The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-22 00:00:00

London Cabs.

The six thousand cabs in the Metropolis are
owned, some by men of considerable means, some
by petty jobbers, and others by the men who drive
them. A well-built cab, whether " four-wheeler"
or " Hansom," costs about fifty pounds, and the
harness five pounds ; but there are makers, or rather
cab-cobblers, who patch up a wretched affair for a
very small sum, and let it out on easy terms to
cabby, who thus becomes a sort of petty master.
The man buys a cheap horse, an equally cheap set
of harness, and hires the cobbled cab at ten shil-
lings a week ; he may either drive it himself, or let
it out at a profit to a dtivcr who has no capital
at all. A good horse for a good four-wheeler
costs from sixteen to twenty-five pounds ; while a
Hansom sometimes coasts of a horse worth
twenty to thirty pounds ; but we need only
to glance at some of these wretched animals
to see how far their average value is below this.
A careful owner will give his horse 301 b. of proven-
der per day, oats, beans, and chaff ; whereas many
of the poor beasts have every motive to imitate
Oliver Twist, and "ask for more." Some owners
allow two horses per cab per day, making provision
for illness, accidents, &c. ; while others have five
horses for two cabs. Altogether, there are supposed
to be about 13,000 horses. The trade is certainly
a precarious one. Weather, luck, holidays, acci-
dents, dishonesty—all combine to give a speculative
character to it. The smaller owners are said to be
generally in an atmosphere of debt and bill dis-
counting. The larger owners, who take some pride
in their stables as well as in their vehicles and
horses, employ one horsekeeper to every six horses,
but sometimes one poor drudge is required to look
after ten horses.

The drivers themselves are subject to as many
uncertainties as their employers. Sometimes cabby
keeps about one-third of the gross earnings, giving
two-thirds to the owner. At other times, a sort of
tariff is laid down, to the effect that he must bring
home a certain definite sum to his master every day ;
this definite sum is named so low as Bs. for a four-
wheeler, and 10s. for a Hansom, and so high as 16s.
for the former, and 18s. for the latter. It is
evident that these discrepancies point to wide
differences in the masters, the men, the horses, and
the cabs. It is popularly said that cabby gets about
Se. a day ; if this be all, then we must say he
works very hard for his money—early and late,
rain and snow, wind and sleet ; but it is scarcely
possible that this can be the average. Some of the
men are brutal to the horses, dishonest to the
owners ; and it is rather hard to the respectable
cabby that his good name should be tarnished by
being mixed up with these roughs. The loiterers
who tout for customers instead of going to a stand,
are not to be trusted ; their cabs are generally
wretched things, hired at a small rental. Most
police cases against cabmen are said to relate to
these loiterers. Licences to cabmen are granted too
readily. A badge is given for 55. to a man
with a recommendation from some shopkeeper or
other, without in any way testing whether it is
worthily bestowed. There is something clumsy
and ineffective about all this. Why should cabs
and cab-drivers be subject to so
many anomalies ?
—Chambers's Journal.

We (Liverpool Albion) have much pleasure in an-
nouncing that Sir George Grey has sanctioned the appoint-
ment of Mr. C. J. Preston, of the northern circuit, as
stipendiary rnagietrate for Birkenhead.

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

THE WAR CRISIS.

FLORENCE, MAY 22.

Austria has informed the Italian Government
that by way of reciprocity she will adopt the prin-
ciple expressed in the Italian naval code guarantee-
ing the inviolability of mercantile property at sea
even between belligerent powers.
FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAINE.

The 29 Deputies from Schleswig-Holstein, who
were present at the meeting held here on Sunday
last of delegates from the different German Diets,
have published a declaration to-day stating that
they disagree with the views of the Committee on
the Schleswig-Holstein Question.
PARIS, MAY 22.

" The Constitutionnel of this morning announces
that France and England have agreed upon the
terms of the communication to be addressed to the
Governments concerned in the existing differences.
It says also :--" The reply of Russia is expected,
and there is every reason to hope that within a few
days the three Cabinets will be in a position to ac-
complish the proposed task.
" It is impossible," continues the Constitutionnel,
" to entertain any illusion upon the serious nature
of the differences between Prussia, Austria, and
Italy, but when France, England, and Russia, after
a maturely-considered agreement undertake such a
mission, it would be peurile to suppose that they
are not serious. From what has transpired, the
' three Courts seek conditions of agreement in terri-
torial compensations, which would offer indemnities
and satisfaction to the claims of Russia, Austria, and
Italy. The difficulty in the present state of affairs
consists in finding the territorial compensations
suitable to each case."

MILITARY PREPARATIONS IN
TURKEY.

CONSTANTINOPLE, MAY 21.
Thirty thousand men of the Reserve have been
called out.

Troops continue to be sent to the line of the

Danube.

The Turkish navy is being equipped.

ROME.

The Osservatore Romano denies the intelligence
published by the Italie and Opinione that Pontifical
soldiers are deserting by hundreds into the Neapo-
litan provinces. It states that very few have de-
serted in the province of Rieti only, who recently
entered the Papal Militia, probably with the sole
object of securing the bounty. The police have
arrested several persons who have been discovered
inciting soldiers to desert.

THE ABYSSINIAN CAPTIVE 3.
SUEZ, MAY 21.

Dr. and Mrs. Beke have arrived here. The cap-
tives released by the Emperor Theodore are ex-
pected to arrive in Egypt shortly.
They had gone to Souakim by the route through
the interior, having been unable to embark at
Massowah, as the country was occupied by rebels.
Dr. Beke is awaiting here the Emperor's reply to
the petition of their relatives.

INDIA.
(Via Alexandria.)
BOMBAY, APRIL 28.
Affghan affairs are still full of 'disorder and

anarchy.
More fighting has taken place between the Rus-
sians and Bokharians. In the latest fight the
former were victorious. The Russian Ambassador
is reported to be in irons at Samarkand.
Great distress prevails in Asia, caused by the
failure cf the crops.
The Indo-European telegraph has been working
badly during the last fortnight.
The ship Ellora, which was lost last year in the
Fairway in Bombay harbour has been blown up
by Captain Methven, of the Peninsular and
Oriental service.
The Sirdars of the Deccan have commissioned a
portrait of Sir Bartle Frere, as a testimonial, to be
placed in the Council Hall at Poonah.
The Governor of Bombay and the Commander-
in-Chief are about to leave for the bills.
The native gentry of Bombay intend voting an
address to Viscount Halifax on his retirement from
office.

Dr. flames, Principal of Grant College, died of
fever on the 26th inst.
The public health is good, but the weather is
becoming hot. Cotton and piece goods are dull and
depressed owing to the telegrams from England.
Money market easy.

CALCUTTA, APRIL 20.

A landslip has occurred at Port Canning, doing
much damage. Strong winds have prevailed here
and caused many shipping disasters. The ships
Edith Kind, from Liverpool, and Commodore Hayes,
from Glasgow, in September last, are supposed to
have been lost.

Intelligence received from Mooltan states that
the belligerents in Bhawulpoor had been authorita-
tively ordered to cease hostilities against their prince.
The communication was referred to a Council of
War held by the insurgents, but the result is at pre-
sent unknown.

Great distress prevails in the district of Orissa,
in consequence of the failure of the crops. Public
subscriptions have been opened to relieve the
sufferers.

AUSTRALIA.
(By Overland Telegraph from Galle.)

MELBOURNE, Arnm 25.
Sir Charles Darling's recall has created great
excitement in the colony. _ _

The question of the Tariff Bill has been settled
by the Government consenting to the separation of
the Tariff from the Appropriation Bills.

TvE GERMAN EMIGRANTS.
SOUTHAMPTON, TUESDAY MORNING.

The North German Lloyd's steamship Hermann,
which arrived yesterday afternoon from Bremen,
with 700 emigrants for New York, was inspected
by Dr. Wiblin, medical superintendent of quaran-
tine ; having been certified free from disease, she
afterwards came into dock.

She reports that there is no cholera at Bremen,
or in any part of Germany.
At 7.30 a.m. yesterday, off Dover, the Hermann
spoke the Bremen ship Adler, Captain Wenke,
from New York, for London, with a Thames pilot
on board ; at 10 a.m., off Dungeness, the Bremen
ship Magdalena, Captain Henke, from Bremen, for
New York, two days out ; and at 11.30 a.m. the
Bremen barque Meridian, Captain Leaz, from Bre-
men, for New York, three days out. The Her-
mann leaves for New York on Wednesday morning.