The Sun.
London, England, 1865-01-04 00:00:00

atic,

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 1, 1865.

Mr. CARDWELL has been distinguishing himself
at Oxford. The right hon. gentleman's remarks
are generally worth listening to, and this occasion
was no exception, for he touched upon several ,
interesting subjects. In the first place, he drew
attention to the painful events that had occurred
since they had last met in that city, and the disap-
pointment which had been caused by some of the
events then at hand. Well might he say, in
alluding to the hopes then uttered as to the blessings
of peace to themselves and others, that such aspira-
tions had not been altogether realised
" The Fates, assenting, granted half the prayer ;
The rest, the winds dispersed in empty air."
• The right hon. gentleman wisely refrained from
entering into the discussion of that " vexed ques-
tion" in its political aspect, but confined his obser-
vations to the moral view of the subject. Some
speakers had asserted. that this country should not
interfere in any foreign dispute, but take advantage
of its insular position to avoid all intermeddling ;
while others, on the contrary, declared that such a
course is " cold and selfish," and quite unworthy of
the position which England should hold. Mr.
CARDWELL very truly observed that he thought it
was difficult to lay clown a precise rule to be kept
on all occasions. So far as he speaks theoretically,
we can well accord with him ; but it might be con-
leased that the Administration of which he is a
member has not succeeded in practically illustrating
this notion, that the wisest course is to exercise a
" free and generous policy, exercising intervention
cautiously and charily."
So far as regards the
latter part of this
passage, Earl RUSSELL'S persis-
tent meddling and mud
dlinu was totally adverse
to such a plan, and it would indeed require
a time-serving Miniaterjalist to allow that there was
anything free or generous in the
by England to Denmark. 01 co Policy pursued
u
discourse, America was touched u rse, in such a
pon, Mr CARD-
WELL alluded to the fear gaining
`ground in some
quarters that our friendly relations in that part of the world would be interrupted. It is satisfactory to
• learn, 04 such unquestionable authority as that of
• the 'right hon. gentleman, that Lord MONK the
• Governor-General of Canada, and his advisers are
duly sensible of the requirements of their position,
and desirous of maintaining " the honour of the
British territory." The conduct of our fellow-
. subjects in British North America fully merits the
encomiums passed upon it in this speech, and cer-
tainly they have 'remained unchanged amid a
changing scene, and afforded an example of courage,
constancy, and devotion that deserve all praise and
appreciation. As Mr. CAP.DWELL pointed out,
during the last 20 years they have seen nearly
every throne in Europe shaken, while a still
more fitful change is now near to them. The great

Republic of their Continent has become the scene
of a dreadful civil war, and yet they have not
swerved from their allegiance or departed from
trust in their ancient institutions. This is certainly
worthy of notice, and these steadfast and steady
adherents to their old laws and customs offer a
solemn warning and a striking example to the
disciples of the doctrine of progress carried to
violent excess, and the advocates of new fangled
notions of liberty, equality, and fraternity that set
some people by the ears and convulse nations in
their vehemence. How much more real dignity
and power are observable in this portion than in
the wild untutored state of enthusiasts, mad with
zeal, and drunk with power, pronouncing fulsome
adulation on their supposed demigods, or dealing
damnation round the land, on each they deem their

foe. An interesting episode was mentioned by Mr.
CARDWELL, which made a happy interlude to the
more serious part of his discourse, and was,
moreover, peculiarly appropriate to the place
in which he spoke. He told his hearers
that the president of the council of Canada
delivers his speeches to the electors' of Ox-

ford, and that on the occasion of his being in
London he was asked by Mr. CARDWELL what sort
of a place Oxford was, and he answered that it was
the garden of Canada. Upon which the former
said that he hoped on a future occasion he would
visit with him " the gardens and buildings of the
ancient Oxford, and thence be enabled to tell his
constituents how high a place the city whose name
they had adopted held in the ancient world." There
are few things more interesting in the history of
emigrants than their practice of calling their new
soil by the titles of their old resorts. " Giving Eng-
land's name to distant scenes" is a gracious and
grateful recognition of the past in its might and
majesty, and a glorious inauguration of future
efforts. Mr. CARDWELL adverted to the position
of affairs regarding the formation of one " great
Confederation" of all the Northern Provinces of the
eastern coast. He truly designated this effort as one
made in " fervent loyalty to the British Throne,
and in devotion to the British institutions."
The right hon. gentleman was at pains to explain
that the Government of this country had lost no
time in conveying their sanction of such proceed-
ings as were reported to them of the meeting com-
posed of all kinds of delegates. It is gratifying to
find this put beyond a doubt, and to observe that
in all departments of our Administration there
seems a chance of good sense reigning paramount,
and the principles of enlightened progress making
way and exercising their due and legitimate influ-
ence. The charge of her colonies is a mighty
trust reposed in this country, and all who under-
take to discharge such important duties as apper-
tain to their treatment, share a grave responsi-
bility for which their countrymen and posterity
afterwards will call them to account, if not ade-
quately performed and effectually rendered. Mr.
CARDWELL spoke out fully and firmly on this
subject, and in a spirit that did honour to'
himself and the cause which he represented.
He exposed the fallacy of going too far in the
government of colonies, and making exactions that
press too hard, and requiring conditions that mar
instead of realising progress ; he declared that the
only sure way was to found all connexion with them
upon the principle of mutual sympathy. Well did he
observe that other countries are great and powerful,
" but that it has been given to England alone to be
also the mother of great and free communities."
Such sentiments exactly express the feelings of the
thinking portion of our community who desire to
see these distant spots connected to the Throne of
these great realms, of which they shine as the
brightest jewels in its Crown, by ties of enduring
attachment which may stand the storm and survive
the shocks of fate. Mr. CARDWELL ably declared

that the day would come 'when England would be
proud to be the possessor of such colonies, and when
speaking as the parent of those distant communities
may say that she will be glad to have her quiver full of
them, and she will not be ashamed when she speaks
with her enemy at the ,gate." This may bear a more
literal significance than the right hon. gentleman
meant to put upon it before long, but, at all events,
nothing can be better in its way than the prospects
of the good-will which exists between the
inhabitants of those localities and ourselves.
United in their interests, we shall sweep
through the shadows of the globe into the

light of a longer day, and recognise their need of
other and different requirements than are necessary
at home, while still preserving undiminished the ties
that unite them with us as fellow subjects and
fellow workers, though citizens of a different
hemisphere. Thus, in some respects, we may
realise the aspiration of CANNPSG, when he said
that he called the New World into existence to
redress the balance of the Old.

The triumphs of commerce in these days need no
trumpeter. They form the principal items in our
revenue, they occupy a prominent place in our poli-
tical relations, and affect more or less the proceed-
ings of the civilised world. The inauguration of a
new Exchange is therefore no inconsiderable event,
especially when it occurs in so great a centre of
commercial industry and enterprise as the good city
of Birmingham. The principal spokesman of the
occasion was Mr. JOHN BRIGHT, M.P., and cer-
tainly no more fitting exponent of its peculiar fea-
tures could have been selected. The member for
Birmingham was inclined, if anything, to overrate
his subject ; and vast as are undoubtedly the bene-
fits which commerce has conferred upon mankind,
and valuable as its aid has been in forwarding the
progress of civilisation, it can hardly claim to be
the sole foundation of national greatness. Neither
can we grant that the influence of manufacturers
and merchants is likely to counterbalance that of
warriors and statesmen, or that upon them must
we depend for our future freedom and civilisation.
It is to be hoped in the general interest that such
is not the case, for manufacturers and merchants,
however individually able and enlightened, are apt,
collectively, to be biassed by class interests, to
overrate, as Mr. BRIGHT does, the importance of
trade without seeing that those higher
considerations which should actuate the far -
seeing statesman are really in the end the most
advantageous to the security and development of
the national industry. Our policy, were it solely
under the direction of the commercial classes, would
be apt to grow narrowr
Influence,an dselfishit just
mightas rash in
,w without
their their counterbalancm,
erallythenciyosnticfsavhoauvre-
oabtilleerteoxctroemnmiese.rci
Paleahcieteirs generally
although
traced part of the praise lavished on ocurertaninon-tirnatdeers-
ventiou policy to the profits which
have derived from the
American war. There would,
therefore, be reason to apprehend, from the predo-
ltnhien amnacientoeintalniecemoefrephraztsnt
peaceand
e tbecomeera thathe
manufacturers,
object without due regard to future interests,
aat
or to those higher duties which, as the great repre-
sentatives of civil and religious liberty, and of all
humane and progressive
principles,
world at large. As it is, h o
lost something of their dueweight,
sai dnedr awt ieorne sit nothave
that the commercial influence is balanced in the
scale not only by " statesmen and warriors," but by
independent politicians, social reformers, "foolish
newspaper writers," the profession 1 classes, and

impartial thinkers generally, the results
would be very much more than they are.
Nevertheless, Mr. BRIGHT'S address was not only an
able but an interesting one, and it did not require
to have been delivered in Birmingham to he heard
with attention and even admiration. The member
for Birmingham is always an eloquent and powerful
speaker, and on this occasion his subject was speci-
ally congenial. Tracing the history of commerce
to its earliest ages, Mr. BRIGHT was proud to find
it generally coeval with the progress of civilisation
and freedom. It is long, he said, since the
Phoenicians first sought our shores in search
of one of our minerals, but those Phoenicians
were great because they were maritime mer-
chants. " From them came the arts and civili-
sation and the greatness of the Greek states of
Europe, and at the same time the greatness and
the commercial splendour of the city of Carthage on
the African continent, and from Greece came the
populous and commercial colonies of Italy and
Sicily;. and Carthage, though comparatively early
destroyed, "yet left its traces in Fiance and Spain.
Yet the commercial element was not the only, or,
indeed, :the chief one in these states. The name
most associated with Carthage is certainly not that
of a merchant, while the great men of the Greek
States were warriors, artists, philosophers, school-
men. Yet the merchants of those states played
no doubt their part in their destinies, and
to mercantile enterprise and skill we are
indebted for the most important discoveries. The
merchants of the earlier ages were among the foie-
most pioneers of civilisation. They were the first
to tread many of those broad ocean highways which
the fleets of great nations now tranverse ; they gave
us continents and islands, they were the first of
unknown races, to penetrate distant regions, to face
the risk of danger, death, and loss, and to bring
us news of men whose language, customs, and his-
tory were altogether strange. Their part has been
an important one, even as in modern times they
have been the principal creators of our vast re-
sources only. Mr. BRIGHT, in looking back on it
with natural complacency, is apt to forget the praise
due to others in whom he is less interested, even
as he needed to be reminded that to the Barons of
England are indebted for Magna Charta. These
are not the days when the importance of the com-
mercial classes is likely to be overlooked. The
merchants of Old England, as a modern poet has
told us, are " The Seigneurs of the Seas," and her
manufacturers undoubtedly occupy no insignificant ,
position. Mr. BRIGHT, in speaking of mercantile
intercourse, exclaimed, " Look here, in this very
building, what will be the condition of manufac-
turers and merchants only to-morrow ? They will
have-before them at the cost of a single sheet of
paper, a chart of the doings of the world. They
will have on their table to-day every single
thing of any importance that happened
yesterday in any considerable town in any part of
Europe, and in all probability before this year is
out, they will find the continent of Asia and America
brought so near to them that to-day they will be
able to discuss among themselves the events which
happened yesterday in Calcutta and Washington."
Such, he added, are the triumphs of science, and of
the enterprise which commerce creates. Mr.
BRIGHT'S remarks upon the social relations of em-
ployer and employed were just and sensible. He
very frankly admitted, though he was addressing a
body of employers, that he not only did not expect
to see the strikes of workmen entirely abandoned,
but he was not sure that it was desirable they
should be absolutely abandoned. The power of
strikes, he said, was the reserved power which, in
some cases, it might be right to exercise, though
in nineteen cases out of twenty he believed that it
was exercised needlessly, and that often it proved a
merciless curse to those who exercised it. This
statement, in fact, sums up tire question very fairly,
for unless the masters knew this power was in re- ,
serve they would probably be less cautious in the
exercise of their authority, and irresponsible power
is not to be safely trusted in the hands of any
human being. Yet it is impossible to deny that
very often the men ; and, above all, their families are
the greatest sufferers from the strike, and that often
they resort to it when a little time or temporising might
serve to adjust matters. Mr. BRIGHT, more en-
lightened :than the Staffordshire masters, looks to

more diffused education among the masses to
remedy this state of things. Education among
working men and more education and thought
among employers would, he thinks, have an excel-
lent effect. If the leaders and captains of industry
are not in the cause of progress, how, he asks, can
we expect those who are employed and naturally
influenced by them to show signs of improvement ?
This is the true spirit in which to deal with this
momentous social problem, and if Mr. BRIGHT can
succeed in infusing it into the members of the new
Birmingham Exchange he will have done good ser-
vice. The Chamber of Commerce, which forms no
inconsiderable part of it, has already, as Mr.
ADDERLEY reminded us, shown its capacity for
dealing with important questions. " The Chamber
of Commerce at Birmingham and the Midland dis-
trict has shown its vigorous action in the discussions
which have taken place, and it has recently issued
a full and able report on the various political ques-
tions relating to commerce—the proposed amend-
ment of the bankruptcy law, the railway tariff, the
law of partnership, the patent laws, and the rela-
tions which should subsist between the Foreign-
office and the Board of Trade in the interest of
commerce." We trust that the splendid building
now opened may see no diminution of this perse-
veranee and ability, but that it may long continue
to witness the celebration of those triumphs of
energy, of enterprise, and of industry which have
made the Anglo-Saxon race the foremost merchants
in the world.

It would seem as if there was a race as to which
should accomplish the greatest absurdities in respect
to the recent warlike policy pursued by Prussia.
Short as its term has been, the memory of it seems
destined to be prolonged by the repeated allusions
to its rise and progress, and by reiterated expres-
sions of delight and of gratitude on all sides and
from all quarters. The last exploit that has been
chronicled is the address to the King of PRUSSIA
from the inhabitants of Konigsberg. The feelings
that have induced them to forward this address are
set forth at the commencement of it in earnest and
eloquent expressions, certainly worthy of a better
cause, and deserving of a nobler theme. If we more
critically examine into the words, however, it will
be found that it is the old, old story still,
that animates the text of this discourse. Enthu-
siasm has been awakened and interest excited
because of the late successes in arms achieved
by Prussia, and the triumphs of the diplomatic
skill of Prussia ; and this means is employed to
give vent to their loyal and patriotic sentiments.
Then, as we proceed, we find the fulsome flattery.
which would assuredly prove most unpalatable to
any one well versed in military matters, and really
conscious of what true gallantry consisted in. It is
perfectly absurd for the Prussians to go on making
this mountain out of a molehill, and seeking to
transform their petty services into achievements that
merit to be ranked as a new wonder of the world.
When we find in t address the 191.19wips termF

used to signify the events that more prominently
distinguished the war in the late campaign, it seems
in truth as if there was no method in the madness
that possesses the German nations at this junc-
ture :—‘, The admirable storm of the intrenchments
at Duppel, and the incomparable crossing to the
island of Alsen have woven a new garland of fame
for the history of Prussia, and given a fresh-im-
pulse to our feeling of pride in the Prussian name."
Can anything be more unseemly than this, and yet
it is most likely that by this time the Prussians have
deluded themselves into believing that they are heroes
and conquerors, worthy of all acclaim, and meriting
the undying wreath of bays. When we reflect upon
the nature of the past transactions, we may well
be amazed and indignant at the manner in which
the Prussians have chosen to regard them, and
not satisfied with their own sell-complacency en-
deavour to make others regard them too. If the
real object of the Dano-German war was to in-
, crease the territory of the King of PRUSSIA—why
are they not satisfied now that their desire is
accomplished. They had better take a leaf out of
Earl RUSSELL'S book, and study a little more to
rest and be thankful, instead of going on after
the absurd fashion which scandalises Europe.
Remonstrances are, however, of no avail with some
people, and with some countries either, and most
assuredly it is quite unavailing with those of Ger-
man tendencies, but still it is impossible not to ex-
press astonishment, disappointment, and, still more,
indignation at the turn events are taking in that
direction. It appears sometimes as if an attempt
were being made to defy the opinion of the other
States, and to show plainly that the King of
PRUSSIA was determined henceforth to follow his
own course, totally irrespective of the policy and
feelings of those whom he calls his allies, but whose
influence over his actions is mere mockery and
moonshine. - The earnest wishes of those who pre-
sent this address point to the consummation of
Prussian power by the union of the three Duchies
and the Prussian Crown. It makes one inclined
to believe that this was all along intended, and that
all other plans and proposals were but subterfuges
to gain time, and to make the worse appear
the better cause. However, time, that makes many
changes, will sooner or later refute. this arrogant
assumption of power on the part of Prussia, and
their dearly bought triumph will be found .to have
cost too much. It has already taken from them the
respect of all men, and the sympathy of all honour-
able States, and before the sacrifice is accomplished
much of what are considered as safe and secure
possessions of the Crown of Prussia will in all pro-
bability be snatched away for ever, and who that
scans these proceedings can regret the day that
brings such a..dooni.

Catholic Poor of Islington.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.
(RELTTER'S TELEGRAM.) •

AMERICA.
ARRIVAL OF THE HIBERNIAN.
(Via Greencastle.)

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 (Evening).

Hood's army reached Pulaski, 75 miles south of
Nashville, on the 22d inst., closely followed by the
Federal cavalry. Forrest joined Hood at Columbia
on the 20th inst.

Thomas's army is south of Columbia.
Richmond papers assert that official despatches
from Savannah to the 19th inst. report all well.
The Southern papers contain a report that
Breckenridge had defeated Burbridge near Saltville.
Davidson's cavalry from Baton Rouge has arrived
at Pascagoula, Louisiana, after devastating a large
tract of country.
The blockade-runner Petrel has been destroyed
off Wilmington.
The City of limerick and City of Cork take out
$1,500,000 in specie.
Gold, 221 k.
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 (Afternoon).

Money easy. Gold, 2204. Stocks dull ; New
York Central, 114/ ; Illinois, 1251; Erie, 871;
Five-Twenty Bonds, 1081. Cotton quiet—Mid-
dling Upland, 124. Flour and wheat dull. Corn
declining. Provisions steady. Coffee quiet. Sugar
and molasses steady. Petroleum—Crude, 531 ;
refined, 761. .
(THE TELEGRAPHIC NEWS ASSOCIATION.)
(Via Greencastle.)

NEW YORK, Dec. 24.

The Federals estimate Hood's losses at 12,000
and their own at 3,000. Southern accounts say
that Hood took as many prisoners and guns during
his march on Nashville as he has lost in his retreat,
and contend that he has recovered all the ground
lost during the summer.
- The Mobile and Ohio and the Memphis and
Charleston railroads will now be his line of supply.

The Richmond Examiner attributes Hood's retreat
and Sherman's success to the removal of Gen. Joe
Johnstone.

The Washington letter says Hood's army is weak-
ened by heavy losses, but not crushed.

Sherman's threatened bombardment of Savannah
will depend upon Dahlgren's ability to force the
passage of the Savannah River. Otherwise the
land forces must besiege or carry the city by storm.
Railroad communication between Augusta and
Charleston is still intact.
The case of the blockade runner Circassian is
being argued before the Supreme Court of the
United States.

The Courrier des Etats- Unis (organ of the French
population) defends Secretary Seward against the
Congressionalvote of censure on his Mexican policy.
An exciting ebate has taken place in the Con-
federate Housi of Representatives upon a resolution
to send peacefeommissioners to Washington. Mr.
Foote announced his resignation in a speech severely
censuring the, policy of President Davis. The
Richmond Sentinel warns the Confederacy against
dissensions because of the measures of safety the
authorities have been constrained to adopt.
A furious cannonade was maintained along the
Federal lines in front of Petersburg oh Friday.
The Federal Senate has postponed to the Bth
of January the resolution upon the Reciprocity
Treaty.

NEW YORK, Dec. 24 Noon.
Washington despatches express fears that the
Wilmington fleet may be compelled on account of
bad weather to return to Fortress Monroe for coal.
The Richmond Whig says Porter will discover he
has undertaken an impracticable thing in the
attempt to reduce Wilmington. It is estimated that
there are 15,000 troops at Wilmington.
Plymouth, North Carolina, is reported evacuated
by the Federals.
Southern despatches announce Stoneman de-
feated, and retreating precipitately into East Ten-
nessee.

In reviewing the situation the Richmond Examiner
says, " Great adversity has fallen upon us, but the
power of the South is unbroken."
The Enquirer says the emergency demands the
arming of the negroes, and it calls on Congress to
do its duty.
Beauregard's department is extended to South
Carolina and the Georgia seaboard.
The pursuit of Hood appears suspended. For-
rest joined him at Columbia on Tuesday. General
Thomas's headquarters are about eight miles north
of Columbia. Hood had 100 guns at the battle of
Franklin, two-thirds of which he is said to have
brought with him across Duck River. The Federal
losses in the battle before Nashville are now placed
at 7,000.

Sherman is censured for not organising a negro
army while on his march. It is rumoured that Mr.
Everett will succeed Mr. Dayton at Paris.

The decline in Government Bonds is attributed
to Mr. Fessenden's vacillating course. He has now
ordered the Ten-forties to be sold until January Ist,
when he will communicate his views to Congress.

Numerous furloughs are taking place in Grant's

army.
New railways are being projected in Mexico.

The Senate has ordered that the residents of
Washington and all lawyers at the North shall take
the oath of allegiance.
It is estimated that the Confederates gain 10,000
troops by the recent exchange of prisoners.

Peace resolutions offered in the North Carolina
Senate were rejected.
Congress will certainly vote against any further
issue in bonds bearing interest in gold.
A Washington telegram of to-day says that
Seward's note to Canada is firm but conciliatory.
It is rumoured that Lee is sending troops to
Wilmington.

The reported immense destruction of cotton by
Sherman is not contradicted.
The Emperor Maximilian will soon visit Vera
Cruz and Matamoras.

The Mexican Minister of Finance advertises for
proposals for lines of steamers on the Gulf and
along the Pacific coast. They will carry the Mexi-
can flag.
Cotton depressed ; middling, 1 23. Coffee un-
changed. Sugar and tea dull. Lead quiet. Iron
steady. Salt improving. Petroleum declining ; re-
fined, 92. Linseed oil advancing. Freights dull
and declining. Stocks better ; Sixes of 'Bl, 1161 ;
Five-Twenties, 108 ; Seven-Thirties, 120 ; Erie,
87i ; Illinois, 1251; Reading, 1141.
Gold, 222. Sterling, 91.

It is rumoured that the Federals, mainly cavalry,
have crossed the Mobile and Ohio Railroad, and
are advancing upon Mobile.
The Syren has arrived at Nassau from Charles-
ton ; also the Wild Rover, Old Dominion, Little
Hattie, and Agnes Fry, from Wilmington.

Salvage Payments to Life-boats' Crews,

(From the Life-boat Journal.)

As it often happens that life-boats are the means of
saving vessels and their cargoes from destruction, or of
materially contributing thereto, and as the owners of such
property have not unfrequently objected to paying the life-
boatmen for their services (believing that they are only
performing their duty by rendering them aid), we think it
desirable that the owners of ships and merchandise, as
well as the general public, should be made acquainted with
the principles by which the institution is actuated in the
matter of saving wrecked property, and the terms on which
it allows its boats to bemsed in saving it.
In the first place, then, it cannot be too plainly stated
or too generally known that the National Life-boat Insti-
tution is a society established for the saving of -human
life, and that only. It appeals to the British public to
support it for that object, and that object alone. It has
therefore no right to devote any part of the funds so raised
to providing means for saving property, or for any other
object than the philanthropic one which is its especial
function.

Accordingly it is a misapprehension on the part of the
owners of property at sea to suppose that it is the duty of
the men who work, the institution's lifeboats on the coast
to give their services gratuitously to effect its preservation.
The institution pays them for devoting their time and
labour, and for risking their lives to save the lives of others.
and it has no claim on them to do more.

On the other hand, however, it is felt that, in the in-
terest of humanity valuable property which has been pro-
duced by the " sweat of man's brow " should not be allowed
to perish beneath the waves, if it can be saved. The
institution, therefore, authorises the crews of all lifeboats
to assist in saving vessels stranded, or leaky, or
otherwise in distress, under special circumstance, and on
certain terms. In permitting those services, and in
arranging those terms, a general principle had to be de-
cided on, and such service being altogether distinct from
the functions of the institution, it was considered expedient
to separate it, as far as possible, from the more legitimate
employment of its boats ; to effect which it was arranged
that, on all occasions of using the institution's lifeboats to
save property, they ware to be considered as lent to their
crews for that purpose, and that the latter should look to
the owners of the property to remunerate them in accord-
ance with the provisions of the " Merchant Shipping Act
of 1854," and not to the institution.
The conditions on which the lifebats are lent to their
crews for such service are as follows :

1. That they are on no account to be used in the salvage
of property so as to interfere with private enterprise when
any other boats are available and can be safely employed.

2. That they aro never to be /hunched and taken afloat
expressly to perform such service, when lives are not en-
dangered, without the sanction of the local hon. secretary,
or other representative of the local committee of manage-
ment.

3. That the greatest care is to be taken of them, and
that they are never, on such occasions, to be unnecessarily
exposed to serious risk of damage or destruction.

4. That their crews are not to make exorbitant demands
for payment from the owners of the property saved in pro-
portion to the service rendered.
5. That to cover risk of damage to the boats, two shares
of all salvage payments received, i.e., an equivalent to the
shares of two of the crew, shall be paid to the institution.
The utility of the first three of the above conditions will
be obvious, and need not be further commented on ; the
two last call for some observations.

With regard to the fourth, it is hardly possible that any
rule which could be devised would altogether prevent dis-
putes arising between the crews of lifeboats and the
owners of property saved by them, since different ele-
ments have to be considered in determining the amount of
the payment to which the salvors of property are freely en-
titled; viz., 1. The value of the property saved. 2. The
certainty of its loss or the degree of risk of loss to
which it would have been exposed, but for the salvor's
aid. 3. The amount of time and labour expended, and the
difficulty, exposure to wet and cold, or • risk of life in-
curred by the salvors. It is' evident, therefore, that the
character and value of such services must be of the most
varied character ; and that the owners of property saved,
and the salvors, whose interests lie in opposite directions,
will be likely to form very different estimates of their
value. The Legislature, sensible of the difficulties sur-
rounding such as.Q.es, has, by the " Merchant Shipping Act
of 1854," only stated that the salvors of property from loss
at sea shall be entitled to "reasonable compensation," but
it has made ample provision for settling all points in dis-
pute. 1. By empowering the "receivers of `wreck" to
arbitrate between the salvors and owners of property, with
the mutual consent of each party. 2. By authorising any
two magistrates of the locality to fix the amount of pay-
ment in cases under £2OO, where the parties cannot come
to a mutual agreement. 3. By admitting appeal to the
"High Court of Admiralty," in cases above £2OO in amount
of demand ; and in all cases, when the contending parties
of either of them are not satisfied with the decision of the
local magistrates. And 4..8y ultimate appeal to the Privy
Council.

All, therefore, that the institution can do in the interest
of the shipowner or owner of cargo, in such cases, in.addi-
tion to allowing the use of its boats, is to urge its crews not
to make "exorbitant demands" on owners for payment, it
having no power to remove such cases from the legal juris-
diction of the country. It should also be remembered that
the crews of the institution's lifeboats are not a body of
enrolled men, retained by permanent wages, but that they
are formed from volunteers of the local fishermen or other
boatmen, and in some instances of Coastguard men, who
are only employed for the occasion, and paid "for saving
and endeavouring to save human life," and for that only.
The sth condition, viz., the payment of two shares of all
salvage receipts to the institution, calls for some explana-
tion, as it is liable to be misunderstood. It may then be
distinctly stated that it is not imposed as a source of profit
to the institution ; the first intention, as already implied,
being to cover risk of damage, since without such equiva-
lent it is not considered that the institution would be jus-
tified in allowing its boats to be put to a use so distinct
from that for which its supporters have provided them ;
whilst a second and desirable effect of this condition is that
the boatmen are thereby induced to use their own boats in
preference to lifeboats for the salvage of property, when-
ever it is practicable to do so, since they have then no
deduction made from the salvage awards which they may
earn.

A case in illustration will still more clearly show the
principle and the effect of its working :
Some time since a large Spanish ship grounded on the
Blackwater Bank, on the south-east coast of Ireland. The
captain and his crow of 30 men, with the exception of one
of the latter who was inadvertently left on board, escaped
to the shore, some eight or nine miles distant. The wind
was blowing a gale at the time, but moderating shortly
afterwards, and shifting its direction, the ship slipped off
the bank into deep water, and drifted to the northward.
Being seen from the shore, the institution Cahore lifeboat
was launched, and after a long and arduous row against
wind and sea succeeded in boarding her ; some of the sails
were shaking, some aback, the ship with six or seven feet
of water in the hold, and the one unfortunate seaman on
board half frightened to death.
Now the coxswain and crew of the lifeboat would have
done their duty to the institution which employed them,
and to the supporters of the institution from whose contri-
butions the boat was provided, had they at once returned
to the shore with the poor Spanish sailor thusrescued from
a watery grave, leaving the ship and cargo, worth 20,0001.
to their fate ; and, were they unable to look for a " reason-
able compensation" from the owners, they had no interest
in acting otherwise. , The fisherman-coxswain of the boat,
and the chief boatman of coastguard, who was also with
some of his men in her, however, at oiled decided to do
their best to save the ship. They accordingly put her head
to the north, trimmed her sails, and set to work at the
pumps, with a view to get her safely to Kingstown
if possible, and intending to send the lifeboat back
to her station with a portion of her crew as soon as
they could feel assured that their efforts at the pumps
were unsuccessful. They soon, however, found that the
water in the hold was gaining on them, and that they
could only save the ship and cargo by running for the
shore ; this they did on the beach near Arklow, 15 miles
from Cahore. Here she was handed over to an agent for
the owners, and the lifeboat, which could not be got back
to her station until the termination of the gale, was hauled
up, her crew returning to their homes by land.
Tho local committee of the Cahore Branch of the insti-
tution then met to receive the report of the coxswain ; and
having satisfied themselves of the value and legitimacy of
the service, they deputed the coxswain and the chief
boatman of the coastguard to proceed to Dublin and
put in their claim for compensation for saving the ship
and cargo from total destruction, which they had un-
doubtedly done. The result was, that the receiver of
wreck at Dublin proposed £5OO as an equitable settlement
of the claims of the salvors, which proposition was acceded
to by them and by the agent for the owners.
The institution in this case paid the crew of the lifeboat
the usual sum of 10s. each for saving the life of the one
seaman left on board the ship, and also the expense of the
requisite help to launch the boat ; but all the expense con-
tingent on the saving of the ship and cargo, such as the
hire of conveyances to take the crews to their homes, and
the subsequent return to fetch their boat, and also the ex-
penses incurred by the coxswain and the chief boatman of
the coast-guard, by going to Dublin, were paid out of the
£5OO before its subdivision. When subdivided, it gave
about £34 to each of the crew of the lifeboat, and £6B was
paid to the institution to cover the risk of damage.
Now we cannot but think that such an arrangement was
beneficial to all parties—the owners or insurers of a valu-
able cargo were fortunate in having their property saved
at a very small per tentage, the erew of the lifeboat, for the
most part poor fishermen, received a handsome payment,
which was calculated to increase their attachment to the
lifeboat service—whilst the institution obtained a sufficient
sum to cover all risk of damage to its boat.
The above case is sufficient to illustrate the practice of
the institution on all occasions when its boats are employed
to save property. It has hitherto been found to work well,
and we see every reason to believe that it will-continue to
do so.