The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 9, 1867

pool beach, when the waves made a clean sweep over

her. For more than an hour the vessel was beat-

ing about on the rocks without any one coming to
the rescue of the crew, in consequence of there being
on board no gun or rockets by which to signal.
Several vessels were more or less injured, many
seriously. In Mount's Bay, off Marazion,

assistance was rendered to three vessels—the

schooner Ileiress, Captain Harris ; the brig Selina

Ann, of Swansea ; and the schooner, Salome, of
Dartmouth. All these vessels went to pieces soon
after their crews had been rescued by the Richard
Lewis lifeboat, which on that day was the means of

saving 17 persons. The Penzance extension pier
was seriously injured by the storm, the bed of the

pier near the centre was sunk a couple of feet below
the proper level, and several solid blocks of granite
were broken ; in fact, nearly two-thirds of the pier
has been injured considerably. At St. Ives the

shipping suffered to a great extent, and in the Land's
End and Lizard district much damage was occa-

sioned. The neighbourhood of St. Austell is flooded
to a very great extent, the river having burst its
bounds at various points. Four large and strong
wooden bridges have been washed away, and the

river overflowed its banks on the side of the Pente-

wan Railway ; the line for a long distance was
consequently covered with sand, stones, and
water. A little below a massive iron bridge

the river altogether Taft its channel on the

eastern side, and forced a passage for itself
across the railway, thence into Menagwins Moors,

and into some valuable tin works. Several cattle

are reported to be drowned, and there is no doubt
that in this district alone the pecuniary loss is very
considerable. In many houses on Sunday night
the water was from 2ft. to 3ft. deep. At Truro,

the lower part of the town was flooded on Satur-
day night to a great height, and in some of the
dwelling-houses and places of business in River-
street the water was from 1 ft. to 2ft. deep. For
about a couple of hours River-street, Victoria-
place, and the western part of Nicholas-street
were all but impassable. The district of St. Blazey
is flooded to so great an extent that stock have had
to be removed to higher ground. On Saturday busi-
ness was to a very great extent suspended, and many
of the roads were in a condition that utterly forbade
traffic. To-day, at noon, the rain is falling heavily,
and the wind is very strong. A telegram states that
a vessel has gone ashore near Penzance.

PENZANCE, Jan. 8.

The ship John Gray, of Glasgow, bound from
Demerara for London, has gone ashore to-day off
this place. The lifeboat of the National Lifeboat
Institution has been the means of saving 15 of the
shipwrecked crew, but the captain, mate, and two
men, who refused to leave their vessel, were unfor-
tunately drowned. This valuable lifeboat has been
the means during the last few days of rescuing 82
persons from four wrecked vessels.
LIZARD, Jan. 7.

I have to report (says the Rev. P. Vyvyan Robin-
son) that as I was leaving the house for church yes-
terday morning, shortly before 11 o'clock, a farmer
arrived from Mullion-village, and informed me that
a schooner was at anchor near that place and in very
great jeopardy. Immediately the Anna Maria life-
boat, of the National Lifeboat Institution, on this
station, was got out and quickly drawn on her
transporting carriage by ten horses to that locality,
but, sad to say, we found we were too late, as the
vessel had gone ashore shortly before our arrival, and
all hands had, unhappily, been drowned. The
greatest zeal was shown by the lifeboat crew and
helpers in getting the boat to Mullion-cove, and we
were only 40 minutes in getting there from the life-
boat-house. The Porthleven lifeboat, which like-
wise belongs to the National Lifeboat Institution,
had also been taken towards the scene of the wreck,
biit she could not be got there in time. _ _

CARDIGAN, Jan. 7.
The Manchester lifeboat the John Stuart, be-
longing to the National Lifeboat Institution, was
this morning happily the means of rescuing, in a
heavy gale of wini, the crew of three men of the
sloop Oliver Lloyd, of Cardigan, and three men be-
longing to the smack Turtle Dove, of Aberystwith,
which had dragged their anchors and drifted out into
Cardigan bay. The services of the lifeboat were
most gallantly performed. Owing to the violence
of the gale, the lifeboat had great difficulty in find-
ing a safe place for landing.
LLANDDWYN, ANGLESEA, Jan. 7.
During very rough weather (states Mr. John
Jackson) a schooner was observed in a perilous posi-
tion, and the Manchester lifeboat, of the National
Lifeboat Institution, the John Gray Bell, was at
once taken along the shore on her transporting car-
riage to a spot opposite the vessel, and then launched
through the surf. She was then taken to wind-
ward of the schooner and anchored, and on veering
alongside they found the crew were desirous to leave
the vessel, although the master refused. The wind
shifting a little to the northward, the lifeboat then
immediately slipped the cable of the vessel, and
brought her into Llanddwyn roads, the vessel being
leaky and the crew thoroughly worn out. The
schooner was the Zillah, bound from the River
Plate for Liverpool, with a cargo of prepared
manure. The master states that the coxswain and
crew of the lifeboat behaved very well.
TRAMORE, IRELAND, Jan. 7.
The Cambridge University Boat Cluh lifeboat,
the Tom Egan, rendered yesterday (reports Mr.
James Budd) some valuable service to a shipwrecked
crew. The French schooner Ammonion, of Nantes,
was observed unmanageable in the bay, with loss of
rudder and rigging. The lifeboat of the National
Lifeboat Institution immediately put off to the help
of the shipwrecked crew, and ultimately succeeded
in bringing the whole of them, five in number,
safely ashore. One cf them had one of his knees
put out of joint while getting into the lifeboat, but
Dr. Kennedy immediately attended to igs case, and
the man is now doing well. It should be men-
tioned that the Hon. D. Fortescue generously took
the shipwrecked crew to his house and provided for
their wants.

It may be mentioned that the lifeboats of the
National Lifeboat Institution have during the recent
gales contributed to the saving of 77 lives from dif-
ferent shipwrecks on our coasts.

The plan for the re-introduction of street rail-
ways into London is being pushed forward as
rapidly and energetically as possible, and probably
the next Session will be marked by the taking of
such steps as are necessary to legalise the attempts
which the projectors propose to make. In connection
with this matter a number of reports on the work-
ing of tramways have been obtained from officials
in the various cities and towns of America, into
which the system has been introduced. The
general testimony thus obtained is to the effect
that the tramways do not interfere with
the ordinary street traffic, though laid down
in some of the most crowded thoroughfares,
that the cars are more comfortable and con-
venient than the omnibuses, which they have in a
measure displaced, and that they are productive of
less accidents than omnibuses. Opposition is said
to have died out in almost every district, and, to
crown all, the expenses incurred by the local autho-
rities in repairing the roadways have been very
materially lessened by the fact that the company
who use the tramways take the responsibility upon
themselves of keepinv, such part of the road as their
vehicles run upon in good condition. Supposing all
these points to be fairly stated—and we have no
reason to assume otherwise—the only conclusion
that can be arrived at is that the sooner we get the
new cars in operation the better.
TUE lIES AND DUCK AS EGG PRODUCERS.-.-A
paper has been received by the Paris Academy
of Sciences from M. Comaille on the comparative
value of the hen and duck as egg producers. his
observations were limited to three hens and three
ducks, all fine animals, hatched at the same time in the
month of February. During the following autumn
the ducks laid 225 eggs; they recommenced laying
in February, and continued to do so until the middle
of August. The hens laid no eggs during the
autumn, but began in January, and left off about
the middle of August. The totals of each at the
end of that time were--the hens, 257 eggs ; the
ducks, 617. M. Comaille next examined the nutri-
tive value of each kind of egg, and found them
nearly equal in that respect. Hence the duck is
more profitable than the hen by far.

The Local Government of the Metropolis.

Yesterday the Right Hon. S. H. Walpole received

a deputation from the Metropolitan Municipal As-

sociation for promoting the better local government
of the metropolis. Among those constituting the
deputation, which was unusually large, were Lord
Ebury, president of the association, the Hon. A.
Kinnaird, M.P., Mr. T. Hughes, M.P., Mr. C. Bux-
ton, M.P., Mr. D. J. Warden, M.P., Sir J. Lub-

bock, the llon. F. Byng, Dr. Farr, Mr. Jas. Beal,
Mr. P. Graham, Mr. G. Godwin, F.R.S., and Mr.

J. C. Buckmaster, hon. secretary.
Lord EM MY, in introducing the deputation, said
that it was composed of men of every shade of poli-
tical opinion, and comprised pntlemen from every
district of London. They had resolved themselves
into an association for the purpose of concentrating
their strength with a view to obtain some improve-
ment in the government of the metropolis. His lord-

ship then gave a sketch of the history of metropoli-
tan legislation during the last 20 years, and said

:hat when Lord Llanover introduced the Aletropoli-

tan Local Bill it was found that there were then
100 acts of Parliament in existence which bore on
the sanitary arrangements of London. The Metro-

politan Local Bill passed into law, and the present
board, formed under it, had shown the advantages of
the concentration of power. The act of which he
was speaking was never intended to be a final mea-
sure, and it was now found that there were several
evils existing and urgently demanding reform. These
impeded the good government of London, which
was far inferior to many provincial towns, and cer-
tainly far inferior to the city of Paris, in its agencies
of local administration. The numerous deputation he
had the honour to introduce was a strong demon-
stration of the conviction of men of all shades of
political opinion regarding the question of our mu-
nicipal government.
Mr. BUCKMASTER, hon. secretary, said that a large
number of gentlemen, members of vestries and others,
considering that the present government of London
was in a disgraceful condition, had projected the
Municipal Association, and a bill had been drawn
up and adopted providing for the necessary re-
forms. It was intended to abolish a number of
small local jurisdictions and to establish ten muni-
cipalities, seven north and three south of the Thames,
all having as nearly as possible the same population.
They would have greater power than the adminis-
trative bodies at present existing, and, from the
extent of the districts over which they had autho-
rity, there would be less expense in their adminis-
trative action. The conflicting
,interests of about
100 different committees would be reconciled, and
the requirements of the public fulfilled with greater
care and promptitude than now. At present there
were in the metropolis about 40 vestries, and 4,000
persons engaged in our local government, and it was
proposed to reduce that number to 400 aldermen
and council under the projected plan. Delay was
of all things to be avoided. The principle upon
which the association sought the support of Go-
vernment had been admitted over and over again
by committees of the House of Commons. He
might add that there was to be no interference with
the boundaries of parishes. Delay would necessi-
tate the existence of the association for several
years, and that should be avoided, as it had been
established for prompt and speedy action.
In answer to Mr. WALPOLE, who asked what
were to be the powers of the ten municipalities of
w
which the establishment was contemplated by the
bill, and also whether they were to have jurisdiction
over the Metropolitan Board,
Mr. JAMES BEAL said that the powers of the
municipalities were to be those conferred by the
Municipal Reform Act.
Mr. WALPOLE inquired if the power of appoint-
ing judges and police and managing their own gaol
was considered in the scheme.
Mr. BEAL said he could-not see how these could
be made exceptions. Vestries were no longer to
have ttny power except for ecclesiastical purposes.
The jurisdiction of magistrates and of police was
to be conterminous. The present bill was to be
supplemented by another for establishing a central
controlling body. In 1851 Sir George Lewis had
recommended that several municipalities should b,l
erected ; committees of the House of Commons had
approved the plan in 1861 and 1866, so that there
was nothing novel in the suggestions of the associa-
tion. Inquiry had gone far enough, and it now
remained to found public legislation on the evidence
which had been collected. In reply to further ques-
tions from Mr. Walpole, regardiug the manner in
which the city should be treated under the project,
Mr. Beal said that it was contemplated to take
away county powers from the city, and that it would
be under the jurisdiction of the central body pro-
posed to be established hereafter. This central
council would have control over the main drainage,
the management of bridges, gaols, lunatic asylums,
and also extensive powers of improvement. Under
the scheme the metropolis would be made a county,
and questions relating to gas and water would be
considered by the central body. A great many of
thef
thecitizens
existing
to p
evils
canro se b b
e with
irtomt thee powerful
utter helplessness
o joint-stock
companies. The question of our gas supply had
was that under
intelligent class of
been brought before the public, but if they had been
in Liverpool or Manchester they could remedy the
complained of shortcomings themselves. Another
th the
n ew
sconsiderationyste
m a
worthybetter of
and
moremen would be induced to become active agents in
attention
sanitary reform, on account of the more dignified
character given to our municipal institutions.
Mr. GODWIN, F.R.S., said that our local govern-
ment was disgraceful to our civilisation. To take one
instance, the present state of Bethnal-green was a
blot on our system of legislation. Medical officers
elected by members of vestries were afraid to speak
the truth, and had to do good by stealth. Estimat-
ing it at no extravagant rate, the deplorable manner
in which our thoroughfares were managed cost the
metropolis about £500,000 a year. Many who were
well acquainted with the working of provincial mu-
nicipalities had of ten spoken of the lamentable con-
dition of the local administration of London.
Mr. T. Hughes, M.P., Mr. Rearden, M.P., the
Hon. F. Byng, Mr. Beggs, and others, took part in
a conversation which followed, in which, among
other things, it was stated that every gas lamp in
London costs the inhabitants five guineas, while in
Manchester they are supplied at a rate of 255. apiece.
Mr. IVALPOLE said he agreed with the statement
that the local government Of the metropolis could be
improved. He hoped, however, that the deputation
would not demand any definite pledge from himself,
but he promised that he would take care to bring
the question before his colleagues, and that it would
have his own most careful consideration.
Mr. Humus, M.P., on the part of the members
of the Metropolitan Municipal Association, thanked
the Home Secretary for his courtesy, and the depu-
tation then withdrew.

The delegates from the British North American
Provinces, in session for several weeks at the West-
minster Palace Hotel, London, have succeeded in
revising the Quebec scheme so as to secure a unani-
mous vote of all the provinces represented—that is
to say, Upper and Lower Canada, Nova Scotia,
and New Brunswick. The resolutions passed at
Quebec in their revised form have been forwarded
to Earl Carnarvon for consideration. All the
knotty points and difficulties which presented
themselves, so far as colonial interests are con-
cerned, have been successfully combated. Provision
is made for enabling the colonies of Prince Edward
Island, Newfoundland, the North-West Territory,
and British Columbia to enter the Confederation
on equitable terms hereafter. A draught bill based
on these resolutions, it is expected, will be prepared
and submitted to Parliament early in the ensuing
session. The Conference is composed as follows :
—Canada.—The lion. Messy:.. J. A. M'Donald
(chairman), G. E. Cartier, Howland, Langevin,
M'Dougall, and Galt. Nova Scotia.—The Hon.
Messrs. C. Tupper, W. A. Henry, J. W. Ritchie,
J. M'Cully, and A. G. Archibald. New Bruns-
wick.—Messrs. S. L. Tilley, P. Mitchell, C. Fisher,
D. Wilmot, and J. W. Johnson.
According to an agricultural document just issued
there were in the year 1866 in the United Kingdom
a stock of cattle in number 8,716,276, and of sheep
26,373,993. .

An American View of our " Reform
Demonstrations."

The New York Times of the 26th ult. has the
following remarks on the London trades' " demon-
stration :—"

It need not in the least detract from the favour-
able estimate which we have formed of Mr. Bright's
energy as an agitator if we devote a word or two
to a truth which the London reform trades meeting
of December 3 seems to make apparent. The meet-
ing was professedly one of the organised trade so-
cieties of the metropolis, and was projected ig ac-
cordance with Mr. Bright's idea that all the power
which artisans are able to use for industrial purposes
should be used for political purposes as well. Fully
expecting that the various trade societies would take
the same view of the matter, he predicted a proces-
sion of 200,000 persons, and a day of great enthu-
siasm. Neither the one expectation nor the other
was fulfilled. The procession appears to have num-
bered about 25,000, and beyond the fact that there
was a great crowd of lookers-on the excitement was
of a very mild description. The result was due to
some extent to minor causes, but the conclusion can-
not be avoided that the heart of the labouring classes
was not very strongly moved on the question of re-
form. We have repeatedly pointed out that the apathy
of these classes on political subjects is greater than
some would have it appear. The difficulties under
which they live are unconnected with the suffrage, as
they know very well. Every English mechanic of any
intelligence knows that full work and high wages
are not to be controlled by any legislation whatever.
The working classes of England are, without doubt,
always studying the relations of capital and labour,
for those relations are what control their condition,
and enter into every circumstance of their hard-
working lives. But with these things changes in the
representation have nothing to do. In fact, the
course of British legislation having been toward the
fostering of British trade, and successfully so, the
masses are generally disposed to content themselves
with political affairs as they are. In fact, the Bri-
tish workman is not, in the main, discontented with
his rulers, for he Iciows that were he to take their
place, he could not remove evils that are inevit-
able. As for sensation writers, who abuse everybody
who does not believe in them, and who affirm that
England " groans" under its aristocratic system,
they may be dismissed with the statement of a fact
well understood by well-informed persons—English-
men are not weary of their aristocracy, but, on the
contrary, look to that aristocracy with great respect,
and recognise its general influence in preserving the
status of the nation among other nations with much
gratification. The preservation of the " ancient
honour of the family" is, as most even of the poorest
classes understand it, a sort of sacred obligation with
the majority of the titled gentlemen, whose names
are reminders of many old historic epochs; epochs
not less interesting to ourselves than to other peoples
—nay, epochs in which our own ancestry bore an
honourable part, and in this sense are a guarantee of
the stability and the respectability of the nation itself.
The political movements, in short, which from time
to time are rife in England, are not to be judged
by an American standard. In that country much
that with us is a constant subject of debate is settled
and accepted. The course of parties does not run
there as does the Course of parties with ourselves.
There the masses understand, and are proud to un-
derstand, that the general forms of government are
fixed and, humanly speaking, immutable, and that
there are limits even to political vagaries. We,
who are for ever patching, or seeking to patch, the
holes which we ourselves have made in the struc-
ture, which we have reared with so much labour,
and love so well, cannot understand that another
nation will stand firm around a social edifice formed
upon a different model. But the truth is the truth
nevertheless. The difficulties under which labour in
England suffers are nowise concerned in these mat-
ters, and the trade societies which did not parade
at Mr. Bright's bidding knew it. The problem
which they have to solve is a different one from
that which he has undertaken to solve. They in-
tend to combine, not for the election of members of
Parliament, but for the establishment of industrial
, enterprises of their own. They are more bent upon
realising that labour is capital than upon the
possession of a franchise which would be of compa-
ratively little use to them. They turned out to see
the show of December 3 as people will turn out to
see any show. But when all was over they returned
home with mingled feelings. Prominent was, of
course, that of respect for Mr. Bright, who is re-
spected even by his enemies ; but as prominent was
the other feeling, that votes were very well, but
victuals were better, and that the elevation of the
British working man must depend upon the union
of industry and skill, to be guided by his own
brains, and to inure to his own benefit.