The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-15 00:00:00

LONDO.N., WEDNESDAY, MARCH 15, 1865.

Among the stirring records of wars, and revolu-

tions, of political struggles and diplomatic intrigues,

it is interesting to turn to the report of an institu-

tion whose unpretending, though unceasing, labours

are constantly directed to the rescue instead of the

destruction of human life, and the preservation of
the property of others rather than the enlargement

of their own. During the eventful months of the

past year the National Lifeboat Institution has

kept on its course unflinchingly, and now in its

annual report points with natural gratification to

the practical results of its efforts.

It is satisfactory

to find that so excellent an association continues to

receive a fair measure of public support, and that
it has been enabled through the liberality of several
individual donors to increase considerably its store of
lifeboats. English generosity is favourably exem-
plified in the list of subscriptions published in the
Report. Besides the remarkable gift of £5,000
from an anonymous lady, we have a " Lady" de-
fraying the cost of a lifeboat at Poole, £5OO ;
another " Lady" giving a boat to Valentia on the
coast of Ireland, £5OB ; " A Friend" presenting a
boat to Ardmore at a cost of £3OO ; and several
similar sums or gifts of boats from donors who
merely append their initials, " W. 8.," "Y. S. D.,"
&c. It is not surprising to find the name of
Miss BURDETT COUTTS in the list as the giver
of two lifeboats to Cumberland and Plymouth,
while another lady, Mrs. WOOD, has defrayed the
cost of two more for Hornsea, Yorkshire, and
Skerries Co., Dublin. Ladies seem to be very
favourably inclined to the institution, probably
because deeds of heroism and self-sacrifice have
always an especial fascination for them, and also
because they often have to suffer anxiety on behalf
of relatives who are exposed to " the perils of the
seas" while they are powerless to assist them.
Among the special gifts for the purchase of lifeboats
for particular localities are the donations of
£720 from " A Friend" for three lifeboats
for the three kingdoms, and the munificent
sum of £2,000 from Messrs. CUNARD and Co.
for the permanent maintenance of a lifeboat
station at Palling, Norfolk. Not the least inte-
resting feature in this list is the number of memorial
offerings, -which in this practical form serve to per-
petuate the memory of some departed relative or
friend. This is, surely, a more worthy tribute than
a costly monument, for the affection felt for the
dead becomes a source of blessing to thousands, and
the revered name, instead of being idly gazed at
by a few passers-by, becomes a watchword of hope
and comfort in many a wide-spread home.
Not less gratifying in another way are the tokens
of the deep sense of the benefits conferred by the
Institution, which are furnished by humbler sub-
scribers. Thus four domestic servants combine to
send 15s. 6d., probably out of gratitude for some
especial rescue. Two little sisters send a trifle, while
150 of the employees in the West India Docks have
made up £5 7s. in sums varying from threepence to
five shillings. Such gifts afford the strongest pos-
sible evidence of the utility of an Institution, and
show that its services are not merely theoretical
and visionary, but one of the kind which is

brought home to the minds and hearts of men,
made evident to the humblest capacity, and im-
pressed upon the little ones by the fireside.
After thus examining the particulars of the sub-
scriptions it is worth while to turn to the record of
the proceedings of the institution itself. During
the course of the last year it has been instrumental
in saving 698 lives, 432 by the immediate agency of
their own boats, under circumstances when no other
sort of boat could have been safely employed, and
for the rescue of the remaining 266 it has granted,
rewards to the crews of those boats and others.
They have also been the means of extricating from
danger, or of conveying into ports of safety, 17
vessels, while on 51 other occasions the lifeboats have
been launched, and have gone to the assistance of
vessels that were endangered, but which contrived
to escape without help. During the year nine
silver medals, thirteen votes of thanks, and £1,539
have been granted for services rendered ; and as
each individual case is carefully examined and in-
quired into by competent authorities, not only is
there no risk of the rewards being ill bestowed, but
our sailors and fishermen all round the coasts know
that no exertion on their part will pass unnoticed if
it deserves success. It is no more than might have
been anticipated that the committee should speak
in high terms of the intrepidity of the crews " who
are ever ready, day or night, to man the lifeboats
during the fiercest storms." Such daring has always
been a characteristic of Englishmen when life was
to be saved or any great end accomplished, but
it sometimes unfortunately happens that these
brave men pay for their courage with their
lives. During the last year three of the crews be-
longing to the lifeboats perished, two of them from
the Tynemouth boat at the wreck of the steamer
Stanley, and the other from the Holyhead boat
on a similar occasion. While deploring the loss of
these brave men, however, the committee remind us
that they cannot hope to engage in so arduous a
service without an occasional accident, and that
they have good reason to be thankful that while
twelve thousand persons have been afloat in the
lifeboats of the institution in the course of the last
two years, only three lives should have been lost in
1 that time. In the same manner we cannot hope or
expect, notwithstanding the best efforts on our
part, that shipwreck and loss of life can
ever be entirely prevented. It is enough
to know, as we now know from this
and similar reports, that few lives are lost on
our weather-beaten coasts that could possibly be
saved by any efforts from the shore. The average
annual number of shipwrecks on the coasts of the
British Isles is no less than 2,000, and the lives thus
jeopardised amount to 5,000 or 6,000, but the actual
loss of life in 1864, thanks to the unremitting
exertions of the Society, did not exceed 450.
So widely has the fame of the English lifeboat sys-
tem spread that naval officers from France, Rush,
and Sweden have been deputed by the Governments
of those countries to visit England for the purpose
of examining it. The completeness and efficiency of
the establishments excited the warmest admiration
of these gentlemen, and an additional proof
of the favour which these lifeboats have
found abroad is shown in the fact that several boats
have been ordered for French stations. We hope,
indeed, to see the sphere of the Committee's action
still further extended, and the benefits of the Asso-
ciation carried to other shores than our own. In
the House of Commons last evening Mr. BENTINCK
'asked whether it would not be possible to include
the casualties which occurred in other parts of her
MAJESTY'S dominions in the annual wreck register,
which is at present confined to the United King-
dom, and from Mr. GIBSON'S answer there is reason
to hope that the matter will be brought under con-
sideration by the proper authorities.
A sum total of 14,266 lives saved, £120,000
spent on lifeboat establishments, and nearly
£20,000 in rewards for rescuing life, forms no
insignificant result even of the unremitting labours
of 40 years. During that time the once insignifi-
cant association has become world-famous, and is
now looked up to as an unquestionable authority on
all matters connected with the saving of life at sea.
The Government have sought its aid in equipping
their men-of-war, and the favour of Royalty is
unmistakeably shown in the steady patronage of
the QUEEN and her family. All these ends have
not, however, been attained without great exertion ;
and, while the members of the committee gratui-
tously devote so much thought, time, and labour to
the cause, and the brave men employed so fearlessly
hazard their lives, it is not too much to expect the
general public to fulfil their easier, but not less
necessary, part of contributing liberally to its means.

It is always to be regretted when prejudice carries
the day in anything, but more especially whep it is
a matter that concerns the interest of the public.
In this respect we must therefore deplore the deci-
sion of the House last night in respect to the Lan-
cashire and Yorkshire and Great Eastern Junction
Railway Bill. The objections that were made to
the second reading were of the most frivolous de-
scription, in point of argument, but, as too often
p
occurs in such cases, the partial views prevailed to
the rejection of a measure that was calculated to be
of great benefit to the community. It is no reason
if the principle of the measure be good that it
should be put on one side, because the
committee that last year investigated the
subject decided against it. In Viscount GALWAY'S
speech we find that this notion of a previous settle-
ment prevails. The noble lord observed that " he
thought that whenever two railway companies had
had a fair stand-up fight, it was most unfair and
unjust for the beaten company to bring forward
an almost identical scheme next session." Can
anything be more preposterous than this view of the
question. It is reducing the consideration of the
rnegeasarudrine
gto p
ita
inetrhsoenahl orgh private apubffliacir,iminpstoeratad ofnce
and its general as well as particular interest. It is
a very dangerous precedent to establish that the
House must abide by the decisions of the commit-
tees, even if it should be shown that mistakes or
misapprehensions have been made. It was not so
much the chief subject for notice, whether the bill
suited the interests of its proposers, or interfered
with the profits of its opponents, as whether, by
agreeing to its passing, some substantial benefits
might not accrue to the public. The redaction in
the price of coals would be a blessing to the com-
munity and, when it has been fairly shown that
such would be the consequence of this measure, it
is sad to find partial sentiments prevail, and the
prejudices of interested persons suffered to monopo-
lise a traffic that cannot be too widely extended, or
too much unfettered by restrictions. Competi-
tion is always an important auxiliary in the
matter of dealings with the public, and
the passing of this bill would have
introduced this desirable element into the enormous
coal business of the metropolis, and certainly have
lowered the price of coals, which need not be said
would have been a great desideratum. Yet the op-
ponents of this scheme persist in their purpose,
totally regardless
of all these considerations, and
appear to think they have performed their task and
executed their duty when they defend the interests
of the rival companies.
not ratify this de
public will
m'
Yet, surely, the opinion of
the
io a, and sanctiou

the course which the legislature has thought fit to
pursue in this instance. Whenever a decision is to
be made that influences to a considerable degree,
the welfare of the community, a great • respon-
ibility rests with those who have to make it,
nd it cannot be said that the vote of the majority
last night at all realises one's conception of the
rights and claims of the public to grave and care-
ful consideration. It is the bounden duty of the
House to approve of such schemes as are likely to
conduce to the welfare of the community, and not
to take into account whether or not, in their prose-
cution of this duty, they will interfere with class
interests, or cause loss and annoyance to individual
claimants. This principle is invariably carried out
in the management of railway schemes, and in the
construction of public buildings, as well as in the
adoption of those inventions which, while they bene-
fit the public generally, invariably sacrifice the pro-
fits of some at the period of their introduction.
In the course of the discussion of last night many
arguments were urged that ought to have been in-
fluential in actuating those who had to decide upon
the subject ; but if the efforts of those who sup-
ported the measure were powerless to gain for it
the success that it deserved, at least they now serve
more fully to expose the fallacies of its opponents,
and to demonstrate the claims which the scheme
possesses to consideration whenever upon a future
occasion it may be brought forward again. Mr.
CI:1E0111'Am very fully explained the purport of the
proposal, and appropriately observed that the
Great Northern Railway—which now opposed this
scheme—was at one time opposed by other lines, and
when he was last in Parliament he promoted the bill
which gave the Great Northern an access into Lan-
cashire. The notions that had prevailed respecting
the injury that this would occasion to other lines,
had proved to be erroneous. " The Great
Northern had been a public benefit to the peOple of
Lancashire, and the present bill would equally be-
nefit the public without injury to any existing lines:,
Viscount BURY also mentioned that the Eastern
Counties would derive considerable advantages
from this scheme, for at present the coals consumed
there were carried round by Peterborough and Ely.
if this line had been carried out, the inhabitants of
those parts would have been able to obtain their
coals two or three shillings a ton cheaper, and this
fact, among other things, tends to show the desira-
bility of the plan that was so unhappily rejected.
Perhaps Captain JERVIS gave the most correct de-
finition of the affair when he said that there were
not nine men out of ten in the House who knew
anything about the bill ; and, to judge from the
majority against it, it certainly seems that he was
correct. It does not follow at all that had a com-
mittee been appointed a similar decision would have
been arrived at to that of last year, and at any rate
there could have been no harm in making the expe-
riment. As the case now stands, a fair prospect of
advantage to the community has been wilfully
thrown away, and the public can see that their in-
terests have been sacrificed to the views of preju-
diced parties. Besides, it may be added that in the
eager desire of many to foster the claims of one
line they have not rendered justice to the other, and
that they were bound to make a trial of a scheme
which had been so indisputably shown to possess
sterling advantages, and to offer substantial claims
to consideration. The decision of last night in re-
spect to this measure is not at all in accordance
with the spirit which generally characterises public
matters of this kind, and must be consequently
regretted.

The Edmunds Scandal,

The name of Lord Brougham has been connected
—first in whispers, and now in print—with the Ed-
munds scandal ; and there can be but one feeling of
surprise and pain at such a name being connected
with such a matter even for a day. But the utmost
confidence, we believe, may be entertained that it
will be only for a day, and in error, that that nomi-
nal connection will exist. The rumour is, in sub-
stance, that when Mr. Edmunds was appointed to
the office of Clerk of Patents, 30 years ago, he be-
came bound to pay over £3OO out of his £4OO a-
year salary to Mr. William Brougham. There is no
doubt, it seems, that between Mr. Wm. Brougham
and Mr. Edmunds there were pecuniary relations of
a complicated and more or less unsatisfactory cha-
racter ; but even on that point opinions should be
reserved till the facts are ascertained before the
committee of the House of Lords. At all events,
there should be no haste to condemn even Mr. Wm.
Brougham on the evidence merely of something
said, or rumoured to have been said, by Mr. Ed-
munds, who stands confessed of an offence with
which the alleged transgression of Mr. William
Brougham had no connection—the £3OO a year said to
have been paid over to Mr. Brougham, for what uses
does not yet appear, having been only about a tenth
part of Mr. Edmunds's total income from offices in
whose funds he is accused of having been deficient
to the amount of £17,500. But, however the case
may stand as between Mr. Edmunds and Mr. Wm.
Brougham, there is not one tittle either of evidence
or of accusation, or of probability, that any trans-
actions between these two had the assent or know-
ledge of Lord Brougham. The worst enemies of
Lord Brougham— and, :a man of strife from his
youth upwards, he has of necessity had many tem-
porary enemies—never charged him with either
need or avidity, much less with want of integrity in
pecuniary matters. His simple tastes and laborious
life have kept his spendings low, and in his gettings
his fault has not been selfishness, but indifference
The first intimation that would reach Lord
Brougham, if anything had been hinted against
him in connection with this wretched affair, would,
it is supposed, be got from the newspapers reaching
him at Cannes ; and, of course, no communication
on the subject has yet been received from him in
any quarter. But inquiries set on foot by friends
in London have already, we believe, educed facts
inspiring an entire confidence that Lord Brougham
will come out of the inquiry unstained and indeed
unaccused, and will be as well entitled to say at the
close as he was to say in the midst of his great career,
"These hands are clean."—Scotsman.

FIRING AT SHIPS IN THE STRAITS OF GIBRALTAR.
—The rule with the British and Spanish authorities
in garrison at Gibraltar, and the Spanish fortress on the
opposite side of the Straits, to fire at any ship which might
approach within cannon-shot while sailing in those waters,
has been the subject of an official correspondence. The Bri-
tish and Spanish Governments considering that the original
causes which made these regulations a military necessity
have now passed away, and that a grave and acknowledged
inconvenience may be obviated, have concluded a conven-
tion, whereby these regulations are abolished as regards
English and Spanish vessels.
THE EXECUTION OF CAPT. JOHN Y. BEALE.--
The following letter, addressed by the condemned
to his brother, will be read with interest. It is indicative
of a tone so high and gentlemanly that one naturally won-
ders at the writer having committed the excesses which
Tb tity I have
was
tried
eda
dr dh
buoynf
gam:lnyil
assert,siLitar
yt cuot
unjustly.
nuo
sui
tsglgyhi
0.
nt hleat is
brought on him his fearful doom :—" Fort Lafayette, Feb.
14.—Dear Will,—Ere this reaches you, you will most pro-
the ene.snY
to repine over the past. Hanging, it was
and hung
bothhu rnewspapers.gby
use-
less and m:rong
asserted, was ignominious ; but crime only can make dis-
honour. Vengeance is mine, saith the Lord, and I will
repay;' therefore not now show unkindness to prisoners.
They are helpless. Remember me kindly to my friends.
Say to them that I am not aware of committing any crime
against society. I die for my country. No thirst for
blood or lucre animated me in my course ; for I had re-
fused when solicited to engage in enterprises which I
deemed destructive, but illegitimate; and but a few months
with blood and rich Iva' tho plun y
ago 1 had but to ha ve goken, anddelrwoof utlhdehfaoove beueont
mred
hands are clear of blood, unlese. ho
stit spilt
sbeuldyou h
in conflict, ictand
not a cant enriches my Pockspared
through the strife, stay with
hardships
and be a comfort to
gn as a
her old age. Endure the
etla of thepely encampai
otyodohf
Icelsoothyeosu.
man. In my trunk and box y
Give my love to mother ; the pl.
all, now and evermore, ?a my Prayer and wish for you.—
JOHN Y. BEALE." culscatnoog.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

SPAIN.

MADRID, MARCH 14.

In to-day's sitting of the Congress the Govern-
ment was questioned respecting the prosecution of
those present at the Progressist banquet on the sth
instant.

The Minister of the Interior replied that he had
executed the law upon public meetings, and upon
the question being put to the House the conduct of
the Government was approved by 166 against 70
♦otes.

BOMBAY AND MAURITIUS MAILS.
SOUTHAMPTON, MARcH 15.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steam-
ship Poonah, with the above mails, has arrived
here. She brings 50 passengers, £4,646 in specie,
jewellery value 2,061 rupees, and a general cargo,
including 792 bales of cotton. She experienced
strong westerly gales from Alexandria to Gibraltar,
west south west gales across the Bay of Biscay, and
up Channel easterly winds and a heavy sea.

On the 10th inst. she spoke the British ships
Relief and Conway.

GIBRALTAR, March 10.

The British ship T. A. Lee was dismasted in a
gale 200 milee north-east of Madeira on the 4th
ult. She was towed into this harbour by the
steamer Brazilian on the Ist inst.

Her Majesty's ships Procris, Liffey, and Racoon
were in the harbour.

Exchange on London, 90 days, 491 ; on Paris,
5.23 ; Madrid, 8 days, 11 dis.

FRANCE.

The Paris Savings Bank received, during the last
fortnight ending 13th inst., deposits amounting to
926,171 f., and reimbursed 752,728 f. The sums
paid into the Caisse de Retraites for the Aged dur-
ing the same period were 139,965 f.
M. Felix, titulary canon of the cathedral of
Aix, aged 65, has just died in a tragical manner.
Feeling unwell, he rose from his seat to call for
assistance, when he was seized with giddiness
and fell striking his temple against the coroner of
the chimney-place, the blood flowing so profusely
that it could not be stopped, and which caused his
death soon afterwards.

BOURSE, March 14.—The market is heavy, and
prices have declined. Threes, for the Account, are
now at 67fr. Mobilier are lower, and have been
done at 855 fr. In Railway Shares there is no
change of importance. The market somewhat im-
proved towards the close. The following are the
last quotations :

4} per Cents 94 30
Do. end month —

Italian Loan 64 70
Do. and month 64 75
Ditto Threes —
New Mexican
Russian 9O 50
Austrian
Spanish Threes
Home Debt —
Deferred
'ANS.

3 per Cents. 67 75
Do. end month 67 75

Credit Mobiher ... 863 75
Do. end month ... 863 75

Bank Shares 3525
Credit Fonder 1285

Roman

Cash. Acct.
Orleans
Northern lOl5 ... 1015
Lyons and Mediterranean 950 ... 950
Southern 577 50 ... 577 50
Western 541 25 ... 542 50

Eastern
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard
North of Spain
Saragossa►

520 ::: 522 50
303 75 303 75
437 50 437 50
545 - ... 547 50
297 50 ... 297 50
368 75 ... 367 50

Ditto to Barcelona 165

The Easter Volunteer Review.

Yesterday a meeting of the commanding officers
of metropolitan Volunteer regiments was held at the
offices of the National Rifle Association, to consider
the spot on which the customary Easter Monday
Volunteer review should this year be held. Lord
Elcho presided, and among the officers present were,
Lord Ranelagh, Lord -Truro, Lord Bury, Col. Pen-
ton, Col. Creed, Col. M'Leod of M'Leod, Col.
Labrow, Col. Fitzgerald, Col. Whitehead, Col.
Money, Sir John Shelley, and Col. Wood.
Lord ELCHO opened the proceedings by making
a statement on behalf of the committee appointed
at a previous meeting to inspect the respective re-
view grounds at Dover and Brighton, and Colonel
Penton was called upon, as one of the Brighton
committee, to explain the proposed arrangements of
the corporation and townspeople of Brighton.
It was then proposed by Lord RANELAGH, se-
conded by Lord TRURO, " That the Easter Monday
Review be held this year at Brighton."
Lord BURY moved an amendment in favour of
Dover, but this was not seconded, and the original
motion was carried.

On the motion of Sir J. SHELLEY, seconded by
Captain TEMPLAR, it was agreed that the same com-
mittee who had reported on the ground should be
appointed to communicate with the authorities at
the War-office, with the railway company, and with
the corporation of Brighton.
The terms of the railway company are to be the
same as on previous years—namely, the Volunteers'
return-ticket is to be I.s. 6d., and to be available
before and after Monday, under certain regulations;
but an important alteration is this year made in one
respect, and that is, the officers may travel at the
same fare as the rank and file.

The Brighton people have got up competitions for
Enfield and carbine, and the sum of £224 will be
given in prizes, to be fired for by the Volunteers on
the Saturday prior to the review and on the Tues-
day after.

THE FAILURE OF ATTWOOD, SPOONER, AND CO.
—lt has been already stated that an agreement for
an amalgamation of this bank with the Birmingham Joint-
stock Bank (limited) had been entered into. The extra-
ordinary meeting of the shareholders for the purpose
of confirming the same had been convened, prior to Att-
wood and Co.'s suspension, for yesterday, and it was held
at the Exchange, Mr. G. P. Muntz in the chair ; but, in
place of the "confirmatory" resolution, one was moved
from the chair to the effect that the resolutions passed on
the 6th of February, authorising the directors to carry out
the agreement be "not confirmed." The chairman briefly
alluded to the altered circumstances under which they had
assembled; the agreement had been entered into provided
that the assets shown by Attwood and Co. were approved
by the joint-stock bank ; those not having been satisfactory
in the first instance, neither were they upon the amended
list of the assets being submitted on Friday, and the nego-
tiations were broken off. In reference to the price to have
been paid by the bank to Attwood and Co. for their busi-
ness, that the price was simply based on a percentage upon
the amount of their deposits from the public. Mr. Thomas
Short, jun., the deputy-chairman, seconded the resolution
moved from the chair ; and it was carried unanimously. A
meeting is to be called on an early day for the purpose of
carrying out a resolution previously passed to increase the
capital of this bank from two to three millions. In refe-
rence to the bank suspension nothing of importance oc-
curred yesterday.

THE LATE DUC DE MOIINY.—" Experto Crede"
writes to the Times as follows :—" You have in your
article upon the late Due de Morny, while presenting his
errors to the public, abstained from the more pleasing duty
of recording the fairer features of his character and career.
To Englishmen it will be more interesting to know that
he was always the powerful and consistent counsellor of a
good alliance with this country and a peaceful policy
towards Europe. In the evil days of February, 1858, the
Due do Morny and the Emperor himself wore the only
public men in France who resisted the hurricane of hatred
against us which the attempts of Orsini and his connexion
with Bernard raised. De Morny was the only Frenchman
who had the courage to oppose his master's confiscation of
the Orleans properties. The former acts prove his political
wisdom, and deserve our gratitude ; the latter one bespeaks
a generous spirit, and merits a posthumous reminder."
MATTHEWS AND THE REWARDS.—The question
of the rewards offered for the apprehension of Franz
Muller has at last been brought to an issue. The subject
as to its disposal has for a long time been under conside-
tion. On the one hand it was argued that Matthews alone
was entitled to the money ; and on the other it was stated
that Mr. Death and Mr. Repsch would share in it. It is
now decided that the whole of the amount, namely .000,
will go to Matthews, or rather to the assignees in
bankruptcy for the benefit of his creditors. On Monday
a Government cheque for £lOO in favour of Matthews was
received by Mr. Beard, and in all probability Messrs.
Roberts and the North London Railway Company will
follow suit, and forward their respective rewards with-
out delay. Matthews is no longer in prison, and his
creditors, it is said, are disposed to act very leniently
ttnyard§