The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-01 00:00:00

SPECIAL QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION IN HEALTH.

1. What are the best means for disposing of the sewage
of towns ? 2. What are the causes, and what are the means
for the prevention of excessive infant mortality. 3. What is
the influence on health of the overcrowding of dwelling-
houses and workshops, and by what means should such.
overcrowding be prevented ?
SPECIAL QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION IN ECONOMY ANTI

LONDON, FRIDAY, JULY 1, 1864.

But that the slaughter of the Federals still con.
tinues to be so very frightful out in that deplorable
American seat of war, it would be almost laughable
reading, as we do, among these lest intimations re-
ceived from New York, under date June 23, " STAN.

TON announces that important movements are in pro-
gress"—together with the usual added hocus-pocus
—" which cannot yet be made public." That
kind of official intimation, just as the mail
is leaving for Europe, has been made so often
—and hitherto has invariably ended so disas-
trously . They .Eire always making "important
movements"—the phrase used to be (until they
were laughed out of it) t' strategic movements"—
those unfortunate Federals. And, besides that,
there has always been some untoward impediment,
somehow or another, in the way of the progress of
those same movements being made public. Whenever
by the mail ensuing, the result has come to be made
public—it has always, we repeat, proved in its cha-
racter to have been disastrous instead of advantageous
to the cause of the Federal Government. Opposed
to the Confederate Army, the Army of the Federals
has hitherto proved to be little better than what
LEIGH HUNT once comically likened a feather bed
to, namely, a Great Lubberly Giant. And the
Great Lubberly Giant over in America somehow
never contrives to tumble on a feather bed. He is
always receiving punishment, and punishment of
the most frightful character. According to
these last accounts, per the China, the Federal
Ines 11.3 c, ,11,1 been something rightful. Eight
thousand r”en in two days (the 17th and Mb) are
tleknowiedgtd by the Federals themselves to have
been put hors de combat—but the telegram adds the
number is believed to be still greater I In fact, a
single Corps alone (HANCOCK'S) is known to have
suffered losses to the extent of four thousand
two hundred men. Thanks to our wonderful
new-faegled principle
or tervention—so
rigidly applied in regard to formidable struggles like
those now raging in the North of Europe between
Denmark and Germany, and iu le'erth America be-
tween the Federals and the Confederates, but so in-
differently applied in instances like
that wretched
contest in China between the Taepings and thy,
Imperialists—thanks to this delightfully plastic and
elastic principle of non-intervention the borrorsof war
are in e fair way of being still ind‘ilaitely continued
in both hemispheres. Diplomatic interference even,
is shrunk from, as between the rival Powers
at Richmond and at Washington. And so with a
war expenditure of our own for many years past
tier© at home—for what good end GOD knows!—
we are permitted to enjoy, at a safe distance, the
luxury of beholding a four years' struggle of the
most sanguinary and revolting kind going on unin-
teeruptedly among our own kith and kindred,
emong a race who are of the number of our
descendants. And—beholding that spectacle
yonder in America, and beholding this kindred
spectacle here in the North of Europe, we may
now exult over the really and trully incalculable
blessings resulting from the principle of Non.

Intervention—we may now rejoice to our very
hearts' content, over the mingled shame and igno-
miny secured to us by our left-handed adoption
of a kind of blustering yet craven trayestee of the
Peace-at-any-Price policy.

The administration of relief to the destitute has
always been one of the most serious perplexities
which lie in the path of the legislator. To steer
between the two dangers of encouraging idleness
and improvidence and of neglecting the really
needy all times been
is a problem which has at
most difficult to solve, and which, in spite of all
our efforts and experiments, cannot yet be said
to be satisfactorily settled. Even in our own
metropolis we have frequent reason for doubting
how far our elaborate poor-law system fulfils its
task; and the evils of the old plan, which fell
into the opposite error from that now common,
are still fresh in the memory. The condition of
the poorer classes in the sister country is tot such
as to induce us to suppose that the present arrange-
ments are perfect, and therefore Mr. HENNESSY
deserved better success in endeavouring to excite
some interest in the discussion of the Irish Poor
Law. The hon. member, in moving the second
reeding of the Poor Law (Ireland) Acts Amend-
ment Bill, explained that its object was to em-
p weer the Poor Law Commissioners of Ireland to
allow out-door relief to be given to such classes of
the able-bodied poor to such extent and in such
manner as they may think fit. This permission
does not seem at first eight to contain any objec-
tionable feature, being, in fact, copied from a
similar clause in the English law ; but the prin-
ciple of out-door relief as applicable to Ireland is
strongly objected to by a large number of persons.
The principle is, as we know, readily recognised in
this country, and complaints are often needs that
the line is often drawn too tight, and that, in their
desire to avoid the old mistake of encmaraging
vagrancy and rewarding thriftlessness, guardians
and relieving officers often inflict unnecessary hard-
ships on the poor. It is quite evident that it is
cheaper to give a little outdoor relief than to take
a whole family into the workhouse ; and at first
sight it may therefore seem strange that the con-
dition of entering the House is generally in-
sisted on ; but the workhouse authorities
know better, and are fully aware that the
dislike to surrendering independence, to break-
ing up a home, and the consequent dis-
ruption of family ties, is sufficiently strong to
keep a good many half-starved persons from apply-
ing to the parish. But the question remains
whether these are not the very persons whom we
should most wish to help ? It is the better class of
the struggling poor who shrink from the " house"
and its restraints; those who have some self-respect
left, and who take a pride in their little belongings,
and have a care for their families, and it is these
who in times of sickness or distress have to bear
sore straits to avoid the object of their dread. This
argument may well be brought forward on behalf
of the poor of Ireland, and Mr. HENNESSY, in ad-
vocating the change he proposed, especially dwelt
upon the debasement which the Irish poor felt when
they entered the Union. He was convinced, he
said, that the law now in operation in Ireland for
the so-called relief of the poor tended very much
to promote that excessive emigration which is so
much regretted, for the labouring man who had
been forced to become an inmate of the workhouse
was eager to leave the country. The social and
mere' interests of the poor should, as Mr. HEN-
NESSY very justly observed, be consulted in this
matter of public relief, and certainly these are not
ad( quately considered when the only resource from
starvation is a " workhouse, where they receive
worse than prison diet." There is no reason why
harder measure should be dealt to the Irish than to
the English poor; but the plea against any altera-
tion of the law is that it would tend to raise the
rates—a result much to•be deprecated in so poor a
country. But if it is really the object to keep the
rates low, a very considerable saving might be
made by paying a little attention to the manner in
which the money now raised in poor rates is laid
out since. On Mr. HENNESSY'S showing, it appears
that a very great amount of relief might be given
with trifling expense, and in fact one of the prin-
cipal arguments which the hon. and learned gee.
tleman adduced in favour of his measure was its
economy. He anticipated that it would peace
an actual reduction in the rates by assimilating the
Irish poor law to the English system, since
the cost of the maintenance and clothing
per head is in England and Scotland about
ls, 6d. per week, while in Ireland it is 2s. 3d., and,
with other charges, amounts altogether to 3s. 10d.,
so that more than twice the number might be re-
lieved on the English system. The increased cost
is not occasioned by a different or more luxurious
manner of treating the paupers—the secret lies in
the official expenses. According to Mr. HEN-
NES§Y'S statistics, in one of the unions in Donegal
£333 was expended in the relief of the poor, £209
in the salaries and rations of the officers, and £123
for other expenses, so that for every eightpence
expended on the poor sixpence was laid out on the
officials. In another union the establishment
charges were £590, while the amount spent on the
poor was £502. After this it is certainly some-
what inconsistent to talk about heavy rates, and it
is high time that some inquiry was made into the
matter with a view to restoring a juster proportion
of things. Mr. HENNESSY contrasted these returns
with those of the Union at Holyhead, selecting that
part of England as being nearest Ireland. In
Holyhead the poor rates amounted to £lO,OOO, of
which £9,300 was expended on the poor, £415 only
beiug charged for official expenses. The heavy
expenses, .he contended, were mostly due to the
indoor reiief system, for the proportion of outdoor
relief given in Ireland is only one-thirtieth against
one-sixth in England. The rule is more oppressive
applied to a poor county like Ireland, where the
means of the labouring population are at beat
scantier than it would be in our own land, and the
benefit of giving a little temporary relief to out•
door labourers when deprived of work by frost or
other causes is very great to the ratepayers as well
as to the recipients. In Ireland the families of
such men are driven into the workhouse, and become
too often paupezised, whereas by a more liberal and
enlightened system the barrier between the children
and pauperism need not be broken down. It is
no light thing to familiarise our working men's
families with the inside of a Union, and it is cer-
taiuly not the way to lighten the burdens of' the
ratepayere. We hear a great deal about not in-
creasing the temptations to live on the public
bounty, but gentlemen who argue exclusively on
this side of the question will do well to consider
Whether in their anxiety to diminish the attractions
of the Union to the worn and tempted pauper they
are not at the same time heightening the attractions
of the gaol.

The subject of " Park-lano Improvement" haf
of late engrossed much attention,
and thos© who
take an interest in the matter, or are desirous of
acquainting themselves with its dethils, cannot dc
better than peruse the letter of Nit.. NELSON to tilt
'limes of yesterday. This gentleman is averse P.
the suggestion recently made of opening Hamilton
Nue as a means of obviating the vices, of trgffic:;

and in lien thereof, he considers that the change
should be made before and not after Park-lane.
There are no less than seven streets opening north-
wards between Park-lane and Berkelerstreet, et
both which points the rush of traffic is truly " ins
cessant." Mr. NELSON proposes that some of these
streets which are either culs de sac, or ending in
inconvenient routes, should be opened. This pro-
posal appears to be a reasonable one, and the
explanations given on the subject seem to be satis-
factory. There is no doubt that for some time past
there has been great negligence displayed in per-
mitting Piccadilly to remain in such a blocked up
state. What is everybody's business is nobody's
has been proved by the discomfort and danger that
have attsnded the traffic constantly taking place in
this favourite street of the metropolis. It is proposed,
then, to continue Clarges-street northwards to come
eat opposite to Charles-street, Grosvenor-square,
and this could be done in an economical manner.
The other suggestion is to make South Audloy-street
go on to Piccadilly. By this means there would be
a direct thoroughfare between Oxford-street
and Piccadilly, and also another thorough-
fare from Piccadilly to Park-lane. Mr.
NELSON deserves credit for his ingenious sug.
gestions, and it certainly appears that they contain
more to recommend them than is often found in the
proposals of a similar nature which continually
abound. It is truly stated in this letter that these
proposals will prove cheaper in the end than the
plan of opening Hamilton-place, for the houses there
are so much more valuable than in the other two
localities, that large compensation will be obliged
to be given to the owners. It must seem, besides,
on consideration, that the change in Hamilton-place
will not effect the benefit, nor secure ail the advan-
tages that, at first sight, it appeared to promise.
It will be but a temporary alteration, and not be in
the right place for removing the traffic so as to en-
able those who suffer so much inconvenience there-
from to enjoy the requisite relief. It is to be wished
that the Metropolitan Board displayed more ability
and judgment in the consideration of these mat-
ters. They seem to exhibit neither discernment to
recognise evils nor wit to remove them when others
have found them out. The task of improving the
streets and accommodating the thoroughfares of
a great metropolis ought not, however, to be
so lightly spoken of, as is too often the
case. It was the boast of an Emperor in past
days that he found Rome brick and left it marble,
and this was not an unreasonable theme for self-
congratulation, but the spirit which prompted the
men of old times to improve their capitals has never
rightly been comprehended or sufficiently partici-
pated in by those who regulate the streets of
London.

We have all heard of the princess and the
crumpled rose lest, and, absurd as it may seem tosome
in theory, there are many now-a-days whe carry it
out in practice. Perhaps one of the most absurd
forms in which this ultra.refiaement and excessive
particularity has of late shown itself has been the
crusade that has been made against street music.
The humorous remarks that were made during the
discussion that took place the other evening showed
how utterly unfounded were the complaints made.
It is, however, to be observed that in some respects
the provisions of this bill are most unfair they con
tain hard and harsh measures against the itinerant
musicians, and ere quite at variance with the
general principles of English law. It is a pity that
pe ple become so infatuated about a subject that
really is of so little imp3rtance. In the first place,
many of those who complained so bitterly of the
nuisance inflicted upon them by the "organ grin.
ders" are absent from town during a great part of
the scar, and it is most unreasonable to interfere
with others in their mode of gaining an honest liveli-
hood. Sir J. TRELAWNY spoke out plainly and
to the point when he said that the " bill was a pieco
of peddling legislation," and truly declared that the
rolling of carriages at night was a great annoy-
ance to some peope. It is idle to say that this bill
only sends the musicians from one part of the town
to another, because in any neighbourhood there
may be persons who are possessed of this
horror against street music, and hence the
measure must be regarded as a tyrannical
provision which sacrifices the interests of a humble
class, and the pleasure of many poor persons to the
infatuated prejudices of a few privileged individuals.
It is impassible to procure quiet in its reality in
London, and those who require, or fancy that they
require, absolute calm for the prosecution of their
studies, should betake themselves elsewhere, for as
fast as they have put down one nuisance another
will start up, and their energies will be consumed
in the struggle for rest, while they will bo as far off
their object as ever. The promoters of this bill have
succeeded in passing a clause which the Attorney
General has called " totally unprecedented," and it
is greatly to be regretted that their zeal, which is
indeed worthy of a better cause, did not show more
'moderation in its demands, and exhibit more reti
cence in its judgment. Considerate persons will
not pursue their avocations the more peacefully be-
cause the stringent regulations of the law have
driven the poor musician from street to street, till
in despair he ventures to defy its mandates, and
finds himself in a prison. When released from
thence, who shall say what his future course may
be ? It is always an unwise act on the part of
legislators to strain a point, so that a conviction is
almost sire to take place, and these social innova-
tors seem resolved that, come what may, the organ-
grinder must be guilty, and that the sooner he be
brought to condign punishment the better.

The Bishop of London has appointed July 7th
'or the annual distribution, at the Society of Arts,
of the prizes and certificates in religious knowledge gained
by the members of literary and mechanics' institutions,
young men's societies, working men's clubs, and evening
classes, in nnicn with the Metropolitan Adult Education
Association."

PROSPECTS OP A GENERAL ELECTION.—The
Parliament. House— the chief seat of the Whigs in
this city—is in motion. For 4he past three or four days every
horse-hair is it has been on end. There has been a running
to and fro such as has not been observed since the last
general election, and an anxiety which indicates a feeling
the very opposite of comfortable. Out of doors, too, certain
supposed leaders or authorities among the Whigs are be-
coming quite bland and courteous, if not positively obse-
quious, to those that at any other time they would not care
to recognise or remember. The Tories look jubilant, and
rumours are current that in the event of a dissolution they
mean to contest this city against its present misrepresenta-
tives, or whoever else may appear in the field,—Caledonian
lferenry,
A POLICEMAN SHOT BY A BURGLAR. —Oa
Tuesday night two county constables, name i Hotton
and Waldron, were on duty in II Ile-road, Hale-head, when
they met a man of suspicious appearance. In order to have
a better view of the man. Waldron struck a match, and
then the Gracers saw that ho fully answered the description
of a man. who was wanted for a burglary. Waldron seized
him by the back of the wck, when the prisoner drew a
pistol and fired. The shot, however, missed ; and he almost
immediately fired another pistol, this time with more suc-
cess, the ball striking the officer in the right side. A des•
perate struggle then took place between the prisoner and
the two officers, Hotton,though wounded, still assisting his
brother officer. While he was doing so, the prisoner
stabbed him several titres with a chisel. After consider-
able difficulty the prisoner was handcuffed. The constable
lies in a dangerous state.

NATIONAL SEAKSPERE COMMITTEE.—Mr. Ger-
man Reed has liberally contributed £25 55., being the
entire receipts of one night at the Gallery of Illustration ;
Mr &Ahern, of the Haymarket Theatre, has subscribed
£2O ; and Mr Buckstone, the lessee of the same theatre,
has announced his intention of giving 420—a1l in aid of
tll9 )SlialssPero g9nUmen t Fund,