The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-30 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, MAY 30, 1861.

A discussion of a somewhat unusual character
took place in the House of Commons on Friday
evening, which was not without interest. It treated,
it is true, of what might be almost styled a per-
sonal matter, but it involved a question of great
importance to a large number of her Majesty's sub-
jects. The discussion arose upon the right of the
Law Life Assurance Company to the tenure of some
extensive estates in Connemera which, it was con-
tended, they held contrary to the stipulations of
the law, and which they managed with extreme
harshness. These accusations were indignantly re‘
relied on the part of the company, end the matter
remains in dispute, since, after a prolonged debate,
the subject was allowed to drop. Mr. LONGFIELD,
who introduced it, was anxious to compel the Com-
estates, and moved an address to
pany to sell the
the Crown with that view, but it was scarcely pro-
bable that the House would proceed to extremities
without further and more precise evidence than any
then brought forward. Perhaps, indeed, it was not
intended that they should go to such lengths, and
the gentlemen who brought the matter forward
were satisfied with having attracted the attention
of the House and the public. It is not easy for a
tribunal to judge unless the whole facts are before
them, and the members who spoke on the subject
dealt principally in assertion on both sides. Mr.
GREGORY indeed cited a return which he had ob-
tained from the Clerk of the Peace of Galway which
showed that, since tho Law Life Society had ad-
ministered the affairs of this estate, there had been
3,158 cjectments; and Mr. LONGFIELD, in the course
of his speech, stoutly maintained that the misman-
agement of the society had been the means of
drivieg a large number of the former tenants on the
estate to emigration, forty-three families having left
the country in ten days. E Ali these gentlemen
declared that they had evidence. in support of their
assertions, and we can hardly suppose that they
would make such statements lightly, although pos.
sibly the Company may have it in their power to
exonerate themselves from all such charges. It is
only fair to state that Mr. MURRAY, one of their
honorary director!, decidedly and somewhat angrily
denied the accusations, and the cause of the society
was more temperately supported by the noble lord
the member for Mayo. Still en impression
remains that without any intention of acting un-
fairly, a body of lawyers have proved more acute
than liberal in their dealings with their tenantry,
while the holding of such large estates by a corpo•

rate body necessitates the continuanc- in that part
of the county of one of Ireland's greatest curses—
absenteeism. In this aspect of the difaculty lay the
chief interest of the debate ; but it is confessedly a
most awkward and perplexing matter for the Le-
gislature to deal with. It is not possible, as Lord
JOHN BROW NE observed, to say in this free country
that a man must live in a particular place, and no
amount of legislation will cure the inevitable evils
of a delegated government. Instead of either party
serving as a fence or a protection to the other, the
unpopularity of a landlord is visited on t is agent,
while the unpopular agent makes his landlord also
disliked. Much harsher things can be done through
a third party ; but it is not so much the actual
evictions that are unjust as the whole system that
I is bad.

The estate is regarded as a mere piece of pro-
perty, of which the annual return is the matter of
chief importance ; no interest is taken in improve-
ments, and no encouragement given to enterprising
tenants. The landlord receives his money as if it
came from soma investment with whose administra-
tion he had no concern, and with no recollection of
the fact that property has its duties as well as its
rights. In every respect the results of absenteeism
are most disastrous, injurious to trade, and ruinous
to the social welfare of the country. A great
civilising and refining agent is lost to a nation
whose keen susceptibilities and mercurial tempera-
ments make :hem especially sensitive to external
influences, and education, the importance of which
is consequently not sufficiently appreciated by the
lower classes, receives a powerful check. All
friends of Ireland are unanimous upon this point,
however much they may diffir upon questions
of religion or of politics. This is a s )cial
matter, and as such exercises an influence
whose widely extending powers are like the
spreading circles which follow the plunge of a
pebble into the waters. We can never hope to see
great improvements, important reforms, and sub-
stantial changes for the better carried out in Ireland,
while the great body of the owners of the soil have
so little in common with their fellow-countrymen.
We can never hope to see trade prosper, commerce
extend, industry flourish, and prejudice die away,
while the class which should give stimulus to busi-
ness and elevate the tone of thought and feeling
around them, are scarcely known by sight to the
dwellers on their estates. It is an evil of long stand-
ing; one, too, which is extremely difficult for Parlia-
ment to dee: with, one whiela is a serious barrier be-
tween the two countries. It must be owned, however,
that the fault does not all lay with the proprietors.
The fr,ghtful system of intimidation and outrage
which has become a byeword and a reproach to
Ireland, has cost the country some of its best pt oprie
tors, and it is certainly idle to expect a landowner
to show a kindly interest in his tenants, when all

the gratitude or recognition he can expect is a
bullet through :his head at the first opportunity.
In this, as in so many other instances, the innocewt
have to stiffer for the guilty, and the wild disord-rly
characters, perhaps, deprive a district of the su.per-
vision of a humane and liberal landlord. We trust
that the discussion on Friday night may be the
means of doing some good, by calling p atten-
tion to the great need that exists of some reform,
with respect, to the delegated authority now exist-
ing in so many' parts of Ireland, and that conse-
quently some means may be found of dealing with
the crimes and redressing the wrongs of the sister
kingdom.

There is nothing of more consequence in the ad-
ministration of justice than, to take care that there
should not be any undue severity exercised. Of
course it is imperative, that due caution ba taken to
prevent the escape of 42o:1th:re, and to provide that
no opportunity should occur for the criminal elud-

ing the doe maws of his actions. Judex damnatur

cum nocens akrilvitur is a very true ;,doge, but,
Ile many more such wise maxims, it may be car-
ried te'i far, and be cited too frequently. There is
no mistake calculated to prove more fatal in its
effects on the minds of those who should be influ-
enced by the infl"ction of penal sentences than the

nmreessary harshness that at times intervenes to

mar the course of the law, and injure the operation
of its workings. The other day, at the Middlesex
Sessions, a case occurred which is rather out of the
common, and certainly does not redound to the
credit of any concerned in it. In the first place,
the whole care rested on the evidence of one man, a
police-constable, who did not give a very definite
account of the affeir. When a sentence of such
severity is issued, the greatest care should be
t ken to procure concise statements, and to be quite
certain es to the facts of all the attendant circum-
stances. There were several discrepancies in this
effeir. The constable admitted, on cross-exenaina-
tion, that he did not make known the circumstance
of the prisoner touching his goods till next day,
also the charge entered at the time was for stealing
a roll of " Huey," which the shopman said was not
at the dcor that evening, and did not resemble
cloth. These mistakes may not be of real conse-
quence, but some attention might have been paid to
them. The man did not go off with the roll of
goods, and it was possible that he might have been
looking at it. If every one who is discovered
touching the wares exhibited at doors is charged
with robbery, the consequences may be very serious.
It must be considered by all who have noticed the
frequency of such cases in the Courts, that it is a
very dangerous custom for ehopmen to persist in
exposing their goods in the streets. There is plenty
of opportunity in the windows, for all desirable ex-
hitation,and itis quite inexcusable to put temptation
in the way of misguided fellow-creatures. At all
events, whether this man WHITE was guilty of this
charge or not, the sentence ieflicted upon him was
most extraordinary. For this small offence he was
adjudged to receive 10 years' penal servitude. This
is not the course to adopt in order to impress the
public with a favourable opinion of the manner in
which the enactments of the law are carried out.
It is seldom that such a peculiar case as this meats
the eye, but too much care cannot be taken to pre-
vent the recurrence of tho like incongruities.
When we conetder the many far more serious
charges that are brought under the notice of the
Courts, it seems almost incomprehensible that se

much more severe a punishment should be awarded

to this minor offence. It is not the way to deter
evil-disposed persons from the commission of serious
errors, if they think that after all they may not fire
so badly as some who are far less culpable. It is to
be trusted that it will be long before a similar
instance of undue severity be again witnessed, for
it is certain that it is detrimental to the interests of
the community, and subversive of the principles
which should actuate all aurhority.

It is always iwerestiog to notice the progress of
the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
There is no more excellent institution in its way,
and, notwithstanding the absurd attempts made by
some to decry its purpose, or to sneer at its Facet d-
ings, it is gratifying to mark its continuance, and
to obderv© the good effects of its workings. The
report of the Secretary showed the great services
which have been rendered to the cause of humanity
by this Institution, and the best proot of the efforts
of the Society resting on solid conviction, and not
a fancy or an emaggerated estimate of things, is

that during the last year they have prosecuted one
thousand cases to conviction, and out of these had
sustained only seven dismissals. Oae plan has re-
cently been devised which is a very good one. It is to
offer a premium of fifty pounds for an essay on
" Vivisection " in English, and another of a thou-
sand francs for a simiier undertaking in French.
Too much cannot be done to extend the know-
ledge of this subject, and it is impossible to dilate
too strongly upon its horrors, which are alike out-
rages on good sense and good feeling, and a viola-
tion of the fun iatnental principles of humanity.
Much evil is done by the want of agitating the
subject at the right time, in the proper manner;
therefore, it is so much gained that the efforts so
strenuously made last year be kept up and thus some
fruition may reward the labours made in so worthy
a cause. The chairman properly put the case by
stating that when necessity did not enfo-ce any
one to operate upon a living animal, it was a crime
so to do. the sooner this opinion is more uni-
versally adopted the better it will be for the
character of the community among whom it attains
favour. Earl HARROWBY very truly remarked
that this society did good, not alone to animals,
but to mankind, " for nothing so degraded men as the
indulgence in the habit of treating animals with
cruelty." Nothing can be more correct than this,
for it is quite contrary to the principles inculcated
by the doctrines of Christianity, as well as adverse
to the notions of all justly-disposed persons, for
men to arrogate to themselves the right to torture
or destroy the c reatures that have their mission to
perform as well as they have, and were certainly
bestowed upon us for our use, but never for our
abuse of the privilege. It is greatly to be desired
that the funds of this society may meet with the
replenishment that they require and most especially
deserve, for it is hardly to be calculated what a vast
amount of gcod is effected by the vigilance end
promptitude of its afters. The check that the
knowledge of this surveillance must exercise upon
all evil-disposed persons, and the prevention of
anal-practices thus ensured, is a great satisfaction—
it is a gain in a good cause, and a service to the
interests of humanity. The prosperity of such an
institution will be a tribute offered up to the
cause of mercy, and no kindly-disposed person,
able to give any assistance, will hesitate to do his
part for the furtherance of an effort as the suppres-
sion of cruelty. It will be a national benefit to
put down all such disgraceful practices, for no-
thing so lowers a people as the familiarity in
such barbarous habits; and, on the other hued,
❑othing more refines the mind, elevates the thotgets,
and softens the heart, as the prevalence of kindly
feelings and benevolent intentions; all such must
conduce to the better observance of the golden
rule, "Do unto others es ye would that they
shculd do aver° von.

FETE CIIAMPETRE AT ORLEANS ROUSE, TWICK-
ENHAM.—His it3yal Highness the Duke d'Aumale,
as patron and honorary president of the French Benevolent
Society (Societe Frangai,e de Bienfaisance), has been gra-
ciously pleased to give a fete champetre at Orleans House on
Wednesday and Thursday nest in aid of the funds of this
excelient institution. Her Royal Highness the Duchess
d'Aumale has personally superintended the arrangements,
and will preside at one of the stalls of the fancy fair, likewise
to be held on each of these days, together with H.R.H. the
Duchess de Chartres, the Duchess of St. Albans, the Mar-
chioness of Ely, the Countess of Tankerville, the Countess
Waldegrave, the Lady Proby. Vast preparations have been
made for this fete during the last two months ; all the tents
and decorations have been supplied from Paris, and Jullien's
band has been engaged, as well as the band of the Grena-
dier Guards, under the direction of Mr Godfrey, who will
ass at in the perfortorance of a new composition of M. Jul-
lien's entitled" Souvenirs d' Alger," which will be performed
on this occasion for the first time. In consequence of the
marriage of their Royal Highuesses the Count do Paris and
the Princess Isabella d'Orleans, which takes plac3 this
morning, a very largo nunber of royal personages and dis-
ringui,hed foreigners am now on a visit to the royal family
of France at Claremont and at Twickenham, and they have
all expressed their intention of supporting these fetes and
honouring them with their presence. Their Royal High-
nesses the Duchess of Cambridge, the Grand Duchess of
Mecklenburg- Strelitz, and the Princess Mary of Cambridge
have likewise honoured the society with their patronage,
and it is believed that if their Royal Highnesses the Prince
and Prinaess of Wales's engagements permit they will also
be present at the fete of Wednesday.

FIRES.—Oa Saturday night a fire broke out in a
timber bui'ding containing 1,000 tons of coal belong-
ing to Messrs. Walton and Gowland, coal merchants, Broad-
street, Ratciiff-cross. Several steam and manual fire-
engines were soon on the spot, and floating engines were also
brought to bear on the fire from the river. A good supply
of water was obtained, but the fire spread to the spars and
sails of a brig named the J. Croggin, of Hartlepool, and was
not extinguished until the building containing the coals h Id
been burnt to the ground and considerable damage had been
done to the brig and to the sheds in the dry deck belonging
to Messrs Ewing and Winshur. A fire also occurred on
Saturday in the premises of Mr John Popwell, a bedstead
maker, 10, King's .road, St. Pancras. A man named Powell,
aged 70, who lived in the room from which the flames appear
to have proceeded, was suffocated by the smoke. When the
fire had been extinguished his body was found by the fire-
men, and it has been removed to the St. Pancras Workhouse,
where it awaits an inquest.
GRANITE FOR THE THAMES EMBANKMENT.—
The contracts for the gigalitic and costly un, er-
taking of embanking the north side of the Thames are at
present in the course of being let. The stone to be princi-
pally employed is granite, and we are glad to learn that
the contract for the supply of granite for the first section
has been secured, under the government contractor, Mr.
Furness, by the lessees of the granite quarries of Kirkconnell
and of Old Lands, on the Urr, belonging respectively to
Mr. Witham of Kirkconnell, and Mr. Maxwell of Munches.
The first section of the embankment extends from West-
minster to Waterloo-bridge. and the quantity of stone will
be very great. There is thus every prospect that our local
quarries will be wrought with the utmost vigour for some
time to come, and give abundance of employment, thus
proving highly advantageous to the whole district. Among
others who are likely to benefit by the full development of
the resources of the Kirkconnell quarry are the Nith
Commissioners of Tonnage, as the whole of the stone taken
'rem Kirkconnell must be forwarded to London by sea.—
_Dumfries Courier.
THE STEAM RAMS.—We call the attention of
our readers to the report of the recent legal pro-
ceedings in this important case, aid to the explanations
given by the Attorney-General, There can be no o.oubt
that the impression conveyed by the statement of the Solici-
tor •General, in the Court of Exchequer on Thursday, was
that the owners and builders of the rams had virtually
pleaded guilty. That statement is, perhaps, not to be won-
dered at considering the source from which it emanated, but
it gives a thorougly erroneous version of the affair. The
fact is, neither party admits anything. It is a drawn battle,
end, had the Crown required any admission, the question
would have been fought to the last by both owners and
builders, who were perfectly confident about the result.
But litigation might go.on for years, and in the mean--
time the ships would have been ruined ; and the builders
especially had very little object in litigation, as they could
gain nothing but the balance due to them on the completion
of the contract. The 'Messrs. Laird are, by the present ar-
rangement, to complete the ships as originally designed,
and deliver them to the Government, and we trust they may
prove as useful to the country os most naval authorities
expect them to be.—lllorning Herald.
VANCOUVER ISLAND.—Captain Arthur E. Ken-
nedy, C. 8., landed at Victoria on Lady-day, and was vary
cordially welcomed by the people. On the following day
he drove to the Government-house and took the oath of
office as Governor of the colony of Vancouver Island and
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and from various public bodies.

CABDRIVERS' STRIKE AGAINST WEARING BADGES.
—The cabdrivers of Glasgow, in accordance with a
resolution adopted at a meeting which they held on Tuesday
evening, struck work on Thursday. Not a cab was to be
seen at alay of tho stands in the city, and the few that did
appear on the streets seemed to be criven by stablemen or
other supernumeraries. The grievances which the cabmen
have put forward as the ostensible cause of their strike is a
regulation contained in the new by-laws recently issued by
the magistrates, to the effect that they shall wear brass
badges on their outer garments. The wearing of such
badp•es they declare to be entirely useless, unjust, and
oppressive ; and they declare their determine, ion not to
return to their work till " such medals are wholly thrown
aside."—Sco.fsman.

EMIGRATION OF MORMONS.—A large number of
the disciples of Joe Smith have left South Wales
this week en r9ute for the Salt Lake, or "the land of
paradise," as they term it. An elder who has once been an
inhabitant of Utah accompanies the credulous people on
their long and dangerous journey.