The New York herald., 1872-10-23
A PLEASANT EXCURSION.

Mr.. Froude and Miss Faithful Take q
Trip Through Some or Our Public
InstftutiOns-What They Saw-NO
Speeches, but an Informal Expression
OF Approval.
Yesterday morning, In response to an invitation
courteously extended by the Commissioners OF
Charities and Correction, two distinguished ltes-
ary visitors to this country, Mr.. James Anthony
Froude and Miss Emily Faithful were taken through
the principal public institutions Of the city. They
were accompanied by party OF some thirty or
forty gentlemen, including among the rest the
Rev. DR.. Deems, Rev. DR.. Ormiston, Mr.. Algernon
S. Sullivan and number OF members of the Ar
cadian Club. Mr.. Edmund Yates was also invited,
but having to send Off the last pages of q novel by
to.days steamer he was compelled to decline.
The party, under the charge OF Commissioners
Nicholson and Bowen left Twenty-sixth street, ON
the steamer Bellevue, at halfpast ten O'clock the
upper deck being reserved for them, while the
lower was crowded with its usual freight OF the
sick, the criminal and the unfortunate. Touching
at Backwell's and Wards Islands, the Bellevue
steamed away through He'll Gate ana past Fort
Schuyler and City Island to the city schOolshp Mer
curry, where the distinguished visitors received
with hearty welcome by Captain Gerant. In ex-
pectati0n OF their coming the boys had been drawn
up In line on the deck, and although their uniforms
showed traces of hard usage and long wear they
were scrupulously neat and clean, and the general
appearance OF these youthful apprentices to sea-
manshp and good behavior was very creditable.
Captain Gerant himself escorted Miss Faithful
through the ship, while Mr. Froude and the rest
followed by twoS and threes. The weapons in the
arm0ry and the Kitchen utensils especially at
tracted attention by their SpOtiess brightness and
even the decks were everywhere, as somebody said
OF Dutchwoman's uncarpeted parl0r floor, "clean
enough to eat your dinner FROM" Returning to
the upper deck the party were afforded an OppOr
tunity to see the boys display their seamanship
couple Of watches going alOft and unfurling and
terestlng nauticul man9uvres, though, OF course,
the unfortunate fact OF the ships being securely
anchored was an insurmountable obstacle to q
complete exhibition OF their proficiency in their
profession.
As the party left the Mercury salute of five
guns was fired in its honor, and the Bellevue re-
SpOnded by series or steam calls from her whistle
and "ftai Columbia" !" from DOdwOrth's Band, which
accompanied the excursion, and agreeaby en-
livened It's duler passages by some admirably
played music. The yards OF the Mercury would
also have been manned, but the ship Is Just now
undergoing some repairs that made this i'm
possible. Such at least, was the generally re-
ceved version Of the matter, though there was one
tncorrgible joker who said the true reason why
they did not ''man the yards" was that the Mer-
curry 'had only boys aboard" This wretched
creature would have certainly been nung over
board had not Mr.. District Attorney Sullivan inter-
posed timely interference.
Steering back to Blackwell's, the party were
entertained with ham sandwiches and oysters by
the Warden OF the island and then made the tour
OF the almshouses, the hospitals and the Peniten-
miratiOn OF the cleanliness order and good discp-
line that characterized the institutions, but no
effort was made at any time during the day to
entrap him into formal speech. The party dis
O'Clock, having spent very pleasant and profit
able day.