311isttlinutatio.

The following letter from Mr. Sidney Herbert to Miss Nightingale, which appears to have been published surreptitiously in the first instance, is interesting in itself, and has afforded to some of the journals a topic of controversy.

" Dear Miss Nightingale—You will have seen in the papers that there bra great deficiency of nurses at the hospital at Scutari. The other alleged defi- ciencies, namely, of medical men, lint, sheets, &e., must, if they have really ever existed, have been remedied ere this, as the number of the medical offi- cers with the Army amounted to one to every ninety-five men in the whole force, being nearly double what we have ever had before; and thirty more sur- geons went out there, three weeks ago, and must by this time, therefore, be at Constantinople. A further supply went on Monday, and a fresh batch sail next week. As to medical stores, they have been sent out in profusion, but by the ton weight-15,000 pair of sheets ; medicines, wine, arrowroot, in the same proportion ; and the only way of accounting for the deficiency at .Scutari, if it exists, is that the mass of the stores sent to Varna, and had not been sent back when the army left for the Crimea ; but four days would have remedied that. In the meanwhile stores are arriving. But the de- ficiency of female nurses is undoubted, none but male nurses having ever been admitted to military hospitals. It would be impossible to early about a large staff of the female nurses with an army in the field. But at Scutari, having now a fixed hospital, no military reason exists against the introduc- tion, and I am confident they might be introduced with great benefit ; for hospital orderlies must be very rough hands, and most of them, on such an occasion as this, very inexperienced ones. I receive numbers of offers from ladies to go out ; but they are ladies who have no conception of what a hos- pital is, nor of the nature of its duties, and they would when the time came either recoil from the ;work or be entirely useless, and conse- quently, what is worse, entirely in the way; nor would those ladies probably even understand the necessity, especially in a military hospital, of strict obe- dience to rule, &o.

"Lady Maria Forrester (Lord Roden's daughter) has made some proposal to Dr. Smith, the head of the Army Medical Department, either to go with, or to send out, trained nurses. I apprehend she means from Fitzroy Square, John Street, or some such an establishment. The Reverend Mr. Hume, once chaplain to the General Hospital at Birmingham, (and better known as the author of the scheme for transferring the City churches to the suburbs,) has offered to go out himself as chaplain, with two daughters and twelve nurses. He was in the Army seven years, and has been used to hospitals; and I like the tone of his letter very much. I think from both of these offers practical effects may be drawn.

"But the difficulty of finding nurses who are at all versed in their busi- ness is probably best known to Mr. Hume; and Lady Maria Forrester pro- bably has not tested the willingness of the trained nurses to go, and is in- capable of directing or ruling them. There is but one person in England that 1 know of who would be capable of organizing and superintending such a scheme ; and I have been several times on the point of asking you, hypothetically, if, supposing the attempt were made, you would undertake to direct it. The selection of the rank and file of nurses will be very diffi- cult; no one knows that better than yourself. The difficulty of finding women equal to a task after all full of horror, and requiring besides know- ledge and good-will, great knowledge and great courage, will be great; the task of ruling and introducing system among them great ; and not the least will be the difficulty of making the whole work smoothly with the medical and military authorities out there. That it is which makes it so important that the experiment should be carried out by one with administrative capacity and experience. A number of sentimental enthusiastic ladies, turned loose into the hospital of Scutari, would probably, after a few days, be anises U la Porte by those whose business they would in- terrupt, and whose authority they would dispute. My question simply is, would you listen to the request to go out and supervise the a hole thing ? You would, of course, have plenary authority over all the nurses, and I think I could secure you the fullest assistance and cooperation from the me- dical staff, and you would also have an unlimited power of drawing on the Government for whatever you think requisite for the success of your mis- ' sion. On this part of the subject the details are too many for a letter, and I reserve it for our meeting; for, whatever decision you take, I know you will give me every assistance and advice. I do not say one word to press you. You are the only person who can judge for yourself which of conflict- ing or incompatible duties is the first, or the highest; but I think I must not conceal from you that upon your decision will depend the ulti- mate success or failure of the plan. Your own personal qualities, your know- ledge, and your power of administration, and, among greater things, your rank and position in society, give you advantages in such a work which no other person possesses. If this succeeds, an enormous amount of good will be done now, and to persons deserving everything at our hands, and which will multiply the good to all time. I hardly like to be sanguine as to your answer. If it were yes, I am certain the Bracebridges would go with you, and give you all the comforts you would require, and which her society and sympathy only could give you. I have written very long, for the subject is very near my heart. Liz is writing to Mrs. Bracebridge to tell her ulna. I am doing. I go back to town tomorrow morning. Shall I come to you be- tween three and five ? Will you let me have a line, at the War-office, to let me know ?—There is one point which I have hardly a right to touch upon, but I trust you will pardon roe. If you were inclined to undertake the great work, would Mr. and Mrs. Nightingale consent ? This work would be so national, and the request made to you, proceeding from the Government., which represents the nation, comes at such a moment, that I do not despair of their consent. Deriving your authority from the Govern- ment, your position would insure the respect and consideration of every one, especially in a service where official rank carries so much weight. This would secure you any attention or comfort on your way out there, together with a complete submission to your orders. I know these things are a mat- ter of indifference to you, except as far as they may further the great object you would have in view; but they are of importance in themselves, and of every importance to those who have a right to take an interest in your personal position and comfort. I know you will come to a right_ and wise decision. 'God grant it may be in accordance with my hopes !

"Believe me, dear Miss Nightingale, ever yours, "Oct. 15. SIDNEY HERBERT."

Who is Mrs. Nightingale ? Many ask this question, and it has not yet been adequatelyy answered. We re ly, then, Mrs. Nightingale is Miss lslightinga e, or rather Miss Florence Nightingale, the youngest daughter and presumptive co-heiress of her father, William Shore Nightingale, of Embley Park, Hampshire, and the Lea Hurst, Derbyshire. She is, moreover, a young lady of singular endowments, both natural and acquired. In a knowledge of the ancient languages, and of the higher branches of mathematics, in general art, science, and literature, . her attainments are extraordinary: There is scarcely a modern language which she does not understand ; and she speaks French, German, and Italian, as fluently as her native English. She hes visited and studied tbevarione nations of Europe, and has-ascended the Nile teits remotest cataract: Young, (about the age of our Queen;) graoeful, feminine,. viola, and popular; she holds a singularly gentle-and persuasive influence over all with whom she, comes in contact. Her friends and-ac- guaintance are of all classes and persuasions.; but her happiest place is at home, in the 'centre of a very large band of accomplished rela- tives, and in simplest obedience to her admiring parents The schools and the poor around Lee Hurst and Embley first saw and felt her es a valuer, teacher; consoler; expounder. Then she frequented and studied the soboole,shospitals, and retbrmatory institutions of London, Edinburgh, and the Continent. Three years ages when- all Europe had a- holiday on and after the Great Exhibition) when the Highlands of. Scotland, the lakes of Switzerland, and all the bright spots of the Continent, were filled with parties of pleasure, Miss Nightingale was within the walls of one of the German houses or hospitals for the care and reformation of the lost and in- ' firm. For three long months she was in daily and nightly attendance, accumulating experience in all the duties and labours of female ministration. She then returned to be once moreehe delight of her own happy home. -But the strong tendency ,of her mind to look beyond its own circle for the relief of those who, nominally having all, practically have but too frequently, none to help them, prevailed ; and therefore, when the hospital e.tablislied in London-for rife!: governesses was about to fail for want or-proper manage- ment, she sewed forierird and'consented to be plated at its head. Derbyshire and H'ampahire were exchanged for the narrbw, dreary establishment in Harley-Street; to-which she-devoted all her time and fortene.-,-Examiner.

One of the nurses" who have gone- to Seuteri is Miss Erskine' eldest daughter of the Dbwager Lady-Erskine of letvll y crochan North Wales. Her knowledge of the Welch language will render-her aid- greet in,attending the woonded Welehssoldierts.

An earthen battery, mounting five heavy guns, will be erected 'near Southica Castle, and so placed as to eon:inland the harbour-channel. A similar battery will be erected at. Fort Monekton, on the Gosport shore. At Freshwater-gate, Isle of 'Wight, a battery will be planted for fifteen heavy guns. Shoreham is also to be defended by a strong battery. At Aldershot, near the site of the Chobham camp of last year, a permanent camp is to be formed for 10,000 men. This will include barracks, stores, &e., for two regiments of cavalry, horse and foot artillery, and infantry. This work is to be proceeded with without delay, and it is said that at Last 10,000/, is to be spent upon it by March next.

The total strength of the reinforcements which-will have been sent out to the Crimea, byr the end of this week, will be 4000 men. It is calcu- lated that this will raise the British expeditionary army to its original strength, 30,000. [The calculation would imply a loss of four thousand men, thus far, since the departure of the first troops from England.] The bounty for each soldier enlisting has been raised 21., the bounty for the cavalry being now 61. instead of 41., and that for the infantry 71. 15s. The standard height throughout the service all round is reduced by an inch.

Large and ample supplies of winter clothing have been fOrwarded to the Crimea ; and an amusing as well as instructive library of new books and newspapers has been sent to the hospital at Scutari.

Cardinal Wiseman has published an authenticated copy of his two lec- tures delivered at St. Martin's Hall in August last, on "the Home Edu- cation of the Poor." Very imperfeet reports of these leetures get-into the newspapers at the time; and the Cardinal was represented as pro- posing the" introduction of a Government stamp upon books for the poor, similar to that which restrains the literature intrusted to the licensed hawkers of France. The Cardinal described that system, and noticed the mass of trash which the French censors have weeded finin the humble literature of France. But for England he proposes very different things.. He desires increased zeal in composing and circulating books which pre- sent sound information, scientific, historical, and literary, in a form at- tractive for the uneducated; also exemplary biography, poetry, songs, picture-illustrations, Sic.' As examples of the hold attained on the popular mind, he mentioned Robinson Crusoe, Gulliver's Travels; the songs of Beranger, Khmer and Thomas Hood, Goethe and Thomas Longfellow. He particularly recommends an extension of the practice of giving prizes to the working classes, and children, in the form of books.- The two lec- tures are interesting and eloquent in a high degree.

Our readers will not be surprised to learn that the Reverend Robert J. Wilberforce late Vicar of Burton Agnes, Yorkshire, and Archdeacon of the East Riding, has been received into the Roman Catholic Church. He left London last week, in company with the Right Reverend Dr. Grant, of Southwark, for Paris; where his reception took place. Mr. Wilberforce was formerly Fellow of Oriel College, Oxford.; where he graduated in Michaelmas term 1823, taking at the time a double first- class. He was for some time tutor of his College, conjointly with Dr. New- man ; and up to a very recent period he was one of the select preachers of the University. He was also public Examiner in 1828. It is well known that from the time of the decision in the Gorham case, in 1850, hehas been more or less unsettled in mind on the subject of the Royal supremacy in spiritual matters ; on the subject of which he issued a circular to all the English clergy, in conjunction with Mr. Manning and the late. Dr. Mill, in 1850. He is known to the public as the anther of "The Five Em- pires," the " History of Erastianism," and a,. walk " the Incarna- tion," as well as his more recent treatises on "the Euchariat," and " the Royal Supremacy" ; the latter of which must be. taken as express- ing the reasons which induced him to abandon the English Church. Mr. Robert Wilberforce is the second son of the late William Wilber- force, and eider brother of the Bishop of Oxford. He has recently been left a second time a widower, and will probably take orders in the Ro- man Church without much delay.—Morning Post. * A correspondent of the Times complained that Dr. Itae had left the Arctic regions without verifying the report he brought with him; and is reply, Dr. Rae gives some more information on the subject. He says that he returned home at once in order that he might prevent the risk of more valuable lives in a useless search. With respect to the chance of the belated party's obtaining food, he tells us that the region where they were seen is in spring "notoriously the most barren of animal life of any of the Arctic shores." Deer are scarce and shy. At that season the seals were in their holes covered with snow ; and two facts exemplify the difficulties of obtaining food : during a journey of fifty-six days, he only shot one deer and a few partridges; and when on one occasion he wintered in a part of the Arctic regions remarkable for the abundance of game, he and his party of picked men found it hard work to collect a sufficiency. He believes the ships had been abandoned, but that they had not been plundered, for the Esquimanx were short of wood.

" It may interest your readers," he adds, "to learn that two overland ex- peditions have been decided upon,—the one in boats, to go down the Mac- kenzie River in search of Captain Collinson, about the safety of whom there is now some anxiety ; the other, in canoes, down Back's Fish River, to make farther inquiry into the fate of Sir John Franklin's people, and to endeavour to obtain some more relics ; and, should any of the remains of the dead be found, to place them decently underground. Aboutnoonon.Friday, it was ar- ranged by the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty and Captain Shepherd, Deputy-Governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, that these expeditions should be left wholly in the hands of the Hudson's Bay Company; dnd the same evening the Deputy-Governer had posted letters to Sir Geor ..6impson, territorial governor, containing full details as to the objects and mode of carrying into effect these expeditions."

Those pets, of the Emperor of the French, the band of the regiment 4, Les Guides," have been the lions of the week. Fifty-six in. number, showily clad in amber and crimson and green, their appearance has en- livened our streets and public places. They have not been sparing of display. They have played at the Crystal Palace, on the terrace at Windsor Castle, before Count Walewski's house, at Exeter Hall ; and they again perform today at the Crystal Palace in aid of the Patriotic Fund. They received the acclamations of the busy City multitude when visiting the Docks, the Tower, and the Bank ; they dined yesterday with the band of the Foot Guards ; and they have received a hundred guineas from the Queen, in token of her Majesty's approval of their playing at Windsor.

The Lords of the Treasury have ordered a reduction of the fees for searching in the County Court Registry-office; to date from the 1st No- Tember.

The Registrar-General has issued a supplement to the Quarterly return of marriages, births, and deaths, relating to the cholera. It comprises tabular returns of the number of deaths from cholera and diarrhoea during the summer quarter—July, August, and September—both in 1849 and 1854. The comparison is favourable to the latter. In 1849, there died 43,821 of cholera, 10,651 of diarrhoea, total 54,472. In 1854, there died 15,587 of cholera, 11,135 of diarrhoea, total 26,722. In London the deaths from cholera amounted to 12,954 in 1849, to 9708 in 1854. In Liverpool there is an immense improvement—the deaths, which in 1849 amounted to 4545, in 1854 have fallen to 953.

The health. of the Metropolis has improved, but is still below par. The number of deaths last week was 1228 ; according to the calculated average of ten years it should have been only 1047,—excess, 181. Out of this number, 66 died of cholera, 46 of diarrhoea.

We are happy to learn that the Bishop of -Norwich is in a greatly im- proved state of health.

Lord Brougham, after a short visit to the French capital, arrived at Cannes a few days since, in good health and elastic spirits.

Lord Haddo is still staying at Alexandria ; the Viceroy liberally providing him with whatever he needs.

According to the. Belfast Northern 71771ig, the riband of the Garter was offered to the Marquis of Londonderry, and declined—why, is not known.

At one of the late sittinge of the Academy of Sciences, 1I. Leverrier stated that he had received a communication from Mr. Gould, announcing the discovery of a thirty-first little, planet, on the 1st September, by Mr. Ferguson, at the National Observatory of Washington. The new planet is about equal in brilliancy to Egeria.

The Royal Danish Railway, from Tonning to Flensburg, forty miles, where it joins the Kiel and Altona line, on the direct route to Hamburg, was opened by the King last week. The occasion was celebrated with great eclat. Mr. Pete M.P., and his English coadjutors in forming the line, gave the King a dinner, at Totaling, on board the Cygnus ; and the King made Mr. Pete a Knight Commodore of the Dannebrog—the highest honour he could bestow. Next day the King gave a banquet, at Flensburg, to the principal inhabitants and to the English.

Twelve young Egyptians, belonging to the army, have arrived in Paris. They have been sent by the Viceroy, under the direction of a Colonel, to follow the manoeuvres of the Foot Chasseurs, a corps which Said Pasha is anxious to introduce into his army. They are to be attached to the se- cond battalion, in garrison at Vincennes.

Said Pasha, the new Viceroy of Egypt, looks into everything himself : Ending that ehe captain of the steamer Faid Gehaad can neither read nor write, he has ordered the captain and most of his fellow officers to be dis- missed. The late Pasha never saw- the steamer, which had cost him 150,0001.

There is great terror among the labouring population of Egypt, as there are fresh demands on the Viceroy for soldiers to serve Turkey, and the Viceroy seizes on whom he pleases.

A blunder of an Admiralty clerk has been attended with serio-comic re- sults. At the time that a list of the killed and wounded at the battle of the Alma was sent to England, another list was sent of sailors and marines who wished to allot half their pay to relatives in England; a clerk at the Admi- ralty forthwith writes to a Government workman at Devonport, that his son, a:sailor, is- dead ; the man grieves, and expends 91. to put his family into Mourning. Immediately afterwards he is informed that the announcement of the death was a mistake—instead of being dead, the son allots him half his pay.. The father writes to the Admiralty to pay the 9t he has been led to expend ; and the upshot is, that the clerks in the Admiralty subscribe the money and send it to Davenport Eight more regiments of Militia are about to be embodied for permanent duty.

The left wing of the Second Seinerset:Militia,:500 strong, arrived at Cork, from Bristol, on Sunday.

Many thousand pairs of wooden shoes, with woollen socks, are to be for- warded from Lyons for the use of the French army in the East during winter.

The railway from Lyons to the Mediterranean is yet incomplete between Lyons and Valence : it is of great importance that it should be quickly finished, in order that soldiers and military stores may be expeditiously con- veyed Southward. The Minister of Public Works has recently gone over the line, and urged the contractors to hasten their completion, appealing to their patriotism : the appeal has been successful, and every exertion will be used to place the line at the disposal of Government by February next: 10,000 men have been set to work, instead of 5000, in forming the permanent way.

A balance-sheet showing the probable assets of Mr. Oliver's estate ex- hibits a deficiency of 113,0001. So much for the "large surplus" at first talked of.

There is a declining market at Sydney for imported goods ; the arrivals being far beyond the quantity required for the supply of the population. Large shipments of corn for England have been made at New York. Though the accounts of commercial affairs in the United States are more favourable generally, there have been additional stoppages of large firms.

The shares in the Namaqualand copper-mines, in the Cape colony, ad- vanced in value in a few days from 5s. to 101. each.

The cholera is decreasing in the West India Islands, but at Trinidad and St. Vincent's at the last advices its ravages were still felt.

There is a great scarcity of flour and bread-stuffs in St. Lucia.

An experiment to breed salmon in the river Tay is now in progress under the auspices of a company. They have succeeded, according to their own computation, in hatching about 400,000 in selected breeding-places. Next season the infant salmon are to be allowed to go down to the sea with the natural-born.

The Czar means to keep up appearances—theatricallv—during the winter. Lablache, Mademoiselle de Lagrange, and Madame Tedesco, have been en- gaged for the Italian Opera at St. Petersburg ; whither the rich people must go frequently, to show how little war affects their pleasures.

The Spirit of Shakspere has just added a new tragedy to his works—at least, Mr. Isaac C. Pray, a " medium," has penned a tragedy which he de- dares to have really proceeded from the bard's Spirit. It is said to be a first-rate production !