The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-02 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY

their days that it is sometimes possible for them to
escape into brighter scenes and a purer atmo-
sphere. In spite of all our recent improvements,
and, in fact, partly in consequence of some of them,
there is still much to be done among the rookeries
of London. The demolition of houses and high-
ways, inevitable in some poor and populous quar-
ters, has thrown so vast an increase of inhabitants
into other parts already overstocked, that the evil
which all practical reformers acknowledge and
lament is increasing rather than diminishing. The
public health must naturally suffer from such a
state of things, and the only chance of the people
preserving their health at all in hot weather
is by getting what fresh air they can.
It is well, therefore, that the growing
popularity of out-door entertainments should call
them, on days like yesterday, out into the fresh air
and under the open skies--not into the heated at-
mosphere and glare of theatres, and places of in-
door amusement. In another and more important
aspect the fine weather of this Whitsuntide is
doubly welcome. Last year Whitsuntide, it is
true, was fine and sunshiny, but it was so excep-
tional that it could not revive the drooping spirits
of the population. The Derby was run in a snow
storm less seasonable though less violent
than the thunder-storm which this year
characterised the Oaks. The interminable winter
and constantly recurring frosts played havoc with
all the natural products, and flowers, fruit, and
vegetables showed only too plainly what we might
expect from the all-important crops of a later date.
This year, with its glorious early summer, has
happily reversed the picture, and better than any
holiday intelligence is the news from the corn
market yesterday morning, where there was a
decline of between 3s. and 4s. from the rates of
Monday last. The high price of bread, which has all
through these winter months carried desolation
to many a struggling household, will now, we may
hope, soon become a thing of the past. We must
hope that in some cases at least it will have taught
pleasure-seekers a lesson of prudence, since, in
spite of holiday-makers, winter will come, and
those who like to enjoy the beauty of the present
season should also " learn, like the ant iu summer,
to provide" for darker and more costly days.

Yesterday the Premier was able to turn his
thoughts from the weary range of political subjects
into more agreeable channels, and the inaugura-
tion of the Halton Industrial Exhibition afforded
a pleasant holiday to many. The county of Buck-
ingham has thus asserted its claim to notability
in this respect, and, as may readily be supposed,
a rural affair of this sort offered more attractions
than the hackneyed exhibition of towns. The
origin of this Halton business was, it i 3 said, the
desire of the Rontscittuas to collect specimens of
the works of the inhabitants in a parish of their
estate, and the result has more than justified any
expectations that may then have been formed of it.
Straw plait, which is one of the most notable pro-
ductions of the county, was in great force, and
hats and bonnets, baskets and boxes, were duly
exhibited. Models of cottages were also shown,
and it is worthy of notice that in this more regard
was had to the comforts of within than to the orna-
ments of without ; but this, if a fault, was one on
the right side at any rate. Altogether the arrange-
ments were of the most admirable kind, and re-
flected the greatest credit on all who had to do
with them. In order to avoid any awkwardness
that might arise, the judges of the standard of
merit were either from London or outside the dis-
trict. Mr. and Mrs. DISRAELI came to do honour
to the affair, and the scene altogether was one of
the most animated description. The beauty of the
weather enhanced the attractions, and enable.'
those present to do full justice to the display
before them. Mr. DISRAELI addresiel some ap-
propriate remarks, which were listened to
with the greatest attention. In alluding to the
industry of the vale, the right hon. gentleman men-
tioned that at one time it was believed that the
good old county of Buckingham could only produce
" butter, beef, and barley," but the fact was that
they had produced a variety of other things, for
which the world had not given them credit, and
hence this attempt to vindicate their reputation had
been made. The attempt was at first to be con-
fined to one district only, but as the news
spread so did the demand for annexation in-
crease, and at last fifty parishes contri-
buted their share to the interesting display of
Buckinghamshire industry. As Mr. DISRAELI re-
marked to his hearers, in some branches of art ma-
nufacture their county had excelled, and well sus-
tained its reputation. " The lace of Buckingham,
especially of late years, has vied with that of the
LDw Countries, and we have produced for public
exhibition specimens that have rivalled the products
of Mecklin and Valenciennes." Furniture has also
been made with great success in this county, in
consequence of the large quantity and good quality
of the beechwoods, and those products have been
sent to the Colonies, and also to other parts.
It was not likely that Mr. DISRAELI would pass
over in silence the " earnest movement" that has

been making of late to improve the dwellings of the
working classes in Buckinghamshire, and the nu-
merous specimens of inventions and devices that
were furnisLed' in the Halton Exhibition suffi-
ciently proved that it exists in full force at present.
Anything that can tend to promote the comfort and
convenience of the poor is to be welcomed, and it is
to be hoped that with due attention being bestowed
upon this important object it will be found possible
to combine improvement with economy, and thus

achieve a most desirable object, and one which has
long baffled the skill of the most learned on the
subject. It is, indeed, a mortifying reflection that
those who contribute so much to the prosperity of
the land and to the general comfort and welfare of
the community shoald suffer hardships and incon-

venience in their dwellings. To better this state
of affairs is indeed a " great end ;" and we may

hope that those who have hitherto beef culpably
indifferent, or inexcusably ignoranc on the subject

may be shamed into more activity, and inducbdo
spend more care in consequence of the example set

them in some quarters that have been made to

effect this desirable end. Buckingham has indeed

no cause to bide its light under a bushel, for it

rests its claim to the approbation of the country at
large in no solitary achievement, blt possesses

many advantages.

The "silk manufacture" was

'aid particular stress on by the Premier, and justly

so, for of late there has been a sort of mania with

respect to French productions; and it is therefore

very satisfactory to know that the Ayles-

bury silk mauufacturers are very suc-

cessful in their products, and it was

_
mentioned in this speech that they find
their productions not only welcomed in the Fr‘lnch

markets, " but they are re-exported back to Eng-
land, and bought in Regent-street as admirable

specimens of silk from the Continent." It is at all
times a desirable thing for friends and neigi tbours to

assemble and note the progress that is being made
in various departments ; and as Mr. DISRAEI I truly

said, in conclusion, how much better were such
meetings than those which merely assembled for

some " brutal pastime ;" they fill up a void which

has long been felt, but which u:afortunately the