The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-17 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, MAY 17, 1864.

It is not very long since the public was startled
I by the news of a terrible catastrophe in Yorkshire
when two hundred persons fell victims to the burst-
ing of a reservior. On that occasion considerable
blame was attached to the negligence which had
neglected to warn the occupants of those houses
which were endangered by the accident, as soon as
any risk was apprehended, and it was felt that if
due care and caution had been taken, not only in
the building of the reservoir, but in promptly com-
municating the impending danger, many valuable
lives might have been saved. But the negligence
or indifference which existed in that case has now
been thrown completely into the shade. There was
reason, it is true, to dread the possibility of the
overflow of the waters, but there was no absolute
certainty, and the engineers, we believe, hoped
against hope up to almost the last moment that the
catastrope might be averted. In the case now
under consideration, however, the danger was not
only possible but imminent, not only a vague pro-
bability in the future, but as terrible certainty in
the present. The result it is true was not so start-
ling in its extent, the injury it inflicted did not de-
solate hundreds of houses, nor attract the attention
of the country, but though on a smaller scale, it was
of much the same character. When we consider
the vast extent and crowded position of many of
our manufacturing buildings, we must think it very
fortunate that only ten lives were sacrificed at the
Greenfield disaster. A chimney being built at some
mills fell in the night across three cottages, most of
whose inhabitants were killed by the accident. So
far there is nothing wonderful in the melancholy
occurrence. The surprising part of the affair is
that the cottages knew the danger which they
were in but took not the slightest
heed ; one them contenting himself with
saying, when told of the unsafe state of the
chimney, that he was not worse to die than any-
body else. Acting on this principle, the dwellers
in the three houses went on, day after day and
night after night, until the crash came, and ten of
them were suddenly, in the darkness and silence of
night, summoned to their eccount. We cannot
dignify this by the name of courage; those who
showed it would probably have hesitated had they
been asked actively to imperil their lives for
another. It was rather a stolid indifference, a reek-
less disregard of consequences, which we often see
manifested in minor matters, but seldom in cases of
life and death. The infatuation which leads the
Italians to build again on the very spots once deso-
lated by burning lava is of a similar kind, if not in
degree, to the feeling which led these poor cottagers
to linger within reach of the falling chimney. But,
if we feel surprise at their conduct, what must be
said of the watchman ? This man, put on guard
for the night to see that all was safe, positively
watched the tokens of an approaching fell without
even thinking it necessary or advisable to warn the
sleepers of the terrible visitant at hand. Such
stupidity is almost incredible, unless it arises from
absolute mental deficiency, and in any cane the man
was most unfit for his post. According to his own
evidence he was cautioned about the chimney on
the eye of the accident, and the man who cautioned
him left a stick wedged in between the corner of
the stone and the chimney on the opposite side from
that of the ill fated houses. Two hours later the
watchman looked, and lo the stick had fallen to
the grounn. Surely this was proof positive that
the chimney was leaning away from the stick, and
was tottering to its fall. The man tried to wedge
it in again, but it was now half an inch too short
for the place it had previously filled. Upcn this
startling revelation what did he do ? Did
he call assistance without a moment's
delay and rouse the sleepers in the cottages without
pausing for breath ? No ! " I went my usual
round, intending to try it again when I returned.
Oa my way back about eight minutes later, the
chimney fell." Well might the Coroner ask, "Did
you not know these poor creatures were sleeping
beneath it ?'' and when this most extrordinary wit-
ness replied in the affirmative, inquire again, " Did
it not occur to you to call HAMMOND or some one
else ?" Whereupon the witness answered quietly,
" I thought I would come and look again." This
is
.certainly accepting the literal interpretation of
the duties of watching, since it appears that what•
ever he saw he was not disposed to act. But how-
ever great the negligence or ignorance of this man,
there must have been something very seriously
wrong in the structure itself. It seems that it was
quite a new chimney in course of erection, and so
far back as some months ago the same watchman
noticed that it was leaning. Instead of being
pulled down, the foundations looked to, and the
whole error thoroughly remedied, it was `stretched"
or strightened, but a few weeks back it was again
seen to lean to one side, On Monday night the
watchmen perceived a crack about three yards in
says,le an op
ngthattehteinbgottom of the chimney, forming, he
between the chimney an the earth,
so that it seems this extensive structure had no
regular foundation. If a chimney of this height is
raised on the flat ground we need not wonder at
disasters occurring. We hope this point will be
closely inquired into, and indeed the whole affair
stands in need of a most searching investigation
that it may be ascertained at whose door the blame
really lice. It is therefore with satisfaction that
we hear the jury have decided that the inquest
should be adjourned in order to give time for com-
petent authorities to examine the foundations of
of
the fallen chimney. Melancholy as is h
life occasioned by this accident, it is but a type of
the catastrophies wo may expect unless due pre-
cautions are observed in the erection of our various
manufacturing establishments, and it is therefore
imperative the full truth of the matter should be
ascertained, so that such lamentable disasters may
be guarded against in future.

The Earl of SHAFTESBURY is not one to let a
good opportunity slip out of his hands for being of
service to the poor and suffering. The claims of
c
the little chimney-sweepame under the notice 701
the House a little time back, and the reception they
then met with has induced the noble lord to make
some more effective regulations for the protection of
the children. These excellent expedients cannot
fail to be of great service to the unfortunate little
band so greatly in
need of succour, and it is not too
presumptuous now to hope tht, in a short time,
there may be a total stophild
rPe t :n
itn this unfit o rhe
unefariousnta
nd dan-
gerous
prac
tics of employing c
task. In the first place it is proposed that
DO chimney-sweeper shall be permitted to employ v
child under ten years of age in any work whatever,
except in his place of business, under a penalty of

ten pounds. A still better rule is the following—
that the master be prevented from having any per-
son under sixteen in his employ when he enters
house for the purpose of sweeping a chimney. To
fulfil the design of this comprehensive enactment it
is arranged that a constable be authorised to arrest
without warrant," any chimney sweeper who
thus offends, and also to detain the young person.
This is a very good rule, because it attacks the evil
at its source. There is no knowing what devices the
crafty will resort to to gain their ends, and there-
fore it is always wisest to check the commencement
of such practices. If a child is not in the house it can-
not possibly be sent up the chimney, but if for oneez-
case or another it is taken in, no one can tell what
may take pace. When a chimney-sweeper is con-
victed of compelling a child or person under twenty-
one to ascend a chimney, he may be sent to prison
for a term not exceeding twelve months, with or
without hard labour. It seems almost surprising
that some such rules or regulations should not have
been made before, but better late than never is a
very true saying, and too much praise cannot be
awarded to the Earl of SHAFTESBURY for his stre-
nuous efforts to better the condition and emancipate
the race of these little negroes of a free country.
There is also a very sensible provision made to the
effect that when a chimney is built, or rebuilt,
novice shall be given to the Board of Health, or
other authorities, and clauses are put in this bill to
ensure the fulfilment of the required restrictions
being complied with. Surely now there is a good
prospect of this scandalous practice being disoon-
tinued, and it is a great shame that so many per-
sons who were in a position to know the evils of
the habit should have permitted it to be carried on
in their own dwellings.

The shipowners of Liverpool are now followiug
in the wake of those alarmists who have taken up
the cause of the Federals with such sympathetic
ardour. A petition has now been signed by those
who signed the memorial lest year, with the excep-
tion of one. This petition states that the under-
signed " view with dismay the probable future con-
sequences of a state of affairs which permits a
foreign belligerent to construct in and send to sea
from British ports vessels or war, in contravention
of the provisions of the existing law." This is very
likely the genuine expression of those who utter it,
but the course that is proposed is a most dangerous
one, and can never succeed in effecting the objects
in view. After going on some time further in the
same strain, the meaning of all this lugubrious
statement is disclosed, namely, that it would be exr
pedient to sanction the introduction of changes in
the Foreign Enlistment Act, to afford the Execu-
tive greater power in preventing the building of
ships destined for belligerents in British ports. All
this has been already proposed a score of times by
various supporters of the Government policy and
admirers of the Federale, but it has not as yet
gained many adherents, nor will it ever be popular
in the country for it to take place. The result of
these proposals and strictures against the rights
of subjects and the claims of others has always
been that of ignoring, and has always fallen on the
proposer of the innovation, and failure most com-
plete and mortifying has attended the venture.
Still no one ever can or will learn from it the ex-
perience of others, and it will not be at all surpris-
ing; if before long we have another attempt to
change the present state of the law. Earl RUSSELL
has already hinted at something of the kind rather
vaguely, and he may be glad to take advantage of
the excellent opportunity, which the demands of so
many influential men may give him. It is to be
hoped that such extremities will not be resorted to,
because all such expressions of irritated feeling and
angry altercations as these proposals give rise to
are best avoided, and can but produce unpleasant
consequences. It would be quite an innovation on
the free and unfettered course of action which has
hitherto been the birthright of our countrymen to
set down who they may build ships for, and who
they may not. The absurdity of the argument here
met with is, that any country may hereafter be-
come a belligerent, so to prevent.the possibility of the
mischance they dread. The petitioners had better
demand that no vesse:s at all shall be constructed
for foreign Powers. This will be the readiest mode
of putting a stop to the danger, though perhaps
even they may think that this step will be going
too far. Certainly the advocates of these preven-
tive measures are doing their best to make foreign
nations believe that the period is past when Eng-
land was mighty in arms, and rich in resources of
all kinds for an emergency. First on one side, then
on another, we hear of the imprudence of this prac-
tice, the undesirability of that custom, and the ex-
pediency of a complete and immediate change for
fear a war should take 119 by surprise and find us
overwhelmed in a sea of difficulties. According to
present arrangements, there is no prospect of a
speedy resort to hostilities, but no one can tell how
soon the tide of affairs may change, and sometimes
the very means taken to prevent war may provoke
it to come to pass, One thing is certain, it will
not avail us then that to please foreign nations we
have sapped the strongholds of our own Constitu-
tion, and compromised the rights and privileges cf
our subjects, in order to satisfy the scruples of over-
punctilious people.

AMATEUR PERFORMANCE.—Last night a per-
formance, organized by Mr. Lynch, was given in
"the Bijou" attached to her,Majesty's Theatre, for the pur-
pose of increasing the funds of a charitable institution in
Somers-town. The pieces selected were a " Cosy Couple'
and " The Rivals,' and although it is usual to pass over
the efforts of amateurs with the usual complimentary phrase
of" all acquitted themselves with ability," in this instance
wa must particularly single out the efforts of Mr. Lynch for
high commendation. From first to last he appeared quite
at home on the boards of the pretty little theatre, and
elicited loud applause by the excellence of his acting. The
leaders also deserve great praise for the talent they exhi-
bited on the occasion. The performance gave great plea-
sure to the entire audience.

CHARITIES IN THE METROPOLIS.—It appears that
the gross income of the endowed local or parochial
charities known to be existing in the city of London amounts
to £66,356, and that of those in the city of Westminster to
£26,666. The purposes to which the income of the first
group of charities is applied are as follows :—Education,
£ll,292—apprenticing and advancement of children, £1,777
—endowments of clergy, lecturers, and for sermons, £3,833
—church repairs and general purposes, £26,o4s—mainte-
nance of Dissenting places of worship and their ministers,
£s7—education of Dissenters, £93—public parochial uses,
£3B3—support of almshouses and their inmates and of pen •
sinners, .£6o,oBo—distribution of articles in kind, £2,801—
distribution of money, £s,37B—and general uses of the poor,
£8,614. The income of the Westminster charities was de-
voted as follows :—Education, £7,o7o—apprenticing and
advancement of children, £2,299—endowments of clergy,
lecturers, and for sermons, £1,233-2hurch repairs and
general purposes, £266—support of almshouses and their
inmates and of pensioners, £ll,s63—distribution of articles
of kind, £l34—distribution of money, £l,66o—general uses
of the poor, £460--medical relief, £l,2ol—and loans, £7Bl.
Besides these charities the gross income of a third group in
the county of Middlesex amounted to £51,793, which was
devoted to the following objects :—Education, £17,024—ap •
prenticing and advancement of children, £2,72B—endow-
ments of clergy, lecturers, and for sermons, £66l—church
repairs and general purposes, £2,3l3—maintenance of Dis-
senting places of worship and their ministers, £545
education of Dissenters, £2,6l2—parochial uses, £1,585—
support of almshouses and their inmates, and of pensioners,
.£12,130—distribution of articles in kind, £6,2ls—distribn
Lion of money, £s,l6l—general uses of the poor, £794
and medical relief, £2l.

The Nouvelliste of Marseilles mentions the death
of a little girl, 10 months old, in a rather extraordinary
manner. A small nine-pins in bone, stained red, was given
her to play with, She put it into her mouth, and sucked
off the colouring matter, In a few hours after symptoms
of poisoning showed themselves, and, in spite of medical
assistance, she died in a Short time►