The Sun.
London, England, 1844-08-20 00:00:00

PUBLIC BATHS.
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
Sin,—Through the columns of the public press, the
Public have been fully informed respecting the great
and important demonstration made by the working
classes of Edinburgh a few days ago, on the occasion of
laying the foundation-stone of the first public bath spe-
cially intended for their use. All thinking men will
con,ur in regarding this event as a most marked awl
striking evidence of the practical fruits, resulting from
the sound and practical information which has of love
years been disseminatel amongst the industrious orders.
Will you endeavour „to spare as much of your valuable
space as to inserf-a few brief remarks on this important
subject from " A Working Man" to his fellow-labourers
in koh don.
• To the sanatory improvement of large towns the pub
lie mind-has of late been much directed ; and the Mar-
V•uis of Normailby, in recently moving an address to the
tiven, praying that her Majesty would be pie tsed to
direct the attention or Parliament early in the next ses-
aign,to this subject., gives us good ground to hope that
the'matter will be taken up in earnest. When the sub-
Jeet is thus pressed 'upon the Government, we may be
sure that they will ultimately be led to the adoption of
laOY salutary measures. The metropolis, doubtless,
Will first claim their notice, and, among other matters,
we !nay expect that the subject of public baths will re-
ceive a share of their attention. But why, I wish to
ask, why; should we, the working men of London, be
thus sul •ly dependent upon Government for the attain•
nient of ita object so important to our comfort and
Well-being ? Why not imitate the noble example of our
storthern brethren, and miller secure for ourselves the
cridit of an independent spirit ? Let us evidence that
We know and fully appreciate the value of self action.
Let it not be said of London, in connexion with this
104! movement, that " everything is done for the
PeOple, and nothing by the people." We have our
Perlis, our palaces, our museums, and our galleries—all
%en to us. Valuable they all are, and I trust fully ap-
preciated, as excellent aids to their improvement, by
every working man. For all of them we are indebted
to the Government. As we have originated mechanics'
Institutes for the improvement of our minds, let us like-
*ise gain the credit of founding institutions for the
who
of our physical condition ; and all
who know how necessary a sound body is to the
eniOyment of a sound mind, will at once ad-
that the bath is a most invaluable adjunct to the
institute. The wealthy orders and the Government
could do much, and I doubt not would do much, to aid
the indePendent efforts of the working classes in the
attainment of this laudable object ; from Government
Ze could at least obtain sites for the erection of proper
_uildin.s. Let the movement only be begun in a hope-
ful and energetic spirit, the means cannot fail to be forth-
coreiag.
lat private parties have done much in London to
of the supply tthisgreat desideratum to the health and comfort
People is not for a moment sought to be ques-
t/?neil• Still, that our baths are too few in number, too
widely scattered, and too high in price to be a frequent
indulgence with working men, is beyond all doubt.
With but one exception that I am aware of, the lowest
price charged for a bath is sixpence. The use of the
bath our to be a daily duty ; but what working man
with f
b a "tinily can well spare this sum for a bath, even
,(1.11',.°110e a week, seeing that it is necessary, not for him-
it ; only, but for each member of his family likewise.
the's °nIY hy the combination of means on the part of
bring *forking classes themselves, that we can hope to
ec this comfort cheaply within 9Ur reach ; with an
„ ni°inical management, and an absence of proprietary
rrumi, !my much may be effected.
'lad how, it will be asked, is all this to be brought
about ? Ilow, I would reply, has it been effected in the
provincial towns—have we not their example to direct
brie We must look to the public press, in the first place,
rii'luging the subject prominently before the public. We
_.as!, above all things, agitate. There are many asso-
vVions of working men in London, having for their
t°l.Jecis the attainment of different political and indus-
41.improvement, not to mention those numerous bodies
it' °se sole bond of connexion is for mutual support or
ormutual improvement. Could not those various
bodies be brought to act in concert for the attainment of
a_. great social benefit ? A sufficiently numerously
signed requisition to Mr. Simpson, of Edinburgh, who
48•
So honourably distinguished himself by his labours
induce
our improvement, would, I doubt not, be sufficient to
:_loce him to undertake the task of instructing and in-
beresting the London public upon this subject, or might
3:11:14 Mr. Fox, who has done,-and is doing, so much for
erenlightenment of the working classes of the metro-
ro,!., be prevailed upon to lead us in this movement. It
little that I can do individually, though I would gladly
i e," all my feeble aid in such a cause. I have deemed
I: eV duty to throw out these hints. The seed I know
tig9i)d, though the husbandman be unskilful. Trusting
• at.. it will not fall on a barren soil, but with a strong
:o Po that London, the great metropolis of a great
tqlre, disdaining not to profit by the example of her
teunger and lesser brethren, will attain for herself, and
_T 'the efforts of her citizens, benefits commensurate
*full her greatness, I am, Sir, respectfully yours,
77 A WORKING MAN.
llsrrison-street, Regent-square, Aug. 15,1844.

ATTEMPT TO SCUTTLE A SHIP.
Su
-sl
brig ataLAND, AVG. 17.—Mr. Day, master of the
g Earl:Vane;of this port, was brought before the
:It: 'magistrates to-day, charged with having
attempted to scuttle that vessel at sea. The vessel re-
turned from sea, after being out for about nine weeks
on a passage for Archangel, as stated in the Shipping
and Mercantile Gazette of the 16th instant. Soon
after her arrival an investigation took place by the
committee of the insurance policies, when it was
elicited that the cause why the vessel has returned
was, that an attempt had been made by the master to
scuttle her. - A criminal charge having, therefore,
been made against him, he was accordingly brought
.I?_p before the bench. Messrs. R. Brown and J. C.
Potts, solicitors, solicitors, appeared for the prosecution, and
•T. Wright, solicitor, for the defence. Part of
the crew only have yet been examined, and the case
stands adjourned till the 19th. The evidence in de-
tail is necessarily very lengthy.
'The facts are these :—The master, not being a
complete navigator, the duties devolved entirely upon
ta4-1 mate, who, in consequence of the extra duties he
~to perform, treated the master with great harsh-
r", and applied to him horrid names. They had a
00g continuance of contrary winds, and were de.
'nye(' on their passage. One of the crew was sick,
an`itM another had a scalded foot, and from the delay
.74 provisions were nearly all exhausted. The mate
advised that the vessel should return ; but the master
?id that, rather than return, he would sink the ship.
°n afterwards, when near the North Cape, it was
discoveredcite
that the vessel was making water at the
i4e of nine feet per hour. On examining, they
found that two treenail holes had been bored with an
auger in the hold, which were plugged by the car-
Ileeter ; and, by the exertions of the crew at the
pumps
the water was greatly reduced. The master did
done. lie afterwards confessed that he had bored the
", and that a third had been commenced, which
WasZ also discovered ; but it was not very deep in the
tather 'They determined to return home, and spoke
'lady Sale, of Dundee, the master of which vessel
Zo'll'ised them to return. The mate prepared a letter
the owner, stating the circumstances, and said
therein that the master appeared to be insane. All
the
crew were willing to sign it but the carpenter,
tni 0 objected to the word insane, which he did not
lieve to be correct. He would not sign it, and
Iseree others of the crew were influenced by his exam-
Pie; they therefore proceeded on the passage home,
Illcivittiout any further disaster, arrived here on the
4th inst.
From as much of the cross-examination as has been
T.aceeded with, it appears that the defence is insanity.
he Master was much agitated by the very harsh
treatment of the mate, and it was for several days that
t;€/„,,e_ite very little food. He is considered to be a
figs
nervous man, and at the same time was so
it,_leb excited, that his conduct in some instances was
ige that of an insane person.—Shipping Gazette.

BALLOON ASCENT.—Yesterday, Mr. Hampton
agent, the aight-seers of the metropolis by making an
°cent, from White Conduit Gardens, in his newly-con-
rneted ~monster balloon." The period which has
elapsed since an ascent has been made in or near Lon-
,nn naturally attached to the exhibition an air of no-
n,„ and a vast concourse of persons assembled. The
r,
'ens were thrown open as early as eleven o'clock,
'"and shortly after the process of inflation commenced, and
continued until near six o'clock, when the balloon was
trnneunced to be sufficiently full for ascent, and which
the
clearly indicated by the extraordinary buoyancy of
Ponderous machine. Shortly after six o'clock Mr.
nlon made his appearance in the circle, and was
te-kl" ap'Y and enthusiastically greeted by the assembled
,ritnge ands. The usual paraphernalia having been ar-
in,d, at half-past six o'clock Mr. Hampton stepped
the car, and the signal being given, at twenty-five
>ili"tiles to seven o'clock the balloon rose in a slow but
Majestic manner, amidst the deafening shouts of the
Multitude which crowded not only the interior but the
Weri°r of the gardens and their immediate vicinity.
o balloon, for a few minutes, took its course ina
;ivle.er the eastern
outh.
westerly direction, but, on attaining a greater al-
tc, nk,e, it bore in the direction of the south•east, passed
portion of the metropolis, crossed the
r near Deptford, and bore in the direction of Plum-
'ad, about wh. h spo • tit was expected the descent
"
I,oi„. be made.
Jr
tha Or I..ONSCIENC E.—A few days ago a mer-
% nt of Perth, retired from business some years, was
rnaal" upon by one of his old apprentices. The young
lenewas received with marked kindness, and, on taking
co; seemed greatly embarrassed, but, plucking up
to s age, he said, " Mr. I do not know well what
answer am in your debt." "In my debt," was the
; " I do not know how that can be, I am not
mattre. of It." " I know youare not," resumed the young
but the fact is, when in your employ, I was, like
ettwisutiyno°tther Young men, foolish, and appropriated what
mine to myself. My chief object to-day in
ableng
s.was to confess, and make what restitution I was
illy conscience has often accused me since."
• Which he laid down before the astonished gentle-
s several pounds, adding, " That is all I am able to
Tie at present, but I will soon repay you the whole."
easi then took his leave, saying, " that he felt much
er. is being so much of an honest man."—Glasgow
(flirter.
Fr Prince Liegenstein and suite arrived last evening
.2a,Ostend by the General Steam Navigation Com-
V1.,43' s favourite steam-ship Rainbow, and immediately
1°9E40 to Mina!) Hotel,