The Sun.
London, England, 1857-01-09 00:00:00

LOST ON THE GOODWIN."—A. correspondent, sigtOng

himself Delta, in writing to a contemporary, says :
" Sir,—Are these tearful words to be eternally ringing
in our ears! Some means other than lighthouses should
lie devised to warn the poor mariner from impending de-
struction. The lighthouse during a snow storm is
worthless. Why not try the effect of sound ? Let
these fatal sands be thickly covered with buoys, and to
each buoy let a large sonorous bell be attacoed. The
clang of 1,000 great bills set in motion by a tumultuous
sea would almost awaken the Earl of Goodwin himself.
Why, Sir, the chorus would be heard balf across the
channel ' • and we should hear of no more vessels being
engulfed in the Goodwin Sands."
Tip: GIFT OF TONGUES.—It is well carefully to sots
the difference between Russia and England in regard to
the cultivation of languageforraSmtna,taerpiunrpaonseys.dipTlohmeziics
not a country possessing
a has not the acquisition
relation with St. Petersburg which
of its native tongue provided for in or near the Russian
capital. At the imperial gymnasium, Novo-Toherskak,
in the country of the Den Cossacks, military interpreters
and translators for the Caucasian invasions are taught
Arabic, Tartaric, Avarian, and Tscherkessian ; at
Storopol, Tartaric and Tscherkessian form part of the
educational system ; anti throughout the land young
and Able students are diligently trained to carry on free
intercourse with foreign nations. English statesmen
might do idler things than take this shrewd example
into their consideration, and establish competent schools
for instruction iu the languages that bear upon our
immense Asiatic and Indian interests. From the San-
Resit, through the Affghan, Bokharan, Kurdian,
Armenian, Albanian, to the Persian, Turkish, and
Chinese, it ought to bes our first care to see that native
Englishmen could be found to conduct the important
affairs of the British et.lpire in these languages ; and
even their Bengali, Maha:atti, Guzerati, Assaniese,Kash-
merian, Khasiyan, and oiler varieties. It is imperative
to encourage the study of iShe Oriental languages in Eng
land, that we may have scholars capable of conversing
with nativfs, and thus prociaring supplies, gathering in-
formation, translating docuinents, writing circulars or
proclamations, carrying on p arleys, assisting at confer-
ences, and wording treaties. That we should usually
need the intervention of strangt•rs in such business is no
sign of our wisdom. In all other countries which
have any political, commercial, or religious connection
with the East provision has .been made to effect
this ; and ever since the day s of the Empress
Catherine Russia has won many a success through.
the qualifications of her diplomatic linguists.
Sr. Petersburg there is a chair' for every b °il
of o:iontal literature ; and at Ka ean and eleavluiarf;
the chief languages of the E ast are g
Ay recounted
taught. The French Academy haa
Govern-
department of Eastern philology, brat b`bisfs ire taught by
among its members the leading represicandits:tirtheee
Gofoevveerrny.
ment school for the living tongues,
.;,,isie'vna the Oriental
the most eminent professors.
dAtserni Dates the choicest
seminary of the Imperial press -Disensa srk and Prussia
Oriental works, bile even
raise Oriental schola rs, and
ieterpreters. .-- fa •ens s Household
am pls
.tlikem :on missions,
and as consuls and
Words.