The Sun.
London, England, 1869-10-01 00:00:00

exceedingly numerous, and, in most respects, quite
adequate. But, owing solely to the effects of bad
administration, local and central, these Acts of Par-
liament are to a large extent inoperative. The juris-
diction of the central Government is defective in two
ways; it is not sufficiently powerful and it is divided.
A Ministry or any other separate department would
unite the scattered fragments of power which are now
vested in the Privy Council, the Home Office, and
the Board of Trade. It would also—to be useful—
have greater control over local functionaries, and more
complete information on matters affecting the public
health. Probably, also, the advantages attendant
upon the establishment of one separate department of
the kind would speedily lead to others. As Sir
STAFFORD happily puts it, this is our day of Royal
Commissions ; the clay of Ministries is yet to come.
It is to be hoped so ; for of all the defects of
our Government, none is more pernicious than the
practice of one department doing many different
things, and of one thing being done in many different
departments.
Equally worthy attention: are the President's
observations on that very knotty difficulty—the
present state and future prospects of lIODGE.
It does not appear that Sir STAFFORD has any specific
proposal to make on behalf of the agricultural
labourer; but his view of the question is moderate
and fair. It is unquestionable that the capitalist, if he is
to conduct his business at all, must contrive to gain a
profit; and it is unfortunately true that so far as the
farmer is concerned this fact is overlooked in many
suggestions for the benefit of the agricultural labourer.
The customary nostrum for the under-paid tiller of
the soil is to apply the trades' union principle to his
case ; Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE is an advocate of
the opposite theory of piece-work. It may reason-
ably be doubted whether a system which
tends to develop the energies of the indi-
vidual is not to be preferred to a remedy
the essence of which is to reduce men to a
level. The agricultural labourer suffers already from
the latter system—from being banded with his fellows
in a common herd. It is difficult to tell how his posi-
tion can be mended by completing the levelling
process through a trades' union. The one thing re-
quired for the farm worker is a career—a prospect of
future advancement of some kind. The trades' union
rule of keeping the gains of all men alike forbids the
progress of the better before the worse. Surely
more is to be hoped of the piece-work
principle in the way of developing single
energy, and giving the best of the agriculturists a
chance of rising—which they are now denied. The
plan at all events might be tried ; for as yet it is
almost unknown in agriculture. There is no royal
road to the elevation of a great and impoverished
class, nor is it any arbitrary scheme which is sug-
gested. Payment according to work is the natural
mode of recompense which may stimulate the
labourer to personal improvement, and when he is
worth more wages the world is open to him, and he
will get it.

PARIS CORRESPONDENCE.

pltrßSDat

Another MinisteriarCouneilivai had —yesierday at SI
Cloud, under the presidency of the Emperor, which lasted
two hours and a half. Nothing was, however, decided
respecting the convocation of the Chambers. That
important point is, it is said, to be settled
on Saturday, when another council is to be held
after the return of MX Magne and de Chasseloup
Laubat. All is expectation, therefore, as to the result. I
understand that it is likely an early day in November will
be fixed for the opening. It is much to be hoped that the
Government will fix some definite date, and so put an end
to that restless anxiety and excitement which prevails
everywhere on the subject. The Public affirms that as yet
neither the President of the Senate nor of the Corps Legis-
latif has received an invitation to attend the Council.
Meanwhile the paper warfare still goes on. M. de
Kdratry has replied to M. de Jouvenel through the columns
of the Siecle, declaring that, in his opinion, France would
commit national suicide by preserving silence at this crisis.
He has, he says, been threatened by the gendarmerie
should he carry out his programme of the 20th. M. Ernest
Picard has published a letter in the Electeur Libre, in
which he declares that although M. de Keratry's proposal
may not be universally approved, it responds to the public
feeling. He wishes for his own part that his colleagues of
all parties should assemble in Paris before the 20th, and
concert some definite plan of action. The Left will not,
it is said, support the movement of M. de Kdratry.

The Tresie announces that the Government is busy
preparing a Senatur-Consultum regarding the municipal
nominations. It will suppress the 57th article of the
Constitution of January, 1852, which provides that the
Mayors shall be nominated by the Executive, and may be
chosen outside the municipal council. The Government
will, however, reserve to itself the nomination of the mayors
of towns whose population exceeds 10,000. If this be
true, it will be a step in the right direction.
There is a succession of horrors just now, and the
Parisian world had scarcely realised the full details of the
Bordeairx calamity when their attention was excited by a
catastrophe in their own vicinity. Last night at eleven
o'clock the Hippodrome was destroyed by fire. No lives
were lost on the occasion, and no one was seriously injured,
but the fire presented the most alarming appearance to the
throng of spectators. Half-an-hour sufficed to convert the
building into a heap of ruins. In that part whore the fire
raged with the greatest fury all the surrounding buildings
were enveloped in flames, and it seemed to the lookers-on
as if the whole town was about to be destroyed. The
violence of the fire may be appreciated by the fact
that it was not entirely extinguished until half-
past eight o'clock this morring. The wind was un-
fortunately very high, and this must account for the
amazing rapidity with which the flames spread and en-
gulphed the immense amphitheatre of 18,000 metres. It is
said that three horses were burned. The flames which
rose from the fire were so clear that on the hills of
Chaumont people were able to read by their light, and the
firemen came from all the surrounding environs directed by
the brilliancy of the conflagration.
The Pantin murder has created the most extraordinary
excitement, and it seems to be the chief topic of interest
in all quarters. During the last few days the employds of
the Stamp Office have been almost exclusively occupied by
the stamping of the Figaro and the Gaulois. These journals
have given the most complete details of the crime at Pantin,
and their sale has consequently increased at an extraordinary
rate.

AIVFUL CALAMITY Al BAYSWATER.

SEVEN PERSONS BURNT TO DEATH.

This morning, at five minutes before three o'clock,
one of the most fearful fires which has occurred
iu the metropolis for some years past happened in
the premises of Mr. E. Tetheridge, who carried on
the business of a cook and confectioner, situ-
ated in Moscow-road, Bayswater. To render any
assistance to those in the place at once became
impossible, owing to the fury of the flames. It
was well known that at least eight persons were
sleeping in the dwelling. The fire-escape arrived
in the course of a few minutes, but the con-
ductor was unable to enter the building owing to
the flames, whch kept rushing through every win-
dow some distance across the road. The main body
of thefire in the premises of Mr.Tetheridge could not
be extinguished until the building might be said to
be nearly destroyed. Mr. Palmer, chief brigade
officer of the district, then gave orders for the men
under him to search the ruins for the missing par-
ties, and the only person found alive was Mr. E.
Tetheridge ; but ho was so severely burnt and in-
jured that he was taken to the hospital, where he
lies with little hopes of recovery.
The following were found burnt to death ,
E. Tetheridge, aged 9 years.:
Henry Tetheridge, aged 5 years.
Edward Tetheridge, aged 3 years.
Mrs. Jack, aged 22 years.
Steward Jack, aged 28 years.
Agnes Jack, aged 17 years.
Henry Jack, aged 14 years.
The bodies were carefully collected together, and
removed to the Paddington dead-house.
The origin of the fire is at present reported to
the brigade as unknown, though it is stated there
was a large quantity of fireworks which exploded.

- -
Tetheridge was licensed to sell fireworks.

DUN VILLE and Co., Belfast, are the largest
holders of Whisky in the world. Their Old Irish Whisky is re-
commended by the medical profession in preference to French
Brandy. Supplied in casks and cases for home use or exporta-
tion Quotations on application to Messrs. Dunville and Co ,
Belfast; or, 4, Beaufort,buiMings, Strand, LQndgn, W.C.—(Ad-
YeztiPenient