The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-19 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, 'WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 19, 1862.

Plainly and steadily before us to admit of our
cherishing in regard to these efforts any overween-
ing sense of exaltation—the thought that as the
funds pour in, so they pour out also towards the
relief of the afflicted. Immense as the distress is,
munificent as are the accumulated funds collected
together to relieve it—the whole system of relief
is (necessarily, we should premise, under the circum-
stances), a hand to mouth system. There is no pos-
sibility of husbanding the resources now being
gathered together. Large though they are in
themselves, they are in a manner insignificant
when compared with the werld of afflic-
tion they may be the means of dissipating
if but promptly and judiciously applied—as.they are
being ! Considerable though the amount received
already by the Central Committee and the subordi-
nate Committees co-operating with it—the moneys
have come to hand piecemeal, and have been dis-
tributed out of hand piecemeal. There has been no
opportunity whatever of laying them out, in the
ordinary acceptation of the phrase, to the best ad-
vantage. Supposing the capital could have been
realised at once by some miraculous process—the
interest upon it, even then, would have been wholly
inadequate for the alleviation of even a sectional
part of the great mass of misery and destitution
that had to be taken into account and helped
promptly and practically. From hand to mouth,
we must insist therefore, that alone could any real
relief be afforded. Alaii from hand to mouth it has
been afforded in consequence. During the last
wcek not far from £20,000 (according to the se-
cretary's book, £19,300) have poured into the
relief fund cared for by the Central Committee at
Uanehester. Yet—before the new weekly grants
were authorised at Monday's meeting—the Central
lutgei reserve
fund than £76,565 altogether. This—to meet a
distress that, estimated by the loss of wages alone,
amounts, according to Mr. COBDEN'S figures, to a
weekly mulcting at the annual rate of £7,000,000
to £10,000,000. Notwithstanding all which there
is no room, happily, for the nation being in any
way disheartened. By this time the magnitude of
the difficulty is becoming on all hands fully realised.
Our magnates are in no respect disposed to blink
it. It is fully realised—and it is being manfully en-
countered. So far as the country can contrive to
deal with it, it will be allowed to do so. When the
difficulty becomes too great for these spontaneous
efforts on the part of the community, the Govern-
ment, in obedience to the Councils of the State, will
interpose to guard the afflicted multitude in the
north from the horrors of actual starvation. A
Government Grant is the National Reserve of Bene-
volence. It is the thought that is, there, always
ready at hand, to be applied to some supreme dis-
tress at an instant's notice, that heartens the people
on in their spontaneous char:ties. Not in any way,
however, leading them to relax their own indivi-
dual efforts. But, on the contrary, inciting them
even to renewed exertions—by the influence, as one
might almost call it, of an anticipatory emulation.
So long as they can in any way contrive to do so,
we may be certain that the People of England will
strive to meet the difficulty themselves. When
their efforts to this end shall prove unhappily in-
efficacious, then, but not sooner, let the Government
promptly and resolutely come to the rescue.

If the Economist be right, and its figures ap-
pear to be well authenticated, there is some hope
that with this winter we shall have have passed
the worst of the cotton crisis, and that by the
beginning of 1863 there will be such a resump-
tion of work, as shall greatly alleviate the suffer-
ings of the great body of the workmen. At pro-
sent the price of cotton is so high, and the price
of the manufactured articles so disproportionately
low, that manufacturers dare not work. Nothing,
indeed, more clearly proves the great extent to
which production had been overdone, than the
comparatively low prices of manufactured cotton
goods at this time. They bear no reasonable
comparison with the prices demanded for the raw
material. This state of things is, however, tend-
ing to remedy ;tself. The high prices of raw
cotton bi ing it to Liverpool from every quarter,
and so tend, ultimately, to reduce the price ; on
the other hand, the cessation of production must,
before long, raise, the prices of yarns and goods.
Thus. at last, the relation between the prices
of the two will be such that work can be resumed
without too heavy loss. As soon as this is the
case manufacturers will be but too glad to avoid
the heavy loss attendant on stopped machinery,
and the partial support of their operatives.
Our contemporary, whose introductory remarks
to the following statement, appear to be well
founded, sums up as follows:

The estimates for 1863 will then stand thus

Bales, Bales.
Stock of all kinds on Dec, 31, 1862
Probable imports from India 1,400,000
f) 7) Egypt
Brazil
lf If
If Other quarters.. 25,000

1,775,000

Total supply for 1863
Expert demand
Consumption, for say four days a week,
about 28,000 bales pi 52 weeks----- 1,456,000

2,0.56,000

Stock, Dec. 31, 1563 119,000

The amount required for four days' work a week we have
calculated on the standard of 1861. But with the economy
that has since been enforced in every mill and in every pro-
cess, a less quantity might perhaps suffice. The result,
however, is in in any case encouraging; since it shows
that, even without a single bale arriving from America,
there would still be cotton enough to afford our operatives
about two-thirds their ordinary work and wages, and still
leave a stock of upwards of 100,000, bales at the end of 1863.

This is an encouraging prospect, and we hope will
be verified by fact. As soon as only short time to
the extent of four days a week oan become general,
we may hope for the dawn of a more cheerful
state of things. The prospect is one which should
however encourage to contributions of every kind,
by removing the chill of hopelessness; since it is
perfectly certain that all which can possibly be done
will barely preserve life, and the health requisite
for the resumption of work ; not to mention that the
resumption of work will at best be very gradual,
and all calculations of this kind, are liable to dis-
turbance from unforseen causes.

THE LORD RECTORSHIP OF GLASGOW
UAIVERSI2Y.

(From the IVorth British Mail.)

Yesterday morning the subjoined letter was re-
ceived by the secretary to the Liberal Association
from Lord Palmerston, who, it will be seen, has
accepted the rectoral chair for the next three years :
" 94, Piccadilly, 17th November, 1862.

" Sir,—l have to acknowledge the receipt of your letter
of the 15th instant, Linforming me that the University of
Glasgow have done me the high honour of electing me
their Lord Rector for the ensuing three years; and I beg
to assure you that I shall accept the distinction so conferred
upon me with much gratitude and pride. There were rea-
sons founded on circumstances wholly unconnected with
Glasgow, which Jed me before the election to wish that the
choice of the University might fall upon some other pet -
son, but those reasons must give way to the very flattering
decision which tho University has been pleased to make.—
I am, sir, yours faithfully,
(Signed) " rALMERSTON.
" George Faulds, Esq."

A volume entitled "London Scenes and London
People" is announced for early publication. The book will
consist of a series of papers on the antiquities of London,
And also modern sketches, which have been contributed to
.
C4lll Xrcfs, Aucler siguAtwe of " AlePhs''

LATEST NEWS.

COPENHAGEN, Nov. 19.

The reply of the Danish Government to Earl
Russell's note of the 24th September in reference
to Schleswig-Holstein is published to-day. It

says: --

"The maintenance of the common Constitution
in Schleswig is a vital question for Denmark. The
Danish Government will, therefore, firmly adhere
to the line of conduct prescribed by this conviction.
The acceptance of tho propositions made by Earl
Russell would lead to the destruction of Constitu-
tional life in Denmark, and would soon even im-
peril the existence of the Monarchy itself."

TURIN, Nov. 18, EVENING.
Tile Chamber of Deputies was opened for the

session to-day.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs laid upon the
able diplomatic documents relating to the Roman

question.

Signor Buoncompagni asked for an explanation
of the policy adopted by the Ministry.
Signor Ratazzi declared himself ready to afford
an exposition of his conduct as a Minister, and the
debate was appointed by the Chamber to take place
on Thursday.

Nov. 19.

The diplomatic documents laid upon the table of
the Chamber of Deputies in yesterday's sitting
were :—The circular, dated the 10th of September,
issued by General Durando, which has already been
published ; a note, dated the Bth of October, ad-
dressed by General Durando to the Chevalier di
Nigra ; and the note of M. Drouyn de Lhuys, in
reply to the circular note of General DurvudQ.

ROME, Nov. 18, Evening.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince of Wales and
the Prince of Prussia have been received by his
Holiness in private audience.
The Archbishop of Besancon has arrived here.

ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. 18.

A report of the Minister of Finance to the Em-
peror has been published to-day, showing the bene-
ficial results during the last half-year of the system
of calling in bank notes. The export of precious
metals has been reduced to the extent of l 9 mil-
lions, and the rate of exchange has improved.

ATHENS, Nov. 15.
Disturbances have broken out at Patras.
The telegraphic communication has been re-esta.
blished between Chios and Syra.

PARIS, TUESDAY EVENING.

The trial of the Due de Grammont Caderousse
and the four seconds in the duel in which Mr.
Dillon, editor of the Sport, was killed on the 23d
ult., took place to-day, when all the parties were
acquitted.

The consideration of the claim of Mrs. Dillon, as
pantie civile, was adjourned.

THE BOMBAY MAIL.

The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation
Company have received the following telegram :
" MARSEILLES, Nov. 19.
" The Euxine, with the above mail, arrived at
Marseilles at 8 a.m. this day.
" The mail was to leave for London at 11.30

a.m."

on the National Debt is 115,000,000f1., and the War
Department, for the army and navy together, pur-
poses to spend 122,000,000f1.-92,000,000f1. for ordi-
nary, and 30,000,0001 for extraordinary expenses—
so that no more than 117,000,000f1. will be left for
defraying the expenses of the civil administration.
The Reichsrath proposes to levy a tax on all rail-
road tickets which cost more than two florins, but
it is probable that such an impost will hardly
bring in more than seven or eight hundred
thousand florins per annum. The tax at present
I levied on the coupons of state and pzivate stock is
5 per cent., but it is likely that it will be raised to
7 per cent. before the session of the Reichsrath is
at an end. The Directors of the Bank are about to
request the Upper House to mediate between them-
selves and the representatives of the people, as they
consider themselves hardly treated by the latter.
It is possible that such is really the case, but in my
opinion an appeal to the " Lords " will do harm
rather than good, as the members of the Lower
House strongly object to the interference of the
nominees of the Crown in matters of finance.