Page:Notes by the Way.djvu/238

 168 NOTES BY THE WAY.

started by William Pitt while he was Prime Minister, with George Rose as its first editor. In 1825 it was purchased by Murdo Young, a man full of energy, who was the first to send express accounts of important meetings to the leading towns. His enterprise in this direction once led him into a serious mistake. A meeting was announced to be held on Penenden Heath in favour of Catholic Emancipation. Richard Lalor Sheil was to speak, and as he attached considerable importance to the event, he wrote the speech out in full. Young, desiring to have it in time for the evening mail, obtained the manuscript from Sheil, and published it in The Sun the same evening, interlarding it with such phrases as " vehe- ment applause," " loud and long-continued cheering," &c. ; but unfortunately the speech was not delivered, Sheil not being able to obtain a hearing. A favourite phrase afterwards applied to the eloquent orator was that of " Speechless Sheil." Murdo Young's energy inspired others, and in 1845 he conferred the editorship on his son-in-law Charles Kent, who, as mentioned above, was then only twenty-two.

FIRST BRITISH SUBJECT BORN IN NEW SOUTH WALES. 1902, Mar. 15. In the obituary notice of Charles Kent (see above) mention

William Kent, is made of his father, William Kent, R.N., who was born at the old Government House in Sydney on December 23rd, 1799. He was the first British subject born in the colony, his great-uncle, Admiral John Hunter, being at that time the Governor of New South Wales. Charles Kent's grandfather, Capt. Kent, was the first Government Surveyor of the Australian coast, and was the discoverer of Kent Islands and the Gulf of St. Vincent. His wife is buried in St. Mary's , Paddington Green, where a mural monument commemorates her travels.

THE JAPANESE REGALIA.

1902 Mar 22 ^ n ^ e ^ a % Telegraph of March 15th, 1902, is an interesting

account of a lecture given by Mr. Goji Ukita, Chancellor of the Japanese Legation, on the Imperial regalia of Japan. It appears that these emblems consist of the Mirror, symbolic of Knowledge ; the Sword, for Courage ; and the Divine Jewels, for Mercy. They are merely of copper, steel, and stone. The regalia have the highest significance, it being held that no Emperor can rule without the three virtues which they represent.

CHRIST'S HOSPITAL.

(See ' Last of an Old City Custom,' p. 157.)

Christ's On Sunday, March 16th, 1902, the boys of the Bluecoat School

Hospital. attended service at Christ Church, Newgate Street, for the last time

previous to their removal to Horsham. The Lord Mayor and

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