The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-11 00:00:00

TtiE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY'

themselves and to deceive others. Because their
work is less monotonous and incessant than that of
most other callings, they too often forget that their
income is more precarious, and that nature not
unfrequently avenges the neglect of her warnings
by paralysing the cunning hand or dulling the
active brain.. So many painful instances are on
record of men who have done their generation good
service breaking down unexpectedly in the prime of
their days when they thought to have many years
of laborious work before them, that all must feel
and acknowledge the truth of Lord GRANVILLE'S
observation, that there is special need for members
of the Press to remember the duties of foresight and
prudence. The Institution, whose annual gather-
ing was held last evening under the kindly
presidency of Earl GRANVILLE, was designed
to meet the evils which every intelligent and
thoughtful man was prompt to recognise. It
had been in existence for many years previously to
its thorough reorganisation some two years since,
but it has since then been placed on a better and
more substantial footing. The Press of
this country has no need to make its asso-
ciations dependent on charity ; its members
are sufficiently numerous and independent to
provide for themselves ; at the same time, since the
contributions of the richer and more fortunate
brethren of the few may well be asked on behalf of
the poor members of the professsion, there is no
ground for churlishly refusing any subscriptions
or donations which may be offered by the general
public, in kindly recognition of the services rendered
by the free and independent Press of this country.
The objection raised in some quarters to the public
character of this fund—that it would transfer the
independence of the Press—more especially so far as
reports were concerned, is simply ridiculous. If
the English Press had been conducted on such prin-
ciples as that it would never have attained its
present influential and important position. Most
certainly it need not have been at the trouble of
organising a public fund as a means of receiving
bribes or extorting assistance. Lord GRANVILLE,
in his usual courtly, kindly manner
touched upon this objection merely to
dispose of it, and set forward the claims
of the society on the support of its members in the
strongest possible light. The number of contri-
butiOns had, he said, increased, although the number
of members was not yet fully proportionate to the
numbers of the profession in town and county.
Increasing subscriptions, he pointed out to his
hearers, would not only add to the fund for indi-
gent brethren, but they would enable them to
support what Mr. DICKENS justly called the
soundest part of the scheme—the system of
annuities. His lordship's excellent address was
received with warm applause, and he was preceded
and followed by noble lords and honourable gentle-
, men belonging to all parties and professions, giving
testimony to the high manner in which the free
Press of this country is held, and showing how
. ready and kindly is the sympathy felt for those
who labour in the interests of the public.

dard, was Friday last. There is the same notion
in France about St. Medard as there is in England '
relative to St. Swithin in July, that if it should rain
on the Bth June there will be rain for 40 successive
days afterwards. Last year there was on St. Me-
dard, but the proverb was not verified, for there
was very fine dry weather soon after St. Medard.
This year not a drop of rain fell. It was a most
scorching day without a cloud, the hottest we have
had, with the thermometer at 106 Fahrenheit in the
sun and about 90 in the shade. The following day
(Saturday) was equally fine but slightly cooler. Great
fears were entertained three weeks ago for the corn
and grapes, as the weather was peculiarly adverse, and
there were sharp frOsts every night. The grapes have
quite recovered, and within a radius of 20 miles of
Paris the wheat crops are splendid. They promise
an early and abundant harvest. To the south of
and nearly in
unfiunseu'ally high, for I
full Paris
e a trh. e
In wheatso m
some
s p
lace s particularly
it i s
believe wheat does not often reach two yards. Yon
may walk through many fields in the vicinity of
Sevres where the wheat is higher than yourself. As
to fruit, apricots, which were exceedingly plentiful
last year, will this year be very scarce ; so will
peaches, but other plums will be abundant. 'Cherries
are exceedingly plentiful. The branches of the
cherrytrees arc literally weighed down with them,
and they are to be had almost for nothing. Pears
are prolific and good, but not cheap yet. The ave-
rage price of those of good quality is Is. per peck.
The quantity both of apples and pears will be im-
mense. Fish, which is usually dear in Paris, has
been cheaper this season. Salmon, however, can
seldom be obtained under ss. the pound. Mackerel
have been 20 per cent. cheaper than last year.
At the ordinary meeting of the Imperial Railway
Carriage Company of Paris the accounts presented
show that the receipts for the year 1865 amounted
to 58,244,210 f. The gross receipts after deducting
the salaries of the coachmen amounted to upwards
of 17 millions. The number of horses employed
on the 31st of December was 11,078 and the num-
ber of carriages 4,565 ; each producing an average
revenue of 1007 f. The amount paid for forage was
upward of 27,000,000 f. These carriages performed
1,098,564 journeys during the year. It was stated
that the new regulations will be very advantageous
to the company. The strike of the coachmen last
year subjected the company to much loss.
The magnificent vase of Amathonte has left
Havre for Paris. It will come up the Seine, and is
daily expected at the port of the Louvre.
A Paris paper translates from a German journal
the following account of Prussian Silesia. Prus-
ian Silesia, of which so much is said at the present
time, is a province the population of which amounts
to 3,500,000 inhabitants. Besides its capital of
Breslau it contains a great number of populous
towns and many fortresses of great strategical im-
portance. The population is half Sclavonian, half
German. There are about the same number of
Catholics as Protestants. The number of Jews and
of different Christian sects is estimated at 50,000.
Silesia was by turns a portion of the kingdoms of
Poland and Bohemia. It then passed under the
dominion of the house of Austria, from whom
Frederic the Great wrested it in 1745. This
conquest was facilitated by the sympathies of the
Protestant Silesians, who had great reason to com-
plain of the intolerance of Austria. The Sclava
population of Silesia are, for the most part, Poles.
They are occupied in agriculture, whilst the Ger-
mans in general employ themselves in industrial
arts.

The report of a service of steam carriages on
public roads assumes consistency. It is said that a
plan is in course of organisat;on to run steam
carriages from the Madeleine to the Bastille, a dis-
tance of about three miles.
A man has just murdered his wife at Nogent Sur
Marne by severing her head from the body with a
chopper. He took flight after the crime, but left a
note on the table stating that he meant to deliver
himself up to the police.
The heat has been tremendous to-day, with a
heavy and oppressive atmosphere.
Lord and Lady Cowley have left Paris for Lon-
don, in order to be present at the marriage of the
Princess Mary of Cambridge with Prince Teck.

Miss Russell's Concert.

The frionds of this lady may be congratulated on

the large and fashionable audience that assembled
within the walls of the Canterbury Ilall on the occa-
sion of her concert, which took place on Friday even-
ing. The programme was one of the very highest
order, and contained the names of several artistes
of distinction, who had volunteered their services in
behalf of this popular favourite.
The " Piece de Resistance" was a selection from
Verdi's opera of "La Traviata," in which Miss
Russell undertook the role of Violetta, and the ap-
pearance of this lady was the signal for a perfect
ovation, which lasted for some minutes, and which
she gracefully acknowledged. When she was
allowed to proceed her fine voice and brilliant exe-
cution were never heard to better advantage. She
was ably supported by Signor Spanioli and Signor
Tivoli. It was nearly one o'clock before the pro-
gramme could be completed, and then every one
departed enraptured with the entertainment which
had been provided by the fair " bienfaitrice."