The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-22 00:00:00

THE SUN➢ LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 22, 1868.

realise more completely the lengths to which the
system has gone, and very naturally we inquire is
this necessary, or, at least, is the Llarge sum
properly directed and applied ? At any rate, we
think that Mr. GOSCHEN'S remarks are well deserv-
ing of attention, and that he merits the thanks of
the House and public for the pains he has taken to
set the difficulties of the affair before them, and to
suggest remedies for what are undeniable grievances.
We cannot say that he received the mead of his
services, or that the subject met with the consi-
deration that it ought, for the House was counted
out before the debate was terminated. This is to be
regretted, because the question involves the interests
of a great many, and is even now giving rise to
irritation and indignation. At the same time it is
something gained that it should have been mooted
at all ; and we may hope that upon another occasion
something more satisfactory will follow upon its
discussion.

There are many arguments against the present
system, which Mr. GOSCIIEN set forth; one is that it
presses hardly on the poor, for owing to the burden
put upon occupiers the most inconvenient results
follow. Overcrowding may be named as one conse-
quence, which in itself is a great grievance, and cal-
culated to become worse and worse as time goes on.
As the right hon. member showed, it is only possible
for owners at the east end of London to make cottage
property pay "by regulating sanitary arrange-
ments, and by permitting over-crowding, and by
dealing with the property in a manner that is un-
satisfactory and unprofitable to the community at

large."

No doubt great advantages would follow upon
the equalization of the rates all over the metropo-
lis, but that, unfortunately, does not seem
likely to come to pass just yet, for prejudice
is thoroughly against it, and the sug-
gestions of common sense upon the matter seem
utterly disregarded. As Mr. GOSCIIEN put the case
before the House it is, indeed, an inconsistent mode
of dealing with things as the law at present stands.
A man who lives at the West-end of the town is
supposed to pay one-tenth of his income for house
rent, and on that house rent he pays three shillings
in the 'pound, or something less. On the other
hand, an artisan or working man in the East of
London, out of perhaps " twenty-five shillings a
week, pays five shillings for what is often very in-
ferior accommodation, and his proportionate con-
tribution towards municipal purposes is much larger
than that of the man who lives in the west of
London."
Colonel SYKES made some pertinent remarks on
the subject, in the course of which he said that the
Board had done some good things he was willing to
admit, but still they might well ask how the money
was spent. One of its operations was not so satis-
factory when the public disputed it, for it had
thought proper to make a great increase in the
salaries of its officers. Of course it is natural
that there should be a fair return for
a length of service, but when salaries are
increased more than a hundred per cent.
in ten years, it is going too far. As the hon. and
gallant member said the taxation has become almost
a " crushing weight" on the lower class of rate-
payers, and the immunity with which the Metropo-
litan Board levy sums is quite extraordinary. The
miserable parish of St. Matthew, Bethnal-green,
could pay nothing in 1856, but during the twelve
years that had past great changes have taken place
in this respect. In 1857 three hundred pounds was
levied there, and during the time it has gone on in-
creasing, till now it pays £2,200. It is, of course,
a difficult question to decide what had better be
done in this matter, but we believe that which is
done is far from being perfect ; and hence it is
surely not unreasonable to expect that a change
may be made. It is a melancholy argument against
scrl
eeot
remedies
ai
reproachei
age ns t
cannot
a bitterly t
su such
ohb
be
things
the existing orier of things that it presses so hardly
s a
nt
when
on the poor, and those alone; the very poorer classes
t
ea trielneolffisbgh; burdens
wblseeapliN
siedr,
left
tstthlaopltfoohnntehe
et them.
House
had given some serious attention to the subject. It
ai so
dnot
thoseone,
hhoo waeffveeert, that
eocna
snidebre
italolofwnedo to-day,
conse-
quence will soon learn their great mistake, for it is
indeed a mockery to go on making improvements at
toocroemr feel
ar ts
sand
of sometimestheuonfi t
yt h. e
hwellbeinggn soef otfh et 13;

The water supply of Loudon is a question whose
importance can hardly be overrated. The progress
of sanitary knowledge has been so widespread and
so rapid that the consideration as to how the metro-
polis might be most effectually supplied with pure
water was already engaging the attention not only
of philanthropists and social reformers, but of prac-
tical men of business, prior to the visitation of the
cholera in 186 G. The nature of that visitation,
however,
d
its peculiarly circumscribed area, and
its
ent affinity to the locality supplied
evi
from one p4rticalar source, taught a lesson
which the most indifferent could not fail to
profit by, the most indignant could not overlook.
No doubt there have been great improvements car-
ried out in the management of most of our large
companies of late years, but there are some matters
which still remain in an unsatisfactory condi-
tion, and there is therefore much need of careful
supervision. The bill which Mr. CAVE asked leave
to introduce in the House of Commons on Thurs-
day evening is to make better provision for the pre-
servation and improvement of the river Lea and its
tributaries, and its main object was the preservation
of the purity of the water. The bill reconstitutes
the old Lea authorities with smaller numbers, fuller
powers, and an enlarged jurisdictibn, adding to
them also representatives of the various interests
affected. The old Lea trustees, 120 in number, are
under the new bill converted into a constituency to
elect seven members of the new Board of Conser-
vancy. The trades on the river and barge owners
are to elect one, the New River and East London
Water Companies one each, the Board of Trade two,
the Corporation of London one, the Metropolitan
Board of Works one, and the Stort Navigation one.
To this body, fifteen in all, are to be committed
powers for carrying into effect the regulations for
preserving the flow and purity of the water, the
prevention of the passage of sewage or other offen-
sive matter, and the power of making bye-laws
subject to the approval of the QUEEN in Council.
No rate is to be levied on the inhabitants of East
London, a provision which will greatly enhance the
popularity of the bill, but the necessary expenses
will be defrayed by au additional payment made
by the two water companies, who will be gainers by
the arrangement. Their water will increase in purity,
and they will obtain other advantages from the
new regulations which will take effect in the April
of next year. The difference between the bill in-
troduced by Mr. Cave and the Thames Conser-
vancy Bill is that the Thames Conservators have
jurisdiction t only for three miles on each side of
the river—that of the Lea Conservators extends
over the whole watershed. The reason for this is
obvious ; the river Lea being so small, that if its
purity is to be in any degree preserved it will be
necessary to have direct control over all its tribu-
tarF streams. Sir G. BOWYER, who strongly sup-
ported the Gloverainent in their intention of im-

proving the condition of the law, expressed
some anxiety that the provisions of the bill
should be made effectual. He had sat on the com-
mittee to which two bills relating to the navigation
of the Thames had been referred, and it was shown
iu the evidence given before them that the state of
the river Lea was a great nuisance ; but unless
more efficacious measures were adopted than had
been done in the case of the Thames the did not
think that legislation would do much good. By the
arrangement come to in 1866 the London Water
Companies were to pay £5OO a year towards the
navigation of the Thames, on condition that the
river was to be purified by the exclusion of the sew-
age from the towns above Staines. Since then the
companies have paid their contribution, but nothing
has been done to exclude the sewage. According
to Sir GEORGE BOWYER, the towns in question re-
fuse to make any change, and no one can compel
them to do so. This is a matter which calls for in-
quiry, not only on the ground of keeping faith with
the water companies, but also with regard to the
public health. It is quite useless for Parliament to
sit and frame measures for the preservation of our
rivers and their tributary streams if those measures
are to be evaded, or even, as in the casa of those
towns, completely disregarded. There should be a
distinct understanding as to the necessary powers re-
quired for carrying out the acts in letter and in spirit,
and powers wherever lacking should be supplied. It
is well known that without a rigid system of super-
vision the best arranged system of the kind will
fall into decay and desuetude. There are always
fresh interests springing up to which representa-
tions of the paucity or impurity of the water supply
is a matter of profound indifference in comparison
with their own financial gains or losses. In the
abstract everybody would agree as to the import-
ance of pure water, its effect on the public health,
and its influence on the moral and physical
welfare of the people ; but if we come to the
practical part of the business, we shall
generally find that these theories are speedily put
to flight by the logic of s. d. Unless protected
by the law our rivers and streams stand a very
poor chance of preserving anything like their ori-
ginal purity, and it is especially necessary to con-
sider the question in all its bearings, because we
have not only to allow for the great increase of
population and the corresponding demand upon
the water supply, but also the ever-growing
manufactories, whose materials often pollute
and poison the neighbouring streams. It
was from one of the English rivers that a
skilful analyst once extracted a bottle of pure
paraffine—neither a very pleasant nor very salubrious
form of taking spirits and water ! In face of such
facts we agree with Mr. POWELL, in hoping that
the present will not be the last bill of the kind
which we shall see this session.

It will be no matter of surprise to those ac-
quainted with the facts of the case that the result
of the Press prosecutions in Dublin has been the
finding guilty of Mr. Pigott. It is nevertheless a
subject of great importance and interest, and calls
the attention to matters of considerable moment at
the present time. We cannot see how any one who
is not wilfully prejudiced and perverted can fail to
recognise the clear and conclusive style in which the
chief point connected with this case had been
settled. It is not the liberty of the Press that is
attacked, but its undue license must:be restrained
for the benefit of society and the preservation of
real freedom. In charging the jury, Baron DEASY
gave some admirable definitions of the rights and
obligations of the Press, which may with advan-
tage be attentively considered by all concerned in
the subject. After citing what a public
journalist might do in criticising those engaged in
the Government of the country, and pointing out
grievances, he proceeded to sly what he might not
do : he must not make his journal the theme of
suggestions for the overthrow of the Government
under which he lived, and devote its columns to
" supplying the members of a conspiracy with intel-
ligence which they might use to advance its objects,
or encourage them to promote the organisation,
or induce others to place themselves so as to become
involved in its meshes." The extracts from the
American journals in the Irishman were most con-
clusive against the defendant. This American
Fenian literature shows to what lengths those most
actively engaged in this conspiracy have gone, and
how necessary it is to take decided measures to
suppress their efforts—efforts that have but one
object, the propagation of discontent in all places
where they are excited and gain influence.

ROMEO COATES.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—The paragraph quoted by you the week be-
fore last from that eminently respectable paper, the
Tomahawk, is both malicious and unjust. I took
my facts relating to Mr. Coates from two reliable
authors Captain Gronow, and the Rev. Mr.
Geneste's well-known and valuable compendium of
Theatrical Reference. But how could I expect
anything but spite and slander from a paper like
the Tomahawk, that earns its pennies by pelting
with the worst of mud the highest and purest in the
land 2—a paper, moreover, edited (as the rumour
goes) by the grandson of Ralph Nickleby.—l am,
sir, your obedient servant,

WALTER THORNBLItY.
Fonthill Cottage, Dorking, Feb. 21, 1868.

THE MURDER OF SERGEANT BRETT AT MAN-
CHESTER.—Yesterday tho suspected Fenian Patrick Mul-
cahy, who was apprehended in London, and charged with
an attack on the police van at Manchester and the murder
of Sergeant Brett, was again brought up at tho police court
at Manchester, to which city he had been removed. The
witnesses sworn positively to his identity, and he was com-
mitted for trial.

SHOCKING CALAMITY IN A WORKHOUSE.—Yes-
terday an adjourned inquest was hold at the Erdington
Workhouse of the Aston Union, before Mr. W. Poole,
coroner, on the bodies of two women, named Mary Ann
Pritchard, and Mary Pritchard (mother and daughter), two
paupers. The deceased were in the itch ward, and in lieu
of a lotion prescribed by the doctor, a bottle of carbolic
acid was given them in mistake by a girl who sometimes
assisted the nurse. This was rubbed into the skin by the
patients themselves, and resulted in their death after seve-
ral days of intense agony. The jury returned a verdict
of accidental death, coupled with a severe censure upon
the Aston board of guardians for their negligence in the
matter.

TIIE OXFORD MUSIC HALL.—A series of very
fine photographs of the interior of this once elegant place
of public eutertaintment, after the recent conflagration
which destroyed it, has just been issued by Mr. !teed, of
Tottenham-court-road, who was on the scene of de-
struction with his instrument even before the debris was
cold, and better examples of the art have never been given
to the public. The views comprise amongst them, the
stage, the private boxes at the opposite end of the hall,
the flooring—a perfect chaos—and a general view, with
Mr. C. Morton and his trcupe of artistes grouped around
him. The photographs bring out with the greatest
fidelity the blackened and ruined appearance the
hall now presents, and at the same time show
most distinctly the progress of the flames. I'he views
will, doubtless, be readily welcomed by the public, and the
mode of publication is so arranged that every person de-
sirous of preserving a recollection of the fire will be en-
abled to do so, as Hy) pictures can be had either singly or
in sets.

PRESENTS TO SUIT EVERY P(JRPOSE, TASTE, AND
POCKET AT PARKINS AND GOTTO'S. —Photographic Albums
a choice of 8,000 ; despatch boxes, writing cases, dressing
cases, travelling bags, envelope cases, blotting books, ink
stands, desks, book slides, work boxes, tea caddies, hand
bags and reticules, card cases, purses, stationery cabinets,
scent bottles, albums for postage stamps, crests, &c.; cigar
cases, card baskets, pocket books, electro-gilt and elegantly
mounted articles. Bibles, Prayer-books, and Church Ser.
vices, in every type. Parkins and Gotto, 23, Oxford"
street: Thousands of the above articles, all perfectly 11011
End frosty coainunt up') kali& aloe—Um.)

cOI32IE6rONDENCE PItOM

Mom 01 OwN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, rRMAT, Feb. 21.

The French Senate requires an infusion of younger
blood. The Imperial Council is said to be fully convinced
of this, and rumours have been current as to how it would
be attempted. One of these was that a certain number of
senators would be elected locally in a way analogous to the
election of senators in the United States. These members
would not receive the dotation of £1,200 a year, which the
nominated senators enjoy. It is stated, however, on
the authority of persons well versed in Court matters,
that this system is not contemplated, but that instead of
it some of the principal owners of real estates in the
country and persons distinguished in private life will be
called to take part in the Senate. Many of its present
constituents are old administrators, civil and military.
Rumour acquirit vires eundo in France. It is not unlikely
that this was the crude chrysalis that developed a few
ys since into the butterfly of a parliamentary regime._

In the debate on the Press Bill in the Legislative Body,

'l. Picard made a clever hit. It is the fashion to try to
shame the Ministers by comparisons with other countr:as.
England, America, Belgium, and even Prussia and Italy,
at times serve the purposes of the Opposition in this way.
But M. Picard made use of Turkey. He created no little
amusement' by drawing out of his pocket the Press Laws
of the Sultan, and " he compared them, with a melancholy
feelins,, with those of France. He was sorry to say they
were much more liberal. In Turkey a newspaper was
allowed to report a press trial." M. 011ivier ejaculated.
" And no doubt they would permit a compte-rendu."
I have mentioned as one of the most elastic offences of.
the press that " of exciting to hatred and contempt of the
Government." It is curious that the Irish Attorney-
General should have just used these very terms in com-
plaining of the Irish press. The Government journals
have taken advantage of it to maintain that comparisons
with England will not hold good. Partisans of absolute
liberty, says the Constitutionnel, must cease for ever citing
England as an example of their theory. It then reverts
to the prosecution of the Irishman and the Weekly .News,
and it quotes the speech of Judge Fitzgerald, and gives
the very words which so often appear to define the offence
of editors south of the Channel. No doubt that the Con-
atitutionnel is entitled to quote Attorney-General Warren
and Judge Fitzgerald. But how often are English papers
charged with this offence? To what limit may Irish
papers proceed, even when rebellion is rife, short of actual
sedition ? How long would a paper like the Irishman
have been tolerated in France ?

The Patrie sounds an Eastern alarm. Russia, says the
watchful journal, is concentrating her forces along the
frontier of Bessarabia and Moldavia. The motive is in:
explicable, and the movement seems •to give confirmation
to the reports of revolutionary committees. They, say
that when the revolution begins Russia will come to their
assistance. The Patrie calls upon the Russian Govern.
meat to perform an act of " high wisdom" by avoiding
acts, which give credit to such falsehoods. Those who read
between the lines see that the Patrie takes the rumeura
mensongeres to be pretty well grounded.
Letters from Italy state that speculation is rife at
Florence on certain alleged attempts on the part of the
French Government to act as mediator between the King
of Italy and the Pope. It is considered more and more
certain that the Vatican will refuse absolutely to treat
with the Italian Government, which it regards as its
enemy. The correspondents of the Paris papers favourable
to Italy admit that grave disorders exist. Brigandage
is spreading in Naples, and in Sicily revolt is
only kept down by the presence of the military.
A correspondent of the Siecle writes that the Sicilians
prefer the House of Savoy to the Bourbons because the
Bourbons ordered the bombardment of Palermo and other

of their towns. Nevertheless, they do not believe that the
institutions of the North are suited or adaptable to the
character and habits of the people of Sicily; moreover,
they have a profound horror of increasing taxation.
M. Creppo, formerly a deputy, arrested on the frontier
for attempting to introduce prohibited books, has been
released. _ _ _

If your readers care to know how fast French legislators
talk, here are some figures for them. Latour du Moulin
talks 16 lines a minute, Jules Favre and Rouher from 19
to 21, MM. Pariou and Pouyer-Quertier 22 to 25, Thiers
25. The most rapid orator in the Chamber is M. Lidgeard,
who averages from 28 to 29 lines, and sometimes does 29k,
very much to the regret of the reporters. Taking nine
words to the line, which is about French measure, this is
more rapid by a great deal than English parliamentary
style. Mr. Pitman takes 120 words a minute as the
average. The slowest above-mentioned was 160.

The French Government is-leaving nothing undone that
is necessary to be prepared for war at the shortest notice.
Its latest movement in this direction was to establish two
magazines at the Intel des Invalides, to receive all the
material necessary for an army of 200,000 men entering on
a campaign. Field ovens, machines for making biscuits,
surgical apparatus, and ambulances are already stored in
one of these magazines, while one of the largest refectories
of the Invalides has been transformed into a vast depot of
artillery. The Presse lauds these preparations as an act
of wise precaution. They are part of the Emperor's pro-
gramme of being armed to the teeth, and other nations
will be compelled to follow the example, and delay works
of peace for military extravagance.

The Berlin correspondent of the Times asserts that
France and Italy have agreed to renew the principal stipu-
lations of the September Convention. The final assent of
Italy is made to depend on the evacuation of the Roman
territory by the French. This, it is supposed, will take
place as soon as the Roman redoubts are finished. This
agrees with what we: reported a few days ago. The
asseverations of the official press of Paris that no .
negotiations of the kind were in progress, there is reason
to believe, were simply a blind.
It is considered at Vienna that the blind, exiled King of
Hanover has rather abused the hospitality of Austria in
the address he has just made to his late subjects at
Hietzing. They say, too, that it is scarcely fair that while
King George is treating with Prussia, and accepting the
compensation to be given for the renunciation of his rights,
he should proclaim to his adherents that he means to see
them again soon. The silver wedding has given rise to an
ill-feeling between Austria and Prussia. It seems that
2,000 people from Hanover were provided with the means
to go to Vienna to attend.the celebration.
The Crown Prince of Denmark is about to pay a visit to
England.

The official Almanack of the Duchy of Mecklenburg-
Schwerin publishes some statistics which spew the results
of the stagnant regime to which the Duchy has so long
been subjected. During the year 1867 the entire increase
of population among half a million of people was 550. In
the rural districts there was a diminution of 2,700. The
proportion of illegitimate to legitimate births was 1 to 4.3.

A correspondence has been published with reference to
the Cambridge University election, from which it appears
that the Bishop of Ely was not a party to the insertion of
his name in the list of Mr. Beresford Hope's committee.
In:answer to a letter asking for his vote, the Bishop wrote,
saying that " he did not think a member of the House
of Lords could legally vote for a member of the House of
Commons ; that otherwise be should willingly have his
name set down as a warm supporter of Mr. Hope." This
was all that passed between him and the committee, until
he saw his name printed as an honorary member, when he
wrote to the chairman and begged that it might be re-
moved. The Bishop says : "My long friendship and high
esteem for Mr. Beresford Hope led me to express myself as
I did to his committee, and I have no doubt that they
looked on my words as warranting them to use my name ;
but I did not for a moment intend that my words should
convey that meaning."
Lord Amberley has addressed a crowded meeting of his
constituents at Nottingham. In the course of a long
address his lordship said he thought the compound
householder ought to be possessed of a vote. Nearly all
that was good in the Reform Bill was the work of the
House of Commons, and nearly all that was bad was the
work of the Gover?iment. He was in favour of the
ballot and of the abolition of church rates. He was an
advocate of compulsory and unsectarian education.
With regard to the Irish Church, they had made up
their minds it could not exist much longer in its present
state. He would endow the Roman Catholic religion. The
schemes of Mr. Bright and Mr. Mill with regard to the
tenure of land would not interfere with the rights of pro-
perty. He would legislate for the legal protection of the
funds of trades unions. With regard to the Alabama
claims, he thought Lord Stanley was right and the Ameri-
can Government wrong. He should oppose Mr. Smith's
Sunday Closing Bill.
- - - -

The Telegraph is displeased with the administration of
the- Peabody Fund. It finds that the trustees of Mr.
Peabody's large-hearted bounty have merely performed
the duties of a Metropolitan Dwellings Association. This
is a singular complaint to make. It was precisely what
Mr. Peabody desired. This " mere " performance has.
enabled over 1,500 of the industrious poor to obtain good,
sanitary, and cheap houses. But this is not all: the
administration is t;)o strict. It is being worked on busi-
ness principles. One is curious to is ,w whether society
.would be benefited by a lax administration of the Peabody
Fund. The present trustees have raised the capital sum
from £150,000 to £170,000. The benefit is not, as the
Telegraph seems to fear, to be pocketed by the administra-
tion, but to he employed in building more good houses.
Under these circumstances, it is no objection whatever to
say that it is a paying concern. To join economy and
philanthropy is the essence of good management. Mr.
Peabody's second donation of one hundred thousand
-pounds becomes available next Ally. „ . „