The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-10 00:00:00

prehensiole custom that now prevails of condoning
crime, they are willing to make their arguments
subservient to the cause of protectingfelons. It isno-
torious that the present system in our convict prisons
is a mockery, and that the gaols are not much
better as regards discipline, though things do act
rest on the same indulgences. All who understand
this class of offenders will recognise the importance
of attaching disgrace to such outbreaks. The man
who comes out of prison under this sentence
cannot be a hero to his associates. It
is most satisfactory that the measure is in
a manner settled ; and the best proof that it
was needed consists in the fact that none of its
opponents could suggest a better remedy. They
did not even attempt to find one, so that whatever
good results may ensue from this plan the public
will not have to thank the Government. They
have been most supine in the ease, and apparently
consider it of very little consequence, one way or
the other, regarding the whole affiir as a panic•
Those who consider that it is always most undesir-
able to allow such scandalous proceedings to pass
unchecked, will appreciate the efforis that have been
made in both houses to hold out a threat to such
offenders : and all who suffered last year
from the prevalence of this nefarious practice will
rejoice to know that some effort has been made to
check the progress of the evil, if not to prevent its
recurrence.

It is necessary for the Metropolitan Boards to
watch narrowly the proceedings of the owners of
land in the neighbourhood of the few open spaces
which our ever-growing streets and squares have
left us. It is not long since general excitement
prevailed on the southern side of the Tnames, in
consequence of attempts being made to convert the
pleasant commons of that locality into rows of
bricks and mortar. While that question still re-
mains pending, the enemy make a fresh assault in
another quarter, though we can hardly call it a
new attactr, inasmuch as Hampstead-heath has
been often the object of aggression before now. It
certainly appears strange that the wishes of the
public should be so often disregarded in this matter,
and that these continual endeavours should be
made to trench on the public privileges. If these
gentlemen had their will, the busy classes who in-
habit our crowded thoroughfares, with but little
variation during the round of the year, would lose a
very wholesome and innocent recreation. Gentle-
men who are owners of lands or gardens of their
own, when wearied with the sights and sounds
of the metropolis, can refresh themselves after
the fulfilment of their Parliamentary or social
duties, by a residence in the country or a conti-
nental tour. The class they would shut out from
the heaths and commons of the metropolis, has no
such opportunities. A Sunday excursion to Hamp-
stead, or Tooting, doubtless appears to these gentle-
men a contemptible enjoyment, which is more hon-
oured in the breach than the observance,und one that
deserves little consideration at the hands of cultivated
and rational mortals. It is our English custom to
respect the rights of classes, of whatever degree,
and to endeavour at least to look on such matters
as they appear to the interested parties. If the
gentlemen who look with such scorn on the pleasures
of a suburban stroll in the company of donkey boys
and ginger beer sellers were, by some extraordinary
transformation, to be compelled to spend their days
in one unvarying round in a dark shop or close
office, we apprehend that even such a view of blue
sky and green fields would be welcome. While such
throngs continue to resort to these places it is evident
they supply a popular want which it would be difficult
to meet without them. Where would the crowds
who now resort to the heaths and commons spend
their holiday afternoons it those places were enclosed?
The parks are not elastic, and if they were, there is
more formality and restriction about them. It is
the professed object of the present day to foster
every kindly feeling between classes, and to en-
courage every healthy influence, while our sanitary
reformers and men of science talk much about the
care of the public health. Why then should these
repeated attempts, which contravene every one of
these professions, be suffered to continue. Cannot
some means be devised by which all such questions
may be set satisfactorily at rest. It is time that
some general principle were acted upon for th
protection of these public rights, which are other-
wise likely to suffer from some unsuspected bill
passing through a careless or empty House. It
might have been supposed that the metropolitan
members would be the first to stand up for the
rights of their constituents, but such is not the
fact. At a recent meeting of the St. Pancras Re-
presentative Council, Captain CAMERON called at-
tention to another bl,l which had been intro-
duced into Parliament by two metropolitan
membersee-IVIr. Cox and Sir MORTON PETO
—which Bill had for its ostensible object an
amendment of the Leases and Sales of
Settled Estates Act, but its real object was to
enable Sir T. M. WILSON to build in the immediate
vicinity of Hampstead-heath. A bill on the same
subject has also been introduced in the Lords under the
auspices of the Lord Chancellor, so that there is really
ground for uneasiness. Captain CAMERON remarked
as a proof of the character of the bill that part of
it went to repeal the 21st section of the Leases and
Sales of Settled Estates Act of 1856, which pro-
hibited Sir T. M. WILSON from building on the
ground adjacent to, and which would effect the
enclosure of, Hampstead-heath, The section which
it was proposed to repeal by the present bill was,
the prohibition to any person who had been before
the House of Lords with a private bill for enclosing
public places, which had been reported against by
the judges, from obtaining any public act to enable
him to do so. Tho justice and reasonableness of
this clause is evident, and it is difficult to see what
can be the object of proposing to expunge it unless
some fresh enclosure is meditated. We trust that
the
their
Houses
va r
vigilance,iwoui
eMx examine
Metropolitan l
nit tn
that
narrowly
will not relax
ll
Boards
tlhye t
he cmembersclauses
s o f
of bothany
bill of this nature which may be brought before
them. It is easier to withhold permission than to
withdraw, less difficult to forbid the building of
houses than to pull them down when built, and the
members of our Legislature may he sure t hat in
countenancing any such infringement of the public
rights and privileges they will be committing a
most impolitic and unpopular act, and, will be
occasioning great and lasting regret.

THE PRINCESS MARY'S CONCERT.—The grand
military concert which is to take place on Satur-
day next in the Exhibition Building, on behalf of the
PrinceesMary of Cambridge's fund for providing nurses fir
the aged and invalid inmates of the Cambridge Asylum for
Soldiers' Widows, promises to be a great success. All the
bands of the various regiments of the Household Brigade
are engaged to perform, and from the number of tickets
already sold it is believed that from 15,000 to 20,000 persons
will avail themselves of the opportunity at once of seeing
all the beauty and fashion of London, of listening to the
grandest military music of the day, of spending a very plea-
stgatnaottaawtfhtoernoon amid the familiar aisles of the Exhibition,
andcinagi: oblf.eiet doing
rnoii(d.,,bn:ogs
~,N,fatr, good service to one of the most deserving of
our public charities. It is more than probable, we hear,
' 'r
work br Prince
ct
andheidemp i
or
EagßrAAaiPrincessMauritus,
reosef
boat from the C
to take passemr,
screw steamer, brigl rigged, This
alias the Virginia, '" nil:ea:es will promote the
STEAMERarrived
tat. 4 oNff ,SGlcoiEniloy:r3GeoplAowr.7.s,
hblaylvae.
eorr;febdue.tradteeclpinrievda.teTerheGeGoergoirag,iaanwdaws aasnasikroend
Q. This was probably the Japan,