The Sun.
London, England, 1861-09-30 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MON[)A EVE NlN4i, SOpm Nirm,ll, 3(). 1861.

171-E VOL TEBRS,

The members, of the 26th Micldlese (her Ma-
jesty's Customs) Rifles recently contested for their
prizes. The regimental prize, a rifla urchased oat
of the funds of the corps, was wi by Private
White; the Ist company's prize, a rifle given by
Capt. Hamel, was also taken by Private White ; the
2d company's prize, a rifle given by Capt. Wybrow,
by Sergeant Barnes ; the 3d company's prize, a
rifle by Capt. Ogilvie, by Private Ruddy; the 4th
company's prize, a rifle given by Capt. Dobell, by
Sergeant Jones ; and a commanding officer's prize
for the married officers and sergeants of the corps,
a handsome gold ring, set with turquoises, by Colour-
Sergeant Irish.
On Friday last a Court of Inquiry assembled at
the head-quarters of the 4th Middlesex (North Lone
don) Rifles, to consider a charge preferred by Lieut.-
Col. Truro against Capt. Ebsworth, commanding the
7th Middlesex (Islington) Rifles, for taking part in
the volunteer review by his Royal Highness the
Commander•in-Chief at Wimbledon in June last
without the sanction of his superior officer. It ap-
pears that on the occasion in question the 7th went
to Wimbledon merely as spectators, and took no
part in the review with the exception of keeping
the ground, which they did in company with the
6th Tower Hamlets, the 46th Middlesex, the 3d
City of London, and other corps. The finding of
the Court of Inquiry has not at present transpired.
At the commencement of the volunteer movement
Capt. Ebsworth joined the 4th Middlesex, but io
consequence bf misunderstandings with the com-
mandant, Lord Truro, he and several other members
of the corps resigned and formed themselves into a
separate company, whose services were accepted by
her Majesty as the 7th Middlesex ; and although
since that time the names of 80 gentlemen have been
transmitted to the Lord-Lieutenant of Middlesex,
the Marquis of Salisbury, who are desirous of join-
ing the 7th, his lordship up to the present time has
refused to recommend them for her Majesty's ap-
proval.

On Saturday a detachment of cadets, attached to
he 7th Middlesex (Islington) Rifles, consisting of
wo sergeants, two corporals, and two privates, un-
der the command of two non commissioned officers
of the corps, proceeded to the rifle range at Rainham,
for the purpose of commencing their first period of
ball practice. The weapons used were the short
Enfield rifles, with the Government ammunition,
and the targets of the pattern used at the Hythe
School of Musketry, six feet by two, and the ranges
100 and 150 yards, five shots at each range. It
will be seen by the following score that the prac-
tice was such as would not discredit much older
volunteers than those who took part in it :—Corpo-
ral J. F. Clare, aged 15, made six points at the 100
yards range, and ten at 150; Sergeant Riley, aged
15, eight at 100 and six at 150; Sergeant Piercy
Ebsworth, aged 14, six at 100 and five at 150;
Private G, Elliott, aged 14, six at 100 and four at
150; Corporal Gunston, aged 13, four at 100 and
two at 150; and Private Edwin Ebsworth, aged
12, three at 100 and three at 150. They then com-
menced firing at 200 yards, when Corporal Clare
made four points, but in consequence of there not
being sufficient time for each of the youthful marks-
men to finish his rounds, the proceedings were sus-
pended till a future day. The 7th Middlesex will
compete for their prizes on Friday next, and the
distribution will take place on the following Wed-
nesday, on which occasion the ladies of Islington
will present the corps with a set of drums and fifes.
The past week was an eventful one with the
various Suffolk corps. On Thursday and Friday
the recently-established county rifle association
held its frst annual meeting on the race-course at
Ipswich, and the weather being fine, with the ex-
ception of a few hours on Thursday morning,
everything passed off very satisfactorily. There
were altogether five contests, and as there was a
great number of competitors both days were fully
occupied. The first contest was for a Lancaster
rifle, of the value of £lO 10s., to the competitor
making the greatest number of points at 200, 300,
500, and 600 yards, and a cup of £lO to th© cwn-
petitor making the greatest number of points at
200 and 300 yards. Sergeant Norfolk, of the Bury
St. Edmund's corps, made the greatest number of
points at the four ranges, and was consequently the
winner of the Lancaster rifle; and Lance-corporal
Swan, of the Bungay corps, made the greatest
number of points at the first two ranges. The
second contest was for a first prize of .E3O and a
second prize of £2O awarded to the company whose
three representatives made the greatest number of ,
points at 200, 300, 500, and GOO yards for the £3O,
and 200 and 300 yards for the £2O. The associa-
tion also offered a silver medal to the competitor
making the greatest number of points at the four
ranges, while some ladies of the county added a cup;
the competitor making the greatest number of points
at the first two ranges also received a medal. The
2d company of the Eye corps won the £3O, and the
Ist company of the Ipswich corps the £2O ; Private
Burrows, of the 1,-..iston corps, won the medal aria
cup, and Private Bugg, of the Ipswich corps, the
second medal. The third contest, which was for
prizes of £2O and £5, offered by the Earl of Strad-
broke, Lord Lieutenant, to the first and second best
shots at 200 and 300 yards, resulted in favour of
Lieut. Bates of the Saxmundham corps (.£2O), and
Sergeant Bales, of the Ipswich corps (.E5). The
fourth contest was for a cup offered by the president
of the association, Sir E. C. Kerrison, M.P., the
firing being at 300, suo, and 600 yards; after ties
had been shot off Captain Haward, of the Ipswich
corps was declared the winner. In the fifth and
last contest the ranges were at 500, 600, 800,
and 1,000 yards, and the prizes were a Whit-
worth rifle of the value of £25 and £5 in money
Private Tickner, of the Ipswich corps, won the
rifle, making altogether 30 points, and Mr. I.
Ilaward, of the Needham Market Corps, gained the
second prize. Tho Ipswich corps, therefore, car-
ried off five of the prizes. Sergeant Norfolk,
who won the Lancaster rifle, was under the
impression that he should have the option of taking

a riff,: or the second prize, a cup, and declared a

preference for the cup, which L ince-corporal Swan
also wished to retain. To obviate this difficulty a
cup was presented to each of the two successful con-
didates and the rifle was withdrawn. At the close

of the shooting on Friday evening the priz.2s were
distributed by Sir Ed ward Kerrison, in the pre-
sence of a large and brilliant assembly. The Coun-
tess of Stradbroke handed the ladies' cup to Private
Burrows. Lieut. Bates, who won Lord Stradbroke's

prize of £2'), was authorised, at his own request, to
order a cup of that value. The number of Volun-
teers enrolled in Suffolk was 1,763 at the date of

the lent available return, as compared with 1,298

in August, 1830, showing a satisfactory advance
during tile fast 12 months.
Several movements ally be noticed in connexion
with the Norfolk corps. The Thetford and Attie-

borough companies have been entertained by Sir R.
J. Buxton, of Shadwell.court, having previously
gone through several evolutions. In a competition
between 21 members of the 2d Norwich CJnapany,
Private Love won a challenge piece of plate of the

value of £lolos., presented by the officers, and to
be retained by the competitor winning it two years
in succession. Private Etheridge won a field-glass
of the value of £5 55., presented by Mr. Henry
Willett; and Private King won a silver-mounted
drinking flask, presented by Mrs. Patteson, wife
of Captain Patteson, who commands the company.
I Lord Wodehouse handsomely entertained the Wy-
fnondha.m Company at Kimberley on Thursday
afternoon ; the corps, which is under the command
of Captain Gurdon, having previously executed a
1 number of manoeuvres in the presence of Captain
Bellairs, who acted as reviewing officer.
A review of the Kesteven Battalion of the Lin-
colnshire Corps, in Grimsthorpc-pack, the seat of
Lard Willoughby d'Eresby, took place on Wednes-
day. Tho weather was unfavourable, a heavy
thunderstorm in the course of the afternoon
scattering both Volunteers and spectators. It
was necessary from this circumstance to some-
what curtail the evolutions. The companies
which took part in the review were the Lin-
coln (t w 0), Grantham (t w o),A
numberSlearord,
oFra l king
ham, Bourn, and Stamford.
downevolu-
tions
from
thec
having
t elakes, on the
_1
Major lawnr
Dick,

specter of Volunteers in the Midland district, ad

dressed the assembled corps, observing that-alto-
gether they had done very well. He commented on
the motley uniforms of the various corps, and recom-
mended that when new clothes were ordered they
should be the same throughout. The Volunteers,
who had become vary wet, cold, and hungry, were
then invited to partake of some refreshment, after
which they returned home The Gainsborough
Corps has had a competion for prizes extending
over two days. On the second day a silver cup, of
the value of £lO given by Mr. 11. B. Hickman, was
won by Sergeant Woolvine, and another cup, of the
value of £5 ss, given by Sir T. Beckett, was gained
by Private Barton. The 3d Lincolnshire battalion
has also had a competition for a number of prizes
at Boston. A silver cup, presented by the Mayor
(Mr. S. Lewin) was won by Quartermas-
ter-sergeant Wheeler, of the Boston Corps ;
another cup, presented by Alderman Cooke,
was won by Private Thomas, of the Boston Corps ;
and a third cup, presented by Alderman Wren, was
won by Private Cox, of the Doningtoa Corps. The
Boston Artillery Company has been firing with
321 b. solid shot, and has made some fair practice.
On Thursday and Friday last the members of the
10th Wats (Warminster) Rifle Volunteers had an
interesting contest on Mancombe-hill, near War-
minster, for a number of prizes. The first, a pieoe of
plate of the value of £lO, given by Captain the Mar-
quis of Bath, was carried off by Private R. Melsome,
for 12 points, as the best shot at 300 and 500 yards
(five rounds at each). The terminating contest was
for a silver salver, of the value of £l5, given by the
honorary members of the 10th Wilts as a prize to
the best shot at 500 and 700 yards (five rounds at
each). This prize being open to all the enrolled
and honorary members of the corps, comprising the
Ist battalion of Wiltshire Rifle Volunteers, natu-
rally excited interest, and, after some close shoot-
ing, Corporal Sheppard, of the Ist Wilts (Salisbury)
and the present holder of the Challenge Cup, given
to the Ist Wilts by Sir Alexander Malet, suecceeded
in carrying it off with 11 points, Captain the Mar-
quis of Bath making 10.
Oa Wednesday the Epping Corps, under the
command of Sir William Bowyer Smyth, the late
M.P. for South Essex, had a field-day at Mark-
hall, Harlow, where they were entertained by the
Rev, J. Arkwright, father of the ensign of the
corps. On Thursday an elegant silver cup, given
by Mr. H. S. Abrey, one of the members of the
Witham corps, was shot for. There were 17 entries,
and the distances were 200, 300, and 600 yards.
After some good shooting the cup was won by pri-
vate Harvey, who made 12 points. It must be
shot for again before it is the exclusive property of
any member. An entertainment has been given in
aid of the band fund of the sth Essex (Beacontree)
Rifles, which was attended by at least 3,000 per-
sons, and from which a good profit will accrue to
the fund.
The 4th and 13th corps of Kent Volunteer Artil-
lery completed their shot and shell practice for the
season at Sheerness on Saturday evening from the
10-inch and 68-pounder guns mounted on the forti-
fications at the entrance to the Medway. The ex-
pert manner in which these corps manage heavy
ordnance proves that the liberality of Government
in providing them with ammunition is well be-
stowed.
The first meeting of the Notts Rifle Association
was brought to a successful termination on Friday
evening last. The shooting shows that the county
corps contain some first-rate shots. The principal
prizes competed for during the meeting were one of
£lO, won by Mr. Chadbourn (Bth Notts) ; a Tur-
ner's rifle, value £ll Ils., won by Ensign Perry, Ist
R. H. R. ; a sum of £lO fur Yeomanry Cavalry,
Corporal Hazeldine ; a prize of .£2O and the associa-
tion medal, Colour-Sergt. Simkins, Ist R. H. R. ; a
prize of £lO for file•firing, won by the Southwell
corps. The association cup, value £2O, was won by
Mr. I'. Lambert, sth company, R. M. R. ; the Sheriff
of Nottingham's cup, value 10 guineas, by Colour-
Sergt. Simkins; a prize of £l5 by Sergt. Johnson,
Sherwood Foresters ; and a prize cup, value 20
guineas, by Mr. Shepperley.
On Thursday the interesting ceremony of pre-
senting colours and a very handsome silver bugle
to the sth Northampton Volunteers took place on
the racecourse outside that town. At 2 o'clock this
corps, which is composed of a fine body of men,
marched from their quarters headed by Mr. Isaac,
the Capt.-Commandant, the band playing, and
crowds of the townspeople accompanying them.
The uniform of the sth Northampton is a very be-
coming one; it is a light gray with scarlet facings,
and there is a scarlet plume to the shako. Arrived
on the ground where the colours were to be pre-
sented, the men were drawn up in hollow square.
The colours were then laid across the drums, and
the usual prayers having been said by the Rev.
Mr. Lawson, of St. Peter's, they were presented by
Mrs. Isaac, wife of the Captain-Commandant, who
delivered a very neat address, in which, while hop-
ing that the day might never arrive when it would
be necessary to unfurl those standards on the
bhe expressed her confidence that,
should the sth Northampton ever be called on to
defend their country, the banners that should
lead them to victory would not be disgraced. The
colours were then saluted. They are of rich material
fringed with scarlet and gold alternately. In addi-
tion to the name of the regiment, they bear the motto,
" Ready." A beautifully-carved lion and crown
surmount each staff. The bugle,a splendid silver one
elaborately chased, and bearing an appropriate in-
scription was presented by Miss Isaac, who addressed
a few eloquent remarks to the officers and men-. The
bandmaster then blew the first call with the new
bugle, and the ceremony was brought to a conclu-
sion. The presentations were witnessed by a numerous
concourse of ladies, who had taken up positions on
the grand stand and around the platform in front of
which the officers received the valuable gifts.
The rifle competition for a silver cup, value 35
guineas, given by Mr. W. Scholefieldi M.P., to be
competed for by members of the various companies,
took place, on Saturday, and, notwithstanding the
unfavourable state of the weather, attracted a large
number of persons to the ground at Bournbrook.
The firing party consisted of ten men from each
company, who were to fire ten rounds each at 400
yards range. The competition commenced on Mon-
day last, when each man fired five rounds each ; but
the match remained undecided in consequence of
the approach of night, which prevented the targets
being seen. The contest was adjourned till Satur-
day, when it was decided that every person who
had not scored five points in the first five rounds
should not fire. This reduced the competition to
about 25 candidates. The two competitors who
made the highest score at the first five rounds were
:,ient. Warren and Sergeant Fletcher, who scored
seven points each, and the competition was virtu-
ally looked upon as a match between these two.
However, on the firing taking place, Lieutenant
Warren missed his first shot, and Sergeant Fletcher
his second, so that it was felt there was some
chance for the others. At the conclusion of the
round, it was found that Lieutenant Warren, Ser-
geants Stokes and Fletcher, and privates Elking-
ton, Groves, and Fowkes, had made 11 points each
in the 10 rounds. It was then arranged that the
parties should shoot off one round each till five
missed, or one made a centre. In the first round
Sergeant Stokes missed, in the second privates
Elkington and Fowkes were out. In the next
round, between Warren, Fletcher, and Greves,
Lieut. Warren hit the target, Sergeant Fletcher
made a centre, and Greves missed. Sergt. Fletcher
was then declared the winner. Notwithstanding
the showery weather the shooting was unusually
good, the average number of points made by each
man in 10 rounds being 9.50.

The Worcestershire rifle corps have been busy all
last week in contending for prizes for excellence in
shooting. Rai Beauchamp having given prizes
(silver cups) to each of the several county corps,
they have been contended for, and some very good
shooting was the result. On Friday the °tubersley
Volunteers shot for three money prizes, ten rounds
each, at three ranges, the result being Corporal Pye
1, Corporal Amphlett 2, Private Griffiths 3. The
leading man is only 19 years of age. Elrl Beau-
champ's cup, given to the same corps, /vas won by
Corporal Amphlett. On Saturday the 20th (Kid-
derminster) Worcestershire Corps, was inspected
by Lord Lyttelton, who expressed his approval of
their efficiency in complimentary terms. The Ten-

bury Corps have had two days shooting for a silver
.cup and timepiece, the former being won by Private
13,,ez•Jr, and tho latter by Corporal Holyoake.
On Friday, Lady Emily Foley presented a pair of
iilvcr bugles, purchased by public subscription of
the peop:c of IL:nfordshire, to the HerefordE!lire
Volunteer Rifle Corps.

The V.olunteer Riflemen of Newport and Cowes,
Isle of Wight, shot for prizes on Wednesday at
Parkhurst. A silver goblet, presented by Mr. Ken-
nard, M.P., was won by Mr. J. P. Read, who made
18 points, a lady's dressing ease, silver mounted, by
Mr. J. W. Kelloway, 18 points ; a cigar case by
Mr. J. T. Read; a set of silver spoons by Mr.
Minns ; a clock by Dr. Pornery ; and a silver pen-
clime by Mr. F. Ifardley. There were 61 compe-
titors for Mr. Kennard's pi ize.
_ _

Several of the Volunteer corps of the counties of
Glocester and Somersetshire have undergone their
annual inspection during the Past week.

A f riendly rifle match between 20 members of the
Bristol and a like number of thn Bath Volunteer
Rifle Corps took place on Tuesday at the butts of
the latter corps. There were five rounds each at
ranges of 200, 500, and 610 yard.,, and the result
was that the Bristol won by 15 points, scoring 200
against 185 made by their opponents.
The left wing of the Ist Administrative Battalion
of Devon Volunteers, comprising the Colyton,
Buckerell, Honiton, Ottery, and Broadhembury
companies, under the command of Col. Acland, were
inspected by Major Hume on Thursday, in a field
near the Ottery-road Station of the South-Western
Railway. The weather was delightful. The men
went through battalion drill, and at the conclusion
were highly complimented by Major Hume.
On Saturday last three companies of the 2d West
York (Bradford) Artillery Volunteer Corps were
officially inspected by Lieut.-Col. de Renzi, in Peel-
park, Bradford. The inspecting officer, after having
witnessed the exercises of the day, expressed Lim-
self somewhat disappointed with the want of pro-
ficiency in drill displayed by.the three batteries in-
spected. Two batteries, he understood, had been
raised only three or four months, and it was not to
be expected that they could do as well as the Hull
and other corps, that had been raised 18 months or
nearly two years ; but they had a great deal in
them to make gcod soldiers. All they wanted was
to come together more frequently. Capt. Wood,
commandant, hoped that when another inspection
took place they would be found equal to any other
Volunteer corps in the kingdom.
The prize shooting of the 10th North York Volun-
teers has been held in Goodham•dale, near Helms-
ley, during the week terminating on Friday. The
corps has made rapid strides, now numbering 120
men.

lIIE NEW MIA UTE ON EDUCATION.

The Minute of the Committee of Education had
several objects, which will best be understood by
considering for a moment the Report of the
Royal Commissioners. The Commissioners reported
in general in favour of the present system—that is,
of Government aid to voluntary effort where reli-
gion is taught, subject, however, to the correction
of the faults by which that system is disfigured.
They considered that too great an expense was
thrown on the Central Government, and that the
plan of paying grants directly to the persons who
were intended to receive them produced an unne-
cessary complication, which threatened to overtask
the powers of the Central office. They reported
very unfavourably of the instruction given, and
deduced, not only from the reports of their own
Commissioners, but from the reports of the Govern-
ment Inspectors themselves, conclusions very un-
favourable to the efficiency of the present system of
bounty and protection. They admitted the partial
working of the present system, which, being founded
on voluntary contribution, gives assistance to those
districts which need it least, and withholds it alto-
gether from those which require it most. With a
view to obviate these faults, the Commissioners re-
commended that all appropriated grants, including
the augmentation of the salaries of certificated
teachers and the salaries of pupil teachers, should
be abolished, and that all annual payments made
by Government to schools should be reduced to a
single capitation grant paid upon attendance.
In addition to this the Commissioners recom-
mended that a grant should be paid out of the
county rates upon as many children as could pass
an examination in reading, writing, and arithmetic.
In order to extend the system as widely as possible,
the Commissioners recommended that the grant out
of the county rate should be open, not only to schools
at present receiving assistance, bat to schools kept
by private persons with a view to profit.
The view taken of these recommendations by the
Committee of Council was minutely explained by
Mr. Lowe on moving the Education Estimate last
year. He did not deny the truth of the criticisms
of the Commissioners, but in fact admitted the ex-
pense, the complexity, the partial working, and the
very imperfect teaching of the present system. He
acquiesced in the propriety of substituting a capita-
tion grant for the present appropriated payments,
but he refused to propose to pay any part of the
expenses out of the county rate, alleging many ob-
jections to the principle of local taxation unaccom-
panied by local management and supervision, and
the difficulties involved in having two centres of
payment. The Minute of the Committee was drawn
to meet this view of the case. It, requires a certifi-
cated master in every school receiving assistance ;
but, in order to spread that assistance as wide as
possible, it institutes a lower kind of certificated
master, who would be content with a lower salary.
It recognizes the vested rights of existing pupil
teachers to receive flora Government the payment
agreed upon at the time of their apprenticeship;
but, as to future pupil teachers, it leaves the terms
on which they are to be engaged and their pay-
ment to the managers, providing that the appren-
ticeship shall be as now for a period of five years.
It leaves the certificated masters the monopoly of
Government Education, but abolishes the augmen-
tation now received as an increase of salary. The
Minute proposes to make only one annual payment
from Government for the managers of the school,
and that payment is to be a penny for• every child
for all attendances above one hundred at morning or
afternoon school, and above twelve at evening school.
Bat this payment is liable to reduction of one-third
for each child which, hiving attended as above,
does not pass a satisfactory examination in reading,
one-third fur a like failure in writing,and one-third
for a like failure in arithmetic. The grant may also
be reduced in certain proportions upon an unfavou-
rable report of the Inspector. It will be observed
that the Committee of Education, rejecting the
recommendation of the Commissioners to relieve the
central expenditure by placing a burden on the
county rates, and proposing a scheme of capitation
by which it is not intended to effect any money
economy, must, in order to provide for the poorer
schools, increase instead of diminishing the demands
upon the central revenue. To obviate this neces-
sity it was announced in the House of Commons
that certain economics would be effected. These
are principally directed to those parts of the system
which are in contravention of its principle. Thus,
the assistance to Training Colleges, which are
almost wholly maintained by the States, is reduced.
A pupil teacher who used to receive on an average
5 is now estimated at £lO, and other smaller re-
ductions have been made. This is the o•encral outline
of the Minute. The document may he obtained in
full at any bookseller's for the moderate sum of 21d.
There are two points of view from which this now
celebrated attempt at reform may be regarded—
the one public, and the other private ; the one
abstract, the other mixed up with personal interests
and passions. Estimating the merits of the perform-
ance from the first point of view, the Minute
appears to us exceedingly ingenious, aiming at
objects which it is desirable to attain, and attain-
ing them by means at once simple and efficient.
It cuts off the redundancy and superfluities of the

plan by which our present educational machinery
has been coddled and fondled into existence, not

for the purpcses of a paltry saving, but in order to
extend aid to those who, wanting it most, have
been least able to obtain it. If it be true, as
we believe it is, that our teachers are over-

trained and over educated, it is on their training
and their education that economy would most
naturally fall. The enormous complexity of the
system is effectually remedied by reducing all grants
to a capitation grant, and trusting its appropria-
tion to the managers of the school, who, if un-
worthy of this confidence, are surely unworthy of
any. It is creditable to the Committee of
Council that, when the imperfection of the teach-
ing under their system of bounties and sub-
sidies was brought to their notice, they frankly
admittednvsatseiao dn .
of
the
yei
plan
to gand sought to remedy the evil
i
disguise
it by sophistry and
of bounties and protection has
eTttrying
n
signally broken down ; the public have been paying
their money for the education of the people without
receiving worth. We are told that
education
a
pound a head, but we have only
justthree pounds out of every four
learnt
tior nn
t costs theirth at money'safo r
we do not receive the education for which they are
paid. The difficult has been met boldly. We have
found that we do not get education by paying for
the means and appliances of education. The infer-
ence is obvious. We must go a step further. In-

stead of paying for the machinery, must p:17,, for
the results which that machinery is intended to
produce. We find that we may provide masters,
pupil teachers, proper selleol-rooms, and bribe
children by capitation to attend, and yet that thr.
result of all these things may be that the edrtcat ion
for the sake of which they are done is, after ail,
not attained. This fact being ascertained, the only
choice that seems left to Parliament is either to do
away altogether with a system convicted of ineffi-
ciency, or to follow the course pointed out by the
Committee of Council—that is, to examine as well
as to inspect, and to pay nothing for any children
who have not received the knowledge in considera-
tion of which the Government grant is made. It,
is to us incomprehensible howanypersons can delude
themselves with the expectation that, after the ex-
posure of the failure of our education in the by no
means unimportant point of instruction, matters
could be allowed to go on as if no such exposure
had been made. To substitute what is neces-
sary for what is superfluous, to reduce complexity
to simplicity, and to pay no public money till we
are satisfied that the object for which the money is
paid has been attained, are the principles of the
Minute of Connell; and, looking- at it, merely from
the public point of view, and w ith reference to the
interests of education, we confiss we think the
Minute meets a great difficulty in an efficient and
satisfactory manner. There is, we have said,
another point of view from which the question may
be regarded, but we have left ourselves no space to-
day to give it the consideration which it deserves.

FALL OF AN IRON BRIDGE AT YORE,

One of the most frightful accidents, as regards
the loss of life, personal injury, and destruction of
property, which can be remembered in York, took
place on Friday afternoon last in connection with
the new bridge which for some time past has been
in course of construction at Lendal.
Some explanation of the construction of the bridge
in question, and the works connected therewith,
may serve to simplify our subsequent description of
the exceedingly lamentable circumstance to which
we are about to refer. About two years ago the City
Council and the inhabitants, assembled in vestry
meetings, which were held in the various parishes,
came to the resolution that, for the benefit of the
city generally and for the purpose of carrying out
an improvement which it was suggested should be
made by the construction of a street which should
run direct from the railway station to the cathedral,
an additional bridge should be thrown across the
Ouse at Lendal Ferry. At that time the plan of a
lattice girder bridge, the design of Mr. Dredge, an
engineer of eminence, resident in London, was sub-
mitted for consideration, and was ultimately adopted
as the most, suitable. The sanction of Parliament for
its construction and the carrying out of the street
improvement was subsequently obtained, and the
works were commenced, and the stone buttresses on
either side were completed. The piles consisted of
four rows of timber of massive dimensions, the ob-
ject of which was to sustain the weight of the iron
work of the bridge before it was deposited upon the
buttresses. Then commenced the constructionof the
girders, a process which, inasmuch as the present is
the first example of a girder bridge which has been
thrown across any river in England, excited the
largest amount of interest and curiosity. This con-
sisted simply in the riveting together a number of
narrow wrought-iron plates with a vast number of
bolts into a sort of lattice work, some two or three
yards in width, and of sufficient length to extend
across the river, and these were bound round by
what may be termed buckling plates. The construc-
tion of the girders was carried on so that when
completed they might stand like walls of iron
trellis work across the water, and as each was com-
pleted it was by the means of hydraulic power raised
from its supports, which were then taken away,
and the iron gradually lowered to its place upon
steel rollers let into the buttresses, this description
of bed being adopted for the purpose of allow-
ing of the contraction, expansion, or depression of
the iron when under the influence of heat or cold or
excessive pressure. Only a short time ago two of
the four girders of which the bridge wes to consist
were completed and successfully lowered to their
places, and as these were the heavier portions of
the lattice-work, which were to divide each side of
the road from the footpath, it was naturally anti-
cipated that the main difficulties in connexion with
the structure were over. There, however, remained
two lighter girders to complete, and one of these
was ready, and was in the course of being lowered
at the time when the accident which we will now
describe took place.
Shortly before three o'clock on Friday afternoon
the bridge seemed all safe, boys ran to and fro with
the heated rivets from temporary furnaces on the
bridge, and the clash of hammers at the various
portions of the structure bespoke the active pro-
gression of the works. The outer or footway gir-
ders, as before mentioned, still remained on
" chocks." It was then agreed to remove the
"chocks" or wedges connected with one of the lat-
tice girders, so as to place it in its final position.
Prior to the completion of this operation Mr. Pick-
ersgill, the city surveyor, and Mr. Ackroyd, his as-
sistant, had passed over the bridge, and just de-
parted, when Mr. Moore, the clerk of the works,
in the employ of Messrs. Calvert, the contractors
for the construction and the erection of the iron-
work, and who was superintending the workmen,
directed that the remaining " chocks" should be
taken away on the west side of the river. For this
purpose the hydraulic engine on the spot had to
be brought into requisition. The girder was raised,
a few wedges or packiugs alone remained to be
removed, when a low rumbling sound was heard
to emerge from the structure, succeeded by a tre-
mulous motion of the moving girder, which directly
after careened over on to the other adjoining
one (although stayed by 11-inch beams),
which in its turn carried away the next,
and this giving way also, the outer girder was
forced over, and fell bodily with a terrific force into
the water, carrying everything before it. Huge
beams cracked and snapped like dried twigs, and
all the massive scaffolding, with its iron supports,
and the side of the ponderous gantry were brought
down with a tremendous crash, as was also directly
afterwards one of the immense travelling cranes.
Thus in a few moments the lattice girder bridge
which for so many months has been in course of
ccnstruction, and the completion of which was
shortly to have been fulfilled, disappeared, leaving
only a bare wreck behind. The scene that followed
passes description. There lay the thre: massive
girders on their sides, groans and shrieks issuing
from the wreck of iron and wood; while below were
heard the most pitiful cries for help. The river
around the scene was covered with fragments of
piles and planks, and to many of these the unfor-
tunate workmen were clinging. One posr fellow,
who was working on the idge, sprang clear away
from tha falling mass into the current, and was
picked up uninjured. Some hair-breadth escapes
took place, and fortunately many were rescued
from death. One man was brought down with
the falling mass, and was seen to gain terra
firma, be in a most frightful condition. bread-
fully bruised and bleedings he lay down and cried
for help, which, of course, was promptly ren-
dered to him. Another poor felloar lay at the
bottom of a boat in a deathlike state. Ile appa-
rently had been at the bottom of the river, and,
with his blood-stained face, he presented a dread-
ful spectacle. A stretcher was quickly obtained,
on which he was placed, and, after some kind
woman had pushed forward and covered the face
of the sufferer from the public gaze, he
was carried to the hospital, a place to which lie had
been preceded by two others in a similar condition.
Mr. Moore fortunately escaped without injury, as
did also Mr. Lee, the resident engineer. Mr. Moore
and a number of workmen were engaged with ham-
mers cutting away the ironwork to extricate a poor
fellow who had become firmly imbedded between
the girders. After half an hour's exertion the suf-

ferewas extricated. Tile poor man's life had unfor-
tunately for some time been extinct. A young lad
unhappily shared a similar fate, being crushed to
death, and his body was conveyed to an adjacent
pnbiichouse. Renewed exertions were continued,
in the hope of finding other men, and at the close of
the evening it was ascertained that three persons
were still missing, the whole of whom, it is pretty
confidently anticipated, are at present in the river.
Considering the sudden character of the accident,
it would seem strange that a greater sacrifice of life
has not taken place when we state that no less than
52 workmen were engaged on the bridge at the time
of the occurrence. Thi,, however, may be accounted
for by the fact that as soon as it was seen that the
falling of the first girden was imminent a cry of
danger was raised, and a simultaneous rush for life
ensued. Subjoined is a
LIST OF KILLED AND WOUNDED.
Richard Inasser, 15 years of age, engaged as a
heater of rivets, dead.

John Manuel, aged about 22, a ri'vetter, and son
to a foreman engaged at works in Manchester, dead.
Peter Dearlove, 15 years of age, son of John Dear-
love, of Straker's-passage, Fossgate; cut across the
nose and left cheek, right collarbone broken, and
bruised in several places.
John H. Peckitt, of Beadham's-eourt, Skeldergate,
a married man with three children, head cut in
several places, and much bruised upon the legs and
sides; evidently been at the bottom of the river,
Thos. Coulter, Bootharn-row ; injury to back and
wound on the head, and also bruised.
The persons who do not answer to the roll of
names at Messrs. Calvert's works are a youth named
Hoyles, a labourer named Luke Brown, and what
is termed a " holder up," named Smith, whose lives,
it is feared, Are sacrificed. The addresses of these