The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-04 00:00:00

results. It is difficult to believe that the Emperor

or his Council sincerely desires to inaugurate a

system of papalar government, and the circum-
stances under which the attempt is made are pe-

culiarly open to suspicion. Though it is compara-
tively easy in seasons of peril or pressure to make
temporary or nominal concessions to popular de-
mands, the habits and instincts of arbitrary power
are not so easily thrown off. And the proposal to
convert a gigantic military despotism, an elaborately
organised system of pure force, into a free political
federation, certainly looks mu,th more like a misc
en scene than a scheme of sincere and practical re-
form. Even were the sincerity of the Russian Go-
vernment less exposed to fast suspicion, and the
scheme in itself mere feasible, the moment selected
for its promulgation, as well es the circumstances
under which it appears, are peculiarly unfavourable
for its implicit acceptance. The scheme is avowedly
projected in the interest of the Russian Govern-
ment rather than of the Russian Empire—in order
to get rid for the time of the Polish ettlicultv. And
it is very clearly designed even more for 'Europe
at large than for either Russia or Poland. It is in
fact but too clearly deigned ad a temporary expe-
dient to meet the urgent requirements of European
Opinion and conciliate foreign support, rather
than as a bona
.fide attempt to solve in a satis-
factory manner the real d ffieulties of the Polish
question.

HERALD.—Again have we to chronicle an altera-
tion in the aspect of affairs in Lancashire. Daring
the last month there has been a small but steady
increase in pauperism, but now an unexpected
change has taken place, and once more there is a
diminution reported, Mr. Farnall's return for the
22d ult, shows that during the seven days ending
at that date, the names of 1,2 M persons were re-
moved from the parish books, making a total
decrease since the 6th of December last year of
127,003. It would have been satisfactory if some
information had been furnished as to the cause
which led to the deduction of over 1,000 persons in
a single week, as it is only three weeks since it was,
we may almost say officially, announced that the
cotton trade could this year do nothing more
towards lessening poverty in the North ; neither
have we received intelligence of the commencement
of any public works to account for the improve-
ment. Under these circumstances we can only
come to the conclusion that the change is in a great
measure due to the transfer of a number of appli-
cants for aid from the care of poor law guardians to
that of relief committees. We may be wrong, but
we certainly have no news from Lancashire to
warrant us in taking a more hopeful view of the
matter. In point of fact, as we are now put in pos-
session of information relative to the works pro-
posed to be carried out under the provisions of the
new act, we are more than ever convinced that the
coming winter will witness a terrible amount of
misery in the cotton districts. This time last year

the effects of the cotton famine were considered to
be so distressing, and even alarming, that the sym-
pathies of the entire nation were enlisted on behalf
of the operatives. What was done for them it is
needless to state; but now let us see what are the
results. In place of any decrease in poverty we find
that after the lapse of a year pauperism has abso-
lutely increased. The return for the week ending
the 22d ultimo states that in the 27 unions there
were 144,980 persons in receipt of parochial
relief, while in the corresponding week of 1862
the number was 131,702, so that there is an addi-
tion of 10,248 persons. We must also take into
consideration the operatives who are now being as-
sisted by local committees, and Mr. Farnall reports
78,980 persons so relieved. We see, then, that on
the 22d of last month no less than 223,930 persons
were dependent upon poor rates or public charity
for support. We have not at hand the return of
the numbers assisted by relief funds in the corres-
ponding week of 1862; but we find that on the 13th
of September last year the total of distressed
persons in the cotton districts was, in round num-
bees, 260,000, or only 36,070 in excess of the
number requiring aid on. the 22d of August this
year. It must be remembered, also, that in 1862
the cotton trade was in so miserable a condition
that virtually it was ruined. Since then there has
been a revival ; many mills have re-opened, and the
calculation as to the supply of cotton being sufficient
to employ the operatives on half-time has proved
correct. This year, also, the attempt has been made
to find temporary employment on outdoor work for
the hands, and the experiment has been attended
with a certain amount of success; nor must we
forget that during the year emigration has taken
away some of the hands. Yet we see that pauper-
ism is at a higher point than it was at the corres-
ponding period in 1862, the truth being that the
rapid increase of poverty in Lancashire which took
place last autumn has created such disasters that we
can discover little prospect of any permanent good
being effected for some time to come. It is very
well to speak of the elasticity of the cotton trade,
and of its ultimate revival we have no fears, but
what is to be done in the meantime ? That is the
question which must be faced, and it is useless
hoping to get. over the difficulty by attempting to
carry out schemes which have the effect of keeping
the operatives in an unsettled state. How far the
great Government labour scheme is likely to answer
we have ample evidence in the discussion which
took place at the last meeting of the Central Com-
mittee. That the money will be borrowed by the
local authorities is certain, but to what use will it
be devoted? Mr. Rawlinson has furnished the
reply. He stated on Monday last that a consider-
able portion of the money asked for was to be
applied to the erection of public buildings. Thatis
to say, the sum set apart for the express purpose of
ministering to the wants of the operatives,
inby em-
ploying them as unskilled labourers, it iscon-
templation to devote to works which will specially
benefit skilled labourers, . . e., stonemasons and
bricklayers. Indeed, the fears now expressed in
the North are not on account of the unfortunate
mill hands, but on account of there being a scarcity
of trained workers. The Poor-law Board, bas, we
know, a voice in the matter, and we trust that it
will use its power and oblige the local authorities to
undertake such works as drainage, road-making,
laying out parks, and other improvements which
require the maximum amount of unskilled labour.
Unless this he done, even the small amount of
good which the new act is capable of effecting will
be materially lessened. We are 'lad to see that
Mr. Itrwlinson takes this view of the case; and we
feel certain that Lord Derby, in his capacity of chair-
man to the Central Executive Committee, will em-
ploy. his powerful influence to protect the interests
of the mill-hands. We must not omit to point oat
that the very fears entertained as to the possibility
of obtaining skilled labour to assist in carrying out
the contemplated works show that the labour mar-
ket in England is by no means overstocked. In
fact paucity of hands is a difficulty with which
many trades have now to contend. Since the com-
mencement of the crisis in Lancashire we have on
several occasions heard complaints of a scarcity of
labour. In the West of England we believe that
textile weavers are needed, and Mr. Baker, one of
the inspectors of factories, has reported that the shoe
manufacturers of Le;cester are in want of work-
people. We know, also, that in:some of the agricul-
tural districts there is, at the present moment, con-
siderable difficulty in obtaining hands for field-work.
We believe, therefore, that if some systematic plan
were only adopted, it would shortly result in ob-
taining from various districts applications for work
people; and unless the training the Lancashire
operatives have received in the mills has only had
the effect of converting them into mere machines,
capable of performing but one kind of work, we see
no reason why they should not bo able to turn their
hands to other occupations.

AN EXCELLENT PHOTOGRAPH OF MULREADY,
taken not many months sinco by Mesors. Cundall and
Downes, has recently been published. Ile is represented
seated in that attitude known •to all his friends as charac.
teristic, with his knees crossed, his hands in the lap, the
chin a little advanced, the eyes peering in the manner ho
had.

POULTRY FOR THE MILLION.--The marvel and
mystery of our importation of eggs and poultry
from the Continent are as great as they were 10 years ago.
We are always saying, all over the country, that we cannot
conceive why we do not raise fowls enough to supply our
own needs,—seeing how cheaply they may be managed,
and how little trouble they give. It used to be sup-
posed that every cottager on any common, or in any lane,
had fowls stepping and picking about his gable-end ; and
it has been considered an evidence of the dullness of the
labouring class in the rural districts that they have not ex-
tended their poultry-rearing as the demand ;moan the towns
increased. We see fowls swarming in every farmyard, and
round the maltster's and distiller's granaries; and here and
there we hear of an establishment for the rearing of poultry
alone : but the wants of the population arc very far indeed
from being met. Even if we raised fowls enough to supply
the tables of the gentry as at present, we should have to ask
why other people should not eat poultry as well as the gen-
try. If there were poultry enough raised, every cottager
in the country, and every town-labourer, might as well have
a fowl for his dinner as a rasher of bacon. The high price
is altogether artificial, as any traveller in a variety of cum_
tries can tell. It is the scarcity which makes the high
prices, and it is the desultory and unprogressive way in
which the rearing of fowls is managed which makes the
profits of that department so precarious as we are assured
they are. The experience of foreigners justifies us in this
canclusion.—Once-a-Weck.
- - -

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