The Sun.
London, England, 1851-06-27 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY

deaths which annually occur in this metropolis, while at
the same time the accommodation provided for them in
its large hospitals only amotn,,s one•teuth of that be-
stowed upon other patients collectively. We ask for it
because your Royal Highness has exhibited a similar
condescension in laying the first stone of a sister insti-
tution, devoted to the same beneficent purposes, at the
opposite extremity of this immense metropolis ; and
though neither of them proposes to confine its benefits to
any limited district or class, yet the census which has
just been concluded, and the distance which some of us
have traversed this morning, would teach us how widely
different are the areas in which their respective contigui-
ties can be of any avail. We ask for it because, while we
admit that hospitals ought to give a preference of admis-
sion to those maladies which afford a prospect of cure,
rather than to those of a less hopeful character, we are en-
couraged to believe, in connexion with the ailments which
will be the subject of treatment here, that very much may
be effected by precaution and a timely counteraction ;
and we cannot but remember that while for their cure
or mitigation the wealthier members of the community
may resort to skies more genial and constant than our
own, the force and frequency of suffering is too apt to
be too lamentably increased by confined neighbour-
hoods, bylunhealthy homes, and by vitiated atmospheres,
in which at the very time when all the aids and appli-
ances that could be brought to bear upon the cases
would be most critical, only too many of the less opu-
lent classes of our countrymen would be condemned
otherwise to waste and languish. We ask for it, finally,
because we think that this building will be no inappro-
priate addition to a spot around which the edifices of
public worship and instruction have been multiplied in a
remarkable degree, mainly by the exertions of the Right
Rev. Diocesan, who is now happily present, and close to
which the liberality of the Legislature and the grace of
the Crown have set apart a large and pleasant space for
eyes and
the opposite
minds end
o f all theare
now lf
public recreation and enjoyment.—(Applause.) Suffer
a t a n
me only
Hyde-park, thewle ,atrha t h
Lown,
in
rivetted upon the memorable spectacle which
win ever be associated with the name of your
Royal Highness—(Cheers).-by your presence this
day and upon this occasion in Victoria-park you have
shown, Sir, that you have not forgotten that although a
large portion at least of the interior contents of the Great
Exhibition must shortly be dispersed and its lustres fade
away from our sight, the building of which you are
about to lay the first atone will, under the Almighty
blessing, accomplish its purpose as long as man shall
continue to suffer, and as long as God commands us to
pity and to relieve.—(Cheers.)
The Right Rev. the Lord Bishop of LONDON then pro-
nounced a blessing, and his Royal Highness proceeded
to lay the stone in compliance-with the terms of a pro-
gramme which had been prepared.
At the close of the ceremony his Royal Highness with-
drew as a saluto was fired, and the bands played " God
save the Queen."
An elegant dejeilner, at which the Earl of Carlisle
presided, and at which short addresses were delivered by
the Bishop of Oxford, the Chevalier Bunsen, and others,
concluded this very gratifying ceremony.
Mr. Harker acted as master of the ceremonies, and we
believe had the credit of the whole of the arrangements,
which were admirably carried out.

ST. LUKE'S HOSPITAL FOR LUNATICS.
On Wednesday, the centenary festival of this charity
was celebrated at the London Tavern, Bishopsgate-street,
when about 200 gentlemen, governors of the institu-
tion, and others interested in its prosperity, sat down
to dinner. The Right Honourable Charles Sb w
Lefevre, M.P., the Speaker of the House of Commons,
presided; and on his right and left we noticed, among
others, the Right Honourable the Lord Overstoue,
the president of the charity; Lord Erskine, Sir Norton
Knatchbull, Bart., Sir J. H. Maxwell, Bart., Sir R. P.
Jodrell, Bart., Mr. Thomas,Baring, M.P., Mr. Booker,
M.P., Mr. B. B. Cabbell, M.P., Mr. M. Portal, M.P.,
Major-General Caulfield, C. 8., Mr. Henry Kemble,
Mr. Richard Martineau, Mr. John Tidd Pratt, and 1)r.
Alexander Sutherland.
On the removal of the cloth, the CHAIRMAN gave the
usal loyal and constitutional toasts, which were enthu-
siastically responded to by the company.
The toast of " The Army and Navy" was acknow-
ledged by Major-General CAULFIELD, on the part of
army, and by Sir J. H. DIAXWELL, on behalf of the
sister service.
The CHAIRMAN then rose to propose the toast of the
evening. He said—Gentlemen, the toast to which I have
now the honour to direct your attention is one especially
connected with that hospital, the anniversary of which
we have now met to commemorate; and I am very happy,
because I feel altogether unequal to do justice to the
subject, that I am spared the necessity of going at an
great length into a statement of the various advantages
which have accrued to the public from the establish-
ment of this hospital from its earliest foundation to
the present time—(Hear, hear)—because we have be-
fore us a most able report, published under the autho-
rity of the physicians of the hospital, to which are ap-
pended most valuable statistical tables, drawn up with
the greatest care, and which afford the greatest encou-
ragement to those who have been disposed to be friendly
to this institution to continue their benevolent exertions
on its behalf. We learn from that interesting document
that out of 19,029 patients who have been admitted to
the hospital from its opening on the 31st of July, 1751,
to December 31, 1850, 8,389 have been discharged
cured.—(Hear, hear.) But, gentlemen, there are cir-
cumstances and considerations which cannot be made ap-
parent in such a report, and which must not be altoge-
ther overlooked; for although it tells you of cares that
have been effected, it does not tell you of the happiness
which it has diffused or of the misery which it has alleviated
among those families, some of whose members have un-
fortunately been visited with the most terrible of all
human maladies.—(Hear.) Gentlemen, we must remem-
ber that every case which has been enumerated in this
report comprises within itself not only the disease of the
individual, but the sorrows, and probably the despair, of
the afflicted family to which that patient belonged.—
(Hear, hear.) Regarded, therefore, in this point of view,
it is impossible to say what incalculable good has not
been produced by this hospital during the century of its
existence; and whilst we gratefully acknowledge this
result, it is moat gratifying to remember that so many
improvements have been introduced in the treatment
and management of the poor insane. That system of
coercion which too often, even under the ablest superin-
tendence, degenerated into the most cruel tyranny and
torture, has passed away. Compassionate tenderness
has been substituted, and the poor lunatic has a greater
share of comforts afforded to him within your hospital
than it is his lot to enjoy at his own home. Whilst
these improvements are going on, if we look to the
proportion which the cures bear to the number of pa-
tients admitted to the hospital, nothing can be more sa-
tisfactory than the result. It appears that in the last
year 69 and a fraction, or nearly 70 per cent. out of those
admitted, have been discharged cured.—(Hear.) Well,
gentlemen, I ask you—Are we to stop here? I know it
has been said by those who have a right to speak with
authority on this matter—by those for whose opinions I
entertain a very great respect—that this hospital, owing
to its unfavour able site and to the difficulty of affording
air and exercise to its patients, ought no longer to be
continued—that it is not worth while to improve it, and
that it ought to be removed without the walls of this
metropolis. But I ask you where are the funds to come
from to rebuild this hospital?—(Hear, hear.) It appears
that it cost 50,0004 ages ago to build the present hospital,
and where is the source whence we may derive another
50,000/. to expend in the erection of a new one?—(Henr,
hear.) Will it not be a far wiser course to
endeavour to carry into the present hospital all those
improvements which science and experience have intro-
duced, and which must necessarily not only add to the
comfort of the inmates of the hospital, but very much
accelerate their cure? I do, therefore, most earnestly
hope that all those gentlemen whom I have now the
honour to address will most cordially exert themselves in
support of this humane undertaking, and that there will
be no want of zeal, no want of energy, and no want of
money on our part to make still more apparent that which
I than now propose to you as the toast of the evening—
" Prosperity to St. Luke's Hospital."—(Cheers.)
The toast was responded to with acclamation.
The CHAIRMAN then proposed, in terms of delicate
eulogium, " The Health of Lord Overstone, the Presi-
dent of the institution;" to which the Noble Lord replied
in an eloquent speech, setting forth the merits of the
charity, and the peculiar claim it had on the considera-
tion of the benevolent, as an asylum for those who had
been deprived of reason; and concluded by giving " The
Health of the Chairman," on whom he passed a well-
deserved compliment, which was drunk with the greatest
enthusiasm.
The CHAIRMAN made a suitable acknowledgment, and
proposed as a toast. " The Members of the two Houses
of Parliament;" to which Lord ERSKINE and Mr.
THOMAS BARING, M.P., respectively responded.
Mr. MARTINEAU, in returning thanks on behalf of the
iea-presidents, and in allusion to a letter which re-
cently appeared in the columns of a morning contem-
bo
erajar, advocating the removal of St. Luke's Hospital
was rortthe limits of the metropolis, asked whether it
h while, when the hospital was curing sixty
per cent, of the patients admitted into it, to make a sa-
crifice of 30,0001 0
'evieaekree' theh
half of the insane, leet irsbea
its removal? It,iherr4o,ooo/. which would be involved in
esxuerrpcl
iusse
d elsewhere,benevolence
Thebe-
adhobsepeint a al bwl ea
st oatdopreasengtreiao!
w no reason whatever to change its site,
of
Miss
Wilii,haufes:
twhdaeisrdeecisntinoenr
ca am directorst
oetui,nat and
odof fhgeoSost
ad.
otbiytche,,,e4r. Endeesoßn, a great amount of valuable
involving, as the change did,
performed in the
s:vleecntiinogn, outnhdraerulifies was
property.—
owf a Mr.s
supplied La d,
(Sear.)
A
Williams, Miss Land,
ca os st eec
dho
Mr. Young, Mr. Frank edde, and Mr. H.enay Phillips.
pecially admired,
The singing
The admirable style in w
and elicited frequent expressions of applause.
deserved reputation of Messrs.amply sustaine,i the well-
the proprietors of the tavern
W. P. Bathe and Con.pany,
The donations in the course of the evening amounted
to about 2,5001., including the sum of 50 guineas, given
by Lord Overstone, the President, 20 guineas by Lord
Robert Grosvenor, M.P., and 60 guineas by Messrs,
Pickford.
Mr. Toole officiated as toastmaster.

RAILWAY ACCIDENT.—AD accident happened to an
excursion train from Stirling and the intermediate stations
to Aberdeen, on the 24th instant, which is likely to be at-
tended with serious consequences. It had proceeded to For-
far, where it was standing to take up passengers, when a goods'
train came up at full speed and dashed into it, completely
crushing a break van, which was fortunately in the rear, and
broke the force of the collision. Several passengers were
much cut and bruised. and one Mrs. Mitchell, of Stirling,

:es in a precarious condition. We learned from the travel-

ling superintendent of the Railway Passengers' Assurance
Company, 'who was at once on the spot to render assistance,
that as far as could be ascertained only one of the injured
parties, a young lady from Auchterarder, had taken the pre-
caution to provide herself with an insurance ticket. The
accident was said to be caused by the neglect of the signal-
man in failing to give the proper stop signal on the arrival
of the excursion} train.

THE METROPOLITAN WATER
SUPPLY.
(From the Times.)
The discussion on the Metropolitan Water Supply has
now commenced in serious earnest, and the position of
parties is as follows :—The Ministerial scheme has been
embodied in a Government Bill, which was introduced
by Sir George Grey, and carried through a second read-
ing by a small majority against the resolute protests of
the metropolitan representatives. This Bill the Home
Secretary justified, on the ground that principles theo-
retically better had been found irreducible to practice.
The best plan, he admitted would be to place the supply
under popular control, but as this had been proved be-
yond his capacity, and as there were resaons against the
establishment of a Government Board, he recommended
the measure before the House as a sensible compromise.
very
machinerypresented
which h e
Meantime Mr. Mowatt professed to have conquered Sirg
pimropvossinibgilittbe "
yand
HGeoourseewiGthreayn's "
idill
had been declared impracticable. Common sense would
suggest that upon this the Home Secretary should have
suspended his own imperfect measure until he had as-
certained whether the problem which had baffled him
had been really solved by another. He had acknow-
ledged popular control to be the true thing need-
ful, and had only devised his own scheme in default
of ability to construct a better, so that when
the real desideratum was submitted to his notice it
would have been but consistent with political honesty to
give it every opportunity of trial. Nevertheless, though
Sir George Grey confessed to being as yet unacquainted
with Mr. Mowatt's propositions, he pushed forward the
Cabinet Bill with the whole force of Government, con-
tenting himself with observing that he should not object
to the reference of Mr. Mowatt's Bill to the same tribunal
—a Select Committee—to which he was carrying his
own. A Select Committee was appointed accordingly,
and before this Committee the Government Bill
was brought on Tuesday morning, with three
eminent counsel to support it. When it came,
however, to Mr. Mowatt's turn it was discovered
that the standing orders had not been complied
with, and the Bill consequently became inadmissible.
The Hon. Member appealed to the House on Wednes-
day for such a suspension of these regulations in his
own case es had frequently been granted in others, and
Mr. Hume's plain sense was heard in a suggestion, that
" on a question of so much importance, affecting the in-
terests of 2,000,000 people, it would not be unreasonable
to relax the strict rules of the House." So most people
would think, but Sir George " felt himself bound" to
refuse this dispensation, and the House went with the
Minister. Thus the Cabinet Bill goes before the Com-
mittee with all the strength of Government at its back,
while a Bill, confessedly better in theory, and only
needing the test of inquiry, is thrown overboard on a
point of form. Does this look like an honest desire to
do the best for the community without fear or favour?
Sir George Grey described this reference to a Select
Committee as " the course which Bills of this nature
must follow," implying that competing proposals thus
received the judical consideration of a disinterested few.
We have no desire to impugn the uses of Select Com-
mittees in general, or to question the Hon. Secretary's
knowledge of Parliamentary usages ; but we assert,
without any hesitation, that as things are now pro-
ceeding the interests of the public will be left to
tally unprotected and the great fundamental question
absolutely unnoticed. That question, as Sir George
Grey well knows, is whether our water supply
should not be altogether excluded from the objects of
commercial enterprise, and provided for the common be-
nefit at the general charge of the community. Nay,
the Hon. Secretary himself answers the question in the
affirmative, and defends his own measure on the express
grounds that it does fulfil this desirable condition to as
great an extent as is practicable in the conflict of inte-
rests around us. He declares that whereas Government
represents the people, his Bill subordinates the water
traders to Government as simple "contractors," and he
professes to expect a proportionate improvement in their
doings. As far as professions go, Sir George is plausible
enough; in fact the broad principles of action are so
clear, that they cannot be denied even by Sir William
Clay himself. The fault of the Minister is in his obdu-
rate tenacity of purpose against reason shown. He
has been taught by plain argument that the companies
will not be contractors under his scheme, but prin-
cipals ; that the rating of ordinary dwelling-houses
will not be appreciably lowered, and that the
general domestic use of water must remain almost
as costly and therefore as imperfect as before. He
has been told, in plain words, that the community
whose interests he pretends to be advocating, see the
consequences more distinctly than himself, and are
strongly set against the measure. He has been shown
by plain evidence that no legislative control can be ex-
pected to be permanent over such a commercial
corporation as he would now create, and he has
been asked by what agency a department of State,
already overburdened with duties, proposes to superin-
tend a concern of such magnitude as actually
to transcend, by his own argument, the powers of mu-
nicipal administration. To none of these appeals has
he vouchsafted the smallest reply, but has " referred the
question to a Select Committee," as relieving him at
once 47-om any further responsibility. We need spend
but few words in proving to the common sense of our
ratepayers that their interests are absolutely sacrificed
by such a proceeding as this.
If the Government Bill satisfied the desires; of that
community whose wants it professes to consult, the con-
test would be fairly conducted between Sir George
Grey's advocates on behalf of the public, and other
counsel on behalf of the traders whose monopoly it was
intended to destroy. But the Government measure
represents no such popular opinions ; it is op-
posed by the whole metropolis, and, as Sir George
was told in the House by the metropolitan Mem-
bers, "is abosolutely detested out of doors." Thus,
the public interests being deprived of their proper
advocates are loft without any advocates at all, and no
issue whatever will be raised on the points which most
concern the rights, health, and comforts of the metropo-
litan community. Whether the average water rate
should be 1/. 7s. per house, when an unlimited supply
could be furnished for 6s. Scl. ; whether we should de-
pend for a prime necessary of life on a commercial
company under nominal control ; or whether some pub-
lic machinery could not be contrived for the occasion, are
questions which may never once be raised. The issue
will simply be Grey or Clay—nine companies or one
company—a virtual monopoly or a legal monopoly. Sir
George Grey's Bill proposes to detract something from
the absolutism of the companies—the companies prn
to resist the attempt; and the Select Committee will de-
cide between these orthodox combatants. But where,
in all this jargon of figures, forms, and pleadings, will be
the interests of the public? For the measure which the
Home Secretary is resolved on forcing down the throats
of cur citizens he retains three able counsel, and ten more
are engaged to fight to the death for the claims of the several
proprietaries. But where, in the defalcation of their
proper protectors, are the counsel for the people at large?
Who is to show that though the companies' system is
bad the Secretary's is little better, and that no water
trading should be tolerated at all ? We shall have a
table covered with specimens and statistics, an army of
chymists tendering scientific evidence, and a swarm of
engineers with sections and plans, though all the while
neither engineering nor chymistry bears one bit upon
the true question. We all know very well that a
water supply could be furnished for 100,0001. a-year
or thereaouuts, and that it will be time enough, as
Sir George Grey himself acknowledged, to discuss the
best sources of draught when the machinery of admi-
nistration shall have been organized. What we want,
therefore, to learn is, why we are to be taxed 300 per
cent. on an article of first necessity, and pay 420,0001,,
or even 320,000/. a-year, instead of 100,0001.; and of
this information we see just no promise at all.
The squabble will be, whether we are to pay
a shilling with our right hand or our left—whether
we are to hand over our half million per annum to the
confederated companies or to the company consolidate.
It is six on one side and half a dozen on the other.
Very ingeniously did Mr. Edwin James aver that he
" trusted to prove that the Government preamble could
be adopted without detriment to the private interests so
largely represented in that room." We will be bound
he proves it most completely. The " private in-
terests" so largely represented both in and out
of " that room ' are the very interests most
cared for in the Government Bill, and it is with
these that the interests of the public are palpably at
variance. Our case, therefore, must now depend upon
ourselves. We have neither advocates nor solicitors,
neither "seventy representatives" nor " ten eminent

counsel;" and we lir..ve to contend, too, with that very
power which should be standing us in stead against all.
12'.ut we have a good cause and a good spirit to back it,
and if monopoly is ever to win another battle in these
times, it will not be, we are very sure, against the con-
victions and desires of the ratepayers of London.

SEABORNE MAILS.
[N signifies that the mails are sent from the General Post-office
by night—and M by the morning—dispatch.]

When made up in From what When
PLACES. GeneralPost-ofllce port die-
London. patched. due.
America (by Brit. pkt,)N June 27 .. .. Liverpool •• July 5
America (by U.S. pkt.) N July 1 .. Liverpool .. July 2
America (by 'U.S. pkt.) M July 2 .. Southampt. June 26
Africa (West coast).. N 14th of the month Plymouth July 3
Alexandria* ........ N 19th 8c 30th of mo. Dover .. June 23
Belgium .. N Daily .. .. Dover .. Daily
Brazil .. M 9th of the month Southampt. July 12
Buenos'Ayres •• .. 31 9th of the month Southampt. July 12
California(viaChagres)M 2d & 17th of month Southampt. July 5
Cape of Good Hope N 14th of month Plymouth.. July 3
Constantinople* .. • • N 7th 17th 27th of mo Dover .. June 30
Central America .. M2d & 17th of mon. Southampt. July 5
Channel Isles • • .. N Mon., Wed., &Fri. Southampt. Ta. Th.S a
Chili Mil7th of the month Southampt. July 20
France .. M &N,Twice daily .. .. Dover • • Twicedaily
Greece* Ni 7th 17 th 27 th ef mo Dover .. June 30
Hamburgh NI Tuesday & Friday London .. Tues. Sat.
Holland .. M Wednes. Satur. London ..
Honduras .. N 17th of the month Southampt. July 20
Ireland .. M& N Twice daily .. Holyhead .. Twicedaily
India (via Southamp.) 3k2oth of the month Southampt. July 23
India (viaMarsellles) N 7th& 24th efmonth Dover • • July 1
Mediterranean (via
Southampton) .. 3,120 th of the month Southampt. July 23
Mediterranean (via
)
Malta's •• N 7th& 24th ofmonth Dover • • July 1
'Madeiraleri e l 1
e a 2d of the month.. Southampt. July 5
•
,DDleonvvoeevrrer
jjuunlye
223
lqa les* ••
!,TMlls79lthhh,l°,slfttthhh2ls9nttlibioo,n2ft7mlthi Southampt. July 12
& 30th of month J
Papal States*
.. M
575ttthhh 11755ttthhh222755ttthhho:f:
mmmoOlipSoouvtelaramplit.l,
JJjuuulllyyy
226
• • 24 17th (Atha month Southampt. (July 20
M 17th of the month Southampt. (July 20
-TWStairinYnddi fees. S. ( ice P t

Peru .• • •
Tuscany*Tr.
West Indies ..
West Indies (except
Havanna Rc Nassau) M
)0 The mails to those ci
French packet vt. Marcell
CALIFORNIA.—MaIIs to
are now despatched and di

12d of the month ~
onntriee tams marl
Illes-

and from Califon*
lue by every Ameri,

!Sonthampt. July 5
zed (*) are conveyed by

la.-via the United states
lean packet.

ME. GBAriAm.—This gentleman, who was a tra-
gedian of some repute during the management of Mr. Ma-
cready, died in America on the 28th of May.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.