The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-15 00:00:00

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LONDOIV, THURSDAY, AUGUS7 15, 1867.

We hope that the bill for regulating the traffic in
the metropolis may yet be passed this session. It
was read a second time yesterday despite great
opposition, and the most determined efforts on the
part of Mr. Alderman LAWRENCE to keep it back.
He spoke for two hours, and took every possible
argument up to show the inconsistency of bringing
in a bill of this sort so late in the session.
This was very idle reasoning, because it is
very unfitting that the streets of the metropo-
lis should be left in their present dangerous
condition during the months that must elapse
before the Parliament again assembles. The Lill
in question was introduced into the House of Lords
six months ago, and it is therefore ridiculous to say
that the city has not had time to consider the
details of it. The truth is that no change of this
kind can ever be carried out without running
counter to the prejudices of many, and the
only way is to go on in a determined
spirit, and to resolve not to be daunted
by private opposition and unmeaning censure. As
Sir J. FERGUSSON said, all the trades affected by
this bill have been heard before the Committee in
the Lords, and the measure has been greatly modi-
fied in accordance with their representations. On
behalf of the Home Secretary he gave assurance
that in Committee any very unpopular clauses
should be altered, and some of them might, upon
reasons being stated, be postponed until next year,
and more could hardly have bees expected.

The announcement made last evening in the
House of Commons by Lord R. MoNTAGu respect-

,ng the Contagious Diseases (Animals) Bill was

received with general satisfaction. The course de-
termined upon by the Government is, in fact, the
only rational one under the existing circumstances.
We cannot yet feel ourselves by any means secure
against the inroads of the cattle plague. It is not
very long since the disease subsided among our
herds, and latterly it has made its reappearance in
a manner that alarmed many, because it seemed to
indicate the necessity of those stringent regulations
being maintained which have doubtless occasioned
much loss and inconvenience. The plague is known
to be still actively at work in some parts of the
continent, and the continual importation of cattle
opens a ready channel for the communication of
infection to our English herds. The rapid decrease
of the disease so soon as the restrictions were
vigorously acted upon, the markets given up, and all
transit of cattle abandoned, seem to show that the
disease is far from being indigenous to this country.
It is a serious thing to stop the importation of cattle
and diminish the source of supply. Already there
are loud complaints of the high price of provisions,
and if any obstacle was put in the way of the im-
portation of beasts, the difficulties of the poorer
classes would be tenfold increased, because other
provisions would naturally be also dearer. Under
these circumstances it is undoubtedly the most
reasonable course to permit cattle to be brought
over, but slaughtered at the ports of landing, and
none allowed to leave the ports alive. The bill is
only to be in operation for one year, but we

should be glad to see its main principle generally
adopted hereafter. The advantages of slaughtering
cattle intended for immediate use at the port of
lauding are very great, and the risk of reimport-
ing the cattle plague will be very much lessened by
such a practice. As Mr. CORRANCE observed the
bill is only a temporary one ; but before its

expiration we shall have obtained valuable
data for permanent legislation. At present there is
an abundance of troublesome and intricate orders
respecting the management of cattle, but the con-
sequence is that, at the earliest opportunity, every
one connected with the trade is clamorous for
their total repeal. We have learned a lesson, it
may be hoped, from the losses entailed upon us
by the epidemic. We must have henceforth some
better system of supervision over our imported
cattle, and over the whole management of the
transit of animals by land and water. The un-
necessary hardships to which they are exposed
must injure the healthiest beasts, and should their
be any predisposition to disease must inevitably
develope it. In this, es in most other cases,
humanity is the best policy, and if there had not
been so much culpable indifference to the sufferings
of beasts we should not very probably have so
much loss and annoyance to complain of.

All that concerns the Abyssinian captives is sure
to interest the public, who have long eagerly
watched for tidings of their safety, and regretted
the sad fate of the unfortunate victims of King
'THEODORE'S caprice and cruelty. A letter has
been received from ROSENTHAL, which is anything
but reassuring, and, indeed, as Mr. PURDAY says,
in forwarding the communication, the account is
a " heartrending " one. There arc two letters,
one being from STERN, received prior to ROSEN-
THAL'S, and it is difficult to say which is the
least encouraging in its tale. STERN'S is dated
June the 19th, and is enough to awaken the
greatest indignation at the treatment received by
these wretched captives. He states that their
strange history, like the " thrilling scenes of a
drama," is becoming more complicated and terrific
as they approach the close of the last act. For some
time hopes and fears have alternated in their
lives, but now the crisis is come, and it is expected
that not far distant is the crash which will bury
" the abominable tyrant beneath the ruins of his
tottering empire and,exhausted power." It appears
that the King THEODORE is almost mad with rage
and excitement, and is making bad worse by his
senseless actions. At last he became so wild that
he ordered a slaughter of hundreds of his adhe-
rents, and the consequence was that a great
defection took place in the ranks of his
troops. At last the tyrant seems frightened, and
the position of the European artisans, who are in
prison about his camp, must be indeed dreadful.
It seems that an order of THEODORE'S fell into the
hands of the rebels, which gave directions that the
prisoners at Magdala were to be executed ; and we
can well believe what is stated in this letter, that
to be torn from one's friends and incarcerated in
an African prison, " under the continual dread
of a remorseless savage, guarded by a set
of base and abject slaves, is a trial that
metaphor cannot paint nor words depict." The
fate of the captives at Magdala seems to depend in
a great measure upon the chance of the tyrant's
reaching them before the rebels are strong enough
to cut him off from a long march.
ROSENTHAL is much to be pitied, for his wife is
in the tyrant's camp at Debra Tabor, and he is in
a state of uncertainty concerning her. The greatest
fears are entertained for the fate of these hapless
individuals at the camp ; for it is said,
on good authority, that if the KING be-
lieve 2 his fall near he will mas.Aere every prisoner,
native or European ; their only hope of deliverance