The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LoNL ON, THURSDAY EV ENING, JANUARY 17, 1867.

from time to time, and capable of being further re-
Reined ; venerable from the traditions of six hun-
, Area years, and endeared to the English nation for
many generations from the way in which it had
f ought their battles, asserted their privileges, up-
ield their freedom, and secured to them greater and
more enduring blessings than any other representa-
-. five assembly that ever existed."

We are very glad to find a report current that
among the first measures which the‘,Government
intend to introduce this Session is one for, securing
the health and comfort of the seamen of our mer-

teantile marine. It is, indeed, more than time that

the whole question was fully inquired into, and

some energetic steps taken to preserve this large and
t.seful body of men from the effects of the greed,
the ignorance, or indifference of shipowners and
Lptains. It is only surprising that their grievances

should have been left so long unredressed ; but

,hey belong to a class which is very unlikely to seek

he usual channels of public communication, while
;heir occupation naturally engrosses a great portion

of their time and thoughts, and removes them
from the sphere of action. Besides, sailors of all

grades are proverbially heedless and reckless about

the future, and so long as they keep in tolerable

health and activity they do not trouble themselves
much about possible risks. When sick and dis-
abled, indeed, or turned adrift in a foreign port,
they have time and opportunity for moralising on

the hardships of their treatment. Whether they

are generally sensible of the injustice which they
often meet with or no, it is very certain that
the attractions of the service are rapidly

declining, and that if we want to get
a regular supply of efficient seamen for our
mercantile marine we must take care that
the health of our men is subjected to no unne-

cessary risks, and that they are treated in money
matters with fairness and consideration. It is more

than a question between masters and men, for the
commerce of the country is of vast importance to
all ; and while there are so many wanting em-
ployment, and many trades overstocked with
labourers, it is a thousand pities that a fine
and honourable profession like seamanship
should fall into such disrepute, that our

merchant_ ships should have to be manned by
foreigners. There is much need for legislative
interference in the matter, because the evils spring
from a variety of causes. The shipowner may be
well disposed, but the master may have the
management of the provisions, and make his profit
at the expense of the men. Or, again, both owner
and master may endeavour to act fairly and kindly,
but the construction of the ship may be so bad that
health and comfort are almost impossible. Very
strong evidence in favour of immediate reform
was given the other day by Dr. STONE, after
personal inspection of the docks. Captain
HENRY TOYNBEE'S lecture, to which• he fre-
quently referred, was delivered last evening
before the members of the Society of Arts. Captain
TOYNBEE headed his paper " Mercantile Marine
Legislation, as Affecting the Number and Efficiency
of British Seamen," and said that, having spent
more than thirty years among seamen, he had be-
come impressed with the importance of some of
their wants. " The scarcity of British seamen,"
adds Captain TOYNBEE, " and the tendency to dis-
content which is showing itself in the east end of
London and in several of our seaports, make it more
important that those who understand them thoroughly
should come forward and explain what is actually
w anted."

The principal changes which Captain TOYNBEE
advises are as follows :-1. That Government shall
establish a pension fund and life insurance adapted
to seamen, and join to them a benefit fund, the
principal of which shall be the sums received as un-
claimed wages and effects of deceased seamen. 2.
That Government shall enter in the heading of the
" articles" a new scale of provisions. 3. That the
space allotted to seamen shall be properly lighted,
drained, and ventilated. 4. That dock clerks be
attached to shipping offices, whose duty it shall be
to visit ships on their arrival, see that the men
get their pay, or, if they wish, undertake to send
it to their homes. 5. That shipping masters be
empowered to order the inspection of all ships ,
forecastles and provisions, and that shipping mas-
ters abroad shall have power to make a commander
ship another man in place of one discharged ;
also that vessels engaging crews to be discharged
abroad shall be bound to provide for their pas-
sage home. 6. That provision shall be made for
the admission of English boys into the mercantile
marine, and for the establishment of married
sailors' homes, clubs, and institutes in our sea-
ports. The explanation which Captain TOYNBEE
gave of the proposed pension fund exhibits
very forcibly the injustice with which sea-
men have been treated. The unclaimed wages and
effects of deceased merchant seamen amount to
about £7OO a-year, which sum is paid into the Con-
solidated Fund, where there is a largo accumulation.
This would be well applied towards the formation
of a benefit fund for distressedsailo
rfamilies.
to the
The 2d article of reform refers principally
prevention of scurvy, which has increased threefold
in our merchant service during the last few years.
Soldiers and emigrants, observed Capt. TOYNBEE,
when speaking on this subject, are supplied with
good salt provisions, as well as limejuice, pickles, pre-
served potatoes, &c.; and such must be the dietary of
seamen. The quality of meat supplied to merchant
ships may be guessed from the report of a large
provision dealer. Beef that would pass inspection
for troops is about £8 75., per tierce of 3041b5.
Beef supplied to crews of ships is from £5 10s. to
£6 108. for the same quantity. Pork, in London,
ranges from £4 10s. to £5 15s. the barrel of 2001 b.,
but there are English ports where it ranges from
£3 ss. to £3 15s. Of this the dealer remarked,
" It is stuff that you could squeeze through your
fingers like lard." After this information we need
not wonder at the increase of scurvy in the mer
chant service. It is very evident that Governme
interference is needed to keep shipowners, masters
and provision dealers in check.

The non-unionists of Staveley appear determined
to keep up their bold and resolute resistance to the
tyranny of trade combinations, which would govern
not only their own members, but those who do not
belong to them. A very large meeting was held
on Tuesday evening, at Barrow-bill, when nearly
1,000 persons were present. The chairman, Mr.
MAREHAm, the managing director of the company,
announced that there were 1,508 non-unionists
exclusively employed in connection with the mineral
department of the company. They have had, how-
ever, great difficulties to contend against, although
the Staveley company, unlike some other employers,
have expressed their firm determination that, be the
consequences what they might, they would not employ
union men. The delegates of the unionists finding
this have endeavoured to enlist the sympathies of
the trades' unions in Sheffield, Manchester, and
London against the Staveley Company. Such
gigantic combinations, as Mr. MARKHAM pointed
out, could do no good to the working man, as they
were usually followed by combinations of masters.
The true interest of the working man was to have
as many employers of labour as possible ; whereas
the policy of trades' unions for many years past had

been to destroy the small capitalists, who were
often ruined and crushed by strikes. The report of
the South Yorkshire Miners' Association affords
ample illustration of the mischief done by these
combinations to the men themselves. They had
received, it was stated, £lO,OOO, out of which £1,858
was set aside for accidents, sick, and provident pur-
poses, while the sum of £4,977 was appropriated
for strikes. Other items remained, but the dispro-
portion of these two is very glaring. Mr. MARK-
HAM made some very just and sensible observa-
tions on the relations and duties of labour
and capital, suggesting many plrticulars in
which both sides might be improved. He
touched, too, upon the intolerable oppression of
those trades' unions which would not allow a man to
bring up his children to his own trade. The meeting,
which was a very successful one, was an important
testimony against the oppression of trades' unions,
which, if they are to retain any permanent influence
or authority, must be composed of willing, and not
forced, members.

L A TEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.
(By Atlantic Telegraph.)
NEW YORK, Jan. 16, Evening.

The Radical members of the House continue their
efforts for the impeachment of President Johnson.
The Ville de Paris, from Brest, arrived here this

morning.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.
Gold, 136. Sterling Exchange on London, 109/.
Five-twenty United States Bonds, 1074- ;
121 ; Erie, 64/. Cotton—Middling Upland, 35c.
The Inman steamship Edinburgh has arrived
out.

ITALY.

FLORENCE, Jan. 16 (Evening).

The Opinione of to-day says : " The negotiations
in reference to the question of the Bishops having
been terminated, Signor Tonello will shortly have
an audience of the Pope and Cardinal Antonelli, in
order to take leave."
The Nuovo Diretto states that the Italian Govern-
ment, having sent the collar of the Order of the
Annuncida to Count Bismarck, the Prussian Go-
vernment has, in return, sent to Baron Ricasoli and
Signor Visconti Venosta the Grand Cordon of the
Order of the Black Eagle.

AUSTRIA.

VIENNA, Thursday, Jan. 17.

The Presse of to-day says :—" We learn that
on the 12th inst. an insurance of 200,000 marks
banco was effected on the Hamburg Exchange upon
the personal property of the Emperor of Mexico,
shipped by the Maria for Ragusa."