The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-19 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, AUGUST 19, 1864.

Out of two childish and senseless absurdities
two populous towns—sae in France, the other in
Ireland—are now suffering very lamentably. A
rocket fired into the air during the imperial demon-
strations on Monday evening (the Fete NAPOLEON)
at Limoges, has resulted there in a fearfully destruc-
tive conflagration. A big doll paraded through the
streets of Belfast bythe local Orangemen—after wards
burnt as a sort of GUY FAUX representative of the
Liberator—the ashes of it being eventually, with
an indecent mockery, no less of Death than of the
Great Dead, whose memory was thus nnprovokedly
held up as a mark of public abhorrence and derision
in the very land where that memory of DANIEL
O'CONNELL is, not undeservedly, revered and be-
loved ! This senseless playing with a big doll in the
streets of Belfast, we say, has led—thanks to the
savage stupidity of the originators of that counter
demonstration to the Great O'CONNELL Demon.
stration in Dublin—:o the delivering up of
the Town of Belfast, now for nearly one whole fort-
night, into the hands of lawless rioters. Viewing
the latter occurrence as dispassionately as possible
from this side of St. George's Channel, it seems to
us to be only a matter of simple justice that
we should recall to mind a fact already beginning
to be in a great measure lost sight of ! Namely, the
fact as tothe side upon which these riotings in Belfast
began. It requires only to be mentioned thus quite
plainly to insure its revival, upon the instant here
in England, in the popular recollection. The rioting
then it is bat right and fair that we should recall this
to mind—the rioting began, yonder in Belfast, dis-
tinctly, solely, and exclusively on the side of the
Orangemen. In the midst of their fcolishvagarieswith
that absurd lay figure of O'CONNELL the Belfast
disturbances commenced with the flourishing of
bludgeons, the flinging of stones and brickbats, the
smashing of windows, the attacking and the sacking
of a Nunnery. The occasion for all this, or rather,
the plea far it all, being—a counter demonstration !
A Counter Demonstration at Belfast to the gigantic
and: perfectly peaceable Demonstration known to be
then (simultaneously) taking place in Dublin—.
where at the very centre of the grandest street of all
in the Irish Capital, the foundation stone of a Na-
tional Memorial to O'CONNELL was being laid,
not precipitately or irritatingly, but calmly
and deliberately, after the great Tribune's
remains had been reposing for nearly eighteen
years in his grave at Glasneven. Eighteen years t
It was time that a monument to O'CONNELL—their
Liberator—should be raised by the Irish people in
the very centre of their metropolis, as a memorial,
not of his name, for that in its mere historical
greatness is certainly /Ere perennius, but as a
memorial of their love, gratitude, and admiration.
After waiting so long, before thus obtruding their re-
gard for O'CoNNELL's memory upon the attention of
those who had no respect for it, on the contrary, the
very reverse—the Roman Catholic people of Ireland
could hardly be reprehended in this matter of
an O'CONNELL monument, and by necessity also
(in laying the foundation stone of it) an O'CON-
NELL Demonstration—the Roman Catholic people
of Ireland, it is bat fair to say this, could hardly
in this matter be reprehended for anything like
officiousness, or precipitation. It was but reason-
able, indeed, that the men who had been liberated
by O'CONNELL—as not only the Irish
Catholics, but all the other Roman Catholics
throughout the length and breadth of the British
Empire had hien liberated by O'CONNELL—it was
but reasonable that those whom O'CONNELL had
liberated, should, at length, very tardily, after
this precise fashion, namely, by raising a great
public Monument, a National Memorial in
his honour, evidence their appreciation of 'tam
as their Liberator. How their
procee'llns went,
in so doing—g
e.t last, after so many years had elapsed
since the death of O'CONNELL—we know. The de-
monstration
marked the laying the foundatie
atone of this O'coNNe_L
Memorial in Dub''
in two ways; exceptionally grand air-
ing demonvrati.ins of any ki,
place there in the Iri-'

..01 was,
-.ln all preced-
-.1 that had ever taken
..41 capital,
It WAS thus doubly
,inong all the demonstrations that had
taken place there in Dablin, because it was
the vastest that had ever been witnessed there, and
because, while it was the vastest demonstration, it
was a demonstration unmarked from beginning to
end by one single accident to life or limb, to person
or property, nay, by any the smallest disturbance
whatsoever. It was while this grand, and peaceful,
and perfectly reasonable demonstration was taking
place in Dublin, that the ill adrieed Orangemen of

exceptioral

eve"

&Jest allowed their animosity to O'CONNELL'S
memory to lead them so far in their carrying out
of a counter-demonstration, that—in lighting the
bat,fire th at roasted the effigy of the Liberator,

they may be said to have kindled their own
passions beyond control, thereby igniting a
conflagration more lamentable and more dis-
astrous of its kind than that which has just
reduced two hundred houses to ashes at Limoges.
Whosoever it was among the Orangemen of Belfast
who first set on foot that ridiculous counter demon-
stration—which distinctly gave the signal for all this
rioting in Belfast by smashing the windows of pri-
vate dwellinghousee, molesting foot-passengers, and
wrecking a nunnery—whosoever among the Belfast
Orangemen led the way in those first day's
proceedings —is the firebrand that kindled
those evil passions on both sides, which have since
been raging so disastrously, there in Belfast, for
nearly one whole tortnight—passions that threaten
to spread riot and bloodshed from Belfast to Dun-
dalk, and from Dundalk far and wide through those
north-eastern parts of Ireland.

The progress of cotton cultivation in different
parts of the world still continues to excite consider•
able interest, and indeed it can hardly fail to do so
while the necessities of the population are so much
affected by it. All classes have more or less suffered
from the extravagant price and inferior quality of
cotton fabrics, and, like a friend, who makes his
value felt by his absence, cotton has taught us how
useful and übiquitous it is by our constant need of
it now that it is difficult to get, and of doubtful
quality when obtained. The poorer classes more
especially have had cause to lament the American
War, not only as regarding Lancashire, bat as put-
ting the common commodities of household economy
almost beyond the reach of heads of families. There
is little doubt, however, that what has caused such
wide distress will in the end be productive of large
and lasting good. Besides the stimulus given to
Indian trade, which has borne it through the first
difficulties, many countries with idle or ill-employed
land have turned their attention to this profitable
cultivation, In several parts of Africa there are
promising indications of a thriving trade, which, if
it should realise the expectations formed of it, may
prove of the greatest service to that country, and
may even serve eventually as a check upon the slave
trade by raising the value of negro labour at home.
The Executive Committee of the Cotton Supply
Association, which has done such good service in
encouraging experiments in cultivation, lately re-
ceived a letter from Durban, Natal, enclosing two
fine samples of Sealsland cotton, valued respectively
at four and five shillings the pound, This kind of
cotton, which is one' of the finest sorts, succeeds
well, and is said to be better adapted to the climate
than any other. The weather in that part has been
unfavourable, being very stormy, but the planters
were not discouraged. • Cotton in Barbary is de-
scribed as thriving, and the Moors have taken up
the notion with great energy. They are sowing
cotton in quantities, and seed had been in great
request. The West Indies are fortunately well
adapted to the growth of cotton, as might be sup •
posed from their geographical position. Shan't
they be able to open a good trade in this quarter it
will go far towards restoring their long lost
prosperity.

From Jamaica samples have been received, valued
as high as 33d. and 34d. per pound. From the go.
vernor of Antigua a fine sample, grown from New
Orleans seed, has been received, with a despatch
stating that it had been grown under unfavourable
circumstances, as from the period of planting to
that of picking—three months—no rain whatever
had fallen. Die Governor is very anxious that the

cotton cultivation should have a fair trial in this

island, as there are many estates now lying waste
which might be turned to profitable account. From
Berbice and St. 'Thomas there are favourable ac-
counts, while in Ceylon an individual has made au
experiment with so much success that he has made
application for seed sufficient to plant 50 acres. Li
the Navigator Islands the attempt to sow cotton
is also being made with a fair prospect of success.
But the cultivation is not everywhere prosperous,
and the Association chronicles with equal fidelity
the efforts which fail and which answer. In Madeira
it has proved a decided failure; a plot of ten acres
being in one instance planted three times without
any result. One speculator had been more fortunate
in his first attempts, but subsequently his crop en-
tirely failed, so that experienced men are of
opinion that it will not do to try cotton
in Madeira. This affords a curious contrast
to soma other localities not, one would think,
so very dissimilar. It is evident that cotton
does not require the same elements of strength and
health as human beings, seeming to flourish best in
the least salubrious places. In the West Indies, as
we have seen, it is thriving, while, on " fair
Madeira's vine crowned hills of health," as MONT-
GOMERY styles them, it absolutely refuses to grow.
In South America it bids fair to become of some
importance. From Peru accounts have been re-
ceived which are very encouraging, and the
Peruvian plants stand the sun so well that they are
well adapted for introduction into Southern India,
where, if properly watered, they are more remune,
rative than the indigenous variety. The produce
is of flue quality ranking next to Sea Island. They
have been extensively grown in the districts of
Kistua and South Arcot, where the yield has been
at the rate of 560 lbs of clean cotton per tawny,
which is equal to an acre and a quarter. The
plant shoot out fresh blossoms before one crop is
fully gathered, At Nellore it has been found that
the yield of cotton (from New Orleans seed) is at
the rate of 150 lbs per acre, but w here irrigation
is employed, once in eight days, it is 250 lbs.
In several parts of Africa, as we have said, the
cultivation is thriving; and, indeed, in many places
it already grown in some quantities by the natives.
The Governor of the Gambia gives some valuable
information acquired by Staff Assistant.Sargeon
HARVEY, on his route to the Upper River, when he
saw large inclosures with fair crops of cotton. Af
Medina, the capital of Woolli, the people t-'
that they could bring plenty of cow-
wanted. Dr. HARVEY sucee. '

,dlcl him
-a to market it

..atd in negotiating a
for the friendshir
treaty with the King oft
,foolli, who is very anxious
so that tr- - , and trade of English merchants,
establ; —wets may now with perfect safety
..sti depots throughout the King's dominions.
.eurth er north, on the same continent, things are
more advanced, for 'we learn from Alexandria that
money is in great demand, owing to the large sums
rent into the interior for advances on the new
seLP:an's cotton crop, which some persons value at
£25,000,000. Should these anticipations be even
partially realised, Egyptian cotton will have a
beneficial effect upon the English market, and help
to brighten still further the improving prospects
of Lancashire.

It is much to be regretted that the prejudices en-
tertained against transportation to Western 'Aus-
tralis should still remain in full force in many quar-
ters, for until more general views are held on the
matter it seems very difficult to decide what is to be
done with our convicts. Still, while persons sup-
posed to be acquainted with the details, and ap-
parently interested in the bearings o the question,
will persist in making so many objections to the
scheme, it ie AU awkward thing for the Home Go-

verement to deal with than so as to do justice to
the whole of the parties concerned. It is of ima
mense importance to the convicts themselves that
they should be sent to that State, for there they can
begin a new life, as it were, when they have worked
out their sentences. It adds greatly to the vexation
of the affair that the objections which are so plen-
tifully put in against this proposal are not of a
tenable nature, but almost always the result of pre-
judice and the consequence of looking at the ques
tion in a one-sided manner. However, it is well
known that imaginary fears are often more difficult
to overcome than well-grounded apprehensions, and
therefore it will not lessen the regrets of those who
rend and hear of the many obstacles interposed to
know that experience would prove the fellacy of the
inisaical arguments. The Royal commission which
recently investigated the subject of penal servitude
were greatly in favour of this plan of sending con-
victs to Western Australia, but their recommenda-
tions have shared the same fate that usually attends
such advice, and it is greatly to be deplored that
such should be the case. In a letter which has been
addessed to the limes by the late Chief Justice of
South Australia this subject is taken up again: the
various points are discussed with great moderation,
but still the writer is dead against the proposal. It
is rather curious to notice some of the points which
he argues upon, for they seem to contradict them-
selves in a great measure, In the first place, he
admits that many of the places that now object to
the introduction of convicts among them were
originally penal settlements, and that the convict
labour and the capital of the Government expendi-
ture were the beginning of the great wealth which
they now enjoy. It would seem rather strange,
then, that Western Australia should be deprived of
all these advantages because the old colonists have
discovered that they do not like to have
convicts sent oat. It cannot be true that
the same evils attend their dispersion in
those distant colonies that are inseparable from
their being sent forth here to mingle in our crowded
cities with their old associates, and resume their
bad ways. his impossible to have the same checks
interposed upon them here as naturally arise out
there, and the judgment which condemns the trans-
mission of convicts is an erroneous one in itself, and
productive of great and serious evils to many. Why
shoatd it be so mucla worse for the colonists to have
hundreds of these men whose sentences have ex-
pired among them than for us at home to have them
constantly about us. It is a cruel determination on
the part of the protesting colonists, and one that is
not likely to do them any credit in the long run,
when the full consequences it involves are taken
into consideration. All that tends to lessen the
spead of evil, and decrease the chances of se-convic-
tion by old offenders, should be gladly hailed as a
boon by all wellwishers of their kind, and it is dis-
heartening to witness the predominance of such
selfishness, and the exhibition of so much prejudice
among those who have gained their advantages in
many instances from the very plan which they now
so bitterly inveigh against. It is some satisfaction
to know that in this country the system of penal
servitude will be carried on very differently from
what it has been, so that if we are forced to keep
these unfortunate outcasts among us there will not
be the same risk that there has hitherto been in the
arrangements. The circular letter addressed by
Sir GEORGE GREY to the judges is a proof of the
improvements that have already been effected, and
doubtless, as time goes on, additions will be made
to the reforms already instituted in this respect.
Some of the most striking of the changes and altera-
tions that have been made exemplify the full im-
portance of the subject, and there is great reason
to rejJice that so much should have been done to
deter the devotees of crime from the prosecution of
their iniquitous purposes. The short sentences that
have done so much harm are now done away with,
and five years is the least term that can be assigned
for the duration of imprisonment. This regulation
is a very desirable one, since it must increase the
too
terrors of the law that have of late years been
much divested o' their deterring a'.eributes. The
more stringent measures to be 'aenceforth adopted
in respect to tickets-of-lea-sd are also highly to be
applauded, and strict
Attention to the rules enjoined
will moat likely be attended with a desirable issue,
as here states? the consequence of these arrangements
will be twat " nothing is left to accident or caprice,
but the punishment inflicted is precisely that which
was intended." The mode of granting "remissions',
will be changed in a great degree, and it will not in
future be so easy for a convict to become poasessed
of this advantage as it has hitherto been ; steady
and laborious industry as well as general good con-
duct will now be requisite towards the obtaining of
the desired end. 'lbis will interpose a salutary
check to the course of deceit practised by those
supposed to be the mos`, hopeful, and put them to a
test which they cannot easily evade. It is especially
desirable that a decided clause should have been
passed in respect to life sentences, so that 'glean
once a convict has received this extreme !sentence it
should be adhered to, and nothing except "the
mercy of the CROWN, on special grounds," should
be allowed to alter its coules, or put a period to its
duration. Altogether it must be considered that
the changes mentioned are most suitable and satin.
factory ties,
and the benefit that will accrue to
f
society from the introduction of these salutary
changes in our system of prison discipline and
coarse of penal servitude are most likely to be great.
It was certainly time that something was done to
improve the existing state of things, and it is well
that such decided steps have b ten taken.

AN ENGLISH LADY'S CARICATURE OF PARISIAN
FRENCHMEN.-1 was very fond of walking in the
Bois do Boulogne, Parisian Madame is very great there.
Dressed within an inch of her life, she haughtily survey-
from her carriage the humble pedestrian, I /0-e tho pcaranee of Madame.—l saw many fan—
mightily—piquant faces, with 1- -.A w"1.1:41 Walled roe
lips, and pert little nc' eyes, clear eking, full
cannot speak sn of no particular architecture. I
..courably of Parisian Monsieur ; he is an
get)- animal ; he is fat, stumpy, and badly putto-
....er ; he has short, sunk features, and a sallow dirty
I skin. The hat he wears does not improve him. 11
cut close, after the fashion of the enforced coiffure of her
Majesty's gaols, is not becoming\ Re shaves off his whis-
kers and a livid blue mark meanders over his fat cheeks.
The nape of his neck is thick and red, and his cloudy.
shaven head reveals it in all its hideousness, Ido not like
Parisian Mosso° ;he is rude and ill-bred. is hair
poltiesse
Franccnse exiite p(ms—it must have been one of the ear-
liest victims of the Revolution.—. London Society. ,
THE NEW CATHOLIC CHAPEL AT LEAMINGTON.
•-Ihe ceremony of consecrating the new Roman
Catholic chapel at Leamington was commenced on Wed-
nesday morning, by the bishop, Dr. Ullathrone, assisted by
the Rev. G. Jeffries, vicar-general, and about eight or nine
clergy. The walla of the chapel were first sprinkled, out-
side and inside, with holy water, and afterwards the altar
was consecrated. There was a Maltese cross in the nave,
upon the two shafts of which the bishop wrote the letters
of the Greek and Latin alphabet, signifying the union of
Greek, barbarian, and different nations in the one fold of
Christ. The celebration of Mass brought the ceremony to
a close about eleven o'clock. The chapel, which stands
upon a large and eligible plot of land, in Dormer-place,
opposite to the Royal Pump Room GArdens is said to be
one of the finest of any of the Catholic chapels within the
circuit of the midland district. It has been erected by Mr.
W. G. Gascoyne, builder, of Leamington, from the designs
of Mr. Chitton, New Burlington-street, London.
" LORD DUNDREART" AND " BROTHER SAM" IN
1.11.13 LAICZ DISTRICT.—Under this heading we recently
inserted a paragraph which has, we regret to hear, caused
some annoyance to Mr Clifford (the manager of the Kass
wick Theutre), a gentleman who holds a respectable position
in his profession, and who is deservedly esteemed in the
Lake district. Our correspondent who furnished us with
this information in good fatal Wad unwittingly made parti-
cipator in a foolish hoer,