education; and thus accomplishments carry the day. Those regularly educated under College guidance are carefully watched, and, at a wish expressed, a class is dropped to avoid fatigue.

So much for quantity. One word as to the quality of the instruction afforded at these Colleges, against which your country readers are now earnestly warned. Who so unnatural or so silly as to send a daughter to town after this? The "bad French and worse German" are taught by Professors of King's and of University Colleges. The "slap-dash rattle of the piano," by gentlemen appointed to each College by Dr. Sterndale Bennett. And so of the rest.

Our portraitures are somewhat different, but the reason is this.

The one

is a "slap-dash" in the dark, the other is from a ten years use of one's own eyes and ears.

I am, Madam,

Very respectfully yours,

R.

[We give place to the above letter, as coming from a lady greatly interested in the two Colleges she mentions by name. At the same time, we beg to call attention to the fact, that the article on "Female Education in the Middle Classes," contains no attack upon the Colleges themselves, whether those of Harley Street and Bedford Square, or the numerous other Colleges which have sprung up in and around London. The "attack," if any there be, is upon parents, at whose "discretion or rather indiscretion, girls can be exposed to a forcing process hitherto unequalled, etc., etc." The "bad French, worse German, and slap-dash rattle of the piano," are the result of our correspondent's admission, that with parents, "accomplishments carry the day.” The best masters in the world cannot make head against superficial, or, over study. ED.]

LII.-PASSING EVENTS.

WE beg to call attention to the reprint in another part of our Journal, of an excellent leader from the Daily News of May 28th, on the working of the new Divorce Act, and the indirect evidence it affords of the extent to which women are already "bread winners." Late in the day as it is for such objections, there is yet a certain party to be found who would, if possible, exclude women from all industrial employments, and confine them entirely to the domestic circle and home duties. But facts are stronger than theories, and all practical men and women, however much they may deplore the necessity of industrial employments for women, know that it would be as vain to attempt to stem the sea as to offer opposition to a state of things which is the result of our social organization; an effect and not a cause, and, as such, to be frankly and hopefully accepted, and directed into channels of usefulness and progression, both to the individual and the

mass.

The most remarkable feature presented under the new Divorce Bill during the last month, and which involved a decision of great moment, occurred in the case of Bathie v. Bank of England. "The suit was instituted by a married woman, executrix, without her husband, who had deserted her, and against whom an order had been made by a magistrate under the 21st section for protection of her property. The object of the suit was to compel the Bank of England to allow a transfer by her as a femme sole of stock belonging to the testatrix, without calling upon the husband to join; the Bank contending that the provisions of the Act apply only to property to which the married woman is entitled beneficially, and that they do not place her in the position of a femme sole as regards assets which she claims in the character

of executrix or administratrix. abroad."

It was stated that the husband was

Sir W. P. Wood said, the Act was by no means clear, and took till the next day to consider it.

His Honour finally gave judgment that the Plaintiff was in this case entitled to the relief sought in the Bill, and added that, as an amendment of the Act was now in contemplation, it would be well if any future question of this kind were provided for by an express provision.

The Times of Thursday, June 17th, reports the petition of a wife, on the grounds of adultery and bigamy on the part of the husband. The Court granted the decree for the dissolution of marriage, when an order was applied for to continue the two children of the marriage in the custody of the petitioner. "The Lord Chief Justice, after a long deliberation with the other Judges, said they were of opinion that, in the present state of circumstances, the children ought to remain with the mother. Since the father's desertion, she had protected and maintained them, and probably to her they looked for parental affection. But it appeared from a letter written by the husband, that he still retained a lively affection for his children, and it would be too much for the Court to say that, although repentant and contrite, he should be for ever excluded from them. The mother might marry again, and many circumstances might arise which would render it desirable that the father should have the custody of the children. Any order, however, which the Court made with regard to the children, must be final. They had no power to modify their order at a future time. Under all the circumstances of the case, they would, therefore, make no order as to the children."

Numerous applications have, during the last month, been made by husbands and wives, for dissolution of marriage; but the only novel features presented, occur in the cases we have given.

The Divorce and Matrimonial Causes Act Amendment Bill passed the third reading in the House of Lords on the evening of June 22nd.

June 4th, the Annual Meeting of the Association for the Aid and Benefit of Milliners and Dressmakers, was held at the Hanover Square Rooms, Lord Shaftesbury presiding. The Secretary read the report for the past year, ending 25th of March, from which it appeared that the society had been the means of effecting much good, not only in awakening the sympathy of the public to the condition of the over-toiled young dressmaker, but by the introduction of a system of registration whereby every information was afforded as to the character of the houses of business in which employment could be satisfactorily obtained; that during the past year 1,448 young persons had been registered at the office, for 697 of whom situations at a proper scale of remuneration have been provided, free of all expense both to the employed and the employers. The scale of remuneration is in no case less than 9s. a-week and tea, for out-door girls working from eight till eight, or nine till nine, they being allowed an hour's relaxation for dinner; and from £8 to £60 or £80 when received into the family of large establishments. The funds, however, the chief sinews of strength for effecting these desirable objects of obtaining remunerative employment,-needed a material increase, and there was at present due to the Treasurer, in excess of expenditure over receipts, the sum of £81 8s. 2d. The number of persons registered during the fourteen years' existence of this Association, is 17,455,—a fact which needs no other recommendation. The noble chairman then complimented the meeting on the result of the society's labors, but urged an unremitting system of perseverance, without which present efforts would be unavailing, adding, that a material check had been put upon the system of overworking these poor young women, and their employment on the Sabbath-day was now almost abolished; nevertheless there was very much to be done on their behalf to save them from hard task-masters. Legislation on the subject had hitherto been sought in vain, "but when," said his Lordship, "the public mind shall be aroused, and aroused it will be by the power of the public

press, which has already evinced such a willingness to advocate the cause of the poor dressmakers, that power will be binding on the Legislature to pass a law which shall strike at the very root of the evil. Therefore, let not this year pass away without renewed efforts in such a religious cause, that the poor girls may not at its close be enabled to utter a reproach at our indifference and their neglected condition in the language of Holy Writ-'The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved.""" We give a letter from the Manchester Guardian of May 29, which will speak for itself.

FEMALE SLAVERY.

To the Editor of the Manchester Guardian.

Sir, I shall feel obliged by your insertion of the following letter in your valuable paper, relative to the system of oppression adopted in our trade of mantle making, being an exposure of the treatment we receive; and I wish to know if the same protection is not extended to us mantle makers as to the operatives in a factory under the Ten Hours Bill. I am a maker of mantles, and work at one of the first establishments in Manchester. Our wages are 8s. per week, for which we begin at eight in the morning; half an hour for dinner (not allowed off the premises), half an hour for tea, and at half-past eight our day is over. But, at six or seven in the evening, a lot of mantles are brought in, and marked “ orders," which must be completed; and the order is, "You must make overtime, ladies, to-night;" for which we are paid 14d. an hour, and kept till eleven at night. If we refused to stop, we should be discharged. On Saturday, I refused to stay after half-past eight, and would not wait longer, when I was sent home without my hardearned wages. Even the strong man is allowed to give over at an earlier hour on Saturday. The system is oppressive. There are fourteen of us in a close room from eight in the morning till eleven at night (only paid overtime till half-past ten,) before we have to put away the things. Surely the ladies of Manchester will employ dressmakers' establishments conducted by ladies, and not by those who destroy the lives of thousands of virtuous girls in the year by such oppression, and drive many to have recourse to the streets for a livelihood of freedom, who would have been respectable members of society. We are not paid after the rate of 10d. for making a garment that sells for five guineas. I say, surely we poor females are entitled to give over at six o'clock on Saturday, and not have two hours and a half taken off the day for it from our 8s. when stalwart able men are considered hardly dealt with, walking about a large shop in the drapery trade, and closing at half-past seven every evening. You, sir, are at liberty to publish my name, and the name of the firm I work for; or may I beg of you, in benevolence to us, if my uneducated letter is not fit to appear in your paper, to write one, stating the facts yourself. Mrs. T. is in a deep decline, spits blood; Miss H. coughs; in fact, near all are hurrying to a premature grave. All we want is, to begin at eight in the morning, from twelve to one for dinner, half an hour for tea, and give over at half-past seven o'clock at night; and on Saturday at six. Then we should not be receiving 2d. an hour. And we ask 2d. per hour overtime; but not to be compelled to work. Surely this is not too much, after serving a five years' apprenticeship and paying a premium.-I am, sir, yours, &c. ELLEN M.

P.S. We find our own provisions. Greenheys, May 24, 1858.

The very general introduction of the sewing machine, though bearing hard upon needle-women at the present moment, is destined, we believe, to supersede human "slop-workers," and to effect a great change in the employments of women. In many dress-making establishments, where the machine has already been introduced, the number of hands employed has been lessened by one half, the machine, and a woman trained to work it, being found effi

ciently to replace them. At the same time, as in all transition states and periods, we must look forward to aggravated distress and suffering among this large class of "bread winners," and should combine in efforts to open other and more profitable fields of labor to them.

In general news the events of this month offer few topics of interest. The war in India drags its slow length along, and, save upon the occurrence of the death of some valued and valuable officer-such as Sir William Peel, and Adrian Hope, bids fair to outlive popular interest. As with the war in India, so with the Indian Bills in the House of Commons. The third bill of the present Session for the better government of India, prepared by Lord Stanley, and offering, it is said, decided advantages over its predecessors, is now before the House.

The House of Commons has passed the Church-rates Abolition Bill, and has gone through the annual form of throwing out the Bill for the Ballot.

From Italy we have the final acquiescence of the King of Naples to the demands of England and Sardinia concerning the Cagliari, which Mr. Disraeli states to be already arrived at Genoa. An acquiescence variously attributed by the correspondent of the Daily News, to the remonstrances of Austria, and the presence of some English men of war. Be this as it may, the Cagliari is restored to its owners, and indemnification to the amount of £3000 sterling on behalf of the English engineers, Watt and Park, is paid into the hands of a commercial house, at the disposal of the English govern

ment.

Vesuvius, during the whole of the last month has exhibited an eruption, said to be unequalled since the great eruption which destroyed Pompeii; the streams of lava also, for the first time since that period, have followed the same direction. It is the opinion of scientific men upon the spot, that the period of earthquakes has for the present, come to a close, the subterranean fire and heat which worked such deadly disasters a few months ago, having found their vent at Vesuvius, where the old crater has, to use an American expression, "caved in," and several new ones have opened.

The Manchester papers give an account of a couple of interesting lectures delivered in that city by Madame Mario (late Jessie Meriton White), whose imprisonment at Genoa will be fresh in the memory of our readers; the subject of the first being "Rome, Orsini, and Louis Napoleon;" of the second, "Naples and Piedmont," in the course of which "she explained that Park and Watt were perfectly innocent of the destination of the Cagliari."

The lectures were numerously attended, and were brought to a close amidst loud applause. They are characterized as "lectures, which, for nervous energy, logical sequence, truthful narration, and graphic power, had never been equalled" in the Library Hall of the Manchester Athenæum.

The prosecutions against Truelove and Tcherzewski have "fallen through." In both instances the parties, by their counsels, declared themselves innocent of any intention" to incite to the commission of any criminal offence ". upon which a verdict of "Not Guilty" was instantaneously returned.

Art has sustained a severe loss in the death of Ary Scheffer, which is supposed to have been hastened by his journey to this country to attend the funeral of the late honored and lamented Duchess of Orleans.

Of

M. Scheffer the Journal des Debats says, "They who were acquainted with M. Scheffer can alone know from what a living source of poetry, and from what a superior mind, the pathetic and charming creations of his brush emanated. M. Scheffer was not only a great artist-he had a mind that was open to all that is noble, generous, and good."

WITH an increasing majority of above half a million of the one sex over the other, and many thousands of the single and widowed unemployed, it is still a disputed question whether women should work, either with head or hands, except in domestic life. They are existences of being, rather than doing, of "beauty not use," sing the poets. Social economists rather lament their employment otherwise than in the household as a temporary exigency, than admit it as a practical axiom, while philanthropists are of opinion that our superfluous numbers, to avoid starvation, must emigrate, or become the recipients of charity at home-nothing else being left for them.

Meantime, what do women themselves say, or do about the matter? Not much. Though as they suffer, they necessarily complain, and make attempts to do a little also; such attempts being often discouraged, or at the best pitied, as against that law of nature which prohibits women from working; a law, as we are told, for ages tested and confirmed by their having performed no work, nor evinced disposition to perform it. Unhappily, we rest satisfied with half truths here. The fact that women as well as men require exercise of mind and body, in order to enjoy good health and sanity, should be enough to enlighten us. But when it is apparent that women, from the earliest times, have waged a sort of contention against their position, and that up to this hour, they are covertly regarded as a somewhat puzzling creation of the Deity, we may surely doubt in our advanced nineteenth century, whether the old idea of their inherent inability, however hallowed by time, or however popular, is really consistent with truth.

As yet, only the few are interested in asking "whether the race would derive advantage from the development of the higher faculties of women, as well as from a physical strengthening of their weakness ?" The many deem such enquiries visionary, because to them the subject is unknown or it is neglected, when not despised. For we are sorry to add, attempts at its discussion, though involving equally some of the highest interests, not alone of one sex, but of necessity of both, are still sneeringly met with such terms as "Emancipation," "Americanism," "Rights," and the like. Yet it may be that women have no particular cause to complain, since

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