The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-21 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 21, 1868.

THE SUN,

rich •districts," said Mr. M'GILL, of St. George's-in-
the- East, " Kensington, Paddington, tt. George's,
Ha nover-square, Hampstead, Islington, the City of
Lo ndon, and Lewisham, having £15,000,000 of
property, paid only £150,613 as the rate in 1866,
-while the parishes of East London, Shoreditch,
Bethnal-green, St. George's-in-the-East, Stepney,
St. James, Southwark, and St. George, Southwark,
the property in which combined parishes amounted
, to only £1,371,574, paid £195,215 for their contri-
bution to the poor-rate." So that not only do
these poverty-stricken eastern parishes pay more in
proportion than their wealthy neighbours, but they
actually contribute more money. With property of
twelve times the amount they pay some £50,000
less towards the metropolitan burdens, and it must
b. 3 remembered that in 1867 those burdens were
much heavier than in 1866. If the rates were
exactly even there woald still remain the moral in-
equality, since three or four shillings in the pound
represent a very different value in St. George's,
Hanover-square, and in St. George's-in-the-East ;
but nobody proposes to attempt the literal
equalisation. The matter for complaint is
that the poorest parishes should be taxed
much more heavily than the wealthy ones,
since no one pretends that the poor are especially
called upon to support each other while the rich
may stand aloof irresponsible. Mr. LOCKE, in an-
swering the objections which are brought against
the more equitable adjustment of the scale
referred yesterday to a question which he said
stood in close relation to it—the dwellings of the
labouring classes. " The labouring classes were by
the operation of the present parish rating driven
out of the richer parishes and sent to dwell in the
poorer parishes, which were thus overburdened
with poor and overwhelmed with rates, while
having a population from a large portion of which
it was impossible to collect rates." If the rates
were less unequal the landlords would be less un-
willing to let land for workmen's dwellings, and
the labourers would not be driven so far from their
work. Mr. AY ETON reminded the noble President
that at one time the proposal to equalise the rates
was considered as preposterous, but that latterly it
had gained much ground. Mr. HARDY'S proposal
to make certain classes of sick paupers a charge
upon the whole metropolis, instead of upon
the local parishes, was in reality the first
step towards equalisation, yet it was universally
approved of as just and reasonable. Mr. AYRTON
suggested that if the in-door pauperism of the
metropolis were put upon the same footing in the
41 workhouses, the different classes of paupers
could be properly classified, the lunatics being placed
in one, the able-bodied in another, and so on.
Those who have attempted to deal with the work-
houses in their moral aspect have always lamented
the absence of classification as one of the greatest
evils against which they have to contend in their
work of reform. There can be no question that by
degrading the more respectable, demoralising the
young, tending to the neglect of the sick
and aged, and retarding the recovery of the
insane and epileptic, this want of classifica-
tion increases pauperism, and hinders the pro-
gress of remedial measures. In every point
of view, then, there is much Deed of a change ;
in fact it is a question which cannot much longer
remain untouched. Several members of the deputa-
tion yesterday assured Lord DEVON that in some
parishes the persons summoned for the non-payment
of rates brought their pawntickets to show that they
had parted with their clothes, and others brought
relief tickets to show they were themselves paupers.
The objection that an equalisation of the rates
would tend to extravagance in the administration of
the funds has no solid foundation. There might
be strict central supervision, and the local adminis-
tration might still be left to local dispensers. If
other means are needed to check lavish ex-
penditure they must be found, but certainly
we cannot perpetuate a crying injustice, and
neglect the w,ints of so large a portion of
London on such a shallow foundation. Lord
DEVON, who appeared somewhat reluctant to
entertain the proposition, said that he had
always been anxious to discover a mode by which
the principle of equalisation could be recognised
and adopted consistently with the maintenance of
economy, for extravagance by guardians who did
not feel responsibility would not only do wrong to
the ratepayers, but would demoralise the recipients.
The facts stated from the East-end yesterday,
however, prove that great wrong is being► done to a
large portion of the metropolitan ratepayers under
the existing system, while the demoralisation of the
recipients is far more likely to result from the lavish
and indiscrimate almsgiving which has been com-
plained of at tl.e East-end. Yet what is to be
done ? We cannot suppose or desire that
the public will listen with indifference
and apathy to the tales repeated day
after day in the bitter winter season of families
huddled together without the commonest necessaries
of life—children crying for bread, aged and sick
shivering by fireless hearths, naked limbs freezing
in the winds. All this misery and destitution is not
only vouched for by reliable witnesses, but can ac-
tually be seen by any one who takes the trouble to
look for himself, and the local authorities under the
present system, the economical guardians and the
prudent Poor-law officials, are manifestly incompe-
tent, as matters stand, to deal with it. The East
end of London calls for a vigorous change in the
manner of dealing with the metropolitan pauperism
before the arrival of another winter, and the pre-
sent session must not be allowed to pass without
the whole question being fully and fairly con-
sidered.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS,

FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT 4

PARIS. THURSDAY, Feb. 20.

The Chamber nas been considering an amendment
brought forward by Marie, Jules Favre, and other Itadi:
cal members, demanding the abrogation of Article 8 in the
law of 1819. The article runs thus : " Every outrage on
public morals, religion, or public decency (ou aux bonnes
inceurs) shall be punished with imprisonment from one
month to a year, and with a fine, from 16 to 500 francs."
Jules Simon was the first speaker. He argued that it was
not necessary to protect morals by law, but to teach
them by example. I hardly think your readers
will agree with him that license should have no limits.
Nor will you, I imagine, altogether endorse his objection
toChe law, that its terms are indefinite. No doubt, in a
past age they might have opened a terribly wide door for
persecution, which at the present time is not to be appre-
bended. But the case is one in which the want of definite
terms is itself a salutary check. The writers of the press
in France, many of whom are infidels, do not seem to find
much difficulty in their religious or irreligious criticism,
and the right to II ,mulgate immorality is hardly worth
half an hour's oratory, even where that is so cheap. A
passage of Jules Simon's speech may be worth quoting.
" A -few years ago (said he) a journalist in the United States
was condemned for an offence against the Protestant
reliuion. At once the Protestant ministers addressed a
petition to Congress, and demanded that their faith should
be protected, not by condemnations, but by arguments ;
and the name which was placed at the head of the
list was that of the illustrious Mad courageous apostle
of religious liberty, Channing." The amendment was
negatived without a division. The next was introduced
by Favre and Picard to give the press freedom
to report the trials in which they were concerned.
The Minister of the Interior, Pinard, contended that suffi-
cient publicity was given to these trials by allowing the
courts to be open. As a Minister, he could not admit that
the courts were ever packed by the Public Prosecutor.
Every one, however, knows that that is frequently the
case. Besides, however many persons there may be in a
court, there is a larger crowd outside. Does the Govern.
ment prohibit the reports because the external world
has, or because it has not, an interest in these trials ? The
amendment was lost, of course.

The Constitutionnel discusses the demand that foreign
paper, should be allowed free circulation in France. If
this were granted, it argues, no doubt we should see
at Brussels, Geneva, and other neighbouring cities, jour-
nals which, assured of impunity, would make the most
violent attacks against the person and Government of the
Emperor. As to the pursuits at law which the French
Government might institute against the journals attacking
the person of the sovereign of France, that must be seen
at once to be an insufficient means of repression. One
thing the writer seems to have overlooked, that most of
the other sovereigns of Europe are subject to the same
treatment, and apparently without any serious incon-
venience.

Satan has been ordered to disappear from the streets of
Paris. He did appear in the form of a journal which,
after a good deal of pcosecution, is now definitively dis-
posed of. His offence was the treatment of political
subjects without authorisation. The judgment of the
Sixth Chamber also sentences the luckless manager and
printer each " to one month's imprisonment, and a fine of
100 f. for the publication of the number of the sth of
February; ditto for the publication of the 7th of February;
the two penalties to be combined."

Balls, receptions, dinners, and bats masques have been
and continue to be the order of the day and the disorder
of the night. The bats masques have been, as usual, largely
frequented by the ouvrier class. One may doubt whether
the sort of education these orgies give is good for any class.
The small speck in the south-east is at present the only
cloud in the political sky. In the weekly summary of the
Moniteur du Soir, where important hints are sometimes
given, the declarations of the Roumanian Cabinet are eon-
siaered satisfactory ; but the writer adds, significantly :
" The Rouman Minister will be unpardonable if, after
such categoric declarations, he should tolerate acts and
tendencies compromising the security of neighbouring
provinces."

There has been a rumour that Aali Pasha had a mission
to Pathi to treat of a form of autonomy for Crete. The
llEmorial Diplomatique denies that anything of the kind
has been contemplated.
Parisians have observed the marked attention paid to
the American General, Karl Schurz, at Berlin. He is a
German by birth, exiled and proscribed in 1849, but now
received with honours. Count Bismarck, says one report,
has received the American statesman with the utmost cor-
diality. The comments in which Parisians indulge amount
is this, that certain eventualities might arise in which the
United States would have to interfere in th'..; affairs of
Europe, against their prudent rule to the contrary, and
then M. Bismarck would like to be on a good understand-
ing with the Transatlantic Colossus.
I mentioned the fact that the students indulged in a
quasi-political demonstration at the Od6on. A letter
appears in the Arenir National accusing the police of using
violence towards " a number of peaceable youg men, who
were proceeding quietly on their way home," on Tuesday
evening—towards whom " they used acts of violence which
nothing could justify." I don't pretend to say what
ground there may be for this complaint, but that there
was a little excitement while " Kean " was being per-
formed is certain ; and French students are often much
calmer in the morning than over night.

All accounts from the provinces of Prance go to show
that, in reference to the new Army Law, the population
of the country is at one with that of Paris. All alike con-
demn it. It is believed to have dealt a more severe blow
to the popularity of the present regime than even the
Mexican expedition. Why, everybody asks, do we want
an army of over a million men when there is no prospect
whatever of war?

A casual correspondent of the Times, dating from Senaf4,
2nd instant, states that according to letters received from
the captives in the camp of Theodore up to the 3rd of
January, and from those in Magdala up to the ith, the
Emperor was within ten hours' ride of Magdala. As,
however, he was moving with heavy ordnance and ammu-
nition, and the road was extremely difficult, his army was
not expected to reach the fortress in less than a fortnight or
three weeks ; otherwise the path was clear. Wagshum Go-
bazye, the Prince of Lasta, continued to declare his anxiety to
fall in with Theodore, but whenever the object of his desire
was within reach he fell back on the tactics of Fabius
Cunctator. The whole army, says this correspondent, is
moving forward as rapidly as the necessary precautions for
feeding so many mouths will allow.
Another correspondent insists that the question should
be asked in Parliament why the condensers and muleteers
were not forthcoming at the outset, when they were so
much wanted. It is thought at Annesley Bay that both
Sir Robert Napier and the director of the Land Transport
Corps, Major Warren, had their plans for the organisa-
tion and working of the corps most injudiciously interfered
with by men of little or no military experience, and
if so, in common justice to them, every official paper
connected with this subject ought publicly to be pro-
duced. It is some set-off against the break-down of
the transport corps that the various regiments have
had their "followers " cut down to a minimum. Captain
Holland reconciled the various regiments to the loss of
their cooks, butlers, " dhobies," " dhoolies," and other
Oriental luxuries, by telling each colonel that the com •
mander-in-chief would naturally be disposed to take to the
front whatever regiment required least carriage, at the
.same time ingenuously hinting that some other colonel was
prepared to advance at a moment's notice with a minimum
of mules. The competition 'to get to the front is so keen,
and the dread of being left behind so overpowering, that
if the diplomatic quartermaster-general had chosen to
put the privilege of precedence up to auction, he would
soon have found himself in a position to report to the
commander-in-chief that every regiment was prepared to
march into the Abyssinian Eden on the lowest regulation
allowance of fig-leaf. This augurs well for the expedition.
The commander-in-chief expects, it is said, to hays the pri-
soners rescued, and the campaign over, in a few months.
At the same time he is preparing, in order to be on the
safe side, for a rainy season in Abyssinia, and is getting
out from England huts and other accommodation for the
troops.

The Telegraph's correspondent writes from Ategerat. He
states that the natives were at first not well pleased to see
the invaders, but, on hearing that they would pay (for
everything, became quite delighted. The people seem to
be by no means deficient in intelligence. They understand
at any rate the rights of property, and each man's field is
carefully marked off with a boundary of stones.
The Lancet understands that the total number of sick
amongst our tt oops in Abyss:nia is not more than about four
per cent. of the whole force. The men at Zoulla are en-
camped in tentswith single and double poles, and the number
in each tent does not exceed ten and sixteen respectively.
The meat ration has been raised to 111 h., on the recom-
mendation of the medical officers. The water at Zoulla
has to be obtained exclusively from steam condensers, and
per head per diem is allowed. The camp is said
to be clean, and great pains are taken to maintain it so by
conveying all refuse matters to leeward and burning them.
The latrines are narrow, deep ditches, and a covering of
earth is thrown in daily. The soldiers are dressed in
Cakee clothing, and each soldier is provided with two
cholera belts, and two flannel and two calico shirts. For
ablutionary purposes most of the men are iu the habit of
bathing in the neighbouring sea. There is no doubt, in the
opinion of our contemporary, that sanitary matters are safe
in the hands of Sir R. Napier. •

A TRAGEDY AT RIO JANEIRO.

•
Some seven months ago a family named Cuy&S trans-
ferred their residence from Monte Video to Rio, and with
them came a man of 33 years of age, named Heitor
Monetta, Who, having become enamoured of the eldest
daughter,' Genoveva, determined to cast his lot with them,
and was betrothed to the object of his affections soon after
his arrival here. According to his tale, upon the strength
of these intimate relations existing between them, the
father of the CuyAs family borrowed at various times what
money he possessed, and from that time, ho says, a coldness
was manifested to him by the parents, which finally in-
duced him to leave his residence intheirhouse and remove to
an hotel. Becoming more and more annoyed at the in-
creasing coolness of their connection, he at last determined
to bring the matter to a crisis, and he wrote a note to the
young lady, asking her to come to see him in a neighbour's
house, the answer to which was that she couldnot, and did
not wish to see him. He waited half an hour and then
departed, leaving a note for the girl. Apparently, however,
his anxiety overpowered him, and he went to Cuyie's
house. There in the kitchen he found the mother, and on
demanding whether the marriage was or was not to take
place, he asserts that she began to abuse him. He then ap-
pealed to the girl, who was sitting in the parlour, but she
remained silent, and the mother, still ,More angry at the
appeal, gave him a slap in the face. Ferious at his recep-
tion be hurried to his hotel, and, taking a revolver from
his trunk, returned to the Cuytts's house, where, finding
the mother reposing on a sofa, he beat her upon the face
with his fists and then shot her in the shoulder. At her
cries Genoveva rushed in, and was received with two shots
which laid her dying. He then proceeded towards the
stairs, but, returning, shot a younger sister in the lungs
and another in the stomach, and ran into the street
(Rozario). Pursued by the public hue and cry, he directed
his course to Rio Direita, but as he still carried the revolver
in his hand no one ventured to stay him, and he was
lost in the nightfall. For several days no trace of him
could be obtained, but at length an intercepted letter re-
vealed that be was staying at the Hotel d'ltalia at the
Botanic Gardens. On the afternoon of the 10th a
party of police, disguised as excursionists, drove to
the hotel and managed to examine the house and
grounds without being suspected, but without find.
ing Monetta. Seventy more men were sent on from Rio
during the night, and by 3 a.m. the grounds and .house
were surrounded. At 3 the house was entered, and, after
searching the rooms in vain, he was discovered on the roof,
from which, after being summoned, he came down and sur-
rendered quietly, and was taken to the city. Of the
victims to his fury, Genoveva died on the day succeeding
the catastrophe, but the other three, although severely
injured, it is believed will recover. Another daughter,
who was fortunately out of the house at the fatal hour,
thus escaped, but the father, who was likewise absent,
was so overcome by the shock of the misfortune which had
fallen on him that he died during the nigh' of the Bth
from an attack of cerebral congestion.—Anglo-Brazilian
Timcs.

In the event of Lord Stanley being called to the House
of Lords, it is not improbable that Earl Cowley may be
invited to enter the Cabinet. For many year:. his lordship
was the English Ambassador in Paris.
The Earl of Dalkeith, the eldest son of the Duke of
Buccleuch, has for some time passed suffered from indis-
position. His lordship is now better, although he will
be unable to attend to his parliamentary duties for some
weeks to come. He sits in the House of Commons for
the shire of Edinburgh.

It is stated that when Mr. Lowe was first asked to
become a candidate for the University of London, he said
that he would most gladly do so if he was assured of a
prospect of success; and, on further discussion, he ex-
pressed his readiness to assent if invited to stand by 200
or 250 members of Convocation. No effort was made to
obtain more than this number. Applications were sent to
300 graduates, and within a week 250 of these had sent in
their signatures to Mr. Lowe's requisition. According to
the Lancet, the real number of graduates who intend to
support Mr. Lowe is a very large one indeed, and it is
daily increasing.
The Marquis of Hartington, M.P., wishes it to be
known that in announcing that he would stand for the
north-western division of Lancashire, he made the neces-
sary reservation on account of the present uncertainty as
to numbers. His lordship says that in his speech at
Ulverstone he stated that if after the next registration he
should find his supporters in a decided minority, and Cap-
tain Stanley should have received so many votes as to
make his return certain, he (the Marquis) would:not enter
upon a hopeless contest. His lordship, however, does
not anticipate anything of the kind.
There is a rumour to the effect that the rating principle
recommended by the Manchester Conference will be
adopted by the Government in the Education Bill pro-
mised the other night by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Indeed, it is expected in well-informed quarters that the
Ministerial measure will be of so liberil a character as tr,
render it unnecessary for Mr. Bruce to proceed further
with his bill.

The Edinburgh Reform League have resolved to petition
the House of Commons with reference to the • Scotch
Reform Bill. They desire that Scotland should not be
treated as a province or section, but as an integral portion
of the empire ; that the franchise in counties should be
assimilated to that in the burghs by the adoption of the
'principle of residential household cuff; a_;e ; that the prin-
ciple of the integrity of the empire be recognised in the
redistribution of seats, and that twenty-five additional
members should be given to Scotland ; that the condition
of personal payment of rates as a qualification for voting
'should be expunged from the bill ; that votes should be
taken by ballot ; and that parliamentary electoral districts
should be formed throughout the United Kingdom, and a
member given to each district.

Mr. A. Mault, who describes himself as secrets*, to the
General Builders' Association, writes from Birmingham on
the subject of the trades union conference with Mr.
Gladstone. He complains that though the Trades Union
Commission is sitting, the right hon. gentleman, instead of
inquiring into the subject as set forth in the commissioners'
report, thinks it worth his while to hold a quasi-official
inquiry of his own. Such an inquiry, the writer argues, is
merely exparte, and is therefore to a great extent worthless.
Further, he charges Mr. Potter and his friends with
making general statements which were untrue if applied to
particular cases. For instance, it was said that the num-
bers of apprentices was not limited for the purpose of esta-
blishing a monopoly, but to prevent a deterioration of
skilled labour. This Mr. Mault states to be untrue, and
produces the rule of the Manchester bricklayers on the
subject in proof of his assertion. It is replied, however, that
this is a " local trade" and not a " union " law. But,
answers Mr. Mault, no trade rule is of force until sanc-
tioned by the union. More than this, the union has over
and over again supported men on strike to enforce rules
which are now disclaimed.
The Lancet calls attention to the defects in the Medical
Act. It is exceedingly ill-drawn. Some of the more
important of our colonies have Registration Acts of
their own, and refuse to recognise any practitioner who is
not on the Color. ial Register. This has caused great dis-
satisfaction. Complaints have been made, with good reason,
at an imperial statute being over-ridden by the Act of a
Colonial Parliament. It has been found also that the cer-
tificate of a registered practitioner residing in any part
of England or Wales would not be deemed sufficient in
Scotland to place a lunatic under restraint, and this has
been attended with considerable inconvenience and annoy-
ance. These defects now, however, stand a good chance
of being remedied. Our medical contemporary states that
it is the intention of r. Hardy to introduce a bill for
amending the Act as soon as the pressure of business will
allow him to do so.

A day or two ago the Bishop of London stated in the
Upper House of Convocation that two of the clergy of his
diocese had announced to him their intention to secede to
the Roman COmmunion. It is now said that the clergy-
men referred to are the Rev. Messrs. Akers and Ham-
mond, two of the curates of the parish of St. George's-in-
the-East.

In the Upper House of Convocation a discussion toox
place on Thursday in the matter f a petition, brought up
by the Bishop of Oxford, asking whether it was improper
for a sick person to have the Holy Sacral, 'it brought to
him from the church, and if so, whether the law could be
altered. The petitioner had just lost a child, who
was anxious to partake of the Holy Communion. The cere-
mony of consecration would have been too much for him
to undergo, and had not the service been performed in a
private room he would have been unable to commu-
nicate. It was suggested that the consecrated elements
might be reserved for the use of the sick. The Bishop of
London thought the alteration could not be made without
a change in the whole matter. After a short discussion
the matter dropped.
In the Lower House the Colenso question was again
raised on a gravamen by Canon Seymour declaring Dr.
Colenso to• be excommunicated. An amendment was
moved by the Dean of Eiy to the effect that the House
could not decide on the question of It was rejected
by 45 to 2G. Ultimately the gravamen was amended by
Canon Seymour, and was passed as follows :—" That
while abstaining from expressing any opinion upon the
legality of the claim of Dr. Colenso to the temporalities of
the see of Natal, this House earnestly prays your lord-
ships to take measures for declaring, first, that the Church
of England accepts as valid the excommunication of Dr.
Colenso, and that until he be reconciled unto and received
into the Church by proper authority, they will, as by the
33rd of the Thirty-nine Articles they are solemnly bound,
hold Dr. Colenso to be ' cut off from the Church and ex-
communicated and, secondly, that they accept the
spiritual validity of the act of the Lord Bishop of Caps,
town in deposing Dr. Colenso from his N4hopriet