The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-31 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—While reading, recently, the Journal and
Correspondence of the poet Moore, edited by the
present Premier, I found some interesting remarks
on this subject, which may be mentioned in. connec-
tion with my letter in The Sun on the 20th inst.
In May, 1826, Moore attended at Mr. De Ville's, in
the Strand, with some friends, when the examina-
tions were " very interesting." " A mother came in
with her little boy, and De Ville told us he had had,
since he began, about seven hundred mothers in the
same way, bringing their children for the purpose
of ascertaining what course of education their
organs were best suited to." That "De Ville's
explanations of the principles of the art, and some
of the facts he produced, were very striking."
Sir Francis Burdett he described as a " lover of
justice, and impatient under oppression." De
Ville, not knowing Moore, stated him to be a great
lover of facts. Mr. Rogers was amused at this
" matter-of-fact " statement, but Moore believed
that De Vine was correct in his statement, as his
chief work of fiction, " Lana Rookh" was founded
on a long and laborious collection of facts. " All
the customs, the scenery, every flower from which I
have drawn an illustration, were inquired into by me,
with the utmost accuracy," he stated. In the month
of August, 1835, Dr. Andrew Combe lectured at
the Royal Irish Academy upon Dean Swift's skull,
remarking upon his large animal propensities and
the depresEion of the frontal portion, which he attri-
buted to insanity. Moore was present at this lec-
ture, and he seems to have believed generally, upon
this occasion, and at other times, that the system of
phrenology was based upon truth, and consequently
that it deserves attention and respect.--Yours,
obediently, l CHR. COOK.
Jan. 30, 1866.

A NEW BARONET.—It is reported in South
Wales that Mr. Henry Hussey Vivian, one of the members
for Glamorganshire, is about to be made a baronet. Mr.
Vivian is the head of the wealthy copper smelting firm of
Vivian and Sons, and he has represented Glamorganshire
in Parliament for the last nine years, having previously
sat for Truro.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN LONDON.—The vestry of
St. James's held a meeting yesterday in the Vestry Hall,
Piccadilly, to receive delegates from other vestries and dis-
trict boards for the purpose of discussing several important
questions. Mr. Bean was called to the chair. The first re-
solution was moved by Mr. Lawford, churchwarden of St.
Pancras, to the effect " That bile members of the several
vestries of London now present do form a committee, with
power to add to their number, to consider a proposed ap-
plication to Parliament for the purpose of founding muni-
cipalities in the several boroughs of the metropolis, and
that this committee report to their several vestries." The
re solution was seconded by the Hon. F. Byng, and car-
ried. The second resolution, proposed by Mr. D. Rogers,
was as follows :—" That it is desirable the vestries should
by joint committee consider the provisions of the Metro-
polis Gas Act Amendment Bill, or any other gas mea-
sure before Parliament, with a view to securing the right
for vestries, jointly or otherwise, to purchase existing
gas works, or establishing other works for supplying gas
to the consumers in the metropolis, and thus secure the
same powers sought to bo obtained by the City of London,
and, with that view, that subscriptions be invited from
each vestry to secure support by counsel, and to defray the
requisite legal and other assistance. That the delegates be
invited to secure a continuance of their appointment, and
the assent of their several vestries to the above resolution.
That Mr. Rogers, Mr. Eldridge, and Mr. Fowler, of the
delegates present, be a sub-committee to prepare a report to
be sent to each vestry, and that the St. James's vestry be
requested to remit the same." The resolution was seconded
by Mr. Box, and carried. There was a very full attendance
of delegates. A vote of thinks was passed to the chair-
man at tho conclusion of the proceedings.