The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-31 00:00:00

MR. GLADSTONE UPON REFORM.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer has published
as a pamphlet his recent speech on the Bill for the
Extension of the Suffrage, with the
following
preface

"In this speech will be found the expression of
an opinion that the Legislature should exclude from
the franchise on two grounds only. First it should
are presumably in themselves
unfitted to exercise it
Wenhtisch con'
ta.ins
them. .
s ha with
illd intelligence
ex exclude
l u
de th 0
saen
with
ii
tnht eg
rity. Secondly, it
ht
constituent the d
i
re-
spect to whom it
personal unfitness catnnight appear that, though no
be aleged against them, yet
arise from their admission ;
bstoudryb,anarctithorfautghhe
politicalae
equilibrium
ifio ibrr; duxmaa nmgopefire
'lilt
hie throughg
of power in a single class.
of principle, advanced in de-
bate, if they are such as, in
the '
view of candid:minds,
virtual
elf a monopoly
tebr:l
sapt
eaet eehm
to require explanation, ought to find it in the con-
vteir:
is Objection has been taken, and even alarm ex-
pressed, with respect to the breadth
of the particular
statement now in question. I cannot make any
other reply than to publish it, as it was delivered,
together with its context, and to leave it, subject
equitable allow
only to eq ance for faults of hasty
to thediscerning
expression, consideration of the
reader.
~ Another objection I could more readily have
conceived—naniely this, that a proposition, appa-
rently of wide scope, is reduced by large and
scarcely definable exceptins within rather narrow
limits. Still, the exceptions appeared along with
the proposition, and formed part of it.
" If, indeed, / sin asked whether it was a deli-
berate and studitd announcement, .1 reply that it
was not; it was drawn forth on the moment by a i
course of argument from the opponents of the mea-
sure, which appeared to assume that the present
limitations of the franchise, disavowed as they have
been by such an accumulation of authority, re-
quired no defence from their newly-risen advo-
cates, and were to be accepted without inquiry, as
in themselves, at least presumptively, good and
normal. But lam aware that this circumstance, if
the opinion be blameable, will afford no apology.
"Further, I spoke with reference to the present,
or rather, indeed, with a view to retrieving arrears
of the past, and neither time nor, as I think, reason
permitted me to attempt the solution of problems
of real intricacy which belong wholly to the future,
and which are little likely to become practical
except for another generation.
"If I regret the manner in which my declaration
has been interpreted, it is chiefly because of its ten-
dency to produce in other quarters an exaggerated
estimate, likely, when brought down to the dimen-
sions of fact, to cause disappointment.
" The question is whether the statement be a gra-
tuitous and startling novelty, or whether it is rather
the practical revival of a strain which, five years
ago, was usual and familiar; which had then de-
rived abundant countenance from the very highest
organs of political articulation, and which now only
sounds strange because within that period it has
fallen into desuetude.
"As the opinion of an individual, the whole mat-
ter is of trifling consequence. But the consistency
of parties and of Parliaments is a subject of weight
and moment, for upon this depends that store of
public confidence which is of such inexorable neces
sity and of such inestimable value for the mainten•
nee of our free and happy Government."

for-the royal bride and bridegroom ; immediately behind
them two chairs of state, one fur the mother of the young
bride, Marie Louise Fernande, Duchess de Montpensier,
and sister of the Queen of Spain ; the other seat for the
venerable Marie Amelie, the last Queen of the French, who
was that day to leave her habitual seclusion and sanctify by
her presence the union of her grandchildren.
The ceremony was fixed to take place at half-past ten,
and of course, therefore, much before that time those hon-
oured with invitations to the chapel began to take their
places. Among others were the Spanish Minister and
Madame Comyn, the Belgian Minister and Madame Van
de Weyer, the Italian Minister, the Austrian Ambassador
and Madame Apponyi, the Prussian Ambassador and the
Countess Bernstorff, the Bavarian Minister, the Portuguese
Minister and the Countess Lavradio, the Saxon Minister,
his Serene Highness Prince Edward of Saxe-Weimar, the
Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde, the Earl and
Countess Russell, Prince Ferdinand of Coburg, Prince
Philip of Wurtemberg, the Princess Amelia de Coburg,
the Prince Auguste de Saxe-Coburg, Lord and Lady Stan•
ley of Alderley, General and Lady Alice Peel, Lord Hough-
ton, Lord and Lady Foley, arl St. Germans, the Baron
Marochetti, Lady Waldegrave, &e. With these guests
were mingled members of the French and Spanish aristo-
cracy. There were the Duc ile Penthievre, Mademoiselle
Ni...rprio. de ch.n0,2,1110., Madame Roblin
and the Princess de Mercedes, Colonel Vilarde, M. Fauvel,
M. Hebert, M. de la Tour, the Comte de Montesquiou,
Madame de Lisboa, Comtesse de Coeffier, Marquise de Cela,
M, Cajijos, Madame Nallejo, Colonel Sauchez, Mademoi-
selle Bernard, Marquis do Moscoros, Madame de Parquet,
Mademoiselle D'lvry, and many others.
Most of the guests had taken their places before any of

the immediate members of the late Royal family had ar-
rived, and before they came Dr. Grant, the Roman Catholic
Bishop of Southwark, wearing his episcopal robes and
mitre, moved down to the church porch to receive them.
Dr. Grant was attended by the Rev. Mr. Danell, his Vicar-
General, and the Rev, Canon lioldstock, M. l'Abbe Vasseur
bore the mitre, and the Rev. Pierre Mailly, Chanoine
d'Arras, carried the crozier. At the ceremony itself the
Bishop was assisted by the Rev. rAbbe Toursel, French
chaplain, and l'Abbe *Tuella, chaplain to the Queen Amelie,
Soon after the arrival of the Bishop at the poroh
Gaston d'Orleans, Count d'Eu, and Philippe d'Orleans,
Duo d'Alencon, the sons of the Duc de Nemours, arrived
with their sisters the Princesses Marguerite and Blanche,
and at once taok their places near the altar. They were
followed soon after by the Prince de Cond6, son of the Due
d'Aumale, and the Princess Christine, the sister of the
bride,—for there were no bridesmaids on the occasion. The
Prince and Princess de Joinville with theDuc de Nemours
and the Duc d'Aumale followed almost directly, the Duchess
d'Aumale being prevented by indisposition from being pre-
sent. And now the little church was quite full and glowed
on all sides with the rich colours of the ladies' dresses. It
was easy by costume alone to distinguish between the Eng-
lish and the foreign guests. The French and Spanish noble-
men were all in evening dress, while our countrymen, on
the contrary, followed the custom usual here at such cere-
, monies, and wore plain morning costume. Nor was the
difference much less marked with the fair portions of the
assemblage—the French ladies generally wearing massive
silks and costly shawls, while those of England were attired
in those beautiful airy, gossamer-like toilettes of the lightest
possible fabrio and colour, which to our notion are more
suited than mere richness to such occasions. Just after
half-past 10 loud cheering was heard without, and there
was a long pause of expectation, which was broken at last

as, leaning on the arm of a tall, fair young man, a venerable
lady came slowly up the church, and all rose and bowed
low as they recognised in the aged and feeble Queen the

careworn features of Marie Am- elie, the widow of Louis
Philippe. There was a feeling of emotion almost amount- '
ing to awe with which this queenly relic of a bygone age
and time, this living witness and actor amid events for which
we of this generation have to read history was regarded.
The young man who supported her tenderly as she advanced
up the church, bowing with queenly self-possession to the
reverences of those around, was the bridegroom, her
grandson, the Count de Paris. Though 26 years of age
he looks two or more years yOunger, which is perhaps
owing to his fair complexion and light flaxen hair. Cer-
tainly he would be counted fair even among Englishmen,
and his light moustache and open large blue eyes remind
one more of our own Royal family than the Prince of the
House of Orleans. Almost immediately following came the
bride. She was clad in pure white, a soft airy dress resem-
bling a bloom of white flowers, while the massive lace veil
which was over her bridal wreath was turned back from
her face and hung like a train behind. She moved with a
simple dignity that was inexpressibly charming, and her
fine delicate features at once reminded the spectator of the
profile of the Princess of Wales. It may have been that
the same manner of wearing the hair suggested this fanci-
ful idea of the strong resemblance, but the impression at
least seemed general, in spite of the young bride's dark
hair, Spanish eyes, and pale, delicate complexion, such as
is sometimes, though rarely, seen among the blondes of
Southern France.

The Duke and Duchess of Montpensier followed the
bride, with the Duke and Duchess de Chartres. Immedi-
ately on arriving at the altar, the Prince and Princess oc-
cupied the prie dieux, with the Queen-Mother sitting be-
hind her grandson, and the Duke and Duchess de Mont-
pensier sitting behind their daughter. Before commencing
the service, Bishop Grant, amid deep silence, addressed the
Prince and Princess, in French, in a speech, of which the
following is a literal translation :
"In blessing the solemn obligations which are about to
unite you at the foot of this altar, I cannot but dwell in
thought upon the many reasons which render this alliance
an event so happy for religion, for your exalted family, and
for yourselves. But I feel that I. am expressing your own
sentiments when 1 say you have admired in the history of
St. Louis how affectionately the pious and prudent Blanche
of Castile chose as the spouse of her son a young
Princess, who was attached to him, and who was worthy of
him by her birth, her talents, and her piety, You have
sought the same advantages in the alliance which you ask
God to consecrate in the presence of witnesses who are dear
and many, and you hope to perpetrate in yourselves the
example which you have learnt from such noble models by
giving to the world the spectacle of the same piety and of
the other Christian virtues. The representatives of tilt
most illustrious Courts of the earth, the faithful friends who
surround you, come to unite their cordial wishes to the
powerful prayers of the holy protectors whom you have in
Heaven, and whose names, venerated in the Church, you
bear. Well may they trust that their hopes will be ful-
filled, when they think how many petitions are offered that
Qod may be pleased to shower blessings upon you, and may