The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-15 00:00:00

WELFARE OF THE BLIND ASSOCIATION.

The twelfth annual meeting of the Association for
Promoting the General Welfare of the Blind was held on
Thursday afternoon in St. James's Hall, Piccadilly, the
Bishop of Rochester in the chair. The attendance was both
numerous and influential, and in the body of the hall were
a large number of ladies, amongst whom were Miss Gilbert,
the lady president, and Mrs. Gladstone. The report states
that the prosperity of the society remains unimpaired, and
that circumstances warrant the hope of a speedy increase
of its Usefulness. The total number of blind men and
women now receiving benefits, in various ways, from the
society, amounts to 172, of whom GI are supplied with
regular work at their own homes, 28 are instructed and
employed at the workshops of the association, and 25 are
engaged in selling goods for the society. Pensions,
varying from £5 to £l2 per annum, are granted to
15 blind persons who are unable to earn their own
living, and 43 men and women, in addition to obtain-
ing occasional employment and pecuniary aid, participate
in the educational and religious advantages conferred by
the association on all those connected with it. Of the
total number of men and women employed at their own
homes and at the workhouse, 7 earn from £1 ls. to £lss.
per week, 12 from 16s. to £1 per week, 16 from 12s. to
15s. per week, 18 from Gs. to lls. per week, and 36 from
3s. to ss. per week. Of the total number of persons
assisted, 58 are married, and have 80 children dependent
on them for support. Of those employed at their own
homes and at the society's workshop, 31 are women,
who earn respectively from 4s. to 10s. per week.
The blind officials connected with the institution
are the director, the teachers of music, brushmaking,
carpentry, bead-work, leather-work, reading, writing,
and general education, and town travellers. The receipts
of the year amounted to £5,663, and the expenditure to
£5,869. The adoption of the report was moved in a
brief address by the Right Hon. William Ewalt Glad-
stone, M.P., in the course of which he observed that
there were about 30,000 blind persons in the kingdom, of
whom probably less than 3,000 were in circumstances to
place them beyond the province of such an institution
as this. Nine-tenths of our blind population were just
objects of Christian benevolence, and perhaps one-tenth
only were provided for by the agency of this and other
similar associations in the tametry. The blind bad far
greater need of family sympathy than the rest of society,
and we should never forget the debt we owed to the generous
and afflicted lady who originated this charity for the pur-
pose of introducing a reform in the mode of treating the
blind. The system was not only appreciated at home, but

it had found an echo in America, where it bad lately been
adopted. It wra3 once observed that directly a man be-
came a slave he became socially and morally but half a
man, and with regard to his physical relations that was
precisely the condition of the blind man. The aim and
object of this society was to supply him with that moiety
of himself which he had lost through the visitation of
Providence, and he heartily rejoiced to be able to spare a
moment of his over-occupied time to bear witness in
behalf of its enlightened usefulness. The motion, which was
seconded by the Earl of Harrowby, was carried by accla-
mation.

We are enabled to state that the rumours in
extensive crirculation with respect to the report of th•

Irish Church Commission rest on no authority whatever ;
and that the report, so far from being already presented, is
not yet prepared.— Times.

REPRESENTATION OF ABERDEEN. —The Bariffshirs
Journal understands that in the event of a second seat
being given to this city under the new Reform Bill, Mr.
Clark, son of Sir James Clark, is likely to come forward as
a Liberal candidate.

THE PRINCESS OF WALES.—It is a pity that
gossip ever refuses to be content with simple facts, but is
always inventing mystery as a cloak for ignorance. A
very slight knowledge of the laws of health would teach
that the long recent illness of her Royal Highness the
Princess of Wales is a sufficient reason why a fatiguing
trip to Ireland cannot in prudence be immediately followed
by a visit to Leeds. In this prohibition, which has given
rise to all sorts of tittle-tattle, we are content to note
nothing beyond the exercise of wise discretion on the part
of those in whose hands the health of the Princess has
been well cared for.—The Lancet.

THE ALIBI OF BARRETT. —Mr. Poland, Q. C.,
returned to Glasgow on Wednesday morning, and in the
Central Police-office proceeded to take the depositions of
several persons as to the alibi of the convict M. Barrett.
Amongst the witnesses were two officers connected with
the Glasgow police and two women. It has not yet been
allowed to transpire as to what facts they have been
examined upon ; but it is believed that, whatever be the
importance of their testimony, its tendency is against the
alibi. It would appear that the girl Kerr, who was
examined on Friday last, made, amongst other statements,
one to the effect that when she last saw Barrett—shortly
after the torchlight procession on the Green—he left her
house, and, entering a cab along with another man, was
driven, as she understood, to the Caledonian Railway.
WILL OF THE COUNTESS OF COTTENTIA.M. —The
will, dated the Bth May, 1866, of the Countess of Cotten-
ham, late of the Cedars, Sunninghill, Berks, whO died on
the 7th ult., was proved on the 12th inst. by the Hon.
G eorge Pepys, barrister-at-law, the son, the sole executor.
The personal property is sworn under £2,000. The testa-
trix leaves her trinkets and jewellery to her six daughters,
Lady Charlotte Maria, Lady Frances Alary, Lady
Caroline, Lady Emily Harriet, Lady Elizabeth Theresa,
and Lae%) Evelyn ; and her household goods and effects to
such of her daughters living at her decease who shall not.
have been married. The countess gives all her moneys,
after the payment thereout of her debts and funeral and
testamentary expenses, to all her children other than her
eldest son, and she appoints in their favour a certain sum
of £lO,OOO held in trust under the will of her maternal
grandfather Edward Earl of Digby. The deceased was
the widow of the late Lord Chancellor Cottenham.

FATAL ACCIDENTS TO TWO UNDERGRADUATES,

Two fatai accidents occurred on Thursday to under-
graduates at Oxford. The first took place at an early
hour in the morning, and resulted in the death of Mr.
R. Marriott, of Christ Church, eldest son of the Rev.
J. Marriott, of Coltesbach, Leicestershire. Deceased was
master of the Christ Church harriers, and a skilful
gymnast, his forte consisting in climbing up the front
of buildings. On Wednesday night he conversed with
several of his friends on the difficulty he had experienced
in an attempt to get from the window of his rooms—No. 7,
Pech.water—to the floor above ; and he stated that he
should renew his efforts to accomplish the task. The
chief difficulty consisted in getting round the projecting
pillar, where the wall afforded no foothold. About two
o'clock in the morning a heavy fall was heard, and
deceased was found lying on the pavement below. Ho
was dying when discovered. An inquest was held in the
afternoon, and a verdict of accidental death returned.
In the course of the same afternoon Mr. James Watson
Barrie, of Exeter College, was practising shooting in a
punt, at the rear of Magdalen College, with a saloon
pistol, when the weapon exploded. The deceased; who
was seriously wounded, was at once carried to Magdalen
College. where he w211911.6h9it1Y after the 9.C.Curreluet

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HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, May 14.
Her Majesty and suite arrived here at five
o'clock last evening from Buckingham Palace.

The Queen, accompanied by Princess Beatrice,
drove out this morning.
Princess Louise also drove out.

THE GREAT HANDEL FES7I VAL AT

THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

The musical arrangements for this great celebra-
tion are all but completed. The great rehearsal of
the London portion of the amateur choir will take
place at Exeter Hall (Friday) evening. The steady
increase of competent choralibts has led to a great

extension of the Metropolitan Choir, which now
numbers upwards of 2,000 members, all of whom

have been carefully tested as to their vocal a'Jility

by the various superintendents.
At thi3 rehearsal all the members of the choir
will be placed in numbered seats, so that they may
be easily identified and communicated with by their
respective superintendents. The choir, thus dis-
posed, will occupy not only the permanent orchestra
of Exeter Hall, but additional platforms raised for
the occasion, as well as the whole floor of this spa-
cious area. The only space left for the few visitors
invited will be in the great west gallery.

The effect produced by the two thousand voices
to-night will doubtless be grand in the extreme.
The choruses to he rehearsed will be those which
are to be performed ou the second or " Selection"
day of the Handel Festival. These are chiefly from
" Solomon," " Saul," and " Judas Alaccabous ;"
but in addition to these, some choruses will
be introduced which perhaps it is not too much
to say have never been heard on any considerable
scale since Handel's own performance of them.
Among these may be mentioned, " He saw the
lovely youth," from " Theodora." The chorus
has been frequently cited as one of Handel's best
efforts. Another chorus, as little known, and
quite as beautiful, " Now, Love, the everlasting
boy," from " Semele ;" and " The many rend the
skies," from " Alexander's Feast," will be intro-
duced in the rehearsal.
A complete programme of the festival, with the
names of the eminent artists engaged, and the
number of vocal and instrumental performers,
will be published this week ; and this wili be

followed by a detailed statement of the arrange-
ments made by the various railway companies which
intend to run excursion trains to the Crystal Palace
for this great event. These arrangements are not
yet fully matured, but it may be stated that very
liberal arrangements will be made by all the prin-
cipal railway companies.
For the grand rehearsal day, Friday, June 12th,
excursion trains will be run from places more than
100 miles from London, on Thursday, June 11, re-
turning either on Saturday, June 13th, or Sater-
,laSr, June 20th ; and from places within about 100
miles from London on Friday, June 12th, returning
the same day.
In addition to the trips on Thursday, June 11,
day trips will be run from Yorkshire stations, in-
cluding Sheffield, Nottingham, Lincoln, Newark,
and intermediate stations, on Friday, June 12th,
and Monday, June 15th. The Great Northern
trips will run on Friday, June 12th, and those of
the Midland Company on Monday, June 15th.
Tickets issued for these day trips to the Crystal
Palace will include admission thereto. The ordi-
nary excursion fare to London will be charged,
plus four shillings first class, and three shillings
and sixpence covered carriages, which additional
amounts will include conveyance over the lines
south of London leading to the Palace, and admis-
sion to the Palace on Friday, June 12.
To enable the public to attend on the days of the
festival, Monday, June 15 ; Wednesday, June 17 ;
and Friday, June 19, ordinary return tickets will be
issued from stations more than thirty miles from
London, available from Saturday, June 13, to Sa-
turday, June 20 inclusive.
Holders of these tickets will be admitted to
either of the railway entrances to the Palace on
either day, on presentation of their railway ticket
and payment of two shillings and sixpence.
The Norih-Eastern Railway Company will run
an excursion train from stations north of York-11134
on Thursday, June 11th ; down, on Thursday,
June 18th.
will
Full announcements of the excursion trains
appear in the June time-books of each company.
The Festival Committee have caused netice to be
given that reserved seat tickets for the grand re-
hearsal, at the Crystal Palace on the 12th Jane,
should be at once secured. From the attraction 0f
the rehearsal day, which will comprise selectioe;
from the "Messiah," Israel in Egypt," and the otbe
pieces to be performed at the Festival, and which
will also embrace solos sung by the great artistes
engaged for this occasion, the number of per&
who will be brought to Sydenham by the excursil
trains, and the influx of season ticket holders, Tfl
undoubtedly be very large.

THE PROPOSED IN7'ERNA7IONAL
UNIVERSITY BOAT-RACE.

es -
The correspondence between the president of the OSto
Club and the president of the University of Cambridgd°
(U.S.) :Boat Club has ended in the American gentles:"
giving in to the Oxonians as regacds a coxswain, a 5
following communications just received by Mr. Will3ll
president of the Oxford University Boat Club, /II

show :
Cambridge, U.S., April 30, 1868'w
Gentlemen,—On behalf of the Harvard University er° 6
we hereby challenge the Oxford University crew to rovihe
three-mile straight away race at Lynn, in Norfolk, on
oft
Ouse, some time batween the 16th of August and ist t/
September, 1869, subject to the conditions which 9°
yourselves proposed for a race this year, viz.:— it
0
1. The race to be rowed over a fair course of throe ra
without turning.
2. Each boat to contain eight rowers and a coowsill.
3. The exact date and time to be eventually ogre
upon by the captains of the respective crews.
S. V. R. THAYEU. A. P. Lottria•
W. H. bimmoss G. W. HoLDB-EGl°','
To Messrs. F. Willan, President; W. W. Wood, Socrevt°ls
R. G. Marsden, Treasurer ; C. R. Tottenham, And
J"..

Carter, Committee of the 0.11.8. C.
April 29, 1868 yo
Gentlemen—We ask you to excuse the liberty we 0.
taken in naming the time and place of tb°
oe you
The course we know to be acceptable to you,
proposed it for a race this year ; and wo are unwi",:t
row on the Thames, where so:much depends on a Perl. cl
knowledge of the currents and bends of the river'
where thee are so many small boats to obstrile bs
course. We have named the earliest time raceiif out
would be possible for us to prepare for a -
summer vacation. A change in the time of our vacs,
tion will enable us to row two weeks earlier is 1869
than we could have done this year. adeptS cif
challenge at this early period, because thlis ja
your method of steering will necessitate such fait
our-boat and system of rowing that we think it
b
that we should have a year to prepare for the rtiee cisisre
will, therefore, oblige us by sending a speedy an
"6-
answer. , ire'l
(signed a" abo

There will ba a meeting of the O. U. B. C.
at which the subject will be discussed.

By the death Pensi°l3-b.°4l
of
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be eliusford, as the last retiring Lord Chancellor. ':001'
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demanduenfor shares in this new undo gins 01
already 5..) great that the directors fixed the er'ill first
of JLue the 6th fur the receipt of applications for ttletgig
issue of shares, as will be seen from our od'ief -41. 10
,oluruns. The success of the rompany is naturallY sold
, • ribed to its co-operation with the long-et po
orosperous Conservative Land Society, and to tl'eaddi,..
thatti the executive committee and officials, with 50,Tiec vitiog
orig.! to the company, are nearly all the same as thoB 0 el
tinily commenced operations in the Voreljawets fil
eJtates in the gro.s, and the sale of them fu V
detail, in 185'2. aced. their
The prices of Horniman's Teas are greatly red ' tirioos
well-known superiority has attracted a host of SP ed,
iou,tations; therefore notice all Genuin,e Packets are 6.4.11eut
Lioraimail ~.k C 0.," London. 300 Confectioners aro Ab 4
Countryi
, in London and 2,200 Chemists in the