The Sun.
London, England, 1869-11-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 9, 1869.

SAM
*4.

only. There is authentic evidence of builders making
matters agreeable to architects, and even of such a
case as a locomotive superintendent taking
fees from coal contractors. It would be
highly unjust to prematurely charge an
entire profession with fraud. But if unfair prac-
tices prevail privately to a great extent it is un-
doubtedly right that the public should be warned.
And here, as we have seen, it is not the testimony
of outsiders, but the evidence of engineers themselves,
upon which this charge rests. How far the com-
mission system prevails it would be hazardous to
speculate; but that it is carried on more or less seems
clear.

The fraud is unfortunately simple and safe. If the
contractor and the engineer agree, there is no one to
interfere. The former engages to do a piece of work,
and the latter is employed to see that the plan is
thoroughly carried out. The only third parties are
the manager or directors of the company contracted
for; and we all know what amount of trouble they gene-
rally give themselves, and how little competent they
would be in most cases to detect dishonesty, if they did
look after both engineer and contractor. As a matter
of fact, if the latter can bribe the former he is free
to execute his work as he pleases. The douceur to
the engineer enables the contractor to get extra pay
for work which ought to be included in the " lump
sum," or, as is more commonly the practice,
he can do the business in an inferior manner. Dis-
agreeable clauses in the contract may likewise be
evaded. There is not the slightest chance, as a rule,
that any weakness will be disclosed if the engineer
and the contractor agree. It is unnecessary to
enlarge upon the flagrancy of this species
of bargain. The prime duty of the engineer is to see
that the contractor does his work properly. To re-
ceive a bribe on condition that he allows the work
to be done improperly is a violation of the
engineer's agreement 'with his employers, a
fraud, in fact, which may involve the loss of
thousands of pounds, or the lives of human beings.
The principle is the same, no matter what may be
the kind of work done ; the acceptance of a com-
mission by the superintendent from the superintended
is a crime. There is every reason why such a ques-
tion should be investigated to the full. It is no
discredit to the honest of the profession, but a protec-
tion, for the doings of their unscrupulous brethren to
be exposed. Public opinion is not, as we have learned
to our cost, a perfect protection against commercial
rascality, but it is much better than nothing.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

TIIE HEALTH OF THE KING OF ITALY.
FLORENCE, Nov. 8 (Evenitig).
An official bulletin dated San Rossore, Monday,

says: --

" The improvement in the condition of the King,
which was announced this morning, continues."
General Menabrea, and the Ministers of War and

Finance remain at San Roiaore.

Addresses are arriving from all parts of the
kingdom testifying to the affectionate and earnest
interest in his Majesty's health.

PARIS, Nov. 9.

The Official Journal of this morning publishes a
telegram, dated San Rossore, Monday, 7 p.m.,
stating that the King's health had sensibly im-
proved, and that his Majesty was entirely out of
danger.

THE ARCHDEACON WHO HATES
NEW,S'PAPERS.

The Venerable Archdeacon of Exeter, who recently
declared that he hated newspapers, now says, in a letter
to the local press, ho is sorry to find that Lis friends have
taken umbrage at his observations upon newspapers and
magazines. It was far from his intention to speak
slightingly of a laborious and honourable profession, to
which all who occupy any public position are constantly
indebted, and from which ho has ever received
most kind and courteously rendered assistance. But
ho ventures to assert that the real dignity and use-
fulness of newspaper literature are upheld rather than other-
wise when it is contended that the press should supplement
more solid reading, and not usurp the place of it. An igno-
rant, ill-read person cannot appreciate really good political
or critical writing, so that if newspapers wish to
ledil the place claimed for them as the "fourth estao," they
Jhoul.l wish well tc any effort that is made to improve the
quality and generality of people's studies.

DOUBLE WEDDING IN. WESTMINSTER
ABBEY.

Westminster Abbey was on Mon 'ay the scene of one
of the most imposing marriage ceremonials which has been
witnessed in the metropolis for some years. The knowledge
that Lady Albertha Hamilton, and her sister, Lady Maud
—daughters of the Duke of Abercorn—were to appear as
brides at the altar, whence they were to return, the first-
named the wife of the Marquis of Blandford, and the
second named the wife of the Marquis of Lansdowne, drew
to the Abbey a crowd of such dimensions that it
tried the utmost limits of the building to pro-
vide anything like accommodation. The hour appointed
for the commencement of the service was half-past
eleven, but at half-past nine, and even before that time,
the doors were besieged by hundreds who were the fortu-
nate holders of tickets, and had, therefore some chance of
getting in, and by as many other hundreds who, not having
any such authority, had no chance at all. The assailants
of the Abbey portals were for the major part ladies, but
they were ladies of an aspect so determined that it
required great moral courage on the part of the official
who announced, after they had been rattling at the gates
for over half an hour, that no one would be admitted
for a good hour and more. As was only proper the choir
of the cathedral was reserved exclusively for the snore
immediate friends of the two families playing the prin-
cipal part in the ceremony. Tickets gave admission to
the nave, which afforded the best view of the
procession as it movel from the western entrance
to the choir, and to the north and south transepts,
from which lite ally nothing could be seen. The crowd
gathered outside the Abbey must have numbered many
thousands, as the spectators stood eight or nine deep on
either side of the way, extending from the western
entrance through the Broad Sanctuary as far as Parliament-
street. The arrivals of the Prince and the Princess of
Wales, the Prince and Princess Christian, the Duko of
Cambridge, of the bridegrooms, the bridesmaids, of the
many members of the aristocracy who graced the occasion
with their presence succeeded each other rapidly up
to a quarter past eleven, the advent of the Royal
guests being proclaimed by the performance of " God save
the Queen " upon the organ, the whole assembly standing.
At this time the Sub-dean, the Rev. Lord Wriothesly,
uncle of the brides, and five other clergy of the Abbey,
were in attendance within the rails of the High Altar, the
singing men and singing boys being ranged in a row on
either side of the choir immediately under the lantern. At
this moment the sun broke out in a manner which cheered
the hearts of those who had feared that the rain of the
earlier part of the morning would have continued through-
out the whole day, and added greatly to the brilliancy
of the scene. As the bridal procession entered the choir
from the nave the officiating clergy went forth to meet it,
the greater portion of the marriage service being
intoned in the body of the choir, and not at the altar. The
brides, of whom Lady Maud is the elder by about a
year, were dressed alike in white satin bed-
dices and trains trimmed with a profusion of
lace, and were decked, as brides ever are, with a mass
of orange blossoms. Six bridesmaids waited upon
each, the one bevy being dressed in cerise- and white, and
the other in blue and white. Of these important
officials four in each case were children whose
appearance added much to the interest of the spectacle.
From the body of the choir the bridal party—the knot
having thus been tied (the Duke of Abercorn gave away
his daughters)—headed by the choristers chanting,
entered the Sacrarium. The clergy passed within
the rails of the high altar, the choristers ranging
themselves on the left hand side, and the remainder
of the service was proceeded with, the musical portion
b ing more than usually effective. The new/r Married
left the Ssereriens sssahnig in line, followed
by the bridesmaids. Then came the Prince cf
Wales, conducting the Duchess of Abercorn. The
incoss of Wales x a 5 attired, both as regards her dress and
bonnet, in cerise and white. The presents made to the
brides were numerous and costly. Her Majesty presented
Lady Albertha Hamilton with a valuable Indian shawl;
and in addition, as a mark of special favour, sent Lady
Albertha (to whom the late illustrious Prince Consort
stood sponsor) a beautiful brooch, surrounded with pink
coral and pearls, and having in the centre the bust of the
Prince Consort in alto-relief. The Queen also presented
Lady Maud Hamilton with a beautiful cashmere shawl.
The Prince and Princess of Wales's gift to Lady Albertha
was a rich gold bracelet, set with emeralds and rubies,
containing the portraits of their royal highnesses sur-
rounded by their cyphers and crown in diamonds. The
Prince and Princess presented to Lady Maud Hamilton
a similar rich gold bracelet, set with pink coral and
pearls, also containing the portraits of their Royal High-
nesses, surmounted by their cyphers and coronet in dia-
monds. Lady Albertha's presents of jewellery consisted
of—from the Duke of Abereorn, her father, a necklace of
three rows of fine pearls with diamond clasp; from the
Duchess of Abercern, a pair of top and drop pearl ear-
rings, and a guard ring of emeralds and diamonds ; from
the Duke of Marlborough, a rich scroll pattern brilliant
tiara, surmounted by five stars, the latter made to be
worn separately as a necklace, &c. ; from the Marquis of
Blandford, a silver gilt toilette service, in Kingwood
cast, the fittings engraved with coronet and cypher; a fine
single sapphire ring, and a splendid brilliant guard ring;
from the Marquis of Bute, a remarkably splendid bril-
liant locket, set with five fine sapphires. Lady Maud
Hamilton's presents from her father and mother were
as nearly as possible similar to those of her sister,
namely, a necklace of three rows of pearls and
diamond snap, and a pair of stop and drop ear-
rings ; and a guard ring of rubies and diamonds. The
Marquis of Lansdowne presented his bride with a toilette
service in silver-gilt, engraved with their cypher and
coronet, and a pair of fine brilliant top aid drop earrings.
The most valuable of all her ladyship's presents was a
large magnificent flower-pattern diadem (family jewels
arranged by Garrard's), a present from fhe Marchioness
of Lansdowne. The above were but a few of the gifts
which were arrayed in the Italian room of Chesterfield
House for the inspection of the friends of the two

The new weekly illustrated newspaper lately an-
nounced is to be entitled The Graphic. The Christmas
number will consist in great part of fiction by popular
authors.

The food prospects in the North Western Pro-
vinces of India are so little indicative of famine, or of scar-
city approaching to famine, that the local Government
has discontinued the publication of reports of its relief
operations.
FATILF.R HYACINTHE AND THE AMERICAN
PRESS.—" Father Hyacinthe ate a beefsteak last Friday.
The Catholics are much incensed." "Father Hyacinthe
ate a broiled beefsteak on Friday because, as he claims, he
had a right to do so." These are two scraps of " news" just
laid before the public. Father Hyacinthe has now seen in
operation for the first time a " free press." We hope he
likes it.-27m Fork Times, Oct. 23.
Readers of the Animal World, the new illustrated
periodical launched in the interests of the Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, will rejoice to learn
that an improvement in the manufacture of horse collars
has just been devised by a Yankee mechanic. The practi-
cability of the painless collar may be readily understood
from the following brief description :—" Tho collar, being
stuffed with elastic cork, is light in weight, and adapts
itself to the shape of the animal as readily as if it was
moulded. It is highly elastic, does not chafe or gall the
neck, and the cork being a non-conductor, injury from the
heat is prevented."

Ti ri.Es.—Our racing and musical title
lie often offensive. I speak now of the latter. I one.
heard a priestling give out, with squeaking solemnity,
"Great is the Lord Hayes." One profanity leads to another.
" Lord Hayes, who's he ?" Of course Mr. Know-all says
confidently, "Hayes of the G-lth." You may also hear the
senseless as well as the pious "Amen," for example, in the
hymn concluding, "Perhaps next the bell may toll for me,
A men !" A thoughtful musician would prevent those mis-
takes; Lot, alas! fingers are plentiful, and brains are be-
muddled. In musical books we may see things of this sort,
"It is time to awake out of sleep," John Robins; or "0! grant
the king a long " Child. A little care would greatly im
prove these matters ; really, as a loyal philosopher, I hope
the olive branches of royalty will always possess the
usual complement of brains, and also the average supply
of limbs, especially feet, both in a pedestrian and perpen-
dicular sense.