The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-21 00:00:00

ZILE GREAT SOCIAL EVIL.

Another of these extraordinary meetings in con-
nection with the important question of the great
social evil, a movement which it will be remembered
was originated in the early part of last month by
the committees of numerous refuges, reformatory
homes, and other societies, was held yesterday
morning at the Lecture Hall, opposite the Sessions
House, in Newington-causeway, Southwark, and
the circumstances attending the proceedings were
even of a more peculiar character than those which
have taken place at St. James's Restaurant, Regent-
street, for the reclaiming of the fallen sisterhood of
the more fashionable neighbourhood of the West-
end. We may say, however, that the meeting held
in the Borough was convened under the auspices of
the gentlemen by whom the movement was set on
foot in February. The meetings which have been
held at St. James's Hall have been convened for 12
o'clock, that being a time ,at which the dancing
saloons, cafes, &c., in the neighbourhood draw the
larger number of the "unfortunates," but it was
thought desirable to call this meeting for an earlier
hour. Ten o'clock was fixed upon, and a large
number of signed tickets of invitation, stating " We
shall be glad to see you at Dunn's Lecture-hall,
Newington-causeway (opposite the Sessions-house),
to-night, March 19, 1860, tea and coffee will be pro-
vided free at 10 o'clock," were distributed in the
surrounding locality, in addition to which a large
number of gentlemen were scouring the neigh-
bourhood and bringing in every girl or woman
of the class that could be induced to accompany
them. However there were very few present up
to eleven o'clock, when the attendance began to
become very satisfactory. Two long rows of tables
were ranged down the hall, and these were boun-
tifully supplied with different sorts of cake, bread
and butter, &c., while there was an abundance of
good tea and coffee ready to be served. On the plat-
form at the end of the hall were assembled the
numerous gentlemen and clergymen who were to
take part in the proceedings. The Rev. Hugh
Allen, M.A. (the newly-appointed rector of the
parish of St. George-the-Martyr), presided ; and
amongst those present were the Rev. Mr. Robinson,
the Rev. J. D. Carey, the Rev. J. B. Courteny, the
Rev. J. E. Singauki (late a missionary in Palestine
and Syria), J. F. Fortescue, Esq., Ernest Hart, Esq.,
Mr, D. Cooper (of the Rescue Society), Mr. Horni-
brook (Trinity-house), Mr. Thomas (London Female
Preventive and Reformatory Institution), &c., &c.
The class of females who attended the meeting
were certainly not of the same fashionable appear-
ance as those who attended the West-end meetings,
but still the general character of the assembly was
of a more respectable description than might have
been expected in the district. At nearly twelve
o'clock, when there were about 150 persons present
(inchiding the promoters of the meeting),
The Rev. HUGH ALLEN rose and delivered a
most forcible yet touching address to the unhappy
creatures by whom he was surrounded. The rev.
gentleman, who spoke most impassionately, was
frequently interrupted in the course of his address
by the sobbings and wailings of the unfortunate
women.

Addresses and prayers were delivered by the
Rev. Mr. Robinson, Rev. Mr. Carey, Mr. Thomas,
Mr. Lowe, and others, and the proceedings ter-
minated shortly before two o'clock.
The conduct of those present was certainly most
exemplary ; and although several at first ridiculed
the idea of being reclaimed, yet they lingered after
the refreshments to hear the addresses, and the
result was, that nearly 20 were conveyed to the
Home in Dover-place, and in the course of the day
were sent to various institutions.

MR. WILSON'S FINANCIAL PROPOSAL .

The telegram from Bombay is dated the 25th
February, or a week subsequent to the introduc-
tion of the financial proposals of Mr. Wilson at
Calcutta. It leaves some points still in obscurity.
It confirms the fact that a graduated income-tax is
to be introduced ; but while it seems to show that
all incomes below £2O are to be spared, since the
scale is to be 2 per cent. on incomes of £2O to £5O,
and 4 per cent. on those beyond, there is a subse-
quent in cimation that " no class will be exempt."
This, however, probably means that the Govern-
ment officials will be included. The statement that
the " 20 per cent. duties are to be lowered to 10
per cent." cannot be understood, as it is believed
there are no 20 per cent. duties at present in force.
The announcement of the intention to levy an
im-
port duty of 10 per cent. on twist and yarn wss
altogether unexpected. There are manufactories
at Calcutta and Bombay, and this duty can operate
in no other way than as a direct advantage to those
establishments against their European competitors.
It
prowteocutlidonseiesmto,
be revived
asin
tihfetEhe oastldatsythsteemyorof
moment it is receiving its final blow in England ;
but the unlikelihood of such a movement is so great
that it is thought the full advicea by the mail will
show there has been some inaccuracy in the para-
graph. The large increase in the export duty on
saltpetre (from about 9s. per ton to £6 per ton) is
acknowledged tl be perfectly legitimate, since the
production is almost limited to Bengal, and the
high rate cannot, therefore, drive the buyers to
other markets. On the other hand, it is satisfac-
tory that the export of hemp, jute, hides, wool, flax,
tea, and coffee is to be free, since the whole of these
articles have to sustain competition with similar
productions from Russia, the River Plate, China,
&c. The intelligence on this occasion of the out-
break of the Kokees at Tipperah—about 200 or 300
miles north-west of Calcutta—is not alarming in a
political sense, although 1,000 persons are alleged
to have been murdered. The Kokees are regarded
as an aboriginal race, and the affair is analogous to
that of the Santal insurrection, and from its locality
can probably be dealt with more easily. The re-
part of conspiracies against Holkar at Indore is
likewise without much significance, as there are
always fanatics at that capital from om treachery
is to be anticipated.—Tinzes' City Arad*.

THE POST OFFICE AND THE

NEWSPAPER STAMP.

Mr. Baines, M.P. for Leeds, has received the
following communication from Mr. F. Hill, regard-
ing the abolition of the impressed stamp on news-
papers, and the arrangements for their transmis-
sion post :—" My dear Sir,—You may fully'
rely bo y n our desire to afford facilitates to news-
paper proprietors on the abolition of the im-
pressed stamp. That stamp is so great a trouble
to us, and so fertile a source of error, abuse, and
complaint, that we shall use our best exertions to
reconcile all parties to its discontinuance, and to
prevent any desire for its re-establishment. We are
fully alive to the importance of time to newspaper
proprietors, and we shall take such measures with
respect to the obliteration of the postage stamps as
to prevent any necessity for abridging, to the
slightest extent, the time now allowed, whether to
the public or to newspaper proprietors, for posting
newspapers; an object in which we shall be much
assisted by the machinery which we have lately
introduced for stamping and obliterating. News-
papers will, like letters, be always forwarded by'
the first post. Indeed they always have been; the
power we have of detaining printed matter gene-
rally having been applied to newspapers, from a
consideration of the special nature of newspaper
literature."

PRICE OF GOLD.—The quotation of gold at PariP'
is about at par, and tha short exchange on London is
25.10 per £1 sterling. On comparing these rates with the
English Mint price of £3 17s. 101 d. per ounce for standari'
gold, it appears that gold is nearly 3-10ths per cent. dearer
in Paris than in London. By advices from Hamburg the '
price of gold is 4221 per mark, and the short exchange 00
London is 13.3! per £1 sterling. Standard gold at the
English Mint price is therefore at about the same
price in Hamburg aL in London. The course' of ev
change at New York On London for bills at 60 days' sightill
about 1061 9 per cent., which, when compared with the MO'
proportions between the two countries, shows that the el"
change is slightly against England • and, after making'
allowance for charges of transport and difference of int"'
rest, the present rate leaves no profit on the ininertati°
of gold from the United States.
PRINCE ALFRED.—The United Service Gazette
says that Prince Alfred is being brought up in the service
precisely the same as if he were the son of a private gentle-
man :—" He messes with the midshipmen, keeps his re:
gular watch, dines occasionally in the ward room, an
takes his turn to dine with the captain. He is treated vy
his rnessmates as, in all respects, one of themselves-18
called to order by the caterer, and runs the same risk °.
being made the subject of a practical joke as any otm,f
young gentleman—himself, however, being general
pretty forward in the business of playful mischief.
one question, that of smoking, the young prince is stern
ly
denied the privilege indulged in by many other officer°•
0 •
'That growing weakness of the age, most mischievous in it
consequences, particularly when carried to excess, is
hibited as far as Prince Alfred is concerned, and upon ova
occasion, we believe, his Royal Highness had his I_",.
stopped for a fortnight for being detected in the a"
" blowing a cloud.'" Fuol
MADLLE. PICCOLOMININ RETIREMENI„, ht
s
TILE STAGE —This popular vocalist brought a forb.'"g
engagement in Dublin to a close on Saturday eveyafta.,
,
appearing for her own benefit in the opera 01 severe
She had for some days prior been labouring under a ,
cold, and when the curtain rose she came forwarda saidll
—" Kind friends —This may be the last time that and y
oc to see you again. I can o
ever appome here ear before you. lam very ill, indeendly; butingl nv_ey
tried t
badly. ;
pardon 11113,-otflauhlatletboe-nenighaltryjs
shall\•ery gdooodmt
yo me;
needless to say that this appeal was respondesdev. that
bmeasntifieee.lrinige,c,ainodn,winiitldlildou,d,
daopindeatubsees.t, Jtrow;
l destroyed
spite the obvious suffering, which complete y__
and
talew
ordinary powers. It
was the triumph of skill
ing with. hew much spirit the character was sustain a het
over physical suffering. it w aisa.es'iry raj