The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-29 00:00:00

:570,740

This increase may be thus accounted for :
Constabularly of Ireland, in pursuance of report
of commission of 1866, presided over by Mr.
linatchbull-llugessen £147,000
25 per cent. of augmentation of pay of police,
Great Britain, in accorklance with circular in
1866 of Sir G. Grey
Extension to Ireland of payment of school-
masters' salaries and half medical expenses of
Poor Law Administration, as promised by Mr.
Gladstone ...
Carrying out of works commenced or sanctioned

1i;,000

65,000

previous to July 1866
Extra expenses of Home Office and Poor Law
Board Administraticn, owing to legislation ...
Fire Brigade, metropolis ...
Increase in law charges, owing to Fenianism
Education ...
Science and Art
Cattle Plague Department, not heretofore pro-
vided for in estimates

96,000

15,000
7,500
40,000
113,000
65,000

7,000

£570,000

There have, of course, been many increases under
different heads of service which I have not alluded to, as
they have been met by corresponding reductions
other leads, but I believe that the above statements
give a fair account of the real causes of the increased
estimates.

Now, as regards the army expenditure, you must remem•
ber that before the change of Government took place the
War Office had determined to convert the small arms into
breech-loaders, but scarcely any provision had been made
in the estimates for that purpose.

That the difficulty 0° recruiting the army had become
so great as to induce the then Government to appoint a
commission to report upon the subject, and that the com-
mission made recommendations entailing a very great
increase in the estimates.

That the forts built by the late Government were with-
out armaments.

Now, what have been the results of the increased expen-
diture ?

1, As regards small arms the operation of conversion
will be nearly completed by the end of this year.
2. As regards recruiting the army the extra pay has
induced no fewer than 26,000 veteran troops to re-engage
themselves.

3. As regards arming the forts, 267 pieces of ordnance
Jave been provided (part of which was estimated for
by the late Government), and of these 142 are already
mounted.

Then, with respect to the navy, I would call your
attention to the statement made by Sir John Pakington
in the House of Commons, on August 4, 1866, in answer
to Mr. Graves :

" I regret to state I find the reserves by no means in a
satisfactory condition, or, indeed, in such a state as I had
a right to find them, so much so that the Admiralty has
great difficulty in finding relief for the ships that return
from foreign service."
It would be impossible within the limits of a letter to
contrast the state of the navy now with what it was two
years ago; but if you will read the speech of Mr. Corry,
in moving the navy estimates of May 11th of this year, I
think you will be satisfied that great advances have been
made towards efficiency.

Lastly, with respect to the civil service expenditure,
with the exception of a large increase in the votes for
Education and Science and Art, and of a grant towards
the Glasgow University Building, I am not aware
that the present Government can be charged with burden•
ing the taxpayers of the country to a greater amount than
was necessary to comply with the provisions of recent acts
of the Legislature, and to carry out the engagements
entered into by their predecessors.—Believe me, &c.,
(Signed) GEORGE WARD HUNT.
It. Assheton Cross, Esq.

The Northern Ensifin learns that the Dowager
Duchess of Sutherland has been in very indifferent health
for some time. Her Grace has, however, improved these
few days. •

The freedom of the burgh of Forfar was on
Thursday conferred on the Earl of Strathmore, in the
Town Ball, in presence of a large and influential assem-
blage.

THE NAILERS' STRIKE.—The strike in the
wrought-nail trade of East Worcestershire continues with
considerable determination, neither men nor masters
shewing the slightest disposition to yield. The number
of men on strike is scarcely so great as estimated
a fortnight since, owing to the fact that in the
neighbourhood of Lye Waste several factors have con-
tracts to complete under a penalty within a given
time, and in these cases they have been obliged to
employ men at the advanced rate. On the completion of
these contracts, however, it is understood that the reduced
scale will be adopted in these as in other establishments.
During the last few days a considerable number of nailers
—men, women, and children—have left the Black Country
on a hop-picking tour in Kent and Surrey, where, at this
season of the year, they will doubtless be able to obtain
lucrative employment.
BRAIN WORK. —This excessive tension at which
the mental faculties are kept for ten or eleven months of
the year, in the vortex of City life, by the never-ending
competition and struggle for pre-eminence in social and
professional status, to which all who live by their wits or
their talents are now subjected, produces a wear and tear
of body and of mind the ultimate result and acme of which
are premature old age. Its marks are easily discerned
by the attentive observer. You may read them in the
careworn countenance, in the hair prematurely grey, in
the lank and stooping figure, in the languid and feeble
gait ; and the physician also detects it in the habitual
dyspepsia, in the disordered circulation, and in the degene-
rated and worn-out heart. The failing memory, the in-
ability to fix the attention long upon any subject, and the
irascible or desponding temper. mark the equal decadence
of the mental pant pass'', \.l' of the physical powers.
..r-Gentlentan'B Magazine.

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tlijr2o 0-1-;9P- - Sint

LOIVDO]V, SA7URDAY, AUGUST 29, 1868.

ISo much has been said of the increase in the
, public expenditure of late that a letter from the
Chancellor of the Exchequer is sure to attract
notice, and will be welcome to those who may be
rather mystified by the conflicting statements of
various parties. This letter is addressed to Mr.
CROSSE, the Conservative candidate for South-
' West Lancashire, and contains a very complete
refutation of the charges brought against the
present Government by Mr. GLADSTONE, and
since then adverted to by many who are glad to
follow in his wake. It will be remembered that on
the occasion of the Chancellor of the Exchequer's
statement to the House of Commons Mr. GLAD-
STONE made a protest against the expenditure; but
as at St. Helen's he confined himself to generalities.
He was, however, answered then, as now ; but of
course the opportunity is too tempting to forego of
producing a striking effect at election times. The
excess of the army estimates, for instance, may be
attributed to changes for which the former Govern-
ment are responsible equally as their predecessors.
The War Office had then determined to convert the
small arms into breech-loaders, though which provi-
sion was made for the purpose. Another point
worthy of notice is, that the difficulty of recruiting
th e army had induced the former Government to
appoint a Commission to report on the mat-
ter, and the Commission consequently made
recommendations which entailed a very
great increase in the estimates. The forts built by
the late Government were without armaments, so
that had Mr. GLADSTONE remained in office he
could not have left out this item. The extra pay
to the army has led twenty-six thousand veteran
troops to re-engage themselves.
Respecting the navy Sir JOHN PAKINGTON found
affairs in] that department very unsatisfactory
when the new Ministers took office, and expressed
his opinion to that effect in the House of Commons.
Great progress has been made in rendering this
important part of the service more efficient, and it
cannot be said that the money thus spent has been
thrown away, while it may be confidently affirmed
that the former Government were to blame for the
remissness they displayed in this part of their
duties. Under the peculiar circumstances of the
case Mr. GLADSTONE'S attack was a most
unfair one, for it is much worse to blame
others for the consequences brought about by the
sins of omission and commission committed by his
own Government than to magnify any errors of
which they had been guilty quite irrespective of
their predecessors. The tactics of electioneering
times cover a multitude of sins, and had the remarks
of the leader of the Opposition been let alone it
would have been unnecessary to comment upon
them ; but when they form the text of speeches and
the theme of criticisms, it is but fair play to look at
both sides of the ques!ion. The Government, it is
said, cannot pay it way, and must speedily be re-
placed by one of more financial exactitude ;
but may not the accused retort that this
Government has ha 1 to pay its own way,
and, besides that, has been heavily burdened by the
debts of its predecessor. What with carrying out
the improvements, all too tardily undertaken, and
remedying the deficiencies all too plainly visible, the
Conservatives have had a Leavy burden laid upon
them ; but in a year or two the expenses must de-
crease, and at any rate, if the reins of Government
changed hands at once, Mr. GLADSTONE might
arrogate to himself the merit of reductions which
would in reality be the result of the prudent outlay
of his opponents. It is always necessary to look
at all the bearings of a question before definitively
pronouncing an opinion on its merits, and an
economy that makes other pay for unavoidable ex-
pense is not deserving of much commendation,
though it may answer certain ends.

Londonderry cannot complain of the grand
doings that have been taking place there being a
failure, although the Show itself was not so good
as might have been hoped. The Mayor's Banquet
took place on Thursday, and a numerous company
assembled to do honour to the occasion. In re-
turning thanks the Lord-Lieutenant made a brief
but effective speech, which was very well received,
and related chiefly to local matters. The city of
Derry, with its old associations, can well furnish a
I theme for the attention of writers and animate the
eloquence of orators. The connection which has
existed for two centuries and a half between the
Duke of ABERCOM'S family and the ancient city im-
parted, of course, an additional intdest to the feeling
with which his Excellency regarded it. In dwelling
on this he addressed no party in particular, but took
for granted that all must agree in admiration for the
deeds which had made the city famous and
! immortalised in memory. The " struggle for
liberty, the calm endurance, and the successful
perseverance," which distinguished the Irishmen of
that day were, indeed, worthy of all commendation.
Some instances may even now be met with which
show that the men of this generation are not un-
worthy of their forefathers, and can emulate their
patriotism. The Lord-Lieutenant truly reminded
his hearers that we live in times when the more
thoughtful qualities and peaceful professions can
c)mmand as much admiration as the exhibition of
i brilliant attainments and striking qualities. The
capitalist, the merchant, and the skilful cultivator
of the land can each in his way confer a great
benefit on society, and be of service to his country.
If they rightly perform their several duties and re-
quirements, they are as deserving of respect as the
skilful statesman or the victorious general. Derry
has not been wanting in the production of men who
are capable of adding to the material reputation of
the city any more than in past days. It contained
thcs3 who contributed to the revenue of the land
by their powers in the field and their skill in the
council. Since his Excellency last met the citizens
of Derry. serious events have occurred, which
seemed likely to affect the interests of the country
most prejudicially. In the northern citadel there
was happily no shock felt at the disturbing element
which affected the other parts of the land, and it
displayed an enviable sight to them of unity of
sentiment prevailing among all classes, and the
cordial sympathies which prevailed elicited favour-
able notice. The example was not altogether
without producing its effects, and at present it is
most pleasing to know that, with " rare excep-
tions," the whole country is in a state of quiescence.
The prisons contain no political prisoners—the
courts of justice are without a political offender for
trial—and every county assize shows a re-
markable absence of crime. Surely, then,
we are justified in looking at the future with