The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-19 00:00:00

'THE -SUN, LOAD. N, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 19, 1867.

moment. Tht great iron dock was alternately sub-
merged al togeher, and then exposed 20 feet down.
The smalltrr craft iyere of course for the most part

destroyed , and m'Any lives lost. Slight shocks of
eartbqud ke cont hued to be felt up to the time
when the La Plata left, and it was reckoned that in
all seventy di gtinct shocks had been experienced.
Such are the terrible disasters which have befallen
the inhabitan is of St. Thomas, and it is no wonder
that the merch ants and dealers of the island are com-
pletely overwhelmed by the number and variety of
their.misfortuties. The change from the Danish to the
American supt eolacy has certainly been marked by
a most eventfu;, season. The Americans, we appre-
hend, will fear they have made a bad bargain in
adding to their territories an island subject to such
awful visitations. The Governor of St. Thomas,
who had been on "leave in Europe, had but just re-
turned for the purvose of handing over the island to
the American Admiral, who had arrived there for
the transfer. The price said to have been paid by
the Americans is 7,500,000 dollars. Unfortunately
the disasters from which the island is now suffering
so severely are not of a nature to be mitigated or
avoided even by American energy and resource.

Every possible precaution is now being taken to
guard against the attacks, direct and indirect, of
Fenianism. This is as it should be, and the most
self-reliant and courageous of the public will rejoice
equally with those who are more timid and uncer-
tain that these precautionary measures should be
taken. A large number of detective police have
been sent out into different parts of the city, and
through the metropolis generally. Officers of the
police and military are in charge of South
Kensington Museum, the British Museum,
the powder magazines in Hyde-park, and other
places, where attacks would be followed by serious
consequences. As yet nothing definite has been
done in the way of capturing the suspected persons,
but intelligence has been received that affords hopes
to the authorities that their capture may soon be
effected. ALLEN has made a confession, which is
not as yet allowed to transpire, but which it is un-
derstood will seriously compromise the position of
the prisoners. the condition of the unfortunate
persons who are lying at the hospitals is reported to
be about the same. It is indeed sad to reflect upon
the sufferings that these wretched beings have had
to go through for the gratification of the ruthless
spirit of vindictiveness that seized upon others.
Meetings have been held in various places to attest
the general feeling of indignation that the recent
outrages has occasioned. In Edinburgh last Tues-
day at the meeting of the Town Council the Lord
Provost expressed the prevailing sentiment of the
city in respect to the affair. Before proceeding to
the business of the day, he desired to declare the
" deep abhorrence they all entertain respecting the
murderous outrage perpetrated in London by a
band of traitorous and merciless conspirators." As
yet there is no symptom of disorder to be noticed
in the city of Edinburgh, but as the Lord Provost
observed such things are infectious, and therefore
means will be taken to guard against the slightest
appearance of evil designs. In Glasgow Mr. GRAY
has very properly decided that the mass which was
to have taken place for the three criminals who
were executed shall not now be read, because
it was intended that the service should
have a political significance instead of a purely reli-
gious one.

In Liverpool a deputation of Orangemen waited
upon the Mayor and Ilead-constable to thank them
for stopping the Fenian procession ; they also pre-
sented a resolution testifying their earnest desire for
the maintenance of the public peace. And the
Mayor conveyed to them on his part the gratitude
of himself and all the magistrates of the
borough for their hearty co-operation. At a meet-
ing of the representative vestry of St. Pancras, which
was very fully attended, the subject of the Fenian
outrage at Clerkenwell was discussed, and several
speakers strongly denounced the late atrocious act,
and a resolution was carried unanimously to the
effect that the vestry desired to express their entire
abhorrence of the " dastardly proceedings,"
and pledged themselves to render the Government
every assistance that was in their power to maintain
public order. It is satisfactory to find that the swear-
ing in of special constables has been proceeded with,
and many have availed themselves of this oppor-
tunity for displaying their loyalty, and showing
their disapprobation of the Fenian conspirators.
Many working men have presented themselves,
which is a very favourable sign. On the whole,
eve may conclude that very efficient measures have
been adopted to stem the evil that has obtruded
itself, and hence we may reasonably expect that
in a comparatively short space of time Fenianism
may be ranked among the things of the past.

In agreeable diversion to the gloomy and anxious
subjects which are just now engrossing the public
mind, we find Mr. GLADSTONE discoursing upon
more congenial and more encouraging topics. The
occasion was a pleasant one, being the opening of
a new Mechanics' Institute at Werneth, a suburb
of Oldham, and the Mayor and Corporation of
Oldham took advantage of the opportunity to pre-
sent the right hon. gentleman with an address.
Mr. GLADSTONE is always welcome in Lancashire,
and always at home on social and educational topics.
A striking instance himself of the possibility of
combining the most laborious scholastic research
with the habits of an energetic and practical man
of business, he teaches by example as well as by
precept. At the opening of his address, Mt. GLAD-
STONE entered at once upon politics. Having to
thank the Mayor and Corporation for the address,
he expressed the gratification with which he looked
back upon his share in the great commercial
changes of the last five and twenty years,
but he felt bound to echo back the compliments
paid him. The triumphs of free trade and free
industry would not have been won so soon if it had
not been for the active and intelligent part taken
by the men of Lancashire on all those questions.
While on this topic Mr. GLADSTONE could not,
while speaking at Oldham, refrain from paying a
tribute to the achievements of RICHARD COBDEN,
more especially with reference to the French Treaty,
which, in Mr. GLADSTONE'S opinion, could hardly
have been brought to a successful conclusion by any
other man. The recent settlement of the Reform
question was another subject of congra:ula-
tion. The progress which has been effected is, he
thinks, matter for thankfulness. "Remember,"
said Mr. GLADSTONE, " the tone of the public and
of the public press on the subject of Parliamentary
Reform, three years, two years, and even eighteen
months ago; but no longer than two years ago
recollect the mass of obstacles that were to be over.
come the attitude of political parties in this
country, the names that were arrayed against the
extension of the suffrage, and I think we shall
agree that we must be most thankful for the pro-
gress made in the great work of associating Eng-
lishmen with the exercise of political power."
Later in the day Mr. GLADSTONE assisted in the
inauguration of the Institute, which was his special
object. His speech on this occasion was most appro-
priate and interesdng. Referring to the list of the
pursuits to be followed by the members of the in-
stitution, he raid he was very glad to see due pro-

vision made for recreation. In this country, he
added with truth, we have not been happy in our
amusements. We have excluded them too much
from our view; popular amusements have been very
much discountenanced. The fact, said the right
hon. gentleman very justly and sensibly, " that
provision has not been made for popular recreation
in a virtuous manner has had a very great and a
very detrimental effect in establishing an alliance
between popular amusements and vice." This,
in fact, has been one fundamental error
in the management of our Mechanics'
Institutes. The extreme dryness and rigidity of
their programme could not be acceptable to the body
of ordinary mechanics, however profitable to the
few earnest students. No one pretends that work-
ing men are unfit or unable to follow any mental
pursuit during their leisure hours, but it is too much
to expect them to do so unremittingly. What pro-
portion of the so-called educated classes would care
to spend every evening over chemistry or clas-ics.
How many members of the Clubs go home to
read HORACE or turn over EUCLID, and yet such
occupations would not be so burdensome to them
as to untrained beginners. It is well that every
facility should be put in the way of the earnest and
laborious student ; but the week's catalogue should
include some evenings for the intelligent recreation
and diversion of those to whom study, in whatever
form, will always be more of a toil than a pleasure.
The popular lecture, the singing class, the• occa-
sional concert, or exhibition or diorama, will,
we need not doubt, prove powerful instru-
ments of good. There are amusements which
the working man can share with his wife and his
elder children, and from which he can learn a good
deal without the labour of books. We are glad to
find Mr. GLADSTONE lending his valuable aid to so
important a reform.
Speaking of the more direct branches of learning,
Mr. GLADSTONE addressed himself particularly to
the study of the English language. He dwelt upon
the richness and beauty of our language, which
was, he said, as wonderful and as complex
as our Constitution itself, and strongly re-
commended its assiduous study. It is, he
said, a singular language, and not a little
troublesome to foreigners. For his own part, he
had often thought, if he were a foreigner, and had
to learn the English pronunciation, he should go
mad ! But leaving the minor difficulties of rule
and want of rule, the noble literature of our lan-
guage is well worthy to engross a large share of
every student's attention, and however eager he may
be to acquaint himself with foreign tongues, he
should never neglect the rich mine of wealth that is
hidden in his own.

THE historian who should undertake to write the
history of our charitable endowmentli would have
to tell one of the most lamentable tales ever related
by the chronicler. It would be one long record of
noble purposes frustrated by the administrators. It
would be shown how funds intended for the relief
of the. poor had been absorbed by those appointed
to watch the interests of the poor, how the increased
value of property left for the support of the
charity had been diverted from the proper
recipients to the trustees. In less grievous
instances it would be related that funds had been
spent on objects which were not contemplated, or,
at the most, were subordinate, at the expense of
the ends specifically set forth by the donors. As a
rule, the older the charity the greater the abuse.
The founders have long been dead and buried.
Their names are forgotten. So are their inten-
tions ; and if there is no one who has a direct
interest in ascertaining these, the misappropriation
is likely to continue year aft.2r year, until, as with
the BamborOugh Charity, it becomes a public
scandal. But it is not merely mediteval insti-
tutions which require investigation. Charitable
furids established within our own times require
constant watching. There is such an invariable
tendency in them to get diverted from the right
path, that only the most vigilant care will keen
them straight.

By far the largest charity of recent origin, pro-
bably the largest in existence, is the Royal
Patriotic Relief Fund. It amounts to about a
million and a half sterling, and was raised by
voluntary subscription during the Russian war.
Its objects were set forth to be provision
in the shape of maintenance or education
for the widows and orphans of those who
died in the war, or in consequence of it. A
large number of commissioners, including some of
the most eminent men in the country, were
appointed to administer this splendid fund. Most
of them were purely nominal administrators, and
left the work to a committee, though the PRINCE
CONSORT was an exception to the rule, and during
his regime the charity was well administered. It
is to the proceedings of this committee that we
would now call attention. The fact that they were
obliged to apply to Parliament last session for an
Act of Indemnity is the first thing which will strike
the uninitiated. Such an Act is passed onli when
something illegal has been done. The inference is
that the Patriotic Fund has to a certain
extent been illegally dealt with. As a matter
of fact we find that the committee have been
setting apart for a future generation money which
was subscribed for the present. The contributors
to the Patriotic Fund intended their offerings to
be devoted to the use of the widows and orphans
of soldiers serving in a particular war. The Com-
missioners, or their committee, spend the money
in establishing and endowing a school in perpetuity.
But, it may be replied, perhaps the Commissioners
have really more money to dispose of than they
know what to do with, and they arc therefore
justified in departing from the strict letter of
their instructions. The contrary is the fact.
There are at the present time a large num-
ber of persons who have a fair claim to the
fund, but who can obtain either no relief at all, or
most inadequate relief. We have recently inserted
in our columns an appeal in behalf of one such
" Crimean sufferer." It was stated by a highly
influential London clergyman that the lady in
whose interests he wrote was the widow of a medi-
cal officer who during the Russian war was em-
ployed in constant and most responsible and
harassing work, the supervision of the transport of
sick and wounded soldiers... In this work he
destroyed his health and died as much a victim to
the war as though he• had been killed in battle.
His widow was left destitute, and her reason has
become affected. This, we understand, has
been certified by two of the most eminent
" mad doctors" in London Dr. FORBES
WINSLOW and Dr. RUSSELL REYNOLDS. Yet
the committee refuse to give "sick relief "
they are bound to give, their refusal being in the
first instance based upon the absence of medical
testimony ; and when that was forthcoming, the
committee " adhered to their former decision."
this case, distressing thomh it is—and gladly
as we have allowed our correspondent to plead
it—is by no means so bad as many others.
Among these who have vainly appealed are to be
found deformed, crippled, and diseased children.
Relief has even been refused to the dying, and
when at length aid was given it CAMC in the shape
of money for a coffin. Even where the cl aim of
applicants upon the Fund is admitted, the relief
is administered so tardily and so ungraciously,
that the committee would seem to be rather poor
law guardians with a more than usually severe
mania for economy, than •administrators of .a fund
" in accordance," to quote the words of the QUEEN'S
Commission, " with the generous intentions of the
donors." Many months a;;o the committee ac-
knowledged the right of 400 orphans to be placed
upon the Fund, Yct even now some 300 of these have

not been admitted. All tins time these orphans
are growing up and requiring nourishing food and
education ; yet, though their right to have their
wants supplied has been admitted, they are still
left without aid. This procrastination would seem
to imply that the committee desire to drive the
orphans and widows of our Crimean heroes to the
workhouse ; in other words, as though they wished
that the very persons who had the greatest claim
to the Fund should be deprived of it.
It is difficult to estimate the injurious impres-
sion which such cruel parsimony would have upon
our soldiers and sailors. We say, advisedly, cruel
parsimony, for while the Commissioners or their
agents were prepared to cast upon the tender
mercies of our -Farnham and Clifton workhouse
masters the sick orphans of the men who fought
and died for us a dozen years ago, they held in
hand funds amounting to little short of £200,000.
There is no question of personal malversation
here. The Commissioners and their officials
are, so far as we know, highly honourable men.
There are no revelations about bathing machines
with copper wheels for their use, as there were with
regard to the Bamborough trustees. Whence,
then, it may be asked, this slowness to relieve dis-
tress, this grudging distribution of a fund so gene-
rously provided I The explanation is not easy.
The only one which we can find is that the Corn-
misbioners have an uncontrollable mania for build-
ing. • They have erected a kind of palace at Wands-
worth for time education of girls, and it appears
from the report that they desire to erect another
for the education of boys, and, we presume, to en-
dow it, while the widows and orphans are still
unprovided for How far this is a wise appropria-
tion of the Patriotic Fund is very questionable
when we learn that the Wandsworth institution
has cost the Fund £210,000, the interest of which,
at the rate of five per cent., would be £10,500 a
year, or £35 for each girl—an enormous sum when
compared with the cost of girls educated at the
Soldiers' Daughters' Home. Thirty-five pounds
would be thought a heavy charge even by trades-
men and farmers ; for the daughter of a private
soldier it is simply preposterous. It is still
more preposterous when we learn that it has
not secured efficiency. Two years ago the
Government Inspector of Schools was compelled
to write : " I regret to have to report a most
unsatisfactory state of things." It has been im-
proved of late, in spite of the opposition of these
who should have aided ; but the school still
remains inordinately costly. The new school which
it is proposed to build is likely to be just as unsa-
tisfactory. Even if it were otherwise the Commis-
sioners have no right to devote to a future genera-
tion the fund which they hold for the benefit of
the present. It is too bad that money should be
squandered in bricks and mortar when widows and
orphans, the aged and the sick, are crying out in
vain for the relief which it was the express object of
the subscribers to the Royal Patriotic Relief Fund
to afford.

LATEST INTELL LUNGE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.

NEW YORK, Dec. 18, 6 p.m.
The steamers Austrian and Africa arrived out
to-day.