The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-12 00:00:00

LORD PALMERSTON

FOR EVER.

An outrage like this ought certainly never
been quietly tolerated by the police. It 1

to have

,he pla-
cards so inscribed were posted up, on the sly, during
the night time, the police authorities ought at the
least to have had them torn down with indignation
in the morning.

Thera seems to be really no end to the lamentable
cases resulting from the mismangement of affairs by
the Bethnal-green officials. Mr. CHRISTY, the re-
lieving officer, has already earned a most unenviable
reputation for his harshness to the sick and desti-
tute, and he seems to be only carrying oat the
wishes and expressing the sentiments of those
around him. There is no doubt that the charge for
the maintenance of the poor presses very heavily
on the inhabitants of a district like Bethnal-green,
where a great part of the ratepayers can barely
keep above pauperism themselves, and the anxious
desire of the guardians to keep the expenses of the
Union down to the minimum is, of course, princi-
pally due to the real necessities of the district. A
striking proof is thus afforded of the evils arising
from the inequality of the poor rate, since St.
George's, Hanover-square, could certainly pay
treble the amount charged on St. George's-in-the..
East with less inconvenience, instead of being only
celled upon to contribute a small proportion of the
sum demanded from the poorer parish. It is hard
and unjust that the chief burden of supporting the
absoluteiy destitute should fall upon the poor
instead of the rich, but that such is the case
the returns of the parish rates indisputably
show. Still, allowing for all natural reluctance
to increase an already exorbitant charge it is cer-
tainly difficult to exonerate the officials of Bethnal
Green from the charge of indifference to the lives
and sufferings of their fellow creatures, if nothing
worse. We can hardly set down the constant re-
petition of deaths from want and neglect, of coro-
ners' inuuests, and mutual recrimination, to acci-
dental or casual causes. They are rather the fruits
of a system regularly carried on, whose effects vary
in proportion to the degree of sickness and destitu-
tion it encounters. The one grand object seems to
be to give as little relief as possible, to disgust the
poor with parish aid and to saddle their assistance,
when at last reluctantly granted, with conditions
that render it so distasteful as sometimes to make
absolute starvation preferable in the minds of those
who have "seen better days." It seems at the
outset very strange that when there is an organized
and costly system of parish relief professedly avail-
able for every destitute person, such a thing as
deatb from want of the common necessaries of life
should be ever heard of amongst us. Yet the re-
cords of this winter alone reveal some startling
tragedies, and there is little security that another
season of equal severity will not witness their
repetition. One grand barrier which has
been found very effectual in deterring the
more respectable class of the very poor
from seeking parish aid is the condition that
if one member of a family is ill and wants care
and relief, the whole family must come into the
house before it is attainable. The recent case at
Bethnal-green was an instance of thin sort. A
woman, aged 62, the wife of a weaver, died from
congestion of the lungs, her death, according to
the medical testimony, being accelerated by pri•
vation. The husband stated that Dr. MOORE had
attended his wife, and given a certificate for her
admission to the infirmary. The man, who pro-
bably could not read, thought it was an order, and
took his wife with it in a cab to the workhouse.
When there, the porter refused to admit the
woman, saying it was as much as his place was
worth to let her in without a regular order. She
could not stand,but had to be supported at the gate,
where she remained for nearly an hour. It was
raining fast, and the poor woman at length begged
to be taken back, or she "should die in the
street." The porter was asked for a chair, that
she might rest for a little while, but he refused
it. The next day the hnsband obtained an order
for nourishment from Dr. MOORE, which he took
to Mr. CHRISTY. According to the evidence, that
gentleman said, " I shall give no nourishment.
You must both come into the house." The man
r euprlti
It is very hard that the parish chould be
he
ed—"ned with two when only one wants relief."
b
Mr. CHRISTY said he did not cake, both should come
in. Ultimately--it is not said how long after—he

sent an order of admission, when the poor woman
was taken to the infirmary, and died soon after.
This evidence was mainly corroborated by other
witnesses ; and a gateman at the union, who did
not remember being asked for a chair, confessed to
having orders to let no one sit down. The family,
who were six in number, were supported by the
daughter, who earned LI a week by washing. Such
a sum, though quite sufficient to keep the healthy
members off the parish, would certainly not allow
for comforts which a sick woman might absolutely
require. These are the very cases which our unions
should especially aid—the struggling poor, who
maintain themselves as long as they can, and only
come to the parish from absolute necessity. But it
is all alike to Mr. CHRISTY and his associates.
" Move on," is their watchword. "No admittance"
should be inscribed on their gates. So long as no
pauper sits down at their gates, the porter's work
is done; so long as the relief and attendance for the
sick is made conditional on a man in health becom-
ing an inmate of the dismal able-bodied ward, at
the cost of separation from his family, and sacrifice
of his independence, the relieving officer's duty is
accomplished. If a pauper dies, more or less, what
does it signify ? There are already too many in
Bethnal.green. If their deaths are hastened by
cold and exposure at the workhouse door it will
teach a useful lesson to the survivors to be less
troublesome when their turn comes. Mr. CHRISTY
is, apparently, of the Echo°, of DRAW, and we fear
he is not the only man who ren.iss poverty as the
first of crimes.

LITERATURE,

Adela Cathcart. By George MacDonald, M.A.,
author of "David Elgiubrod," &e. Three Vole.

Hurst and Blackett.

"Adele Cathcart" should, most assuredly, have
been issued at Christmas time, and it would have
taken its place as one of the most delightful Christ-
mas books which have appeared for many years. It
is appropriate to the season of lay and legend on
account of the variety of miscellaneous tales and
songs which are in the course of its pages happily
introduced, and it is more especially adapted to the
season of love and kindness by reason of the
Chrietian spirit of charity and tenderness by
which the whole narrative and series of narratives
is suffused. As Professor Kingsley says of Dr.
Newman, "We like its tone"—it is one which will
or
on should
the t
tfil
en- find
augnie,vietr siasl feaaveoyu rt
0. Wr e
eiot
gh on ut i
set m
,e
Adelen a e
the main
nnogdapsswoitnftohghraeyen:p,entorliihdse
eat
:nssyttahohi tio
dying
yga e of
robat
ea.waiy aA dpoet's
child
eamotfh inea dhv
v,
e heroine and
ed the
ionwe widowed
d
nys ,wa it t Christmasany
a tpi mp
shefa thiesr ar
on
rneewuredohcytorthies
et.
ae nil te cai
nu s,ew, mentalho u lti
moart
epl
yh yesffi ceaelt.B
hAe
agency of an elixir not specified in the Pharmacopia.
This doctor and Mr. John Smitch, a eardelightful
old bachelor, the nar:ator of the history,
d
concoct a plan to
her life of ideal -win the young ltdy back from
sorrow to a contemplation of the
stern real
''t of actual existence, as exemplified in
the li:ees of her fellow-creatures. To this end a set
"ar very charitable conspirators meet together, and
narrate tales and recount histories singularly varied
in style and character, but all animated by one high
beneficent purpose. The young lady listens—and,
as her tears fall for the woes of others, already her
own individual burden becomes more light. Among
the group of characters assembled at Purleybridge
we are introduced to some very interesting indivi-
duals. First, and foremost, there is our host, the
father of Adele, the worthy Col. Cathcart, "straight,
broad-shouldered, and tall, with a severe military
expression underlying the genuine hospitality of
his countenance, as if he could not get rid of a sense
of duty even when doing what we liked best."
The good Colonel, who is devoted to his daughter,
Is nevertheless anxious to have for his son-in-law
his nephew Percy, who forms one of the Christmas
guests, and who proves to be an empty-headed
coxcotnb, who can only think of number one. This
gentleman generally passes the time of the
story-telling asleep on a sofa. His character
is best revealed after church on Christmas day,
when, having declined to accompany the party of
worshippers, he meets them on their return.
" There, in the churchyard, we found Percy, stand-
ing astride of an infant's grave, with his hands in his
trousers-pockets, and an air of condescending satis-
faction on his countenance, which seemed to
say to the dead beneath him • • " Pray don't apolo-
gise. I know you are disagreeable, but you can't
help it, you know,' and to the living coming out
of Church—' Well, have you had your little whim
out ?' " Percy owns that he does not like Sunday.
His mother, he tells us, had produced this effect by
an over-strictness and a too-constantly enforced
at,endance at Church. " But the worst of it is,"
confesses the delinquent, "I can't get it out
of my head that I ought to be there even
when I'm driving tandem to Richmond." Mr.
Smith, who narrates to us the whole story, is,
he himself says, a Nobody,
full of sympathy
in all the joys and sorrows of all around
him, and hence himself a most loveable
and welcome companion. The curate and his wife,
and the doctor above mentioned, are interesting
studies in their different ways, but
the old school-
master and his wife are to our mind the most
attractive persons in the motley group, and the
stories related by them surpass all the rest in ten-
derness and truthfulness. The schoolmaster's story,
with its pathetic pictureof the death of a little baby,
so simply and naturally described, will appeal to
the heart of every mother who may read it. " The
Broken Swords" is a very animated and interesting
narrative. The young soldier,
who has one sword
broken in disgrace, more than retrieves his honour
and the second sword is broken as he gallantly falls
standing alone in the post of danger. So various
are the histories introduced that we cannot be sur-
prised that there are some among the number not
quite to our taste. Of these are, strange to say,
the contributions of Mr. Smith,
who, practical man
as he is, tells us the story of a "Light erin-
cese," who has been deprived by a wicked fairy of
her gravity, or power of gravitation, which is
humorous in the extreme, but this story and the
" giant's heart" are certainly more adapted to the
children's library. Were the
book, however, as we
have eaid, a Chi iitmas book (and it is well worthy of
appearing as such in a second edition next winter)
then even these fantastic vag
ariee would be in season.
There is a moral, however, in the most apparently
frivolous. Among the more attractive contributions
iwshaocwhaars borneaing osntocryhriet
of "Uncle
Day, and who in conse-
ncle Peter"—Uncle Peter
quence regarded every succeeding Christmas as anew
excuse for acts of generous kindness. We heartily
agree with Colonel Cathcart who, when it is ob•
jetted that Uncle Peter is not natural, exclaimed,
" Chen he ought to be ! and it is all the morere reason
for putting him into a story if he is not to be found
in the world." Mrs. Bloomfield
tale of how a lady learned a lesson—the lesson—
from an idiot boy; who gratefully trusted every-
thing to the bountiful care of " Blessed Father."
Some fragments of Mr. Armstroug's discourses we
would willingly quote as specimens at (nee of the
beautiful style and tender teaching that abounds in
these• three volumes, but isolated passages would do
injustice to the book, which is better read as a whole,
and far which many a thoughtful reader will feel a
new debt of gratitude to the author of "David
Elginbrod."

THE COMPOSER OF TUE NATIONAL ANTHEM :
WAS IT DR. JOHN Bura, 2—" The name," said Mrs.
Nickleby the beloved, " began with B and ended with G.
might be found to stand at
uPseerhoafps thiotsewsayshWo aletveres." whimAsyn motto than this, for the
:orse
the head of the controversies concerning the parentage of
our noble National Hymn, The last speculation put forth
concerning it, with the usual charming assurat,ce and ac-
quaintance with facts of our Allies, in one of their journals,
is this, that Haydn (I) pilfered the tune from Lulli, and
presented it to England.—ilthencem.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

THE FRENCH BUDGET.

PARIS APRIL 12, 11.7 a.m:

The Budget stipulates that the stamp duty,
levied in accordance with the law of the 13th
May, 1863, on rentes, loans, and public securities
of foreign Governments P hall be raised from 50
centimes to 1 franc. This measure is to take
effect from the Ist July, 1864.

THE BOMBARDMENT OF DUFFEL.
COPENHAGEN, APRIL 11, 1.55 e.m.
A violent fire was uninterruptedly kept up by the
enemy uniil 7 p.m. yesterday.
Twenty of our men were wounded.
The windmill on Duppel hill has been burnt
down.

FLENSBURG, AritiL 12.

A rescript of the Civil Commissicners prohibits
all public officers in Schleswig, under penalty of
immediate dismissal, from affixing their signatures
to any resolutions or addresses having reference to
the London Conference. .

THE WEST INDIA AND PACIFIC MAILS.

SOUTHAMPTON, APRIL 12.

The Royal Mail steamship Seine, with the above
mailF,has arrived here. She brings 150 passengers,
2,681,695 dole. in specie, and 821 packages, and a
general cargo. She left St. Thomas's on the 29th
ult., and experienced fine weather throughout the
passage.

Diplomatic negociations between Chile and
Bolivia had been broken off. The quarrel is prin-
cipally the MEjillones Islands and their deposits of
guano. Peru and the Minister of the United States
had offered their intervention.

Electioneering was progressing. It was anti3i
pated that the results would be favourable to the
liberals.

A disastrous fire had occurred in Valparaiso, and
property to the value of 400,000 dole. had been
destroyed. The fire originated in the best part of
the city. Messrs. Huth, Gruning, and Co., and
Messrs. Green, Nicholson, and Co., English firms,
have been completely burnt out.
A better tone prevailed in general business.
Considerable sales had been made. Foreign arrivals
were numerous. Home charters had declined.

Her Majesty's corvette Alert left Valparaiso on
the 20th ult. for Vancouver's bland.

At Valparaiso exchange was quoted 41d. to 441 d.
Bar silver, per mare, fine, 10 dole. 75 c.
The general news from Peru is unimportant.

A measure had emanated from the Government to
put down gambling houses, and punish gamblers.
The experiments made in Guatemala for growing
cotton had been successful.
In Honduras General Jose Maria Medina had
been elected President, and General Florencio
Xatruch Vice-Present. Alvarez, the opposition can-
didate, bad loft the country, and taken refuge in
the island of Roatan.

The constituent Assembly in Salvador was hold-
ing session. Several laws had been passed, and a
commission appointed for reformingthe constitution.
In Nicaragua President Martinz had tendered his
resignation, which the Congress had declined to
accept.

The cotton crop was better than had been ex-
pected. It was calculated that it would amount to
20,000 quintals. Extensive preparations were
making for the next crop. Large tracts of land
had been cleared for cultivation.

Trado was reported dull at Greytown. The new
channel to the harbour was completely closed up,

BOMBAY AND mAußnius MAILS,

SOUTHAMPTON, APRIL 12.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Syria, with the above mails, has arrived here. She
brings 118 passengers, a general cargo, and £l2O
in specie.

She left Gibraltar on tho 7th inst., and on the
Bth spoke the steamer Ceylon.
Gibraltar exchange on London, 20 days, 501; on
Paris, 5.30; Marseilles, 5.31. Freights unchanged.

The weather was fine at Jamaica. The cotton
cultivation was engaging attention, and being ex-
tended. The sugar erop was backward. Coffee
was scarce, and prices advancing. Freights were
plentiful for Europe. Exchange, 90 days, half per
cent.

At Demerara the weather was fine, and the
estates were busy. Produce was arriving freely at
the market. Freights unchanged. Exchange, 90
days,:47o dollars.

Barbadoes was suffering from want of rain.
Sugar reaping, and the general yield was unsatis.•
factory. The young canes were healthy. Trade
dull. Exchange, 4S7§ dollars.

From St. Domingo nothing inaportant. The
insurgents were said to be disheartened.

AUSTRIA,

VIENNA, April 9.
At 5 o'clock yesterday afternoon the Emperor
left this city for Trieste. His Majesty was accom-
panied by his youngest brother (the Archduke
Louis Victor), the Archduke Leopold, the Ministers
Count Bechberg and M. ♦on Schmerling, Count
Crennevitle (the First Adjutant-General), Count
Keefstein (the Lord Marshal), M. von Carolyi (the
Hungarian Vice-Chancellor), M. von Mazaranic
(the Croatian Chancellor), and Baron Geringer, the
representative of Count Nadesdy, Ito Chancellor
of the Grand Principality of Transylvania. The
Abend Post (a supplement to the official Wiener
Zeitung) tells us that the Emperor has gone to
Trieste, " to affil his signature to a Staats Acte
(Public Act), which the acceptance of the Imperial
Crown of Mexico by his Imperial Highness the
Archduke Ferdinand Maximilian has rendered ne
cessary." When his Majesty left he said he
expected to be in Vienna again early in the morning
of Sunday (to-morrow), but he will hardly be able
to get back so soon, as it has been snowing heavily
for the last four and twenty hours.

It is understood that his Imperial Highness will
retain his title of Archduke of Austria, and his ap-
panage of 120,000fi. (Ll 2,000) a year. The Em-
peror has allowed hie brother to levy 6,000 men here.
The Austro-Mexican Legion will consist of three
battalions of the Line, one regiment of Lancers, one
regiment of Hussars, two batteries of eight guns
each, one company of Engineers, and one company
of Pioneers. Officers and men are to be engaged
for six years, and at the expiration of that time
the former will be allowed to re-enter the Austrian
army, and to have the rank they held when they
left it. The bounty money offered is 25f1. for the
common soldiers and 501 for the nos-commissioned
officers. Many officers have already offered their
services to the Archduke, and some of them are
men of rank and standing. For the last few weeks
an artist has been employed at Miramar in making
drawings for the liveries and other household
necessaries of the future Emperor of Mexico.

Information has been received from Bucharest
that 400 Austrian and Italian refugees are collected
on the frontier of Transylvania, and are waiting for
an opportunity of getting unobserved into that pro-
vince. The men of action in Moldavia are said to
be in direct communication with persons in the
Szekler districts; but I doubt the correctness of the
statement, as people here are much in habit of
making mountains of molehills. As six regiments are
posted on the frontiers of Transylvania, ;;he Austrian
Government has little or no cause to fear that 400
men, who have not a single leader of note, will

attempt to enter that province. 15,000 men are on
their way from Salzburg to the Southern Tyrol, and
several battalions are now marching from Hungary
to Venetia. Men in office still think that there will
be a revolutionary outbreak in the above-mentioned
province before the year is at an end ; but persons
of my acquaintance, who are in correspondence
with the inhabitants of some of the principal Italian
cities, say the prevalent opinion is, that the moment
is inopportune. The Dalmatian Diet has been dis-
solved " because no benefit to the province is to be
expected from it." The general Synods of the
Lutherans and Calvir ists in Austria have a t length
been convoked for May 22, 1862, and their sittings
will be held in this city.
Sohubert, the renowned composer, died here on
the 19th November, 1828, and his property, which
consisted of wearing apparel and noses, was valued
at 631 Tne expenses for his funeral, which were
defrayed by his relatives and friends, were 84.35f1.
The sum of 17,00011. has new been subscribed here
by the admirers of Schubert's compositions, and
the money will "oe employed in the construction of
a monument to the memory of a man of whom the
Austrians are very proud, As is but too often the
case, the merits of the originator of the musical
composition known as the German " Lied" were not
properly appreciated until he was dead and gone.
Schubert was 32 years of age when he died.