The Sun.
London, England, 1860-02-23 00:00:00

BELGIUM:

In the sitting of the Belgian Senate of the lith
inst., the Duke de Brabant (the heir to the throne)
spoke at considerable length upon the commercial
prospects of Belgium. The question under discus-
sion was the Budget for Foreign Affairs.
After alluding to the commerce of Belgium 25
years ago, and its present prosperous condition, his
Royal Highness said :

Official returns show, in fact, that our special
commerce, which really represents the proper move-
ment of the country, has tripled since 1836. The re-
membrance of our successes at the Universal Exhi-
bitions of London and Paris is also of a nature to
inspire a legitimate confidence in the exceptional
strength of our industry. In recalling these facts,
attested by unchallengeable documents, allow
me, gentlemen, to express the hope that the future
will be worthy of the past. We are in the path of
progress; but, as you are aware, progress, to be
maintained, requires incessant and new efforts.
The special exportation—that is to say, that of na-
tional produce—during the period from 1840 to
1858 has followed this progress, as in France and
England, as will be seen from the following
figures :

1840. 1858. Incroaso.
England .. 1,285,000,000 f. 2,015,000,000 f. 127 per cent,
France.... 695,000,000 f. 1,980,000,000 f. 156 „
Belgium .. 140,000,000 f. 424,000,000 f. 204 „
Thus, it will be seen that Belgium has, relatively,
made more progress than her neighbours ; yet the
latter have not been inactive. They suffice chiefly
to provide for their own wants, and where 10 years
ago we only found consumers, we now meet rivals,
who not only do not purchase our produce, but are
themselves producers and powerful competitors.
The nearest markets—why should we deny it ?
are likely to be lost to some of our great industries.
A visible alteration has taken place in our fabrica-
tion of linen and cotton goods; our machinery,
iron, and rails are now chiefly sent to Spain, Italy,
and Russia. Our circle of action thus extends far,
and it ought to extend further. The activity of
our workshops, the welfare of our workmen, the
fortune of our commerce depend upon it. If, from
various causes, certain markets near us and of easy
access may become less accessible, others are open
to us, further off, it is true, but much more exten-
sive, and which in a few years, thanks to railways,
steamers, and the electric telegraph, will be easily
accessible to those who will take the wise precau-
tion to effect a footing there. This, gentlemen,
leads me to direct your thoughts to the East. As
soon as the treaty of Tien-tsin was signed Govern-
ment sent M. d'Egremont to China, to obtain for
Belgium the same advantages which had just been
granted to the English and French, the hardy
pioneers of our civilization. After being tossed
about between Shanghai and Canton, and Canton
and Shanghai, our Charge d'Affaires finally re-
ceived on the 19th of October last a despatch
from the High Commissary of Foreign Affairs, the
Governor of the Two Kwangs, &c. The First
Mandarin postponed any sort of negotiation with
us until the treaties with Baron Gros and Lord
Elgin had been ratified. That official document
proves once more a fact of which daily experience
had convinced all European traders, and which
emanates from the Treaty of Nankin of 1842, and
which the recent correspondence of Lord Elgin has
rendered still more manifest—viz., that in China
and Japan all European nations are on the same
footing (sont solidaires). It establishes no less
clearly the interest we have to see removed, ami-
cably or by force, the obstacles which still delay
the final triumph of French and English diplomacy.
If, always remaining faithful to our particular
task and engagements, the occasion should, never-
theless, present itself to co-operate with France,
England, and the other Powers in a work the re-
sults of which may be providential for our commerce
and industry, and which will most certainly be
considered as one of the most vast and productive
enterprises ever attempted—l say, such an oppor-
tunity would be a godsend for us, and we ought not
to neglect it. Gentlemen—By the patriotic and
wise vote you gave at the end of last sessiou you
have worthily closed the first period of the founda-
tion of our national structure. Now, confident in
our foundation, sure of our progress, we must en-
deavour to extend our operations abroad, to follow,
in proportion to our strength, the example of our
neighbours, and to profit by the lessons of history."
His Royal Highness, after pissing in review the
industry of Belgium as it now exists, dwelt upon
the necessity of opening new markets fir Belgian
produce, and to appoint Belgian agents in every
part of the world : to do this effectually Belgium
ought to have a great commercial port—and that
port should be Antwerp. After passing in review
the great commercial enterprises of the different
European States, and the success attendant thereon,
his Royal Highness concluded as follows
Tr is for you, gentlemen, to draw from the above
facts the conclusions that may appear to you best
suited to the wants of our time and to the interests
of the country. In case you should approve some
of the ideas I have expressed, I hope you will join
your voices to mine, and at once call the ear-
nest attention of the Government to those questions,
the happy solution of which will exercise a great
influence upon the political and material interests of
our country. With such an object in view let us
hope that all opinions will coalesce: Let us hope
that our statesmen will willingly set to work; let
us hope that all those who from age or from any
other reason have not had the good fortune to work
at the foundation of the national structure will at
least endeavour to elevate it as high as possible.
The day will come when their names will be en-
graved on tablets of marble."

THE :SOCIAL EVIL.

A writer in a contemporary says :
. Sir,—l attended the meeting at St. James's-hall
last night. I entertain great respect for the motives

which actuate the gentlemen at the head of the
" midnight meeting" movement, but their energies
are misapplied and their zeal is misdirected.

Some 200 women were present last evening. By
far the greater part consisted of the halt, the des-
titute, and the aged of West-end prostitutes.
Shabby mantles and tawdry dresses were in the
ascendant. The real social evil, the nzulierformosa,
who blazons her shame in Regent-street and the
Haymarket, who saps the morals, destroys the
health, and drains the purse of her thoughtless ad-
mirers, was, with few exceptions, unrepresented.
There were not 20 young and well-dressed women
in the room. Tea and coffee and bread and butter
were offered to all comers, and groups of eight or
ten women were formed round the various tables.
There was no platform. The few clergymen pre-
sent conversed with the women during tea, and
afterwards formed in a group near the top of the
room.

Shortly before one o'clock Mr. Baptist Noel ad-
dressed the meeting in a speech full of kindness and
sympathy. He talked of the horrors of the pre-
sent, the prospect of death and the hope for the
penitent. He produced no effect whatever until he
drew a most touching picture of the happy
home they had forsakbn, and of the mothers who
wept over their shame. This appeal was responded
to by sobs and tears. It went straight to the heart,
and was understood by all. After a few common-
place remarks by Mr. Bickersteth, a gentleman of
strong lungs and portly presence addressed the
meeting. He exhorted his hearers to come at once
to the reformatories. He promised that their hair
should not be eut off, nor their dresses taken from
them, and alas proceeding to draw a sketch of the
comforts they would enjoy, when he was checked
by jeering laughter and " chaffing" remarks. The
preaching was concluded with a statement that any
one desiring to enter a reformatory would be taken
there at the close of the meeting, and that the rail-
way fare would be paid for those desiring to return
home. A rush was then made to the door by the
great majority of the women, including nearly all
the young and well dressed. At the outer door was
collected a number of "swells," attracted by curio-
sity, but unprovided with the necessary ticket of
admission. Among them these women remained,
until their reformed sisters were carried off in cabs
amid a shower of cynical remarks. They then plied
their calling—apparently with considerable success.
So far as these meetings provide a homehand re-
fuge for wornout and hopeless outcasts they are
productive of good. This object can, however, be
attained by other and better means than by making
St. James's hall a succursale to the Haymarket,
and by calling midnight meetings of London pros-
titutes. The homeless and destitute alone will
accept the hard fare, unwonted restraint, and pain-
ful seclusion' of a reformatory. Such women may
be found in any numbers by men who, like Lieut.
Illaektnore, nobly devote themselves to the search.
But the more fortunate lw•eite is not likely to lield
to the seductions of the tea and toast, or to the per-
suasive reaching provided for her at St. James's-
hall. So long as there are men who supply her
with every comfort, to provide her with every
luxury, and eventually—as has too often happened
of late—to place her by marriage in a rank of life
far above her own, so long will she refuse to aban-
don her career.
If another meeting be held in St. James's-hall
let me offer a suggestion to the committee. Let
a room be opened specially for men, such as those
who last night thronged the street in such num-
bers. Let them be there preached to until the hall
be fairly cleared of the women. Such a course will
prevent the seductions of the " swells" on the pave
from overcoming the efforts of the reverend gen-
tlemen inside,