The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-14 00:00:00

Commence at 7.

MISS B ATEM AN.—LE ERY EV EN-
' SATURD IY, the 145th and last night be-
fore Easter Mcniday. when Miss Batement will re-appear in
her great impersonation of the Jewish matthn until further
notice In order 10 give due effect to tnls most remarkable
suc^esl of the se• 119 n, ea; ire,y new sc nery by the celebrated
ar ists Messrs. au' son and :-ons, and Thompson, and new
dr es s and appo ntroents have been prepared for its produc-
tiol.—N. IL In cOnseOlence of the pressing and numerous
~pplications at the 80-.c-offi 'O,
arrang.ement•, have row been
made by which &ats miy be. obtainel sent•, Fortnight in Ad-
gnce.

31%3AE:,'VONLDNAyw
NEEBXSTT EMR a r
dtnnthe DEAD

ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE. under the
Management of Mr. B. WEBSTER.
Crowded with rank and fashion.—The New Comedy of THE
SILVER LINING every Evening.—Mr. and Mrs. Charles
Mathews, Mrs. Stirling, Ars. Frank Matthews, and Mr. J.
L. Toole every evening. The following, eminent artistes are
engaged :—Mr. Benjamin Webster. Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. Paul
Bedford, Mr. Frederic Robinson, Mr. Ashley, and Mr. Chas.
Mathews ; Mrs. Stirling, Miss Herbert. Mrs. Frank Mat-
thews, Miss A. Cottrell, Miss Fanny Josephs, Miss Went-
worth, Mrs. Howard Paul, Mr. J. Clark, and Mrs. Charles
Mathews.
THIS EVENING. and during the Week, at 7 o'c'ock,
UNDER THE ROSE. Mr. Ashley, Miss A. Cottrell, and
Miss Patti Josephs.
At a quarter before 8, the new Comedy, by L. Bucking-
ham,'Esq., entitled THE SILVER LINDIG Mr. Charles
Mathews, Mr. Frederic Robinson, Mr. Ashley, Mr, John-
s'one. Mr. Montague; Mrs. ( harles Mathews, Mrs. Frank
Matthews, Miss Cottrell, Miss Wentworth, and Mrs. Stirling.
To be followed by Mr. Charles Mathews just translated
from the French)in his characteristic character of Un Anglais
Timide, entitled COOL AS A CUCUMBER.
Several novelties are In preparation.
On SATURDAY next, March 19, a variety of entertain-
ments, for the BENEFIT of Mr. and Mrs. CHARLES
MATHEWS.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Manager, Mr. W. H. Swanborough.
THIS EVENING, ON AND OFF.
To be followed by UNLIMITED CONFIDENCE. Mr.
Belford, Mr. Parselle ; Miss Marie Wilton, Miss Thorne.
After which, the Grand Christmas Burlesque, ORPHEU3
AND EURY DICE : Messrs. Honey, Wood, James Fenton,
Mesdames Swanborough, Marie Wilton, Hughes, &O.
Concluding with MARGATE BANDS.
Commence at 7.

HE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN,"
IL Containing the Latest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,
gam be had Every Evening of
G. R. GLINIE, NEWS AGENT,
No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park.

COALS.—The LILLESHALL COMPANY'S
COALS.
Direct from their own Collieries.
Marquis' 26s. per ton. I Double.. 21s. per ton.
Top 2ss. „ I Nut 5........ 19s. „
Deep ...
Well screened and delivered within five miles of their De-
pots, Westbourne Park-road, W., and 17, South Wharf,
I.)addington,
Best Core

Terms cash.
JOHN SCOTT, Sole Agent.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
Ttual DA.Y.—:Morning, 6h. 12m.—Afternoon, 6h. 32m.
ro-mottitow.-Idorning, 6h. 59a3.—Afternoon, 7h. 24m.

The Weather—Sun Office, March 14, 1864.

-

T RED:MOM ETE It .
This day at Two Oolock 5O
Barometer-20.01.
Wind—S.-Westerly; moderate breeze, and fine.

i
1444'
(eizja,
)

LONDON, MONDAY, MARCH 14, 1864.

" Second thoughts," have, happily, just for once
in a way, proved " better" with the Home Secretary.
His decision in regard to the convict 'TALL—that
rather surprising decision (surprising even from Sir
G. GREY) published in our impression of Saturday
.—was fortunately revised, though it was only
revised, so to speak, at the eleventh hour and
three quarters. With the miscrab:e condemned
himself it has been a close run indeed
between life and death. This morning he was to
have duly forfeited his existence according to the
first determination arrived at by the Home Snre-
t3rY, and announced through the right hon. baro-
net's rinewerlo the memorialists. Before midaight
it waS known, however, that additional evidence,
backed by the names of yet more and more
of those earneat memorialists had induced Sir
GEORGE GREY to alter his resolution, the announce-
went of the Home Secretary havingso altered it
coming tardily, but still opportunely, in the shape
of a reprieve. The recollection of the narrow escape
effected by the wretch TOWNLEY no doubt operated

powerfully, first in the ono direction, and afterwards
in exactly the opposite direction, with the Home
Secretary—driving him, in the first place, to an
obdurate refusal of the petition made in HALL'S
favour—and then, again, constraining him, upon
the yet more urgent renewal of that petition,
to grant its prayer by saving the life of the con-
victed murderer. Sir GEORGE GREY would natu-
rally shrink from so acting in regard to the con-
demned murderer as to afford his critics some show
of reason in reprehending him (for so much wholesale
leniency) as *mother saver of murderers almost as
systematic in sparing their lives as was his pre-
,,a ecessor, the late Sir GEORGE CORNEWALL LEWIS.
Yet while recoiling instinctively from running the
hazard of so acting as to ensure to himself
more effectually this unenviable kind of reputation
and of reprobation—the present Home Secretary
would upon second thoughts shrink no less anxiously
from that other risk,almost certainty under the actual
circumstances, the risk of having his cruel refusal
of a reprieve in the case of HALL terribly contrasted
with his weak and, as we still think, most cul-
pable concession of a reprieve in the case of
TOWNLEY. Fortunately—not merely for the con-
vict, but for himself, for his own reputa-
tion as Home Secretary—Sir GEORGE GREY
decided, upon maturer reflection, upon recalling
his refusal and sparing the life of HALL. A
murderer, and apparently a very deliberate mur-
derer HALL was : but under what fearful

provocation was he not goaded to raise
his hand wickedly to the slaying of his victim ! A
slight modification of the circumstances of the case,
and he would have been held guiltless by the law,
had he slain under a sudden impulse of fury not one
but two of his fellow creatures—his newly-married
wife and her paramour ! That ii, supposing, with
the arms innocently in his hands, he might
have chanced to surprise them together ! There
is an unquestionable boldness in this re-
vision of his own refusal of the reprieve of
HALL, by the Home Secretary. And it will be
but justice to bear the fact of it in remembrance
in his regard, when the thought of TOWNLEY
rises unpleasantly to our recollection.

The opening of a Parliamentary Session, in a
country that has the good fortune to be under a
constitutional Government, is always a matter of
some importance. There are countries, indeed,
where the gathering of representative assemblies is
nothing more than a mere form, without life or
spirit, since all parties know that nothing will be
the result but a ready acquiescence in all the pro-
posals of the ruling power. There are other capitals
in which the reassembling of the popular delegates
is a signal for the outbreak of political hostilities
between the ruler and the ruled. We have lately
had a striking specimen of such a position, when
the opening and closing of the Prussian Chambers
became sufficiently important to attract the atten-
tion of all Europe. The great fight which was to
be fought out in Berlin has now lost all its interest
in the eyes of the good people of the Fatherland in
the absorbing topic of the Denish struggle, but in
other parts of the world it is still happily possible
to find places where the meeting of the House of
Representatives is the principal subject of attention.
Among ourselves the opening of Parliament was
this year looked for with unwonted anxiety, since
matters of vital interest were waiting that free and
open discussion which is the mainstay of our poli-
tical existence, How far we have yet profited by
the gathering of our popular representatives, and
how much information we have succeeded by their
means in extracting from the reluctant occu-
pants of the Treasury Bench, are questions
more easily asked than answered. Pending
their settlement, however, it is refreshing to turn to
a province in which the deliberations of the Legis-
lature are encumbered by no such weighty matters
as are now perplexing the Cabinets of Europe, and
in which questions affecting internal government
are the only ones which the community are
called upon to settle. The opening of
the second session of the eighth Canadian
Parliament gives a sample of such a representative
assembly; and, to judge from the tencur of the
Governor-General's address, there is every indica-
tion of the favourable progress of the colony. The
matters treated of in the speech are of some interest,
and relate principally to the further development of
the natural resources and capabilities of the pros
vince. Measures are, we are told, in progress for
the improvement of the means of inland water com-
munication, with a view to secure to the colony a
larger proportion of the commerce of the western
lakes. This will be an important addition to the
trade of Canada, and will exercise a beneficial in-
fluence on its revenue. An outlay for such pur-
poses is the truest economy, and the wise and far-
seeing of a poor and embarrassed State will make
it their first object not only to reduce the actual
expenditure, but to ascertain by what means the
national :income may be increased. It is most
shortsighted and narrow-minded policy to consider
all disbursements that can be avoided as extrava-
gant and uncalled for. On the contrary, expendi-
ture for great works of public benefit are the best
and safest investment of national capital. It is the
want of such wise extravagance that has so long
retarded the development of our Indian resources,
and which even now leaves vast tracts parched and
barren, while the fertilising waters that might be
made the source of health and plenty to thousands
flow idly through neighbouring lands. In Canada,
happily, matters are managed on a different prin-
ciple, and the Governor expressly directs the
attention of the members to such improvements of
the Ottawa canals as will assist the development of
the valuable and extensive tracts of land drained by
the Ottawa and its tributaries. The Canadians
have certainly no reason to complain of the
lack of water, and they seem determined to
make the most of their advantages. They
are not, however, content with the means of water
communication only, but are pushing forward the
extension of their railways. There have been
various delays in the construction of the lines be-
t weep Canada and her two sister colonies—Nova
Scotia:and New Brunswick, and the survey of the
proposed route is not yet completed. The Governor
holds out hopes that it will now be shortly accone-
pliehed, when the expense and practicability of the
undertaking can be more eaeiiy considered. Another
subject of some colonial importance is the condition
of the expanse of country lying to the north-west
of the province. It is not very clearly understood
how far ED
glish rights extend in that quarter, but
the Governor has now
set an inquiry on foot, whose
conclusion will place matters on a clear and settled
basis. With regard to the subject of colonial mili-
tary defence, which has of late years been very fre-
quently discussed, the Governor merely remake
that he has taken steps for enforcing the Militia
acts of the last session,
and will continue to fulfil
their provisions. A large and efficient militia would
certainly be a most valuable defence to the colony,
and we do not question that in
the hour of danger
and emergency every citizen ea
pable of bearing
arms wou'd be a volunteer. But it is a great thing
to have energy and enthusiasm supported by
knowledge and experience, and the Canadians would
do well to imitate the example of the mother
country in this respect by enrolling a regular
Volunteer force so far as the reqeitemente of drill

and muster roll could be complied with by the busy
colonists. The financial condition of the country
is not altogether satisfactory at present, but the
Governor promises measures which shall attain the
happy end of adjusting the happy end of income
and expenditure. Altogether England has good
good reason to feel proud of the growth and pro-
gress of her young dependency, and we earnestly
trust that no dark cloud of war or disaster may
shadow her rising fortunes.

The reply of Mr. VILLIERS to the question of
Lord R. CECIL, relating to the subject of the recent
case of starvation in Bethnal-green, is most unsatis-
factory. It is, indeed, difficult to follow the right
hon. gentleman in his remarks, or to form a very
accurate idea of what his object can be in • thus
glossing over the affair. Lord CECIL very properly
asked whether any steps would be taken to investi-
gate the proceedings. It would seem to have been
the proper and natural course to have adopted
under the circumstances; but no, the President of
the Poor Law Board informs the House that the
result of the inquiries he had made was satisfactory.
This statement does not accord with the verdict of
the jury, who found gross mismanagement to have
taken place, and instructed the Coroner to Bend a
report of their verdict to the Poor Law Board.
Nothing can excuse the neglect of not instituting
a special inquiry into the whole of the circumstances
connected with the case, or, above all, to note very
particularly the conduct of the relieving officer, and
to mark its bearings upon the fatal result which
ensued. The impression which was produced upon
the minds of those who perused the sad details is
not removed by the excuses alleged by those in
authority. It is very significant that no attempt is
made to extenuate the non-admission of the poor
woman to the infirmary of the workhouse. That
fact is left alone altogether, and as it is the one im-
portant point in the whole transaction, such an
omission is very conspicuous, and it is incumbent
upon all who are at all in any way connected with
the case either remotely or nearly, directly or
indirectly, to afford the most full and complete
rehearsal of their proceedings. It is very
necessary that some notice should be taken of
this matter in another point of view, and that is to
interpose a veto upon the reprehensible practice that
prevails in some districts of insisting upon the whole
family coming into the house, if but one member of
it requires relief or assistance. The very notion of
such a thing is an absurdity, and the only probable
solution of the enigma is that these laws are laid
down so arbitrarily, for the sake of increasing
the number of applicants. It is a very frivolous
plea that is put forward in extenuation, that no
application was made for nutriment. if it had
been there is no valid reason to suppose that it
would have been of any avail. What grounds are
there for assuming that more attention would have
been paid to one more than another. Besides
this is altogether begging the question, since
the poor sufferer required something more than
nutriment. It demands very little knowledge of
disease to comprehend that when persons have been
reduced by long continued want, food is not so
much what they require as other treatment, in the
shape of warmth, proper beds, and so on. If the
husband were in possession of a small sum weekly,
what might support himself and children would
not afford the comforts and luxuries indispensable
to one hovering on 'the verge of death. The evi-
dence of two medical men has certified that the
deceased died from starvation, and the expression
of opinion on the part of the jury stamps the affair
with an importance that deserves credence, and
demands care and attention. The husband being
an occasional labourer i❑ the docks could not have
received money during all the winter, severe and in-
clement as it has been, and the fact of the poor man's
employment is made to read any way that is con-
venient. He is either well to do, and should sup-
port his wife at home, or else failing to do this when
her health fails from previous privation, he must
perforce become a pauper himself, and perhaps
throw away his own chance in life, and compro-
mise the future prospects of his children by sacri-
ficing his own independence. Until it has been
explained by what right, or whose authority, and
for what reason, the relieving officer refused to
allow the woman to come into the infirmary, the
subject ought not to be allowed to drop, nor a stop
put to the inquiries on the question, It is too late
to do any good in this case, but harm may be pre-
vented from ocurring in many similar cases that
are sure to take place, and may even now be taking
place around us. There can be no more dangerous
precedent established than this of permitting re-
lieving officers to take upon themselves the power
to read the rules of the establishment according to
their own showing. The best way to arrive at the
truth is to clear the case of all complications, by
taking up the matter on the broad principle of
right and wrong. What are chiefs and subordi-
nates appointed for—why is public money spent if
the primary object is not attained, and a shelter
provided for the afflicted poor in their hour of
greatest need, and their time of dread extremity.
Haman life is too fragile in its tenure to be trifled
with in such emergencies. While one is arguing
and another expostulating about the propriety of
removing the sufferer to the infirmary, or the de-
sirability of other modes of treatment, the precious
moments go by, and death removes the victim of
ceaseless bickering and debate to a sphere where
their cruel mockery of mercy can no more obtrude.
It is important that the whole system of admission
to workhouses in cases of distress and sickness
should be brought under careful consideration, and
until this is done iffeetually, there will be no end to
the voice of complaint, and the language of murmur-
ings. If the ends of succour are not met by the
present mode of procedure, it is surely sufficient
proof that a change is required, and a heavy respon-
sibility will rest upon all those who have the power,
but from one reason and another lack the will to
introduce the necessary change, and effect the salu-
tary alterations that are imperatively called for.

MR. WILD, of Charing-cross, has just published
a clear and distinct map of the environs of Fredericia,
which will be of service to every reader of the Dane-German
war.
NAPOLEON 111. AND MAXIMILIAN. Nothing
can surpass the attention of the Emperor to the
Archduke Maximilian since his arrival in Paris. The Arch-
duke takes every occasion to express his admiration of his
Majesty, whom he looks upon as the highest intellect in the
world; and the Emperor, on the other hand, thinks that,
with time, his Imperial Highness will come up to his own
standard.

THE NEXT ANNUAL DINNER OF THE ARTISTS'
GENERAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION will be held next
month, with the Bishop of Oxford in the chair.
THE SCHOOLMASTER ABROAD.—A correspondent
of the Gazette de Perronne communicates the following
copy of a letter recently written by a soldier to the mayor
of a villago near Ham, in answer to a note informing him
of his father's death. The brave fellow has learnt to write,
certainly, and is a bit of philosopher in his way ; but what
most distinguishes him is his original style of spelling :
" Je remairei bocou naccieu le mer de la mors demon per
sex et un petit aquecidan qui arivo dans Id familio. Canta
moi jo suit a lopital avec une jambre de moin avec la quelle
j,;3 loneurre de vow] salue--S," The letter may be thus
translated :—" I heartily thank Mr. Mayor for ray father's
death. It is a little accident which happens in families. As
for me, I am in the hospital minus one leg, with which 1
have the honour to salute you.,,
DEATH OF A CENTENARIAN.—A woman named
Flora Macleod, batter known as Widow Macpherson, a
native of Inverness, died here on the 25th ult., at the ex-
traordinary age of 103 years and seven months,—lnverness
Courier.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE WAR IN JUTLAND,
KOLDING, MARCH 14.
The Danish infantry has embarked at Aarhuns,
for Fredericia and Alan.
The cavalry have started for Viborg.
General von Gablenz has returned from Veils.

AUSTRIA.
THE AUSTRO-PRUSSIAN ALLIANCE.
VIENNA, Mama 11.

The official Wiener Abendpost contains the fol-
lowing :—" The Kreuz zettung announces to-day
that Austria and Prussia are completely agreed
relative to their u'terior action against Den-
mark ; the telegraph now confirms this intelligence,
which we greet with sentiments of high patriotic
satisfaction. We have only to add that the march
of the two great Powers into Jutland has been
provoked entirely by the attitude of Denmark.
The military position which she has assumed in
Jutland, the forces which she has concentrated
around Fredericia, have decided the Austro•
Prussian army not to limit its operations to a strict
line of demarcation, the more so as the enemy occu
pies a flank position in Jutland, and the allied army
stationed before Duppel are constantly exposed to
serious risk. Let us add that Denmark is resolved to
continue hostilities at sea, and has taken steps for
that purpose which undoubtedly justify, and even
necessitate the seizure of some object as compen-
sation. The new co operation of the allies in no
degree changes the political programme of their
action."

BOMBAY AND MAURITIUS MAILS.
SOUTHAMPTON, MARCEI 14.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Ellora, with the heavy portion of the above mails,
has arrived here. She brings 85 passengers, X 699
in specie, and 373 packages of general cargo, The
Ellora spoke the Ripon on the 10th inst., the
Magdalena on the 12th, and the Syria on the 13th.
Gibraltar, March 9.—Letters from Tangiers
report the death of M. Beclard, French Minister
in Morocco.

A heavy gale visited Gibraltar on the 5h inst.
Eight vessels were standed in the bay, and numer3
ons other casualties occurred to other shipping in
the harbour.

Exchange on London, 90 days, was quoted 5057
Paris, 5 30; Marseilles, 5 31 to 5 32; Madrid, eight
days' sight, par.

FRANCE.

PARIS, MARCH 14.

A telegram from Constantinople, dated the 13th
inst., states that Prince Conza adheres to his former
declarations upon the secularisation of convent pro-