The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 64

ROYAL PRINCESS'S TIIZATRE.
trader the Management of Mr. CHAALZi dam.

TEAS EVENING,
MUSIC II Ch ARMS.
After which,
PIZARRO.

Rolla, by Mr. C. Kean ; Flvira, by Mrs. C. Kean.
To conclude with
A PRINCE FOR AN HOUR.

THEATRE ROYAL, HIYMARKET.
Under the Management of Mr. Buekstons.

THIS EVENING,
AS YOU LIKE IT.

Followed by
The Spanish Dancers.

After which,
THE RIGHTS AND WRON'CIi OF WOMAN.

To conzlune with
THE V.RJEAST.

ROYAL THE ATRF, ADLPHI.

Propriator and Manager. Mr. B. Webster.

Directress, Madame Ceiestr..
TIII3 EVENING,
IRELAND AS IT 13.

Followed by

After which
THE IRISH TUTOR.

To conclude with
OUR GAL.

STR -ND TrIEATRE.
Manager, Mr, T. Payne.
THIS EVENING,
CH ARLES THE TWELFTH.
The Pss des Sabots by Males. Christine and Agnes.

Folio xed by
TWO PRECIOUS SCOItr:CDRELS.
Les Jeux Icariennes by Mons. Ftllls and Family.

After which,
311 SC [IMF ANTztG.
Alliance Dance by sidles. Christine and Agnea.

To conclude with
THE BLEEPISG DRAUGHT.
Commence at 7.

'tails, U.—Boxes, 2s.—Pit, Is —Gallery, 64.

slavery, they are thoroughly determined that
there shall be no further extension of the
iniquitous system, and that a total stop shall be
put to the insidious attempts to set aside the com-
promise long since entered into between the
friends and opponents of the dreadrul trade.
General CASS, in consequence, speaks of the ap-
proaching dissolution of the Union. It would
even be better that such a result should follow
than that the Northerns should permit them-
selves to be dictated to by a minority, and vo-
luntarily bring a curse on the land that
would paralyse all their energies. As we have
frequently pointed out, the Southerns, if they
knew their real interests, would 'be the first to
deprecate the evil, and would find their account
in so doing— nay, may feel perfectly certain that,
all elements being taken into consideration, free
would be far cheaper than compulsory labour,
and that, in accordance with British experience,
one volunteer would be better than half-a-dozen
DOMESTIC ECIMMY. pressed men.

There is something very revolting in the notion
that human cupidity should pursue its gratifica-
tion at the risk of the lives of the poor, and some-
thing still more revolting in the fact that that
pursuit meets with so few obstacles from autho-
rity. It is impossible to read the report of the
inquest held yesterday, in the City, over the
bodies of the unfortunate victims of the frightful
catastrophe in Swan-alley, without having these
reflections forced upon us. Here we have an in-
dividual in the habit of constantly visiting the
fallen house to receive his rents, and, as a matter
of course, in a position to know that it was in a
tumble-down condition ; yet we find him extract-
ing the last penny, turning a deaf ear to all re-
monstrance, and taking no steps whatever to
insure the safety of his miserable tenants. Three
weeks ago one falls through the worm-eaten floor
three times, and is told, " you must make the
best of it." The same individual is called upon
by his landlord on Sunday last for one shilling
and sixpence arrears, and, not haying it by him,
is coolly told, "if you do not pay you know the
consequences." Well would it have been for him,
and still better for the poor wretch cut off in the
bloom of his sins, and for the bereft mother, if
they had been in arrears of rent a month back,
and had taken " the consequences." Disastrous
as these might have been, what comparison could
they have borne to the hurrying of four human
souls before the presence of their MAIER, and
the maimed limbs or affections of those whose
lives were spared. The feri natures court repose
in their wild haunts in comparative safety : the
poor of this great metropolis how many of them
retire to their (for them) costly places of
rest in the dread uncertainty of waking
to the crash of falling rafters, and being
suffocated or crushed to death by the dust en-
veloped ruins I

" The jury earnestly recommend to the Com-
missioners of Sewers that they would authorise a
special survey forthwith to be made of all the
buildings in the City of London that, from age or
other cause, may be supposed to be out of sub-
stantial repair." Such is the rider to the verdict
—a recommendation which must be regarded as
conveying a well-merited rebuke. How came it
that the buildings in Swan-alley, to say nothing
of any others, were not examined before ? They
were known to be of remote antiquity—pro-
bably built immediately after the Great Fire,
and one of them, that in ruins, was pre-
sented a decade or more ago. The locality
is the very heart of the City—in the imme-
diate vicinity of the Mansion-House, within
hail of the Bank. In the very nature of things

- -
_
in such a condition as to call for oversight,
and so situated as to be in the way of it. The
very contrast they presented to the palatial struc-
tures of the neighbourhood, one would have
thought, would have insured adequate supervision,
if civic pride should fail to insure it. Why then
were they not duly surveyed ?—why was such an
opprobrium to the civic authorities—why was
such a painful shock to humane feeling—why was
such a sacrifice of precious life not prevented ?
The officer of the Commissioners holds himself
blameless. Does the blame exclusively rest with
his employers ? This much is certain :ifhe is
not blameless th© blame rests with them of ap-
pointing and maintaining such an official ; and if
he is blameless they should have seen to an ex-
tension of his duties even at the cost of an in-
crease to his salary.
The Metropolitan Building Act gives the Com-
missioners abundant powers of inspection and pre-
vention. They have the appointment of surveyors
—the prescription, we suppose, of the duties of
those surveyors—and the power to authorise them
to enter any building of the safety of which the
latter may entertain doubts—and, on a report of
" danger," the further power to take immediate
steps to avert a catastrophe, and to give notice to
the owner or occupier requiring him forthwith to
take down, secure, or repair the endangered and
endangering structure. Was it the prescribed
duty of their surveyor in this instance to see per-
sonally to the condition of the houses in Swan-
alley, as well as elsewhere in his district 1 If so,
it is pretty clear he neglected to do his duty ; if
not, the Commissioners neglected to do theirs. It
is worse than ridiculous, the notion of a surveyor
waiting for the police to tell him what, in a com-
mon-sense view of the matter, a surveyor should
ascertain himself. If it was the surveyor's duty
he must have been indifferently looked after, and
certainly has incurred a heavy responsibility.
The public, however, have the materials for form-
ing an independent judgment before them, and it
is too much to expect they should be satisfied
with the assurance that "it is my intention to
ask for authority to survey the same (the not yet
fallen buildings in Swan-alley), in conformity
with th• Metropolitan Buildings Act." What
with cupidity here and official neglect somewhere,
four lives have been lost, and we cannot tell how
many endangered. This sort of thing won't do,
and nothing must be left undone to prevent its
re-occurrence. Such a catastrophe to have for
its scene the heart of the great metropolis 1 More
than startling ; it is disgraceful !

W. S. WOODIN AT BRIGHTON.

Last evening this young and accomplished favou-
rite of the Londoners began his autumn season in
the provinces, not merely successfully, but most
triumphantly. It was the first of a " limited num
ber of nights" of his glorious and famous Olio of
Oddities—performed by that " travelling company"
HIMSELF ! upon his own " travelling stage," erected
in the grand banquet-hall (George the Fourth's
Grand Banquet Hall) in the old Brighton Pavi-
lion. As a matter of course the room was crowded,
as—equally a matter of course—it will not fail to
be crowded every night Mr. Woodin chooses to re-
main " the cynosure of neighbouring eyes " in the
great fashionable watering-place of Sussex, once
upon a time called Brightlielmstone. How the
audience last evening did laugh, to be sure !—as
the voluble young Proteus "in his time " (about
two hours altogether, the whole wonderful enter-
tainment !) " played many parts" (some thirty in
one song alone, the memorable Loco-loco-Motive
Lyric " Off by the Train !")—pattering through it
all with an irresistible flow of spirits—spirits the
very antithesis of blue-devils—sparkling, gay, de-
lightful ! Perhaps the greatest success of all,
among Mr. Woodin's many marvellous impersona-
tions (especially with the young ladies of Brighton)
is the incomparable Miss Clara Chattaway—with
her cambric handkerchief, her ringlets and her
white kids, her piano, her cough, and her coquetry
The unrivalled polyphonist of his age, fairly took
his hearers by storm yesterday. Success goes with
him wherever he journeys in his hard-working
" holidays"--for he wins it (for his auditors) most
Ipleasantly, but (for himself) most laboriously

THE BRAZILS.

LATEST NEWS.

SOUTHAMPTON, SATURDAY MORNING.

The Royal Mail steam-ship Tamar, with Brazil
and River Plate Mails, is telegraphed as having
passed Surat Castle at 9.35. The mails will
reach Southampton about noon.

A reply has been received to a note addressed
by England to Russia, complaining of delays in
the execution of certain points of the Treaty of
Paris. The Russian reply is said to be in a very
sharp tone. The best is done to refute the charges
made against the Government, and a counter-
charge is brought of undue precipitation on the
part of Great Britain in sending a squadron to
the Black Sea.

The Times Paris correspondent (second edi-
tion) in his letter says—
" The news of the dissolution of the Spanish
Constituent Cortes has excited no surprise or
sensation here, since it has been for some days
known that the measure was decided upon. But
it is easier to dismiss these Cortes than to as-
semble others that shall support the present
Government. Recent events have so divided the
adherents of the constitutional monarchy, that it
is reported the elections will be postponed for
some months, in order to give time to reunite
the party. In that case it is probable that the
delay will be longer than the existence of the
O'Donnell Cabinet, against which numerous and
active enemies combine incessant intrigues, and
in which, notwithstanding daily official assurances
to the contrary, there are not wanting points of
dissension.

AUSTRALIA.

caved from Austria, showing that they have no
intention of evacuating the place soon.

The director of the domains of Hanover has
issued a notification announcing that in virtue of
a convention concluded with the Zollverein' the
duties on breadstuffs and pulse, suspended by a
previous decree until the Ist of October next, are
to be further suspended until the Ist of January,
1857.

A letter from Vienna, in the Cologne Gazette, re-
peats the assertion that the Austrian troops will
not evacuate the principalities until Russia shall
have formally consented to give up Bolgrad..

The Emperor of Austria returned to Vienna on
the Ist from Gran, and immediately set out for
Laxenburg. He was to leave on the following day
for Corinthia with the Empress.

ARRIVAL OF THE WALTER HOOD.

PLYMOUTH, FRIDAY.
The Walter Hood has arrived in the Channel.
She left Sydney on tho Gth of July. The value
of her freight in gold dust and sovereigns is up-
wards of 23,000/. She landed her mails at Fal-
mouth.

poy,AL BRITISH" BANK.

Yesterday afternoon some of the largest shareholders
met a portion of the directors of the bank, at the cen-
tral office, in Threadneedle-street, or. the suggesting of
Mr. Elutt, to consult upon the best course to be adopted
under the existing state cf their affairs.
The consultation lasted about three hours, and the re-
sult was that without reference to the extent of the lia-
bilities, which have iidt yet been ascertained, the share-
holders present unanimously ltitim9,ted their wilfingn est!,
in conjunction with the directors, to proYlde the means,
by a pro rata contribution, to pay to the deposit and
other customers of the bank all immediate instalment of
2s. di. or ss. in the pound, as the commencement of a gra-
dual liquidation of their respective claims, provided the
creditors would unanimously consent to such an arrange-
ment. This course, it was urged, would prevent any por
tion of the assets being swallowed up in expensive legal
proceedings, and by making the money in hand, and the
realisable property, in addition to the contributions
of the shareholders, at once available to the discharge of
the debts of the establishments, would be most advan-
tageous to the creditors themselves, and expedite the
final settlement.
The meeting being of the na,ttire of a private confer-
ence reporters were not admitted, and we are indebted
to the courtesy of one of the directors, Mr. Gillott, for
the above summary of what took place.
No intimation has yet been given its to the extent of
the assets, but it was stated yesterday, cit Very high
authority in the City, that when the bank ciGxed its
doors on Wednesday morning there were in its c017.9r8
cash to the extent of 40,0001. It is proper to mention
that three of the directors, Messrs. Butt, Gillott, and
Hurst, disclaim any share in the bad management—
if bad management it should turn out to be—which
has led to the catastrophe. They state that they only
entered office on the sth of August last, and that
rather in the character of a committee of share-
holders to represent them, and investigate into the
actual state of affairs. Under these circumstances
no responsibility can attach to them in reference to
the accounts put forward at the halt-yearly meeting im-
mediately preceding their election to the board, and
which represented the bank to be in a solvent and
flourishing condition.