The Sun.
London, England, 1865-10-07 00:00:00

Banquet to Lord Milton, M.P.

-----
On Thursday a banquet, under the auspices of the
Mirfield Liberal Association, was held in the East-
horpe schoolroom, to celebrate the return to Parlia-
ment of Viscount Milton and Mr. IL F. Beaumont
for the southern division of the West Riding. The
chair was occupied by Mr...llderman Day, of Dews-
bury.

Lord MILTON, who met with a most enthusiastic
reception, said it was with great pleasure he rose to
return thanks for the kind manner in which the toast
of " The Members of the Division" had been re-
ceived. He regretted that his colleague, Mr.
Beaumont, was not present, as that gentleman would
have given them an eloquent and amusing speech.
He was sorry he could not supply Mr. Beaumont's
place ; in fact, as Artemus Ward said, speaking was
not one of his fortes. (Laughter.) When he was
called upon to come forward on behalf of the Liberal
interest, he told his supporters frankly that he was
not fit for the place. He stated to them that he had
spent the last four or five years of his life in travel-
ling, and that he preferred to continue that course
of life for some time to come. It was represented to
him, however, that unless he came forward in sup-
port of the principles which his ancestors had so long
held, there was great danger of the old yellow flag
being lowered in the Southern Division, and on re-
considering the matter he resolved to try and do his
best. (Cheers.) He stated, however, that he could
not pretend to come forward as a politician. Politics
required to be learned like everything else, and he
was but entering upon his apprenticeship. (Hear,
hear.) He told them that although he could not
speak, he would fight their battle to the backbone.
(Cheers.) They had fought the battle, and he was
happy to think they had been successful. He had
no intention to dilate upon politics. He had come
there for the purpose of thanking them for the sup-
port they had •given him in the course of the elec-
tion ; and he trusted that his colleague, Mr. Beau-
mont, would soon be restored to health, and would
be able to thank them personally, as he begged now
to do, for the proud position in which the electors
had placed them. (Loud cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN then proposed " Her Majesty's
Ministers," and the " Houses of Parliament."

Lord MILTON in returning thanks for the House
of Commons, said he was as yet an inexperi-
enced member. When Parliament met he would
endeavour to do his duty to the best of his
ability, and he sincerely trusted his conduct would
meet with the approval of his constituents. (Loud
cheers.) lie would only refer to one question
that was likely to occupy the attention of the new
Parliament, and that was the question of reform.
(Hear.) He believed that with the enormous ma-
jority which Lord Palmerston now possessed, he
would be able to carry any measure which emanated
from the Liberal side of the house ; and he trusted
that some wise and comprehensive measure of re-
form would be introduced by the Government, which
would meet with approval from both houses of Par-
liament. (Loud cheers.) Several other toasts were
proposed.

ADVERTISEMENT.I—HoIIoway's Ointment and Pills.—
Abscesses, Erysipelas, and Piles.—Unvarying success at-
tends all who treat these diseases according to the simple
printed diroctions wrapped round each pot and box. They
are invaluable to the young and timid whose bashfulness
sometimes endangers life. A little attention, moderate
perseverance, and trifling expense will enable the most
diffident to conduct any case to a happy issue, without
exposing secret infirmities to any one. The ointment
arrests the spreading inflammation, restrains the ex-
cited vessels, cools the overheated skin, alleviates throb-
bing and smarting pains, and gives great ease. The same
directions also clearly point out when Holloway's Pills are
to be taken, andhow their purifying and regulating powers
may assist by adjusting and strengthening the constitu-
tion.

The twenty-ninth annual meeting of the Middle-
sex Agricultural Society for the encouragement of
good ploughing, and other agricultural improve-
ments, and for giving rewards to servants for good
conduct and long service, was held yesterday at
Hounslow. The ploughing and drilling matches
took place on the farm of Mr. Michael Robinson,
and refreshments were provided in the field for the
ploughmen, driving lads, and keepers of the ground.
A dinner for the competing male and female ser-
vants in industry was provided at the Rose and
Crown, Heston.
Lord ENFIELD, M.P., presided at the dinner in
the Town-hall ; and amongst the company were Mr.
Hanbury, M.P., Mr. J. Montgomery, Mr. W. Far-
nell, Mr. H. G. Day, Mr. J. Gotelee, and a large num-
ber of the principal agriculturists of the district.
In replying to the toast of " The Members for the
County of Middlesex,"
Mr. HANBURY said although we might not have
had so good a harvest as had been anticipated, he
trusted we had no reason to lament the result.
(Cheers.) Looking abroad, we had cause to be
thankful that the American struggle was over, and
that our brethren had ceased from the commission
of those atrocities in which they had been too long
engaged. (Cheers.) Having settled their disputes,
he hoped they would turn their attention to agri-
cultural and other pursuits, and, commercially
speaking, he had no doubt they would become the
best customers we had ever had, and trusted that the
only feeling of rivalry which would exist would be
this, which should best promote the interests of the
people of the two countries. (Cheers.) They must all
feel grateful for the feelings of amity which existed
between this country and France, and he trusted
that the visits of the two fleets would not be re-
garded merely as a public exhibition, but as a proof
of the goodwill which it was desirable to maintain
between the two countries. (Cheers.) The two first
rate powers ought to set an example to the whole
world. (Hear, hear.) It has been asked, what was
the use of such societies as this? Now he main-
tained they were or the greatest use if they merely
brought men of contrary opinions together. (Hear,
hear.) Agricultural societies in general offered a
great stimulus to industry and perseverance. (Hear,
hear.) A great deal of land was being gradually ab-
sorbed by railways and building. As agricultural
land diminished, it became the more necessary to
see what could be got off the land that remained,
particularly considering the gradual increase of
the population of the country. The agricul-
tural population was gradually decreasing. In the
year 1841 the number of individuals, male and
female, engaged in agricultural pursuits was
1,138,000. In 1861 the number so employed was
only 958,000, showing a decrease of 180,000. The
decrease showed an improvement not only in a
national but in an agricultural point of view. It
proved that great numbers of persons had gone into
the manufacturing districts, and that an additional
employment for them had been created by the exten-
sion of steam and the introduction of various other
improvements. Of course they received better
wages, and were therefore better able to obtain in-
struction than they were formerly. (Hear.) With
respect to the cattle plague it was not his intention to
enter into the causes of that scourge. But we ought
not to overlook the fact that of late years a large
increase had taken place in the importation of
cattle. In the month of August the number of
oxen, cows, and swine imported amounted to 155,000,
against 102,000 in the same month of last year,
and 90,000 in the previous year. (Hear, hear.) With
regard to the mode of meeting the evil, he did not
agree with the remarks which had been made at
Huntingdon, a few days ago, by Lord R. Montagu
—that the Government should pay one-half or one-
third the loss which might be sustained by owners
of cattle. The man who could propound such an
opinion was deficient in knowledge on the subject of
political economy. The mitigation of the evil must
be sought for in insurance companies and in sani-
tary arrangements, and, above all, in a trust in that
Providence which had never forsaken us in our diffi-
culties. (Cheers.) He was glad to find that the
Government had determined to appoint a commis-
sion to inquire into and investigate the subject, and
he trusted their endeavours would have a beneficial
result. (Cheers.)

Lord ENFIELD, M.P., in thanking the gentlemen
present for the honour which they had done him in
drinking his health for the eighth time as their
county representative, would trespass on their at-
tention for only a very few minutes. Having so
recently addressed the county generally upon politi-
cal matters, it was quite unnecessary—even if it
were allowable at such gatherings—to embark in a
wide sea of discussion. Perhaps he might be allowed
to say that we ought to be thankful that the war in
America had ceased, and that the new President
was inaugurating a policy of conciliation in a wise,
temperate, and statesmanlike manner. (Hear, hear.)
Every one must regret the dark days of history two
years ago with regard to Denmark, where affairs
had turned out very unsatisfactory ; Prussia and
Austria having, to make use of a scriptural phrase,
divided the spoil between them. (Hear, hear.) It
was a subject on which he did not like to look back,
and he was sure that history would point out in a
proper manner the selfish way in which the two
countries had acted. (Hear, hear.) With respect to
home matters, he did not think it right to offer any
explicit opinion with regard to the calamity under
which they were labouring—the cattle disease. He
was quite astounded at seeing in the public prints
the way in which certain persons had laid down
the law on the subject, and the manner in which
they pretended to point out the cure. He believed
there were many causes which might have contri-
buted to the calamity. It might be attributed to
the want of sanitary arrangements, to the importa-
tion of foreign cattle, to the peculiar temperature
which had existed, or to the drought of last year ;
but he was quite convinced that it had been sent for
some good and wise object. Let us endeavour to
meet the difficulty as we best could—let us not de-
spond, but trust that the same Providence which
had hitherto protected us for so many years would
in its good time work out a cure. (Cheers.) At
present it appeared to be a great and unmixed evil,
but he hoped and trusted that God would speedily
remove it. He knew little of the matter himself,
but he wondered as much at the audacity of the
men who laid down the law on the matter as at
the good nature of the audience who listened to
them. (Hear, hear.) His lordship concluded by
proposing the toast of the evening, " Prosperity to
the Middlesex Agricultural Association, and success
to the labourers employed by its members." He
wished he could say that the society was flourishing.
Financially it held its footing, but he should like to
see a larger number of members, and the sphere of
its operations extended to other portions of the
county. (Cheers.) What he had witnessed during
the day was very satisfactory, and with respect to
the agricultural labourers, he was certain there was
no subject more earnestly requiring the attention of
statesmen than the condition of the labouring classes.
It was an old saying that cleanliness and godliness
went together, and when they saw labourers herding
in hovels into which the great magnates of the land
would be ashamed to put their swine, it was a great
reflection upon them. (Hear.) But he believed that
a great radical reform was going on in that direc-
tion—that the landowners and the agriculturists
were determined to give their labourers better cot-
tages and plots of ground, and he was sure that
every one would wish them God speed. (Cheers.)
If a man lived in an atmosphere where he could not
respect himself he could neither do his duty to his
family nor his employer. He hoped that the move-
ment which had been commenced would rapidly de-
velop° itself, and that he &Quid live to we the day

The Hunters lived in family at 6, Dalrymple-
crescent, Grange, in a house built by one of the
family, several of whom are engaged in business as
builders, and have built many of the handsome villas
which have of late been erected in this flourishing
suburb. The elder sons being engaged in business
on their own account, have left their paternal home,
and are now residing in houses of their own. The
members of family residing in Dalrymple-crescent
were—Mr. Hunter, the father of the family, who is
well known in the south side of the city, where he
has for many years carried on business as a sculp-
tor; Mrs. Hunter, aged 68 years; Elizabeth Hunter,
an unmarried daughter, aged 42 ; John Hunter,
aged about 30 ;. and a younger brother named David,
who was employed in his father's yard at the end of
Grange-road.
Regarding the past history of the unfortunate
man John Hunter, whose eccentric disposition ex-
hibited so awful a development yesterday forenoon,
apparently for the first time in his life, little can be
learned. From childhood he has been weakly in
body, and of a slightly imbecile appearance ; but in
his boyhood he exhibited some marks of promise,
and was taken into his father's yard, where he made
considerable progress in the business of stone-cutting
and sculpture, the productions of his chisel exhibit-
ing, even after a brief education, considerable skill
and taste in execution. His uncertain health and
unsettled disposition interfered materially with his
progress, preventing the constant application neces-
sary to great success in art. About six years ago he
began to manifest more marked signs of restlessness
than he had before exhibited, and left his father's
house, whether with or without his father's consent
we have been unable to learn, and was absent for
three weeks in England. At the end of that time he
was brought home by an elder brother, now in busi-
ness as a builder, and since then he has been
constantly kept within the house. His friends
are naturally disinclined to give information
regarding his condition during that time, and
his confinement has been so close that his habits
were entirely unknown to the residents in the
Crescent, his existence being known apparently
only to a few families. We are, however, assured
that his fatuity had never hitherto exhibited
itself in any violent form. He was sad, depressed,
and studious, reserved even to the members of his
own family, and occasionally sullen in disposition.
At other times his mania assumed a religious form
—he read deeply in theological literature—and
sometimes fancied himself an important Scriptural
personage. He was treated with kindness by the
members of his family. Those who knew him and
his friends testify that his every wish was gratified
by his indulgent parents. This course of treatment,
meant in kindness, and dictated by a love inten-
sified by the young man's misfortune, appears not
to have operated beneficially on his unhinged mind.
Of late he had become wilful in his disposition, and
could not bear to be crossed in his purposes or
wishes. Within the last few days he had been un-
usually restless. On Wednesday he had made his
way from the house to the flower plot in front—a
most unusual occurrence—and was observed from al
neighbouring house leaning on the parapet and
railings next the street, and behaving in a most
exciting way. Dr. Newcome, a medical man resid-
ing in the house immediately adjoining No. 6, was
one of those who noticed his wild appearance, and
is reported to have remarked that he was not then
a fit person to be at large. His appearance was
sufficiently striking and uncouth as to cause some
alarm, but more on his own account than as regard-
ing the safety of those about him. He is a man
rather under the middle stature, his body emaciated
and the reverse of muscular, his face pale and
slightly pinched looking—the result, no doubt, of
his long eonfinpment within doors and of his
studious habits. The most remarkable features in
his appearance are a rather excited look about the
eyes, and remarkably long dark hair, apparently
the growth of several years, which reaches down
over his shoulders.

Yesterday morning the prisoner was as usual left
alone in the house with his mother and sister. So
far as we can learn his behaviour was quiet and
peaceable, certainly not such as to cause any ap-
prehensions of his becoming unmanageable, or using
violence. At half-past nine his brother David left
him in the house, apparently in his usual harmless
disposition. There seems, however, reason to be-
lieve that even then he was meditating a plan of
escape from his irksome confinement. It is certain
that, before leaving the house, as he afterwards
did, he had armed himself to oppose any attempt
to detain him. About twenty minutes past ten
o'clock he appeared in the flower-plot in front of the
house, bareheaded, as on the previous day. He
passed through the flower-plot, and had issued from
the gate upon the road when he was overtaken by
Mrs. Hunter and Miss Hunter, who had followed
him. Mrs. Hunter exchanged a few words with him,
apparently in remonstrance against his leaving the
house. Then, laying her hand on his shoulder, she
seemed as if endeavouring to persuade him to return,
when turned rapidly round upon her, and, raising
a piece of iron bar, about 18 inches long, and slightly
over an inch in diameter, he struck her heavily on
the left side of the head, behind the ear, felling her
instantaneously to the ground. Aliss Hunter then
rushed forward, raising her hands in horror, and
was received in the same way by the maniac man,
who was now worked up to a pitch of great excite-
ment. Miss Hunter fell over the corpse of her
mother, who seems to have been killed instantane-
ously, and the murderer, stooping over her, repeated
his blows several times. The horrid deed was not
observed by any person within hearing of
the mur-
derer ; but a mason, who was working at a distance
of about 100 yards
down the road, hearing a heavy

At six o'clock the post-mortem examination of
the bodies of the two ladies took place in the house,
Dalrymple-crescent, in presence of Dr. Littlejohn,
Dr. Cochrane, Dr. Macadam, and Dr. Newcome.
The bodies were found severely contused about the
head, and the result of the examination showed that
death had been caused by repeated heavy blows
with a blunt instrument, such as that which was
found upon the prisoner.
The double murder excited great interest in the
usually quiet neighbourhood in which it occurred,
and a large crowd, comprising some persons who
had apparently come considerable distances to wit-
ness the scene of the murder.

The Murder of Major De Pere:

- o--

According to present arrangements the execution
of the convict Currie will take place in the front of
the county prison -at Maidstone on Thursday next,
the 12th inst. Since his conviction Currie has fre-
quently expressed the deepest sorrow and contrition
for his crime, and spends a considerable portion of
his time in prayer and meditation. During the time
he has been an inmate of prison Currie has been
visited, at his own special request, by the Rev. Mr.
Greemer, under whose spiritual ministrations the
prisoner's callousness of demeanour, so apparent
for some time after his commission of the murder,
has given place to extreme penitence. Currie passes
much of his time in writing, and has addressed a
letter to the near relatives of Major De Vere ex-
pressive of his deepest sorrow for this act, and pray-
ing their forgiveness. The following letter written
by the convict was received at Chatham garrison
yesterday by one of his late comrades :

" Maidstone Prison, Oct. 2, 1865.

"Dear Brother Comrade,—l now, with Almighty God
in my heart, sit down to write to you a few lines, as I pro-
mised you I would do so, though I feel it painful to do
so, as I have done such a fearful crime towards my fellow-
men. I feel as if I should be shut up from the presence of
this world in some place where I could see nothing until
the day of my death. But still Ido thank God, though I
have done this evil towards Him and my fellow-men, that
He has found grace to pardon me all I have committed
against you all. Ido from my heart and soul regret that I
should have done such a cruel, cowardly act towards poor
Major do Vere and his family and wife, and friends at
large. Ido not think much about myself, for I desire for
more punishment than lam going to get. 0 could I but
amend what I have done ! I would suffer anything to do
so. But there is none but that God, whom we have all to
do with, can amend it now. It will be a sore reckoning of
accounts to me on that great day of judgment which wo
must all stand before, and be judged by a just, pure, and
holy God. It is a solemn thought for me, had I been called
away in all my sins, to have been lost for ever and ever.
But I cannot dwell long on that painful subject I have
been alluding to ; it makes my heart strike cold when I
think of it ; but it has pleased God to make it as it now
stands, and' have nothing else to do butask forgiveness from
that blessed Saviour, as, as far as lean learn, my fellow-man
has freely forgiven me all I have done to him; now the
principal thing is God's forgiveness to me, so that when
the cap of death has covered my eyes from the world, I
may know from my own heart that truly I have found
pardon from God ; so that though I leave this world in
sorrow I may have a glorious meeting with my God at the
last. Dear brother, do not forget that though you cannot see
God he can see you ; but study over your Bible, when you
have spare time, and think about your soul. This death is
nothing, but it is, what is to become of us after ? If we do
not love Christ, He will not love us, and then we will be
lost for ever and ever. Death, eternal death, it is most
awful. Life, eternal life, is sweet. Not a life like this
world, but a life of pleasure; no pain, nor sickness, no more
trouble ; no night there. Do, for my sake, seek Christ
while you have opportunity, health, and strength. Never.
put off till to-morrow what we can to-day ; You may have
life, be in health and strength, but to-morrow
themowlytangll t. 0%
corpse, and your soul unprepared. Oh, do tell
as well as I do, I was one of the great sinners in room,
now,
think for my sake and their own also. Though youthe im ow
but I do thank God I feel different and I am sorry
for all I have done in my past life towards my God. and
man. I must now conclude with my kindest love and
I never forgot you all. I pray God for
Clark,pray prayers to
todyinoufaaelt,l. Tell Georgy I think of him still, and
all your welfare in this world,
and that Which is to come.
Goad bye, God bless you all. Give kind love to all my
o
prayerful brother comrade in Iife.—ALLAN K. CURRIE,
alias Poor old JOHN CURRIE, Royal Engineers.
andcmr ades and friends, and accept the same from your true
~p.s.—Prepare to meet thy God, Willie and all. I was
sorry to see you in such a state when you came to seo me.
Ic,ould net say much to you then, but I felt for you when
you were gone. It was truly kind of you to come and see
me after what I have done to you all, but I do hope all
your forgiveness for what I have done amiss. Do not put
yourself about for me ; I trust in Christ Jesus, and then
there is no fear. I do not fear to die, thank God for it.
I do wish I could return something to you for your kind-
ness to me, but you see I can do nothing in this world for
it. But Ido trust that God will bless and prosper you in
all you do that is right, and then at the last, when death
meets you, you may die in peace with God for a glorious
resurrection at the last, and not the death of a murderer.
Good-bye."
Currie has been visited by some members of his family,
and at his own request one of his comrades from Chatham
has been allowed to have an interview with him. To
every person with whom he comes in contact he expresses
his deepest sorrow and contrition for taking the life of
Major De Vere, and there is no doubt that hit ropentauci)
is deep and sincere.

SINGULAR ACCIDENT.—A girl, aged 14, residing
at Delivrande, near Caen, killed herself accidentally three
days since in a very singular manner. She was cutting a
slice of bread for her father, holding the loaf pressed,
against her chest, when the knife slipped through it, and
penetrating her heart, caused instant death.

.1'
Utt

LONDON, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1865.

Whatever surplus energies are possessed by the
United Kingdom, there is certainly no lack of space
and employment for them in the circle of our pos-
sessions. We have long been told how much into._
ligent English labour is wanted in India ; we know
that the .busy, thriving
population of Australia is as
yet a mere fringe to the continent ; we can see that
New Zealand, Van Dieraen's Land, and other of
our Southern possessions only y need stout hearts and
willing hands to raise them many degrees higher in
the scale, and to develope th • eir vast capacities.
But in no direction is there more Scope for the emi-
grant and the settler than in those extensive terri-
tories 'Which lie beyond the influence of the
United
States, and which offer such bountiful attractions
in the abundance of their natural resources, and
the capacities of their soil and climate. We are ac-
customed in this country, in speaking of British
North America, to refer principally to the Canadas ;
but the minor States, though thinly populated, are
of a size and value enough to form a very important
part of an ordinary kingdom. New Brunswick
contains an area of 17,000,000 of acres, of which
12,000,000 are fit for agriculture. Yet, of this vast
extent of fertile soil, only a million and a half of
acres are under cultivation. The population of this
magnificent country is not nearly so great as that
of a large manufacturing town, though there

is everything that can attract the industri-
ous and enterprising settler. Whether his
inclination turns to delving in the earth, to tilling
the soil, or to seek a subsistence from the lower
tribes who inhabit the sea and the land, he has only
to make his choice. The means for a livelihood are
clear before him, and he has but to accept the gifts
and profit by the opportunities which nature scatters
with a lavish hand. The great primaeval forest
indeed rears its towering head and stretches for
miles upon miles over the country. Still this very
forest is another source of -wealth, and the number
of trades forms one of the important resources of
the North American Provivces. New Brunswick,
in common with the other British settlements in that
part of the world, has natural wealth enough to
excite the cupidity of an unscrupulous neighbour
without the artificial strength to resist it. The great
resource of all the provinces would, of course, be
their union and joint action ; but, unfortunately,
there are difficulties iu the way which, if they do not
produce the failure of the scheme, at least cause
delay and uncertainty. New Brunswick itself has
played a decided part in the postponement of the
question, having displaced a Government and re-
gistered its opinion decidedly against the Confedera-
tion scheme. The members were pretty evenly
balanced, however, and it was only a narrow
majority of 450 votes, which defeated the proposal
and changed the Ministry. The French element
was not hostile to the scheme, seeing that two
French counties recorded nearly 3,000 votes in favour
of Confederation, and not one vote against it. The
great objection raised against it is the possible in-
crease of taxation. The New Brunswickers have no
inclination to protect themselves against dangers not
immediate or imminent at a cost of additional taxes.
" What they did with yesterday, they'll e'en do
with to-day," and they probably cherish a lurking
hope that in case of a rupture with their powerful
neighbour England will supply all that is lacking.
They forget how much valuable time must be lost
before such assistance could arrive, and how incum-
bent it is on them to be prepared to the extent of
their abilities. The absence of taxation is one of
the great inducements always held out to the in-
tending emigrant, and certainly from all accounts
the settlers in New Brunswick are not inclined to
surrender their advantages. The dread of taxation
makes them turn a deaf ear to any proposals for in-
creased outlay, and those persons who from various
causes were hostile to the Confederation scheme
found no argument so effective as the assertion that
Canada had a heavy debt, and wanted to share her
burden with the maritime provinces. But in this
ingenious train of reasoning one important point is
overlooked, and that is the financial consideration
of the United States, because if New Brunswickers
prefer annexation to taxation they are likely to
have both evils instead of one. The public burdens
in America must grow heavier and heavier, as the
expenses of the war are more strongly felt, so that
it will not be exactly the way to keep out of trouble
to be dragged into the midst of the financial
perplexities. If the local pride of the maritime
provinces shrinks from the thought of the predomi-
nance of Canada in the Confederation, how will it
relish the very insignificant position which will be
allotted to it in the vast and populous assemblage
of the United States ? The politicians of New
Brunswick have an awkward piece of business to
decide, and although the discussion is going on all
through the settlements nothing as yet has been de-
termined upon. Besides the negative advantages to
be gained by the union with her fellows New
Brunswick will derive positive benefit from the
arrangement to be made with respect to the public
works. According to the present system the roads,
bridges, schools, &c., are maintained out of the im-
port duties, and, consequently, the tariff is so high
that it puts a very serious impediment in the way
of the foreign trade. It is manifest that this must
be a great drawback to a country which must look
to trade and commerce as the stepping-stones to
wealth and power. The Quebec Confederation so
clearly perceived the dangers of this course, as pur-
sued by the colonies, that they arranged that out of
the general revenue a sum equal to 80 cents per
head of the population should be annually paid to
each province in full discharge of all such claims, so
that whatever additional outlay was necessary for
road-making, bridge-building, schools, or other
works of general local benefit, must be paid
in the English fashion by a local rate
in aid. This clause in the proposed constitution
excited very strong opposition in New Brunswick,
but the gentlemen who framed it showed the true
spirit of enlightened and far-seeing statesmen when
they endeavoured to remove all shackles from trade,
and to discourage the maintenance of a tariff which
tends to drive the foreign dealer elsewhere with
his goods. It was scarcely to be hoped that so
great an undertaking would be carried through
without a vigorous opposition, but time and reflec-
tion have already exercised a modifying influence.
The present generation is called upon, as it were,
to make sacrifices for the benefit of a distant and
uncertain future. The British Americans fear that
the new and untried road which they are called
upon to enter will lead them to bear the burdens of
an older civilisation. So considerable a work is
not to be lightly undertaken, and it is well that all
parties should count the cost before beginning ; but
the advantages are considerable, the risks to be
avoided so great, and the grounds for undertaking
it so reasonable, that we cannot believe a self-
governing intelligent British community will long
delay its execution. Experience has repeatedly
shown that anion is strength. The British Ameri-
can Provinces are too valuable to rely on an isolated
security. They have, both in their soil and their
population, the elements of a great and powerful
nation, which shall carry out in the Western
Hemisphere the high mission of the mother country
in the Old World, preserving her traditions of Con-
stitutional Law and Liberty, and relying for strength
and riches, like her, not on the spirits of war, but
on the trophies of peace, trusting the schoolmaster
to keep order, rather than the soldier placing the
check on violence and rebellion, in the hands of
the people themselves, and claiming free thought,
free speech, free action, as her inalienable right.
To attain this end two things are especially neces-
sary—the union which preserves peace, and the
liberal policy which encourages commerce. Selfish
and exclusive laws will never make a great people,
and they are certainly but ill adapted to any com-
munity which claims English origin.

Much may be learned from the study of the
transactions that took place in the Health Depart-
ment of the Social Science Congress, over which
Dr. lANKESTER presided. A paper was read by
Mr. P. H. HOLLAND, on the " Unnecessary Ex-
posure of Workmen to Danger of Life and Health,
in Collieries, Mines, and Manufactories." After-
wards a most interesting paper was read by Dr.
HALL, senior physician to the Sheffield Public
Hospital, on the subject of " The Effects of certain
Sheffield Trades on Life and Health." The details
here chronicled are really appalling in their extent
and magnitude, and the reader is left in a state of
consternation at the fatal requirements of trade,
which demands so many victims. Few things are
more sad in their way than the pictures here pre-
sented to our notice, of human beings
striving to