The Sun.
London, England, 1857-09-23 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY E VEINING FEPIEMI3ER, 23, 1857

India. They pay the passage of coolies from India,
giving them wages much higher than those common
at Natal ; still they become rich upon it. In
Africa we have an amazing extent of country totally
untilled. In this country you cannot form any
idea of the fertility of many parts of Africa. Whea
I went to the west I was obliged to use an ox—
there are no horses in that country ; but still in
passing through some districts the grass was so high
that I was obliged to hold my hands before my eyes
to keep the grass out. Each stalk of grass there is
about as thick as a goose quill, and then we have
immense dense forests of trees, about 50 feet high,
running straight up wit►hout a single branch. Now,
the soil that is capable of producing these trees
and that vegetation, seems to me capable of pro-
ducing anything. And we find that they actually
do gro ar the sugar cane, and they do grow cotton,
but only to a small extent. These people hwe
great confidence in the English, such confidence as
they have in no other tribe of white men. When
I was lately with the Bakwain tribe, I found that
when any English gentleman came to that part of
the country he always paid his way honourably ;
and such was the confidence this honesty inspired
that the natives would go with them 500 miles, all
the way to Graham's Town, simply on the promise
of a small payment when there. They would also
go wile them to the north, and hunt with them for
months together, serving them faithfully all the
time, and trusting their honour as Englishmen.
They would not have trusted a Boer or any other
tribe but the English. I could appeal to English
gentlemen who have visited that country that when
they wanted two guides their only difficulty was
lest four should go with them. From a number
of other circumstances I see a probability of the in-
terior people cultivating their produce in return
for our manufactures, and my great wish is to link
the interests of Africa with those of England. I
have a two-fold object in view. I believe that
commerce is a most important aid in diffusing the
blessings of civilization. (Hear.) When a tribe
begins to trade with another it feels a sense of
mutual dependence ; and this is a most important
aid in diffusing the blessings of Christianity, be-
cause one tribe never goes to another without telling
the news, and the Gospel comes in to be part of
their news, and the knowledge of Christianity is,

thus spread by means of conimerce. Again, we
know that our own country is in a great measure
dependent for its supply of cotton on the United
States. We are dependent for our supplies of this
material on slave labour. Now, no Englishman is
content with this state of things, and the majority
of the Americans detest slavery as much as we do ;
but still we are going to them with increased de-
mands for cotton, which effectually helps the slave-
holder to maintain his system. Now, I wish to
direct the attention of my countrymen to this new
field as a means of relieving slaveholders from feel-
ing it as a necessity to have slaves. If we get
abundant supplies of the raw material from Africa
we shall soon find that the slaveholders will become
more enlightened than they are at present. (A
laugh.) I have hopes of Africa from the fact that
we have, both in Eastern and Western Africa, a
healthy highland region. The form of the conti-
nent is a kind of basin. The central part is a
basin for the rivers that flow from the sides, and
they there is a slope towards the sea. This elevated
regi-)n. is quite a healthy one, and is watered and
drained by the Zambese. From this point to the
sex is about GOO miles, and there is only one rapid
in all that distance. Entering it from the ocean
we hive 300 miles of a good large river, then this

small rapid ; beyond that we have 300 miles more,
and then we are at the healthy ridge, which might
be made a sanitarium, from which bath com-
mercial and military enterprise might be carried to
to the leas healthy region beyond. This is the path
by which I hope to be able to establish trade with
Africa. The Portuguese at present command the
outlets on both sides, but they have always treated
me with great kindness, and if the resources of
Africa are developed they will get more by that
development than any other nation in the world.
They are not the masters of the country by any
means. Their wars with the Caffres have not, like
ours, been paid fur by the mother-country, and iu
fact they kept them shut up in their fort at Tete
during two whole years. The chiefs who havebeaton
the Portuguese consider them as a conquered tribe,
and oblige one of their villages to pay tribute
almost annually. They have a knowledge of the
mouth of the Zambese, and might aid commercial
enterprise very effectually, and from the knowledge
I have of the enlightened yuung King of Portugal
I believe the Portuguese will not be wanting in
their duty in that respect. On the opposite side of
the continent they have exports from Angola worth
100,0001. annually. Had Angola been in the hands
of the English, the exports, I believe, would have
amounted not to thousands, but to millions, be-
cause the country inland from Angola, and likewise
on the east coast, is fertile beyond anything I can
convey an impression of. It is disagreeably fer-
tile, for everything grows up with only too much
fertility. I again thank the Lord Provost for the
honour he has done me in presenting me with the
freedom of this ancient burgh. I shall always re-
member with gratitude the kind reception you have
given me. Igo back not expecting to meet with
any of this excitement or lionising, but to engage
in hard work. I hope your sympathies will con-
tinue to go forth to that country, because I see
plainly that England will every year become more
dependent on that continent for the supply of the
raw material of her commerce. (Loud and pro-
longed applause.)
After he had sat down, Dr. LIVINGSTON again
rose and said, a question had been put to him—
did these tribes employ slave labour ? The tribes
in the interior might be said to employ slave labour
in this way—when one tribe conquered another it

took the people of the conquered tribe into sub
jection, and called them their children. Their con-
dition approached to that of slavery, but there was
this difference between it andthe American slavery,
that there was no Fugitive Slave Law. (Applause.)
They were called children, but their condition was
ra`hor that of serfs. Each man had his own land
to cultivate, and bis o•,vn family and house, but
when his master went forth to war he accompanied
him as a servant, and must fight in his defence. The
children of the serf, however, became Gale-51y like
the tribe which had conquered their parents. They
were initiated by circumcision, and there was no
difference between them and the native memb:lrs of
the tribe. Every tribe tried to augment their power
by adding to their number by means of conquest,
but the amount of service the conquered had to ren-
der was very mai. indeed. They sat down with their
masters, and were ne ley on an equality with them,
and. if not kindly treated they. ran away, and the
tribe to which they went generally received then
with great kindness, and they became "children"

there. Approaching the Portuguese settlements,
however, they found :lavery more perfectly deve-
lopt-d. People there were bought and sold as slaves,
which they were not in the central country. His
men never saw chains until they approached the
Portuguese settlements. They seemed to regard the
cha'ned nun there as mere beasts or things, and
that they could not be men from the way they
wer,.. enslaved.

Dr. Livingston withdrew amid loud cheering, and
the meeting separ4ted.

LIVE MEN DBOWATSD IN THE RIBBLE,
.NEAR LYTHAM.

PRESTON, TUESDAY MORNING.

Last night information was received atthe county
police-office in this town that a fatal boat accident
had taken place on the river Ribble, about 2 miles
from Lytham and 14 miles from this town, by
which, it is believed, no fewer than five lives have
been lost. It seems that on Saturday, about two
o'clock in the afternoon, five men named John
Murray, a tackler, residing in Peel-street ' Richd.
Forshaw, William 'Willa°, weaver ; John Holden;
weaver.; and another man, whose name was not
ascertained, left the Old Quay, Preston, with the
intention of sailing to Lytham. Lighthouse, in a
boat called their Royal Consort, belonging to John
Murray, and walkiug thence to Blackpool. The
party reached their destination the same night and
remained in Blackpool until about noon on Sunday,
when they started the return trip. Some hours
afterwards the boat was seen passing along near
the beach at Lytham, making its way for the mouth
of the Ribble, with the sails fully set ; but at er this
nabbing further was either seen of boat or its ill-
fated crow. Not returning to Preston on Sunday
night, as fixed upon, the wives and families of the
missing became greatly excited, and waited in in-
tense anxiety uutil yesterday morning, when no
tidings having been heard of any of them, an expe-
dition party went down the Ribble in search of
them. When this party had arrived about 2 miles
beyond Lytham, the boat was discovered ashore on
the horse bank, with the sail hanging over one ef
its •
fouBnld'-ews.itlZetboat was searched, but nothing was
in the larg,, ,sal
I but, wrapped or rather entangled
lyingi within a few inches from the
boat, there was'
quite stiff and cold
und the body of John Holden,
now was then removed to Ly-
tham, where it
the
awaiting a coroner's in-
quiry.stre strenuous
aearneirstsiienugs
arelsi was then made along and
A further Ise
at the entrance of the river for
but, despite the moat bodies,the other
exploring party, not a vestige
or even their clothing, coulndybofr
further search is to be made bay' An A
bodies,
y. An inquest
',will be held at Lytham to-ntlit by th© c

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Professor Webster, cf Philadelphia.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

RAILWAYS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM,.

The-reportofCaptain D. Galion, R.E., to the
Lords of the Committee of Privy Council for Trade
and Foreign Plantations, of the proceedings of the
department relating to railways for the year 1856,
states that 59 railway bills were passed in the ses-
sion of 1856, authorising 322 miles of railway, the
capital being 5,784,426/. Of the 59 Acts 38 were
for the construction of 214 miles of railway in Eng-
land and Wales, 106 miles in Scotland, and about
two mi'ea in Ireland. The number of level cross-
ings authorised was 93. Twenty-two of the Acts
authorised companies to enter into working and
traffic arrangements with other companies, subject
to the approval of the shareholders and of the
Board of Trade. The total length of railway
authorised by Parliament doin to the end of 1856
amounted to 14,668 miles ; but of this 1,495 miles '
have been authorised to be abandoned, leaving
13,163 miles for which Parliamentary powers have
not been repealed ; of these 8,635 miles were open
for traffic at the end of 1856, including 355 miles
opened during that year, and 4,538 miles remain
to be opened—namely, 3,316 miles in England and
Wales, 452 in Scotland, and 770 in Ireland. He
does not think it probable.that 2,532 miles of those
lines will over be made, the powers for the compul-
sory purchase of land having been allowed to ex-
pire without having been exercise]. The total
amount of money authorised to be raised by rail-
way companies by shares and loans to the end of
1856 amounted to 377,767,9071., of which
308,775,8941. had been raised, leaving 68,992,013'.
to be raised. Of the 8,718 miles open to traffic
on the 31st of December, 1856, 6,737 miles were
narrow gauge, 679 miles broad gauge, 254
miles mixed, and 1,048 miles Irish gauge. The
length of single line in the United Kingdom at the
end of 1856 was 1,562 miles constructed on the nar-
row gauge, 240 miles on the broad gauge, 72 miles
on the mixed gauge, and 637 miles on the Irish
gauge, making together 2,511 miles of single line.
It has become a very general practice for railways
which are subsidiary to the lines of existing railway
companies, and which have been constructed by in-
dependent companies, to be worked by the existing
larger company. This mode of working is advan-
tageous to both parties, and generally to the public,
because these agreements create for the time that
identity of interest which is created by an amalga-
mation, while at the same time the existence of the
local company provides for the interests of the dis-
trict being better cared for than it would probably
be if the small lines were entirely merged in the
larger company. The length of line reported to
be in course of construction on 30th June, 1855,
was 963 miles ; of these about 208 miles were opened
before 31st Dec., 1855. The number of persons
employed on 30th June upon the railways in course
of construction amounted to 36,473, being oa the
average 37.87 per mile. The length of line open
for traffic in the United Kingdom on 30th June,
1856, was 8,506 miles, and the number of persons
employed thereon amounted to 102,117 persons, or
12 per mile.
With regard to the traffic, the total number of
passengers conveyed on the railways in 1856
amounted to 129,347,562, against 118,595,135 con-
veyed. in 1855, the number conveyed per mile of
railway open being 15,213 in 1856, against 14,503
in 1855. The receipts from passengers amounted
to 10,153,7451. in 1856, against 9,525,205/. in 1855
the receipts per mile being 1,1941. in 1856 and 1,1611.
in 1855. From the figures given in the appendix,
it appears that from 1852 to 1856 the first-cla,s pas-
senger fares in England have been diminished, and
the receipts per passenger have also decreased, while
the receipts per mile have increase]. As regards the
second-class traffic in England, the fares have been
slightly increased, and the receiptsper mile have not
varied much. In the third-class traffic, which in-
cludes a large amount of excursion traffic, the
average fares were diminished, and the receipts per
mile largely increased. In Scotland the fares of
first-class passengers have been diminished, and the
receipts per mile have increased ; as regards the
second-class traffic, the average fare has been in-

creased ; the actual receipts are about the same as
in 1852, while the receipts per mile have diwinisbed;
the average fare for third-class passengers has been
increased, and the receipts per mile have also in-
creased. In Ireland the average fare per mile and
the receipts from each class of passengers have
increased, but the receipts per mile, with the excep-
tion of the first class, have diminished. The receipts
from goods, cattle, minerals, parcels, (Sic., in 1856,
amounted to 13,011,7481., against 11,982,3941. in
1851, which represents 1,5301. per mile in 1856,
compared with 1,4651. per mile in 1855. The total
receipts from goods, cattle, minerals, parcels, &c.,
may be divided as follows—viz., 7,685,3791. was
for the conveyance of 23,823,931 tons of merchan-
&se, 4,585,9911. was for the conveyance of
40,938,675 tons of minerals, 517,7861. for the
conveyance of 10,450,175 head of live stock, and
1,222,6281. for the conveyance of parcels, &o. The
tables in the appendix show that while in 1849 the

proportion of the passenger traffic to the goods
traffic was 53 to 47, in 1856 the proportion of the
passenger traffic to the goods traffic is as 44 to 56.
The total receipts from all sources of traffic have
amounted in England and Wales to 19,728,3111., or
3,1201. per mile, in 1856, against 18,363,8691., or
2,9781. iu 1855; in Scotland to 2,319,2171., or
2,0221. per mile, in 1856, against 2,144,3981., or
2,033/. per mile in 1855 ; and in Ireland. to
1,117,9651., or 1,092/. per mile, in 1836, against
999,8321., or I,uol. per mile, in 1855. The aggre-
gate receipts from all sources of traffic for the whole
kingdom having been 23,165,493 e, or 2,7241. per
mile in 1856, against 21,507,5991., or 2,6291. per
mile, in 1855. It would appear that the average work-
ing expenses of railway companies, per mile of rail-
way open, have increased in England and Wales from
1,332/. per mile in 1854 to 1,5311. in 1856 ;
in Scotland, from 9611, in 1854 to 9701. in 1856 ;
but that in Ireland they have decreased from 4651.
in 1854 to 4271. in 1856. The proportion which
the working expenses have borne to the receipts
has been 49 per cent, in England and Wales as
compared with 48 per cent. iu 1855 ; 47 per cent.
in Scotland as compared with 49 per cent. in 1855 ;
and 39 per cent. in Ireland as compared with 41 per
cent. in 1855.; the general average being 47 per
cent. upon the gross receipts as compared with 48
par cent. in 1855. The expenditure appears to be
divided under the s veral heads as follows—viz.,
maintenance of way, 15 per cent. ; locomotive ex-
pensel, including repairs of rolling stock, 39 per
cent. ; traffic charges, 26 per cent. ; miscellaneous,
including police_and watchmen, compens stion, &c.,
13 per cent. ; rates and Government duty, 7 per
cent. With regard to the financial position of rail-
ways, the report states that the total amount of
capital raised for
,the construction of railways
on the 31st of December, 1856, amounted to
3)8,775,8941., which represents an expenditure of
35,4591. per mile of railway open. In making this
estimate it must be recollected that the lines re-
ported to be in course of construction amount in
length to about one-ninth of the whole length com-
pleted and under construction, and that some por-
tion of the cost per mile belongs to those lines. But
it is worthy of notice that although the cost of rail
ways in the united kingdom has averaged 35,4591.
per mile—viz.; 40,2881. in England, 27,7591. in
Scotland, and 14,8081. in Ireland, the average cost
of the independent lines of railway for which the
Acts hive been obtained since 1848; and which are
new opened for traffic, has only amounted to 9,5681.
per mile ; of these railways, those open in England
have averaged 12,3731. per mile ; those opened in
Scotland have averaged 5,408/. per mile, and those
opened in Ireland is 6,7161. per mile. Of the total
amount of mora3y raised 77,359,4191. has been
raised by loans, 57,057,1711. by preference shares,
and the remainder—viz., 174,359,304% by ordinary
share capital. The preferential and loan capital
invested in railways is 43 per cent. of the whole
capital, and the interest which has to be paid
upon the preferential and ;loan capital averages
5.08 per cent. ; the net receipts- on railways
give an average interest on the whole capital in-
vested of nearly 4 per cent., but the heavy prefer-
ential character of the charges reduces the interest
on Vie capitol to 3.12 per cent. It also appears
that the receipts of railway companies have in-
creased steadily, although slowly, every year. The
large amount of preferential capital has prevented
a proportionate increase in the dividends on the
ordinary share capital ; but the steady increase in
the net receipts in a greater ratio than the increase
of the capital invested is evidence of sound progress.
The stability of :railway property depends chiefly
upOn a careful management. Without entering
into this question, wich is one of great difficulty,
owing to the magnitude of the several undertakings,
the extent of territory they occupy, and the con-
flicting interests to which they are subjected, Capt.
Galton calls their Lordships' attention to the fact,
that while in 1855 a case occurred in which the ac-
counts of a railway company were audited in so lax
a manner as to have admitted of a considerable
amount of peculation in many branches of the
service, in 1856 an important company suffered
great loss in consequence of the defective System or
audit having permitted the forgeries of an entpleye
to escape unob3erved for a length of time. ne
states that frauds thtis committed entail serious
loeses upon shareholders, and that the shar eholdus
will be continually liable to frauds of this nature
until a more eereful syStem of audit, and one incle-
penT(ll;rte of those directly concerned in the
management of the railways, be gen rally, adopted,
and until a direct responsibility be placed on those
t'' ei
report
concludes
beau
amalciaausses
°f Passengers killedend • •
and Ireland from b
ebnyt sishoewoniifilgdett proportion
injured in Great Britain
compared with the number
beyond their own control
to ha
1 so b

carried ...in [the: several years from 1852 to 1586
inclusive. In 1852 the proportion per million
pmsengais conveyed wus 011 killed and 4.20 in-
jured; in 1853, 0.35 killed and 2.80 injured ; in
1854, 0.10 killed and 2.27 injured ; in 1855, o'oB
killed and 2.70 injured ; and in 1856 the
proportion per million passengers conveyed was
0.07 killed and 2.18 injured. It thus appears that
only one person in 16, 184,049 who travelled has been
killed, and one in 458,370 who travelled has been
injured from causes beyond their own control ; and
that the degree of safety with which passengers
have been conveyed on railways is great..r than on
any year since 1851.

OLD .ROCIIESTER BRIDGE.

ROCHESTER, TUESDAY.

A series of grand explosions took place this after-
noon at the old Rochester-bridge, for the purpose
of'dernolishing tho remaining portions of that huge
structure, the handsome bridge which now spans
the Medway having been fur some time open to
the public. The idea of employing the troops of
the Royal Engineers in the removal of the old
bridge originated with Col. H. Sandham, the
director of the Royal Engineers' establishment at
Chatham, who considered it would be unwise to
allow such a rare opportunity to pass for the
men of the Royal Sappers and Miners to take
part in the destruction of the works, espe-
cially as the Royal Engineers had been
so successful in the siege operations for destroying
the great docks at Sebastopol. On the proposal
being made to the authorities permission was at
once accorded, and for nearly 12 months past the
Royal Engineers have been engaged in sapping and
destroying 'various portions of the ancient structure
—the works beinl- carried on under the superinten-
dance of Capt. W. H. Noble, R.E., an officer of
great intelligence and experience.
The old bridge, which has been built nearly five
ceaturies, originally consisted of 10 large Arches
resting on 9 piers and two abutments ; the Royal
Engineers have already succeeded in destroying five
arches, three piers, and the abutments ; but, owing
to the immense strength and solidity of the struc-

ture, the operations have necessarily been carried
on slowly. Six piers, five arches, and nine " star-
lings " remained to be destroyed, and nearly the
whole of these were successfully blown to pieces this
afternoon in the presence of the Earl of Romney,
the wardens and assistants of Rochester-bridge,
Lieut.-Colonel Sir C. W. Pasley, K. C. B. , besides
a large number 9f officers of the Royal Engineers
and the Royal Artillery, the whole of the opera-
tions being under the superintendence of Colonel
H. Sandham, assisted by Major F. C. Hassard,
Royal Engineers.
The operations commenced this afternoon by the
destruction of the lower portion of No. 4 arch from
the Rochester side, which was thrown down by
means of two charges of lodged in one
of the voussoirs o each haunch of the arch, and
two charges lodged in the voussoirs next the key-
stone.
A charge of 301 b. of gunpowder placed '
under the soffit of the keystone of the upper added
portions of the arch was next exploded, the effect
of which was to throw down the whole of that por-
tion of the arch acted upon. The troops next pro-
ceeded to destroy the third arch ilia similar manner.
Nine charges of 41b. each were placed in the vous-
soirs of the haunch, and also nine of 11b. each in
the voussoirs next the keystone of the old portion
of the arch before the bridge was widened. These
charges were fired simultaneously by means of the
voltaic battery, the result being that the arches
were destroyed, and the masonry of which they
were composed entirely detached. The finest ex-
plosions of the day, however were reserved for the
latter part of the operations, when three of the
massive piers were blown down by means of several
charges of gunpowder, weighing in the aggregate
about /,0001b. In order to facilitate the operation,
the Sappers and Miners had previously excavated
a shaft in each of the piece to he destroyed, which
was sunk to a depth of about 30 feet. Each of the
shafts was about four feet square, and at the base
projected a number of galleries, in which were de-
posited the large quantity of gunpowder required for
the explosions. In the third pier, which was the first
blown up, 400 lb. weight of gunpowder was leid in
two charges, each containing 2001 b. The galleries
were then rmly closed by means of " tamping."
The second pier had likewise 4001 b. of gunpowder
placed in the galleries, also in two charges, and
the first pier 2061 b. At the sound of the bugle the
charges in the third pier were ignited by means of
the voltaic battery, worked by Capt. 11. Y. D.
Seot, Royal Engineers. The effects of the ex-
plosions were most complete, the large mass of earth
and masonry, containing, it was computed, about
20,000 cubic feet, being lifted up from its founda-
tion and scattered into fragments, retaining not a
vestige of its original form. The.second pier, after
a short delay in fixing the wires, was destroyed in
the same manner, the shock of the explosions being

felt at considerable distance, the ground being sen:
sibly shaken as if from the effects of a distant earth-
quake • the river also being considerably agitated.
The first: pier, which contained as large a mass of
stones and earth as the other two, was the last de-
stroyed, several of the huge stones of which it was
composed being burled to some distance,
The whole of the operations were highly success-
ful, and notwithstanding the immense number of
spectators present, not a single accident occurred.
of the Royal innogt tehnega°gPeedraitnirhs a
e exbpoldosyions, were employed
Engi-
neers,Da
in forming abridge of rafts with General Blanchard's
pontoons across the Medway, some distance above
the oil bridge. The river at that spot is very wide,
which prevented the bridge being extended from
shore to s'iore. It was, however, carried out a con
siderable distance into the river, and when com-
pleted the whole of the troops, together with a large
body of spectators, took up their p6sition upon it
for the purpose of witnessing the operations at the
oil bridge.
The Royal Sappers and Miners will continue their
operations at the bridge until the whole of that
structure is entirely removad,

PREACH SISTERS OF CHARITY IN

The Courrier de DlOOll4 gives the following ac-
count of the dangers incurred by several French
lay nuns in India during the late disturbances se...
" The religious establishment of Jesus-et-Ma is at
Fourviere had several of its sisterhoed impreelled
at Meerut, Delhi, Sealcote, and Agra by the Indian
insurrection. It is only by the het mad that intel-
ligence has been received respectine them in letters
written to their superior, which show that a por-
tion of them, at least, heve mlpsd. All these holy
women were at the head of schools for young girls,
English and native. Those who were at Meerut suc-
ceeded in escaping through the conflict, murders,
and conflagration with a part of their pupils, some
English ladies, and about 50 males, officers and
civilians, to a valley in the mountains of Thibet,
where they are, it appears, in tolerable security, for
the party being well armed, is strong enough to
defend against the insurgents the defile leading to
their asylum. The flightfrom Sealcote was marked
by most dramatic incidents. The evening before
the rising, some of the natives, through gratitude
for the attention and kindness which the sisters had
always shown to their children, came secretly to
inform them they would do well to leave the place
as promptly as possible with their pupils, as the
insurrection. was to commence the next morning at
break of day, and the insurgents had resolved to
hill every European. The sisters at once procured
cats, and loaded them with their property and with
their youngest pupils, whose weakness would have
retarded their precipitate flight. Then, profiting
by the shades of night, they left the town for a
fort some leagues distant, where they hoped to find
refuge. Unfortunately, whether it was that the
warning given them was too late, or that the
fugitives had not hurried on with sufficient
rapidity, or, that the natives had ad-
winced the moment of the insurrection, the sisters
were overtaken when about half-way by a troop of
the insurgents, who, on finding their convent aban-
doned, had pursued them. The poor sisters, on
seeing this horde of miscreants approaching, aban-
donut their cars and baggage in the middle ©f the
road to be pillaged, and hurried away to take re-
fuge in an isolated honse which stood near. But
their pursuers soon murdered in presence of the
poor sisters and the children several Eaglish per-
sons,- women and men, who had also hurried to the
home for safety. They then rushed at the sisters,
and, with horrible imprecations, threatened to
make them and their pupils share the same f tte,
if they did not at ones declare where their property '
was to b 3 found. The unfortunate women protested
that they had nothing in the world but what they
had left in the cars on the high road, and that they
Willingly gave up that property. As, however,
other pillagers had already carne
insurgentsi carre off
w
l
was peedious from the cars,
house were about to execute their threat of killing
whatever
e thever
every huritan being in the building, when a voice
.ierl out that the pilblic treasure La I been found
They then rushed from the house to obtain
their share in the booty, and the sisters, without
losing it Moiseduti placed the youngest b
child
d
ren on their shoulders, ttridf taking the others
ti;e hand, proceeded as rapidly they could to-
wards the fort, which they at last reached, an. d
ob-
tained a shelter in the midst of other fugitives of
every age and condition. It is impossible to praise
t
w highly the devotedness of there poor women,
h
o risked without hesitation.i
their own live So
save those of the children confided to their cere:"

COMPETITIVE FXAMINATION.

Horace tells us that when fools fly from error they
rush into the opposite extreme. This fault is not,
however, confined to fools. The tendency to pass
from ono extreme to another is very COITVIIOD, and
we are not without ourapprehensions that it is now
operating in tho instance of examinations for ap-
pointments. The usage up to a very late date was
nomination without any guarantee for, or even in-
quiry into qualifications. The candidate for the
public service was employed first and tried of ; er-
wards ; and, unreasonable as the system undoub-
tedly was, it did not work S 3 ill as might I,e sup-
po.,ed, the proportion of the incompeteA not hav-
ing been considerable ; while, on the other hand,
many men of first-rate ability have always been
found in the Government offices. Nevertheless,-it
was uncloubredly highly desirable to take measures
• for the exclusion of the incapable, and for that end
the test of examination was wisely adopted. The
question is, however, how fsr this test can ad-
vantageously be carried. The Chancellor of the
Exchequer, Sir George C. Lewis, takes, in
our opinion, the true view of the question, in de-
precating a high standard. He said—L )ok to the
points and paces of the steed, but do nut rest the
choice of a coach-horse on the issue of a race. And

for this simple reacon of good sense, that we do
not want racers in 11%i-floss. The tendency is, how-
ever, ail to racing under the specious name of c)rn-
petitive examination. The public apple pie is to
be made solely of quinces, the plum-pudding of
plums only. Such is, indeed, the common rush
from one extreme to another ; from the utter neg-
lect of qualifications to the strained standard. The
fault is, no doubt, on the right side, but still it
would be well to be on that side, short of the fault
the consequences of which may be graver than are
suTected. Lord Grey has stated some very wise
objections to introduce competitive examination
generally into the army, and they apply with
hardly less force to the civil service
I have a very strong opinion of the impolicy of intro-
ducing the system of competitive examination. Ido
not think that any examination can test the qualities
which aro most important. With regard to the can-
didates for employments either in the army or in the civil
service of the country, what are of moat importance are
the moral qualities of men, not their mere acquire-
ments. You test nothing but the acquirements of a man
by examination ; and what you want in an officer far
more than any specific amount of acquirements is, that
he should possess certain moral qualities, such ag cou-

rage, high spirit, the feelings of a gentleman, energy,
judgment, and the power of thinking and acting for
himself. These things cannot be tested in the slightest
degree by examination, and it is very possible that by a
competitive examination you may interfere with a man's
acquiring those qualities; because I believe there is
nothing more certain than that by over-education, and
by the system of cramming a young man, you weaken
the pawers of the mind, and that those who have been
over-forced by education in their early years turn out less
practically useful in after life than men_who have been

educated in a more natural manner. I find in a very in-
teresting work published by Sir B. Br die, that he ex-
presses in a very strong manner his opinion that over
forcing the youthful miud is extremely injurious to its vi-
gour in after life; and I am told that In France this incon-
venience is already found, that so many of the employ-
ments both in the army and the civil service sf the state
are given by competitive examination, that there is a
tendency in the different schools to vie with each other
in the amount of knowledge which, within a limited
time, they can force into the heads of their pupils ; that
each school wishes to have the largest possible number
of those prizes, and, therefore, it increases from year
to year the amount of exertion and labour that it re-
quires from its pupils ; and the consequence is, in the

. . _
opinion of eminent men in France, a very serious in-
crease of brain disease among the young, and also that
those people who have exoeiled in the examination turn
oat, not uncommonly, very inefficient in af;or life. And
I see even in this evident , that an opinion has been

given by some distinguished officers, that many men
who have passed a very brilliant examination at Sand-
hurst turn out less efficient staff-officers afterwards than
those who have passed perhaps a very inferior examina-
tion. Ido not think that by that system you test the
quali,ies that you really require.
A greater mistake cannot be committed than that
of making talent the all in all, the one thing needful.
Qualities, or what we sum up in the word cha-
racter, are of more worth than talent without
them. What is it that is now making our

Countrymen and countrywomen in India the
admiration of the whole world 1 The qualities
Lord Grey has recited, which nothing but the
trials of a mighty exigency could call into action
—inexhaustible energy, endurance, self-reliance,
indomitable resolution. It is not the brain but
the heart of our countrymen which is working so
heroically in this stupendous struggle.
The general fitness for action which has bean
proved by the Indian mutiny, is most especially
remarkable, and it is more than doubtful whether
this most important aptitude could be improved by
any scholastic culture. The probability is, that
it would rather be impaired.
The tendency of competitive examination raust
always be to a standard more and more raised.
There can, be no " thus far and no farther." If
one candidate crams up to a certain point to the
satisfaction of examiners, another will cram
beyond him, and another and another beyond,
without end. No one contends that this encou-
ragement to cramming is good, but it is said to be
at least proof of an industry which will be avail-
able for the public service. It is proof of no such
thing. It is no proof of the disposition for indus-
try, no proof of the habit of application. It proves
nothing more than what may be done for a desired
object, which is no sooner attained than, like the
scaffolding erected to build a house, the means
become lumber, and the motive to exertion ceases.
We need not say there are exceptions, but gene-
rally the work of cramming produces a disgust of
all labour and its objects, and as soon as the prize
is secured there is a relapse to idleness, or as great
an approach to it as is permissible. But suppose,
for the moment, that competitive examination
would really secure distinction and preference, not
to the highly crammed, but to the highly gifted,
is it certain that first-rate talent is always most
useful and desirable in the public service ? First-
rate talent there should be, but should all be first-
rate ? We deny it. Every branch of the public
administration is like a carpenter's chest, in which
there are tools of different shapes, • sizes, and
edge, suited to different uses. We do not want a
box-ftrl of chisels, or a box-ful of saws, or a box-
ful of gimlets, or brad-awls. Sometimes the occa-
sion is 'for 'sharp, sometimes for a blunt instru-
rnent, and the mallet has its Place of utility as
well as the most- finely-edged tool. As the work
is of different sorts, so should be the workmen,
and if competitive examination should finally fill
our offices with men of one caste, no matter how
high in talent it msy he, it will produce a great
practical evil, for they will be servants above much,
if not most of the necessary work.
We have a great, a sincere respect for the gen-
tlemen charged with the superintendence of the
examinations, but nevertheless we are approheu-
sive that there is a tendency to requiring too much,
doubtless to keep ahead of the corresponding ten-
dency to cramming. We have heard of cer-
tain questions with amazement—questions which
a man, young or old, should not be expected to
answer, and his attempting or pretending to answer
which should stamp him as not knowing what he
was about. But if a candidate were asked to square
a circle, ho would not venture to plead im-
possibility, and questions hardly less absurd have
elicited responses to match, completely satisfying
the examiners. We have herd of historical com-
parisons challenged, the subjects of which have had
about as much in common as a circle and a square;
what is it but befooling a youth to the top of his
bent to invite him to strain out an absurd and im-
possible parallel ? The whole thing is overdone,
and will be more overdone before the correction
will be applied to it through the discovery by the
public that it has taken a specious name for a use-
ful substance. —Examiner.

[ADVE TSSEMENT.]— SIGHT AND HEARI.E6 SPECTACLES
POWERFUL TELESCOPES OPERA, RICE, AXD PERSPECTIVE
GLasses.—S. and B. Solomon, opticians, 39, Albemarle-
street, Piccadilly. Observe—opposite the York Hotel, W
By her Majesty's Royal Letters Patent for valuable and ex-
traordinary improvements in the most powerful and brilliant
Telescopes, Camp, Race-course, Opera, and Perspective
Glasses, to know the distances. These Telescopes possess
such extraordinary power that some, three and a-half inches,
with an extra eyepiece will show distinctly Jupiter's moons,
Saturn's ring, and the double stars ; with the same telescope
can be seen a person's countenance three-and-a-half miles
distant and an object from 16 to 20 miles. For the waist-
coat-pocket, and are of larger, and all sizes, with increasing
powers accordingly. The Royal Exhibition, 1851. —A valu-
able, newly-invented, very small, powerful, Waistcoat-pocket
Glass, the size of a walnut, by which a person can be seen and
known one and a-half mile distant. They answer every pur-
pose on the Race-course and at the Opera-houses. Country
scenery and ships are clearly seen at 12 to 14 miles. They
are invaluable for shooting, deer-stalking, yachting, to
sportsmen, gentlemen, gamekeepers, and tourists. Opera,
Camp, Perspective, and Race-course Glasses, with wonderful
powers.—lnvaluable preserving Spectacle Lenses of the
greatest transparent power. The great advantage derived
from this invention is, that vision impaired becomes pre
served and strengthened. and very aged persona aro enabled
to employ their sight at the most minute occupation—can see
with those lentes of a much less magnifying power—and
they do not require the frequent changes to the dan-
gerous effects of further powerful assistance. Persons
can be suited at the mos, remote part of the world by send-
ing one of the glades out at their spectacles in a letter, and
stating the distance from the eye they can read small print
with it, and those who have not made use of spectacles by
stating their age. - Deafness.—New DiSCOB O Vy.—The Organic
Vibrator, an extraordi• aril), powerful, se-all, newly-invented
instrument for deatnoss, entirely different from all others,
surpassing anything of the kind that has been, or probably
can, be produced. Being of the same colour as the skin, is
not perceptible. It enables deaf persons to hear distinctly at
churchand at public assemblies ; the unpleasant sensation of
singing noises in the ears entirely remov, d, and it affords
all the assistance that possibly could be desired.-39.
iharlo•strootiTicealilly.—Opposite the York ITotol,'W.

.HEALTH OF LONDON DURING VIE
WEEK.

(From the Report of the Registrar-General.)

After the summer heat, and when the conditions
that attend it, and that are so fatal to children, are
to some extent removed, London begins to enjoy a
period of health in which the mortality is usually
lowsrthan at any other time of the year except the
months of May and June. In conformity with this
rule the deaths, which were previously above 1,000,
awl in July rose above 1,200, fell in the week that
ended on Saturday (Sept. 19), to 946. It is further
to be observed that, though diarrhoe% continues to
exhibit more than its ordinary degree of prevalence,
the health of the population generally appears to be
better than it usually is in the third week of Sep-
tember, for, if the weekly deaths from cholera at
two epidemic seasons be withdrawn from the calcu-
lation, it. will be found that nearly 200 persons sur-
vived last week, who should have died if the ave-
rage rate of mortality, as derived from correspond-
ing weeks in 10 previous years, had prevailed.
The number of children born last week exceeded
that of persons of all ages who died by 776.

The fatal cases of diarrhma now decline more
rapidly, as will be seen from the numbers returned
during the last five weeks, which were :-215, 198,
181, 144, and, last week, 111. Only three deaths,
two of which were those of children, are referred
to cholera ; eight to dysentery. Smallpox was fatal
to only two children ; measles to 19, of whom 13
died in the central and east districts ; scarlatina to
39, of whom 26 died in the same districts. The
deaths from typhus and common fever are 53.
Nineteen persons died of cancer, six of hernia, two
of diabetes, 10 women from diseases incidental to
childbearing, one of whom, a young woman of 18,
died from puerperal convulsions, in consequence of
excessive joy ; a girl of two years died from mumps,
a housepaintsr from painter's colic, a girl who had
lived ten years with spina-bifida, one person from
carbuncle, three from delirium tremens, one from
intemperance. Two widows died at the ages respec-
tively of 91 and 92 years, the oldest parsons in the
return of the week.

Last week the births of 883 boys and 839 girls,
in all 1,722 children, were registered in Lorrion.
In the ten corresponding weeks in the years 1847-
56 the average number was 1,445.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 30.041 in.
The mean daily reading was above 30 in. on the
last five days. The greatest barometric pressure
was 30.24 in. on Saturday. The mean temperature
of the week was 62.1 dog., which is 5.6 deg. above
the average of the same week in 43 years, as deter-
mined by Mr. Glaisher. The mean temperature
was above the average on every day of the week,
and on Weduesday .n 4 Thursday the excess was
about, 10 deg. Oa the latter day the highest point
of the thermometer in 'the shade was attained—
viz., 801 deg. ; the lowest point was 48.9 deg.,
and was obtained on Saturday. The whole range
of the week was therefore 31.8 deg. The mean
dew point temperature was 57.9 deg., and the
difference between this and the mean air tempera-
ture was 4.2 deg. Oa Thursday the thermo-
meter in the sun rose tor 104.8 deg. The wind wars
nearly
.always in the south-west till Fl May after-
noon, when it changed to north-east. There was
rain to the depth of 0.25 in. on Monday ; none on
any other day.

MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS
NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CLAUSES REGISTEBED

IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, SEPT. 19
Zymotic Diseases
Diseases of Uncertain Seat
Tubercular Diseases
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves and Senses 9l
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 2O
Diseases of the Lungs and other Organs of
Respiration lO3
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs

of Digestion - 59
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c.
Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c. .. 11
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles ......... 3
Diseases of the Skin, &c.
Malformations 8
Premature Birth and Debility 26
Atrophy
Old Age
sudden .. 4
Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance 27
Causes not specified

DEATHS nom ALL CAUSES 946
Population Deaths in corm- Deaths
Enumerated. sponding week in the

1851. - of 1856. Week
West Districts
North Districts 490,396
Central Districts 393,256
East Districts 485,522 216
South Districts 616,635 ...... 326 --- 229

Totals 2,362,23.6 1,064
BIRTHS IN THE WEEK.

Males
Females..

Total

946

From the London Gazette of Last Night.

BOARD OF TRADE, WHITEHALL SEPT 22.

The Right Honourable the Lords of the' Committee of
Privy Council for Trade and Plantations have received,
through the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, a copy
•f a Despatch from her Majesty's Acting Consul at Madrid,
enclosing copies of Spanish Royal Orders altering, as fol-
lows, the duties upon the importation into Spain of pota-
toes and sago, starch, sago in grain, of No. 1126, and In-
dia-rubber cloths :

Per quintal.

Reals. c.
Potato and sago starch
Sago in grain, of No. 1,126, imported under
foreign flag
Do., imported under national flag 2 10
Indian Rubber cloths of silk, wool, or cotton, imported
under foreign flag, 43 per cent, ad val.
Do., imparted under national flag, 40 per cent. ad val.