The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-15 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

Txrs
DAY.—Morning, 4h. 58m.—Afternoon, sb. 15m.
To-Monnow.-Morning, sb. 31m.—Afternoon, sh. 50m.

Olt .
SUIT,

LONDON, IVEDNESD.IY, AUGUST 15, 1866.

The weekly return of the births and deaths in
London, for the week ending last Saturday, con-
firms the favourable intelligence which we had
previously gathered from the daily reports. The
deaths from the prevailing epidemic show a de-
cided diminution—those from cholera and diarrhoea
together amounting to 1,045, instead of 1,407 as
in the preceding week. The total number of
deaths registered last week was 2,299 ; in the
week before, 2,661 ; so that they were less by 52
daily in that ending on Saturday. This is very
encouraging, and the decrease in the mortality of
children is, says the Registrar, a gratifying proof
of the effects of increased care. In the eastern
districts, where the enemy seems to have concen-
trated his forces, and where the poverty of the
dense population lays them open to attack, there
is a marked diminution of cases, the deaths falling
from 1,041 to 774, so that there is good reason
to hope that the energetic measures taken to assist
the sufferers, and to relieve extreme destitution,
have already produced their effect. At the same
time this should not induce the public to relax their
efforts, but rather to increase them, since the mor-
tality is still very high, and the epidemic, though a
little less fatal, is still formidable. During the last
five weeks, according to the Registrar-General,
10,898 persons have died in London, of whom 4,454
have died from cholera and diarrhoea. These
figures, of course, represent a much wider range of
illness and distress ; and in many cases where the
heads of families have been laid low the
children are left penniless. Many harrowing
scenes are daily brought under the notice
of the Mansion-house Committee, and liberally as
the subscriptions have poured in, they are by no
means unnecessarily large. The efforts of these
gentlemen to give relief in the emergency are nobly
seconded by the local committees. England never
wants for volunteers in any good work, and the pre-
sent distress has called forth a number of self-
denying and laborious workers wherever their exer-
tions are needed. Some idea of the magnitude of
the suffering with which the Mansion-house
Committee have to deal may be gathered
from the report of yesterday's proceedings.
Nine gentlemen from Mile-end Old Town pre-
sented themselves yesterday. They have been
exerting themselves to raise a fund for the assist-
ance of persons suffering from cholera, convalescent
patients, and widows and orphans of persons who
have died from the epidemic. There are 12,000
houses in the " hamlet," and the population is
about 84,000. In the four weeks ending last
Saturday there had been 412 deaths from cholera,
of which 84 were the deaths of husbands, who left
84 widows and more than 400 children.
During last week nearly 2,000 cases were
treated daily, excluding those in the Union.
The Mansion-house Committee granted £l5O and '
ten gallons of port wine for the relief of this
district, which we may easily believe will be of
most valuable assistance in stemming the tide of 1
disease. From Bethnal-green, from St. George's- 1
in-the-East, from St. Luke's, illillwall, from Strat-
ford and Wapping, the same tale was told with I
trifling variations, and in every case the committee
made substantial grants. From the House of
Charity in Greek-street came a request for a grant '
for clothing for the poor little children sent there
from the London Hospital. The efforts being
made by the various local authorities in provid-
ing medicines and advice for the poor without
any delay are also commendable, and we may hope
that a continuance of all such efforts may, under
PROVIDENCE, lead to still more reassuring results.
At the same time we must not be over-confident,
for as the Registrar-General expressly says, 6' No
greater mistake could be made than to relax the
efforts for combating the disease or for relieving
the distress which it has already wrought. .Each.

should do his share ; if he cannot give what is best
of all personal assistance, he can give money ; if
he cannot give money he may give stores
of old clothes, which, humble, as they may
seem, are very serviceable, rzspecially at the hos-
pitals and refugees." The sums already subscribed
are munificent, but it is a juncture which demands
munificence, and we have all a heavy debt to pay
to those districts of Eastern London on which the
burden has fallen so heavily. Their sanitary con-
dition has long been a disgrace to the metropolis.
The wretchedness of their population in some places
was a byeword, yet the evils have never been dealt
with in an enlightened and comprehensive spirit.
The severity of this visitation will recall us to a
sense of our neglected duties, and a thorough refor-
mation of two or three points is imperatively neces-
sary. The water supply must be looked to. It is
quite inexcusable that with our scientific and sani-
tary knowledge, we should suffer half London to be
poisoned by impure water, which has again and
again been proved to be one of the primary causes
of disease. Dirt and squalor are not to be re-
moved by Act of Parliament, but if we can
secure that people have decent habitations,
and can guard against the monster evil of over-
crowding, we shall do much towards removing the
temptations to dirt. Again, we cannot prevent
poverty or remove extreme destitution, but we can
take care that the burden of the rates is not so oppres-
householder as to help to
sive on the struggling
pauperise him, and that the parish funds are not so
miserably restricted in the most necessitous dis-
tricts that a wise temporary assistance cannot
be given in cases which would keep a whole family
off the parish for life. The more favoured portions
of the metropolis have come nobly to the rescue of
the eastern districts in this time of trial, but much
will remain to be done when the crisis has passed.
We have remained indifferent only too long. Now
that we have been aroused from our lethargy by so
stern and terrible a monitor, it will be strange in-
deed if the warning pass unheeded.

All is for the present tranquil respecting the sub-
ject of the French demand, but it is by no means
settled in any shape, and the various confused and
contradictory statements only tend to bewilder the
public instead of enlightening them. There is one
decisive thing to take hold of, and that is, that the
Emperor NAPOLEON has appeared on the scene
claiming some territory for France, and we know
that he will not be so easily put off in his schemes
when once he has made up his mind to effect any-
thing. It does not follow that war will be the
immediate result of the affair; on the contrary, some
time may elapse before any hostilities commence,
but however emphatic may be the assertions of the
French journals, there is no doubt that the French
Government must have been fully aware of the risk
they run in broaching this subject at all, and also
they must have comprehended the dissatisfaction it
would cause if the matter dropped without any
Inotice being taken of the claims of France. All
kinds of politicians of whatever shade of opinion
seem to concur in the idea that Prussia will refuse
to yield to the demand just made, and if so, sooner
or later there must we war. What object could the
French have in putting themselves forward just to
get insulted, and make themselves ridiculous in the
sight of the nations of Europe. It is quite absurd
to entertain such a notion for a moment ; and,
indeed, there can be only one way of accounting
for the new turn which events have taken, and that
is to come to the conclusion that France is resolved
not to allow Prussia to have it all her own way. It
has long been observed that Prussia has become
very inimical to the French, and of course a war
with that Power would be popular in France.
Ever since the Dano-German war the feel-
ing has been augmenting, and the irrita-
tion and indignation then naturally excited by the
cruel and arbitrary conduct of the Germans has not
been allayed by subsequent events. There are no
sharper politicians than the French, and they per-
ceive that their so-called allies, but in reality most
insidious enemies, have been steadily pursuing their
way for some time, and are now about to reap the
fruits of their endeavours. No wonder, then, that
they should feel indignant and mortified at such
wanton acts, and that they should be quite willing
to make some sacrifices in order to insure
themselves immunity from the designs of so
crafty an opponent. As for the notion
that prevails in some parts that the French
EMPEROR will take a part or the whole of Belgium
for himself that is hardly likely, for several reasons,
and when he had perpetrated the act of injustice, he
would not be in reality much the gainer, because
the inordinate gains of Prussia would not be cir-
cumscribed. The French EMPEROR entertains be-
sides a great idea of the opinion of England, and it
would cause a feeling of great indignation over here
were the little kingdom of Belgium to be despoiled
in order to suit the views and pretensions of
the German despots. As for the great anxiety
which is said to prevail in Paris for the
complete unity of Germany, we do not see how
that can be true, for the French care very little for
such things at any time, and just now they are not
so enthusiastic about the Germans.

The Prussian Chambers have been occupied in
considering the bill of indemnity introduced by the
Minister of Finance, and he also asked the house to
authorise an expenditure for the current year of 154
millions. It seems altogether as if the Prussian Go-
vernment were in need of a large sum. When the
costs of this war come to be estimated no doubt
the Prussians will bitterly regret the lengths to
which their Government have gone in prosecuting
this costly and unnecessary war. The armistice
between Austria and Italy has at last been signed,
and for the present, at least, there is a cessation of
hostilities. Great efforts are being made in Schles-
wig to prevent the manifestation of any feeling
favourable to Denmark and adverse to Prussia, but
it is not likely that any one will be credulous
enough to believe that the inhabitants prefer the
tyrannous rule of Berlin. It is quite idle to put
any faith in these manifestoes and appeals : they
are made up for the purpose, and obtain
the concurrence of those whose interest or fear
induce them to acquiesce. The only difficulty that
has lately arisen in the peace negotiationsshaaids been
t
on the subject of Bavaria, and it is even
war may be renewed against that State
Really
affairs assume a more favourable aspect.
the arrogance of the Prussians knows no bounds,
and lamentable as war would be in many respects
it will be some consolation if France should come
forward and check the presumption of the Berlin
Government, which has become almost intolerable,
and threatens to interfere greatly with the interests
of Europe.

On the occasion of the recent visit of the Board of
Admiralty to the naval establishments at Chatham,
their Lordships had an interview with a deputation
representing shipwrights, joiners, sawyers, messen-
gers, labourers, and other workmen employed in the
dockyard, the members composing which laid before
the Board the inadequate pay given to the workmen
employed in that and the other public dockyards as
compared with the wages paid in private establish- 1
ments, and urging upon the Admiralty the justice
of their making a proportionate increase in the pay
of the workmen. Their lodships addressed several
questions to the deputation, and promised to give the
application their careful conzideratio.i.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, Tuesday Evening.
The Moniteur, in its bulletin, says—" The com-
mandants of the fortresses of Venetia, occupied by
the Austrian troops, have received orders to expedite

towards Vienna before the 25th inst. the moveable

war materials of the fortresses. The Venetian
political prisoners, who had been confined in the
fortresses, have already returned home to their
families. All the Italian portion of the Austrian
police has been dismissed with an indemnity of three
months pay. The surrender of Venetia to Italy,
through the mediation of France, it is foreseen will
take place shortly."
The Paris papers continue to discuss very ener-
getically the proposed change in the frontiers of the
Rhine. It seems to be understood that France
claims nothing more than the restitution of the
fortresses which belonged to her before 1789, and
-which complete the iron barrier of the celebrated
engineer Vauban, viz., Philippville, Marienbourg,
Sarrelouis, Landau, and perhaps Luxembourg.
It seems from the various details collected rela-
tive to the objects of the visit of the Empress Char-
lotte of Mexico to Paris that it comprises two essen-
tial points—politics and finance. The position is
simply this. Juarez, who is said to be always de-
feated, is still so powerful that the Emperor Maxi-
milian is not able to cope with him, or at all events
he does not consider his kingdom safe unless he be
completely overthrown. This cannot be done with-
out the assistance of France, and the Emperor
Maximilian not only begs the Emperor Napoleon not
to withdraw the French troops, but wants him to
send more. As there is likely to be a little bill to
provide for the current expenses in maintaining
Maximilian upon the throne, he also wants some
money, and earnestly desires the guarantee of
France for payment of a loan. It will be difficult
to achieve either of these objects, for France can
hardly gainsay. her declarations about the with-
drawalof her troops. As to money financial matters
on her own account require careful consideration.
So it is generally feared or believed that the Em-
press Charlotte will take nothing by her long
voyage to Franca, but will have to report a decided
failure to her husband. French intervention in
Mexico was never popular in France. To prolong
the duration of it would be to add another disagree-
able ingredient to the many already existing.
Politics, nay, everything, is forgotten in the an-

ticipation of the Emperor's fete to-morrow, which
will be the most splendid on record if (much virtue
in an if) the weather should be reasonably favour-
able, of which at the present writing there is little
hope. Like yesterday it has been dull, raining at
intervals, and not at all like one of the dog-days,
unless, indeed, it be described according to the old
English expression, by saying you would not turn
a dog out in such weather. In the provinces and
towards Switzerland the clerk of the weather has
made himself equally unpopular. There has been

snow on the Jura mountains, a circumstance almost
unprecedented at this season of the year. These
signs of unsettled weather are noticed at the Obser-
vatory. However, thousands upon thousands are
upon pleasure bent. Paris was hardly ever so full
of foreigners and provincialists. English visitors
form more than their accustomed proportion.
In the leading streets you hear almost as much
English spoken as French. The police records in
regard to pocket picking contain enough English
nomenclature to prove that the profession is abun-
dantly represented in Paris at the present time.
The fete will begin to-morrow. Cannon will an-
nounce at six o'clock in the morning that the joyous
occasion has commenced.

The Journal des Debats, in allusion to the article of
the Constitutionnel, which I mentioned yesterday,
relative to what is delicately termed the " rectifica-
tion" of the frontiers, hints that it spoke without
any authority. It is to be hoped that it will lead to
another " disavowal," which will at length induce
M. Paulin de Limayrac to send his promised
100,000 f. for the poor. A better season could not
be selected than the Emperor's fete.

The cholera is rather on the increase at Arles, in
the south of France. The average number of
deaths, however, at present is but four a day.
The Semaphore of Marseilles states that on the
night of the Bth of August, M. Stephen, the direc-
tor of the Observatory, discovered a new planet in
the constellation Capricornus. It has been more
clearly seen at Paris with better instruments. On
that occasion its night ascension was 20h. 52m. Ms.
23. Polar distance 106 deg. 43m. 575. 1. This
discovery makes the number of known planets
amount to 88.

The shooting season in the departments of the
Centre and North will commence on the Ist of
September' Paris is in the North.
It appears that at Berlin the partisans of annexa-

tion regret that Saxony is not incorporated with
Prussia. The Gazette du Potpie condemns the
" thirst for conquest which tends to parcel out Ger-
many. Some recommend annexation (it says) be-
cause the population ardently love Prussia ; whilst
others argue in favour of annexation because Prus-
sia is detested in the country."
Orders have been received at Cherbourg to enter
in the second category the transports Calvados,
Durane, Garonne, Nievre, and Gironde. The
Aveyron is completed, so that there will be six
powerful transports ready for sea.
The Journal de Bruxelles states that Prussia has
detailed a considerable force from the army of Bo-
hemia to march towards the Rhenish provinces.
This military movement is supposed to have refer-
ence to the proposals of France in regard to the
" rectification" of territory.
It is stated that a good business is now done in
toads, which are found very useful by farmers in
destroying vermin. In London toads are said to
fetch six shillings a dozen. In Paris the figure is
not so high, only about two shillings a dozen, and
what is curious is, that great numbers are now ex-
ported from France to England. I suppose people
believe in the truth of Shakspere's assertion that
the toad has a valuable jewel in his head.