The Sun.
London, England, 1859-12-16 00:00:00

LIFEBOATS ON THE COAST.

dependence than their last, will elicit deafen•
ing cheers by reciting the exploits of the
murdered Liberator. Equally will the cowardice
of Virginian slaveholders be recalled as one
of the warnings to American youth, that a bad
cause can destroy the courage even of Americans.
We know of nothing, indeed, more degrading,
and in that way instructive, than the manner in
which the Southerners have quaked and trembled
before weakness itself. For three whole days
BROWN and his seventeen comrades held a whole city
and State at bay ! A force, as one of their best
orators told them, which would have been put down
at once by any small town in the Northern States,
actually terrified a whole State, and neighbouring
States too, whore the same cause of fear existed.
Militia and artillery and,vorunteers of all sorts were
summoned to the scene of action—all to reduce to

submissioa seventeen men !
And that is not all. ; They cannot be satisfied
without blood ; but they are terrified at the Nemesis
which threatens on every side. Let our readers
only glance at the vast military preparations to
.prevent a 'rescue—the ingenious arrangements to
,prevent his noble old voice from being heard in his
last moments—the crowding of " volunteers" in the
cause of slavery and of murdering a Puritan abo-
litionist—and, were it not all associated with a fran-
tic earnestness to.shed the blood of one of whom
Americans are not worthy, -ve should laugh u.nre-

atrain.edly.
But the lesson as to the condition of the Southern
American States is unmistakeable. Austria herself
cannot be more at fault in Hungary and Venetia
than these men in the Southern States. She could
execute a patriot or two there at any time without
half these precautione. The cowardice which trem-
bled at the 'seventeen now trembles at the blood-.
shedding of the few fettered and wounded survivors.
A rescue is feared ! The ordinary police of the
place is insufficient to allay their fears. There are
—for we cannot suppose Virginians would make
themselves needlessly a laughing-stock to the world
—there are such a host of sympathisers with the
brave old man, that Virginia cannot wrench from

__—
One of the most brilliant among the subordinate
members of the late Government has very recently
spoken out as frankly and as forcibly as could rea-
sonably be desired upon the vexed question, as it is
termed, the particularly vexed question of our
National Defences, viewed under the glare of the
imminent possibility of an invasion. Mr. SEY3IOUR
FITZGERALD'3 admirable remarks upon this all en-
grossing theme of discussion we gave in extenso as
recently as our impression of yesterday. They
were delivered, as very many of our readers will
doubtless have observed already, during the course
of the convivial proceedings over which Mr. FITZ-
GERALD presided as Chairman at the Black Horse
Inn, at Horsham, upon the occasion of the Local
Cattle Show there annually opened for ex-
hibition. The circumstance of those obser-
vations upon a peculiarly warlike topic having
been made at a meeting of so essentially
peaceful and even bucolic a character can hardly be
regarded, upon second thoughts, as in any peculiar
degree either incongruous or inappropriate. It
was most natural surely that the ex-Under-
-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, when ad-
dressing himself to an assemblage of jovial farmers
and yeomen, while proposing the toast of the Army
and Navy, should, at such a juncture as the pre-
sent, make some reference to the subject of conver-
sation and meditation far and wide throughout the
country—that naked, obvious, notorious " possi-
bility" of invasion, to the vivid recognition of
which is attributable the rising, mustering, and
drilling, almost, as it were, to the old spirit-stirring
Highland tune—
" Gather, gather, gather, Grigalach I "
man after man, company after company, corps after
corps of Rifle Volunteers. Why this is precisely
one of the very subjects just now coming (in
Baconian phrase) directly home to men's business
and men's bosoms!" Not to speak of it at such
a time, before such an audience, in the proposition
of such a toast would have been a monstrous and
ludicrous oversight. It would have amounted almost
to a supressio eel-i. It would have been a most in-
appropriate, unpatriotic, and frivolous act of reti-
cence. Mr. FITZGERALD, moreover, by reason of
the sheer force, as it were, of his political antece-
dents, had really, one may say, no alternative—
he had only to speak right out under the circum-
stances. And this, as we have said, he did, and
did, too, let us add, right manfully. Havin,
specified the subject of the next toast he had to
propose as Chairman, the ex-Under Secretary for
Foreign Affairs commenced then as follows :
" Gentlemen," said he, "It is I think a salu-
tary rule at all public meetings such as this,
that what are called political questions shall be
avoided, that is to say, questions which can by pos-
sibility raise discussion or create difference of
opinion at a meeting which ought to be
marked by a general accord of opinion. But,"
he added, " I do not think that I shall
at all infringe upon that rule if I make an
observation or two upon a matter of public import-
ance, and yet a matter upon which there can be no
difference of opinion among all classes of people."
The hon. gentleman immediately afterwards going
on to explain his meaning more explicitly in
the manner following :—" We are possibly," he
said, " I am afraid, entering upon troublous
times. After long years of general and happy peace
there seems to be such an uneasy feeling abroadthat
men's minds are full of the anticipation of war.
Now, lam not an alarmist. lam not one of those
who think it possible that there should be an inva-
sion of this country. On the contrary, I believe the
present ruler of France for a long time has shown
an earnest desire to cultivate an intimate alliance
with this country. Long may that alliance subsist
and endure, and I cannot conceive it possible that
it should be in any danger. Heaven knows that on
this side of the water there is no man who does
not feel that anything like hostilities with
France would be the greatest national calamity
which could befall us. I believe that equally
among the people of France the same feeling is
commonly entertained. Such, at all events, is my
confident opinion, and I believe that I have very
good reason for entertaining it. Surely, then, upon
the part of the Sovereign of France personally
there can be no desire to enter into anything like
a quarrel with this country. Let him for one
moment consider what his position is as ruler of
France in alliance with this country. So long as
France and England are combined what coalition
is there possible on the face of the earth which
could give a moment's anxiety either to the one
Power or the other." A remark—this last—which
was greeted upon the instant with cordial acclama-
tions. Having descanted thereupon, in earnest
words, upon the pacific advantages accruing to the
world. at large from the increase of commerce gene-
rally among
the nations,Mr.F um
from the lips of any ERALD then gave
utterance to a sentiment worthy of having fallen
free trader amongst
us, where he added—" Nothing, in point of fact,
can be better or more durable than the fettering
together of nations by bonds of common interest
and association." Although the ex-Under-Secretary
of State for Foreign Affairs next observed inquir-
ingly—" If this, then, be the position both of the
people of France and the ruler of France, what
reason can there be to anticipate anything like a
rupture of the amicable relations which have NO
long subsisted between this country and our French

TO TIIE EDITOR' OF THE sr ..%
SIR,—In consequence of two shipwrecks a few days ago
on the back of the Isle of Wight, with the lamentable loss
of 14 mariners, the public have been strongly impressed by
communications from the Rev. John Pellew Gaze, and T.
Turner, Esq., owner of the yacht Constance, of the neces-
sity of stationing one or two lifeboats on the south coast of
that island. A liberal response has been made to the
appeal of these gentlemen, and it will be satisfactory for
you and your numerous readers to know that this desirable
and important work is now likely soon to be accomplished,
in conjunction with the National Lifeboat Institution.
One can hardly imagine the benefit that is likely to arise
to the cause of humanity from the establishment of a life-
boat on a dangerous point of the coast. In the two cases
mentioned by Mr. Gaze and Mr. Turner, it is the opinion of
the officers of the coastguard and others that the fourteen
mariners who perished on that unhappy occasion might
have been rescued if a suitable lifeboat had been on the

spot.
Again, at North Berwick, a few weeks ago, a vessel was
wrecked and all hands lost. The officer of the coastguard
and the minister of Liberton Manse express their belief
that had a lifeboat been in the vicinity every one of the poor
fellows might have been saved. Unfortunately, it is only
when the bridge totters to its fall, and wrecks strew our
shores, that the bridge is repaired, and the lifeboats built
and stationed.
In the very heavy gales of the latter end of October and
the beginning of November last, a period hardly extending
over six weeks from this day, 325 vessels were wrecked,
with the loss of 748 lives. On the other hand, the lives of
487 persons were rescued by the lifeboats of the Royal Na-
tional Lifeboat Institution, those of local bodies, and the
mortar and rocket apparatus of the Board of Trade.
For the gallant services performed on these and other
recent disastrous occasions, the National Lifeboat Institu-
tion has granted rewards amounting to nearly £3OO to its
lifeboat crews and other persons, besides one gold medal and
13 silver medals, and other honorary distinctions.
There is at the present time a permanent expense on the
institution of maintaining 92 lifeboat stations, thoroughly
equipped, charged principally on its funds. The average
cost of supporting a lifeboat station is £3O a year. This
amount is expended as follows :—Payment of £8 a year to
the coxswain, or master of each boat; £lO to £l2 to the
crow for exercising her every quarter, the remainder being
appropriated to meet the incidental charges or repairs, paint-
ing, &c., of lifeboat, carriage, and boat-house.
Surely such facts as these will rouse np the most lethargic
amongst us to help forward zealously and heartily so truly
philanthropic a cause. This is not the time when England
can afford to behold her sailors perishing by hundreds with-
out extending to them a helping hand by lifeboats and other
practical means, and endeavouring to snatch them from the
boiling elements. You have for years past unceasingly ad-
vocated this sacred cause, and perhaps there are many
wives and children who would now be widows and orphans
but for the services of lifeboats silently blessing your name,
and many others who have, like yourself, been assiduously
engaged in this good work. It should also be remembered
and pondered over that the very men whom the National
Lifeboat Institution fosters and encourages by its rewards to
perform frequently such deeds of daring in its lifeboats,
would unquestionably be the first and the bravest amongst
our sefaring population to repel an invading foe. On tho
score, then, of humanity, love of country, and its commer-
cial prosperity, let every one who can help forward a cause
which appeals so strongly to our sympathies and nation-
ality.—l am, sir, your obedient servant, •
RICHARD LEWIS, Secretary.
Royal National Lifeboat Institution,
14, John-street, Adelphi, Dec, 15, 1859.

The Duchess of Inverness gave a grand enter-
tainment last evening, at Kensington Palace, to their Royal
Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge and the Princess
Mary and his Royal Highness the Duke of Cambridge. The
following were invited to meet their royal highnesses :
His Excellency the Austrian Minister and the Countess
Apponyi and the Countess Baumgarten, the Countess of
Lichfield, Count Brandenburg, Count Paumgarten, Count
Wimpfen, Captain Falbe, Mr. George, Russell, &c.
The Duke of Buecleuch is staying at Bowhill,
his grace's hunting seat in Selkirkshire. The duchess and
Ladies Scott have taken up their residence at Dalkeith
Palace, near Edinburgh, for the wintar.
The Marquis of Bath has during the last fort-
night entertained a succession of visitors at Longleat, Wilts.
The Countess (Dowager) of Jersey, left Berkeley-
square yesterday for Middleton Park, near Bicester.
The Countess (Dowager) Granville, with Lord
and Lady Rivers, and the Hon. Misses Pitt,lare sojourning
at Eastington House, Bournemouth, until the end of
December.
Sir Robert Peel, Bart., M.P., has left Whitehall-
gardens for Geneva.
The Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone. M.P., and
Mrs. Gladstone left Trentham for Edinburgh on Monday,
after visiting the Duke and Duchess of Sutherland during
the stay of their Royal -Highnesses the Duke and Duchess
d'Aumale at the ducal seat.
General Sir de Lacy and Lady Evans left the

Pavilion Hotel, Folkestone, yesterday, after a stay of three
months, for their town residence, Bryanstone-square.
Mr. Deedes, M.P., and Mrs. Deedes have arrived
at Farrance's Hotel, from Sandling-nark, Kent.
The dry dock at' -Mauritius is now open. The
Sarah Sands was the first ship which entered it. A ship
365 feet in length can be accommodated there. The deck
is 80 feet wide at the top, and 40 feet wide at the bottom.
Its depth from surface of high water is 23 feet. The water
is pumped out in 2} hours.
THE -WEATHER AND THE PARKS.—A considerable
number of persons yesterday ventured on the ponds and
canals in the various parks, though the ice is by no means
strong enough yet to bear with safety. Several—as might
be expected--fell through, but no serious accident occurred.
THE WEATHER IN THE PEOVINCES.—,--DUring the
last day or two the weather has beerlexceedingly sharp and
wintorly, and on Wednesday there was a fall. of snow in
Leeds. Several of the trains were detained in consequence
of the drifting of the snow upon the rails, and the express
from York, due at Leeds about 11 o'clock, did not reach its
destination until half-past 12, the detention having occurred
in consequence of the engine and some of the carriages run-
ning off the line. No personal injury was sustained by any
of the passengers. On Wednesday large quantities of snow
fell, covering the ground in Newcastle to a depth of two• or
three inches. The mail from London on that evening was
delayed for a considerable time, but fortunately, so far as
we could ascertain, no accident occurred.
THE ItELIGICHIS DISSENSIONS, ST. GEORGE'S,
EAST.--YeSterday evening a vestry meeting was specially
convened for the purpose a considering the conduct of the
rector in sending " a threatening letter " to the church-
wardens on the subject of their retention of the keys of the
parish church, -which the rector claimed in connection with
his right as the ecclesiastical ruler of the parish. Mr.
Churchwarden Thompson, who presided, deprecated any
further movement and, without saying so in so many
words, gave the vestry to understand that between the
rector and the parishioners a compromise might be made if
the olive-branch of peace were held out by the parishioners.
Some discussion ensued, and at the earnest request of the
churchwarden the proceedings were adjourned, the.churct -
warden having pledged his word that he would not yield
an inch unless the wishes of the parishioners were coin-
plied with.
DEATH OF MR. DAVIDSON.—We have to record
the sudden death of Mr. W. I. Davids, more familiarly
known in the theatrical world as Mr. W. I. Davidson. He
had been indisposed for some few weeks, but had appa-
rently quite recovered, and was so well on Wednesday
evening that, having finished a hearty supper, be continued
up till midnight writing a farce, which he intended to sub-
mit to the lessees of the Olympic Theatre, with which esta-
blishment he had formerly been connected. It seems he
slept soundly till four o'clock the next morning, when,
awaking with a sudden exclamation, he immediately after-
wards expired. Mr. Davidson will be remembered as the
manager of the Olympic Theatre in the year 1848. For
the last few years he has contributed chiefly to the Ameri-
can stage, and at ono period obtained some repute as an
artist. It is much to be regretted that he leaves a widow
aad children qttjte urrovided for.