The Sun.
London, England, 1865-11-23 00:00:00

lIIGLI WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

Tu►a DAY.—Alorning, 4b. 48m.--Afternoon, sh. 6m.
r,U.3-Moßnow.-I.luruing, sh. 30,u.—Afternoon, sh. 50m.

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mirt is

LONDON, THURSDAY, NOV. 23, 1865.
• /

The commercial interests engaged in the trade
with Chili are too extensive and important to allow
the outrageous conduct of the Spanish Admiral to be
passed over with indifference. Accordingly, the
aggressor is likely to be speedily called to a strict
account ; although in dealing with a country less
immediately affecting European interests he might,
judging from former examples, have escaped with
more impunity. The merchants of Liverpool, as we
have seen, lost no time in addressing the Foreign.
office on the fiubj eet, and the heade of the London

houses engaged in the Chilian trade have since pre-
sented a memorial to the Earl of CLARENDON.
A reply was received from Mr. HAMMOND
yesterday, in which the Under-Secretary stated
that Her MAJESTY'S Government were fully sensible
of the injurious effect likely to be produced upon
British commerce by the blockade. Instructions on
the subject were sent to Her MAJESTY'S Minister.
at Madrid on the 18th inst., according to Mr. HAM-
MOND'S statement, and he adds that the Government
are fully resolved to use their best endeavours to
bring the matter to a speedy conclusion. It is to be
hoped that the strong remonstrances which have
been addressed to the Cabinet of Madrid will in-
duce the Spanish Government to moderate its ex-
travagant pretensions. M. TAVERA, in his recent
letter, seeks to exonerate his chiefs, and to throw
the blame upon Admiral PAREJA, since he
declares that he has been continually as-
sured of the anxiety of the Spanish Government
to maintain amicable arrangements with Chili,
saving only the dignity of Spain. We fear, how-
ever, that this excuse can hardly be accepted. It
is likely enough, indeed, that should the remon-
strances of other nations prove too strong for Spain
to disregard, her Ministers will find it convenient
to make Admiral PAREJA their scapegoat, but it is
not likely that a man in so important an office
should so greatly exceed his instructions ; neither
is it probable that the Spanish Government would
have appointed a new Ambassador without
giving him fully to understand their intentions
towards Chili. The very facts of Admiral
PAREJA superseding M. TAVERA, and of his
combining the functions of Admiral and Ambassa-
dor, are significant enough. He can supply his
diplomatic dictation by his naval authority, and ex-
cuse his aggression as an Admiral by his duty as
an Ambassador. The truth is no doubt that Spain
finds it very convenient to reconcile her exhausted
treasury at the expense of the South American
Republics, and having succeeded only too well with
Peru, she now thinks it expedient to extend her pro-
ceedings. Admiral PAREJA'S communication was
addressed to the Chilian Government on the
fiftieth anniversary of their independence, a
wanton insult, which was not without meaning.
The Spaniards are likely, however, to find they
have gone too far. The merchants of Havre have
addressed the Emperor on the subject, and the
Paris merchants have convoked a meeting, while
the Americans are also likely to take the matter up.
If they do so there will be little chance for the
fleet of Admiral PAREJA. The Chilian Government
has, it is said, already issued letters of marque, and
it is said that many of them have gone to the United
States, so that it is more than probable the attempt
to enrich the Spanish exchequer will be a very dis-
astrous one. Half a dozen privateers from Liver-
pool and New York will make short work with
Spanish commerce, and there will be no unnecessary
delay should the Americans accept the letters,
which they will most probably do, being at no loss
for efficient vessels or daring spirits to man and
lead them. Chili has assumed a most resolute atti-
tude, and the aggressor will find that she has a
more troublesome customer to deal with than she
had when attacking Peru. The Chilians are de-
termined neither to part with their independence
nor to sacrifice their treasure and encumber their
resources to satisfy a demand which may be re-
peated next year on equally frivolous pretexts.
The rule that is of universal application in private
life holds good also in the affairs of nations.
If a man once begins to buy off an aggressor,
or an importunate claimant who for some
reason or another seeks to coerce him, his
contributions are never ceasing. Having once
weakly yielded he has added to his own difficulties,
and the chain on his resources increases year by
year. Spain would end by extorting a species of
tribute from the Republics whose independence was
long ago recognised by the European Powers if she
could proceed in her unscrupulous course un-
molested. Chili probably relies on foreign assist-
ance, and reckons on the interference of England
and France, knowing the detriment to their com-
mercial interests involved in the blockade, but the
spirit of the people and the bold and resolute course
adopted by the Government are no less to be com-
mended. "No sooner," says a Valparaiso journal,
" were PAREJA'S intentions fully disclosed, and his
determination to enforce the demand of Spain by
hostilities, notwithstanding all efforts to the con-
trary, looked upon as settled, than the Congress of
Chili, in both houses, passed a declaration of war.
A loan of $20,000,000 has been authorised, and un-
limited power granted the executive for raising
troops and procuring ships for the defence of the
country." Notwithstanding this unanimity and
resolution, Chili has of course suffered severely.
Business at Valparaiso has been paralysed, and a
regular panic produced. The news of the crisis
occasioned an immediate run on the banks, but
the Congress—who seem fully equal to the
difficulty of the situation—at once passed a
law allowing the banks to issue a million and a
half of bank-notes under certain restrictions. This
will of course tend materially to improN e the finan-
cial situation even in face of Admiral PAREJA'S
threats, that if Chili does not yield in 45 days he
will proceed to stronger measures, meaning, pro-
bably, the bombardment of Valparaiso. The Ad-
miral himself, however, may be in a different posi-
tion before then, and his Government may have
found it expedient on many grounds to recall him
before he can fulfil his kind intentions. We have
seen the Chilian authorities, having declared war,
mean something more than mere verbal defiance by
such a proceeding, and already there are some
ominous movements. A corvette and a steamer
well armed, fully manned, and provisioned for a
long cruise, succeeded in getting out through the
blockading fleet. Their destination is unknown, but
it is not difficult to guess. The blockade is indeed
ridiculously ineffectual, and that of itself would
constitute a quite sufficient reason for disregarding
it. The
minorTheC Chilian Government have thrown open all
the
ports to foreign commerce, and taken
off all import and export duties, advantages of
which foreign merchants will promptly avail them-
selves.
Four smart steamers, it is said, were to
leave New York on the 10th inst. with the inten-
tion of running the blockade—a feat they will be
very likely to accomplish. The Consuls maintain
their protest against the unwarrantable conduct of
Spain, a course in which they w ill of course be
I supported by their Governments. Altogether, Spain
has got herself into a difficulty from which it is
very improbable that she will extricate herself
without material sacrifice as well as loss of re-
putation.

A letter in the Times of to-day calls attention to
the question of compensation, which is one that just
now engages a considerable share of notice, and
well deserves it, on account of its importance and
interest to many. It is quite true what is stated
by the writer, that the time has now passed when
there existed a chance of " stamping out" the
disease by the sweeping course pursued ; but, not-
withstanding this, the " Inspectors continue to
decree wholesale slaughter of animals that may be
the companions of those attacked." It stands to
reason that the continuance of this course must be
Productive of immense loss to 11 concerned,

and, certainly, we have as yet seen no
beneficial effects result from the constantr.use of
the " pole-axe." Surely it is time that the Go-
vernment made some alteration in this plan, for it
is adding to the distress already too keenly felt
in all -parts of the country. In many places influen-
tial persons have condemned the " wholesale slaugh-
ter," but with no avail. This is one great disad-
vange which we have had to contend against in
this calamity of the cattle plague occurring at a
time when Parliament is not sitting. The
force of public opinion then has full weight in
influencing the decision of the Legislature in such
cases, but, as things have now turned out, the
unfortunate possessors of cattle have had to
run the risks of experimental doctoring that
are begun in haste, and yet not changed or modified
to suit the tests of experience. It was all very well
at first to adopt the extreme measure of the Govern-
ment inspectors having power to slaughter all ani-
mals they thought proper, but the very reason which
then sanctioned the adoption of the course now
operates against it, because the chance of stopping
the progress of the disease by this means is lost,
since the plague has spread in all directions. If,
however, it be resolved upon by the authorities
to continue this course of destruction for
an indefinite period, it is of national im-
portance that some compensation should be
given to those who suffer so greatly by the continu-
ance of this experimental process. In the letter
referred to it is said with great justice that if this
butchery is intended to protect other herds, and thus
to conduce to the advantage of the public, " the
public ought in equity to compensate the farmer for
all beasts doomed by the public officer to the bul-
let or the pole-axe." It is always a false system to
pursue to make some individuals the chief sufferers
by any national calamity, and this case of the cattle
plague is, above all others, one in which the loss
should be borne by the whole community, and not
confined to particular parts. As soon as Parliament
meets there can be no doubt that the matter will
receive due inquiry, but in the meantime there is no
excuse for the arbitrary course now in vogue being
continued. Injustice is always doubly hard to bear,
and it certainly is unjust to insist upon the whole-
sale destruction of animals not affected, and yet to
refuse any compensation. What makes it the more
objectionable is that as it is the losses entailed upon
the owners of cattle by the prevalence of the disease
are already so numerous and heavy that they can ill
afford to bear an additional burden.

Over work is one of the chief evils of the present
day, and in all classes it is carried to a great excess.
Nothing is more injurious to health and strength,
nor so short-sighted a principle, for it defeats its
own purpose in the end. The work cannot possibly
be so well done, and, what is of far more conse-
quence, the energies of the worker must sooner or
later fall a sacrifice to over-pressure and constant
excitement, without due rest and relaxation. Mis-
taken and mischievous as such a habit is among
those classes who are more or less independent, it
is with those who are compelled to labour inces-
santly for their own support and those of their
families that the public have to do. Last year there
was a great outcry raised concerning the mis-
management of dressmakers' assistants and appren-
tices, but it is to be feared with very little practica
result or real benefit accruing to the sufferers. The
1
length of time which some of those employed on
railways are kept at their posts has often been re-
ferred to, and it will be remembered that in the
memorable accident on the Brighton line some time
back it was ascertained that some men were en-
gaged for far too many hours at a stretch. No
doubt, however, in this instance, as in many others,
the examinations relative to the disaster brought to
light a practice only too prevalent in other directions.
On Tuesday Dr. LANK ESTER held an inquiry on the
body of a man who was killed on the London and
North-Western Railway, while he was passing a
truck from one line to another by means of a turn-
table. There was nothing extraordinary in the
accident, but the jury would not return a verdict
until further investigation was made, on account of
some of the witnesses stating that deceased had been
overworked. A young woman, who appeared on
behalf of deceased's wife, declared that before the
accident the unfortunate man had worked, without
intermission, for two nights and one day. In proof
of this she said that she had gone with the wife to
get the week's salary, and that these " two days and
a half overtime were credited on the bill." The
ordinary night hours were justly censured by the
jury as being far too long, from six one evening to
seven the following morning was stated by one of
the witnesses as the time which he (deceased) and
the other men worked, and the accident happened
during the last hour of work. The jury properly
remarked that it was no wonder the deceased had
made the mistake which cost his life in scotching
the wheels of his truck before it was fairly on the
turntable when they considered how the man bad
been overworked. It will be a great point gained if
this melancholy occurrence prove the means of
ameliorating the management of work on railway
lines. The safety of the public is greatly endangered
by those employed in fulfilling important duties
being wearied and worn out, and it is not the ques-
tion whether the men are not free agents to engage
in extra work. Their own safety and the safety of
the public demand that no more than ordinary
duties are undertaken in such perilous work as
railway travelling often necessitates. Any attempt to
do too much is very likely to prove fatal as in the
instance above recorded, and if it does not invari-
ably happen so, that is no excuse for those who
incur the risk, nor for those who allow them to
do so.

The LATE W. M. THACKERAY.—The honorary
monument to Wm. Makepeace Thackeray has been
erected in Westminster Abbey. The memorial consists of
a fine bust, by Baron Marochetti, upon a base of red ser-
pentine, and mounted on a bronze support. The inscrip-
tion simply records the name, with the dates of birth and
death. The bust is slightly toned. It is fixed against a wall
column in the south transept, behind the statue of Addison.
The work was uncovered on Monday morning, the daughters
of the lamented author, the Dean of Westminster, the sculptor
and the honorary secretary of the Memorial Fund, Mr.
Shirley Brooks, attending.
TRANSPORT OF TROOPS BY RAILWAY.—To show
the great facilities which railways now afford for
the transport of troops to all parts of the country, Lieut.-
Colonel Palmer, of Nazing Park, lately offered the Secre-
tary of State of War, at any time he might desire it, to
place the battery of six guns attached to the Essex Yeo-
manry Cavalry with 100 men upon the railway at Walt-
hamCross, and to convey them within 24 hours to any part
of the North of Ireland. Lieutenant-Colonel Palmer has
offered to rase a regiment of light cavalry (lancers) in the
North of Ireland, to act in support of and with these guns,
f it should be required.
SAD DEATH OF A GIRL.--A remarkable accident
hhimsaaeabsnitt,joasU mnsatintss
falloccurred at Aberdare, Glamorganshire. It
eton providep
arbaocut it on
eetihntehmeeosl
themselves with
districtswaint hdtoeraaflomsrlfvtrhommey
sps
fuorocohrmefrr
frag-
ments
bya
her various
ergipi.alrparents passing
bnotustbr6f
rykeesaarsndold,
daybreak
named waggons.in s e t u
Elizao.
search
hnoS Price,f a
cuo radg ' a Saturday
wastid
smorn-
ingse hn etsucceedediu possessing herself of a lump weighing between
GO and 40 lb. Having placed it on her head she was car-
rying it home, when, upon passing down one of the cinder
tops, her foot slipped, and she was thrown backward. The
block of coal fell forward, and came with its entire weight
upon her chest and stomach. On recovering herself a
little she
cottagentveexdcltaimo
ed ~3i
stagger home, and on entering her I
got the coal, but
parents'
fell down, and it has killed me." Her mother was terribly
alarmed, but on the poor girl exclaiming " Oh, I am dying,"
w
she carried her to an up-stairs room, where, in
.a very few
minutee afterwards, she expind.—CamMan Daily Leader,