The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-05 00:00:00

had bribed and bought over those who were danger
ens, and now feeling themselves secure, as it
were, they gave their professions the slip, and
their plans the goeby. The hon. member turned
Lord PALMERSTON'S own words against him
when be said that the House bore a
strong resemblance to a race-course ; in pursuing
this simile he adduced as instances some of the
most recusant members of tl_.e Cabinet, and declared
that only flee of them could be said not to have
voted." The immortal words of PEACE', Re-
trenchment, and Reform," which the ncble Lords
PALMERSTON and RUSSELL proclaimed as their
oriflamme, which was to lead on their followers to
a policy crowned with success at home and accom-
panied with respect abroad, have often been made
the subjects of criticism, censure, and ridicule ; and
it was not to be expected that so great a master of
satire as the hon. member for Davenport should
neglect to avail himself of so admirable an oppore
tunity of illustrating the full meaning of the tenor
of his remarks, and displaying in its true colours
the fair seeming and false conduct of Government.
As for " peace," he said we had had one continued
series of little disgraceful, cold-blooded ware ; and
as to " retrenchment," the Cabinet has been involved
" in gross and corrupt jobs;" and "reform," of
course, offered a comprehensive field for scrutiny.
If one thing more than another can justify a
member of the Conservative ranks for heaping scorn
and ridicule upon the present Cabinet, it is surely
the manner in which they have comported them•
selves about Reform, in shelving the bill of Lord
DERBY'S Government, and then in shirking the
question themselves. It was, as Mr. FERRAND ob
served, " shameful and impudent," and Earl Rus•
SELL'S conduct may well be censured so often as
the theme presents itself to notice ; and he has
not improved his position by acting as here graphi-
cally described—" obtaining a comfortable seat in
the House of Lords, going amongst his Scotch
Reformers, and he who said he would not desert
Reform is his old age, begs the Set:del:men to
rest and be thankful.'" Making allowance for
the party feeling which induced Mr. FERRAND to
say that had Lord DERBY'S Government remained
in office we should have had " genuine peace,
searching retrenchment, and efficient reform," it
may truly be affirmed that in all these particulars
we could not have been worse off, and might pro•
bably have been better. For peace, purchased as
ours is at present, is a disgrace and a calamity ; and
as for home matters, no one can do better than
endorse Mr OSBORNE'S statement, that we are in the
Sough of despond." Mr FLEMING, the proposed
Coaservet!ve candidate at the next election, made a
sensible speech upon the various topic) of interest,
and he very properly censured the Admiralty for
the manner in which they had acted in the case of
the Royal Sovereign, observing that if she were not
to go to sea, they might as well test her capabid:ies
of resisting shot. "It was quite as well to make
a target of her as to let her rot at her moorings."
It will be a just rebuke to the Guvernment if they
lose another seat at the approaching election, and
judging by the temper of the assembly the other
evening, they stand a pretty good chance of doing so.

Lancaster was.on Thursday last the scene of a
mcst interesting spectacle, on the occasion of the
inauguration of the Ripley Hospital. The opening
of an institution of such eitent and character must
always be a pleasing spectacle, but there were many
reasons for regarding the occasion as one of especial
interest. Mr. RIPLEY, a wealthy merchant of
Liverpool, who was also a native of Lancaster, died
some twelve years ego, leaving the bulk or a very
considerable fortune to his widow. Mr. RIPLEY
had been one of those who regard weAleh as a higher
rust than a mere personal grmification, end had
long cherished the idea of founding an asylum of
this kind in his native town. Those intangible
spectrescalled legal difficulties, however, interposed,
and he ended by leaving his money to his wife—
satisfied, no doubt, that she would spend it well
and worthily. Mrs. RIPLEY, in accordance with
what she knew to have been her husband's wishes,
prepared for the erection of this magnificent in-
stitution soon after the means came into
her hands, but before she could fulfil Ler
benevolent intention she had to encounter many
difficulties. A Chancery suit was brought against
her on the ground of a secret trust, which happily
she was able to deny, and accordingly has retained
the means to persevere in the good work which has
now been brought to completion: Three hundred
children, 150 boys and 150 girls, are to be clothed,
maintained, and educated, so as to provide them
with the means of gainiog their own living, in this
asylum. Orphans have a prior right, then motherless
children, and lastly, the children of indigent pares is
No limit of sect is imposed, the only condition being
that the children should belong to Lancaster or
Liverpool. There is no fear but that its kindly
shelter will be always needed, and many a poor,
desolate little one will have to thank its care for giv-
ing that start in life which is so invaluable to the
young. Mrs. RIPLEY may well feel rejoiced at
having been able to accomplish so vast an under-
taking, and Lancaster may be proud to number so
admirable an institution among its trophies.

RAILWAY ACCIDENTS,

TO TIIE EDITOR OP TUE SUN.

Sin,—According to a late well known authority, it will
be necessary for some person of rank to be seriously in-
jured by a railway accident before the authorities will exert
themselves in order to remove the cause which produced it,
or to k.sen the probability of its occurrence. Daring last
year the Prince of Wales, and recently the Queen, have
narrowly escaped serious damage in consequence of animals
straying upon the line of rails used by them respectively.
The American simple and inexpensive plan of attaching
an iron apparatus to the front of the engine would obviate
this common danger by removing the cause. Why do not
tho railway authorities adopt tha plan in Britain ? If the
plan is not sufficiently complete for us, there is sufficient
mechanical talent in this country to suggest and carry out
an improvement. But the plan as it is answers in America,
and I believe it would answer in Britain also, if fairly tried.
—Yours obediently, Cult, COOKE,
4th November, 1864,

THE Loss OF THE BRILLIANT.—The weather at
Leith on Thursday being fine, with a calm sea,
steamers and lighters were again out at the Brilliant, and
succeeded in saving ft considerable portion of her cargo,
found in the fore part of the ship. Parts of the machinery
were also secured, together with the windlass and other
fittings on deck. The after part of the vessel being partially
submerged, even at low tide, not much is expected to be
saved from that part of the ship ; but, should the weather
remain favourable for a few days, additional portions of the
cargo and parts of the machinery will be reached and
brought ashore.—Scc iSM 7 n •
How A " COPPERHEAD" WAS SHAVED.—The
Philadelphia North American tells the following
story :—" A well-known frequenter of Third-street stopped
yesterday in a barber's shop close to the Forth American
building, sat in a shaving chair, drew a newspaper from his
pocket, and instructed the knight of the ranr to take off his
beard. The barber was an African. lie simply replied,
' Yes, boss,' and produced his implements, The customer
sat down. Ho was duly shaved. His face was wiped, and
he arose, donned his coat and hat. How much ?' ho asked,
in a dolorous voice, as he adjusted his shirt collar. 'Fif•
teen cents, boss,' Why, I thought you shaved for ten
cents at this shop.' Dat ar's do average, sah,' was the
reply. ' Ten cents is de price of a shave in dis yer shop. You
oome in here, sah, and read de news of Sheridan's victory,
and your face got about six inches longer dan when you
come in. If your face was like it was afore you read dat yar
news ten cents was the price. When you commenced to
read about do defeat of Early den your face stretched down
about four inches. Dat's what makes it wurf 15 cents for
der shave.' The customer couldn't restrain a grin, though
he was a Copperhead, and the hit at him was made by a
'Ligger.' He laid down the fee and walked out, He was
one of those gentlemen who go their length upon M'Clellan,
and who of course shudder at every victory to the Union
arms,"