The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-02 00:00:00

and yet notwithstanding all this out!ay really
necessary things are neghcted and passed by, and
the plea that they cannot be afforded a more careful
revision and a more cautious disbursement of the

public funds would be of inestimable value, and
confer an important service on the community at

,arge. Just taxation, one of the main objects of

his Association, is especially demanded. Chan-

cellors of the Exchequer think only of increasing

the revenue to meet the demands of their extrava-

gance, or to enable them to gratify their own par-
ticular fancies in taking off certain taxes; and the

qualisalion of the burden, so that it may not press

oo heavily on any portion of the community, is

never attempted. When some far-sighted or well.
meaning individual, endeavours to adjust this

difficulty and do away with this anomaly, they are
met with grave reproof from the officials, and told
that they do not understand the case at all. It

will not do to have a sentimental legislation and
all that kind of thing. It is not to be wondered at
that after a while the efforts of these praiseworthy
individuals grow fainter, and their attempts
become few and far between, for nothing discou-
rages the ardour of a social reformer more than
the faint praise which he meets with from his
friends. It is, then, an acknowledged fact that
an association like this referred to is a great boon
to the country. It keeps up the recollection of the
grievance, it assigns it a place, and the affair passes
from the position of a trivial effort and a transitory
excitement to assume a recognised place among the
debateable questions of the age we live in. Con-
sidering the desirable objects which are proposed
by this Reform Association, it is to be regretted
that a more hearty support is not vouchsafed to it,
and that so disheartening a record should be given
of its resources. Surely there ought to be found
plenty willing and able to come forward who might
Promote its objects and farther its attempts. It is
a very wise and encouraging principle which is
enunciated in the course of the summary of the
state of the institution. Referring to the general
remark that has been made by many eminent men
regarding the desirability of the proposition put
forth by the members, but yet their utter impossibi-
lity of attainment, it is thus urged—" We cannot
admit the objection ; we have an abiding faith that
what is just and true, and admittedly beneficial to
all, is likewise practicable." Has not the firm
assurance of evenival success urged on thousands
in the road of reform, and when the timid wavered
and the captious sneered, sustained and cheered
them, till at last the goal was won and the success
so long sought for crowned their efforts. An asso-
ciation like this must keep the subject in a vital
form before the attention of the public. It assumes
a dignity and importance which established forms
and recognised rights can alone impart. It is satis-
factory to hear that, wherever the objects of the
association have been broached, they have been
well received, and even the opposition that has
been encountered has been chiefly directed against
the feasibility of the proposals, and not against
their suitableness. The lectures that have been
given in various parts of the country have
also been well attended. A certain proof
of their popularity is afforded by the fact that
the number of members has augmented greatly.
ThereF is no better way of propagating opinions than
by disseminating views through the medium of
lectures about the country. It is a sure and certain
manner of spreading information, and it necessarily
increases the number of those who understand the
rights of the question. Great stress was laid on the
need that existed for a further reduction in the
duties on tea and sugar. 'There is truth in the
arguments put forth for this claim, that it affects
greatly the comfort of the poor, and concerns some
momentous questions relating to the "promotion of
the health, comfort, and morals of the people." Also
it is said that the duty on coffee might be altogether
abolished, since it only yields about two hundred
and fifty thousand pounds. Of course these aro
matters of opinion, and one side is good until an-
other is heard; but if one class or section of the
community is to be considered before the other, it
ought certainly to be the poor who has the prefer-
ence. Unfortunately it is but lost labour to attempt
to impress upon Mr. GLADSTONE the claims of the
poor or the lower middle classes. He has shown
himself in this respect callous, indifferent, and even
supercilious. No man can be called a successful
statesman who acts like this, and mglects alto-
gether the vast claims upon his regard and atten-
, tion. At any rate, the Financial Reform Associa-
tion are doing their best, and it behoves the corns
patent to give a hearty support, and to encourage
their earnest and energetic efforts to the fullest
extent. There is no better check to the arrogance
of consequential statesmen; no more powerful in-
centive to quicken the intelligence of unwilling
Ministers, than the perception that the people are
beginning to see and jadge for themselves, and not
to trust any more to the second-hand information of
prejudiced partisanship. An association like this
ought to be regarded in the light of a great national
undertaking, and supported and encouraged in a
manner worthy of its mission.

LITERARY AND SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS FOR TIIE
ENSUING WEER.—Monday—Entomoligical, at 8—
Architects, at B—Royal Institution, at 2, general monthly
meeting. Tuesday—Anthropological, at 3, "Universality
of Belief in a God,"—" Hybridity," Rev. F. W. Farrar—
" Skulls from Annabom," Captain Burton and Mr. Blake
—Photographic, at B—Engineers, at 8, "Resistances to
Bodies passing through Water," Mr. Phipps—Royal In-
stitution, at 3, " Natural Law of Conservation of Energy,"
Professor Helmholtz. Wednesday—Society of Arts, at 8,
" Principles of Imitation as applied to the Decorative
Arts," Mr. Purdie. Thursday—Antiquaries, at B—Lin-
nean, at 8, "The Garcinia yielding Gamboge in Siam,"
Mr. Hanbury—Royal, at 81, "Functions of Cerebellum,"
Dr. Dickinson—" Train of 11 Sulphide-of -Carbon Prisms
for Spectrum Analysis," Mr. Gassiot. Friday—Royal
Institution, at 8, "Recent Improvements in Iron and
Steel," Dr. Percy. Saturday—Royal Institution, at 3
"Metallic Elements," Professor Frankland.

NEWS OF DR. LIVINGSTONE.—Mr. Thompson,
of 150, Leadenhall-street, writes :—" By the mail
from Cape Town received hero on the 25th of February,
bringing news from the colony to the 21st of the previous
month, a report reached this country that Dr. Livingstone
had met with an untimely end on his expedition up the
Zambesi. As this created great uneasiness among all those
interested in the welfare of that great philanthropist and
his expedition, it will, no doubt, be a satisfaction to the
public to learn that I have this morning received by the
Murray, one of the Orient line of packets from Adelaide, a
letter from my son, now resident in Cape Town, dated the
29th of January, in which he says that news had been re-
ceived by her Majesty's ship Rapid that Dr. Livingstone
was ' all well.'
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHAPLAINS IN MIDDLESEX
GAOLS.-Mr. Laurie has intimated that at the April meet-
ing of the Middlesex magistrates he will bring the provi-
sions of the Prison Ministers Bill before them with a view
to move that Roman Catholic chaplains be appointed to all
the prisons subject to the jurisdiction of the Middlesex
magistrates.

DlmPLEs.—What does the phlegmatic German
call the dimple? Why, das grubchen—tho little
pit, or hole, or ditch. What does the gallant Frenchman
call it? Why, la fossete, the little ditch. Some people
will have it that la ride would do as well; Lui /a ride means
the wrinkle. While the French call the dimple a little
ditch, the Italians do very much the same thing : they say
pozzetta, which I take it is much the same word as fossette.
Now it is not pleasant to think that she whom you worship
has little ditches in her cheeks, or her chin, or elsewhere.
So for that, if for no other reason, I should prefar the Eng-
lish word, of which I do not know the derivation, and
which certainly does not convoy to 'my mind the idea of
a ditch. It is not easy to find out what the elegant Greeks
and practical Romans of old called a dimple ; but so far
as ono can learn, the Greeks connected the word solely
with smiles or laughter ; and the Romans, who, if they
had teen left to themselves, would, I fancy, have taken an
agricultural view of it, and called it suiculud (% little furrow).
—Court Chronicle,