The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-01 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, AUGUST 1, 1864.

years 1858 and 1859. Happily we have escaped
that evil, and only contemplate it iu Dr. LETHEBY'S
very useful and interesting report;

It so often happens that undertakings and
attempts which at first sight seem to be promising,
and begin under most favourable auspices with
every flattering augury of success, fall off after e
time and gradually fade away, or suddenly die out
to the grief of their prjectors, and the disappoint-
ment of those who had expected great things of
them, that it is satisfactory to meet with as excep-
tion to the rule. The Newspaper Press Fund, from
all accounts, appears to be in a flourishing state,
and not to have unbeseemed the promise of its
spring. At a meeting of the members and sub-
scribers on Saturday a report was received from the
committee of management, and a statement of ac-
counts made. Lord HOUGHTON, the President of
the Society, was in the chair, and he made a short
address which set forth the present state of affairs
in this undertaking. His lordship had the gratifi.
cation of announcing that so far they had progressed
satisfactorily, and took occasion to explain away
some of the errors sud misconceptions which had
obtained ground relative to the workings of this
society and its general effect upon others, He very
truly said that there had been a great deal of mis-
apprehension " as tojts exercising an improper in-
fluence, either politically or socially, as the Fund is
not meant in any degree to apply merely to Par.
liamentary reporters, or even to reperterss of any
kind." It is quite as well that the president of the
society should thus have contradicted the absurd
rumours that were set afloat relative to the per.
nicious effects likely to be exercised by such an
institution. They were, in truth, most untenable
objections, but still there are some people who will
believe anything and be prejudiced against an tin-
dertaking on account of these representations, that
are based upon no reliable authority, and often only
put forth by those
,who wish to decry the :object
in view. Lord HOUGHTON took the right
view of the case, when he said that it
would be almost impossible for this chimerical sup-
position to be carried into effect. The independence
of public men in this country is too secure for such
an event to occur. No one who really understood
the whole bearings of the case would believe for a
moment that the danger could exist but for the saki
of the misled and prejudiced individuals who abound
in society. It is as well that the absurd statement
should be fully contradicted. It is to be hoped
that the decided tone of Lord HOUGHTON will have
its effect, and that henceforth no idle suggestion or
inuendoes will be suffered to detract from the
support which so estimable an institution eminently
deserves. Lord HouGHToN's advice seems to be
good when he urges upon the members to make the
fund as "largo, as free, and as general as possible."
This will be the only way to succeed, for any notion
of exclusiveness, any idea of a limited action will be
sure to exercise the most baneful influences upon its
fortunes, and deter many from becoming supporters
who otherwise would gladly have lent a helping
hand. The plans suggested by the President are
worthy of attention, and if strictly carried out will
most assuredly not fail in producing beneficial re-
sults. Lord HOUGHTON has long been connected
with the Literary Fund, and he advocated
some of its rules as suitable to this new society.
Without absolute secrecy being requisite it
is advisable that discretion be adopted in
the administration of this fund. Lord HOUGEt•
TON fully explained his meaning as to this impor-
tant desideratum, and it is to be hoped that his
precepts will be carried out. -Many will be de-
barred from seeking assistance if they think that the
subject of their distresses will be made a matter of
public notoriety, and thus the society will be de-
barred from fulfilling its object, and its mission,
which is a mast praiseworthy one, will be frustrated.
Taking everything into consideration, it may be
fairly conjectured that there was more truth in the
reassuring remarks made by the President, in con-
clusion, than in similar addresses often uttered on
like occasions. He said if they attended to these
suggestions, and added the energy they had already
shown, they would succeed in establishing the
fund on a sound and solid basis, and be great
benefactors to mankind. There seems no valid reason
why this fund should not answer, representing, as it
does, a great want of the day that has been long
felt to be in existence, and for which no timely
aid or veritable remedy has yet appeared. It is all
very well for the opponents of this plan to state
that such a society is not called for, but the facts
are distinctly contrary to these assertions. The
resolution passed at this meeting declared that the
necessity of the establishment of this institution
has been fully proved by the numerous ap-
piications already made for relief. It seems
idle, then, for prejudiced parties to persist
in declaring that the thing is not wanted,
and will not answer; their wish is father to the
thought, and they are only too ready to find out
flaws in the uianagement, and to suggest difficulties
that will be found in the carrying out of the plan.
No great or lasting work was ever yet completed
without great care, and no institution or society of
this class can hope to become U2i fait accompli all
at once, Let the originators of the scheme then
take courage, and press on to the goal of success,
without paying much heed to the scorn or the sneers
that are sure to bo their portion. The best and
most efficient way to answer them is by success—
that is an unanswerable argument in the eyes of the
world, and it will be a source of great gratification
to all now working for the cause in its present up-
hillstate, that by their exertions they have benefited
many who urgently required it, and could not except
by their agency have attained help in a manner
congenial to their tastes ok consonant with their
position. It is greatly to the credit of all who
belong to this society that they should have taken
it up with such vigour and energy, and now they
must resolve not to flag in their exertions, because
it is often after a prosperous commencement that
the real danger begins in the history of such insti-
tutions. It seems a scandal on the community that
before this nothing of an effective nature should
have been done to provide for the emergencies and
supply the needs of a class who stand in especial
need of such a source of help. These anomalies are
constantly occurring in life—however, the greater
the necessity the less the supply ; but it is a cheer-
ing thought to those who have long lamented the
void that existed to nil:et that now there seems a
prospect of the want being supplied and the
grievance no more existing.

TILE ROYAL ACADEMICIANS have added to the
list of their associate the names of Messrs P. K. Calderon,
F. Leighton, and B. B. Stephens.
EXTRAORDINARY SCENE OF VIOLENCE in the
Chamber of Correctional Police at Lyons.—A man
named Bartholey had been brought up, a few days since,
on a charge of writing threatening letters, and was quietly
seated on a bench in front of the tribunal. A witness was
stating that the accused had been the cause of the unhap-
piness of his family, having dissipated his property and
menaced with death his father and brothers, when suddenly
Bartholey sprang upon him, threw him to the ground,
and tore the man's face with his nails. The gendarmes
on service, however, instantly forced the assailant to relax
his hold, and while the witness, whose face was covered
with blood, went to get his wounds dressed a judgment was
pronounced on the assailant of five years' imprisonment and
five years' surveillance by the police for violence exercised
in a court of justice. The original charge was then pro •
seeded with, and the prisoner underwent a fresh condem-
nation of ono year's imprisonment and 1001, fine.