The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-01 00:00:00

further go. But here it is that M.DE MONTALEM-
BERT reminds his compatriots of what the more
obsequious imperialists would, latterly, seem really to
have lost sight of, namely, that it was the EMPEROR
himself who, one day (and not so very long ago !)
said that his Government needed " control and pub-

Hefty." A noble utterance, and one that France is
now about to respond to ! " The country"—as M.
DE MONTALEMBERT plainly puts it—" has taken the
EMPEROR at his word." It is, as he expresses it, "at
this moment shaking off its sleep." And among
the potent, and once familiar voices, becoming,
at length, yet again audible in France, after so long
a silence, the heart of France is beginning to stir
within her breast, on hearing not only those of
men, whom the Count DE MONTALEMBERT declares
he is proud and honoured to be called the friend of
—THEIRS, DUFAURE, BERRYER, ODILLON BARROT
—but the voice also of M. the Count DE

MONTALEMBERT himself. Together they alrzady
demand, these gifted Candidates of the Opposi-
tion, individually, he, the purest and noblest

amongst them, tells the electors of Doubs,
tells France, tells all Europe, " I demand"—
What ? Note well the stirring antithesis—
" Less of taxation and more of liberty, fewer con-
scripts and greater control, less of arbitrary rule
and more of responsibility, less police and more
discussion." And, as if even this were not sufE-

ciently sententious and epigrammatic, he says in

conclusion, my programme is comprised in three
words : I want three things as necessary for the
country as they are advantageous to the
Government—viz., Peace, Economy, Liberty !"
Those are the trumpet notes, that is the
trumpet-call sounded over France by the pure and
eloquent lips of CHARLES Count de MONTALEM-
BERT. And we have confidence that those words are
prophetic of benefits instead of disaster for France.
For we believe the Emperor to be more liberal and
enlightened than his Ministers.

The arrangements that were thought to be so

happily in train between the governors of St.
Thomas's Hospital and of Bethlehem seem at fault.
It was considered by all parties to be a most desir-
able plan when first proposed, and therefore these

vexations hindrances are the more annoying.

Everything seemed to point out that the proposition

was wise and desirable. Bethlehem was not suited

for its object, and it would be much better for the

unhappy patients to be taken into the country. It
appeared almost providential that such an oppor-
tunity offered itself as this idea of transferring St,

Thomas's Hospital to the site. The governors on
both sides appeared quiescent, but the strange thing
is that nothing is done, although a considerable
time has now elapsed since the idea was mentioned.
It would seem from the accounts that the fault of
the delay rests with the governors of Bethlehem.
Their committee refused to allow the architect to
meet the architect of St. Thomas's, which was in
itself a very questionable act of discourtesy. This
is a very strange course of proceeding on the part
of these gentlemen; they should either have de.
clined the proposition in toto, or have afforded every
possible means that lay in their power to facilitate
the desired end, or at least to give it a chance of
reaching a speedy solution. The proposals of the
Grand Committee of St. Thomas's appear most
judicious ones. The Governors of St. Thomas's
were prepared " either to build for the Governors
of Bethlehem a now hospital in conformity with the
plans and estimates prepared by Mr. CURREY, the
surveyor of this (St. Thomas's) Hospital, at a cost
not exceeding £150,000, including the site ; or to
pay for the site and buildings of Bethlehem the sum
of £150,000, subject to the approval of the Court
of Chancery, and the sanction of Parliament and
this court." Surely nothing could be fairer than

this proposal, and, indeed, it is so liberal that it
proves an actual intention on the part of the sug-
gestors to do everything that lay in their power for
the furtherance of the object under discassion. This
scheme, however, did not satisfy the Governors of
Bethlehem. They had previously made an arrange.
ment, or come to an ultimatum, which was at the

same time most unwise and most grasping in its
demands, They laid down as an infallible dogma
this specified condition :—" That no proposal for
the exchange of sites can be entertained which is
not based on an agreement that the whole of the
cost of the removal of Bethlehem Hospital is to be
borne by the Governors of St. Thomas's Hospital."
Could anything be more preposterous, and could
they reasonably hope, or on:a calm reflection believe,
that the other party in the conference could agree.

The sum was fixed upon, and therefore the com-
mittee of St. Thomas's would have been most faulty
had they agreed, especially as they had communi-
cated the unsatisfactory intelligence that the sum
they should require would most likely be much
more than the Governors of St. Thomas's Hospital
would like to give, " or which would be permitted
by the Court of Chancery, or by Parliament,
to be given for a site for a new St.
Thomas's Hospital." Such a statement is a con-
tradiction to their previous assent to entertaining
the proposition at all, for how could the Governors
of St. Thomas's Hospital be induced to take into
consideration a scheme that was to overwhelm them
with expense, while after all they would not be

paying for their own property, and would not even
have the gratification of knowing that the handsome
and commodious structure was for themselves. It
is impossible to overrate the folly and shortsighted-
ness of such conduct. These wise men are defeating

their own Ends by such unaccommodating views
and such fallacious proposals. It would seem as if
they gloried in the opportunity that is afforded to

them of throwing obstacles in the way, and of
abusing the power that has been delegated
to them for nobler and higher purposes.

It is unworthy of any body or com-
pany to comport themselves after this fashion;
but for the trustees of a charity and the guardians
of the afflicted to cast aside all the notions that
should influence, if not absolutely actuate, their
conduct, is most reprehensible. It is lamentable
to think that the patients, who are now, it is said,
"cooped up like poultry" in the insufficient space
allotted to them in the crowded confines of Bethle-
hem, will be the greatest sufferers in this stormy
eroeutir.oversy. The faults of the strong too often
ta
14h:1:fit. on the weak and helpless. This apparent
re la the more impartial
and
re disheartening, as it appears to
voilltlizassionate observers that a mutual
athipublia been the result. There is to be
aubioot, meeting
and t°-night in Southwark on
Set the 0, it is to
G"ernere ef hoped that even
fluencea by the Bethlehem
will bo in-
' they still continue 4,1,1)""i°a of
loss in the end, for ilt""ible theirs will
If
I SIC; good
be the
Ytot and too late see the
lona 1,44,:e1t1ii
a which they, are now
aeeYis have
modpaenlloedfletroacoltlochastewvihil.l be
regret their lost opportuenwitsite tilaY w~tl bitterly
error of their ways in trying
of a chance that, taken at a littthleak ace t"
much out
gain to them. It will be a pity, foBrrlilfice. was
a
if these negotiations are so peremptorily brokena concerned,
as some imagine they mast inevitably be, after what
has taken place. Before the day of grace is pate-,
ye trust that some arrangement will be entered
into that will compromise the affair, 4nd allow a