The Sun.
London, England, 1859-10-12 00:00:00

FACILITIES FOR EXCHANGING POSTAGE
STAMPS INTO MONEY.

The Postmaster-General has conferred a very great boon
upon the public by authorising the exch tnge of postage
stamps for money, and the following notice regulating the
rate to be charged has been issued :

EXCHANGE OF POSTAGE STAMPS FOR MONEY.
" In order to discourage the transmission of coin by post,
the Postmaster-General has authorised the officers of the
chief office and of the district and branch offices to receive
postage stamps from the public, if not soiled or otherwise
damaged, at a charge of 3 per cent. ; the charge, however,
never to bo less than one halfpenny.

_
" Under this arrangement=
19s. 41-d. will be:given for stamps of the value of £1 0 0
~ ~ 11 0 10 0
9 8
410 fl ff f f 0 5 0
2 5 It ~ ft 0 2 6
0 llf tf f f f f 0 1 0
0 5i , 0 0 6
"And so on the f t
full value less ono halfpenny being given
for any amount of stamps not exceeding is. 4d.
"No separate stamps will be received. In all cases they
must bo presented in strips, at least two stamps adhering to
each other.
" By order of the Postmaster-General.
" ROWLAND HILL, Secretary."

MISS MARTINEAU ON INFANT NATATION.—What
prevents fathers teaching their own children in infancy?
The earliest time is the best for learning an art which is
never difficult. In most countries in the world--actually
over the greater part of the inhabited globe—the chil-
dren swim as soon as they walk, if not earlier. In
Egypt, and throughout all Mongolian countries, and
among the indigenous races of America, and throughout
negro lands of Africa, and in Polynesia, the human being
is amphibious. There children of both sexes can spend the
whole day in the water, and explore it at pleasure. Any
Nile voyager who has passed the first cataract can tell how
it is now among the Berber infants, and indeed along the
whole course of :the Nile. English children would do the
thing just as well if they were put in the way of it. Their
mothers are the proper persons to put them in the way of
it; and, as the mothers are at present unqualified, the
fathers should undertake it. In another generation or two
they would be saved the trouble, we may hope, by the
mothers being then better qualified. Meanwhile, it will
gratify, and perhaps surprise any parent to see how imme-
diately a little child takes to the art, which really seems
like nature to it, if begun sufficiently early.—Once a Week.

TANNAHILL AND THE ETTRICIC

SHEPHERD.

The following letter gives a description of a meet-
ing between Robert Tannahill, the sweet lyrist of
Paisley, and James Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd.
The writer was one of the company present at the
interview of the tw.) bards, and is now fourscore
years of age. The letter is addressed to Mr.
Porteous, of the Glasgow Post-office.
Dear Sir,—The proverb says, " Auld folks are
twice weans," so, like the schoolboy, I rule the
paper to guide my feeble hand and obscure vision.
The effusion of Tannahill's " The five frien's,"
originated in this :—A part of the Argyle militia
band, under Clark, was ordered to attend the
October gathering at Inverary Castle. Clark, on
his return, stopt a few days at Paisley (his native
place), hence frae the hall o' Argyle. I was ac-
cidentally in Paisley that day, and, calling at Tan-
nahill's house, was informed of the meeting. I
found out the nest, and, like birds o' a feather, gre-
garious, I was fixed. It was a harmonious and
social meeting. Some time after this I was in
Paisley, and spent the evening with Tannahill
alone (as was often the case) ; it was late, and so
dark, that he would not allow me to take the road,
but insisted on my taking a share of his bed; I did
so, and next morning, after breakfast, and at part-
ing, he saw at a distance Smith and Stuart coming
in our direction with three stranger gentlemen.
He said, " there is something in the wind," and
wished me to stop and see. 'We kept out of their
sight, but saw them enter a public-house near to his
place. In a short time he was sent for. He desired me
to wait, and he would let me know. He came for me,
and, on entering the company, he introduced me
direct to Hogg, the Ettrick Shepherd : being so
sudden and unexpected, I was for a moment stunned.
The other two gentlemen, having business in Glas-
gow, left Hogg, promising to have a ticket for him
by the evening coach with them to Edinburgh. We
then went down town, as Hogg wished to see Mr.
Blaikie, the engraver, an old acquaintance, and a
musical enthusiast, a good voice-reader, played
several instruments, and succeeded It. A. Smith in
conducting the music of the Abbey Church. The
forces were now collected, and such a congenial
meeting I iaever beheld. Hogg was enraptured
with our company, and it was a treat to see the
friendship of the two bards. The contrast of the
two was striking—the one lively, healthy, and off-
hand; the other quiet, delicate, and unassuming.
The only regret felt by all was the -limitation of
time. We were conveyed on the road fill necessity
urged a parting. Soon after this Hogg spied an
empty coal cart lolling on the road, and asked me
if we might try to get it to drive us in. I
agreed,
and Hogg called out, " My lad, are you going in to
Glasgow ?"—" Ay, man." " Will you gi'e us a
smart drive in, and we'll pay you for't ?"—" 0 ay,
man." In we went, and at the half-way house
primed him with half-a-mutchkin, and galloped to
the key-stane of the Broomielaw Bridge, where we
came off, Hogg saying it would not do to be seen
galloping through the streets of Glasgow in a coal
cart. We hurried on to the Tontine ; the coach had
waited five minutes, and was just starting. When
we
.were observed running it stopt—we shook hands,
and in an instant all disappeared in the hollow of
the Gallowgate. These gentlemen had been on a
tour in the Highlands, and came round by Paisley
purposely to see Robert Tannahill.
In finishing this scrawl., I add to my infirmities
an obstinate steel pen ; but if you can read it, you
must just put up with it. Au eminent authoress
says that imperfections and blunders may be ex
pected at fourscore.—Your friend,
Govan, 1859.

JAS. BARR.

'FATAL COLLIERY EXPLOSION NEAR LEEDS.—
On Saturday an inquest was held, at ' Seacroft, near Leeds,
on the body of Isaac Eastwood, a miner, who had been killed
in the Manston Colliery, the property of Major Waud.
Deceased was 35 years of age, and has for some time boon
fire-pan minder at a portion of the pit where it was fiery
and dangerous, and where, in consequence, constant ven-
tilation bad to be kept free during both night and day. On
Tuesday night, he went to the pit as usual, but when the
miners went to work in the morning the fire was extin-
guished, and, not seeing Eastwood, they apprehended that
some accident had occurred. They went in search of him,
and after proceeding about 200 yards along the works they
found the " stoppings" or " brattices" blown down,which
told the tale that a gas explosion had occurred, and, after
great difficulty, they found the body of the deceased, shock-
ingly burnt, and a piece of candle beside him, a clear proof
that he had gone there with the candle lighted instead of his
safety lamp, and thus incautiously caused the explosion
which destroyed him. He had at the same time been carry-
ing his lamp, which lay at the place uninjured. The in-
quest was adjourned till Wednesday, to enable the Govern-
ment inspector, Mr. Morton, to make what inquiries he
might think necessary.

OUTRAGE
DIABOLICAL AT A MASTER CHAIN-
MAKER' s.—On the night of Wednesday last some miscreant
threw a bottle filled with gunpowder, or other explosive
matter, into one of the bed-room windows of the house of
Mr. James Phillips, master chain-manufacturer, Cradley-
heath. The instant tha foll upon the floor it burst
with a loud noise, and the force of the explosion smashed
the glass in the windows, damaged some articles in the
room, and injured the floor. Fortunately. there was no
person in the room at the moment. It is strongly sus-
spected that the act has been done by some chain-maker
belonging to the body now on strike, because Mr. Phillips
has thought proper to sell a quantity of chains to the
former employers of some of the men out for wages.—Bir-
minghant Post.

THE LATE CRIMINAL CHARGES AGAINST A SUR-
GEON AT SMETIIIVICK.-Our readers will recollect that
some five weeks since charges of a very extraordinary and
improbable character were preferred against Mr. C. A.
Chavasse, of Smethwick, surgeon, by a former servant
of his, Harriet Gill, which appeared upon examination
to be utterly groundless, as, indeed, the magistrates them-
selves stated upon Mr. Chavasse's voluntary appearance
before them to meet the charges ; but there was reason to
doubt whether the charges made were more swing to malice
or insanity on the part of the girl. The latter now appears
beyond all doubt to be the true solution of the question.
Gill, being destitute, was thrown upon the workhouse at
King's Norton, last week, and the medical authorities there
at once perceiving her unhappy condition, she was removed
to Stafford Asylum on Wednesday last.—Birmingham
Journal.

DEER-STALKING EXTRAORDINARY.—In Central
America, that is, the isthmus which connects North and
South America, somewhere on the borders of Nicaragua,
and some miles from Leon, its capital, they have a custom
of sending the ox a deer-stalking, and they actually force
the bruto to undergo a preliminary education to make
him up to his work. He is tied to a tree by the
horns; and is frequently beaten on the head near the roots
of his horns, till the latter are loosened, and, of course,
rendered extremely sensitive. A cord is then fastened to
each " tip," and he is then guided as easily as a well
bridled and well broken horse. After some time the horns
get well, not, however, until he has acquired the habit of
being guided by them. When this system of " ox-break-
ing" has been sufficiently tested, and when the animal is
well "in hand," he is brought out "to stalk ;" and, what
is strangest of all, in a very short time he pursues the sport
with all the keenness and gusto of the most expert and in-
veterate stalkers.—Once a Week.

SKELETON STRATA. The skeletons in our
crowded London graveyards lie in layers which are quite
historical in their significance, and which would be often
startling if the circumstances of their juxta-position could
be made known. A cutting from an old newspaper (title
and date uncertain), .and which exists in the well-known
repertory of Mr. Green of Covent-garden, contains an ex-
ample of skeleton contact which is unusually curious if re-
liable. It is there stated that Dr. Sacheverell is buried in
St. Andrew's, Holborn, and that the notorious Mother
Needham of Hogarth is lying above him, and above her
again is interred Booth the actor—a strange stratification
of famous or notorious clay.—Once a IV eee.
Miss MARTINEAU ON SWIMMING FOR LADIES.—
Wherever there are good and spacious baths for women
there seem to be some women who can swim. At Liver-
pool, where the baths are admirable, there are several
ladies who are perfectly at home in the water. If
each of thbse ladies would instruct some promising girl or
girls from the schools in their art, in order to make
it their occupation, no doubt the next generation of Women
in Liverpool would be swimmers in much greater proportion
than the present. Let other towns and any country neigh-
bourhood where there is good water, provide baths of suffi-
cient size—either by mooring bathing-houses in the streams,
or by making shallow docks on shore, and teachers will pre-
sently offer. If not, it would be no great expense for the
combined parentage of a neighbourhood to bring over a
swimming mistress from France. There are probably seve-
ral at the bathing places along the coast ; and there are cer-
tainly plenty at Paris, if one may judge by the accomplish-
ment of Frenchwomen in the art.—Once a-Ilicek.
REVIVALISM IN AMERICA.—The rain of righte•
ousness, as Mr. Turnbull informs us, descended so copi-
ously upon New Jersey and Connecticut, that the excellent
Edwards became alarmed. The preachers were loud and
passionate ; some of them even clapped their hatids—swang
themselves to and fro in the pulpit—gesticulated and
bawled, and shed floods of tears. The Rev. J. Davenport,
of Long Island, was a remarkable instance of success.
"He came out of his pulpit and stripped off his upper gar-
ment, and got into the seats, and leaped up and down some
time, and clapped his hands, and cried out in these words :
Then
—p
tiwarnhge Devilgoesanc
goesoe on e
a —md tiohnw
dowfightn
most
oasn td goesvtho
le
violently."
tnl
yl
betookt il
Women Devil
us
stamping himselfgoes
anoetdos
children then preached and testified—silence being reckoned
a sign of sin, and clamour an evident token of conversion.
" Little children of five, six, seven, and eight years old,
talked powerfully and experimentally of the things of God."
Ever since 1730 these movements have recurred and been
expected with more or less, regularity. Sensible persons
regard them as a "religious flurry," or a mere tornado of
talk. Not long ago "praying bands" and "flying artillery
of Heaven" patrolled the streets of New York. There were
" business prayer-meetings," " boys' prayer-meetings,"
"people's prayer-meetings." But New York after the re-
vival, intelligent Americans say, looked very much like
New York before that event. In the city, however, a re-
vival is comparatively " cabinned, cribbed, confmed." It
is only down South or down West the " raal grit" is to be
obtained.—Once a Week.

THE MASTER OF ST. PANCRAS WORKHOUSE.-
Yesterday, at a meeting of the directors of the poor of St.
Pancras, Mr. Churchwarden Cameron moved a resolution
to rescind the recent vote of censure on the master of the
workhouse with respect to the alleged ill-usage of an inmate
named Kate C'Sullivan. Mr. Cameron said it was felt on
all hands that that the loss of the present master's services
world be a calamity to the parish ; and as the master was
willing to retrace his steps, and withdraw his resignation,
if he could feel that he had the confidence of the board, he
considered, as the late vote of censure was only carried by
a majority of 7 to 5, and 12 being only present in a board of
43 members, it would only be a graceful act on the part of
the board to remove the vote of censure from their minutes.
The motion, after some discussion, vats carried by a majority
of 10 to 8.