The Sun. — London, England, 1866-03-23 00:00:00

OUSES.—Messrs. TOPLIS and ROBERTS have numerous furnished and unfurnished TOWN, tiourban, and Country RESIDENCES to LET or SELL. fir , iciflara upon application forwarded for two stamps, non stating requirements and rental. Offices, 2, Conduit freet, Regent-greet, and South Kensington, facing the Museum. SOUTH KENSINGTON, HYDE-PARK, Queen's, and Rutland Gates, Queen's-gate and Peters ham Terraces, Queen's-gate, Cornwall, Princes and Beaufort Sardens, Elvaston-place, Cromwell-road, Onslow and Thurloe Squares, Boltons, &c. 3lessrs TOPLIS and ROBERTS have -4 DEN CES to SELL and LET in these and surrounding localities. Offices, 2, Conduit-street, Regent-street, and south Kensington, facing the Museum. THE A TRE ROYAL, DRURY-LANE.- Managers. Messrs. E. Falconer and 14'. B. Chatterton. Pr - THIS EVENING, THE HUNCHBACK. Mr. Phelps; Messrs. Be!more E. Phe ps, C. Harcourt, yarsby, Spencer ; Dire. Herman ezin, Miss Rose Leclercq &c. Concludin , with KATHERINE AND PE PRUCHIO. IVlessr.4. 11. Mars:on, Behnore, Barrett, Si.encer, bleagreson; Mrs. Herman V(ziu, Miss Seymour, &a. the conspiracy which had just occurred had nothing to do with the Phoenix on They were the same, however, under different t L n a A m w e s s o . N T w h a i s s shows lllursdeterminedlVll:E. to contradict how Mr. v coute qui coute. The only difference between these two conspiracies was that, during the years which intervened between them, the latter one gained strength owing to the thou sands of men who were disbanded in Ireland. Sir ROBERT PEEL tried the vehement style, and was ready to do battle in the cause of the Government, and actually went the length of saying that the Government had acted with firmness, discretion, and judgment. As for the management of the prison, he boldly asked, " Does the right hon. gentleman opposite mean to say that the Government, with all the burden of current events on their shoulders, could go to these gaols and see that the officials properly discharged their duties ?" After all, how ever, it would seem, upon Sir ROBERT PEEL'S own showing, that there was great ignorance pre vailing. He said that the Irish Government were I under the impression that the military guard were still at the prison, and did not know that Mr. MARQUESS had sent them back. However, exertion was used at last, for we are told that, immediately when information of the escape of STEPHENS reached the Government, Sir R. PEEL went to the prison with Colonel LAKE, and made arrangements for the removal of the other prisoners ; but surely this was very like following the plan of shutting the stable door, &c., for it mattered little in comparison who was left when the chief prisoner was gone. We may fairly conclude that the remarks of Mr. BAILLIE very fitly summed up the tenour of the de bate. He said that they had heard the Attorney- General and the Crsl;,;+,,r_Clmnn...l 41..4 L.a, the only thing that they proved was that things were done differently in. Ireland from what would be allowed in any other country in the world. Certainly there is great truth in this, especially as regards the case of the Irish People, which was suffered to continue, despite what was known of its seditious character. " But the law officers said that they knew better, and that, there were State reasons why these things should be allowed to go on for two years, and that then they made a grand coup, and put it all down." We entirely agree with the hon. member that, if this is the mode in which the Government of Ireland was conducted, it was a " mode which was not adopted in any other country in the world." We , can see nothing in anything that has transpired'ol the official management for the Government members to plume themselves upon ; but perhaps they think that if they cannot explain things in a statisfactory style, they had better go to the other extreme, and declare that all is perfectly correct. It is quite a new thing, at any rate, for hon. gentlemen in Government offices to be so proud of the management which allowed a prisoner to escape, and to be so anxious for the House to inquire into the particulars of the mode in which it was done. We should advise them to try bad management next time, for the result could not be worse. Commence at 7. Commence at Seven. .NEW THEATRE-ROYAL ADELPHI. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, at 7, a new farce called PIPKIN'S RUSTIC ItE'rKEAT, Messrs J. Le Toole and P. Bedford. After which, at 8, RIP VAN WINKLE. Rip (his 171st appearance), Mr. Jefferson, supported by Messrs. Billing-ton, P. Bedford, It Phillips, I'elix Rog,%.rs, Ashley, ILburne, C. J. Smith; Mrs. Biliingtcr, &c. To conclude with BEHIND TIME. Messrs. J. L. Toole, R. Phillips, Eburne, C. J. Smith ; Miss A. eamen, &c. OYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, 51r. Geo. Vining'. lIIS EVENING, A GHOST IN SPITE OF RIZ SELF. After which, at a quarter to Eight, TIIE STREETS OF LONDON. Messrs. Vining,, T. Mead, D. Murray, Shore, Villiers; Mrs. 11. Marson, Mis 3 E. Barnett, and Miss K. Rodgers. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough. THIS EVENING, at Seven o'clock, a new and origi nal Comedy, THE FLY,:AND THE WEB. Messrs. Par selle and Price ; Misses Swanborough and Raynham. After which the Grand Burlesque, IVANHOE. Messrs. Stoyle, 'I home, James, Fenton : mesdames Swanborough, Raynham, Simpson. Johnstone, and Hughes. To conclude with LENDING 'A HAND. Messrs. Belford Turner ; Misses Simpson and Hughes. THE ~S UN" NEWSPAPER .— G. R. GLENIE, Sporting Library, 4, Connaught terrace, Edgware-road, is specially appointed AGEN I.' to deliver the LATE EDITION of " THE SUN " at the earlie.it por Bible moment after leaving the press. He Is able to deliver copies in Town, the Suburbs, and in many parts of the Country at a comparatively early hour the same evening, say 41/ miles by 9 o'clock. T"E "SUN" NEWSPAP ER.- G. IL GLENIE delivers tr:e LATE EDITION at Chelsea, 7.40; Kilbu. n, 8 ; Starch-green, S; Woolwich, 7.30 ; Uxbridge, 9.20; Walford, 8.45. THE LATEST EDITION o f " T HE SUN " supplied, as soon as p u bli s h e d every Eveninw, by LEXAND.ER (late BROOKS), Newspaper Agent, 21, Old Cavendish- street, Oxford-street. THE LAST EDITION of " TIIE SUN" LATESTsupplied as soon as Published. containing all the NEWS and SPORTING INTELLIGENCE, by 11. W. HARRIS, Newspaper Agent, 4, Blacktriars-roaa, London, S. rim-1E LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN." J. HOLMES begs to inform his friends, and the pubic F - I r f all g r i 4h, s ,,,t as h he supplies oon ,3 p a published - 1 road, N.W. P QPORTING.—JOHN ROBERTS supplies the LATr.ST EDITION of " Tl ltt; SUN" as soon as pub lished.-4, Rah-street, City-road, E.C. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. Tins DAY.--31®ruing, 611. 3 8m.—Afternoon, 7h. 5m Ta-gorutow.-Morning, ih. 3-11 n. —Afternoon, Bh. 10m. A i 4 44 . 1 111 ".-#1 1 ' 4 4.1.11111 uno THEATRE ROYAL, HAY,MARKET.— sole Lessee and Mangg,,?r, Mr. Buckstone. THIS EVENING, THE OVERLAND ROUTE: Messrs. Buckstone, Compton. Chippendale, W. Farren, Rogers, Gor don, Braid, Clark. Weathersoy, White, Coe, itc. ; Mesdames Snowdon, Hill, Wright, Coleman, Moore, ,tc. After which (for the last week but one), ORPHEUS IN THE HAY MA Li KET. Messrs. W. Farren, Fisher, Bartle man, Weathersby, tc. ; Mesdames Keeley, Snowden, Moore , Lindley, Woo lgar, Howard , W ri g ht, Coleman, Lovell, Pre: vot, Ste. IDOYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.— JA, Under the sole Management of Mr. Fechter. THIS EVENING, THE ILLUSTRIOUS STRANGER jur. H. Widdicomb. After which, THE MASTER OF RAVENSWOOD. Nr. let:chter ; Messrs. Jordan, Emery, Widdicomb, Vezin, j. H. nu FitzpatricK, D cl . Eerc q vans ; kesdamesTernan, El swor th y, Lave, and C. Le. Box Office open daily from Eleven till Five. No performance during Passion Week. LONDON, FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1866. Within the memory of living politicians few Go vernments have been more unlucky at the opening of a session than the present one. Whatever they do turns out to be a mistake, while all kind of old grievances are brought to light, and add to their discomfiture. Last night Mr. WinTERDE called the attention of the House to the circumstances con nected with STEPHENS' escape, and also alluded to the former part of his career. The right hon. gen tleman laid great stress upon the want of vigour which Ministers had displayed in dealing with this matter, and this was the more culpable because Fe nianism was identical with the Phoenix conspiracy of 1858. Mr. WHITESIDE certainly said a good deal in support of his views, perhaps more than was quite agreeable, to judge from the excitement displayed by those who answered him. At any rate, Mr. CARD WELL does not appear to great advantage for the part which he played in releasing sonic prisoners who were in prison awaiting trial when the Conser vative Government left office. As for the escape of STEPHENS, it certainly showed that great laxity pravailed somewhere, and instead of declaring that everything was done as well as it could be, it would be more becoming and truthful for the authorities to admit that a mistake had been made, and be more cautious for the future. As Mr. Willits= stated due care was not employed throughout the management of the•affair, especially as regarded the guards of the prison. Indeed it is said that there were twenty-five policemen, and that all were re moved but three ; if so, it certainly seems most strange. The Executive Government and the Board of Superintendence got up a quarrel at that very awkward juncture, and while one declared that the ratepayers ought not to keep State prisoners, the voters said that the State would not do so. We agree with Mr. WHITESIDE that "a more miserable dispute under the circumstances cannot bo con ceived." Still nothing can excuse the Government, because they must have heard of the dispute, and should have adopted means to rectify the end. Mr. WHITESIDE very truly said that under the cir cumstances of the case an investigation ought to be made, and he wished to know if any objection existed to laying the report of any inquiry upon the table of the "l ouse. Mr. Lawson made out a very bad case, and he tks rto his th at talk began by stati ng that Mr. WHITESIDE " had ma d e a long speech a b out anything be more n a very small matt er ." C an becoming than to ca ll th e esca pe of a prisone r c h arged with high treason a small matter ? It was sh owing th e weakness of his cause for the 7A h ir o . no Ls ur A ab lv honourabl e )e in this strain. eo speech by making some rewarded winch would be too ridiculous to notice if it wer e the subject was an important one. It is quite i n _ consistent to throw ridicule upon a matter which concerns the management of State prisoners, and before Mr. LAWSON asked if " Colonel LAKE ought to have entered the prison at the head of the troops and turned all th e troops out of i t, and if Mr. WHITESIDE misled the Attorney-General to keep ground over the prisoners, relieved occasionally by the Solicitor-General ?" He should have remem bered that his own friends had not succeeded in showing how State prisoners could be kept ; but, on the contrary, had exhibited a gross neglect of duty in that important respect. • GEORGESON showed the house the errors into which Mr. LAwsos had fallen, when he gated that There are probably very few persons who take an interest either in the progress of art or in the public affairs of the day who will not see with con siderable satisfaction the triumph of Mr. BENTINCK'S motion respecting the new courts of law. Archi tecture has long been one of our national weak points, notwithstanding the splendid buildings to which we can point here and there. The general character of our public edifices has certainly not been equal to the purposes for which they are de signed, the wealth and liberality of the people, or the talent that we possess among us; and consequently when any large undertaking is in contemplation our members of Parliament grow a little nervous on the subject. There are not unreasonable fears that favouritism and prejudice will ope rate injudiciously on the selection of the archi tect, while previous experience has shown that comfort and convenience are very apt to be over looked, and every one knows that the original estimate usually proves but the shadow of the ultimate sum total. The New Courts of Law are to be a grand national work. They are to carry out a long-needed and most valuable reform by the concentration of our scattered courts in a convenient central situation; and as the delay has been great before the work was undertaken, and the object is a permanent and national one, the primary object should certainly be to erect a build ing or group of buildings worthy of the country, rather than to effect petty economies, or to give this or that artist or architect a turn. We are pretty certain not to do it cheaply, but let us do it well. The selection of the architect may possibly be a matter of some difficulty and delicacy, but it would surely be most wisely and most effectually settled by adopting that principle of free competition found most serviceable in other cases, and by appointing a competent and unprejudiced tribunal to decide upon the best design ; and in making this decision there would be no necessity to be led away by gaudy colouring or elaborate elegance any more than by a rigid economy or simplicity of style. The judges should consist of gentle men of different professions and experiences. They should include dignitaries of the law, who thoroughly understand the requirements of law courts ; artists who have an eye for the beautiful, architects who understand the practical part of the work, and men of business who look on the qttestion from the ordinary common sense view. Without in the least detracting from the taste or ability of those gentlemen, we should certainly prefer that four out of the five ,' members of the commission were not connected with the Government. When we find the Chan cellor of the Exchequer, the First Commissioner of Works, the Lord Chief Justice, and the Attorney- General joining four-fifths of the number of judges, we are inclined to agree with Mr. BENTINCK in thinking ' that others less likely to be influenced by official considerations ought to share their responsibilities. But the chief point of Mr. BENTINCK'S motion was directed to the number of architects rather than that of the judges. He objected very justly to the narrow limits placed to the competition. By some extra ordinary proceeding the number of competitors is limited to six. Mr. BENTINCK urged with much force that either the competition ought to be entirely unlimited, as is usually the case for the erection of public edifices, or if limited the conditions ought to be such as to satisfy public e t : ai n cish. fi e c t l d e E n tlio c T e i , tl and the tribunal should be perfectly dis interested and competent. The conditions which cient compete, to numbec: reasonably thought should be at tached e competition -were—lst, that a suffi of architects should be invited to give th e country a fair opp or t un i ty of obtaining a satisfactor i amount to be expended ; 2 should be prote c t e d f rom any char 3d, that the tribun a l s h ould b y nve d s t , m t e gh n ea t ot f f t o fha r ev o t q h i‘un e iraiilnt l i j a fiiss r nte g le e r; e duly We presume that the House approved of these conditions, and did not consider these had been properly fulfilled in the case of the new law courts, for by a very decisive majority they adopted Mr. BENTINCfS motion, in spite of the coLciliatory a d_ dreogea of lUr. COWER and t: 0 Attorney.. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, Thursday Evening. The Aloniteur has no news of interest to-day, 'oreign or domestic; but, as it is usually very cau ious, the following explanation affords proof that it considers the present position of affairs in Ger many to be one of great gravity :—" Public opinion in Germany continues to be directed to the diffe rence which has arisen between Austria and Prussia relative to the Elbe Duchies. A Leipsic journal, which appears to be upon the present occasion the organ of the Cabinet of Saxony, points out the course which the secondary States of Germany ought to adopt in the event of a conflict. It advises a recourse, the case arising, to the clause of the compact of 1815, in virtue of which the mem bers of the Confederation engage not to decide their differences by the force of arms, but to submit them to the Diet. The German papers say very little about the views of the two great Powers, and there is no indication at present of any symptom which may give an idea of their intentions." A letter from Havre states that much curiosity has been excited at that port by the arrival in the roads of two foreign vessels, the Cella, an English four -masted steamer, which anchored there on her voyage to IN ew York, and the Napoleon Trois, the new steamer of the General Transatlantic Company, which has arrived from the Thames, ' where it was built. The Napoleon Trois is a paddle wheel steamer, but of much greater power than the previous vessels of the company. At the second meeting of the conference, which I have already mentioned, Baron Budberg was pre sent as the representative of Russia. The sitting lasted from two o'clock till five, and the seven Plenipotentiaries separated without fixing a day for the next meeting. It is believed that some little time will elapse before the next meeting of the Con ference ; but the delay is not likely to cause any anxiety or disappointment in Roumania, for according to the last accounts from thence every thing was very quiet there, and the inhabitants of the two provinces seem to be very indifferent as to who may be chosen as Hospodar to rule over them, or as to whether there is to be any change in the Government there at all. Accounts from Constantinople state that there is great activity in carrying on the works for the new fortifications of the Dardanelles. The Sultan has been to inspect them. The new armament comprises 830 guns, 340 on the European side and 490 on the coast of Asia, which will be increased to 1,100 cannon. They have constructed in the centre of the strait batteries which will be armed with 400 guns, models of which have already arrived at the I arsenal of Constantinople. The musical art has just lost one of its ornaments from the death of M. Clapisson, the composer of a great many operas. His first work, " La Figurante, " was played at the Opera Comique in 1838. In 1840 his comic opera, "La Symphonie," produced a great sensation. The next opera was "La Perruche," followed in 1841 by " Frere et Mari," Some consider "La Perruche" as his best effort ; others prefer " Gibby la Cornemuse," produced in 1846. This was not so successful at the Grand Opera as the Opera Comique, his " Jene la Folic" having had but , meagre success, although aided by Taglioni, who danced in the divertissement. This opera was only played four times. "La Promise" introduced Ma dame Marie Cabel to a French audience. The singer had a great success, but the opera was almost a failure. The last work of M. Clapisson, "Margot," was represented at the Theatre Lyrique on the sth of November, 1857. He has left two operas, which are finished, but were never played, and seve ral comic romances or songs. For twenty years M. Clapisson devoted a great deal of time to the selec tion of musical instruments, which he sold for 20,000 f. Among them were 500 different kinds of whistles. He became a Member of the Insti tute in 1854 in the room of M. Halevy, the com poser. He leaves a widow and two sons. A dra matic author of some note, M. Mazeres, is also dead. Among his works were "Le Jeune Mari," played recently with success at the Theatre Fran cais, " La Mere et la Fille," "Le Coiffeur et le Perriquier," and "Le Bon Garcon." He was an officer of the Legion of Honour, and was formerly 1 in the army. The following truthful history should teach young ladies to take care of their lovers them selves, and not intrust them to friends. For two years Miss B. had resided at Montmartre. She was studying for the stage. On the same floor lived a young man, also an artist. She became acquainted, first liked and then loved each other, and a day was fixed for their marriage. Just before the time fixed for the marriage arrived the young lady received news of the death of a relative who had left her a small legacy, and she left Paris for Gap, her native town, to receive the amount. This was in January last. The night before she left Paris she went to a young girl,whom she thought her most devoted friend, and begged her to occupy her room during her absence, and to watch over and " take care" of Paul, her affianced husband. " I confide him to you," she said, " for young men are sometimes giddy ; but, in placing him under your care, I shall have no uneasiness." Anais (the good-natured friend) promised to do all this. During the first month of her absence Miss B. received letters frequently both from Paul and from her friend. Anais told her she was " taking great care" of Paul, and Paul swore eternal fidelity. The letters soon became less frequent, and then ceased to arrive at all. A few days ago Miss B. returned to Paris and knocked at the door of her room. There was no answer. The door was broken open, but neither lover nor friend was there. On the drawers, however, was a letter with the following :—" My dear friend, — I beg your pardon. Paul loves me, and I love him. Three days ago he became my husband. If you be not too enraged come and pay us a visit at Fon tenay-sous-Bois, where we have fixed our residence. Your devoted f r i en d, A.NAIS. " Miss B. Imo affected Orleans Northern Lyons and Alediterranean , Southern Western Eastern Sardinian Austrian Lombard North of Spain Saragossa Ditto to Barcelona Roman - - ... 555 ••• 540 - - ... - ... 392 50 - - 403 75 - - ... 167 50 - 220 ... 107 50 THE CAPE MAIL. PLYMOUTH, AlAncH 23. The mail steamship Briton arrived here this morning with the above mail, 103 passengers, and a cargo consisting of 360 bales of wool, 100 bales skins, 750 bales hides, 350 bales cotton, 180 cases indigo, 160 tons copper oro, and a new importation consisting of 2 tons of fine grapes, packed in cotton wadding in tin cases surrounded by layers of ice. The Briton left the Cape on the 14 ult., St. Helen 22d, and Ascension 26th. She has been delayed by the unusual lightness of the S.E. trade winds. She experienced a week's calm at the equator, and subsequently heavy N.E. gales. At the Cape the drought had fortunately at length broken up, and fine rains had fallen throughout the country districts which had suffered so long. Farming prospects had consequently materially improved. The rainfall at Cape Town had been greater than for many years past. Nearly three inches fell in a single day. The war between the Free State and the Basutos exhibited little change. The Basutos had recently attacked the town of Bethlehem, but were repulsed with some loss. The natives in the colony continued peaceable. The Governor bad modified his demands for the deposition of the head men among the Tam bookies. By this mail plans, specifications, and working drawings of the three contemplated lines of railway are forwarded to the agents -general for the Crown colonies, upon which .tenders for the con struction and working of the lines will be invited. A committee has been formed to secure a proper representation of the colony at the Paris Exhibition of 1867. Copper mining was attracting great at tention at the Cape. Very valuable deposits of that metal, and also of lead, extremely rich in silver ore, had been discovered, particularly in Namaqua• land. Business generally was more promising at Port Elizabeth. Trade Prospects were amending at Natal, and commercial matters had improved. Col. Maclean was recovering his health. Colonel Bisset, who had been acting as Lieuten ant-Governor, had formally annexed a portion of No-man's-land lying along the coast, and declared a portion of the colony as a division of Alfred's land. The sentence of exc ommunication of Dr. Colenso had been read in the Cathedral at Pietermaritzburg on January 7th, and in the evening the dean and the Rev. Mr. Robertson appeared in the chancel before this bishop entered, and desired all Christians to depart. No notice was taken of this, and the Bishop continued to conduct the services in the Cathedral, and the attendance had been as usual. The Bishop had recently baptised a child, but the Dean would not allow of an entry being made in the register. The Supreme Court had decided that the register was private property. The ship Runnymede, from Wallasoo, Australia, with copper ore for Swansea, was abandoned off Plettenberg's Bay, Feb. 12. The crew reached Port Elizabeth on the following day. The ship Duke of Argyle, from Glasgow, for Cal cutta, put into Table Bay on Jan. 19, having lost her foremast and bowsprit. 19 persons had been poisoned at Heidelberg hrough arsenic, baying been mistaken for baking TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. " The Principalities are an independent State under my protection ; this might continue." —The Emperor Nicholas to Sir Hamilton Seymour, February 22, 1853. SIR,--While the British Parliament is engaged in revising the Constit u ti on at home, few people re member that a Congress, of which Great Britain forms a part, is sitting in Paris to revise the Con stitution or to direct the affairs of a part of the dominions of the Sultan of Turkey. If this med dling with other people's business appears at first sight as a praiseworthy exertion of a philanthropic spirit, the carelessness displayed in the operation negatives the presumption. Every alteration in our own Constitution, whether wise or the reverse, has at least to undergo the ordeal of public discussion in the Legislature, in public meetings, and in private society. But the mode and limits of our interference with Wallachia and Moldavia are confided to the Foreign-office alone. No loyal Conservative Club protects the prerogative of the Sultan. No Freed men's Aid Society guards the rights of the, people, no historian produces the records of the past, no poet the hopes of the future. Russia and the other Powers of Europe simply efface the inhabitants of the Principalities, and the Parliament and people of England, having accepted the task of governing them apart from their Sovereign, leave the country they have adopted at the mercy of a secret board of diplomatists. Since the people of England are unanimous in wishing to avoid the trouble of governing the Sul tan's dominions, would it not be well to consider whether our abdication of the task might not be as advantageous to the Principalities as convenient to ourselves ? In the apathy that is now felt on this subject it is difficult to get men to understand what it is that they are doing, when they allow their rulers to in terfere with the government of another country. But there is one mode by which such a practice may always be brought home to every man's business and bosom, namely, by transferring the circumstances to our own country and asking how we should approve of such proceedings if ap plied to ourselves. The inhabitants of the Danubian Principalities are of a different blood, language, and religion from the Turks, just as the Irish are from the Eng lish. They have not, it is true, been conquered by Turkey, to whom, in the fifteenth century, they voluntarily subjected themselves. Nor has their religion, like that of the Roman Catholics in Ire land, ever been persecuted ; on the contrary, it is the Nlussulman worship, the public exercise of which is prohibited in Wallachia and Moldavia. Nor have their commercial relations, like those of Ireland, been restricted by the Suzerain Power since, on the contrary, they have been free from the restrictions of the Turkish Com mercial Treaty with England. In short, the griev ances of Ireland have, from 1689 till the present time, presented a far better justification for foreign interference than anything that has ever taken place in the Principalities ? Suppose, then, that the United States were to de mand to be the protectors of Ireland, and on our refusing to admit their pretension, were to invade that country. Suppose that, having lost our mari time strength by the Declaration of Paris, we were to seek the alliance of Austria, France, Spain, Italy, and Portugal, and that the allies had defeated the Americans and compelled them to recross the Atlan tic; that on this a general treaty had been signed by which all the belligerents, including the United States, undertook to appoint a Congress to regu late the affairs of Ireland. That this congress de creed that the Irish people should elect their Lord Lieutenant, and appointed commissioners to see the thing properly done. That the election not terminating to their satisfaction, the ambassadors of the powers in London threatened the English Government till it consented to annul that election. That the Congress then accuse the English Government of " undue influence," and get it to admit 40s. freeholders to the next election, by which means a Fenian candidate got in who was always intriguing with the Government at Washington. That his own guards should depose him, and that the Congress should then meet at Florence to determine all the relations between the people of Ireland and the two candidates for the possession of the country, namely, England and the United States, England having only one vote in the Congress, and the United States having intimate relations with the other Powers represented at that Congress. Every one in England and in Ireland would consider this proposal as unjust and prepos terous. Nobody would suppose for a moment that Ireland would be benefited ; no one would call this exchange of many masters for one the libera tion of Ireland. It is only when we find a population belonging to the Ottoman Empire that we thus de lude it to its destruction. The people of England as yet know nothing of Wallachia and Moldavia, or of what they are doing in these Principalities; but they do know what they have done in Greece, and what is the result. They know that when Greece, having been invited to re bellion, had separated herself from the Ottoman empire, she received three masters instead of one-- England, France, and Russia, instead of the Sultan. They know that the Greeks have expelled Otho, and that under the son of Christian IX. of Den mark brigandage is rife; and the country does not prosper. A similar interference in the Lebanon has produced even more lamentable results. There, in 1845, England introduced the Constitution of Chekib Effendi, which produced in 1860 a civil war and a French intervention. In Egypt the interference of the European Powers caused a civil war. Since, however, the Sultan and the Pasha have understood each other, insurrection has ceased. In no part of the Ottoman Empire is there insurrection of a permanent character, except where the European Powers interfere. But it is one Power that moves the others to interference, and that reaps all the spoil. There are men who doubt that Russia aims at universal empire, and who do not believe that she has designs in the United States or in South America ; but no one can doubt that she has had designs in Circassia, which she has now conquered, or in the Amour, of which she has taken possession, or in the Ottoman Empire, from which she has taken the Crimea and Bessa rabia, and the various dominions of which the Czar proposed to Sir Hamilton Seymour in 1853 to divide with England. In 1854 we went to war with Russia "for the de fence of Turkey." The result of the war was that the Danubian Principalities were virtually taken from Turkey and given to Russia by the Conven tion of the 19th August, 1858, while by the unau thorised and still unsanctioned Declaration of Paris of April 16, 1856, England's power of coercing Russia is suspended. For the power of seizing Rus sian goods in neutral vessels was a noose round the neck of Russia, of which England held the end To act herself against Russia, England must re cover the right of search ; but the present case is dif ferent. Russia is not strong enough to coerce the Porte unless England assists her. England may therefore, by withholding her aid to Russia, enable Turkey to restore to the Principalities prosperity, and to her self independence. Then if we reap no benefit from the 50,000 men and £100,000,000 of treasure which we buried in the Crimea, at least we may neutralise some of the advantages which Russia gained by our sacrifice. have thus endeavoured to show that it would be equally The year 1831 is the date Russia gives to the " Organic Statute" for the government of the Principalities. This document Russia is in the habit of quoting when ever she wants an authority for her performances. Nobody has ever been known, however, to have seen a copy of it, and it has probably no real existence any more than the celebrated "Regulations for the Navigation of the Black Sea," under which Russia confiscated the Vixen for visiting the coast of independent Circassia. In 1848 Russia got up an insurrection in the Principali ties, and demanded a treaty to allow her to garrison the country in conjunction with Turkey. Turkey appliel to England for support, and, on Engla.ad's refusal, signed the Treaty cf Balta Liman. Turkey, therefore, must have thought herself .weaker than Russia. But in 1851, the confidential relations be tween England and Turkey having been suspended, she took heart and demanded that the Russian troops should evacuate the Principalities. The Russian ambassador at Constantinople, without waiting for instructions from St. Petersburg (there was no electric telegraph in those days), immediately complied with the demand. From 1848 to 1851 the Russians had occupied the Prin cipalities in common with the Turks. When the Russians left, the Turks also retired, and in 1853 the Russians returned alone. By this time the confidential relations between Turkey and England had been renewed, and England showed her friendship to Turkey by persuading her to submit to the aggression of the weaker Power. But the Turks threatened to revolt, and compelled the Sultan to declare war. The Russians had at first crossed the Pruth with so small an army that nothing but their trust in English diplomacy could account for their boldness. They had accumulated a considerable force before Turkey de clared war, but it was all in vain. They were beaten in every important battle, and compelled to recross thePruth. In order to prevent Turkey from recovering her own, and to protect the retreat of Russia from a polish insurrection, the English Government permitted the Austrians to occupy the Principalities, which they continued to do till after the end of the war. At the peace of 1856 the Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia were dealt with by Articles 22 to 27 of the Gene ral Treaty. These articles established a collective power in the par ties by the Treaty to interfere in the affairs of the Principa lities. The final agreement with the Suzerain Power was to be recorded in a convention, and was to be placed under the guarantee of all the Powers. If their internal tranquil lity was menaced or compromised, the Porte was to come to an understanding with the other contracting Powers in regard to the measures to be taken for maintaining or re establishing legal order. That is, if Russia raised an in surrection, the Porte was not to put it down without 1 Russia's leave. For two years the Principalities were under a provisional government and exposed to the intrigues of all Europe about their constitution. The Principalities had always been separay6—Russia therefore proposed a union. In the conference 'Prance supported Russia, and England pretended to oppose her. At last, on the 19th August, 1858, the Constitution was completed, agreed to by the Porto, and consigned to a Convention between all the Po wars who had signed the Treaty of Paris. The Constitution was, of course, a document with no object but that of unsettlement. Russia succeeded in ob taining a promise (Article XI.), that in case of a vacancy in the Hospodarate the administration should rest in the Ministry, and not in a Caimacan appointed by the Porte. Thus when, the other day, the Hospodar was compelled co abdicate, the Ministers were ready to act and to propose to the Assembly a foreign prince as Hospodar, a flagrant vio lation of Article XIII., which requires him to be the son of a native-born Wallachian or Moldavian father. There was to be a Hospodar and an assembly for each province, but there was also to be a Central Commission, composed of eight from each province, who were to sit per manently, whose province was to be the assimilation of the laws of the two provinces, thus preparing for that amalga mation into one, which, at the Conference of Vienna, in 1855, Russia declared to have been contemplated by the Organic Statute. The electors of the Hospodars had now to be appointed. The English Ambassador took measures to obtain a new class of voters, and Couza was elected Hospodar of Moldavia. Wallachia followed suit, and elected Couza to be Hospodar of Wallachia as well as Of Moldavia. It was anticipated that the Porte would resist, and great were the outcries of the English friends of the "Freedom of the Principalities" against this expected act of tyranny. But the Porte neutralised the plot by accepting Couza as Hospodar of both provinces. This prince reigned for seven years ; his administration being distinguished by a permanent ministerial crisis, which almost became an institution ; by a coup d'etctt in imitation of Louis Napoleon, and by the confiscation of the property of the convents, which the Mussulmans had alwa3s respected. The Constitution provides (Article NIL) for the election of a Irospodar by the Assembly within three weeks after any vacancy. The case of a _valid election not taking place is not provided for. The Convention has, there fore, broken down ; that is to say, in the sonso of its having been intended for a settlement. If, how ever, the object of the Convention was to promote confusion it has succeeded admirably. Its failure neces sitates a new convention, which, in its turn, will fail, so that the confusion will be permanent till Russia shall send in her troops and take possession. The Convention, then, is a failure, or a fraud. It can only bo the latter, if the British Government persist in this un workable scheme for governing a Turkish province by a European Congress. The attempt is a violation of the law of nations, and the disgraceful failure justifies Turkey in demanding the formal abrogation of a Convention which she alone has observed with good faith, and which has already abrogated itself. In the meantime, however, tho immediate crisis demands a solution. If the Powers refuse to interfere the Porte will have no difficulty with the Principalities. The solu tion of the difficulty will bo found in the appointment to both provinces of John Ghika. Well known as the former Prince of Samo, he has always been the Turkish candi date, and his devotion to his native country has always been as complete as his allegiance to tho Porte. He fulfils, then, all the conditions of the Convention of 1858, which Couza did not. The Union was only for Couza's reign, and is therefore now at an end. But whatever mischief there may be in a permanent law manufactory for the two provinces, there can be none in their union under one Hospodar. Ghika being elected, the Porte could, and probably would, agree to let this union continue. In fine, union was originally a Russian project, the disunion is equally one at this moment. Her ultimate object is simply unsettlement. Those who would probably get in for each province would be sure to intrigue against each other, and thus a new field of disturbance would be opened. John Ghika would not only be the most fitting candidate for the double Hospodarate ; but, above all, this would effectually keep out foreign pretenders. For this all that is necessary is that England should intimate clearly that she supports the rights of Turkey, which are identical with those of the Principalities them selves. Austria will do the same; and Russia will eva cuate the Principalities in a diplomatic sense in 1866, as in a military sense she evacuated them in 1851. March 21. DIPLOMATICUS. Mr. F. B. Chatterton's benefit at Drury-lane is fixed for to-morrow (Saturday) evening, under the auspices of an influential committee of gentlemen. The managerial career of Mr. Chatterton well deserves this acknowledg mont on the part of the public. The performances will include Sir E. L. Bulwer's play of " Richelieu," the Car dinal by Mr. Phelps ; and " Tho Beggar's Opera," with Mr. Harrison as Captain Macheath. MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFES' SISTER. —At a meeting of the Common Council yesterday Mr. Maynard resumed his motion " That this court do petition both Houses of Parliament in favour of the legali sation of marriage with a deceased wife's sister." The motion was seconded by Mr. E. D. Rogers ; and as an amendment Mr. Richards moved, and Mr. Ruskin seconded the previous question. A. long discussion ensued, which was terminated by a division, when the original motion was carried by a majority of 27, the numbers being for the original motion 63, and against it 36 ; and it was ordered that it be referred to the law and parliamentary committee to prepare the petitions to parliament accordingly. Earl De Grey and Ripon and Mr. Stansfeld on Wednesday received two deputations from Man chester, one from the Chamber of Commerce, and the other from the Cotton Supply Association. The object of both was to present to the new Secretaries of State for India memorials setting forth the polioy which, in the interest of the cotton trade of Man chester, it is desired that the Government of India should pursue. The deputation from the Chamber of Commerce consisted of Mr. Malcolm Ross, pre sident ; Messrs. Halliday, H. Ashworth, J. Dor rington, Hugh Mason, Hugh Fleming (secretary), and the following members of Parliament : Messrs. T. Bazley, T. Barnes, C. Turner, John Peel, E. W. Watkin, J. B. Smith, J. Platt, B. Whitworth, J Laird, J. T. Hibbert, J. Chatham, and A. W. Young, the Hon. A. Egerton, and Colonel Grey Several of these gentlemen were in the deputation of the Cotton Supply Association, of which Mr. Cheetham, M.P., is president, and Mr. M. Ross , treasurer. The second deputation also included Mr. Edmund Ashworth, Mr. W. Armitage, and Mr. J. Watts, secretary. The interview with the representatives of the Chamber of Commerce lasted fully an hour, and at its close Earl De Grey and Ripon was obliged to retire in order to attend a Cabinet meeting; but Mr. Stansfeld spent a second hour in conversation with the representatives of the Cotton Supply Association. Earl DE GREY and RIPON expressed his regret that he was obliged to leave in order to join the Cabinet. Having so recently accepted office, he could not, of course, give positive answers in re spect to the proposals submitted to him. It would be a great satisfaction to him if he should have the long tenure of office which Mr. Malcolm Ross had kindly wished him ; but that was a matter of great uncertainty. He was fully impressed with the im portance of extending public works. The subject of a gold currency had been referred to a commis sion, and he would consider the matter immediately the report of the commission was received. Neither he nor Mr. Stansfeld could be suspected of being favourable to protective duties. lie would be ex tremely glad to obtain the largely increased revenue promised him from public works, and the receipt of it would enable him to deal with duties, but the financial condition of India made it very necessary to be cautious in such matters. As far as general principles went, he was with the deputation. He would be glad to have more definite information of what was proposed with regard to the reclamation of waste lands. Facilities had been given for their acquirement, the regulations had been modified, and if other practical improvements could be made be should be glad to receive suggestions. The language in which the tenure of land had been spoken of was rather vague, and he would be glad to have the matter elucidated. It was a difficult one to deal with, and it was necessary to be cautious in dealing With what the natives conceived to be their rights, and also wits their prejudices and feelings. Military expenditure had been referred to ; but reduction, if it led to wide-spread uneasiness would not prove to be economy. He had alieady written to India wit h a view to the production of the Indian budget early in the session ; but of course he could not arrange the business of the House of Commons. I n con clusion, he assured the deputation that their repre sentations should have his best considerations. Mr. STANSFELD stated that the Administration of Bombay had announced their intention to appoint an • officer temporarily for the Berar district ; and Earl De Grey, in expressing his approval of that purpose, which had probably now been carried out, suggested the appointment of a cotton commissioner, to attend rather to the growth of cotton than to matters con nected with its preparation for the manufacturer. Both deputations were highly pleased with the reception accorded to them. The Corporation of London and Prince Alfred. Yesterday, at a meeting of the Court of Common Council, held at Guildhall, the Lord Mayor in the chair. Mr. Har r i s, pursuant to notice, moved a resolu tion to the effect that his Royal Highness Prince Alfred be requested to take upon himself the free dom of the City of London, to which he is entitled by patrimony, and that a copy of the freedom be presented to him in a gold box of the value of 100 guineas. Mr. Harris suggested that this would be only a graceful act towards the Prince himself at this interesting time of his life, while it would tend still mere strongly to attach the corporation to the Crown and the Crown to them. The motion was seconded by Mr. Alderman Gibbons, one of the sheriffs of London, who ex pressed the great satisfaction he felt in doing so. Prince Alfred, he said, had been trained in a pro fession for which Englishmen had always the highest respect. His Royal Highness had been re markable for the studious manner in which he had devoted himself to the study of that profession, and Iwhether at home or in foreign countries he had won the esteem and regard of every one with whom he had been brought into communication. This motion was carried with every mark of con sideration and respect, and, at the instance of Mr. Lowman Taylor, it was resolved that the Lord Mayor wait upon his Royal Highness with the re solution of the court, and ascertain when it would best suit his convenience to attend at the Guildhall and accept the proffered compliment. THE LATE LORD PALMERSTON. A report was brought up from the City lands committee, to whom it had been referred to consi- der bow the court could best testify its memory of the late Viscount Palmerston, recommending that a marble bust of the deceased statesman be placed n the Council Chamber at a cost of not more han £250. THE CATTLE PLAGUE— CH ES TE T?.. --The following is the number of cases reported to the 17th inst. :—Diod, 38,676; killed, 13,296; under treatment, 4,158; recovered, 7,3oB—total attacked, 63,138. Duriu the week ending Much 21, 5,726 have been attacked, or 818 per diem, and dead and killed 4,589, or 655 per diem. The disease has now appeared in 432 localitiee in the county. _ -•,~ General. 'Sir GEORGE very justly, that the mr tuber of architects selected was too few, and that it gave an idea of jobbery and unfairness, though no . thing of the kind might be intended. Mr. TITE, folle wing up the attack, said that he did not wonder ..at the anxiety, and even at the suspicion, created ;by the small number of competitors, for although .the suspicion of jobbery was perfectly out of the que.:tion, still the number of six competitors was so extremely limited that it certainly led the members of the architectural profession to think that a foreg one conclusion had been acted upon. Mr. TITE added very sensibly that the question of expense in conducting the competition was hardly worth talking about, for he thought the country, when an expenditure of some £700,000 or £BOO,OOO was involved, would never grudge an extra £3,000 or £4,000 to se cure the best man to do the work. This is the prin ciple on which the Government should act. A really national undertaking should be carried out in a national spirit, not with a professed regard for economy, or with deference to the tastes or prejudices of a clique, but in an enlarged and liberal manner, which shall do jus tice alike to the requirements of the public, the dignity of the occasion, and the outlay which we are prepared to make upon it If the best we can do to secure the assistance o men of zeal, ability, and independence, is to ap point officially half-a-dozen competitors, and put four Ministers to decide between them, it does not say much for the method of our Government in such matters, or for the chance which unknown and unbefriended talent has of making its way in this country. If the country, said one of the speakers, last evening, contained an 1. , L0n -Thm.c or a CirPTc , nrxr.n. WREN, there would be no need for competition ; but unless those artists got the right introduction in the right quarters, we strongly - sus pect their designs would stand a very poor chance. CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS. ON, FRIOA EVENING, MARCH M 23, 1866. almost to desperation. She renounces friends, finding, as the poet says, that— "Friendship's but a name, the haughty fair one's jest," the world has no longer any charms for her. Sho has quitted it and entered a nunnery. LA TEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAUS.) CENTRAL ASIA. BRUSSELS, MARCH 22 (Evening.) The Nord publishes telegraphic intelligence from St. Petersburg, announcing that the inhabitants of Taschrend had abolished slavery, out of deference to the Emperor of Russia. All tho slaves, mostly of Persian origin, had been set at liberty. General Tcherniaief had notified to the Emir of Bokhara that he should march into and occupy his territory if he did not release the Russian envoy whom he had imprisoned. FRANCE. SPEECH OF THE EMPEROR. PARIS, Thursday The deputation from th e Corps Legislatif . to present the address in reply to the Speech from the Throne was received to-day by the Emperor. His Majesty, on receiving the address, said : " The great majority of the Corps Legislatif have confirmed once more, by voting this address, the policy which has given you 15 years of tranquillity and prosperity. I thank you. Without allowing yourselves to be carried away by vain theories, presented in a seductive garb as alone capable of aiding the emancipation of thought and the pro gress of humanity, you said to yourselves : ' We also desire to attain those ends, while regulating our march by the appeasement of passions and the wants of society.' Is not our motive the common welfare? and what attraction would your mission have for you or my power for me if separated from the love of justice ? Would you go through such long and arduous labours if you were not inspired by true patriotism ? Could I have borne the weight of government for the last 18 years, with its incessant preoccupations and heavy responsibility, before God and before the nation, if I had not felt within me that strength which is afforded by the sense of duty and by the conscious ness of having a useful mission to carry out ? France, equally with ourselves, desires progress, stability, and liberty ; but a liberty which shall de velop intelligence, generous instincts, and the noble exertions of labour --not a liberty bordering upon licence, which would excite evil passions, destroy al belief, rekindle hatred, and give rise to disorder, We require a liberty which shall enlighten, control, and discuss the actions of the Government, but not become an arm to undermine and overthrow it. Fifteen years ago, when nominal chief of the State, without effective power and without support in the Chamber, but strong in my conscience and the suffrages which had elected me, I ventured to de clare that France would not perish in my hands. I have kept my word. For 15 years France has developed and increased, and her high destiny will be accomplished. After us our sons will continue I ' our work. My guarantee for this is the assistance of the great bodies of the State, the devotion of the army, the patriotism of all good citizens, and, lastly, that Divine protection which has never failed our country. His Majesty's speech was received with repeated cries of " Vive l'Empereur !" BOURSE, March 22, Three o'clock.--The marke closed at the following quotations :- 4i per Cent 5......., Do. end month — 3 per Cents. — Do. end month 6B 40 Credit Mobilier Do. end month Bank Shares — Credit Foncior — Italian Loan — Do. end month GO 771 RAIL Roman — Ottoman Fives — Mexican Loan Do. Bonds 306 25 Russian — Austrian Spanish Threes Home Debt Deferred powder. One of the cases had ;terminated fatally. Work was being found for the unemployed, and the distress among the artisans in the colony had ceased. A strong S.W. gale prevails at Plymouth to-day. The mails landed will be forwarded this afternoon. The Briton will coal and proceed this afternoon for Southampton. THE BOMBAY MAIL. MARSEILLES, MAncii 23. The Nyanza arrived at 7 a.m. to-day. The mails leave for London at 11.30 a.m. THE DANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES. ~ -~_ 'AYE. Cash. Acct. 876 25 - 1130 - - ... 885 beneficial to the inhabitants of the Principalities and agree able to the people of this country that we should cease to meddle in their affairs. But I did not mean that we should merely shut our eyes to that interference, and allow it to go on unobserved; that is precisely what we are now doing. When a Government has been entangled into interference no sudden means taken by those who are not in the Government can cut the Gordian Knot. It has to be untied. The skein which Diplomacy has tangled must be unravelled. We must learn what has been done before we can have any idea of what has to be done ; for what has to be done is always to retrace our steps. About the year 1393 Wallachia and Moldavia severally placed themselves under the proteati( n of Turkey, acknowledging the Sultan as their Suzerain, but retaining their right of self-government. Placed between Turkey and Russia, they have now for many years been the theatre of every invasion which Russia has made of Turkish ter ritory. In 1806 Russian troops were in the Principalities. Terms of peace between England and France were nearly arranged by Lord Lauderdale when the negotiation was broken off because England insisted, and Napoleon re fused, that Russia should retain Wallachia and Moldavia. In 1809 Sir Robert Adair, having negotiated a peace be tween England and Turkey, offered his services to Russia to negotiate a peace between her and Turkey, which should leave the Principalities in the possession of Russia. In 1812, by the aid of England, was negotiated the Treaty of Bucharest, by which Russia, while restoring Wallachia, and what now remains of Moldavia, obtained permanent possession of Bessarabia, thus extending her limits to the Pruth. In 1829, by the Treatyof Adrianople, again negotiated by English aid, and at a moment when the Russian army was on the point of disappearing, Russia obtained the liberty of permanent interference in the affairs of the Principali ties. "-. F7-•:iro, . ~,,,,,itit Or* Ibr , i Tonal ' , - , , .„.. - - HER MAJESTY. WINDSOR CASTLE, March 22. The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon, at tended by the Marchioness of Ely. His Serene Highness the Prince of Hohenlohe Langenbourg went to London. Her Majesty the Queen, with their Royal High nesses Princess Helena, Princess Louise, Princess Beatrice, Prince Leopold, and her Grand Ducal Highness the Princess Hohenlohe Langenbourg left the Castle this morning at ten minutes before one o'clock, attended by the Marchioness of Ely, Major- General T. 11. Seymour, Colonel IL Ponsonby, and Sir John Cowell. Her Majesty travelled by a special train, and was escorted by a detachment of the 14th Hussars from Paddington to Buckingham Palace. His Royal Highness Prince Alfred arrived at the Palace from Marlborough Home, attended by Lieutenant Haig. Their Royal Highnesses the Count and Countess of Paris visited the Queen in the afternoon. The Earl of Clarendon had an audience of the Queen. The Queen, accompanied by their Royal High nesses Princess Helena and Brincess Louise, attended by the Marchioness of Ely, honoured Mr' Bell by a visit to his studio. Her Majesty afterwards visited their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, at Marlborough House. The equerries in waiting attended on horseback. Her Majesty the Queen will hold a Council at Buckingham Palace, at half-past 11 o'clock in the forenoon to-morrow (Saturday). The Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by Prince Alfred and the Prince of Hohenlohe, rode on horseback yesterday. Th 3 C overnment of India.