The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JUNE 28, 1E65.

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1865.

--~

At the dinner to the judges last night, at Green-
wich, Mr. ROEBUCK made one of his amusing
speeches in returning thanks for the House of Com-
mons. The hon. and learned member always speaks
to the purpose, no matter 'what his subject is, and
of course on so congenial a topic as that of the
House of Commons he was able to distinguish him-
self and deliver some striking truths. His speech
was very well received, and appeared to afford great
satisfaction to those who had the good fortune to
hear it. He began by remarking that many persons
were very fond of criticising that assembly, and
some of his learned friends especially exercised a
" great deal of small wit," particularly when they did
not happen to be members of the house themselves.
This is very true, and there is quite enough of this
feeling apparent to justify Mr. ROEBUCK'S com-
ment thereon, that it was like the old Fable of the
Fox and the Grapes. That assembly, however,
" rules the land,"as was emphatically declared by the
hon. member for Sheffield, and the more the subject
is considered the more will its force be recognised.
It is the House of Commons that really governs the
country, and in all the important changes that take
place it directs and influences the other governing
powers. Of course, as Mr. ROEBUCK observed,
England had attained her present proud position
through the qualities of her people, no less than by
the instrumentality of the house, but not the less
could it be said that the house represents the
people, and the sentiments of the nation
were fittingly expressed by the representative
assembly. It is there put into " legislative form,"
and works for the general welfare. It is true that
lately there has been some decadence in the rightful
influence of the representative assembly of Eng-
land, but such mischances that are due to the mis-
management of Ministers are merely temporary, and
do not permanently or materially alter the position
of affairs. There is no cause to gainsay this fin-
pressive passage in Mr. ROEBUCK'S speech :—" The
Power of England sounds over the world, and the
lichise of Commons, aptly representing as it does
the English people, is deserving of the respect and
admiration of mankind." Afterwards the hon. and
learned member gave some very wise and good ad-
vice to those who will shortly be engaged in elec-
tioneering campaigns. It will be well if these
words of truth sink deeply into the minds of those
concerned, and if the real issues of the attainment
of a seat in Parliament are more considered, and if
so much importance is not attached to the mere
secondary and trifling consequences. " Think of
what you promise," exclaims Mr. ROEBUCK, and in
right earnest may he so express himself, for the ex-
pectations held out and the visionary schemes in-
dulged in by embryo M.P.'s are something extraor-
dinary, and might well provoke amusement if such
serious results did not proceed from them. This
caution of taking heed to their ways in the matter
of change is greatly needed in these days when
the advocacy of sweeping changes and leTrelling
doctrines is so sedulously practised in some quar-
ters.. " The English House of Commons, as it is,
has, worked out the happiness of England and of
the. world; and it behoves them to be very careful
how they touch that ark of our protection." Those
who promise in the tempting time of elections what
they neither can nor will perform are very cul-
pable, and their devices will not avail to secure
theta a position which is at all enviable. The more I

the dignity and decorum of the House is considered
by those who come forward as candidates, the
better for their own reputation and the welfare iof
their fellow-citizens. It is unworthy of English-
men to descend to tactics of such an objectionable.
nature as those which often characterise the pro-
ceedings of candidates at elections. Mr. ROEBUCK
deserves the thanks of the community for thus
coming forward at this critical juncture, and pro-
claiming in his powerful language what it is most
essential that all should dwell upon. The great
powers of eloquence which he possesses can be em-
ployed in no nobler cause than in upholding the
claims of the I-louse of Commons to our regard,
our reverence, and our devotion ; and the keen
satire, the quick observation, and the apt descrip-
tions of the hon. and learned member can have no
better theme than the faulty measure in which some
of those entrusted with high privileges sometimes
make use of them.

The annual meeting of the Cotton Supply Asso-
ciation took place yesterday, under very different
auspices from those which attended it some three or
four years ago. The Association was in existence
before the commencement of the cotton famine or of
the war which occasioned it, since the meeting 9f
yesterday was the eighth annual assembly. The
gentlemen who formed it were no doubt induced to
make some efforts to encourage the growth of cot-
ton by the threatening aspect of American
political affairs, and the crisis at which they
soon arrived must have speeily convinced them
of the wisdom of their object. The folly
and improvidence of depending for the sup-
ply of one of our chief branches of manufacture
on one foreign nation exclusively was certainly un-
like English enterprise and forethought, and great
as the mistake was it was amply punished. It is,
only to be hoped that a lesson of prudence has been
taught to our manufacturers by the sad experience
of the past. But it is too probable that when matters
return to their former courses the old false security
will be felt, and the same monopoly of the cotton
supply obtained to one or two quarters, unless some
continuous efforts are made by those who really
understand the danger. The revival of the cotton
trade is, of course, one of the first considerations with
American statesmen. The Secretary to the Treasury
has, it is said, advised all who want cotton to buy
it without asking too inquisitive questions as to its
origin or former belongings, and in this he is acting
wisely, since, in the troubled state of the country
and the general depression of trade, cotton is the
great resource and the lever by which it is hoped
to restore the country to its former commercial
prosperity. Still American politics are unhappily
likely to be in an unsettled condition for years to
come, and our own relations with that country are
not altogether so secure that we should be willing
to be too much at their mercy. It will not
be the way to moderate American assumption, or
to assert our own dignity, to suffer the United
States to believe that they can hold over us in ter-
rorenz another cotton famine. We have, indeed,
one great resource against such a calamity, but
official obstinacy, ignorance, and prejudice prevent
us from availing ourselves of it. India has numerous
capacities for cotton growing, but it is in vain that
the Cotton Association appeals to the Indian Council
to encourage the growth. In the report read at
the meeting yesterday allusion was made to the dis-
appointment felt that so little had been done to
render India a permanent and satisfactory source of
supply, and it was added the committee had recently
made another effort to induce the Council to give, som e
stimulus to the industry in that country. So long
as Sir CHARLES WOOD is at the head of affairs,
however, there is little hope of substantial amend-
ment, though it might naturally appear that the
fact of so fine a cotton trade existing in
our own dominions would be a source of re-
joicings, and the object of anxious care.
As a proof of the quality of the cotton
which India is capable of producing it was men-
tioned that a consignment of Indian cotton from
Madras recently sold at 14d. per lb., the value of
middling Arkansas at that time being 151 d., so that
India can produce cotton of a quality which will
bear comparison with American. If the efforts had
been made in India which have been made in Egypt
and other places our Indian cotton trade might now
be on an altogether ',different footing. The Cotton
Supply Association, foreseeing the change which
was made in the cotton market by the
close of the American war, are directing
their efforts to the encouragement of a better
quality of cotton rather than to the production of
mere quantity. In anticipation of the period when
American competition will have to be encountered,
they are everywhere stimulating the distribution of
the best kinds of seed. The number of bales supplied
is no longer the primary object, but the quality of the
staple is now the great end to be considered. The
committee has very wisely resolved not to relax its
efforts, but to endeavour to sustain and guide the
exertions of those countries which it has encouraged
to enter upon the cultivation. In some quarters
their efforts have been met with the greatest cor-
diality, and the Turkish Government has shown
the utmost eagerness to avail itself of the opportu-
nity presented. The committee having in view, as
we have said, the permanent elevation of the quality
of the crops, have been urging the extensive use of
New Orleans seed, wherever soil and climate favoured
it, and of this seed Turkey alone would gladly have
taken 300 tons. It has been shown that this kind
of seed suffered less from storms and inundations
than any other kind, and consequently it is more
profitableto the grower. As a proof of the extended
exertions of the society, it was mentioned that
during the last year they bad received 200 samples
of cotton, which came from all parts of the world,
suitable to the cultivation. The great services
which have been rendered by the association in
distributing seed and machinery have been very
instrumental in stimulating enterprise in many of
those plaCes which now promise to become perma-
nent sources of supply. It is a pity that our
Indian Government will not take a hint from the
exampl9 of those industrious and enterprising
gentlemen.

Personal reflections are always to be deprecated
at elections, and no greater mistake can be made
than to descend to the use of such paltry weapons
of warfare. It lowers the whole tone and character
of the proceedings, and is altogether a most repre-
hensible practice. Mr. HOLROYD, last night, de-
livered a most telling oration at Northampton, in
which he indignantly denounced the course pur-
sued by his opponent, Lord HERVEY, in seeking to
injure him in the eyes of the electors. It must be
admitted that Mr. HOLEOYD had decidedly the best
of the argument, and evidently expressed opi-
nions which obtained the concurrence of those
present. He spoke very fairly on the political topics
on which he touched, but the most exciting portion
of his address was that which appertained to mere
personal affairs. Lord HENLEY sought to depreciate
Mr. HOLROYD, because he had been at one time
time connected with the London, Chatham, and
Dover Railway Company. For some years he was
the secretary, and he says that he was " mainly
conducive to the success of that great national
undertaking." Certainly there is nothing in such an
occupation which renders any one unfitted for a neat

in Parliament. There is nothing more inconsistent
or out of character with the principles upon which
the Constitution of the country is based than to set
up these notions, and the sooner they meet with the
contempt they deserve the better. Mr. HOLROYD very
properly answered the attacks of his opponent by
saying that " he must have known that I was not a
railway clerk, but was the son of one man, the
grandson of another, both among the brightest
ornaments of that profession to which his own father
belonged." Lord HENLEY also animadverted upon
the " sporting tastes" of this candidate, which was
indeed an absurd and most unaccountable mode of
attack. It is quite unjustifiable to argue on these
personal matters. The true and fitting manner in
which to settle the question is for each candidate
to state his views to the electors, and then to allow
them to decide which will suit their views
the best, and the most fairly and fully re-
present their interests. Such a course will
be found the most consistent and the most
successful in the long run, and it is imperatively
necessary that due attention be given to the manner
in which the business at elections is carried on.
Mr. HOLROYD has made his counter-statement in a
fair and honourable style, and shows a spirit which
does him honour. Certainly, a cause does not
seem very promising if its supporters are compelled
to resort to the expediency of damaging their op-
ponents, and no doubt this unworthy manoeuvre
will defeat itself, for nothing is so prejudicial to a
candidate as the knowledge that he is unfair in his
mode of attack. The electors of any place will
despise such machinations, no matter how contrary
to their views may be the politics of the party
attacked.

The Society for Improving the Condition of the
Dwellings of the Labouring Classes has attained
its majority, having just held its twenty-first annual
meeting ; but its services were never more requi-
site, nor had it ever so much work to do. The
building and pulling down, the railroads, and the
metropolitan improvements, are day by day de-
stroying the rookeries and alleys where the poorer
classes congregate, so as to drive them more and
more closely together. The effects of over-
crowding on health and morals are so well known
that they require no illustration, and our philan-
thropists and social reformers are beginning to see
that preaching and philosophy are thrown away
upon persons who live under such conditions.
As a gentleman very truly observed at the meeting
yesterday the immediate consequences of these
wretched fever-stricken, over-crowded dwellings
is drunkenness, fir stimulants are constantly
resorted to to relieve the depression occasioned
by them. One house at Westminster had five
cases of fever without any especial cause, but the
doctor said there was no need for a cause, since the
very boards of the house were full of fever. Lord
SHAFTESBURY, always the practical and consistent
friend of the working classes, remarked that
the experience of the society had proved one
important fact which was previously , doubt-
ful--namely, that the people themselves prefer bet-
ter dwellings, and'that when transferred from-bad
to better they improved in morals. The great diffi-
culty with all practical reformers is that good build-
ings cannot be raised at as low a figure that small
rents can be made to return a profit of more than 5
per cent., whereas individual builders expect to get
10 per cent. An extensive reform can therefore only
be hoped for through the agency of capitalists who
are willing to take a small profit, or from a society
possessing a large amount of capital. If buildings
could be erected close to those railway lines which
run penny trains something might be done, and it
is very evident that vigorous exertions must be
made to keep pace with the necessities of the time
at any rate the Society shows what can be done,
and by its experiments and undertakings clears the
way for others.

Dinner to the Judges.

Last evening her Majesty's Judges were enter-
tained at dinner by the Sheriffs of London (Alder-
man Dakiu and Alderman Besley), at the Trafalgar,
Greenwich. The Bench was represented on the
occasion by Mr. Baron Martin, Mr. Justice Shee,
Mr. Justice Mellor, and Mr. Justice Montague
Smith ; and the Bar by Mr. Malins, Q.C., Mr.
Hawkins, Q.C., Mr. Serjeant Tindal Atkinson, Mr.
Giffard, Q.C., Mr. Metcalfe, and Mr. Sleigh. There
were also present Mr. Roebuck, M.P., Alderman
Salomons, M.P., Alderman Rose, M.P., Alderman
Finals, Alderman Allen, Alderman Mechi, Alderman
Waterlow and Ald. Stone, the Under-sheriffs (Mr.
Septimus Davidson and Mr. De Jersey), Mr. Brand,
the Corporation Controller, Mr. Paull, Mr. Nelson,
the City Solicitor, Mr. Grant, Mr. Collingridge,
and many others, the company numbering from 60
to 80 in all, and the banquet being a very sumptuous
one. On the removal of the cloth, the usual loyal
toasts having been given from the chair, some others
of a complimentary kind were proposed, Mr. Baron
Martin responding to that of " Her Majesty's Judges,"
and Mr. Malins and Mr. Hawkins replying to that
of " The Bar" in facetious speeches. Mr. Roebuck,
M.P., speaking to the toast of the House of Com-
mons, with which his name had been coupled, said
he knew that among his learned friends present a
great deal of small wit was employed in criticizing
the House of Commons, especially by men who had
not been members of that assembly. He had been
wonderfully impressed that evening with the truth
of the old fable of the Fox and the Grapes. That
assembly, however, ruled the laud. Whatever it
had done England followed. It might be,
and he knew it was, that England had
been raised to her proud pre-eminence not
simply by the House of Commons, but by her
people ; but the great virtue of the House of
Commons was that it represented her people, and
that what the people learnt was put into legislative
form in the House of Commons. The power of Eng-
land sounded over the world, and the House of Com-
mons—aptly representing, as it did, the English
people—was deserving of the respect and admiration
of mankind. And in these times of electioneering
he would say to candidates for seats in that assem-
bly, " Think of what you promise." The English
House of Commons as it was had worked out
the happiness of England and of the world, and
it behoved him to be very careful how they touched
that ark of our protection. Let men remember that
it had been made by time and by trouble, and do
not let them be misled by electioneering fascina-
tion into promising what they neither would nor
could perform. That which came now before
the people of England was the happiness of the
people of England. That happiness depended
on the constitution of the house of Commons,
and nothing should be promised that could not
be performed. He could not, while on his legs, for-
get all that we owed to that house, and all that we
expected to owe to it in future, and he earnestly
urged upon his friends who desired to sit in that
house that they should not compromise the power
of England by promising that which they could not
perform, or promising that which ought not to be
performed. The speech of Mr. Roebuck was re-
peatedly applauded, and on resuming his seat he
was loudly cheered. The company separated about
half-past 9 o'clock.

ATrEMPTED MURDER AT SUNDERLAND.—On Sun-
day afternoon a brutal case of stabbing occurred at Sunder-
land, in the house of Luke Caveney, shoemaker, Silks-
worth-row. A quarrel took place between the landlord and
his lodger, a man named John King, both being under the
influence of drink at the time. Some blows were ex-
changed between the men, and King afterwards went out
of the house into the yard. Caveney then ran upstairs for
his shoemaker's knife, rushed out into the yard and at-
tacked King, stabbing him seriously in three places.
Caveney was taken into custody, and lodged in the police
station.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

ITALY.
RETURN OF SIGNOR VEGEZZI.

FLORENCE, JUNE 28.
Signor Vegezzi arrived here yesterday evening
and was present at a council of Ministers.
A Royal decree has been published, appointing
the members of the new Council of State.

SPAIN.

MADRID, JUNE 27 (Evening)

To-day in the Congress the Minister for Foreign
Affairs brought forward the bill authorising the
Government to ratify the treaty of commerce with
France.

AUSTRIA.'
VIENNA, JUNE 28.

The most vague and unreliable rumours are cur-
rent respecting the definite nominations of the new
Ministry. All reports, however, agree in pointing
to Count Belcredi as the future Minister of State.
The Emperor has left for Ischl.

WEST INDIA, PACIFIC, AND MEXICAN

NAILS•

SOUTHAMPTON, JUNE 28.

The Royal Mail Company's steamer Seine has
arrived here with 253 passengers, $1,976,532 in
specie, and 1,573 packages of cargo, consisting
chiefly of cigars, cochineal, cocoa, and ginger. She
left St. Thomas on the 14th inst., and experienced
fine weather throughout her passage.
H.M.S. Clio was hourly expected at Panama with
Queen Emma, of the Sandwich Islands, en route
for England.

Another revolution had broken out in San Sal-
vador in favour of the ex-President, Senor Barrios.
The Government had sent 5,000 men south to at-
tack the insurgents.

The revolution in the department of Olanoho,
llonduras, continued.
The election for the President of Ecuador ended
on the 14th ult. The triumph of the Government
candidate, Senor Jeronimo, was considered certain.
In Chili the difficulties with Spain were still un-
settled. The Ministry were discussing the demands
of Spain with the representatives of that Govern-
ment. The nature of the question pending had not
been made public. Business in Chili was limited,
transactions in produce moderate.
The situation of affairs in Peru was little changed.
The loss of Arica to the revolutionary party had
caused their retirement from the coast. General
Praeto was marching on Lima. Govern-
ment forces had been sent to meet him. An
engagement was expected, the results of
which would decide the permanency of
President Pezet's Government. Ports Islay and
Quilea were declared blockaded. The northern
provinces were averse to the present Government.
Disorder and disorganisation prevailed everywhere,
and business had suffered severely.
Three Spanish war vessels had left Callao for Val-
paraiso, it is supposed, to blockade the ports.
At Valparaiso exchange on London was quoted
46d. to 46}d. ; on Paris 4fr. 70c. to 4fr. 75. Ex-
change on London at Callao, 360. to 37d.
The cotton crop on the Isthmus was estimated at
300,000 lbs.
The yellow fever had broken out among the
Spanish troops at Porto Rico.

FRANCE.
PARIS, JUNE 28.

The illoniteur of to-day says :—" The Emperor
visited yesterday Menimontant to inspect the large
basins intended to receive the waters of the Dhuys
and Marne. His Majesty was enthusiastically
cheered by the workmen."
In the Corps Legislatif yesterday the extraordi-
nary budget was passed by 247 to 10 votes.
The Court of Cassation has quashed the sentence
passed by the Court of Rouen in reference to the
editors of lithographed sheets.
Marshal Canrobert yesterday passed a review of
adieu of .the troops at Lyons. He is to leave for
Paris immediately to assume his new command.
BOURSE, June 27.—There has been no improve-
ment to notice in the situation of the various mar-
kets to-day. Transactions continue on the most
limited scale, and the quotations of the prin-
cipal Securities show little or no change on yester-
day's closing rates. Threes, for the Account, are at
66fr. 30c., and the Shares of the Credit Mobilier at
727 fr. 50c. Italian Five per Cents. and the Stock
of the Mexican Loans remain stationary, The mar-
ket closed as follows :-
4i per Cents 95 30
Do. end month —
3 per Cents. 66 35
Do. end month 66 321
Credit Mobilier 715
Do. end month
Bank Shares 3575
Credit Foneier 1252 50
Italian Loan 66 60
Do. end month 66 57

Ditto Threes —
New Mexican
Do. Bonds 325
Russian —
Austrian
Spanish Threes
Home Debt
Deferred
Roman —

RAILWAYS.

,
Cash. Acct.
Orleans
Northern * 1065 ... 1066 25
Lyons and Mediterranean 835 ... 832 50
Southern 575
... 575
Western 520 ... 520
n 505
Easter
Sardinian • 306 25 ... 307 50
Austrian
... 420
Lombard 485
... 485
North of Spain
Saragossa Bl5
... 316 25
Ditto to Barcelona -

His Holiness the Pope.

-

The following is the reply made by the Pope on
Saturday,-the 17th inst., to the address presented to
him by Cardinal Mattel, in the name of the Sacred
College :
" The sentiments which Monsignore the Cardinal Mattel
has expresed in the name of the Sacred College are always
dear to me, and the more so at this moment, as the times
are difficult, both for those who govern and those who aro
governed. The course cl the Pontificate is full of difficul-
ties, troubles, and dangers, and the Pontiff has really need
of God's assistance. lam assured of your goodfeeling and
of that of all colleges, prelates, and of all good Catholics,
but, unfortunately there are not wanting persons who,
seduced by the ideas of unity and glory, entertain other
ideas. Had they read the Holy Scriptures they would
have known that when the Isralites, seduced by the same
idea, separated from the prophet Samuel to appeal to King
Saul, in place of unity theyfound division, in place of glory
they experienced affliction without end, and almost all were
carried into captivity. We should not however, imitate the
two labourers in the parable, one of whom, being summoned
to work, refused to go, and the other who promised to go
;tad d'd not. Let us, on the contrary, unite and join all our
efforts. Let us, abandon every idea of personal satisfac-
tiOn to devote ourselves to the interests of God and of his
Church. Let us defend sacred rights and interests by our
word and by our works, and if we cannot accomplish more
we shall thus obtain a crown nut fragile, but unchangeable
and immortal."

TENANT RIGHT IN IRELAND.—The following is
the report of the select committee appointed to
inquire into the operation of the Act 23 and 24 Viet., c.
153, on the tenure and improsiement of land in Ireland :
" That the committee having examined several witnesses
on the' recommendation of the promoters of the inquiry, are
of opinion that the principle of the act of 1860 embodied
in the 38th and 40th sections, namely, that compensation
to tenants could only be secured upon the improve-
ments made with the consent of the landlord, should be
maintained. Your committee are of opinion that several
modifications of the provisions of the act may be advan-
tageously made without infringement of this principle;
and, amongst others, that in the clauses providing com-
pensation for improvements made by tenants, the payment
of a lump sum of money should be substituted for the an-
nuity provided by the act, and that the duration of the
compensating period in certain cases should be altered ;
and they have agreed to report to the house the evidence
taken." Six of the committee voted against the above re-
port and nine for it.

Society for Improving the Condition of the
Labouring Classes.

The 21st annual meeting of this society was
held yesterday at Willis's-rooms, King-street, St.
James's ; the Earl of Shaftesbury presiding. The ob-
ject of the society is to improve the dwellings of the
labouring classes. In carrying out this object the
report states that the society have renovated old
houses and erected new buildings. The first
scene of their operations was Pentonvilie, where
they have set up model dwellings for the accom-
modation of 23 families and 30 single women, In
Charles-street, Drury-lane, they have three lodging-
houses, affording superior accommodation, at low
rents, to 82 men. In George-street, Bloomsbury,
they have a model lodging-house capable of accom-
modating 104 men. In Hatton-garden they have
also a building for single men. In Streatham
street, Bloomsbury, they have erected a building to
accommodate 54 families. In Portpool-lane they
have a building for 20 families and 128 single women.
To this a washhouse is attached, and during the
year, up to last December, there have been 20,766
washings. Several houses have been renovated by
the society in Wild-court, Drury-lane, and 11
houses have been renovated in Clark's-buildings,
Broad-street, St. Giles's. In Tyndal's-buildings,
also, several houses have been repaired and put into
tenantable condition. With regard to the funds,
the sum received in the year ending the 31st of De-
cember, 1864, from all sources, for the general pur-
poses of the society was £6,399 17s. 91d., which
with the balance in hand at that time (being £294
10s. 4d) made a total amount to be accounted for of
£6,694 Bs. lid. Against this was to be charged for
current expenses of 'allrthe lodging-houses, including
repairs, painting, &c., £3,431 Bs. 2d. ; loans repaid
and other claims andinterest, 4298 40s. 2d. ; rent
of offices, salaries managers' commission, printing,
plans, and other incidentals, £677 9s. 9d., making
a total of outgoings of £6,407 Bs. Id., and leaving
a balance of £287 Os. Old. The real property, &c.,
of the society (valued at cost) is estimated at
£44,561 9s. 11d., and the general liabilities are set
at £21,789 6s. 5d., leaving assets amounting £22,772
3s. 6d. The Rev. Canon Conway, in moving that
the report and account be adopted, printed and cir-
culated, said he had come to the meeting from a
somewhat selfish motive, as he was desirous of know-
ing whether anything was intended to be done by
the society for the benefit of his own locality—
namely, Westminster, where he was sorry to say a
large population was in a sad state of destitution as
to suitable dwellings. He knew a house in which
five cases of fever occurred, for which no particular
cause could be assigned ; but when the medical man
was spoken to on the subject he said it was of no
use to make inquiries about the cause, for the very
boards of the house were full of fever. The imme-
diate consequence of this state ofithings was depres-
sion of health, and what arose out of that?- Intern=
perance, because stimulants were required, and when
once those were resorted to excess ensued, and all
the evils of drunkenness were incurred. He wished
the society possessed the means of securing spots of
ground around the stations of the metropolitan rail-
ways on which to erect houses for the labouring
classes, who were being rapidly driven out of Lon-
don by the demolition of all the dwellings in which
they had hitherto lived. Sir Walter Stirling seconded
the motion, which was agreed to. On the motion of
the Rev. Mr. Owen, seconded by Mr. W. J. Max-
well, a committee was appointed for the ensuing year.
The Rev. Mr. Bayley moved a vote of thanks to
Lord Shaftesbury for having presided on that occa-
sion, and in doing so said that one feature of the
present epoch was that it was a great building era.
When they beheld what was done aboveground and
underground, in the air, and even under water, they
might well suppose that the spirit of constructive-
ness had seized upon both man and woman to a
marvellous extent. Great evils arose not only from
over-crowded rooms, but from houses being crowded
too closely together in narrow alleys. He thought that
a system of inspection might be adopted to prevent
such crowding of buildings. Lord Shaftesbury, in
returning thanks, said it should never b 3 forgotten
that the society was merely a model society, and one
not intended to do good on an extensive scale, but
rather to show what was possible to be done pro-
vided sufficient capital was embarked in the work.
In some cases they had built houses, in others they
had only renovated old ones, but in every instance
their experiment had been successful. It had proved
that the people, on being transferred from bad to
better dwellings, were improved in morals, and it
also established a fact which some persons had
questioned, that the people were themselves desirous
of living in better dwellings. But experience had
also proved, that these better sorts of dwellings could
not be built to realise a profit of more than 5 per
cent., and, as individual builders expected to make
at least 10 per cent. on their outlay, it was obvious
that no such houses as were contemplated by the
society could be built for the use of the working
classes except by a body possessing a large amount
of capital. As to bringing the present houses under
public inspection, he had made the attempt twice in
Parliament, but had hitherto failed ; still it was an
' object to be constantly kept in mind. Some of the
railway companies had instituted penny trains, but
penny trains presupposed houses in the suburbs for
the people to go to ; while they all knew that for
the great mass of the poorer sort there were no
such houses at all. At present he was at a loss to
discover any remedy for the evil that was increas-
ing every day ; and he thought that until buildings
could be raised at so low a figure that rents of small
amount could be made profitable it was impossible
for the society in that direction to do any good.
The meeting then broke up.

Stoppage of the Canterbury Savings Bank.

CANTERBURY, Tuesday Afternoon.

Last night, but not till a late hour, it became
known that something was wrong in connection
with the Canterbury Savings-bank, an institution
which has for many years enjoyed the full confi-
dence of the labouring classes of East Kent. In
proof of this it need only be said that the deposits
amount tp not less than from £140,000 to £150,000.
This morning the news spread rapidly that the bank
had stopeed, and for some time great alarm was
felt. There could be no doubt of the fact that the
bank was closed, for the announcement was made
officially in the Kentish Gazette, but the alarm was
prevented from becoming exciting by the assur-
ance that the trustees and managers had decided, at
a meeting convened to considCr the position of the
bank, to pay the depositors in full. The bank has
been closed in consequence of defalcations by the
actuary and secretary, Mr. S. Greaves, who has for
many years been held in great esteem by the leading
inhabitants of Canterbury and East Kent. So far as
has been ascertained the defalcations amount to
£5,000, and they extend over a period of more than
20 years. This morning at 10 o'clock the bank was
opened to receive the depositors' pass-books,--and the
trustees and managers have announced that, with
the concurrence of the authorities of the National
Debt-office, they will this week be in a position to
pay to the depositors the amount of their respective
accounts with interest. The defaulting secretary
has been for many years chairman of the Canter-
bury Gas and Waterworks Company.

THE ALLEGED FATAL FIGIIT.— -Yesterday morn-
ing the inquiry touching the death of Joseph Sulli-
van, better known as Sailor Jack, who, it was alleged,
was killed through injuries he received in a pugilistic en-
counter at South Crescent-mews a few weeks since, was re-
sumed by Dr. Lankestor, the coroner for Middlesex, at the
University College Hospital, Gower-street. Mr. Ricketts,
solicitor, of Frederick-street, Grity's Inn-road, appeared to
watch the case on behalf of some parties supposed to be
implicated in causing the death of the deceased. The facts
of the case have already been reported, and it will be recol-
lected that the deceased had had a fight and had his head
cut, and a week after that he was admitted to the above
hospital, and it was then found that he was suffering from
erysipelas. A great deal of evidence pro and con. was gone
into, and it was endeavoured to be shown that a man named
Harding had fought with the deceased and cut his head.
Mr.Ricketts severely cross-examined the witnesses, and eli-
cited from them the fact that the deceased was a drunken,
dissipated man, and that after the fight he said that he was
drunk, and fell down and cut his head, and that in the fight
he did not get a scratch. The coroner having summed up
at some length, the jury returned a verdict that the de-
ceased died from erysipelas, brought on by a wound in the
head, but how that wound was produced there was not
evicl9noo Aufacient to prove.