The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-08 00:00:00

The " Situation,"

if necessary, be backed by efficient action. Unless
this demand be complied with, and unless the Ger-
man plenipotentiaries show themselves on Thurs-
day next more yielding than they appeared on
Monday, it is probable that the labours of the Con-
ference will be brought to an abrupt conclusion.
It is satisfactory to, reflect that the interval in
the negotiations will be usefully occupied by de-
bates in Parliament, which can now no longer be
postponed, By a variety of expedients, the Govern-
ment succeeded in suppressing discussion before
; Easter, and since then the Conference has come to
their assistance; but the country is impatient of
delay, and unless the regular organs of opposition
in Parliament be found ready, as we have every
reason to anticipate that they will, to perform their
constitutional duties, the indignation of the people
will find vent through other and unsuspected chan-
nels. Nothing could be more fatal to the influence
of Parliament than the neglect, at such a crisis as
the prabent, of its supreme functions as the autho-
rised interpreter of public opinion.

The Gun-cotton Explosion at Stowmarket,

The inquest on the body of Elizabeth Barnard,
:he second person whose death had 1).-en caused by
,he explosion at Messrs. Prentice's guncotton
'actor:7, was resumed on Monday morning at Stow-
market. Mr. F. B. Marriott, the coroner, stated
that the Secretary of State for War had instructed
a competent officer to inspect the works and give
evidence at the inquest. After several of the
workpeople had been re-examined Mr. Manning
Prentice stated that he had visited various scientifi3
gentlemen in London .to endeavour to ascertain the
cause of the explosion. Professor Tyndal, to
whom the knife used in cutting the cotton, with
its notches, was shown, at once expressed his
opinion that it arose from this knife coming in
contact with the copper wire employed in the
cotton which is cut. Mr. Prentice also read a series of
new regulations for the factory, prepared with
the concurrence of Mr. Abel, the chemist to the
War Department. Dr. William Allen Miller, Pro-
fessor of Chemistry at King's College, London, the
first scientific witness examined, said, Dr. Frank-
land and myself came down from Londo❑ on Satur-
day, and visited the Gun-cotton Factory, where we
saw the whole operation of the manufacture of the
cotton. We then proceeded to make experiments
on the ignition of gun-cotton by mechanical means,
particularly with the cutting machine. We made
a great number of experiments, our object being
to satisfy ourselves upon the conditions which

were likely to arise, and to ascertain the cause of
the explosion. We took pieces of copper wire
and placed them so that they should be cut
through, and endeavoured to ignite it in that way,
The copper was placed in various ways, sometimes
spirally and sometimes in the rope. and we also
tried to shave a piece off. We made 40 or 50 cuts
through the rope and the copper in various ways,
but did not succeed in firing the cotton in this way.
We put some small pieces of flint into the rope, and
cut it three or four times without any explosion,
but on the fourth or fifth cut the cotton exploded.
I think there can be very little doubt that the ex-
plosion was caused by the action of the knife either
upon copper or grit. lam not certain which, but I
think most probably copper. Dr. E. Frankland,
Professor of Chemistry at the Royal Institution,
London ; Dr. T. Richardson, technological chemist,
Newcastle-on-Tyne, and Professor of Chemistry et
Durham University ; and Mr. J, Scott Russell,
G.E., were then examined, and gave evidence
confirming that of Dr. Miller. The coroner said
that the public must feel that everything possible
had been done to investigate the cause of the explo-
sion, and that Messrs Prentice had done all in their
power to throw light on the matter. The evidence
of the scientific men was that the explosion was
produced by the knife corning in contact with the
copper wire or with a piece of grit; but they all
inclined to the opinion that it was with the wire
and not with the grit. He did not know that they
were called upon to decide which of the two it was,
so long as they were satisfied it was accidental ; and
it was clear that if the rules now arranged were
attended to there would he no deager of an explo-
sion in future. After a consultation of about three
quarters of an hour the jury found " That the said
Elizabeth Barnard died on the 29th day of May
last from injuries received by her clothes having
been accidentally set fire to by an explosion at
Messrs Prentice and Co.'s gun-cotton factory on the
24th day of May last. The jury wish to state that
they are entirely satisfied with the manner in which
the recommendation for a scientific inquiry has been
carried out,"

(From the Realm of To-day.)
There is every reason to anticipate that the
Danish Government will persist in its prudent oppo-
sition to the indefinite prolongation of the armistice
The German Powers for strategical, the English
Cabinet for parliamentary, purposes, are equally
desirous of gaining time. In a few months the sea-
son, which is advantageous to the Danes, will have
passed away; in a few weeks Parliament will be
disbanded; and when the summer is over Danmark
will once more be at the mercy of Germany, and
the guardianship of English interests and English
honour be entrusted to an uncontrolled and vir-
tually irresponsible executive. We frankly con-
fess that the prospect of further disaster to Den-
mark is not the apprehension which we have
principally in view when we express the
anxious hope that the design which the German
and English plenipotentiaries are pursuing
together may be speedily and finally frus-
trated. We are more concerned to perceive
that the peace of Europe cannot be considered secure
as long as a question so fertile in discord is allowed
to remain unsettled. But what touches us most
nearly is the reflection that,if the Ministerial tactics
attain their object, we may again be subjected to
the humiliation under which the country is still
smarting, and be condemned to witness another
aeries of threatening despatches, followed by vacile
lating conduct, and resulting in concession and
surrender. If the peace of Europe requires that the
Danish question should no longer be left in suspense,
it is no less indispensable to the honour and dignity
of England, that the opportunity should immediately
be given to Parliament, undieturlr d by current
negotiations, to review the foreign policy of Her
Majesty's Government, and to determine whether
we are still to be represented before the world by
men whose acts and language are so little in corres-
pondence with the generous spirit of our country.
It is because we believe that it will have
the effect of hastening a solution, that we
congratulate the country upon the animated
debate which unexpectedly arose in the House
of Commons on Monday night. No one can
reproach the Opposition with a want of forbearance,
and Mr. Disraeli's demand for information is as
little open to the charge of being excessive as it is
to that of being premature, Mr. Kinglake, al-
though too anxious to serve the German cause to
subject the Government to inconvenient interpella-
tions, fully eckno wiedged the force of Mr. Disraeli's
position, that the reserve of the House of Commons
was dependent upon the fidelity of Ministers to the
basis of their negotiations. Even according to Mr.
Kinglake, a change in that basis ought to be com-
municated to Parliament in order that it may have
the opportunity of expressing its unaltered confi-
dence in the Government, or its disapprobation of
their new policy.
If we be rightly informed, the Danish pleni•
potentiaries have adroitly availed themselves
of the opening afforded by the English proposi-
tion to place the Government in an embarrass-
ing dilemma. They have, it appears, agreed
to accept the proposed boundary of the Schlei, on
the condition that England should make its accept-
ance by Germany an ultimatum. Although in our
own opinion the Government should have adhered
to a system of non-intervention, which would have
made such a demand impossible, it cannot be denied
that, after all that has been written and said by her
Majesty's Ministry on the Schleswig-Holstein
question, Denmark has a right to expect that the
arbitration of so great a country as England should,

SUN OFFICE, HALF-PAST 4 O'CLOCK.

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.—This Day,

ASCOT RACES—This DAY.
(BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.)
VISITORS' PLATE.

Jessie
Oldmirister
Privateer
3

Ten ran.

CORONATION STAKES.

Breeze
Auricula -
Rouge Crosse

Six ran.

ROYAL HUNT CUP.

Gem of the Sea
2
3

Crisis
Evelina
Thirty-four ran.
Gem of the Sea objected to for crossing Crisis at the side
of the course, preventing him getting up.
' ASCOT DERBY STAKES.

Peon
CaNett colt
Alpheus

Four ran.

HUNT CUP —Taje scratched.

THIRD EDITION

SUN OFFICE, SEVEN O'CLOCK.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT

HOUSE OF COMMONS--This Day,
The SPEAKER took the chair at 12 o'clock.
PRIVATE BUSINESS.

The following bills were read a third time and passed
Charing-cross Railway—Londonderry Improvement—
Somerset and Dorset Railway (Cheddar Valley and
Yatton)—Somerset and Dorset Railway (Extension to
Shepton Mallet)—Stamford and Essendine Railway—
Weald of Kent Railway—Worcester, Bromyard, and Leo-
minster Railway.

The following bills were read a second time :—Bem-
bridge Railway, Tramway, and Pier— Fleetwood Docks—
Herne Bay, Hampton, and Recluver Fishery—Newquay
and Cornwall Junction Railway—Redruth and Falmouth
Junction Railway.

LONDON DOCKS, ST. KATHARINE DOCK, AND
VICTORIA DOCK AMALGAMATION BILL.

On the motion for the second reading of this bill,
Mr. LOCKE moved that the bill be read that day six
months.
Mr. LAYARD seconded the motion.
Sir M. PETO supported the bill.

After a short discussion, the amendment was withdrawn
on the underbtanding that the Board of Trade should look
closely into and deal with the clauses of the bill,

GAOLS BILL.

Sir G. GREY said he should postpone the second read-
ing of the bill which stood for to-morrow until this day
week.

INTOXICATING LIQUORS BILL.

A large number of petitions having been presented in
favour of the bill,
Mr LAWSON moved its second reading. The object of
the measure, which is commonly known as the "Permis-
sive Bill," is to enable any parish, on the approval of the
proposition of a majority of ratepayers, to prevent the sale
of intoxicating liquors during Sunday, by entirely closing
the public .house for fourand-twenty hours.
Capt. JERVIS rose to move that the bill be read a second
time this day six months. He had been five years against
his will in the States of America where the sale of intoxicat-
ing liquors was prohibited, and he knew that drunken-
ness had increased there. A man there, instead of going to
a bar to take his glass, went down into a cellar, where he
got drunk and was kept there, because if he came up and
was seen, the seller would be fined as well as the drinker.
Amongst the higher classes people were obliged to close their
shutters before they brought their wine on the table,
(Laughter.)
Mr ROEBUCK said that during the many years he had
been in Parliament, he had never heard submitted a more
mischievous bill. He did not mince the matter at all.
(Laughter.) By this bill it was proposed that the House
of Commons should abdicate its functions. In the next
place the bill would sow dissension in every parish in Eng-
land, and by the time it came into full operation England
would be no place for a peaceable person to live in. His next
objection to the bill was that it was eminently an unjust
bill and directed entirely against the poor. It was a most
crud bill. He had great faith in the intentions of the per-
sons who brought forward their bill, but none in their in-
tellect—(hear, hear)—and regarded it as mere idle talk on
a bill which it was well known could not pass. It West-
minster, under this bill, put this bill in operation, would
that extend to the refreshment room of the House of Com-
mons ? Would it have the effect of preventing the in-
troduction of intoxicating liquors into that house
Could anything be more foolish than that ? (Laughter.)
This was a bill directed against the poor; for the rich, who
could lay in a stock of such things as they wanted, would
not be in the slightest degree affected by it. As between
the magistrates and the municipal Authorities he preferred
the magistrates, although he readily admitted that the

question was well worthy of consideration.
Mr MAR TIN opposed the bill on the ground that it
would lead to smuggling, and to worse evils than those
which at present existed.
Mr SCOURFIELD thought the bill would give wide-
spread annoyance.
Sir G. GREY opposed the bill, on the ground that it

would give an intolerable tyranny to the majority. With
regard to an increase in the number of convictions, it was no
proof of the increase of drunkenness, as by the refreshment
houses a new class of offences had been created. He thought
the evil might to a great extent be prevented, if there were
a better administration of the law in the metropolitan
districts. At present a marl might be convicted two
or three times, and yet was able to transfer the license. He
thought that in such a case the house should be closed for
at least two years.

Mr. BUXTON considered that great improvements had
taken place in the habits of the working classes. In that
improvement he considered all reforms rested.
Mr. HUMBERSTONE opposed the bill.
Mr. IV. FORSTER sympathised with temperance prin-
ciples, but he could not vote for the bill. He could not
think it right to transfer the power of granting licenses from
the magistrates to town councils, although he thought the
inhabitants should have some voice in the number of
licensed houses there should be. He hoped that early next
session a bill would be brought forward by the Govern-
ment for putting the drinking houses of the country under
some general system. (Hear, hear.)
Mr HENLEY said the duty of granting licenses was a
very unpleasant duty devolving upon magistrates. The
difficulty they felt was not with regard to public houses,
but with regard to beer houses, on the establishment of
which he thought there ought to be some restraint. He
believed that if this bill passed the people of a parish on
which an interdict was placed would go out of the parish
and people would drink twice as much. He opposed the
bill because it was unjust, and because he believed it would
be wholly inoperative.

Mr PEASE had hoped that the Government would have
been induced to support the bill after the multitude of
petitions that had been presented.
The house then divided, when there appeared--
For the amendment
Against it .35
Majority against the bill ....... -257
The bill was consequently lost.
VALUATION OF LANDS AND HERITAGES
(SCOTLAND) ACT AMENDMENT BILL.
This bill, which was proposed for second reading was in
parliamentary language " talked out" at a quarter to six. ,
RAILWAY COMPANIES POWERS BILL.

This bill was read a third time and passed.
The house adjourned at 5 minutes to 6.

A SPECIMEN OF THE GRAPHIC STYLE OF
TACITUS ;—Galba was hurried to and fro with every
movement of the surging crowd ; the halls and temples all
around were thronged with spectators of this dismal sight.
Not a voice was heard from the people or even from the
rabble. Everywhere were terror-stricken countenances,
and ears turned to catch every sound. It was a scene
neither of agitation nor of repose, but there reigned the
silence of profound alarm and profound indignation. Otho,
however, was told that they were arming the mob. He
ordered his men to hurry on at full speed, and to anticipate
the danger. Then did these Roman soldiers rush forward
like men who had to drive some Vologeses or Pam us from
the ancestral throne of the Arsacidx, not as though they
were hastening to murder their aged and defenceless Em-
peror. In all the terror of their arms, and at the full speed
of their horses, they burst into the Forum, thrusting aside
the crowd and trampling on the Senate. Neither the sight
of the Capitol, nor the sanctity of the overhanging temples,
nor the thought of rulers past or future, could deter them
from committing a crime, which any one succeeding to
power must avenge.
The Gazetts;de France states that the weekly
journal La Paroisse has just been again seized for having,
in an article entitled " Bref Pontifical de Lyon," discusssd
juridically the note by which the Monaco interdicted the
publication of that brief. The Discussion of yesterday was
also seized at the poet-office by order of the Minister of the
Interior.

PARIS.—A public dinner, at Which the advocates
for the abolition of the punishment of death proposed to
meet yesterday, was interdicted by the police,

SECOND EDITION.