The Sun.
London, England, 1868-10-07 00:00:00

R,EAIARKB.

Barometrical pressure on our S.E, coast is less than it was yester-
day, but elsewhere in these islands readings are higher, the
difference in Ireland exceeding 0.2 inch. In London
pressure has risen quickly since last night, and the highest pressures
are in the south. The difference between readings at Biarritz and
Nairn is more than half au inch. Temperature is generally lower—
the diminution at Nairn is 9 deg. Strong south-westerly winds blew
yesterday at the entrance of the English Channel, but on the Irish
coast the wind was north-westerly. The wind is now light from the
westward on the Channel coast, but fresh on the west coast of Ire-
land. Rain has been general, and of considerable amount in the
S. of England, The weather is cloudy, A high sea prevails on the
coast of Ireland.,

There was a very stormy meeting yesterday afternoon
;n connection with a proposal moved by Mr. Fitzroy,
editor of the John, Bull, that a grant of £20,00 should be
riven for the use of the Church in Natal, independent of
Bishop Colenso, and, we presume, under the control of
Mr. Macrorie. The bishops and clergy went from St.
Lawrence's Church, where there bad been a grand service,
to the society's rooms, and then began a very lively scene.
The grant was moved
,by Mr. Fitzroy, and seconded by
!.he Hon. H. Walpole. The Rev. Dr. Ilessey moved, and
Mr. H. E. Pellew seconded, an amendment, granting the
£2,000, but with a preamble declaring in effect not to
pledge the society to any opinion as to disputed
questions. The Rev. M. W. Magin interposed with
a modified amendment in order to secure unanimity
of opinion. A brother-in-law of Bishop Colenso, the
Rev. W. G. Humphrey, and Mr. Vansittart Neale more
or less defended him. The Revs. R. Jeffreys, T. Darling,
and others spoke, but there was great confusion. Both
amendments were rejected, notwithstanding that the
Tiishop of Capetown spoke for the second ; and Mr. Fitz-
roy's original resolution was carried by 130 to 04. Mr.
Humphrey gave notice to rescind the vote in December,
and Mr. West a rider that the money should be paid this
month, which the Archdeacon ruled out of order. Notice
was given that an application would be made to the Court
of Chancery for an injunction.

Bishop Gray has attended his farewell services in Eng.
laud, and has preached his farewell sermon. St. Lawrence,
Jewry—the favourite church of the bishops—was again
crowded to hear, in the morning, Mr. Maerorie (the
Bishop-designate of Maritzburg), and in the evening the
Bishop of Capetown. The services are desciibed as being
" Ritualistic." Two other bishops besides Dr. Gray were
present—Rochester and Edinburgh. Bishop Gray in his
sermon glanced rapidly at the state of the Church
of England at the present time, and appeared to
think that disestablishment would be no great evil,
other Churches having flourished after having been
submitted to the process. He spoke in terms of bittei
regret at the conduct of her Majesty's Government—the
Colonial Secretary having two months ago promised him a
mandate for the consecration of a new bishop, and having
refused him further communication on the subject up to
that day. What all this would end in, he said, God alone
could know,but he should go out in full hope of a happy
termination of his labours."

A great deal has been said about the houses of the poor,
their want of drainage, and cleanliness. But it seems that
the rich err in this respect as well as their less fortunate
neighbours. What in the one is a misfortune, however, in
the other is a sin. Dr. Lankester, for instance, points out
the prevalence of what is called " drain fever" amongst
the upper classes, and urges those who have it in their
power to see that their drains are clean. Another thing
in which improvement is wanted is in the cleansing of
cisterns. "It is not rare," says the Doctor, "to find
water of the most dangerous quality attached to the pre•
mises of the more opulent inhabitants. It is in the private
houses of the wealthy and luxurious that the most startling
instances are found of the neglect of the most obvious
means of securing health."

A woman named Hester Roberts has just sung her last
stanza of " The Song of the Shirt." She was a needle-
woman, but was so illpaid that for a long time she was in
a state of " semi-starvation," which means that she came
by her death in the most lingering and cruel manner. Her
Daughter lived with her, and earned her living also by
her needle. At the inquest on the body of her
mother, the younger woman stated that when she was
able she spared her mother a few halfpence, with which
to do battle with death, but as her earnings were some-
imes only 2s. a week, it is manifest that the halfpence
must have been few. The parish officer was asked for
relief, but this was sternly refused unless the women
entered the workhouse. They preferred to struggle on.
The other night the landlady went into her lodgers' room
and found her dead in the corner. There was no bed or fur-
niture except a broken table, two bottomless chairs, and a
heap of rags. The jury returned a verdict of "Death from
extra,vasation of blood on the brain, accelerated by want
of food and exposure." The English of the matter is,
that a poor woman, working with all her might, that she
and her girl might live honestly, was refused relief unless
she became a workhouse pauper, and that in wealthy
London, whose riches and luxury are proverbial, she was
left to die for the want of a crust of bread. Had the case been
made a sensational one, perhaps a small fortune might
have been at her service, but she died unheeded. Private
charity did not include her, the parochial system passed
her by, and the poor rates were not levied for her. There
must be a screw strangely loose somewhere.

OLD AGE.—At a village near Liskeard are living
two sisters, in the enjoyment of perfect health and vigour,
aged respectively 93 and 89. They recently 12s two
brptberp, one aged 190 and the other 93.

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HER MAJESTY.

BAL3IOI:AL CASTLE, Oct. 4.

The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise,
Prince and Princess Christian, Prince Arthur, and
Prince Leopold, attended Divine service at tho
parish church of Crathie.
The Rev. Dr. Caird officiated.