The Express.
London, England, 1862-11-06 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER G.

Ma. COBDEN has spoken the thoughts of many
minds in saying that the relief of the distress in
the cotton districts mast at once and henceforward
be considered a national work, and have an
organization corresponding to its magnitude. He
is no doubt right, too, in recommending the
extension and transformation of the Central
Relief Committee which sits at Manchester
as the best means of attaining that object.
Such a measure would give the greatest increase
of efficiency with the least possible change. What
is now wanted is a central committee, whose hands
shall reach the uttermost parts of the empire, and
on whose work public attention will be concen-
trated. The most important part of the business
of the leading committees now active consists in
the collection of funds, their share in the actual
administration of relief being almost confined to
supervising the work of local bodies. When
the necessity of supplying extraneous help to
Lancashire first became manifest, no one could
foresee with certainty the extent either of the
calamity, or of the aid which the country would
be called to render. The Mansion-house Fund,
the Bridgewater-house Committee, and the Man-
chester Committee answered very well at first, and
still better when the two last were united. But
they were formed to deal with the evil in its
earlier and less menacing proportions, and they
have been overtaken by their work. Their
origin and constitution seemed to give an
amateur and local character to their efforts.
A good deal of money has been sent to
the Mansion-house, and much more would have
been sent there if Alderman Cusirr had not esta-
blished a reputation as the most incompetent ad-
ministrator ever lodged in the City Palace. But
the fussy incapacity displayed in the management
of the Indian Famine Fund and the PRINCE CON-
Som. Memorial Fund has been enough to over-
come the force of habit which naturally leads •
Londoner to the Lord Mayor. The Central Com-
mittee has, however, shown real administrative
ability, a fact which is recognised in the proposal
to extend its usefulness.

We have had many instances of wide-spread dis-
tress in England, but never before anything Itce
this. The case is altogether unique, and must be
met by extraordinary remedies. The superfluous
wealth thrown off by individuals to relieve con-
science, indulge sentiment, or procure a place in the
published subscription Hat, will not now suffice.
Here is a mighty work to be done ; no mere grand
demonstration of benevolence, but a dreadful evil
to be encountered. Adequately to deal with it, we
must take it in hand on principle, and carry it
out upon an intelligent and comprehensive system.
And truly it should be a matter of thankfulness to
us all that, if so taken up, the work, great as it is,
may be accomplished easily. The sums hitherto
subscribed are large iu comparison with what has
been done on former occasions, and undoubtedly
represent much generous effort; but we hope we
shall not be misunderstood when we say that they
bear as small a proportion to the means of the
classes of English society in the enjoyment of
wealth and competence as they do to the distress
to be relieved. It is stated that the loss to the
operatives through the cessation of wages is at the
rate of from 136,0001. to 150,0001. a week,