for the
doubts which some entertain respecting the atti-
tude which these colonial gentlemen would
aisume on purely British questions Mr. llowE
does not apprehend any needless interference on
their part. Still less does he believe that they
would combine and form au embarrassing element
in the House of Commons, since they would repre-
sent such widely various populations, and such
different interests, that they would know very little
of each other's affairs. They would bring with
them accurate information on colonial matters, and
supply the House of Commons : t first hand
with statistics and facts now only attainable in

* " The Organization of the Empire." By the Iron.
Joseph Rowe. blanford.

His second and principal object in admitting the
colonial representatives to the English Parliament is
to consolidate the whole Empire, with a view to the
more efficient protection of the general interests in
case of war ; or, in his own words, " treating the
whole Empire as the British Islands are treated,
holding every man liable to serve the QUEEN in
war, and making every pound's worth of property
responsible for the national defence." At first
sight the project, we admit, seems rather a hopeless
one ; for it cannot be forgotten that it was this very
question of taxation by the mother country which
caused the rupture with our early American colo-
nies ; but there is another side to the question. The
taxation, in this instance, would not be forced upon
an unwilling people, but would be submitted for
the sanction of the local Government and Legisla-
ture. Also, the tax would be for a definite object,
of which they would themselves reap the advantage,
since all anxiety on the subject of national defence
would be taken from them, and their own represen-
tatives would have the right of expressing their
opinions on the foreign policy of the empire.
Thirdly, the people of Great Britain and Ireland
would, in fairness, pay a much heavier proportion
of the national burdens, and would also contribute
a much larger share of the responsibility of man-
ning the army and navy, and providing for the
military and naval reserve. Having secured
this organisation and these powers, her MA-
JESTY'S Government might, in times of peace,
be careful to press as lightly as possible on the out-
lying populations. England has to defend the
accumulated treasures of generations upon genera-
tions, wealth in property of immense value, the
focus of free thought and free government through-
out the world. The colonies, on the other hand,
are thinly peopled, and have as yet had neither the
time nor the opportunity to gather together stores
of countless price. It is but common justice, then,
that the mother country should bear the brunt of
the outlay, in men and in money, for the general
defence.

There are, as Mr. HowE admits, very great dif-
ficulties to contend against in any such attempt at
organisation ; but he believes that the general in-
telligence, patriotism, and public spirit of the em-
pire will ultimately perceive its advantages.
" Surely," he exclaims, "if a Russian serf can be
got to march from Siberia to the Crimea to defend
his empire, the QUEEN'S subjects can be educated
to know and feel that it is alike their duty and their
interest to march anywhere to defend their own."
We confess an apprehension, however, that our

colonists look upon themselves less in the light o.

Queen VicTorta's subjects than as Australians,
New Zealanders, and Canadians, as the case may
be, and as such would feel a not unnatural
jealousy of the control of the central Power; still
the plan offers substantial advantages to the colon-

ists, which Mr. IlowE recapitulates. In spite
of their present efforts to provide for their own
protection, they are iu fact relying upon the sup-
port and protection of England in case of war, and
they pay heavily in some cases for their share in
their defence. New Zealand and Canada have re-
cently been at heavy outlay, which comes upon them
at a time when their trade and business generally is
paralysed by the disturbances demanding that out-
lay. All this inconvenience would be avoided, while
in a pecuniary point of view they would at all times
be better off. " Without the protection of the fleets
and armies of England they are all defenceless.
Without efficient organisation, they cannot lean

upon and strengthen each other, or give the mother
country that moral support which in peace makes
diplomacy effective, and in war would make the con-

test short, sharp, and decisive." The outgoing of
labour and capital into the colonies has been, as
our author reminds us, somewhat checked by doubts
as to their ultimate security,which this organisation
would altogether remove. The colonies would be
advanced outposts of the central force, and the
sturdy independent men who have subdued nature
and turned the wilderness into a garden, would be
valuable auxiliaries to the English troops. English
subjects in every part of the globe have enough to
fight for ; they possess advantages of which no
other citizens can boast, and which we can hardly
believe they would lightly throw aside. What is
more, in most instances the question would not be
between their allegiance to England and independ-
ence, but between their ties with the mother
country, and their subjection by another power.
As yet they are not strong enough to stand alone
against the attack of disciplined forces, and they
offer too tempting a prize to remain unmolested
should the strong hand of England be no longer
raised to defend their rights.

On this question of colonial defences wo may
suggest that it would be a wise and prudent pre-
liminary measure, while rival schemes are being
debated and discussed, to appoint a commission of

able and experienced naval and military officers,
associated with a select body of civilians, to examine
into the whole subject. Their practical knowledge

would enable them to test the utility of the projects
suggested, and the chances of success which would

attend them. Should they report in favour of any
particular plan their opinion would naturally have
great weight, and would in any case be most ser-