The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-30 00:00:00

No. 22,339.

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JANUARY 30, 1864.

Now ready at all the Libraries, in 3 vole.,

FOR EVER: A STORY OF ENGLISH
COUNTRY LIFE. By A CLERGYMAN.

WHERE CAN WE MEET AFTER THE
PANTOMIMES ? My dear Fellow, Gentlemen sup
at EVANS', Covent-garden.

at the side with two bunches of crysanthemums ; a mara-
bout feather very light, spotted with white bugles, is carried
across the front, and falls over the back hair.
The toilette de bal, an elegant wreath of night-shade in
various tints, and made of velvet, mounted on real wood ;
or Watteau wreaths composed of pouff of roses, with bou-
quets of myosotis, and bachelors' buttons. Also a head-
dress of apple blossoms, mixed With gold wheat ears.

Jules Favre on the Mexican Expedition,

"A well-written, interesting story. It will not fail to
secure a large share of public f,vour."—Observer.
Hurst and Blackett, 13, Great Marlborough-streat.

Daring the debate in the French Corps Legis-
latif on Wednesday, Mr. Jules Fevre delivered a
powerful speech against the policy of the Govern-
ment in Mexico. The following report contains
the principal passages :
I have always been of opinion that the Mexican
expedition would give rise to serious embarrass-
ments, and none of the facts since realised have
given ground for a different conclusion. I will not
revert to subjects already exhausted, nor inquire
whether we could or could not have avoided war in
1861 ; but I will beg the Government to reply dis-
tinctly to the following question :—ls it not true
that at the time when our Chargé d'Affairs in
Mexico was signalising the misdeeds of which our
countrymen had been the victims and invoking the
protection of France, an influence—that of the
Mexican emigrants who have taken refuge on the
French soil—was making itself felt in our policy ?
Is it not true that, taking their own dreams for
possibilities, they ennounced that on the mere ap-
pearance of our soldiers, an energetic reaction
would be produced in Mexico, by favour of which a
monarchy, akin to our own, might easily be raised
in the New World to propagate therein our prin-
ciples and our influence? A dream not entirely
devoid of grandeur, but still a dream! Well,
then it is not true that the French Government
placed these emigrants directly under our protectiot
so as to appear to transact business in their behalf ?
And not only did the French Government laud an
ear to these suggestions, but the Mexican emigrants,
before our intentions could be known in Europe-
had already opened communications with the Arch-.
duke Maximilian. I ask the Government if it wine,
aware of that fact ? It involves a serious respon-
sibility ; for it is to realise such projects as these
that the blood and treasure of France have been ex-
pended; (Adhesion from' home ' benches.) The
Government should also give us information illoout
the negotiations with the House of Austria. Has
the Austrian Government approved of these pro-
jects? for the responsibility of tbe French Govern-
ment at the point where these negotiations and
this protection, which we cannot now disavow with
honour, first commenced. (Applause.) Attempts
made by great States to effect radical changes in the
bosom of weaker ones are condemned by the law of
nations, and by all honest and impartial minds.
We saw in 1862 at the time of the debate
on the address what was taking place. We
foresaw real misfortunes arising from the
expedition that had been decided on ; we de-
manded that there should be no intervention in the
home affairs of Mexico, but simply a claim put in
for reparation of wrongs. It is my belief that many
of those who voted against our amendment in 1862
now see cause to regret that there has been a devia-
tion from, this simple policy. But in 1862 we ex-
pressed our distrust, and, we informed the Govern-
ment that certain rumours had reached us, leading
us to think that the question of an Austrian candi-
date was already on the tapir. (Dissent.) 'lf you
dispute this, hear the worda of the late M. Billault.
(Here the speaker read a passage from a speech of
that gentleman to the effect that a report having got
abroad that France was about to place a foreign
Prince 51p ,tthe Mexican throne, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs had contradicted the' same.) Is
this clear enough, gentlemen ? It is, in fact, certain
that this contradiction was sent to the English and
American envoys. And yet the negotiations had
been opened before the departure of our-troops—be-
fore the Convention of October, 1861. Li the official
document you will find the whole scheme. Take the
despatch addressed on Oct. 11,1861, by the Minister
of Foreign Affairs to our Ambassador iu London. I;
is said therein that the reparation of our wrongs can
alone form the object of an ostensible convention.
-O-stensible I Then there were conventions that were
not ostensible. The despatch adds that, in presence
of the American crisis, Europe might perhaps find
an advantageous opportunity for setting up in
Mexico a Government strong enough to resist in-
ternal dissolution. I should have nothing to say if
France were willing to respect the national will in
Mexico; but this will, in spite of official declara-
tions, has been, and is still, openly misconstrued.
And what have you found in Mexico ? Have you
found the country in the state described by the
emigrants ? The events of Puebla and the words
of bitter disappointment addressed by General
Lorencez to his allies are a sufficient answer. (Here
the hon. member gave a short recapitulation of the
events that followed the capture of Puebla.)
Coming to the formation of the Junta of M. Dubois
de Saligny, he continued as follows :—This Junta
consisted of thirty-five persons—twenty-two of
whom had been members of former Governments
overthrown by Juarez. Those thirty-five had the
charge of nominating 195 others; thus forming en
assembly of 230 persons. Now, can any serious
man have ever had a doubt about the vote of such
an assembly ? Its decision had been dictated
to it beforehand. And is it not an abject and
revolting spectacle to see 230 men with
no other mandate than the choice of a foreign gene-
ral, meeting together to make a parade of the mise-
ries of their country ? I hasten to withdraw my
eyes from the view. (Confused sensation.) The
Junta then chose the Archduke Maximilian. If
ever the archduke should come on the throne, I
hope he will be the model of princes; but certainly
he will have been the model of official candidates.
Thus we find this same Maximilian, not called to
the throne by the voice of the Mexican people, but
imposed on it by the special influence and volition
of France. France had occupied Mexico, and
French blood had been shed in streams. Let us
now look at the instructions given to Gen. Forey
at the time of his departure. His business was,
immediately after entering Mexico, to put himself
in communication with the notables of all shades,
and to come to an understanding with them about
the formation of a provisional Government, which
Government should afterwards consult the coun-
try as to the form to be given to a permanent
regime. Such were the instructions given.
Now the policy pursued has been widely diverge' t,
it has been the policy of a single party, whose
' object was the destruction of the Republic.
Several hon. members have based their arguments
on the unconditional acceptance of the archduke.
But he does not accept it without restriction. The
Mexican deputation, extremely well received in
Austria; it did not obtain the honour of a personal
interview with the Emperor. I have read in the
correspondence of journals that when the Emperor
was questioned about his approval of the installa-
tion of his brother, he replied, " If my brother chose
to retire into a monastery I could not prevent him ;
how then can I prevent him from going to Mexico ?"
The speech which the Archduke made to the Mexi-
can deputation has not had the honour of a repro-
duction in the Moniteur. He declared that hie
acceptances would depend on the vote of the coun-
try; and that he would not give it without solid
guarantees for the future. Now, I ask, where is
acceptance talked of? What are the guarantees
that you have given him? Where is the vote of
the Mexican people ? Until these preliminary
conditions are fusfilled France has no right to
continue the war. We can be no longer told of
our national griefs ; the reparation has been
already obtained. But let us endeavour to ascer-
tain the will of the Mexican people. We are told
that its adhesion is unanimous, and the Moniteur
assures us that there is reason to hope that in a
short time a very large portion of Mexico will have
, rallied to our flag. This is presuming rather too
much on the credulity of readers. The truth is,
that we are masters of the ground which is uncle:
the wheels of our guns and the feet of cur soldiers.
(Interruption.) We are told of triumphal marches,
of our soldiers being hailed everywhere as libera-
tors. All this may be true ; but I know that the
city of Guadalaxara resists, and that we shall per-
haps be obliged to lay siege to it. And if such

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1"--,e‘6e,cal,lat,z1.4efee,s,
VEWSPAPER
/4,,e irrf.c.c\>\
~v, see se
• -telatl4‘t.,./
Terrible Catastrophe in ChiAlK44-V-Fj,'N.
• 4'9
'st FL*.
(FROM A PRIVATE LETTER TO TH
SANTIAGO, 2e. fiCt.t ;:
A dreadful accident occurred in Santiege/ke then. s.
Bth inat., which has plunged the whole city, and in,
deed the whole country, into mourning-2,000
human beings, principally women, perished by fire
on that day, and were consumed in the short space
of a quarter of an hour, without receiving assistance
of any kind, or rather because it was out of the by-
standers' power to afford them any help.
The Bth of December is in Catholic countries a
great feast day, being the anniversary of the Puri-
sima Concepcion of the B.Virgin Mary. During the
previous month the Church de 1:-. C)rnpnnia, so •
called because it belonged formerly to the Jesuits
(Compania de Jesus), had been celebrating the
devotional practices said offices that correspond to
the Ales de Muria, a copy or imitation of what at
the same period of the year takes places in French
churches. The month ends on Dee. 8, or the F,ast
of the Conception of the Virgin, and on the evenng
of that day the church was to be illuminated and ,`
adorned with flowers and garlands with more ro-
fusion than on former evenings. I way mention
many who had visited this church on former occa-
sions had complained of the suffocation produced by -
the great agglomeration of people, and especially I
of the danger likely to be incurred by the great
number of lights on the principal altar, and indeed
all round the church, but it seems no measures were
taken to prevent a serious accident. The church was
capacious enough to contain, is my opinion, 3,.0(J0
women, packed as they are in these countries, sit-
ting and kneeling on the floor on their own hand-
carpets, which each lady carries with her. Th?sides
those who could accommodate themselves inside (fur
which purpose many took their seats outside the
church three hours before the doors were opened),
nearly 500 were left outside, sitting on the steps of
the church near the doors, and just close enough to
Lrti4rATsir%.,,pacli a few stray words front
p eaeher.
On the Bth, being a feast-day, the devotees wero
exceedingly numerous, although perhaps a great •
many ladies preferred going to the Alameda, or
Avenue of Poplars, which is the grand promenade ;
but on the other hand, all the servant girls in town
received permission to attend. The doors of the
church opened at 6 o'clock (or near that time); 'end ‘, I
the women took their places, each scrambling, as
usual, for the best;` or that nearest the pu!pit
and principal altar. The acholytes commenced •
lighting the lamps; unfortunately they were not '
' fed with oil, but with camphine, or as it is
called here, gas portatil. The principal image of
the Virgin, in the centre of the altar, was supported
by a fine half-moon or crescent of brilliant lamps.
On lighting these an accident took place (the de-
tails are not known or well investigated). The fire
communicated to the other surrounding lamps, to
the artificial flowers and garlands, candies, &c.
Either the people inside the church did not pare
ceive the fire, or the greater part thought it might
be easily extinguished (as on previous nights it was
not uncommon to see the acholytes blunderieg
in their task) or some may have thought it best to .
wait, and may have been unwilling to lose their
places. Meanwhile, the fire had extended to the
roof, which was of wood, and to the dome, also of
wood, and the spectators began to perceive the
danger they were in. Many left the church quietly, *
but in a few minutes the greatest confusion pre-
veiled. The 3,000 inmates of the church ran to the
doors. The building has three large doors in the
front, but only one—the centre one—was available.;
the others were always closed, and never made use
of. The two side doors of the church were elso
available ; but the chief number ran to the princi-
pal
or front door, and the side door that opens on
Bandera-street. The other side door opens on a 7%
small court, at the side of the new congrcisi a r
building yet unfinished.
About a third of the congregation, it appar2,
managed to run out and escape; but the rest Of
women fell upon each other at the very.aoors, amn,
instead of opening a passage to let others espu4„
formed a complete wedge, and the bodies remaind
locked together in rows one upon the other; tiese9 '
masses becoming every moment higher and
compact, and none being able to exirieete herSAttz
as she was fastened or caught hold of by a dcz:n
hands behind her. You can imagine the shrieks
and agonies of these poor creatures struggling f.r
life, and endeavouring to escape from the middle
of the church, where the fire had already taken pos-
session of the dome, and where the lamps and
chandeliers were falling. It is natural to suppe
that they must have fled to the bide na.ver•
placed themselves under the arches. But meAi-
while the fire advanced, and no outlet was to be
found. The doors were obstructed. Some few
passers by had given the alarm. Many flocked to
the Piazuela de la Compania, reached the doors,
and tried to pull the people out ; but it was impos-
sible; it required the strength of a steam engine to
move the compact mass of human beings locked
together. Some with outstretched arms beckoned
to those outside; others implored assistance, calling
the succourers by their names; others could hardly
speak, and only signified their wishes by a motion.
of their heads or lips. Some were suffocated with
the weight of those above and around them; others
were suffocated with the flames and smoke. These
who ventured to rescue them had to be brought or
pulled out by a dozen companions, more dead than
alive. All was confusion and alarm, the bystanders
tearing their hair and running about wild in the
streets without being able to afford the least assis.
tance. A man on horseback, a country guaso, threw
his laso (or rope of hide, which they always carry
attached to the saddle) into the church, and a thou-
sand hands tried to catch hold of it. Some did seize
it, and- were dragged out by the man and the
strength of the horse; but the second time the same
attempt was made the /aso gave way. A few moments
afterwards the bystanders saw the women inside in
flames. Their clothes had caught fire ; the fire had
reached their heads, and their hair was on fire. A
great flame came across the church; the doors and
other wooden parts took fire. The sufferers dropped
down their heads and arms without a shriek, and all
was silence. The church was a furnace, above and
below—the roof and the victims underneath. Never
was there such a spectacle, nor do I think history
can present a parallel.
When I reached the spot all the interior of the
church was a red flame. I only heard the cries and
wailing of the people in the square and streets ; the
running about of wild men, and the crash of the
dome falling in the midst of the ruins, A few
minutes afterwards the tower or spire, also of wood,
caught
afinrde ,
fell a
uni
stdhilfneiodtnirmopah:ihsqeeeduniveitteahorrtuttyeehrlreyeo
hrno:ef aa,:asked;
h ow rmwana
ys con-
sumed
vic-
timspsrw aaluazsl tsuci haveevahielaalsi no
8 zgri perished?''
as I
saw
calculatedhni so wife,
woman
that hi s sister,st
ohoe
every one
in
ceso:treets. Some thought 60 or 190 a great
figure, but during the evening the truth was to be
discovered. Few had escaped; a small number had
been brought out, half burnt and in a deplorable
state. As the fire burnt itself out—for here we
have, it is shameful to say, no fire- engines—the
bodies in the church began to be visible, as they
lay in horizontal strata, or in groups standing or
kneeling, in their last posture, as the fire bad
caught them ; the greater portion near the doors,
others under the arches, others under the great bell,
which had fallen on the group near the pziecipar
door_ The appalling idea then presented itself to
some persons that the dead numbered 500 or 600,
but next morning, when the bodies were removed
and counted, the first lot numbered 1,400, and still
many remained. According to the lists of people
missing which the papers publish, the victims out-
number 2,000. According to these lists the greater
portion—say two-thirds, are servants and people of
the humbler class; one-third at least belong to the
principal families of Santiago.
m eTnhdeo
uconsternation
spectacle
iseo
sgreat,
appalling,
ien blowg,
tAh
Tasotnoetthroiesf:
catastrophe passed at first like a•
Santiago that dogs
There is hardly a family in
r relative. Two
for
re
successiveliving slept
nightstha anfitgell3..t, nor cdorueldammany sleep
not mourn the loss of some lieu.
abigu3aor,ter ollon
hour,
aimilsoleiroes:
fhficpo;dorililis

PRICE ...... ...4d.
STAMPED ....sd.

military operations are still necessary, it can only be
because we are fighting against the cause of Mexi-
can nationality. Nor is it true, as has been asserted,
that all the centres of great populations are in our
favour. In the north and west there are other great
centres, and these still resist ; thus fresh campaigns
will be required, and we shall have to increase our
army to 50,600 or 60,000 men. It was well ob-
served yesterday that we could found nothing
durable in Mexico; and why is this? Because
we have built on the support of a detested
party, a miserable minority in the nation—
the party of Miramon and Marquez. Now, who
are these men? Miramon oiti,,,,the man who com-
manded Marquez to massacr prisoners of Tacu-
baya, amongst whom there :'.,r`fn English phy-
sician, and who waded to the throne through the
blood thus odiously shed Marquez •„pian who,
after numerous murders, was thro -1 ' • prison
for carrying off 600,000 piastres bel. , g to the
English Legation. And when such M: ...fire found
in our ranks, is there any reason to beipurprised
that the Mexican population should ;exist us ?
(Assent.) Certain sequestrations were made by
the French Government. They arose from the
nenessities of the situation. The moment the Pro-
visional Government was set up, reactionary
?retensions immediately manifested themselves.
Every man sought to gratify his own rapacity. We
resisted, and General Bazaine caused an ener-
getic communicated note to be inserted in the
journals. Then what occurred ? Two members of
the Provisional iovernment subteitted ; but the)
third, Mgr. Labstida, the archbishop, inserted
into the same journal a protestation against our
acts, as being a violation of the divine law.
And we were obliged to use cannon to open
the gates of the cathedral for our soldiers.
:hat is the way we re-establish order in
Ninic^a. Such a state of things cannot be prolonged.
'We take, however, special note of the declaration
of the French Government, that the solution is to
be pronounced in Mexico by universal suffrage. We
are told that there are 7,500,000 of souls. Let us
then remember this figure, and compare it with
the result of the vote. It is needless to add that the
voting should be entirely free and uninfluenced by
French authorities. Can it be true that the lessons
of history are always lost. Fifty years ago the
head of the powerful house which now reigns in
France had his Mexico also. He wished to level
the Pyrennees for the sake of a family alliance.
By a back-stroke of his hand he overturned the
Spanish throne ; then came the war, wherein the
heroic valour of our soldiers was pre-eminent, but
wherein all our victories were sterile. Thus did
the great captain see his legions sacrificed to an in-
terest which was not a French interest. But are we
safe at the present day ? We caa only be so on one
condition—that of keeping justice on our side, and
not rendering ourselves amenable, as in 1813, to the
charge of violating the right and falsifying the
promise of France. (Applause and sensation.)

The Metropolitan Board of Works.

The usual weekly meeting of the Board of Works
was held yesterday at the Board-rooms, Spring-
gardens—Mr. Thwaites in the chair.

The cash statement showed that the balance on
current accounts amounted to £84,549 19s 3d, and
on deposit account to £33,122 10s 9d ; the snm of
£96,729 8s 7d was invested in Government Secu-
rities.
THE PIICENIX GAS COMPANY.

Mr. TAYLOR introduced a deputation from the
inhabitants of Lambeth and Vauxhall, and presented
a memorial, praying the board to oppose in Parlia-
ment a bill promoted by the Phconit Gas Company,
for enabling the company to purchase land and con-
struct works, in tue line of the future extension of
the Southern Embankment. Mr. Taylor- observed

.

that if the proposed works were carried out it would
have a very injurious effect upon the health of the
inhabitants, particularly as large gas works already
existed.

A memorial was also presented from the vestry of
St. Mary, Lambeth, praying the board to oppose
the bill.

After some slight discussion, the memorials were
referred to the Thames Embankment Committee.

_.~ _~l

A report was brought up from the Main Drainage
Committe, recommending that the several articles of
antiquity discovered in carrying out the Main
Drainage works be handed over to the authorities
of the British Niuseum for deposit in that institu-
tion.

THE POWERS OF THE BOARD.

Mr. D'IFFANGER moved a resolution, that the
resolution of the board of Jan. 15, granting the ap-
plication of Mr. Jones, on behalf of Messrs. Mar-
shall and Snelgrove, for the approval by the board
of the line of frontage, for a building at the corner
of Marylebone-lane, Oxford-street, be rescinded.
He observed that the board had granted permission
to Messrs. Marshall and Snelgrove to build over five
feet of the public pavement, which was the pro-
perty of the vestry of Marylebone: The board had
granted that which they had no power to do, and
it was an infringement upon the privileges of the
vestry.

A report was read from the architect to the effect
that the proposed building would be a great im-
provement to the neighbourhood, and would not
interfere with the frontage.
After some discussion the resolution was
negatived.