The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-11 00:00:00

rHE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, APRIL 11, 1861,

take refuge in Infirmaries, they should not be treated
in a manner that it is degrading to human nature
to contemplate. All tends to the same end in the
condemnation of such conduct. The claims of
humanity urge an improvement ; the interests of
the community demand more care of the welfare
of its members ; and the laws of GOD and man
are alike violated by the culpable course
of action which has been commented on.
It now remains to be seen whether the Poor-Law
Board will take some decided steps, and definitively
declare that a change must take place in the ma-
nagement of the Workhouse Infirmaries. Surely a
sufficient number of wretched paupers have been
sacrificed to the pernicious system that prevails.
Could they speak from their graves, and
tell us of the agonies of their sick
lives and untended death-beds, we should
be shocked indeed ; but enough witnesses can be
found, if they are sought for with diligence, and it
is important that immediate attention should be paid
to this matter, in order that no more such disgrace-
ful cases as • those of TIMOTHY DALY and RICHARD
GIBSON occur. It is impossible to tell how many
have occurred, because it is always a chance if the
worst things are known, and the best proof of the
difficulty of their being made public is the fact that
these two coming under notice at all were excep-
tional cases. One was taken out of the Infirmary,
and the other's condition was made known by the
letter being sent to the magistrate, which is a thing
very seldom done. Enough, and more than enough,
has, however, been told to urge on the authorities
to some active measures, and it remains for them
to show the community whether or not they are
worthy of the trust committed to their charge.

In the midst of the rapid progress of European
civilisation it is interesting and instructive to turn
sometimes to the pictures of a different state of
things. An account which has just been received in
this country respecting the condition of Madagascar,
derived from official sources, presents some very
curious aspects. Madagascar is to most of us little
more than a name. It occupies, it is true; a larger
space on our maps than some better known places,
but is only regarded as a large uncivilised island on
the African coast. Some slight interest attaches to
its name from the risks and dangers encountered
there by the indefatigable female traveller Madame
IDA PFEIFFER ; and, in fact, the hardships which
she underwent under the orders of its amiable
QUEEN were the immediate cause of her death.
There was, too, a great commotion in the royal and
political circles of Madagascar some time since, and
the native Christians have always run some risk on
account of their faith. Otherwise Madagascar has
no interest for us; our trade with it is insignificant,
and we know scarcely anything of its products.
All this is, however, owing to accidental circum-
stances, and the story of Madagascar strongly
shows how much more depends on the race which
inhabits a country than on its natural advantages.
Madagascar, so powerless and unimportant, is
larger than France, has a healthy climate, is well
watered, and has two chains of mountains. Gold
and silver are found in some parts, and
copper, iron, mercury, and coal mines exist.
The fertility of the soil is so great that
indigo, tobacco, potatoes, rice, sugar cane,
and other valuable productions, grow almost
spontaneously. Coffee, too, flourishes, or would
flourish with common care, but the thoughtless in-
habitants import the greater part of what they use.
The political constitution of Madagascar has a great
deal to do with its wretched condition. Of what
use are the richest mines to people who are pro-
hibited on pain of death from digging in search of
ores or metals. What gain can be derived from
the most fertile soil when there are no roads for the
conveyance of goods ? With the ingenious idea
of keeping foreigners out of the island
no roads have ever been made, and, consequently,
all merchandise has to be carried on men's shotilders.
On the principle which formerly actuated the Ja-
panese, the great idea with the Queen and the
rulers isto cut off all communication with the outer
world. Yet some trade is carried on with Zanzibar
and Bombay, and there are consuls and foreign set-
tlers in the sea ports. The capital, Antananarivo,
contains about 80,000 persons, and the total p9pu-
lation is estimated at 5,000,000, of whom about
one-tenth are Christians. It is curious to find that
even this out-of-the-way nation has felt the shock
of the American civil war, showing how widely
that convulsion has extended. How long Madagas-
car will continue in its present state is a question
for the curious politician. It is possible that a new
reign may inaugurate a better state of things, and
develope some of the vast natural resources of the
island for the benefit of its own people and the ad-
vantage of the outer world.