The Sun.
London, England, 1861-07-08 00:00:00

TO TIIE EDITOR OF THE TIMES.

Sir,—An account of the late meeting of the
Ethnological Society appears in your impression
of to-day from Mr. T. A. Malone, whose statement
of the evening's occurrences is only partially correct.
Soon after the chairman had left the meeting, I
observed M. du Chaillu making his way in an
excited manner to that part of the room in which
Mr. Malone had been sitting. I followed him, but
did not reach the spot until Mr. Malone called out
"Is there no one here to protect me !" lat once
requested M. du Chaillu to come with me to the
refreshment room, which he did, and I then re-
turned to Mr. Malone and expressed the regret
which the officers of the society felt at the insult he
had received, and invited him to take some refresh-
ment. He asked me if I would guarantee him
from further insult, which I undertook to do,
and so far Mr. Malone is right in correcting the
accounts which you quoted. But while I con-
cur thus far in Mr. Malone's account, I feel
bound in justice to M. du Chaillu to inform
you that the rest of the letter is a very ex parte
statement, and one which is little calculated to give
your readers a 'fair impression of the insulting
speeches which had been made by Mr. Malone.
Indeed, up to the moment of the assault, there was
a strong feeling in the meeting respecting the in-
judicious remarks of Mr. Malone, which were ren-
dered still more unpalatable by the great profes-
sions of " painful feeling," &c. From the whole
tenour of Mr. Malone's remarks one would rather
have imagined that M. du Chaillu had been a cul-
prit on his trial for some grave offence than a dis-
tingnished foreigner who had attended the meeting
to hear a paper by the celebrated African traveller,
Captain Richard Burton. I am at a loss to know
by what right Mr. Malone made himself inquisitor-
' general, and because a question of his was not
answered to his satisfaction, why he should rise
and lecture travellers in general, and M. du Chailli
in particular ? What a scene of confusion would
have ensued if every author present had thus been
cross-examined and bullied.

I must also correct one other statement which
Mr. Malone has made in his letter, with as little
justice, I fear, as the remarks contained in his
speeches. Mr. Malone says, " A Syrian Christian
was put forward." Now, I deny that any such
gentleman was "put forward." It is true that a
Mr. Ameuney, a native of Syria, gained permission
to say a few words on the cannibalism of the Jews ;
but it is false to insinuate that he was pat forward
by the society.
Mr. Malone asks that M. du Chaillu be ex.
eluded from all future meetings of the society ; this
request was made, however, before M. du Chaillu
tendered his apology to the Ethnological Society
and the public. The subject will be duly brought
under the notice of the Council of the Society, who
will decide. whether M. du Chaillu be again in-
vited to attend the meetings of the Ethnological
Society. I do not presume to divine what their
decision may be, but I feel it due to M. du Chaillu
to state that he enjoys the full confidence of the
Ethnologists of this country.
In conclusion, I have only to state that I am not
aware of any law existing in the Ethnological
Society by which a gentleman can be excluded
from attending its meetings. At present every
member is allowed to introduce his friends
(for whom he must be answerable) and, if I intro-
duce Mr. Malone, I expect the chairman to prevent
him from asking insulting questions of any author
who happens to be present.
I am, Sir, your obedient servant,
JAMES HUNT.
Ore-house, near Hastings, July 5.

LAUNCH OF TWO STEADI-VESSELS AT

DEPTFORD.

On Saturdy afternoon last a numerous company
assembled at Messrs. Langley's dockyard, Deptford-
green, to witness the launching of two iron screw
steam-vessels, built by that firm, viz., the Briton,
1,100 tons, intended for the mail packet service be•
tween Southampton and the Cape of Good Hope,
and the barque Mary Langley, of 400 tons, intended
for the West Coast trade. The latter vessel was
launched at one o'clock, the ceremony of christen-
ing being, performed by Mrs. Langley, wife of the
builder. As the smart craft dipped into the water,
she revealed exquisite form, with very fine lines.
She is fitted with Cunningham's patent topsails,
and other recent improvements, and is well calcu-
lated for speed. The following are her dimensions:—
Length between perpendiculars, 141 feet ; length
over all, 155 feet; depth moulded, 17 feet 8 inches:
The launch of the Briton was effected in a very
successful manner. She is a magnificent screw
steamer, and will prove a valuable addition to
the fleet of the Union Steam-ship Company, who
perform the mail service between Southampton
and the Cape. She is the first large vessel con-
structed on the unsinkable plan recently patented
by Mr. Langley, and which was favourably noticed
at
etctths
.e aTs Cht
e oiningpr eosrst
aonf
t the
chlannsgtietsu t e of
obtained i n aevdAc
by
r this
plan are, that should the vessel strike on rocks, &c.,
and the bottom of her
. keel be actually torn away,
she could not sik ; it also adds to the strength of
the ship and dimnakinoisuAlitia.es the chance of destruction
swhionulbdeasufipreplbierde
by
tawndeenheprerdpireenednisciuo Messrs.
Theras;rofalyl engines
of
Southampton,
futthhea
mB
pr ittboonn,
perpendiculars, 239 feet ; length over all,
262 feet ; breadth moulded, 25 follows
two, a numerous party of guests adjournedilnnenhge inches.
the
pattern room, which was tastefully fitted up, and
where an excellent dinner was provided. The chair
was occupied by Mr. Langley, and amongst those
present were Mr. A. Anderson, chairman • Mr. J.
F. Mercer, secretary; Messrs. Giles and Wetherall,
directors of the Union Steamship Company ; the
Hon. W. Coolington, of the' Cape of Good Hope
Legislative Assembly; Captain Saxon, &c. After
the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, that of " Success
to the Trade
ably responded to by Mr. Coolington,
who CacpelinfGgtooon,d
Hope" was
who entered in to manye
had resided more than 40
years. Mr. Giles referred to the satisfactory man-
ner in which the company had been able to carry
out the mail service, owing in a great measure to
the excellent iron screw-ohipa built at that yard,