The Sun.
London, England, 1868-11-27 00:00:00

.MILITARY DIRTY LINEN

Londoners generally send their dirtylinen to the country
to be washed. Not so the military, who do exactly the
reverse. i The public will be astonished to learn that the
whole of the barrack and hospital bedding in the London
district,which, besides other places, includes Chelsea, Ken-
sington, K n ghtsbridge, Regent's Park, Hounslo w,Windsor,
and the Tower, is sent to a washhouse situated inthe interior
of Wellington Barracks, close to Buckingham Gate.
Sheets and bedding which may have been used by a small-
pox patient at Hounslow or a fever patient at Windsor,
are brought thence into the very midst of London, and
washed in the centre of the badly-ventilated block
of buildings in which the Guards and their
families are quartered. The laundry is itself inade-
quate to the work. It was erected for the personal
convenience of the regiment on the spot, but has been
converted to its present use on the principle of expediency,
which seems to be one of the most prominent features of
military administration. In a dismal corner building near
the cookhouse the linen is submitted to a process of boiling
and stamping in half-dirty water. The drying closet will
not dry the sheets as fast as they are washed, and it is
useless to expect any bleaching or purification from
exposure to the smoky air of London, in the confined
courtyards of a crowded barrack. It would be interesting
to know whether the sanction of the medical department
has ever been given to an arrangement obviously
dangerous alike to the Guards and to the inhabitants
around. We believe the astounding truth to be that the
spot is beyond their jurisdiction, and that they have neither
power to visit nor to condemn. Meanwhile, we find at Wool-
wich a totally different affair. At the Herbert Hospital there
are usually some two or three hundred patients, and as the
hospital was erected to accommodate a thousand, the
laundry, being of corresponding size, is not a third employed.
Erected regardless of expense, in a pure and bleaching
atmosphere, and replete with every convenience, its staff
is capable of washing for the patients in the hospital, and
for the whole of the London district and the garrison
at Woolwich besides, and this without an addition to
the cost at which the establishment is now maintained
beyond the extra soap. More than £5O per month is
paid in wages, and no one exactly knows how much it
costs in coals, improvements, and repairs. Official
stupidity, departmental jealousy, and reckless careless.
ness of the public interests and health can scarcely be
more clearly demonstrated. Sir Henry Storks has indeed
a task in hand to remedy such evils. We wish him strength
to fulfil his difficult and important mission.—The Lancet.

GRESHAM LIFE ASSURANCE SOCIETY.

The following appeared in our Latest Edition of yeeter4ay
evening:—

The annual general meeting of the Gresham Life
Assurance Society was held this afternoon at the
head offices of the society, 37, Old Jewry, City;
William Tabor, Esq., chairman of the board of
directors, presided.

The routine business having been transacted,
The CHAIRMAN said he would now call upon the
actuary and secretary to read the report of the
directors for the eleven months just closed.
Mr. F. ALLEN Cunris then read the report as
follows :

" The directors have again the pleasure to report
the satisfactory progress of the society.
"In the annual report for the year ending on
the 31st July, 1867, it was stated that the current
and future financial years would terminate on the
30th June ; consequently, the Board have on the
present occasion to make their report for 11 months

During the period commencing on the Ist of
August, 1867, and ending on the 30th of June,
1868, 4,162 proposals were submitted for the assur-
ance of £1,660,652 ; of these the directors accepted
3,693, and issued policies for the amount of
£1,438,148.

" The new premiums received during the eleven
months amounted to £41,422 15s. 3d.

" The sums received from new premiums and
renewal premiums during the eleven months now
reported on, were £253,228 13s. 61., and from inte-
rest on investments, £34,440 17s. The income of
the society from these two sources alone, with the
addition of the receipts for the month of July, thus
completing the receipts for twelve months, was
at the rate of more than £320,000 per annum.
" During the same period the sum of £99,763
Bs. Bd. was paid for endowment and assurance
claims, and £12,455 3s. 10d. for bonus ; after satis-
faction of which, and of all other charges, a sur-
plus of upwards of £95,000 was added to the
invested funds.

" The directors retiring on this occasion are
William Tabor, George Lowe, F.R.S., and Joseph
Williams, Esquires, who being eligible, are recom-
mended by the Board for re-election.
" The auditors, G. IL Ladbury, Wm. Webb
Venn, and William Whitelock, Esqrs., retire, and
again offer themselves for election.
" The directors trust that the arrangements they
have made for the continued development of the
resources of the society, will justify their expecta-
tions of increasing prosperity."
The CHAIRMAN, in rising to move the report
just read be received and adopted, said it was with
the greatest pleasure that he had to announce to
the meeting that the period embraced by the repert
had been the most successful and prosperous the
society had ever experienced. (Hear, hear.) The
amount received from new premiums during the
eleven months just passed had been £41,422, and
had the period been for 12 months he had no doubt
the sum he should have had to announce would
have been £45,000. There was another source of
congratulation, and
,that was, that after all the
claims and other expenses had been provided for,
the directors were enabled to add a sum of no less
than £95,000 to their invested funds. (Cheers.)
Such a state of affairs was no doubt highly satisfac-
tory to the meeting, but he should have had to
announce a still greater addition had it not been
that last year was one of a pleasurable nature
to the assurers—namely, a bonus y, ar. (Hear,
hear.) Had it not been for that circumstance, he
felt certain he should have had to announce
to them that the addition made would have
amounted t0..£120,000 instead of £95,000. (Cheers.)
The claims for the period embraced by the report,
it was satisfactory to find, had not been greater
than was to be expected, and taking all matters
into consideration, it was particularly gratifying to
him to have to make such a favourable announce-
ment to the meeting. The sums now received from
new and renewed premiums for eleven months
added to the interest on investments, made the in-
come of the society from these two sources alone
amount to £320,000 per annum. (Cheers.) With-
out detaining them further, he would formally move
the resolution for the adoption of the report. -
Mr. SMEE said it was with much pleasure that he
seconded the proposition of their chairman. Life
assurance was a subject of the highest importance
to all classes, aid he knew not of a better
instance to show its importance than that which
hal lately taken place. A gentleman named Lund,
one of the sufferers by the lamentable accident at
Abergelo was an assurer in this office, he had in
consequence of his good health suffered his policy
to lapse, but fortunately for his survivois just
prior to taking the journey which ended in his
death, lie had renewed his policy, and thus those
nearest and dearest to him ha 1 the satisfaction of
receiving a sum of no less than £4,000. He could
not too.urgently impress upon those present, and
through them the public at large, the great im-
portance of life assurance. None knew how soon
a contingency might occur, because it was uot al-
ways the moat robust and healthy that lived longest.
Accidents like that calamity to which he had alluded
came with terrible suddenness, and then it was that
the prudence and forethought of the life assurer
was most comforting and beneficial to those left
behind. Their office was one that fully met all
requirements; their position was one of per-
fect safety and solidity and in every case
their great desire was to meet their
claims in the most speedy and liberal manner.
(Cheers.) The report they had just heard read,
was, he felt sure, highly satisfactory to all present,
and therefore he deemed it a privilege to second the
resolution for its adoption. (Cheers.)
The CHAIRMAN then put the resolution to the
meeting, and declared it carried unanimously.
Mr. TREGOE then moved the re-election of the
retiring directors. They had during their term of
office efficiently done their duty, ani he felt they
could not be better served by any set of gentle-
men than those who now composed the board of
directors.

,fir. TYLER, in a few complimentary remarks,
seconded the motion, which, on being put to the
meeting by the chairman was carried unanimously.
Mr. WILLIAMS moved, and Mr. FOOKS seconded,
the re-election of the retiring auditors. This reso-
lution was also carried unanimously.

Votes of thanks having been awarded to the
directors, the medical officers, the agents, the
secretary and staff, and the chairman, the proceed-
ings terminated.

AMERICAN LITERATURE.

(From the Anglo-American Times.)
Fire Years Within the Golden Gate.

Although-confined to one volume, we are bound
to say that it conveys to our mind the idea of what
is called book-making. With insufficient material
the writer has eked out the volume, cribbing and
patching. Bat having said this, we have said all
we have to say against the work. The authoress
fully describes San Francisco, both the city itself
and the citizens. Street by street, building by
building, its wharves and shipping, its bills and
drainage, and its general appearance are truthfully
and graphically told. The writer is a genuine
Union woman, and she does not attempt to conceal
how strong were her feelings in favour of the
North. Her five years' residence and intercourse
with Americans have given her an American tone,
although she professes to be, and really is,
thoroughly English. Having a kindly heart, she
was the better able to understand and sympathize
with the kindliness of the people, and, in conse-
quence, to describe the society. She gives accounts
of two excursions, the one to the Mammoth Pine
Grove, the other into Nevada to the Geysers. We
regret that when at the Grove she did not proceed
to the wonderful Valley of the Yo Semite, which is
not far distant. The Chinamen, as servants, 'she
considers clean and honest, although the description
of the quarter they occupy in the city is far from
inviting. Immigration she describes as dangerous
to the labourer from want of employment, and to
the capitalist from want of experience. The in-
dustrious, economical Chinese, living on rats and
garbage, are formidable rivals in the labour market.
She speaks well of the public institutions, and of
the charitable, generous spirit of the inhabitants ;
and although an ardent admirer of the American
school system in the general diffusion of education,
she condemns most heartily the mixture of boys and
girls in the same seminary. She lived opposite to one
during a portion of her residence in San Francisco, ,

••••••••••
when she saw enough to make her declare that
she would sooner condemn a daughter of her's to
ignorance than permit the contamination which
resulted from the mixed intercourse. There are
some touching pictures of sweet creatures, with
large fawn-like eyes, and luxuriant hair falling in
clustering curls, who became the victims of the
brute—man, who married and deserting, left them
to gain a living by performing as musicians in lager
bier saloons. In all these cases, " husband in fault
as usual," but Isabel Saxon pays a high tribute to
the gentlenaanly-beating of American men. The
difference between them and the. English in this
respect is, according to her, most marked ; and, we
can very safely add, that she would find that
difference at least as marked in Germany, France,
or in most other continental nations. At the same
time she administers a well-deserved rebuke to her
American sisters for the manner in which much of
the civility tendered by the other sex is received,
and which is nowhere more visible than in public
conveyances. In San Francisco a group of men
on the side path, where they are frequently to be
found, instantly give way, clearing the road for any
woman, and this is so in all American cities. But
not only was she jostled in London, or turned
into the gutter when a hulking lot of men had
blocked the pavement, but while procuring het
ticket at a station two persons fashionably dressed
rudely elbowed their way in before her in de-
fiance of all good breeding, although they could
gain nothing from such hurry. We have a right
to receive a lady's evidence oa such points in pre-
ference to a man's. She is keener, more sensi-
tive, and more open to such influences, and Isabel
Saxon gives her opinion in no minced way, but,
as strongly as she can utter it, declaring that beyond
comparison that Americans are more gentlemanlike
than her own countrymen. A man the other day
wrote to the Daily News that in Texas he dare not
have hinted that he was ax Englishman, or his life
would not have been worth an hour's purchase, and
thousands would believe that, who would not read
such works as "Five Years Within the Golden Gate,''
which dispel these gross misrepesentations. A coun-
try which welcomes all Europeans working on the
theory that its wealth is increased in direct propor-
tion to its immigration could not tolerate such an
outrage to its system as that described by the man
who wrote to the Daily !Yews, and Texas as much es
California has been formed by immigrants, containing
only, people from everywhere. Englishmen cannot
read such books as this without feeling that they
can enter into American politics, and the domestic
concerns of the States where they happen to be
located, with almost as much zest as Americans/
and this English lady is as good an Union woman
as could anywhere be found. She deplores the
ignorance that prevailel in England of Norther°
objects at the commencement of the contest,
when the North was in a peculiar mood to be at-
tached to their cousins over the water by a hearty
expression of sympathy, even though it came but
from one section of the people. They can never
know how eagerly it was yearned for, and how bit-
terly it was felt that, instead of the sympathy, they
received only taunts and sneers. Sympathy came;
but, alas! for England first, and America 1104
after the War. T mice England has conspicuouslyi
failed to grasp an opportunity—once when Ireland
Wight have been Protestantized as well as Scotland'
and settled on a broad, liberal basis of gavernmen",
but instead of this it was " to hell or Connaught''
Again, in the great American Civil War, when 0,11
opportunity offered of binding the Northern people
in the warmest ties of fraternity, and they scoffed
and jeered at the chance, because like fools led by
that bell-wether the Times they could not see it'
and only knew it after the opportunity was gone,
and whatever good the Times has otherwise done
has been cancelled by that one course. Isabel Sal.°ll,
does not say, though she fully implies this, and
through her book runs that tone which shows b 0
e,,enuine American is the spirit she has imbibed I°
California. At one time during the war the seeeS'
sion element was sufficiently strong to raise the
question of separation, and the foundation )f n
Pacific empire, but it was scouted by the mass 6'f
the people. She bears testimony to the safety of
t
the streets of San Francisco as well as throughon
the State of California, contrasting favourably in
this respect, not only with the Southern, but als°
~
with some Northern towns, and notably with t. 17.
Empire City itself. This is attributable to the
excellent working of the vigilance committee, which
more than anything else has shown the wonderful
power of self-rule in the American. California Wag
peopled by a rush of the most daring, reckless nuit,
casts to a barren shore without any of the maehiner'
of
of Government, and with little of the necessaries ,
life. It was a wonderful achievement to grasp an:t
subdue that herd—so to subdue it by a stern and in,
administration of a criminal code, that murder, 0
State
so and theft were almost expelled from a xi,
so peopled and placed. The means, to many Inin, a
were as unlawful as the crimes. The idea 014
self-constituted secret society decreeing death 5°
the
hanging without mercy, is wholly opposed tO
Anglo-Saxon notion of order and justice ; but ther°
no
was a hard necessity there, which admitted o'g
hair-splitting or fine-drawn theories. The cluestioo
was simply, Were the blackguards or the h°llat
,30.,
men to rule ? Was the State to become a Pan
moniunr, or the wealthiest in the Union ? o
vice, in its most open and glaring deformity, t.
lion°
shock mankind, or was one of the fairest
r-„ f
of earth's surface to be redeemed for the use o
human race ? We desire the more to give °.
author's testimony to the result, because we hold °
high esteem the bold and daring community 0;
knew when and how to act—readily performing
task of personal inconvenience as well as of dealer'
and all must now allow, with the most he-
result.

~601
It was intended by the Orangemen of Liver?:
to celebrate the return of Messrs. Cross and Turner bYilp
torchlight procession on Wednesday night, but 110Piop
the authorities interefered, and the projected proeess4/

- -
was not carrieout.
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properties of Du Barry's health-restoring Revalentabi .o'4ol
Invalids' and Infants' Food, since to the thousands of t, De
it has already received from Invalids whose position betref
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unsuccessful medical treatment. We quote from the `` Oa golf Midi " July 25th:—" Rome, July 21,1866. -The health of thee'
Father is excellent, especially since, abandoning all otlieri,ke
dies, he has confined himself entirely to Du Barry's trig
Arabica Food, of which he consumes a plateful ate'resll,loa
It has produced a surprisingly beneficial effect on his health'
his Holiness cannot praise this excellent food too highly /16,
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the Marchioness de Brehm', of seven years' liver eoritotiftr
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_floe%

Births. Lt ACTON—On the 25th inst ,at Dublin, the wife of —of 0
Colonel Hampden Acion, Madras Staff CoiPs'
daughter. yeah
KING—On the 26th inst., at Richmond, Surrey, the I(
John 11. King, Esq., of a son. t nodal'
SWINBURNE --On the 24th inst , at Westbrook,
ming, Lady Swinburne, of a son.

Marriages. ld rr.
KrNG —HEWETT —On the 18th inst., at Swalloer-emari
King, of Wiomere, Great Marlow, Bucks, t°oo.
Jane, eldest daughter of Mr. Hewett, of SwalloW lop
Wurcarr—Butpc—On the 25th inst., at Pimpernel Door,
ford, Philip, son of Francis Wright, of Osnaasten of the
Derbyshire, to Alice Elizabeth, youngest daughter
Rev. W. Bury. rector of Pimperne.
Deaths. VA.
BISOHAM—On the 24th inst.. Henry C. Binghnl°,
of Wartuaby Hall, Leicestershire, aged 58. froneet
CiIAWNER —On the 24th inst., at Newton Man°r 0 f the
Hants, Captain Edward Hare Chawner, formerly
4th Dragoon Guards. ijordia,
HARDING —On the 231 inst., Sir John Dorllo9
D.C.L., aged 59. Jol3o
HOOPER—On the 25th inst., at Woodford, sf3es.'
Hooper, Esq., aged 46. 13Ie
cra Sy b
SnOnTREDE— On the 26th inst. at at The Bo- -73 Boni
heath, Major-General Robert. Shortrcde, late J.,
Army, aged 68.

-------------- ----v.-v-4$
---- -- . ‘,011F; ~
London : Printed and Published by WILLIA-V: '''''-r,,i 11"
of No. 112, Strand, Printer, at Tali SUN 00°3'0- °ti °
Sinai, in fns Precinct of the Savor. ill tile - 112
Middlesex.—Friday, November 27, 1808.