The Sun.
London, England, 1869-07-09 00:00:00

TH E SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY !:VENING, J ULY 9, 1869

familiar with defeat in his attempts at legislation.
At one time he felt these disappointments rather
poignantly. He has now apparently become accus-
tomed to them. He takes them in good part. Even
the impertinence of Mr. BRIGHT, in speaking, or rather
in writing, about the " childish pottering" applied to
the scheme involved in this very measure of the Life
Peerages Bill, the Veteran ex-Premier and ex-Leader
of the Liberal Party, of the Party of the Reformers,
could sweep aside with a jest expressive simply of
good humoured indifference. The Bill itself was really
a matter of comparatively very small importance. It
was singularly modest in its pretensions. It proposed
merely to legalize the creation of two life Peerages
a year, on the understanding that a fixed
aggregate number should never come to be
exceeded. It was designed to effect systematically,
and upon the authority of a distinct enactment,
what was mainly attempted to be done a few years
since through an extraordinary exercise of the power
of the Crown, and without any such authorization on
the part of the Legislature, in the memorable instance
of Lord WENSLEYDALE. Objections to the proposed
rangement have, undoubtedly, been visible all
through. Life Peerages would obviously place those
accepting them very invidiously indeed in the midst
of a hereditary aristocracy. The possessor of a life peer-
age would stand upon a lower level than the other
members of the Upper Home of Parliament. The
family of a Life Peer would—outside the House—be in
a wholly false position. The recipients of these very
left-handed honours, would, in some instance, would,
in the majority of instances, be marked with the brand,
be ticketted with the badge, of Poverty. They and
their immediate relations would be neither of the
class of nobles, nor of the class of commoners. Az'
,rhat I 3 SOLucirliat acivaLlaut,lc, Ewrl atr.v.vc..c. himself
—the introducer of the Bill—distinctly repudiated
the notion of his having proposed, for one instant, by
means of this Bill, to raise the reputation of the
House of Lords. " I never pretended," he said,
" that this House required anything of the kind"—
adding, very reasonably under the circumstances, that,
" after the debate which has recently occurred, this
would be about the worst moment for questioning
its capacity or character in managing our legislative
business." The principal object held in view by the
Bill was in point of fact to meet, through it, the case
of persons who would be considerable ornaments to
that House, and who would do more than merely
adorn the House, who :would be very useful in the
discussion of particular questions, and yet who would
be precluded from the occupation of a heredi-
tary peerage by reason of their not possessing
sufficient means for the adequate maintenance of the
dignity of a peerage of a hereditary character. Ac-
cording to Sir WILLIAM TEMPLE'S calculation—as
Lord DENMAN took occasion to remind the House last
evening, immediately afterwards—" no Duke should
have less than £B,OOO, no Marquis less than £7,000,
no Earl less than £5,000, and no Baron less than
£4,000 entailed upon his family." No mention being
made of a Viscount, by Sir WILLIAM TEMPLE, we
presume his annual income ought to be some £5,500,
or thereabouts. It was upon the motion of the Earl
of MALMESBURY to the effect that the third reading
should be postponed for another quarter that the bill
was eventually thrown out decisively for this session at
least in the manner intimated. During the course
of Lord MALMESBURY'S remarks in support of his
amendment, the noble earl vindicated veryfelicitously,
as we conceive, the character of the House of Lords
as a representative chamber. His argument was that
the Peers are not simply landowners. And, in en-
forcing this argument, Lord INlaLaiEsnurtv went on
to say, with considerable emphasis—" Property of
every kind belongs to members of this House. We
are not only owners of land, but owners and even
lcs3ees of mines and other industrial property.
Among us there are also bankers, railway directors,
and men most eminent in their knowlelge of com-
mercial affairs, such as the noble marquis (SALls-
nutty) and other peers. There are eminent ofne.2rs
of the army and navy, who are ready to enter upon
discussions of interest to your lordships relative
to those professions. There are more than fifty
peers who have been eminent and distin-
guished members of the House of Commons.
There are eminent diplomatist 4, like Lord STaATFOIID
DE REDCLIFFE and Lord Co LEY, whom I may
mention as they are not now present. There are
historians, among whom I may mention my noble
friend behind me (Earl STANHOPE), who, if ever your
lordships were mistaken on any point of history,
would set you right. There are writers both of prose
and poetry, including my noble friend opposite (Lord
HOUGHTON) and another noble lord (LYTToN),
than whom no English writer can ba more dis-
tinguished. There are twelve or fif teen peers who pos-
sess immense property in this metropolis, and who
can assist us in discussions on property, and who are
conversant with the wants of the middle and lower
classes. There are eminent lawyers, and a great
number of magistrates accustomed to judicial de-
cisions, many of them being chairmen of quarter
sessions." The very reasonable conclusion arrived at
from all this, being—that the House of Lords (pace
Mr. BRIGHT) is not only a hereditary but a distinctly
representative institution.

Ir any future biographer should do for Postmasters-
General what Lord CAMPBELL has done for Lord-
Chancellors, he would have to write that the first
member of the House of Commons who held the
former office had to propose in the first year of his
holding it one of the most important changes ever
made in his department. It is quite the most
important since the penny postage was author-
ised just thirty years ago. When we remem-
ber all the years during which we have advocated the
acquisition of the telegraphs by the Government, we
cannot but feel satisfaction at the approaching coro-
nation of this edifice. The satisfaction will be all the
greater because the consummation will have been
attained only after great obstacles. It is no secret
that the acquisition was met, not only with no favour,
but with absolute dislike, by the members of the pre-
sent Government. Last year the present PRESIDENT
of the POOR-LAW BOARD did his utmost to stifle
the scheme in select committee. This year
its promoters have had little but coldness
and discouragement from the PRESIDENT
of the BOARD of TRADE and the CHANCEL-
LOR of the EXCHEQUER. It is mainly through
the efforts of the last Conservative Chancellor of the
Exchequer in the House of Commons, and those of
Mr. ScUDAmonn outside the House, that
this great adminstrative reform has been brought
to its present stage of all but completion.
Yet probably the efforts of both those gentlemen
would have failed had not the Press throughout the
kingdom, without respect of politics, urged the
Government to undertake this new department of
labour.

The Marquis of HARTINGTON has now delivered
his budget, and we do not think that even the M.P.
who lately denounced the purchase to his con-
stituents as a "scandalous job " can find fault with
it. Under the searching investigation of the
arbitrators the purchase money has been reduced by
nearly 20 per cent. upon the price originally
asked. For G millions the whole of the telegraphs
in the kingdom, exclusive of private telegraphs,
will become the property of the nation. The gross
revenue from that property is estimated at about 10
per cent, of that amount; the net profit, after paying
all expenses, is a little under 5 per cent. Against
this must be placed the interest of the purchase
money, which at 371- per cent. would leave the nation
with a clear surplus of £77,000 a year. This is but
very Propodicou of the advantage which

will be gained. The main renefit will arse
from the bringing of telegphic communica-
tion within the reach of all persons who
are not absolutely paupers. If instead of
bringing in a revenue of over million a year, the
Post Office involved a loss, we hould not on that
account regret the reduction °postage to a penny.
So with regard to the telegrap, if it should prove
that the purchase of them, instei of leaving us with
£77,000 to play with, should itolve a loss to that
amount, we shall not) wish ours/ves off our bargain
when every little town has s telegraph office,
and when in the great towns to transmission and
the delivery of telegrams is dcted with as little
trouble and with as great regulaity as the transmis-
sion and the delivery of letter: There is not the
smallest reason to anticipate suh loss. The deficit
anticipated when the penny potge was introduced
has turned out a very handsme surplus. There
is no reason why, when a swim is anticipated, it
should not be more than realisil.
The details of Lord TERTrG TON'S measure do
not call for any particular comaent. lle has wisely
left himself free to raise the rquired sum in any or
all of four different ways. Nodoubt he will consult
with Mr. LOWE on this implant point, and pro-
bably that great authority nrll tell him that for
economy there is nothing lilicthe sweet simplicity
of the Three per Cents. We cannot com-
plain that the Governmem asks for a mono-
poly of telegraphic busineg. It is necessary
that at first starting in a new miertaking of the kind
the Government should be pr)tected from rivalry.
Nevertheless, we trust that Ministers will be con-
-tented with limiting their demand to a specific
period. We shall be much mistaken if, in the
course of a few years, the Teegraph Department is
not able to do without all ax:vertitious support of this
kind.

ARTIP-zT OF Ai? r

V.

The man Denis Fahey, charged with the Me.
James Neille, his landlord, a wealthy farmer, near Emly,
county Tipperary, on the Ist inst., has been appre-
hended. The arrest was effected by officers of the Irish
constabulary in Liverpool, and the accused has been
taken over to Ireland. Fahey, who is a native of Bally-
looley, county Limerick, was a tenant of the deceased
gentleman, and occupied land. It will be remembered
that some geese belonging to Fahey had strayed
upon the land of Mr. Neille, and that the
latter went to Fahey to remonstrate with him
for permitting the trespass. Some angry words
ensued, which resulted in Fahey striking Mr.
Neille a violent blow under the ear, from the effects of
which he died shortly afterwards. It is supposed that
Fahey had a stone or some other weapon in the hand with
which he struck his landlord. Seeing the fatal result of
the blow, Fahey left Ireland, and it is said he had been in
Liverpool since last Saturday.

THE BURNING OF THE BLUE JACKET.

A full account of the burning of the Blue Jacket has
been received from one of the survivors of that terrible
catastrophe, who writes from Port Stanley, Falkland
Island& He is one of eight survivors of the second
mate's boat who were picked up by a passing
vessel after prolonged and terrible sufferings. The
Blue Jacket left Lyttelton on February 13, having
on board sixty-two persons and seven children. She made
a good passage to the Horn, and on the 7th of March
passed the Falkland Islands, the writer of this narrative
little thinking how soon he should revisit them.
On the 9th of March the fire broke out in the
fore hatchway. Every effort was made at the pumps, and
after several hours the crew and passengers hoped they
would extinguish it. About nine at night, however, the
coals in the fore part caught fire, and the fate of the ship
was sealed. The boats were got out, the women and chil-
dren and passengers going in the yacht, and the rest in the
two lifeboats. The captain was very unwilling to leave the
ship, but was at last induced to do so, and soon after the
vessel was a mass of flames. The boats kept together
during the next day and night, but lost sight of each
other subsequently. There were fifteen persons in the
second mate's boat, and 27 persons with the seven children
in the yacht. This survivor gives a painful account of
the sufferings which the party in the boat endured. The
thirst was terrible, and two or three men and boys died
raving from drinking salt water. Their feet were frost-
bitten from cold and exposure, and they were obliged
to cut off their boots. Their stock of provisions was
almost exhausted when one of them descried a sail, and all
for the moment forgot their pain and exhaustion. The
rest of the story is told in a somewhat confused manner,
no doubt from the illness and exhaustion of the
writer, but it appears that the captain of the
ship which picked them up was prejudiced against
them on account of the boxes of gold which they had
with them, rescued from the specie which the unfortunate
ru • Jacket had on board. The captain put soma of the
miserable sufferers in irons, and when they reached
the Falkland Islands, he said that from what
he could make out, these shipwrecked men
had murdered everyone on board the ship they had left,
and had taken the gold. Three more of the boat's crew
died on board this ship, leaving eight survivors of the
fifteen who first embarked. Those who were still
alive when they reached the Islands were kindly
cared for, and great indignation was expressed against
the captain when they exonerated themselves from the
charges brought against them. Some of them are lamed
by frostbite, and all have suffered severely. The writer
of this letter, who writes to his mother, declares he would
commit suicide rather than go through such scenes again.

That portion of the treaty of commerce between
Great Britain sad the Sandwich Islands which relates to
whale ships visiting the parts of the latter Stato has Leon
cancelled. Tho remainder of tho treaty bas been renewed
for seven years.

A party of distressed workmen, with their wives
and families, amounting in all to 157 persons, embarked on
board the steamship Cleopatra (Captain James), at the Vic-
toria Docks on Thursday, bound for Canada. The wholo
of these were assisted in going out by the British and Colo-
nial Emigration Fund.

A collector of the Commercial Gas Company at
Tower Hamlets, is said to have absconded with a large sum
of money belonging to tho company. It has been ascer-
tained that he is now on his way to America. His securi-
ties have made up the deficiency, and consequently there will
be no loss to the company or shareholders.

At a meeting of the Fenian Prisoners' Amnesty
Ass ciation in Dublin, it was determined that, "as the object
of the contemplated meeting at Mallow was the unconditional
release of the political prisoners, the people should be
strongly advised that no bands or banners, or any semblance
of party emblems, should be used."

Same of the officers of the emigrant ship James
Foster have been tried and punished severely for the out-
rages practiced upon tho crew and passengers during the
recent voyage from Liverpool to New York. The carpenter
Glynn, has been sentenced to fifteen years, the boatswain,
Crutbers, to seven years, and the third mate, Murphy, to five
years imprisonment.

The Leeds Mercury understands that arrangements
are now in progress forholding meetings in Leeds and other
large towns of the West Riding, with the object of support-
ing the Government in rejecting the amendments intro-
duced into the Irish Church Bill by the House of Lords.. No
date has yet been fixed for the Leeds meeting, but it is likely
to be held in the early part of next week.
On Wednesday a boy while birds'-nesting in a
wheat-field near Wimbledon, saw the body of a man lying
by the side of a tree with his throat cut. A medical gentle-
man was called, who, after inspecting the body, said that the
man had been dead about two months. He bad taken
off his necktie and coat, and, as a razor was found lying
by his side, there seems little doubt that he had com-
mitted suicide. Ho appeared to be between forty and fifty
years of age.
At Colchester on `Wednesday a private in the 3r3
(Prince of W ale s's)Dragoon Guards, named George Pulley,was
late for morning drill, and, mounting his horse, ho rode as
fast as he could towards the riding school. He had only
recently joined the regiment, and was not up in horso
manship. When near the riding school ho lost all control
over his horse, and was thrown headforemost against the
wall. When picked up he was insensible, and died in a
few hours.

THE PURCHASE SYSTEU IN THE ARMY.—
It is generally surmised and currently reported
in official circles that the Government con-
templates the early introduction of some scheme to
abolish, or at least greatly modify, the purchase system
in the army. Rumour even goes so far as to name
the members of the Government who aro specially
engaged in framing this scheme, and are the most inte-
rested in its success. We are not in a position to state
that these surmises and reports are totally without foun-
dation, although we have every reason to believe that they
are premature.

DuNvILLE 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, Beautortrbuiltngs,Strand„Londcp,
ICI gOlOOl9At,

SHARPNEL VERSUS SEGMENT SHELL.

The Times has a long article a propos to the experi-
ments being carried on on Dartmoor upon the long
agitated question, " Which is the better, shrapnel or
segment shell ?" After giving the arguments on each side,
the Times says that the moderate party must come to the
following conclusion :—" Shrapnel shell, when served with
deliberation, is, doubtless, more effective than segment
shell under certain conditions. On the other hand, the
segment shell fitted with a concussion fuse is always ready
to hand, and is certainly more simple and decidedlycheaper
than shrapnel. Probably two segment shells, with a simple
concussion fuse, could be bought at the price of one
shrapnel. Again, segment shells, when fired with concussion
fuses, have proved themselves very formidable projectiles
against abattis, guns, stockades, and troops under the
cover of low walls and breastworks. It is very improbably
that the leaden bullets of the shrapnel would have
much effect in cutting to pieces the wheels of gun carriages
or the struts of a stockade. We have fired segment shells
with concussion fuses in real warfare, and all officers who
have used them, or witnessed their use, speak most highly
in their praise. It is notorious that both the Russians
and Prussians look on shrapnel shells with disfavour ; even
the Austrians, who use a pattern almost identical with
our own, are said to have considerably reduced tl.e
proportion of shrapnel carried by their field batteries.
Now, this course has been adopted, not from the results
of a fire against inanimate two-inch wooden planks, but
against warm flesh and blood ; and, although we may
have our insular prejudices on following or regarding the
opinion of foreigners, we should proceed with due caution
and do nothing hastily. The Boxer shrapnel is an admi-
rable projectile, and we are justly proud of the inventor ;
but will it satisfy all the requirements of the service? If
we adopt an exclusive employment of shrapnel, are we
right and all the rest of the world wrong ? On the other
hand, suppose both are right, would it not be advisable to
have some of both projectiles?"