The Sun. — London, England, 1867-03-13 00:00:00

CONSTITUTIONAL LIBERALISM. - NEW MORNING PAPER, PRICE ONE PENNY, " T A The Organ of Constitutional Liberalism, Will be PUBLISHED oa TUESDAY, March 19. Temporary Office—Drury House, Drury-court, Strand. rin,HEATRE ROYAL DRURY-LANE. 1 Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. F. B. Chatterton. TITD.' EVENING. FAUST. Mr. Phelp4 ; Messrs, E. Phelps'. F. Barsby, Fitzjames, C. Hsrcourt, W. M'lntyre, C. Warner: Mesdames Hermann Wain, H. Vandenhoff, and Isabel Adams. To conclude with, WANTED. HUSBANDS FOR SIX. Mesdames Lydia Thk,rnpson, IL Broughton ; Messrs. Barrett and E. Clifton. Commence at Seven. iIIEATRE ROYAL, HAYMARKE'f, Sole Leesee and Manager, Mr. Bucks one, TB IS EVEN NC;. ;)AVID GARRICK. Messrs. Sothern, Buokstone. Chippendale, Rogers. Clare, Coe, ttc ; Mesdames Moore, Chippendale, Fitzwilliam, Alter which, D er-, IA MONDSa, Ro AND HEARTS. Messrs. Chippendale , Ho e, Farreg la rk, Braid, Weathers by ; Mesdames Burke, Wore, Sidney, MaThews, tee. To conclude with M [IS. WHITE. Mr. Compton. Commence at Seven. OYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.- Sole Lessee and Manager. Mr. irechter. Tri IS EVENING. SIMPSON AND CO. Messrs. Emery and Price; Miss Elsworthy. Alter whi, h, at Eight, DON CESAR DE BAZAN. Mr. Pechter ; Messrs. Jordan. St. Albyn ; Miss Ilearade, Mrs. Leigh Murray, and Miss Leclercq. To conclude with THE TWO POLTS. Mr. H. Widdi comb. THEATRE ROYAL ADELPHI. Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. Webster. THIS EVENING, at Seven. by the kind permission of J. B. J. L. Toole, Bill q. Buakstone, Es, the Comedy of PRY. Mess. iogton, R. Phillips, Ash PAUL ley, C. J. Smith rs ; Mrs. Allred Mellon, Miss E. Pitt. T conclude with the New Grand Burlesque of THE MOUNTAIN DHU; or, THE THI LAY AND THE LAKI'. Messrs. J. L. KNIGHT Toole, , P , tul .l Bedfo D rd , , Ashley, R. Romer, and C. J. Smith ; Mrs. Al Mellon, Miss Furtado. Miss Hughes. Miss Emily Pitt. amfred R OYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE. New Management. Sole Lessee, Mr. B. Webster ; Manager, Mr. H. W igan. THIS EVENING, LAVATER; OR. No r A BAD JUDGE. Messrs. H. J. Montague, D. Murray, and Charles Mathews ; Mesdames Harris and M Palmer. After which, THE LIAR. Mr. and Mrs. Chas. Mathews ; Messrs. H. J. llontigue, 11. Wigan, and Irs. Stephens To conclude with A ROMANTIC IDEA. Mr. and Mrs. C. Mathews, G. Vincent, and Miss E. Farren. Doors open at half-past Six ; commence at Seven. ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Geo. Vining. THI EVENISG, HIS LAST LEGS. Mr. C. Verner, Mr. C. 11. Fenton ; Mrs. Buckingham White and Miss Went worth. Followed by. at half-past 8 o'clock, a rew and original Drama, by T. W. Bob• rtson, entitled SHADOW TREE S HAN' f. Character.. by Messrs. Vlninv. J. G. shore, C. Ver ner, F. Villiers. H. Forrester. H. Mellon, ai,d Cathcart ; Misses Montagu, Minnie Edmonds, and Katherine Rodgers. ROYAL STRAND THEATRE. Sole Lessee and Manageress, Sirs Swanborough. THIS EVENING, MARRIED DAUGH ERS. Messrs. Thorne, Belford, and G. Murray ; Misses Johnstone and Hughes. Alter which, the Burlesque, ESMERALDA ; or, The Sen sation Goat. 31es4rs. horne timer., Robson, and Turner ; )lesdames A. Swanborough, Hughes, Newton, Weathersby, and E. Holt. To conclude with A SUIT OF TWEEDS. Commence at Seven. HOLBORN THEATRE ROYAL. Sole Proprietor and Manager. Mr. Sefton Parry. THIS EVENING, a new Farce, MY TURN NEXT. Mr. Belmore, Miss Foote, Miss Lennox. After which, Boucicault's drama of FLYING SCUD. Messrs. Neville, Belmore, Blake. Garden,Vollaire ; Mesdames F. Josephs, C. Saunders, B. Foote, Raymond. THEATRE ROYAL, ASTLEY'S. Under the Sole Management of Mr. W. H. C. NATION. Production of Benjamin Webster's Original Drama, "The Golden Warmer," and the Nation-al Burlesque Opening of " Hush-a-Bye, Baby." EVERY EVENING, Thule Bernard's screaming Farce. MIDDY ASHORE. Miss Caroline Parkes and Mr. W. H. Stephens. After which, Benj imin Webster's Original Drama, TAE GOLDEN FA ItMElt ; or, The Last Crime. Messrs. Fer nandez, Atkins, Stephens ; Miss Edith Stuart. To conc►ude with the Nation-al Burlesque Opening of HUSH-A-BYE, BABY; terminating with Mr. Hick's mar ♦ellous Transformation Scene, realising those scenes of en chantm. nt given in the Arabian Nights. Misses Nellie Nis bett, Caroline Parkes, Thirlwall, Marion, Clifton. Mrs. Caul field ; Messrs. Atkins, Stephens, Milano. and Arthur. DARING EQUESTRIAN FEAT by Mr. MIL kNO and his highly-trained tiO!11Y-HORStol. THEATRE ROI AL, AS fLEY'6, EVERY EVENING. Must be seen to be believed. THE LAST CRIME.—See the Powerful Original Drama, by Benjamin Webster. of TILE GOLDEN' FAR kIER ; or, The Last Crime, at the TREATRE ROYAL, ASTLEY'S, EVERY EVENING. THE "SUN" NEWSPAPER.- O. K. GLENIE, Sporting Library, 4, Connaught terrace, Ed.iware-road, is specially appointed Atis:N t' to d•ltver the LATE himnos of ••IliE SUN" at the earliest possible moment alter Icavinz the press. 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A wel , -selected and extensive Stock of WINES, SLe. HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE. THIS DAY. —Morning, 6h. 40m.—Afternoon, 7h. 6m. To-Moßßovr.-Morning, 7h. 35m.—Afternoon, Bh. 10m. 3/411..;itilt. .-31404-1 k tils, - . ktrar o -‘ g LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 13, 1867. Nothing of moment occurred in either House yes terday, but some matters of general interest were considered. The Lord Chancellor moved the second reading of the bill for the recovery of certain debts in Scotland. He explained that it had been well received in Scotland, and only one petition had been forwarded against it. The Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce and the Scottish Trade Protection Society were in its favour. The object of the bill was to extend the summary jurisdiction of the Sheriff to the amount of £5O, it now being confined to il2 under the Small Debts Act, as it has been beneficially exercised and a general desire for its enlargement has been expressed. It is also intended, by the provisions of the bill, to take, under the same jurisdiction, a class of debts that have been sub jected to triennial prescriptions—merch a nt& ac counts, servants' wages, and other things of the same kind are included in this list. The recom mendation of these changes is that they will diminish costs, besides being more simple and satisfactory. Under the circumstances of the case, it seems as well that the bill should have been read a second time, and as those who are the best acquainted with its details and most familiar with its practical working are thoroughly in favour of it there is no reason to be doubtful as to the effects that it will produce. Anything that tends to simplify and shorten the working of the law is generally an advantage, and more time is spent and money wasted in the prosecution of these frivolous matters than they are often worth. In the house of Commons Mr. APLAGAN moved for a select committee to inquire into the subject of Protection from Fire, and he observed very truly iu introducing this motion, that many reasons led all to consider this matter with attention. During the last few years there have been numerous fires that have occurred, and public attention has been attracted towards them in consequence of the mystery with which their origin has been invested, and life and property have been sacrificed at such a rate that the question has increased in importance and interest. It has not unnaturally followed upon this feeling of disquietude and dissatisfaction that people have expressed a wish that Parlia ment should do something in the matter, and by instituting an inquiry into it should devise the best means for the "protection of life and property from fire," or at any rate the best that can be conveniently and suitably adopted. We think that the hon. member made good his case when he urged upon the house the desirability of appointing a select committee to investigate the matter ; and by so doing, as he explained, he was only following in the course which was taken in 1862, when a select committee was held on the subject of Fires in the Metropolis, by which many valuable suggestions were made, and a good deal of useful information imparted to the public generally. Among these matters which must pre-eminently demand attention may be cited the most suitable construction of public buildings and warehouses, for of course a great deal depends upon that as to the chance of putting out fires and of preventing their very rapid spread. Next comes the best means for extinguishing conflagrations, which will, take in the supply of water, and the arrangements and appliances that are brought into use on such occasions, like the establishment of fire brigades, &c. ; thirdly, it is proposed to have a judicial investigation into all fires. Mr. M'LAGAN mentioned the fact that in the town of Liverpool alone from the years 1838 to 1843 the warehouse risks caused a loss of three-quarters of a million. The insurance companies were obliged to raise the mercantile rates of insurance to 30s. and 40s. per cent. from Bs. Two acts of Parlia ment were passed, however, by means of which it was arranged that a large supply of water should be introduced for extinguishing fires, and the other that the owners of warehouses should be compelled to erect and alter their warehouses ac cording to certain conditions and restrictions. The best proof of the efficacy of these plans may be seen in the fact that the rates of insurance fell again to eight shillings per cent. We see no reason why these measures should not be extended to other parts of the kingdom with the same success they have met with in Liverpool. The difficulty of ascertaining the causes of fires is very great, and every one must have observed how often it is said in connection with these acci dents that the cause of the fire is unknown. At present, although the Fire Brigade make many inquiries, it is found that it is almost impossible to arrive at the truth of the matter, for, in 1866, thirty six per cent. of the reports of fire were returned " cause not known." It is well-known that great assiduity is displayed by the members of the Fire Brigade, but at the same time it seems necessary to have a thorough investigation made by those accus tomed to sift evidence. The late Mr. BRAIDWOOD was of opinion that great benefits would follow upon a " legal inquiry" into every case, and no doubt he was correct in his judgment. No opposition having been made by the Government to this motion it was agreed to, and we hope that good results will follow from it ; and there can be no second opinion as to the necessity for some investigation being made. We have already become so accustomed to the wonder-working agency of the Atlantic Cable that it creates but a momentary feeling of surprise to see the date of yesterday at the head of the news from New York ; and yet it is certainly one of the greatest marvels effected by modern science. We are now kept completely au courant with the pro gress of American affairs, and know the variations and modifications of the policy of the several parties sooner than many inhabitants of the States them selves. The great question of Reconstruction, which some time ago seemed to be abandoned in despair by all sides, is again the prominent topic of discus sion. The Radicals appear to be sensible that their legislative failures in this respect have alienated the country, since, however anxious the extreme mem bers of the STEVENS party may be to exter minate the Southern whites, and share their lands between New England speculators and the blacks, the public generally are fully sensible that American prosperity cannot be fully reinstated until confidence and security are restored to the South. The damaging effect upon trade and com merce of the present unprofitable and unsettled condition of the rich and fertile Southern States cannot be compensated for by any tariff however exorbitant its provisions. There is a growing feeling among all classes that it is quite time that matters were settled, and the present abnormal state of things put a stop to; and this feeling is making itself felt in Congress, though the proceed ings of the Radicals as yet show little improvement. We learn by the news of the day before yesterday that the House of Representatives has passed a supplement to the Reconstruction Bill, empowering the military commanders of the South to take a census, and register the votes of the population, call a convention, and form a constitution under the Military Government Bill. Congress, it is said in the same intelligence, will not adjourn until the question of further proposed guarantees for the reconstruction of the South is settled. On March 12th, however, the news is different, and we learn that Mr. SUMNER'S proposal in the Senate to pro vide further guarantees for the reconstruction of the Union has been defeated. The Radical party is evidently no longer unanimous in either House, and it is very likely that Mr. SUMNER'S extreme views about the blacks may have offended some of his followers. At any rate the question remains unsettled, though even if the measure of military government were passed in the most complete form by Congress there would still remain the insuperable difficulty of the PRESIDENT'S opposition. As Mr. JOHNSON is by his office the recognised head of the army, his objection to this military reconstruction scheme is something more than nominal ; and even though Congress may override his veto, it cannot force him to carry into effect measures of which he entirely disapproves. Whether the talk about a compromise being likely between the PRESIDENT'S party and the more mode rate Republicans has any foundation in fact is as yet uncertain, but it is quite possible that the pro gress of time and the conviction of the serious nature of the crisis may bring about something of the kind. The heat and passion of 'the conflict are over, there is no immediate prospect of a change at hand, and wise and thoughtful Americans cannot but be sensible that the South, as it now is, is a terrible source of weakness to the States. In the event of a foreign war, what an opportunity would it offer to an invading army ! It is not like the usual shrewd ness and "'cuteness" on which Americans pride themselves to have a door always open for the enemy to enter. The Southern people must be more or less than human if they refuse to co-ope rate with those who would of course promise them independence ; and it might over-tax even the re sources and the energiea of the Nor hem Statee tQ have to deal with a foe in the rear as well as in the front. Such considerations are not beneath the notice of the most powerful and united people ; and possibly they may have some weight when, as it seems, all arguments founded on constitutionalism and justice are powerless. The Berlin Government have learned some home truths from the sitting of Tuesday in the North German Parliament. Two of the Deputies de nounced the policy pursued by Prussia in strong terms, and declared that the recent war was pro voked by that Power, and that the " right of con quest had in:itself no record or foundation;" adding , that the war had deprived the kingdom of the grace of GOD. It is quite a relief to find that there are some individuals bold and honest enough to speak out, and to utter a few remarks which have mean ing in them. After the senseless iteration of the commonplace phrases of unity, and such like delusions, the decided language of these Deputies is refreshing. Of course the Ministers were very vir tuously indignant, and repelled the accusations with their u - sual warmth and energy. Count Bis- MARCK said that the disruptions in Germany dated from the triumph of the Ultramontanes. He is, certainly, never at a loss for injurious statements and insulting remarks. Two Deputies from Saxony opposed the draught of the Constitution, on the ground that it was destitute of any constitutional guarantees ; so that, with one thing and another, the Prussian authorities have found out by this time that all is not so satisfactory as they imagined. The fact is, the whole arrangements that are con nected with this proposition bear a very one-sided character, and it does not require any very great clear-sightedness to see this, or any very great stretch of imagination to comprehend that the object of Prussia is to compromise this North German Parliament into agree ing so far that it cannot easily draw back. It remains to be seen, however, how far this stra tagem will succeed, and at any rate, at this early stage of the proceedings, there has been a great deal of opposition to encounter ; and it cannot be said by the most sanguine that things are likely to be settled shortly and in a satisfactory manner to the Berlin Government. Once the element of distrust has crept in it is sure to do its fatal work, and gra dually undermine all that is done by time-serving and crafty schemers, however powerful they may be. It would seem from the various accounts received from Ireland that the country is still in a very un settled condition, and although, as yet, there is not much further news, the Government evidently feel it necessary to be strictly on the watch. As is usual in such ,cases reports and rumours get very much exaggerated, and the most trivial incidents get magnified by popular excitement into serious catastrophes. At the same time there can be no doubt that there is ground for considerable un easiness, not because of the possible result of an outbreak, which could only be disastrous to the Fenians themselves, but because of the risks incur red by individuals, and the alarm and confusion excited by the sudden movements of the conspira tors. The country people are by no means ardent in the cause, but, if they speak truly, they are often compelled by the Fenians to join them. One man, who was killed during an attack on a police station, was stated by his relatives to have been forced from his bed by the Fenians under threat of cutting his hands off. Such threats are not altogether empty menaces, for a man named TRACEY, living near Thurles, having refused to j An them, was shot dead on the spot. It is said that many of the country people hide themselves from the Fenian agents, and at any rate they do not show much enthusiasm in the cause of the Irish Republic. In the towns there is more agitation, but the chief ground for apprehension is the rumour that large bodies of armed Fenians are in different parts of the country, and the uncer tainty as to where the next outbreak may be. The prevalent feeling seems to be that the Fenians escaped too easily last time, and they are not likely to meet with much indulgence on this occasion. Business, of course, suffers from the unsettled state of the country, though life goes on much as usual in Dublin, despite uncomfortable rumours. General confidence is felt in the vigour and efficiency of the preparations made by the authorities to re press any attack ; and this confidence appears well placed, for necessary vigilance is exerted. Several flying columns have been organised, which are to scour the country in all directions. No doubt this will have a good effect in dispersing the Fenians, and breaking up the large bodies said to be con gregated in various parts. The Government have also determined to issue special commissions for Dublin, Limerick, and Cork immediately, with two judges at each commission. Those parts of Queen's county, and county Louth, not already proclaimed are placed under the Peace Preservation Act, as is also county Meath. Nume rous arrests continue to be made in Dublin, and strong patrols of armed police patrol the streets. In Belfast the police have made a discovery of some Enfield rifles, 19 bayonets, and 2,000 percussion caps, hidden under the flooring of a house in Pound street. The owner of the house was naturally arrested. How the Enfield rifles came into Fenian possession is a mystery wcrth unravelling. THE SUN, LON1:ON, WEDNESDAY EV ENING, MARCH 13. 1867. despotic acts of the terrible reign of the Narvaez Government. A new Siamese mission, composed of three per sons, has arrived in France, and the threegentlemen, rolled into one, are daily expected in Paris. Some of the papers seem to attach much importance to what may be expected from this mission, and con sider that the Siamese trinity may rival in interest the Siamese twins. The important debate upon the Senatus Consulte, modifying the Constitution under the conditions proposed by the late decree of the Emperor, com menced yesterday. The chief speakers were the Duke de Persigny, Baron Charles Dupin, and M. Rouland. There was nothing sufficiently important in these addresses to require further analysis than that sent by telegraph They are, however, given so voluminously iu the Paris papers as to exclude all miscellaneous news. The weather has been of three or four kinds to day—everything by turns and nothing long. Dur ing the morning the temperature was agreeable and spring-like. Then the wind turned to the opposite point of the compass, and it blew bitterly and vio lently. The next change was to rather heavy rain, which at the hour of post seemed likely to continue. The Observatory records indicate unsettled and stormy weather. _ The English steamer Kinsale, which has arrived at Havre, met a small boat near Barfleur, contain ing three men and a boy who had escaped from the wreck of an English sloop. They were in a terrible state, and almost dead from cold, They had been three days at sea in the boat. Every possible com fort and assistance was given to them by the autho rities at Havre. The name of the English sloop is not mentioned. Monseigneur Dupanloup has returned to Paris from Nice, where the illustrious prelate has been stopping► some time for the benefit of his health. According to the Bavarian Gazette a military conference will take place at latest by the Ist of October at Munich, between Bavaria, Wurtemberg, Baden, and Hesse, to make a final arrangement re specting the common military regulations between those States, which were agreed to at the late Stuttgard Conference. M. Philarete Chasles, the erudite and indefatigable chief librarian of the Bibliotheque Mazarine at the Institute of France, who has made various valuable literary discoveries, has now found a volume which must be considered of peculiar importance. On the title page is the name " William Shakespeare," written thus with his own hand by the great poet. Another curious work has been discovered by M. Philarete Chasles--a kind of squib, with illustra tions, written by Sir John Harrington, a friend of Shakespeare, in the time of Queen Elizabeth. He records that in the Courtyard of the Palace of that Queen were vessels for the reception of filth, and he advised her Majesty, in the interest both of health and propriety, to substitute a system of water-closets. The Queen was so ill-pleased with the recommendation that she disgraced and banished the author of the book, and ordered all the copies of it to be destroyed. The copy now alluded to is perhaps the only one which is at present in exist ence. It may, I believe, be seen at the Mazarine Library of the Institute, so ably and courteously directed by M. Chasles. Letters from Rome speak positively of a pro posed erection of new C a rdinals. The most pro minent among the names of the new Cardinals suggested are those of M. Ferrari, Minister of Finance, and Mons. Chigi, now Apostolical Nuncio at Paris. In the latter case M. Chigi will be succeeded at Paris by M. Franchi, Secretary of the Ecclesiastical Congregation. The Patrie of this evening announces further elections of Ministerial candidates in Italy. M. and Madame Benedetti have just arrived in Paris from Berlin, in consequence of the serious in disposition of the Marchioness de la Valette, the wife of the Minister of the Interior. M. an d Madame Benedetti are closely connected with the The Bourse has been rather more animated to day, with a tendency to advance ; but I am not aware of any particular news to excite speculation. CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS. (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.) PARIS, Tuesday Evening. The Moniteur, in its Bulletin of to-day, gives a summary of the result of the elections for the new Chamber of Deputies in Italy. The former Chamber was dissolved on the 12th of February last. The Conservative party have now obtained an immense majority in all the districts. Of 80 definitive elec tions, 66 Government candidates were chosen, and 108 obtained a relative majority in 156 elections. In the four colleges or divisions of Florence, Baron Ricasoli, President of the: Council, was elected by 961 votes against 97 only obtained by Garibaldi (Garibaldi cuts but a very sorry figure of late, and his influence is evidently on the wane). In the second college the ballot between M. Perrozzi, the Government candidate, and M. Crispi, the candidate of the Opposition ; M. Perrozzi had 834 votes, and M. Crispi only 193. In the third, the ballot be tween M. Ferozi, Government candidate, and M. Rubieri, the Opposition candidates, the votes were —for M. Feozi, 736 votes ; M. Rubieri, 261. In the fourth, the result of the ballot was—M. An drecci, Conservative, 586 ; M. Ciprani, Opposition, 157. In the other great towns of Italy, in the greater portion of the elections, the majority was in favour of the present Ministry. The Military Section of the Council of Sweden has just ordered the purchase in foreign countries of 10,000 breech-loading guns, and the manufac ture at home of 30,000 guns upon the Remington system, the patent of which has been purchased by the Swedish Government. The accounts from Spain speak of great commo tion and excitement at Madrid in consequence of several recent despotic acts of the Ministry. The press is completely shackled, and there is less indi vidual liberty every day. Some of the letters from Madrid speak of insurrection or revolution as a matter of course, and at no distant time. One of 'the ordonnances is to the effect that any individual who may issue false news (that is to say, any infor mation unfavourable to the Government), may be instantly tried (and of course executed immediately) by a council of war. In short, the existing Spanish Ministry seems determined to out-Herod the most WHAT WILL LORD DERBY DO 1 TO TILE EDITOR OF THE SUN. Sin,-1 have yet many things to say to you on the above-named most important subject. Perhaps I may be allowed just to trace the rise and fall of the Whig party during their well-nigh off and on 37 years tenure of office. It is well known to all readers of history that this party was banished from office during nearly the whole of the reigns of George 111. and IV., until they came in by a sheer piece of good luck, owing to the Duke of Wellington's Tory Government having in the month of November, 1830, fallen into a minority on the new Civil List, which it became necessary to enact on the decease of George IV. and the accession of William IV. I will here take the trouble to note down the progress of the Whigs since their complete and apparently permanent settlement in power by the first election under the Reform Bill. The years 1831 and 1832 were years of transition. After the ever-memorable election in the spring of 1831 the Whigs had, indeed, a temporary ascendancy, but they were well aware that their ground was not secure. Their majority was only gained by a p o p u l ar ex citement, and might be expected by the ebb of that feeling to dwindle away. The old Reform Bill of 1832, therefore, became their great stock in trade, it was the one great point at which they aimed ; and they kept that point in view until complete success bad crowned their exertions. By the secession of their opponents in the House of Lords, the Whigs were enabled to carry their own plan of representation in talk. To use the slang expressions of those good old days, they carried " The Bill, the whole Bill, and nothing but the Bill." They thus secured themselves a House of Commons, planned and secured by themselves. The first elec tion at the close of 1832 fully answered all expecta tion. It formed a House of Cornmone in which only about 150 Conservatives were found; 500 of its mem bers professedly supported the " Reform Ministry," and of these fully 400 were staunch and obsequious adherents. When had any Administration Eng land or the world ever saw commenced its career under circumstances so favourable? " We shall be too strong, we shall be too strong," was Lord Brougham's well-known exclamation in those good old times ; strong indeed for useful action in every requisite that Administration was. The King wassaid to be heartily with the Cabinet ; the people had just shown their confidence by their electoral returns ; the house was theirs by a majority altogether over whelming; the Peers cowered and waited, not in friendship, but almost in fear. What became of this state of things? Will the most exultant sup porter of the Administration of the late Lord Pal merston, or of that of Lord Russell, when he was in office a year ago, venture to deny that the 35 years have made a woeful change, or that few things could offer a more striking contrast than the paling state of Whiggism in 1831, 1832, 1833, and 1834, when, be it observed, as I have now in the course of my correspondence shown to you, our present learned Prime Minister was an eminent member of the then Whig Government, headed by the late Earl Grey (the very individual who in his youthful days, in 1793, when Mr. Grey, had so highly offended the ultra-Tory party by going down to the House of Commons in a blue coat and yellow breeches, when Louis XVI. of France and nearly all England went into deep mourning). As I have already said, few things can offer a more striking contrast than the palmy state of Whiggism in those days than its despair ing plight in 1861, 1862, 1863, 1864, 1865, and 1866. About 14 years ago the late Mr. Cobden published some letters, headed "France, 1793-1853," showing the relative difference between the two periods. Any one might do the same thing regarding 1833 and 1863. 1 will, however, descend from gene ralities to particulars, and observe the gradual pro gress of this decline, which brought Whiggism to be the crawling, expiring, clinging, supplicating, and manoeuvring thing it was this time last year, when it brought in its last Reform Bill, which caused its death in June last. As I have already said in 1833 the \V hig Ministry enjoyed a complete ascendancy in Parliament, The OW diYisiQfl in that year were :—On the Irish Church Bill, for 317; against, 78. On the vote of confidence—affairs of Portugal, for 361 ; against, 93. On the Irish Church Bill, for 274 ; against, 94. In each of these three discussions the late Sir R. Peel voted and spoke, yet he had not so many asloo followers in either of them. Strong, indeeJ, must have been that Government which could baffle the wonderful talent and eloquence of this gigantic genius. The working majority of the Ministry in that session may be safely put down as at least 300. The fol lowing year, 1834, the appropriation clause began to show itself, and curious enough in the month of May, in that last-named year, our present Premier, then Mr. Secretary Stanley, and the late Sir James Graham seceded from that Whig Government of which for three years and a half they had been such useful and eminent members ; and from this time I can begin to trace the beginning of declension in strength as well as in principle. The only two great divisions of this year were :-Admission of Dissenters to the Universities, for 321 ; against, 147. Irish Tithe Bill, for 235 ; against 171. The opening of the Ministerial majority at the beginning of this session was about 200. This was when Lord Derby was a member of it ; before the close, when Lord Derby and Sir James Graham had quitted it, it had fallen to 150. The year 1835- Bright and Cobden's model year-opened with a new Parliament; the old one, which was the first elected under the Reform Bill, having been dis solved by the late Sir It. Peel on his accession to office at the close of the previous year, and now it began to be seen how wofully the Whigs had already lost the confidence of the people. Their majority was almost gone. With difficulty they defeated the late Sir R. Peel by a majority of 33 ; and, even with the added influence of Government, they scarcely reached a majority of 50. The great divisions of 1835 were :-On the Irish Church Appropriation Clause-for, 322 ; against, 288. On the Irish Church Bill Appropriation Clause-for, 307 ; against, 243. On the Irish Corporation Bill-for, 267 ; against, 176. On the Irish Corporation Bill -for, 262 ; against, 234. In 1836 they opened with more confidence and courage ; continuance in office had added somewhat to their strength. On the Address-for, 234 ; against, 243. On the Irish Corporation Bill-for, 307 . ; against, 243. On the Irish Corporation Bill-for, 260 ; against, 199. On the Irish Tithe Bill-for, 300 ; against, 261. Their average majority seemed now to have risen to something above 50. In 1837 the session began in a still more promising manner, but it declined to wards its close. The great divisions were these :- On the Irish Corporation Bill-for, 322 ; against, 250. On the Church Rates Bill-for, 273 ; against, 250. On the Irish Corporation Bill-for, 300 ; against, 247. On the Order in Council-for, 278; against, 247. On the Church Rate Bill-for, 287 ; against, 282. On the Commission of Church Leases-for, 319 ; against, 236. Thus twice the majority had risen as high as 80, but once it had fallen as low as 5. This brings us to the period when her present Most Gracious Majesty ascended the throne in 1838 ; the Whigs had, in consequence of the demise of the Crown in 1837, again a Parliament of their own, a House elected under Whig influence, but their strength was rapidly fading away. The chief divi sions of the Session were :-On Foreign Policy for, 316 ; against, 287. Lord Sandon on Church Leases--for, 277 ; against, 244. On Church In struction-for, 265 ; against, 254. On the Irish Tithe Bill-for, 217 ; against, 298. On the Irish Corporation Bill-for, 286 ; against, 266. Thus it became manifest that the standing majority for Ministers had fallen to about 30 votes. In 1839, the year of the Bedchamber Plot, and the melan choly death of poor Lady Flora Hastings, which last named event had a most serious effect upon the Ministerial and political events of that year ; matters became still worse. The divisions of this Session were as follows :-On the Irish Policy--for, 319 ; against, 296. On the Jamaica Bill-for, 294 ; against, 289. On the Jamaica Bill-for, 267 ; against, 257. On National Education-for, 280 ; against, 275. On National Education-for, 275 ; against, 273. The Ministerial majority, then, for all practical purposes seemed to have fallen down to about 5, 10, or 15 votes. They were not, however, left in a minority on any important question, with the exception of their defeat and temporary resig nation in May, 1839, on the Jamaica question. Moat elderly and middle-aged people can remember their return to office, and the famous bed chamber plot of the above named year. The Session of 1840 opened with an evident increase of power and courage on the part of the Conserva tives, and a proportionate falling off in the strength of the Whigs. The strongest proceeding of all, a vote of want of confidence, was at once proposed. This measure, seldom indeed ventured upon, and which Lord Russell himself, in 1835, even at an ascertained majority, did not dare to direct against the late Sir R. Peel, this proposition was barely defeated by a majority of 21. On their Chinese Policy Ministers had only the smaller majority of 10. In almost every other encounter they were defeated. The chief contests of the session were these (reckoning the vote on the late Prince Con sort's pension as nothing unusual or strange, as it may appear at this distance of time), Radicals and Conservatives were mingled in that majority : - On Sir J. Yarde Buller's motion, 308 for, 287 against; on Mr. Herrie's motion, 172 for, 182 against ; on Mr. Liddle's motion, 212 for, 240 against ; on Sir J. Graham's motion, 277 for, 261 against ; on the Ludlow Writ, 215 for, 226 against; on Lord Stanley's Bill, 234 for, 250 against ; on Lord Stanley's Bill, 298 for, 301 against ; on Lord Stanley's Bill, 195 for, 206 against ; on Lord Stan ley's Bill, 296 for, 289 against ; on Lord Stanley's Bill, 271 for, 275 against. So that on these 10 great divisions the Whig Ministers could muster only 2,472 votes, or 247 in each on an average. Can anything be more plain than that during those seven years above named the Whig majority be came annihilated. There is, however, one view of the question which cannot be forgotten. It is that their progress downward was unceasing after our present Premier quitted the aforesaid Whig Government in 1834. Thus stood the account :- 1833 majority, 300 ; 1834 majority, 150 ; 1835, majority, 50 ; 1836, majority, 50 ; 1837, majority, 30 ; 1838, majority 30 ; 1839, majority, 30 ; 1840, majority, All middle aged men are full welt able to remember the excitement of the country in 1841, and the general election which gave the late Sir R. Peel his overwhelming majority, and sent the Whigs, who then held office, with the exception of a few short months for 11 years to the bleak and dreary re gions of the Opposition for five years, during which time we had the most powerful Government ever known since the days of Pitt. In 1846 the lute Sir R. Peel was defeated on the Irish Coercion Bill, and the Whigs again took the reins of Government, and until their defeat last summer had held office ever since. But why were they permitted to remain so long in office ? The answer is very obvious. Merely because party spirit has been at such a low ebb that it was not thought worth while to turn them out. Their power is, however, as completely gone as it was a quarter of a century ago ; and I trust they are now banished to the bleak and dreary regions of the Opposition not for five but for fifty years. In 1859 they turned out the present Go vernment of Lord Derby on a very sensible reform bill, because, according to their notion of things, it did not go far enough ; and since then, until last year, reform was in as hopeless and drooping a plight as it was described to be in 1827 by the late Earl Grey towards the close of the Georgian era. However 1 think I have said enough, and more than enough, to show that the sun of the Whigs is set. I trust it has now become as completely a thing of the past as the Georgian era, the Stuart dynasty, or even the Heptarchy.-I remain, sir, your obedient servant, A LOVER OF HISTORICAL DATES AND FACTS. THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON AND THE ARMY.— On Sunday morning, at ten o'clock, the Emperor Napoleon descended to the post of troops on guard, situated in the courtyard of the Palace, and there, sitting down in the can teen, waited patiently until the cooking of the soldiers' soup was terminated. His Majesty then tasted it, and declaring it to be of good quality, had it distributed in the usual way to the men. "Now, gentlemen," he said, in taking his de parture, "you can partake of it." This kind and simple act of the Emperor produced the greatest enthusiasm amongst the am, LITERATURE. Mackay's English Anthology. A Thousand and One Gems of English Poetry. Selected and arranged by Charles Mackay, LL.D. One Vol. Pp. 602. George Routledge and Sons, London and New York. A charming volume, this is, with a most charming title. It is far more than that, however. It is in many respects the amplest and choicest collection of English Poetry yet published, within our own know ledge at least, upon either side of the Atlantic. The gems here brought together by the skilled lapidary to whom has been entrusted the delicate task of their selection are not all of them, of course, or even the majority among them, of the purest watra. They are not--as he himself expresses it in his In troduction—all of them of equal brilliancy. " The diamonds, rubies, emeralds, and pearls of literature are few," he writes, " but there are other gems than these of inferior value, but still gemlike" : some of which latter he thereupon enumerates as " agate, cornelian, amethyst, turquoise, onyx"—and others the names of which it were unnecessary to particularise. Going in quest of them, Dr. Mackay has been, as it were, wandering of late, hither and thither, as the fancy prompted him, about a very Garden of Aladdin —culling the more or less precious fruits clustered there abundantly among the umbrage of familiar leaves— sometimes in those same devious and dis cursive wanderings of his, striking upon pathways such as those sung of by Sir Walter Raleigh in his celebration of the Soul's Pilgrimage, where he ex- " Then, those holy paths we'll travel, Strewn with rubies thick as gravel." Here they certainly are at intervals "thick as gravel"—these glorious rubies strewn prodigally before us as we advance—as (to content ourselves with one solitary example as in itself all-sufficient) in the instance of Lord Byron. Jewels—happily for us—more than— ‘,. . . five words long, That on the stretched forefinger of all Time Sparkle for ever."— Such, let us say, in the instance just now particu larised (that of Lord Byron) as—The Fall of Sennacherib—The Isles. of Greece—The Ode to Napoleon—The Apostrophe to the Ocean —The Cataract of Velino—The Vision of Darkness—The right before the Battle of Waterloo—with other peerless effusions. A miscellanous collection of Poetry such as this—a collection, that is to say which undertakes to give the choisest specimens of the different writers in any given language or literature —can never, as a matter of course, as a matter of absolute certainty, perfectly satisfy as a whole from first to last the taste of any oue save the actual collector himself. Quot hontines—" but the pro- verb's somewhat musty." The whole of it is to a very great extent purely a matter of personal preference —a matter almost, one might say, of temperament or of idiocyncracy. All that can reasonably be looked for is that the reader's ideas and the compiler's may in a very great measure approximate—as to the judiciousness, that is, upon the whole, of the selection made by the latter when his very difficult, and, as we have just now said, most delicate task of selection has been accomplished. Altogether—judging of the selection here made as a whole—this " Thousand and One Gems of Eng lish Poetry," collected together by Dr. Mackay, appears to us to be not only such as will be found by the majority of his readers to be worthy of very high commendation indeed, but such as entitles him, in his capacity as a wise and choice col lector, to gratitude as well as to admiration. The Gems he has here clustered together were, in many instances—to employ the alliterative phrase used by Dr. Johnson in his Preface to Shakspere— " mingled with a mass of meaner minerals," until, having been picked thus afresh from among the meaner minerals, they were set here in this (may we so designate it without incurring the charge of affecta tion?) aigrette or torque for the brow or bosom of Britannia. It cannot but be absolutely essential. however, as we take it, for every one coming to an examination of this volume as a very choice collection—to our own notion as the very choicest of all collections yet published—of English Poetry —it cannot but be absolutely essential, we say, for any one coming to the examination of a volume like this (no matter how highly he may feel disposed to commend it) to justify his commendation of it as a collection, precisely as we do, by speak ing of it as, upon the whole, worthy of admi ration, or—as we have even gone so far as to say—worthy of gratitude as well as of admiration. For, to the eyes of any lettered reader examining pages of this particular character, the contents of those pages cannot possibly but be here and there suggestive of regrets as to this or that having been preferred, or, still more again, as to this or that espe cial and cherished favourite having been altogether omitted—forgotten or overlooked. Unpremedi tatedly and quite haphazard, let us, then, by way of argument, give here a very few illustrations of what we are thus implying. Geoffery Chaucer, for example, we, for our own part, should hardly have thought, adequately represented without our having included among the extracts from him his cele bration of the Daisy. Thomas Chatterton, we should have preferred to represent by his Dirge, or even by his rhythmical delineation of the solar System (chiming as with the music of the spheres) than by his brief though noble stanzas "On Resignation." From Leigh Hunt, again, we should have dearly liked to have taken " Paganini," or "To Johnny," instead of " The Glove and the Lions," or, as it is by an odd mis print given here in the index, " The Globe and the Lions." From Thomas Hood we should yet more dearly have welcomed " We watched her breathing through the night," and " I smell the rose above the would," and "Love thy mother, little one" — Gems as exquisite in their way as the " Song of the Shirt," or the " Bridge of Sighs." Just as surely as we would have given with Edgar Poe's " Raven" his " Bells," and—together with their harmonious tiutinabulation— his ineffably I: eautiful apostrophe (de profundis) "To Annie." Samuel Coleridge — even though he is here, so to speak, rendered audible to us by such matchless fragments as —" Christabel" and the " Ancient Mariner"—seems to lack one other fragmentary excerpt from the former poem—namely, the passage there conveying to us that most perfect portraiture of all that is winning and winsome in Childhood— " A little child, a limber elf, Singing, dancing to itself ; A fairy thing with red round cheeks, That always finds and never seeks, Makes such a joy unto the sight, As fills a father's eyes with light." Still more, even, than that minute Gem, which might, as we think, with advantage have been ga thered from among the leaves of Coleridge by Dr. Mackay, while that keen-eyed collector of jewels was filling his casket in the Aladdin's Garden, as we have called it, of our English Parnassus—still more, even, than that one minute Gem do we re gret not to discover here what is certainly, in our own estimation, Coleridge's pearl of price, or his diamond of the purest water, his Koh-i-noor, or his paragon-ruby—" Love," beginning— " All thoughts, all passions, all delights," And ending with the wooing and the winning of Genevieve ! In regard to Lord Houghton again (Monckton Milnes that was) we regret to find any other exemplar of his lyrical genius than what is still to our mind the happiest and daintiest among them all—" I wandered by the brookside." Among the poets dead and gone, we look here in vain, by the way, for the name of Robert Nicholl, whose claim, nevertheless, to that glorious title of poet might have been so very readily es well as nobly justified by his celebration of the theme " God is Everywhere "—a poem co m p risin g within it stanzas such as these (we quote them from memory) : A trodden daisy from the sward With tearful eye I took, And on its ruined beauties I With moving heart did look. For crushed and broken though it was, That little flower was fair, And 0, I loved the drooping bud, For God was there. I stood upon the soabeat shoro, The waves camo rushing on, The tempest raged in giant wrath, The light of day was gone, The sailor, from his drowning bark, Sent up his dying prayer ; I looked amid the ruthless storm, And God was there. I trod a silent wilderness, A desert, pathless wild, Whore verdure grew not by the streams, Where beauty never smiled. I gazed upon the leafless scene, The muirland lone and bare, And awe upon my spirit crept, For God was there. And so on—among all the varied scenes of human life—among the bridal maidens at a wedding, or by the side of the young mother lamenting over her dead infant, when— I saw her kiss its fair, pale face, And smooth its yellow hair, And 0, I loved the mourner's grief— For Go I was there. From among — living Poets, again, we miss with regret all mention of William Allingham. A nd y et there is no one, we feel perfectly certain of this, who would more heartily admire than 1)r. Mackay himself the young Irish Poet's ballad of " Mary Donnelly," of whom, when she is dancing, he sings-- " . . . . her steps were so complete The music nearly killed itself to listen to her feet." And in celebration of whose beauty of face and singing, we read— " The fiddler cursed his blindness to hear her so much praised, But blessed himself he wasn't deaf when once hor voice she raised." And so forth. Better, to our fancy than Sydney Dobell's "Tommy's Dead," would have been his matchless little war song of the French Soldier, beginning— "0 a gallant sans pour, Is the merry chasseur, With his fanfarou horn, and his rifle ping-pang ; And his grand havresack Of gold, on his back, And his pistol crick, crack, And his sword cling, clang." As commemorative of poor Robert Brough (a few years back so prematurely deceased) who would not have welcomed here his dainty little ditty (originally published in household Words) about "Neighbour Nelly ?" And so on—and so on—the carping list of omissions or of preferences might be extended indifferently, according to the especial whimsies or predilections of each individual, taking up in turn, and dipping into, and scrutinising the contents of this beautiful volume. Comment upon those contents, however—for exactly such as they are—in the way of mere carping, we would here at once distinctly and absolutely repudiate. Th e suggestions which have been thrown out by us ill the foregoing observations have been thus thrown out, in the first instance, simply as attestations that the welcome accorded by us to this charming volume is that of no merely unthinking or inconsiderate infatuation ; and in the next place, because in the prospect, or rather, we would say, with the inev' table certainty before such a book as this, of its running through very many editions, we cling to the hope that some among our missing favourites may yet, happily, through Dr. Mackay's kindly re consideration of their claims, come to be even tually interpolated. Otherwise, than in this kindlier spirit, to comment upon the labour of love which has manifestly been expended upon the filling up of this Casket of Gems by np e who is himself at once a true Poet, a true Critic, would have about it an aspect of ungracious ness but little short of pragmatical impertinence. Not one is there among the living Poets of Eng; land, Ireland, Scz - Aland, and America but must feel proud to find his name enrolled among the radiant catalogue of great names making up the bulk of the list of those contributing to this exquisite volume- To cavil seriously over any deficiency whatever observable anywhere in its contents would bring down upon any one so cavilling, one might reason ably enough conjecture, an echo of the Archbishop's sardonically benevolent wish in Gil Blas—beaucoup de bonheur et un peu plus de bon godt / Without a qualm, for such precisely as it is, we can and do AC cept it very cordially not the archbishop's wish, be it understood, but Dr. Mackay's new book of the " Thousand and One Gems of English Poetry." Purchaseable for a preposterously small amount, the book is certain of—what it deserves—an im mense circulation. And no wonder, for it is the gathering together in one pocket volume of the gems of our whole poetic literature. t ou rt (gir HER MAJESTY, &C• WINDSOR CASTLE, March 12. The Queen and Princess Louise drove out yester day afternoon. Her Majesty walked and drove this morning, ac companied by Princess Christian. Prince Leopold went out walking, attended by Mr. Sahl. The Queen, accompanied by Prince ss Louise, went to London this afternoon, and visited the Prince and Princess of Wales at Alarlborough-house. ORIENTAL, INDIA, AND CHINA MAILS. GIBRALTAR, marcu The Nyanza, from Southampton on the 4th inst., arrived to-day at 9 a.m., an d left at 2 p.m. for Alexandria. Experie nced two days' bad weather. DEARKE T . his day. MA.RE-LANE. Fresh up to our market to-day the receipts of wheat from Essex and Sent were very moderate, but in tolerably good condition. For both red and white parcels the trade was firm at Monday's advance in prices. There was a good show of foreign wheat on the stands. In most descriptions sales progressed slowly, but in every instance late rates were firmly maintained. Floating cargoes of wheat were in steady request at full currencies. Other kinds of produce afloat commanded as much money as last week. e cent Foreign barley came freely to h and, but very little D 3 g -- lish was on sale. The demand was inactive at the r decline. Malt was dull at late rates. Very little business was passing in oats at Monday's ro duction in value. Beans moved off slowly on former terms. The suPP I Y was limited. The trade for peas ruled firm at late rates. Flour met a slow sale at stationary prices. Linseed and rapeseed were in moderate request ; other wise the seed market was quiet. SHIP ARRIVALS THIS WEEK. Wheat. Barley. Malt. Oats. Flour. English and Scotch 350 290 760 '5O 380 Irish F ore i gn 8,350 2,670 11,320 450 brls COWARATITE QUANTITIES AND TRICES OF GRAIN . _ For the week ending Mar. For the comsponding W e "' 9, 1867. last year. Ayer. Qrs. Aver. , Qr. A 4 Wheat M,512 -59s 3d Wheat ....... 69,669-4 us ,-,d Barley ...... —30,740-41 s Barley ......... 46,0-2----355 ' d Oe.ts 7,008-2is ld Oats .......... 9,534--235 11 BOUGH HOP. For all kinds of hops the trade is dull, but no actual re duction has taken place in the quotations. WHITEOLIAPEL. Moderate supplies of meat are on sale. Tho trade gene" rally is steady, as follows : Per 81b. by the carcase. 2d Beef 3s Od to 4s 8d 1 Veal ...... 4s Od to 5s 6d. Mutton ------- LIVERPOOL CO r lON 111,ARKE (This Day.) The Market opens with a rather steady tone. Sales probably 6,000 or 8,000 bales. REFORMS IN THE AUSTRIAN ARMY. —Tile exP e : rience of the last campaign has led to the organisation 0, a special corps of railway engineers in the Allaririll armyof ' The staff is placed under the orders of s superior officer er of the Engineers, at w hose disposition a certain numb officers of that serv ice will be placed ; these will baYe to make themselve s thoroughly acquainted with the technical works on railway s, so that, in case of war, they may b e able to promptly destroy or re-establish sections of lines, or to interrupt or restore the transport seryiee, as necessity 1233/ require,