The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-08 00:00:00

TIIE WHEELER AND WILSON
LOCK STITCH SEWING MACHINE
139, Regent-street, West ; 43, St. Paul's Church
yard, E.C.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

Tars DAs —Morning, lb. 40m.—Afternoon, 2h. 7m,
To-31ounow.-Morning, 2h. 32m.—Afternoon, 2h. 55m

03ja,

LONDON, SATURDAY, FEB. 8, 1868.

Count BIS3IAIWK is determined to astonish the
world in some form or other, and the last news is
that he has offended the KING. A positive state-
ment is made to the effect, that after the close of
the Chamber of Deputies on Thursday the Minister
requested a " lengthened leave of absence" from the
KING. This is significant enough, if true, which it
very likely may be, for the tone adopted by the
Count in his speech in the Chamber of Deputies
was most inopportune, and could not but produce
the most disastrous effects. The immediate cause
of the KING'S displeasure is, it is said,
caused by the attitude of the Conservative party
on the question of the fund set apart for the finan-
cial administration of Hanover. The speech of
BIS3IARCK was not at all calculated to impress or
influence that party, and for all that has happened
he has himself to thank for the haughty and arro-
gant language he employed in the discussion of a
subject which interested the Chamber very greatly.
The KING may also feel assured th it his ill-judged
counsellor has wrought a great deal of mischief for
the Government of which he has too long taken the
lead and assumed the direction, and if at present
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the discussion of affairs iu Prussia will rue the
course they have persisted in in spite of all the
warnings they have received. The Prussians are
not naturally a weak people, and we differ entirely
from Mr. COBDEN'S opinion as announced by Mr.
BRIGHT the other day, that they are the Yankees of
Europe, for they have not the energy or the enter-
prise of the Americans, but still they have too much
idea of liberty tamely to submit to imposition much
longer. The proposition for including in the ordi-

nary Budget a yearly amount of five hundred thou-
sand thalers for the purpose of establishing a special
fund for the province of Ilanover was passed yes-
terday in the sitting of the Chamber of De-
puties. From accounts received from Berlin
last evening it appears that Count BISMARCK'S
retirement is looked upon as certain, and that he
will be replaced during his absence by the Minister
of Finance. All this looks as if the news was true,
astonishing as some may deem it perhaps. It can
hardly be possible for the Government to be carried
on like this, and if the retirement of the Count is
to be of a lengthened duration he must resign his
post altogether. If he did it would be au unques-
tionable benefit for the country, as the KING is not
likely to meet with another favourite who is at once
so cunning and so crafty.
Baron von BEUST made a speech yesterday in reply
to an in terpellation on the 'political situation,' in which
he gave some satisfactory explanations regarding the
foreign relations of the country, concluding with the
observation that war was only likely to occur under
most extraordinary circumstances. He advised,
however, the adoption of all measures of precau-
tion in case of emergencies arising. The object
of the Government was, he said, that Austria
might, if necessary, " assume an attitude inspiring
respect," and send, at a short notice, her armies
into the field ready for action. This is a very
wise resolve on their part, and we hope
that the House will lend its aid to the
carrying out of such an intention.
tria has had of late most sad experience of war,
but there is no reason why she should not mend in
this respect, and the knowledge that her armies
have been put into a more efficient state will do a
great deal to avert the chances of war ; so that, in
any case, it is satisfactory to know that the states-
men of Vienna have recognised the necessities of
their position, and are willing to act with a sense
and spirit that the country has long been a
stranger to.

Aus-

We are sorry to find from a letter written yes-
terday
by Mr. BULLIVANT that Trades Unionism
has not ceased to exert its baleful influence on the
shipbuilders of the Thames. The shipowner who
empowered Mr. BULLIVANT to make the offer
which he put before the men at Burdett Hall on
the 25th ult. has now given his orders to builders
in the North. Here is a case in point illustrating
the manner in which work is lost to the Thames
workmen. Business will not stand still to wait
their caprices, and while they are doubting, and
arguing, and considering how far they may relax
their demands without compromising their dignity,
the opportunity is lost, the work goes else-
where, and the Thames yards get the
name of being exorbitant and unreliable. It is a
great loss on all accounts. The men of the North
certainly deserve work if they are willing to do it
at fair prices ; but it is impossible not to regret the
vast and wide-spread misery resulting from the
dulness of trade and slackness of employment
, among the populous districts in the East of London.
Mr. BULLIVANT enters at some length into the
merits of the question ; and, though he admits that
he is not conversant with the details of the trade,
the general arguments which he brings forward are
clear and straightforward, commending themselves
to the common sense of the public. From the in-
quiries which he has made, he is quite convinced
that high-class iron ships can be built quite as
cheap in London as in any part of England or
Scotland. "To build an iron ship it would require
to have iron, wood, coal, labour, and profit." He
thereupon examines each item separately, beginning
with iron, which he says can be had quite as cheap
in London as on the Clyde. It is commonly argued

that iron is cheaper in Scotland, but Mr. Bum-
VANT explains that this is only low-class iron—not

the quality which should be used in high-class ships.
The better sort of iron comes mostly from Staf-
fordshire, and can be bought as cheap in London as
on the Clyde. The wood used for high-class ships is
teak, which is naturally cheaper iu London than is
Scotland. Coal, of course, is cheaper on the Clyde,
but Mr. BULLIVANT does not believe the amount
used would make a perceptible difference in the
price of the ship. The amount consumed could
hardly be over 150 tons, and allowing the difference
in price to be seven shillings a ton, the difference
in the registered tonnage of the ship would only be
one shilling per ton. It must be remembered that
the shipowner offered to give his orders in the
Thames yards instead of in the North, provided
that the contract could be brought to within £1 per
ton of what it would be on the Clyde, and
that this offer could not be accepted. The
only remaining points are the wages of the
men and the profit of the builder; and if these, says
Mr. BULLIVANT, are as reasonable as they are in
Scotland, shipbuilding must come back to the
Thames. Unhappily this is where the main differ-
ence lies, and while employers and employed con-
tinue to blame each other, it remains quite evident
that moderation is the very last virtue at which they
aim. Masters have not now any orders on hand.
Before they can take contracts they must give in
their estimate, and that estimate is naturally based
upon the rate of wages they have hitherto paid, so
that they cannot compete with the lower prices

given in the North. How much better it
would be for all parties, instead of pro-
longing this unprofitable inaction, if masters and
men would confer together, would make mutual
concessions, and accept lower but more certain rates
of profit. If shipbuilding could be brought back to
the Thames and regular work obtained the men
would be better off at ss. per day for six days than
at the old 7s. per day, which seldom or never
allowed them more than four days work a week. We
hope those sensible and temperate arguments will
not be without their weight, enforced as they are by
the painful truth that fresh orders have been given
in the north, which might now have been filling
some of the vacant yards on the Thames with life
and action.

Co-operation is now the great domestic question
of the day, and a long-delayed reform in social
economy has at last come about. We have all
been grumbling in true English fashion year after
year at our household bills, but of late they have
assumed such frightful proportions that the most
easy and affluent paterfamilias has been startled.
When the common necessaries of life have attained
a price formerly only paid for luxuries, the why
and wherefore is naturally asked, but not always
answered to the satisfaction of the customer. Some-
thing, no doubt, may be said on behalf of the
shopkeeping fraternity, who are not likely to
find many advocates out of their own ranks. The
present system of housekeeping, which entails send-
ing for orders as well as sending home the goods
upon the tradesman, of course puts him to extra
expense and trouble. Again, if he has to wait one
or two quarters for his money
he may not unfairly
consider himself entitled to his share of the interest
which would be paid on other transactions of the
sort. Then he is to take care how he asks for his
money, even if he really wants it, for fear of giving
offence, and thus he is glad to make sure of what
money he gets, and to charge a good profit.
All this is true ; but it is also true that good and
bad, casual customers and the debtors of long-