The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-10 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 10, lE€6.

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 10, 1866.

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The Conservatives have put forward a very for-
midable candidate for the borough of Tiverton, in
the person of Sir JOHN HAY, who has started on
his canvas with fair prospect of success. We should
certainly be very glad to see the hon. baronet once
more in the House, although it will be an evil day
for the idlers and spendthrifts of the Admiralty
when they see him there. Sir JOHN HAY has already
done the country good service both afloat and
ashore, and his strictures on the mismanagement so
frequently lamentably perceptible in our naval
affairs have often done effectual good. It is very
awkward to deal with a censor who knows your
business -better than you do, and not less so in a
Parliamentary skirmish than elsewhere. In concert
with an efficient and independent colleague, Sir
JAMES ELPHINSTONE, Sir JOHN HAY kept a sharp
watch over official proceedings, and these two gen-
tlemen were mainly instrumental in carrying the
reform in the dock arrangements at Malta. The
Government refused to believe in the superiority of
the French Creek, and, on the plea of some entangle-
ment with the Maltese Government, they were
apparently determined to spend the public
money in constructing an elaborate dock in the
wrong place, in a position which was naturally
inferior, and two miles from the scene of action. A
naval officer having brought forward a motion
respecting the Malta dock, Sir JOHN HAY and Sir
JAMES ELPHINSTONE supported it strenuously, and
finally the representations induced the Duke of
SOMERSET to visit Malta himself during the summer
holidays, when the true state of the case became
immediately apparent, and the French Creek was
selected for the dock. Again, with regard to Cap-
tain COLES'S turret ships, which have of late years
attracted so much attention. Sir J. HAY insisted
that the system was entitled to a fair trial, though
it was looked upon coldly at the Admiralty. In
other matters connected with our naval administra-
tion he has stood boldly forward, being always on
the side of economy and efficiency combined, neither
favouring a lavish expenditure of public money 011
needless alterations, nor supporting a superficial
economy, which only looks to the fact of paying
out less money, without inquiring whether the work
be well done and the efficiency of the service pro-

perly kept up.
As a naval reformer, then, Sir JOHN BAY has a
good claim on the suffrag...s of Tiverton, or, indeed,
of any borough in which there are taxpayers who
contribute to the millions expended annually on
our armaments, men of common sense who object
to seeing money lavishly spent on what is, after all,
not well done, and Englishmen who pride them-
selves on the naval power and influence of their

country. On general politics Sir JOHN HAY gave
his opinions freely and straightforwardly enough.
He is not a very hearty Reformer, although he ap-
proves of the lodger franchise as wise and prudent,
observing very justly that there are numbers of per-
sons of intelligence and means living in clubs and
lodgings who are now presented fora exercising an

undoubted right. But of the great masses slowly
struggling up to political standing, the thousands
who take a keen interest in public affairs, and
whose well-being is closely affected by legisla-
tion, who are chafing under a sense of injustice
which no wise statesman will foster—of these Sir
J OEN evidently thinks but little. It is not perhaps
fair to look to a member of the naval or mili-
tary professions for advanced views in this
respect. It is natural to officers who
have been long in command to look first
to discipline and subordination, to regard, in-
deed, the welfare and comfort of those beneath
them as an imperative duty, but to treat them
politically as children, whose affairs can be better
managed for them than they can manage them for
themselves. But the strictest and most watchful
parent finds it necessary to relax his vigilance as his
son grows to manhood, and to allow him free action
even at the cost of buying his own experience,
lest, by attempting to rein him in too long, he drive
him to throw off restraint altogether, and effect the
ruin of both. It is in this spiritthat temperate men of
all parties unite in admitting the 'necessity for a con-
siderable extension of the franchise, satisfied that
the time has now come when the intelligent and
educated members of the working classes may fairly
claim the right to judge for themselves, at least so
far as to elect a representative of their opinions.
In Tiverton itself Sir JonN HAY was not likely to
meet with many dissentients when he opposed the
scheme for disfranchising the small constituencies,
for Tiverton would not be likely to escape the gene-
ral doom if it returned two Conservatives.

On the subject of national education, Sir JOHN
HAY spoke strongly, and commented upon the con-
dition of the uneducated classes as so great an evil
that, to a certain extent, he was inclined to advocate
compulsory education as practised abroad. Much as
he desired economy, he could not, he said, support
the theory that the sum which we spent annually on
education should not be allowed to increase. "We
were spending," he said, "no less than £25,000,000
a-year on our army and naval defences. Surely,
then, a bare million a-year was far too little to
spend on so important a matter as education." Pass-
ing from the moral to the physical condition of the
country, Sir JOHN strenuously supported sani-
tary reform ; and, alluding to the threatened
visitation of the cholera, he expressed his con-
viction that it was the duty of Parliament to urge
forward active measures for the cleanliness and
improvement of the towns for the repression of £he
disease. The Home Office should, he thought, urge
upon the various metropolitan bodies the necessity
of promptitude and vigilance, so that London might,
if possible, be prevented from becoming the head-
quarters of cholera. We hope that the hon. baronet,
if he succeeds in obtaining his seat, will press this
important matter upon the attention of the Govern-
ment, since epidemics do not proceed with the lei-
surely routine fashionable in Circumlocution offices.
If not much of a reformer, so far as the representa-
tive system is concerned, Sir JOHN HAY is a genuine
and consistent reformer of abuses which come
within his ken, and as such we wish him good speed
in his canvassing, and hope he will have an oppor-
tunity of renewing his practical and well-directed
labours towards securing the efficiency of our naval
administration.

Mr. JOHN FOWLER delivered an inaugural address
on assuming the chair of the Institution of Civil
Engineers, which was both instructive and interest-
ing. The President appropriately commenced by
referring to the great and growing importance of
the profession, which naturally called for increased
zeal and efficiency. The chief incentive in the eyes
of many will be the fact, here mentioned, of the
rapid strides which continental nations are making,
and also the States of the New World, in the de-
partment of engineering. Much has been done, but
much more is called for by the growing requirements
of commerce and society. "We have ship canals,'
says the Professor, " but the Suez Canal
threw them all into the shade ; we have long tun-
nels through English mountains, but we have none
to penetrate the Alps ; we have noble ports, but
they are choked with trade, and new accommoda-
tion of an improved kind is called for." The uni-
versal extension of telegraphic communication will
also be rendered necessary, and therefore there is
every reason for the new President to declare that
it will take time and thought to effect these schemes
and perfect these plans. A stroke of ge thus, or a
sudden happy thought, can never achieve such
stupendous results as these stretched before
us. In order to attain these desirable ends
it is absolutely imperative that there should be
special efforts made, and that a combination
should take place between sound judgment and
true engineering principles.

Very true was the remark made by the Presi-
dent, that this age has witnessed the fact of " Civil
Engineering becoming a distinct and recognised
profession." Before this century many clever men
had appeared at intervals, but at the same time only
isolated and apart, and the subject did not engross
and occupy so much time and notice. It has now,
to use the earnest and expressive words here met
with, " assumed at once the position of an art of
the highest order, and perhaps without extravagance
it might lay claim to the title of a true science."
Those who are partially ignorant of the matter will,
doubtless, be annoyed, upon perusing this speech,
to find how numerous and varied are the tasks en-
trusted to the Civil Engineer. They aro aptly
summarised here, and speak volumes as to the care
and skill required in the training of those who are
to serve in the ranks of this profession. It is of
great consequence that young engineers should per-
fect themselves in all departments, in order that
they may be prepared to meet any emergencies that
may arise, and only thus can they hope or expect to
obtain success in their careers and to do credit to
themselves and their profession. The Professor, in
the course of his speech, hinted at the kind of pre-
paration which was most required, and such he
enumerated as, first, general instruction and a libe-
ral education ; next, special education ; third, tech-
nical knowledge ; and, fourthly, preparation for
conducting practical works. This address may be
confidently recommended to the notice of all those
who are concerned intimately in this subject, and
to those to whom it was specially delivered it was
most valuable advice, and contained useful hints.

Yesterday the committee formed in the City of
London for the administration of the fund sub-
scribed for the relief of the Lancashire operatives at
the period of the cotton famine met at the Mansion
'louse for the purpose of winding up and disposing
of the surplus money. This committee was first
put in motion in 1862, and has, therefore, lasted
over three successive mayoralties, extending into a
fourth. Since the period of its formation the sums
subscribed have been very considerable, and the
total amount was £528,720. It is very satisfac-
tory in perusing this statement to reflect upon the
great liberality displayed towards the distressed
districts. A large proportion of the sums sub-
scribed came from abroad ; all the quarters of the
world contributed to the aggregate. The corre-
spondence requisite necessitated many thousand
letters, for wherever Englishmen w.re assembled
they were eager and ready to send tLeir tribute of

sympathy and their offering to those in need. Not
only from those parts where large numbers congre-
gated did the contributions come, but from almost
every place where " half-a-dozen Englishmen ap-
peared to be located together, from municipalities,
chambers of commerce, regiments, ships, single in-
dividuals, and several settlements in the Backwoods."
It is also satisfactory to add that from time to time
the accounts of the funds were gratuitously audited
by the eminent public accountants, Messrs. COLE-
MAN, TURQUAND, YOUNGS, and Co., and also that
the vast quantities of clothing, blankets, and flannel
contributed during the first winter of the distress
were gratuitously forwarded to their destinations in.
the North by the two great Northern railways.
" Thus," said the Secretary, in concluding his re-
port, "by the great liberality of the public, and the
self-imposed labours of the committee, upwards of
half a million of money, and a vast quantity of
clothing and blankets, had from first to last been
remitted to the distressed cotton districts." This is
certainly a gratifying termination to the labours of
the committee, and they may rejoice to reflect upon
the great good which they have done in rendering
the liberality of the public conducive to the relief
and the preservation of those in distress.
The next subject considered was how to dispose
of the surplus at the bankers, which was £9,600.
Mr. W. MORLEY called attention to the wretched
condition of the dwellings of the poor in the City of
London, whieh he rightly called a disgrace to a
Christian land, and he moved that the surplus be
transferred to the Lord Mayor for the time being,
as a nucleus of a much larger fund that might
hereafter be collected for the erection of better
houses for the working classes in the City. He
added that the Corporation would contribute, in all
probability, one hundred thousand pounds towards
such a fund, if they were once certain that the
money would be properly expended. Mr. LEGGETT
declared that they had no right to divert any por-
tion of a fund placed in their hands for a " special
purpose ;" but, if they had any such right, it would
be better to expend the balance in reinstating the
" thousands in Lancashire in furniture, bed-
ding, and clothes, which they were obliged
to part with during the pressure of
their distress." The Chairman of the Commit-
tee and the majority of it were strongly of opinion
that, as trustees, they had no right to dispose of
the sum subscribed for a great emergency in any
other way, and therefore it was resolved that the
surplus be funded for the present, and its disposal
left as a matter for future consideration under
" proper legal advice." This appears to be a deci-
sion much to be regretted, and surely no tenable
argument can be adduced against the plan of de-
voting the surplus to the reinstating of the opera-
tives of Lancashire, because the money was actually
intended for the relief of the inhabitants of that district
and they still feel the effects of the fearful ordeal
through which they passed. The fact is that
people
.may make great mistakes if they try to be
too exact, and it is quite possible to err on the safe
side as well as on the rash one. In Liverpool the
death rate is very high, and too much time and
money cannot be expended in improving the dwell-
ings of the working classes. The common sense
and good feeling of the Committee are far more
likely to suggest appropriate modes for the distri-
bution of the balance in hand than any legal
authorities will do, for in abiding by the letter of
the law they will be very apt to lose sight of the
spirit which animated the donors.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

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(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Tuesday Evening.

Although the latest despatches and official com-
munications from Madrid state that tranquillity
exists there and " order reigns" in that capital, a
very uneasy sensation prevails in Paris, which, of
course, :influences the transactions at the Bourse.
People reflect that even if the insurrection be put
down, Madrid is in a state of siege, and Saragossa
also ; a fact which is not very tranquillising. The
private letters from Madrid state that the clubs are
closed, the cafds are shut up at a much earlier hour
than usual, and altogether the city appears to be
under a sort of regime of terror. The police make
domiciliary visits, and there is every indication
that the Government is not quite satisfied with the
aspect of affairs. There is another significant in-
dication in the circumstance that the censorship
has been at work, as there are blanks in some of
the papers. These blanks, perhaps, could have been
filled up with sinister news.
It is also remarked that, in spite of the alleged
cessation of the insurrection, the authorities of
several towns—Vi]larejo, Zanora, and Valladolid
—have thought it necessary to transmit various
despatches to the Cabinet at Madrid, giving details
of various movements of the rebels. These des-
patches are reproduced in the Moniteur this morn-
ing, and, although they do not contain any fact
of importance, their republication in the Moniteur
leads to the belief that the French Government
seems to think that there is something serious in
the movement. According to one account the
insurgents were marching towards the frontiers of
Portugal.
The Moniteur states that Count Walewaki and
the Duke de Mouchy have been appointed members
of the commission charged with the direction of the
Universal Exhibition of 1867.

Much progress has been made in railway com-
munication in Italy. The line between Rome and
Poligny has just been opened, and in three or four
months there will be a direct communication be-
tween Rome and Ancona. Besides the direct line
from Ancona to Rothe, there will be a branch line
from Rome to Florence by the line across the Ap-
penines to Ficulla. Another branch line has been
commenced from Leghorn to Rome. There is al-
ready a railway between Rome and Naples.
An eminent historian and writer on democracy,
Mr Dargaud, died yesterday. He was the author
of a well-known work on " Religious Liberty ;"
and his last production, " The History of Queen
Elizabeth of England," has been read by everybody
here. " The History of Mary Stuart," so pathetic
and so exciting, immediately insured him great lite-
rary reputation. His remains were followed to
Montmartre by " troops of friends," among whom
were many men of note.

A well-known dramatic author, M. Frederic
Voisin, is also dead. He wrote several vaudevilles,
amongst them " Les Amours d'Ete," in conjunction
with M. A. Polo, and also founded a satirical jour-
nal, Le Sans Gne, which, however, had but a short
existence.

The Gazette de Cologne states that Count d'Eulen-
burg, who, it will be recollected, a short time ago,
was condemned to imprisonment for four months
for having occasioned the death of Prince Alfred's
cook, has been sent to the fortress of Ehrenbreit-
stein to undergo his punishment.
A double suicide has taken place in the Rue
Malakoff. A coachman and his wife, who were in
great distress, and were unable to pay their rent,
were found suffocated from charcoal, with which
they filled the stove, after having closed the door
and wnidows, so that no fresh air was admitted.
An interesting report has just been published by
M. Devine, President of the Municipal Council of
Paris, explaining the state of the finances generally,
and noticing the amount expended upon new con-
structions and improvements. It appears that
new streets have been made or old ones widened
or levelled to the length of 82 kilometres, and those
projected are to the extent of 22 kilometres—a kilo-
metre is 1,000 yards. Within a few years a vast
number of beautiful avenues and boulevards have
been formed. Twelve bridges have either been
constructed, re-constructed, or beautified, viz.:—
The Ponts Napoleon, De Berry, d'Austerlitz, Louis
Philippe, St. Louis, d'Arcole, St, Michel, On

'Change, De Solferino, des Invalides, de l'Alma,
du Point du Jour. The bridge at Berry is entirely
new. It is very handsome, and affords a communi-
cation with the other side of the river, which was
long much wanted. The new bridge of Point du
Jour at Auteuil has been only finished a few
months. Its architectural features are much admired.
This bridge will form a portion of the Circular
Railway, communicating with Auteuil and the other
side of the river. This circular railway will be en-
tirely completed by the time of the opening of the
International Exhibition. Sewers have been com-
pleted to the extent of 260 kilometres. Pipes for
the conduct of water have been augmented to the
extent of 575 kilometres. A great improvement in
the supply of water to Paris has been effected by
effecting a junction with the Seine and the river
Dhuys, near St. Omer. The water of the Dhuys
has been analysed, and is announced to be pecu-
liarly salubrious. The Seine water was formerly sup-
posed to be unwholesome, at least for those unac-
customed to drink, but the most favourable reports
have recently been given by scientific men upon the
mixed water of the Seine and the Dhuys. The
aqueduct of the Dhuys is 131 kilometres long. The
quantity of water daily distributed in Paris, which
in 1852 was only 72,000, will soon amount to
400,000, when the aqueduct is completed for an in-
creased supply from the sources of the valley of the
Vanne. No less than 171 municipal edifices have
been built since 1852.

According to an official table the present super-
fice of Paris is traversed by 1,898 streets and 127
highways. A new census of the population is in
process of being taken, which will show, as far as
can be ascertained, that the number of the inhabi-
tants of Paris is about 1,800,000. Reckoning the
suburbs which have been annexed to the city, the
population will be augmented by 250,000.
A strange recovery of a bank note of I,ooof. has
been elicited by the Tribunal of Correctional Police.
Aldlle. Alphonsine Pelletier is a young girl, with jet
black hair and dark piercing eyes ; in short, very
handsome, but frail. She often received the visits
of a cattle dealer who had plenty of money. On
one occasion when he passed the night with the
young lady, according to the statement he made to
the Court, he had three I,ooof. notes in his purse.
Being very tired, and wishing to have no uneasiness
about his money, he placed his money under the
mattress. He had no mistrust of the young lady,
he said, but it was as well to take precautions. In
the morning, when he went to pay for some sheep,
two of the bank notes were much torn, or appeared
as if bitten, of the third only a little corner remained.
With little delay the cattle dealer repaired to the
lady and asked for an explanation. She, it
appears, readily adopted the hint of the notes
having been bitten by rats, and said that of late the
mattress had been infested with them. The gentle-
man was satisfied, and went to the bank. The two
torn notes were replaced by others, but he was told
that the bank could only give I,ooof. for the corner
of -the note when he found the other portion of it.
The complainant, with much quaintness, proceeded
to say that this satisfied him at the time. He went
into mourning for the loss of his I,ooof. note, and
thought no more about it, but happening a day or
two ago to pay a visit to the locality where tho lady
resided, he heard, by chance, that about the time
when he supposed that the rats had eaten the better
half of his I,ooof. note his fair friend was flush of
money, and had refreshed her toilette very con-
siderably. He gave information to the police. The
result was that the rest of the note was traced.
The rats had not eaten it, but it had been appro-
priated by the lady. For this appropriation the
court sentenced her to be imprisoned for six
months.

The Last Seven Years' Averages —Tithe

Commutation.

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

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AMERICA.

ARRIVAL OF THE DAMASCUS.
(Via Greencastle.)
NEW Yong, Dec. 30, 2 p.m.
The following are the heads of the news brought by the