The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-21 00:00:00

appertain to her history read more like one of those
tales which used to delight an earlier generation
than the records of doings which belong to this
laggard age. So far then there is not so much to
regret in the sudden end of this celebrated vessel—
she seems to have fulfilled the intention of her crew,
and not to have left a wreck behind for her foes to
triumph over. Doubtless there will be most ex-
treme rejoicing in New York when the news of
Sundey's conflict reaches there, but they must
remember that instead of now boastivg at the
victory they might consider the length of time that
it has taken to catch this terror of their navy. The
end mast come to all triumn'ee and the end of
the Alabama has not been a mean or unworthy
close to a career of daring and adventure. She has
gone down to an eceen grave fighting valiantly,
with courage undaunted, and zeal that knew no
abatement. if we lament that her victories are
o'er, that the skilful little craft can no mere plough.
the waves, there remains other points of satisfac-
tion to mitigate the regret, and the crew who so
gallantly defended her will rejoice that she is safe
under the great waters from the grasp of a cruel
foe, and may not serve their triumphs when they
return to tell their friends of the fight and victory.

Alderman SALOMON'S Bill for purchasing South-
wark and Waterloo Bridges appears to have given
rise to some dissatisfaction on the part of the rate-
payers of the metropolis. The bill which the
Alderman has introduced into Parliament is de-
signed to facilitate the passage of traffic across the
Thames within the metropolis, plod it is proposed
that power should be given to the Metropolitan
Board of Works to purchase any one or more of the
seven proprietary bridges within the area of their
jurisdiction, and to levy a rate not exceeding a
penny in the pound for the purpose of defraying
the expense of such purchase, the power to levy the
rate being granted until January Ist, 1884. This
does not appear to be by any means an unjust or
extravagant scheme. It is evident from the very
fact of there being seve❑ proprietary bridges within
the are of the metropolis that there is great need
of some reform. These bridges give rise to very
great inconvenience o❑ the part of the poorer classes,
a fact sufficiently proved by the thinness of the
population in their vicinity. The toll, too, has the
injurious effect of encouraging the overcrowding
of the busy thoroughfares on the Middlesex side,
since labouring men and others, who are fore( d. to
live near their work, object to adding the amount of
the weekly toll to their rent. If a working man
has to pass to and fio even twice a day, the
amount will be sixpence a week, and sixpence
a week makes a good deal of difference in four or
five shillings rent. Where the men go home to
dinner, &e,, the amount is. of course, doubled, and
so they crowd their families away on the north side
of the river, while the south in many parts remains
comparatively bare. Ratepayers have a good right
and good cause to watch jealously any addition to
their burdens, but in the present instance their
opposition is scarcely well-founded, seeing that
they themselves will participate in the relief. It
is most probable that by far the greater number of
ratepayers have occasion to cross some of the toll
bridges several times in the course of the year, and
if they do so in vehicles they are now paying an
amount which is nearly equal to a moderate rate,
for, as it is only proposed to purchase one bridge
at a time, the full amount of one penny per pound
need certainly not be levied. All the arguments
against turnpikes apply with double force to toll-
gates on bridges, and it is a most inconvenient and
unsatisfactory way of levying money. It adds very
much to the confusion at London-bridge and other
of our great thoroughfares, since heavy waggons,
&0., are naturally sent by the free bridges, and so
they ere overcrowded to a dangerous extent. All
the metropolitan highways and byeways should be
free, and the traffic over old Father Thames should
be free also. If we object to impoeiticrs on our
trade, and obstructions to our commerce, we should
certainly remove these impediments which come
under bosh heads, and are entirely opposed to the
whole spirit of our legislation.

It has always been felt that the claims of those
who devote their lives to the public service deserve
paramount consideration at the hands of the nation.
Soldiers and sailors more especially are entitled to
relief and assistance in times of sickness and dis-
tress, since they are called upon to sacrifice and to
risk so much on behalf of their countrymen. Eng-
land, never slow to acknowledge a claim upon her
gratitude or her kindness, has readily responded to
the wants and requirements of her disabled or
superannuated naval and military servants; and if
Chelsea and Greenwich do not fully accomplish the
works for which they were designed, it is not the
fault of their original founders, nor is it owing to
a want of sympathy and approbation for their
objects on the part of the public. But until lately
there was a great lack of care for the families of
these brave men, and the various institutions and
associations designed to benefit and assist the
soldier, and left the important work of caring for
those dear to him undone. The soldier's daughter
has an especial claim upon our care, since she is
deprived of the counsel and protection of a father,
perhaps during the most important part of her life,
if he is stationed abroad. she is liable at any
moment to be orphaned by the casualties of man or
the evil influences of an unhealthy climate. An
expedition like the Ashantee affair makes many
orphans, and it is not too much to expect that the
nation shall care for those helpless ones whom the
soldier has left behind him. The Soldier's
Daughter's Home, at Hampstead, was provided
eight years ago, for the purpose of educating and
providing for soldiers' daughters. It was opened
under the auspices of the late Prince Consort, and
has been patronised by many distinguished per-
sons; still it is unsatisfactory to find that at
the annual meeting held on the anniver-
sary of its opening oa Saturday last,
the report stated the number of annual subscrip-
tions to be diminished. The financial condition of
the house is at present good, but its progress rests
on an insecure foundation, unless the annual sub-
scribers hold their ground. The practical working
of the Institution is very satisfactory. The girls
who have left it are doing well in the world; one
of them has gained a scholarship, and is in training
for a schoolmistress ; others are in service and
attended to and receive prizes for good conduct,
while the average number in the house is 162. A
peertoeobfl
iosfh
m e then t greatis great
oe need
b y
tthhea tf a
ee
tx ist for such s
that
more
than
a an
hundred applications have been refused for went of
funds. It is gratifying to find that soldiers them-
selves appreciate its value, since we are told that
-ting
contributions from regiments are on the increase,
and the committee have wisely resolved on grant-
ing to reg a
requisiteeohole
scholars. The
he
eoi
of
WELLINGTON,ea nen onitsio cao;nitcrgiba regimental
ELLINGTON, and other gentlemen who
Dokepri privilege eogf
attended the meeting, desirous of putting the
regular income of the institution on a better foot-
ing, increased the amount of their annual subserip.
tions, thereby giving practical evidence of their
interest in its success. We hope that a good many
others will follow their example, since the import-
ance of protection and regular training for soldiers'
daughters must be a7ideut to all. It has become '