The Sun.
London, England, 1859-01-25 00:00:00

LIFE-BOAT EXPENSES.

There is nothing offensive to the purest patriot-
ism in the rule of foreigners, as far as concerns the
mere expression of that rule in the race of a reign-
ing family. As a matter of fact there is hardly a
State in Europe where the reigning House has not
been imputed from some other nation. In Eng-
land the Royal Family is German ; in Portugal it
is German also ; in Spain itis French ; in Belgium
it is German ;in Russia it is Danish ; Austria
it came from Lorraine. To take a case still more
applicable, the Kings of Naples are French by
descent, and yet whatever charges might be
brought against, their Government, it was never
considered an unnational one. In Tuscany, again,
the Archdukes are of Austrian birth, but that
circumstance in itself was never held to derogate
from their popularity. As far, therefore, as regards
the mere dominion of strangers thus exercised
there is no ground for complaint ; in fact, the
inevitable contingencies of family succession must
in the majority of instances bring such events to
pass. But the Austrians never held Lombardy in
that fashion. When they succeeded to the region
of the Milanese the Duchy of Milan ceased to exist
as an independent and substantive Power of Italy.
'hey did not make a German Prince Duke of
lan, to continue the government as other dukes
had done before him, but they attached the province
to the general inheritance of the Austrian House
and ruled it by a Viceroy. This system, by annihi
lating the independence of the Ducal Court, brought
the fact of foreign dominion honse to the population,
and placed the Milanese visibly under the goiTrn-
ment of strangers. Still, nothing like the moaern
spirit of opposition was then • experienced ; it is
from the operation of events far more recent that
the present animosities have sprung.
The first occurrence which damaged the position
of Austria in Italy was the acquisition of the terri-
tories of Venice at the close of the last war. Before
that time she had been absorbing by various means
sundry small States adjacent ; but the overthrow of
the Venetian Repulic ultimately gave such extension
to her Italian possessions that they covered the
whole valley of the Po between the Ticino and the
Adriatic. This arrangement not only magnified in
all respects the obnoxious feature of German rule,
but it destroyed the last vestige of ancient Italian
government. Up to that period, whatever might
have been the fate of the Italian Duehies. a large
portion, at any rate, of Northern Italy was in pure
Italian hands. As a specinien of polity the Republic
of Venice had become so miserable a Government
that M. Mazzini himself would probably not accept
it in place of Austrian rule ; but still it was a native
Government, and when it disappeared there was
nothing but German dominion to be seen between
the Gulf Venice and the frontier of Piedmont. A
strange Government, therefore, in its least palatable
form, was imposed on Northern Italy throughout
almost its whole extent.
Even this, however, though a very material cir-
cumstance, was not the chief cause of the unpopu-
larity to which the Austrians were soon exposed.
Italy became suddenly imbued with ideas of
" nationality"—ideas traceable entirely to opinions
of our own generation. It might perhaps be
affirmed that sentiments in some degree resembling
these new views existed in Italy at a much earlier
period. The old conflict between the Guelphs and
the Ghibellines—though both names and both
parties were purely German—probably covered
some rising spirit of nationality, and it is certain
that in the 16th century the dreadful sufferings
ensuing on the contests between France and Spain
for the possession of Italy did inspire more than one
Italian statesman with the desire of expelling
strangers from the Peninsula altogether. Such
views, however, assumed a more permanent form
after the French Revolution, until in our own age
we have seen them put forward as the true basis of
policy by which governments should be regulated.
Something was due to the taste of freedom which
nations obtained through the convulsions of the
last war, and something also to the impression
which the institutions of Napoleon left behind
them. But, apart from all this, a spirit had arisen
against' which no efforts on the part of the Aus-
trians could make any head. Their government,
whether good or bad, was considered intolerable
simply because it was the government of foreigners.
The party whose extreme opinions may be taken
to be represented by M. Mazzini did not construct
their scheme of Italian independence on any prece-
dents of history or on any particular abuses of
Austrian power. The spirit was a new spirit alto-
gether, as characteristic of the age as Socialism or
Communism, and founded on nothing but the broad
assumption that all nations ought to be united re-
publics, independent of all other nations. A certain
party in Lombardy exchanged, or professed to
exchange, these views for those of constitutionalism
under the Crown of Sardinia, but this was not the
direction in which aspirations for nationality first
pointed, or which, in the end, they would probably
take.
Under the influence of these events the Austrian
Government in Lombardy became unr.puidr in the
extreme—less /rum tug uwn raults than from tho
novel principles pervading Italian society. Nothing
that the Austrians could do was acceptable or good,
and this discontent itself necessarily made their
rule more oppressive than it would otherwise have
been. Left to themselves, and accepted in the
Lombardo-Venetian Kingdom as they had formerly
been in the Duchy of Milan, they might, in all like-
lihood, have made respectable governors. True they
were foreigners, but for that matter there was
nothing more unnaturalin German Counts descend-
ing from the Tyrol into Lombardy than in French
Counts descending from Savoy into Piedmont, and
no Lombard could recollect the time when his coun-
try had not owned more or less allegiance to a Ger-
man Sovereign. There was no reason why Northern
Italy should not have been as well governed as it
ever had been, except the resolution of Italians not
to receive this service at the hands of Germans.
And, when this antagonism had once been declared
easy government was at an end. The opposition
and restlessness of the Italians provoked stronger
measures ; these measures called for greater forces,
and greater forces brought in their train all the
evils of conscription and taxation. Even withinthe
last few years, however, the Austrians have made
distinct efforts at conciliation, and have plainly ex-
pressed their desire of being good rulers if the
Italians would but simpy accept their rule.
From these remarks it will appear that the
insurrectionary spirit it Lombardy is based less
upon any actual or deeily-seated sense of oppres-
sion than upon theoretical views of " nationality."
Beyond doubt that phrase points to certain great
principles. It naturally excites the ire of Italians,
when their thoughts lave been once turned into
this channel, to see their country occupied by
foreigners, their cities garrisoned by foreign troops,
and all the privileges cf government exercised by
people of another race. They do not, under such
circumstances, derive nuch consolation from being
told that they never :et succeeded in governing
themselves, and that sombardy, at any rate, is
better governed than either the Papal States or
Naples under pure Italan rule. But it cannot be
denied that as yet we hive seen no proof of what
this new principle of " iationality" is really capable
of accomplishing, W 4 see it caricatured in the

During the past year the Royal National Life-
boat Institution has incurred the following ex-
penses on either additional new ,life-boat stations,
or the replacing of old boats, 'transporting car-
riages and houses, by new ones :-Norfolk :
Cromer, 276/. 16s. sd. ; Mundesley, 223/. 9s. sd. ;
Bacton, 377/. 1 ls. 11d. ; Palling, 272/. 17s. 6d. ;
Winterton, 400/. ss. 11d. ' • Yarmouth (two
boats), 859/. 3s. sd. Suffolk: Lowestoft, . 153/.
14s. 6d. ; Southwold, 127/. 19s. ; Berwick,
73/. ; Boulmer, 73/. ; Alnmouth, • 41/. ; Whit-
burn, 2471. is. ; Hornsea, 44/. 12s. ; Exmouth,
1401. ls. Appledore, 44/. 12s. ;. Aberdovey, 138/.
3s. ld. ; Rhyl, 52/. 175.; Penmen 721. 155,• Fleet-
wood, 140/. 15..; Fraserburgh;2ssl. 9s. 2d.; lossie-
modth, 140/. ls. Ireland : Newcastle (County
Down), "2821.' 7s. ;, Kilmore, 140! is. ; Dundalk,
191/. is. ; Carnsore, 187/. Bs. ; Tramore, 322/. 18s.
9d. ; Dungarvan. 1911. ls., and Ardmore, 81/. lls.
sd. The institution has also expended .on the re-
pairs, stores, alterations and. inspection of its
numerous life-boats, boat-houses, and transporting
carriages, 2;7141. ss. 3d., making altogether a total
of 8,2651. 3s. 9d. It has also granted 952/. as re-
wards to the crews of its life-boats and those of
shore-boats, for saving 427 persons from 64 wrecks
on our coasts. A most satisfactory result, and
clearly showing how much has been accomplished
by the well-directed efforts which the Life-boat
Institution has brought to bear on this humane
cause. This great and national work has, however,
only been accomplished by involving the society in
a debt of 3,047/., and an expenditute of 1,000/, from
its small reserved capital. • Impelled by CN ery feel-
ing which we hold dear to save a fellow-creature
from an appalling death by shipwreck, one would
suppose that the National Life-boat Institution
had claims which came home to the hearts of
every one, and there pleaded for support and
sympathy ; and most particularly does this apply
to the United Kingdom, which is so much in-
debted for so large a portion of its greatness and
prosperity to its hardy seamen. In respect, then,
of the Life-boat Institition, its objects being
so truly national and philanthropic, we do not hesi-
tate to recommend it earnestly, and on all occa-
sions, to the support of those who are able to render
it. That help was never more needed than at
present, when, through the extraordinary exertions
the society has made within the past few years, it
has 81 life-boats under its management. To main-
tain these boats in a state of thorough efficiency, a
large permanent annual income is absolutely needed,
if its humane mission is to be perpetuated. 'We
feel assured, that after this plain statement of facts
relative to one of our most useful societies, we shall
soon have the pleasure to report a very large in-
crease to its permanent income.

THE COMMERCL4L USES OF PHOTO-

G.RAPIIY.

In many businesses it is desirable to have accu-
rate patterns of the articles dealt in. To have those
patterns engraved and printed would amount in
some cases, where the article is low-priced and in-
tricate in design, to more money than it would be
worth while to expend. Take, for example, designs
in lace, embroidery, and similar things. Intricacy
in pattern is no greater difficulty to the photo-
grapher than simplicity, and dealers in this de-
scription of goods might find it answer their pur-
pose to prepare illustrated catalogues of their
patterns fbr transmission to customers. Gentlemen
in the country could select for themselves as easy
as they could examine a book the kind of piano-
forte or sideboard they require from their musical
instrument maker or upholesterors. The utility of
such catalogues to exporters to the colonies or
foreign. countries is obvious at once ; in fact, the
above propositions have already been adopted in the
case of agricultural implements by some of
the most eminent manufacturers of those articles.
In taking outlines of coasts, the bearings and dis-
tances of landmarks necessary to be observed in
entering harbours, representations of the form of
lighthouses, beacons, &c., photography may be made
a readily available means of contributing to the
safety of life and property where shipping is con-
cerned. To the architect and railway engineer an
easy and accurate mode of information as to the
progress of his works is here given him. The
merit of first employing photography for this pur-
pose is believed to be due to the late Emperor
Nicholas of Russia, who by this means got his infor-
mation of the progress of the bridge of Kiew. On
the occasion of a late accidental fall of some por-
tion of the works on a railway in progress of con-
struction, the contractor, who was obliged to set to
work at once to repair the damage, took the pre-
caution, before he commenced operations, of having
photographic representations of the ruins taken. In
the law suit which in all probability, will result,
what other evidence will supply the place of these
truthful representations ? How much clearer will
the matter be made to the jury by the inspection
of these infallible records of the actual appearance
of the damaged works than by the contradictory
evidence of a dozen persons, all of whom most likely
have a bias one way or the other! . . . Wills,
settlements, deeds, conveyances, and other impor-
tant legal documents ought always to have photo-
graphic fac similes taken—reduced, if wished, to a
microscopic minuteness,—and duplicate copies
printed and lodged in separate-places of safeguard
to mitigate, in some degree, the serious inconve-
nience and, loss which would be occasioned by a
destruction, by fire or otherwise, of the original
document. —The Photographic News.

CO CHIN CHIN.d.

We find the following in the .21.1oniteur de la
Flotte:—Mgr. Retord, the indefatigable apostle of
Christianity, continues to furnish us with interest-
ing information relative to Cochin China. In the
last accounts received he states that the principal
reproach made against the Roman Catholic religion
is, that it does not prescribe veneration for deceased
parents. In Cochin China this kind of worship is
practised by giving a feast, at first every three days)
then every five days, and afterwards every year.
The new religion is also accused of having caused
a terrible inundation, followed by a frightful
famine. Mgr. Retord states that those persons who
a little rice buried it in the earth, so that
it might not be pillaged by those who were in want
of food. In every village a number of persons abso-
lutely died of hunger, and those who were alive
looked more like spectres than living beings. Al-
most all the villages are fortified like so many
little citadels. They are surrounded by hedges Of
thorny shrubs, and had trenches dug round, so as
to protect them from brigands, who roamed about
from place to place, setting fire to houses in the
hopes of being able to steal food during the confu-
sion. In the midst of this misery, the Annamite
King led a jovial life in his palace, but as he feared
that the situation of his subjects might engender
revolt, he issued various orders as to the measures
to be adopted. Mandarins were requested to exhort
the rich to curtail their expenses, and to send the
superfluous rice in their granaries to market, and
not to lend money at more than cent. per cent. in-
terest, in order not to complete the ruin of those
who were in need. He also ordered new roads to
be made, and fresh canals to be dug, in order to
give employment to the labouring classes. A great
part of the benefits which might have been pro-
duced by the execution of these orders were thwarted
by the avarice and misconduct of the mandarins
and their subordinates. Cargoes of rice arrived,
which the king ordered to be sold at a reason able rate,
but themandarms were bribed by the captains, who
were authorised to sell at the famine prices. In
consequence of the great agitation caused by the
arrival of the French expedition a national guard
was formed, designated by the pompous title of
Huong-Dung (heroes of the country). In the pro-
vince of Siam-Dinh this force amounted to 60,000
men. These heroes, however, were suffering from
the pangs of hunger, and they pillaged the places
they were appointed to protect. Mgr. Retford
states that the tortures applied by the Annamite
mandarins, not only to rebels and Christians, but
also to those from whom they wish to extort money
or any other object which has excited their covet-
ousness, are of the most dreadful and barbarous kind,
and he concludes byisaying that the present situar
tion of two of the principal provinces of the country,
at the gates of which the French and Spanish troops
are now operating, may be summed up by the words,
"famine and persecution." Cochin China produces