The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-09 00:00:00

M, Thiers' Spa

'rench Budget,

The discussion on the budget opened in the
French Corps Legislatif on Friday.
M. Thiers was the first speaker. He criticised
very elaborately the gradual increase :n the ex-
penses. It was difficult to know what was the real
state of the budget, owing to the great pains taken
to disguise its continual accretion. He was not
satisfied with the division into " budget ordinary "
and " budget extraordinary ;" and for this reason
—in the first place, that when an extraordinary
budget had lasted 25 years it became something
very like an ordinary budget—(laughter)—and
next, because, by the aid of the word " extraor-
dinary," the taspayer was made to put up with
many objectionable expenses, and many (so. called)
receipts of a very equivocal nature. In a budget
not called " extraordinary " it would be difficult to
put forth boldly as resources money expected to
come from Cochin China and Mexico. M. Thiers
established an elaborate comparison between the
necessities of state at the commencement of the
Government of 1839, of the Government of the
Republic of 1848, and of that of the Empire of
1852, and drew the conclusion that the present
Government had been by far the most extravagant
of all. He paid a compliment to M. Gamier Pages
for not having had recourse to paper money in
1848. The orator concluded as follows ;•—I take
the budget and I find 1,799 millions for
revenue; deduct 92 millions for the sinking
fund, and you have 1,707 millions; take 229
millions of incontestable receipts from the
budget called special, and you reach a figure of
1,936 millions. I discuss too fairly not to put
down the augmentations of receipts. As it
is a question of 1865 we may anticipate an in-
crease of receipts for two years, and taking it at 20
millions each, or 40 millions for the two, we arrive
at the figure of 1,976. Let us even say 1,980 mil-
lions ; still we have not reached 2,300, and every
year you are obliged to apply to the sinking fund
or to the public to make up the deficit in your ac-
counts. Such is the real situation, and who can
dispute it ? Is it true that you have only 1,980
millions of receipts, and that the expenses amount
to from 2,200 millions to 2,300. You will sey that
many of those charges are not permanent, and that
they will decrease. I hope that such may be the
case, and it is in order to be sure that it will be so
that I enter so fully into the discussion of the
budget. (Approbation.) But in what proportions
do you think that those expenses will diminish ?
The serious error is to have allowed them to reach
so high. The debt will diminish when you shall
have re-established the equilibrium of the budget
and when the sinking fund shalt work, and when
can:that take place? As to the war expenses, we
are told that we shall disarm, but I cannot under-
stand that expression, To talk of disarming is to
make Europe believe that France is under arms ;
but I affirm that with our 400,000 men we are
perhaps the only Power on a peace footing. To
say we shall disarm is to subject France to a
demand for disarmament. (Approbation.) What
are the countries which are in arms ? Italy
for Venetia, and that is very natural; Austria
for the same motive, and that is very
simple; Russia on account of Poland, end
also in consequence of the attitude of diplomacy ;
Prussia is in a state of semi-armament; England
is not armed, but she is executing extensive works
of fortifications. We have always had 100,000 men
out of the territory, and we shall have the same
after the Mexican expedition shall be at an end.
Africa will always require 70,000 men, The 400,000
men who compose our army are therefore neces•
sary, and for that force to be too large a moral re-
volution must take place in the world. Italy must
no longer wish to have Venetia, or Austria must
bo willing to abandon it ; Russia must give up
Poland, and the latter no longer seek to rise in in-
surrection ; no Power must any longer covet the
remnants of the Ottoman Empire, or Prussia seek
to add to her dominions the territory of some of the
co-federates around her. (Laughter.) The war
expenses cannot, therefore, be quickly decreased,
nor that of the marine until the ships. on distant
stations shall have returned. Lastly, the expenses
of collection will not be lessened until you shall
have suppressed the war taxes which weigh on us.
Mexico will, it is said, cease to be a burden. She
will repay all that she owes, and the 100 millions
she has cost us for the last three years will disap-
pear from the budget. You will then return to the
budget of 2,200 millions. The only remedy is,
therefore, to remain at peace, and that I hope we
shall have the prudence to do. In that case, and if
fortune does not abandon us, you may re-establish
the budgetary equilibrium and be in a normal
situation. But after that period of prudence
the war taxes must be abolished; the second
decime, the tax on movable property, and on spirits
—all of which are, in my opinion, war taxes—must
disappear. Then you will arrive at that situation
which reason may avow, and at which foresight
cannot feel alarm. Allow me now to conclude by
a few political reflections. I will begin by saying
that the Imperial Government at its outset mani-
fested inclinations which I am far from blaming,
but which in two budgets had already led to an
increase of 100 millions, and which have since aug-
mented. I have heard many sincere and reasonable
men say—What will you have ? The country
possesses such great activity that it must be con-
stantly supplied both at home and abroad. When
we have not Sebastopol or Milan to enter we must
go to Pekin or Mexico. That is very true; I
admit that France has a genius of powerful activity,
and that a strong aliment must be given to it.
And when I look back two centuries and see
what aliments Providence supplied, I am not
surprised at the desire to procure more, Under
ILouis IV. what sublime aliments were given to
the national genius ! Rocroy, Nerwin de, Almenza;
at the same time as " Cid," " Athalie," the " Misan-
thrope," and Bossuet's sublime orations. En the
eighteenth century there was not the same
glory. France allowed the Great Frederick to
fill the North of Europe with his victories, and
consoled herself with musing over the regenera-
tion of human society. She laboured to that
end by her writers, and exulted in the
glory of Buffon, Montesquien, Voltaire, and Rous-
seau. Then came the Revolution, when France no
longer pursued the work of regeneration by the pen
but by the swords of her generals, She herself was
regenerated. Blood flowed where she passed, but
civilisation followed her ; and the world, while it
detested our glory, was obliged to acknowledge our
benefits. At last came peace. What aliment was
then offered to our devouring genius ? Liberty.
(Loud approbation.) Here, for 30 and odd years, at
this tribune, and before I ascended it myself, I re-
spectfully listened to the great minds of our age
discussing the affairs of France and of the whole
world. Men were impassioned for grand ideas and
and noble causes—for Greece and for Italy. In
these passions and struggles there were illusions,
but they were based on noble motives. The genius
of France was ardently occupied. In 1851, in the
interest of order, it was necessary to drop the cur.
tain on this scene; it was requisite to occupy the
country otherwise, and our budget may tell you how
much it costs to occupy the country otherwise than
by liberty. But I hope, if the Emperor persists—
as I have no doubt he will—in his noble policy of
gradually restoring liberty, the issue will prove
that liberty does not deserve all the evil said of it.
And, even if it should; there is one reflection which
you have doubtless made—namely, that if liberty
has all the demerits laid to its charge, there is no
denying the great cost of finding a substitute for it.
(Loud cheers.)
The debate was then adjourned to the next day.

SOUTH YORKSHIRE WOOL TRADE.—The wool
trade iu this locality is now almost as brisk as it
will be in any part of the season, but many farmers are dis-
posed to welt for the opening of the Doncaster wool market
on the '4Bth inst,, in hope of obtaining even higher prices
than aro paid at the present moment. Fine hog wool is in
great demand, and, although fully 2s 6d per lb is paid, many
farmers and large wool dealers are sanguine enough to be-
lieve that before the close of the season higher rates will be
paid. Whether this will be the case or not the representa-
tives of the leading houses in the West hiding are anxious
purchasers at 2s 5d and 2s 61 per lb for the best descriptions
of wool, and these prices are paid, not only at the various
towns in South Yorkshire, but in the adjacent wide agri-
cultural districts of North Lincolnshire,

Frightful Boiler Explosion on the Metropo-
litan Railway,
This morning a boiler exi;l.osion, happily un-
attended with loss of life, occurred at .4.1"'-e Bishop's-
road station of the Metropolitan Undergrounc:jtail-
way. It occurred at five minutes past nine, at which
time a train, driven by William Greatorex, an ex-
perienced driver, was on the point of starting,when
the boiler burst with a terrific crash, throwing the
dome of the boiler, weighing 6 cwt., almost perpen•
dicular to an immense height, and then it fell near
to the Dudley Arms at the foot of the Harrow-road
bridge, a distance of about 210 yards from the station.
After the steam had escaped it was found that a
large portion of the roof had been blown away, and
one of the approaches to the bridge which crosses
from one platform to the other entirely demolished.
TLe plate glass windows (14--inch thick) on both
sides of the station were smashed into thousands of
atoms, and the engine—lately full of mechanical
life—lay helpless and a wreck on its resting irons.
Strange to say, the driver, who was on the engine at
the time, escaped unhurt, and T. Mount (the stoker)
received only a slight wound on the top of his
head. In the carriage compartment next to the
engine shock was felt very slightly, but in the next
compartment both the windows were blown in, and
one young gentleman, a passenger, was severely
cut about the head and face with the glass, Im-
mediately after the accident Inspector Egerton and
Sergeant Hawtree, of the D division, together with
a force of men, were on the spot, and assisted ma-
terially in subsiding the confusion. Inspector
Warrele, of the Great "Western Railway, was also
there, and gave great assistance.
The cause of the accident is ascertained to be the
worn out eta eof the engine boiler For a number of
years it was worked on the Great Northern line,
and a few months ago it was altered into a con-
densing engine, which is well known to require
to be double the strength of ordinary locomotive
boilers. At the time of the explosion the indicator
tells that the steam was 110 lbs. on the square
inch, and had just begun to escape through the
safety va ve. It is fortunate the explosion took
place where it did. Had it occurred in the tunnel
the damage done and loss of life must have been
frightful. From late inquiries at St. Mary's Hos-
pital we learn the following list of casualties :
John Crofts, 5, Chichester-place, Paddington,
very severely cut down the forehead and bridge of
nose, also on the crown of the head ; George Hall,
of the General Managers Office, Great Western
Railway, cheek cut; Thomas Mount, 49, Woodford-
place, Paddington, wounded on the top of the head ;
a boy, name unknown, very severely injured on his
head and body ; various other persons more or less
hurt, not taken to the hospital. The dome fell in
Hanover-road, in close proximity to an omnibus.

We have received the following letter, dated
May 9, from the General Manager of the Metro-
politan Railway Company :
Sir,—l regret to have to inform you that the
boiler of a Great Northern engine burst whilst
standing in the station at Bishop's Road this

morning.
The engine driver escaped without injury; the
stoker, the breaksman, and one of the company's
offire boys were badly cut, and were removed to
the hospital; two or three persons were also
slightly cut.
The engine was removed in about half an hour,
and the trains have since worked regularly.

LAW INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

COURT OF QUEEN'S BENCH.

(Before the Lord chief Justice and Justices Blackburn,

Mellor, and Shee.)

THE QUEEN V. THE MAGISTRATES OF LIVERPOOL.
A short time ago Mr. Ed ward James, Q.C., obtained a
rule nisi calling upon the magistrates of Liverpool to show
cause why a writ of habeas should not issue to bring up the
bodies of threo Americans named Quency, Kelly, and
Clements, of the ship Legerity, now in custody for piracy
on the high seas within the jurisdiction of America. It
appeared that a requisition was made on the 15th of
February to the Secretary of State Sir Geurge Grey, by
the American Minister, Mr. Adams, under the treaty be-
tween this country and America and the Act of Extradi-
tion, or an information duly sworn, in which it was stated
the three persons named had been guilty of piracy on the
high seas; the application being made at the instance of
the Federal Government, and the defendants being
in the service of the Confederates. Upon that re-
quisition the Secretary of Slate issued the warrant
fur the apprehension of the defendants and their
examination, and, in the event of committal, of being de-
livered up to the American Government under the Treaty
of Extradition. The case was one of great importance, as,
if the interference of the court was not obtained, the defend-
ants might be delivered up to the Federal Government, and
be without any remedy. The contension of th© learned coun-
sel was that upon the face of the depositions and evidence
taken before the magistrates it clearly appeared that they
acted only as belligerents and not as pirates, and also that
if they committed an act of piracy, as alleged, on the high
seas, they might be tried in this country in the Court of
Admiralty.
Mr. Lush, Q.C., this morning showed cause against the
rule, and the conclusion of the learned gentleman's speech
the junior counsel followed on the same side, and contended
that the rule ought to be discharged.
The Court had not pronounced its decision when we
went to press, but it appeared to be unnaimously of opinion
that the rule to issue the writ ought to be made absolute.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.
(Before Mr. Commissioner Goulburn.)
IN RE COLONEL WAUGII.-DIVIDEND MEETING.
A dividend meeting being appointed under this estate,
Mr Munns (Harrison and Lewis) applied for an adjourn-
ment on behalf of the Eastern Banking Campany.
His Honour said he had thought it had been settled by
Mr Commissioner Evans.
Mr Linklater was of the same opinion.
Mr Munns said it had not, and it involved a very impor-
tant question.
On tho proceedings being referred to, it appeared that
there had been a claim for £254,000, and the only entry was
admitted as to £14,500, but it became a question if it was a
proof even to that extent, as there was no affidavit, and it
was urged that that was only in respect of calls, and had
nothing to do with the account.
His Honour questioned whether he had the power to
enforce, and whether they ought not to go to the Court of
Appeal—the first point to discuss was whether the bank-
rupt could be heard here.
Mr Linklater said that proof was tendered January, 1859.
His Honour said that in the absence of Mr J. Linklater,
who had conducted the proceedings, it was impossible to
say what had been done, and it was ultimately arranged
that the dividend should be adjourned till the 16th June,
when the matter might be fully discussed.
A proof by Messrs Laurie and Co., coachmakers, for
£6OO, which was in a very similar position, was also ordered
to stand over.
Adjourned to the 16th July, to which day it is under-
stood the last examination will be adjourned, as Messrs C.
Brown and Dubois have not yet completed the accounts,

MDLLE, PATTI'S BENEFIT AT PARIS, the other
night, realised for the fortunate artiste £6OO.
SHOCKING TRAGEDY.—A frightful tragedy was
enacted at the village of Bradley, within the town-
ship of Huddersfield, on Saturday. Joseph Pogson, a cloth-
worker, aged 61, who had retired upon a small sum of
money which he had accumulated from his earnings, lived
with his niece, to whom he had been attached from child-
hood, at the house of her husband, a man named Joseph
Haigh,who was also a workman at the mill at which Pogson
had formerly been employed. Haigh was regarded as a
steady, religiously disposed man, but latterly he has become
very morose and has indulged in fits of violence towards his
wife, by whom, however, no complaints were made. On
Saturday morning he awoke his wife about 4 o'clock with
the strange request that she would pray with him, and she
complied with his request. While repeating the Lord's
Prayer he suddenly struck her a violent blow on the face
with his fist, and accused her of mocking him. She pacified
him for the time being, but in about an hour the paroxysm
of violence returned, and she fled out of the house in terror,
being clothed in nothing but her night dress. Her intention
was to alarm the neighbours, but before doing so she ven-
tured to return again into the house, Immediately on doing
so her husband laid violent hands upon her, and her screams
and those of the children in an adjoining room rang through
the house. The old man, Pogson, was alarmed and went to
his room door in his night clothes to ascertain what was the
matter. Haigh no sooner saw him on the landing than he
relinquished his violent grasp of his wife, who again fled for
safety into the street, and vented his frenzied violence upon
Pogson. Ha threw him down, jumped and trampled upon
all parts of his body, especially upon his head, cau3ing his
right jaw to protrude from his cheek, and fracturing his
skull in a frightful manner. The old man never spoke or
manifested signs of congfientiousness afterwards, and did
not survive his injuries three hours. Haigh was taken
before the Huddersfield magistrates and remanded to Tues-
day to await the result of a coroner's inquest, which will
be held on Monday. It is presumed by his friends, judging
irom his manner both before and after the commission of
the murder, that Haigh is insane. He is between 40 and
50 years of age.