The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-04 00:00:00

through them, extend their deleterious influence to
the country. The influences which should be
brought to bear upon these disputants are many and
important ones, and trade and business are certainly
pursued in a spirit that profiteth not if no claims of
justice and sympathy for one's fellow-men and con-
cern for the interests of the country cannot be
brought to bear upon those who employ and those
who work. It is sad to reflect that the consequences
of the contumacy referred to may spread far and
wide, and be so deep-rooted as to defy removal
when the more immediate causes of the altercation
have disappeared or been amicably adjusted. It is
easier to occasion mischief than to remove it, and
this division of interests in trade is essentially one
of those events which prove the truth of the illus-
tration, " The hand that kindled cannot quench
the flame."

It cannot be denied that one of the greatest mis-
takes of the present day is the manner in which
some distinguished men persist in overworking
themselves. It really amounts to a species of in-
fatuation, and while its consequences cannot be too
much deplored, it would seem as if no amount of
warning can furnish sufficient proof to deter them
from their folly. In the course of the last year the
public had to mourn the loss of some old favourites,
conspicuous among whom was JOHN LEECH, who
had been called away prematurely from the society
they adorned and the generation they benefited
through the mis-use of their powers. The last
fatal instance of overwork is Admiral FiTzßov, and
those who peruse the details that transpired
at the evidence will be of opinion that it is a
most melancholy thing that a man who was of so
much service to his country should be thus taken
from us in so deplorable and distressing a manner.
It appears that for some time past the late Admiral
had shown unmistakeable symptoms of overwork,
and indeed had been advised to retire for a period
and to give himself rest. These entreaties proved
unavailing ; he refused to accede to them, but the
validity of their meaning and the sure foundation
upon which they rested has been proved by the
calamity which occurred last Sunday. It is almost
impossible to overestimate the importance of the
services which the late Admiral has rendered to his
countrymen, and therefore there is double cause to
deplore his untimely end. Had he but spared himself
more he might have lived longer to perfect his great
undertakings, and in the fulness of years and hon-
ours have gone down to his grave when his appointed
time had come. It is earnestly to be trusted that
this last sad instance of overwork may not be
thrown away, but that those among us who are
immersed in heavy and laborious tasks will take
warning by this sad and solemn spectacle, and pay
heed to the instruction thus given them, as it were
from the gates of the grave. They should regard it
as a duty to husband their resources, and not waste-
fully expend those powers which have been entrusted
to them for the highest purposes, the glory of their

CREATOR and the good of their fellow-man. The

intense toil which the admiral underwent occasioned
him sleepless nights, and he was compelled to have
recourse to opinion. Mr. HETLEY, M.D., who had
known the deceased since the 18th of April, when
he had consulted him, stated that he had advised
him to give up his studies, or that most serious
consequences would ensue. By this he meant that
" such a condition would ensue that paralysis
would follow." Had the Admiral earlier attended
to his state and followed the advice given
to him, he would now be alive among us
ready at some future time to renew his woik and
his friends and family would have been spared the
sad reflection that he had destroyed himself in an
unsound state of mind. The memory of his works
will long survive him, and his name will be held in
grateful recollection by his countrymen for the
benefits he has conferred upon them.

TIT-BITS FROM PUNCH,

TAXES.

A hint or two on this subject will not, we feel sure, be
thrown away upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Sup-
posing the present duties wore taken off several things,
an enormous revenue might be obtained by levying taxes
as follows :

On every "good story" told more than three times by
the same person.
A Tax upon any one talking about the weather.
Upon all amateurs on the flute, violin, and cornet, with-
out exception.

Upon all after-dinner speeches over three minutes in
length.

Upon all young ladies singing Italians songs without
understanding the language.
Upon all young ladies or gentlemen singing any song
whatever, and, by their affected pronunciation, rendering
the words totally unintelligible.
All long wandering stories without any point ought to
be heavily taxed.
A Tax on all dramas "taken from the French."
On extensive crinolines.

Enormous tax on all pianoforte variations, and specially
upon those on the " Carnival de Venise."
On all bad dinners, and the heaviest tax possible on bad
wine.

Upon all burlesques and all bad puns, specially any play
on the words "belle," " beau ;" as, for instance, to say of
the prettiest young lady at the dinner-table, that she is
"the dinner bell;" or that a "beau ought to be brought up
at 'arrow ;" and all such jokes as invol 'e the twisting of
the words "Eton," "Harrow," "Father and farther,"
"Rain and reign," "Heir, air, hare, that ere, they air (for
they are')," " Gait and gate," " Nose, knows, and noes,"
"Knight and night," and all such jokes whose fun depends
upon the omission, or addition, of the letter H.
There should be a duty placed upon all jokes on the
names of popular artistes and authors ; thus there should
be twopence levied on every trifling with Mellon, Pyne,
Stirling Coyne, Kean, Fechter, Toole, and so forth.
The most fearful Tax upon irreverent jesting on the
word Punch.

A Tax upon Mothers-in-law. Heavy.
A Tax on Banting.

A Tax on Banting's followers.

A Tax on every speech of Mr. Whalley's.

A Tax upon any one who objects to smoking in a railway
carriage.

A Tax of 100 per cent. on everyone who won't lend you
five shillings.
A Tax upon every sermon that shall exceed fifteen
minutes.

A Tax upon every one who doesn't take in Punch. This,
of course, will not yield many halfpence annually.
And if the above list does not suffice, then let there be a
Tax on everybody and everything indiscriminately. God
save the Queen !

FIRE! FIRE !—lt was noticed, on the night of the
Budget, that when it became Mr. Gladstone's duty to speak
on the Insurance question, he warmed up with his subject,
and got on like a house a-fire.
COMPARISONS ARE, &c.—Hansom Cabby (to driver of
cheap omnibus)—" Now, then, Sam ! Me and my swell
wants to catch a train ! Do get on with that Noer's Hark
of yourn."

DIVIDING THE WOOLSACK.
" This Edmunds case," said Westbury,
Sarcastic, smooth, and cool,
" Will prove a caso of ample cry,
But very little wool.".
Quoth Chelmsford, as on Westbury
Ho turned a scornful back,
" Though we perhaps don't get the woo/,
You ought to get the sack."

OPERATIC PROBLEM.—Prob. Supposing that of two
rabbits one was yours, and the other wasn't ; supposin
that by,..mistake you took the latter; find out what eel°
brated Italian singer this would be like Th
wrong-coney. (Roneoni.)

CRITICAL MOMENT IN THE EXAMINATION OF A
CANDIDATE FOR A GOVERNMENT CLERKSHIP ?—When he is
leaning over a precis-piece.—The
A LADY GORED BY A Cow.—ln Cheltenham on
Monday two cows were being driven down the London-
road, when one of them ran at two ladies—Mrs. Forbes
and her daughter, of Ellenborough-house, Charlton Kings.
Mrs. Forbes was fearfully gored, and at one time the beast
fell upon her. Miss Forbes in the most courageous manner
endeavoured to extricate her mother, and fortunately just
at the moment a man named Parker was passing, and
seizing a fagot stick he commenced a vigorous attack upon
the animal, and ultimately succeeded in beating it off.
Mrs. Forbes was removed in a faint and weak condition
to a house adjacent, where she received medical atten-
tion, and was afterwards conveyed to her own house,