The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-31 00:00:00

Death of Mr, 3, It, E, Wemyss, MP,

We have to announce the demise of Mr. James
Hay Erskine Wemyss, M.P. for Fifeshire. The
hon. member expired on Tuesday last at his house
at Buckingham-gate. The deceased gentleman, who
was eldest son of the late Rear-Admiral James
Erskine Wemyss and Lady Emma, sixth daughter
of William, sixteenth Earl of Erroll, was born Aug.
27, 1829, so that he was only in his 35th year. He
married 17th April, 1855, Millicent Anne Mary,
posthumous daughter of the late Hon. John Ken-
nedy Erskine and Lady Augusta Fitzclarenee
(daughter of his late Majesty William IV.), subse-
quently remarried to Lord Frederick Gordon Hally.
burton. At the general election in 1859 he was first
elected for Fifeshire, being opposed by his relative
Lord Loughborough, the late member polling
1,087 votes, his cousin 850. During the few years
he had been in Parliament be supported the Whig
party, was favourable to a measure of Parliamen-
principle to Lord Russell's tary Reform similar in
proposition. On national education in Scotland he
took a more, generous view than many Scottish
members in the House of Commons, for he promised
his support to any well-considered measure based
upon liberal and " unsectarian" principles. The
family of the late member possess great political
influence in the county of Fife. As a collateral
branch of the Earls of Wemyss, having descended
from the Hon. James Wenaysq, son of James, fifth
Earl of Wemyss, the late member's family inherited
large estates in the county, including Wemyss
Castle and Torrid House. The deceased gentleman's
father, Rear Admiral Wemyss, represented the
county in Parliament from 1820 up to 1847, with

the exception of a slight interval in 1831, but re-
gained his seat in the House of Commons at the
general election in 1832. The bon. member, whce
death in the prime of life we now record, was re-
cently appointed Lord Lieutenant of Fifeshire, in
the room of the late Earl of Elgin, K.T., and was
Major Commandant of the Fife Artillery Volunteers.

MISS EMILY FAITIIFULL is stated to have handA.
the publishing interests of the rietoria Magazine over to
the hands of Messrs. Ward and Lock after the present
month.
MR. THACKERAY'S ErousE was Bold within the
last few days, we believe, to Mr. Huth, the rich City mer-
chant, whose intention is, according to report, to ad
another story to the building, thereby of course quite de.
stroymg its previous antique character.

ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THEATRE, under the
Management of Mr. B. WEBSTER.
Crowded with Rank and Fashion.—The greatly successful
new Comedy every Eveninz—Re-engagement of those cele-
brated artistes. Mr. and Mrs. C. Mathews. —Amongst the
artists engaged are Mr. Benj.Webster, Mr. Charles Mathews,
Mr. J. L. Tvole, Mr. J. Clarke, Mr. Paul Bedford, Mr. Frank
Matthews, Mr. F. Robinson ; Miss Herbert, Mrs. Charles
Mathews, Mrs. Frank Matthews, Miss A. Cottrell, Miss
Fanny Josephs, Miss Patti Josephs, Miss Wentworth, and
Mrs. Stirling.
Every Evening, at 7, the favourite Fariie of FORTY AND
FIFTY: Mr. and Mrs. Frank Matthews.
At a quarter before 8, the successful new Comedy, by
L. Buckingham, Esq., entitled THE SILVER LINING:
Mr. Charles Mathews, Mr. F. Robinson, Mr. Ashley, Mr.
Montague ; Mrs. Charles Mathews, Mrs. Frank Matthews,
Miss A. Cottrell, Miss Wentworth, and Mrs. Stirling.
After which, COOL AS A. CUCUMBER. Mr. Charles
Mathews.
To conclude with UNDER THE ROSE : Mr. Ashley and
Miss A. Cottrell.
Commence at 7.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Manager, Mr. W. H. Swanborouf,,h.
THIS EVENING, a new Comedietta, A HUNT FOR A
HUSBAND.
After which, the Grand Christmas Burlesque, ORPHEU3
AND EURYDICE : Messrs. Honey, Wood, James Fenton,
Mesdames Swanborough, Marie Wilton, Hughes, &o.
Concluding with MARGATE SANDS.
Commence at 7.

pHE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN,"
Contatninz the Lstest SPORTING INTELLIGENCE,
Dan be had Every Evening. of
G. ft. GLENIE, NEWS AGENT,
No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Ilyde-park.

COALS.—The LILLESHAL L COMPANY'S
COALS.
Direct from their own Collieries.
Marquis'.......26s. per ton. I Double .. He. per ton.
Top 255. „ .. l9s. „
Deep 22s. „
Well screened and delivered within five miles of their De-
pots, Westbourne Park-road, W., and 17, South Wharf,
Faddington, W.
Best Coke 153 per chaldron.
Terms cash.
JOHN SCOTT, Sole Agent.

The Weather—Sun Office, March 31, 1864,

on in the North of Europe. The Count DE FALLotx.'
argument, it will be seen, points to the possible
advent of the time, to the inevitable advent of the
time, if events that have transpired, and that are
now again transpiring, are allowed to develope
themselves uninterruptedly, when the minor States
of Christendom shall cease to be absorbed into the
very few larger ones, when three or four mighty
potentates shall share among them the domination
of the whole continent.

Poland, we know but too well in what execrable
manner, has long since been disintegrated and par-
titioned among its destroyers.

Denmark, though M. DE FALLOta'S argument,
it should be said, in no way refers to it either
directly or indirectly, is now being threatened with
a similar subversion.

The considerations here advanced by M. DE
FALLOUX—considerations that seem to ourselves so
peculiarly worthy of examination, as applicable, in
their logical force, to the perilous position now
occupied by the Danish Monarchy and the Danish
Nationality as assailed by two of the Five
Great Powers of Europe, our philosophic and strictly
logical thinker lays before his reader in the newly
published livraison of Le Correspondant thus
rhetorically. Those who are more and more for

the advancement of this scheme of centralization
which his soul abhors—he asks, point blank,
Have they realised to themselves what would
have become of human dignity and liberty
it the country of WILLIAM TELL had never
had the capacity to call itself Switzerland, if the
cradle of the DE WITTS and the land of the Count
DE MERODE had never enjoyed the opportunity of
being distinguished respectively as Holland and as
Belgium, if a King of BAVARIA had never
enjoyed the power of creating an Athens in
the vary heart of Germany, if a Duke DE
Wrtim.ut had never had the right to open his
Court to GOETHE or to Madame de STAEL ? What
propitious days ! he exclaim 9, at once for peace and
for liberty, when Europe shall count n o more than
three or four potentates of equal force, and conse-
quently of equal ambition, dominating from the
summit of their vast and irresponsible authority
over gigantic populations, having under their
hands, here the railways ever ready to transport
their colossal armies hither and thither according

to their whim or pleasure, here the electric threads
of communication as rapid as their caprices, as
imperious as their orders! These considerations
surely are suggestive. And while we are musing
over them as they are here contributed by M. DE
FALLOUX in the pages of Le Correspondant,
our thoughts naturally, instinctively, inevitably
revert to Poland in the Past and also in the Pre-
sent, to Denmark in the Present and also in the
possible Future. The argument thus advanced by
M. DE FALLOUX is as a seed sown by the way :
and in the mind, in the heart, of every philosophic
thinker it will surely germinate.

A letter to the Times of yesterday, from the
Mayor of Sheffield, is fall of interest, and will
doubtless afford great satisfaction to many. It is
long since such a sudden and severe calamity took
place, and a corresponding excitement has been
aroused to meet the exigencies of the case, and to
provide for the emergencies that have arisen. Of
course in this instance, as in many similar ones,
there is found to exist some doubt and difficulty as
to the best means to adopt. Mr. JESSOP'S letter is
therefore most opportune, and his clear statement
of these matters and forcible way of putting his
arguments leave nothing further to desire or de-
mand on the part of those who stood in need of the
requisite information and advice. In the first place,
he calls attention to the impossibility that exists as
to replying to the numerous inquiries that aro con-
stantly being made regarding the sufferers. Doubt•
less these individuals are actuated by the best
motives in making their requests; but, at the same
time, all who have ever had any experience in cases
of distress, must know the insuperable obstacles
that sometimes interpose to prevent compliance at
the period when the information is sought for. In
this letter we find a courteous, yet, at the same time,
a decided intimation that it is quite impossible for
the committee to attend as yet to the queries which
seek to know the most minute particulars concern-
ing the sufferers by this late dreadful disaster. It is
well that a distinct notion of this sort should gain
ground, as otherwise that large class called busy-
bodies might do harm by scattering the suggestion
that there is a want of care prevailing in the man-
agement of affairs at headquarters: Mr. JESSOP
goes on to detail what are the objects of the com-
mittee, what their first care was, and how great was
the labour devolving upon them. All these details
are interesting and important, and those who have
no local connection with the spot must yet feel as
if they had some claim on the attention of those
who minister to the wants and wait upon the neces-
sities of the hapless sufferers; for now that this greet
affliction has befallen them, we remember only that
they are our common countrymen in distress, and
seek to do our duty in bearing their burden and
alleviating, so far as secondary means can effect,
their cruel calamities. The General Committee had
ample employment in providing for the security of
the funds received from all parts, and also to afford
shelter and support to those who were in immediate
want throughout the inundated districts. Also,
there were other concomitant duties to fulfil, which
very likely the ignorant, inexperienced, or unini-
tiated would never dream of, but which were,
nevertheless, of paramount importance as regarded
the welfare of the parties concerned, and which,
moreover, entailed a vast amount of exertion, and
consumed a considerable deal of time. It was a
heavy task to restore all the places in the vicinity
of the visitation into a proper state again; hut this
has now been effected, and the Sanitary Committee
have given in a favourable report as to the probabi-
lity of the health of the town being affected by these
disturbing influences. The carcases of drowned
animals had to be:buried with despatch, to prevent
the spread of fever, the mud and refuse removed
from the dwellings, and many other steps taken to
arrest the fatal course of infection and impurity.
The committee found one considerable object for
their labours in discovering the class who were in-
capacitated from continuing their employments
through the loss of their implements in the flood.
satis-
factory In order to supply the demands of this distressing
need, it has
been wisely settled to appoinitt
a is branchcommittee for this special purpose, and
to know that already they have spent a
thousand pounds in the outlay occasioned by this
desieable undertaking. There is no better charity
than that which provides people with the means of
employment, and it is still better to supply the loss
sustained by those who have hitherto maintained
themselves by their zsal and industry, but have
been arrested in the course of their honest
exertions, and paralysed in their usefnl and
energetic course by the pressure of a sudden
and supreme calamity, which comes like a thief in
the night upon them to blight their hopes and cloud
their ways. As for the relief of those who suffer
from loss of property, this involves a more serious
consideration, and it is necessary to wait and see
how far the sums apportioned to meet the distress
will enable them to bestow the desired relief. Mr.
JESSOP very truly observes that although these suf.
fern's may possibly obtain it lega,l remedy eventually,

yet that they cannot afford to wait for the advent of
so tardy a succour, as to many " delays will be utter
ruin." The concluding paragraph of this commu-
nication is a very important one, and it is to be
trusted that it will meet with due attention. It
refers to the requisite amount of subscriptions, and
states that so far as it is practicable to form an
opinion, the sums already forwarded will not suffice
to afford relief to all who cannot afford to wait for
it. Instead, therefore, of propounding fruitless
inquiries respecting minutiae which those who are
engaged in distributing succour have no time to
attend to, it will be wiser for all who are willing
and able to assist to do so to the utmost of their
powers. There can be no cause to despond, for
when once the need is fully and fairly stated, it is
never found that a suitable response is not made for
the assistance of those stricken thus by a great
national calamity. It is very gratifying to meet
with this communication from one so well fitted to
impart the requisite and desired details, and nothing
now remains but to wish the committee God-speed
in their efforts, and trust that a bountiful supply of
funds will flow in to replenish the stores for which
so many look with eager and expectant eyes.

The eagerness with which the arrival of American
news has been watched for since the outbreak of
the most disastrous civil war of modern times, has
rendered it a matter of some interest and impor-
tance that the vessels bearing the mails should lose
no time in the transit. A gain of a day or two in
the passage has been reckoned an enviable dis-
tinction, and the gratification always felt at the
prompt and satisfactory conclusion of a voyage is
in such instances anxiously looked for. With such
feelings, we may suppose, the crew and pas-
sengers of the good ship City of New -York lay
down to rest on the last night of their voyage.
The perils of the journey were wellnigh over, the
waves of the Atlantic lay behind them, and the
shores of the Irish coast were drawing nearer and
nearer. A splendid passage, during which the
steamer's average rate of speed had been 300 miles
a day, was concluding in congenial fashion. The
weather was remarkably clear and the moon
shining brightly, so that as the ship sighted the
harbour of Queenstown, all betokened a safe and
speedy termination to a remarkably favourable
voyage. But a sudden and startling change was to
come over the prosperous picture, and the vessel,
steaming into the harbour at the rate of 14 miles
an hour, with a cargo and sleeping passengers, was
all at once transformed into a helpless wreck—the
scene of the wildest confusion and distress. Daunt's
Rock, whose name is well known as a word of
terror to mariners in those parts, lay right in their
way. On its terrible ridge the ship was firmly
fixed, while the water rushing into her compart-
ments, the half-dressed and half-awake passengers
startled from sleep, and but half understanding
their danger, the signal guns and rockets fired off
in the hope of attracting assistance, all combined to
produce a scene of the greatest bewilderment and
confusion. Happily, confusion, fright, and loss of
property were the worst features in the case, no lives
being lost. This is itself a very great cause for thank-
fulness, but it behoves us none the less to inquire
stringently into the origin of so lamentable an
accident. Daunt's Rock, which lies to the south-
west of Queenstown Harbour, has long been
known to offer dangerous obstacles to navigation.
It has a succession of ledges, over which the City
of New York happily passed, becoming firmly
embedded on the centre ridge. Had she rested
on one of the outer ledges there is reason to
believe that the disaster would have been far more
serious, as the loss of life would most likely have
been considerable. So formidable was this rock
known to be that last year the Mayor of Cock
took occasion to call the attention of the Board
of Trade to the subject, pointing out the great
danger to which ships and their crews were ex-
posed in entering Queenstown Harbour, and sug-
gesting that soma steps should immediately be
taken with a view to preventing catastrophes.
He proposed that a lighthouse should be built
upon it; or, better still, that some efforts should
be made to remove it altogether from so invidious
a position. Governments, however, have not got
much further since the days of SYDNEY SMITH,
when, as we all know, it required the holocaust
of a bishop to obtain any necessary reform. So
now the circumlocution office, or the economising
office, or some:other malign influence, hesitates,
and doubts, and demurs over urgently needed im-
provements until some great crash, some whole-
sale catastrophe sweeps away hundreds of lives
and millions of property, to the late regret and
tardy commiseration of those who might have
altogether averted the evil. Why, when the
dangers of this rock were so clearly pointed
out by a gentleman whose local office,
as well es his Parliamentary position, rendered
his words of weight, was not official attention im-
mediately directed to the subject, and practical
steps at once taken to provide a remedy. For the
sake of a foolish temporary saving, a valuable ship
has become a total wreck, hundreds of lives have
been jeopardised, a cargo of the most precious of
all merchandise just now is lost and damaged, and
all this anxiety, distress, and waste has been in-
curred in face of the plainest warnings. On the
appearance of Mr. MAGUIRE'S letter, we called
attention to it, strongly supporting his views.

There were two courses open to the Board of
Trade—either to erect a lighthouse or to destroy
the rock—but neither of these were followed. The
awkward question and the costly experiment were
staved off to a more convenient opportunity, and
we can only rejoice that the lesson has been learned
at the expense of X, s. d. rather than of human
life! Surely such a thing as this comes directly
within the scope of our Board of Trade, and it is
certainly strange and hard if our well,paid officials
cannot or will not see to such claims of paramount
force. It has been a mere question of delay ; for
assuredly the public will not be satisfied to leave
the matter where it is, or to suffer Daunt's Rock
to ronsain barring the passage into Queenstown
tarbour, and strewing the very first and last miles
of the Atlantic voyage with great and needless
dangers.

THEATRE ROYAL, LYCEUM.—Mr. Fechter, who
has been unable to appear in "Bel Demonic." for the last
fortnight, in consequence of an accident which he met with
during the performance, will resume hie original character
on Saturday night next, when the whole of the profits will
be devoted to the fund for the relief of the sufferers by the
inundation near Sheffield.

ROYAL DRAMATIC COLLEGE.—The annual per-
formance in aid of the funds of the Royal Dramatic
College will take place at the Theatre Royal Drury-lane on
Wednesday morning, the 13th April next, at two o'clock.
The comedy represented will be " The School for Scandal,"
supported by Mr Fhelps, Mr Sims Reeves, Mr Addison,
Mr Creswick, Mr Charles Mathews, Mr Buckstono, Mr
Compton, Mr Toole, Mr B. Webster, Mr Frank Matthews,
Mrs Charles Mathews, Mrs Killington, Mrs Marston, Mies
11. Simms, &c. The amateur orchestra, known as the
Wandering Minstrels, have consented to perform the music
on the occasion.

GREAT SALE OF WORKS OF ART.—A private view
of the valuable and choice collection of pictures
(ancient and modern), coins, medals, gems, and various other
objects of art and virtu, formed by the late Mr. John Wat-
kins Brett, of Hanover-square, will take place to-day at the
rooms of Messrs. Christie, Manson, and Woods, whore the
sale of this important collection will commence on Tuesday
next, and will continue for eleven days. There are upwards
of 2,000 lots enumerated in the catalogue, and the sale will
no doubt be attended by amateurs and others from all parts
of the cot;utry,