The Sun.
London, England, 1855-03-26 00:00:00

THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET.
Under the management of Mr. Buekstone.
THIS EVENING.
Will be presented THE SECRET AGENT. Principal charecteTs
by Mr Backatone and Miss E. Chaplin.
To be followed by THE SPANISH DANCERS.
THE BALANCE OF COMFORT.
After which MAKE YOUR WILLS.

lish newspaper with one of the best of the
American journals will at once convince him ; and
it must be borne in mind that there is no paper
tax nor any Excise restrictions at the other side
of the Atlantic. The inferior quality of paper
would, therefore, be even more largely resorted
to in this country than in tho United States.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE, OXFORD-STREET.
Under the Management of Mr. CHARLES BEAN.
THIS EVENING,

So much for the revenue. The circulation of
intelligence would not be increased, even if the
journals remained equally efficient, and the num-
ber issued was largely increased. At present, in
consequence of the postal facilities allowed, tiler©
are few papers that do not pass through several
hands. They may be read the first day in town,
then transmitted to the country, and passed two or
three times through country offices; in fact, three
or four persons frequently join at present to pur-
chase a metropolitan journal—a course which
will be greatly impeded if the proposed alterations
should receiN e the legislative sanction.
One of the chief difficulties was, however, over-
looked or disregarded before the opinions of these
practical men had been elicited. It would, it
appears, be almost impossible for the parties to
pack and sort a mixed edition of stamped and
unstamped journals when driven to the very last
moment as is necessarily the case at present. Be-
sides, delays would take place in the Post-office
itself. In order to guard against fraud many
papers would be examined and frequently mis-
laid. Regarding the matter then in all its varied
aspects, considering its probable effects with re-
spect to the revenue, to the community at large,
and to the proprietors, conductors, and vendors
of newspapers, and the steadily increasing feeling
of dissatisfaction, it is impossible to resist the
demand for postponement and further informa-
tion. The law, as it now stands, avowedly works
well, and it is a sound principle to let well enough
alone.

Will be presented the original adaptation of Casimir Delavigne's
Historical Play, entitled LOUIS THE ELEVENTH. Principal
taaracter by Mr. C. Kean.
To be followed by (10th time) a new Farce, entitled A GAME
OF ROMPS. Principal characters by Messrs. Harley and Chester ;
Mrs. Winstanley, Misses Heath, Murray, C. Leclercq, Daly, and
Ternan.
---- •

To conclude with AWAY WITII MELANCHOLY.

THEATRE. ROYAL ADELPIII.
, proprietor, Mr. B. Webster.—Dircctress, Madame Celeste.
Tins EVENING,
mu* performed a new and original Drama, preceded by a Pro-
wile, and called JANET PRIDE.
After which, BETTY MARTIN.
To tontine with TILE FETE OF NATIONS.

EIYAL OLYMPIO THEATRE.
Le3see and Manager, Mr. A. Wigan.
THIS EVENING,

Wlll be presented the new Comedietta, called TIT FOR TAT. In
Which Messrs. F. Robson, A. Wigan, and Miss Maskell will appear.
Followed by the Face entitled A BLIGHTED BEIXG, in
which Mr. F. Robson will appear.

Atter which, a new Fairy Extravaganza, entitled TEE YELLOW
DWARF AND THE KING OF THE GOLD MINES. Characters
by Mr. F. Robson, Miss Julia St. George, Miss E. Ormonde, Miss
Marston, Miss Bromley, and Mrs. Fitzallau.

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPHITHEATRE.
Lessee and Manager, Mr. Win. Cooke.
THIS EVENING,
The Omni Romantic Equestrian Spectacle called TIMOUR THE
TARTAR.
After which, the incomparable SCENES in the CIRCLE, and the
astounding evolutions of the Four Performing Elephants, with Herr
Endersohn's acc mplished Performance en the Slack Wire.
An Equestrian Spectacle of peculiar construction is in act've
paration for Easter Monday.
Box-office open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. VI •
West. Acting Manger, Mr. W. H. Cooke. Equestrian Director,
Kr. W. Cooke, Jun.

NATIONAL STANDARD.
THIS EVENING,
Will be performed, THE DUCHESS of MALEI. Duke, Mr.
Marston; Duchess, Miss Glyn.
After which, a DIVERTISEMENT. Mr. and Mrs. Hemminv.
To conclude with BL:ICK•EYED SUSAN•

ROYAL STBAZ;33 TIIEATRE.
Under the direction of Miss Rebecca Isaacs.
Tars EVENING,
For the Benefit of Mr. PAYNE,
Will be performed THE CRICKET ON ME HEAR.TII. Cha-
racters by Messrs J. Ilalford, Ro.;e7 son, and I:inloch ; and Miss Be-
becea Isaacs, Miss Beaumont, and Mies Somers.
After which, 'llirAS Characters by Messrs. Rin-ozh and J.
Eoward; Miss Isaacs, Mi 33 Beaumont, and Mrs. Laws.
To to folksy:A with a C -.;NCERT.
To which will be added a Pallet Divcrtissment.
To conclude with the DANCING 6COICIDIAN.

A loblolly boy on board a man of-war--a pow-
der monkey to a midshipman's mess—although
by no means reposing on a bed of roses, enjoys a
perfect sinecure when compared with an officer of
the army medical department. Although his
masters may be numerous and exigante, he yet
knows their number and the frill extent of their
own responsibility, so as to be enabled to calculate
with tolerable precision the " whippings" lie is
likely to receive in the course of the day or week.
Besides, his task-masters, though tyrannical and
unreasonable themselves, support their servant
against all others. It may be from their selfish
motives—from being well aware that unless they
A did so he would be good for nothing, and that
they could not enjoy the advantages they required
from his exertions. But the medical officer is
not only powerless to act for himself, but even
with prolonged experience he is totally ignorant
as to the point at which, the surveillance of one
department ends and that of another begins. Let
the evils coming under his observation be ever
so glaring—let the men placed under his charge
be enduring the greatest privations their
very lives seriously endangered from pre-
ventible causes —he can yet do nothing.
He may " represent" whatever he pleases. The
chances of obtaining redress are certainly very
trifling. Bat complaints are strictly selon, les
regles, and therefore ho may occupy as much time
as he pleases in writing ; but the moment he ven-
tures to give an order he finds his authority con-
wt....a, Ana mwsea pouncea Vii by some one or
more of the many departments with which he is
so unfortunately connected.
The evidence of Dr. ANnatEw SMITH, the soi-
disant Director-General. of the Medical Depart-
ment, places this grievance in a strong point of
view. He finds himself in the first instance
placed under the direct (-ontrol of some half-a-
dozen different departments, all unwilling to take
any step lest it might be trenching on the autho-
rity of others, but peculiarly sensitive respecting
any interference with their own. No one, it ap-
pears, can accurately define the line of demarcation
between the different jurisdictions. The parties
themselves will abstain from giving any order, or
doing anything, but, " like dogs in the manger,"
they are prepared at once to attack the person
who may endeavour to cut the Gordian
knot' by assuming tke responsibility which
they themselves had previously repudiated.
In fact the 'practice rappears to be that they
will neither do anything themselves nor permit
others to do it.
It is not merely the higher authorities that are
so troublesome. It is true that the Director-
General appears to owe a divided allegiance to the
Secretary of War, the Secretary at War, the Mas-
ter-General of the Ordnance, the civic authority of
the Beard of Ordnance, the Commander-in-Chief,
ezc. Now that the Secretaryship at War
has been abolished, he may, as Dr. SMITH re-
marked, have one master less ; but still it will be
admitted that quite enough remain to perplex
and puzzle the clearest head. The minor annoy-
ances are, however, far greater. A host of mas-
ters, whose name is legion, arise at every point to ,
obstruct the medical officer on duty. The military
commandant of the hospital nominally placed
under his control, the engineer officer, the
Transport Service, the Ambassador or Consul, the
officer of the Ambulance Corps, and a host of
others too numerous to mention.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Tars DAs —Mornikp 20 rnin.tner 7 I Eveni,4 51 7
To-'.frß - Murnini 39 rain.e.fter S 1 Evoniz4 25 m17.).4n.

11.118 Wit.aTailß.—Suw Oliferi, March. 25.
THERMONETEB, IN TUE SHADE.
41— highest since noon yesterday.
33 —;owest this morning and during the night.
43—this day, at noon.
BAROMETER, 29'51.
WIND, N.—Light breeze, with fine, cold weather.
MARCH 26.
45—' ighest since noon yesterday.
31—'owest this morning ar d during the night
42 —this day at noon.
8,-.ItOICITIn, 29'73.
WIND, E.N.E.—Light breeze, with very fine, sunsLiny
weather.

c%-0

TT)

~A

§AIII,

LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH. 26, 1855.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer must indulge
in very brilliant anticipations as to the state of
the revenue should he persist in forcing the
Newspaper Stamp Bill on the House of Commons.
The guardians of the public purse must be pre-
pared to yield to tne _rtignu ilvuuutdauit, Datia,4c.,
the blind and unreasoning confidence so un-
sparingly exacted by his predecessor if they con-
sent to sacrifice irretrievably at least two hundrcd
thousand pounds, or more probably a quarter oF
a million sterling, before hearing the financial
statement of the now Minister, and his exposition
of the financial prospects of the country. Were
the Newspaper Stamp Bill as anxiously desired as
it is decidedly rejected, as well by the community
in general as by those pecuniarily interested in
its working, it would still be a rash experiment
to sanction before the Budget had been opened,
and full information accorded as to the nature of
the substitute or substitutes to be provided. Under
existing circumstances, however, we can searcel,y
conceive the possibility of the reasonable applica-
tioa of Mr. DENDM being rejected, or the measure
being recklessly or indecently forced on, in spite
of the grave objections that have been put for-
ward against its provisions.
Since last we commented on this important'
subject, a clue possessing greater practical ex.
perience, and better qualified to form a sound
judgment as to the probable results of the mea-
sure, should it unfortunately be suffered to pass
into a law, has spoken out distinctly and unequi-
vocally. If there were any weight in the argu-
ments put forward in favour of the abolition of
the Stamp, the members of the newspaper trade
would find it their interest to advocate the change.
After mature and attentive consideration of all its
provisions, they have, however, arrived at the
conclusion that it will materially., enhance the
difficulties of conducting their business, and ren-
der labours, already exceedingly arduous, almost
impossible to be performed.
The newsvendors, at their meeting, a report
whereof appeared in our impression of Friday,
besides entering into the general policy of the
measure, and showing the probable deterioration
of high-class journals, were enabled to grapple with

many details on which the Chancellor of the Ex- But all the annoyances vanish in comparison to
chequer and the House of Commons are profoundly those occasioned by the Purveyor, a functionary
ignorant. Thus, for instance, as to the probable loss whose duties appear to be procuring the various
to the revenue, the leading men of the trale matters ordered by the medical officer, but who,
could confidently declare that it would be far generally speaking, seems to take pleasure
greater than had been anticipated ! And why ? in thwarting him, and repudiating his autho-
Simply, because from the increased competition it rity on every possible occasion. At Scutari,
would be necessary to reduce expenses to the a Septuagenarian named WARD, who was
lowest possible scale. As Mr. WILD truly re- " accustomed to the old way of doing things, and
marked--" If we had a cheap press, the journals had not vigour enough for the position," was ap-
would be sent to their destination by the cheapest pointed purveyor, and many of the deaths that
conveyance !" There can be no doubt that it occurred may be directly traced to his perverse
would be far cheaper to send them in bulk by obstinacy and senile imbecility. Ile had some
railway rather than in single copies through the exaggerated sense of his own importance, that led
11°4. It is, therefore, a legitimate and strictly him to turn a deaf ear to every suggestion, and
logical conclusion, that the railways would sue- directly refuse to obey every order. What pri-
cessfully compete with the Post-office in the con- vate individuals could easily obtain, he either
veyanoe of unatamped papers. Indeed, at the would not or could not procure, and he hardened
present moment many
stamped journals are sent his heart against the sufferings of the patients,
of thys
by rail, in consequence
additional time and being wholly indifferent as to the privations which
b
greater facilities allowed the great companies they were undergoing. According to the testi-
than by the national
establishment. If mony already given, it would seem that there was
g circumstances, men
then, under existin
prima facie evidence to establish not one, but
may be found
willing to
post
rather than send free by post, iby rail many cases of manslaughter against him. A
t may be Medical Board reported that he was not fit for
regarded as certain that few will voluntarily pay duty ; but Lord RAGLAN, with cruel kindness—
a much larger sum by post than what will be de. kindness to the red-tapiet martyr, but cruel to
the hundreds, aye, thousands, of patients whose
mended for the preferable conveyance. It is
therefore more than probable that were materially enhanced by his mis-
be the loss will afflictions
duct—remonstrated against his removal, and
might be
nearer 400,0001 b than 250,0001., and for that con
after his inefficiency, and worse than
there will be no compensation, inasmuch as— I retained him
had become painfully notorious.
putting out of the question the argument solinefficiency,
twiterteheprlae cansocitn.eb e
paced in such untoward
clearly and ably put' by the chairman of the I So far there
:use:tell:l a ttiohr:
meeting as to the results of the onslaught that
,medicalutiistamneene,s.whßo
Y required. These
will be made on the paper duty—it by no means
inacclirate reports; the false circumstances.
follows that there would be an increased consump- :of the statements, '
tion of duty-paying paper, the tax being levied that they had everything they
1 '
according to weight, and the flimsy fabric likely untruths led to the scepticism with which the
to be in demand, when " the cheap and nasty " earlier newspaper accounts were received, and de-
system was in operation, being much lighter than I layed the remedies that wore so urgently required.
!
that on which any of our journals are now pub- The men who should have keenly felt the priva-
lished. Should any person remain sceptical on Cons of their patients endeavoured to screen the ,
ell as for !
point a comparison of any respectable Eng- real delinquents.,k7rom this charge; as w c,
_ i