The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JULY 15, 1863

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 1863.

IVe may congratulate the hon. and learned
member for Dudley upon the happy accident of his
success, last night, in carrying by so large a
majority his resolution in respect to the Duty on
Fire Insurances. More than a happy accident we
fear it is not—particularly occurring, as it has done,
towards the very fag end of the session. Neverthe-
less, although nothing practical can possibly come
of it this year, there will remain, upon the records
of the Session of 1863, the formal notification of the
fact that during the sitting of the House of Com-
mons, on Tuesday, the 14th of July, Mr. H.
SHERIDAN not merely succeeded in carrying a reso-
lution
to the effect that the D aty on Fire Insurances
is excessive in amount—but that he succeeded in
doing this by a clear majority of 36 in a House of
170-103 voting for and 67 against it. The
announcement cf the numbers, says the reporter,
was received with loud cheers. And, very compre-
hensibly, it was received with cheering. For the
result of the division was very signally in support
of a scheme of reform in regard to fire insurance, that
those who have thought upon the matter the most
deeply have long looked to it with wistful solicitude.
The circumstance of this favourable division yester-
day in the House of Commons is beyond all ques-
tion the most propitious incident that has occurred,
as yet, to hearten on the advocates of this rational
reduction of duty, since first the proposition for
that particular reduction was mooted within the
precincts of the Parliament. Come the actual re-
duction of the duty here talked of must—in the
natural course of things. Sooner or later, it is a
thing quite inevitable. As such, it has long come
to be recognised by the more prominent observers,
both in the House and out of it. And now that the
Commons have distinctly declared themselves in
favour of the reduction, the probabilities are that it
will be "sooner" than was anticipated ! It will be
found, on reference to the debate, that the proposi-
tion of the honourable member for Dudley amounts
to this, that the existing (exorbitant) rate of
35. per cent. should be reduced one shilling
per cent. to begin with, and that at the end of five
years it should then be reduced yet another shilling.
His argument being, of course, one that financial
reformers have long come to recognise the wisdom
of, as proved again and yet again by the results of
experience, namely, that the immediate loss to the
revenue will be more than made up by the increase
of insurances ! The reduction itself being all the
while a direct advantage to the whole community !
As to the vastness of the amount of property that
might by this means be readily brought within
the area of insurance, we ourselves feel perfectly
well persuaded of it, that the estimated proba-
bility submitted to the House yesterday, in the
course of his remarks by the member for
Dudley (in bringing, forward his somewhat
tardy but still, even thus late in the session,
most opportune resolution), is, in no one
particular, characterised by exaggeration.
On the contrary, we believe it to be rather an ender-
statement than an exaggeration. The success of
Mr. SHERIDAN'S resolution yesterday was the last,
and not by any means the least noteable, discom-
fiture her MAJESTY'S Government has experienced
during the course of this do-nothing Session. Again,
too, the Minister whose province it was to speak
on the side of the minority, was that man of sorely
diminished influence in the British House of Com
mons, the right hon. gentleman the Chancellor of
the Exchequer.

The discussion on the Fortifications Bill was re-
sumed oa Monday evening, and the consideration
of the various clauses gave rise to the old t-irguments
for and against it, happily terminating in the old
conclusion of a decisive victory for the Ministry.
Considerable objections were raised to the vote for
a central ursenal, owing to a misunderstanding on
the part of several members, who thought that it
was intended to erect a fortress at the spot in tines-
tion. Every voice was raised against such a pro-
posal, but Lord FALMERSTON clearly explained the
mistake, end cited the example of Woolwich as evi-
dence that an arsenal by no means implied a forti-
fication. The Government, he said had no inten-
tion of erecting a great inland fortress, but it was
desirable to have some position in the interior of
the country, where stores might be deposited, and

case of need even manufacture. Woolwich, from
its site on the river, is manifestly within reach of
attack, and the nature of the. place is very unfa-
vourable to fortification. It is therefore most ad-
'isable on eery ground to have a depot out of reach

of invasion, which, from its very impregnability,
will afford protection to its weaker rivals, who will
no longer be of so great import tote as points of

attack.

We are sorry to see Sir MORTON PETO persist in
his opposition to the Spithead forts. The hon.
baronet moved the omission from the schedule of
the items for the Horse Sand Fort, No Man's Land,
and Sturbridge. His arguments in favour of
such a practical abandonment of the design
of fortifying Portsmouth were very untenable. He
began by asserting that nothing had happened to
change the position of the question since last year,
when it was agreed to delay the building of these
forts until the powers of iron clad vessels had been
more fully tried. Why, everything has happened
that is necessary to guide our judgment. We have
seen the question submitted to a trial of un-
paralleled severity, not a mere experimental test
between theorists and scientific critics, but a
struggle of life and death—an attack made with all
the energy with which England's bitterest foe
could attempt to gain a footing on her invincible
shores, a defence maintained with a desperate de-
termination which even the garrison of an English
city in danger could scarcely excel.
the
bst Thee long
n
day's struggle at Charleston, when
clads of the North retreated crippled from the
terrific fire that greeted them from guns of English
manufacture has altered the position of the question
very considerably since last year. There are men
against whose cherished notions argument and ex-
perience alike prove useless. If we could
carry the impregnability of their theories into
either forts or iron clads it would certainly settle
the question of competition most effectually. Of this
we had several specimens on Monday evening—
among them Capt. JERTIS, who declared it was
absurd to waste money on immovable masses of
masonry, when we might have ships that could li
follow the enemy. That is one of the very argu-
ments in favour of the forts, since a clever ruse
' might mislead the ironclads and carry them off in
pursuit of some decoy, while a reserve force quietly
steamed up the defenceless harbour. He said also
that great stress had been laid on the Armstrong
gun, but since 1859 great improvements had been
made in the construction of iron ships. The gallant
captain seemed to ignore the great improvements
also made in artillery since that time. His asser-
tion that the American war supplies no evidence of
the value of forts, is sufficiently answered by the
mere names of Hudson, Moultrie, and Sumter. An-
other objection brought against the Spithead forts
was that as the Channel was 2,000 yards wide, and
our guns would, it was said, penetrate the Warrior
target only at a distance of 800, ships could easily
pass up the centre of the Channel. This was first
stated by the mover of the amendment, Sir MORTON
PETO, and it was reiterated by the hon. mem-
ber for Liskeard, who proved himself to be
as resolutely prejudiced as the honourable
baronet. Mr. OSBORNE appears to find a
special satisfaction in opposing every really good
measure which the Government brings forward, and
in the present instance he was so extreme in his
opposition that it was comparatively powerless.
He said we had not a gun above a 40-pounder of
which we could say what it was worth. Another
argument was brought against the forts which
should certainly encourage the partridges and
pheasants for the coming autumnal season. The
difficulties of aiming at anything in motion were so
gravely dwelt upon, that we can only conclude last
year's sporting experience to be very unsatisfactory.
Sir DE LACY EVA'NS, Lord HARTINGTON, and
Lord C. PAGUT were all ready to defend the mea-
sure, but the best reply to all frivolous aad vexa-
tious opposition came from the lips of the veteran
Premier, whose never-failing sagacity and common
sense left him completely master of the field, We
cannot do better than give his reply to the often
raised objections in his own words;—" Your float-
ing force is liable to be called from one place to
another, and therefore you cannot depend on having
that force superior to the force of the enemy on
every possible point. But then it is said You
have not guns of sufficient range to
penetrate vessels at a distance of 1,000
yards.' But, in the first place, you are
assuming that the ships passing between the
Horse Sand and No Man's Land would go so ac-
curately in the middle between the two forts that
they would be exposed to only an equal fire from
the two. But that is not an easy thing to do.
It might, perhaps, be done by a few vessels, but not
by a considerable force attempting to go through.
Suppose a large flotilla attempted to get through,
and they tried to place themselves so as not to be
much exposed to the fire from the forts, and that a
floating force was sent to encounter them, between
the fire from the latter and from the forts they
might get into a very embarrassing position. Well,
it is said, You cannot bit a moving body.' But
that is not the fact. It is a well-known practice of
gunnery to fire from a moving body to a fixed ob-
Ject) which is equivalent to firing at a moving object
tram a fixed body, A ship going at the rate of 12
knots an hour would move at the rate of about a
mile in five minutes, and a shot moving with the
velocity of 1,200 ft. in a second ss ould go a mile in
some four seconds. The difference of velocities
being so great, what would happen ? At the dis-
tance of 1,000 yards, if you aimed at the bow of a
ship you would hit the body before she had moved
the whole of her own length. There is therefore
no difficulty in the matter." With regard to the
floating defences, the noble lord said it was never
intended to rely upon forts alone, but that it was con-
sidered that forts would be meat valuable auxiliaries.
With the floating batteries within the ports, any
vessel succeeding in forcing her way up between
three fires, would certainly be a very remarkable
and fortunate exception. The scheme has been
devised in a bold and liberal spirit. Lord PALMER-
STON has taken it up with an energy and foresight
for which the country Will one day thank him, and
we cordially endorse his homely advice to the hesi-
tating legislators—" The thing is of considerable
importance; do it in time; make hay while the sun
shines ; and don't wait till the moment arrives when
the forts will be wanted for use." Forts, like Rome,
are not built in a day, and we are glad to see that
m.jority of nearly three to one expressed their con-
viction of the value of the old adage—Forewarned,
forearmed—over the dilatory and vacillating policy
that would leave us to find out our mistake in the
hour of danger and emergency.

The Working Men's Club and Institute Union
held its meeting on Saturday at Burlington House.
Lord BROUGHAM was in the chair. It was a most
interesting affair altogether. Lord BROUGHAM'S
speech was of ccurse to the point, as all his lord-
ship's addresses are. He observed that some years
ago he had made the remark that the reason tern
perance societies had not succeeded was that they
offered no substitute to the poor man for the ale-
house. It was a fact that the working men fre.
quented the public houses more for company than
for (Link, and to obtain the conversation and diver.
Edon that they could not find in their own homes.
It was to supply this want that working men's
clubs were founded. His lordship most truly. eR.
plained the importance of these institutions in a
Yew sentences. More misery, and even crime, is
occasioned by the neglect of pro,(iding means of

employment and sources of diversion for idle hours
than can be at all estimated by those who have not
thought of the affair. Idleness is the root of much
vil, but want of proper relaxation is another fruit-
ful source of harm. The poor man returns home
fatigued with toil, and yet is inclined for some di-
version before he retires to rest. Even those who
have settled homes are not likely to find. any diver-
sion in them. Besides there are so many cases
winhleordegyi
no
gu
an,g
amn ye
wanderhave
about, homes
aaat
bael
al ,
tthey butreside
inhere
r side
can,
for amusement, often frequenting the worst places
with no bad intention at first, but simply to pass the
time,until they are ensnared by wily agents, and get
drawn into all kind of snares. It is for this end that
the Working Men's Club is designed, to provide a
suitable change, and an agreeable diversion for
leisure hours. Not only do they provide news-
papers, but periodicals instructive and amusing.
Lord BROUGHAM stated that the Society for the
Diffusion of Useful Knowledge began by publish.
ing scientific works only, but after a time, they
were obliged to add entertaining books to their list,
and now the latter class was the most extensive
among their numerous publications. This is only
natural, for of course a class not given to
study much at any time cannot manage
any deep and hard reading when tired with
long- continued and arduous exertion. Those
authors who make literature interesting to the
lower orders are great benefactors to the com-
munity, and deserve a meed of acknowledgment as
much as those whose works are the marvel of the
learned, and the delight of the refined and culti-
vated. Lord BROUGHAM said he was not afraid that
working men's clubs would be diverted from the
original intent with which they were founded.
" Taking the Southampton Club as an instance, he
found it to be composed of 700 members, of whom
630 were day labourers and skilled work-
men, the remainder being clerks and shopmen."
This is a very good example of the style which is
desired in this class of institution, and it is to be
trusted that this good example will be speedily fol-
lowed in many other towns of the country. What
an advantage it mast be to the community of that
town to have so large a number of its lower orders
provided against temptation, and, at the same time,
preserved from discontent, by these rational and
elevated employments. The man who reads even
light works of an evening and discusses the news of
the day with his companions, is much more fitted
to engage in the duties of the next day, whatever
they may be, than he who broods morbidly at home
over troubles that meditation will not cure, or
rushes out in desperation to lose the painful
thoughts in unprofitable pastimes. Lord BROUGHAM
remarked, most truly, that he had no doubt that the
exemplary conduct of the operatives in the North
wasowing to the spread of education and civilisation
among the people. In 1812, when a similar event to
the cotton famine had occurred, riots and distur-
bances had resulted ; but now there heroic men bore
their troubles patiently and quietly. This is most
probably a fact, and if so, it surely speaks forcibly,
if anything can, of the necessity of spreading these
means of grace, and working out this glorious mis-
sion as fully as can be done by available ends.
There can be no higher motive for human
exertions and no more worthy employment for riches
than to aid in rescuing so large a class of their fel-
low creatures from temptation, and putting them
in the way of improving their lives to the best of
their ability, and thus effecting incalculable benefits
for them both now and hereafter. An interesting
speech was made by Mr. BRADY, a working man from
Pimlico. He said that as one of the managers of
the Pimlico Club he was much indebted to the
general council. He and his colleagues had re-
ceived valuable assistance from the parent body,
by whom they had been treated as self-red int men,
and not, as was too often the case in communica-
tions between the higher and lower classes, as mere
children in leading strings. So far this meeting
seems to have achieved satisfactory progress, but
more funds are required to carry out its laudable
intentions, and bring its good endeavours to a de-
sirable result. A large increase of income is neces-
sary not only to further develops its usefulness
but to maintain its present efficiency. Surely a deaf
ear will not be turned to this appeal ; the voice of
reason and justice must urge the necessity on those
whom the claims of generosity cannot but affect. No
one who is a well-wisher to the community at large,
who has the means at his disposal, will hesitate to
encourage and foster this noble endeavour to elevate
the ,condition and improve the social position of
that important and influential class on whose wel-
fare and wellbeing depend the security of monarchs
and the safety of the whole social system.

HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE,

" OBERON."

Mr. Mapleson, guided by the success which
attended his experiment last year, has again decided
on a supplementary season of cheap prices—as a
means of placing the peculiar enjoyment of Italian
opera, as produced in its present perfectior. at his
theatre, within reach of the public generally. No
expatiation can be required upon the merits of a
design which gratifies the growing taste for
music in so laudable a manner; since whilst
effecting the artistic good of supplying the
musical student with the highest standards of
execution, it involves the social benefit also of
placing for a time the enjoyment of the few within
the possession of the many. If art be a common
property to be possessed in the degree of public cul-
ture, every means by which that culture can be
stimulated and rewarded is undoubtedly to be
honoured.

Such a purpose could have scarcely been better
initiated than by the revival of Weber's " Oberon,"
which was produced with so much completeness three
or four seasons ago, when the libretto was almost
entirely re-written by its atunor, Mr. Planche, and
the new recitatives required by the improvements
were admirably supplied by Mr. Benedict. Upon the
merits of these changes we enlarged so fully at the
time that we can have no occasion to do more at
present than say they are carried out in a like spirit
of efficiency, whilst our former praise is as much
demanded by the production of the opera gene-
rally. We have again Madlle. Titiens and Mme.
Alboni in the characters of Reiza and Fatima,
the one embodying the highly dramatic, and the
other delivering the brilliant music, in a manner
which no other singers could compete with for an
instant. We have also Madlle. Trebelli in the
character of Puck, and Mr. Santley in that of
Sherasmen ; whilst M. Gassier dues all that is pos-
sible for the inferior part of Babekan. To these
must be added the band and chorus, which were
never in such perfection as at present, and the merits
of the nose en scene, which certainly never were
exceeded.

The great novelty of the cccasion, and to many
also the great attraction, was the first appearance
of Mr. Sims Reeves in the character of Sir Huon,
which three years was so creditably sustained by
Signor Mongini. We may safely assert that the
music of the hero bas never met with such adequate
treatment since it fell from the lips of Braham•
His grand scena especially--" Ob, 'tie a glorious
sight to see," produced a powerful impression;
while the entire performance was received with the
most unmingled satisfaction. It is needless, we
presume, to add that the house was crowded to the
roof.

A letter from Copenhagen mentions the expected
arrival there of Prince Amadeus, second son of the King of
italY, who intends to begin by a Denmark a tour in the
Scandinavian States.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.

-.14„
Court

HER MAJESTY,

OSBORNE, July 14.
Her Majesty, accompanied by Princess Leiningen,
drove out yesterday in a carriage and four.
Viscountess Jocelyn and Colonel the Hon. A.
Hardinge were in attendance.