The Sun.
London, England, 1850-12-17 00:00:00

THE SUN,

Belgium at this particular moment seems to be
solicitous to render herself more than ever prominent
in her activity. From the efforts now making in her
principal cities, we may augur well for her contribu-
tions to the Exhibition—and this, moreover, not only
in regard to their excellence, but to their surprising
diversity. From Courtray, for example, we shall
probably have flax manufactures, lace from Ypres,
brussels carpets from Tourney, cotton fabrics from
Ghent, pottery from Mons, ornamental products from
Spa, carvings from Louvain, and cutlery from
Namur—termed very justly by the Art Journal
the Belgian Sheffield. Similar preparations,
though not perhaps so various, are recog-
nized in many quarters of the Austrian em-
pire, among the sculptors of Ratisbon and the gauze
makers of Linz, among the mechanical workmen of
Vienna and the woollen factors of Brunn, among the
stocking weavers of Reichenberg and the glass-
blowers of Prague. Meanwhile the toil of preparation
is not less manifest among ourselves—from the arti- '
zans who are building up the magnificent structure
designed by Mr. .PexToN, to the humblest handi-
craftsman employed in our workshops and manufac-
tories. The mere anticipation of the Exposition
would appear here and there to have im-
parted a new and powerful incitement to
the more adroit among our ingenious fellow -country-
men. In illustration of this, we refer especially to
certain articles submitted to a novel description of
waterproofing, and several of which may be expected
to arrive in due time at Hyde-park from Cocker-
mouth. The patterns referred to are thus men •
tioned :—" They are of every fabric, from the finest
open lace to the fustian of the mechanic ; each ap-
pears to be as if just cut from the web ; not the
slightest difference is observable betwixt those that
had undergone his process of waterproofing and those
that had not ; even the most delicate silks are not in
the least altered, either in colour, feel, or smell, ex-
cept that they are perfectly impervious to moisture,
the water rolling over them as if from the duck's
back or the cabbage-leaf. The most extraordinary
sight of all was to see a piece of open net or lace,
which had held water for the last month, the water
rolling upon its surface like a ball of quicksilver ;
and the other a piece of broad-cloth and fustian, on
which was poured boiling water, with no other effect
than the steam passing through it, the cloth itself ab-
sorbing not one particle of water." Added to the re-
markable properties of the fabrics thus effectually
waterproofed, they possess others not yet particu-
larised. From the columns of an intelligent
provincial contemporary, the Whitehavin .Herald,
we learn, for instance, that " the most extra-
ordinary, as well as the most valuable characteristic
is, that though cloth of any description, after having
been waterproofed by this process, will resist boiling
water, which makes not, in fact, the slightest im-
pressien upon it, it is not in the slightest degree
impervious to vapour, the steam and even the breath
passing as freely through it as before it was submitted
to the waterproofing process, thus showing its in-
calculable superiority to the mackintosh process,
which, by impeding perspiration, is well known to
be highly prejudicial to health." Tha ingenious con-
trivance here especially particulari,e6l is by no means,
however, the only testimony recently afforded
of the good results of these preparations
for the Industrial Exhibition. Others scarcely
less noticeable might readily be instanced,
but we content ourselves with the foregoing both
fro:n the singularity of its character and from a con-
viction that one such evidence of enterprise will be
sufficient to indicate the happy consequences of the
entire movement—our readers being thus enablei to
judge of the whole collective undertaking, as it were,
ex peck Ilerculein. _ _ _

Although we have repeatedly endeavoured in these
columns of late to direct attention to the efforts now
making likewise with a view to a reform of the Pa-
tent-laws of the United Kingdom, we cannot
but again refer incidentally to those humane
exertions as not the least among the many
beneficial fruits already growing out of this
project of an International Exhibition. A little
longer continuance of the energy hitherto shown by
the Committee appointed by the Society of Arts for
the purpose of carrying into effect these same legis-
lative emendations, cannot but result i❑ the most
brilliant and effectual success.- The evil against
which the Committee is uplifting every available
weapon of opposition is altogether too old and clumsy
to admit of any protracted resistance, added to
which the advocates of the change are too
resolute in their determination to realize their
long- delayed but long-cherished hopes, to render
their discomfiture probable, we might even say, pos-
sible. So that we count, with implicit confidence,
on participating in the satisfaction resulting from the
anticipated victory—satisfied that, by the reform of
the Patent-laws, the Xxhibition of 1851 will be
commemorated on the statute-book of England.

We have repeatedly directed the public attention
to the imperative necessity for the appointment of a
public prosecutor or prosecutors, whose duty it shall
be to inquire into every alleged offence—to see that
every outrage against society shall be fully and fairly
investigated, so that the perpetrators shall duly expiate
their crimes, by enduring adequate punishments,
and, at the same time, that comparatively
innocent persons shall be defended from frivolous
and vindictive proceedings, instituted not for the
sake of justice, but as instruments of oppression or
extortion, to gratify feelings of malevolence or cupi-
dity. Under the present system, as Lord BROUGHAM
justly remarked in his magnificent speech on Legis-
lation and the Law, " we alone of all civilized nations
—we, contrary to all principle, and in spite of all ex-
perienco, still persist in leaving the common law to ex-
ecute itself." This is indeed the truth. It is a matter
of the merest chance, a perfect lottery, whether
the most atrocious acts remain unpunished or in-
nocent persons be involved in prosecutions. We are
told that a man is forbidien to take the law into his
own hands, that the private injury is merged in the
public outrage ; but yet the offender, however deep
his guilt, may escape scatheless unless his victim be
in a position to expend a large sum in feeing
attorney and counsel to conduct the case and
in bringing up his witnesses, with the
risk, if not the absolute certainty, of sus-
taining a heavy pecuniary loss, which he may
be ill able to afford ; for, even where the expenses of
the prosecution are allowed, the hill of costs that
must be paid to the attorney will considerably exceed
the amount sanctioned by the county. This is a
serious grievance, where the party is able to
meet the necessary outlay without any great in-
convenience, and where he comes to the first ex-
amination, attended by a competent professional
adviser ; but it is not the wealthy who
most frequently appear as complainants. Those
who suffer the greatest wrongs are but
too frequently without means or resources. If the
duty is thrown upon them, there may as well be no
inquiry or charge before a magistrate; they can do
nothing for themselves, and few indeed are willing
to step forward as the protectors of the poor and
needy.

The case of the unfortunate girl JANE WILBRED,
to which we alluded on Saturday, affords an apt illus-
tration of the probable results of the present defective
and impolitic system. She was rescued almost from the
jaws of death by the humane interference of a perfect
stranger. Mr. JOHN GEORGE PDILLIBORE acci•
dentally heard the rumours that had fo r some time
been circulating as to the alleged ill treatment of the
wretched girl. lie lost no time in ascertaining the
truth of these statements ; he insisted on seeing the
servant of a professional gentleman, a special pleader
occuping a fair position in society. The view was
sufficient. He at once assumed the responsibility of
taking charge of the helpless sufferer ; he placed
her under the care of his laundress, and provided
the nutritious food and medical advice that
was so urgently required. But he had then no in-
tention of instituting any proceedings ; on the con-
trary, he told Mr. SLOANE that he " would prevent his
clerk, and those around him, from making any im-
mediate charge," end it was not until after he had
heard from Dr. MARSDEN of the fearful condition to
which the poor creature had been reduced, and the
actual danger in which she Wes placed at the mo-
ment, that he felt it to be an imperative duty
to bring the subjEct under the magisterial
notice. All honour to Mr. PIIILLIMORE for his
highly meritorious and praiseworthy conduct ; but
it was, after all, a mere chance that he even heard of
the case, or was Enabled to preserve a friendless

girl from the grave into which she was rapidly
sinking before his benevolent interference.
But Mr. PHILLIMORE could not be expected to
become the prosecutor. That duty palpably de-
volved upon the guardians of the union,
in which the poor creature had remained
for more than ten years, who were to her in loco
parentis, having had the charge of her from
the early age of five years. But, although the mere
application for a summons had been reported in every
daily journal, and had created a profound sensation in
the public mind, there was no person present to re-
present the board, to see that the orphan pauper re-
ceived full justice. The evidence then adduced
showed that it was essential that Mrs.
SLOANE should be brought forward. If there
were any public prosecutor a warrant would hare
been forthwith issued in place of a mere summons,
which was treated with such contemptuous disregard.
Even on the day for the adjourned bearing there was
no prosecutor; messages were going back ward and
forward between the guardians and the Poor-law
Board, the former desiring to know whether they
would be allowed their expenses, the latter avoiding
an answer. There could be no doubt that they
were the proper parties. The very point had been
decided last term by the Court of Queen's
Bench ; but they remained irresolute, and
the Poor-law Board mysterious. Mr. PONTIFEX
attended, but " he was not prepared to enter into the
facts of the case," and there is as yet no security that
Mrs. SLOANE will be in attendance to abide her trial.
She may at any moment she pleases lease the country.
We again ask, where is she? why is she not forth-
coming ? If she should choose to avail herself of the
opportunity allowed to her, and to abscond from the
investigation, there will be a failure of justice that will
excite the public indignation in no ordinary degree—
a failure that must be altogether ascribed to the want
of a recognized and responsible public prosecutor.