The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-08 00:00:00

FOOD VERSUS FEVER.

If the members of the general committee, which has the
overlooking of the famine districts of England at this
crisis, will bear in mind these pure and easily remembered
truths, they may double the value of the money sent them,
by their knowledge as to its application; it is for them to
see that there enters into the supplies for the support of
the people a fair proportion of flesh forming food ; it is
for them to instruct the multitude that there are two ways
of laying out their scanty pittances, by one of which they
may live, while by the other they must die; it is for
them to suggest, through proper and kindly agents, such
cheap admixtures of food as may serve to prevent danger;
and, finally, it is an essential part of their duties to
institute inquiries into the food resources of England and
her colonies, for the purpose of supplying to the districts,
now threatened with all the horrors of pestilence, the means
of prevention. We urge these duties on the members of
the General Committee speeially, because they have made
themselves the leaders of a great philanthropio movement,
and, as it would seem, they are not overburthened with
work.

But, in conclusion, there are others than these who
should put their hands to the plough. Have men of prac-
tical science no duties in this emergency ? If not now,
then is science a mere pretence, and all that she has done
mere dreamy, inapplicable speculation. There was never
in the history of the world any period when science could
do so much. All the facts in regard to foods and their
respective values have been stated and re-stated ; and on
these matters knowledge of the most valuable kind is ready
at hand. The botanist could at once name to the inquirer
every vegetable product that is eatable, and its flesh•
forming value. The zoologist could teach what animal
foods are obtained over and above those which we now
possess. The chemist, in a doubtful case, by simply deter-
mining the amount of nitrogen, could describe to a certainty
the worth of any product ; and the physiologist, having the
weight of a living body given to him, cenid state with
critical nicety the lowest proportion of mixed food that
would be positively required to keep that body free from
the encroachments of famine plague. It is time, surely,
for modern science, either on her own account or on the
solicitation of those who are able to call her to their aid, to
take part in a great national movement for preventing
deeper calamities than any we have yet seen. We have
enough of volunteer preachers ready, at all times and sea-
sons, to talk to the poor on abstract and bewildering
doctrines, on subjects_ which are unknown, and, to the
human heart, unknowable. Is there no one in this so-
called utilitarian age prepared to go forth to teach, by
written or spoken words, the relation which man holds to
the universe around him, and his dependence for health on
obedience to certain laws, simple as the elements of lan-
guage, but eternal as life P—Social Science Review.

His Excellency the Ambassador of France and
the Countess de Flahault and Miss Elphinstone de Flahault
have returned to Albert-gate House from Cliefden, near
Maidenhead, where they have been on a visit to the Duchess
Dowager of Sutherland.
The Marquis of Lansdowne has left Lansdowne
House for Bowood._

The Earl and Countess of Minto and Mrs. Rus-
sell have arrived in Dover-street.

kjya • v •-•
Count and Lady Cecil De•La-Feld have arrived
at their residence in Prince's-terrace from the Continent.

Lady Fitzherbert and Miss Fitzherbert have left
Farrance's Hotel for Tissington Hall, Ashbourn,
Colonel the Hon. Cecil Forester has arrived in
town from Newmarket.
His Excellency M. de Novossiltzvow has left the
Brunswick Hotel, Jernlyn, street, on his return to St.
Petersburg.
Mr. Hastings Russell, M.P., has returned to
Oakley-place, Bedfordshire, from Wansford, Northamp-
tonshire. _

----
Mr.—
and Mrs. Alfred Bulkley have left Sir H.
Mildmay's, en a visit to Viscount Eversley, at his seat in
H ampshire.
An unfortunate accident happened two days ago
at the railway station at Lausanne just as the train was
starting for Oron. A sportsman, named Wiebel, a clerk
in the post-office, had the imprudence to enter a carriage
with his gun loaded, when a sudden shock causing it to go
off, three of the passengers, workmen on the railway, were
wounded.
THE BISHOPRIC OF GLOUCESTER AND BRISTOL,
—lt is currently reported in Oxford that the late Tice-
Chancellor of that University (Dr. Jeune, Master of Pem-
broke College) wi I succeed the Archbishop of York, in the
Zee of Gloucester and Bristol.

NEW YORK, Oct. 23.—The Revere (British
schooner), with salt, trappings, haversacks, &c., was cap-
tured Oct. 11, off Cape Fear, by the United States gunboats
Maratanza and Montecello, and arrived here yesterday.
The Belle, Yates, arrived here from Havannah, reports
that on Oct. 7, the Surprise (British ship), with 150 bales
of cotton, was fired into by the United States Montgomery,
five miles to the eastward of Havannah, on which the
schooner ran ashore. It was reported that a steamer was
driven on shore to the westward of Havannah, having cot-
ton on board from some blockaded part. Oct. 24.—The
United States ship Dacotah, arrived here yesterday from
Key West, reports that the Blanche had escaped from the
cruisers. Liverpool, Nov. 6.—The Water witcb, with salt,
and gunpowder, was captured off Texas, Aug. 24.
SINGULAR TOASTS IN THE OLDEN TIME.—At a
dinner to celebrate the return of Lord Stanley and Mr. S.
Horrocks for Preston, in 1607, the following were among
the toasts proposed :—" The grateful weaver ;" " The
grateful labourer of every description ;" " The tars of Old
England ;" "-The fair sex, and thanks to them for their
services at the late election ;" "May the landed and com-
mercial interests of the town of Preston triumph over 'ln-
dependence,' supported on the broad basis of ingratitude;"
"Lancashire jannock and Lancashire witches ;" "A long
pull, a strong pull, and a pull altogether," &c.
DOGBERRY IN BELFAST.—Stringent measures
would seem to be the order of the day with the police com-
mittee of the Town Council, as a handbill shown to us by a
subscriber would testify. This circular states that any per.
son having a house for the sale of "spirituous or other
liquors," or " any housekeeper," knowingly harbouring a
member of the local oinstabulary during the hours of duty
shall be liable to a penalty of £5.
CURIOUS SUGGESTION.—A
CrownTher
alady, writing from
Whitehaven, recommends the introduction of stocking-
mendinga
balanceoonn
as a branch of employment for the sewing classes,
believing that many families would be very willing to send
bundles of stockings to be either renewed or mended as re-
ont
Board
adnt
fot
tfhheer there
Trade.we ar .s
quired, and pay a reasonable price for the repairs.
UNCLAIMED WRECKs.—From a Parliamentary
Act in 1855.
paper it appears that on the 31st of August last the Board
ocfhanTrtasdhe
Shipping
g£B,ooo into the Exchequer in right of the
eoayfc
bc account
dntof
accumulated unclaimed
from
0 twrecks,
hethreaa
passing
£3,342 remaining with