MADAM,

To the Editor of the English Woman's Journal.

In the January number of the ENGLISH WOMAN'S JOURNAL, I read a letter signed A. E., in which the writer expresses a wish to know how soon there will be an election for the candidates of the X. Y. Z. Fund. It is intended to grant annuities as fast as the funds will permit, but I do not think it would be advantageous to the X. Y. Z. Fund to lessen the sum of five

pounds to ten years' subscription-for several reasons. In the first place, a large number of circulars have already been distributed in which that sum is named, in lieu of a ten years' subscription. Secondly, it is only a ten years' subscription for the governess and her employer; and in the third place, I fear so many persons would present themselves for annuities, that it would lead to great disappointment, as it is not likely funds will be obtained rapidly at first. Ten years may be almost necessary for the success of the plan. To allow any sum to be paid down, instead of ten years' subscription, was not part of the original plan, but was added because it was feared aged governesses would have no chance at all.

Hereafter this sum might be altered if the funds would permit, but at present I should prefer increasing the sum to diminishing it.

I can see no objection to the letter signed A. V., but the plan proposed would depend on the Board of the Governesses' Benevolent Institution, whose rules would be affected by it.

January 12th, 1861.

I remain, Madam, yours obediently,

X. Y. Z.

NOTICE.

"A LOVER OF TRUTH" is referred to Household Words, No. 468, March 12, 1859, where the poem in question will be found. The German is a translation from the English poem, not the English a translation from the German. -EDS. E. W. J.

LXIII.-PASSING EVENTS.

THE fate of Italy, which has so long occupied the attention of the English public, has suddenly sunk into secondary importance and interest. With Francis II. still at bay, and the problems of Rome and Venetia yet unsolved, men's thoughts are hurried from these comparatively home scenes, across the dreary waters of the Atlantic, to what is no longer the United States of America. With less bluster than of old-in fact, with little or no warning— South Carolina has seceded from the Union, and stands on her right as an independent state, to set at defiance the Federal government. The Rubicon is crossed, and both here and on the other side of the Atlantic, men stand breathlessly awaiting the result. One thing only is clear-the impossibility of compromise on the part of the North. What then remains?-Coercion on the part of the Federal government, a dubious, if not unconstitutional line of policy; the entire disruption of the Union, a calamity to be deplored and averted at the cost of everything but honor; or a compromise from the South. This is the solution to be desired, the only one that can save the States from the horrors of civil war, or, worse still, of negro insurrection. The limitation of slavery within its present boundaries is all the South can hope for or the North concede. And, unless the hitherto United States are to be scattered to the four points of the compass, this is what the South will

have to yield to, after, if not before, the outbreak of civil war. Think of the few and scattered groups of whites in the Valley of the Mississippi, and all along the southern sea-board-think of these and their four millions of slaves -and then picture what will happen if the South sets at defiance the North, which carries with it all the power and strength of the country-and these slaves rise, as they surely will, to avenge the long sufferings of the past. The hour of danger so touchingly, and, as it were, almost prophetically dwelt upon by Washington in his last address to the people, has sounded, and only He who holds the earth in His hands can tell the issue. It is an hour of incalculable danger to us as well as to the Americans—and, we may even add, to the civilized world at large.

By the latest advices intelligence is received of the secession of Mississippi, Florida and Alabama.

The case of Andersen, the fugitive slave, sentenced by Chief Justice Robinson and Justice Burns, of the Court of Queen's Bench, at Toronto, to be given up to the United States authorities for the alleged crime of murder, committed in the State of Missouri, while endeavoring to effect his escape, excites the deepest interest. Justice M'Lean held that the evidence against him was insufficient to warrant his rendition, and Andersen's counsel applied for an appeal to the Bench of Judges. The legal point in question is, whether or no the law of Missouri, which makes killing in self-defence on the part of a slave, murder, is to hold good in the Canadian courts of law, where the same offence would, at the utmost, be held as justifiable homicide. Upon the application of Mr. Edwin James, a writ of habeas corpus has been granted by the Court of Queen's Bench here, and a messenger of the Court has been despatched by the Cunard steamer to Canada, to bring Andersen over, unless he should meanwhile have been liberated by the Court of Common Pleas in Canada. As, in any case, the consent of the Crown is necessary before the man can be given up, it is not likely that this forced and wicked construction of the law of extradition, in the famous Ashburton Treaty, will prove successful.

Long will the severe frost of the latter days of 1860, and the early days of 1861, be remembered and dwelt upon, both for its almost unparalleled intensity, and its duration. The bills of mortality in London alone, show the fatal consequences of so low a degree of temperature, combined with the dense and poisonous atmosphere, which always, more or less, surrounds this huge metropolis. The deaths in the week ending January 19th, were only seven less than the deaths in the week when the cholera was most fatal in the city of London in 1848. During the fog of January 10th, large numbers of persons were struck down as if shot. Dr. Letheby, in his report to the City Commissioners of Sewers, says, "the quantity of organic vapour, sulphate of ammonia, and finely divided soot in the atmosphere, was unprecedentedit amounted to nearly four grains in the cubic foot of air, and its effect on the eyes and the delicate bronchial membranes was most irritating. This is evidenced by the enormous amount of illness and mortality from acute pulmonary affections."

We must not omit to note the death of the long suffering King of Prussia. The Conference held at Birmingham, January 23rd, on the Education of Neglected and Destitute Children, was numerously and influentially attended. The following were the "general principles" enumerated in the printed circular:

"It is the duty of the State, both as regards society in general, and each individual composing it, to provide education for those who cannot obtain it for themselves.

"This duty is recognised by the State, since it provides education for those who are in gaols and reformatories, and therefore come compulsorily under its care, and for those who are thrown on society for support, i.e. paupers. "The same duty exists, but has not been discharged, by the State towards

children who are not as yet either criminals or paupers, but whose natural guardians will not, or cannot, provide for their education.

"It is the object of the Conference to lay before the Executive Government and the Legislature, as a consequence of the principle above stated, the imperative duty of its providing education for this portion of the community."

Sir John Pakington, M.P., in the chair, opened the proceedings, and having dwelt upon the fact that the most poor and most needy of the community, those who people our ragged schools, are excluded from any benefit in the large annual sum voted by Parliament to assist in the education of the poor,* ended by proposing that a firm remonstrance be addressed to the House of Commons, "to demand that the dictates of benevolence and common sense should be no longer disregarded; and he trusted that they would be supported strenuously both in and out of Parliament."

Mr. M. D. Hill, Q.C., and Dr. Guthrie having moved resolutions to the effect of the general principles already given, supported these resolutions by long and able speeches. Miss Carpenter read a paper, characterised by that high moral and devotional feeling, sound sense, and intimate acquaintance with her subject, which lend such weight to all she does or says.

Dr. Miller very much doubted whether the practical point of the question was generally known and understood and, after speaking in the most eulogistic terms of the paper read by Miss Carpenter, he said he hoped that when this subject was brought before the House of Commons it should be moved that every member be compelled to read that paper, and be obliged to lay his hand on his breast and say so before he voted.

*For further particulars see the last number of the Journal, p. 349, "On the Relation of Ragged Schools to the Educational System of the Country