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

I.CNDON, 'MONDAY, AUGUST 1, 1864.

It often occurs that when st. particular subject
has engaged the attention of the House, and even
when all parties have so far concurred as to the
excellence of the curposo in view, and the desira-
bility of carrying out thu aims and intentions of
the proposer, that some individual starts up and
contrives, by a few mal- 4ropos remarks, to give
quite wrong turn to affairs, and so impart a diffe-
rent tone to the discussion by the introduction of
angry topics, and the suggestion of exciting and
irritating subjects. Such a'course was pursued by
Mr P. TAYLOR when Lord EDWARD HOWARD in-
troduced the question of emigration to America.
The hon. member certainly entertains most extreme
opinions on the subject of the American War. He
almost entirely ignored the matter then before the
House relative to emigration, and addressed his at-
tention to the old and vexed question of the
relative merits of the belligerents, which
was not at all the su'oject then under
discussion. So indignant was he that Lord
J. MANNERS had ample grounds for his assertion,
that in all probability he had prefaced his speech
as an answer to the motion which it had been ex-
pected that Mr LINDSAY would bring forward on
the subject of mediation. Mr TAYLOR went so far
as to say that it was a matter cf regret that the
motion of the noble lord had been supported by the
hon. member for Sunderland, because he was a well-
known partisan of the Southern Confederacy. This
was very absurd to start with, but what followed
was worse still in point of fact and correctness of

description. lie declared that the war had its origin
in the desire to put an end to slavery, and
that the sympathy of the mass of the people
of England was in favour of the North. Can
anything be mare absurd than this, and on one point

Lord' J. MANNERS vary properly animadverted

upon his inconsistency of details, and exposed
his fallacious statements. Ho reminded the hon.
nember that he seemed to have forgotten altogether
the gieat meeting which tool: place in the town he
represented, and he further added that the hon.
member did not represent the feelings of that im-
portant town on this subject. It is to be hoped
that the electors will look to this oa a future occa-
sion, and demand from their representative that he
more fairly advocate their views, or cease to be their
member. It was really strange that Mr. TAYLOR
should be so vehement, when nothing before the
House called for any such display of feeling or
expression of opinion. He stared that the war was
simply a question of the determined and continuous
will of the North to put down slavery. It was

scarcely to be expected that Any one in this
country would come forward at this junc.
tore and make so extravagant an assertion
as this, All that has occurred since
the commencement of the war clearly proves the
contrary of the remark, and slavery has really no-
thing to do with the contest. It is the way to dis.
gust lookers-on instead of attracting them to the
:L;i?, of the Ftderals to give out such fallacious

statements as to the objects of the
war. It looks
as if the belligerents themselves and their enthusi-
astic p )rtisans all here were really ashamed of the
real
motive, and thus sought to give it a different
bring t forward under new auspices. It
Time, and i
is no matter of surprise that the concluding part of
the hon. member
7,6 epeech was received with laugh-
ter, for he made statements that would have been
more in keeping with the intelligence imparted by
a New York paper than appropriate to the Souse
of Commons. When he informed his hearers that
there was hardly a State in the South that was not
more or less occupied by Federal troops, and that their
Capital was bel.eagured, in fact it was Richmond,
and not Washingeon, that was in danger, he really
overacted his part, and only brought ridicule upon
those he sought to uphold. It was very likely the

cutting sarcasms that appeared in the speech of
Mr. LINDSAY that roused the indignation of the
holt: member for Leicester to such a pitch of fury,
and made his remarks so excited. Well might Mr.
LINDSAY say that many entertained the notion that
if her Majesty's Government had used the same
exertions to find out about the enlistments as they
employed to disoover what vessels were built for the
Confederates, the enlistments wou:d have been
stopped. This is most probable, and the whole
conduct of the Government has proved how very
differently they act in respect to the several comba-
tants. Doubtless if matters had been reversed,
and there had arisen a discussion as to

the character of the vessels built in certain
places we should have heard that it was not expe-
dient to interfere with the rights of English sub*
jects, and that it was almost impossible to ascertain
correctly who were the real owners of these vessels ;
and that, i❑ fact, no steps could be taken. Such
inconsistency is very marked, and it must strike all
who notice it. Mr. LINDSAY represents the opinions
of the people of this country when he said that they
in general believed this to be a " vain way," and

that the North could never succeed in subjugating
the South. The impression produced on the House
by the excellent speech of Lord EDWARD HOWARD,
and by the remarks of others who followed, will
no doubt have its effect upon the country in genera],
and perhaps serve as a warning to the infatuated

individuals themselves not to be drawn into the
vortex, and be enticed from their country to
meet with a deplorable fate in a foreign land.
It would be well also if it serves as a salutary check
upon the machinations of the Federals and arrested
them in their present iniquitous mode of inveigling
our subjects on false pretences, and then betraying
them in a dastardly fashion. It is high time that
something should be done, and it is therefore very
satisfactory that this debate should have taken place.
The last night of the session could not have been
occupied in a more befitting manner, and if only a
practical advantage is gained still it will be better
than nothing. There is no immediate prospect of

the war terminating in America, and if they chose
over there to sap the strongholds of their own
resources, that is no reason why they should be
allowed to waste our population, and bring' misery
and want upon a large portion of her MAJESTY'S
subjects,

The quarterly return of Dr. LETIIEBY respecting
the sanitary condition of the City is always a mat-
ter of some interest. Although year by year the
number of citizens who fix their places of abode out
of reach of its smoke and dust is rapidly increasing,
still there are enough inhabitants left to render the
condition of itshealth a matter of public importance.
We may, indeed, expect within a very brief period
to see the City still more depopulated, since rail-
ways and railway lines are about to invade its pre,
cincts, to intersect its thoroughfares, and to convert
its few green and open spots into stations and open
depots. The railways are now about to do directly
for the City what they have long been doing indi-
rectly by transporting its residents elsewhere. So
rapid and easy have they made communication with
the suburbs that John Gilpin's excursion to Edmon-
ton is now an every-day journey to many citizens;
but the forced removal of the poorer classes is likely
to create among them a good deal of temporary
annoyance and distress. When the removal is,
however, accomplished and fitting habitations pro-
vided at a distance for the outcasts, instead of fore-
'log them to take refuge in the already over-crowded
courts and lanes around them, there is no doubt that
the health of those who remain will be greatly be-
nefited. The two great evils of City life in regard
to health are want of fresh air and overcrowd-
ing, end neither of these is its necessary and
inevitable attendant. To look at the closed win-
dows in the miserable alleys of London one might
almost suppose that too much ventilation and not
too little was the danger the people had to dread,
while the horrors of overcrowding are, as we all
know, to be avoided by a plentiful supply of cheap
and suitable houses for the working man, and, by
trade being good enough, to enable him to secure
them. An important feature of the sanitary work
now going on is the inspection of houses. So
actively is this work carried on that during the last
quarter there have been no less than 2,M7 inspec-
tions of house, and 905 visits to the common lodg-
ing-houses of the city. That these visits were
neither superflaous nor fruitless is proved by their
results : 1,477 orders have been issued for sanitary
improvement, " among which there were 1,209
orders for cleansing and limewashing, 205 for im-
proving the drainage, and 134 for amending the
water supply." This system of inspection is an
element in preserving the public health, and
another valuable part of the sanitary arrange.
ments is the inspection of the markets and seizure
of putrid and unwholesome meat. The quantity
seized this quarter has for some unexplained reason
been nearly double the amount usually forfeited.
The immense quantity thus endeavoured to be
palmed off upon the public at, a serious risk to
life and health is something surprising,
notwithstanding the rigour which such an
offence is dealt with. In visiting the mar.
kets and slaughter-houses, the officers employed
have this quarter found occasion to condemn
60,823 lbs., or more than 27 tons of meat as unfit
for human food. In the corresponding quarters of
the last three years the amount was little more
than half that sum. The sudden heat of the weather
early in the year had probably much to do with
it, since a great part of the putrid meat, which
forms the largest item, was seized in the third week
in May, when the temperature suddenly rose above
77 delta. Fahrenheit. The amount of meat forfeited
being from animals that had died of accident or
disease, lays a great part of the blame at the door
of the sellers as well as of the weather, and the
fact that 11,058 lb. of meat was seized from this
cause shows the necessity of close and careful super-
vision. Prairie birds which are imported from
America appear to be a rather dangerous article
of diet, since frequent complaints of illness are
made after eating them, although Dr. LETHEBY
says that he cannot detect anything of a poisonous
nature in their flesh or food. Under these circum-
stances a little caution should be exercised respect•
ing them. The general account of the public health
is tolerably satisfactory. As usual the mortality
of the western part of the city has been considerably
above the avers ge, while the total of the city was
below it. As usual too, unfortunately, the deaths
of children under five have been 40 per cent. of thee
whole number. A great proportion of this infantile
mortality was probably due in this quarter to the
remarkable prevalence of measles. The fluctuations
of zymotic disease are, as Dr. LETELEvr observes,
among the problems yet to be solved. The meteo-
rological report is interesting, and it is instructive
to notice the rapid decrease of mortality as the
temperature rises. This is in decided contradiction
of the general theory that cold weather is the most
healthy. The rainfall of the quarter has been re-
markably small, so as fully to account for the corn-
plaints of drought which meet us from various
parts of the country. Had it not been for the low
state of the temperature the Thames, owing to the
small amount of fresh water, would, it is thought,
have been in as unpleasant a condAion as in the

years 1858 and 1859. Happily we have escaped
that evil, and only contemplate it in Dr. LETHEBT'S
very useful and interesting report:

It so often happens that undertakings and
attempts which at first sight seem to be 'eternising,
and begin under most favourable auspices with
every flattering augury of success, fall off after a
time and gradually fade away, or suddenly die out
to the grief of their projectors, 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-
ecribers 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 gratifia
cation of announcing that so far they had progressed
satisfactorily, and took occasion to explain away
some of the errors and 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 mite%
apprehension " as to,its 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 reporters 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 un-
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 sake
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 "large, 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 HoUGII•
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 most 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-
elusion, 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, bat 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-
plications 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 management, 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 ust 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 be 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 or 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 diets who stand in especial
need of such a source of help. These anomalies are
constantly occurring in life—however, the greater
the necessity the leas the supply ; but it is a cheer-
ing thought to those who have long lamented the
void that existed to reflect that now there seems a
prospect of the want being supplied and the
grievance no more existing.

THE ROYAL ACADEMICIANS have added to the
list of their associate the names of Messrs P. H. Calderon,
F. Leighton, and E. 13. 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 •
ceeded with, and the prisoner underwent a fresh condem-
nation of one year's imprisonment and 100 f, fine.