The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-28 00:00:00

HAMPSTEAD HEATH.

A. suggestion has been made with regard to the
preservation of Hampstead Heath from further
encroaches—a matter of great importance to Lon-
doners. It is proposed that the Metropolitan Board
of Works should buy up the common righte
to suburban open spaces, and that the Board
should endeavour to put itself in an analogous
position to that of the Crown with regard to Epping
Forest. The Crown rights at Epping were valued
at £4 10s. per acre, whereas the lord of the manor of
Hampstead demands £lO,OOO per acre. It is there-
fore suggested that Sir John Thwaites should nego-
tiate with the copyholders, and obtain the transfer of
sufficient of their rights to afford the Board a locus
standi in fighting the public battles.
MR. RUSKIN'S POLITICAL ECONOMY.

Mr. Ruskin has written a letter to the Daily
Telegraph, on the employment of the poor and criminal
classes. He remarks that no almsgiving of money
can avail in comparison with the exercise of care and
thought. The advantages of occupation to all are
manifest, and he suggests that different classes of
work may be arranged for numerous bodies of men.
He puts forward some of the most noticeable
among them, such as road-making, and bring-
ing waste lands into cultivation. He also
advises the construction of harbours and the
repairs of buildings. He advises that " substantia.
dress " should be made • for the poor, so that they
may not be compelled to keep to insufficient cloth-
ing, or to wear cast-off clothing. Schools should
also be established on the principles of manufacture
of useful materials, and it should be imperative
that everything should be produced by hand-
work, in order to develope the power and skill of the
workman. Mr. Ruskin took to the study of political
economy for a short period, but he does not appear
to have profited by it. His scheme is simply that
which the Republican operatives of France ane.
Spain insisted upon after their respective revolutions
The Government is to provide work for working
men.

FOREIGN NOTES.

GERMANY.

A. very important proposition has been presented to the
Federal Council of North Germany. It is to the effect
that all the subjects of the Confederation residing in the
Grand Duchy of Baden shall be enrolled and finish their
term of military service under the Baden authorities, and that
all Baden subjects residing in North Germany shall serve
under the Federal authorities. The tendency of this pro-
posal as a step to the recognition of Baden as a North
German State is evident. It is a matter of detail, cer-
tainly, and can affect only a limited number, but that it is
Intended to form one arch of the bridge by which the Con-
federation will cross the Mein, there can be no doubt. It
is brought before the Council by Prussia.
An address to the Spanish people published by the
Democrats of Leipsic contained some offensive allusion
to the Emperor of the French. The French Consul
lodged a complaint against the authors of the document,
and a prosecution was commenced. It was, however,
stopped on an order from Paris. The Imperial Government
has had enough of official zeal for the present.
Count Chorinsky, who was condemned, after a remark.
able trial to twenty years' imprisonment for the murder
of his wife, has escaped. On the ground of insanity he
was recently removed from prison to a lunatic asylum, but
it is now believed that his madness was feigned in order
to facilitate his plans. Not the slightest trace of his move-
ments has bees discovered, .