The Sun.
London, England, 1854-09-01 00:00:00

tOt

LONDON, FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1854.

The seamen and soldiers of the combined fleets
and armies in the East are already experiencing
the sad results of the inaction to which they have
been subjected. Cholera has attacked them in
• its most aggravated form, and more men have
perished in a few days under the fearful and in-
glorious operation of the pestilence than would
have fallen in the most sanguinary encounter. A
few weeks since they were in the full enjoyment
of the most vigorous health and strength, anxious
only to be led against the foe—to gather the
laurels which they fondly hoped were in store for
them. But neglect and inaction have done their
fatal work. It would almost seem as if the
" Fabian" policy had been resorted to, in order
to damp the spirits of our men, and to promote
the cause of NICHOLAS. Sebastopol !night have
been captured, and its arsenals and the navy that
sheltered under its fortresses destroyed with far
less loss. The whole objects of the war might have
been achieved, and ample material guarantees ob-
tained for the good behaviour of Russia, with a less
expenditure of human life. Our able seamen, our
well-drilled soldiers, are cut off in the prime of life,
without the consolation of thinking that they have
died in rendering any important services to their
country that might preserve their memories green
in the recollection of their brethren. In one vessel
alone, the Britannia, fifty men died in a single
day from the fearful disease, and thirty more
within the next twenty-four hours. Altogether,
one hundred gallant fellows were swept away in
that single ill-fated vessel from the operation of
the disease, while the survivors, dispirited and
weakened, worn out with watching and nursing
their suffering comrades, presented a very diffe-
rent aspect indeed from that of a few days pre-
viously.

Other vessels have suffered in proportion,
althaugh, perhaps, not quite as severely as OR
Brita,nnia. Captain SMITH, of the Simoom, has
been numbered among the victims ; nor have our
gallant allies been exempted from the pest. The
Ville de Paris and the Montebello are reported
each to have lost more than 200 men.
The position of the land forces is scarcely more
favourable than that of the seamen. Their
positions appear to have been selected with a
singular disregard of caution, just as the object
were to succeed in finding out the most pestilen-
tial spots as the sites for the different camps.
,Had any information been sought for, with
• . respect to the salubrity, or otherwise, of the
different localities, it could easily have been ob-
tained. It is now said that Aladyn, where
Sir GEORGE BROWN'S division is quartered, is
4g a regular hot-bed of fever and dysentery ;"
. _
While
Devna, another of the chosen spots, is
known amongst the inhabitants by the ominous
title of "The Valley of Death." Our military
. Martinets, however, appear to think sanitary con-
siderations beneath their notice, and that it is
of greater consequence to see that the chins of
our soldiers be closely shaved, and their
•
"whiskers not be permitted to grow Within two
inches of the corners of their mouths, or on their
throats," or that the " Goatees" be of the regula-
tion cut, than that their health or comforts should
be duly attended to.
• Such was not the case with gloriou3 old Sir
.1..4... CHARLES. Such were not the views or feelings of
• the Hero of Meannee and Hyderabad, who was no
less renowned for his vigour and energy in the
field than for his extraordinary attention to the
*elfaro of his soldiers in the camp or the bar-
sacks. If he was daring in action, he was even
liloro prodigal of his own safety and his own lift
• , than of his followers, and though indifferent to
•,- luxuries, and even the comforts to which his
postawon entitled him, he was by no means so
.%*gird to the reasonable demands of his
, The real interests of the most humble
jr. lr r, pis conaulaud-were as closely seen to
• •
"",`""

4:- .. ~..

as his own. But, alas, he is gone ! When shall
we look upon his like again ?
It is nut under such terrible circumstances that
we can listen to further demandsfor procrastination
or delay. We have already suffered sufficiently
through the lethargy of our rulers. The health
and lives of our gallant defenders by sea and by
land are to be thought of more than the scruples
of the ArrrocßAT. We are not to sacrifice in vain
the lives of our sailors and soldiers, for the grati-
fication of his vanity, or to allow him to escape
the humiliation he has so richly merited. We
must have some consideration for their feelings.
We are not to suffer them to remain dying off
like rotten sheep, while the diplomatists at Vienna
are weighing sentences and grumbling about every
paragraph. Nothing like " action" for banish-
ing the disease. It is the best remedy that could
be resorted to for all classes, for it would banish
that uneasiness of mind and lassitude of body so
unfavourable to its spread. Alaa2ding at the Crimea
and attack on Sebastopol would work a complete cure.
We hear rumours every day that such a move is
in contemplation, but unfortunately its realisation
is still postponed. The Ist September has arrived,
but the matter is not a bit farther advanced than
it was a month since. We trust that this lethargy
may at length be dispelled, and the reasonable
expectations of the French and English peoples be
a: length, albeit at the eleventh hour, completely
fulfilled.

The " traveller" question is assuming additional
interest every day. It was to be anticipated that
where the Legislature and the Police Authorities
refused to give any definition of the phrase,
Magistrates would differ and decide in accordance
rather with the prejudices of the majority than
with the actual merits of the case. Hitherto we
are bound to say, that a fair and liberal interpre-
tation of the Statute has been given. In the
great majority of cases, the excellent precedent
established by Mr. LONG, in dismissing the sum-
mons against the proprietor of Jack Straw's
Castle, has been followed. Thus it has been
decided that drovers coming to Smithfield
Market, visitors from London to Gravesend, to
Hampton Court, and even to Camberwell, are
"travellers" within the meaning of the Act, and,
therefor,, entitled to demand refreshment, which
the landlord would incur considerable danger in
refusing t). supply. One of the Magistrates, the
Hon. Mr. NORTON, has spoken out boldly and
explicitly, declaring his unqualified disapproval
of the alteration in the law, and stating that "it
cannot last, for the time of opening from one to
half-past two was, in his opinion, not long
enough for a publican to serve his customers and
clear his house ; cud, that, therefore, he felt
confident that it must be repealed." Adding,
that "he felt much surprised the public (lid not
oppose the pissing of such an Act." The
Hon. and Leaned. Gentleman also declared
that, " with respect to the much-canvassed ques-
tion as to who are travellers, and who are not, it
was his opinion that a person going from the east
end of the town to the west is as much a traveller,
and, as such, as much entitled to refreshments,
as the person going to Hampstead or Richmond."
This is a sorrel and wise decision, and one that
should be generally adopted. The true test is,
whether a person is sufficiently near to his own
domicile to obtain the meat or drink his exi-
vccics require. If he cart obtain either or both
at his own dwelling, the law declares that he shall
nut be entitled to receive them within certain
hours. In the zeal to promote the sale of Excise-
able liquids it compels parties to lay in stocks
of drink, more, perhaps, than they actually re-
quire, or than they would get, if they could send
out at any moment, but which, as they have it
on hand, they will dispose of. But any person
away from his own home, who has left it for
purposes either of business or pleasure, who is
not, in fact, an inhabitant of the locality in which
he may be at the moment, is entitled to receive
refreshment within the forbidden hours, and that
whether lie he at one of the suburban villages or
in a different part of town. There is one qualifi-
cation to the test of vicinity to the divel-
' ling of the party supplied. If he can
show that ho is returning from a bona fide
journey he may obtain needful refreshment
even at his own threshold. Would it not be
truly ridiculous to say that a person coming
from Liverpool or Manchester to London was not
" travelling" until the very moment that he
entered his own door? Such a person would clearly
require refreshment after so wearisome a trip ;
and if he should be entitled to receive it, so should
the man returning from Richmond, or Hampstead,
or Camberwell, or even from the west end of town
to the east. If he be once " a traveller" he con-
tinues a traveller until once more " at home."

We are aware there have been more stringent
decisions—that the Magistrates at Chelmsford
have held that the engine-drivers and stokers on
the railway were not travellers. This is, how-
ever, so palpably absurd that it scarcely requires
argument to display the error into which the
" great unpaid" of that district have fallen. Of
all others, engine-drivers and stokers, and railway
guards must be regarded as travellers. Their
occupation is essentially " travelling." The greater
portion of their time is spent on the road, or per-
haps, more correctly'speaking, " the rail." They
are not wilfully absent from home, but are obliged
to be so in the performance of duties sanctioned
by Parliament—duties, too, of immense impor-
tance to the lives and property of the passengers
under their ear and of a very arduous character,
requiring frequent refreshment. Why, of all
classes of her MAJFSTY'S subjects they are empha-
tically: those in whose favour an exception ought
to be made, and yLt these Essex " Justices"
think proper to prohibit the much-required re-
freshment.

Mr. HARDWICX, at Mtrlborculla-street, too,
we regret to find, is setting himself in opposition
to the more libe►al views of Messrs. LONG and
NORTON and Alderman MIIGGERIDGE, and en-
deavouring to enforce the more stringent opera-
tion of the new law. He has followed in the line
~f the Chelmsford Justices, by convicting the
I tudlord of the Black Horse, Oxendon-street,
for serving liquor to the driver and conductor
of a Brentford omnibus. His judgment was in
these words :

" He thought it was drawing the matter very
fine indeed to say that these persons were tra-
vellers. He could not view them in that light,
and it did not appear to him that the Legislature
intended to include such cases in the privileges
accorded to travellers. Besides, the omnibus
people, if they really wanted refreshment, could
have drawn up on the road and supplied them-
selves before ten o'clock. As, however, it was
possible that the defendant had acted on mistaken
views as to the meaning of the Act, he would only
call upon him to pay the costs !"
Now, that was practically a conviction. If the
defendant had committed no wrong, he could not
b e charged a farthing for costs any more than the
heaviest fine authorised by the obnoxious law. He
sought justice, not leniency, and it would be better
if the fine were such as to enable him to appeal
against the decision. Ho was called on to
decide on a penal statute, which should be con-
strued liberally on the part of the defendant.
Every word said on behalf of engine-
drivers and stokers is also applicable to that of
drivers and conductors of omnibuses, and the
" fine dra•wing," aye) and " quibbling," is the
statement that they are not " travellers." How
can INIr. HAnnwiek dare to speak of the "inten-
tion of the Legislature," save as it is expressed
within the four clrners of the Act of Parliament ?
He might have chatted at his club, on the Sun-
dty morning, with some self-sufficient Sabbatarian
1.P., but that does not entitle him to speak, ex
ca.thcdra, as to " the intentions of the Legisla-
ture !"
He also decided against the right to serve per-
sons returninc, from a railway excursion, if they
resided in the n&ghbourhood. In this, also, ho
is palpaply in the wrong. The vexation and the
annoyance h owover, the same to those residing

within his district. We trust, then, that the
Home Secretary will adopt speedy measures to
secure uniforMity of decision, and to abate the
nuisance arising from unsound opinions respecting
the operation of this highly vexatious law.

The mutual principle has long been applied to
Life Insurance, but hitherto Fire Insurance has
been conducted, with a local exception or two,
on the old plan ; yet no reason exists theoreti-
cally- why both should not be conducted on the
same system. Fires appear to be more capricious
in their occurrence than the duration of life.
This, however, is not realty the case. Taking
any large district, London for instance, the re-
turns published by Mr. BRAIDWOOD, and arranged
by Mr. BADDELEY, show that the average number
of fires on a series of years is surprisingly alike ;
and not the general average only, but that of par-
ticular trades and occupations also. Hence,
taking a series of years, and a t,lerab e
extent of business, it is easy to ascer-
tain a safe rate of insurance, and to deter-
mine the higher charge whit h must be made for
hazardous trades. As safe tables, theref le, can
be easily constructed, it follows that if some gua-
ranteed provision can be made to overcome the
risks of the first few years, the public may as
securely enjoy the advantage of Mutuality in Fire
as in Life Assurance. The "Mutual Principle,"
as CHAMBERS long ago observed, " is the only one
in which the public has any interest ;" it is the
only one which reduces insurance to the least pos-
sible cost, by returning the legitimate profits at
short stated intervals to the Insurers, while either
by a Guaranteed Fund borrowed at interest for
a time, or eventually by their own accumulated
Reserve Fund, companies formed on- this princi-
ple are as secure as any other.

It has been reserved, however, for the British
Empire Mutual Fire Assurance Company, a re-
port of whose annual meeting appears in another
page, to popularise this great principle in regard
to Fire Assurance. It has now been established
for six years, and has just declared its second
Triennial Return of Profits to its members.
Without for one moment disparaging the
numerous well-established and valuable offices
already in existence, we may, on behalf of the
public, invite their attention to a comparatively
young office, but one whose progress is remarkably
satisfactory, and which has the great claim of
having been formed not for individual but for
public benefit. As in the Mutual Life Companies
the profits all return ultimately to the policy
holders, and no expenses are incurred by the
public, except those necessary to management,
and the losses actually incurred. Such a plan
deserves the fullest encouragement on the part of
the public; and as it is certain that there is an im-
mense amount of property uninsured, and build-
ings are increasing around us with marvellous
rapidity, there is abundant scope for the liberal
support of a Company which offers such advan-
tages to the community.
It is to be feared that too many think but lightly
of the duty of insurance against fire. We have
known many of our neighbours risk their pro-
perty for years together, or insure it much below
its value, assuming that a total loss is unlikely ;
yet they may see every day almost in our columns
accounts of fires from the most unforeseen, often
unknown, causes ; very frequently accounts of
total losses also. The first question they ask.
" Was it insured, and for how much 1" thight well
suggest the inquiry whether they themselves are li
insured, and insured adequately. Nu one ought
to expose his property to absolute destruction at
any moment, by the malice of the incendiary, the
carelessness of his neighbour, the oversight of his
own domestics, lightning, or a thousand un thought-
of causes ; but persons dependent for their
livelihood on stock-in-trade, buildings, or any-
thing exposed to destruction by fire, are more
than negligent if they render themselves liable to
indigency or bankruptcy for the sake of a few
shillings or pounds per annum. The creditors or,
friends who, in case of their ruin or even embar-
rassment, would bitterly arid justly reproach them,
ought to be thought of. If a person chooses im-
prudently to risk his own property, surely no one
for the sake of a small annual payment ought to risk
the prOperty of others, and to incur the danger 'of
becoming burdensome to relations, or of injuring
creditors. We fear these considerations are but
too commonly overlooked.
One great hindrance to Fire Insurance is, no
doubt, the exorbitant and obnoxious duty. A
tax in these days of free trade, too, of cent. per
cent. at least ! A tax which is neither levied upon
a luxury, nor made compulsory on all, but one
wrested from the prudent and conscientious only,
while the .reckless and penurious escape. The
British Empire Cornpany, we perceive, has, in
common with others, petitioned against this worst
of impositions, and we may hope when the great
disturber of Europe has received his quietus, that
this tax will soon share his fall.