Potter's Electric News

MR BRIGHT AND THE BISHOP OF OXFORD TO THE EDITOR OF THE TIMES. SIR,-I trust that you may be able to find room for the following letter, which seems to me to pos- sess a far wider interest than the refutation of one unfounàecl charge. Very few words will explain what follows. When I read in your paper of October 17, in the report of Mr Bright's speech at Glasgow his ex- ample of the helpless poverty and ignorance' of the southern labourers, taken from a parish 'within six miles of the Royal Castle of Windsor (a twice repeated insinuation), which elicited 'cries of shame' from his audience, I at once wrote to him and requested that, as the scene of this ignorance must be in my diocess, he would give me such information as would enable me to follow up the case. This I did that I might learn -first, whether the alleged ignorance existed:; and, secondly, if it did, whether it was attributable to any neglect of the labourer, or at Windsor Castle,' or by the swarming lords and squires and Established clergy,' or in any way to the 4 miser- 1 able failure of the ruling class which revels in power and wealth, while at its feet lies a multitude which it has neglected.' The following letter gives, I think, a complete answer to these insinuations and perhaps it might be found that a close search into the many similar allegations which England, Scotland, and Ireland have recently heard from the same lips would as utterly expose them as Mr Pearse's letter seems to me to expose the 'Windsor Castle' story. if truth is stranger, perverted truths are often more misleading than fiction. I am, Sir, yours truly, S. aXON. Nov. 1. Ascot, Staines, Oct. 3L My dear Lord, — In reply to your letter of the 28th inst, asking for particulars in the case of the family referred to by Mr Bright in his speech at zl_ Glasgow (on the authonty of Mr John Benjamin Smith, M.P., of King's liids, in this parish) as the case of a family in which there had grownup i I children, not one of whom could read or write in the slightest degree,' I beg leave to supply you with the following information :— With regard to the facts mentioned by Mr Bright Mr Smith appears to have been quite ac- curate in his report of them. He is, indeed, a gentleman who I am quite sure would not repre- sent anything as a fact which was not within his own knowledge but he is not, and could perhaps scarcely be, so well acquainted with the private history of this family as I am and when you learn what I have to tell you about them you will, I think, be of opinion that neither the lords, squires, nor Established clergy, whom Mr Bright represents as swarming in this neighbourhood, are fairly to blame for the lamentable state of ignorance in which undoubtedly the family has grown up. The father was a labourer in the employ of the Crown, and came to reside io the parish of Cran- borne, within 50 yards of the Ascot-heath School, about 14 years ago. His wages were never less thsn 12s a week they were not stopped in time of sickness, nor on account of bad weather, and for about half the year he could earn as much as 15s or 18s. Mr Ellis, the present vicar of Cranborne (who was then in charge of that part of the parish which has since been assigned to me), soon found out the gross ignorance in which the family were growing up, and prevailed on the parents to send four of their eldest children to school. The following extract from the school register shows the result of his efforts :— 'James, entered Nov. 9, 1852, expelled for irre- gular attendance. Henry, Frances, and Thomas, entered Nov. 28, only attended one week in the quarter; fees not paid. All three readmitted May 26, 1856, and ex pelled for irregular attendance.' Mr Ellis, however, did not desist from his efforts. Finding his own remonstrances unavailing he spoke to Major-General Seymour (Deputy Ranger of Windsor Great Park, and one of the managers of the school) on the subject, who, feeling that such comduct ought not to be per- mitted in a servant of the Crown, took repeated opportunities of expostulating with him, but to no purpose. 4 Mr Ellis then mehtioned the case to Mr Men- zies, Deputy-Surveyor of the Woods and Forests (under iihom G. was employed). He, too, urged the man more than once to the same effect, and at length warned him that he would certainly be dismissed from his employment if he persisted in neglecting his children's education. Ultimately he was actually dismissed from the service of the Crown, on the express ground that having every z;1 y facility for educating his children within his reach he obstinately persevered in neglecting them but this final step was not taken, I should tell you, until the Chief Commissioner of Woods and Forests (the Hon. Charles Gore) had himself called upon the man, and endeavoured to influence him, but in vain. Since his dismissal, and for the two years during which I have had charge of this parish, he has continued to reside within a quarter of ,a mile of the school, but my efforts to induce him to educate his younger children have been as entirely fruit- less as those of my predecessors in attempting to deal with the elder ones. I I may add, in conclusion, three facts, of which your Lordship is probably well aware—(1) that so late as the year 1850 this heath was a desolate region, very thinly populated, and without school or church (2) that both these buildings have been subsequently erected on lands freely granted by the Crown and (3) that they are mainly supported by the lords, squires, and Established clergy,' who swarm in this neighbourhood. 1 I am, my dear Lord, sincerely and respectfully yours, BEAUCIIAMP PEARSF,. 'The Lord Bishop of Oxford. P.S.-There is only one othercase that I know of in my parish in which a whole family is entirely uneducated the father of it is as incorrigible as G., and it is useless to remonstrate with him. The means of education are quite equal to the wants 01 this neighbourhood, and the great difficulty is in inducing such parents to send their children to school. B. P: ELOPEMENT.—During the present week the chief topic of conversation in Faringdon has been the elopement of a young lady of about 28 years of age, the only daughter of a clergyman residing a few miles from here, with a -young man in her father's employ as groom. The z, flight of the couple took place on Monday morning, and they are supposed to have taken the train at Didcot, their destination being unknown. An intimacy appears to have existed between them for some time, and it was the fact of this circumstance be- coming known that was the cause of their clandes- tine departure. The young lady is said to be pos-' sessed of some little property.-Berka Chronicle. PARENTS AND CHILDREN.—Tfoe joys of parents are secret, and so are thoir griefs and fears; they cannot utter the one, and they will not utter the other. Chil- dren sweeten labours, but they make misfortunes more bitter,; they increase the cares of life, but they mitigate the remembrance of death. The difference in affection of parents towards their several children is many times unequal, and (tometimes unworthy. Where there is a house full of children, a man shall see some respected, and some that are almost forgotten, who may neverthe- less prove the best. Let parents choose betimes the courses they mean their children should take, for then they are the most flexible. DESTRUCTION OF A COTTON MILT. BY FmE.- -On Saturday morning the cotton mill belonging to Messrs Todd and Co, at Wheeton, near Preston, was burned to the irround, and at least i.ESO,COO damage was wjought by thefltmes. The machinery on the premises which was destroyed was extensive and valuable. There were about 30.000 spindles and 1,00 looms, and all the usual appli- ances for the other departments of the business. The fire broke out in the spinning mill about four o'clock on Saturday morning. Engines were brought up with the greatest expedition, but the fire progressed faster than its extinguishment, and property of great value was con- sumed. It is not known how the fire commenced, but it is suspected that some accident must have occurred during the process of 'lighting up' in preparation for commencing work. The place was insured. About 1,000 operatives are thrown out of employment by this calamity. THE PATRIOTIC FUND.—Connected with the state- ment in The Times of Friday respecting the Patriotic Fund, an Act of Parliament passed in the late Session has reference to the application of the money. It recites that the Fund was administered under a com mission dated the 7th of October, ]85.1, and doubts have arisen respecting the power of Her Majesty to give directions concerning the application of the money, and that it was expedient to remove such doubts. It WHS therefore enacted that Her Majesty might issue a commission directing the Patriotic Fund and the income and accumulations as the commis- sioners should think fit-tirit. in the relief of the widows and the education, training, and advancement of children of soldiera, ?eumen, and marines of Her Mfjasty's Army and Navy who have lost their lives in battle, or from wounds, or by other casualties in the late war with Russia; secondly, in the education, training, and ad- vancement of children of soldiers, seamen, and marines of Her MUjes'y's Army and Navy who have lost or may hereafter lose their lives in battle, or from wounds, or by other casualties, in any other war; and for any of those purposes to extend or contribute to any Royal or charita- bit-institution in the United Kingdom, and to employ a secretary and clerks, with retiring or other allowance, as provided, with other proper expenses, to be paid out of the Patriotic Fund. SELLING A CHILD.-On Friday at the Birmingham police court, an extraordinary disclosure was made by Mr Corder, the clerk to the board of guardians, who charged a young woman, named Mary Ann Harris, with having neglected her infant child. Some twelve months ago, Harris was delivered of a child, the reputed father being a solicitor in Birmingham. She was confined in the general hospital, and it was there arranged that the child should he taken off her hands' lor a 'considera- tion.' A female living in Cross-street, Birmingham, was accordingly applied to. A meeting was arranged, at which there were present the father of the child, the mother, Mr Williamson, a student in the general hospital, the female, and her husband. It was then agreed that the mother should hand over the infant to the female, whose came is Ruth Chapman, and that the father should pay Chapman's husband el5. This was done, but in a day or two the man decamped, and the child was taken to the workhouse, where it died. The Poor-law Board thought the eas« should be investigated and Mr Corder states that the practice of disposing of children in Bir- mingham and the neighbourhood in the way he had described was very prevalent. Mr Kinnersley, the magistrate, stated that he regretted he could not reach the guilty parties, but the mother was not to blame, and therefore she would be discharged. THE MTLITARY FORCES OF RussIA.-The Pairie, com- menting upon the intelligence published in our Saturday's impression, that an Imperial Manifesto had ordered the raising of the military and naval forces to their full st ength by a levy of recruits throughout the empire in propt r ion of 4 to evsry 1,000 of the male population, remarks, that the official, statistics show that the popu- lation of Russia in Europe (including tbe Caucasus, Siberia, Poland, and Finland) amounts to nearly 74,800,000 of souls. The recruiting in question not being applicable to the Caucasus or Siberia, 9.000,000 have to be deducted from the total, but the net result of the measure will be a recruitment of from 350,000 to 400,000 men. This measure is calculated to produce an immense impression in Europe. At Vienna it will bo regarded as the carollary of the manifestations of the AIuscoTite press upon the suljact of Galicia. At Athens it will be accepted as the realization of the promises of the Russian agents at the commencement of the Cretan outbreak. Those who believe in a Russo-Prussian nlliance will find in the intelligence a powerful argu- ment. For our owq part we would simply record a fact which requires to he explained before it can properly be 'judged, Doesnot this order apply simply to the annual conscription with a view to supply the void created a week since, and in order to leave the Russian army upon its full peace strength?' THE BRISTOL AND SOUTH WALES UNION RAILWAY. —An accident occurred on this railway on Saturday. The line is a single one, and is worked by the Great Western Company. On Saturday morning a train of ballast trucks was sent down to the New Passage, which was not intended to return to Bristol until the down ex- press had arrived. It was, however, dispatched before that time, andonnearing the tunnel at Over Bank the driver heard the express train approaching. He imme- diately reversed the engine, and the driver of the ex- press, who had been signalled by some workmen at the mouth of the tunnel, d:d the same. A collision, how- ever, took place between the trains. Both engines were much injured, and several of the passengers in the ex- press train sustained contusions. The guard of the ballast train jumped off on -to a bank and was much bruised. Carpenter, the engineer of the express, bad one of his arms brok-n. Cox, the engine-drucr of the ballast train, was much injured, and the stoker had his ankles dislocated. The stoker of the express train was also much hurt. Mr Mark, the locomotive superin- tendent of the Great Western Railway, who happened to be in the express, received some severe injuries. A mounted messenger was despatched with all speed to Bristol, and Mr Graham, superintendent, and Mr Gard- ner, surgeon, at once started on an express engine to the scene of the accident. Assistance was speedily procured, and the sufferers were speedily conveyed in a truck to the New Passage Hotel, where they received every attention. The traffic on the line was suspended during the greater part of the day. HORRORS OF THE FAMINE IN INDIA.—The Rev. J. Buckley, stationed at Cuttack, Orissia, writes —'Orphans have been brought dying to our dpor, and many that we have received have been too deeply famine-stricken for nursing and medicine to restore. After a few short days death closed the scene. Tender and delicate wormn, lying in our verandah, have implored rice, or money to buy it, with cries thf-t have pierced our hearts. Two cases of eating human nesh have been reported in the one C:lse it was-proved that the person was insane; in the other a chiid was found eating its J dead father's flesh, which had been roasted and a few days after the child died. Mothers have left their children in the maidan (dunghill) to die, or have sold them for a few pice. Z, In one case an only son was sold for a pint of milk the mother eagerly drank it, gave up her child, walked a few steps, and then fell down dead. The dying and the dead have been seen lying in the streets; though this has not been so much at Cuttack as at Balasore and some other places. At Poree it has been common for the police to find, morning after morn- ing, in the streets, and lanes, sixty, seventy, eighty, or more corpses! In the Cuttack District, three thousand deaths from famine and pestilence were reported in one week, and it is generally believed that at Balasore and Poree the distress has been severer than here.' [Mr Buckley is a General Baptist Missionary, who has been at Cuttack many years. He is a Leicestershire man, and preached in Nottingham several times during his last visit to England ten or twelve years ago.—Nottingham i Journal ART SCHOOLS.—INCREASED PAYMENTS ON RESULTS -The Lords of the Committee of Council on Edu cation have determined to increase the payments on account of satisfactory elementary works exe- cuted during the year by an artisan, which will be in future 15s instead of 10s and on account of satisfactory advanced works 20s instead of 15s. After the annual examination for art certificates in February next there will be from four to six va- cancies in the lists of masters in training, to whom allowance of -91 per week is made, for which students of local schools who hold the first certi- ficate may compete. ALLOCUTIONS OF THE POPE.—ROME, OCT. 30.— The Pope has distributed to the Cardinals two allocutions delivered by his Holiness in the Con- sistory yesterday. In the first the Pope deplores the persecutions of the Church by the Italian Go- vernment, the suppression of the religious orders, the secularisation of the ecclesiastical property, and the law of civil marriage.. All these acts he condemns and declares to be null and void, and repeats the censures of the Church against their authors. Nevertheless, his Holiness declares that he accords his benediction to Italy. The Pope further protests against the invasion and usurpa- tion of the Pontifical provinces, and against the revolutionary project of making Rome the capital' of the new kingdom. He states that the temporal power is indispensable to the independence of the spiritual power, and declares that he is ready even to suffer death for the maintenance of the sacred rights of the Holy See, and if necessary to seek in another country the requisite security for the bet- ter exercise of his apostolic ministry. Finally, his Holiness prays that Italy may repent of the evils which she has brought upon the Church. In the second allocution, his Holiness states that the Russian Government has violated the Concordat of 1841, and recalls the persecutions exercised against the Archbishop of Warsaw, the suppression in the dioceses of Bishops of their legitimate juris- diction, the abolition of religious orders in Poland, the confiscation of ecclesiastical property.-all acts tending to the destruction of Catholicism in Russia. His Holiness concludes by offering up a prayer z, that the Czar may put an end to the persecutions of Catholics within the Russian dominions. MR JACOB SNIDER.—The funeral of Mr JV-cob Snider, the inventor of the breech-loader, and who was an American, took place on Wednesday Ihst at Kensal Green Cemetery. Only a few hours before his death Mr Snider informed a friend at his bed- side that he had a new secret with regard to a great principle of national defence, more important than any he had yet discovered. I will tell you the secret to-morrow,' said he, 'when you call to see me.' That morrow came, and that friend came with it to that beside again but the man who laid upon it was dead. His secret was dead with him. THE PRETENDED UNION OF THE GREEK ANn ROMAN CHURCHES.—The Debats publishes the sub- joined:—Several journals, and among others the Independancs Beige, having recently spoken of negociations entered into with the Greek orthodox Patriarch of Constantinople to bring him to recog- nise, with his co-religionists, the supremacy of the Church of Rome. This rumour, in our opinion somewhat dubious, appears to have caused great emotion in Russia. The Moscow Gazette affirms that France took the initiative in these negocia- tions, and it sees in them a direct menace to Rus- sian influence in the East. It is, indeed, certain that the patronage of Russia over the Greek Chris- tians would no longer have any meaning from the moment that the latter should enter the pale of Latin orthodoxy, and that the influence of that power would be in a great measure destroyed. And so the Moscow Gazette demands that Russia should appeal to arms rather than submit to such a humiliation. It is to be hoped, nevertheless, that we may not be condemned to witness the horrors of a religious war; we have already quite enough of political wars. This idea of converting the Patri- arch of Constantinople and all his flock appears to us, besides, to be sufficiently chimerical in itself, and we think the Moscou, Gazette will speedily recover from its terrors. EXTRAORDINARY SALMON ADVENTURE -Mr Colin Wood, one of the best rod fishers in Scotland, succeeded a few days ago in hooking a salmon, considered to be the largest that has ever been hooked in the Northesk. The skilful manoeuvres of the angler were brought into play, but hour alter hour wore away, and still the salmon was as strong as ever ;—the moon rose and set, and still the fish was master of the situation. AH arts bad been tried, but the enemy was too wary. Mr Wood had held his rod and kept his tackle fast for ten hours and a half, but the work proved too much for him, and he relinquished his rod with great re- luctance into the hands of Mr A. Bower, in order to allow of a little repose. Subsequently MrWood got the rod into his hand again that he might have the honour of landing him, while another party went for the dip. But all these preparations were of no avail. The salmon returned to his old abode and disputed the victory for long hours. As gen- tleman after gentleman came on the ground in the morning they were astounded to hear that such a contest had been going on all night. At nine o'clock there was still no appearance of the fish surrendering, and several meetings of the rod fishers were held to consider what should be done in the circumstances. But Master Salmon struggled manfully and baffled all the combinations that were formed against him, until one o'clock when he made a clear run into the stream, and the hook came out of his mouth with a piece of the fish at- tached. For nineteeo hours and forty-minutes, with the exception of one brief hour, did the salmon contend with one of the keenest and best fishers in the three kingdoms, and to the great mortifica- tion of Mr Wojd eventually escaped. The fish was twice or thrice seen, and by men well able to judge he was supposed to be about sixty pounds weight.