The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-07 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JULY 7, 1863

mit to some inconvenience to rid themselves of such
despicable associates, No shipowner of respecta-
bility can object to this measure—it is only those
who, care Less of the crews of their vessels, send them
forth at a minimum cost, and trust for a return for
the venture t,) a lucky escape or a fortunate ship-
wreck. The framer of this bill deserves all credit
bringingsorry
rtohamper
the
it matterwitb forward,
anidnien
en and wet. should be
" Well is our country's work begun,
But more, far more, must yet be done,"
-shore or It is sand-
bank
are called into
dcaablelese
dent may bring this about,
wthhaetnl:ervesasnecl
but we are sorry to say
play. Stress of weather or some unavoidable acci
hodrrsivaens on
that in the majority, nay, in almost all cases on
our coasts these disasters occur from the unservice-
able state of the sails and gear. Let anyone who
has had the misfortune to be on board a coaster
in a heavy gale when it was necessary to beat to
windward, say how much canvas she dared
show. We do not wish to interfere with
the measure by suggesting any addenda, but
if it is carried, as we confidently trust it may
be, we shall look forward next session to a sup-
lementary bill to place some restrictions on the
owners of vessels and compel them to provide
serviceable and secure rigging and sails to their
ships before they get their clearance. Moreover,
no ship whatsoever should leave a home port
unprovided with lifeboat accommodation for the
humnn beings who are on board of her. We
have continual proof of the unseaworthiness of
many of our colliers and small traders. In a late
gale, four colliers went down at sea—the crews
being saved in their boats. What must have
been the condition of these vessels when their
boats could live in a sea in which they foun-
dered ! Should men be permitted to go sea in
coffins ?

An interesting account is given of the visit of
the Prince of WALES to Wimbledon. His Royal
Highness could not have done a better thing than
thus to encourage by his presence the noble insti-
tution that has of late years sprung into life and
assumed a position of such vast importance. Con-
trary to what has generally occurred when the
Prince has appeared at day exhibitions the weather
was fine—indeed too fine to be altogether favour-
able, the great glare of the sun militating against
the effective performance of the rifle shooters. The
Prince made several essays, which were nearly all
successful, and his Highland experience proved of
great service to him in his firing at the "running
deer." His Royal Highness intimated that he
hoped to be present with the Princess on the 13th
inst. to witness the match between the Lords and
Commons, and the contest for the Alexandra Prize
given by the Association. The preparations are
being made on an extensive scale for the great dis-
plays, and a programme is given of the several
arrangements. The Prince could not better wind
up his career of gaities during his first season than
by thus enrolling himself as it were among the
Volunteers. Additional interest will be imparted
to the proceedings by the fact that he came the
first day to watch the conduct of affairs, and to try
his hand and test his skill, thus manifesting a
desire to take part in some measure with the per-
formers, and to invest the affair with a personal
interest. No better institution has been made of
late years than this of the Volunteers, and it is
therefore most satisfactory to find them encouraged
in high places. There can be no doubt that there
will be great expectations afloat concerning the
13th, and it is to be hoped that the weather will
prove more propitious than it has hitherto done for
the Princess, so that no untoward event will pre-
vent her full view of the proceedings, or deprive
the spectators of the sunshine of her presence. Un-
fortunately there seem to have been of 'ate many
disputes and discussions concerning various arrange-
ments made for the ordering of the Volunteers, but
on this auspicious occasion all feuds and angry
feelings are likely to be forgotten, or at all events
laid aside for the time. This is the special advan-
tage of one removed from the sphere cf "angry
bickering and debate" taking part in such exhibi-
tions ; and the Wimbledon Prize Meeting of this
year promises to boast of so many and such unri-
valled attractions, that it bids fair to eclipse its
predecessors, and afterwards to rank high in the
estimation of all who take part in it, and to be
remembered among the brightest and most success-
ful of their endeavours.

The star of Mr. GLADSTONE is not in the ascen-
dant this session. He meets with one contretemps
after another. In his famous budget he was obliged
to withdraw several schemes of his pet fancy for
" mulcting charities," and he afterwards had to re-
linquish the notion of taxing the clubs. Last week
his suggestion of purchasing the Exhibition Build-
ing was ignominiously rejected. Some years ago
it would have seemed incredible, and indeed im-
possible, that such a Chancellor of the Exchequer
should be denied anything he desired. Yesterday
a case was decided in the Court of Exchequer, in
which Mr. GLADSTONE was condemned. An at-
tempt was made to compel Lord SEFTON to pay
an enormous sum for a piece of waste land, on the
supposition that it might be built upon, and then
would assume a considerable value. The Board of
Inland Revenue charged the Earl with succession
duty for this ground, among the possessions he
came into at his father's death. By a majority the
Court of Exchequer rejected the claim of the Go-
vernment. This is a very desirable consummation,
for a more manifest piece of injustice could hardly
have been perpetrated, and a more unfair means of
extracting large sums could scarcely have been
claimed even by the subtle and sagacious Chancellor
who rules over the Exchequer, and seeks to fill its
coffers with an unsparing hand,regardless of the com-
fort and convenience of many. Happily he has met
with his match. Oppression is never put down till it
attempts to tyrannise over one wealthy enough to de-
fend himself. It is quite true that some stop should
be put to these wholesale extortions, and the result
of yesterday's deliberations in the Court of Ex-
chequer is a most satisfactory one. The Govern-
ment do not come off with flying colours from their
legal contests this session, any more than they can
exhibit many trophies in their parliamentary
skirmishes. They were defeated in their case of
the Alexandra, and though they profess to be will-
ing to appeal against that decision, it does not at
all follow that a second venture will be more suc-
cessful. It must be a great relief to them that the
period of discussion is nearly over. It can hardly
be said that their holidays are drawing near because
they have had no work to do, and there is very
little exertion to rest from; but still it will be satis-
factory, no doubt, not to have to encounter oppo•
nents of all kinds without the requisite skill to meet
their attacks and to overcome them. This affair of
Lord SEFTON will, of course, be established as a
precedent, and it is to be trusted that it will have
the effect of deterring many similar attempts at
extortion on the part of any future officials, who
aro inclined to take people's money nolens miens,
and who appear to think that the chief duty of those
coming into estates is to give away as much as
possible for the benefit of the Exchequer. It is not
to be tolerated that such a system should prevail,
and the decision of yesterday is most eat
isfactorY