The Sun. — London, England, 1867-04-03 00:00:00

CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERALISM. " T Plucz ONz PENNY. A Y." Office-49, Essex-street, Strand. BENSON'S WATCHES AND CLOCKS. — By special appointment to H.R.H. THE PRINCE OF WALES. Prize Medal, London, Class 33 ; Dublin, Class 10. WATCHES CHRONOMETERS, KEYLESS, REPEATERS, CHRONOGRAPHS, &C. CLOCKS —FOR DINING AND DRAWING Rooms, CARRIAGES, CHURCHES, &c. JEWELLERY—SPECIALITIES IN MONOGRAMS, CRYSTALS, DIAMONDS, AND FINE GOLD. PLATE, AND WORKS OF ART IN BRONZE, BY LEADING ARTISTS. J RICE 3 AND DE:SCRIPTIONS, -SEE ILLUSTRATED PAMPHLET, POST FREE. Watches and Clocks sent to all parts of the world. J. W. BENSON, 25, OLD BOND STREET. Steam Factory and. City Show Rooms, 58 AND 60, LUDGATE-HILL. Paris Exhtbition, 1867, English Section, Class 23. I.II.EATItE Y A.L U [.l-LAN E. 1_ Sole Lessee and Manager, 31r. le. B Chatterton. TLI IS MA" 14.;: , 1 IN G, Ito 11 ROY. McsMrs. Phelps, Swiubourne, VV. Harrison, "W. 3l'l,ityre, Barrett, C. Harcourt; Alerda.nes Cross, IL G. Le fheire, Hudspe,ll, and E. Brum, , hatn. To eoncludo. with, WANTED. HUSBANDS FOIL SIX Messrs. Barrett, E. Cditon ; mesdames Hudspeth and El 13roughlin Commence at Seven. THEATRE _ROYAL, HAYMARKET, Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Bucket me THIS EV EN LNG, TEIE HEIR-AT- LAW. Messrs Buck stone, Chippendale, Compton, farren, Rogers. Braid, Gor don, sc. ; Mesdames Chippendale, Moore, Alter which. THE SERIOUS FAMILY. Messrs. Buck stone, Howe, Farren, Vincent, &c. ; Meadaibes Chippendale, Moore, Hill, Sidney, Burke, &c. To conclude with Ps.RFECTION. Mr. Kendal and Miss lone Burke. Commence at Seven. OYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.- -CIL) Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Fechter. TIIIS EVENING, at 7, BAMBOOZLING. Mr. E. Price and Miss Kate 11,soop. Atter which, at 8, T tIE DUKE'S MOTTO. Mr. Fechter; Me srs. Jordan, Emery, Price, Widdicombe, k'itzpatrick, Daltun, N e‘s bound, Anderson, Reynolds, Vivian, Bennett; Misses Ilcnrade, .Elsworthy, Grattan, and Carlotta Leclercq. IIEATRE ROYAL ADELPHL ziole Proprietor and 3lanager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVEN IN G, at 7 (16th time), a New Drama, LOST IN LONDON. Messrs. H. Neville. Ashley, J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, C. J. Smith, Eburne ; Miss Neilson, Mrs Billing ton, and Miss A. seaman. To conclude with the New Grand Burlesque of THE MOON CAIN Dial; or, THE KNIGHT, 'llli LADY, AND THE LAKE. Messrs. J. L. Toole, Paul Bedford, Ashley, R. Romer, and C. J. Smith ; 3liss A. Seaman, Miss Furtado. Miss Ilukhes, Miss Emily Pitt. &c. ROYAL OL N, Y M MPIC L THEATRE. 'Sole Lessee, Mr. B. Webster; Manager, Mr. U. Wigan. THIS E VENING, LAVAT ER. Messrs. Clayt , ,n, Stuart. D. Murray, and Charles Mathews; Mesdames uarris and M Palmer. Followed by THE. LIAR. Messrs. C. Mathews, Addison, 11. J. Montague, and itora.;c Wigan ; Mrs. Charles Mathews and Miss Stephens. Atter wht h, A ROMANTIC IDEA. Messrs. G. Vincent, Addison, D. Murray, and Charles Mathews. Doors open at halt-past Six ; commence at Seven. OPAL PRINCESS'S TIIEATB.E. Sole lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vininv. Tll IS EVENING, at 7, No. 1, ROUND TIIE CORNER. 4 Messrs. J. G. shore, IL Forrester. Followed by. at a quarter before 8, IT IS NEVER TOO LATE TO MEND. Characters by Messrs. Vining,. F. Vil liers. C. Veruer, J. G. Shore, (Ailliaein, li. Forrester, IC. Thorne, li. Mellon, C. IL. Fenton ; Miss Vage and 31188 Katherine ilungers. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. bole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs. Swanborough. THIS EvEINISG, MARRIED DAUGII I'ERS. 3lessrs. Th,_rne, Belford, and G. Murray ; Misses Johnstone and Alter which, the Burlesque, E 33IER A LDA ; or, The Sen sation Goat. 31,13. rm. t hot ne James, Robson, and 'luruvr ; Mesdames A. Swanborough, Hughes, Newton, Weathersby, and E. Holt. To conclude with THE FRENCH EXHIBITION. Commence at Seven. ITOLBORN THEATRE ROYAL 6ele Froprietor and Manager, Mr. :•:etton Parry. Tais EVENING, a new Farce, MY TUIIN NEXT. Mr. Belnwre, Miss Foote, Miss Leanos. After which, Boucicault's drama of FLYING SCUD. IMeasrs. Neville, Behnore, Blake, Garden, Vollaire ; Meadames Jo,ephs, C. Saunders. B. Foote, Raymond. THEATRE ROYAL, ASTLEY'S. -I- Under the Sole .Management of Mr. W. 11. C. NATION. Production of H J. Byron's piquant Burlesque, "r HE NY Ai OF TII LURLEY [SWIG," and Third Weck of J. R. litickstone's Romantic Adelphi Drama, " FLOW Efts or' THE FOREST." - - • THI3 EV ENIN G, J. B. Btu:ketone - a Romantic Adelphi Drama, 'I LIE FLOW EttS OF T tiE FOltE 3T, with a Novel and rieturesque " tiiPsY DANCE" by the powerful Corps de Bane , under the aire.ilina 01 sir. Milano. 11.-sars. Fernandez, Attains, Stephens ; Misses Edith Stuart, Thal wa I, itienard.on. To conclude with U. J. Byron's piquant Burlesque, TIIK N VAIL' aOF Tll LUIILn.YBUItG, with new and brilliant :Seencri illustrative of the beautif at Rhine. Misses Edith Stuart. Ellen I hirlwall, Nellie Chiton ; Me.vsrs. Atkins, btcphens, and Arthur. rnIHE "SUN" NEWSPAPER. — G. It. GLENIE, Sporting Library, 4, Connaught terrace, Edgware-road, is specially appointed A.Oi!:.N t' to deliver the LATE EDITION of " PRE SUN " at the earliest possible moment atter leaving the press. rie is able to deliver copies in Town, the Suburbs, and iu many initial of the Country at a e,omparativcly early hour the same tveuing, say 40 miles by 9 o'clock. Orders by Post punctually attended to. THE ~S UN" NEWSPAPER.- G. R. GI.ENIb: delivers the LATE EDITION at Chelsea, 7.10 ; 8; Starch-green, 8; Itioolivich, 7.30 ; IJKbridgc, 9.20 ; NValford, 8.45. T"E THIRD EDITION of " THE SUN," giving all the SPORTING NEWS of the day, may be seen at JIMMY MANTON'S house, "The Swan ami 11,rse Shoe," 32, Little Britain, City, E.G. LA TE ST INTELLIGENCE.— ..01,0 SAM SMITII," late of **The Mall Coach," ;, , ,liepherd's Bush, now or the White hart, Acton, uhidlesex. begs to intorin his friends and neighbours that the L T EsT lan rIoN of "rm 4: 611 S" oda be seen at his house as above. r,E LATEST EDITION of "TILL SUN" supplied, as soon as published every Eveniu.:, by W. AIE X.AN (Iste 111 ,. ..001iS), Newspaper Alzent. 2', Old Cav,,,nuiali—dreet. Oxford-street. IPO RTING.—JO LIN ROBE WI'S supplies the r EsT EDITION of " 14 : E LI " 8U1)11 itS pub za.th-strEet, City-road, E.C. FOR THE Lz-vrEsT POLITICAL and SPORTING INTELLIGENCE see the Late Edition Di " The 6tri" at Alr. Blake's, Queen's Ilea'l, ‘Vindsor street, Uxbridge. -4:111E LASI lilll'l'LON oti " TUE SUN " supplied as soon as Published, containing all the LA11 , 16 . 1 MN'S and SI'ORTING INTF.LLIG-EXClil, by It. W. liAlattS, Neaspaper A4ent, 4, Blackiriars-road, London, S. THE LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN." J. HOLMES begs to inform his friends, and the pubic 7enerally, that he supplzes thu LATEST EUITIoN of PAN; SUN" as soon as published —No. 16, IL.napstead road, N. W. " r r IIE SUN" NEWSPAPER.—" The Mitre" Tavern, dew Church-street, near the Alpha-road, Paddin2ton.-31r PIZZ EY (many yenta of titurvlt•street) Navin, taken the above Business of 3lr. Fred. Squires, re socctiully informs his friends and the petite that "THE SLI A" (Third Fell Eton), con t d ing tee Latest Sporting News, Results of Races, Latest Parliamentary Deb tt,, (tc , can be seen at his house as above "All the year round." *,,,* A wel , -selected and extensive Stock of WINES, Srm TO THE ELECTORS OF MIDDLESEX. GENTLEMEN,— TE death of Mr. Halibury has deprived you of the services of a highly-esteemed Representative in the House of Commons. _ For the vacancy thus sadly and unexpectedly occasioned I venture to offer myself as a Candidate. There are many among you, I flatter myself, to who.n my name is not unknown as a zealous supporter of the Liberal cause, and at this important crisis I hold it essen tial that any candidate presuming to ask for the suffrages of such an important and thoroughly Liberal constituency as that of Midllesex should be able to give trustworthy assurances of his devotion to the principles which they have at heart. I [Should you do mo the honour to return me to Parlia ment it would be my first duty to co-operate with those AN' Ito desire to effect the passage of an honest and straight forward measure of Reform—such a measure as would prove to the large body of artisans and working men, whom I hold to be entitled to the franchise, that the House of Commons is not afraid of the people, nor averse to the free extension of political privileges, nor disposed to deny to the intelligent operatives a share in the government of the country, to whose burdens they ate called upon to contri bute. If the Reform Bill proposed by the Tory Ministry be not capable of adaptation to such au cud, I should not hesitate to give my adherence to any course which may seem the most calculated to attain the desired object. Respect to the memory of your late Representative will not allow me for the next few days to take any further steps to bring myself before the Electors, but 1 shall take the earliest possible opportunity of meeting you in public and givi ng you a detailed, and 1 trust satisfactory, account of my vi • ews open day. all the important political topics of the I have the honour to be, Gentlemen, Your very obedient servant, _ HENRY D. LABOUCIIERE. 23, Jameg street., Ilnekingliarn-gate, March 2:), Lau II WATER AT LONDON ran DG E. TIIIS DAY. — . Morning, 12h. 52m.—Afternoon, 11L 12m. 'l'J--Aloßnow.-31.,rmiN, 111. 35:L.—Afternoon, Ih. 5-t m. riftoi 4 I. .1 LONDON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 1867. • - It has long been admitted by all competent judges that Mr. DISRAELI is always the master of hi 3 position, and that he possesses in an emi nent degree one of the first requisites of an orator, the readiness of reply ; but, besides this, be can always make the best of things, and is quite equal to any emergency. This was never more fully proved than yesterday afternoon when he met the deputation from the Reform League. The right hon. gentleman was accompanied by Lord STANLEY, who represented Lord DERBY, who was unfortu nately absent from indisposition. A large number were present, and for the most part the proceedings were conducted in a very orderly manner. Mr. BEALES, as President of the Council of the League, made the first speech, which was much more moderate than his former discourses, and, therefore, much more effective. He regretted the absence of the Premier, and said that the reason why they had sought this interview was on account of the observations made the other night by the Chancellor of the Exchequer in the House of Com- They were to the effect that the Govern ment was prepared to bring in a bill in a spirit of perfect sincerity, and that the best interests of the country required an immediate settlement of the question ; how the deputation desired to tell the right hon. gentleman the points in which they con sidered the bill before the house to be deficient, so deficient, in fact, that even the importance of settling the question could not sanction its passing in its present form. On the whole, the objections raised were not so considerable in number or con sequence as might have been expected; and, indeed, it might be questioned if a good deal of this vir tuous indignation has not been got up for the pur pose of saying something, so that those who have so long been heroes to themselves and others may not appear as nonentities on a great occasion like the present. At any rate we are glad to see that Mr. BEALES and his friends can be more self- mons. possessed in their demeanour than many might suppose ; and whether or not the atmosphere of Downing-street exercised a restraining influence on their spirits the result was satisfactory. Mr. BEALES expressed great astonishment at the statement which had been made as to the Government receiving communications from scores and scores of working men of all classes as to the approval with which they viewed the pro posed Reform Bill. These opinions, he said, could not represent the opinions of the people, as the ratepaying and residential conditions attached to the household suffrage were ebjectionable. The deputation believed that these communica tions, of which mention had been made, merely represented the views of select coteries. It is amusing to notice how people can in reality describe themselves while thinking to depict others, for if any one were to tell Mr. BEALES that his very extreme opinions could only please a section of the community, how amazed he would be ; and yet who can say that he is the exponent of the majority of the working classes? lie told the Chancellor of the Exchequer that those provi sions of the bill were loudly and generally condemned. Had he confined his remarks to the first description he would have been nearer the mark, but noise does not always represent force of argument or depth of thought, and the opinions of those who keep quiet may have more weight and influence in the long run than the clamour of those who say no to everything for the sake of showing their independence and proving their superior wisdom. The " fancy franchises" in the Bill could not be accepted by the League in place of more solid and substantial advantages; but, continued the speaker, still less would they be wel come in place of the " lodger franchise," which would render the whole of them unnecessary. Mr. BEALES expressed a hope that the Chancellor of the Exchequer would not give up a plan he had been the first to propose, and which promised to afford universal satisfaction. Mr. DISRAELI ought to feel complimented to know that his suggestion has been so successful a one ; and it is some satisfaction to find that on this matter, on which such great stress is laid by the Reform League, there is not likely to be much difference of opinion, because the Chancellor of the Exchequer has signified that the Government have no unwil lingness to it. Mr. MANTLE, a working man, made a very eloquent speech, in which he expressed his views, and called upon the Government to consult their own reputation and the interests of the country by agreeing to the demands of the people. "If you do us justice, you will do yourselves justice, you will do your Sovereign justice, and history will do you justice." After some more observations had been made, the Chancellor of the Exchequer made a brief but most effective reply to the various Breakers. He declared that they had listened with the greatest possible attention and interest to all the speeches which had been made, and they had fully appre ciated their ability. The conclusion to which the right hon. gentleman came was, that the speakcis proposed " extreme opinions ;" and he went on to say that others in the country professed extreme opinions also, which were of a totally different nature. We think that Mr. DISRAELI SRC ceeded admirably in speaking his mind, and defending the measures of the Government, while he offended no prejudices and made no com plaints of the manner in which the said measure was treated. The moral that be drew.from these two opinions being represented was, that it was most advisable for " mutual forbearance, mutual con cssion, mutual conciliation, and mutual compro raise" to be exhibited. if the members of the Reform League took this to heart, it would be a very good thing, for, even while Mr. DISRAELI was speaking, they gave evidence of their im patience. They called out "No " to his remark that the Bill was based on popular principles, to which he very properly replied that a deputation of the other side of opinions would say " Yes" to such a remark, and they might be sure that it was not the way to arrive at a solution of difficulties to say " Yes, yes," or " No, no." Exception was also taken to some observations of the right hon. gentle. man as to the patriotic sentiments of the House of Commons, of which assembly he had had thirty years' experience. To this he retorted that they would not be pleased if the House of Commons were to listen to remarks he made on their League, and then to give murmurs of disapprobation. " Depend upon it," said he, " when there is a better understanding between the House of Commons and assemblies like the present, these murmurs of disap probation will cease." So far as the real object of the interview concerned the Reform measure, Mr. DISRAELI said that he believed no "Bill could be suffered to pass through the House without much criticism, much alteration, and, he believed, much improvement." Lord STANLEY having made a few appropriate observations, Mr. BEALEs thanked the noble lord and the right hon. gentleman for their courtesy, and so far we may consider the interview to have been satisfactory. We think that some impression may have been made upon the deputation by the words of the Chancellor of the Exchequer, and we think he spoke out very fairly on the whole. He may not have a ff orded so much satitfaction to Mr. GLAD STONE and his supporters, because he said two or three times that it was not likely any measure ' could pass through the ordeal of Parliamentary cri ticism without alteration and without improvement, and this is the right way of comijering the mat- THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 3, 1867. ter. Both sides may derive some profit from the interchange of opinions, and if one is induced to concede more, and the other inclined to demand less, the country must be the gainer. We wish the Government success in the arduous endeavour before them, and we think that wish will be echoed by all impartial politicians of every denomination, for they hare shown themselves anxious to do their beet, and arrange things to meet the general convenience of the house and fulfil the expectations of the people. The subject which Mr. DENT last evening brought under the notice of the House of Com mons is one of those social grievances which have been left too long unredressed. The condition of our agricultural labourers and their families has indeed been often discussed, and probably there are few who have examined the subject even cursorily without arriving at the cowiction that many changes are necessary. The dwellers in towns and cities find it difficult to realise the actual condi tions of life in the agricultural districts ; and the picture, so forcibly drawn last night by Mr. DENT and some other gentlemen familiar with the sub ject, must have surprised while it shocked a good many of his hearers. Almost all the evils which produced the Factory Acts are still in active opera tion in the fields, while in a moral point of view the effects of the work are far worse. The gang system, in which men and women, boys and girls, are indiscriminately employed, is most disastrous in its effects on the young females. They become brutalised and degraded, totally unfit either for regular employment elsewhere or for the duties of domestic life. The evil effects of employing women in field-work have been summed up by a gentleman who has seen much of it as "loss of self-respect, dirty and degraded habits, slovenly and slatternly households, the alienation of husbands by the discomfort of their homes, the great neglect of the education of children, drunkenness among the men, and the consumption of opium among the women." At first sight the physical effects seem less injurious, for, thanks, no doubt, to the one great blessing of fresh air, which atones for so much else, the young children employed are gene rally healthy ; but if we look further we find the case assume a different aspect. The death rate of infants in such districts is something extraordinary. In Wisbeach the death of children under one year was the same as in Manchester ! In other parts it was 21 and 23, and in the district of Chatteris, out of 72 burials in the year, 30 were those of children one year old and upwards. The brutal conduct of the degraded mothers towards their children, and the custom of drugging them with opium. The unnatural mothers look upon their deaths with so much indifference, if not worse, that it is a common saying, when a woman who has lost one or two children has another, " Oh, that won't last long." Mr. DENT said truly he could not con ceive a more fatal or hardening influence coming over the women of this country ; and, as another gentleman observed last night, what but wretched ness and drunkenness can result when a labouring man takes a wife from this class? There may be here as elsewhere honourable exceptions, but that the general tendency of such rough employment in mixed company is to degrade and harden young women and girls cannot for a moment be doubted. When we look at the employment of children in these gangs we shall find it very oppressive in its agency. Upon an analysis being made of the ages of those employed in the Lincolnshire gang=, it appeared that out of 4,600, 871 were children under 13 years of age, 765 grown females, making a total of 1,636 young persons; there were about 1,000 other children of various ages, and 388 adult females. One person stated that in his district 20 children under the age of seven years were sent out in gangs, some of them being only five or six years of age ; and that both boys and girls had to go a distance of five or six miles from their homes to their place of work. They were obliged to go to work as early as half-past five in the morning, and did not get back to their homes till seven or eight at night, their employment being often in heavy, wet ground. The wages paid to these children is only a few pence a day, and the labour of the women is, of course, very much cheaper than that of men. At the same time the savinf, to the employers is in a great measure more appa rent than real. In some parts they complain that the labourers are emigrating on account of the lowness of the wages they receive, and it is the competition of women and children that keeps down the rate of wages. It is always the cheapest way in the end to secure good work, and the agriculturists might as well go back to the old clumsy machines they formerly employed, because they were less immediately costly than the newer and more effec tive ones. A long day's labour in the fields is un doubtedly the work of a man, not of a woman or a girl, and if women force themselves into the sphere properly belonging to men they will inevi tably lose more than they gain. It is fair to the employers generally to say that they are for the most part in favour of a change, and in some in stances have expressed themselves strongly on behalf of the suppression of the gang system. The lack of cottages has a peat deat deal to do with the employment of these gangs, and this in the Fen districts is partly attributable to the recent reclamation of the land. Seve ral large farmers have given up employing the public gangs, and they also disapprove of the employment of children in private gangs. On one point in reference to this gang system there seemed to be no difference of opinion, and that was the neces sity of a strict supervision over the gang masters of the public gangs who take their gangs about to dif ferent parts of the country. Sometimes the gang- master has under him 100 young children and women. lie contracts with the farmer for EO many of them, and takes for his payment the profit which he makes out of their labour. Under these circumstances it may easily be sup posed that great cruelty and tyranny is often exercised by these men, more especially as they are many of them of the lowest character. Many of them have even been convicted felons; and in any case it is plain, as Mr. POWELL ob served, that it is only by the oppression of the younger members of their gang that they can re ceive a profit beyond the ordinary pay of day labourers. The Royal Commission suggested, very properly, that no middleman should be allowed to take out gangs without a license from a magis trate; and this very sensible suggestion ought to be immediately acted upon. Mr. DENT proposed that no girl under 17 should be allowed to work in the fields, and several other members supported this view; one speaker saying that in that case he did not believe they would work there at all, a consummation to be very much desired. The truck system, with all its attendant evils, also prevails in some of these parts, and should certainly come under the notice of the Legislature. We can imagine nothing more cruel and unjust than to com pel a labourer, instead of receiving the money he has fairly earned, to take out of his wages in drink a large part, and yet this is done in certain districts. The whole question iz one which demands a full in- vestigation, which we hope the debate of last night will expedite. There can be no reason why agri cultural labour should not share the advantages secured to the manufacturing hands b• that legis lative interference and inspection which has proved so beneficial alike to employers and employed. CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDEXT.) PARIS, Tuesday Evening. The Moniteur announces, on the authority of — the Gazette of Northern Germany, that the project of the communal constitution of the city of Frankfort on-the-Maine, drawn up by the Prussian Ministry, has been approved of by King William, and that it will shortly be recorded in the official law bulletin. The same journal adds that the first burgomaster of the city will be chosen from three candidates, proposed by the communal representation of Frankfort, to whom he will intrust the task of nominating the second burgomaster and the other communal functionaries. The city of Frankfort will not be subjected to the Prussian system so far as regards electoral operations. The voting will be by ballot. The cession of Luxembourg to France is still talked of. Well-informed journalists, however, do not believe in the report. The Moniteur has not yet a word to say upon the subject, but the silence of the official paper upon such a tickli s h matter is not, perhaps, proof positive that there is no foun dation whatever for the report. My information, received in official quarters however, induces me to place but very slight reliance upon its truth. It is, I think, only one of the cana-ds of the day. The official journal of the Netherlands gives a dis tinct and unequivocal denial to the report. Letters from Oporto, dated March 24, mention that great excitement has been produced in that city in consequence of some recent financial and administrative measures adopted by the Govern ment. Vast crowds had assembled in the streets by way of protest against these measures, and the demonstration assumed such an alarming character that it was necessary to call out the troops. The mob, however, dispersed without compelling them to use their arms. Similar manifestations have taken place at Lisbon, but in the latter city the people contented themselves with meeting in the public square to the number of six or seven thou used none, and reso l ut i ons were passed approv sand. The orators, ho wever, spoke daggers although they ing of the resistance of the minorities of both Cham bers to the measures and policy of the present Por tuguese Ministry. Your readers will have observed that my infor mation that her Majesty bad released the Emperor from his promise to give up the Plantagenet statues p i to England was st r i c tl y accurate. The Siecle, ob serving upon the hope ex ressed by L or d S tanley that France would not allow these statues to fall to decay, says :—" Lord Stanley need not be uneasy. The ancient effigies now at Fontrevault will from the present moment be preserved as carefully as possible. The British Government has acted upon this occasion, as it is announced, from deference to the feelings of the French people, and this incident affords another proof that, according to a celebrated expression, public opinion is sure to be victorious in the end. It is that powerful opinion which solves the most complicated questions, mind which forces the most rebellious Governments to adopt constitu tional and liberal measures. It was under the influ ence of public opinion that the reconciliation between Austria and Hungary was accomplished." The Paris papers gives but a very brief and sum mary notice of the ceremonial at the International Exhibition yesterday. In fact, the people who had paid their 20 francs for admission had but a poor spectacle. The opening, however, was a" greatfact." It proved the determination of the Commission to keep its promise under circumstances of difficulty. The Parisians consider the operation in this light, and it inspires still greater confidence that beneficent and important results will arise from it. The spectators outside had perhaps the most enjoy ment, for, as I told you yesterday, the weather was most magnificent, and the sight from the bridge and qua is opposite the grand entrance was beau tiful in the extreme. The flags received additional emblazonment from the sun, and the excitement of the spectators was heightened by a sort of pro cession of the navvies lately employed in excavat ing the hills of the Trocadero, who came with their spades and pickaxes from Passy singin g i n j oyous chorus. The Moniteur has a brief but expressive phrase upon the subject. It says th a t " never were such vast masses collected in and about the spot in question." Paris has seen its myriads of pe op l e gathered to fight against tyranny. Yesterday they assembled in thousands to greet the Temple of Peace. The bad weather has returned, and has prevented a full attendance at the Exhibition to-day. ' The Crystal Palace occupies a space of 95,000 square metres. The Brompton Exhibition in 1863, 121,0.00 metres. The present Exhibition in the Champ de Mars is on the ground floor to the ex tent of no less than 121,000 metres. Its annexes, in various directions, measure 30,000 metrei. Total, 186,000 metres. There are many arist ocratic artists who exhibit their productions. The Princess de Beauvan, for instance, has sent some b eautiful embroidery on white satin, which is to be sold for the benefit of a charitable institution, to which she also largely contributes. The Countess de Beaulain court sends some artificial roses, so beautifully exe cuted that Flora herself might be jealous of h er . The Duchess Colonna, who executes works in statuary of first-rate excellence and artistic taste, exhibits several marble busts, among others that of Mdlle. Gretry. yet determin e d The arrangement at present is that th e a d mission be to the Exhibition n until mission Sunday e n e e e x t t ' inclusiv e , w ill upon the course to be adopted after that day, but I believe the price will then be reduced. The great Chantilly prize of the Jockey Club will be run for on the 19th of May next, and the Ville de Paris prize on the 20th of June. The article of art given by the Emperor consists of a group in silver representing the birth and growth of the horse. As in preceding years a competition was opened among artists for this work. There were 26 competitors, and M. Jarry was the successful one. Six other designs gave so much satisfaction to the jury that probably some of them will be carried into execution hereafter. The first races this year in Paris will take place on Sunday in the Bois de Boulogne. Vice-Admiral Bonard has just died. lie was born at Cherbourg in 1805. This officer had been in several engagements. 110 was present at the capture of the citadel of Vinh-Long, which led to his promotion as Vice-Admiral. According to the Constitutionnel M. Schneider will certainly be the new President of the Legis lative body. M. Alfred Leroux, first Vice-Presi dent, and M. Jerome David second Vice-President. There has been a tremendous fire at Havre. Se veral manufactories have been destroyed. The damage done is estimated at nearly a million of dollars. INDIAN RAILWAYS.—Our townsman, Mr. Wm. Campbell, has lately had some correspondence with the Government on the management of Indian railways, and the steps which ought to be taken previous to the junction by railway of the various Presidencies. It is fully expected that by the beginning of 1869 continuous rail way communication between Calcutta, Madras, Bombay, and the I'unjaub will be established. Mr. Campbell in forms us that the Government has expressed its entire concurrence in his vi,,ws, and that ho understands the clearing house system of this country will soon be applied to India, and satisfactory arrangements made for the in terchange of traffic. There will also be "a thorough audit of accounts by well qualified persons," which may prevent any of the Indian railways falling into the same state of mismanagement which has proved so disastrons to some of the English railways.—lnverness Courier. MEWS AND EYE RAILWAY.—This short line, which connects Eye with the Great Eastern system at Mellis, was opened yesterday. There are to be five trains daily each way. The line, which is a single one, has to intermediate stations, being only four miles in length. Tho traffic will be worked by the Great Eastern, at 50 per cent. of the gross receipts. The undertaking has boon carried out principally through the efforts of Sir E. C. Korrison, Lord Hartismere, and other influential local gentlemen. LATEST INTELLIGENCE. (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.) FRANCE AND THE LUXEMBURG QUES- TION. PARIS, April 3. The Constitutionnel of this morning, in an article signed by its chief editor, M. Paulin Limayrac, re lative to Herr von Bennigsen's interpellation in the North German Parliament upon the Luxemburg question, acknowledges the moderation of Count von Bismarck's reply. The writer says :—" France has no desire to threaten the interests of Ger many, or bring her honour into question. France has no warlike tendency, but solely a deep sense of what is just and equitable. Now it would have been neither just nor equitable that Prussia, after having achieved her great conquests without obstacle, should jealously watch the smallest acquisition that might be desired by her neighbours, not in the interest of ambition, but of security. Count Walewski has been nominated to the dig nity of Senator. M. Villemain is dead. AMERICA. ARRIVAL OF THE AMERICA. (Via Southampton.) NEW YORK, March 21 (Morning). The House of Representatives has adopted reso lutions instructing the Committee on Foreign Affairs to inquire 'why claims of citizens of the United States against Great Britain since 1859 have not been paid, and to report what steps it considers necessary to secure their prompt settlement. Also to investigate the case of the Rev. John Al‘Mahon, sentenced in Canada to imprisonment for life, under a charge of Fenianism, and to report what mea sures should be taken to effect his release. The Massachusetts Legislature has ratified the Constitutional Amendment. Columbia and Kentucky are inundated. There is great suffering in Tennessee in conse quence of the floods. PRUSSIA. BERLIN, April 3. The introduction of the proposal relative to the Luxemburg question, which is to be brought for ward by the National Liberal party in the North German Parliament, is postponed on account of pending negotiations with the other Parliamentry parties. PROGRAMME OF THE SPANISH GOVERNMENT. MADRID, April 2 (Evening). It is semi-officially stated that the Ministerial programme for the present legislative session will comprise the introduction of a bill of indemnity approving the late decrees upon public order, the municipalities, and the press. The Ministry will also propose a modification of the regulations of the Cortes, a settlement of the question of the Passive Debt, and measures to improve the condition of the Spanish railway cojnpanies. A Royal decree has been published nominating 22 new Senators. BAVARIA. MUNICH, April 2 (Evening). Manifestations of public opinion, provoked by the Luxemburg question, aro about to take place in Bavaria against any foreign encroachments upon German territory. The promoters of these demon strations intend to pass resolutions to the effect that the Bavarian p:..ople would consider any weak ness on the part of Prussia in this question as equivalent to consenting to the sale of the Duchy. HUNGARY. PESTH, April 3. The Government Bill establishing the mode of carrying out the military conscription has been agreed to by the Lower House of the Hungarian Diet. The departure of the Emperor and Empress has been postponed. Baron von Beast and Herr von Kussewich have arrived here to negeciate upon the Croatian question. PRUSSIA. BERLIN, April 3. The King of the Belgians, the Count of Flanders, and the family of the Prince of Hohenzollern wit arrive here on the - 23 d inst. Chachin. Pacha, the commander-in-chief of the Egyptian Army, has arrived in this city, and will remain here several days. BOMBAY MAIL. MARSEILLES, April 3. The Syria arrived at 7.30 a.m. to day, having been delayed by rough weather. The mails leave for London at 11.30 a.m. INDIA, CHINA, AND JAPAN MAILS. MARSEILLES, April 3. The Messageries Imperiales steamer Said arrived here at 8.30 a.m. to-day with the homeward India, China, and Japan mails. FRANCE. BOURSE, April 2, Three o'clock.—The market closed as follows:- 44 per Cents 98 Do. end month..,, 3 per Cents 68 65 Do. end month 68 67 Credit Mobilier ~ 400 Do. end month 402 50 Credit I' oneier Do. end month 1420 - B.A.11; • Bank Shares 3530 Italian Loan 53 GO Do. end month 53 80 Mexican Loan — Do. Bonds _ Spanish Threes Home Debt — Deferred 'AU. For Account. Orleans 910 Northern .. .io • 1160 . Lyons anand diterranean 916 25 Southern ... . Westoni ..................... Sardinian , _ Austrian Lomba r d 405 North of Spain — Ditto Sarag osea ... 108 75 to Barcelon a — Homan. — STRIKE OF TIIE PARIS TAILORS.—At a meeting , of the journeymen tailors of Paris, held on Sunday last, which was attended by 2,500 persons, it was decided to strike for higher wages. Notice was to be given to the masters on Monday, and if the conditions demanded were not complied with, the strike was to commence forthwith. In the course of the proceedings M. Doguergue read the following telegram from the London Trades' Union, signed ty Mr. Matthews :—" Your telegram received. Having entire confidence in your success we promise you our moral and material support." The meeting, after several salvos of applause, telegraphed the following reply :—" The Paris tailors assembled in tho Hall of the Elysee Mont martre have received your. despatch ; they accept your generous offer cf assistance, and thank you in the name of humanity and fraternity." THE TomAitatvic.—A new " satirical" weekly paper is announced to appear shortly. We have reason to believe that its proprietors are the members of the Savage Club, whence, of course, its comic inspiration will be derived.-7'he English Mail. A SERIOUS ACCIDENT, AND ITS CONSEQUENCES.—Some time back a gentleman residing at Woitham, in Nodoik, named Balls, on returning from Harieston Market, fell from his horse, and sustained so serious an illness in co sequence that alt his hair came off. He was perfectly bald. His friend, the Rev. Mr. Daniel, offered him a wig as a tempo rary substitute; and in the meantime he tried very fortu nwely the (fleets of Rowlands' Macassar 011. What was the consequence ? Part of a bottle produced the re-growth of a thick and luxuriant head of hair, with (what the first or original growth had NOT) a beautiful tendency to curL This is; a very striking instance of eWoacy from the fact of the debility which preceded the reatorattiNl, OPENING OF THE PARIS EXHIBITION. (From the Special Correspondent of the Times.) PARIS, April 1. The nominal opening of what is still for the greater part an almost nominal exhibition took place to-day. There• was no ceremony or pageant of any kind, no address or replies, no official cos tumes. The Emperor and Empress merely visited the building, walked round the most presentable parts of it, spoke a few words to the representatives of the various foreign Commissions, who wore even ing dress in honour of the occasion, and left as they came, in their open carriages. It was little more than a mere formal visit, except that the building was cleaner, and certainly much emptier• than it has often been before. For some days past it has been known that the opening would not be made a great public ceremony, and the knowledge of this fact has told most seriously on the sale of season tickets. Up to the last it was believed that M. Play would yield, and allow foreign countries, and France itself, a little grace in point of time, to gA themselves into tolerable order. Not until Friday last was it for an instant ,believed that the building was really meant to open to-day, and when the fiat was given out on Saturday it produced .only the sort of indifference induced by the absolute despair of being ready. With the exception of Russia, England, Sweden, and perhaps, also, Denmark, absolutely none were prepared. By far the greater part of the French side was not only unfurnished, but even unfinished. Austria and Prussia were quite as bad. Italy had only just got her packing cases in, while Spain, Portugal, Turkey, and a mass of smaller States, have scarcely yet got a case into the building at all. With such awful gaps in the display, it was considered up to the very last that a postponement of at least a fortnight would be al lowed, but the Imperial Commissioners were firm, and on Saturday it was known that the building, finished or unfinished, would be opened to the pub lic to-day. Opened, therefore, it has been, though, to do the public justice, they have by no means sought to avail themselves of the privilege so unex pectedly offered to, them, for it is perfectly well known in Paris that what will really be in time one of the best and most varied collections ever brought. together cannot possibly be arranged so as to be worth inspection for nearly a month to come. The positive announcement, therefore, that the opening to the public would really be made this day was received with not a little gloom by all but the Rus sian, English, and some few French Courts, though of the latter only a very few were even tolerably ready. By far the great majority of the foreign Commissions simply contented themselves with closing their entrances and affixing the notice "En trée interdite," for not only were the Courts them selves unfinished, but even the small number of the goods which had yet arrived were not un packed. With such a state of things, of course any thing like a ceremonial was out of the question. Even for the Emperor and Empress themselves it would have been impossible to clear a fair passage through the mass cf bales l 'which in heavy stacks, like piles of rough deals, cumber the spaces reserved for most foreign nations. Sunday was the last thy allowed for work—in fact, it was most decisively announced at first that no work would be allowed on that day at all, as it was to be given up entirely- to cleaning the interior. Of course, how ever, this rule was relaxed, and such a scene of con fusion as the building presented yesterday was pro bably never witnessedevenby those most conversant with the horrible uproar and hurry of the last day's work in these huge shops. To make matters worse, not less than from 50,000 to 60,000 people had re ceived tickets of admission, so that in some parts the radial avenues were literally blocked up with dense crowds of loungers, who only congregated where the work was busiest, and where, therefore, as a matter of course, their presence was least de sired and most obstructive. It was not till towards the evening that these throngs gradually abated, and the sweepers and labourers got a fair chance to make things look, if not in disorder, at least in less disarray than usual. Scaffoldings were pulled down, screens broken away with hammers or beams, benches dragged out en masse, and the last efforts only ceased when darkness came on. All, however, was in vain, and half the foreign countries and more than half of France was still blocked up with lad ders, poles, and frameworks of every shape and kind. The mere unceremonious opening created very little stir in Paris, and the approaches to the build ing were never less crowded than this morning. A few patrols of cavalry were there to keep the car riage w ays clear and see that everythi ng k ep t 44 moving on ;" but beyond this there was very little unusual. Along the road leading from the Pont de Jena, where the Emperor and Empress were to pass, there were thick groups of people; but by the' Pont de l'Alma, one of the main en trances into the building, the footways were al most deserted compared with what they have been when admissions were hitherto given freely. By the road leading from the E3ole Militaire a very handsomely draped avenue had been hung across between lofty flagstaffs, and this entrance was well filled with spectators. It gave access to the Hall or Vestibule in which their Imperial Majesties were to alight. Beyond these prepara tions there was not very much to distinguish the a f : r so n r la tm l e o n p t e s of opening from other days. Th e usual pink and blue and white tickets a nd the usual mistakes of people with white tickets wanting to get into pink gall er i es, and people wa nting to get into galleries without any tickets at all, and a strong cordon of French gendarmes and sergens-de-ville who utterly ignored all tickets of any shape or colour, made up the usual routine of difficulties always co be expected on an even in formal opening like that of to-day. The main avenues through which the Emperor and Empress were to pass were kept railed off, but beyond this very little difference was made. In the English machinery court a few of the easiest moved ma chines were kept going in spite of an accident to one of the steam pipes, and in the French section also a few of the smalleft engines were set to work ; but beyond this there was nothing in motion or even very much arranged. Most of the visitors went to the picture galleries, through which their Majesties were to pass after making the circuit of the ma chinery annexe. The English and Russian courts, with most-of the picture galleries, were fully open ; and the glass courts, and those of Sevres, and a few others of less importance on the French side, were also ready, and nearly quite arranged; so also were some sections illustrative of the history of industrial works of art of all periods completed on the French quarter ; but little more than this can be said. At least another month will be necessary to get the building into proper exhibiting order, and at least two months to make th , 3 park presentable. Just now it is in most cases a mere litter of planks and poles and excavated paths about to to be filled in with gravel, and parterres wanting both their soil and flowers. The attendance of visitors to-day was, as I have said, not very large, arid except in the seats in the picture galleries, there were very few ladies. Indeed, of the who!e assemblage, there were scarcely more than a fourth of the fairer sox present, and a by no means small percentage was made up of workmen who were employed in the building till the last moment, and who managed to remain and see what was the formal opening. Two o'clock was the hour fixed for the arrival of the Imperial family, and almost to the very second the. Emperor and Em press alighted at the entrance to the Vestibule. They came to the building in the private style in which they, as a rule, drive about Paris, in an open carriage and four. Following that of the Em peror were tle carriages of the chief members of the corps diplomatique, M. Rouher, M. Arles Dufour, Count Walewski, the Prince of Orange, the Count of Flanders, and the Baron James Rothschild. The Prince Imperial was not with their Majesties, as his health is not yet sufficiently re-established to allow him to take even a formal part in any public cere mony. In plain truth, he is still very far from well and as yet does not leave the Palace, nor is he ex- pected to do so for some few days to come. Every where thelmperial cortege was received with marks of the most profound deference and respect, but there was very little cheering. A few stray cries of " Vive l'Empereur" were raised at times, but as a rule the French do not cheer, and the carriages moved on amid the waving of handkerchiefs and uncovered heads only. At the Vestibule their Majesties were received by M. Le Play and the other members of the Imperial Commission, and almost instantly ascended the staircase which led to the raised gallery running round the machinery annexe, or rather circle. The Emperor wore plain evening dress, with the Grand Cordon and Star of the Legion of Honour. The Empress was attired in the simplest of walking costumes, and wore a dark veil, which she never raised while in the building. The course of the Imperial party through the Exhibition may easily be followed. The building is arranged in a series of concentric rings, or galleries, each of which is devoted to a certain class of subjects. Thus the outermost ring of all is allotted to the display of machinery, at rest and in motion, while one of the innermost rings forms a succession of picture galle ries. The Emperor and his party went round the edifice twice—namely, in those two rings which may be said to represent all that is most fine and all that is most useful in the arts. Entering at any door of the building the visitor will at once find himself in the midst of machinery, but the arrange ment at the chief door of all is such that on the one hand he will find the French and on the other the British show. Down, indeed, the whole length of the great hall, which leads from the chief doorway to the central garden, and cuts a passage through the concentric galleries, the same arrangement holds. Turn to the left, and go into any gallery, you find yourself in France; follow it in its course round the building, and you pass through a succession of countries until at last when you complete the circle you find yourself among the products of Great Britain. The gallery set apart for machinery has a peculiarity ; it has a raised continuous gangway from end to end that goes over all the machines, so that a visitor can see them from above. Arm in arm the Emperor and Empress ascended the gangway on the French side, the Imperial Commissioners preceding them. Crowds collected among the machines below to see them as they passed, and at various recesses along the gallery bands of regiments were ready to strike up the national air as they came in sight—the band masters gesticulating in all a Frenchman's anxiety that the first combination of notes should not come one moment too late, not one moment too soon. At fixed points along the gangway the Emperor came upon the Commissioners of the various countries, who were presented to him and to the Empress. In passing over the French section of the gallery their Majesties had the satisfaction of seeing a consider able number of the machines in motion, but they could scarcely find a similar proficiency in any other region of the department until they came to the British end of the gallery, where the roar of machi nery might again be heard, mingling this time with loud English cheers. The Austrian and some of the Prussian machineryis also pretty well advanced, but in the sections allotted to numerous minor coun tries (minor in the manufacture of machinery) there was little to be seen. The procession along this gallery took about three quarters of an hour. The Emperor and the Empress had a little word or a bow for scores of Commissioners as they passed along, and the won der is that they travelled through the gallery in so short a space of time. They stayed longest with a little party of Japanese, most of whom to the barbarian eyes of any Londoner would seem identical with the troop of jugglers who lately performed the butterfly trick in St. Martin's hall. They were, however, Commissioners from the Tycoon and from Prince Satsuma, and were presented to the Emperor and the Empress with a good deal of formality. Opposite to them, on the gangway, were ranged a small band of gaily dressed Tunisian musicians, who played on a sort of hurdy gurdy and on a tambourine. It was a little bit of comedy introduced into a rather dull ceremonial. On the one side of the platform, in dark solemn robes, the Japanese were bending with the most awful gravity, some of them reverently falling on their knees to the Empress ; on the other side, in the gayest of dresses and with the jauntiest air, the Tunisian musicians seemed to make mirth of the sombre Japanese with a jingle, jingle, jingle. The Emperor looked from one side to the other, per plexed whether he was to be grave with the Ja panese, or merry with the Tunisians. He did his best to be courteous to both, and so passed on to the American Commissioners, and finally to those of England, stationed at the end of the circle. As he descended the staircase he was greeted with loud hurrahs which one rarely hears out of England. Two sailors seemed to be foremost in cheering, and were conspicuous in the crowd. The Empress smiled upon them, and smote their hearts. " Ah, Bill," said the one to the other, " she guy me sech a look." In the great crowd, rushing and tossing about, and filling the ear with a rattle of French phrases. " Vive l'Empereur !" " Par ici !" " Attendez !" " M'sieu," one heard with a sort of bewilderment interpolated in all their genuineness, " Ah, Bill, she guy me sech a look." Along the gangway of the machinery department the procession was comparatively quiet and orderly, for few persons were admitted to it; but when the Imperial party descended to the Great Hall of En trance and .proceeded to the picture galleries the spirit of the scene was changed. Before the Empe ror and his party all was clear and stately to make his passage free. Behind him was the deluge. The crowd rushed and crushed into galleries which had hitherto been denied to their view. The immense footmen in green livery who followed the Emperor were seen agonising in the mob which swayed to and fro—an enormous confusion of ladies and gentlemen, and policemen, and soldiers, and three glittering Turks, and one white-headed negro. The crowd was too great, and I did not follow the procession through the complete circle of the picture galleries, but turned back to wait for it in the last gallery of all—the British. The Emperor passed through a magnificent show of pictures and marbles. The picture galleries, with the exception of the Italian section, may be de scribed as complete. In the Italian gallery only the pictures on the line are fixed. In the British, as in the French gallery, everything is ready, andin each of these great saloons .hundreds of persons were ranged in double lines, waiting for the Emperor to pass. He came into the British terri tory about half-past three, preceded by the Imperial Commission, among whom, however, no one seemed to recognise a well-known London face. Surely, that is Lord Houghton ? Is it possible that, in disgust at the iniquities of a Tory Government, he has left his country and taken service under the Emperor, so that we now see him iu the very centre of the Imperial Commission, marching before his Majesty ? The Emperor follows and passes rapidly through the gallery. The only incidents of his progress through the room are two. According to the style of Royal personages, the Emperor selects one picture for remark. It is a portrait of the Prince of Wales—a good portrait, though nothing very remarkable as a picture—by Watson Gordon, of the Prince when he was at Oxford. His Majesty points it out to the Empress, and passes on. Mr. Cole immediately afterwards presents him with a complete catalogue, printed in four languages, of the whole of the British department of the Exhibi tion —a department which has something to boast of in being the most punctual of all. From this point a visit was made down the Rue de Russia,_and thence into the central garden, over the surface of which an immense number of plants had been stuck in the ground the night before, and which then looked by no means the better for their translation. On this picture, however, their Impe rial Majesties did not dwell, nor did they traverse more of the building than I have mentioned, but, avoiding the routes which led to the tiers of packing-cases and unfinished courts, came back at once to the Hall or Vestibule, and so on across the unfinished Park into the Imperial Pavi lion. The whole visit—for ceremony it could not be called—was over in an hour and a half. Ex- cept in the Russian and English Courts, there is really very little to see as yet. The Emperor left - . the building about half-past 3, and went for refresh ment to a pavilion which had been prepared for hini near the grand entrace, and which is likely to forUl