The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-13 00:00:00

iTHE LONDON, TUE S DAY fill Vt NtN G, JA N OAR, Y 13, 1863,

tion ; the Stockport Union an addition of 4,80'7.1
to the number working full time. Oldham in
its monthly report gives 2,448 more hands in
full work, 229 less on short time, and 2,149 fewer
wholly out of work. There are other reports
also, which we need not quote. It can hardly
be doubted, therefore, that the first ripples of
the ebb are to be seen, in what we have already
mentioned ; and the decrease of pauperism, ap-
proaching 30,000 persons, can only be due to one
'chief cause.

We deprecate, however, the assumption too
hastily made in a few quarters, that because the
tide has turned there may be any relaxation yet
in our charitable exertions. We have reaped the
benefit of giving quickly and thus giving double;
but we must not injure our past charity by with-
holding our hand too soon. The time will yet be
long before sufficient employment will become gene-
ral. Manufactured goods are yet slow to rise in
price, and when they have done so the c )nsequent
cheek on consumption will, we fear, be great. Half
work at low wages will be the best that can be
hoped for as the summer approaches, and even that
will not, we fear, be obtained by the majority. We
shall have saved our cotton workers from starva-
tion in winter's cold; the bleak English spring will
probably be even more trying to them than Christ-
mas and the New Year. Early in November a cut-
ting frost aroused us all to reclothe the population
which, during the warmer weather, had almost de-
nuded itself to obtain food. We shall have more
such weather yet, and it will not be in Englishmen
t' allow the needy to encounter it as they did the
cruel blasts of November. The weather has since
been merciful ; but it will be the wish of all, having
insure, Laneash:re thus far, not to refuse, in insur-
ance language, the last Premium which shall make
the Policy available.

When Mr. PEABODY made his munificent gift to
the poor of London we are not surprised that he
expressed a desire that some part of it should be
laid out in the construction of dwelling-houses for
the labouring classes. Anyone who has seen any-
thing of the abodes of the very poor must be awere
of the terrible drain on their scanty resources occa-
sioned by the heavy rents they pay for wretched
accommodation. Eighteenpence or two shillings
a week is barely sufficient to obtain them a small
side room at the top of a house, in some dirty,
narrow court, up a dark and dilapidated staircase.
The heighth of the room is sometimes, indeed, an
advantage, from its lifting the denizens a little
above the atmosphere of the court below, but the
dangers of the ascent in these dimly-lighted
regions are often serious. Not long since an old
woman was killed by falling down one of these
staircases, and that in a court turning directly out
of one of our large thoroughfares. Yet the rooms
in this miserable abode were the usual price. The
inhabitants of such places find the street more
pleasant than the house; the court, narrow and
dirty as it is, is preferable to the dungeonlike
dwelling, and thus the great evils attending a vag-
rant, unsettled life are fostered, and the children so
brought up add daily to that large class of City
Arabs which forms the reserve force of our convicts
and pickpockets. The absence of light and
air are two of the worst features of most of the
dwellings of our poor, increased of course
by their own ignorance and indifference
respecting sanatory laws. Add to these the hor-
rors of overcrowding, and there will be little
room to wonder that typhus and cholera find
ready victims, and that cleanliness and morality
are often things unknown. When respectable
working people are driven to take refuge in
these rookeries their deterioration is eften rapid,
and it certainly seems to be time that some of
our social reformers should take up this question in a
new aspect. What are needed are houses in respect-
able neighbourhoods, constructed o❑ the improved
sanatory principles of the day, with due regard to
drainage, ventilation, and other important points,
which can be let out in rooms at the same rate as
the present unhealthy and wretched dwellings,
without any restriction on the inhabitants excep:-
ing that their conduct shall be decent and orderly
while they lodge there. The Model Lodging Houses,
though excellent in their way, are too ambitious for
the class we refer to ; the community of the washing
and drying grounds being resented by many. Such
feelings may appear to us absurd, existing in
such quarters, but they are there, nevertheless, and
the objection to letting their neighbour see their
ragged clothes will outweigh many advantages.
The great difficulty in this question is the reluc-
tance on the part of the landlords, who derive
large profits from the rents of this class of houses,
small and uncertain as the payment may seem.
The system is to charge a comparatively high
price for every unfurnished room in a house con-
taining, perhaps, eight or ten, and when the
rent gets in arrears, and the chanee of
payment seems small, to seize the scanty
effects and turn the lodger adrift. There is conse-
quently no great risk, and so long as unwary flies
will walk into spiders' nets there is no particular in,
ducement for the spiders to spend time and money
in making them more attractive. It is a pity that
legislation cannot do something to amend the
matter. It is certainly a striking fact that, as our
contemporary, the Builder, recently remarked,
" the large body of people who prey upon the honest
portion of the community, chiefly live in most
wretched homes." It is true that the instinct and
habits of the dangerous classes may lead them
to prefer the dark and winding rookery
to the world of open day, and these abodes
may often be chosen by them for their very
defects. But the question still remains, Are there
in this busy metropolis a sufficiency of clear, healthy,
and respectable homes for working men and
women, however poor ? Until this inquiry can be
answered in the affirmative there is work for our
legislators and social reformers to do with their
might.

call around him men who have not participated in
the previous discussions ques! ion, and who
are, consequently, more favourably situated for
assuming the task of conciliation, of which the
Emperor's letter of the 28th May defined the bases.

"These intentions of his Majesty have been ap-
preciated in Italy, and the Government has the
satisfaction of being able to point to the compara-
tive calm which has succeeded the agitation.in the
Peninsula for which the Raman question formed
the pretext.
"Whilst the new Italian Ministry has abstained
from making promises which could not be realised,
the Pontifical Government has recognised the op-
portunity of granting those improvements in inter-
nal administration which have been advised by the
Emperor. Assurances of the good intentions of the
Holy Father have been received, and the Emperor's
Government has reason to believe that judicial
reforms will not fail to be granted in those provinces
which have remained under the sovereignty of the
Pope."
The review of the Imperial policy enters next
into an explanation of the Greek question, which
is discussed in accordance with the policy laid down
in the recent circular of M. Drouyn de Lhuys.
Mention is then made of the new arrangement
which has been concluded between the Porte and
Servia, by which the thorough execution of the
Finnan of 1830 is considered to be secured.

Respecting the Montenegrin question, the Go-
vernment of the Emperor did not think that the
proposed settlement answered sufficiently to the
declaration of Turkey, and was of opinion that no
territorial or administrative change had been
effected. France has maintained the right of the
Powers to examine, in common with the Ministers
of the Sultan, the clauses of the convention im-
posed on the Montenegrins. The Government of
the Emperor has advised the Porte to renounce its
right of establishing a military road through Mon-
tenegrin territory, which, far from assuring the
maintenance of tranquillity in the Turkish Empire,
would rather afford new pretexts for insurrection
and war.

France, Russia, and Turkey have signed a con-
vention for the reconstruction of the cupola of the
Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
With respect to the subject of mediation in
America, the review states that it has been post-
poned in consequence of the refusal of England
and Russia to join in the project, and continues :
" The Emperor has not refrained from acquaint-
ing the Cabinet of Washington that his Govern-
ment is still ready to mediate, provided the
American Government desires that Fiance should
facilitate the task of peace, either alone or collec-
tively, i❑ whatever form may be pointed out to
her.

" The Mexican question has entered an entirely
military phase, of which it will be requisite to
await the issue. The Government of the Emperor
confines itself to expressing its confidence that the
expedition will soon terminate gloriously for our
flag. The moment is not fur distant when the suc-
cess of our arms will secure the icterests whieh have
led our troops to Mexico, and those permanent gua•
rantees which we have so long demanded.

" The Government of the Emperor has also every
confidence that our army and commerce will gain
important advantages from the recent acquisition
of territory in Cochin China, which will powerfully
contribute to the extension of our relations with the
extreme East."
BOURSE, Jan. 12.—The market has not been
very animated. Threes, for the Account, at the
commencement of business showed a slight decline,
but they have since ;again rallied, and are now at
70f. 45c,, as at the close on Saturday. The Railway
Share Market has been quiet, and up to the present
time with but trifling variations. The market
again retrograded towards the close on a report
that the rate of discount was'about to be increased
both here and in London. Business closed as
follows :

Per Cents. .. 98 20
Do. end month....

Bank Shares 3400
Credit k oueier 1465
Piedrnontese Fives
Italian Loan 69 95
Russian
Austrian
Spanish Threes 52
Home Debt

3 per Cents
Do. end month 7O 20

New 3 per Cents ..
Do. end month....

Credit Mobilier.... 1145
Do. end m0nth....1135

UA ILWA.YB.

Cash. Accoloat.
Orleanrs ICBS 1082 50
1025 .. 1030
New. ditto
Lyons and Mediterranean 1182 50 .. 1182 50
Geneva..
Southern Bl6 25 815
Western
Eastern .... ..... „ „ 527 50 528 75
Sardinian
Austrian .........
f .orp hard
North of Spain
Saragossa 665 .. 660
Ditto to Barcelona 330 .320 --

SWITZERLAND.

BERNE, JAN. 12.

The Federal Assembly was opened to-day. No
speech was delivered by the President in the
National Council, but in the Council of the Estates
ihe President touched upon the apprehension that
might be entertained for the future. He regretted
that Europe is not yet convinced of the truth that
the happiness of nations is not founded upon
dynastic interests, but upon spiritual and material
progress.

Without entering into particulars of American
Affairs, the President expressed a hope that the
Union would be able to maintain its vitality with-
out foreign intervention, as was the case in Switzer-
land during the period of the Sonderbund.

The Right Hon. Sir John Pakington presided
yesterday at the annual meeting of- an institution
established in Birmingham 12 months ago, as a free hos-
pital for the relief of sick children. The right hon. baronet
was supported by Lord Lyttelton, the Mayor of Birming-
ham, the Rev. Dr. Miller, &o. The report of the past year's
operations was of a very interesting character; it showed
that in the course of the year upwards of 7,300 children had
received medical aid; of that number 214 had been in-
patients of the hospital. As a proof of the large need for
such an institution, it was mentioned by the chairman that
the number of applications for medical assistance to children
requiring aid has been at the rate of 60 per day, or nearly
19,000 per annum. It is proposed to establish in connection
w,th the hospital a department for contagious diseases.
MR. J. A. TURNER, M.P.—With reference to a
paragraph which has obtained currency, we (Man-
chester Guardian) are authorised to state that Mr. Turner
has no intention of retiring from Parliament, and that there
is nothing Whatever, in the state of his health to render it
desirable that he should.

A GENTLEMAN GARROTTED ON THE MANCHES-
TER EXCHANGE.—Oa Friday evening, about five
o'clock, 111 r. W. Brooks, of Talavera-place, Lower Brough-
ton, was garrotted on the steps leading to the Exchange.
He was ascending the steps from Bank-street, and when at
the top he was suddenly seized from behind, an arm was
thrown round his throat, and he was pulled roughly back-
wards. The garrotter, however, had reckoned without his
host. Mr. Brooks laid hold of the adjoining pillar, and re-
,istecl the ruffian's attempt to put his hand in his left waist-
coat pocket. A violent struggle ensued, and the fellow
took to his heels. An alarm was raised ; a cabman knocked
the runaway down; and Police•constable Sutton, who had
heard the outcry from a neighbouring street, walked the
offender up to the police-station. The whole transaction
was witnessed by a newspaper boy. It was e,ormy at the
time, and there were but few persons in the street. The
prisoner was brought before the city magistrates on,Satur-
day, and was committed for trial at the sessions. He were
a prison dress, and said his name was James Pearson. in-
quiries will be made as to who and what he is.
DENSE FOG.—This morning the metropolis was
for some time enveloped in so dense a fog that the
aid of gas was indispensable for carrying on the trading
business of the day. About 12 o'clock it commenced to
clear off, but previous to that time the greatest caution was
necessary in the principal streets for the prevention of
accident.

REMOVAL OF NEW PALACE YARD.--Yesterday a
large number of workmen were set to work to pull
down the two or three remaining houses which stand east-
ward of the King's Arms Hotel, in Palace-yatd, in order
to carry out, as far as possible, the rmw approach to the
Houses of Parliament, from the end of Westminster-bridge,
before the commencement of the session. There seems to
be some difficulty about thelemaining houses of the group ,
and with regal d to one of theni, Fendall's Hotel, the matter
fa still understood to be in'dispute between the
and the First Commissioner of Works. -
THE YELVERTON CASE.--W understand
e that
proprietor
notice of petition to atnittl to the House of Lords
--
has been saVed tipOn tL2 purstiel• by the defencler's-agefafs.
in this case. The petition to the House of Lords can only
be lodged when the house is sitting, but the case involving
a question of status will no doubt be taken up early in the
session,—Edinburgh Courant, -