The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-12 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

fins DAL—Morning, lb. Om.—Afternoon, lb. 20m.
To-Moßnow.-Morning, lb. 40m.—Afternoon, lb. 55m

• ,•,4,,f
Ordi€: - 7,-N;VjAbAto 7rl
X,. , 0111Pcio
".•., -c.o.- a".•

LONDON, SA7URDAY, OCT. 12, 1867.

Those who thought when the Session closed that
the confusion about the Reform question was settled
for the present, and that there would be no more
talk for some time at least, did not indulge in very
unreasonable expectations, and yet they have turned
out to be wrong in their sanguine notions. Ever
and anon the public has had to undergo the inflic-
tion of reading or hearing repetitions of statements
from those whose expressions of opinion were only
too prominently put forward during the session
and its lengthy discussions. What end all this re-
newed fuss answers it is difficult to tell, but so
it is, and we must put up with the consequences,
tedious though they be. A meeting of " advanced
Liberals" has been held at Norwich, and letters
were read from distinguished persons, foremost in
the list of which was a communication from Mr.
GLADSTONE. This letter of the right hon. gentle-
man refers chiefly to the vexed subject of " rates,"
the mere mention of which is always enough to
put Mr. GLADSTONE in a state of great excitement
and indignation. We should say that it was
quite unnecessary for any one to demand an ex-
planation from him on the subject, or for him to
take the trouble to reply to it. In fact the
right hon. gentleman seems to think so himself, for
he declares that he would rather refer those he ad-
dresses to those debates in which he expressed his
views on the matter, rather than to any "succinct
summary" of them such as he could now convey.
Having premised this, he has no objection to state
that those provisions are "of a most inconvenient
and annoying character ;" and, what is a more sig-
nificant announcement, that they will admit of
great and effectual amendment. Mr. GLADSTONE
will look with interest to the result of the experience
which the autumn and winter will bring, and if ho
is correct in his views he thinks that " speedy re-
dress " will follow upon these grievances.
It is really very absurd for people to prejudge
things like this, and this opinion of Mr. GLAD-
STONE'S is not an isolated one. On more than one
occasion have hints been given that something must
be done to alter the injurious effect of the measure.
Nor can any one tell how the said measure may act
until it has come into actual working, and
all these declarations are perfectly groundless
Were the.matter one of minor importance it would
be amusing to notice how infatuated people can be
when and where their prejudices are concerned;
but in a case of paramount interest, like the pre-
sent, it is really quite uncalled-for and inconsistent
that we should meet with these lets and hindrances
in the way of evil prognostications, false prophesy-
ing, and the like. The Reform Bill of 1867 was no
measure smuggled through Parliament with unseemly
haste. A fair fight took place, and long months
were occupied in its discussion. In this inter-
regnum state it is not suitable to presume to judge as
if it were now on its trial. It is not so that that tria
has yet to be made, and we would advise those who
do not approve of it to abstain from indirect details,
and let it wait until the experience of the country
has divided upon its merits. We have no doubt
that that decision will be as favourable as its re-
ception has already been with all but the wilfully
perverse and prejudiced, whom itis impossible to
satisfy at any cost.

The annual IVreck Register and lVreck Chart, issued
under the supervision of the Board of Trade is
always an interesting study, and, unfortunately, the
one just published has a more powerful claim upon
our attention than usual. The year 1866 was, as
we all know, unusually productive of shipwreck
and disaster at sea, and it is, therefore, more matter
of regret than of surprise to find the list of casual-

ties a very heavy ono. The number of wrecks and
casualties in the twelvemonth was 1,860, and the
loss. of life in the same period no less than 89G. The
numbers of casualties in the two preceding years
were respectively 1,390 and 1,656, the average num-
ber during the last 10 years having been 1,466. It
must be observed that these statistics refer exclusively
to the disasters on the coasts of the United King-
dom and in the surrounding seas; but, thanks to

the rocky and dangerous nature of some parts of
our coasts, and to the immense amount of our ship-
ping, ;tich wrecks and casualties form a large pro-
portion of the maritime disasters of the whole
world. The coasting trade, as usual, occupies an
unenviable prominence. The number of vessels
employed in the regular carrying trade which were
more or less damaged during the year was 2,173, in
which the collier class largely predominates. The
Register reiterates its frequent remonstrances againEt
the manner in which too many of these ships are
sent to sea. Ships which must fall to pieces as soon as
they touch the ground do not give their crews much
chance of escape in case of disaster, yet we are told
on good authoritiy that such is often the case with
the coasting ships, and those, too, not by any
means the oldest. Vessels are employed in this
service which have reached the venerable age of