The Sun.
London, England, 1850-01-08 00:00:00

1T A L

Letters from Turin of the Ist of January state
that on the preceding day the Marquis D'AZEGLIO, the
Prime Minister, presented to the Chamber a projrct
of law for the ratification of the treaty with Au,tria.
It was believed that the Bill would bs voted without
discussion.

A letter from Turin of the Ist inst. announces
that MM. Cavour, Revel, Ricci, Favina, Cagnione,
Regis, and Desline, all members of the majority,
have been appointed to form the permanent Com-
mittee of Finance.
The Maws Gazette of the 31st ult. publishes a
proclamation from Marshal RADETZKY, commanding
the inhabitants to surrender forthwith ail arms, flags,
drums, and colours of every description which they
may have in their possession.

PREVENTION of ACCIDENTS on the ICE

TO THF: EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sia,—Nothing, I am confident, is a greater ca-
lamity to humanity than the loss of friends or rela-
tions by sudden death, but especially so by fire or
water, the latter more frequent than the former,
mostly so at this period of the year, when thou-
sands of people imprudently venture their lives for no
other purpose than to gratify their curiosity, and others
to enjoy the winter sport of skating. As nothing in
the way of example deters people from going upon
the ice, it is most desirable to improve, if possible, the
present method of rescuing them from the water in
case of accident.

I shall, therefore, propose the following simple and
economical method to be put in practice in time of
frost :—Take, for instance, an ornamental water, say
St. James's•park (which is nearly 2,000 feet long),
and at proper distances erect along the bank two
strong poles, connected at the top with each other,
forming a point. To the top, between each, attach a
large pulley; at the bottom, between each pole, in a
barrel, have a middle-sized rope coiled, sufficiently
long to attain the distance limited to each ; pass
one end of the rope ,through the pulley, fix to it
an India-rubber ball, about three feet in diameter,
covered with thick net work, and loops attached
to lay hold of; keep it suspended about five feet
from the ground. On an accident happening,
the iceman will immediately lay hold of the
ball, run to the spot, and throw it to the persons in
the water, whilst those on the bank will be able to
render assistance by pulling the rope, and thus draw
out the persons laying hold of it, instead of the present
plan of throwing a single rope, or ladder, or even the
lifeboat, which, in the anxiety of the moment, some-
times causes the unfortunate victim to receive severe
contusions ; and to render the process still more
expeditious and safe, the iceman who should be
appointed to throw the ball might wear states, and be
tied to the rope attached to the ball, which would
facilitate his efforts from the confidence it would give
him. Each of the four icemen would, of course,
know the limits of his rope. This plan would prevent
the crowding round the place to save one, by which
many often fall victims through feeling, of humanity.
I sincerely believe that this plan, added to the ad-
mirable services rendered to the sufferers by the offi-
cers of that benevolent institution the Royal Humane
Society, may be the means of ensuring such accidents
from being fatal.
Being confident of the success of the undertaking,
I shall be happy to subscribe my guinea towards it;
and deposit it in the hands of any committee who
will undertake such erection round the ornamental
waters of the metropolis, or.even erect one as a model,
if permitted, at my own personal expense.
With the highest consideration,
I have the honour to remain, your most obedient
servant,
HUMANITAS.
Jan. 8.
P.S. I have just heard that Mrs. Butler, who met
with the accident in St. James's-park, on Sunday
week, is dead, leaving eleven children ; and she might
have been saved had the above apparatus been there.

Sul DAT DUTIES AT THR POST OPlUM—Another
important measure for the reduction of the Sunday duties
at the provincial ,offices will take ;place on Sunday, the
13th instant. The discontinuance of all Sunday delive-
ries except one, has rendered it practicable to withdraw
many dispatches on the Sunday without inconvenience
to the public; and this, together with other measures of
relief, has enabled the Postmaster-General to direct that
henceforth, as a general rule, every post-office in Eng-
land and Wales shall, after ten o'clock in the morning,
continue closed for the rest of the day, instead of open-
ing again, as at present, at five in the evening. This
will be a most important addition to the relief already
afforded on the Sunday to some thousands of persons in
the service of the Post-office. We may add that the
public has been misled as to the increase of force in the
London office. Such increase, which has never in a
single instance exceeded twenty-five men, is now reduced
to fourteen, and it is expected that further reductions
will shortly take plum—Observer.