The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-03 00:00:00

receiving the compensation to which he is emi-
nently entitled. It would really seem as if they
were determined to show that they can do what they
like ; and no matter how unpopular may be their
decisions, or how unfair their treatment of im-
portant claims, they must nevertheless still keep
their places, and enjoy the glories of office. This
game may be tried once too often. Lord PAL-
MEItSTON had to retire ignominiously from power
when he was far stronger in position than he is at
present. Sometimes, when all seems secure, a slight
circumstance arises that nullifies the effect of pre-
vious advantages, and carries destrg.ction to the
course of the prosperous and powerful. Let it once
he bruited abroad that the rights of the subject ere
not safe in the hands of the present Administra-
tion, and no foreign difficulties, no home necessities
will retain them in office. It is true that Mr.
BEWICEE acted injudiciously at the outset of the
affair, but that does not exculpate those who con-
cocted a conspiracy against him. Every one who
was concerned in the affair has been to blame for

their haste and infatuation. The only way to get
out of the affair with anything like decency will be
to institute an inquiry and settle the demands of
the injured party as speedily and as liberally as
possible. If this is not done other efforts must be
made, for it will never do to let such a tyranny be
exercised as that advocated by the Home Secretary
the other night. Now that the House has so
strongly endorsed the opinion of Mr. BERKELEY
that something should be done, it will not be
becoming to daily with the subject. It must be
settled in a satisfactory style, or more will be heard
of it than may suit the wishes of high powers. If
the proper means are employed, the committee will
have ample time to meet and settle the matter before
the close of the session. It will be a satisfactory
thing to reflect upon that, in some measure, a great
wrong has been redressed, but all improvements
can be but partial that do not strike at the root of
the evil. The laws that apply to such cases must
be rectified, or else we cannot declare, with a shadow
of truth, that our civil rights are in accordance with
the spirit of the age or the advancement of intel-
ligence.

It is disappointing to find measures of real prac-

tical utility encountering unreasonable and deter-
mined opposition, yet such is unfortunately only

;oo often the case even in a time when the intoler-

ance of ignorance and the rancour of prejudioe are
supposed to have lost much of their power. "We
may indeed always anticipate the antagonism of a
formidable pha'anx when great principles are in-

vowed in any change for the better, or when old
interests have to be attacked or striking improve-

meets introduced into the working of our social and
political systems, The most sanguine riformcr or
the most enthusiastic inventor could hardly imagine

that his theories would fall in with every one's
humour, and in a free outspoken country like our

own, he is pretty sure to hear a good many un-
complimentary criticisms, and to receive a good
many sharp homethrusts before his visions pass

into reality. But coming down from great organic
changes and notable discoveries to mere matters of
detail and local management, it is somewhat curious

to find a piece litigation impending respecting a
practical improvement in the manner of supplying
London with gas and water, just proposed to be
carried out by the Metropolitan Board of Works.
It seems that some years ago the Board consulted
some of our most eminent engineers on the matter,
and the result of this consultation was, that they

resolved upon constructing large well-ventilated
sub-ways for the reception of the gas and water
pipes, as well as for the telegraph wires and the
pneumatic despatch tubes of more recent date. We
might suppose that a scheme supported by STE-
MUNSON, BRUNELL, CUBITT, and other engineers
of high calibre,would possess some practical mexite,
and indeed the advantages of the plan are at once
apparent even to the uninitiated. The continual
stoppage of our large highways for the repairs of
pipes, and countless similar reasons, would by its
means be done away with, so that great expense
would be spared the companies ; and a

constant inspection of the pipes could
be easily kept up; so that efficiency,
economy, and freedom from annoyance are among
its recommendations. We all know that one of the
foremost among a Londoner's share of " les petites
rniseres de la vie humaine," is losing a train from a
blocked up thoroughfare, so that it will remove a
good deal of daily vexation if we are henceforth to
have no unnecessary meddlings with the substratum
of the QUEEN'S highway. There is, too, no valid
reason to urge against the plan. We are all grow-
ing familiar with the idea of works geing on under-
ground. " Skitzland" has become a fact instead
of a theory since Mr. AIORLET wrote his witty
sketch of life in mid-earth. It is surely less remark-
able and less extravagant for gas and water pipes
to have regular organised subways, than for one
locomotive to dip under another after the fashion
proposed in the neighbourhood of the Euston-road.
But, whatever the reason, there ate very decided
obstacles being put in the way of the scheme,
although the subways have been actually constructed
in the new streets from St. Martin's-lane and in
Southwark. The companies decline to use them
and accordingly a Bill has been brought before
Parliament, in order to compel their use and to
arrange the terms of payment on the part of the
companies. This Bill, having been read a second
time, has been referred to a select committee, and
now the tug of war is to begin in earnest. The
water companies are to oppose it by means of four
solicitors, who are, it is said, to instruct no less tha❑
twelve counsel. This is a sufficiently alarming
number, but we must remember that the gas com•
panies still remain to be represented, so that there
will be more RICEIMONDS in the field, and if we add
the legal functionaries employed by the Board of
Works, we shall see very little of a speedy settles
ment of the question. Remembering what we have
recently heard about the expenEes of a select com-
mittee of this kind, we may conclude that this
battle of the subways will be a tolerably expensive
business. There is so much money needel for really
useful and practical purposes of public interest, that
it is a matter of regret to see such large sums com-
pletely thrown away in foolish and purposeless
litigation. •

The gradually increasing prosperity becoming
perceptible in our distressed cotton districts is a
matter for very earnest and heartfelt thankfulness.
The worst of this storm has passed away, and
streaks of light through the breaking clouds give
hope that brighter days may soon be looked for.
Compared with the immediate past Lancashire is
wonderfully improved, although sho may be still
far enough removed from her former flourishing
condition. If the changed aspect of affairs is a
subject of congratulation among those far removed
from the pressure of the distress, what must it bo
to those struggling thousands who have borne so
bravely and so patiently the full weight of the trial ?
It has been feared by some that the long continued
receipt of eleemosynary aid woula impair that self-
respect and independence which are among the
most precious possessions of the poor, and that when
cotton was again forthcoming working men and
women might think idleness more pleasant than in-
dustry. The relief committees have always borne
in mind the danger of encouraging dependence, and