The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-04 00:00:00

AGENTS R XQUIRED,

T"R ‘)YAL INS-U_ RANCE COMPANY is
prepared to entertain applications for Agency Appoint-
ments from gentlemen having command of Fire and Life
Business.
The Royal. has always been c 'onspicuous for its liberality
and prompti,tude in the settleme ut of claims.
Its annual I ncome is now over . .. £500,001
And its fun• is in hand exceed £.1,000,000
Transfers of Policies from other Companies received with-
out charge for Policy, whatever t he amount.
Address, JOHN B. JOHNSTON, Secretary.
Royal Insurance Company, 29, Lombard-street.

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA,
COVENT-GARDEN.
Under Vie Management of Miss Louisa Fyne and
Mr. W. Harrison.
THIS EVE KING, to commence with (first time) an en-
tirely new Operetta, entitled FANCHETTE. Miss Louisa
Fyne and Nir. W. Harrison.
After which, a Grand Christmas Pantomime, on a stale of
=precede!) ted magnificence, e ntit led
HARLEQC IN ST. GEORGE AND THE DRAGON.
Doors open at half-past Six—Commence at Seven.

T REA :'RE ROYAL DRUR Y-L AN E.
Managers, Messrs. Edmond Falconer and
F. B. Chatterton.
THIS EVEN-DIG, the Farce of A ROLAND FOR AN
OLIVER. Mest.rs. Walter Lacy, Addison, G. Bellmore,
the Misses Heath, R. Leclercq, Murray.
To conclude with the new Grand Christas Comic Panto-
mime of SINBAD THE SAILOR ; or, Thme Seven
of the World. Clowns, Messrs. H. Boleavilleand
Pantaloons, C. Lauri ;
Bar I e quin s , Messrs. J. Cormack and S. S
Messrs. W. A. Barnes and J. Morris ; Columbines, Madame
Bo len o and Misses Gunniss.
_Prices as usual. Box Office open from 10 till 5 daily.

TREATRE ROYAL DRUR Y-L AN E.
Managers, Messrs. Edmund Falconer and
F. B. Chatterton.
THIS EVENING, A ROLAND FOR AN OLIVER.
Messrs. Walter Lacy, Addison; Miss R. Leclercq and
Miss Heath ; and the Grand Comic Christmas PANTO-
MIME, written by E. L. Blanchard, Esq.. entitled and
founded upon the popular Oriental story of SINBAD THE
SAILOR. The gorgeously beautiful character of the decora-
tions, inclusive of more than the usual amount of scenical
surprises and transformat ton wonders, n
tre esured by the
fact of their being entirely designed and for the most part
executed by the celebrated artist, William Beverley, whose
eminent services have been retained this Christmas exclu-
sively for the Theatre Royal Drury-Lane. The general
action t the Pantomime, arranged by, and the whole pro-
duced under the direction of, Mr. Robert Roxby. Principal
characters in the opening by Messrs. Tom Matthews, J. Ne-
ville. Fitzjames, Meagreson, G. Weston, and Master Percy
Roselle ; Misses Lizzie ilmore, Rose Leclercq, E. Weston,
Coventry, and Cicely Nott. The Harlequinade will include
the services of those popular Pantomimists (forming a
double company\ Harry Boleno and Mr. C. Laud, Clowns ;
Mr. W. A. Barnes and Mr. J. Morris, Pantaloons ; Mr.
Cormack and Mr. S. Saville, Harlequins ; Madame
Boleno and Misses Gunnies, Columbines. The masks,
devices, and dresses, from designs by the humorously re-
nowned Dykwynkyn. The music selected and arranged by
Mr. J. Barnard. The dances and action of the Ballet will be
arranged by Mr. Cormack. Comic scenes, tricks, &e., invented
by Messrs. H. Boleno and Cormack. Morning Periormance of
the Pantomime every Wednesday, at 2 o'clock. Box Office
open daily from 10 tilt 5 o'clock.
The massive and beautiful decorations of the amphitheatre,
proscenium, and teilinfr, designed and completed under the
direction of Marsh Nelson, Esq., in that uorgeous style of
ornamentation known as characteristic of the Louis Quatorze
period, and which elicited so much praise from the press and
the public last year, having been thoroughly cleansed, make
the aspect of the house before the curtain (which, when
lighted up, is admitted to be the mast beautiful in Europe),
an object of admiration which in itself is worth a visit.
On SATURDAY NEXT, January 9, Mr. PHELPS will
appear in a New SeTio-Comic Drama, entitled NIGHT AND
DiORN, which will be played in conjunction with the Panto-
mime during the holidays.

OYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
Under the Sole Management of Mr. Fechter.
BEL DEMON IO (a Triumphant Success) will be repeated
Every Evening during the Week.
THIS EVENING, the performance will commence with a
New and Original Farce, entitled THE LOST CHILD:
--tessts. H. Widdicombe, Shore, Garden, F. Charles Collett,
Moreland; Misses Percy, Pauline Le,dercq, Wood, Mrs. Lee,
and Miss E. Lavenu.
After which, at Eight o'clock, BEL DEMONIO, a Love
"etory, in Twelve Tableaux, taken from Stendhal's "Italian
Chronicle," by Mr. John Brougnam. Principal charac-
ter by Mr. Fechter, supported by Messrs. Jordan, Charles,
Brougham, Emery, Raymond, Moreland, Smith, Clifford,
Collett, Sims ; Miss Kate Terry, E. Lavenu, Mrs. Lee, and
.aliss Elsworthy.
The Public are entreated to take notice that No Charge is
made to the occupants of Boxes, Box-places, or Stalls, either
for play bills or for the safe keeping of hat and cloaks, and
teat the attendants in all parts of the house are forbidden to
TeCeive any gratuities whatever.
Box-office open daily from 11 to 5. Commence at 7.

THEATRE ROYAL HAY MARKET.-
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr, Buckstone.
THIS EVENING, OUR AMERICAN COUSIN: Messrs.
Sothern, Buckstone, Chippendale, Braid, Gordon, Rogers,
Clark, Cullenford, &c. ; Mesdames Angel, Snowden, Terry,
Lindley, Hill, &c
After which, KING ARTHUR ; or The Days and Knights
of the Round Table. Messrs. Chippendale, Compton, Braid,
Clark, Rogers, Tilbury, &c. ; Mesdames L. Keeley, Brough,
Wright, Terry, Lindley, Rogers, &c.
Commence at 7.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.-
Sole Lesee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining.

Open for the Season.
THIS EVENING, THE HONEYMOON.

After which, HARLEQULN LITTLE TOM TUCKER;
or The Fine Lady of Banbury Cross, and the Old Woman
who Lived in a Shoe and Had so Many Children she didn't
know what to do.

ROYAL ST. JAMES'S THENURE. under the
Management of Mr. B. WEBSTER.

GREAT Stir`CESS

EVERY EVENING, the HEN AND CHICKENS Mrs.
Stirling in her original character.
Atter which, a Comical Congiome rative Christmas Absur-
dity, entitled 1863 ; or, THE SENSATIONS OF THE PAST
SEASON, with a shameful Revelation of Lady Somebody's
Secret. Mr. J. L. Toole, Mr. Paul Bedford, Miss Cottrell,
Miss Fanny Josephs, &c.
With the BIRTHPLACE OF PODGERS : Mr. J. L. Toole
The celebrated Mr. and Mrs. CHARLES MATHEWS
Monday, January 11.

LAW THE ATRE-RO YAL, ADELPHI.-
Sole Proprietor and Manager. Mr. B. Webster.

THIS EVENING, THE SPITALFIELDS WEAVER:
Mr. J. L. Toole.

ht to Eight, the New Drama of LEAH: Miss Bate-
man, supported by Messrs. Arthur Stirling, R. Phillips, Bil-
ington, Stuart, Stephenson, Eburne; Miss H. Simms, and
Mrs. Billing-ten.

To conclude with LADY BELLE BELLE; or, Fortinlo
and his Seven 31agi7, Men. Messrs. J. Clarke, K. Phillips,
Stephenson ; Miss Woolßar, Miss K. Kelly, Miss Patti
Jose,;hs, Miss L. Laidlaw, Miss Seaman.

Commence at 7.

LEAII.-EVERY NIGHT.

MISS BA TENIAN.—LEATI.—Tms EVENING,
the 81st appearance of the great Tragic Actress, Miss
BAII4I3IAN, in the character of LEAH. In consequence of
the unbounded success with which Miss Bateman's Imperso-
nation of the priLcipal character in the new Five Act Drama
of LEAH has been attended, Mr Webstet begs to announce
that it will be performed EVERY EVENING until further
notice.

ROYAL STRAND THEATRE.
Manager, Mr. W. H. Swanborough.
THIS EVENING, ORANGE BLOSSOMS : Miss K.
Carson.
After whi ch, the Grand Christmas Burlesque, ORPHEUS
AND EUR Y DICE : Messrs. Honey, Wood, James Fenton,
Mesdames !Swanborough, Marie Wilton, Hughes, &c.
To conclude with TURN HIM our.
Commence at 7.

:TIRE THIRD EDITION OF " THE SUN,"
Contatninz the Latest SPORTING IN
:au be had Every Evening of
G. B. GLENIE, NEWS AGENT,
No. 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park.

HIG:FI WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
THIS DAY.—Morning, 81. 44m.—Afternoon, 9h. 22m.
To-riortßow.-31orning, Oh. 58:n.—Aftnrnoon,,:10h. 36m.

The Weather—Sun Office, Jan. 4, 1864.

THERMOMETER.

This day at Two o'clock 3O

Barometer-30.00.
Wind—East ; fresh, and very fine.

S
, T J 1:
~ vj.l.-
...

LONDON, SATURDAY, JAY. 4, 1864.

Parliament is already coming within our ken is
njW almost visibly looming up before us at the end
of the very brief perspective of a few weeks in
this next month of February. There is a toler-
ably clear understanding, too, on all sides that the
coming session is not to be allowed to follow the dull
pattern of its three or four do-nothing predeces-
sors. The Parliament itself moreover is coming with-
in easy distance of the date of its own dissolution.
Meaning by that, its dissolution simply in the
natural course of things as a septennial Parlia-
ment. Nominally only our Parliaments are sep-
tennial. Ever since they became septennial they
have as a rule become more short-lived even than
seven years. They have Leen dissolved, instead of
tranquilly lapsing into non-existence. The Seven
Years of Perliament, like the Seven Ages of Man,
are seldom enough to be traversed, throughout, to
the very end. And when a Parliament as charac
terless, as sluggish, as dawdling, almost one might
sac, as utterly indifferent as the one last summoned
into existence; is in existence, the sooner a quietuA
comes to be administered to it, the people out of
doors get to think at last, the better. Remembering
how little there is, that can be set down as
among the achievements of the Parliament now
in a few weeks more to he summoned back
asin to Westminster for the despatch of urgent
public business—one really, without any particle
of affectation, looks forward with a sense of relief,

with a sense nearly of exultation, to the prospect
of its dissolution. It has done, actually done
little or nothing, since it was first called together
in the summer of 1859, when Mr. EVELYN DENISON
was elected Speaker. More than that, it has hardly
attempted to do anything. It has scarcely made
any pretense of affecting to do anything. It un-
happily had the excuse afforded to it for idling
away a whole year in consequence of the sudden
and terribly premature death of the beloved Consort
of the SOVEREIGN. The nice balance of parties
again—keeping things almost in a state of absolute
equilibrium—has served since then to perpetu-
ate, if not actually to justify, the do-nothing-
policy of a Cabinet without any great
ruling principle whatever, beyond the one
cherished principle of all Whig Cabinets—to hold
office as long as possible ! In the maintenance of this
very curious do-nothing policy, a policy so very curi-
ous on the part of a Ministry notoriously made up
of Reformers—a ministry that actually ousted its
predecessors from office on the plea of their impeding
the rapid acquisition of large and comprehensive
Reforms—in the steady and continuous mainten-
ance of this do-nothing policy, the present Adminis-
tration hes been sustained by two things, each of
which two things has certainly been all the while
sufficiently within every one's comprehension.
First of the two—by the strong predilection for
Conservatism all his life in the heart of hearts of
Lord PALMERSTON. Second of the two—by the
ready connivance, aid, assistance, and co-operation
of the powerful Conserve tive Opposition. Upon
Lord PALMERSTON'S popularity the present Cabi-
net has all along rested entirely as its only foun-
dation. And the Premier, who is one of the last,
as he is also in another sense one of the first, of the
Canningites, if he has ever before in his life
cherished Conservative predilections, has done,
is doing so, now that he is approaching the ripe
age of an octogenarian. Old age is not
fond of innovation—is certainly not fond
of inaugurating innovations. Lord PAL-
MERSTON never, even in his youth, having been
solicitous about the prosecution of bold and
sweeping reforms, has long since got to be
wholly and avowedly indifferent to them.
And in sweeping altogether out of view
all idea or design of Reforms, of a large or small
kind, as Lord PALMERSTON, if any man living has
done, has most unquestionably done, has done
eagerly and done with a will—he has been steadily
and strenuously aided in so doing by the eager co-
operation of her MAJESTY'S Opposition. Why the
latter have thus readily consented to assist the
Ministry in their do-nothing policy—needs hardly,
in truth, to be specified! For one thing,
while so doing, they, the Opposition, have
been all this time enabling their antagonists,
in the most signal and effectual manner,
to • stultify themselves. They (the Opposition)
have so acted that the result has been the
shelving of all reform by the very Ministry which
was called to power in order to secure tho triumph
of reform principles! More sweeping reforms
than those they themselves (i.e., the Conservatives)
were prepared to carry out in 1859, had they been

allowed to do so by the Dog-in-the-Manger Re-
solution of Lord RUSSELL, then still Lord JOHN
RUSSELL—more sweeping reforms than those
sketched out in Mr. DISRAELI'S rejected measure,
neither he nor his colleagues were prepared to
assist in carrying through Parliament. The Oppo-
sition, therefore, have been perfectly consistent in
furthering Lord PALMERSTON 'S endeavour, the noble
veteran's very successful endeavour, as it has turned
out to be, to bring about the shelving of Reform
altogether. So effectually has it long since been
shelved in consequence of all this, that the reputed
Great Reformer among Great Reformers in the
House of Commons has quitted that arena
for the Lords—has long since accepted his
coronet as an earl, and has been further
rewarded—for his " Resolutions," of course
—by being made a Knight of the Garter.
Hence his memorable expression of satiety when
recommending the nation to " Rest and be Thank •
ful." A Parliament in which all this has come to
pass, we have no sentiment in regard to, unless a
sense of absolute indifference can be called a senti-
ment. We look with apathy to the prospect
of its dissolution. Before the date of its dissolution
comes, however, there will, in the natural course of
things, come a party struggle ! Probably the
party struggle will arise this next session : and this
—because of the blundering of Ministers, particu,
larly in their Foreign Policy and because of the
simultaneous aggregation of strength numerically
to the Opposition.

They who attempt to give advice, or to offer sug-
gestions to the King of PRUSSIA, have but a sorry
task, and do not meeL with a very gracious recep-
tion. In the present instance his MAJESTY'S
answer to the address is a most ungenial one, and
he takes very good care to let the refractory and
presumptous deputies know how greatly they have
erred in their attempts to teach him his duty, and
to hint to him how he should manage affairs. Thus
we read in the Reply, that the King " desires to
assume" that no intimation given to him could pos-
sibly be intended to trench on his exclusive right
to decide and dictate the course necessary to be
taken with respect to foreign politics. According
to this idea it will be very difficult to determine
what remains for the representative Assembly to
do, if all action is denied to them, and they are
not to be allowed to come forward in any decisive
manner, and sway the destinies of the country at an
important juncture. This is a new doctrine to be
promulgated in a Constitutional country, and
seems to extinguish the last faint hopes that may
be entertained of his conversion to a wiser and a
better course. Now when we hear of this enuncia-
tion by the King that the decision arrived at re-
garding these affairs can only be settled by himself
alone—if this be true, some reflective persons might
ask, what is the use of having a Chamber of Depu-
ties at all. If their mission is but to follow the old
advice of seeing, and hearing, but saying nothing,
it would be quite as well if they did not undertake
the task at all. It is at all events so far satisfactory
that King WILLIAM does not agree to the tenour
of the advice accorded to him, although his mode of
declining the suggestion is quite characteristic of
the arbitrary style which has gained for his rule so
much animadversion, and called down such bitter
reproach. It is eve step gained in the unequal
struggle now taking place, that the treaties of
1862 are not to be given np recklessly,
or without due consideration, and what-

ever arriere pensee the King may entertain,
whatever may lurk in the background, we can but
rejoice so far at his resolve to maintain intact and
inviolate the engagements entered into between the
Powers of Europe. The concluding passages of the
reply are very carefully worded, and prove the
KING to be a skilful diplomatist and an acute
watcher of events. The very haste and precipita-
tion with which the Deputies have acted are turned
to account against them ; and the zeal for aggran-
disement abroad, and the mistaken notions of up-
holding the Federal rights at home, which have
lately so falsely actuated them, are now shown up
in their true colours. When any sect or party
become hesitating in their course, it follows as a

matter of necessity that their opponents take advan-
tage of it. The KING very aptly remarks that, if
the Deputies really desire what they ask for, they
must in conscience agree to his proposals and give
a willing ear to his demands. Thus he adroitly
introduces the subject of the "means" and "con-
ditions," which have hitherto been vexed questions
between the Crown and the Deputies. He has the
best of the argument, when he says that he cannot
understand how the House which so " vehemently
urges" him to action can refuse him its support
when he asks for the requisite powers to commence
that action. The Deputies have thrown away a
grand chance, and lost a glorious opportunity of
vindicating the rights of the Constitution and
serving the best interests of their country. The
mania for Federal rights seems to have obscured all
other ideas, and to have obliterated these claims
which were so much more important and impera-
tive. This affair of Schleswig-Holstein, which some
time ago was the opprobrium of politics, and which
some mistaken well-wishers deemed to have been
settled once and for ever, seems destined to
confuse and complicate to the utmost the
nations of Europe, already sufficiently dis-
tracted by the uncertain state of events.
Like all bad managers and pursuers of a shuffling
line of policy, Earl RUSSELL is now in a very un-
comfortable position. He beholds fresh difficulties
in every turn of events, and new dilemmas seem
winged towards him with the advent of every addi-
tional telegram. His perplexities have now com-
pelled him to summon a Cabinet Council, doubtless
for the express purpose of considering this remark-
able and intricate problem. Had the noble lord
taken a right view of this affair at first, how diffe-
rent would now be the result. We should be main-
taining a position worthy of the dignity and con-
sonant with the influence that a great country
ought to exercise and enjoy. Instead of that, there
is nothing but charge and countercharge, orders
and decrees, succeeding each other in swift succes-
sion, and doubtless one counteracting any good that
the other might effect. It is the more to be regret-
ted that the question has been thus maltreated,
when it is borne in mind that the country which is
the most injured and insulted is the one that is
closely connected with us at present, and which
surely calls for same attention and merits some con-
sideration at our hands. It would hardly have been
credited some time back had any one skilled in
public questions, and well versed in the general
events of the day, foretold the humiliating course
we were to pursue with a nation to whom we are
indebted for our future Queen. It is high time that
the session should begin, and this affair taken up in
the right spirit and carried on with earnestness and
energy. When the Duke of AUGUSTENBURG takes
to issuing proclamations, it is eminently requisite
that some State sufficiently potent should check
these irregular proceedings, and put a stop to this

inconsistent and unprecedented course. The ar-
rangements made throughout this affair by
the German League are in every respect
unworthy of a great people, who surely
could have afforded to be more magnanimous, and
to have exhibited more honourable spirit throuhgout.
The vexatious arrangement of this question may
pass away from the general recollection like a nine
days' wonder, but with those who are more discern-
ing heavy blame will attest itself to those who had
;he power, bat forbore to exercise it, whose influence
would have turned the scales in favour of a small
State borne down by oppression, but who declared
for neither side until too late for the asseveration to
benefit either. It is always most desirable for the
ministers of a great country to be prompt and bold
and outspoken in their utterances ; there are many
to take advantage of their weakness, and turn the
uncertain wave of events to account for their own
purposes. If it were only as having furnished a
pretext for the decadence of the hopes of Prussia
this affair of Schleswig-Holstein is to be deeply
lamented, since a chance thrown away may be very
rarelyagain presented to those who have neglected it.

Among the many charitable institutions of the '1
metropolis is one which, from a very humble and ,
limited commencement, has developed into a large
establishment, whose wide ramifications confer sub-
stantial and lasting benefits among the most help-
less and needy of our destitute classes. 'We allude
to the Field-lane Night Refuges, of which some
very interesting statistics have lately been pub-
lished. This institution is best known by this
name, although its objects extend far beyond the
one purpose of giving a night's shelter to the house-
less wanderer. Its bi anches include a male and
female refuge for the utterly destitute, day and in-
fant schools, night schools, industrial classes for
boys and girls, a ragged church, a Sunday school,
and a penny bank. The number of recipients of
these varied benefits is something surprising even
in London, while the amount of practical good that
has been done by reclaiming the vicious and idle,
by training the young, and helping the helpless is
a substantial benefit to the country. It is little
more than twenty years since the first small begin-
ning of this vast work was made by an humble
city missionary. The scene of his labours was in
the vicinity of Field-lane, where the courts and
alleys abounded with vice and distress. He saw
the hungry lacking food, the naked shivering in
the blast, the weary finding no rest for the soles of
their feet in this our wilderness of streets and lanes.
He saw idleness grow into vice, and vice into crime,
for lack of the timely and kindly hand to turn
them to the better way. He saw the young chil-
dren left untaught, uncared for, with no friend to
teach how to live or how to die ; with
no one to put them in the way of earning
an honest crust, but hundreds ready to teach
them how to break the laws of GOD and man.
He saw youth left without any counterbalance
to the thousand temptations that beset it ; he saw
friendless girls out of place lacking a decent refuge,
he saw sickness and misfortune reducing their vic-
tims to the level of the worthless and depraved, with
little chance of making a fresh start. All this, and
much more, did he see. We might almost be tempted
to question, looking at the place as he saw it then,
what good could one man do, and that man with-
out wLaith, power, or influence ? The early efforts

of the City Missionary were, soon after the first

starting, assisted by some friends in the neighbour.
hood, but their efforts were obstructed in every way
possible by the disorderly people of the district.
Some ten years after the first beginning, the male
refuge for the houseless poor was opened, and since
that time, in 1851, 90,000 men and boys have been
supplied with 300 night's lodgings, and 600,000
loaves of bread ; 5,060 of these have been provided
with the means of gaining their own livelihood.
These figures alone prove the urgent need that ex-
isted of such an establishment, and represent an
amount of want and suffering that if left untended
would have been terrible to think of. It is stated
that a large pro portion of these persons do not be-
long to the worst classes, but have been reduced
to extremity by loss of health or work, and ina-
bility to find employment. There is little to attract
those that are not in utter need. A loaf of bread
and water night and morning, coffee in winter, and
a little soup on Sundays, together with the rough
accommodation for the night, are not likely to tempt
the idler, if he can find food and shelter elsewhere.

Boys are sent to the refuges to learn a trade and
gain a character, unless they already have one,
when situations are found for them. The female's
department has not been near so long open, but ten
thousand persons have already received its benefits.
Nearly a third of this number have been put in
places or sent to their friends. Those who have
characters aro kept in the refuge until they are
tested, and then stationed in the servants' room
attached to the establishment for engagement. The
dormitories aro always full, and many more of these
poor creatures apply for admission than can be
accommodated. The schools provide for children of
all ages—from the infant school, where those under
seven years can be kept in careful hands to be
taught to read, sing, and sew, and provided with
food and warmth. The average attendance is 195
for the morning, and 269 for the afternoon ; and it
is an interesting evidence of the thrifty habits early
inculcated that the infants have, within the past 12
months, paid £24 for the clothes given to them in
regular payments of id. and Id. In the day schools
the average attendance i 3 320, having educated,
since its opening in 1848, more than 8,000 children,
3,000 -of whom have been helped on in
life by learning trades, procuring situations,
&c. An industrial sewing class teaches the
girls one of the most necessary departments of
woman's knowledge. It would be well if it were
possible to add a cooking class where they might
learn to make cheap and wholesome soup, to boil
vegetables, &c., thereby saving the waste which too
often is found in a poor nean's kitchen. Night schools
for men and boys carry on another part of the
work at which the attendance is satisfactory. AT
the boys' industrial classes boys are taught tailor-
ing and shoemaking, A girl's night school for
girls unable to come in the day is attended by ser-
vants, girls in warehouses, &c. During three
years 600 have been scholars, while the girl's in-
dustrial class for elders, the mother's class for
teaching them useful house knowledge, and the
Ladies' Clothing Society, all deal with cases of
need that are numbered by hundreds. Nor is the
work held to be done when the inmate or the
scholar has been provided with out-door employ-
ment. Every endeavaur is made to keep up a
friendly connection by the offer of prizes for good
service, &c., in order to encourage the lads to perse-
vere instcady and industrious habits. So widespread
have been the benefits of this institution, so great and
testing the good it coafers on classes awkward to
reach and difficult to deal with, that we hear with
regret of any change being necessary. Owing to
the requisitions of the Metropolitan Railway, how-
ever, the present establishment must be shortly
abandoned, and the managers find considerable diffi-
culty in procuring another site owing to many
persons objecting to letting their lands for such
purposes as the Refuge. We cannot suppose that
they will not succeed in finding a resting place, but
it will be a matter of regret if they are compelled to
remove to a distance, which will deprive their esta-
blishment of a great part of its utility. If it is located
in some remote suburb the homeless wanderer may,
it is true, turn his steps thither; the labours among
the resident poor, the schools and classes will be
sadly crippled. We must hope before their time
has expired some similar spot will be found, in
which the great and good works springing from the
humble efforts of the city missionary may be carried
'orward with unabated zeal and success.