The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-18 00:00:00

THE SUN, LON DON,T WEDNESDA Y EVENING, MAY it, iota;.

kindly rays at holiday treat or rural festival, the
busy toilers in the crowded ways of the metropolis
are apt to find them somewhat exhausting. If the
denizen of shop or counting-house sigh for a breath
of the outer air, those who are actually engaged in
outdoor work, or whose avocations make it neces
sary for them to pass much to and fro in
the hot, dusty streets, are often wellnigh spent
with " the heat and burden of the day," and
thankful to avail themselves of the first means
of refreshment at hand. At such times how
welcome is the fresh clear fountain offering its
refreshing draught to the thirsty wayfarer, and
how great a blessing must be those opportunities
which have of late years bee❑ given by public
benevolence or private charity. The comfort which
the free drinking fountains have given, and the
extent to which the advantages which they offer
have been appreciated by the public at large, are
shown by the surprising fact, recorded on trust-
worthy authority, that a quarter of a million of
persons drink daily of these fountains during the
day. When it is remembered that the association
which has made this calculation has only been as
yet able to erect 80 fountains, it will be seen that
the number of passengers who stop to drink is pro-
portionately very large. It is therefore not without
reason that Mr. GURNEY makes a public appeal
on behalf of the Metropolitan Free Drinking
Fountain Association to enable it to extend its
beneficent labours still further. The committee of
the association are constantly being applied to for
new fountains, and there are many parts of Lon-
don in which such a boon would be an incalculable
blessing; but the good work is, unfortunately,
like too many other good works, compelled to re-
strict its labours for want of funds. The associas
tion undertakes not only to erect the fountains, but
to keep them in repair, so that their expenses do
not terminate with the actual placing of the foun-
tain. The necessity of such a system of supervision
is shown by the fact of several of those fountains
erected by private benevolence having got out of
order. The committee propose taking them also
under their supervision, and we should recommend
them to make this one of their first tasks, since
before building fresh fountains it would seem to be
only common sense to have those which are already
in existence, in as efficient state. The committee
declare it to be their desire to extend their operations
to every corner of the metropolis, and we trust they
will before long be able to fulfil their desire. The im-
portance of a sufficient supply of pure water is
almost incalculable to the public health. For
drink, for cooking, for every household purpose
good water is an inestimable boon, which, like
the air we breathe, is only valued when we miss
it. It has been one of the most serious antago-
nistic influences to Anglo-Indian life that Calcutta
is so ill supplied with water, and in many of our
London dens and rookeries the want is as severely
felt as in the City of Palaces. These fountains
render the dwellers in our pent-up courts and
lanes, in some measure, independent of negligent
builders and careless landlords. Thanks to them
there need be no need for fetching gin because
the water is to 3 bad to drink alone, wherever
they are within reach. The working man, too,
may often slake his thirst at the little tempting
basin when, otherwise, a dusty walk or a heavy
job might send him to the beer shop or the gin
palace. The committee have also wisdom and
humanity enough to extend their care to the brute
creation, and regret that they are as yet unable
to give the fall amount of relief needed by cattle
and dogs. Every one who has watched the poor
over-driven cattle coming or going on the roadloy
a London market, must be anxious that something
should be done to mitigate their sufferings. It is
but common humanity to supply so simple and
pressing a need of animal life; and in the cases of
both cattle and dogs it would certainly be a safety
to di so. In Lisbon, notwithstanding the heat, it
is said that hydrophobia is unknown, because pans
of water are set here and there on the highways for
thirsty dogs, and there can be no doubt that a good
supply of water would go far towards keeping
cattle from getting excited and unmanageable.
" The merciful man is merciful to his beast," and
water is surely a thing which the meanest animal
has a right to demand. It is one of the great pro-
visions of nature, for rich and poor, for great and
small, for wise and simple alike, and has so impor-
tant a share in the general well-being that the
ancients reckoned it among the component parts of
man's frame. But the best argument on behalf of
these erections is their practical service, and so long
as 250,000 persons stop daily to drink at 80 fours.
tains it can hardly be denied that they so far ful-
filled their mission, and that they supply a great
public need.

Parliamentary Business after Whitsuntide.

The House of Commons will meet to-morrow after
the Whitsuntide recess. Mr Dodson will ask leave
to bring in a bill to amend the registration of county
voters in England and Wales. Mr Bovill will ask
leave to bring in a bill to make further provision
for the registration of burials in England. Sir G.
Grey will ask leave to bring in a bill to amend the
act for the better management of highways in Eng-
land. Oa Friday the Attorney-General will move
the second reading of the New Parishes Acts Amend-
ment Bill, upon which Mr Hadfield will move an
amendment that the bill be read a second time that
day six months. On the same day, on going into
committee of supply, Mr Baxter will call attention
to the state of affairs in China. Oa Monday, the
23d inst., Mr Watkia will ask Mr Layard to state
the present position of negotiations with the Go-
vernment of the United States in reference to the
proposed termination or repeal by the United States
of the Reciprocity Treaty and of the Bonding Act,
under which instruments facilities for mutual com-
mercial interchange have been afforded, and a large
and increasing trade has grown up with the colonies
of British North America. Oa Tuesday, the 24th,
Mr Hennessy will call attention to the emigration
of the agricultural population of Ireland. On Yuen.
day, the 31st May, Mr Cobden will move—" That,
recognising and approving the policy of non-inter-
vention in the internal affairs of foreign countries
which regulates our relations with the States of
Europe and America, this house is of opinion
that the same policy should be observed in our
intercourse with the Chinese empire. On Fri-
day, June 3, Mr Lncisay will call attention to
certain matters affecting the interests of this
country in connection with the war which still
oezitinues in the United States of America, and
will submit a resolution which will have for its
object other mediation between the contending sec-
tions of these States, or the recognition of the in-
dependence of the Confederate States. Mr. Baxter
will move the precious question. Oa Tuesday, the
7th of June, Mr. E. Bouverie will move " That this
House will resolve itself into a committee to con-
Bider portions of the Act of Uniformity." On Tues-
day, the 14th June, Mr.Dillwyn will call attention
to the state of the Irish Church. There are many
notices of motion on the books of the House for
which no days have yet been fixed. Amongst them
are Mr. ILBerkeley on the ballot, Mr. Doulton en
preserving commons and open spaces in and around
the metropolis, Mr. Hodgson on the royal naval
reserve, Mr. Horsman on Denmark, Mr. R. Long
on Japan and China, Mr. Maguire on the state of
Ireland, Mr. Roebuck on the Suez Canal, Mr. IL
Se va
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introduction of educational end other tests, .