The Sun.
London, England, 1864-09-27 00:00:00

and misery, In other places the same and even worse
evils prevail, children dead and dying in the ill-
kept and ill-ventilated moms where many others
slept and ate their food. Such things are sufficient
to breed a pestilence. In the country, too, the most
glaring evils are found to exist, Often has it been
found that a small cottage =tains two sleeping
rooms, in one of which was contained a man, his
wife, and six or seven children, while the other
was occupied by three or four lodgers, such as farm
labourers or navvies. The learned gentleman de-
clared that at least 500 cubic feet were necessary
for health for each person for breathing space, and
that in many places there is not so much as 100 feet
of space. The consequences are deplorable that
result from such overcrowding, and it is fearful to
think that thousands of our fellow-creatures are
thus enduring a living death and fatally injuring
their constitutions by the pernicious habits of their
lives. No wonder it is thus commented upon.
" Health under such circumstances is simply im•
possible, just as certainly as a taper dwindles and
ultimately expires in a jar, from which a fresh
supply of air is excluded, so does the vital
power of man under similar circumstances
grow less and less powerful, and ultimately ceases,
Mr GODWIN'S notion of a remedy to this crying
evil is a good one ; he advises that the act which
regulates common lodging-houses should be put in
force in all tenements that are let to more than two
families. Many may complain of the hardships of
interference, but what can be more true than this
remark that a man is not permitted to poison others
with drugs because they are dependent upon him
and he is poor, and that, therefore, by the same
rule, he should not be suffered to injure the health
of those who dwell in the house for which he pays
rent. Mr GODWIN remarked that the last census
showed that there was in London, of different ages,
nearly 55,000 milliners and dressmakers, "an army
of martyrs needing our care," he truly added. The
rooms where these unhappy beings work are filled
to danger-point, and often beyond it. An exami-
nation had been made of the workrooms of two first
class milliners and dressmakers in the neighbour•
hood of Regent-street, and the result of the inquiry
proved that their condition was fearful as regarded
the chances for health. In bad weather,
with closed windows, and at night with gas
in all directions, and no proper ventilation,
the atmosphere is, as may be supposed, "poison."
Mr GODWIN concluded by trusting that the Com-
mission appointed to inquire into the state of the
employments of many persons throughout the
country will inform themselves of these peculiarities
and devise some remedial measures to stay the evils
that now abound to such a frightful extent. It is
not surprising that this paper was listened to with
great attention and interest; and it eminently de-
served such consideration, for no subject can be
more important in its way than this, which imme-
diately and intimately concerns the wellsbeing of
the community. We must not rest while a state
of things is rife among us which consigns thousands
to a life of suffering, and hurries off hundreds to a
premature grave in what should be the flawer of
their youth and the prime of their days. Some
remedy must exist to contravene a system that is
in direct opposition to the laws of nature and the
rules of health, and the sooner the better the at-
tention of competent persons is directed to find a
remedy for its grievances. The arrangements of all
work places should be such that their occupants
may in health and comfort perform their tasks; if
otherwise, the most distressing results will inevit-
ably ensue.

The prospects of peace in America are still
vague, although indications are not wanting of
the popular desire for the cessation of hostilities.
It is very well for the President and his colleagues
to order thanksgiving days and costly salutes in
honour of some temporary and profitless triumph ;
but Yankee shrewdness is not to be always imposed
upon, and it has long since been discovered what
these official flourishes of trumpets are worth. The
conviction at which the unprejudiced mind of Eu-
rope has long since arrived, that the forcible sub-
jugationof the South is an utterly hopeless task, is
slowly but surely gaining ground among the
Northern States. How long the war will last de-
pends on many things—the large interests involved
in its maintenance being one of the most conspi"
caous. But the lack of men and money will paralyse
most wars ; and American recruits and greenbacks
are alike getting into disfavour. It is a noticeable
fact that both parties are anxious to disavow any
pacific overtures, although the South does not
hesitate boldly to avow its readiness to accept any
reasonable terms. The recognition of their inde-
pendence is the one point upon which they are
im-
movable, and in this the sympathies of Europe go
with them. It is certainly too much to expect that
after holding out three years against the immense
armies raised by the North, after contending. sue.
ccssfully against the tremendous difficulties of
their position, after their many victories on land
and their daring exploits at sea, after the hard-
fought struggle for Vicksburg and the triumphant
defence of Cnarleston, after all their sacrifices and
their successes, the Confederate States are now to
abandon the very principle fcr whose recognition
they have all this time been contending. No doubt
they have plenty of hints from secret friends
in the North that men are sick and weary
of the war ; that women are bewailing
their desolated hearths and impoverished house-
holds, that volunteers are not forthcoming when
wanted, and that high bounties only turn desertion
into a profitable trade. At all events the South
shows no sign of concession; and, probably, were
her military position very different from what it
is she would still be unwilling to accept any terms
not based upon the recognition of her independence,
while the Presidential election was so close at hand.
The proceedings at Chicago must have afforded
great encouragement to the Southern leaders,
evidencing, as they did unmistakably, the strength
of the Northern desire for peace and the weariness
felt of the Federal Reign of Terror. The division
of the peace party consequent upon General
M'CLELLAN'S imprudent manifesto must bs equally
disheartening to them. It greatly increases the
chances of LINCOLN'S re-election—an event to be
greatly deplored—not only at Richmond but by
all Americans. It may well be doubted how far
such sentiments will prevail when once the Demo-
cratic candidate is fairly established at Washing-
ton. If, however, General MTLELLAN'S Union
professions are merely designed to increase the
number of his supporters and to bring under 114 s
banner some thousands whe are yet vacillating in
their adhesion, they are certainly of needless
length and strength, and his insisting upon the
Union ns the one condition of peace is imposing
needless fetters upon himself for the future. Cer-
tainly the tenure of office is apt to enlighten men's
minds very considerably, and marvellous changes
of conviction have been wrought by its sudden
aquisition. We may therefore reasonably suppose
that the pacific " platform" of the CLimgo Conven-
tion would not prove as unacceptable as General
NITLELLAN would have us to believe, but that hu-
manity and common sense might be suffered to be
heard when they declared the Union to be an idle
chimera. Meanwhile affairs are greatly complicated
by thin movement. Mr WOOD, Mr VA LLAII DIGHA3I)

and other prominent mmebers of the peace party
openly declare that they will not support General
M'CLELLAN, and rumours are afloat of the reas-
sembling of the Convention in order to reverse its
decision. Nothing could be more unfortunate than
the tone of M'CLELLAN'S address, and the effect of
the consequent division among the Democrats will
assuredly be most damaging to the party. Mean.
while there seems little reason to doubt that LIN-
COLN himself would be glad of some loophole which
would enable him to hold forth hopes of a speedy
compromise. He has identified himself with a war
policy, but he would not be sorry if he could go to
the coming election with the tidings of an ap-
proaching armistice. If the country is getting
tired of the war, as President LINCOLN has too
good reason to know it is, the announcement of ins
terminable hostilities is not a very good speculation
for a candidate for popular suffrages. According
to Mr BENJAMIN'S version of the mission of Mr.
GILMORE and Colonel JACQUES, those gentlemen
represented themselves to be unofficial representas
tives of President LINCOLN, and empowered by him
to go through those informal preliminaries which
might naturally be supposed to precede regular cffi-
cial negotiations. Mr BENJAMIN further states
that the visitors earnestly desired that the purport
of their expedition should be kept a profound
secret, whereas they themselves have been the first
to divulge it. These are the chief points of diffe-
rence between Mr BENJAMIN'S account and Mr
GILMORE'S narrative, although the Confederate
Secretary of State insists on the discrepancies
between the two versions. He says that
the basis of peace proposed by GILMORE
and JAQUES was " the reconstruction of the Union,
the abolition of slavery, and the grant of an amnesty
to the people of the South as repentant criminals."
These, it will be remembered, were substantially
the terms recapitulated by Mr GILMORE in his
narrative; and he also recorded the Southern
President's indignant renunciation of such terms.
The great difference between the two versions lies
is the question whether or no the mission emanated
from ABRAHAM LINCOLN, and Mr BENJAMIN states
most emphatically and unmistakeably that it was
so understood at the conference. The Southern
anxiety for peace it is not attempted to deny ; and
it is again asserted in this official document sent
forth to Europe as indicating the views of the
Confederate Government, that the one condition
insisted upon by them is the recognition of their
independence. It is this that leaves the guilt of the
wer at the door of the North, and disposes of the
vain pretext that the war was undertaken for the
abolition of slavery. That it may eventually have
that effect, it is indeed earnestly to be hoped by the
agency of that benevolent Providence which works
good out of evil ; but the principal representatives
of Northern policy have now thrown off the mask
and cease to profess any such objects. Mr BEN-
JAMIN points out the identity of the views professed
by Messrs. GILMORE and JAQUES in their interview
with President DAVIS, with those maintained by
Mr HORACE GREELY in his intercourse with
Messrs. CLAY and HOLCOMBE in Canada about the
same time. It is remarked by Mr BENJAMIN as
"a significant fact," that the opinions ascribed to
President LINCOLN by the Colonel and his friend
were identical with those communicated to Messrs.
CLAY and HOLCOMBE. It is also a significant fact
that these two interviews should have been held on
the same subject about the same time, and that the
Northern Government should disown its represen•
tatives at the one and the Southern Government
disclaim all knowledge of the proceedings of its
partisans at the other. If this is done to secure
European favour, it is a mistake. It is the continu-
ance of this bloody and profitless struggle, which
is the national disgrace, not the desire for peace, and
whichever party succeeds in stemming the torrent
and restoring peace to the distracted nation will
assuredly merit the applause and approval of all
wise and good men on both sides of the Atlantic.

Amid the many important events of the day
minor grievances are apt to be overlooked, and yet
they often press heavily upon a portion of the com-
munity least calculated to bear them. The perse-
cution to which the street fruiterers are constantly
subj,cted is really intolerable, and it is most unfit-
ting that such a state of things be allowed to con-
tinue. Day after day some unfortunate itinerant
vendor gets into trouble, and is often deprived of
his or her little stock of provisions—the capital,
in fact, which enables them to trade for an honest
livelihood, and escape the close confinement of a
workhouse. The other day mention was made of
the case of a poor woman whose hardships in this
respect were duly appreciated by the magistrate.
So far it was satisfactory ; but the fact remained
that she had been imprisoned through the agency
of the meddlesome and officious poiiceman, who
thought himself doubtless very clever in taking the
law into his own hands. In the first place, the
magistrate very properly ordered the woman out of
the dock, saying that she was not a felon, and then
he desired that her basket be restored to her, which
the policeman had thought proper to confiscate and
send to the greenyard. The summons was also dis-
missed. But this is an isolated case; and how many
poor sufferers lose all that they possess, and are
driven out into the world thoroughly destitute. It
is really such mistaken management as this that
induces so many to steal, and to sink into a hope-
less state of destitution. There is no sense in this
incessant persecution of these poor street vendors of
fruit and such like trifles. The police are
not always so eager to keep a clear pas-
sage on the footway and prevent obstructions
at the corners of streets; and before publichouses
how often do we see troops of lawless characters
assembled who are much more likely to become
obnoxious to others than these poor fruit sellers and
their companions. It is requisite for the sake of
fairness to all parties that such oppressive interfer-
ence be stopped, and that the police are desired not
to be so tyrannical in their pursuit of these humble
traffickers, and a little more on the alert in other
quarters where their aid is more urgently called for.
If all the magistrates wculd follow the example of
Mr Alderman STONE and dismiss such summonses
it would be a very good thing, but as we cannot
depend upon such a contingency it is desirable that
some z:alous workers for the good of the humbler
portion of the community be warned that here is a
fittiug subject for their efforts. All things must be
regarded in a relative light to be duly appreciated
and rightly understood, hence it is not the matter
whether fruit be sold cheaper, or other similar ad-
vantages gained by such traffic, but it remains to
be decided whether the very poor are to be forbidden
to gain their own daily breed by honest means, or
whether they are to be hunted down like beasts of
prey, the sport of conventional impositions, and the
victims of cffieial tyranny. It is really absurd when
we think upon the question that such mountains
should be made of molehills, and that policemen
should be so much on the alert for the veriest trifles
of obstruction, when the garotter has walked off in
so many instances without a clue being found to
track his course. There are matters of graver ims
port to engage the attention and take up the time
of the guardians of the thoroughfares than the
question whether or not an old woman's basket of
fruit obtrudes " three or four inches beyond the
pavement.''