The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-30 00:00:00

Miss

Mr. BRIGHT seems resolved not to let Irish sub

jects alone, although one would think he had enough,
if not more than enough, to do with English ones
just now. He could not possibly find a more in-
judicious course to pursue at this juncture than to
endeavour to increase the discontent that prevails
in some quarters in that island. However he
is so proud of his scheme of belling
estates that he is induced to go on at all
hazards with his remarks. In a letter that
has been received from him by a gentleman at
Essex he alludes to the condition of things at pre-
sent between landlord and tenant in no very flatter-
ing or favourable terms. His chief idea seems to be
that the Irish landlords feel that they can rely on
" English force" to sustain them, and therefore they

" are careless as to the condition of the country
and the feelings of the tenantry." Putting aside

the exaggeration and misrepresentation of these
remarks, can anything be more unwise than to use
such language at a time when discord is so preva-
lent as it now is among misguided persons in Ire-
land ? Discontent and insurrection menace the
country, according to ➢ir. BRIGHT'S idea, but the
landlord sleeps in peace, and feels that his
rents and his power are secure because " Eng-
lish force" is always at hand. Nothing,
however, came up to the opinions contained in this
paragraph :—" If Ireland were a thousand miles
away from us all this would at once be changed,
justice would be done, and the landlords would be
exterminated by the vengeance of the people." How
much happier and better off would they be when
they had had recourse to these violent and extreme
measures we should like- to know, but what we have
to do with now is to reflect upon the extreme impro-
priety of any one using such language at a time
like the present. Wisdom and moderation are
not, however, to be met with from the hon. member
for Birmingham ; and it is quite evident by this
time that he will say, at all times and in all places,
what suits his purpose and expresses his views,
without regard or reference to suggestions of pru-
dence or propriety. He goes on to declare that he
sees nothing better in the future so long as the
people of the United Kingdom are excluded from
the House of Commons, and more to the same
effect. We have a right to expect that all public
men should use more discretion than to excite dis-
cord, and give rise to angry and jealous feelings at
a time when the Government is in difficulty with a
particular country or place ; and no one who makes
political capital out of ruch a state of things will
gain respect or esteem, or deserve to do so either.

There is one item in our weekly bills of mortality
which must certainly come under the head of deaths
from preventive causes, and yet we do not find the
number of its victims diminish. We allude to the
deaths in the streets of the metropolis, which, on an
average, amount to six or seven weekly. The num-
ber, looked at by itself, is not so very large, though
it swells to a considerable aggregate in the course of
the year; but the fact of the danger affecting every
one who goes about the streets on business or plea-
sure, and the terrible nature of the catas-
trophes, enhance the feeling of regret at their
cccurrence. Besides, we do not see in these returns
the whole of the case. There are many persons
knocked down,
frightened, and injured who do not
happily figure
sufferers to a
in thegreaist of deaths,
terlorlessdeg r
eb
eu t f
r ewho
m the are
frequency of these • accidents. Yesterday Mr.
HUMPHREYS held two inquests at the London Hos-
pital on the deaths of two persons, one a little child
of three years old, the other a middle-aged man.
Both these cases may be said to be some-
what exceptional, from the fact of the ten-
der age of the child and the infirm health
of the other, but the frequency of similar accidents
renders them noticeable. Why cannot we have
light bridges thrown over the most dangerous cross-
ings or subways where the traffic is constant and
excessive ? This would remove the greater part of
the dangers of the streets, and other accidents
might be greatly lessened by increased care on the
part of drivers, who should be severely punished when
anything like recklessness or drunkenness
is proved
against them. Of course it would be impossible to
remove all risks from the streets of such a city as
London ; but the greatness of our traffic is no ex-
cuse for carelessness on such an important matter.
Foot passengers themselves are often greatly to
blame for their heedlessness, recklessness, and want
of self-control ; but it is highly advisable that some
change should be made to assist and protect the
more reasonable and prudent among them.

A long-threatened danger is at last coming very
near us, and though it may not be considered very
serious by many, it is one which closely affects the
health and comfort of the people. Building has
actually commenced on Hampstead-heath, and the
first house is in course of erection at the flagstaff.
This, bad as it is, is not the worst. " Brickmak-
ing," we are told, "is to be extended over a con-
siderable portion of the heath, and the rest is to be
covered with cottages and huts—in fact, another
Agar or Mensal Town is to occupy this splendid
site." Allowing for some little exaggeration in this
picture, it is sufficiently startling. There is no
doubt that the sand is being removed from the
Heath in large quantities, and if laickina,king is

provement taking place, and the decided and deter-
mined opposition made to it by the members of the
Left does them no credit, and cannot possibly be
conducive to their own interests in the long run.
Meanwhile it prejudices greatly the cause which
they profess to have so much at heart, namely, the
good of Hungary, and the increase of her power and
independence. When people take an idea into
their heads, however, it is very difficult, if not
altogether impossible, to disabuse them of it,
or to induce them to adopt a safer or a wiser course.
The Prussian Ministers do not seem to be very
fortunate just now, for the last news is that Herr
von der HEYPT, the Minister of Finance, has been
attacked with a serious illness, supposed to be
apoplexy, and his condition is regarded as unfavour-
able. Count BISMARCK'S health is also very unsatis-
factory, and it is said by a Berlin journal that he is
desired by his medical attendants to pass the winter
in Italy. Considerable difficulties seem to exist in
the way of the Prussians and the Hanove-
rians coming to a settlement. It is quite
of a piece with the usual course of Berlin
morality that the authorities should refuse to
deliver up the private fortune of King GEORGE
until he shall have relieved the Hanoverian officers
from their oath of allegiance. What right they
can possibly have to that is for them to show, for
other nations cannot see their claim. It is per-
haps unwise for King GEORGE to persist in his re-
fusal, but that does not improve the case so far
as regards the policy of King WILLIAM'S advisers.
It is said if the late King of HANOVER should re-
lease these officers it will be on condition that they
shall serve in no other armies than that of Prussia ;
and, besides, some of the superior Hanoverian officers
have ordered the soldiers under them not to enter
the Prussian service in the face of the Government
of Prussia having decreed their incorporation with
the Prussian army. This confusion is a very sad
beginning to the grand work of German unity that
has been so vaunted in all directions.