The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-20 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY, JUNE 20, 1863.

Last evening, in the House of Lords, the Brazilian
Difficulty was—as the phrase is—ventilated. No-
thing more than that—simply ventilatod. There
was a discussion about it in all its bearings, thanks
to the determination of the Earl of MALMESMIRY
to arrive, with as little additional delay as possible,
at the facts involved in the mazes of this wretched
little diplomatic complication. For some time past
we have had dropping in upon us piecemeal from
the Foreign-office, now one fragment, now another
of the correspondence that was taken place between
various officials, of more or less importance, here in
connection with the British, here in connection
with the Brazilian Government. Lord MAL-
MESBDRY'S motion, duly announced beforehand,
and duly brought forward yesterday, in the House
of Peers, amounted simply to a request for the pro-
duction of this correspondence in its entirety, or at
any rate for the production of any additional por-
tions of it that could by possibility throw new light
upon the transactions to which it referred. There
was no division taken at the close of the debate.
The Earl of MALMESBURY put the whole case as
he himself regarded it ; that is to say, from the
Opposition point of view. The Earl RUSSELL, as in
duty bound, in his high capacity as Her MAJESTY'S
principal Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs, re-
sponded at some length, though—we are grieved
to regard his speech thus in a matter of so much
delicacy—we cannot think altogether satisfactorily.
Lord CHELMSFORD added a few running commen-
taries upon the whole transaction, contemplating it
in some of its bearings, exclusively as a lawyer ; and,
a few additional remarks having been uttered by
Lord LYTTLETON, there, after all this parliamen-
tary pother, the matter under discussion was quietly
allowed, without more ado, to drop. The motion,
as we have said, being agreed to; no division,
as we have also said, being taken ; the spirit
of party being in no hostile shape aroused—the
question at issue being simply ventilated, and no
more than ventilated, in discussion.

As a diplomatic difficulty, the whole of this
Brazilian scandal, with its (in consequence)volumin-
ous and, as it has occasionally threatened to be, all
but interminable correspondence, comes really as a
twofold illustration here of a quotation, there of an
anecdote. The quotation being simply the second
line of POPE'S " Rape of the Lock"—
" What mighty contexts rise from trivial things."

The anecdote being simply that very ludicrous
one of the gamester against whom ill luck has
been running so persistently all one night at the
gambling house, that, on his at last emerging in a
half-distracted state from the portal, to find some
inoffensive stranger, adjusting his shoetye at the
top of the staircase, he vents his long pent-up wrath
by kicking the said stranger down the whole flight
with a " D-- you! you're always tying your
shoe !" So is it, precisely in this instance of diplo-
matic petulance on the part of Lord RUSSELL, and
the head and front of the offending, on the part of
the unhappy Brazilian Government. Lord RUSSELL
has been goaded and irritated so long in one direc-
tion or another, now by this country, now by that,
now upon such a pretext,
that the now upon such another,
perpetrator of the last annoyance
suddenly awakens
vial of his lordship's indignation
find the whole
gnation emptied out in a
of
diplomatic douchevituperation upon his, the re-
cipient's, devoted head,
pat of the casualty of a
wreck and the "trivial" eire
otestance of an after-
dinner row between three British naval officers, a
Brazilian sentry and the local police or gensd'armes
—out of " trivial things" like these have emerged
what Parliaments are usually disposed to regarl as
the " mighty contests" of a ruption of the diploma_
tie relations between two Governments. The
Brazilian shoe--tying has been altogether too
into 'erable to the irritated nerves of the
British Foreign Secretary. And in consequence
of this the astounded Brazilian offender has gone
clean down the whole flight. Lord RUSSELL—
rather naively, it mast be allowed—awns to the
fact in one of his very last despatches that he had
many an old score to clear off when he resolved
upon clearing off these new ones. His lordship
acknowledges this, of course, not in quite those
very plain terms, but with the usual
amount of official circumlocution. The noble
earl might have added, what he does not even,
as a matter of course, faintly hint at, namely, that
the old scores he had such an irresistible inclination
to clear off, at this most tempting opportunity, were
such as bad been chalked up by other Governments
besides the Brazilian Government. The fact is so,

nevertheless; and the scandal of the whole of this
miserable transaction is, that, no less than Eng-
land, all Europe knows it to be so.

Better late than never, is a well-known adage,
and it seems likely to be realised in respect to Beth-
lehem Hospital. Sir G. GREW has addressed a letter
to the President of Bethlehem Hospital. In this
letter Sir G. GREY alludes to a document received
from the Commissioners in Lunacy, in which they
make mention of the question of removing the hos-
pital to a more suitable locality. Sir G. GREY re-
quested that the same might be submitted to the
Governors of Bethlehem Hospital, with this impor-
tant addends, that he freely concurs in the opinions
expressed by the Commissioners. He also expresses
a hope that this excellent opportunity will not be
thrown away, and that the Governors will most
carefully consider how unfit is the present institu-
tion for its purpose. ,This communication is a
very desirable one, and reflects great credit on Sir
G. GREY, It was certainly high time that some
influential person should exercise authority. The
Home Secretary could not have done a wiser thing
than thus interfere in this awliward dilemma that
has arisen in consequence of too much being expected
on both sides, and too little conceded by either.
The Commissioners in Lunacy forwarded a commu-
nication to the Home-office, which is most appro-
priately timed, and is sure to produce good results.
After expressing the hope that they had entertained
that a satisfactory arrangement would be come to
by the governors of the two hospitals, they remark
that they think it incumbent upon them now to
address Sir G. GREY on the subject before it is too
late to confer the inestimable benefit of fresh air to
those afflicted beings who are in so much need of
it. The following paragraph is a direct explanation
of the whole affair, and certainly conveys to those
referred to a tacit reproval which is only too well
merited :—" It has for many years been the opinion
of the Board that the site of Bethlehem Hospital,
as respects its limited extent and situation, in the
centre of a dense and rapidly increasing population,
is most unsuited to the due medical care and treat-
ment of the insane, for whose sole benefit the
administration of its ample property and income is
intrusted to the governors. Outdoor exercise and
recreation, and freedom from disturbance and obser-
vation, so indispensable to the proper treatment of
insanity, especially in its earlier stages, require
an ample extent • of grounds and gardens
within the boundaries of the institution."
No excuses can be urged regarding previous igno-
rance of the immense importance of making this
change, for the Commissioners state that so far back
as 1858, they embodied these views in a communica-
tion to Mr. WALPOLE, and suggested the removal
of Bethlehem Hospital into the country. Further
on it is stated that not only is the site objectionable,
but the construction of the building renders it most
unfit for being the domicile of the insane, and that
no new hospital built upon the same principle could
ever be sanctioned. The new one must be in accord-
ance with the " improvements of modern experi-
ence Finally the Commissioners urge this im-
portant argument, that the Governors have large
sums at their disposal, that they have extraordinary
means of improving the condition of the insane, and
that this power imposes upon them the duty of
employing those large sums to the beat advantage,
which it is well known cannot be done while the
present arrangements are persevered in; and that
on Monday there will be a General Court
of the Royal Hospitals of Bethlehem and Bridewell,
at which these documents will be especially con-
sidered. It seems hardly possible that they can
fail to produce a due effect upon those present ; and
indeed the justice and good sense of their remarks
ire so apparent that if a deaf ear is turned to their
suggestions, the public will get tired of such con-
tumacious conduct. These Governors are invested
with a solemn responsibility, and endued with a
sacred trust. Be it theirs to fulfil worthily their
lofty duties, so that the reproach may not fall upon
them of neglecting those unfortunate sufferers upon
whom has fallen the heaviest curse that can befall
humanity. It seems scarcely credible that anyone
who has the power should lack the will to employ
it when places are desired for the benefit of those
for whom se little can even be done in the way of
alleviation. It is astonishing how much mischief is
effected by men persisting in obstinate opinions of
their own, in advocating their own peculiar
views and original tenets, instead of adapting or
conforming themselves to public good and genera
advantage. A further movement has taken place
in regard to this important question. A de-
putation waited upon Lord SHAFTESBURY, in
reference to the site of St. Thomas's
Hospital. Mr. KENDLE, who introduced the depu-
tation, stated that they represented eight parishes
of the South of London, with a population of more
than 500,000 people. Lord SHAFTESBURY remarked
that with the funds now at the command of the
Governors of Bethlehem Hospital, and a suitable
position, they might accommodate double the num-
ber of patients. The deputation lamented the un-
satisfactory state of affairs as at present carried on.
Bethlehem was a public institution, supported by
public money, which would be greatly improved by
removal, while St. Thomas's would be benefitted
by occupying that site. It appeared that these two
institutions were refusing proposals that were for
the public advantage, and also for their own benefit.
Lord SHAFTESBURY replied that the Lunacy Com-
missioners were quite decided as to the importance
of removing the Lunacy Hospital. His lordship
adverted to the difficulty of a settlement, for only 30
or 40 of the Govern ors attended, out of 200 or 250.
He truly said that it was " monstrous," since they
held not a private but a public trust. Also there was
no doubt as to the desirability of that site being ap-
piicable for St. Thomas's Hospital. The idea of
sending persons with broken limbs, or with severe
diseases, by railway, was quite out of the question.
He observed, however, that it was not his duty nor
that of the Lunacy Commissioners to interest them-
selves concerning St. Thomas's Hospital, but that
they would use every endeavour to effect the re-
moval of Bethlehem to a more suitable lees iity. His
lordship advised that petitions be forwarded to
the Houses of Parliament, and furthermore added
that he would present one to the House of Lords and
speak upon it. It must be a source of great satis-
faction to all evell-wishers of distressed and afflicted
humanity that Lord SHAFTESBURY has undertaken
to lend his aid to the good cause. There is no public
man who has done more essential service to the poor,
the sick, and the oppressed than the noble earl. For
many years he has ever been toiling in the service
of his fellow-creatures, and it will not be the least
achievement to rank among his social successes that
he has been instrumental in gaining the end
here propoThere is so much selfishness in
the world, and so :avery
society
many prejudices and jealousies
are rife in proposed.
that it is necessa
have some with large ry to
aims and exalted views to
Such
infuse a higher tone into thes_ysatheomt.da
be charm
ratters racters are rare to meet with, a
accord-
ingly appreciated. The public in general will look
with interest for the result of the meeting on
Monday, and it is not expecting too much to
hope that a favourable termination will be given
to this vexed question. If each side will forego
the claims of self assertion, and lose themselves
in their desire to benefit others, there can be but

one result, and that a happy one. if this desirable
issue is not arrived at there will be more heard
of this complicated affair. Matters have gone too
far to recede now, and those who wilfully throw
away the opportunity now afforded them of re-
trieving their reputation will find it difficult here-
after to render up a satisfactory account of the
conduct that will most assuredly be called in
question.

The debate, which took place on Thursday even-
ing, on the second reading of the Public Works
Manufacturing Districts Bill, tended in some re-
spects to confirm the opinion of Mr. FARNALL as
to the opposition it was likely to encounter. Al-
though every member was professedly anxious for
the good of Lancashire, several voices were raised
against the bill both in regard to its general prin-
ciple and to its particular clauses. Mr. FERRAND
more especially was decidedly opposed to it, declar-
ing that the cotton labourers, who were accustomed
to work under cover, in a high temperature, would
be unfit and unable to assist in the proposed works.
For his own part he recommended a wholesale
scheme of Government emigration, which should
transport a large number of the unoccupied " hands"
to our colonies. He complained that larger sums
would be required before the session closed,
and was altogether averse to the Government mea-
sure. Other members took other exceptions to diffe-
rent parts of the bill, ant) the recent meeting in
Lancashire, in stead of convincing dissentients of the
taking some immediate steps to mitigate the evil,
seems rather to have had a contrary effect. Whole-
sale emigration is the easiest and readiest remedy,
since it removes the sufferers from sight and makes
them no longer a burden on the country. The
question remains whether such a cure is
the wisest, the kindest, and in the end the
most advantageous policy. In the first place,
as Mr. lIIBBERD justly observed, in answer
to Mr. FEBRAND's assertion that the factory opera-
tives would die by thousands if put to bard out-door
work—men who are not physically capable of en-
during exposure and hardship are certainly not fit
to emigrate. A colonial life, such as would be pro-
posed for the factory hands, would be rough and
laborious, for it would scarcely be intended to send
them to the towns or cities of America or Australia.
Snch a career demands robust health and strength,
and fresh unchilled energies. A man and his
family who have been accustomed to a high state
of comfort for the greater part of their lives, and
have suddenly passed through a period of unex-
ampled misfortune, depressing alike to health and
spirits, will be ill fitted for so sudden and compre-
hensive a charge. As Sir G. GREY very properly
said, it would be wrong and injudicious for the
Government or any other persons to place obstacles
in the way of emigration; but it was necessary for
a wholesome and useful emigration that you should
have persons not only willing, but fit, by age and
capacity, for the purpose, and also colonies which
are willing to receive them, and capable of
affording them employment. The right honour-
able baronet added that, although the colonies
might be glad to obtain such labourers as
they stood in need of, they would not be
very well disposed to receive those whom we sent
to them merely because we could not provide for
them at home.

The speech of the hon. member for Rochdale
showed the fullest appreciation of the difficult:es of
the question, and dealt conclusively with the whole-
sale emigration scheme recommended by Mr. FER-
RAND. In answer to Sir B. LEIGHTON, who con-
sidered that more was given to a man in Lancashire
for doing nothing, than to labourers in fall pay in
other districts, Mr. COBDEN observed that the high
rate of wages in the manufacturing districts was a
question of very wide bearing. "It is," said the
ton. gentleman, "a difficulty which meets us in
the question of emigration, of relief, and of migra-
tion." He went on to show, with his usual clear
sense, the great difference between transporting an
agricultural labourer, who has to keep a family on
10s. a week here, to the wilds of Australia or Ame-
rica, where his own occupation is needed and better
paid, and removing cotton spinners and weavers
to a country where there are no cotton mills or
power-loom factories to need them, while their un-
fitness for agricultural work renders them help-
less and miserable. " A man may Innefit
by transferring his labour from one field
to another," said Mr. COBDEN very truly,
" but few ever benefit by changing their business
after they have arrived at years of maturity." This
is the great difficulty attending a e emigration of
large bodies of working men. If we could ensure
them constant employment in their own kind of
work when they had crossed the seas, there would

be good reason to insist upon their going, even
though we might subsequently miss them here.
But until we have some more assured prospect of
their obtaining remunerative employment, we can
hardly wish to see them depart in any great num-
bers. We fully agree with Sir G. GREY that no
obstacles should be put in the way cf intending
emigrants, and, indeed, that every facility should
be given them ; but we cannot depend on this hon-
ourable transportation as the only means of meeting
the difficulty. Mr. VILLIERS'S Bill, though not
professing to settle the question, at least provides
help for the time. It will take many thousands off
the parish, and consequently diminish considerably
the demands on the ratepayers. It gives the oppor-
tunity to the towns of having greatly needed public
works carried out at a very suitable time, and we
can hardly look upon it as an unprofitable expendi-
ture of money when we are told that the town of
Haslingden, cited as a fair sample of the newly
grown and populous neighbourhood, has a popu-
lation of 10,000 and a rateable value of more than
20,000, but that the houses are undrained, the roads
un repaired, and many of the streets unpaved. There
is no system of sewerage, and as a natural cease-
quence, fever and other zymotic diseases prevail.
It seems, therefore, that the proposed works are of
a character urgently needed, and that the design of
turning the requirements of the district to such
good account is a sagacious and happy one. We
trust that the bill will be passed without further
opposition, giving, as it does, at least, a temporary
relief, and thereby affording us more leisure and
opportunity to watch the progress of events and
decide upon the wisest course to pursue in face of
the coming winter.

KISSENGEN, BAVARIA, Juue 16.—The Emperor
and Empress of Austria arrived here this afternoon
from Nuremberg, which place they left this afternoon, The
Emperor will continue at Kissengen for about a week or
ten days, when he will re•.urn to Vienna. The Empress
will remain to take the waters and baths. The following
distinguished visitors have also arrived at Kissingen

His Royal Highness the Prince Augustus of Norway and
Sweden, travelling under the name of Baron Dahlskiold ;
his Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg
Strelitz and suite; Prince Callimaki, Turkish Ambassador
at Vienna; her Serene Highness the Pr ncess of Saim
Reifferscheid, with her daughter the Countess Clara Mar-
tiniez, have also arrived from Vienna.

two o'clock yesterday morning a serious collision
COLLISION AND WRECK IN THE RIVER.--About
took place in the river, immediately opposite Blackwell Pier.
I,t appears that a powerful screw steamer, belonging to the
upwaarZ
g,
Carron Company, was proceeding down the river, when, by
8:14:4° mThheeav bowily laden e
the w
steamer
ea mer
eans at present unexplained, she came into collision
corn,rwanhiicnhtowaths
crew with some difficulty made their escape to the opposite
shore. The brig is now lying a complete wreck on the
,K entish side of the river. e beingm ai
main
towed
of the brig, cutting her down to the water's edge, and the