The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-11 00:00:00

Horrible Murder on the North London
Railway.

brought back to Bow, and the carriage in question
was at once uncoupled and placed in a shed, which
was secured. The carriage has three first class
compartments. On opening the door of the com-
partment the interior, as before stated, was found
in all directions to be besmeared with blood, with
clotted pools on the cushion and on the floor.
There was ample evidence of .a deadly struggle
having taken place. The unfortunate man, it will
be remembered, was found in the six foot way.
On inspecting the outside of the carriage, which
would be the off-side of a train going to Camden,
the body of the carriage was seen to be besmeared
with blood, as if it had been spurted on as the train
flew by. The window was down, and on the brass
handles were marks of a bloody hand, leading to a
belief that the door had been opened to throw the
unfortunate gentleman out on the line and then
closed. On the step beneath the door were found
a portion of the hair guard attached to the massive
gold glasses, and on the floor of the compartment
was discovered one of the broken links of the watch
chain. Allusion has already been made to some
ladies complaining to the guard at Hackney station
that some blood had been spurted through the open
window of their compartment when the train was
passing near Victoria Park. The medical gentlemen
aecount for this by suggesting that in the struggle
when he was forced out of the door of the carriage,
one of the arteries in the wound on the side of the
head burst from the frightful exertion, and so would
spurt in the manner as the ladies described. At
present, however, we are unable to state whether
they heard any noise or cries at the time or before.
It is certain that Mr. Briggs must have been lying
on the line at least 20 minutes before he was Eli's.
covered. The train in which he rode left Bow at
two minutes past 10, and in another two or three
minutes the deed must have been perpetrated, for
the train was due at the next station, Hackney-
wick, five minutes after leaving Bow. An up-train
passed the spot about 10 minutes afterwards, and
saw nothing, but it was evident that it must have
escaped their notice. The spot where Mr. Briggs
was thrown out of the train is, singular to say,
about the same place where a similar outrage was
committed some four or five years since, but not
with such deplorable results, when the thief jumped
out of the carriage and endeavoured to escape through
the marshes, but was captured and transported for
life. It would almost seem that the murderous as-
sailant's object after the attack on Mr. Biggs was to
throw him into the canal. He was found on the
bridge, and it is conjecture) the villain or villains
made a mistake in the door, and threw the un-
fortunate gentleman ou the permanent way, instead
of over the bridge.

the promise is likely to be kept, and whether, at
some future day, they may not receive the interest
in depreciated greenbacks, if, indeed, they are for-
tunate enough to receive any interest at all. " Re- One of the most atrocious crimes that probably
pudiation" is a word that has no terrors on this side ever disgraced this country was perpetrated late on
of the Atlantic—or the Legislature he State of Saturday evening in a first-class carriage of a
New York would not so coolly have defrauded its passenger train on the North London Railway,
foreign as well as domestic creditors by insisting when a gentleman, Mr. Thomas Briggs, connected
that greenbacks are and ought to be legal tender with the banking establishment of Messrs. Roberts,
for the payment both of principal and interest of Curtis, and Co,, of Lombard-street, was murderously
all debts, public or private. To show that Con• assailed, plundered, and thrown out of the train,
gress itself is not much, if any, better in this re- and by the time these details meet the eye of the
spect than the local Legislature at Albany, it is public death will have terminated his shocking
only necessary to read the debates that took place sufferings.
in the House of Representatives on Friday last. The unfortunate gentleman, Mr. Briggs, was
Mr. Chase's new loan was under discussion, when upwards of sixty years of age. He was a fine, tall,
no less a person than Mr. Thaddeus Stevens, the hale man, and resided at No. 5, Clapton-square,
leader of the house, and chairman of the Committee near Hackney Church. He held the office of chief
of Ways and Means, asserted, in answer to several clerk in the above bank, and was most highly re-
previous speakers who had expressed contrary spected and esteemed by a very large circle of
opinions, that the issue of legal.tender paper money friends.
had been the salvation of the country—that no eye- On Saturday afternoon, about 3 o'clock, he left
tern ever worked better—that specie payments the bank for the day, and proceeded to his niece's
would not be resumed for ten years to come—and residence in Nelson-square, Peckham, where he
that whoever looked for a speedier return to hard dined. There he remained until half-past eight
money was not wise, and had studied history to o'clock, and was seen into an omnibus in the Old
little profit. He added that "he deprecated the Kent-read by the husband of his niece, aMr Bnck-
present policy of paying the interest of the debt in ham, and then appeared in his usual good health
gold, and expressed his opinion, if such policy were and spirits. Before parting with his relative he
persisted in, with an increase of debt at the same intimated that he would proceed to the City, and
time, the Government would fail. It was a fatal then take the train from Fenchurch-station for
policy, which rested like an incubus upon the Hackney. He was almost a daily traveller on the
nation, and gold would continue to rise, as he long line, and was well known by the railway servants.
ago predicted, until it would beoome impossible From the time of getting into the omnibus in the
for the Government to procure the coin." Mr. Old Kent-road until his body was discovered on the
Davis, of New York, agreed with Mr. Stevens, but line of the North London Railway, between Old
refused to vote with him, in opposition to the Ford Bridge and Hackney Wick station, nothing
wishes of the Secretary of the Treasury. The Com- has been gleaned of his movements, or whether any
mittee of Ways and Meaus, fascinated or convinced one was in his company.
by the eloquence or the arguments of its chairman, The atrocious outrage was discovered somewhere
adopted an amendment based upon his speech. The about a quarter or twenty minutes past ten o'clock
house afterwards refused to concur in the action of on Saturday evening. On the arrival at Hackney
the committee by a vote of 80 against 50, and Mr of the 9.45 train from Fenchurch-street station
Chase's Loan Bill of 400 millions, bearing interest (which was several minutes late in leaving town), a
at 6 per cent. in gold, was passed, and only awaits gentleman called the attention of Haines, the guard,
the signature of the President to become law. The to the state of a compartment of a first class car-
discussion shows not only that there is a large, but riage, No. 69, in the train, He had opened the
an influential party in Congress who will make no door at Hackney with the intention of getting in,
scruple, should public necessity seem to urge that and had placed his hand on one of the cushions'
course, in repudiating that portion of their liabili- which he found to be covered with blood. The
ties which makes the golden and not the paper dol-
guard, on looking in, found such to be the fact. Not
lar the reward of the creditor for the confidence he only were the cushions, but the floor, sides, and
has placed in the Government. Americans in their window were besmeared with blood ;in some places
lust of empire and their passionate desire for the there was quite a pool. He also found inside the
restoration of the Union may lend their money to carriage a gentleman's hat, a walking-stick, and a
the Government, subject to the risk of such partial small leather bag. The guard at once took charge
repudiation, but foreigners, whether in Amsterdam of the articles, and locked up the door. Some ladies,
or Lyndon, having no such lust or passion, and only who were in the adjoining compartment, here called
desirous of good and safe investment, will be very the attention of the guard to the circumstance that
unwise if they do not ponder carefully the speech blood had been spurted through the carriage window
and action of Mr Stevens and of those who agree on to their dresses as the train came from Bow. The
with him before they part with a stiver or a pound guard at once telegraphed the discovery to Mr Keb-
sterling. If, after such an exposition, they choose ble, station master at Bow, and at that time an im-
to pin their faith upon the American Congress, pre- pression was entertained that some one had corn•
sent or prospective, they will have no right to cry witted suicide, and had thrown himself out of the
out if, instead of an annual income in gold of 60 window of the carriage on to the line.
sovereigns for an investment of £l,OOO, they receive Almost about the same period the above discovery
w
but 300 dols. in greenbacks, worth perhaps no more was made, the driver and stoker of an engine which
than Sc. orboc. each.
had been working the Hackney-wick and Stratford
Wick station to the
a
The uncertainty whether Grant will not be added to the traffic, were returning from the
THE " SATURDAY REVIEW" ON THE DEBATE.—
other military failures of the war unsettles the politics of Bow locomotive works on the North London Rail THE
is almost always something of what is called
the War Democrats to such an extent as to deprive them of way. As they were approaching the railway-bridge .
forensic oratory in the opening speeches of a grea
a Presidential candidate. If Grant would but capture Rich- over Duckett's Canal, by the side of the Mitford debate. The several speakers are to a certain ox-
mond-
he would be their man—at least they suppose so, for Arms tavern, which fronts the Tower Hamlets tent in the position of advocates, and have rather to
ttbee real merits and.
he is so little of a politician that few people know his opt-
Volunteer Parade-ground in the Victoria Park, they state a case effectively and carefully than to unfold
nions. If he would but fail, and fail as ignominiously or
completely as present appearances indicate that he will, saw something lying on the six-feet way, the space approach the central interest of
Both Mr. Disraeli and '
they would unite upon Gen. M'Clellan, and run him against between the up and down line. At first the driver, Ghi, clueetion at issue.
-The mi..
Fremont and Lincoln. Unfortunately for the Democrats, Eakins, thought it was a dog, but his mate, the - . _ern). y
who are all more or less friendly to the South, and to the stoker judged it to be a human being. The er - ' were both. hampered
sby the mew
it —ales and the flab:-
-glue tual reticence= of o me
prnciple of State sovereignty, which underlies and justifies
had passed the object, but stopped near bothspoke of Ailey eastone spoke on an artificial
Con-
secession,platy
ern).
they are like the Republicans broken up into two . where the tinental matters, ne•
but • •
ay as they are,as it is con-
hostile sections. The Republicans are divided by the pre- railway passes over the main drain: '
ego works. The venient,to vie-
hostile them for certain diplomatic or Par-
stoker, Brinckley, got down -
Par-
tensions of their present chief magistrate; the Demo- and went back along Ilamen" wry purposes. They both showed that they
`p :re aware that there was an inconsistency between
mats are severed by a principle. A large, and it may prove the line with a lamp, an
the more powerful, section of the Republican party insists discovered it to be `,lne bodv of
e on coming up to the spot
gentleman, sP.,,u. what. they said and what they knew. Mr. Disraeli
that Lincoln is incapable, dishonest, devoid of high prin •
and apparently dead. The stoker
rated in blood - • a ' hinted that the old theory of the balance of power
was obsolete—and Mr. Gladstone, after setting up
ciple, and that it is high time there should be a change if :
10-Laging_
instantly h '
the country is to be saved from destruction. They propose „Ailed the driver and ran down the em- ' a plausible case for the Government, and trying to
hankie.
sent 'into the Mitford Arms publichonse, be-to put General Fremont into his place, and will undoubtedly make out that the Cabinet was willing and almost
to Mr. White. Several persons in the house,
make a strong fight for their nominee; even although thebound to go to war to uphold the Treaty of London
friends of Mr Lincoln should wield all the immense patro- - so long as it had any hope of support from its allies,
nage the landlord, at once returned with the stoker'
nage in the President's hands to defeat or buy off o-
p.. ended by saying that England could never have
0414, u to the line and steps were immediate) ttikeii to
tion. The Democrats, less fortunate than the Re-
u,bliiesans P ' P ' 9 . gone to war to tome on the Duchies a Sovereign of
cannot at present select an available man, for, the
a' u
meal remove the unfortunate gentleman to the adjacent wham they wished to be rid. As the speeches of
cient reason that they cannot agree u'-
‘, tavern, but in lining so the men who were assisting advocates, both were skilful and effective—but
a a. fundamental
Principle, The War Democrats in-..st. t upon the vigorous in the melancholy task nearly lost their lives by a both, as. .
the speeches of statesmen, were failures.
Mr. Disraeli showed, with great adroitness and
1 prosecution of the war—to the last man and the last dollar passing down-train. When got to the tavern and
—if both have to be expe-
..tded for the restoration of the laid on a conch suspicions of foul play were at once power, that the Government had threatened Ger-
Union. The Peace D emorats, more consistent with the aroused, for his head seem e od t have many and encouraged Denmark. He made the
been battered
most of the errors and the vacillations of the Cabi-
principles of their r instrument, ; u arty—the only principles on which as ain some sharp His clothes were net • hu` he
party it can car canoe to exist—declare that the war is not by
was speaking not only to damage his
covered with blood, and the broken link or hook of opponents but to win o,,fßee, and he entirely failed
only a cram a, but a blunder; that it never can, and never
ought to, restore the Union; that it ought to cease imme- a watchchain was hanging to a button-hole. No thonsawyasannaytahhintegnfwdheiveiesicnoulnd inspire a belief that
diate'i- -
y , that the independence of the South should be re- watch or the other part of the chain being found, at devising or rfeoarerir.yring
oonlitn an oHrie-
ginal and effective line
cognised forthwith ; that a treaty of alliance, offensive and once led to a supposition that he had been plane had nothing to recommend but thatg Enpglanyd.should
defensive, ought to be made with it, in support of the dared. The landlord immediately gave information lean on the reed of Imperial France, and that,
Monroe doctrine; and that this, with such a commercial to
the police, and sent for medical assistance. Mr. if her hand were pierced, she should smile
Zoliverein. as might be mutually advantageous, would cer- Bristow, surgeon, of Old Ford, soon arrived and pretend to like it. Mr. Gladstone
t amly enable the two Republica to live harmoniously to- ,
and was followed by triumphantly replied that the very charge against
sM r H. Garman, surgeon, of
gather, and might in the course of years lead to a restore-the Government was that it had been too humble
tion of something like the old feeling—if not to a virtual Fairfield-road, Bow, and Mr V. Cooper, of Coborn- and too persistent in its application for the material
reconstruction of the Federal Union, on a broader or more road. These gentlemen at once proceeded to examine assistance of France and Russia On the . other
solid basis thanbefore, The War Democrats have a candis the wounded man. He was in a perfect state of hand, when Mr. Gladstone unfolded the defence of
date ready to their hands in General M'Clellan, provided collapse—quite insensible. On the left side of the the Government, and explained that the Cabinet
always that Grant be placed hors de combat by his antici- head,
just over the ear, which is torn away, was was really determined to fight for the Treaty of
gated failure before Richmond. The Peace Democrats
found a deep wound ; the skull was fractured, and as it because it was
have no candidate. There are thousands of able, con- really bent on war, until the refusal fFrance and
scientious, accomplished, and far-seeing men whose the bone driven in. On the base of the skull there Russia, towards the end of dannary, ellen eed every-
hearts yearn for peace, and would cheerfully follow the were four or five lacerated wounds ; there were thing, and convinced the Cabinet that war was nut
lead of any bold champion who would run the risks, not more blows on other parts of the head, and the to be thought of, few 'of his hearers could have be-
alone of unpopularity, but of persecution in his advocacy of medical gentlemen expressed their surprise that the lived that this Was the real history of what had
the cane; but the champion does not declare himself, If, unfortunate sufferer should be alive, the wound over happened. the reply that, if at the end of January
like a village Hampden, or a mute inglorious Milton, hethe Cabinet had definitely abandoned all thought
left ear alone ffi •
thebeing en cient to cause death,
exists somewhere or other in the depths of social or politicalof war, it should have said so a Stimulants were ears unanswer.
obscurity, he has not the courage to declare himself. The applied with a view of restoring able.
I t is true that there SVA;nopopvert encourage-
fear of being accused of treason to the Union, a crime in consciousness, but to no purpose. On the arrival snout to the Danes after Schleswigwas once in-
American eyes far greater than treason to any King or of Mr Kerressey, of the K division of police, from varied. But the Cabinet knew perfectly well that
Emperor who ever breathed, deprives hint of the civic Bow station, measures were England,
taken to ascertain the Dane' dill looked for support from
courage without which in its citizens no nation ever became th h
w a er the sufferer had any papers which would ; thee the threats to G mnan-
y still remained on re-
great and powerful. Under these circumstances the two expected
cord, and that England from day to day
to his identification
lead la la'
isbreast coat pocket
sections of the Democracy have had a consultation, and to be dragged into the quarrel. It is only the
agreed, in view of the military situation, to postpone for bundle * .
were found a of letters addressed "T. 13riggs, P
adertheought of an advocate arranging a good legal
two months the Chicago Convention which was summoned Esq., Messrs. Roberts, Curtis, and Co., Lombard- defence that the Cabinet, after the end of January,
for the 4th of July, as well as the great peace meeting street," upon which a messenger was immediately weighed the cost and determined that it would not
which was to have been convened in this city on Wednes- despatched to the bank in the City to learn where go to war. It was still divided in itself, still ham-
day next. Thus both of them await events, the War Da- the gentleman named on the address lived. ~, pored by extraneous influences, still expectant that
mocrats living in the hope that the Democratic soldier trousers were found £4 1os. i
gold and la Prance might change her mind, still apprehensive
'
actually victorious will turn up during the next few weeks, pocket that the war feeling in England might gain heat
or, in his default, that M'Clelian, who might have been silver, and a silver snuffbox in his coat pocket. The and strength. Mr. Gladstone's speech was not
victorious if he had been left alone by the marplots and im- messenger, on reaching the bank in Lombard-street, badly devised as Et puzzle to Opposition speakers,
beciles of Washington, will become the man of the hour found that the description given of Mr Briggs an- but it failed to explain to the country why, since
and carry everything before him. The Peace Democrats, swered that of the gentleman found on the railway, the beginning of Fehrua
-IT, we have been passing
in the hope that victory or defeat will alike serve their and communicating the fact to Mr Ins - actor Ken- .
through five months of uncertainty, and humilia-
sacred cause, and that a man worthy of being their leader, Wm. When the independent members began to
ressey, he at once despatched an officer to the ad-
and with courage and intellect sufficient to make the voice • address the house, the controversy passed from the
of Peace heard throughout the land, will arise to relieve the dress given by the people at the bank, 5, °lepton- region of artificial into that of real politics. Lis-
principle of Republican self-government from the disgrace square, Hackney, 'who broke the melancholy intel- tenors ceased to be told, a, they had been by Mr.
of failure that attaches to it, and prove to the nations that ligence to the son of the unfortunate gentleman. Disraeli, that there was nothing, but a petty in-
au educated Democracy is something better and more rea- Owing to 7.firs Briggs being an invalid and in deli- surrection in the European revolution of 1848,which
sonable than the sanguinary despotism of old time and the cate state of the
health,
fact of her husband having has since produced such fruits as the freedom of Italy,
Eastern hemisphere. In the meanwhile Gen. Fremont, who and this very national movement in Germanyewhich
met such a fearful fate was withheld from her. Mrwho applaud the Belgians for wishing
has officially accepted the nomination of the Cleveland, and le . persons
Mr. Lincoln, who has accepted that of the Baltimore Con- Venetia
esriggs, jun., with other members of the family, to be separate from Holland, and. .
vention, are the only candidates in the field. and Mr I'oulmin, the family doctor, proceeded to the for wishing to join Italy, term an inexplicable mad
The Peace party—gloomy as its prospects were a Mitford Castle Tavern, and put an end to all doubt ness. They ceased to hear such stetemednthe house
ts as that
twelvemonth ago—has, however, grown so steadily as to who the unfortunate sufferer was. It was a of Mr Gladstone, when he calmly assure
that it was not Russia, but Lord Palmerston, who
in public favour, and has so vast a fund of reason very painful scene. Only it once, is thought, did induced .the German
powers to int& the hopes of
and policy on its side, to say nothing of Christianity, that a the unfortunategentleman show any '
. signs of song-- the
.German Liberals,the hopes of
and crush out. .
vety crushing defeat of the Northern arms, followed by a • •
commercial crisis, would infallibly strengthen its position, bility. An old female domestic called him by name, the insurgents in Schleswig Holstein by the signs-
and perhaps compel General Fremont to become a convert and a slight trembling movement of his frame and Lure of
ofthhe treat of 1852. ltir Cobden had the
merit ei.ng the first epeaker who invited the
to its views. The real duty of the next President, whom- a gurgling groan seemed to indicate that he knew
house to consider, not the imaginary) but the real
sever it may be, will be to let the South go, and lend all the voice ; but it was only a momentary reaction.
politics
eee pointed out that the treaty
his energies to the mighty task of preventing a further d" is- The landlord of the tavern made every arrangement of 1852 was intended ' bridle on the aspire-
integration of the North. to put a -
he could for the sufferer, but on the news of the tions of Germany for natioual:.V, and that what we
outrage spreading the house was besieged bya large haddreEallyrtohconsider -,,,,a, whether it was for us to
and eager crowd, and it was deemed necessary to send
annOl'is -"en to be killed in furthferhance. of
remove him to his residence. Mr. Toulmin, Mr.
infedct, He had the
satisfaction
this i f she could and
that '
Garman, and the other medidal gentlemen remained ...,
oult nngotadno oituiffht not to dos:
nid An enemy of the
in attendance nearly the whole night, and in the, traditions of the Fo:hiee 7n
01 CO could scarcely have
course of the morning the sufferer was removed in a better opening thane when he has an opportunity
when
a litter from the tavern to Claptonesquare, of showing that English diplomeeY has been hope-
Through Mr. Briggs, jun., the police ascertained lensly pursuing a wrong object. To the surprise of
yof
that when his father left home on Seturda.morn- of some, he wentf his hearers, and perhaps to the admiration
that,
with all his theo-
ing he wore a gold watch with an Albert chain, and retical devotion ont:to iiitt
ni-interference, he could
gold eye glasses attached to a hair guard. On scarcely bring himself tn:regsrd with philosophical
examining the waistcoat it was seen that a watch indifference the gigantic wrung that was done to
had been torn from the waistcoat pocket, and the Italy and Venice by the treaty of Vienna. These
chain had been broken off the link or hook which arelthe thoughts, whatever lilaY, be their value,h of
reastill held to the waistcoat pocket. The gold glasses the troru3e°hutssaonfd parties onitVe Cgiejanhineetnatte;,,wra,,htrae,aes
were also missing, end subsequently Mr. Briggs, the thoughts ofpnroofessionat
of England. Mr Roes
jun., identified the hat, stick, and bag whieh were hioek gave utterer:, eollanother set of ideas in
found in the compartment as those belonging to , 'radii" among ad-ff rent set of continental
wholly 1 e
his father. thinkers, when he declared that, in his opinion,
The police having thus ascertained the descrip- sternlye very attempt at national independence ought to be
tion of the watch and glasses, and forwarded it by
be r
who
repressed;could
h andhh e wfasupnrodbtaob probably thela
declare
ityhiante
wine-
route to all the police stations in the metropolie, ought to have forcvee de t ehn rule of Denmark on the
with the facts of the outrage, they procecdsd, with duchies, because we try very unsuccessfully to per.
Mr. Kerressoy, to examine minutely the carriage in suede Welsh boys and girls to learn English at school.
which the murderous crime was committed. On the Certainly these were views sufficiently diverging
the train reaching Camden station that light, flee from each other and from the:ground occupeed iu
railway officials directed it immediatelyhis opening attaok by Mr Disraeli. But throughout
to he 1 every speech on Tueeday night there was °Tie cm-

Up to the time of this being written the detec-
tives, under the direction of Mr Inspector Kerres-
sey, were instituting every possible inquiry, with a
view of capturing the guilty parties, and it is hoped
that before long some clue may be obtained which
will lead to their apprehension,

MONDAY, 1.15 A.M.
•
Mr Briggs expired at a quarter before 12 last
night. The hat found in the railway carriage turns
out to be that of the murderer.

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS,

LLANELLY RAILWAY AND DOCK. --- A special
meeting of the shareholders in this company and
the Swansea and Carmarthen lines, was held on Friday at
the office, 34, Great George-street, Westminster; Mr. R.
Bidduiph in the chair, when it was unanimously resolved,
"That the directors be authorised to pay on the preference
and deferred shares of the Swansea line a dividend in per-
petuity of £5 per cent. per annum, but such shares not to
confer the power of voting." It was also resolved, " That
the directors be authorised to issue in preference and de-
ferred shares the remaining capital of the company, subject
to the terms and conditions contained in the Llauelly Rail-
woy pock Company's Act, 1864, such shares not to confer
voting." A vote of thanks to the chairman
the power of
closed the proceedings.
wr,i—Holloway's Pills.—Potent Puri-
fi of causes contribute to render tho blood
impure, e [rAs . d
ix
and
d Ethus
,
to produce mans Ipsettin g maladies.
These admirable Pills address themselves at first,, to expel
the taints from the vital fluid, and in the second place to
restore regularity and harmony throughout the organs of
assimilation, secretion, and excretion. Holloway's Pills
improvegityhe it strengthedigeti h fairlycapeanbaiuligtyof
the stomach, and gra-
duallyto appropriate any
ordinary food when wholesome in quality and moderate in
quantity. These Pills act beneficially on the liver, kidneys,
and bowels, and so constitute themselves the " Protectors"
of the dyspeptic, nervous, low-spirited, and debilitated.
Unless digestion bs occasionally corrected' by such means,
the blood cennot be pure,

necting link. There was one source of universal
harmony which gave ar admirable unity to the de-
bate. Whatever the speaker thought of the Treaty
of 1852 or of German nationality, of the duties of
interference or of the duties of non-interference, of
the timidity or the dignified reserve of France, he
was sure to be like those who foilowed and those
who preceded him in one respect, and to heap un-
sparing and unmitigated abuse on Lord Russell.
THE " SPECTATOR" ON TRE TORY ATTACK.--It
may be difficult, from our point of view it is impos-
sible, to defend the attitude assumed by the Go-
vernment towards Denmark, but it is at least as
hard to comprehend that of the Opposition towards
the Government. On this, as on every other occa-
sion of late years when no ecclesiastical interest has
been involved, the Tory party is at variance with

system for a joint stock company. After several
years of it, the country seems as badly off as the
Great Western shareholder, when—after learning
that he has been running branch lines everywhere-
-he finds his dividends preternaturally low. The
Palmerston Company, Limited, has either been too
enterprising, or not enterprising enough. The
worst of alt short-sighted courses is to play an au-
dacious game timidly. Either operations ought to
have been on a smaller scale, or they should have
been pushed to the end with vigour. The personnel
of the company does not improve with time. The
manager's health is hardly as buoyant as it was,
and the worry of keeping unruly subordinates and
dissatisfied shareholders in order is enough to tell
even upon a more youthful constitution. Nor,
despite the popularity of Lord Palmerston, can the
nation avoid seeing that he is daily widening the
breach between the various sections of his own
party. By playing consistently into the hands of
the Conservatives, for the time he smooths his own
road, but he is making the road almost impassable
for any Liberal successor. Nevertheless, Lord
Pahnerston's name must command confidence and
popularity abroad and at home, even if his energy
is daily lessening. Nor can fault be found with
the auditing
,of the company's accounts. They
.hare an admirable financier, who knows what he
is about. However extravagant the expenditure
may be thought, the books are certainly well kept.
But the Secretary With the best intentions and
most honourable principles—for among all
the Members of the present Cabinet there is not one
whose honour and integrity stand higher—that
copious and excellent letter• writer has made the
company's position. very hot, He has committed
them to twenty schemes, and broken off negotia-
tions at the eleventh hour in each. He has put his
hand to the plough so often that the bystanders
begin to smile. Abroad, the credit of the concern,
the businesslike character of the concern, and the
punctuality of the concern is dwindling. Outsiders
are heard muttering that the Palmerston Company
Limited, dues not meet its bills. But the promis-
sory notes of England cannot thus continue to be
dishonoured. When Rome repudiated the contracts
of her unsuccessful generals, she sent the generals
back with halters round their necks into the camp
of the enemy whom their unauthorised promises
had deceived. The secretary of the joint stock com-
pany feels no desire to make any such sacrifice of
himself. The paper which bears his signature may
not be met by his employers when due, yet he holds
on steadily to his post, and issues more. Of one
thing England may rest assured, that she cannot re-
pudiate Lord Russell's notes of hand half as fast as
he will circulate new ones. Nor does the peculiar
temper of Lord Russell permit him inoffensively
to discharge less onerous duties than that of
threatening peace or war. The secretary's
business is clearly to correspond. Lord Russell's
pen is unfortunately so hard and sharp, that every
piece of correspondence sounds like a hostile mes-
sage. The result is that the English Foreign-office,
as regards other Foreign-offices, is undergoing a sort
of political quarantine. The arrival of a letter of Lord
Russell's at a continental court creates the same
sort of consternation as the arrival at Malta of the
yellow flag. Nobody likes to touch the terrible
mis-
sive. At last some secretary bolder than another
ventures to take it at arm's length to
his chief, who reads it, trembling lest he should be
insulted before he gets to the bottom of the page.
It lies on the table, the centre of diplomatic observa-
tion, regarded by all officials with a dreary awe and
horror. This is hardly the work that a national
secretary is designed to turn out, and if Lord Rus-
sell would but pass from the Foreign Office to some
less controversial department, and instead of rough-
ing emperors, content himself with roughing colonial
governors or country magistrates, the Palmerston
Company, Limited, would be all the better for the
change. The real defect of the Ministry at present
is, that it has no common policy at heart. Each
director represents a certain section of the share-
holders, and represents, therefore, both a limited
interest and a very limited liability. Not one of the
chiefs of departments pretends for a moment to
identify himself with any other department but his
own ; nor will he consent to be responsible, except
indirectly for the general conduct of the concern.
The result is, when we come to a vital question, such
as the Dino-German question, everyone is at logger
heads. Lord Palmerston, like Belial, probably
stands for open war—only, unlike Belial, he does
not venture to say so. Perhaps Lord Russell may
conceal within his literary bosom a similar opinion.
But the Manchester school have their director, the
City has its director, the Peace Society nas its
director. These will have nothing to do with any
responsibility beyond their own immediate interests.
As for the general honour of the country, it is an
argument that does not touch a body so constituted
and so minded. But it is not a satisfactory situa-
tion for the cabinet of a great nation to have no
common principle but that of holding together as
long as possible. It is just the principle which leads
a railway board to oppose its own dissolution tooth
and nail. The members of the board hateone another
but they dislike the prospect of a fresh board more.
Nor does the country, little as it trusts the present
board in Downing-street, look forward to the
alternative board with any other feeling than that
of discomfort and despair. One obvious solution of
the difficulty might be found if the Palmerston Com-
pany would only act in character. In a limited com-
pany the faults of the Foreign Office ought to be ex-
by the Foreign Office itself, without assistance from
the Treasury or the Board of Trade. The interest
being limited, the responsibility should be limited
also. That the country is thoroughly dissatisfied
there can be no serious doubt ; and unless some
change of the kind is made at the Foreign Office,
the end of the Whigs is nearer than they think.
The" EXAMINER" ON THE WAR IN NEW ZEA-
LAND.—We really can't afford it. Rich and strong
as we are, there is a limit to the wuste of life and
treasure and reputation which we cannot allow our
Colonial Government to overpaze. We are spend-
ing ten thousand pounds a day smart-money for
the greedy and insolent bad faith of certain folks in
New Zealand, who cajole& Downing Street into a
rash promise to back them up in their attempt to
monopolise the soil of that prolific but unpopulated
country. It was bad enough to ernbrue our hands
in the blood of native tribes when we ought to
have been able long since to have taught to trust
us, or. if not, to fear us sufficiently to keep,.
,the
peace. We have taught them to do neither. Ihe
civil relations of certain classes of the colonists
.with
the natives have been maintained upon so ill a foot-
ing that the latter have rushed into desperate and
deadly war, sooner than submit
.to what they.
.re-
gard as wanton injustiee sanctioned by British
authority ; and the military measures taken to
suppress the revolt have been so blundertul
that
they are calculated really to inspire the poor semi-
barbarous tribes with hopes of an eventual triumph
beyond their reach. All this is moat derogatory to
our character as a civilized and pcenerful people.
Our neighbours who hear of these things do not
and cannot be expected to discriminate between the
culpable errors of an effete administrative system
and acts sanctioned by the national will.
Considering that we boast of being governed
by a free Parliament, and with a free press,
it is certainly not unfair to charge up= the na-
tional conscience misdeeds which in a healthier
and more active state of political feeling would
be impossible. The truth is, we are beginning to
find out the price that must be paid for the plea-
sures of political apathy. The country is commera
cially and financially so prosperous that we are
threatened with a fatty degeneracy of the national
heart ; and in the region of the head kindred symp-
toms have for some time been observable. Mr.
Cardwell won universal praise by putting a sum-
mary end to a preposterous war with the Ashen-
teas. He would have obtained ten times the credit
were he to bring the disreputable conflict in New
Zealand to a termination, Both were begun by his
predecessor in office ; and while no one else is, un-
der present circumstances, disposed to disturb the
sick chamber by accents of reproach, 19 intelligent
persons out of 20 would thank the present Secre-
tary of State for the Colonies were he to
.suppress,
with a high and humane hand, the guerilla prac-
tices which threaten to become chronic in New
Zealand. Every mail brings us tidings of fresh
encounters ending in positive disaster or inglorious
success. The outnumbered natives are palpably
fighting better than our men.
.They are better
marksmen. They show more activity and adroitness
in moments of exigency ; and they are obviously
guidel by a species of rude but ready generalship
that puts our starched strategy to shame. It is cer-
tainly rather too bad, considering all we are com-
pelled to pay for ammunition and arms, that we
should cut such a pitiful figure in the face of a
Maori tribe. The cost of transport from the seat of
Government
itself enormous;
to the remote scene of
i
operations is n
map of the island, its capabilities and its incapabi-
lities, it does seem incomprehensible why we should
have any difficulty. in securing to those who dwell
therein the blessings of industry and peace.
There is room enough and to spare for all par-
poses of legitimate industry, and even leeitimate
opecniation. Why should we tolerate a species
of domestic filibustering watch has not
even the merit of being able to fight
Its own rapacious way, but which, whenever it gets
into a scrape, insists upon her Majesty's troops
being called out to save it from the vengeance of
those whom it has wronged, and to make examples
of those who have had the obstinacy and temerity
to hold their ancient own It is time the :nether
country
washed her hands of complicity in such
transactions. Putting it on the lowest round, that
of expense, we really can't afford it. An expendi-
ture at the rate of £3,500,000 a year for sake of the
Ignominy of bafflid attempts to storm mud forts and

to take stockaded pahs is rather more than the
thing is worth. We might agree to give the money
to escape the disgrace, but it is rather too bad to
pay for enduring it.

itself. It is a rope of many strands, which do not
strengthen, but from their different degrees of hard-
ness cut each other at every strain. The silk severs
the hemp, and the wire tears both, till the thinnest
of the three becomes the measure of strength of all.
Even setting aside Mr Newdegate, who in his cons
sistent pluck and zeal for the honour of his country
may, if the party like it, be considered an anomaly
in the Tory ranks, and his wild seconder Mr Whale
ley, who represents nothing except the pot theolo-
gical hatred of a close, we have still three distinct
and mutuallydestructive lines of policy visible in the
Conservative speeches of the first days'debate. There
is Mr Disraeli, followed by most of the rank and
file, who considers war with Germany almost an in-
sanity, yet moves the condemnation of the Govern-
ment which has not gone to war; there is General
Peel, followed by Lord H. Cecil and his friends, who
holds that peace is nothing when compared with
honour, and that honour has been sacrificed; and
there is Lord Stanley, nearly alone, but still a
power who proclaims froze the Tory benches
doctrines which, if thsy do not involve peace at
any price, do involve a logical formula of non-
intervention. All three have made up their
minds to vote against the Government, but no
two of them are agreed as to the alternative course
which the Government should have pursued.
The whole drift of Mr Disraeli's speech, though
his meaning is not concentrated in any one sen-
tence, is an argument that the Foreign Office should
have conciliated France and followed Napoleon's
lead; but this is precisely what the Cabinet argue
that they tried in vain to do. So long, they say,
as they believed France would assist them they
were ready and eager for war, went even the
length of a formal despatch proposing active ope-
rations if France or Russia would but enter the
lists at their side. It was not till France had dis-
tinctly refused a formal proposal of active alliance
that they came to the conclusion that war for Den-
mark was in itself an act not required by the en-
gagements, or honour, or interests of Great
Britain. So strongly do they put this point that
Punch, which always expresses the popular im-
pression, accepts it as the key-note of their defence,
and represents John Bull as remonstrating not with
the German Powers but with his own allies. That
proposal may not have been honest, they may have
been aware from the first, as we believe, that the
Emperor of the French intended to abstain from
interference in Denmark, or they may simply have
misunderstood both his policy and his temper, but
the offer is by itself an answer to Mr Disraeli. On
the other hand, it strengthens General Peel's case,
for his speech is simply a declaration in many words
that our honour required us to fight, but we didn't
fight, and the honourable obligation wan 'dot and
could not be affected in any degree by any proceed-
ing or omission on the part of the Emperor of the
French. Lord Stan ley, on the other bend, advocated
a policy of non-intervention as " safe, respectable
and honourable," without any reference Whatever
to the attitude France miht think fit to assume.
So that while Mr. Disrevii would not fight Clerk
many, but would follow the lead of France even if
fighting Germany, for otheetWise ail his criticisms
on the Polish affair aVe vaiu,—General Peel would
fight Germany with ,µ, eft,
Lord Stank- rence to France, and
condit; , would not fight Germany on any
• ous whatever. What sort of a policy is it
which England may hope to obtain from a Ministry
which to act must reconcile those three opinions ?
A policy which shall fight when our honour re-
quires ? Lori Stanley will none of it. A policy-
of peace at any price ? General Peel calls that dis-
graceful. Or finally, a policy lookinc, to peace, but
looking to it through subserviency to French pl,ns
which msy end in war ? That is Mr. Disraeli's,
but not Lord Stanley's and not General Peel's, and
it differs from that of the Government only in this,
—that while the latter is equally pacific, equally
dishonourable, and equally haphazard, it eliminates
the element of subserviency to Napoleonic France.
Is that the precise addition which would in the
judgment of England sweeten the nasty mess she
is now swallowing down ? The argureenta em-
ployed by the Conservative leaders are almost as
diverse as the half-hidden drift of their opinions.
General Peel, in his most effective party speech,
denounced the Government because, he ving violated
their pledges, they had, as he aptly quoted," made
us the open shame of our enemies, the very scorn
and derision of all that are round about us." He
avoided the diplomatic history of the affair, but
repeated the promises which he contended had been
made to Denmark, and which had been broken " till
it was come to this, that the declaration of the Prime
Minister in the British House of Commons was
looked upon as a mere idle menace to be laughed
at." Those pledges he indeed said ought not to
have been given, but being given they ought to
have been maintained. Nothing can be more
distinct than this accusation :—" There are only
two principles on which the foreign policy of this
country can be carried out. If you choose to make
yourselves the arbiters of every people, you must
he prepared to fight for them, for there. are other
countries as proud as yourselves who will not sub-
mit to your dictation. If, on the other hand, you
have made up your mind not to go to war at any
time—it' peace at eny price 13 to be your object,
silence and non-intervention must become a portion
of your policy. One argument which occasionally
I have heard made use of by a noble lord in another
place is that this country is so pro•iperous that
nothing in the world is to he allowed to interfere
with that prosperity. But what would be said in
private life of a man who refused to defend his
honour on the ground that he was too rich to be
shot ?" Lord Stanley, on the other hand, declares
that the only blunder lay in taking Denmark under
our protection. He would not fight itt any eases
"No consideration, he spoke for himself and many
others on his side of the house, would induce him to
give his support to a policy of war but " what I
say is, that when you take a man's or a nation's
affairs, out of their own bands--when Irou assume
the duty of advising, managing, directing, and when
that is done by a very strong Power to a very feeble
one—you incur a moral responsibility towards
those who take your advice, and may be held to
guarantee that they shall not suffer by taking your
advice, uniess you have given the fair warning
beforehand, as France did, and as you might have
done, that you meant to interfere by mediation and
advice, but meant to go no further." General Peel
denounces the promises, but would maintain them,
while Lord Stanley admits the promises, but would
not maintain them, and Mr. Disraeli, blaming the
promises and blaming also the breach of them, still
announces, quite sincerely we believe, that he and
his friends are altogether for a policy of peace !
The censures are from all points of the compass—
for promising at all, for promising and refusing to
accept the hezard of performing, and for promising
and not fulfilling without the promised war; and
the proposals are a mere hotchpotch—peace, war,
and subserviency to France all mixed up together.
Each speech coming from its speaker has a force of
its own, and those of General Peel and Lord Stanley
are in themselves, and from opposite points of view,
statesmanlike and logical; but read as the speeches
of a party—and it is as a party that the Tories must
come in—they are incoherent beyond example.
Nothing whatever can be gathered from them except
tha speakers' conviction that they would have gone
to war, or maintained peace, or refrained from both,
and in any of the three alternatives would have done
better than the existing Ministry—an assertion
which may be true or false, but is comforting only
to those who believe that Conservatives must in the
nature of things be abler diplomatists than Whigs.
It may be argued that all three speeches cover one
single meaning—an expression of want of confi-
dence in the Ministry in power; and diet is in one
sense true. If it only implies that Conservatives
prefer Lori 'Derby to Lord Palmerston, Lord
Malmesbury to Earl Russell, and Mr Disraeli to Mr
G'adstone, it may be accepted without much argu-
ment.

Address to King Christian.

COPENHAGEN, July G.

The following address to the King has been agreed
to by the members of various parties in both houses
of the Rigsraad :

"Most Gracious King,—Your Majesty has stated
in your message to the Rigsraad that the war noW
devastating the country was forced upon you, not-
withstanding that you had done everything in your
power to avoid it. The people recognises, and his.
tory will testify, that an unjust invasion has come
pelled Denmark to fight for her existence and her
freedom. This consciousness has strengthened the
people in its unequal struggle, and in its readiness
to bear the sacrifices demanded.

" The negotiations which were to put an end to
this violation of European law have not achieved
their object, but have ultimately afforded manifest
proof that the object of the war is the dismember-
ment of the Danish kingdom. Exposed to the pain-
ful necessity of making sacrifices for the re-attain-
ment of peace, your Majesty has been ready rather
to give up some of the rights of the Crown than to
consent to the formation of a Schleswig-Holstein,
by which the rights of the Danish people would be
still more grievously infringed. This is a pledge to
ua that the object of all future negotiations will be a
free political existence independent of Germany.
" With this conviction the Landesthing (Folke-
thing) promises your Majesty all the support in its
power to give."
The Ministry of War publishes the following

this morning—
" Reports received by the Government from the
corps in Jutland announce that an attack was
made upon the enemy upon the 3d inst. at Lund-
bye, S.W. of Aalborg. In the engagement which
ensued Capt. Hammerich and Lieuts. Betzholz and
Grave were wounded. Our loss in men amounted
to 8 killed and 39 wounded, One Prussian foot.
soldier was captured. Later reports state that after
the engagement the enemy retreated by way of
Lindenborg upon Hobro, taking with him a few
prisoners and wounded. Nothing new is reported
1 from Fuhnen."

TILE " LONDON REVIEW" ON THE PALMERSTON
COMPANY, LIMITED.—If it were not for the number
of its shareholders, and the many classes which have
contributed towards its support, the joint-stock
Government that has so long lasted would, before
now, have broken down. Like Burke's famous
teaselated Cabinet. the present Ministry has been
whimsically dovetailed together, and never could
be said to represent much beyond a compromise
between the Liberals and the serni-Liberals of
the country. The stormy meeting at Willie's
Rooms, which preceded Lord Palmerston's ad-
vent to power, was not unlike the agitated
and tempestuous gatherings wbich frequently take
place whenever railway shareholders resolve, in
spite of the backsliding,s of their directors, to give
the old lot one more trial. The old directors have
now being tried again, and they have certainly not
done much better than before ; it may even be
doubted whether they have done so well. They
are divided among themselves, they arc at log-
gerheads with the world without, and their policy
seems drifting stear'ily in the direction of political
bankruptcy. Mee le and muddle is not " wand