The Sun. — London, England, 1867-02-19 00:00:00

TIIIIATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE. SoLe LC3Pee and Manager, Mr. E. 11. Chatterton. THI 'EVENING, THE JEALOUS WI FE. Mr. Phelps ; 31,sarb. N. Phtlps, H. Sinclair, C. Seyton, Barrett; Mesda.nes Hermann Vc,in and 11. Vandenhoti". To conclude with the Pantomime. entitled NUMBER NI ; or Harlequin and the Gnome-King of the Giant Mountain. Commer.co at a Quarter to Seven. THEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKET, Sole Lrbsee and Manager, Mr. Buckstene, TO-NIGHT, A Llii . 3SON FOR LIFE. Messrs. Sothern, Chi pp 'tndale,Compton,llowe, Rogers, Clarke, Braid, LI rndal, Gorrlo34. Vincent, &o ; Mesdames Chippendale, Moore, Bill, Wright, Laws, &c. Atter LORD DUNDIZEARY MARRIED AND DON P 1 FOR. Me,si s. bothern, Roger , Cordon, Clark, Weatliersby, Whire, To e. latitude with Jli.‘NY LIND AT LAS I'. 31:53 lona Burke Commence at Seven, OiAL LYCEUM THEATRE.- 1.11.) So'e Ltssee and Manager, Mr. Eechier. •rii E vy,NING, Rutl(; E E Noll:. Maurice D'Arbel a Ga.bler), Fecliter ; Messrs. Emery, Evans, Moreiaud, leitzpatricir. Dalton. Reynolds, Lomas, ewbuunr, Andrews, AnCIerSOLA, Vivian, Bennett. and Edward Pri,:e ; Miss llei rade, Mrs. Leigh Murray, Miss Grattan, Mud Miss Carlotta Lecler.n. Preceded by THE TWO DOLTS. Mr. 11. Widdicomb. FirIIEATRE ROYA L ADELPIII. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. TILES EVENING, Feb. 10, at Seven, A SISTER'S I'ENANCr. miss hate Terry, Miss Hughes, Miss Emily Pitt; Messrs. It. Yczin, Billiugtou, Ashley, Eburne, Rom,r, a ad Stephenson. To conclude with the New Grand Burlesque of T LIE MOUNTAIN DIU; ; or, THE KNIGHT, Tll5 LADY, AND THE LAI( Messrs, J. L. Toole, Paul Bedford, Ashley, R. Homer, and C. J. Smith ; Mrs. Alfred Mellon, Miss Furtado, Miss Hughes, Miss Emily Pitt, Jac. ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. New Management. Sole Lessee, Mr. B. Webster ; Manager, Mr. H. Vr igan. TislS EVENING - , LONDON ASSURANCE. Messrs. G. Vincent, Addison, D. Murray, and Mr. Charles Mathews; Mesdames E. Far:en, Milly Palmer, and Charles Mathews. After which, ItO3IANTIC IDEA. Messrs. G. Vincent, Addison, D. Murray, and Charles Mathews ; Mesdames E. Farren and Charles Mathews. To conclude with an ATROCIOUS CRIMINAL. Mr. J. Clayton ; Mesdames Sheridan and stephcns. Doors open at half-past Six; commence at Seven. HOLBORN THEATRE ROYAL. Sole rroprietor and Manager, Mr. c efton Parry. TILLS EVENING, a new Farce, MY TURN NEXT. Mr. Delmore, Mies Foote, a►iss Lennox. Alter which, Iloucicault's drama of FLYING SCUD. Messrs. Neville, Behnore, Blake, Giirden,Vollaire ; Mesdames F. Josephs, C. Saunders, B. Foote. Raymond. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and 2.flanat4er, Mr. Gco. Vining. MIS EVENING, HIS LAST LEGS. Mr. C. Verner, Mr. C. H. Fenton ; Mrs. Buckingham White and Miss Went worth. Followed by, at half-past 8 o'clock, a T.CNY and original Drama, by T. W. ttoh rtson. entitled SIIADWV TREE 6 iIAF f. Character. by Messrs. Vining, J. G. Shore, C. Ver ner, F. Villiers. 11. Forrester, H. Mellon, ai.d Cathcart ; Misses Montagu, Minnie .dmonds, and Katherine Rodgers. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. t•ole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough. THIS I.VEN LNG, MARRIED D4UGH VERS. 'Messrs. Th,rne, Belford, and U. Murray ; Misses Johnstone and Hughes. After which, will be produced a Grand Burlesque, entitled GUY FAW KEh : Messrs. Thorne. Jame., Robson, and Fenton; Mesdames swanborough, Raynham, Johnstone, _Hughes, Newton, ,tc. To conclude with A SUIT OF TWEEDS. Commence at Seven. I-1 EAT R E ROYAL, ASTLEY'S. 1 'Under the Sole Management of Mr. W. 11. C. NATION. --- EVERY EVENING the elegant Comedy, DELICATE. GROUND. sheers. Fernandez. Richardson, and Miss Laid law. After which, the Nation-al Pantomime, lIIJSEI-A-BYE, BABY. Muses Caroline Yarkes. Nellie Nisbetr, Uwvnue, ➢larshall, Burton, Grosvenor, tfimniontly, sirs. Caulfield; 31e.srs. Atkins, Stephens, Mila.,o, and the Or.ginal Little Bowella. The Free List suspended, Public Press excepted. To prevent lisappointmeatt seats must be booked in advance. RARE SPECIMENS OF LADYBIRDS. — These lq,euimens will be found very interesting to INaturalit , ts and Ornithologists. To be 5. en only at the TFIEATitE 110IAL, AsTLEY'S, EVEIiY EVE.NthG. 110WELLA'S WOODEN IVOMAN.—.A. Study for Anatomiats I The Oiluinal "Littie Ito eila," the t,iown, appears EVERY EVENING - at the THEATRE ROYAL, riST LEY'S, and at no other place of public resort whateirt T. rrHE "SUN" NEWSPAPER.- G. IL GLENIE, Sporting Library, 4, Connaught• terrace, Edgware-read, is specially appointed AGE. t to ti diver the LATE EDITION of " THE SUN " at the earliest possible moment after leaving the press. ?le 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 40 miles by 9 o'clock. Orders by Post punctually attended to. ROBERTS supplies the ,C 7 r r.ST EurrioN of "r It UN" as nuou as pub ished.-1, Bath-strtet, City-road, E.C. FOR THE LATEST POLITICAL and SPORTING INTELLIGENCE see the Late Edition of " The Sun" at Itr. Blake's, Queen's Brad, Windsor street, Uxbridge. T _ E LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN." J. IiVLAIES begs to inform his friends, and the public ',.enerally, that he supplies the LATEST EUITIoN of TILE SUN " as soon as published —No. 16, Ilampstead road, N.W. T" E "SUN" NEWSPAPER.- G. R. GLENIE delivers the LATE EDITION a' Chelsea, 7.40 ; 8; Starch-green, 8; Woolwich, 7.30 Uxbridge, 9.20; Watford, 8.43. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. — oLL) SA.3I SMITH," late of '"The Mail Coach," hepherd's Bush, now of the White Hart, Acton, viddiesex. bevi to inform his friends and neighbours that the LATEST EDI HON of " SUS" can be seen at his house as above. " ►rHHE SUN."—FRED. SQUIRES, of " The Mitre" Tavern, New Church-street, near the Alpha road, Paddin2ton, rep ctlully informs his friends and the putnic that "TM; SUN " tTliird Edition), containing the Latest sporting News, Results of Races, sc., c,:n be seen at ills house as above "All the year round." *** A web-selected and extensive Stock of WINES. grams, .tic. METROPOLITAN RAILW AY . MOO RGAT E-ST ItEET STATION is the nearest to E. MOSES and SON'S Establishment, cornor c) Aldgate, City. M E Gror \ R vE o ll _p si p izE L E l T Ts STATION I N R i l i k th l o la n l e V lre A st Y to . E. MOSES :Ina SON'S Establishment corner of Totten ham-court-road and Euston-road. ETROP 0 ITAN RAILWAY. GOWER-STREE L T STATION is the nearest to E. MOSES and SON'S Establishment, New Oxford street, corner of Hart-street. V MOSES and SON'S ESTABLISHMENTS -=' ll are CLOSED EVERY FRIDAY EVENING at sunset till SATURDAY EVENING at sunset, when business is resumed till Eleven o'clock. All articles ate marked the lowest prices in plain figures, from which no abatement can be made. Any articlo not apploved of will be exchanged, or tho money will be returned. Lists of Prices with rules for Self-measurement and Fashion Sheet, with Patterns and " History of London," (second part), gratis and post free. MOSES and SON, • are Ready-made and Bespoke Tailors, Habit Makers, Woollen Drapers, Hatters, Hosiers, Boot and Shoe Manufacturers, and General Outfitters for all Classes. E. MOSES and SON'S LONDON lIOUSES, 151, 155, 156, 157, Ninories ; 83, 81, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, Aldgate ; 506, 507, 508, New Oxford-street ; 1,2, 3, Hart -street ; 138, Tottenham-court-road; 288, Euston-road. APOPULAR HISTORY of LONDON from the Invasion of Julius Cabsar to the Present time. Part the Second—From 1066 to 1867. E. Moses and Son, corner of Minories and Aldgate ; Now Oxford-street, and Tottenham-court-road, London ; And Bradford, Yorkshire. Gratis and post free on application. HIGH WATER AT LOND )N _BRIDGE. TEiI3 DAY. I Cm.--kfternoon, 9 11. 37111. I , ,Atoßitu m oni i t v, 3h. Om.— Afterno,n, 3h. Via rt.- 2 1 : rj, ::11) 1111 L' )NTH TUESAIY, FEB. 19, 1867. The hydra-headed question of Reform showed itself several times in the course of last evening's deliberations. There is manifestly a strong feeling of interest, if we must not say ,curiosity, felt among bon. members regarding the revelations of Monday next. The Chancellor of the Exchequer has no easy post of it during the present week. As the sphinx who is to solve the insoluble, he is con- -7 1 tuna ly appealed to to give now this clue and now that to the grand unravelling. Mr. KINGLAKE, Mr. WALROND, Mr. SCLATER-BOOTII, Mr. BAINES, Mr. AvaTON, had Qach at different times of the evening something to say about Reform and the action of tho Govern- ment. Mr. KINGLAKE and Mr. WALRoND had both notices of motions, the former anticipatory of the Government statement. Mr. SCLATER-BOOTII required to know the relationshipbetween uniformity _ _ of assessment and the principle of rating ; Mr. BAINES asked for early information a. 3 to the pro- posed amount of the county and borough franchises. Mr. AYRTON took a wider range, and criticised the action of the Government, though, as he declared, in no hostile spirit. Mr. I)ISRAELI, in answer to se veral inquiries, declined, as he well might, to give specific information on particular points ; but, in reply to Mr. AYRTON, he entered at sonic length into the motives which had actuated the Government as to the course they have pursued. They thought it, he said, absolutely necessary to have recourse to resolutions; and who can honestly say that he be lieves a. Reform Bill in the present state of parties could have been carried through the House ? " If," added the right hon. gentleman, " when I addressed the House a week ago, I had confined myself to arguments in favour of that procedure, and had given the reasons which had induced the Govern- meut to adopt that course, I should have been strictly in order, and nothing more would have been required of me." But representations having been made to him from both sides of the House that it was desirable that the general character of the resolutions should be known he thought it best to explain their nature, and show that they indicated principles rather than expressed details. The Resolutions are on the table of the house, and we fully agree with the right hon. gentleman that it would be most irregular to enter into casual and preliminary discussions respecting them. The much-talked-of delay is really only no- minal. A fortnight is certainly not too long for deliberation on principles which aro to influence so powerfully the future destinies of the coun try. If the Government had fixed an earlier night, say last evening, there would have been loud and not altogether groundless complaints that they were trying to hurry or smuggle a bill through the House without giving time for the verdict of the public. Gentlemen who have patiently endured that the whole question should be left in abeyance for seven years cannot now brook a de lay of twice seven days. So recently as the opening of the session it was quite uncertain whether Lord DERBY'S Cabinet would bring in a bill at all, and probably no one wculd have been much surprised if the leader of the Commons had announced that they intended to defer its con sideration till the latter part of the session. Neither in presence of the great accumulation of neglected measures could they have been justly blamed had they adopted such a course. Bat as yet they have manifested no desire for delay. The QUEEN'S Speech referred directly to the subject. On the very first night of the session Mr. DISRAELI fixed an early evening for explaining their intentions, and within a woLk from the meeting of Parliament the Resolutions upon which the Government pro pose to found their measures were laid on the table, A fortnight was then allowed for their considera tion in and out of Parliament, and already half of it has elapsed. It would be an unwise and unjust manner of submitting the details of the measure to the House and to the country to answer now this question and now that ; to enlarge upon the best means of defining the boundaries on Monday and of redistributing the seats on Friday. No measure could be fairly judged if thus partially explained and considered. Mr. DISRAELI gave another reason for declining preliminary explanations. The House, he said, " might wish to modify the form of the Resolutions, and he thought it would be most unwise on the part of the Govern ment to lose the advantage of the discussion on the Resolutions. He distinctly disclaimed any desire for procrastination or postponement, and boldly stated that the Government were resolved to use the utmost energy in forwarding the question ; they had put their hands to the plough, and would not desist from their work unless arrested in their labours by the House." We are glad to find the House prepared to take a more conciliatory and tolerant view of the question than heretofore, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer expressed this belief that the house was prepared to give the measure submitted to its consideration a fair and candid trial. We hope that all Liberal members of Parliament will bear in mind that their own leaders have already tried and failed, whether from defects in their mea sure, or from the disloyalty of their followers, and that consequently, if they reject the opportunity now before them, they have no security that another or a better bill will be presented by the Whigs. At the present crisis the words and the conduct of the leading politicians out of office are naturally subjects of great interest. A. striking contrast is offered to the readers of this day's intelligence by the language of the more pro minent members of the Liberal party. Mr. GLAD STONE in the House last night criticised and cen sured the Government plan of action. He ex pressed his own dislike to the mode of proceeding by Resolutions; he declared his apprehension of further delay, and manifested a great desire for full and prompt information. At the same time he showed every desire to give the Government not only a fair hearing, but a fair trial. He declared his conviction that the country at large was deeply anxious that the question should be settled during this session, and, for his own part, he distinctly dis claimed any intention of unnecessary pressure. The assurances of support, which he had previously given the Government, provided their bill was such as he believed to be really a fair one were repeated, and coming from Mr. GLADSTONE such assurances arc something more than mere words of course. Factious opposition, petty intrigue, loud profes sions, contradicted by inconsistent practice, personal jealousies and party prejudice, are unworthy alike of his character and his reputation. So far as he could answer for the conduct of his fol lowers, he distinctly intimated that the proceedings of 1859 (with which ho had individually nothing to do) should not be repeated. Being, as no one can doubt, heartily and conscientiously interested in the prompt and satisfactory settlement of this great question on public grounds, Dlr. GLAnsToNE can leave prejudice and faction behind him, and discuss a national question in a national and patriotic spirit. Coming to the member for Birmingham, we find him adopting a very different course. Mr. BRIGHT has not yet indeed favoured the House of Commons with his views of the Government resolutions ; perhaps, indeed, he thinks that assemblage too contemptible for en lightenment. To the Bradford Branch of the Re form League, however, he is more communicative. The course taken by the Government is " an insult to the house, and a gross offence to the whose body of Reformers in the country." The Administration is " bitterly hostile . to Reform," but has not courage to say so, and therefore vas to " murder the cause by a course olous to all honest men." After TEE SUN, LiOra ON, TUESDAY EV ENING, FEBRUARY 19, 1867. a little more in the same strain Mr. BRIGHT concludes by declaring the Government to be abdi cating its functions, and ready to betray both QUEEN and people, that they may remain in office another session." Mr. BRIGHT, in spite of other failings, is at least consistent. He practises what he preaches. He has set up the American Consti tution as our model, and he does his small part towards producing a national copy. His political language is no unsuccessful imitation of gentlemen who exchange the epithets of" liar" or " traitor" on the floor of the Representative Assembly, even as his political conduct bears strong affiuity to the tolera tion and lore of free thought and speech manifested by the majority of the American Lower House. Mr. BRIGHT is not fortunate enough to have a President to abuse, or a South to trample under foot, but within a more circumscribed area than Fate has allotted to Messrs. THADDEUS STEVENS and SUMNER he does his best to excel. We are glad to meet again with our able corre spondent who signs himself " A Lover of Historical Dates and Facts," aLd his remarks will be found generally interesting to all who would realise the true state of parties and politics in the country, and not jump at hasty conclusions in order to suit the particular views of the moment. It is really surpris ing, when one dwells on the matter, to notice how little the Whig party has done for the country, and how much it has professed to do. The fact is, that the popular sympathies have been so long on the side of that party that it has taken a mean advantage of circumstances, and the consequence of all this has been that the general interests of the country have suffered. It is time now, however, to awake and dispassionately to consider a little whi ther we have been tending of late years, and what have been the principles of those who have so long monopolised the high places of the land and reserved to themselves the gains and glories of office. Vox et preterea nihil has been the motto of all those who have ranged themselves under the banners o Whiggery, and sad has been the result to the real interests of the community. Of more consequence than the mere delay in the passing o: this and that measure, no matter how important such might be, has been the want of faith intro duced into the tone of public matters. People have grave suspicions, and no wonder, at the immense parade that they have witnessed when a new Ad- ministration came into office, and the recollection of how littlo can be seen when retrospect takes the place of prospect. Hence it has become the fashion when Ministers talk of doing great things, for wise men to shake their heads and look incredulous. "Fait till the end of the Session" has been their rejoinder to the Utopian schemes held out to them, and how often has their fatal prophecy been ful filled to the letter in the do-nothing policy that has prevailed. How true is this definition met with in the letter referred to just now. " The Whigs, it is true, for the last half-century, have made a cat's-paw of several liberal measures, in order to obtain the sweets of office, but no sooner had the mooting of such measures proved a good and safe bridge to carry them into their harbour of refuge than they were only too glad to send it to the winds." Let us look, for instance, at the manner in which Reform has been shelved during the last seven years ; and although it has been the fashion to put the blame on Lord PALMERSTON, that has been a very convenient excuse, the late noble Premier not being so much to blame as many of his colleagues. Mr. DISRAELI showed pretty plainly in his remark able speech of the other evening that when Lord DERBY last assumed the responsibility of office he was assured by Lord PALMERSTON of his willingness to assist him in any attempt he deemed necessary to make in the matter o. Reform. With the exception of the first Reform Bill, the Whigs have passed no truly great or im - portant measure at all. For many years in opposi tion they were in favour of the repeal of the Test Act and Catholic Emancipation, but it was not a Whig Government which carried them at last. The course pursued by the Whigs to the Roman Catholics is aptly described by the lover of historical dates and facts as something " like that of the devil in one of his journeys to the earth, to kick away the stool from your friend as soon as ever you have made your fortune by him." After a long course of trickery Lord RUSSELL gave the crowning blow to the union between the Whigs and Catholics when he penned his famous Durham letter in 1850. Let us also reflect upon the very different conduct of the Conservatives. Catholic Emancipation was introduced by WILLIAM PITT, as well as carried by a Tory Ministry. The endow m progress e i n n t s o h f lr have , a a y vt n eh o e b o e t g h e rne w a ct a s ea sr S tr e r i du R e ab o sy n u E rT ß e so T r y P o PE' GE reformm neannd Governments alone. The law reforms on which Lord GREY'S Government of 1855 prided itself were in con sequence by thef the h late o f thatvE WELLINGTON been s a n d ap pointeds commissions Duke ir R. PEEL. In 1857, Lord DERBY'S first Administra tion, there were more law reforms placed on the Statute Book than had been done for years before. This zealous searcher into the historical scrolls of the past has also expressed a fear of the finesse tricks of Lord RUSSELL, and it would seem as if it was the last thing he arrived at to be straightfor ward. In 1835, he turned out the Government of Sir R. PEEL upon the first tithe question, and three years afterwards he carried the very same measure himself. This is all of a piece with the course pursued in 1859, when the Conservatives were turned out on the policy afterwards held by the new Ministers. In 1798-9 the Whigs were against the introduction of an Income-tax by the Tories ; seven years later, when in office them selves, they doubled it. Again, in 1842, they op posed Sir R. PEEL'S proposition, and in 1848, when in office, they wished to double it. The conclusion arrived at in this summar y of the doings of Wit is a very just one, namely, that it V should be long before the affairs of the country are entrusted to their manage ment, or rather to their mismanagement. Allowing, for the sake of argument, that the pre sent Government was against all reform—which no one has yet found it to be—an open enemy is better than a false friend. For the Whigs the cold shade of the Opposition will be by far the most salubrious atmosphere for some time to come, and as it is complacently said in this illustration of parties— " The country is in duty bound to give the present Government a fair trial." If it refuse to do so, w e feel convinced that the lo.s to the Conservative cause will be nothing to that inflicted ou the in terests of the nation, and it will be long before the injuries thus produced will be forgotten or forgiven by .ill true patriots. We are glad to find that the affairs of Hungary are progressing much more satisfactorily than we had any reason to expect a short time ago. Yes terday an Imperial rescript was read in both houses of the Hungarian Diet. In this it is announcer that the EMPEROR agrees to the demands that Nv embodied in the Diet's address of the 19th January last, respecting the re-organisation of thearmy ; and he has ordered that the question be left for Parlia mentary treatment , Expr(ssion is used, however, of the EMPEROR'S desire that the Diet should support as readily as possible this plan of the EMPEROR'S in consequence of the necessity that prevails for filling up the gaps in the regiments, and likewise remo delling the army. The EMPEROR further declares that the doubts he once entertained have now dis appeared, and he restores the Hungarian Constitu tion ; concluding with the emphatic wish, that the peoples of Hungary will defend the Throne, the Crown, and the Empire, even as he desires the integrity of Hungary, and rill defend her Consti- tutign. Of course the greatest enthusiasm pre vailed in consequence of the receipt of this intelli ence, and a deputation will be appointed to carry to the EMPEROR the thanks of the nation. This will not be glad tiding 3 for Prussia, and we can fancy the Berlin Government feeling very much chagrined when they hear of it. The Emperor FRANCIS JOSEPH has shown himself equal to the occasion before him, and we feel convinced that he will have no cause to regret the important step he has just taken. had he done so a year or two ago he would now be in a far better position, but better late than never is true in this as in other cases, and we heartily congratulate him upon this proof of his wisdom and confidence. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) AMERICA. (BY ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.) NEW YORK, Feb. 18 (Morning.) The Senate has passed a substitute for the bill adopted by the House of Representatives on the 13th instant, establishing martial law in ten of the Southern States. The Senate's Bill makes the military government in the South provisional until the formation of State Governments, with the principle of negro suffrage, the disfranchisement of prominent rebels, and the adoption of the Consti tutional Amendment. The Guion screw steamer Chicago arrived out yesterday. Suratt has arrived here. COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE. OPENING PRICES.—GoId, 136 k ; Sterling Ex change on London, 1087 ; 5-20 United Stotts Bonds, 110 ; Illinois, 116 f ; Erie, 55g. CLOSING PRICES.—GoId, 136 f ; Sterling Ex change on London, 108} ; 5-20 United States Bonds, 1107 ; Illinois, 115/ ; Erie, 56. Cotton—. Middling Upland, 337. CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, Monday Evening. The bulletin of the Moniteur says :—" A letter 'rom Civita Vecchia, dated Feb. 12, annouuces the arrival in that port of several vessels laden with corn which the Government of the Holy Father had purchased abroad to insure sufficient food for the inhabitants of Rome until the next harvest. Thanks to the precautionary measures which had been adopted, the price of bread has not risen during the last six weeks. The Syndic of Genoa, accompanied by four members of the Municipality, had left for Venice to present an address for the inhabitants of Genoa to the Venetians, and to offer to them as a testimony of friendship the busts o: Vittorio Pisani and Pietro Doria." A despatch from St. Petersburg says that the most important fact which has arisen there for some weeks iithe dissolution of the Provincial Assembly of that city. These provincial assemblies replaced the ancient assemblies of the nobility, which only met at intervals of three years. Their attributions are purely local and mu n icipal, and politics were excluded from their consideration, but having recently discussed political matters the Emperor thought fit to dissolve them. The Moniteur has received a communication in regard to the composition of the new Italian Ministry, but it does not seem to rely upon it, as it says it publishes the news "under all reserve." However, according to its correspondent, M. Ricasoli will retain the position of President of the Council and Minister of the Interior ; M. Visconti Venosta will still be Minister of Foreign Affairs ; M. Cordova will be Minister of Commerce ; and General Cugia Minister of War. M. Depretis, instead of being Minister of Marine, will be Minister of Finance in the room of M. Scialoja ; M. Mari, now President of the Chamber of Deputies, will be Minister of Justice. In short, to those not familiar with the names of. Italian diplomatist; it may be necessary to state in a word that the new Ministry is a hash of the old Cabinet —a distinction without a difference. The blue book, a large volume of 300 pages, gives a mass of interesting miscellaneous informa tion relative to the internal position of France. It contains the following statistics relative to the newspapers : —On the Ist of Jan., 1866, the num ber of political journals was 330, of which 63 were printed in Paris, and 267 in the provinces. On the Ist of ,Tan., 1867, the number of political jour nals was 336, of which 64 were printed at Pari , 272 in the departments. On the Ist of Jan., 1E66, the number of nen-political journals was 1,307, of which 703 were published in Paris, and 604 in the departments. On the Ist of Jan., 1867, the num ber of non-political journals was 1,435 ; that is to say, 710 in Paris, and 725 in the departments. In i m ca e l nt n s. ew s of in 6 th n e ew de p p o a l r it t e course of 1866 the Governme n t authorised the sFparpomers,thle Istat p p u a b r s i , andcation of Jan., 1866, to the Ist of Jan., 1867, 32 judi cial condemnations were pronounced against news papets, 13 at Paris, and 19 in the departments. This book gives important statistics in regard to the steam fleet in the course of construction in the building yards. It includes 28 vessels of 12,670 horse power, viz., 4 ironclad frigates, of 3,800 horse power ; 7 ironclad corvettes, of 3,150 horse power ; 3 ironclad coast guard Vessels, of 1,590 horse power ; 2 ironclad floating batteries for coast service, of 300 horse power; a screw fri gate (not ironclad), 480 horse power ; 3 screw corvettes (not ironclad), 1,350 horse power ; 7 screw avisos, 1,500 horse power ; one transpoi t, 500 horse power. The number of sailing vessels in course of construction is 82, to which number should be added many vessels intended for police service and the protection of fisheries. In the principal ports of France there is great activity in the completion of some vessels of rather a for midable character. As to the merchant navy, 1 gather ,from the book that the French and English Government have been for some time in communication with a view to the abolition of onerous differential duties, and also to establish one uniform s y s t em o f me a surement, and to facilitate as much as possible the regulations in regard to ballast and . the shipment of spare stores in place of ballast when the ballast is unladen. The 1‘ hole tendency of the facts and arguments published in this portion of the book is to exhibit the desire of the French Government to promote the principle of free trade in regard to navi gation and commerce. The Siecle, in a review of foreign affairs, has some sensible remarks in regard to Prussia. It says —" Prussia, according to the statement in the Im perial Speech, is making every exertion to reassure us. We believe, in fact, that without France she would have gone farther than she did—in Saxony, for instance. But she would not have gone so far with an armed neutrality; and we regret that the pressure put upon her prevented her. We do not deny the great results announced in the Speech. Our simple mediation has destroyed the Quadrila teral, emancipated Italy, and saved Austria. Here is an immense result. According to the Speech from the Throne, and the blue book, which forms a commentary upon it, our relations with Prussia are good. We will even add that, according to the most recent manifestations of public opinion, that public feeling, so sensitive in Prussia, has not been irritated at the anticipation of history. In other times if it had been said to the Prussians that they had been stopped at the gates of Venice all the organs of public opinion in Prussia would have felt their national pride wounded. There is, therefore, some progress there. As to Austria she ought to be abundantly satisfied with the Im perial Speech. The Emperor declares that the greatness of that empire is n ecessary to the gene ral equilibrium. S uc h a declarationis as good as a treaty." According to the Italie the Pontifical Budget for the current year will present a deficit of 371 mil lions of francs. But as this deficit will be covered by the sum of 20 millions, which the Italian Go vernment is to pay into the Roman Treasury next month for the arrears of the public debt since 1859, and also about 18 millions due from Italy for annual interest of that part of the Pontifical debt connected with the ancient provinces of the States of the Church, the Holy See will, in 1867, have sufficient funds to provide for its expenses. This morning early it was a frost. As the day advanced came a little rain, but with still less sun, and as I enclose my letter the frost seems half made up its mind to return. ere LAIV EXPENSES OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL COM MISSIONERS.-By a return issued yesterday it appears that the Ecclesiastical Commissioners expended nearly £7,000 in legal proceedings having raw - once to manorial and other right 6 in the county of Durham. CHINA. (By telegraph from Gallo.) HONG KONG, Jan. 15.* The rebels are threatening llankow. Great fires have taken place in the north of China. Advices from Japan state that Prince Stotsbashi has been elected Tycoon, and has announced a policy favourable to foreigners. • This message has occupied 21 days in transmission rom Galle. The commercial intelligence is anticipated by the telegrams of later date published this morning. FRANCE AND CANDIA. PARIS, Feb. 19. The offic . al Yellow Book contains about 60 pages referring to Crete. Numerous despatches from M. Drouyn de Lhuys and the Marquis do Moustier attest the constant solicitude of the French Govern ment for the Christians. One despatch of M. Drouyn de Lhuys, dated August 27th, urges the Porte to send a commissioner to Candia without delay, to examine the position of affairs and devise means for remedying it. A despatch from the Marquis de Aloustier to the French Minister at Athens, dated Oct. 12, denies the rumour that the Marquis, when he passed through Athens, made use of threatening language at an interview which he had with the King of Greece. A despatch from the same Minister, dated November 8, addressed to the French representative at Constantinople, counsels the Porte to adopt measures of clemency and adds : —" The question now is under what conditions Turkey will henceforth be able to govern Crete, in order to repair evils and efface painful reminiscences. Another despatch, of the 7th December, asserts the inability of the Ottoman Government to quell the Cretan insurrection, and continues as follows : " Turkey should be sensible to the danger of allowing the evil to increase to such an extent that the position of the Turkish Empire would at length necessitate the employment of extraordinary remedies. We con sider that we give a fresh proof of our interest in Turkey by calling upon her to devote to this ques tion all he solicitude and reflection." A despatch dated Dec. 14th says : "Public opinion in Europe with regard to the Caudiotes begins to be sympathetic, and more dis tinct marks of encouragement are being afforded them. It is therefore in the highest degree incum- bent upon the Ministers of the Sultan thoroughly to examine the state of affairs and foresee the con sequences to which it may lead. If the Porte is de ficient in foresight it may, before many months, have to meet still graver and more imperative neces- sities." A despatch dated Dec.2B points out that the difficu ties with Crete have successively increased, and adds : Admitting even that the insurrection should be speedily quelled, the question at issue would no longer be what it was a month ago. Solutions, which at the beginning of the crisis might perhaps have pacified the Cretans, now run a risk of being con sidered insufficient. We cannot disguise from the Porte the serious anxiety felt by the French Govern ment on the subject. Things have now reached a point at which the fullest candour is certainly the greatest evidence of friendly feeling which we can afford to the Turkisk Government." The last despatch contained in the Yellow Book on the subject of Candia is addressed by the Mar quis de Moustier to the French Minister at Athens. It says :—" We have learned with much satisfaction ,hat the tendencies of the new Greek Cabinet towards Turkey are not aggressive. The agitation which the Greek Government permitted to extend might have produced the most deplorable compli cations both for Greece and Europe. We could not remain indifferent to anything which might in crease the prosperity of Greece, but as the price of our good-will and solicitude we are justified in ex pecting that it will not be sought to impel us pre maturely against our will into any line of policy. We must always desire to be left free to suggest at the proper moment and in our own time whatever may appear to be expedient. FRANCE. BOURSE, Feb. 18.—Two o'clock.—Stocks and shares continue the upward movement noticed on Saturday. French Threes have advanced 10c.—to 69f. 70c., and Credit Mobilier shares 2f. 50c.—to 497 f. 50c. Credit Foncier are again in great de mand, and are 7f. 50c. higher—viz., at 1,545 f. Italian Fives are at 54f. 10c. Great firmness con tinues in the Railway Department, and the great majority of shares are being dealt in at an advance. Three o'clock.—The market became weak to , wards tho close. The last quotations are as fol lows : per Cents 99 50 Do. end month — 3 per Cents. 0 75 Do. eud mouth 69 65 Credit Mobilier 495 Do. end month Credit Foneier — Do. end mouth 1538 75 RAIL Bank Shares 3550 Italian Loan 54 20 Do. end month 54 80 Mexican Loan — Do. Bonds Spanish Threes Home Debt Deferred (A.TII. Orleans Northern For Account 922 50 1220 Lyons and Mediterranean 930 Southern 5BO Western 585 Eastern ,.. 552 50 Sardinian Austrian Lombard 4OB 75 North of Spain SaragosEtL 131 25 DittO . to Barcelona Roman 90 - AUSTRIA. VIENNA, Feb. 18 The following Message of the Imperial Govern ment has been communicated to all the Diets which assembled to-day :-- " In convoking an extraordinary meeting of the Reichsrath, the Emperor was guided by the intention to insure to all the kingdoms and countries not be longing to the Hungarian Crown the means of giving an equal vote in the solution of the Constitutional question, as promised by the Patent of September, 1865, and at the same time to afford the basis of coming to an understanding and settlement of the different claims and views upon questions of right prevailing in those countries. The intention of the Emperor did not meet everywhere with the hoped for appreciation. Indeed_ it was subjected top:well misinterpretation, as though the Government in- ' tended thereby to curtail or even permanently to withdraw the Constitutional rights granted by the October Diploma and February Patent. However greatly the Government regretted these views and declared them to be without foundation, it neverthe less could not conceal from itself the fact that the attainment of an object viewed in that manner was considerably endangered. To these considerations has since been added a circumstance full of impor tant consequences, and one which rendered persiA ence in the course which had been entered upon no longer consistent with the object held in view. Later negotiations have led to the gratifying result that the Hungarian Diet may be confidently expected to give its assent to propositions which are calculated to preserve the power of the whole monarchy, and o Mich on being carried into execution will pro bably give to that power a successful development. The preliminary condition of an arrangement with Hungary has been the appointment of a respon- ib 1 c Hungarian Ministry. The leading idea which the Government entertained on con voking the Extraordinary Reichsrath was hereby anticipated, and the important question arose whether in this state of things it was not to the in terest of the Empire that that the convocation of the Extraordinary Reichsrath should be abandoned. Guided by the following considerations, the Go vernment has felt bound to decide that question in the affirmative. During a long course of years the constitutional organisation of the monarchy has suf fered from hitherto inseparable contradictions be tween the older rights of the llungarian constitution and the liberal institutions which the Emperor has made it the aim of his life to establish throughout the monarchy. During the continuance of this conflict the restoration of the greatness of the Em pire and the historical position it has so long occu pied among the other States of Europe is not to be hoped for, and, owing to the relations which have arisen out of the recent calamities, every new delay that occurs in the settlement of pending questions is fraught with the most decided disadvantages. If, however, a solution is now arrived at, the object which the Emperor had in view in suspending the Constitution by means of the February patent would thereby appear to be fully accomplished. This measure, therefore, owing to the preliminary ar rangement with Hungary, is now no longer neces sary. A means has thus occurred of returning to a constitutional course, and the Government is thus afforded an opportunity of explaining to the Diets about to assemble the negotiations it has entered upon, and of justifying the measures it has adopted. The Emperor has, therefore, issued a decree, dated the 2d instant, ordering that the in tended meeting of the Extraordinary Reichsrath shall be abandoned, and that the Constitutional Reichsrath shall assemble in Vienna on the 18th of March, when the amendments to the Con stitution, necessitated by the arrangement with Hungary, will be submitted to that body for ap proval. After this the Reichsrath will deliberate on various measures relating severally to the sending of delegates to assemblies for the discussion of common affairs ; to the questions of Ministerial responsibi lity; the modification of paragraph 13 of the Feb ruary Patent ; extension of the constitutional self government of the different provinces of the empire ; the reorganisation of the army, the improvement of the administration of justice, and the promotion of the economical interests of the country. The Go vernment hopes the Diets will proceed forthwith to the election of members to the Constitutional Reichs rath, and thereby contribute to bring about the termination of a constitutional crisis which has al ready lasted too long." THE REFORM RESOLUTIONS. Yesterday evening the following letters were read at a public meeting held at Bradford on the Go vernment Reform Resolutions, the secretary of the Bradford Branch of the National Reform Union having transmitted to Mr. Bright, Lord F. Caven dish, and Mr. Forster copies of a series of resolu tions adopted by the Branch, criticising the Go vernment Reform : " Rochdale, Feb. 16. " Dear Sir,—l think your resolutions very good. The course taken by the Government is an insult to the house, and a gross offence to the whole body of Reformers in the country. I cannot say what the house will do, or what the Liberal party in the house will do, till after the meeting which is called for Thursday next. " The Administration is bitterly hostile to Re form. When in opposition this was abundantly proved, and it is confirmed by its course since its accession to office. It has not the honesty or the courage to pronounce boldly against Reform, but it seeks to murder the cause and the question by a course contrary to Parliamentary usage, and odious in the sight of all honest men. If the house join in the guilt of this proceeding, it will only add to the distrust with which it is now regarded by vast mul titudes of the people in all parts of the country. "You are right in holding meetings, and in every town and village meetings should be held. Already they have been held more generally and more nume rously attended than at any other time since 1832. Hitherto the effect seems little, so far as we may judge from the action of the Administration and whether further meetings will produce any greater effect I cannot undertake to say. But I venture to say this—that a Government, unmindful of the opi nion expressed so clearly in the great centres of our population, is running the country into great peril. If meetings have no effect, if the open and almost universal expression of opinion has no power on the Administration and the Legislature, then inevitably the minds of the people will seek other channels with a view to obtain and secure the rights which they are contemptuously denied them. If I am wrong in believing this, then history is a lie from the be ginning, and we have all been mistaken in our esti mate of the causes out of which many of the great and deplorable transactions it has recorded have sprung. " I understand that in Birmingham a great de monstration of opinion is contemplated, and I sup pose other parts of the country will have something to say to an Administration which abdicates its functions, and is ready to betray both Queen and people, that it may remain in office for another ses sion.—l am, with great respect, yours truly, " JOHN BRIGHT, " The Secretary of the Bradford Branch of the Reform Union." "21, Carlton-house-terrace, S.W., Feb. 16 " Sir,—l beg to acknowledge the receipt of your letter of the 14th inst., and to request you to ex press to the Bradford Branch of the Reform Union my thanks for the copy of the declaration that they adopted at their meeting of the 13th, with respec t to the proposal of the Goverumeut on the subject of., Reform. "I agree with the branch in regarding that pro posal as most unsatisfactory; but having full confi dence in the leaders of the Liberal party, I am prepared to follow whatever course they may re commend as the best means of obtaining a wise and liberal settlement of the question.—l am, sir, your obedient servant, " F. CAVENDISH." " 80, Eccleston-square, S.W., Feb. 16. " Dear Sir,—l am obliged to you for your note of the 14th inst., enclosing the opinion of the Brad ford Reform Union on Mr. Disraeli's resolutions, in which I most cordially concur. I have myself no doubt whatever that the House of Commons ought to refuse to consider these resolutions unless the Government state first what reduction of franchise they propose; but whether or no the House of Com mons takes this course will depend upon the opi nions expressed in the country.—l am, dear sir, yours truly, " W. E. FORSTER:7 THE REPRESENTATION OF CORK.—We learn by telegraph that Mr. Macarthy Downing has withdrawn his candidature for the county of Cork. The contest is now between Mr. Smith Barry and Mr. Vincent Scully. At a meeting of Liberal electors, held yesterday, the claims of the two candidates were discussed, and the show of hands was iu favour of Mr. Scully. EAST SUFFOLK ELECTION.—At the close of the poll yesterday the numbers were as follows :—Corrance (Conservative), 2,503; Adair (Liberal), 2,135 —majority for QQtranee, 371. c iccs , 61114 (intik 4 5 • HER MAJESTY, &c• OSBORNE, Feb. 18. Tho Right llon. B. Disraeli arrived yesterday, and had the honour of dining with the Queen and Royal family. Mr. Disraeli left Osborne this morning for London. Major-General the Hon. A. and Mrs. Gordon have also left Osborne. The Queen and the Royal family drove and waked out this morning. THE PRINCESS OF WALES.—On inquiry at liarlborough House yesterday evening we learnt that her _Royal Highness, who had passed a restless night, had been somewhat relieved by a few hours' refreshing sleep in the coarse of the morning. HUDSON'S BAY COMPANY. When it is stated that the Government (or, we rather presume, the late Government) have offered a million sterling for the claims of this company to the districts of land between British Columbia and Canada, bordering on the States, it is well to see if the Company have any legal title or claim to the lands in questit, or whether they belong to the Crown or to Canada. In Charles the Second's reign a grant was made by him to the Company of the shores round Iludson's Bay, and of such terri tories as were not then possessed by any other Christian prince. At this time Canada belonged to the French, not having been acquired by us for nearly a century after, and their fur traders and clergy had their posts in the regions between it and the present colony of British Columbia, all of which were ceded in 1760 to England, so that the territory in question belongs either to Canada or to the Crown, not having been contained in the grant of the " Merry Monarch," because it was then the property of a Christian prince, the King of France. Up to 1810 or 1816, the North-West Fur Company, with its headquarters at Montreal, and other fur traders of Canada, were opposed to the claims of the Com pany, denying their right or title. About this time Mr. Edward Ellice, a fur merchant of Montreal, and others interested.in the North-West Company, joined the Hudson's Bay Company, whose claims they had previously denounced, and at their amal gamation Mr. Ellice became governor of both, sup porting as strongly the rights of the company as he formerly opposed them. This gentleman, better known as the late Right Hon. Edward Ellice, mar ried a sister of Earl Grey, and had very powerful connections in Parliament. Lord Brougham and many eminent lawyers gave opinions against the Company, while others of equally good standing were favourable to their claims. A committee of the House of Commons sat a few years ago on the question, when the company brought forward evi dence that the territory in question was worthless, and unfit for settlement, the climate bad, and the whole only a haunt for wild beasts. This was the testimony of Sir George Simpson, then Governor, and other friends of the Company, but was disproved by witnesses who wished to see it opened to settle ment. Sir Edward Grogan, Mr. Roebuck, and the Hon. Mr. Fitzwilliam, members of the committee, elicited evidence which showed that the evidence given by the company was not borne out by the facts. Now they demand two millions sterling for what they describe as a waste, howling wilderness, and it is said that the Government have offered one million for a property without a title to it. We trust the City correspondent of the Daily News has been premature in this statement ; where there is a dis pute, and where the country thinks that the com pany have no legal title, it would be only just and fair to refer the matter to the Privy Council, when the company can be heard, as well as the Crown on behalf of the public, and Canada on her own ac count. We hope that Lord Carnarvon will act as becomes the Colonial Minister in this matter, and that great family influence and power will not ob struct justice and right. None can object to a de cisiou by a competent tribunal, and the sooner the case is decided legally the better.—Dublin Evening Mail. The United States Survey of the Darien Line. TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN. SIR,—As a party is, I understand, now being organised in Loudon for the purpose of surveying the ship canal line across the Isthmus of Darien, it may not be irrelevant to mention thitt the New York herald, of Jan. 21, announces the arrival at Panama of a party of explorers and surveyors sent by the United States Government to make a thorough ex ploration, and, afterwards, a survey of the country from Caledonia Harbour to the river Savana and the Gulf of San Miguel. That line was selected upon the recommendation of Rear-Admiral C. Davis, the Superintendent of the Naval Observatory , who, in his report to the Secretary of the Navy, of which an abstract was published in the New fork Herald, of Dec. 26, pronounces it to be the only one practicable. The Admiral impartially states its principal features, condemns the very unsatisfactory attempt at an exploration made in 1854, and ascribes to me the merit of being the first explorer of it. It is to be regretted, however, that he had not seen the plans, the detailed description with the com pass courses and distances along the line, the memoranda for the guidance of e%" plorers, and Commander Parsons' " Survey of Caledonia Harbour and Port Escoces," which I for warded to the Secretary of the Navy at Washing ton in 1857, together with an offer to guide a party over the lowest ground between the Atlantic and Pacific, with secure, deep, and capacious harbours at each terminus. I have, therefore, again forwarded to the United States Government a full description of the line for transmission to the commander of the party, so that, if he fail in the first attempt, he may make a second and successful one, by shaping his course in accord ance with it. Some months ago I sent information to the same effect to the Admiralty, and, on the 20th of November, I furnished Lord Stanley with a statement of the direction and manner In which ill survey should be made. I have, then, done all my power to facilitate the examination of the coun try ; and have, moreover, offered to conduct an elc ploration, for my capacity to bring which to a se e ; cessful issue the extensive researches that I m ade !, the interior of Demerara, and all over Guiana , fre' the Orinoco to the Amazon, between the years 1841 and 1844 ; and in of New Grenada and other pa rts South and Central America, since 1850 , ought t 0 be a sufficient guarantee. If, however, persons totally inexperienced in ploring tropical forests and ignorant of the toP graphy of the tract in question, will refuse my ef fe o f of assistance in guiding them (as the commander be the expedition of 1854 did), they must not l a y t o , blame on me, nor try to throw discredit on the 1 )1 : o ject, if they fail to find their way, or, perchaeu ose themselves in the bush. I remain, sir, yours very respectfully, 26, North Cumberland-streeEt. CULLEN, , Dublin, Feb. 16. ALM Cabinet Council ' was held to-day a t ° r fi 0 , , e A. lock, at the First Lord of the Treasury's official dente dence in Downing-street. We have great pleasure in cont radicting a r e P a °r • s b which alleges that the Lord Chief Justic e of Bul0" 1 l a. about to retire on account of declining health. ship's health, except for a slight attack of influenz a, , °if- which he has completely recovered, is, and has been„, ; collent, and he has no intention what ever of deprviu s t- Ii " country of his services. At the forthcoming assizes for North and S° , Lancashire there will be a Roman Catholic high slieriffc,e Roman Catholic under sheriff, and a Roman Catholic; —Mr. Justice Shee. The othe r j udge whe Will accoropa'"! M Mr. Justice Sheo is a Dissenter —Mr. Justice e llor, who is a member of the Independent deuomivation. A committee of the Lords of her MajesSt tyri Honourable Privy Council sat yesterday at Whitehall, eoro the subject of the cattle plague. The lords preacntr,vr,,,,,e, —the Right Hon. H. Corry and the Right lion. S. r: ee . ktir. Ilarrion and Di. A. Wail= attended the cenlo2lL`