The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-18 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, JAN. 18, 1864.

The first blast has just now been sounded on the
war trumpet! It is yet ringing freshly upon our
hearing. Its dissonance is audible simultaneously
fromßerlin and Vienna. For, the responsibility of
giving this dismal signal of the renewal of hostili-
ties among the nations of Europe, would seem to
be shared equally between the two great leading
Powers of Germinv. It is to the organ of Lord
PALMERSTON, and not,to the organ of the Govern-
ment of Lord PALMERSTON collectively, that
we are indebted for the distinct intimation of

this revival of war—or all-but-certain revival
of -war upon the Continent., While the limes re-
rnains altogether silent upon the subject, the
Morning Post formally announces the presentation
of an ultimatum to the Danish Government by the
diplomatic representatives of Austria and Prussia
at the Court of Copenhagen. A distinct and posi-
tive declaration to that effect, it was hardly to be
conceived could be put forth by the known organ
of the Prime Minister without the.most complete
and absolute authorisation. At any time, under any

conjuncture of circumstances, it could not possibly
be that we should think other wise, When, there-

fore, so immediately before the re-assembling of
Parliament, the announcement referred to as con-
tained in the leading columns of the Morning Pose
of this morning, made its appearance, not as the
hint of a rumour, but as the intimation of a fact,
we could not, perforce, but accept the intimation as
such, as a fact—and look to the imme-
diate probabilities accordingly. An ultimatum this
was idescribed to have been by our contemporary,
requiring the immediate abrogation of the Consti-
tution of November, and intimating that, in the
event of a refusal to comply with their demand,
they, the Austrian and Prussian Ambassadors,
would at once quit the capital of Copenhagen ;
their respective Governments forthwith proceeding,
moreover, to take further measures to obtain the
fulfilment of their desires ! (The accuracy of our
contemporary's announcement, it may be re•
marked, has just now been confirmed to
us by telegram from Copenhagen.) The
decision of the Danish Government in regare.
to this sufficiently clear ultimatum being required
to be given in by the 18th, that is to say, by
this present forenoon Absolutely certain. it is that
the decision given in by the Danish Government, if
it must so be delivered, to those two ambassadors
before this momentous 18th day of January, 1864,
shall have expired, will be a refusal, a distinct and
positive refusal to concede: King CHRISTIAN,
indeed, in this matter, has no alternative. Hi
own individual honour—if possible, still more
than the honour of the Crown by which his brows
have so very recently been invested—the per-
sonal honour of the KING is pledged to the con-
ervation of the rights of Denmark in this very
particular, in this very matter of the Constitution
of November. War, therefore, between Denmark
and Germany would appear to be inevitable. And
though England has barely anything whatever to do
with a question so remote as that out of which
this disastrous renewal of war emerges—the lon g-
vexed question, having its Gordian knot at Kiel,
and the circumference of its tangled skein traceable
only by the frontier-line of Schleswig and Holstein

—it comes home to us, this question, as a matter of
vital import, nevertheless ! If for no other reason,
for this, that, while all the disputed rights are
glaringly upon the side of the Dines, Englishmen
cannot but recognise in the champion of those
Danish rights, far more vividly than the royal
dignity of King CHRISTIAN, his paternal character
as the father of our fair young Princess.

Never did a more unanimous welcome attend on
any royal birth than has greeted the happy advent
of the youthful heir of England. In all places of
religions worship, of whatever denomination
throughout the land, heartfelt prayers of genuine
thanksgiving have arisen to the Giver of all good
gifts. It was not left alene to the Archbishop of
CANTERBURY to express, by desire of the Council,
the nation's gratitude. The Jewish Rabbi at
once, in earnest language called upon his
people to give thanks to the GOD of
Israel. Yesterday, also, in all the Catholic churches
and chapels of the metropolis, an eloquent Pastoral
from Cardinal WISEMAN, expressed the grateful
sentiments of the Catholic population. The Pas-
toral being dated on the octave of the Epiphany,
the Cardinal with that happy promptitude of
thought which generally characterises his produc-
tions, reminded his hearers to pray " that He who,
at this season, would receive his birthday offering,
however regal, only from the hands of the wise,
would infase into the heart of the Royal infant that
truest wisdom which SOLOMON preferred before
kingdoms and thrones." Equally appropriate to
the emotions of the Cardinal is the tender remem-
brance of the widowed QUEEN. "We feel sure
that, while praying for the speedy and complete
restoration to health of the Princess m'ther, that
she may be as a fruitful vine on the sides of
the Royal house,' you will turn your thoughts and
sympathies towards one still more august, who, after
her, has here a larger claim than any one else to
maternal joys; and who, after a long period of
faithful mourning, may perhaps exclaim, as did
Lamech on the birth of Noe—' This child shall com-
fort us.'" That such may be the happy result of
this Royal birth has been, from the moment it was
first announced, the one spontaneous feeling of all
the subjects of Queen VICTORIA. The eloquent
words in which that sentiment was expressed by
Cardinal WISEMAN are only the embodiment of the
feelings of a whole nation.

There is no sccial reform of which we stand more
in need than the better arrangement of our work-
houses with regard to out-doer relief, The reliev-
ing officer, as he is called by courtesy, is veritably
on the principle of lucus non lucendo. What with
forms and ceremonies, what with o=3 and coun-
ter plans, the precious time is wasted in trifling
and the valuable moments squandered in contention
while life and death are trembling in the balance,
and the objects for whom all these places are con-
structed, these officials paid, and the public money
expended, perish miserably from want, and their
deaths are a lasting disgrace to the system adopted,
and 1 scandal to the community where they draw
their last breath, and often expire from sheer want.
There was an inquest held on Friday last touching
the death of MARY 0 VERREE, who died from al-
leged privation. It appeared from the evidence
that was given that deceased had endeavoured to
support herself by needlework, but, being ill, had
applied for perish relief. This was refused her,
unless she came into the workhouse. Having a
great dislike to that, she declined, and accordingly
was left without assistance. Surely the authorities
ought to take up this matter and severely censure,
if they do not dismiss, the official who thus wan-
tonly trifles with human life. Where can be the
gain of forcing so many poor people into the house ?
Once in they are not likely soon to come out, and
they might very probably in a short time recover
themselves sufficiently to go on without being a
berden to the parish if only timely aid were afforded
to them. " A friend in need is a friend indeed" is
a:trite remark, but the same idea is applicable to assis-
tance given at a fitting season. This poor woman's
case is a most cruel one, and it is very much to be
regretted that the jury did not administer a sharp
rebuke to the officer in their verdict. It was not
enough to say thst "said death was accele-
rated by privation," they ought to have pressed
the charge home to him through whose perversity
and hardheartedness the calamity ensued. She
might have died whatever had been done, but that
is no excuse for those who rendered her last hours
so sad and neglected, and caused the agony of pri
vation to be added to the other 6 tilictions that as-
sailed her. Bethnal-green is a black sheep amidst
the other faulty and insufficient provisions for the
destitute in London. There are constantly cases
coming before the public which testify strongly as
to the inefficacy of its arrangements, the fatal
blunders of its officials, and the extreme and bitter
wretchedness of its suffering poor. Such things
should not be tolerated amongst us, and it is high
time that a speedy remedy be applied, and a total
and fundamental change take place. In a Christian
community it is an outrage on the first principles of
humanity, and a direct violation of the precepts of
our great Lawgiver, who has said, " Inasmuch as ye
did it unto the least of these My brJhren, ye did

it unto Me. There is another case recently cited in
connection with this place, which imperatively calls
for notice, and claims our earnest attention. Mr.
CHAFFER, the curate of St. Philip, has written a
letter, which furnishes a most distressing proof of
the evil system adopted in respect to those who ask
for, and stand in imminent need of temporary relief.
A poor man who is bedridden sought admission to
the workhouse, but was refused unless his wife and
child also came in with him. The poor woman can
support herself by the work she gets from a shop,
and therefore very naturally objects to give up her
present independent position, with a certainty of
employment, for a state in which she would be de-
prived of her child, and if she did continue to
come out hereafter she would very likely
not be able to recover her lost work.
Mr. CHAFFER very truly says if " humanity be a
feeli'ag unknown to the guardians and relieving
Kficers of Bethnal-green, it would be cheaper to
support one pauper than tliras in the workhouse."
This is eminently deserving of attention, and it is to
be hoped that some influential individuals will take
up the case, and strike at the roots of a system
which thus militates against the vital interests of
the community. The subject is connected with all
that can attract attention or command respect. It
is a dreadful thing to reflect upon that our honest
and deserving poor, who wish to support themselves
by their own exertions to the utmost of their
ability, are to be trampled upon by upstart officials,
who seem neither to possess the sense to appreciate
the independence of the sufferers, nor to feel any
pity for the calamities that have befallen them. It
is a mockery to send missionaries to the uttermost
ends of the earth, to be for ever devising means
to assist the distant nations of the world, and to
rest satisfied with laws which allow our own coun-
trymen to be neglected, insulted, and ill-treated by
those appointed by law to assist and protect them.
The Ministers, who seem to be in the predicament
of doing nothing, because each public question of
any moment is hedged in by difficulties, had better
turn their attention to matters of less outward im-
portance, but of great intrinsic consequence. Despise
not the da,y of small things may well be said to all
legislators and statesmen, who, in the pride of place
and plenitude of power, appear to think nothing
simple and humble is good or grand enough for
them to consider or to take notice of. The poor
shall never cease of the land, we have been told on
unerring authority, but this divine lesson was not
to teach us indifference, still less neglect, of that
sad and suffericg tribe. Far otherwise, they are a
heavy responsibility, a sacred trust, and a solemn
charge. For our dealings with them in a social,
political, and moral sense, we shall have to render
a strict account; and, in the name of Him in whose
sight rich and poor are equal, we may call upon all
who are able to assist to do so to the utmost of their
power, and with all the strength of their will. It
will be a good work to have effected, to bring the
arrangements and regulations which direct our poor
population into a focus whence they may be cor-
rectly estimated. Let it not be said that the
wretched deaths that have lately taken place have
been in vain, but let them, the last victims to a cruel
code of restrictions, be the exceptions that the past
will offer to the new and better rules of a propitious
present. There can be no occasion to wait for
other examples to furnish a necessity for the adop-
tion of a change; it is surely sufficient for it to be
proved that, under the existing customs, it is an
every-day occurrence for the poor to perish mise-
rably, and in their squalid cells, dreary garrets, and
comfortless abodes, they can hardly call death itself
a king of terrors more terrible than the enactments
of civilisation, which counsels the authorities to
doom them to such lives, and to refuse to dole out
any help to them. The inclement season through
which we are now passing adds tenfold weight to
all arguments that can be adduced on the question ;
and if such instances of gross neglect, sheer care-
lessuess, and perverse prejudice cannot impress
those who hear of them, it may well be said that no
effect would be produced if, instead of their fellow-
creatures perishing miserably around, one rose
from the dead as a warning to their laxity, and a
witness against their fatal tardiness and ignorant
infatuation.

Last Friday evening the inhabitants of Liver-
pool and Birkenhead wero thrown into a state of
the greatest alarm by the explosion of a large quan-
tity of gunpowder on board a vessel in the river.
It was no ordinary shock, and its effects were felt
on both sides of the river to the consternation and
terror of the populace, and the destruction of an
enormous quantity of glass. The facts are as fol-
lows :—The bark Lottie Sleigh, about 700 tons
burden, Captain WEBBER, belonging to Messrs.
HATTON and COOKSON, of Liverpool, having cleared
out of dock, proceeded to her anchorage in the
Mersey, off Monk's Ferry, She was bound for the
West Coast of Africa with a general cargo, having
also on board 940 qaarter kegs of gunpowder,
weighing 111 tons,stowed in her after hold-under the
captain's cabin. It appears about six o'clock in the
evening the steward was trimming a lamp in the
cabin, when a can of paraffin which he held in his
hand became ignited, and the flaming liquid instantly
spread over the floor, setting fire to the curtains,
Sze., of the captain's sleeping apartment, and the
woodwork generally. With such rapidity did the
flames spread that all efforts to check its progress
were unavailing, and the burning stream soon
found its way down the grating of the lazaretto,
and communicated itself to the cargo in the after-
hold, and all hopes of saving the ship were given
up. The crew, 14 in number, were taken off by the
Rock Ferry steamer Wasp, and the ship was
abandoned to her fate. The fire rapidly spread,
and could be plainly witnessed from the bark
Retriever, moored about 200 yards from the burn-
ing vessel. The fire raged for up wards of an hour,
as we aro informed, before the explosion took place.
The result can be better imagined than described.
The concussion of the air was so tremendous that
all the lamps throughout the city were extinguished,
doors burst open, and glass in every direction
shivered ; several persons were thrown down by
the shock, and much property was damaged by the
falling debris, which was thrown on both sides of
the river. Fortunately, so far as we can learn, no
lives were lost, and before midnight the town had
subsided into comparative tranquillity. Such acci-
dents are, happily, of rare occurrence. Every pre-
caution is taken in the docks to prevent, as far as
practicable, the possibility of fire; and, but for the
presence of so large a quantity of powder on board
the Lottie.,Sleigh, the matter would have ended
with the destruction of the vessel. It is fortunate
that the loss in the present instance was confined to
the injury inflicted on property, and that no human
lives were sacrificed ; but the question arises,
whether sufficient Efforts were made to extinguish
the fire ? It was a matter of secondary importance
to save the ship, but the great object was to prevent
the certain destruction of an immense amount of
property, and the probable loss of many lives. We
have every reason to believe that the powder was
carefully secured, for the fire seems to have raged
unchecked in the afterhold for upwards of an hour
in' close proximity to the magazine before th; ex-
plosion took place, and the ship was passed by
steamers long after she was deserted by her crew.
pitancy shown in Surely, there was great preci

leaving the vessel without an attempt to scuttle her.
The fact is, that, as soon as the flames began to
spread, a panic seems to have seized them, and all
presence of mind was lost. The captain was prc-
;Ably on shore, but surely some officer must
have been in charge of the vessel, besides
the pilot, who should have endeavoured to
control the crew. As rt there is no information
on this point, but it is at least certain that almost
immediately the ship took fire she continued to burn
for more than an hour afterwards. Again, the
Customs and dock authorities must have known of
what her cargo consisted, and, we think, that until
she left the river some person should have been left
in charge of her, with authority to sink her in case
of fire, for it is evident that the breadth of the river
was no protection to the town from the effects of
such a stupendous explosion. And, lastly, what
business had the steward to meddle vi ith such a
combustible material as paraffin oil by candlelight,
and that, too, on a large scale, directly over a
slumbering volcano ? If this was not tempting fate,
it was something very like it. Why should not the
cabin lamp have been trimmed in daylight and on
deck, or, at least, somewhere remote from the
magazine? While on this subject we may remark
that most of the accidents which occur with paraffin
and other lamps by the ignition of the spirit might
be avoided if householders or servants were to trim
their lamps in the morning, and not leave the task
until the lamp was about to be used. I❑ waiting
for further information regarding this explosion, it
would be unfair to cast blame upon any one, further
than is warranted by the facts at present before us.
It is evident that alt was confusion on board the
Lottie Sleigh from the moment the accident hap-
pened, which may be, to some extent, excused from
the ignorance of the men as to the precautions
which were taken to protect the powder from acci-
dent; but we consider that the Deck or Customs
authorities should have taken measures to prevent
the possibility of an explosion in so crowded a river
as the Mersey. The matter will, of coarse, be
thoroughly investigated, and we trust this accident
may cause steps to be taken to prevent its recurrence,
for we cannot shut our eyes to the fact, that there
was ample time to scuttle the ill-fated ship before
the crew were taken off her by the Wasp.

How Long will the American War Last ?

TO THE EDITOR OF TUE SUN.

SIR,—It is an ennobling sight in the opinion of some to
see two athletes striving for the mastery—it is a sorry sight
in the opinion of all to see them grappling in the mud,
gouging, bitting, kicking, scratching, rolling over and over,
and trying to tear each other piecemeal. But this is what
the struggle between North and South in America is fast
coming to. Explosive bullets and General Butler,
Greek fire and German mercenaries, exchange of pri-
soners refused, and war made upon women, military
operations carried out in the spirit of Genghis Khan,
Tamerlane, and the "Scourge of God," " Secessiondom"
to be made "as desolate as Hell," and a "region as big as
Europe" reduced to its original wilderness of swamps and
alligators. This is war after the gospel of Mr. Bright's
pacific friends, the model democracy under the Dictator of the
White House; and war to which we can see no limit and
no end. If in the spring the North are able to push on
further into the South the war will become universal over
half a continent. War here, there,:and everywhere, war to
the knife, the torch, the explosive bullet, the shell filled with
molten iron and Greek fire—perhaps even war with the
poisoned bayonet. War of this sort bids fair to become the
normal and natural state of things there, henceforth for
ever, and peace the exceptional unlikely state that may
never again be realised. In the time of the Roman Em-
pire, and the first French Empire, Europe was always at
war; and the resources for war in America are at least as
great as any that ever existed in Europe. Why not a " thirt y
years' war" in the New World; chiller is the historian of
such a war in the Old ? And the worst is that Europe is
too far off to interfere to stop it without making bad worse.
I read in history that war in the• Old World had only been
limited by the means of making war ; and if this is to hold
good in the New, the present generation may die in it, and
the next be born, grow up, and die in it too, for the causes
and elements of antagonism, discord, and confusion are
greater than were ever before concentrated in any one
quarrel.—Yours, &c., HISTORICUS.

The New Movement for the Promotion of
Murder,