The Sun.
London, England, 1854-07-19 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 1854.

Yesterday is not unworthy of being inscribed
henceforth as red-letter-day in the Calendar of
Literature. It must be remembered, at least, as
interesting in the literary annals of our genera-
' tion. It must be referred to in terms of pecu-
liar tenderness in a book that remains still to be
written, but one that, sooner or latter, tviil be
written, inevitably, a book eloquent—no matter
from whose hand it may emanate eloquent
with the simple facts of THOMAS HOOD'S bio-
graphy, a record of his life and genius, of his
sufferings and of his philanthropy. In that nar-
rative, yesterday, the 18th of July, 1854, must
perforce be mentioned as a date not unworthy of
very particular commemoration. As scarcely less
worthy of note in the " Life of HOOD" than the
day of his birth, the 23d of May, 1798, or than
the day of his death, the 3d of May, 1845—the
alpha and the omega of that brief History which was
as potent for good, as fraught with stores of elo-
quence, as lucid in meaning, as simple in structure,
as complete, and as symmetrical, as an Alphabet.
Several years have passed by since the body of the
Poet and Humorist was laid in his grave in Ken-
sal-green Cemetery. Half-a-dozen had elapsed
without that grave being marked even by a com-
mon slab or an ordinary head-stone. A few
simple but heart-stirring stanzas from the hand of '
ELIZA COOK first directed attention to the ne-
glected condition of the spot redeemed from ob-
scurity by the dust of the dead Lyrist. Out of
that poetic garland, flung by a gentle sympathy
above the grass-grown grave of HOOD, has sprung
up, in substantial bronze and granite, a very
beautiful and enduring monument. A work of
art not unworthy of the refined taste and ripening
abilities of MArrnEw NOBLE, the sculptor. And
one which, unostentatious though it is, will attest
to posterity that THOMAS HOOD was appreciated
and that his memory was beloved by his contem-
poraries. For the most noteworthy circumstance
in connection with the monument which was
inaugurated yesterday in the presence of a
numerous assemblage, and the uncovering of
which was preceded bya feeling and effective
address delivered upon the
of occasion
accom-
plished member for the borough
Pontefract—
was the fact graven upon the
that this graceful and appropriate pedestal,monument
e wasfact
erected by public subscription.
It has the merit,
therefore, and the importance
of being a sponta-
neous tribute to the memory of Thomas HOOD, a
by the
testimony of grateful and affectionate admiration
proffered by all ranks and classes of his immediate
contemporaries. As such the event of yesterday
becomes of sufficient value to be recorded in the
annals of our home literature. CnasAnsLpEoskDenlcKsoEmNse_
himself illustrious among the most illustrious of
the contemporaries of HOOD, h
where, tenderly and sorrowfully, of the time "when
he had come to know him well, and to see him,
stout of heart, going slowly down into his grave"
--that grave is no longer overlooked or un-
honoured. It bears above it a very visible attes-
tation that the benign genius and the innocent
fame of HOOD are cherished in the na-
tional remembrance. A little while since
and that spot was only marked by the neglected
turf and 04 a funereal hillock. It is now touch-

ingly conspicuous among the pleasant solitudes of
Kensal-green Cemetery. The " monumental
bust"—the granite pedestal with bronze bas-reliefs,
illustrative of an exquisite lyric and an immortal
ballad—the rhetorical epitaph "He Sang the Song
of the Shirt"—the pithy inscription—the lyre
and the comic mask, half-veiled—all are elo-
quently commemorative of the Poet and the
Humorist. Even over his grave his Fame has
blossomed. Standing before that grave, the pil-
grim to the spot hallowed by the dust of THOAIAS
HOOD may now recall to mind with renewed sig-
nificance one of the loveliest of his verses--
" I smell the Rose above the Mould."

While the popular, rising against the Spanish
Queen and her Government is spreading from St.
Sebastian to Barcelona, and from Barcelona to
Saragossa—the desultory struggles between the
Turks and the Russians are continued with con-
siderable bloodshed in Wallachia. It is earnestly
to be hoped that, out of her present troubles, Spain
may come forth at last with a result satisfactory
and advantageous to her population. While, in
regard to the mightier interests at stake on the
banks of the Danube, we can only look forward
with supreme eagerness to some decisive issue
consequent upon the advance of the Anglo-French
contingent. For the interests there at hazard,
or in the balance, contingent upon the
casualties of a campaign, are those not of a
single peninsula, but of a whole continent, or
rather of an entire hemisphere. Hitherto the
events of the campaign in the Danubian provinces,
though often brilliant and some of them very re-
markable, to the glory of the Ottoman arms and
to the especial honour of the Turkish Com-
mander-in-Chief, have in no single instance yet
approximated even to the decisive. Neither the
victory at Citate, nor the previous one at Olte-
nitza. Neither the gallant stand made at Giur-
gevo, nor the heroic defence of the earthen ram-
parts of Silistria. It was not, indeed, to be expected.
All that might have been expected fromthe soldiers
of the SULTAN, as opposed to those of the AUTOCRAT,
would have been that they should have stood
resolutely upon the defensive until the troops of
England and France had arrived on the battle-
field. They have done more than this—they
have not only stood upon the defensive, but acted
upon the aggressive—they have not only pre-
vented the invaders from advancing upon the Bal-
kans, but driven them back beyond the Danube, and
compelled them to take up a new position behind
the Sereth. More than this could not within
reasonable probability have been accomplished by
them under the circumstances. Now, however,
that the Turkish army has been augmented by
the arrival at last, troop by troop, and regiment
by regiment, of the Anglo-French contingent—
we may surely begin to expect intelligence of
some more positive advantage having been gained
over the Muscovites. Therefore it must come
to pass not unnaturally that towards the
close of the summer of 1854, the people of Eng-
land may begin to evidence impatience at the non-
arrival of news of some great victory—a victory
won, not in the name of conquest, but of humanity
—impatience at the continued delay in the advent
of any startlingly satisfactory information.

The Select Committee on Public-houses, Coffee-
houses, and other places of public entertainment,
have just published their report, an abstract
whereof appeared in our impression of Saturday.
We shall not for the present enter into a consi-
deration of the question so far as it concerns the
interests of the licensed victuallers—a numerous,
influential, and (despite their calumniators, vie
say advisedly) highly respectable body, who have
invested large capital in their business—beyond
expressing our dissent from many of the recom-
mendations put forward by the Committee. We
cannot, however, refrain from expressing our ad-
miration of and concurrence with the suggestions
respecting the opening of the Crystal Palace, the
National Gallery, the British and Geological Mu-
seums, the Exhibitions at Marlborough and Gore
Houses, and other establishments, which combine
sound practical instruction with rational amuse-
ment. It is unnecessary to say how completely
we differ from the modern Pharisees who would
convert the Sabbath-day into one of gloom and
seclusion—who would make it a burden to those
who, having spent six days in toil, require a little
who:wome and innocent recreation on the seventh
day, in order that they may be enabled to return
to their monotonous tasks with renovated health
and spirits. We have too often expressed our
opinions on the important and interesting question
to require any additional proofs of our opposition
to the determined efforts now making to abridge
the liberty of the subject by enacting additional
restrictions on the use of the only day which
the working man can call his own. These at-
tempts have been so perseveringly made for some
time that, unless the people speak out boldly and
unequivocally, measures may be carried of which
it is impossible to predict the results. The Sab-
batarians seek to introduce " the sharp end of the
wedge," by means whereof eventually a new code
may be carried, " bristling with pains and penal-
ties" against every man who dares to think for
himself, and to differ on matters of religion from
those who make up by energy and activity for
the paucity of their numbers.
The Noble Lords and Hen. Gentlemen who
may have to decide on these matters will not be
themselves in any degree affected thereby. They
do not require public-houses or coffee-shops to be
opened for their entertainment on Sundays. When
or how often do they resort to these establish-
ments even when they are available ? They do
not want to purchase wines, spirits, or malt
liquors by retail. Their cellars are well stocked
with all they could desire of the best qualities.
They do not need public conveyances. They can
order out their own carriages to go wherever they
please, and order their cooks to store them with
provisions if they depart any distance from home.
They can inspect the public sights on week days,
and do not, therefore,_ want any facilities for
visiting them on Sundays. If wearied of- the
domestic circle, the portals of the different
clubs of which they are members expand for their
admission. It is the ot roXXot who are really in-
terested—the multitude of labouring men, who
are occupied from an early hour in the morning
until late in the evening all the week, and who
can never hope to behold these miracles of art and
science, by which their intellects may be expanded
and enlightened, unless there be some modifica-
tion of the existing law.

The value of such a modification was strikingly
illustrated in respect of the Zoological Gardens,
Dublin, which were opened on Sundays at the al-
most nominal admission of one penny. At that
price thousands and tens of thousands flocked
thereto, where they spent their time peacefully
and happily, and returned to their families cheer-
fully and soberly, with the money in their pockets
that would otherwise have been spent in dissipa-
tion. If the evidence of those who availed them-
selves of the boon offered by the Council could be
taken, the full extent of the benefit would be felt.
As it is, the statement of the Committee has been
abundantly substantiated, so as to leave no doubt
in the mind of any unprejudiced and disinterested
inquirer. Even at the Crystal Palace, the
exclusion promotes the cause of intemper-
ance, for many flock to its gates, who, in
consequence of being unable to obtain admission,
remain drinking at the public-houses, become in-
toxicated, and get involved in disputes and
quarrels, that afterwards lead to very serious
consequences.
No man can be made religious by Act of Parlia-
ment Unless persons are disposed themselves
to attend Divine worship, no penal enactments
will make them do so. Indeed they would ope-
rate rather in the opposite direction, by disgusting
the
People. The religion of the Gospel is not one
of gloom and austerity. A pious cheerfulness of
disposition is far better than sour, querulous dis-
content. Prevent any public impropriety,
anything that could shock a really moral
man. But check not innocent recreation, or a
demon may be evoked which cannot easily be
exorcised, and which may
lead to a state of affairs
of which the advocates
of restriction have but
little notion. The sessionis far advanced; but