The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LoNpoN. FRI;JAI EVENT, NOVEMBER 29, 16c7

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HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
THIS DAT.—Morni6g, 3h. 40m. I Afternoon, 3b. 55m.
To-Mottnow.-Morning, 4h. 10m. Afternoon, 4h. 28m..

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LONDON, FRIDAY, NOV. 29, 1867.

The Committee of Ways and Means has disposed
of the Abyssinian business in the most satisfactory
way, and a majority of a hundred and twenty-five
may well dispose of the dissentients. The debate
of last night was a sufficient answer to those who
have gone on persisting that the Government was
not popular in this affair, and that the money would
be given in a grudging spirit, and the support ac-
corded must certainly be rendered under protest.
In consequence of the indisposition of the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer, the task of explaining the
proposals of Government fell to Mr. HUNT, the
Secretary to the Treasury, who acquitted himself
in the most admirable manner of the onerous
charge. On the whole, the proposals seem to be
fair enough, and we do not see how the Government
could have done better than select the course last
night announced to the House of Commons. It
appears that, taking a comparison of the Budget
estimate of receipts and expenditure with the ac-
counts for the eight months of the year, the income
is less than the estimates by £lOO,OOO ; the expen-
diture has been also less to about the same amount.
The surplus of the year will be about £205,060.
The consequence of all this is that it will be neces-
sary to provide for the Abyssinian expedition
£1,800,000, and it has now been determined upon
by the Government, very wisely as it will be thought,
that so far as possible the expenses of the war shall
be borne by the taxation of the year. In the first
place, the deficiency is to be supplied by an addi-
tional penny of income tax during the financial
year, which will bring in £1,500,000. Just on
£840,000 only of this will come into the Exchequer
during this year, and the remaining £960,000 to be
supplied will be taken out of the balances of the
Exchequer. Mr. HUNT contended, fairly enough,
that the expenses of this war would not be wholly
supplied by the income-tax payers, because the
balances in the Exchequer were made up
of the general expenses of the country,
and thus the Government had equalised the burden
in an efficient manner. Mr. GLADSTONE, after ex-
pressing his regret at the absence of the Chancellor
of the Exchequer, paid a tribute to the manner in
which Mr. HUNT had performed his task, and pro-
ceeded to give his opinion upon the merits of the
proposal, the time of the year, as he truly said, jus-
tifying him in so doing. It is satisfactory that so
good a judge as the right hon. gentleman should
say that the Government could not have done better
or made more prudent suggestions than those they
have put forward. " No sound principle is violated,
no practical risk is incurred, and I believe that the
good sense of the public will be infinitely better
satisfied by meeting a manly demand for an imme-
diate extension of taxation towards the expenses of
the war than it would have been if the Govern-
ment had resorted to any expedient less direct, and
less calculated in the end to maintain the strength,
and credit, and resources of the country." These
remarks of Mr. GLADSTONE are the more appropriate
and reassuring after the extravagant observations
that some speakers have indulged in ; and it is
satisfactory to see one in so eminent a posi-
tion as Mr. GLADSTONE thus adopting the
common-sense view of the question. The triumphant
majority of last night will, 'it may confidently be
expected, settle the opposition that has been raised
in some few quarters, and convince the irresolute
that Parliament has decidedly maintained the policy
of the Government, and given its answer in the
affirmative to the question put to them as to the
wisdom of its choice.

Sir S. NORTHCOTE moved the resolution relative
to the payment of Indian troops and ve:.,sels em-
ployed in the Abyssinian Expedition. The right
hon. gentleman made out a very succes3ful case
to prove the desirability of the preparations,
and showed how much India was concerned in this
war, both in maintaining the character of our
Envoys, and that but for Indian interests the ex-
pedition might not have been despatched so soon.
The arrangements that were made in the Chinese
and Persian wars were not nearly so favourable to
India as the present proposals. It seem 3 strange
that Mr. FAWCETT could have persuaded himself
into the belief that India had no choice in this
war, but the House certainly took the best
way to convince him of his error, and
he must have regretted that he did not
follow the advice tendered to him by Mr. OSBORNE
in a speech more humorous than wise. Lord CRAN-
BORNE did not agree to the proposal as to its advis-
ability, but he urged that it would be impolitic in
the difference of opinion ; and the concluding words
of the noble lord were well worthy of the occasion :
" Whatever criticisms we may pass upon the su-
bordinate measures of the Government, there should
not seem to be any want of unanimity in
the heartiness with which we support the
Crown in the action it has taken. We all
of us, or at least the most of us, agree in the
thorough justice and necessity of this war, and the
more heartily we support the Crown in carrying it
out, the more thoroughly will it effect its object.'.
This is speaking to the point, but the effort of the
evening was spoiled by the very scanty number
which the dissentients contrived to muster ; and we
may, therefore, now conclude that the difficulties of
the arrangements Sie over, so far as Parliamentary
discussion is concerned. The affair is one of great
importance, and also of commensurate diffi-
culty, and yet we see no cause to fear
though a favourable result should not take place.
The Government has adopted the wisest measures
that are possible under the circumstances, and there
will be no lack of means or of force used as have
unfortunately diminished our prestige in former

e, —.I

investigate charges. The Lancet Commission has
already done good service in the cause of the help-
less sufferers in the workhouse sick wards. Lord
DEVON went over the whole subject very fairly and
comprehensively. He began by informing the
House that there were no less than 663 unions in

England and Wales, including the metropolis. These

unions, with the exception of those in the metro-
polis, are divided into eleven inspectorial districts,
each placed under the management of one inspector
connected with the Poor-law Board. In each of
the workhouses of these districts there is an infir-
mary, more or less adequate to the wants of the
district. But we must remember, as Lord DEVON
reminded the committee, that the infirmaries of
wor:chouses were originally intended only for the
accommodation of those cases of illness which
arose within the house itself ; and it must

therefore be evident to the most casual observer that

they must be miserably unequal to the needs of the
whole of the sick poor of the neighbourhood. With
increase of population has come, as a natural conse-
quence, increase of pauperism and increase of sick-
ness, yet the old building is left to supply the wants
of hundreds when it was originally intended for
twenties or fifties. The poor are often victims to
long, lingering illness, rheumatism, consumption,
asthma, and diseases of the internal organs pro-
duced by excessive and protracted labour. The
natural and, indeed, compulsory resource for
such sufferers is the wards of the infirmary, and
there they congregate, in spite of all its discomforts
and mismanagement, simply because they have no
other resource. Many of the cases in our work-
houie wards are such as the best medical authorities

would readily admit into permanent hospitals if
they had the power, and would, if they were
sufferers in another rank of life, order them to be
supplied with every luxury that could alleviate
their distress. What their fate is in the crowded
wards of a country poorhouse we have some
knowledge of from the evidence at Farnham, and
although that may possibly have been an
extreme case, yet the whole system is
harsh, neglectful, and indifferent to this mass
of human suffering. Those best acquainted
with such matters have drawn moving pictures of

the patient dismissed as incurable from one of our
large hospitals, and thence removed to the neigh-
bouring infirmary. The sudden change from good
and delicate food carefully cooked, wines and
cordials, soft and well-filled beds, and, above all,
kind and attentive nursing, to the rough and ready
treatment of the sick pauper in the infirmary ward,
is a most painful transition ; and when the sufferer
knows he has no other prospect but to linger out
the rest of his days in these dreary circumstances
the desolation is great indeed. The so3uer we
all acknowledge the fact which is patent to
every one familiar with these establishments
the better. Our workhouses are no longer the
receptacles of thriftless and worthless idlers, whose
own vices or indolence have brought them to
beggary, and who are glad to live at the expense of
other people. They include such, no doubt, but
they form a very small proportion of the inmates.
The intelligent and humane master of one of our
large London unions, consisting of five or six
hundred inmates, once stated that he had less than
one hundred able-bodied under his charge, and in
summer time there were barely enough to attend
upon the sick and do the necessary work of the
house. There is no prospect of any change
in the requirements of the pauper population.
Pauperism itself may fluctuate with the prosperity
or depression of trade, but we cannot hope that the
numbers of our sick poor will perceptibly diminish.
The disabled mechanic, the crippled artisan, the
superannuated laundress or charwoman, the broken-
down servant, the deerepil old man or woman who
are past work, the blind, the paralysed, the epilep-
tic, the imbecile, must still be found among us.
Aye, even the friendless clerk or governess are
sometimes driven to the shelter afforded
by public charity. We must acknowledge
the truth and act upon it. It is useless shutting
our eyes. If the present arrangements are
inefficient or inadequate, let us make others. If
the burden of the votes presses unjustly on the
poorer ratepayers, let us adjust the weight more
fairly; but it is useless to shrink from touching
the evil on account of its magnitude. Lord CAR-
NARVON is alarmed at the prospect of a change, and
very apprehensive of the increase of pauperism.
" lie confessed that he watched with jealousy the
creation of new establishments, or the enlargement
of those existing." But what would he have us
do ? Are these sick persons to die of st trvation
in the streets, or are they to be hud Hod
together uncared for and untende], like
the slaves ox the middle passage ? The
fact is that our poor law-system has been a dis-
grace to us for the last century. Its excessive
laxity and want of management fostered pauperism
to such an extent that it roused public indignation,
and then it rebounded to the opposite extreme.
No one wishes to encourage able-bodied pauperism,
and that is the very reason why it is proposed to
classify the inmates of our unions and to put the
sick and infirm under a different system. There
can be no question that the local authorities have
been very greatly at fault iu many instances,
ar.d Lord Dit,VON last night cited cases which had
came under his own notice, in which the visiting
committees had neglected their duties of inspection,
and the guardians refused to entertain most neces-
sary improvements proposed by the inspector. The
Poor-law Board, however remiss in some respects,
is actually deficient in power to deal with such cases
except by a cumbrous and tedious legal process.
The best thing that can be done without revolu-
tionising the whole system is to strengthen the hands
of the central authority, and trust to Parliament to
keep the central authority in check.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Thursday Evening.

Some important explanations in regard to foreign
policy were given yesterday in the Legislative Body
by NI. Rouher, Minister of State, in answer to a
complaint from M. Pelletan that the yellow book
did not contain some despatches which had been
exchanged between France and Italy. M. Rouher
said that, according to the usual rule, it was not
customary to publish despatches emanating from a
foreign Government until those despatches had
been communicated officially and by an ambassador
in his official capacity, so that they might form the
elements of discussion between the Governments.
If they had been received either from M. Rattazzi,
or from General Menabrea, or from the Represen-
tative of Italy iu France, the Chevalier Nigra,
despatches officially commutaiclted, they would
appear in the yellow book—they would be submit-
ted to you, and you would have the right to appre-
ciate them, because they would have become a
contradictory element of a discussion between the
two Governments. No communication of the kind
has been made. We have not received officially a
despatch either from M. Rattazzi or his successors,
or from the Representative of Italy at the French
Court. For myself, at least I have no knowledge
of any communication of the kind. Should my
memory net serve me rightly, I am ready to pro-
pose to the Minister of Foreign Affairs that he shall
fill up any omission which may be pointed out. I
assert that all the useful elements of the discussion
which is to take place upon the Roman question
have been furnished by the yellow book, and that

at present I have not a more perfect communication
to make to the Chamber. (Approbation upon
several benches.)
M. Glaiz Bizoin The answer is strange
in the extreme. It is impossible to believe
that there has not been any communication between
the two Governments. This is, perhaps, the first
time in Parliamentary annals that such a declara-
tion has ever been made by a Minister. (Noise,
and manifestations of difference of opinion.)

It should be understood, in reference to this de•
claration, that M. Pelletan asserts, or imagines, thai
the French Government is in possession of important
despatches from M. Rattazzi and Cardinal Anto•
nelli, and that M. Rouher, the Minister, is ignorant
of the fact.

M. Pelletan then said it was impossible to sup-
pose that during the long period of eight months
M. Rattazzi had preserved absolute silence. Such
an improbability astonished him, and would astonish
the country. He believed that when the Minister
had made further inquiry, he would find that the
Government must have received despatches from
Florence or Rome.
M. Rouher said he believed that when he bad
consulted his colleague, the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, he should only have the same answer to
give. (Very good.)

A letter from Rome states that the soldiers of the
Pontifical army who were trade prisoners by the
Garibaldians during the first affair of Monte Ro
tondo, and who had been brought to Spezzia on
board a steamer through the kindness of Monsigneur
Mathieu, Cardinal Archbishop of Besancon, were
received by the population of Rome with striking
manifestations -of cordiality and sympathy. The
Roman nobility entertained them at a splendid
banquet.
The King and Queen of Greece have arrived at
Corfu. The foreign ships of war in the Piraeus pre-
pared a brilliant reception for their Majesties.
A private telegram from Bucharest states that
the Roumain Ministry is reconstructed thus :—M.
Golesco, President of the Council; M. Bratiano,
Minister of the Interior ; M. Anion, Justice; M.
Adrian, Minister of War.
The great Exhibition, which had such a marked
influence in many respects, caused a great increase
of correspondence. During the seven months
while the Exhibition Ras open the increase in the
sale of postage stamps exceeded a million of francs.
In 1865, during the seven corresponding months,
the consumption of staaps amounted to 34,200,000 f.
In the ''same period, :n 1866, the amount was
35,800,000 f., being an increase of 1,600,000 f. in
favour of 1866. In 1E67, during the Exhibition,
the amountpaid for postage stamps was 38,500,000 f.
This forms a total of 2,700,000 f., which deduction
being made of the ordinary progress, which is ju6t
stated was 1,600,000 f. or the corresponding period
of 1866, constitutes in favour of 1867 an increase
of more than 1,100,00)f. This amount, reckon-
ing the average postage rate, shows that about
2,500,000 letters were circulated in consequence of
the Exhibition.

The sun rose this morning with as much bril-
liancy as was ever seen, hut an hour afterwards
came a dense fog, whits prevailed all day. The
fog was so thick that you could not see from one
side of the Seine to the )ther, although that river
at Paris is not broader than the Thames at Rich-
mond. The fields wers covered with frost this
morning. In some parts of France the thermo-
meter has been several degrees below freezing
point. The supposed indications of severe weather
increase in the provinces. Such large numbers of
wolves have never been lee-n, and many sea fowl
have been noticed at a loug distance from the sea.
The Piedmontese Gazette says that the Pope is
ill, though it is desired to conceal the fact. The
foreign diplomatists go every morning to the Vati-
can to inquire after the health of his Holiness. The
last answer given was his Highness reposes and
keeps to his apartment. The Pope's favourite ser-
vant has just died, and his Holiness is inconsolable.

The excitement about the high price of bread
is diminishing, in consequence of the information
received from many parts of France that there is a
sensible decline in the price of: corn. Au immense
quantity of wheat has bean imported at Marseilles,
and further arrivals are expected.
All that seems doubtful now about the Confer-
ence is as to where it will assemble. A Berlin letter
says that a southern city will be fixed upon, in
order that the diplomatists may have an agreeable
residence during the rigorous Beason when the deli-
berations will take place.

A strange story is related about a husband and
wife, which has an air of romance, although it is
substantially true. A gentleman received informa-
tion that his wife allowed the visits of a well-known
actor during his absence, and he, therefore, watched
the door of his house. His fears proved too true,
for he saw the actor go up stairs. The gentleman
soon followed and knocked at the door of the apart-
ment. It not being opened he called the porter and
a demand was made to open the door in the name
of the law. The room was in great confusion, but
no visitor was seen. In a few minutes, however,
piercing cries were heard from the window under-
neath. It appears that some sheets had been hastily
tied together, and the actor had let himself down
from the window, but they were not long enough
to reach the ground and the intruder was afraid of
being dashed to pieces, and therefore called for
help. Strange to say, it was the husband who ran
to give it, and he enabled the destroyer of his peace
to reach the ground in safety. Then, however, a
scene took place—a fight and loud reproaches, which
soon brought a crowd. The actor was taken to the
station. The next step in the affair will be a pro-
cess on the part of the husband for a legal separa-
tion from his wife.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE .

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

LIVERPOOL, Nov. 29 (Noon).

Shortly after 6 o'clock this morning a Greek
blockade runner, called the Boyboyania, which was
lying in the Mersey to take in powder, blew up.
One portion of the vessel remained at anchor, and
the other part, the stern, drifted away. Forty lives
are supposed to have been lost.

CALCUTTA AND CHINA (HEAVY) MAILS.
The following telegram has been received by the
Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Com-

pany :

" GIBRALTAR, Nov. 28.

" The Sumatra leaves at 1 p.m. to-day. She
may be expected at Southampton early on the 3d
December."