The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-06 00:00:00

wheat two shillings. Mr. DISRAELI'S words are,
no doubt, listened to with respect in many influen-
tial quarters, and his political speeches have been

read with anxiety and interest in many of the
Cabinets of Europe, but it may very reasonably be
questioned whether his countrymen are quite so
easily influenced by the expression of his opinion
on a matter which has no connexion with politics
or parties, and on which a little personal observa-
tion and inquiry will enable most well-informed
persons to arrive at their own conclusion. But,
notwithstanding Mr TROMPER'S indignation about
the harvest, the fact appears to be that he is rot so
much dissatisfied with the harvest as with the state
of farming generafly. A great part of his griev.
arca against Mr. DISRAELI is that the latter" de-
scribed farmers and farming in a too roseate hue."
Mr TROMPED. is apparently a sampla of the good

old school of English agriculturists, who are " never
happy unless they are miserable," and to whom it
is a very great hardship to be told their trade or
profession, whichever they choose to call it, has,
on the whole, many advantages ; that ;ts profits, if
small, are sure, its investments, though tedious in
their returns, arc safe, and that, though they are
undoubtedly liable to the vicissitudes of the seasons,
the evils of which can be lessened by prudence and
caution. They are at the same time exempt from
those more violent and startling convulsions which
so often bring ruin on the most seemingly flourish-
ing commercial enterprises. What is to become of
the long-established privilege of the farmer, to
grumble at every change of weather, to complain
of the drought of a hot season and the moisture of
a wet one, to lament alike the absence of sun and of
rain, and of wind and of calm, if this theory is to
be generally accepted ? OTIIELLO'S occupation will
ba gone; and what with the improvements in
machinery;the advance in agricultural scienc?, and
the greater diffusion of knowledge and taste among
all classes, the typical British farmer will be a
character unknown. Mr TROMPER is not easily
pleased. He complains alike of the low price of
wheat and of the high price of beans ; but we towns-
folk may at least console ourselves under the antici-
pation of dear meat, that bread, the great source cf
supply to thousands who seldom trouble the butcher,
will at least be cheap and plentiful. The food for
stock is certainly a serious consideration, but it
will be hard if the ingenuity of our day cannot
devise some substitute for the deficient beans and
turnips. At all events, it is better to face a difficulty
with a stout heart than to commence our laments.

tione before the trouble has reached us, especially
when we have reason to rejoice in a fair average
crop of whfa+, which, in spite of the farmers, is
the first consideration with the great body of the
people.

The verdict of the jury respecting the Erith ex-
plosion is very much what might have been antici-
pated from the circumstances. So great and com-
prehensive was the disaster that none were left to
tell the tale. No eye-witness of such a catastrophe
could live to give his version of the disaster, and
all that was known was the fact of the two barges
laden with powder lying at the wharf. Mr HALL,
the owner of the magazine, observed that he "did
not know any person now living who could throw
any light upon the cause of the explosion ;" and
this was the difficulty of the jury. According to
Mr HALL, every reasonable precaution had been
taken. The barrels in which the gunpowder was
conveyed from the barges to the building were twice
examined as to their soundness before they were
filled, so that no leakage could have taken place.
No fire was allowed upon the barges, even with the
hatches down, and the men, who had most of them
hoon pmnloved on the establishment for many years,
were said to be very steady. Under these circum-
stances, the jury had no choice but to return a ver-
dict of accidental death, but they coupled with it
the expression of their opinion that no stoves or
lights of any description should be allowed on board
the powder barges. It is to be hoped that serious
attention will be paid to this recommendation, not
only by the owners, but by the men employed
in so dangerous and responsible an office. Whence
came the spark that caused all the mischief is as
yet uncertain ; whether it came unperceived from
some other quarter, or whether there was actually
a light of any kind on board the barge, there is no
evidence to prove, but it is at least reasonable that
all precautions should be redoubled, and that the
men should be closely watched with regard to
their pipes. We know how often recklessness of
miners has cost their lives and the lives of those
around them, and there is no reason to suppose
that the knowledge of the danger would prevent
the men employed in a gunpowder magazine from
similar imprudence. Familiarity breeds contempt
of danger as of other things, and utter indifference
soon takes the place of alarm and anxiety. The
correspondent of a contemporary vouches for
having recently seen a Government barge, laden
with powder, going up the river in charge of three
or four men, two of whom were smoking and
another half intoxicated, It is in this way that
accidents are brought about, and it would be a
good thing if men were subjected to heavy penalties
for smoking on board such barges, The risk
affects themselves most of all, and it also en-
dangers the lives and property of others, and the
cataatrope at Erith, lamentable as it was, excep
under slightly altered circumstances, has been pro.
ductive of damage a hundredfold greater.

Home for Infirm and Incurable Women.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sir,—As at this season of the year many are
returning to their homes, after a time of relaxation,
with renewed health and strength, it occurs to me
that some Christian persons might be glad, from
feelings of gratitude, and by way of thank-offering,
to contribute towards the support of an institution,
(No. 23, New Ormond• street) for infirm and in-
curable women. This idea has been suggested to
my mind by a lady, who, returning to her home
lately, sent us a donation on this ground.
At present funds are specially needed, from the
fact of an adjoining house, into which we are
about to remove, having been recently taken,
capable of accommodating, in a comfortable home,
a larger number of respectable, deserving persons,
now helpless through sickness and infirmity, than
the limited number as yet able to be received.
For the purchase of the lease, repairs, and furnish.
ing, the sum of £BOO will be required. Of this
about £350 only has been subscribed ; the remain-
der has still to be made up in order to provide, ere
the winter sets in, this shelter, attendance, and
nursing, proved to be so much needed and sought
for by many who can themselves or through their
friends partially pay for their maintenance, but
being, with advancing years, without relatives to
attend on them, and a sufficiency to procure a nurse,
have been obliged to resort to a workhouse, or are
about doing,

While assistance from any kindly disposed would
therefore to us prove very opportune, so, surely no
charity could be more suitable for the purpose, I
haNa ventured to suggest, than one which benefits
those whom God's providence has seen fit to
sfflict
and to debar from the usual comforts and allevia-
tiors of sickness.

Donations or annual subscriptions will be thank-
fully received by Miss Arnott, 23, New Ormond-
street (in the absence of Miss Twining, the Lady
Superintendent of the home); or, by Messrs. Twin-
ing 215, Strand, W.C. Post-offics Orders may be
made payable in Lamb's Conduit-street.

S. S. A.