The Sun.
London, England, 1865-02-21 00:00:00

within the Union ; also to repeal the clause that
providei for the retention of the parochial system,
and transfer the removal from overseers to guar-
dians. In future removals will be from union to
union, and not from parish to parish. This will be
a great relief in many instances. It is supposed
that by this means much confusion will be avoided,
as the guardians in general are more competent to
judge of such matters than the overseers, and also
exhibit more discretion in avoiding expense and
disputations. Another advantage will be found in
the fact that by this arrangement there will be a
stop put to the pernicious practice of send-
ing the poor from parish to parish by
underhand means, such as destroying cottage
accommodation, &c. Mr. VILLIERS has shown that
in many agricultural districts, while the population
increases, the houses decrease to a great extent. It
is to be hoped that this measure will be allowed to
pass, notwithstanding the many objections that may
be raised against it, for it is an instalment at any
rate, and an earnest of better things in the future.
There is something so systematically wrong in
the whole working and mechanism of our poor
laws that any change must be for the better ; and
the attention of the Legislature can be directed to
no more important or influential branch of domestic
policy, concerning as this does the welfare of so
many, and being as it is so inseparably bound up
with the vital interests of the community.

The year 1865 has opened gloomily enough, and
will long be remembered in many a home as the
period of woe and affliction. The severe state of
the weather at such a season of the year is very un-
usual ; and it is curious to notice how universal the
storms have been. All through Europe the incle-
mency has prevailed, and the successive accounts
that reach us from the different countries only serve
to confirm the unfavourable impression already pre-
vailing regarding the aspect of things. The descrip-
tions given of the various accidents that have
occurred over the country are more akin to the
records of old times, and the traditions of a former
generation, than to the sober and monotonous details
of the travellers of our present time. Last Sunday
a party of miners in the North Riding found a man
in the snow, who was nearly exhausted, having been
exposed to the storm for two nights and without
food for 48 hours. It is interesting to observe that
he would have been kept in his dreary abode, had
it not been for the sagacity of a dog belonging to
one of the party, who refused to leave his master,
and directed attention to the spot where the poor
fellow was lying. The extreme severity of the
storm may be appreciated by the fact that, at St.
Fillans, three hundred sheep are confined in a den,
which cannot be reached owing to the deep drifts of
snow, and thus the poor animals will perish unless
an abatement takes place in the weather. The
distress occasioned by such an intensity of cold is
very great, and serious apprehensions are entertained
as to the result that will be produced by so much
destruction of property and suspension of labour. The
sheep farmers in particular have been great sufferers.
A sad account is given of the untimely end of a
young gentleman who made frequent excursions in
Cumberland, and went about exploring. Ile met
with several stoppages, but very imprudently per-
sisted in his efforts, and thus came to a danger he
could not surmount. Ile lost his footing on the
slippery platform of the mountain, and evidently
rolled down with great force. In this case also the
services of a dog were employed to find the body, it
not being practicable to descend with safety at the
spot where the tracks of his footsteps ceased. Only
a portion of the plaid of the unfortunate traveller
was found protruding, so entirely had the snow
covered his lifeless remains. The severe snowstorm
in the North has blocked up the Highland line be-
tween Inverness and Perth. The mails were sent
by the Great North line to Aberdeen, but this was
also believed to be snowed up. Although these de-
tails are more striking than events that can be
found to occur in cities, or in the vicinities of large
towns, it is to be questioned if many tales equally
sad in narration and deplorable in consequences,
may not be gleaned by those who seek to acquaint
themselves with the short but simple annals of the
poor who throng our highways, and starve in our
courts and alleys. What the half-clothed, barely
fed, and fireless portion of the community have to
endure at this bitter season, it is almost incalculable
to estimate, and very difficult to realise. Surely,
then, this must be a period when unusual liberality
is called for, and when the cold calculating dogmas
of expediency and economy should not be suffered
to prevail. It is, and ought to be, a fearful consi-
deration for those who are dwelling in homes of
luxury, to contemplate the havoc that grim disease
and ghastly death are making upon their fellow-
creatures, in many a dreary spot and wretched habi-
tation. A vigorous effort should be made to rescue
these miserable beings, as much as possible, from
the consequences of the severe weather ; and if all
our exertions cannot avail to do enough, there will
be the satisfaction remaining to those who are bene-
ficent, that they have done what they could. The
general liberality of our community is proverbial ;
but the especial claims of this bitter season
call for extra exertion ; and the inhabitants of a
ccaounnfitrynd,
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traients,
than in rendering them conducive to the alleviation
of distress.