The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-22 00:00:00

HAMPSTEAD HEATH.

Hampstead-heath is one of those commons which
come under the provisions of the Metropolitan Com-
mons Act of last session (29 and 30 Vic., c. 122),
but it is rather difficult to discover in what manner
those who require to enjoy the benefits of the com-
mon are to obtain them. Although the inhabitants
of the neighbourhood of the heath have recently
been meeting and agitating in consequence of Sir T.
M. Wilson having let part of it on building leases,
and houses being in course of construction, we don't
see what good can be done unless money can be
found to purchase the interest of the present pro-
prietor. Parliament has, we believe, more than once
rpfil.ori to pive sir m M.
asked, viz., to grant building leases for long terms of
years, and he is now doing his utmost by granting
leases for 21 years. On the one hand we see the pro-
prietor of the soil doing his best to make it profitable
during his life tenancy, and on the other hand we
have the public, weakly represented by the inhabi-
tants of Hampstead and the neighbourhood, endea-
vouring to cause the heath to be retained for ever
as an open common. Wow is the time or never, for
it will be too late when the heath is covered with
houses, as it seems likely to be in a few years, un-
less immediate steps are taken to insure it for the
public. The act of last session will not probably
afford much assistance in obtaining the desired ob-
ject, for by it the onus of moving in the matter is
thrown on the local authorities, and so far as we un-
derstand the rights of the case, in the instance of
Hampstead-heath, a considerable sum must be pro-
vided before the public can call the heath its own.
If the inhabitants of the locality are patriotic
enough to lay down the money themselves the diffi-
culty may be overcome, or if theyarepowerful enough
to collect it among their friends they may suc-
ceed, but they may ask with good reason why they,
should be left to
dao whatveryis inreality of
for t
the b
small
hc:puebnleiclit of the public at
portion
large, and more immediately of a very different
class of people than that of which they are as a
body composed. It appears, indeed, only reason-
able, if the heath be necessary for the public, that
the public should pay for it, and that the public
money should be devoted to this purpose. We do
not, however, by public money mean the Consoli-
dated Fund, but a rate imposed on the metropolitan
district by parliamentary authority. We are anxious
to disclaim the too prevalent notion that it is ju

to tax the country at large for the benefit of London
and the neighbourhood. 'We see no reason why the
money of the state should be expended in the im-
provement of London any more than of Glasgow, or
Liverpool, or Belfast.

Thus explained, however, we do not pretend to
advocate this plan, neither do we see any ground for
opposing it should it be entertained, but it seems
certain that if the purchase of the heath is to be de-
peudent on private means alone, without the aid of
the public, the act of last session must remain, so
far as regards Hampstead-heath, a dead letter till
the end of time.--Solicitors' Journal.

A KIND WORD FOR CARLOTTA.—Charlotte i 3
beloved by the whole population of the valley of
Mexico. She has worked unceasingly to improve
the poorer classes—she has founded schools and
hospitals, supporting them from her own purse, and
sincere mourners in thousands would lament her
death, should that be the result of her dangerous
illness. To the shame of Protestant England and
America this noble and royal lady has been
the only missionary that has ever visited the
poor of the valley of Mexico ; hers the only
hands to distribute charity and toil for
h
elevation of the tens of thousands of the half-clad
e
and most numerous portion of the Mexican people.
I have seen her in the suburban Pueblos of this
capital, accompanied by a single lady of honour,
calling at the mud huts of the poor, and stopping
for a moment to review one of our recently founded
schools. Whatever may be said of Maximilian and
his sad effort to govern these people, nothing can be
said of Charlotte of Belgium that will lessen the
opinion of thousands of her, and that is that she is
one of the noblest-minded women of the century.—
Letter from Mexico.
The University of the city of New York has re-
cently received a donation of $lOO,OOO from "one
of our liberal and prosperous merchants."
EADvEnTisEmENT.I —Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—
Few ailments aro more disheartening and none more omi-
nous than ulcerations on the surface of the body. -Wher-
ever they are situated it is difficult to cure them, unless
treated judiciously with some cooling, healing, invigorat-
ing application, liko this .never-failing ointment. It has
worked wonders in making bad legs sound and strong,
even when the power of the blood-vessels had nearly been
destroyed, and almost stagnation of the circulation ren-
dered every other curative means abortive. No sore,
wound, or ulcer, can withstand its healing influence, which
can be most beneficially exerted when winter is giving
place to spring, and the circulation becoming more active
and more controllable by proper purifying, soothing, and
strengthening agents.