The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-22 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 23, 1866.

and chiefs to the number of nearly a hundred, and.
about three hundred chiefs and nobles of lesser
note, with their attendants and retinue, and
with those who thronged to witness the splendid
affair, it may be easily imagined what a number
there was altogether.
The installation of the various knights and com-
panies of the Star of India was one of the chief
matters that occupied attention, and there was also
a grand entertainment given by the Maharajah of
Gwalior in honour of Sir JOHN LAWRENCE. Be-
tween the passing of these greater events there was
a constant succession of balls, races, &c. The
Viceroy delivered a speech in the purest vernacular,
was celebrated for its energy and_ decision, and
must have afforded considerable satisfaction to those
who heard him. In many respects this grand dis-
play may be considered a good thing ; it must have
tended to soften the asperities of feeling between
those who thus met in cordiality ; and the Oriental
character of the affair must inevitably have lent a
charm and an influence to the arrangements. Be-
sides, we must remember that there could not possi-
bly have been a better spot selected for the theatre
of a grand display of this nature. Agra is the
centre of the native powers of India, and Sir JOHN
LAWRENCE showed himself worthy of the occasion
when he selected such a spot for the sphere of his
operations.

The commencement of the session of the Ameri-
can Congress has certainly more than confirmed all
previous anticipations of the folly and extravagance
of the Radical party. These gentlemen are so well
convinced of their own administrative talent that
they are not content with reversing the legislation
of the past, and assuming the entire control of the
whole country in the present, but they have super-
fluous energy to spare for the direction of the future.
Their successors will not, they think, be
able to decide for themselves, and, accord-
ingly, the members of the next Congress
are to be bound by the actions of the present.
Perhaps Messrs. STEVENS, PHILLIPS, and Co., are
intolerant of any rival, and dislike the idea of their
dictation being put an end to. At any rate we
learn by the arrival of the Scotia, from New York
on the 12th, that the House of Representatives has
passed the bill excluding from the next Congress
the representatives from all States not -recognised
by the present Congress. This is really amusing.
It is quite a new doctrine of constitutional law that
one representative assembly is to be bound by the
actions of its predecessor. If it were carried out it
would very soon put an end to all legislative
reform, and would roll the tide of progress
and improvement backwards. It is nothing
more than a piece of unqualified and use-
less impertinence, since the next Congress will
only have to pass another bill reversing the deci-
sions of its meddlesome predecessor, but it is a fair
specimen of the arrogance and unwarrantableness
of the dominant party. It shows us, too, how much
the South has to expect from the Radicals, and how
little truth there was in the talk about the Consti-
tutional Amendment. It is quite evident that if
the Southern Legislatures had accepted it, and the
PRESIDENT made the concession demanded from him,
the Southern members would have been no nearer
the floor of Congress than they are now. 'lhereis one
consolation : the very dominance of the ultra-Radicals
in the present Congress will show them in their true
coloUrs to the people, and it is most probable that
the extravagance of their pretensions and the in-
tolerance of their tyranny towards the South will
disgust the sensible and moderate men of their party.
Without going over to the other extreme, the less
violent Radicals will probably join the moderate
Democrats, and form a strong party, who will yet
be able to save the country from discord and dis-
ruption. At the very first opening of the Congress
when THADDEUS STEVENS had the effrontery to pro-
pose
the postponement of the PRESIDENT'S Message,
to suit his party arrangements, the division which
took place showed that a number of his own fol-
lowers resented the unwarrantable assumption. We
sincerely trust that the same result may occur on
other occasions, since it is impossible that the whole
Radical party can be composed of reckless fanatics,
who are totally indifferent to the consequences to
their country, provided that their own theories are
carried out ; or of unscrupulous politicians, whose
only object is to secure the rule of the Congress, and
to turn the convulsions and divisions of the nation
to good account for themselves. The news
from Mexico tells us that a proclamation has been
issued at Vera Cru . declaring that MAximILIAN will
not abdicate. The Atlantic Telegraph brings us
intelligence to the same effect, adding that MAXI-
MILIAN himself has announced it. The EMPEROR,
we learn by the mail, has formed a strong alliance
with the Church party, securing important monetary
advantages. It is also stated that he has offered to
turn the Government over to MIRAMON, MARQUEZ,
and MARIN, and appeal to the popular vote to de-
cide upon
a new Government. Whatever his de-
signs be will find
it no easy task to carry them out
in the face of the opposition of the Americans; and
if they give, as they seem inclined to do, active
support to JUAREZ, MAXIMILIAN Will have a hard
struggle to keep his footing. The Republicans are
concentrating their forces for an attack upon San
Luis Potosi. General SHERMA' and Minister
CAMPBELL have arrived at Vera Cruz ; SHERMAN
has released Ortega and ordered the arrest of Gen.
SEDGWICK. Mexico is likely, in any shape, to give
trouble to the Americans for some time to come,
though, perhaps, the Government of the States will
not regret the distraction from home affairs.

It is one of the noticeable effects of advancing
progress in humanity and civilisation, aid in care
and thought for those who cannot help themselves,
that the condition of our pauper lunatics and imbe-
ciles has begun to occupy a good deal of attention.
It is not too soon, notwithstanding the great amelio-
ration which has taken place in the position of
these unfortunates of every class within the last
twenty or thirty years. Science has been brought
to bear upon their treatment, and the mingled
cruelty and cowardice of which they were in former
times the victims has been repressed by the strong
hand of the law, and checked by the enlightenment
of public opinion. The poor maniac who in former

times was condemned to chains and darkness is
now free, under watchful supervision, to enjoy the
light and air which are such potent influences for
good upon him. The garden, the gymnasium, the
pleasure ground, are most important elements in
the treatment of the lunatic, and if we shut him up
in a dull close room, his poor distracted mind has
nothing to sooth and divert it, but can only torment

itself. This is one of the great secrets in the im-
proved treatment of the lunatics and imbeciles
of our time. At E.Lrlswood the garden and the
farm have contributed greatly to the development
of the stunted faculties of the boys, and at most of
our large public asylums there is provision made for
out-door recreation. Some time ago, when it was
proposed to remove Bethlehem Hospital from its
present site, it was urged that there was not suffi-
cient space for the patients out of doors, and cer-
tainly this necessity should be borne in mind in
connection with the building or enlargement
of every establishment of the kind. It is
in this respect that the case of pauper

lur macs is often very bad. A large proportion of
the are inmates of our workhouses, residences in
every way unfitted for them. With the best and
kinkiest of management, there is in such institutions
no provision for the proper care of such sufferers,
kir sufferers they are, and as such they should be
treated. The great prevalence of epilepsy and
oti her diseases, producing continual fits among the
poor, gives rise also to another class of sufferers,
(those who gradually get worse under unfavourable
treatment, and end their days either insane or im-
becile. What chance has any of these invalids of
recovering health of mind or body, kept constantly
in one ward, without any soothing or cheering in-
fluence, under the constraint, perhaps, of a violent
tempered pauper nurse, surrounded by others in
different stages of illness, disturbed at night by the
fits of the other inmates, the only break in the
weary round of weeks and months being the arrival
of a fresh sufferer or the departure of one of the sad
company to the lunatic asylum or the grave. Yet
such is the life to which hundreds in this metropolis
are yearly condemned. The governess, the servant,
the workman, whose health breaks down from such
causes, and whose relatives are unable to support
them, have no other resource. Even if they could
pay for lodgings, they could not pay for the attend-
mice they require. The few hospitals that would
accommodate them are more than full, they must
enter the wards of the parish workhouse, to lead the
life we have described, and too often ultimately to
swell the list of pauper lunatics.
Those who are actually insane when they enter
the wards set apart for their reception suffer pro-
bably less in mind, but their chances of recovery
are very much diminished. Such an ailment de-
mands the highest medical skill, the kindest care,
the most incessant watchfulness. Workhouses were
never intended to meet such cases. They were de-
signed for the able-bodied destitute who could bear
rough treatment and the coarest of food rather than
run the risk of absolute starvation, and it is un-
fair to suppose that the system, worked at its best,
would meet the exigencies of mental and physical
sufferers. Yet the annual statistics of pauper in-
sanity show that the number of insane paupers
chargeable to the poor rates in England and Wales
on the Ist of January last was 39,918, of whom
29,674 were lunatics and 10,244 idiots, and 9,973
of these were in workhouses. The total number
constitutes 4.3 per cent. of the number of persons
in receipt of relief ; and it is noticeable that the
usual statistics of insanity are reversed, and the
proportion of females is much larger than of males ;
17,437 are males, 22,390 females, the remainder not
being distinguished. The loneliness and hardship
of the lives of many women perhaps accounts for
this. ILis known that domestic servants form a
large proportion of our insane paupers, a fact which
suggests something wrong in our household eco-
nomy; but whatever the predisposing causes, it is
certain that there is a large number of these suf

ferers, male and female lunatics, who have no chance
of recovery ; idiots and imbeciles, who have no
chance of improvement under the present system.
Yet even on the score of economy such an arrange-

ment is very shortsighted, because the paupers are
kept a burden on the rates, when by improved treat-

ment they might possibly recover the use of their facul-
ties. Some of our large metropolitan workhouses have
latterly adopted the wise plan of sending some of

their afflicted inmates to the country; that is to say,
to those suburban districts where fresh air and exer-

cise can be allowed them without danger to them

selves or inconvenience to others. When the whole
question of our workhouses and their infirmaries
comes, as it must do, under the consideration of

Parliament, we hope that special attention will be
paid to this branch of the subject. Such patients
should surely have the same advantages of Govern-

went inspection which those in places like Hanwe

or Bethlehem possess. ghey cannot care for them-
selves ; they cannot even plead their own cause.
The State, which undertakes their provision and
maintenance, is therefore bound to care for them.

They have a right to kindness and care,:and to every
chance which they can have of recovery. Such a

right is readily acknowledged on all hands, and our
large asylums are strictly inspected, though with
the efficient organisation, and the able and experi-

enced medical staff of such establishments, it is very

probable that they could much better dispense with
it than the workhouse insane paupers. There should
be in different parts of the country public institu-

tious adapted for the cure of all affected in mind
who are unable to support themselves, and whose

friends are unable to keep them. The cost would

not be great, but the amount of suffering relieved

would be immense. It would be well also if the case

of the inmates of what are generally known as the
" fit wards" was also considered, and practical

philanthropists endeavoured to discover some better

means of dealing with those who, through no faul
of their own, are thrown upon the public charity.

THE EXTINCTEuR.—The day before yesterday a
series of most successful experiments, to show the power
and capability of this comparatively new and highly useful
invention, was given at the White Lion Grounds, Hackney-
wick. Captain Shaw, the chief of the Metropolitan Fire
Brigade, Superintendent Mitchell, and the Chief Engineer
of the Kilburn Volunteer Fire Brigade, Mr. Hamblin of
the Southwark Bridge Station, several directors of the
large insurance companies, and a number of scientific gen-
tlemen, were present, and, judging from the expres-
sion of their approbation, the experiments must have
both astonished and entirely satisfied them of
the importance of the Extinctour in cases of
the sudden outbreak of fire. The Extinctour is a very
simple yet powerful machine. it consists of a small vessel
hermetically closed, holding from two to three gallons
charged with a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and tar-
taric acid. By this means a pressure is obtained 'within
the machine of from 451bs. to 601b5., consequently by
turning a handle a stream of the liquid is projected by the
mere force of the pressure to a distance of some 30 feet,
acting in the same manner as the hand pump, while at
the same time such an amount of carbonic acid gas is
evolved as completely extinguishes the strongest flame.
Ono of the experiments of yesterday was really marvellous.
A large wooden tray, some 12 or I.4ft. square, was covered
with pitch, tar, oil, petroleum, and other inflammable
materials,
and on being set fire to a body of flame rose
some 20 or 25 feet high. But upon a small jot of the
composition from the Extinctour being thrown on it, the
fire was completely extinguished in about a couple of mi-
nutes, whereas it was stated by those practically versed in
the extinction of fires that if water had boon applied it
could only have had the effect of spreading it. An extem-
porised staircase was also set on fire, and blazed away at a
great rate until a jet of the composition was thrown on it,
when it was reduced at once to a piece of charred wood.
In like manner a sort of outhouse, stuffed with shavings
and tarred barrels, was ignited, and produced a fearful
body of flame, which, however, was just as easily extin-
guished. The possession of such a machine as the Ex-
tincteur on board ship must be invaluable, and fortunately
this opinion is established by some of the largest owners
whose vessels all carry them. Many a valuable ship has
gone to the bottom of the sea, and every soul on board
perished through the absence of ready means of extinguish-
ing fire, but with an Extinctour on board the dreadful cala-
mity might have been avoided. In warehouses, too, the
machine would be a great protective agent, because on the
outbreak of the it can be instantly caught up and used suc-
cessfully by any person. Mr. Casper, the licenser of the
patent, was present, and frankly admitted that where out-
side assistance became necessary the Extincteur was power-
less, but at the commencement of a fire in a store-room or
private dwelling its efficiency could be depended on, and
the experiments proved such to be the case beyond the
possibility of doubt.
An old minister enforced the necessity of 'minion
by argument. " Now, if everybody had been of my opi-
nion, they would all have wanted my old woman." One
of the deacons who sat just behind him responded—" Yes,
and if everybody was of my opinion, nobody would have
her."

" Garibaldi," says the Tempo of Venice, " has
just informed an inhabitant of this city, M. Zucchini, who
had offered the general the accommodation of an apart-
ment on the Piazza San Marco, that he has not as yet
come to any decision respecting a Visit to Venice."