The Sun.
London, England, 1866-05-16 00:00:00

T!;E SU.N, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVEINIING, MAY 16, 1866.

Ministers again remonstrated against the attack upon Val-
paraiso ; they stated that the President was willing to
come to terms, and they hoped that the matter might be
settled by negotiation. The Spanish admiral replied that
as he had issued his manifesto it would not be consistent
with his dignity to withdraw, that he must give notice of
hostilities on the 27th, and on the 31st commence the born-
bardmene. Upon that the British merchants urged Admiral
Deman to prevent the attack. Admiral Denman replied
that he was utterly unable to interfere ; that to do so
would be an act of war on his part--(hear, hear)—and he
called upon the British merchants to withdraw their pro-
perty, in accordance with the notification given to them
30 hours previously. The Chili= Government had
offered to allow them to remove all their property in-
land without charging the usual dues ; and that offer,
as was intimated to the merchants, had been deemed by
her Majesty's Government a very fair one, and one that
ought to be accepted. However, the British merchants
had deliberately refused this very liberal offer, and it
was really surprising that they should now turn round
and endeavour to hold the Government—at all events, Ad-
miral Denman—responsible for their losses. The statement
that the American commander had offered to stop the bom-
bardment if the British admiral would co-operate with him
was utterly untrue, no such offer having been made. On
the contrary, the American minister admitted the right of
the Spanish commander to bonibard Valparaiso, and neither
he nor the commander appeared to have had the slightest
intention to interfere to stop him. Nor was it true that
Admiral Denman had ever put forward any plea as to the
insufficiency of his force ; on the contrary, he subsequently
stated that if his force had been ten times what it was he
could not have interfered. Moreover, he had been informed
that day by the Spanish Minister that when the American
commander went on board the flagship of the Spanish ad-
miral to remonstrate with him, he said, more by way of
joke than otherwise, " Suppose I were to put my ship be-
tween you and the town, what would happen ?" The reply
of Admiral Nunez was, " You are a sailor, and I am a
sailor. You know what your duty would be under such
circumstances, and you know therefore how I should fulfil
mine. If you put yourself between me and the town, it will
be my duty to sink you." Upon that the American com-
mander shook him warmly by the hand, and said he
thoroughly understood him, and that, under the circum-
stances, he should do the same. (Laughter.) As for the
alleged removal of the fortifications, he (Mr. Layard) un-
derstood that 'Valparaiso was a place which could not be
fortified, even though a considerable time were allowed for
the purpose. And then with respect t;', the statementthat
the Ohilians had refused to allow the British sailors to
land and extinguish the flames, all he could say was that
he had that day received a despatch from Admiral Den-
man, in which he described how his men had landed and
assisted in putting out the fire. He said that nothing
could have exceeded their good conduct; 'not a
single bit of plunder had been taken; and, although the
Chilians were going about offering the men brandy, not
one of them were intoxicated. He was fully dispased to
make every allowance for the exasperated feelings of the
British merchants at Valparaiso, still it was unworthy of
them to put forward statements which were completely at
variance with facts. Undoubtedly the bombardment of a
town, whether fortified or not, was a belligerent right; but
then came the question how far might the exercise of the
right be consistent with the usages of civilised life? He
was desirous to say all that was possible in deprecation of
the act of the Spanish commander, still ho could
not avoid making the admission that he had acted in con-
formity with the positive, orders of his Government. He
would have been willing, if possible, to have refrained from
an act which everyone must characterise as most barbarous;
but his instructions were positive. The Spanish Govern-
ment, however, were greatly to blame. They knew that
the French and English Governments were making every
effort to bring about a peaceful solution of the difficulty,
but without giving those Governments any notice positive
instructions were sent out that the town should be bom-
barded. In justification, however, of Admiral Nunez he
must add that the whole of his fire was directed against the
public buildings and the railway station. That fact was
clearly reported by Admiral Denman. Moreover, full time
was given to the inhabitants to leave the town, and the
only lives lost in the bombardment were those of a woman
and a child. Therefore there could not be a question but
that Admiral Nunez had acted with as much humanity as
possible. On the other hand, he would not conceal that
the whole affair had created a most painful impression upon
her Majesty's Government. (Hear, hear.) Everyone had
thought that the time had gone by for such acts of—he
might also say barbarity—acts entirely inconsistent with
the position of a nation like Spain. He must likewise ex-
press his sympathy with the British merchants; but at the
same time he could not conceal that they were thercsolves
to blame for the losses which had fallen upon them. With
respect to the alleged demand of the (Milian Government,
that Mr. Thompson, our Minister, should be withdrawn,
he had only to say that her Majesty's Government had re-
ceived no such communication.

The discussion was continued by Mr. Whiteside, Mr. B.
Cochrane, who referred to our own proceedings at Canton
and Kagosi:na ; by Mr. Baring, who asked what Admiral
Denman had to do at Valparaiso, if not to protect British
interests ; by Mr. Denman, who ccrrroboratcd from inde-
pendent sources the statements of Mr. Layard; and was
brought to an end by Mr. T. G. Baring, who stated that
Admiral Denn-wn had acted in strict conformity with his
instructions to observe a policy of non-intervention.
Mr. SANDFORD asked what precautionary measures
had beau taken by the Government against the spread of
chol:ra.

Mr. H. A. BRUCE replied the powers possessed by the
Privy Council were given by the Quarantine Act of Geo.
IV., and under it they had directed local authorities at the
outports to visit all ships arriving from suspected quarters
to prohibit the landing of infected persons, and, if neces-
sary, to take measures to isolate them, and they had also
offered toplace any towns which desired it under the pro-
visicns of the Diseases Prevention Ac'. This country, he
pointed out, had never acted on the system of quarantine ;
we had always depended ou the local authorities, and our
best security must be in improved sanitary regulations,
such as better supplies of water and increased ventilation
and cleanliness.
The motion for adjournment having been agreed to,
Mr. O'REILLY, in a lengthy speech, which entered in
great detail into the defects of the present system, moved
for a Select Committee to inquire what changes might,with
advantage, be made in the system of national education in
Ireland, in order to allow greater freedom and fulness of
religious teaching in schools attended by pupils of one re-
ligious denomination only, and to guard effectually against
proselytism and protect the faith of the minority in mixed
schools.

The motion was seconded by the O'CoNoit DON.

Mr. C. FORT ESCUE admitted, on the part of the Go-
vernment, that in his remarks on the model schools—
which he had severely criticised —Mr. O'Reilly had hit a
blot, and amendments might be necessary; but pointed out
that with regard to the other schools, which were working
well, the alterations suggested might deprive the minority
in some districts of all education. As the subject was ander
the consideration of the National Board, he declined to
consent to the appointment of a committee.

Mr. WHITE-gIDE, denying that there was any real
mixed education in Ireland, argued against the present
system, on the ground of its partiality and in favour of
confining State aid to secular education, leaving religious
teaching to be dealt with separately.
Mr. GREGORY read extracts from the opinions of pro-
minent clergymen of both religions in condemnation of the
present system, and insisted that its present defect was not
proselytism, but an indifference to all religious teaching,
which led to infidelity and to Fenianism. He agreed with
Mr. Whiteside that mixed education was very rare in Ire-
land, and contrasted the system unfavourably with those
of Prussia and Holland.

After some remarks from Mr. SYNAN, Mr. O'REILLY
withdrew his motion.

In answer to Sir H. CAIRNS,
The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, without
giving an absolute pledge, intimated that any changes pro-
posed to be made (and ho demurred to Sir IL Cairns' de-
scription of them as great and serious) would in all proba-
bility bo laid before Parliament before the annual voto for
Irish education was moved.

Mr. CARDWELL obtained leave to bring in a bill to
remove doubts as to the effect of letters patent granted to
certain colonial bishops, and to amend the law relating to
bishops and clergy of the colonies. The bill, he explained,
was rendered necessary by a recent judgment of the Privy
Council, that the supposed power of the Crown to create
dioceses and to confer jurisdiction in colonies having inde-
pendent legislatures did not exist, and the main object was
to bring our legislation into conformity with that hypo-
thesis by repealing certain prohibitions, so that the Church
of England would be in no worse a position in the colonies
than any other religion's denomination.
The house adjourned at a quarter to 1 o'clock.

SINGULAR RAILWAY ACCI DENT.-011 Monday
an inquest was held at Lancaster,.upon the body of John
Bland, a stonemason, who came by his death under the
following circumstances :—He was working on a bridge at
Scorton, on the Lancaster and Carlisle Railway, about
seven feet from the nearest metals. Whilst so engaged a
goods train passed, and ho was knocked off the bridge by
a bar of iron projecting from ono of the trucks, which had
shifted from its fastenings. The injuries were of such a
character as resulted is his death. The jury returned a
verdict that deceased mot with his death ,by being struck
in the manner above stated.

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Association for Promoting the Welfare of 1
the Blind.

__.....-0 . i
A numerously attended meeting of the members
and friends of this association was keld yesterday
afternoon at St. James's-hall—the 4rchbishop of
York in the chair. Amongst those present were the
Earl of Carnarvon, the Bishop of Oxford, Dean
Stanley, Professor Fawcett, M.P., Lord Houghton,
the Bishop of St. David's, the Bishop of Peter-
borough, &c.
The Hon. Secretary, the Rev. C. B. Reid, M.A.,
read the report, which stated that regular as-
sistance was now given by the association to
172 blind men and women, against 170 in the
previous year. Of the 172 persons now bene-
fited, 61 were supplied with work at their own
homes, at sums varying from £1 4s. to 3s. per week ;
28 were instructed and employed at the workshops
of the association, and 25 were engaged in selling
goods for the society. Pensions to various amounts
were granted to ninepersons who were unable to earn
their own living. Of the total number of blind per-
sons assisted 51 were married, and have 72 children
dependent on them for support. Of those employed
at their own homes and at the society's workshops
31 are women, who earn respectively from 4s. to Bs.
baskets,
at
kebs,
carpentry, mats, rugs,
per week. The industrial arts carried on were as
f
men, the manufactures
of brushes,ws—viz brooms, workedoms ,
chair cane and rash-work, nets, bead work, hassocks,
oilo
and firewood ; made by women, brushes, baskets,
firewood, chair cane and rush-work, nets, knitting,
ornamental leather-work, beadwork, and needle-
work. The blind officials connected with the society
were the director, teachers of music, brush-making,
carpentry, bead-work, leather-work, reading, writ-
ing, and general education ; also a collector, town
travellers, and a housemaid. The importance of giv-
ing work to the blind at their own homes was con-
stantly being more forcibly illustrated ; by this plan
the blind were enabled to reside with their friends in
whatever part of the country they may be located ;
and thus family ties were strengthened instead of being
rudely snapped, as was too often the case where per-
sons deprived of sight had to leave all that was dearto
them in this world to obtain daily bread in some far
distant town. The cementing of social bonds was
highly necessary for every class of the community,
but in the case of those who laboured under the
heavy affliction of blindness its importance could
scarcely be exaggerated. As fully half the blind
lived in rural districts, the mere establishment of
workshops in large towns would be obviously in-
sufficient. Since the existence of this institution
several societies had been formed on its model.
Some of those societies had been established for
several years, and others were only just springing
into existence. The older associations were situ-
ated at Liverpool, Bradford, Sheffield, Peck-
ham, Leicester, and Devonport, and they now col-
lectively afforded aid to about 300 of the blind. The
educational parochial classes continued their useful
work, with an average attendance of 120 pupils per 1
week. Those classes were held at Westminster,
Marylebone, Islington, St. Luke's, and Greenwich ;
in them instruction was given in reading, writing,
and arithmetic. The free lending library of books
in relief print was increasingly useful, and at pre-
sent 150 volumes were in circulation among seventy
readers. The sick club, supported entirely by the
work-people, continued its beneficial operation, and
during the year many cases of illness had been re-
lieved from its funds. The receipts of the associa-
tion during the year amounted to £6,108 7s. 5d.,
while the expenditure had been £6,239 7s. 6d.
His GRACE, in opening the proceedings, expressed
the pleasure he felt at presiding on the occasion.
They were assembled to sympathise with and sup-
port an association which had for its object the al-
leviation of the lot of an afflicted class of the com-
munity, by teaching them modes of honest industry
and taking the work produced by them and dispos-
ing of it in their behalf. There were 30,000 people
in this country deprived of the inestimable blessing
of sight ; and, although the association reached
only 200 of that large number, he considered its
operations to be of incalculable value. The lives
of these people were made useful to themselves ind
to society by means of the association, and he
wished that in all the large towns of the country
the example set by the good lady who was its
founder would be followed.. He most heartily re-
commended the institution to the kind sympathies
of the meeting. (Applause.)
The Earl of CARNAVON, in moving the adoption
of the report, said no one could contemplate' the
objects of the association without being deeply im-
pressed with their benevolent character. At the
present day a large number of the blind, owing to a
want of the necessary provision for them, were
either forced to enter the workhouse or become pro-
fessional beggars, and reached that border which
was the distinction between a criminal and an honest
man. The institutions which they met to promote
made the recipients of its benefits self-supporting,
and altogether independent of the aid of friends.
He highly approved of the wisdom of giving the
work to blind persons at their own homes.

The Bishop of OXFORD bore his testimony to the
continued and unabated usefulness of the institu-
tion. He agreed with the previous speaker as to
the excellence of providing work for these poor
afflicted people at their ovn homes, and he thought
this characteristic of the society gave it a special
claim upon the charitable portion of the community.
There were 180 persons at present receiving the
benefits of the institution, and upwards of 400
others were applicants for relief, and he anxiously
hoped that this number would be assisted in their
endeavours to obtain a livelihood. The moral de-
gradation of street begging, and the destruction
within the mind of the spring of self-support put
there by God, which resu.ted from it, should be
guarded against, especially in the case of blind
persons. The dark isolation of the blind rendered
them especial objects of sympathy. The chief
characteristic of the affliction was its separating
character—the parting of the blind person from
the ordinary work, the ordinary amusement, and
the gifts which the exuberant prodigality of
God's mercy conferred upon others, and there-
fore any effort made to alleviate this misfor-
tune was deserving of sympathy and co-opera-
tion. His lordship concluded by seconding the re-
solution. His grace said the Dean of 'Westminster
found that it was physically impossible for him to
address the meeting, but he expressed his real sym-
pathy and interest in the society. (Applause.)
Professor FAWCETT, in supporting the resolution,
said one of the severest struggles he had ever had
with himself was to speak on that occasion ; but he
was told that he might do some slight good to those
who were blind by taking part in the proceedings
of the meeting, and when that was the case he
thought private or personal feelings should not be
consulted. (Applause.) He did not entirely be-
lieve in the isolation which was attributed to blind
persons. After he was afflicted with blindness
eight years ago he found that there was a
wonderful compensatory power in nature, and he
thought that power would enable him to cling to
the same habits, to cherish the same ambition, to
indulge the same tastes,
and to enjoy the same
pleasure as if this affliction had not happened to him.
His experience led him to the belief that where a
person was afflicted with blindness the mind became
more concentrated, the hearing more acute, the
touch more delicate, and, in fact, every other power
seemed to acquire new activity. He had never
altered his course of reading after his misfortune.
He continued from the page of the book at which
he left off previous to his
getting blind, and en-
joyed his old course of angling as formerly. He
enjoyed the grandeur and beauties of nature as
much as ever, and often when in society, when de-
scribing some beautiful river, he stopped to think
whether he had really seen it, or if it had been de-
scribed to him. He thought he enjoyed as much
happiness as most people, and he believed every
blind person would derive equal enjoyment if
brought under the same inspiring
influences, the
same associations, and made to participate as far as
possible in the same pleasures which other people
enjoyed. (Applause.)
Lord HOUGHTON proposed the next resolution, to
the effect that the meeting deeply
sympathised with
the 30,000 blind persons in the United Kingdom,
and recommended increased exertions to be made
on behalf of the association. He entirely believed

in the natural compensatory power to which allusion
had been made, but that great power required
assistance and development, which were sought to
be given by the association.
The Bishop of ST. DAVID'S supparted the resolu-
tion, and it was unanimously adopted.
A vote of thanks to his grace concluded the busi-
ness of the meeting.