The Sun.
London, England, 1821-10-24 00:00:00

'l' 11 E 'GLUT E IVITC-11EN N 1 E..

We are indebted to o.n unknown CortesPon=
dent for the following extract from an• Essay of
DAVID Locn, Merchant, Leith, which' came
.to
our hands too late for insertion in our last; our
readers, we are persuaded, will not regret. to have
their attention recalled to this subject In my
tour to Dunbar, August, 1778, I attended an..ex-
amination of the three public • schools; in which
the following. branches of Education are taught
to perfection, viz. Latin, English, Arithmetic,
and Mathematics. The. roygli language of the
tars sounded still in. my ears, and afforded a very
curious contrast to the mild and puerile voices of
the young lads under trial. The Latin is taught
by Mr. Dick, and I was told by good judges
(for.[ pretend to no-knowledge.Of that language
myself) that the scholars did great credit to
their master. Those who were taught•• English
by Mr. Waterson gave an, excellent specimen of
his merit, and their proficiency ; but Mr. Gib...
son, teacher of mathematics, afforded a most
conspicuous proof of his-abilities, by the preri
sion and clearness of his manner in stating the
questions which he put to his scholars ; and their
correct and spirited answers to his proposition,
and their clear demonstration of his problems,
afforded the highest satisfaction to a numerous
audience. And here I must notice, in a parti-
cular ma-mter, the singular proficiency of a yoUng
man of the name of Rennie. Ile was intended

fora mill-wright, and was breeding to that busi-
ness under the famous Mr. Mitchell, at Linton,
East Lothian. fie had not then attended Mr.
Gibson for the mathematics, &c. much more 'than
six months ;. but, on his examination; he disco-
vered such amazing powers of genius, that one
would have imagined him a second Newton. No
problem was too hard for him to demoitstra te.With a
clear head,a decent address,and a distinct delivery,
his master could not propose a question, either in
natural or experimental philosophy, to which.lie
gave not a clear and ready solution, and also the
reasons of the connection between causes and
effects, the power of gravition, &c. in a masterly
and convincing manlier ; so that every person
present admired such an uncommon stock of
knowledge amassed at his time of life. If this
young man is spared, and continues to prosecute
his studies, he will do great honour to his coun-
try."—Vol. 111., p.'221.----(Culedonian Mercury.)

ROBBERY.—On Monday evening last, a co-
vered caravan, belonging to the Earl of LI VER..
Poor., was robbed on its way from London to
his Lordship's residence, at Coombe Wood, of a
quantity of linen and other valuable property, :
the robbery is supposed to have been committed

near the mile-stone on the Wandsworth-road,
and was effected by means of forcing off the pad-
lock and iron-bar which secured the door at' the
back of the caravan ; the property was all safe,
at the Nag's Head public-house, Clapham, the
driver having seen it there. When he had pro-
ceeded a short distance from tllence he heard the
bat\ rattle, which induced him to get over the
top of the caravan, when he saw that the doors•
were open, and observed a man running from the
tail of the caravan, and he instantly missed the
box containing the property. As a great num-
ber of suspicious characters were passing along
the road at the time from the fight which had
taken place in the fore part of sthe day, at Moul-
sey llurst, the driver did not pursue the man,
fearful of losing the caravan ; however, observ-
ing a cart on its way to London, and suspecting
that it might contain the property, he searched
it, but'was not so fortunate as to find it. Infor-
mation of the above robbery was immediately
transmitted to the Public Office, Bow-street.
A bird of very uncommon appearance, called,
in Northumberland, the golden-headed wren,
was seen on Friday near Longtown. It is about
the size of the humming bird, has a beautiful tuft
of bright red on its head, and the feathers of its
wings are of variegated colours.