The Sun.
London, England, 1860-12-03 00:00:00

THE RELIEF OF DISTRESS.

A large and influential meeting of the supporters
of the New Society for the Relief of Distress in the
Metropolis was held on Wednesday atthe Thatched-
house Tavern. The meeting was for the most part
composed of those who had tendered their support
to the undertaking. The chair was filled by the
Duke of Manchester, who, after introducing the
subject, called upon Mr. W. Davenport Bromley,
the originator of the society, to afford any further
information to the meeting which it might be
desirable to give. Mr. Bromley then explained
fully the object and prospects of the society, its
distinctive features being—First, that the entire
expenses were to be defrayed by the committee,
who thus guarantee to the public that the money
intrusted to their charge shall be applied without
deduction to the relief of distress. The balance-
sheet would therefore merely have to deal with the
following items :-1, the amount subscribed by the
public ; 2, the amount given to the poor; 3, the
balance in hand. Second, its universal and com-
pletely unsectarian character, no distinction of
religion or nation being allowed to influence the
just exercise of its charity. Third, the recommen-
dation of all persons, whether subscribers or not,
would be uniformly attended to at publicly adver-
tised houses of relief in every district. Fourth, it
would co-operate with all existing charitable and
religious institutions, the clergy and ministers of
every denomination, and the magistrates, for the
purpose of affording the strongest protection against
imposture on the one hand, and neglect on the other.
The machinery for carrying out these objects con-
sisted-1. Of a general committee, by whom all
expenses of management will be defrayed. 2. A cen-
tral board of management, composed of members of
the general committee,who would make sucharrange-
ments as should secure the presence in London of a
sufficient number of members at all times of the
year to insure the efficient working of the society.
3. District committees, consisting of such residents
in the various localities as would be prepared to
give their gratuitous services. 4. Visitors. 5. Volun-
teers, agents of existing societies, &c. Mr. D.
Bromley then read out a long list of those who had
promised their support to the society. Among the
names were those of the Dukes of Beaufort, Wel-
lington, Argyll, Marlborough, and Manchester, the
Duchess of Sutherland, the Dowager Marchioness
of Londonderry, Lady Ashburton, the Marquis of
Abercorn, the Marquis of Stafford, Lords Ashbur-
ton, Annesley, Bessborough, Chesterfield, Lichfield,
Portarlington, Sefton, Darnley, Dartmouth, Hare-
wood, Shelburne, Coventry, Craven, Aylesford, and
Grosvenor, Baron Rothschild, Viseount Somerton,
Sir Augustus Clifford, Mr. Meynell Ingram, Mr.
Lane, Mr. Hankey, Mr. Murray, and many others,
the satisfactory result being that upwards of £2,000
had been already subscribed for the purposes of the
society, which hoped to begin its operations at a
very early period. Mr. Murray, of Philiphaugh,
one of the promoters of the project, then moved a
resolution to the effect that the meeting approved
the object of the society, and pledged itself to sup-
port it in every way. He was followed by the Hon.
G. C. Norton and other speakers, after which the
resolution was carried unanimously. A vote of
thanks was then passed to the Duke of Manchester
for his conduct in the chair, and the meeting
separated. Among those present were Earl
Grosvenor, Earl Darnley, Lord Frederick Fitzroy,
Lord Charles Bruce, Mr. Bass, M.P., Mr. Sheridan,
M.P., Mr. Kingscote, Mr. W. Lyon, Mr. Lane, &c.
[Mr. Davenport Brothley's benevolent scheme
having now been formally " ventilated" through
the medium of this public Private Meeting in the
Thatched House, St. James's—we do earnestly
trust that the promoters of the project will not
relax their efforts until such time as a substantial
association shall have been fairly organised. Until
this one good result of the humane movement com- 1
mensed by W. D. B. shall in truth have been fairly
effected, we shall continue, as we have done from
the first, to watch the progress of its development
with the liveliest interest and the warmest solici-
tude.--ED. Sun.]

TERRIFIC COLLIERY EXPLOSION.

ABOVE ONE HUNDRED LIVES LOST.
NEWPORT, SATURDAY MORNING.

To-day a mine explosion, tremendous in its con-
sequences, happened at filo Thach Vein Pit, Rise.,
about six miles from this town, and the property
of the Risca Coal Company. The colliery has been
in work some years in the production of steam coal,
and as gas is in such pits more or less generated,
the usual preventive measures were adopted. The
pit was examined according to custom this morn-
ing, after which, between five and six o'clock, some
200 men descended. About nine o'clock a terrific
explosion occurred, which was heard far above the
surface; and upon inspection, it was found that at
some distance from the bottom of the pit the gas
had fired. Considerable damage was done to the
workings. As soon as the ventilation would allow,
dead bodies were found in several directions. By
twelve o'ciock 1/ had been seat up; and at four
40 more had been collected at the bottom of the
shaft, the whole being brought up in the course ofthe evening, and, in carts and on hastily constructed
biers, conveyed to their respective homes. At the
time of writing between 60 and 70 individuals
remained unaccounted for. The general opinion
was that all had met their deaths. If so, no less
than 120 men and boys have perished, together
ando u s inquiries,
with 28 horses. The cause of the explosion cannot
yet be stated. The locality is in a state of the most
children
u rr
mpaeinn,fualnedxwcieteepnlienngt.womAennxidejectedouti surround
the pit, and are to be met with on every hand.

THE VOLUNTEER ZOUAVE PROJECT.-A corre-
spondent writes :—" This climax of the many absurdities
which have disfigured the volunteer movement now seems
doomed to speedy extinction. Within the last week Lord
Enfield, M.P., the new commandant of the 29th North
Middlesex Rifle Corps, has intimated through his adju-
tant, Captain W. Jones, to the candidates for popular ridi-
cule—happily for the credit of the country their number is
small—that he cannot consent to admit them into his corps
as Zouaves, though he will be happy to receive them in the
ordinary costume of the regiment. What Lord Enfield's
good sense has so properly condemned, surely no other
metropolitan commandantwill be weak enough to eanctiom"

WREN ARC; TILE 7.VETP PUBLIC
OFFICES TO PE COILOIENCED ?

How is it that the public aro still kept in the
dark as to what is eventually to be done with the
public offices in general, and with the Foreign-office
in particular ? Rumours are afloat that the Foreign-
office is in such an unsound condition that Lord
John Russell does not feel safe when a cabinet is
summoned to meet there, and that, therefore, his
lordship and staff are forthwith to remove to
Spring-gardens, until something definite shall be
arrived at as to the class of architecture to which
the new edifice shall belong : whether it shall be
built upon its present site; or whether the plan
originally recommended by the Committee on
Public Offices, of having them in close contiguity,
and near the Houses of Parliament, is to be
carried into effect. The difference of opinion
as to the style of architecture of the new building
is as great as ever. Lord John Manners,
the late Chief Commissioner of Works under Lord
Derby's Administration, is as firm a supporter of the
mediaeval system as ever, whilst Lord Palmerston
will not give way one iota as to the Italian design,
which he has so strenuously supported. The Chief
Commissioner of Works naturally adopts the views
of his illustrious relative ; but there is still the
House of Commons to be dealt with, and they have
as yet shown a determination not to allow a stone
to be laid for the new offices without their sanction.
The two former chief commissioners and the pre-
sent are at variance. Lord Llanover is for the
plan as originally recommended, of having all the
public offices concentrated. Lord John Man-
ners does not take so comprehensive a view, and
would prefer ..that the buildings should occupy
something about the same site, but that the
architecture should be Gothic. Mr. Cowper does
not like to ask the House of Commons for the large
sum that would be required to complete the ori-
ginal plan, and therefore proposes to adopt the
present site generally, to sink the concentration, but
to adopt an improved system of architecture. Each
have partisans who more or less chime in with
their views, and they are as firmly attached to
them as if the question was really one of great poli-
tical importance. There is, however, this distinc-
tion; the two latter chief commissioners only fall
foul with the first on the ground of expense. Lord
Llanover would take the site as originally proposed,
from the Thames up to Whitehall to St. James's-
park, and have all the public offices, figuratively
speaking, under one roof. Lord John Manners and
Mr. Cowper (the late Mr. Fitzroy held the same
opinion) admire the proposition in the abstract,bnt
demur to the details and to the cost. The tem-
porary removal of the Foreign-office to Spring-
gardens will, at the very least, entail a first
charge of £20,000, besides a variety of con-
tingencies, to which every one knows public depart-
ments are subjected. Granted that the Foreign-
office is removed to Spring-gardens, at the above
cost, what then may be expected ? Why, that the
old office will be pulled down, and thus add another
eyesore to that which is presented by the vacant
piece of ground opposite to the Privy Council-
office, and next to the Foreign-office, for which the
Government paid large sums, and which for -years
has been allowed to remain useless, except an afford-
ing facilities for bill-stickers. It is much to be
feared that once the Foreign-office is removed to
Spring-gardens, the old edifice pulled down, and
the officials comfortably settled in their new habi-
tation, they will not care to trouble the Government
to press on with the new office, and then the interest
of the purchase money will be lost to the public.
Great, however, as is the loss there can hardly
be more than one opinion that it should
be incurred rather than an incongruous
pile of buildings should be erected without
any reference to the great plan of concentration
that may eventually be carried into effect. The
House of Commons at the present time has large
demands to meet. The constituents twit their
members with a tenpenny income tax and the high
price of provisions, and the members, especially the
representatives of country cities and towns, hardly
dare vote for a large outlay, although it may ulti-
mately prove an economical work. With respect
to public offices, however, the great objections
raised against employing the public funds for
metropolitan improvements cannot apply. Because
although the erection of new and proper offices would
materially add to the beauties and attractions of the
metropolis, yet they could not by any ingenuity of
reasoning be considered as other then national works.
The House of Commons has voted several millions
for the fortifications of the country ; its executive
might, therefore, be fairly entrusted in laying out
some few hundred thousands in providing sufficient
accommodation ifor the public service. The sum
of money annually paid as house rent for the
accommodation of the public departments is
enormous ; and if this amount were only capita-
. lised, enough would be raised to erect almost
all that the public requirements demand. The
gre it scheme must come sooner or later. When
the new Westminster-bridge is opened, sad
the beauties of its proportions seen, an
outcry will be raised that all the buildings which
intercept the view of the bridge and the palace at
Westminster should be at once removed, and this
will evidently be done. But whilst the Govern-
ment has its hands practically tied by a House of
Commons who will not vote the necessary funds,
they can do nothing; and thus it will turn out that
that which might have been obtained reasonably
will not eventually be procurable for less than
three times the amount. The freeholders, the
lessees, and the tenants of the property, of course,
take every advantage of this interregnum, and by
making showy improvements and increased income-
tax returns, will be able to squeeee out of Govern-
ment a much larger sum than the public ought to
pay.— Observer.