OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

Evening Star, Issue 3950, 22 October 1875, Page 2

OUR MELBOURNE LETTER.

Melbocrne. ctober 16 Cuckoos and nightingales were I believe the maiksot aproaching spring, for which I expressed a wish in my last letter. They have not|corae yet, but marks quite as infallible have We get them in the shape of scarlet fever, and similar pleasant “solutions of continuity” in the public hj alth. In Prahran, Fi'.zroy, and even as far out as Kew, cases of scarlatina appeared simultaneously, and the country districts have not -escaped, for Sa»dhu st and other places have similar reports to make. The usual outcry is made about the influences! dirt in producing disease, but certainly this time it does not seem as if dirt had anything to do with it. Temps l ature seems to be the culprit—quickening latent germs into action, if indeed there be any such tiling as a “ disease germ.” But whichever way the gem theory be settled, the disease is a dire fact. In some families all the children have been taken within a few days, in other cases thees and twos perished, and here and there an only child lost. Strangely enough, just when the medical sciolists are afflicting the public soul by their bad logic to prove a good cause come two c see to strengthen their hands. Two men emptying a cess-pit were stupified by the exhalations, fell in, and were suffocated. At almost the same instant, in a distant suburb, two other men similarly engaged were similarly affected and all but drowned. Of course the sanitary reform people triumphantly say, “ No wonder we have scarlet fever among us.” It reminds me of an old woman in England. She had heard that after the thermometer had fallen to a certain point, a certain additional percentage of old people died for each degree of further fa 1. She instantly sold her thermometer, remarking that after that she wouldn’t hav * the nasty thing in her house—who knew it wouldn’t be falling on her some cold night and killing her ? ' The ecclesiastical world is engaged in its annual demonstrations. The Episcopalian Assembly and Congregational Union have held their sessions this week, and the governing body of the Presbyterian Church will assemble shortly. Not the least interesting of the meeting .has been that of a -Society wnoso object is to limit sectarian competition between the Presbyterian aud Episcopal denominations, and to harmonise their working in country places while assisting the funds of poor congregations. This society has one feature which is charmingly novd—the Committee defray all i the working expenses ! On the other hand a statement was made in the Congregational Union that the Presbyterians were desirous of closer union with their Independent friends. The spectacle of general goo-1 will to be produced by the i-itervention of Presbyterianism is very pleasant. If anything could realise* the “ overshadowing ” that amiable Peter Mennes prophesied it this is sutely. But the reader of history opens his eyes. He tries to imagine Cartwright holding by one hand Parker and Whitt* ift, and by the other Barrow and Greenwood, and the only results are firstly amazement at the bare suggestion of such a tableau, and secondly Hum -tic la ghter at the inevitable failure to which it comes. It only wants the new ('ardinals floating in the air and bestowing a Benedicite t > complete the incongruity. I confess, however, Ido admire the “canny ” policy of the mediators. Whoever loses they are pretty sure to gain. Ma 'ame Kistuii nas somehow got involved—to a very, imittd extent—in politic*, ihe is to giye some performances at the Town Hall, nut this, of course, made necessary a theatrical license lor the place. I have only to mention that Mr Coppm is a member of the Lowtr House, and t at the fate of the Berry Ministry was doubtful, to show which way the political wind must blow. At any rate, it was unfavorable to the lady, for the Chief Secretary at once refused the license, on the ground that Melbourne has theatre accommodation enough already. Quite true, but the Town Hall performances were intended to catch a class of peop.e who conscientiously object to entering a tneatre. Of course, there was immediately a great outcry against Mr Berry for his itfnsal. and equally, of course, the refusal was instantly revoked, so the Town Hall is now a licensed theatre. MaMle. Oi Murska has returned from Adelaide, and is reviving the excitement wuich her absence allowed to cool; but it is only a partial revival, “The tender grace,” «Stc., will never c me back.

Politics absorb all attention. The Berry Government, defeated in the House, spared no pains to yet up public meetings, resolutions, •Ui'-I petili ns. Hie public meetings bv no means represent- d the pub ic, a -dthe petitions w- r i >y no means precatory. Only a select set of people were allowed to remain in the form- r, an , toe latter were dictate)ia- to the ■ ctiucG over. - or—Sir William Stawell. It was a prominent feature in almost all the m< clings and in many of the petitions, that a dissolution’ vas insisted on in favor of Mr Beiry. Tl-e Governor, in reply to one of them, gave a very broad bint to one or the agitators that they were taking the wrong line in laying down the law about a dissolution to him, but the hint was so far from living taken that a “ monster’ deputation was got up to urge similar raemo--i .ls upon him. Fifty people were to compose it, and the evident intention was to ov-r awe me Acting-Governor by a disp.a of physi al lorce. Sir \\ ilb.in, however, knew the wav to detenu h;n;f*elf, To their infinite disgust die members of the “monster” were digs. veiod, and each had to make his infinitesimal appearance alone, unsupported Ivy the weight oi hj s fellows. lu vigneron’s phrase, the monster ’ had no “ body.” A perfectly courteous answer, couched in exactly simi ar words, was returned to each deputy, and a ,>i iiun-e that Ins Excellency oul-i ,mswc. the -layer oi tin- peti i- u through Ins advisors. It must have been very galling to Mr Berry, who i d, in the opinion of many people, will wry -pie-clullahie la-te. taken Ilia '-eat alongside his xcellcncy, to see Iris ” monster” so thoroughly tamed; but not qui e so galling as it was to rea l toe promised answer tiiat night in the House -to tin; ifleet that no dissolution would be rant-,-i to him. Most fun-us wrsthe abuse Acting Govern,-- by the I*io ectiunisl'. i.ne idea that be could pus.-ibiy have acted honestly or in accordance with Constitutional

’aws they would not hear of; but, furious as they were, they were gentle in comparison with >lr Higinbotham. l hat learned gentleman, vith his polished elegance and blandest tones, aid things of superlative impudence and trod lose upon the borders of suaition ; but, like a atnb between two wolves, he was heartily laughed at on the one hand and soundly lectured on the other. Poor lamb! His old chief md companion in t'o orgies of misrule in 1866 ct annstqq. —Sir James M.‘,'ulloch—gave him a .‘remenuous castigation ; his quondam political wpil, Mr Wrixon, rubbd wholesome salt into the wounds. It was by far the best incident in the whole of this very contemptible crisis. The public endorse the sentiments of the House. Whatever turn politics may take, one thing is certain—namely, that a deadlock with the Upper House and a policy of rebellion against the Queen will have no chance of success even with the “Lberal” party. Meanwhile the revenue runs steadily downward, and n<> man layeth it to heart. i had nearly forgotten to men> ion the great “demonstration” at the Eastern Market to support the Perry regime. It was big enough, but a strong contrast to thegiatherings of the same party during the Darling grant distuba ces Then men wore in earnest, spoke as if they were going to win, and there was no room for jokes But on Thursday even, the most vehement oiatois took the tone of defeat, desperately wild because they could not get their own way rather than desperately determined on getting it. The crowd w ere full of jokes, and freely dissented in a way that would have ensured martyrdom eight or nine years ago. v theological dispute ha» suddenly cropped up. A Romish bishop, U Connor, of Ballarat, started it in a speech against the Education 1 Act, wa»mlv denouncing the'* principle “ that the •nd justifies the means.*’ The ‘ Argus’ ! attacked him for this on the ground that Bt. | Alphonsus di Lignori held and taught such a i doctrine Wheupon a Dr Moere, a VicarGeneral of the diocese, started vp to defend t. I Alphonsus and to back up his bishop. Then, did the ‘ Argus’ wax learned, and did solemnly quote the said saint from his u"ok called “ Moral Theology,” and the ‘ Southern Cross’ pursued the same course to a further point. Amongst other curious statements it is said that St. Alphonsus gives a table showing the amount at. which in certain oases the mortal sin of theft begins. For instance, to '.sko unlawfully one and sevenpence halfpenny from “ a moderately rich n an” is venial sin, but under exactly the same circumstances take one and eightpence from the same per on is mortal. From a king one mav abstract 9a 1 l|d, and not incur the greater guilt; but, 10s crosses the boundary, and is “ mortal.” In these deeplylearned researches the original point has been lost sight of by all the disputants. Six James M‘CuHoeh gets on but slowly in the construction of a new Cabinet. No mention is made of Service or Langton in relation to it. Murray Smith is said to have too much private business to be able to take office, and G. P. Smith is (oo unwell. Perhaps the shadow of a coming dissolution niakts men chary of committing th- niseives. Whether that be so or not, at any rate the extreme Free Trade party appear to be keeping aloof, if they fancy that that course will secure them grater power in the future they are very much mistaken, I thi k; and they wd> certainly by it render the next ' iovernment much weaker, and its course much more di cult. In other they will be once more playing the Protectiouikts r game for them.