The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-18 00:00:00

MR. PEABODPS GIFT.

'rom the annual statement of the trustees for the year
1867, we le4rn that `the original hind has been increased
by rents and interest on unexpended capital to the
extent of £20,042 6s. 4d., making the sum total at
the end of December 1867 £170,042 6s. 4d. The
buildings at Spitalfields and Islington continue fully
occupied, with increasing demand in anticipation of
vacancies. 'At Shadwell, the four ranges of buil& ,s
forming Peah&ly-square, and containing 195 tenements,
were completed and ready for occupation at the close of
the year 1866 ; but owing to the depression of business
and the consequent suspension of employment in that:
part of London, they have been somewhat slow in filling.
At the commencement of the present year 175 families
were resident, and the number is gradually increasing. The
total population in all the buildings erected by the trustees
is 1,583. The cost of land and buildings at Spitalfieldi
was £27,215 11s. 3d., the gross rents from which for the
year amounted to £1,050 11s. Bd. ; and after deducting
£359 18s. 10d. for working expenses, insurance, taxes,
alterations, and repairs, there remains a net return of
£690 12s. 10d. At Islington the amount invested in land
and buildings is £40,397 2s. Id., and the gross rents
for the year were £1,609 7s. &L ; deducting £699 13s.
for working expenses, taxes, insurance, alterations, and
repairs, there remains a net return of £999 14s. sd.
The investment in land and buildings in Shadwell is
£44,972 3s. id., and the gross amount of rents was £1,288
13s. sd. (the dwellings being but partially occupied) ; and
after deducting £B4O 17s. 9d. for working expenses, in,
surance, taxes, alterations, improvements, and repairs,
there remains a net return of £447 15s. Bd. The expenses
for the past year were much increased by causes not
likely to occur again, a large portion being for repairs
to water - pipes seriously damaged by frost and for
alterations and improvements suggested by expe-
rience, after the completion of the buildings. The
trustees, in addition to their sites at Chelsea and Ber-
mondsey, not yet built upon, are negotiating for the
purchase of another at Westminster. According to the
intention of Mr. Peabody, his second donation of £lOO,OOO
will be available for the objects of the trust in July 1869.
Mr. Peabody, in placing the latter amount in the hands of
the trustees, has enlarged the sphere of its usefulness, and
enabled them to possess sites and to build thereon at any
place accessible- by railways within ten miles from the
Royal Exchange. The cost of the general management of
the trust during the year was, including salaries, printing,
stationery, &c., £268 15s. 4d.

The revolution in Peru, which has ended in the over-
throw of General Prado, and the establishment of Gene-
ral Canseco as President, was disgraced by horrible
cruelties. Prado, at the head of several thousand troops,
advanced to Arequipa, an inland town very difficult to
reach. After beleaguering the place for four months he
was compelled to retreat, leaving a large number of
wounded behind. These were actually burnt alive with
vitriol by the revolutionary party. Thus tile Republicans
of Peru treat fellow-countrymen.
The health of Lord Derby is now the absorbing topic of
the day. Alarming statements have been succeeded by
re-assuring assertions, and re-assuring assertions" have in
their turn given way to despondency and gloom as later
telegrams from Knowsley told of the prostration under
which the First Lord of the Treasury was suffering. On
Monday morning the favourable reports of the Premier's
condition suddenly altered. During the night a change
had taken place for the worse, and Lord Stanley was sum-
moned by telegraph from London to attend the bedside of
his noble father. The change in the illustrious patient
must have been a serious one t..) have necessitated the
calling away of the Foreign Secretary from his place in
Parliament, and from his duties at the Foreign Office.
The bad symptom was an extension of gout to the head,
and the fears of all assumed the gravest aspect. All day
the greatest anxiety was manifested to learn any intelli-
gence of the Prime Minister's condition, and the evening
papers which contained telegrams from Knowsley were
eagerly bought. Late at night a favourable change took
place, and with the approach of early morning Lord
Derby was making such progress that all cause for uneasi-
ness was considered to be disappearing.
The public, while earnestly trusting that Lord Derby's
life may be prolonged, are told by the Times that there can
be no doubt that his long and distinguished political
career has closed. Without speculating on the
changes which the noble earl's removal from political
life must produce, the Times prefers to remind
us of the able and brilliant merit of the states-
man whose services we are about to lose, and pays a
fitting tribute to his past life. It is a tribute which is read
with melancholy interest, inasmuch as its subject lies as
helpless as a child on a bed of sickness, and can never
again undertake the administration of public affairs.
Throughout the whole of this leader Lord Derby is spoken
of in the past tense, and no :->e is held out of his ever
again serving his country in a public capacity. In fact,
the Post thinks there is every reason to fear the worst
termination to the Premier's illness ; certainly to antici-
pate the end of his public career.
Who is to be the new Premier? is a question which is
eagerly discussed in political circles. With the dying
Parliament the old order of things is swiftly passing away.
A year or two ago it was considered that there were only
three statesmen capable of governing the country—Lord
Palmerston, Earl Russell, and the Earl of Derby. Lord
Palmerston is dead, Lord Derby must soon resign, and on
Monday night, at the very time that his old rival was con-
sidered to be lingering on the mysterious border-land
between life and death, it was stated in the lobby of the
House of Commons, on good authority, that Lord Russell
had declared he would not again take any leading action in
connection with his party. In the present crisis, opinion
is divided between the claims of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, with his thirty years of pirliamentary expe-
rience, and Lord Stanley, Mr. Disraeli's junior by twenty
years, but possessing great ability, a noble name, and the
reputation of a statesman.

With respect to the Scotch Reform Bill, the Times
sees neither occasion nor justification for faction fights over
it. There are certain defects in it which may, however,
be amended in committee. But the great majority of its
clauses can excite no conflict of opinion. If members will
simply address themselves to the bill as it stands, in a
spirit of reasonable intelligence, forgetful of sayings uttered
in " progresses through the Palatinate," and of every other
occasion of prejudice, there will be no difficulty in arriv-
ing at a speedy and satisfactory settlement of the question.
The Daily News, on the contrary, believes that it is labour
wasted to devise, debate, and vote on such a scheme.
Sound policy requires that it should be discarded, and the
great question of the redistribution of seats throughout the
United Kingdom be referred to the new constituencies
and the now House of Commons.
Lord Arthur Clinton's resolutions on Ireland are giving
rise to much speculation. By some it is said that the
Cabinet do not relish them, that the Opposition look upon.,
them favourably, and will close up their ranks to give the
motion a united support. It is further asserted that Earl
Russell, Lord Granville, and Lord Kimberley entirely
approve of the matter introduced into the resolutions,
and that if deemed advisable the Upper House will be
afforded an opportunity of having them inscribed on their
minutes of proceedings. It is understood a protracted
discussion will take place on them, and that the " whips"
will have hard work to procure a majority to support "the
previous question," which, it is assumed, will be the
course recommended by Ministers.
Those who, however, remember Lord Arthur Clinton's
antecedents, and his persistent voting with the Conserva-
tive party when Earl Russell's last Reform Bill was under
consideration, do not believe that his resolutions have been
drawn up at the instance of any prominent member of the
Liberal party. It has even been whispered that the move
has not been made altogether without the cognisance of
certain members of the Government. So strongly, indeed,
does the scent seem to lie in that direction, that one noble
lord has gone out of his way to declare his entire ignorance
of the design, and his determination not to lend it any
support. But why it should have been thought necessary
to resort to such r. .lisclaimer rather provokes than satisfies
curiosity.

The Hon. Auberon Herbert presided on Monday night
at a crowded and stormy meeting at Islington, on the sub-
ject of the Irish Church. The hon. gentleman deprecated
any approaching of the subject in a party spirit, or with a
feeling of jealousy. They must feel that they wanted to
do justice to Ireland. Speaking to those who had lately
been added to the constituencies, he would impress upon
them that there was no more valuable gift which they
could bring into the political system of this country, than
the desire to look at all these questions in the highest
light. They were less pledged to party than those who
had long been electors, and he hoped they would pledge
themselves to look at every question in the light of
truth and justice. He asked them to treat Ireland in
the same spirit as they would a younger brother or sister
who might make some mistakes, but whose mistakes never
altered their affection. Mr. Mason Jones then addresses
the meeting. He was met by cheers from one party and
interruptions from another in the hall. His speech, which
lasted tw, h ars, is described to have concluded "
amia
loud applause and a scene of the wildest confusion."
11;,;:ing his address the chairman had again and again to
interfere to restore order. A petition to Parliament Was
afterwards adopted by a majority of the meeting for par-.
tial disendowment of all religious sects in Ireland.
A BRIDAL h:E3ENT.—TIie committee Of Oren-
tine ladies formed for the purpose of offering a present to
the Princess Margherita decided on sending a richly.
enamelled and sculptured chest, similar in elegance an.:ll
beauty to those which the rich Florentine maidens use
former times to send to the houses of their intended bri
grooms, containing their dresses and jewels.