The Sun.
London, England, 1861-08-07 00:00:00

A FIRST VISIT TO A WORKHOUSE.

" I asked for a woman in the infirm ward, and was con-
ducted to one, scrupulously clean. But oh I the desolation
of that place is something we must see to understand. The
woman I inquired for was not there ; she was in a, ward
where she could be only seen the first Tuesday in the
month. On hearing this, I spoke to the nurse of the ward,
and inquired If I might go In, for I saw several in bed, and
all were without any occupation, and looking almost im-
becile. The nurse at once said no • the man's time was
valuable (who accompanied me), andi I had batter follow
him; with this she bowed me out. I asked to be allowed
to go into any other ward, to speak to some of the inmates,
but, was decidedly told I could not. I saw faces at that
glance which I shall not easily forget. Why are visitors
thus excluded ? Surely on writing their name and address
they might have admission, when rates are demanded of
us so largely. .You who have penetrated into these dreary
j' fastnesses'—for I can call them nothing less—can tell
what I feel on seeing the interior of one for the first time.
Oh I the dreary feeling of nothing to do, or think of I Do
they do nothing ? I said. Do they always sit like that,
ranged around the wal:s F Oh I no, they only read ; but I
did not see a book; one woman sat at a window looking
into a yard, and she had k paper in her hand. " D."
ATTENDANTS 1N WORKHOUSE HOSPITALS.
"Longford Workhouse, April 3, 1861.
" Gentlemen —I am again reluctantly obliged to bring
under your notice the serious want of intelligent, trust-
worthy hospital attendants.. It is not to be expected that
worn out, feeble old men and women, or young, ignorant,
irresponsible boys and girls will be willing and able to
watch fully, and tenderly care and mind, violent idiots and
helpless sick persons ; besides, some are so unscrupulous as
to defraud the patients of their food. On last Thursday the
matron came to me to complain of a female attendant whom
she detected down the house trafficking hospital diet. I at
once, probably for the tenth time, crossed this person off
the books of the hospital; and, in general, the majority of
the attendants are little better. I am obliged to go some-
what into detail in consequence of the bed-ridden old man,
whose case I have on a former occasion brought under
your notice, being still without attendance for the
night, the more especially as some time since
a poor child was literally burnt to death by a boy
aged 15 or 16, who was as ward attendant, because the
child said he would complain to me that the boy had taken
his food. I reported the case, and there was an inquest on
the remains of the child, and the boy was committed to
gaol. When the trial came on, Judge Monahan, who pre-
sided, declared that though tbe boy was bad, he who placed
him in such a situation was worse (though perhaps, at
present, better attendants were not to be had in the house).
Now the poor old man may some day or night be deprived
of life by rough usage or neglect, and then inquest and
trial might follow. I have power to order, when I consider
it necessary, wine or spirits to any extent ; yet careful,
trnetviorthy attendantsi whieli I deem wore ossentiat than

wine or medicine, I am repeatedly, though reluctantly,
compelled to complain of not being provided for the sick
and lunatic.—l am, gentlemen, yours very obediently,
" S. Nicom,s, M.D.
" To the Guardians of the Longford -Union."

We would direct the attention of all who are
interested in the rescue of young workhouse
girls from the evils referred to above, to the Indus-
trial Home for young women recently established in
New Ormond-street, under the superintendence of
Miss Twining, for training girls for service at home
and in the colonies. A laundry is established in
connection with the home, and heads of families will
do well to afford encouragement to so excellent an
undertaking by supplying this remunerative em-
ployment. Full particulars of the institution may
be obtained from the last number of this journal,
and the prospectus is also given in the number be-
fore us.

Beeton's Illuminated Family Bible. With Illustra-
tive Cartoons from Designs by Julius Schnorr
and other eminent European Artists. The Illu-
minated Initials, Ornamental Headings, and Bor-
derings by Noel Humphreys. Engraved by N.
H. Woods. Beeton.

This elegant edition cannot be too highly recom-
mended, as it offers to the public some really supe-
rior designs and representations of sacred subjects.
The figures are remarkably well done, and the exe-
cution of the various groups is excellent in several
instances. There is no doubt that many readers
will be delighted with the opportunity of studying
the Scriptures in this illustrative edition, which,
for taste and dexterity, has not often been equalled,
especially when offered at so moderate a cost. The
second number of the work will not be issued till
October, but after that it will appear monthly till
completed. The entire collection will be in twenty-
four parts. It is to be confidently expected that
this praiseworthy attempt will meet with the
success that it so eminently merits, and that there
will be numerous subscribers to it after this first
number has been disseminated throughout the
country.

Colburn's New ,Monthly Magazine.
A lengthened paper on American affairs opens this
number, and considers the question chiefly in regard
to Virginia, The story of " East Lynne" is con-
tinued, and as it has reached the twentieth part,
as Sir Francis is convicted of the murder, little
William dies, and Lady Isabel is discovered by
Joyce, we presume the story approaches its com-
pletion, The tale of " Granville de Vigne" is also
proceeded with, though the instalment is singularly
uneventful. There is yet another story called,
" Why is she an Old Maid ?" by Mrs. Bushby,
which terminates this month. A paper on " Duel-
ling in Olden Times " gives some anecdotes of that
absurd practice which, thanks to the greater amount
of common sense, if not of higher principle pos-
sessed by modern times, has fallen into desuetude.
Sir Nathaniel dedicates the forty - second
number of his " Notes on Note-Worthies "
the famous German Emperor, Frederick
Barbarossa, the re-appearance of whose red
beard is still anxiously looked for by the be-
lievers in the old traditions of the Fatherland. E.
P. Rowsell gives us a paper on card houses, contain-
ing some reflections on the chances and changes of
this mortal life. An article on "Public Metropolitan
Improvements" contains some interesting matter,
and some severe reflections on our national want of
architectural taste and talent. The veteran, Cyrus
Redding, contributes some verses on our recent
celestial visitor; and there is also a graceful and
musical Serenade by W. C. Kent.

The Cornhill Magazine.
Philip's adventures are this month of a some-
what happier character. The loveable little Char-
lotte Baynes has now his heart, and a playful
battle takes place between Mr. and Mrs. Pendennis
in consequence. Arthur preaching prudence, while
Laura, with indignation, takes the part of the
young lovers, whose worldly prospects are certainly
not very brilliant at present. The frontispiece il-
lustrates the closing scene of Charlotte's visit at
Boulogne. She has taken leave of her friend Laura,
and is going home the night before her departure
for Paris. It is a lovely evening, and Arthur Pen-
dennis, unconsciously acting the part of Marplot,
offers to escort her to the Tantilleries. "Don't go
out on such a dreadful night," cries Laura, " you'll
catch cold !" and while the astonished Arthur is
expatiating on the beauty of the weather, Charlotte
has tripped away to be guided home by Philip
Firmin. Philip pursuing his love literally, as Mr.
Thackeray says, summa diligentia, accompanying
the party to Paris, where he encounters Lord Ring-
wood, who is charmed by the young man's brusque
inaependence, accustomed as his lordship is to con-
stant servility and adulation. There is an excel-
lent article on " Burlesques," beginning with Aris-
tophanes, and concluding with the burlesque writers
of the present day, some of whom receive very due
condemnation. " Punning upon words merely," ob-
serves the writer, " is a poor substitute for true wit
and humour." Half of the puns are lost upon the
audience owing to their obscurity, and the rapidity
with which they follow upon each other's heels. And
p yen when thoy are .6 tplzon,” tbo cloiisht thvy 61,-. is
simply of the kind which is afforded by a Chinese
juggler. They are ingenious, and that is all. "The
struggles of Bro wn, Jones, and Robinson" is an article
very unworthy a place in the Cornhill Magazine.
" At Westminster," on the contrary, is a capital
sketch of a trial scene, illustrated by some very ex-
cellent woodcuts of "the plaintiff," "the defen-
dant," " the jury," "the judge," "the counsel," and
"the attorneys," which last sketch in particular
is admirable. "Agnes of Sorrento," Mrs.
Beecher Stowe's new story, contains this
month an interesting description of ‘• the
Artist Monk," the uncle of Agnes. Alluding to
the love of art and the ceremonial observances of
the Church, which Agnes so devoutly followed,
Mrs. Stowe remarks, " In those ages when the
Christian preacher was utterly destitute of all such
help as the press now gives in keeping under the
eye of converts the great inspiring truths of reli-
gion, it was one of the first offices of the saint, whose
preaching stirred the heart of the people, to devise
symbolic forms, signs and observances by which
the mobile and fluctuating heart of the multitude
might crystallise into habits of devout remem-
brance." " Roundaboxt Papers" this month treats
of "Ogres" appearing by a curious coincidence
almost simultaneously with the photograph of Mr.
Thackeray as a " Literary Gorilla !"

Temple Bar Magazine.
" The Seven Sons of Mammon " is continued.
This number is not so interesting as the preceding,
as it does not follow the fortunes of the most attrac-
tive in the story. " For Better, for Worse," is a
Very well written tale. The style is superior to
most magazine narratives, and the reader meets
with some of those concealed miseries that so power-
fully affect the fortunes of many. Margaret, it is
satisfactory to find, renews her engagement with
Guy Vy vian, and the sad story seems to promise a
brighter termination than was at first to be augured.
" A Frugal Marriage" relates in a lively manner a
most rash adventure that was made by a young
couple ; it is not, however, very wise of the author
to make all end so happily, as in real life there are
few such lucky transformations as occurred at the
conclusion. " Sermons in Stones" is one of those
stories that there is no pleasure or profit in perusing,
and that is on a subject that had better be letalone.
" The Death Wish " is a most extravagant sketch,
that may perhaps deligLt the admirers of the mystic,
but that appears most unaccountable and incom-
prehensible to lovers of common sense. "Fires" is
a paper that considers that important question, and
suggests several remedial measures in the arrange-
ments of the insurance companies, &c. Certainly
there have been so many and such extensive con-
flagrations recently that the subject ought to be
treated as one of great importance. " Summer
Days" is a very pleasing sketch. It is one of the
most interesting of the contents, and may reeal to
mind the past days of pleasure that they have spent
in bright summer time. Some of the sketches are
very quaintly done, and many readers will wish
that they, too, could spend their summer days as is
hero recorded. " Summer Days of Artist and
Student Life in Germany, mornings passed in
lounging from studio to studio ; afternoons in the
blue vine-clad mountains or in thick pine forests.
Summer days on blinding Swiss mountains, on ver-
dant bordered English lakes, on Mediterranean
steamers, where one lies under the wetted awning
in that happy state of lief and forgetfulness so
grateful to the slave of the pen, under the shadow
of the Pyramids, among nestling Rhine villages
and ruined abbeys."

Macmillan's Magazine.
The first chapter upon " The Indian Civil Ser-
vice" is deserving of careful consideration ; the
writer is evidently thoroughly acquainted with his
complex subject. Ravenshoe is continued, and Mr.
Kingsley has happily kept up the interest as the
tale progresses, and will, we doubt not, maintain it
to the end. Adelaide saves young Ravenshoe the
mortification of breaking off their engagement in
consequence of his misfortune by eloping with his
quondani friend before the event; many of the pas-
sages are remarkably good. To the classical readers,
or more properly classical critics of this magazine,
the paper on Homer and his translator may prove
interesting, and it is compiled with considemble
care, but the general reader will get tired of hav-
ing to refer to the lexicon for the proper interpre-
tation of many extracts. The story of "Burnt
Njal" is noticed at some length, and the character
of the old Norse clans is sketched in the revi
Mr. Buckle's doctrine as to the Scotch and•
history is continued, and a few abortthuf4
articles on
i their
light subjects/ regarding gran „
1 nerN Aad other I

antiquarian matters, concludes a number which, in
spite of the loss of "To Brown," contains much
readable matter.

Bailey's Sporting Magazine.
Colonel Towneley figures as the frontispiece this
month, and a biography or sketch of his career on
the turf is given. " Wild Life" is continued, but
in charity we will say nothing about it ; it by no
means coming up to the early chapters. " Sports
of the Neilgherry Mountains" will interest all
lovers of adventurous sport, and is written in an
offhand free and easy style, which must command
attention ; the fight between the - bison and tiger
is grand, and we could wish that the editor would
furnish more such papers.

Orley Far»a.
Very little advance is made in the tale in this
month's instalment, but new characters are intro-
duced. It would seem that Mr. Trollope wishes to
complicate his story to the utmost verge of possibi-
lity, and to make it truly a Chancery suit. We
have a description of four Christmas dinners and
celebrations in four different spheres of society. and
all given to the life. We may say of Orley Farm,
with a good conscience, that the more we see of it
the more we like it.

MISCELLANEOUS MAGAZINES.
The Eclectic Review has an interesting paper on
John Wesley and the founders of Methodism,
founded on Dr. Stevens's recent work on the His-
tory of the Religious Movement of the Eighteen ta
Century." It is by no means so ponderous an article
as the title might imply, as it principally consists
of sketches of the characters and careers of the great
leaders of the different movements. A notice of the
late Dr. Brown's 'Tom Subsecivw is also well
worth reading.—Good Words is as usual excellent,
and he must be hard to please and harder to teach
who cannot find something to enjoy or to profit by
in its pages. The religious articles are by the RRevDr. Guthrie and the Rev. J. M'Culloch ; there is a
paper on Bees, by Principal Leitch ; a sketch oofAthens, by Walter Thornbury ; an essay on Ridi-
cule, by S. Hollingshead ; and, of course, an acount
of the Gorilla.—The National Magazine is not al-
together equal to some of its competitors. It has,
however, some interesting papers on the two heroes
of the day—Blondin and M. du Chaillu—and aPar-
liamentary sketch of Sir Hugh Cairns, by the
editor.—The Sixpenny Magazine has a wonderful
quantity and quality of matter, considering its price.
It discusses a variety of subjects, gives us tales,
songs, and advice, and the reader will find no leek
of entertainment in its pages.—Duify's lliberniau
Magazine continues as usual. The principal story
Is from the pen of William Carleton.-2 he English-
woman's Domestic Magazine gives its fair readers
numberless instructions in various branches of
needlework, accompanying its elaborate initiations
into the mysteries of crochet and embroidery, with
more practical and serviceable information respect-
ing dressm .king and millinery.—Le Follet has its
accustomed graceful groups, and full parti-
culars as to the chai:e. es of the fashions
for the season.—Routledge's Natural History is
undoubtedly one of the best works of the kind that
has ever appeared. The illustrations are really
excellent, and the letter-press is full of anecdote and
interesting details.—The fourth number of Wild
.4, ports of the World tells us how the rhinoceros
and tiger are hunted, with full particulars of the
habits of those animals. The woodcuts are nume-
rous, and there is a coloured plate of a miraculous
escape from an infuriated buffalo.—Cassell's pub-
lications are continued with their usual merit..
The Illustrated History of England brings us down
to the expulsion of Soult from Oporto by Welling-
ton ; The Popular Natural History gives us some
account of various kinds of birds, with numerous
illustrations.—the Ladies Treasury and _Family
Paper contain a great variety of amusing and in-
structive articles.—There are now two editions of
Cassell's Illustrated liamily Bible in course of pub-
lication, both of which we have had occasion to
praise highly. The Comprehensive History of
India is proceeding with its accustomed ability, and
fully deserves its name from the completeness with
which it discusses every subject, and from the
copious information given. Newton's _London
Journal contains a brief record of the life and
labours of the late 111 r. William Newton, who died
last month after a long and laborious life devoted
to useful and honourable pursuits.

ARREST OF COUNT CAVOUR'S CON-

FESSOR.

The last and most detailed account of the alleged
arrest of Father Giacomo appears in the Roman
correspondence of 30th July, published in the
Florence Nazione of the 3d inst. It is to the fol-
lowing effect :
" Father Giacomo was summoned last Tuesday to
the presence of the Pope. lam able to inform you
that the demeanour of Pius IX. was anything but
paternal. The Papal Court is addicted to gossip,
and those w}“, aro aware thnt the Pope can neither
do nor say anything that has not been first planned
and agreed upon by Cardinal Antonelli and his
clique, will not be surprised if the vanity of certain
prelates is the occasion of transmitting to profane
ears the secrets of the Vatican. I can tell you
something more. Father Giacomo was sent for to
Rome for the purpose of extracting from him a
declaration to the effect that Count Cavour had
recanted his opinions and abjured his policy
respecting the temporal authority of the Pope.
I don't know what you may think of this, but
to me it appears neither more nor less than
a divulging of the secrets of the Confessional.
On this point Father Giacomo obstinately
refused to gratify the wishes of the Papal Court.
He was then enjoined to make a declaration that
he had overstepped the limits of his sacred office in,
receiving theconfession of Count Cavour at all with-
out having first insisted on his making a formal re-
tractation. But on this second point Father Gia-
como was just as obstinate as on the first. He was
then dismissed after a very rude fashion, and told
that he must remain at the commands of the Rolf
Inquisition. He returned to the convent of Araccelh.
but the same evening he received an order to take
up his quarters in the convent of San Francesco
Ripa. The following day he underwent his first
examination by one of the Inquisitors of the Holy
Office. What will be the fate of this friar I cannot
tell. It is possible that, with the political wind
now blowing at Rome, Cardinal Antonelli will not
be able to serve him out for the crime of following
the dictates of his conscience, though, if I must
speak the honest truth, I should not like to be 11
Father Giacomo's shoes ; too many facts have prove''',
that the cardinal and his associates have a logic ait
their own, which takes into no account prudential
considerations or arguments of any kind—the logic
of unmitigated spite and spleen.
The above paragraph from the Nazione contains,
we repeat, the latest intelligence, as well as the
fullest furnished by the Italian papers on this sub-
ject. It is important to bear this in mind, because
four days previously a report to the same effect had
been circulated at Turin, and had called forth aeon-
tradiction from the semi-official organ of the Govern-
ment, the opinione. The notice first appeared in
the Pungolo, and created great excitement amongst
all classes, especially amongst the lower orders of
Turin. The people of Turin, who during the last
days of Count Cavour's life were quite determined to
handle Father Giacomo very roughly if he refused
to administer the sacrament to the dying statesman
naturally feel a strong sympathy for his prevent
pi
nods
gt ine
an
n,
talnyd
devenn te
dh
I dinals intend doing with him at Rome ?"
wW'ohmaetnthofestehveillloawinesr
report, runs thus :
The article from the Opinione, contradicting the
the Angels, arrived
at Rome on the 24th July, and was
received on the
of°r dcearrs-
Father Giacomo, the administrator of the
parish of the Blessed Virgin of
following day by the Pope.
" There is no lack of newspaper
correspondence,
announcing that the Pope required Father Giacomo
be event of his refusal, with
r
and threatened him,int
Office.
the rigours of the Holy
to give to the world a ret actation of Count Cavour,
,g These reports
foundation as the pretended dialogue
between Count
Cavour and h
are simply romances,tesam
ee
and
Father
havete
Giacomo—a dialogue which only Father Gia-
como could have repeated, but which he
certainly did not repeat, considering in what condi-
tion Count Cavour was at the moment of the con-
fessor's reaching his bedside.
We have reason to believe that all the details
respecting the last moments of Count Cavour are
sufficiently known at Rome, and that the know-
ledge of these details would suffice to prevent any
one from dreaming of demanding a retractation
which neither has been, nor, under the circum-
stances of the case, could be made."
The abyve contradiction has not prevented the
Opinione Nationale of Monday, five days later than
the day on which the eon tradietien was published
in the Opinione, from declaring that its latest
notices received from Rome all concur in confirm-
ing the intelligence of Father Giacomo's arrest.

THE KING OF PRUSSIA'S VISIT TO FRANCE.--*
The Independence Belge says that the journey of the King
of Prussia to France is indefirlitay postponed, if not alto,-
gether abandoned. A dtwpatch of M, de la 'lour d'Auverga
kayo mo doßkt vm t4tt subject.

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