The Sun.
London, England, 1857-07-10 00:00:00

dying substances was arsenic; and that of arsenic
his employer got upon an average fro'm 3 cwt. to
4 cwt. at a time—obtaining it "in its pure white
state" from Messrs. TENNANT and Co. He added to
the simple explanatory statement that " it is used
in making colour" the absolutely astounding
acknowledgement that the arsenic barrels—the
barrels containing this deadly poison, to the
amount at any one given time of from 3 cwt. to
4 cwt.—are " put among the other things quite
open ! The lid is merely laid on 1" The Store-
keeper adds—" Three men and a boy work along
sith me." He says—" From 801 b. to 901 b. is
given to the colour-maker at a time :" and further
remarks that " he (the colour maker) gets this
quantity several times a month." So that the
risk is of perpetual recurrence It may be asked
" what risk ?" by those who merely glance at the
next sentence in the evidence of JOHN FLE3fIN
the Glasgow dyer's storekeeper. That sentence
tieing simply, "No person gets into the store
except those engaged in it"—" those" being " three
.nen and a boy," as well as witness himself,
le his capacity as Storekeeper. But—mark what
follows immediately afterwards I "The Arsenic
is taken to the colour-room in open wooden pails !"
Remember----in quantities varying "at a time"
'rom 801 b. to 901 b., and that, moreover, "several
times a month"—in other words, continually !
the witness further observes—" There ale a
great many people employed on the works !" And
:ouples with this remark the statement—"
should not miss a few ounces at a time !" Now
,his evidence of itself is sufficiently unwelcome and
appalling. But note the strikingly corroborative
testimony given to that same witness, directly
afterwards by ROBERT TOWNSHEND, Manager to his
brother, Mr. TOWNSHEND, a Glasgow Manufactur-
ing-Chemist. Quoth this witness, in his turn—
" We have large quantities of arsenic in our
premises at a time." Large Quantities ? How
•ouch does our reader suppose ? The wit-
ness himself specifies the amount almost in the
same breath—" From one to two tons !" He
adds, "It is kept in a private office"—good !
And further, "It stands in casks, one cask being
(pen for use." So far good againbopi in re-
gard to the privacy and in reference to the re-
striction to " one cask" open for use. BlTT—
what are the very next words that fall from the
lips of witness ? "We employ from 100 to 140
people. I have no doubt, if so inclined, any of
them, might manage to take some away 1" So.
It tarns out to he not at all an extraordinary
thing for a Printing and Dyeing Firm to have
3 cwt. or 4 cwt. of Arsenic at a time—in a "pure
white state"—in barrels " quite open," with the
lids " merely laid on"—carried " several times a
month" from store-room to colour-room—in quan-
(Wes varying " from 801 h. to 901b."—in " open
wooden pails"—with' " a great many people"
employed upon the establishment—and an ad-
mitted impossibility of " a few ounces at a time"
being missed Again—lt proves to be in no
way at all surprising to find a manufacturing
Chemist not far removed from these Printers
and Dyers—having habitually " large quantities
1 arsenic" upon his premises-.." from one to two
tons"—standing in casks, one of which casks is
invariably open for use—and with from 100 to
140 persons free (any one of them), if so disposed,
to purloin it. The brother of the Chemist is the
one to make this acknowledgment—we give his
words again—"/ have no doubt, if so inclined,
any of them, might manage to take some away 1"
And all this, while the Legislature is directing its
attention exclusively to the endeavour of re-
stricting the "Sun" of Poisons by Chemists,
Druggists, and Apothecaries ! Surely a few
additional clauses might judiciously be sup-
plemented to the " Sale of Poisons' Bill "
—now !—at once !—so as to render, henceforth,
punishable this frightful exposure of tons of pure
arsenic in large and crowded manufacturing esta-
blishments. Any indifference to this matter would
be a Cruelty as well as a Folly on the part of
the Legislature. Place restrictions upon the sale
of a few grains of arsenic across the counter of an
apothecary, and yet leave, at the same time,
3 cwt. or 4 cwt. here, and one or two tons there
aceessible to a crowd of artizans—and you render
this pretended legislation upon the matter a farce
and a delusion. In Heaven's name let us try,
let us at last try to place the Watchful Guard of
the Law upon Poisons, not merely in Retail—bu
also, and surely, in an especial manner in Whole
sale !

HER MAJESTY'S STATE BALL.—The Queen gave last
evening a State Ball, to which invitations were issued
to above 1,900 of the nobility and gentry. The arrange-
ments at Buckingham Palace were the same as for the
former ball, and the galleries, state rooms, and grand
staircase were again decorated with a profusion of rare
and beautiful shrubs and plants, and were brilliantly
illuminated.
At the Queen's State Ball last night the Countess of
Granville wore the magnificent parure of the Devon-
shire gems, which the Duke of Devonshire had arranged
by Mr. Hancock, of Bruton-street, expressly for the
countess to wear at the coronation of the Emperor of
Russia at Moscow, and they attracted universal admi-
ration. The brilliant star worn by her Royal Highness
the Duchess do Mcntpensier was also made by Mr.
Hancock expressly for the Ball.
fid His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, travelling
incognito, arrived at Brussels on Wednesday morning.
The Prince afterwards visited the battle-field of Water-
loo, and then proceeded on his journey to Germany.
Prince Napoleoa arrived in Dublin yesterday,
The Earl of Derby leaves town early in the ensuing
week for Knowsley, where the noble earl will entertain
a large circle of noble friends during the Liverpool race
meeting.

Tue Right Hon. Wm. E. Gladstone, M.P. and Mrs.
Gladstone have returned to their mansion in Carlton-
house-terrace for the remainder of the season.
The late Duchess of Bedford's funeral took place yes-
terday, the body of the lamented Dueoess was placed in
the burial chapel of the Russell family in Chenies Church,
near Rickmansworth.
THE LATE DUKE OF MARLBOROUGH.—Tbe mortal: re-
mains of the Duke of Marlborough were yesterday depo-
sited in the family mausoleum at Blenheim, Oxon. The
funeral was devoid of the least ostentation. The Duke
of Marlborough, Lord Alfred Churchill, Lord Alan
Churchill, Hon. Major Spencer. Churchill, and a select
number of relatives an! friends, attended the obsequies.
ROYAL ITALIAN OPERA.—"Fra Diavolo " was per-
formed for the first time last night with immense suc-
cess. The cast was as follows :—Madame Bosio (Zerlina),
Mademoiselle Marai, Signors Gardoni (Fra Diavolo),
Neri, Bei aldi, Ronconi, Polonini, Zelger, and Tagliafico.
Every seat in the theatre was occupied.
HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE.—Among the fashionable
company honouring the performances at this theatre
with their presence last evening were :—The Duke of
Cleveland and Lady Augusta Paulett, the Marchioness
of Sligo, the Marquis of Sligo, Frances Countess Wal-
degrave, Lord Ward, the Earl of Loncdale, the Earl and
Countess of S radbroke, the Countess of Bradford and
the Ladies Bridgeman, the Earl of Chesterfield, Viscount
Curzon and the Ladies Curzon, Viscount Chelsea,
Lord Burghenb, Lord Suffield, Lord Edward Thynne,
Lady Harry Vane, Lady Maria Saunderson, Hon. C.
But:er, Sir Ralph and Lady Howard, Sir John Lowther ,
Lady Louisa Primrose, Lady Mildred Hope, General
Patten, Colonel Connolly, Mc. Hubert de Burgh, Mr.
Percy Doyle, Colonel W. 14,ckyer Freestun, M.P., and
Mrs. Lockyer Freestun, Major Wombwell, Captain
Bateson, Cap:ain Lyon, Captain and Mrs. Garth, Mr.
and Mrs. Combs, Mrs. Walter Evans, and Miss Giaborne
Mr. T. H. Sotheron Estcourt, M.P., and Mrs. Est-
court, Mr. and Mre. Peel, &c.
SOUTH EASTERN RAILWAY.—A special meeting of
this company was held at the Bridge-house Hotel, yes-
terday, Hon. J. Byng,in the chair, to coni4der certain
bills now before Parliament, in compliance with the
Wharncliffe order of the House of Lords. The first bill
was to authorise the construction of a relief line from the
Green-aich Jur,ctiou on the North Kent Railway to
Dartford, via E:thatn, The bill was adopted. Resolu-
tions were also passed approving the bill for connecting
the leading line with the Great Western Company, and
of the West-end of London and Crystal Palace Bill.
EAST KENT RAILWAY.—A special general meeting of
shareholders in the East Rent Railway Company was
held yesterday at the offices of the company, Moorgate-
street, for the purpose of considering " A Bill for making
a Railway from Herne Bay to Faversham." The resolu-
tions necessary to effect the objects of the meeting,
were adopted nem. die., the proceedings being of a
purely formal character.
CRYSTAL PALACE. —ONE SHILLING DAY, Thursday,
July 9.—Admissions on payment, 7,257 ; ditto, by sea-
son tickets, 580 ;
total visitorss 7$ 837 •