The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, JANUARY 24, 1867.

efficient monarch, they are doing their best to
write finis to their politicalc areer.

Last Monday the annual meeting of the Brad-
ford Chamber of Commerce took place, and some
interesting speeches were made on the occasion.
In seconding the report, Lord F. CAVENDISH, M.P.,
observed that they should look to the end and ob-
ject of commerce, and then they would recognise
that capital and labour should be spent where the
best effects would be produced, and also that those
various gifts which have been bestowed on different
nations should be thus brought by its mighty agency
within reach of all in every land. This is, indeed,
the real object which all should have in view ;
and surely, when one comes to dwell upon

it, one becomes more and more convinced
of the desirability of doing all in our power to pro-
mote and further the important work. It is to be
regretted that owing to the war in Germany very
little progress has been made with the Commercial
Treaty with Austria, and as to the new countries,
colonies, and the United States, it cannot in reason
be expected, as the noble lord said, that free-trade
will be adopted very readily there ; but still perhaps
it is no matter of surprise that some should feel in-
dignant at the slowness with which they take up
the notion. There is a good deal of sense
in the advice offered in this speech respect-
ing those interests, and no doubt it would be
far wiser and better if, instead of raising vexatious
questions in discussing the subject with them, we
were to keep to the point, and intimate to them
what would constitute their real source of strength.
The manufacturers would gradually obtain a firmer
hold and increase their trade if the colonists would
trust to the gradual growth of local wants, instead
of rearing industries which are sickly and weakly.
Respecting the financial panic and the suspen-
sion of the Bank Act, the noble lord made some
observations, and he gave it as his opinion
that the issue of the notes should be en-
trusted to a separate department, because if
the Bank continued to have anything to do with the
issue many would think that the Bank had limited
means. Very likely we may hear of some such
change taking place before long, for the subject is
said to be under the consideration of the Govern-
ment, and some striking changes will probably
occur. It is, indeed, high time that something de-
cisive was done:in the matter, because the risks and
losses are very considerable under the present
scheme, which has been tried long enough in all
conscience to suit the views of its most devoted
partisans and most prejudiced upholders.
Another momentous subject of consideration in

the present day is that of " Strikes," and, as the
noble lord said, it is one of great difficulty and im-
portance. It has been suggested in some quarters
that it might be advisable to get rid of these evils
by putting an end to these " troublesome trades'
unions ;" but he thought that such an effort would
in all probability be attended with failure, and it
would certainly be a hazardous attempt. This
opinion we coincide with ; but we think with the
noble lord that the Legislature can be very profit-
ably employed in securing " more completely the
working man from the intimidation of trades unions."
Strikes and lock-outs are fast becoming some of the
greatest evils. Among us they are a positive loss
to the employers, and a source of frightful misery
to thousands of the operatives. We wish we could
see any chance of the noble lord's hope being realised
that in a short time we should see less of those dis-
astrous affairs taking place ; but we think, in wait-
ing for mutual consideration to take place, that
the laws might be made more effective, and
stronger measures put in force, to check all intimi-
dation, and to secure that real freedom of choice
to the workman which at present he certainly

does not possess in many cases.
Mr. FORSTER, M.P., proposed that at the flex

meeting of the Associated Chambers of Commerce
the council be requested to support the; resolution
proposed by the Hull, Leeds, and Bradford Cham-
ber, to appoint a Select Committee of the House of
Commons on the subject of Tribunes of Commerce
and of Courts of Conciliation between masters and
servants. Mr. FORSTER said very truly that it
would be extremely difficult to establish these tri-
bunals in England, for we should " have all the
lawyers against them, for they cannot see with-
out concern
.that disputes should be settled
without them." However, the time has come
when these constant disputes should be checked in

some way or other, and the arbitration that is pretty
generally employed on the Continent may be of
service among us. This motion was carried, and
we hope that sooner or later it may be productive
of good results, for the subject referred to is one
that cannot fail to be one of interest and importance
to society at large, in consequence of the many and
great evils that abound from the matter not being
set on a satisfactory footing—evils that affect,
directly or indirectly, all classes of society, from the
highest to the lowest.

We are glad to see that Lord Lord JoHN MAN-
NERS, as Chief Commissioner of the Board of Works,
has given orders for the lake to be drained in the
Regent's-park, which has been lately the scene
of such painful events. A body of men are now
engaged in the task by excavating a trench. His
lordship intends to have the bed so filled up that the
water in future will have no more than an uniform
depth of four feet. This will be a very good thing,
and prevent, for the future, the recurrence
of such dreadful calamities as that which
has recently horrified the metropolis. It is
yet uncertain if any more bodies will be found,
but of course the thaw will materially assist the
operations of those engaged in the sad search. No
better proof can be afforded of the recklessness with
which people go on in the pursuit of their favourite
pastimes than is given by the records of the Humane
Society's office yesterday. It is astonishing that
people will be so infatuated, and children were
allowed to go on the ice. In St. James's Park two
were immersed, but were saved in time to prevent
serious consequences. The public will appreciate
the wise course pursued by Lord JOUN MANNERS,
and the promptitude he has shown in the matter
on all sides ; indeed there has been a readiness dis-
played to mitigate, as far as possible, the bad effects
of the late grievous accident, which it is very grati-
fying to witness ; and we trust it will be long be-
fore the services of the humane and well-disposed
will be so urgently called for again.

DEATH BY DROWNING IN TIIE THAMEs.—Yester-
day morning a lad employed on one of tho vessels in the
Pool, was betting a bucket of water, when, owing to the
frozen state of the deck he slipped and fell overboard. He
was immediately sucked under a raft that was lying
alongside. This was cut adr'ft, and the boy was got out
of the water, having ruptured a bloodvessel, and although
all was done that was possible to resuscitate him, ho did
not recover. 2ho body was removed to the deadhouse to
await an inquest.
FENIANISM IN THE NAVY.—The festivals of
Christmas-day on board the large line-of-battle ship Li-
verpool, stationed at Bantry, were disagreeably inter-
rupted by eleven to twelve sailors on board. It appears,
when halt-seas over, they made use of expressions annoy-
ing to their loyal comrades, and even went so far as to
boast of being Fenians and admirers of the Head Centre of
that scheming body. They wore immediately arrested,
and after being tried, two were sent to Mountjoy, and one
was flogged—a second is, we also learn, to undergo a
similar punishment as soon as his health will permit it.
On their boxes being searched several portraits or photo-
graphs of Stephens were found, and some reading matter
which tended to show lonian proclivities. Skibbeeeen
Eagle.