The Sun.
London, England, 1870-06-16 00:00:00

VARIETIES OF PAI7PERISAI.

Superficial observers are in the habit of regarding
paupers as all one class, whereas a little examination
proves them to consist of a great 'many different
classes. Some recently-published statistics supply
us with instructive information on this
point. The classes relieved are seven-
teen in number, and it is worth notice
that in some unions men subject to fits or
other temporary attacks are classed as able-bodied,
though their ailments probably interfere with their
getting their livelihood out of doors. The percentage of
incapables in the Metropolitan workhouses is much
larger than in the rural districts. In some of the
former the number of able-bodied paupers is not
more than sufficient to do the work of the house.
By the return it appears that 31 per cent, of
the total out-door poor labour under old
age or permanent disability, 34 per cent.
are women and children destitute from
the death, absence, or desertion of husband or father,
34 per cent. are families, or single men
destitute from sickness or want of work, and 0.8 per
cent. are single women. The preponderance of pauper
children in the metropolis is as melancholy as it is
remarkable. It is attributed to the fact that there is
less demand for their labour in London than in manu-
facturing towns or in the country. The sick paupers
on the books of the metropolitan medical

officers usually attain a per-tentage varying
from 32 to 48 per cent. of the total inmates
of the workhouses. The actual able-bodied adults
constitute, however, only 10 per cent., as the old
people number 37 per cent., the children 8 per cent.,
and the imbeciles G per cent. Besides all these there
are the children in district or separate schools, who
add largely to the proportion of helpless pauperism.

DEFAULTING COLLECTORS.
Every ratepayer grumbles, not unreasonably, at
the amount of poor rate which he is called upon to
pay, but to know that not 'infrequently such pay-
ments are made, not for the relief of the poor, but
for the benefit of defaulting collectors, is certainly
an aggravation of the evil. Yet we learn from the
report of the Poor-law Board that several instances
of the kind have occurred during the year among col-
lectors and assistant overseers, and in one case which
occurred in Greenwich, where the rates are collected
under a local Act, these defalcations reached a very
serious amount. So large was the sum abstracted,
indeed, that the Poor-law Board, not usually too
active, was roused to inquire into the circumstances,
when it appeared that the local Act, under which
the collector had been appointed, did not provide
sufficient checks. The defaulter was, accordingly,
able, before the audit, to make up the deficiencies in
the rate due, by receipts in respect of other rates
which the auditor had no control over. It is at once
apparent that if there be not an efficient system of
checks and counter-checks, the collector has always
the opportunity in dealing with sums so irregularly
paid as the rates to balance one account against
another, and escape detection by manoeuvring. The
Poor Law report expresses a fear that until the col-
lection of all local rates is placed under the same
responsible authority, it will be found extremely
difficult, if not impossible, to prevent these frauds.
The experience of Greenwich would be sufficient,
we should imagine, to disenchant those districts
ambitious of preserving the dignity of local acts.

THE FIRE IN CONSTANTINOPLE.
Latest accounts from Constantinople realise the
worst anticipations regarding the loss of life and
destruction of property at the great fire in that city,
and in the vastness of the calamity the whole extent
of evil wrought will in all probability never be fully
known. The details, as they have come to us, how-
ever, are sufficiently harrowing. Upwards
of a thousand dead bodies have already been
discovered, and 2,400 are said to be missing.
From seven to eight thousand houses have been re-
duced to ruins, an equal number of families rendered
houseless and homeless, and the amount of property
estimated to have been destroyed is over five
millions in value. k faint idea of the desolation
may be gathered from the fact that it covers not less
than two square miles. Some of the tales of woe
related are most pitiful, especially with regard to the
burning of little children, one instance being recorded
where twelve poor little orphans in an Armenian school
perished in the flames. The destruction of the
palace of the British Embassy is said to have been
through bad management, neither the engines nor
the apparatus attached being in working order. Out
of all this misery, however, comes the one redeeming
feature, that nothing could exceed the generous
efforts of the Moslem people to mitigate the suffer-
ings of their Christian brethren.

THE WEATHER ON THE CONTINENT.

As in England, the long period of dry weather is
beginning to cause serious apprehensions on the
continent. The critical time at which moisture is
required for the nourishment of the vines and wheat
is almost passed, and in the majority of the French
and German towns no " gentle rain" has fallen.
The prolonged drought in the North of France has
caused the ears of barley and wheat to shrivel up,
and the straw this year will be only about half its
usual length. Skilled agriculturists, moreover,
fear that much of the grain crops have
been baked at their roots. The potatoes
have not yet suffered to any extent, but the turnip
have been visited by a plague of midges, brought
into existence by the heat, which are eating up the
crop everywhere. On pasture grounds not a fresh-
looking blade of grass shews above the ground, and
old hay has assumed a fabulous price in the market.
These remarks chiefly apply to the centre and
northern portions of France. In the south things
have been different. In the departments of the
Bouches-du-Rhone, Vaucluse, Hdrault, and Alper"
Maritimes, showers have fallen within the past few
days. The same change in the weather has also taken
place in Western Italy. In these favoured places
hopes are still cherished that all growing crops inaY
yet be saved. Curious to say the harvest in Austria
and Hungary, according to the report of the Austrian
Minister of Commerce, is not threatened with any
blight whatever. The weather has been satisfactory,
and in Galicia and Bohemia, the yield promised 10
even said to be such as may lead to a very large
export trade.

M. OLI VIER'S OPINIONS.

The Paris correspondent of the Independance Beige
says that M. Olivier begins to recognise the mistake
he has made in oscillating from the Left to the
Right, instead of relying on the Left Centre, and in
case of necessity on the Left. He has expressed him-
self in this fashion to Prince Napoleon, and an-
nounced his determination of resuming more liberal
ways. He even added that he would procure an
amnesty for the offences of the press.

THE ST. GOTHARD RAILWAY.

The Paris papers are commenting upon the great
enterprise of a railway across the Gothard Pass, and
the question is to be discussed in the Corps Legis-
latif as to how far the interests of France may be
affected by an independent communication between
Prussia and Italy. The French Government has 'en-
deavoured to allay these fears by publishing
state-
ments in the Agence .Navas and the semi-official
journals. There seems no reason to apprehend ant
serious consequences to the peace of Europe from the
construction of this line, while its importance as regard!
commercial interests is very great. The proposed
line is to run through Swiss territory, but as the
expenses of its construction will be heavy, those cowl-
:tries which will benefit by its working are to guaran-
tee the funds necessary for the project. The Swiss
Minister at Berlin has been empowered to sign a
convention with Count Bismarck, by which the,
North German Confederation grants a subvention of
ten million francs to the St. Gothard Railway. The
French Government appear to have felt that the
question, being one of public right, gave them no cause
for interference, except so far as the neutrality °
Switzerland was concerned.

eltai t
MI TM al:

HER MAJESTY.

BALMOIIAL CASTLE, JUTie 14.
The Queen, with Princess Beatriee, went out yesterday

.norning.
In the afternoon her Majesty, with Princess Louise, wept
out, attended by the Hon. Eva Macdonald.

FASHIONABLE ARRANGEMENTS TO-DAI'
The Cup Day at Ascot.
The 7th (Queen's Own) Hussars' annual dinner, at the
St. James's Hotel, Piccadilly.
The M.C.C. and Ground v. Civil Service grand cricket
match, at Lord's ground.