The Sun.
London, England, 1862-11-27 00:00:00

THE LANCASHIRE DIS7RESS.

It is possible that a Count Rumford—an apostle
of comfort to the destitute—may arise out of the
needs of the time; and perhaps I may have been led
to the choice of my theme to-day by some vague
hope that the revival of the image of Count Rum-
ford may hasten. the appearance of some successor,
in the crisis of our need. We all rejoice to hear of
a sick kitchen in one place ; of penny meals and
pleasant rooms to eat them in another; and of pro-
posals for a training kitchen elsewhere. 'We are all
glad to hear that in some districts the melancholy
sameness of the dole of meal and soup, or bread and
soup, is broken up, and that the variety of potato-
hash, rice and milk, &c., is introduced. But still,
we are but too well aware that the people gene-
rally are not sufficiently nourished, and that they
do not so enjoy their meals as to derive the full
benefit of what they eat. We have not now,
thank Heaven ! natural philosophers who pro-
pose starch for poor men's diet, because starch com-
prehends such and such nutritious elements; nor
mighty Dukes who come forward, brave in conscious
humanity, to recommend a pinch of curry powder
in cold water to warm the poor man's stomach,
aching with emptiness. We have not to blush for
this kind of display of humanity; but neither have
we as yet a Count Rumford who would ask of us
only our money and our help, in order to ensure a
full and comfortable support to every sufferer in
Lancashire till the mills are going again. We would
readily forgive any appearance of military drill in
his methods, at such an hour as the present, in con-
sideration of the security he would certainly give
us that nobody should die of hunger, if only we
would provide the money, and would give him the
spending of it. If a Count Rumford the Second
would present himself to-day, we would make sure
of his name being known in the next century more
widely end more familiarly than that of his prede-
cessor.— Once a Week,.

SOUTHAMPTON, Wednesday.—run rrui
cu Ce.-
man Lloyd screw stermer Hansa, Captain H. J. Von
Santen, sailed hence to-day at two p.m. for New York.
with German and English mails and a full cargo of general
merchandise. She takes out 249 passengers, among whom
is his Excellency R. Schleiden, Minister Resident for the
Free Hanseatic Towns at Washington.

DEATH OF THE REV. NORMAN MACL EOD, OF St.
CoLumues, GLASGOW.—We regret to record the death of
the Rev. Norman Macleod, D.D., minister of the parish of
St. Columba, Glasgow, which took place yesterday morn-
ing. Deceased was the father of the Rev. Dr. Norman
Macleod, of the Barony Parish, and was for some years one
of the Deans of the Chapel Royal. He was 75 years of age,
and his ministry extended over a period of 55 years. He
was ordained in 1808, and was Mcderator of the General
Assembly of the Church of Scotland in 1836.—Scotsman.

A WORD ABOUT THE ISLE OF SKYE.—If we had
such a "guide, philosopher, and friend" as Count Rum-
ford at this moment, we must give him something more
than even the area of our cotton manufacture to
manage. We must, be the Lancashire pressure what
it might, take him to the Island of Skye.—
Yes, even so ; though it is no trifle to cross the tur-
bulent Northern seas, and land on the Hebrides in
winter. The melancholy truth is that unless we do, in
heart and in purse, cross that stormy sea, and visit Skye
without delay, the sounding shores of that solemn island
will be strewn with the silent dead by the time the winter is
over. According to the latest accounts, the state of things
in Skye is most desperate, and unless something is done
quickly there will be worse suffering in Skye this winter
than we have seen in Lancashire.—Once a Week.
AFRICAN EXLORATION JOURNEY OF M. JULES
GERARD.—Yesterday a numerously attended meeting took
place in the Cotton-sales- room, Exchange, Liverpool, for
the purpose of hearing from M. Jules Gerard, the celebrated
African traveller and lion killer, an account of his projected
exploration of Central Africa. The chair on the occasion
was occupied by Mr. Charles Turner, M.P., and the audi-
ence included a large number of the merchants and ship-
owners of Liverpool. M. Gerard, who spoke in French,
described his experience in African travels and his adven-
tures on that continent ; and explained that during his
many years' sojourn in Africa he had acquired an intimate
knowledge of the languages and habits of various tribes of
people, which, he urged, would be valuable in his pen
contemplated journey. He had received the permission of
the French Government to prosecute a journey into Central
scheme heldstated
Africa, and in detailing the plan of this
that his objects in undertaking thei°urilherchwhoauve their
first, to ascend one of the principal rivers
sources of the Niger. now unknown,
and
of the peoples
mouths on the coast of Guinea ; secondly,wted searchto
acquire for the
n
knowledge of the resources of the country
foorwhixa!
possibility there would be
who reside in those mountainreaourgegt
settlementsousas al
of
creating
that part of Africa and
tending the producing powers.
Europethirdly, to continue these
its barter trade with
• the shores of the Niger as far
atti studies on the countries among
tohbeseprveaotpiloonswhaondinnhathrthiebsiety,
from Timbuctoo he intends to
as Timbuctoo ;
fb° the Great Desert and to Liverpool to
return to Europendyation of a first settlement on the spot
organize the
appearin the mast favourable. M. Gerard fur_
that his undertaking had received the sup_
port and geographical • •
of several omen societies, and ex-
port would likewise receive
hope that he the sympathies
pressed a
f the merchants of Liverpool.
all
and support they explained ed
Mr. Turner
urged that the project should, be supported by them as men,
on ground that M. Gerard efforts would tend to abolish the
horrible massacre of human beings of which we now read
as occurring on the African continent, and also that it
should be promoted by them as merchants, as the object
was to develope the resources of a fertile but hitherto un-
productive region. Mr. John Laird, M.P., likewise corn-
mended the undertaking, and pointed out the peculiar fit-
ness from past experience of M. Gerard to prosecute the
journey. It was announced that Mr. Charles Stoess had
consented to become local treasurer of the fund, and that
subscriptions would be received at the various public insti •
,iitions of the town.

The last advices horn Brazil are very encouraging
with regard to the future ability of that empire to
contribute to the cotton supply. It is asserted
from influential sources that supposing high prices
to continue the crop of next year will be such as to
realise £4,000,000, and that in 1864 the quantity
will at least be doubled. She seed is being sown
extensively in all the provinces, and it is said with
complete succeed.