The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-20 00:00:00

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.IFE BOAT SERVICES.—During the Storms of
A. 4 the past year the National Lifeboat Institution con-
ributod to the saving of 1,086 lives from various ship-
wrecks and 36 vessels from destruction. The Institution
also expended £31,845 in the same period on its Lifeboat
Establishments, in addition to granting £3,189 for rewards.
The Committee of the Institution earnestly appeal to the
public for assistance to enable them to meet the continued
heavy demands on their 187 Lifeboat Establishments.
Contributions will be thankfully received by the London
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r;:ftV , 411 t
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LONDON, THURSDAY, AUGUST 20, 1868.

The electors of the Tower Hamlets appear to be
the object of attention to more than one adventur-
ous politician. The member whose name is most
associated with theirs, Mr. AYRTON, M.P., has the
merit at least of making himself and his constitu-

ency noticeable by bringing them constantly before
the public. The hon. member sometimes does use-
ful service no doubt by opening questions which

more timid or hesitating mortals are shown to
begin. When he takes the lead others follow who
are averse to take the first step. No considera-
tions of prudence or taste deter the energetic
member for the Tower Hamlets. When he has
resolved upon a particular course he follows it at all
hazards, indifferent apparently alike to public
opinion or the scarcely concealed irritation of Parlia-
ment. During the last session he made himself
conspicuous by his opposition to the Metropolitan
Cattle Bill, and through the sheer pertinacity of
himself and his followers the bill was virtually
defeated. The majority of the members were
strongly in its favour, and on every division they
carried all before them, but from an in-

genious and persevering application of the rules
of the House, according to the letter and
not to the spirit, the opponents of the
measure, few in number though they were, suc-
ceeded in throwing it out, for the session at least.
It is true that theirs was in all probability only a
temporary victory, but it showed what could be
accomplished by unscrupulous determination. In
the coming Parliament the Tower Hamlets are to
boast of four members, all of whom, according to
Mr. AYRTON'S belief, are to share his politics. It
is not unreasonable to hope that they will not also
share his energy and his powers of speech upon
every occasion, great or small, else the days of
future sessions are likely to be interminable.
Mr. AYRTON'S political opinions are already
pretty well known, both to his own constituents
and to the country at large. They ought to be so,
since by his own showing he has been sixteen years
a member of Parliament without seeing reason to
change or modify his opinions. The question of
Reform was, he tells us, one of the very first upon
which he took his stand, and be has always strongly
upheld the cause. It is somewhat surprising, how-
ever, to find how large a share Mr. AYRTON had in
passing the Reform Bill of 1867, although, after

all, he is not very well satisfied with it. It
was Mr. AYRTON who procured the reduction of
the lodger's term of residence from twelve to six
months. It was owing to Mr. AYRTON that the
Tower Hamlets was the only large constituency
which was divided into two, with four members.
If Mr. AYRTON'S advice had been taken in other
respects the bill would have been much better, but
such as it is the public will be a little surprised to
learn that the credit of settling the reform question
is not due to Mr. DISRAELI, but to Mr. GLADSTONE.
" It was to the self-denial and spirit of Mr. GLAD-
STONE in resigning office when defeated on reform
that the settlement of the question was in truth
due." After this skilful putting of the case no one
can deny Mr. AYOTON'S ingenuity.

On education Mr. AYRTON has not much to say,

excepting that he is in favour of secular education ;
while as to trades unions he is inclined to s ipport
theta. Oa local questions he speaks fairly and
sensibly enough, and in reference to the gas ques-
tion is anxious to obtain the removal of the gaso-
meters from the populous centres of London. Mr.
AYRTON declared his intention to stand entirely by
himself without regard to any of the other Can-
didates.

One of these candidates seems likely to be a
formidable opponent, both from his local
influence and from his political principles,which are
likely from their moderation to conciliate a good

many supporters. Mr. COOPE, like Mr. AYRTON,
is opposed to an additional burden upon the rate-
payers, though anxious to promote the cause of
popular education. Like him, too, he is inclined

to look with favour upon trades unions under
certain conditions, as most candidates for the
suffrages of the Tower Hamlets probably will be.
Mr. COOPE touches on some subjects which Mr.
AYRTON has not noticed,though since his address only
is before us, we must wait for a full exposition of his
principles until he has an opportunity of personally
addressing his constituents. One of the subjects
which he specially touches upon closely concerns
the majority of the metropolitan ratepayers, and
we are glad to find Mr. COOPE "is heartily in
favour of a comprehensive measure for the equali-
sation of the poor rates throughout the metropolis,
being strongly of opinion that they are very un-
justly distributed at the present time." As to the
injustice and inequality of the present system there
can hardly be two opinions, but unfortunately the
wealthier parishes are very unwilling to bear their
due share of the public burdens. It would
be surprising were it not for the strength of the
interests opposed to this much-needed reform that
it has been so long delayed. The absurdity of the
struggling shopkeeper in Spitalfields or Poplar pay-
ing six shillings in the pound while the wealthy
householder of Hanover or Grosvenor-square pays
sixpence has been often commented upon, but the
grievance is not felt by those who legislate, and is
perpetuated year by year. The question is seldom
brought forward, and when it is it is speedily dis-
posed of or thrust aside. We hope that Mr. COOPE
may find a party who have courage to support him
in the new Parliament, and if he succeed in carry-
ing this important social reform he will have done
the public good service.
The long-continued distress in the East-end of
London has come specially under his notice, and
he declares himself ready to promote any measures
likely to ameliorate it. The lightening of the burden
of the rates will be one step towards this desirable
end, and the relations which Mr. COOPE desires to
bring about between capital and labour will do still
more, if they are ever accomplished. "It is for the
benefit of each," ha says, justly enough, " that a
rate of wages should be adopted which, on the one
hand, is not so high as to drive away capital, and,
on the other, not so low as to compel the labourer
to seek other countries for remunerative support."

The British Association commenced its labours
yesterday, and Norwich was chosen for the place
of its assembling. Dr. HOOKER, the President for
the year, delivered an inaugural address, which was
most interesting and impressive. He commenced
by adverting to the fact that it was thirty years
since he had first attended a meeting of the British
Association, and that was at Newcastle. It is
curious to notice that on that occasion the council

of the. ssociation resolved,tdadvise herIMAJEsTY's
Govern ment to despatch an expedition to the Ant-
arctic' regions, under the command of Captain
JAmr,t3 Ross, and Dr. HOOKER determined to ac-
corrapat ly this expedition, and it was in this way
theft his scientific career was shaped. It is, in-
dev2d, >malting for him to look back upon
the t, he l'As been connected with the discovery of
th e PolAar Barrier, the Southern Magnetic Poles,
the Antarctic Continent, and the ice-clad vol-
canwo of Victoria Land. It has been computed
by tatisticians that thirty years represent the
avers ge duration of human life, but, according to
the records of the British Association, it does not
seem so, for of the 14 junior officers who presided
in 1b"38, only two remain—Sir RODERICK ARM-
CID:SCOI and Professor PHILLIPS. The custom of
" Presidential Addresses " dates from the period
referred to; for before that other officers had the
task of delivering them, and there is some truth
in the objections raised by Dr. 1100K.Ea
against the practice, for it adds to the
difficulties attendant on the choice of Pre-
sident, it being presumed that great responsibility
attaches itself to the preparation of these addresses.
It stands to reason that the time and research re-
quired for the arrangement of an elaborate dis-
course must interfere with the necessary duties of
the office, and thus the speaker is put to a great
disadvantage. Nevertheless it must be admitted
that there is nothing to complain of in this
inaugural affair, and it may be perused with profit
and pleasure by all desirous of acquainting them-
selves with the general details of science, and their
relation to everyday life. In reference to Museums,
Dr HOOKER very truly remarked that much of
their utility depended upon two conditions that we
are apt to overlook—their situation, and their light-
ing and other arrangements. The country museum
is quite in a dark, out-of-the-way place, and it
seems only meant to catch people on market days,
the town folks „tot going near it. Schools never
frequent a provincial museum, and yet they could
derive mnch useful knowledge from it if duly
directed to it. At Kew, where there are many
out-of-door attractions, there are many visitors
to the museum, and this is because of
better arrangements being made with respect to it.
It would be if more general attention was paid to
this matter, because a useful means of imparting
knowledge is thereby lost,' and people go on lament-
ably ignorant of what ordinary minds can fully
comprehend. As it is put in this explanation be-
fore us—" What boy that had ever been shown
their skulls would call a seal or porpoise a fish, or
believe a hedgehog could milk cows, as many do
implicitly?" The British Museum is not advantage-
ously placed with respect to position, and those who
pine for fresh air in its galleries have only the re-
sort of the hotter and dustier streets before them.
The labours of the able officers who conduct the
affairs of the British Museum have effected wonders,

and from being thirty years ago the sixth in Europe

now ranks as the finest in the world.

The greatest botanical discoveries of late years
have been physiological, and Mr. DARWIN'S series
of papers on the fertilization of plants have been of
great service in the advancement of knowledge.
This distinguished naturalist has entered into the
subject so fully that he has been considered to have
thrown more light on the matters he treated of than
all previous botanical writers had accomplished. His
paper on the well-known forms of the primrose and
the cowslip contained much that was surprising, and
the results took botanists by surprise. Dr HOOKER
observes that he himself felt that his knowledge
had been but little deeper than Peter Bell's, to
whom

A primrose by the river's brim,
A yellow primrose was to him,
And—it was nothing more."
Among other important generalisations on this point
may be mentioned that plants with conspicuously
coloured flowers or powerful odours, or honeyed
secretions, are fertilised by insects, while those of
a contrary kind are fertilised by the wind, from
whence it is inferred that before honey-feeding
insects were in existence, the " vegetation of our
globe could not have been ornamented with
brighter coloured flowers, but consisted of such
plants as pines, oaks, grapes, nettles," &c. It is
indeed most interesting to follow out the observa-
tions to which these researches lead 119,
and to notice how effectually the results
are put before us, and what before
seemed impossible of comprehension is rendered
easy to understand. Dr. HOOKER did not go too
far when he said that what FARADAYS discoveries
are to telegraphy Mr. DARWIN'S will assuredly
prove to social economy in its widest sense and
most extended application.

Towards the conclusion of his admirable address
Dr. HOOKER dwelt upon the attempt now being
made by prehistoric archaeology to lead us where
man has not yet ventured to tread, and he well
asked if in pursuing this theme we could separate
the physical from the spiritual aspect. All are,
however, permitted to search for " com-
mon truths that underlie both." It has
been well said of all truth by Mr. DISRAELI
that it is the " sovereign passion of mankind."
Care should be taken in touching upon the relative
attitudes of religion and science, and the Duke of
BUCCLEUCII in his address of last year made some
sensible observations on this point. Mr. HERBERT
SPENCER has said that if " religion and science are
to be reconciled, the basis must be this deepest,
widest, and most certain of facts, that the power
which the universe manifests to us is utterly in-
scrutable." This admirable address may be con-
fidently recommended to the attentive perusal of all
interested in matters beyond the common, and it
will be found replete with elaborate research and
condensed knowledge.

VOICRESPONDENOR V10N3410.
, 4
triton otra OWN 'CORIIESP*ONDXVIT,

PARIS, WEDNESDAY, Augus

A. "goring conflict has taken place near Macon betweeri
some French and Piedmontese workmen. It appears that
for some time past a deadly feud, arising out of some form
of the trades-union question, has prevailed between the
Working men of the two nations. A. few days ago an open
quarrel broke out, caused by a violent assault com-
bitted by a Piedmontese miner upon a Frenchman
of the saMi trade. An initiatory combat was
ipeeally followed by more serious measures. The
Ijsrett6ll inhabitants of Montceau-les-Mines, a village
near Macon, where the quarrel began, all turned out, and
Marched to another village named Alouette, where the
Piedmontese miners chiefly resided. The houses were broken
open and terrible excesses committed, one old man being
dragged out of bed and almost killed. Many of the Pied-
montese miners were wounded, and the rest fled ; but
still more serious consequences might have followed NO
not a considerable body of soldiers arrived in time
to prevent further mischief. Many arrests were made,
though not without difficulty. Indeed, according to the
local papers, the crowd which followed the prisoners was
so violent that they had to be released and recaptured the
next day by the troops. Several of the wounded Pied-
montese lie at the hospital in a dangerous state. A fresh
outbreak is considered probable.

.* troupe of thirty Abyssinians, who are described as the
conledians and acrobats of King Theodore, have arrived
here. Their performance is not very remarkable, and the
Parisian public can form but a poor idea of the dramatic
diversions of Ethiopia if the antics of this troupe, which
are neither astonishing nor elegant, may be taken as a
specimen.

The triumphant election of M. Grtvy, the Opposition
candidate for the department of the Jura, is still the
theme of rejoicing on the part of the Liberal press. The
lack of news at the present time may be the cause of this
event receiving more attention than it is worth, but
it is, nevertheless, an important victory. The
result, I believe, has produced no little sensation
in official quarters. The Administration took every pre-
caution to ensure a different result, and up to the last
moment the official reports represented the victory as
certain. The Opposition was discouraged by the recent
election in the Gard, and the Government was propor-
tionately confident. Everything, in fact, seemed in favour
of the latter and against the former. M. Grdvy, the
successful candidate, is a politician of considerable repu-
tation.

The Emperor will probably set out for the camp at
Chalons on Saturday. The departure of his Majesty will
be the signal for the exodus of all the diplomatists who
remain in Paris, including Prince Metternich.
Prince Napoleon is at Boulogne at present, whence he
will shortly depart for Havre. Before his departure for the
town on the Channel he visited the Emperor, for the first
time since the return of the Prince from his European tour.
The interview, say the gossips, was not very satisfactory.
The Prince believes that the hope of stability for the
Imperial regime consists in the development of Liberal
ideas, or in putting a really finishing touch to the " edifice."
But the Emperor gives no ear to these arguments.
The good people of Havre greatly desire a visit from
the Emperor, and a petition drawn up with that request
has received 35,000 signatures.
General Prim recently arrived at Vichy from England.
His movements wero watched with great care by the
police ; in fact, so eager were the officials in looking after
him, that the sous-prefects of Boulogne and Havre
announced that he had passed through both those
towns.

THE WEATHER TABLE.-THIS DAY.

METEOROLOGICAL REPORTS.

Extreme

S. E.
S. W.

N.N.E.

B.
S.W.

N.
s.s.w.
w.
s.w.
N.N.W
N.
N.E.
N.B.

N.W.
N.V.

W. N,ll