The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-05 00:00:00

.The Oxfordshire Members on Reform.

BICESTER, Wednesday.
The first of the Oxfordshire agricultural gather-
ings was held yesterday, and the show of imple-
ments, roots, &c., was very satisfactory. A nume-
rous party dined together under a large awning at
the back of the King's Arms, but their comfort was
disagreeably disturbed by a violent storm of thttnd-
der, lightning, and rain, which lasted for a consider-
able time, and at times rendered the voices of the
speakers almost inaudible.
The chair was taken by Sir Algernon W.
Peyton, and among the guests were the Earl of
Jersey, Mr. Henley, M.P., Colonel North, M.P.,
Colonel Fane, M.P., the lion. Mr. li. J. North,
Colonel Percy Herbert, the Rev. J. C. Blomfield,
the Rev. Mr. Trench, &c.
The usual loyal toasts having been given and
duly honoured,
Volunteers," tem,"o lAl'
which e:uproposed "The Army, Navy, and
Colonel NORTH responded.
The CHAIRMAN next proposed " The Bishop and
I'll 7
Clergy of the Diocess."
The Rev. J. C. BLOMPIELD, in responding to the
toast, expressed a hope that the laity would cordially
co-operate with the clergy in sharing the burdens
which too frequently rested on the poor clergyman
alone, and that their joint efforts would greatly
tend to promote the education and improvement of
the people. (Cheers.) In conclusion, the rev.
gentleman proposed " The Lord Lieutenant and
Magistrates of the County." (Cheers.)
The Earl of JERSEY briefly responded.
The CHAIRMAN next proposed "The Health of
the Three County Members." The toast was drunk
with great enthusiasm.
Mr. HENLEY, whose voice was almost overpowered
by the pelting of the heavy rain, said that although
he had often had the pleasure of meeting his friends
at Bicester and elsewhere, it had never fallen to his
lot to address them in a position where it was
almost necessary to put up umbrellas to keep the
wet from their heads--(laughter)—but he hoped
it would not be considered like a prophecy of things
evil to their future meetings, however it might have
the effect of cutting the present one short.
(Laughter and cheering.) He thought, under the
circumstances, that the best thing he could do would
be to express what he had to say in as few words
as possible. There was now hardly anything to talk
of but the future. They had had plenty of the
past. They had had the cattle plague, but he hoped
and trusted they had got rid of that. At all events,
if those in authority stood to what they had said
when they expressed their belief that the Conti-
nent was always infected, and would stop infected
beasts from coming in, we might hope to get rid of
the cattle plague altogether within the four corners
of the country. Ile resided in a neighbourhood
which had suffered severely, and could not help
expressing his thanks to his neighbours for the kind
and liberal manner in which they had come forward
to pay the burden imposed upon them in order to
assist their suffering brethren. (Cheers.) That feel-
ing was general, and he congratulated his friends,
not only on the support they had given, but on the
kind and friendly manner in which it was given.
(Cheers.) It was impossible for any one who had
been in the thick of it not to say a word about Re-
form. (Hear, hear.) All that could be hoped was
that the people would gain what they had for the
last 14 years been taught they ought to gain. lie
was one of those who, for the last 14 years having
seen successive Prime Ministers put into the Queen's
mouth words in which the people were told they
ought to have an extension (of the suffrage, chose
no longer to play the humbug, and thought it neces-
sary honestly to settle the question if it was possible
to do so. (Cheers.) He believed it had been settled
on—he was going to say that the best principle
but, at all events, in the only mode in which it
could have been settled with any prospect of per-
manence ; and he trusted that the people of this
country, in whose good sense he had the greatest
confidence, would use fairly and properly the great
trust which had been placed in their hands. (Cheers.)
It was impossible for any one not to have seen the
vast spread of intelligence and energy which had
been manifested, especially those who had lived as
long as he had done. Not only must they have seen
that spread of intelligence and energy, but they
must have witnessed many things which had tended
to improve the condition of the people. They had
seen a great diminution in the amount of crime and
drunkenness and immorality ; and although there
was still plenty of evil and sin in :the world, they
could not but feel that the changes which bad been
made were vastly for the better. (Cheers.) In the
face of enormous temptations—in the face of an in-
crease of wealth, which was an enormous tempta-
tion to abuse—in the face of all discouraging cir-
cumstances those who looked back for 40 or 50
years must do so with great confidence in the people
of this country. (Cheers.) For his own part, he had
always done so, and he hoped to live to see his expec-
tations still further fulfilled. (Cheers.) He would
justsay a word on another subject, on which his rev.

friend had tonched, and that was the question of edu-
cation, which in the next session must come very
prominently before Parliament. He hoped the
great friends of education would try to accommo-
date matters as far as possible, and would not strain
the line too tightly that they would not endeavour
to take away from useful occupation those persons
whose services were necessary to the land, and that
those who had the care of them would take every
opportunity of making them useful members of so-
ciety. Those who were taught to do their duty to
God and man would make the best labourers, and

the most sure way to give them that knowledge was
to train them in good schools where these matters
were properly attended to. (Loud cheers.)
Colonel NORTH, in responding to the toast, ex-
pressed his concurrence in the remarks which had
fallen from his right lion. friend—that they bad
passed through a most eventful session—one that
gave many hon. members cruse to consider most
deeply, and his hope was that they had decided for
the good of the country. His right hon. friend had
said, and most truly, that the greatest possible re-
liance might be placed on the good sense of our fel-
low-countrymen. The opportunity of showing that
good sense was now afforded them, and he hoped
that the privileges which they bad obtained would
tend to promote the honour and glory of the country.
(Cheers.) No doubt they had been " called over the
coals" for having been parties to the passing of the
Reform Bill ; but, after 14 years' dangling about the
country, he thought it was necessary that something
should be done. (Hear.) That being the case, it
was impossible to do it by halves ; and he thought
their leader had taken a right and proper course in

going to the foundation of the matter at once. He

trusted that what had been done would prove bene-
ficial to the country. On both sides of the House
every possible attention had been given to the sub-
ject, and he could honestly say that in no previous
session of Parliament had there been a more sincere
desire to do justice to all classes of the community.
(Cheers.)
Colonel PANE also expressed his thanks for the
kind and and flattering m anner in which the toast
had been received, and the satisfaction which he and
his colleagues felt in par ing these annual visits to
their constituents. (Ch,:ers.) A great deal had
been said about the last session of Parliament. He
would only say that du ing the Session his regular
habits had been greatly- disturbed by the Reform
Bill, for, instead of being able to go to bed at 10
o'clock and rise at 8 the next morning, he had fre-
quently been obliged to sit up until 3. (Laughter
and cheers) All this had been caused by that tre-
mendous Reform Bill which it was said would do
much good to the country ; but as Lord Derby had
said , "it was a leap in the dark," and no one could
really say what would be the result. The bill had
been most ably carried through by the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, who had received most wadable
assistance from his right hon. friend (Mr. Henley).
The success of the measure was greatly owing to
what his right hon. friend had said in the house, and
to the influence which he possessed; for sometimes
when a division took place on an important point,
and an hon. member was unable to make up his
mind, it was a common thing to inquire, " Which
way
does
on chneleßyefgoorm Bill Mr. Henley carried
?"
(Cheers.) During the
so many hon. members with him that, whether the
discussions Mr. Ht
Reform Bill be a good or a bad measure, its success
was in a great measure attributable to his right hon.
friend. (Cheers.)
Mr. HENLEY then proposed " The Health of the
Chairman," who briefly acknowledged the com-
pliment.

Success to the society, and several other toasts of
a local character, were afterwards given and re-
sponded to.

SIEGE OPERATIONS AT CHATHAM

On Monday, the 2d of September, some further
night siege operations were carried on at Chatham.
The whole of the officers and men of the Royal
Engineers paraded at 8 p.m., and were told into two
working parties—one to continue the construction
of the battery commenced on the previous Wed-
nesday, the other to trace out a first parallel and
three batteries in connection therewith—that is to
say, to perform the very first operation of breaking
ground before a besieged fortress. This latter was
carried out in the great lines, in the direction of
and facing Fort Amherst. On reaching the ground
the construction of the three-gun sunken battery
was proceeded with by the first party. The lines of
fire of the several batteries, proposed to be traced
on the great lines, having been laid down before
dark by the officers in charge, the actual tracing
was commenced as soon as it had become sufficiently
dusk to prevent danger of discovery from the for-
tress. The batteries and parallel were so arranged
that the latter might serve as a screen to the former.
ground, aboutCommunications9 p.m.,
from the rear to the right and left
of the parallel were also traced. On arrival on the
the men detailed for that
duty were extended along the line traced out, as a
working party.
The electric light was used both by besieged and
besiegers—by the former, as before, from the para-
pet near the end of St. Mary's casemates, and by
the latter from the trenches near the sunken battery.
The attacking force had, on this occasion, arranged
their light to act through an opening-- a kind of
funnel, so to speak-...through the parapet of their
works, so as to give protection as far as possible to
the lamp and to the men employed in working it
from the fire of the defenders. This opening was
one foot square on the inside, where the light was
placed, with a lateral splay towards the outside,
where its dimensions were Ift. high and 3ft. wide,
forming a kind of fan-shaped embrasure, the cm-
tral line of which was directed towards the position
of the defenders' light. The result thus obtained
was very similar to that on the previous Friday
night. Some of the outer rays were, of c.mrse,
obstructed by the sides of the opening, but the
central focus still remained sufficiently brilliant to
counteract the opposing light as before.

An attempt was made by the defenders to dis-
cover, by means of their electric light, the working
party extended along the parallel and batteries in
in the great lines, but without success. The dis-
tance to the nearest point of their line was about
800 and to the furthest point about 1,500 yards.
The only object made out was a bell tent, about
1,000 yards distant, which
agllsaoss,jufistgupreeBreerapotivbilneg; apcerosopsleitms
Was very indistinctly
New Brompton, about 500 yards
owvhi
ni tge
dasviiiilossritnfbaaglnceett,:belivetirelniorgeaa,d however,to
clearly distinguishable.
The night was extremely hazy, and consequently
unfavourable to the lights, but it seems doubtful
whether men in dark clothing and against the mode-
rately dark background existing could have been
made out, even under favourable circumstances, at
this distance (800 yards and upwards).
Night signalling was again carried on with Capt.
Bolton's line and magnesium lights,
as on the pre-
vious occasions.
The working parties of the attacking force were,
as before, under the superintendence of Col. Len-
nox, C.B. V.C., Instructor in Fieldworks, and the
lights and signalling under the personal
n of Lieut. Anderson, R.E.,
Assistant-
leslunesPetetrrruvicci'toil°ri in Telegraphy at the Royal Engineers'
Establishment, the whole being under the command
of Lieut.-Col. Fitzroy Somerset, R.E.
Major-General Freeman Murray, commandant of
the
u ri
accompanied by his staff, was on the
gl.d, as garrison,
expressed himself highly pleased with
ground,
the steady, quiet, and orderly manner in which the
men were extended, as a working party, along the
parallel and batteries traced
on the great lines, as
of the operations. arrangements of the whole 1
well as with the general

There were numerous spectators present, includ-
ing several officers of the garrison.

THE PUBLIC HEALTH:

(From the I?egistrar-Generars Return.)

4,224 births and 2,903 deaths were registered in
In the week that ended on
London and 12 other large towns of the United
Saturday, August 31,
Kingdom. The annual rate of mortality was 24
per 1,000 persons living.
The annual rate of
1,000 in London, 22 in Edinburgh, and 21 in Dub-
lin ; 20 in Briq mortality last week was 22 per
w
32 in Birmingham, 30 in
Liverpool, 32 in Manchester, 29 in Salford, 28 in
Sheffield, 26 in Leeds, 25 in Hull, 40 in Newcastle-
upon-Tyne, and 22 in Glasgow. The rate in
Vienna was 27 per 1,000 during the week ending
the 24th ult., when the mean temperature was 9.9
deg. Fahrenheit
higher than in the same week in
London, where the rate was 21.
The mortality from diarrhoea during last week
showed an increase in nearly all the large towns,
,
but more particularly in Manchester, Birmingham,
and Sheffield. Of the above rates from all causes
the following proportions resulted from diarrhoea
-4 per 1,000 in London 6 in Livdrpool, 9 in
Sheffield, 11 in Manchester and Salford, and the
highest, 12 per 1,000, in Birtninghatn. In New-
castle the mortality showed a furi her considerable
increase upon plevious weeks, while in LeeLls the
mortality from all causes, but more especially from
diarrhoea, had sensibly declined.
In London the births of 1,034 boys and 1,051
girls, in all 2,085 children, were registered in the
week. In the corresponding weeks of ten years,
1857-66, the average number, corrected for increase
of population, is 1,937.
The deaths registerel in London during the week
were 1,288. It was the 35th week of the year, and
the average number of deaths for that week is, with
a correction for increase of population, 1,269. The
deaths in the present return exceed by 19 the
estimated number.

The deaths of 208 children and 18 adults from
diarrhoea were registered last week. Thirty-eight
cases occurred in the west, 58 in the north, 24 in
the central, 40 in the east, and 66 in the south dis-

tricts. Cholera or choleraic diarrhoea proved fatal
to 16 children and 6 adults.
The 226 deaths from diarrhoea and the 22 deaths
from cholera are slightly in excess of the deaths from
the same causes in the previous week. The cases
are sporadic. The health officers in all such cases
should still see that disinfectants are effectually em-
ployed.
In the corresponding week of last year the deaths
from diarrhoea were 128, and from cholera 198.
By Dr. Frankland's analysis of the water supplied
by the London companies it appears that both the
New River and the East London waters contained
n 100,000 tons 23 tons of extraneous matter, the
other companies still more, while the West Middle-
sex water contained 29 tons, and the Kent 40 tons
of stuff of various kinds. The previous sewage con-
tamination of all the waters at the time of analysis
had apparently been converted into innocuous com-
pounds. By this test the East London waters were
then the best, the Chelsea and the Kent waters the
worst of the eight. The turbidity of the South-
wark water implies some defect in the process of
filtration.

Kensington ; Brompton-At 6, John's- terrace,
on Aug. 29, the daughter of a fishmonger, aged 9
months, choleraic diarrhoea (4 days), convulsions
(several hours). Chelsea; North-east.-At 4, Ter-
race-court, on Aug. 26, a labourer, aged 21 years,
choleraic diarrhoea (2 days), consecutive fever (3
days). St. George, Hanover-square ; Belgrave.-
At 20, Aylesford-street, on Aug. 27, the son of a
grocer's clerk, aged 4 months, choleraic diarrhoea,
convulsions. Marylebone ; Rectory.-At 11, Gray-
street, on Aug. 29, a female, aged 20 months,
choleraic diarrhea (2 days). Marylebone ; St.
John.-At 40, North-street, on Aug. 25, the son of
a french polisher, aged 1 year, choleraic diarrhoea.
Pancras ; Somers-town.-At 45, Clarendon-square,
on Aug. 24, the son of a commercial traveller, aged
2 weeks, choleraic diarrhoea. Hackney ; West.-
On Aug. 28, the wife of a blacksmith, aged 29
years, cholera (24 hours), premonitory diarrhoea (3
days). Hackney.-At 14, London-terrace, Dal-
ston, on Aug. 27, the daughter of a compo-
sitor, aged 6 weeks, infantile cholera.
Strand ; St. Clement Danes.-At 13, Clare-
street, on Aug. 26, the daughter of a commercial
traveller, aged 8 weeks, English cholera, Clerken-
well. Amwell.-At 12, Yardley-street, on Aug. 27,
the wife of a coachman, aged 67 years, cholera (4
days). Shoreditch, St. Leonard.-At 52, Paul-
street, on Aug. 22, the son of a cabinet maker, aged
2 months, choleraic diarhoea (5 days). In the same
sub-district, at 19, Cotton's-garden, on Aug. 26, the
son of a tailor, aged 3 mouths, cholera (8 days),
convulsions (2 days). In the same sub-district, at
33, Red Lion-street, on Aug. 27, the daughter of a
check taker at a theatre, aged 8 months, choleraic
diarrhea, exhaustion. Bethnal-green, Church.-.At
1, Bath-street, on Aug. 25, a greengrocer, aged 56
years, choleraic sickness, diarrhoea. In same sub-
district, at 50, New York-street, on Aug. 27, the
daughter of a machine maker, aged 15 months,
cholera (14 days). Whitechapel, Spitalfields.-At
13, Great Pearl- street, on Aug. 25, the son of a
silk weaver, aged 4 mouths, choleraic diarrhoea (7
days). Poplar, Poplar.-At 3, Orchard-place, on
Aug. 26, a painter, aged 47 years, cholera, suppres-
sion of urine. In the same sub-district, at 20, Ade-
laide-place, on Aug. 29, the daughter of a grocer,
aged 7 months, choleraic diarrhoea (24 hours). Lam-
beth, Church 2d.-At 30, Glyn-street, on Aug. 24,
the daughter of a prison warder, aged one year, in-
fantile cholera, convulsions. Lambeth, Norwood._
At 1, Camden-terrace, Gipsy-hill, on Aug. 25, the
daughter of a house agent, aged 5 years, diphtheria
(14 days), cholera in collapse (12 hours). Green-
wich, East.-At 8, Reece's-place, on Aug. 27, the
son of an engineer, aged 6 months, English cholera
(2 days). Greenwich, Woolwich D ockyard. -A tB,
Sun-alley, on Aug. 25, the wife of a tailor, aged 50
years, choleraic diarrhoea.

The deaths of six persons who were killed by
horses or carriages in the streets were registered.
At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 29.894 in.
The barometrical reading decreased from 30.4 in.
on Wednesday, Aug. 28, to 30.01 in. on the same
day ; increased to 30.04 in. on Thursday, Aug. 29,
awl decreased to 29.70 in. on Saturday, Aug 31.
The mean temperature of the air in the week was
61.7 deg., which is 1.8 deg. above the average of
the same week in 50 years (as determined by Mr.
GI dsher.) The highest day temperature was 77.6
deg., on Saturday, Aug. 31. The lowest night
temperature was 46.3 deg., on Wednesday, Aug.
28. The entire range of temperature in the week
was, therefore, 31.3 deg. The mean of the
highest temperatures of the water of the Thames
was 65.7 deg. ; that of the lowest was 63.6 deg.
The difference between the mean-dew point tem-
perature and air temperature was 5.9 deg. The
mean degree of humidity of the air was 81,
complete saturation being represented by 100.
Ozone was observed on four days of the week.
Rain fell to the amount of 0.14 in., on Monday,
Aug. 26, and 0.06 in. on Thursday, Aug. 29. The
general direction of the wind was S.W. Accord-
ing to a return furnished by the engineer of the
Metropolitan Board of Works the average daily
quantity of sewage pumped into the river Thames
at ,the :Southern Outfall Works, Crossness, was
42,859,168 gallons, or 194,729 cubic metres, equi-
valent to about as many tons by weight.

TEE MANCHES7ER TRADES UNION
INQUIRY.

MANCHESTER, Wednesday.
The commissioners charged with the investiga-
tion into the nature and operation of trades unions
in Manchester and the surrounding district held
their first sitting this morning in the Manchester
Assize Courts. The commissioners are—Mr. P. A.
Pickering, Q.C., Mr. F. Irving Barstow, and Mr.
G. Chance ; the secretary to the commissioners is
Mr. J. Shiel.

The Chief Commissioner (Air. Pickering), in
opening the inquiry, stated that the commissioners
had received their appointment under two Acts of
Parliament passed last session to facilitate in cer-
tain cases the proceedings of the commissioners ap-
pointed to inquire into the operation of trades
unions. These Acts gave power to the Government,
upon certain applications, to appoint examiners to
inquire into acts of intimidation and wrong alleged
to have been committed, encouraged, or connived at
by trades unions, whether of workmen or masters.
The present inquiry was intended for the benefit
of both masters and workmen, and would he con-
ducted in a fair and impartial spirit. It was not
directed against any particular trades union, the
commissioners being authorised to receive evidence
that might affect any trades union, club, or associa-
tion implicated in unlawful practices. The object
of the Legislature had not been to denounce trades
unions, for no one could deny the benefits that
arose from such clubs and associations when estab-
lished for lawful purposes, and carried on by law-
ful means. It was only when they went beyond
these limits and attempted to control freedom of
will and of labour that they were to be condemned.
If there was any one right that a man might con-
sider to be more than another his own it was the
exercise of his own personal strength and skill, and
any body of men who attempted to control
or interfere with this right was deserving of
the strongest condemnation. The workman had
as much right to have his personal skill and in-
dustry protected as the masters had to be left un-
controlled in the conduct of their business.
The commissioners trusted that they would have
the ready co-operation of both masters and workmen,
and that their labours would tend in some degree to
put down that social tyranny which had already in-
flicted so much injury on employers and so much
misery on the workmen. They would receive evi-
dence on both sides with the greatest impartiality,
and although no one but themselves would be allowed
to examine witnesses, they would be glad to receive
any suggestions that might be made for the purpose
of aiding them in obtaining the objects sought for
by the inquiry. The commissioners had power to
compel the attendance of witnesses and to examine
them on oath, and they had also power to give a
certficate of indemnity to any person who might
come forward and make a full and true disclosure of
all matters in respect of which he might be exa-