The Sun.
London, England, 1865-03-09 00:00:00

rHE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENiNG, MARCH 9, 186th

KNOLL vs to the effect that his Royal Highness will
not pa rmit the prevalence of the practice in his
househc dd. This epistle intimates that the Prince
of WALEs.ha;ging understood that a " practice pre-
vails of tradesmen offering to servants a percentage
on t. he amount of their bills," has directed that
" every servant who receives, and every tradesman
who offers, such percentage should be dismissed, and
cease to enjoy his Royal Highness's custom."
Thia is sure to be of service to the cause that has
been so energetically taken up by some already, but
which of course has much to militate against its
progress from perversity and prejudice. General
KNOLLY'S observes with great justice that such a
practice is equally detrimental to the tradesman
and his employe'es, and that his Royal Highness
believes that every tradesman ought therefore to
desire to put a stop to the practice. The West-end
firm before alluded to very truly observes that the
PRINCE'S high example, " if widely known, will en-
courage the indifferent to adopt the same system,
and by that means an end must be put to an ac
knowledged evil." It is difacult to estimate rightly
the full extent of the injuries that are inflicted by
this custom. Its effects are widely spread and
extensively felt, although many may not take time
and thought enough fully to realise the fact or suffi-
ciently to comprehend all the bearings of the case.
It lowers the tone of morality among all who
adopt the practice to a great degree, and even those
who do not follow it to a considerable length
are sure to become more or less vitiated by the
habit. The high wages that are given to the ser-
vants in large establishments render the thing quite
ridiculous in some measure, and it is quite certain
that no gratitude is ever entertained by the reci-
pients of such extra donations in the shape of per-
centages and perquisites. It seems a very strange
thing that in a country so celebrated for its busi-
ness-like qualities, such a lax state of things should
go on in the conduct and management of its chief
establishments. It is, indeed, the duty of those in a
high position and possessed of great wealth to guard
against the existence of evils in their households, and
especially those which tempt their dependents to the
commission of fraud, and the habit of cheating in a

minor degree. All that tends to destroy fair play
and to put a stop to above-board transactions. It
may be suggested in connection with this subject
that a great deal of evil would be avoided, if those
in influential positions would follow the example of
her MAJESTY, and settle their accounts quarterly.
By this means a great source of temptation
would be removed both to tradesmen and servants,
as the long-standing accounts afford so many in-
ducements to both sides to cheat, or at all events to
mystify. Another evil is that those employed in
establishments where this lax system prevails be-
come spoiled by luxury, and ruined for more strict
management in after life: If the circumstances of
their careers lead them into positions where they
must work harder and fare less sumptuously, they
are often in one way or another induced to adopt
dishonest practices. The example of his Royal
Highness in the matter of percentages is likely to
be of great benefit in many ways, and it is gratify-
ing to think that one is, who may be called the
leader of fashionable society at present, so deter-
mined to put down a practice that has been proved
so pernicious. It is quite time that something was
done to check the many evils that have sprung up
in the social system through the extravagance of
some, and the carelessness of others, acting directly
or indirectly upon those who came under their
influence.

The decision of the Judicial Committee of the
Privy Council yesterday, in the case of the Fusi-
lier, will meet with universal approbation. It is
not only for its immediate consequences, but for its
after effects, that this adjudication may be consi-

dered as one of importance and interest. The owners
of cargo on board the Fusilier appealed against a
decree of the Judge of the Court of Admiralty,
which held them liable to " contribute to the remu-
neration of certain sailors for saving the lives of
the passengers on board that vessel." Lord CHELMS-
FORD delivered judgment, to the effect that the
owners of cargo are liable to contribute to " life-
salvage remuneration." The decision of the Court
of Admiralty is thus affirmed, which is most satis-
factory in every respect. It seems strange that
objection should be made to the salvage claim, for

it is one that is almost universally acknowledged.
The practice of the National Lifeboat Institution
is always to confer rewards upon those
who have particularly distinguished them-
selves in rescuing lives from shipwreck ;
and it is one that cannot be too generally followed
or universally adopted. If property be liable to this
charge, surely the lives of human beings ought to be
considered of more account, and it is but fair that
the preservation of passengers should be held
worthy of remuneration. Had the decision of the
Privy Council been favourable to the appeal, a great
injury would have been inflicted upon all whose
pursuits or engagements expose them to the perils
of the sea. Now that this decision has settled the
question, it is to be trusted that many similarly cir-
cumstanced will take warning, and not demur to

the rightful claims of those who render such signal
services to the cause of humanity. In every re-
spect, then, we may rejoice at the issue of the
question, and trust that the success of the claims of
the salvors in this instance will encourage others of
the same calling to pursue their vocation with in-
creased ardour and assiduity. It is universally
admitted that the labourer is worthy of his hire ;
and this theory can never better be applied than to
those who risk their lives to rescue others from im-
minent peril by land and certain destruction on the
mighty waters. It is a false spirit of economy that
induces those in authority to refuse the claims put
forward by the energetic class who do so much for so
very little in many cases; and it is gratifying to find
that a legal decision has done more service to the in-
terests of the general public, in this instance, than
it often does in matters of moment and questions of
great magnitude and significance.

THEPOLESIN SWITZERLAND.—The correspondent
at Berne of the Independance Belye, writing on the
2d says :-1, A despatch from Romanshorn, a village of
Thurgovia, upon the banks of Lake Constance, announces
that the Polish ex-dictator Langiewiez arrived there on
the Ist of March with an elderly lady, and immediately
left by the railway for Zurich. During the latter part of
February upwards of a hundred more Polish refugees arrived
at Ronaanshorn. The Federal subsidies for the maintenance
of these unfortunate men having ceased, and the cantonal
subsidies being.insufficient, the journals of East Switzerland
propose a public subscription for three months at sd. per
month in favour of the Poles who are destitute."
A FRENCH ANNIVERSARY.—It has occurred to
several of the justices of the county of Middlesex
who meet for the discharge of public duties at the Session-
house, Clerkenwell, that a proposal to celebrate the comple-
tion of 50 years peace with France by some suitable demon-
stration would be received with general approval. The in-
tention is to invite to a public banquet certain distinguished
noblemen and gentlemen of France, and to fix the enter-
ment for some day in the month of Juno. A committee is
about to be formed, and an announcement of their views
will shortly be laid before the public.
FLOGGING IN THE ARMT.—A return was issued a
year ago, stating that the number of persons flogged in the
army in the year 1862 was 126, and the number of lashes
inflicted 5,999. But that included only the army at home ;
and a return now issued states that the whole number
flogged in the year in the army at home and abroad was 379,
and the number of lashes inflicted 18,180. In the same
year 1,462 soldiers were marked with the letter I), and 37
with 8.0.
FOR THE NURSERY.—Where must little boys who
lint their fingers in their mouths expect to go to ? Why,
I Gnaw-thumb-erland, you bed child.=-Piend.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, .MARCH 6.

The treaty of commerce between England and
Prussia will not comprise more than five or six
clauses, which have been communicated to the re-
maining States of the Zollverein. As the Zollverein
and England already enjoy the reciprocal rights of
the most favoured nation, the present stipulations
can only refer to tariff questions. .
The sole object of the treaty is to compel the
contracting parties not to increase, at any future
period, the entry duty upon goods sent from the
Zollverein to England, and vice versa.

Similarly to the treaty of the Zollverein with
France, the present convention will be concluded
for a period of 12 years, coming into operation at
the same time as the new Zollverein tariff, i.e., on
the Ist July, 1865. The signature will take place
as soon as all the members of the Zollverein have
sent in their adhesion.

SPAIN.

MADRID, MARCH 8.

The editor of the Dernocratia has been arrested.
Senor Fernando Alvarez, a member of the Minis-
terial party, has been elected President of the
Chamber of Deputies by 150 to 93 votes.
At the request of the Minister of Finance the
Congress will hold extraordinary evening sittings in
order to expedite the discussion of the Financial
Bill.

CALCUTTA, CHINA, AND AUSTRALIAN

MAILS,

SUEZ, MARCH, 3.
The Simla, with the above mails, arrived here al
7 a.m. to-day.

A GAME OP ROMPS-WITH MY BOYS

Br CHARLES KENT.
" For it is good to be children sometimes."
The Christmas Carol.

Trooping to my study,
In the fire-glow ruddy
Rolling by the fender,
Tumbling down my books :
Scaring student-labours
More than pipes and tabors,
Punch or kettle-mender,
Philosophic looks !

Hold ! you elvish rascal!
Leave my peerless Pascal:
If you want an anvil
Here to play at smith,
Take some earthlier writer—
Further from a mitre—
Take Voltaire or liand'ville
Thus to trifle with.

Come four urchins rattling,
Seeing who by battling,
With victorious laughter,
First shall climb my knee :
Ranting, roaring, scrambling,
Dancing, prancing, ambling,
As though oach a rafter
Strove to rend with glee

Hist! there, Mark, or may be
You'll be choking Baby—
Giving him for coral
Choice of amber tips,
Meerschaum brown as berry,
Glossy tube of cherry—
Worse than sourest sorrel
To those sugary lips !
0 the joyous clatter!
When, with cushions' batter,
Curtain-cord and tassel,
Some the sofa climb:
Than the fire for warming
Better far the storming
Of our mimic castle,
Captured time on time.
Now ! who'll play Jack

Little roguish varlet
Clad in shoes of scarlet,
Socks and frock the whitest,
Blue sash, curls of gold--
Canter, perched a-straddle,
Slipper for a saddle,
Thro' dark eyes—the bright-.
est !
Shining joy untold.

Hither, chubby Charley 1
For one moment's parley ;
Cease thy merry clatter,
Though but for a while--
Ruffling yellow tresses
Back from fond caresses,
Loth to stop thy chatter
Even to share a smile.

Homer ?
Romping Puss in Corner ?
Skittish Hunt the Slipper !
Blundering Blindman's Buff ?
Wheel away the table,
Madcaps fresh from Babel !
Let each elfin tripper
Find there's room enough.
Till the fire-glow ruddy
Chegners all my study,
Bookcase, floor, and ceiling,
With a Shadow Dance!
Filling gloom with brightness,
Heaviest hearts with light-
ness,
Livelier laughter pealing
As our games advance.
When tired out and flustered,
Round my arm-chair clus-
tered,
Romps, no longer wrestling,
Claim old tales of mirth—
Siniling at our folly,
Marianne with her Dolly,
Near my footstool nestling,
Crowns the glowing hearth.
Magazine for March.

Sweet-eyed, laughing Willie,
Loitering willy-nilly
Near my arm-chair captured
By a furtive hand !
Sage of seven full summers,
Wisest of boy-mummers—
When by fun enraptured
Wildest of the band!

Rosy-warm from coddling,
Baby-Henry toddling
O'er the hearth-rug slowly,
Dimpling hands outspread:
Hither wee, wee blue shoes I
Hither tottering two shoes !
Soft rings—aureole holy !
Crowning thy fair head.

-From Colburn's New Monthli

Memorials of Cardinal Wiseman.

The Memorial of the Cardinal, we presume, xi'
be one hereafter to be erected at that central point

in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery at Kensal-green,
in which the remains of his Eminence were the other
evening solemnly interred. Meanwhile, a number
of memorial publications of the deceased prelate
have already made their appearance from the
press, while others are announced as in prepa-
ration. H.E.'s Collected Writings, we doubt not,
will before long be issued—probably in monthly
volumes—and not improbably, we should con-
jecture, by the Messrs. Bums, Lambert, and
Oates, of Portman-street, Portman-square. They
would, these Collected Writings of Cardinal
Wiseman, comprise among their number such works
as "Fabiola," as the argument on " The Connection
between Science and Revealed Religion," as " The
Lamp of the Sanctuary," as the " Recollections of
the Four Last Popes," and so forth, together
with the Sermons, the Lectures, the Dramas, and
the various miscellaneous papers contributed by his
late Eminence to the Dublin Review, The Month,
and other well-known periodicals. The editing of
this accumulated collection of the Works of the Car-
dinal would in any case, we should imagine, be a
duty entrusted to some Catholic ecclesiastic of emi-
nence—some one duly qualified both by scholarship
and by intimacy to undertake the responsibility—

such a man, let us say, as either Dr. Manning or
Dr. Russell. Rumours are already rife as to the
probable biographer of the Cardinal—one of these
rumours averring that Mr. Maguire, the Mayor of
Cork, and member for Dungarvan, is even now
busy in the accumulation of materials for the task—
that hon. gentleman being already favourably
known, as a biographer, through his admirable
memoir of Father Mathew, published only a year
or two since by the Messrs. Longman. Whoever
may be chosen eventually, nevertheless, to be the
biographer of Cardinal Wiseman, the duty ;of
writing the life of a man in many ways so dis-
tinguished, is one worthy of the application to it of
the highest powers and of the fullest energies.
Among other preparations already afoot with
a view to the evidence in a more signal
manner of the affection and respect with
which the name and fame of Cardinal Wise-
man are cherished—not very surprisingly—among
his co-religionists, it is worthy of particular note
that Viscount Fending, Viscount Campden, Lord
Petre, the Hon. Charles Langdale, Monsignor Man-
ning, and many others, laymen and ecclesiastics,
noblemen and gentlemen, have been formed into a
committee for the purpose of originating a memo-
rial of his Eminence, worthy in some manner of his
high reputation. Meanwhile—as these remarks of
ours began by setting forth—various literary me-
morials of the Cardinal, of more or less importance,
have already made their appearance, or are an-
nounced as upon the eve of publication. First and
foremost of all, among these, being—beyond any
question whatever—the one, amongst them all, the
most worthy of preservation—the authorised and
carefully-corrected verbatim report, in the form of
a pamphlet of 37 pages octavo, of the remarkable
Sermon—a funeral oration, as affecting and impres-
sive as funeral oration could well be—delivered
(upon the day of the Cardinal's interment) from the
pulpit at Moorfields, by the Right Rev. Monsignore
Henry Edward Manning, D.D., formerly Arch-
deacon of Chichester. Other sermons upon the
same theme—the memory of Nicholas Cardinal
Wiseman—have also made their appearance from
the press as separate publications ; such, for ex-
ample, as the one delivered on the 19th ult. in
Bunhill-row, by the Rev. James Conolly. But, it
can hardly be deemed—even by' the preachers of
those other sermons, themselves—in any way in-
vidious, that we should particularise the one uttered
by the lips and revised by the hand of Dr. Man-
ning, as—amongst them all—standing quite apart
as a specimen of pulpit eloquence, and more even
than that, as a tribute of reverential and affectionate
friendship.

The Tur:

Lyn-street.

Another little reminder (that is, to the reading
public) of the excellence of the Turkish Bath, has
recently made its appearance very opportunely. It
is in the form of a thin brochure, only a few pages
in length—pages extracted (for separate publication
thus as a pamphlet) from the " Manual of the
Turkish Bath," by Sir John Fife, M.D., F.R.C.S.,
Senior Surgeon of the Newcastle Infirmary. And
we are in no way surprised that pages such as these
should have been extracted thus from a goodly
volume like that of Sir John Fife's, for separate
publication in this readily readable form, by the
promoters of that haunt at once of health and of
luxury, 76, Jermyn-street, St. James's. Those
already habituated to the luxurious means for pro-
moting health supplied to them by those admirable
Baths, need no reminder of the excellency
of the system of the Turkish. Bath so-
called—the, old classic bath of antiquity—
the bath familiar to Roman civilisation. From page
372 of Sir John Fife's book we take the following
half-dozen benefits assured to agriculturists, upon
the application of the Turkish Bath system to the
system of Farming
Cure of sickness in cattle, sheep and pigs.
"2. Saving of mortality in young stock.
"3. Fortifying the horses engaged in ploughing and
draught.
"4. Increasing flesh and milk.
"5. Increasing the productiveness of stock.
"6. Collateral advantages : drying harness, Clothes,
saving damaged grain and seeds, saving of sickness to
farm servants, and also to the farmer himself and his
family.
Again—from page 380 of the same work—we take
the following eight good results (among Horses) of
the Turkish Bath, as employed in the Stable :

"1. The skin is cleansed far more completely than by
any other method of grooming.
"2. The system relieves itself, through the skin, of every
kind of impunity.
"3. The animal is enabled to bear, with perfect impunity,
the greatest alterations of heat and cold.
"4. The appetite, so frequently a poor one in training, is
increased, and digestion promoted.
"5. The lungs are brought into strong play, without in-
creased action of heart and pulse.

" What is commonly called inside fat of heart and lungs
is removed, and the wind consequently greatly improved ;
and this without the fearful wear and tear of legs and con-
stitution, now so universally practised to attain that object.

" 7. Aloes and other drastics become superfluous.

"8. And lastly, whereas, in the opinion of the first trainers
of the day, by the present system, it is impossible to bring
a horse fit to the post more than once or twice in the year
for a great race, by the use of the bath he may ever be in
the highest state of condition."
Admiral Rous related two years ago in the Times
the advantageous effects produced among the equine
race by the application of the system of the Turkish
Bath in the training of Horses. Mr. Scriven has,
here, more at length, in the excellent pamphlet now
under consideration, recorded his experiences during
four years consecutively of the same Bath as em-
ployed on an Irish Farm under his own immediate
observation. To those who are still sceptical upon
the matter of the good derivable from the Turkish
Bath, among the Human Race, among Horses,
among farm cattle, among domestic animals, we
would at any rate commend this excellent little
pamphlet, a pamphlet that any one may glance
through in ten minutes very pleasantly.

(Cheers.) He also presented W. Hobbs Adams,
who had been elected by the boys themselves, as the
boy they most esteemed, to receive the prize of £5
given by the Canterbury Lodge for that purpose.
He had received 58 out of 67 of the votes of the
boys.

Several toasts and songs concluded the proceed-
ings of the evening.

LITERATTJEE.

Shattered Idols. 3 Vols. Hurst and Blackett.

Report gives the authorship of this novel to an
accomplished lady of title, and if it be a first work,
the graceful style and pleasant manner in which the
story is narrated reflect credit upon the writer,
whom, however, we cannot congratulate upon the
theme of her selection. The manner of the tale is
infinitely better than the matter. The plot is very
ingeniously contrived and skilfully worked out, but
the characters are, without one solitary exception,
singularly unattractive, and some of them most re-
pulsive. The first chapter opens with one of those
horrible " effects" to which, as (compulsory)
readers of sensation novels, we are becoming habi-
tuated, we cannot say reconciled. A medical
student, who, a little later on, developes into
another Palmer, brings home a dead body to experi-
ment upon. Waking from an uneasy dream, the
votary of science beholds the corpse "with its eyes
open, and gleaming full upon him. The lamp still
burning shone upon the ghastly features, which
seemed to express inquiry and astonishment." The
scene which meets the eyes of the startled house-
keeper, who enters shortly after her master has left
the house is still more ghastly. She sees the student,
as she believes, seated in his chair, robed in his
dressing-gown, and on his head a cap of lace and
blue ribbons belonging to herself. The whole
room bearing tokens of bewildering confusion.
" Monsieur must be mad," thinks the house-
keeper. The figure turns, " and then, as
if shot through the heart, the old woman
fell to the ground, convulsed with terror,
for the face that turned towards her was
that of the corpse," the supposed corpse having re-
covered physical strength, but with intellects con-
siderably deranged. This opening does not certainly
prepossess the reader with the tale, and Castelle,
the medical student, remains throughout surrounded
by an atmosphere of morbid gloom—alternately
mesmerising and poisoning his victims, being appa-
rently as devoid of sensibility or sentiment as the
strange hero of Sir Bulwer Lytton's " Strange
Story." Some of Castelle's iniquities are suggested,
to him by one Father Jerome, a Jesuit priest, drawn
after the most approved melodramatic style—a
regular Bogy, with the sheet and the turnip's-head.
This worthy gentleman writes to Castelle to come
and attend a wounded man, who happens to stand
in the way of Castelle's designs. " Your object
will be best promoted by your immediate arrival and
careful attendance on the invalid prepared for you"
—this suggestion being significantly written in

italics. Castelle comes, and assidiously devotes him-
self to the invalid, who grows worse and worse not-
withstanding the surgeon's reputed skill. Yet more
revolting is the picture of the deathbed of Clelia, who
is doomed to death only because she is the wife of
Castelle's most devoted friend, upon whose property
he has designs. The dying girl is continually thank-
ing her murderer, and her heartbroken husband is
constantly summoning to her side the beloved friend
whose treacherous hand is destroying all his hopes
and happiness. The situation is very painful, but
Castelle passes through it undismayed. We need
not further particularise the incidents of the tale.
When next the fair authoress takes up her pen, we
trust she may devote it to some more pleasant task.

7he Journal of Agriculture. No. 88. New series,

Wm. Blackwood and Sons.

The contents of this journal are for the most part
devoted to live stock. The first article, "On the
Means of Increasing the Number of Live Stock
and the Production of Meat," treats of a subject
which is not only very important to the farmer, but
to the consumer. The high price of meat is a serious
evil to our labouring classes, and if by any means
the amount of production can be increased, and the
price consequently lessened, it will he a very great
boon to them, and tend considerably to improve the
public health. An account of the Arab Horse of
' Africa will be read with interest, so much having
been said of the beauty and docility of that race.
" The Linen Trade" is another important question
which should be carefully considered by all interested
in the welfare of Ireland. The Farmers' Note-
Book, the agricultural summary for the quarter, and
the tables of average prices are continued as usual.
The transactions of the Highland and Agricultural
Society of Scotland are given at length, and give
some valuable information respecting the applica-
tion of chemical science to agriculture.

Mr. Romford's Hounds. Part XI. Chapman

and Hall.

This number is very entertaining, and although
it relates chiefly to domestic life instead of .to the
sporting scenes of which the story more particularly
treats, it may be considered in some respects the
most amusing Part that has yet appeared. The
description of the supper is very ludicrous, and the
raid that was made by the hungry party outside
forms quite a dramatic scene. Mr. Romford's
amaze at the transformation of a quiet evening,
with " rabbit-pie," into a grand ball, with an ele-
gant supper, is ably depicted. The day of reckon-
ing may not be quite so agreeable when:it arrives ;
it may, however, be presumed. The irruption of
the Goths and Visgoths into the gay scene forms
another diversion, and the illustrations of the fight
and the invasion of the supper-table are very well
done, and present a good idea of the scenes referred
to.