The Sun.
London, England, 1848-07-28 00:00:00

Obitinin_!,i :ItiL

LONDON, FRIDAY, JULY 26, MS.

We rejoice to state that the intelligence received

yesterday respecting the state of Ireland, and the

actual commencement of the rebellion in that un-
happy land, has been wholly uncorroborated, and
that it may fairly be assumed to have been without
any sufficient foundation. In common with the
great majority of the metropolitan journals, we gave
circulation to these statements which had unfortu-
nately too great an appearance of truth to permit us
to doubt that there was at least some groundwork of
fact, on which the circumstantial details of the nar-
rative were erected. It was certain that the
chief agitators had fled for shelter and protection
to probably the most disturbed part of the country;
that they had declared their determination not to be
taken alive, but that they would resist to the utter-
most any attempt to capture them ; that they were
surrounded by a large body of persons fully armed,
and in the very locality where, within a very short
period, a vast multitude assembled at a moment's
notice for the purpose of rescuing three persons who
had been taken into custody, and that they had only
been restrained by the assurance that the charge was
bailable, and that they had insisted upon seeing their
companions liberated before they consented to se-
parate. In addition to these undoubted facts, we
foundb that the tocsin had been sounded
y the organs of the movement. It was loudly pro-
claimed that the time of action had at length arrived,
and the people were invited to rise in armed resist-
ancea received
the authorities. When, therefore, news
w
through the electric telegraph, the only
possibly
medium by which it could have been
transmitted v.ith such extraortdiantury rapidity, it
h
is by no means surprising
we attached a
certclu degree of credence thereto,
end t
should
we gave
to the public the intbration hich we not haveatn
felt justified in withholding. we certainty doubted
the rumoured disaffection of the troops, and gave
expression to that doubt, being well aware of the
exaggerations that generally take place in the first
accounts received from a scene of disturbance, but
there was nothing that could lead us to suppose that
the whole affair was a wicked and malicious fabrica-
tion, for which serious punishment may be inflicted
upon the concoctors.

Although we are thus enabled to relieve the public
mind from a certain portion of the uneasiness thus
occasioned, we regret to say that there is too much

in the actual condition of the country to give rise to
the most grave and serious forebodings. If the
rebellion has not actually broken out in the county
of Tipperary, the entire district of which Slievena-
mon Mountain is the centre, appears to be on the
very verge thereof; and it is almost impossible to
hope that many days can elapse before collisions will
take place between the troops and the people, and
blood be freely shed on both sides in the conflict.
The Government are determined that the law shall
be strictly enforced, and that the powers with which
they are entrusted shall be vigorously and efficiently
carried into execution. The clubs are to be sup-
pressed, the arms to be searched for and captured.
The ignorant multitude have been told by their mis-
chievous instructors, " that the privilege of bearing
these arms is the inalienable right of a free people,
which no Parliament is competent to restrict or in
any manner to interfere with ;" and they have been
appealed to in the strongest and most exciting lan-
guage not to surrender the weapons of which they
were possessed. They have also stated that " they
will not be the first to commence the attack, but woe
to their aggressors; and that the people will resist
to the last extremity the capture of their leaders."
When the elements of combustion are so thickly
scattered around some explosion must be expected.
We believe, however, that it will be speedily put
down, and that the powerful force which the Go-
vernment have concentrated upon the disturbed dis-
tricts, aided and assisted by the well-affected and
loyal inhabitants, will most signally defeat the
rebel troops whenever they may venture to appear in
armed resistance to the authorities. The contest
cannot be prolonged for any considerable period, and
the misguided men who have suffered themselves to
be so grievously led astray will suffer bitterly for
their temporary infatuation by being compelled to
become fugitives from their families and friends,
even if they should succeed in escaping the more
serious punishment which must undoubtedly be in-
flicted upon the rebels who are taken in arms, fight-
s ing against their SOVEREIGN and their country.

Political economists would do well to ponder over
certain facts enunciated at a meeting held on Monday
last at the Guildhall—a meeting convened by the
committee of the " Ragged School Union," in which
the Lord Mayor, Lord ASHLEY, Lord KINNAIRD, and
other philanthropic gentlemen took part. The object
of this meeting was to take steps towards the forma-
tion of a school of industry in the east end of London,
the school established some time since in 'Westminster
having fully realised the benevolent expectations of
its founders. The statistics of this school we earnestly
commend to the attention of the economical. This
"school of industry" (a "ragged school" is no
longer its proper denomination) contains one hundred
boys and girls, all of whom have been enabled in one
year to clothe themselves with the proceeds of
their own labour. These children, it appears, are
completely supported at the cost of 6/. 103. per annum
each, "or about one-third of the cost incurred at
Parkhurst." It has already been demonstrated that
it is cheaper to reform than to punish, and now we
find by irrefutable evidence that it is even yet
cheaper to prevent the crime than to reform the cri-
minal. Children can be educated and supported in a
school of industry at one-third of the cost incurred at
Parkhurst ! This is a fact which we willingly re-
iterate, and which we should never weary of repeat-
ing. This is a fact which we would thunder in the
ears of those in whom humanity is overcome by
parsimony. Draw tight your purse-strings—
we would say to these economists—deride
private benevolence as an amiable extravagance, and
speak loudly of the virtues of economy in high places,
but remember that when you have had your way,
when not a shilling has been wasted in any scheme of
quixotic benevolence, and the ragged children of
London have been abandoned to their fate, remember
that when these Pariahs of society, emerging from
a childhood, spent in the foulest abodes of vice, and
passing that career of guilt and misery so
pourtrayed by GEORGE CRUIRSIIINX. (a
career to which they were predestined by
your neglect), shall have finally reached the
penitentiary, the hulks, or the gallows—remem-
ber, then, sticklers for economy, that each of these
miserable wretches has cost you three times, and
perhaps six times as much as if in their early child-
hood you had snatched them from destitution and de-
pravity, by the intervention of a ragged school. This
is, assuredly, a sufficiently strong case, on the score
of economy; on humane grounds it would be a work
of supererogation to advocate these philanthropic
institutions.

Ragged schools are, without doubt, among the most
truly charitable of all charitable institutions. They
constitute one of the most efficient panaceas yet dis-
covered for the moral misery of the children of our
poor. Ragged schools have elicited in their behalf the
valuable exertions of Lord ASHLEY, as they long
since inspired the earnest eloquence of CHARLES
DICKENS. Ragged schools can scarcely need
commendation or panegyric new. Their effi-
ciency has been tested by experience, and
not found insignificant, and their efficacy ►ill be yet
more fully and more satisfactorily demonstrated,
when this system shall be further extended and
developed. As a step towards the extension and de-
velopment of this system, at the meeting held on
Monday Lord KINNAIRD moved, Mr. Winn se-
conded, and the assembly adopted unanimously a
resolution, " That a juvenile refuge and place of
industry, on an extensive scale, be established in the
east of London for the admission of destitute persons
of both sexes, where they shall receive gratuitously
the elements of a secular and religious education, and
be trained to such industrial pursuits as will fit them
for future usefulness either at home or abroad."
The estimated cost of this establishment will be two
thousand a year, and it will be two thousand well
employed. Her MAJESTY has subscribed 1001. to-
wards its erection, and many benevolent individuals
have already contributed their mite. Heartily do we
wish a God-speed to this new ragged school—this
" school of industry " would perhaps be the more
proper epithet, but for ourselves we shall always pre-
fer the original term, "ragged school." To our
thinking it has a peculiar and beautiful significance ;
it tells at once of the disease and the remedy. It
brings vividly before us the abject condition of the
miserable children of the metropolis, but it also tells
of the succour—the insufficient but yet beneficial
succour vouchsafed them. A light, feeble and
intermittent though it be, has at length
beamed upon the darkness of their desolation,
and for this all acquainted with the awful depth of
that moral night cannot be sufficiently thankful.
Convinced of these things, we feel that we cannot be
too grateful to the founders and promoters of these
" juvenile refuges," nor too solicitous for the further
extension of their benevolent institutions. At the
same time we are well aware that " ragged schools"
will of themselves be able to diminish or counteract
very little of the misery and immorality of the metro-
polis. Other things, and many other things, are im-
peratively required ; still it is a great error to cavil
at any individual improvement because it cannot effect
all that is required. Let it suffice for us to
know that ragged schools must, under all
circumstances, be beneficial to the commu-
nity, and that at the present moment in the
absence of so many necessary reforms, they are most
beneficial, and assuredly we shall see little cause to
refuse them our most cordial encouragement and our
most unhesitating support. Those persons, however,
who may be insensible to such arguments in their
favour will, after the statistical facts to which we
have referred, find reason to advocate ragged schools
as a source of national economy.

CHRISTENING OP LORD JOHN RUSSELL'S IN PANT
Sox.—Yesterday forenoon the infant son of Lord arid
Lady John Russell was baptized at Petersham Church,
Richmond, by the Rev. Lord Wriothesly Russell, in the
presence of Lord and Lady John Russell, the Countess
ofMinto, the Ladies Elliott, Viscount and Viscountess
Melgund, Lady Grey, and a distinguished circle. The
itthoit was named George Gilbert William, the sponsors
being Lord Melgund, who represented Sir George Grey,
and Lady Grey. At the conclusion of the ceremony
the Noble Lord left with much haste for London, in
consequence of the report of an alleged rising in Ire.
land. Lady John entertained the company at a season-
able dejeuner.
SALE or BEER BILL-Mr. Hume has just given
notice that, on the third reading of the Sale of Beer Bill,
in the House of Commons, he will move to strike out the
words "coffee and tea-shops" from clause four. Mr.
Cravenworda Berkeley will also move the omission of the
or where
half-past twelve o'clock in the afternoon,
the," and insert," before the termination of,"
in nu 13 of the said Bill.

SPAIN.
Madrid journals of the 29d have been received. The
Espana, the organ of CHRISTINA and of the Orleans
family, publishes a bulletin dated St. Ildefonso, 20th
July, which states that her MAJESTY had passed a bad
night, but that she was rather better in the morning,
and as a proof of her MAJESTY'S convalescence, it
states that the KING drove out in the afternoon in a
beautiful carriage. The article concludes by the fol-
lowing announcement :—" The health of her MA-
JESTY does not inspire. any fear." Our private letters
from Madrid, however, give a direct contra-
diction to the statement which appears in the
Espana. The QUEEN is in the most precarious state
from excessive hemorrhage, and these false bulletins
are published by order of CHRISTINA and the Ca-
marina, who have made their arrangements for the
immediate proclamation of the Duchess of MONT•
PENSIER as Queen of Spain, in the event of the malady
of Queen ISABELLA proving fatal.
The Ileraldo states positively that General AMETT•
LER intends to enter Spain by the Amperdan about
the 26th, at the head of some people of the Paris
barricades. Escosulta's appearance at Bayonne is
commented upon in connexion with the expected in-
surrection, which will be headed, they say, by DON
ENRIQUE and IMARTE.

MADRID BOLSA, JULY 22.—The Three per Cents.
were done at 19f and cash, and were at the same
prices after the close; Five per Cents. 10 buyers, 101
sellers ; Coupons, 7 buyers; Passive Debt, 3i buyers,
4 sellers ; Foreign, ditto, 3A sellers. Bank Shares,
56 buyers, 60 sellers. Discount on notes 4 to 41
per cent.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

'We have received the Paris papers of yesterday.
The report presented to the Assembly on the pre-
ceding day by M. THIERS, on the Communist pro-
positions of M. PROUDUON, is the universal theme of
comment, and is spoken of in the most enthusiastic
terms by the journals of the Rue de Poictiers Club,
while he is attacked most vehemently in the Reforme,
the organ of MM. LEDRU ROLLIN and FLocoN, and
in the Bien Public, the organ of M. DE LAMARTINE.
We cannot but confess that we are both disappointed
and vexed at finding M. DE LAMARTINE among the
coquetters with Communism. It is generally :con-
sidered that Communism will not be likely to re-
corer from the blow which M. TRIERS has dealt to
it. M. PROUDHON demanded until Saturday to pre-
pare himself to reply to M. THIERS. The report of
this discussion appeared in the Fourth Edition of The
Sun of last evening.
The preamble of the project of the constitution,
which recognises the right to labour, has been re-
jected by 8, and accepted by 7, of the bureaux. In
many of these latter it was carried by only very
narrow majorities. The amended project will, it is
supposed, be presented to the Chamber about the
middle of August.
The project of M. POUGEARD, to convert the ex-
traordinary tax of 45 centimes and those on mort-
gages and successions into a national loan of 200
millions, has been rejected by the Committee on
Finances.

The fetes of July have been suppressed, but a
funeral service will be performed on the 29th in com-
memoration of the victims.

The Prefect of Police has determined to publish
every five days an official account of the acts of his
office connected with public order. The following
is his first report :
"Credit can only flourish by confidence, and confi-
dence itself cannot be strong without the aid of all honest
citizens, alike interested iu the maintenance of order,
without which there is no liberty. Reports propagated
by malevolence have long kept up in public opinion an
uneasiness, the causes of which there was a disposition
to exaggerate. As a sentinel posted for the preservation
of public security, I have thought it my duty to tranquil-
lise the public mind. For this purpose I will publish
every five days a faithful account of all the facts which
occurred iu that period. I hope that the exciters of dis-
turbance, and the propagators of bad news, convinced of
the impotency of their efforts, will at length renounce
the hope that they entertain of reigning by terror.
It would be too extraordinary for France, the country
of courage and honour, to be made the victim of virile.
Labour is resuming its activity in every branch of in-
dustry. On the 22d instant, of 30,992 workmen living
in furnished lodgings in the capital, 19,277 were occu-
pied in the labours of their profession. The operations
of the Mont-de-Pi64 also show that the state of things
is undergoing an amelioration. The number of effects
taken out of pledge, from the 20th to the 24th instant
inclusively, exceeded that of the articles pledged. The
total of the sums lent by the establishment amounted
only to 185,140 f., whilst the reimbursements amounted
to 200,156 f. The movement of emigration which
took place after the days of June has much diminished
—it had been, besides, much exaggerated. From the
20th to the 24th of July there were delivered 2,021
passports to French citizens, and 428 to foreigners.
Of the 2,021 passports granted to natives, 519 were
gratuitous. Many were delivered for the bathing esta-
blishments. The furnished hotels and lodging-houses
hp
ea
ry
se felt o
nsh theave
marorivveemde,nwt.hillsnt tthhee nluamstbefirveofddaeypsar4t.uor4e6B
have been 4,812. The incessant surveillance of which
malefactors are the object produces its fruits. Never
were there fewer attempts against person and property.
From the 20th to the 24th there were denounced
live attempts against the person, and seven against
the property. As to the infractions of which
the correctional tribunals are cognisant, their
number is more considerable ; but that of
simple thefts and swindling dtes not exceed 35.
The number of ordinary prisoners was on the 20th
3,201, and on the 24th it was 3,282, which is a new proof
of the activity displayed by the police de stirete. The
total number of citizens in prison on account of the
events of June is at this moment 9,179, the highest
number yet attained. As regards the treatment which
they experience, and the attention paid to them,
it will suffice, in reply to the incorrect statements
that have been made on this subject, to say that
there have been only two deaths in this number.
It is principally on the subject of the alarming reports
spread abroad about a new attempt at insurrection that
malevolence had been active. All the rumours were
without foundation. The subterranean proceedings
talked of have never existed. The quarries, in which
it was said that there were legions of enemies and de •
pots of arms, have constantly been explored with the
most minute care. The catacombs, which were to be
converted into mines to blow up whole quarters of the
capital, are unattackable by gunpowder, so thick is the
earth which sovers these excavations. The nocturnal
and mysterious noises, and the pretended signals, alarm-
ing passers by, have been the subject of serious exami-
nation, of an active surveillance, and in every instance a
natural cause has been found for these effects. I repeat,
therefore, that good citiaens may make their minds easy
The more confidence they show, the greater will be the
chance of the diminution of disorder. We shall then
see our young Republic advancing with a firm step in
that course of pacific progress in which other nations
wil be eager to follow It."
BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK-EXCHANGE, JULY 27.
Boulogne and Amiens, 6% —Paris and Lyons, 4%—
Sambre and Meuse, 214.