The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-22 00:00:00

and gaols are managed in a more uniform system,
it is certain that the task of supervision will be
simplified, and the general process rendered more
satisfactory. Besides, if these changes are not
deemed sufficient, when carried into effect, it will be
easy to make an addition or alteration hereafter in
tie practice, but no mistake can be greater than
co do nothing in the way of practical interference
and reformatory legislation. The effect produced
on all cusses would be generally detrimental, while
'among the prisoners it would exercise a very perni-
cious influence. Oa all accounts, then, it seems
satisfactory that Sir G. GREY has succeeded in so
fir carrying this Bill through Parliament, and the
moderation he has displayed affords a good hope
that he will be able to see it become law before the
close of the present session, It is a curious subject
for the attentive observer to speculate upon, thin
difficulty that we have had in the management of
our convicts and prisoners of late years, and the
solution will not be readily arrived at. At all
events, it shows that there is not progress every-
where, and that, with all our boasted resources, we
often make mistakes and fail to realise results as
our forefathers did. It is called a safe extreme one,
but experience has shown it to be a very dangerous
one to persist in modifying the severity of all prison
laws until the dwellers therein come to regard the
whole affair very much i❑ the light of a nonentity.

The old proverb respecting the month of March
has been strikingly exemplified in the case of the
Government Annuities Bill. On its first introduc-
tion the Chancellor of the Exchequer explained its
provisions with his wonted eloquence and ability,
but in the course of his exposition ho made such
song remarks upon the general management of
ft iendly societies, and brought in so many per•
sonalities, that a storm of opposition was forthwith
raised both within and withoat the doors of the
House. Hon. members who had been in any way
connected with such societies seemed to regard the
bill as ,an aspersion on their characters, and they
were accordingly ready with word and vote to offer
it all the opposition in their power. Outside the
Parliamentary walls private interests were not less
busy in organising a formidable opposition. Public
meetings were got up, and working men were
induced to believe that a measure designed wholly
and solely for the benefit of themselves and their
families was nothing but an unwarrantable attack
upon their constitutional liberties. I-Lppily, all
has passed away under the magic of a select com-
mittee, and Monday evening saw the bill which
had given occasion to so much attack and defence,
mutual recrimination, charges and counter-charges,
pass through its final stage, amidst nothing but
courtesies and congratulations, exchanges of com-
pliments, and expressions of goodwill. It is true
that some important additions have been made to the
measure, and some modifications of it have improved
its rower and substance ; but the principle upon
which it was originally founded remains the same,
now that it has become law, anti consequently
there is good reason to congratulate the Chancellor
of the Exchequer and the country at large on so
valuable an addition to our legislation. The fact
is that the bill was so much needed, it offered
such valuable facilities to the working man for
f E 0
curing the independence of his family, it
ends
much to protect him against the fraurlalent or im-
provident application of his harp-earned savings,
that when impartial and well-qualified judges
began to examine into i'as structure there could be
but little doubt of ',PC result. It shows the diffe-
rence between a party measure and a echeme for
the nations', good, irrespective of political conside-
rations. When the angry feelings too rashly and
carelessly exoited by Mr. GLADSTONE had subsided,
4 fair inquiry into the case brought forward such a
mass of evidence to substantiate all the arguments
en behalf of the bill tact there could be but one
result. It is worthy of notice, that in the principal
difference of opinion which took place in the cogi-
tations of the committee, a division took place in
which the greater part of those who supported Mr.
GLADSTONE'S view of the case were his original
opponents, while those on the other aide had been
all along favourable to the measure. Mr. GLAD-
STONE himself cited this singular fact as a proof of
the impartiality with which the committee had
examined into the matter. The point on which its
members were at issue on the occasion referred to
was one of considerable importance, and the
question was whether the assurance created
ander the bill should be a property transferable
by law. The Chancellor of the Exchequer
took the affirmative side, and it was happily decided

in his favour, since many instances might arise in
which the operation of such a permissive clause
might be very advantageous. Other changes were
made in the bill, many of them of a restrictive cha-
racter, which never had the effect of removing the
objections made to it. Mr. hOTHERON ESTCOURT,
who at first made many such objections, now ex-
presses himself as being most anxious for its suc-
cess. He had feared that the Government was
likely to interfere with private enterprise, but the
introduction of words limiting any payment made
after death to the sum of £lOO quite removed that
fear. Tt en he had been apprehensive that the bill

would injuriously affect those establishments and
associations which are got up and managed exclu-
sively by working men. Tbie objection was removed
by the enactment that no contracts for payments
made at death should be for lees than £2O, so that
the opposite dangers are guarded against by these
two limitation clauses. The stipulation that the

tables on which payments are calculated shall be
based on a 3 per cent. rate tended still further to
remove any idea that the Government scheme would
compete injuriously with fairly established indepen.
dent companies. Such companies have little to fear
from a scheme whose profits are so smal:, whose rate
of interest so low, and whose operation is confined
within such strict limits. Oa the other hand, there
can be no doubt that it offers most solid and lasting
advantages to the prudent and industrious. It is
especially useful for young men of the working
class, who, before they marry can thus lay up a
store and ensure their families from destitution in
case of their death. The amount ensured for would
enable a working man's widow to enter upon some
respectable means of gaining a livelihood, would

help her to apprentice her children, to pay her rent,
and provide for any other expenses contingent on
hEr husband's illness and death. Mr. GLADSTONE
decided that the condition attached to savings banks
deposits was not applicable to these annuities, so
that the fact of (Meting an insurance under this
act will not hinder the insurer from depositing any
savings he may make in an ordinary savings bank.
Working men will not be slow to find out the ad-
vantages which it offers to them; and we trust it
its successful operation, greatly to
may tend, by
diminish that distress and destitution which so

often adds heavily to the weight of a domestic be-
reavement in the labouring classes, and the pros-
pect of which for those dear to him must often em.
bitter the last hours of a working man.

A BD-EL-KADER is about take up his reeidence on
the estate at Biraboubeblah in the Isthmuv, which has been
given to him by the Suez Canal Company.
THE ROYAL ACADEMY EXHIBITION NN i!1 be
opened in the evening, as cf late years, at the end of the
eighth week of its continuance, 011 the 27th inst.