OUR HOME LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 3030, 5 November 1872, Page 4

OUR HOME LETTER.

September 5. The events of the past fortnight have not been of a startling description. Parliament being prorogued on the 10th ult., our legislators are taking a little rest before they begin their country speeches and explanations of the policy of the two great parties. Mr Lowe and the Earl of Derby, however, have not been idle ; the former has been making a tour in the north of Scotland, under the auspices of the great Manchester merchant and newly elected member for the Wick Boroughs, Mr Pender. He has made gome very conciliatory speeches, and has been presented with the freedom of the ton ns of Stirkwall and Wick. Lord Derby was entertained at a bauquet at Bury, and there gave his opinions of the Agricultural Labor Question. He pointed out that when farm laborers strike, they do so under totally different conditions to such artizans as builders and bakers, for with the latter, free competition has ruled for a loeg while, and their wages were settled by contract long ago. Masters have a right to obtain labor at as cheap a rate a« possible, and the employed may soli it as dearly as they can, and they may each combine for their objects. Lord Derby thinks that an increase of wages will cause, by increasing the population, an ultimate fall in wages, thus bringing things back to their old level; but by increasing the comforts of our workpeople, prevent emigration. A very different view of the last result is held by many persons, namely, that the workmen having tasted enhanced comforts and luxuries during the days of high wages will feel too ill at ease when wages fall to remain in England, and this will increase emigration. In a few weeks we shall see the papers filled with speeches of our representatives. Party feeling is running high just now, for the Conservatives have great hopes that they may soon regain power. Much will depend on the results of the arbitration at Geneva, and much on the effects of the new Licensing Rill. The meeting of the arbitrators are very private, and nothing is known for certain as to what their decisions will be ; but whatever they are, we expect to hear by the end of next week. A sum of two millions or more may be what we shall have to pay the United States ; and the increased income tax, which must necessarily follow, will make the country grumble. Then the Licensing Bill, which provides for the early closing of public-houses, viz,, at ten, eleven, or twelve p.m., according to the wishes of the town magistrates, will, in all probability, cause much dissatisfaction. Already, serious riots have taken place at Exeter and Leicester owing to it. The Bill, however, though a Government one, received much support from the Conservative party, and will no doubt produce excellent results. The Liberals are nevertheless in no fear of losing place. The Ballot Bill has been tried for the first time, and with results very satisfactory to its supporters. The election at Pontefract was carried on in the quietest manner possible ; there was a total absence of disturb ancee and of “treating” in public, People said they could not have told it was election day. The result was the return of Mr Childers, ex First Lord of the Admiralty ; he polled Gss votes, while Lord Pollingtoa, the Conservative, polled 578. Of course, in a first trial of this kind, there were some palpable defects; for instance, the process of voting was extremely slow, and the abstention from voting at all was considerable ; but these two defects will be easily remedied. The cause of the last must be looked for in the fact that voting in the old way was to many people so disagreeable a duty, that they had in a double sense to be driven to the poll ; and when this method was not resorted to, as in the last election, they shirked giving votes at all. When people find they may vote quietly and without running the risk of a broken head, they will go to the poll of their own accord. We shall soon s„e another trial of lhe new measure. One of the two members for Preston, Sir G. A. Tremor licaketh being dea I, Mr Holker Q C., and Major German, Conservative and Liberal respectively, are candidates for the vacant seat. A rough struggle is anticipated. The election will take place on the 14th of this mouth.

The British Association met this year at Brighton, and the reunion has been in many ways a remarkable one. A grand aquarium lias lately been erected by a joint-stock company at this fashionable watering place. lu it are fishes of all kinds kept in a state nearly approaching their natural one, for the amusement of the public. The ex- Kmperor of the French and the Japanese Ambassadors have been visitors at several meetings of the Association. But he who has been the great attraction is Mr Stanley, discoverer of Livingstone. You will by this time have been informed of the exploit of this gallant young (journalist; how he was dispatched by the proprietor of the New York Herald , travelled to Ujiji, and on entering the town saw the great missionary traveller, whom he saluted with the words, “ Ur Livingstone, I presume,” and received the reply, “ Yes ; ” how he travelled some months with him, and brought home his journals and letters after giving him help, in the shape of encouragement and supplies. Mr Stanley has encountered some hostility in England, occasioned by jealousy. Some people consider him an impostor, but I am glad to say that the public generally hold a different opinion ; and Her Majesty has lately presented him with a valuable snuff-box in recognition of his noble perseverance and courage. The question of crossing the Channel in the easiest way and shortest time has been for along while a much discussed topic. Some have proposed a bridge, others a tunnel, others a steamer, which will carry train and passengers. A new scheme has been propounded by Mr Henry Bessemer. Steamers are to be constructed with a large suspended saloon in the centre, the boiler and engines being placed fore and aft. This saloon is maintained in a level position by means of an hydraulic apparatus. A man watching a spirit level can, by a slight movement of a rod resembling the handle of a copying press, control with perfect ease the oscillations of the saloon. Two steamers are being built, 350 feet long and of 5000 horsepower. If successful, the worst sailors will be able to cross the sea without the miseries of sea sickness. On August 24, J. B. Johnson, the “Hero of London Bridge, and Champion Swimmer of the World,” attempted the above feat. Nautical men stoutly affirmed the performance of such a feat to be utterly impossible, owing to the force of the currents in the Channel, which would make the actual swimming distance between 40 and 50 miles. Tradition affirms that some 70 years ago three men convicted of a political offence, to

escape punishment, swam from Calais to Dover. One was drowned, the other two landed on the beach, one in an utter state of exhaustion, from which he died ; the tnird recovered and 1m d in the town for several years. It appears the present attempt to cross the Channel arose out of a wager laid in Leeds of LluOl) to L3O. and which was almost immediately doubled, that Johnson would not swim across the Channel. Johnson is 24 years of age, of medium height, and one of the finest built men it is possible to see. He measures 45 inches round the chest, and at will can inflate it to about five more; his muscular powers are also enormously developed. The terms of the bet did not allow r of his coming out of tho water, consequently, although his abilities as a swimmer might have enabled him to accomplish the distance, it was thought and afterwards proved impossible to keep up the circulation of the blood for so lon. a period. A good hour,'almost invaluable to the swimmer, was lost by the obstructiveness of the pier authorities. Johnson, at 10 40 a,m,, struok out to sea, and with vigorous strokes accomplished the first two miles in thirty minutes. The wind was moderate from ®ast-north-east; a strong tide was also running, with a short chopping sea. At 11.20 he partook of port wine, and again at 11.30 refreshed himself. At 11.45 he. approached the steamer and requested something to eat, asking whether lie vnight come on board ; his chance ©f reaching the French coast being quite hopeless, in consequence of the strong tide, &c. When assisted on deck it was found that his legs, from the thighs downwards, were numbed ; the circulation of the blood seemed to have almost stopped—in fact, the cold had so thoroughly mastered the system that he was unable to raise a basin of beeftea to his lips.