The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-05 00:00:00

a theme which saddened the reflections of our
highest intellects in discoursing of our condition,
and a reproach that foreigners were ever ready to
fling at us, it seems too bad that, now so much has
been accomplished in the furtherance of the good
cause, such vexatious hindrances and drawbacks
should be interposed. In consequence of this parsi-
monious arrangement, it will be necessary for the
inhabitants of Exeter to bestir themselves and to
contribute somewhat largely to the requirements of
the position. It is earnestly to be trusted
that Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE'S spirited
and eloquent exhortation to the citizens of
Exeter will be attended to, and that they
will come forward in a worthy manner, and take,
as he said, " a liberal and a noble view of the
question." There was great truth in his observa-
tions as to the importance of considering this as a
great national work, and too much stress cannot
possibly be laid on the vast dignity of such an
undertaking as that designed to further the cause
and foster the interests of art. All that tends to
refine the mind, elevate the thoughts, excite the
sympathies, and awaken the intelligence of man, is
a noble work and a glorious undertaking. The
nation that neglects these sources of improvement
can never be really a leading one, or take its right
position among the foremost countries of the world.
Polish and culture are advantages that nothing
else can compensate for. Nothing can replace their
loss or substitute for their deficiency ; but wherever
these abound they are as adjuncts to more solid and
substantial possessions, and impart a grace which is
their crowning triumphs. Sir STAFFORD NORTH-
COTE also alluded very forcibly to the great boon
such an institution as that he referred to was to all
kinds of students. It was prolific of advantages to
the rare sons of genius, and it abounded in benefits
to the large class who were of mediocre attain-
ments, but who were yet capable of making great
progress, and extending the work of progress. It
is very true what the worthy President of the
Exeter School of Arts mentioned in respect to the
difficulties with which so many have had to contend
at the outset, who were afterwards the most re-
nowned in their profession. It may, therefore, be
very fairly deduced from this, that many really
gifted individuals have been deprived of the
chance of signally distinguishing themselves
by the lack of such friendly aids as these
institutions afford. It is satisfactory to read
an address of this kind, for it proves that the sub-
ject is fairly understood and properly treated by
those who are in a position to exercise an influence
on its destinies, and Sir S. NORTHCOTE'S admirable
discourse reflects honour on himself, while it confers
a great service to the cause which he has so ably
advocated, and so fully taken up in all its ramifica-
tions, with so much earnestness and eloquence.

The Address of the French Corps Legislatif,

PARIS, Monday.

The draught of the Address of the Corps Legis-
tif, in reply to the Speech from the Throne, was
read to the members to-day.
The Address states that the population are pro-
foundly attached to Imperial institutions, and ap-
plauds the resolution of the Emperor to anticipate
public opinion in the path of industrial and com-
mercial liberty. It expresses a wish that the public
works should not be diminished, and that interior
reforms should be developed.
The Address then says :—" The Corps Legislatif
believes with the Emperor that the most wisely-
governed nations cannot always escape foreign com-
plications, and that they should regard them with-
out illusion as without weakness. The distant
expeditions to China, C chin China, and Mexico,
have gr2atly distarbcd the public mind in France
on account of the obligations and sacrifices they
entail. We acknowledge that these expeditions
must inspire respect for our countrymen and for
the French flag, and that they may also d.velop
our maritime commerce, but we should be happy to
see realised shortly the good results for which your
Majesty has led us to hope."
On the Polish question the Address says :

" The recollections of our history, and the feel-
ings of humanity which animate us, excite the
most earnest sympathies for Poland, and we have
seen with grief the failure of the combined efforts
of three great Powers. Neither can we, however,
disregard that the sincere and cordial support of
Russia has been useful to France on important
occasions.

" We should regret any coldness in our friendly
relations with that Power, and have, therefore,
accepted with profound satisfaction the idea of an
European Congress, which will be a lasting honour
to your reign. France, on whom you have bestowed
splendour and glory, is grateful to you for not
having committed her treasures and the blood of
her children in causes in which her honour and
interests are not at stake.

" Leave without regret, Sire, the few unjust
prejudices against accepting your loyal and pacific
propositions. Noble and sound ideas make way in
the world, and take root in the heart of the
peoples. Await calmly the effect of your generous
works.

" France—homogeneous, compact, strong, and
confident in you—fears no aggression, and now has
no other ambition than to assure her repose and
develop her material welfare by labour and peace,
and her moral welfare, by the sincere and gradual
practice of civil and political liberties."

It is asserted that the debate on the Address
will commence in the Corps Legislatif on the 11th
inst.

A telegram received here from Trieste, of to-
day's date, states that the news of the Archduke
Nlaximilan being expected in Paris is confirmed.
His Imperial Highness would embark for Mexico
at such time as to enable him to arrive there before
the end of March.

MONUMENT TO LORD AND LADY SUDELEY.—A
monument to the memory of the late Lord and Lady
Sudeley is to be erected in a chapel, which is to be specially
prepared for the purpose, at the family seat of Toddington,
Gloucestershire. The monument consists of a Gothic plat-
form between two and three feet in height, sustaining two
slabs, on which rest life-sized figures of the deceased. The
baron is represented in his peer's robes, and the lady in a
towing dress, The base of the monument is adorned with
eight sculptures, consisting of four angels at the corners,
and in the centre of the sides the four Evangelists. The
intervening spaces are filled with heraldic shields, tracing
the genealogy of the family. The entire tomb is of white
marble. It is by Mr. Lough.

THE WHIRR OF FIRE-WHEELS.—We paid a
visit the other day to the Patent Fuel Factory, at
Wharf-road, City-road, and there we were much surprised
to enter a large room which resounded with the whirr of
wheels, and the clicking of machinery. The article called
a fire-wheel differs as much from the old faggot as the
sulphur match did from lucifer ; it is, in fact, a highly
civilised article, which has to go through many processes
to bring it to perfection. In the first place, nothing but the
very best pine wood, free from knots, is employed. We
dare not say how many cargoes of this wood are brought
to London annually to supply its fires, but if we were to
hint at a fleet as big as that which took the allied army to
Sebastopol, we should not be far out. The wood is cat to
proper lengths by powerful steam saw-mills working night
and day, and then it is split and stoved. The successful
lighting of a fire depends upon the perfect desiccation of
the wood as much as anything; this is obtained by drying it
with a great heat—to such a heat, in fact, that it becomes
surrounded with a kind of gas, which leaps, as it were, to
meet the fire applied to it. The ordinary firewood is sold in
bundles, as the reader must be aware ; but the wheel is built
up to the shape of a wheel in the most ingenious manner.
The builders are young girls, rows of whom are seen em-
ployed in the factory, each girl having an iron matrix of the
shape of a wheel before her. Into this matrix she drops
with the utmost rapidity sufficient pieces of wood to make
the rim and the spokes of her miniature wheel; by the aid
of a lever the different parts are jammed close, lifted a little
from its matrix, and tied firmly together with a string.
Some of the more nimble of the girls will thus build thou-
sands of these wheels during working hours. The last
process is to dip them in a cauldron of boiling resin, and
the patent fuel is complete. A fire cannot well go out when
this patent fuel is employed, as it lights with the utmost
ease, burns with fury, and gives out sufficient heat to boil
a kettle ; indeed, a large quantity is used by bachelors for
this purpose.