The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-24 00:00:00

Massacre of the Innocents.

The following lamentable details are vouched for
by the Paris correspondent of the Morning Star :
" A subject of deep interest is now being discussed
at the Academy of Medicine to which I have already
alluded—namely, the frightful mortality among
French children according to the fashion of this
country put out to nurse. Every year 20,000 babies
are sent out of Paris under the care of peasant
nurses, and of that number 5,000 on an average are
returned to their mothers, the other 15,000 having
died of cold, starvation, and bad treatment. Since
1816 it has been calculated that in the neighbour-
hood of Paris alone 300,000 of these nurslings have
died in the hands of their foster mothers. 'Why
should such barbarous murder be allowed to depo-
pulate the country ? It is entirely owing to the bad
management of the bureaux de nourrices over which
Government has not till uow exercised a proper
amount of surveillance. Theseoffices receive indis-
criminately every woman who applies at them for
employment. A frightful trade is carried ou by
speculators of the lowest class, denominated
meneurs, who enrol countrywomen in their pay,
convey them to Paris in carts justly
called " purgatories," obtain for them babies
whose mothers have applied at the offices for a
nurse for their child, and convey them and the chil-
dren back to the country. The horrors that take
place during the journey to Paris and back in the
vehicle of the meneur are of so startling a nature
that one could hardly believe them to be true were
it not for the undoubted proofs which have been
laid before the Academy of Medicine. Thus the
countrywomen make no scruple in exchanging the
babies entrusted to them, and several among them
undertake to nurse two or three children at a time.
' I have seen,' exclaimed M. Chevalier, addressing
the Academy, one woman professing to nurse seven
infants, and yet she herself had neither milk nor a
cow.' Fed with bad broth, exposed to every species
of dirt and neglect, the miserable infant sickens and
dies. 'The nurse, however, writes to its mother that
her baby is prospering, that it had grown out of its
clothes, and required a fresh supply. The mother
naturally spends her month's wages in supplying
her child's wants, and goes on paying its board for
months after it has been lying in the village ceme-
tery. A considerable number of nurses come an-
nually to Paris and carry, back a supply of children,
and not one has ever been known to bring
a child back to the capital. In their charge
the children simply appear and disappear. Dr.
Brochard cited in his speech to the Academy
two communes of the Euro et Loire Depart-
ment where the nurslings invariably die. It appears
there are women among the nurses whose reputation
is well known, and, horresco referens, these nurses
are specially sought for by certain ill-famed houses.
Entrusting a new-born infant to one of them is tan-
tamount to infanticide. Dr. Brochard read several
copies of the lying letters written by nurses to the
children's parents, describing in pathetic language
the rosy cheeks and increasing charms of their in-
efants, dead weeks before the epistle was indited.
These horrible facts are highly discreditable to the
mayors of the various villages where these infants
are nursed. Naturally, if M. le Maire, instead of
cultivating his apricots and peaches, and gaining
prizes at agricultural shows for his fat pigs, was to
look sharp after the extraordinary number of little
graves in his village cemetery, and insist on medical
reports as to the cause thereof being laid before him,
infant mortality would rapidly diminish. Messieurs
les Maires will probably read this opinion from the
pens of their respective prefects, expressed in a some
what startling forM, as once the French Govern
ment takes up a subject it does not trifle with

and undoubtedly possesses the rare gift of making
tself obeyed.

SUFFERINGS OF E3IIGRANTS.—NOBLE CONDUCT
OF A CATHOLIC PRIEST.—The Pall-Mall Gazette
recently remarked as follows :—" Those who calculated on
getting their voyages over before the equinoctial gales
began must this year be grievously disappointed. The
worst of it is that at sea cold weather seems no protection
against cholera, while the prostration and fear caused by
much sea-sickness predispose people to au attack. Thus
the England, starting from Liverpool on the 28th of last
March, and meeting very rough and-cold weather, lost 40C
out of the 1,200 Irish and Germans whom she had on board.
The Roman Catholic priest who buried most of these
poor creatures, and who caught the cholera himself, gives
a very sad account of the voyage ; eight, ten, fifteen dying
a day, and slid over the gunwale amid the shrieks of the
survivors. At Halifax they were put under tents on an
island a mile out. Here the dead used to be found lying
about with crows far too busy over them. The snow, too,
was aid deep ; and many of those who had escaped cholera
got terribly frost-bitten. Ono Danish girl, who had lost
father, mother, three sisters and two brothers, became a
cripple for life. The only relieving feature in the sad
story is the self-devotion of this young priest, Father
Martin. Officers and passengers joined in signing an
address to him, testifying their deep appreciation of the
way in which he had risked his life when cholera raged as
a plague on board, striking almost all with panic,' while
they were in Quarantine Bay, New York, the Virgini
came in, having lost 250 on the voyage. They had no
priest on board, so Mr. Martin divided his services between
the two ships, and went on working till the quarantine
was over, when the reaction came, and he had to .go sick
into the hospital. Altogether, it is such a tale of suffer-
ing and noble sell-devotion as has rarely been put on
record."

THE MURDER IN SL. GlLES'S.—Jeffreys, who was
found guilty on Thursday of the murder of his child,
immediately after being sentenced to death admitted the
crime, and he has since made full confess:on of all the
circumstances connected with the horrible offence. He had
before the month of July intended to destroy the life of his
child, thinking that it would be the means of relieving him
from the miserable feeling he entertained as to its paternity,
and he took him away from his grandmother on the night
of the 29th of July. He was well acquainted with the cellar
in Neale's-passage, knowing its loneliness, and that access
could be had to it at any hour of the night. He had made
all the arrangements in his own mind how to obtain
the child from the custody of his grandmother, and
he resolved upon going to the house of his sister. £irectly
after he left his sister's house he proceeded to the cellar. It
was then the dead at the night, between 2 and 3 o'clock.
The poor child was very much frightened, and while he
was looking for a fit place to carry out' his horrible design
the child fainted and became perfectly insensible, and as he
was in that condition he placed the rope, which he had
taken with him for the purpose, round the child's neck and
hung him up to the post of the cistern. This statement of
the prisoner confirms the evidence of Mr. Hervey, the sur-
geon, who made a post mortem examination of the deceased,
and who expressed an opinion that, although the death of
the deceased was attributable to suffocation by hanging, he
was in a state of insensibility from some cause or other be-
fore he was hanged. On Saturday morning the sheriffs
informed the prisoner that the day fixed for his execution
was Tuesday, October 9. The prisoner heard tho fatal
announcement with the same coolness that has characte-
rised him all along. He should be quite prepared, andwas
glad that ha would be so soon out of his misery.

THE ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.—The report that
honours are about to be conferred upon some of
thoso who have shared in tho successful completion of the
Atlantic Telegraph is well-founded, and the interest which
her Majesty has expressed in the undertaking will be
manifested in an enduring way. The delay which is
taking place arises from an excellent reason, and we are
sure that no one will complain of it when we say that it is
for the purpose of ascertaining to whom honour is more
particularly due. It would be a pity if the highest forms
of skill and energy brought to bear upon so grand a work
were passed by in favour of the more capitalist, and we
have little difficulty in predicting that Mr. Canning and
Captain Anderson, as the representatives of those qualities
which should especially be associated with a mark of royal
favour, will find their daims regarded as they deserve.—
Sunday Gazette.
THE SWIMMERS' ST. LEGER.—This event is to come
off to-night in the Lambeth swimming bath ; the race being,
for the captaincy of the London Swimming Club. The fa-
vourites, Henry Gurr, the Champion of England, and David
Pamplin, swam a dead heat in each of their latest races
Both swim with marvellous dexterity, the little champion's
celerity as he bores through the water with his peculiar
screw• stroke having earned for him the sobriquet of
" The Flying Fish," while Pamplin, from the remarkable
combination of grace and swiftness in his beautiful side-
stroke, is called the " Scudding Seal." Each is very young
to have attained such pro. eminence in swimming prowess,
Gurr being but 19, while his formidable rival is even two
years younger. A few noted amateur swimmers are to con-
tend with them for mastery—Daniel J. Hoss (champion o
Coventry), Wm. Adams, and Henry Moore (the winner off
Sir Wm. Fraser's gold medal). There will likewise be seve-
ral prizes for public competition, and a contest for thecap-
taincy of the new swimming club, started in connection
with the German Gymnastic Society, whose amateur band
will play a selection from the best masters. In addition to
the racing there will be adiving competition, and a display
of scientific swimming by Professor Beckwith, Mr. B.
Nowlands, and several other eminent masters of natation
The sports are to commence precisely at 8 o'clock, and a.
detailod program:no will be presented to %toll Tisitor.,

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' Millar

HER MAJESTY.

1.- -

BALMORAL, Sept. 22.

The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise,
Princess Beatrice, and Prince Arthur, drove yes-
terday to Loch Bulig.

Prince and Princess Christian went out driving
in the afternoon.

Drury Lane Theatre.

The winter season of this theatre, now under
the sole management and direction of Mr. F.
B. Chatterton, commenced most auspiciously on
Saturday evening. During the recess the whole
of the interior has been thoroughly renovated,
and the house now presents an appearance of
the utmost splendour. The company secured by
the manager is remarkably strong, and embraces
the names of Mr. Phelps, Mr. Barry Sullivan, Mr.
Swinbourne, Mr. T. Powrie (from Edinburgh); Mr.
H. Talbot (from the provinces), the brothers Webb,
Miss Helen Faucit, and Mrs. Hermann Vezin, for
dramatic performances, and Mr. H. Drayton,
Mdlle. Jenny Baur, Miss Poole, and, we believe,
Mr. Sims Reevesfor ballad opera. Such a combina-
tion of talent at once shows the determination of
Mr. Chatterton to carry on his season with the utmost
spirit, and from the overflowing state of the house on
the opening night we augur confidently with complete
and perfect success. The entertainments selected
for the inauguration of the season were Shakspere's
tragedy of " King John" and the " Comedy Of
Errors," in the former of which two important altera-
tions in the cast have taken place since its revival
at the termination of last season. Mr. Barry Sulli-
van, in place of Mr. Anderson, sustains the part of
Falconbridge, and Mrs. Hermann Vezin succeeds
Miss Atkinson in that of Constance. The imper-
sonation of the character of King John by Mr.
Phelps is too well known and too highly appreciated
to need any comment further than to say that on
Saturday evening it was given with that mas-
terly elocutionary power that has placed Mr.
Phelps at the head of the dramatic
profession. Mr. Barry Sullivan's Falconbridge was
a praiseworthy performance. Many of his objec-
tionable mannerisms have been toned down by his
visit to Australia, and although his portrayal of the
part lacked that dignity and polish with which the
late Charles Kemble invested it, yet it was played
with a spirit and judgment that calls for the highest
praise. Few, we believe, were prepared for the great
performance of Mrs. H. Vezin as Constance. Every
one was quite certain that the character would be
given with touching pathos and tenderness, but the
grand bursts of passion that take place in the third
act came upon the audience with such surprise as to
elicit a perfect hurricane of applause. The closing
speech, however, perfectly carried the audience
away, and applause succeeded applause only to be
renewed with tenfold vigour. It was a perfect
triumph of dramatic art, and before the action of
the tragedy was allowed to proceed, Mrs. Vezin had
to re-appear and bow her thanks for the universal
applause her splendid acting had called forth. Mr.
Swinbourne, as Hubert, also came in for great
honours, and Master Percy Roselle, as Prince
Arthur, divided with him the giant's share of the
applause bestowed on the fourth act. The other
characters were all very effectively given, and

he scenery, dresses, and picturesque group-

ing made the representation of the tragedy
one of the best ever placed upon the
stage. At the conclusion of the tragedy the
applause was extraordinary, and to comply with the
repeated calls Mr. Chatterton had to appear and
personally acknowledge the hearty manifestations
for his success in his new character as sole lessee
and manager. The National Anthem was succeeded
by the " Comedy of Errors," in which the Brothers
Charles and Henry Webb appeared as the two
Dromios, and the peculiar resemblance they bore to
each other rendered their performance amusing in
the highest degree.

We congratulate Mr. Chat ter ton on the prosperous
commencement of his season, and wish him a con-
tinuance of it to its close.

" RACHEL'S SECRET." By the Author of " The
Master of Marton.", 3 Volumes.—" Whoever takes up
the first of these delightful volumes is sure to read thorn
all, and to retire from their perusal with a pleasing remem-
brance of a deeply interesting story, artistically and power-
fully wrought. Thy'' style of the work is perspicuous
exceedingly, characterised by scholarly accuracy, rhetori-
cal taste, and genius for description of no common order.
The reader will not have to travel far in the first volume
without meeting with some of the most delightful delinea-
tions of scenery, individuals, and incidents. There are
few writers who have equalled in descriptive talent the
author of 'Rachel's Secret.' "—Morning Post.
EXPLORATION OF A GROTTO IN THE ALPS.-011

the flank of the Maritime Alps, near the village of
Castiglione, has long been known an opening in the face
of the rock, giving entrance to a vast grotto. To approach
this there was no road or path, and yet it showed evident
traces that the hand of man had modified the work of
nature. Some short time since three Englishmen deter-
mined to make an attempt at exploring it, and, taking ad'
vantge of the fissures and projections of the rock, one °f
them reached the opening, and, lowering a cord, assisted
the two others to mount. In the middle of the grotto
they found a large circular hole, and one of
them, attaching the rope to himself, descended. At the
depth of about 40 yards he landed in another large cave,
but, as in the former case, with the circular aperture in the
centre. Determined to continue his exploring, he was
obliged to get one of his friends to descend to the second
cave to lower him to the third, which being done, he found
at a depth of about 60 yards a repetition of the circuni"
stances, but was prevented from descending any farther, at;
the cord was not long enough, and they then returned iu
the same manner to their companion in the first grotto
This cavern is supposed to have served as a resting place
to the hordes of Saracens who in remote ages ravaged the
Mediterranean coasts.

AN ACTOR STABBING .HIMSELF ON THE STAGE'

—During the performance of the drama of 4, The Greer'
Hills of the Far West," at Middlesbro' theatre, last
week, one of the performers, named Edwin Harris, sue;
tamed a severe injury. He imp ersonated the character of
Jonathan Marston, the villain of the piece, and whilst in
the act of, stabbing himself at the close of the drama thAe
knife accidentally entered the upper part of his thigh, an
inflicted a deep gash. He is in a very precarious state,
symptoms of inflammation having shown themselves.
LETTERS, &C., FOR AUSTRlA.—lnformation 1135
been received from the Austrian Post-office that the postal
communication with Austria, via Belgium and Prussia'
which was interrupted during the late war, has now been
re-established, and, consequently, letters, newspapers'
printed papers and patterns or samples of merchanclie,,
,"
addressed to the Austrian Provinces or that City of Bel-
grade, or to the places in Turkey, Moldavia, Wallachia'
or the Levant, at which Austria maintains post-offices,
will no longer be forwarded exclusively by the route
France, but will be sent according to the regulations itt
force previous to June last.—By command of the I"l2st-
master-General.—General Post-office, Sept. 24, 1866.
The trade in roses, as is well known, is of COO:
derable importance in France. Rose trees are cultivate' '
in different parts of the country in open fields, just as tut-
nips or cabbages. Thus, there are 500,000 rose trees /le°
Orleans ; 200,000 near Metz ; 1,000,000 near Augell'i;
1,500,000 near Lyons; 2,000,000 near Paris ; and 2,000,00
in the 13 communes of Brie-Comte-Robert. The varfetei:
called Rose-The, the Bourbon, and Mousseuse llout`s
particularly in the environs of Paris and Orleans.
THE REVENUE RETURNS.—We have good reno9tirS
for anticipating that the revenue returns for the quarter
which will terminate next Sunday will show an increase
of more than half a million as compared with those of t'11:
correspanding quarter of 1865. The fact is eminently sat;
factory, for though our present rate of taxation is neerT,
the same as it was last year, some of the income tax ceto
looted in the quarter referred to was upon the higher
of duty in existence up to April of that year. No d,0u,,,,j;
coming returns will show a diminution under this heao,,:io
it will not be as large as we might have expected. of
item of stamps, of course, will be affected by the stet:iito
commercial affairs, and under this head we shall „rd
find a falling off. But, as we may gather from the pc''' .
df Trade returns, the customs will exhibit a substantr:.
increase, probably not far short of a quarter of a
The excise, not yet affected by the bad harvest, alstio
no doubt, show an increased yield, quite neutralising to
falling off in the income-tax. The item of miscellaneevie
will, too, be much more than usually prolific, and, es,ess
have said, the net increase will be substantially in 81',-o lf..
of half a million. The state of the accounts for the ha
year and year can scarcely be expected to be so fay."
in proportion, as they tire affected by the reduction od,
taxation made in April, 1865, which, it will be recollect
Mr. Gladstone expected would have a material effect 1,19
the yield of the present as well as of the last financial 9°‘,.
—4lolClay Gazette.

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