The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-01 00:00:00

THE SUN. LONDON TUESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 1, 1863.

LONDON, TUESDAY, DEC. 1, 1863.

The appointment of Sir JOHN LAWRENCE to fill
the vacant office of Governor-General of India will
gl7e very general satisfaction. The reported death
°E the gifted and revered Earl of ELGIN has called
forth one unanimous expression of public regret,
and mingled
with that regret has been a keen
anxiety as
to the judicious appointment of his suc-
cessor.
No aPPointment in the hands of the British
Government is '
s° Important as that of the Governor-
General of India. The extent of his jurisdiction is
so enormous, the
weight of his responsibilities is
Eo onerous, and the distance between his viceroyalty
and the mother country iS so extreme that no help
from without, no counsel ffrogthe Home Govern-
ment can avail in anyeinergency. The Governor-
General must act on his own Tesponsibility and rely
his own resources, T"-st
upon
matter the "right man"
all others, be
should, above chosen for that
peculiar post is therefore a
of paramount
importance to
the well-being of that
great
the British SCi'VEREIGN is
empire over which
called to rule. To make a wise
4'4'l Popular
selection at the present moment must have been
re..
,s Government as mask of
garded by her MAJESTY
peculiar difficulty ancrdelicacy, the affairs of India
having of recent years assum ed a position of Pecu-
liar and vital importance, and the Governor-General,
whose vacant place they were called upon to fill,
being a man soyery generally esteemed and admired,
and so admirably well qualified for his position—in
making their selection, the Government have von-
tured upon a glorious innovation of established pre-
cedent. They have veal lured to ignore what Mr.
THACKERAY Calls "The British Bible"—they have
nut consulted the pages of the " Peerage,' but they
have chosen for this responsible position a man whose
best title to the distinction is his fitness for the post.
Sir JOIIN LAWRENCE has already won golden
opinions from the British public for his heroic
dcfenee of the Panjaub. We 'believe that Sir
J°ll-3 LAWRENCE dues possess those high qualities
which aro likely to render him the worthy successor
~111050 soldiers and statesmen so emphatically
and elefintntly enutastated by the late Lord
StßANoroaD

‘: And after Hastings still tLero came, a great and glorious
line

Of Proconsul on Proconsul to tend his Yah design ;
of Counsellors and Heroes whose fame shall live for aye,-,
with
As t
saYhee' " Wellesley of A. 1.), sore, and the Wollesley of

Conspicuous in that momentous list of cur Indian
:I‘,I,LENBOROUGH
chieftains are the recent namesmoufs
and ELGIN. Their example
potent auord a cordial
encouragement and a
atinnthis to the
e;crtions and ambition of their new
etiecessor
Lit him remember, that Peac© Can Conte:
glory as grwit as any achieved in war. That
the prudent Counsellor, the Wise Administrator,

the equitable J edge and the merciful Ruler
may effect more real good in his genera.
tion and acquire a, more lasting renown
in future times than any to be acquired
amid the din of arms. The great Soldier of mo-
dern times, whose sword carved his pathway to a
throne, did not rest his hopes of fame on his military
achievements. " I shall go down to posterity,"
said NAPOLEON, " with the Code in my hand."
We congratulate Sir JOHN LAWRENCE on
his appointment, not so much for the high
honour which it confers upon his name as for the
golden opportunity which it opens to his hand.

The report of the progress ofthelad
to rtahselrshriagra;
Irriga-
tion Company, given by the chairman
holders at the November meeting is, notwithstand-
ing the delays and contingencies inseparable from a
great undertaking, far from unsatisfactory. It is
true that comparatively little has been done in the
last half-year, owing to the prevalence of the rains
which naturally interrupt the works, but progress
is being made notwithstanding. The canals and
aqueducts are going on favourably on the whole,
although the shareholders cannot derive much pro-
fit, from the fact that it will be necessary for the
canal to be completed before the full amount of
traffic to be expected passes along it_ The
principal difficulty in their way is the
scarcity of labour a difficulty which is
rather singular in a country so thickly
populated. The chairman remarked that he
expected this statement would cause great sur-
prise, but there was, he said, a strong prejudice in
India in favour of emigrating in search of labour.
We may reasonably conclude, however, that this
evil will be considerably modified in course of time,
as not only is the Government taking steps in the
matter, bat it can hardly be doubted that when
the Coolies comprehend that constant work and
good wages are within reach of their own door they
will be less eager to start on journeys of speculation
elsewhere. It is to be hoped that the company will not
ocly give fair wages, but see that they are properly
paid, and that an undue proportion does not remain
the hands of the intervening native agents. The
system of contract labour, which has been tried,
has proved unsatisfactory, and the company have
reverted to the old system of day labour, em-
ploying from 16,000 to 17,000 men and women.
It appears probable that they are in want of effi-
cient and honest managers on the spot—men who
are accustomed to deal with the natives, and to
guard against their tricks and inconsistencies. The 111
matter is one of great public interest, and of na-
tional importance to India, where disease and
famine will always be frequent visitors, until the
water supply is regulated, and cheap, easy,
and certain means of internal communication
secured. The progress of the works of
irrigation in Madras will, therefore, be
watched with interest here, while in the presidency
itself they must naturally excite a good deal of at-
tention. Madras has never been celebrated for its
salubrity, but people are begining to discover that
the great wonder-worker—fresh air and pure water
—are powerful agencies everywhere, and that it is
not exactly fair to build on marshy ground, use a
scant supply of impure water, provide very limited
means of ventilation, and then grumble at the un-
healthiness of the climate. This is very much what
we have been doing all through India, and many
are the valuable lives that have fallen sacrifices to
the reckless defiance of all sanitary laws. Officials,
like others, are now awaking to the truth, as well
they may, for they themselves furnish a goodly
band of victims, and the Chairman of the Company
we have been speaking of congratulated the share-
holders on the fact that their scheme was now re-
ceiving fairplay from the home authorities, as well
as from the Madras Government. Judging from
the immense results that have followed the partial
opening of the Godavery works, there can be little
question that whatever difficulties or delays may
impede their present progress, the members of
Indian irrigation companies will reap a rich reward
for their labours, as well as the satisfaction of for-
warding works of great and lasting public benefit.

Mr. SPENCE'S remarks on the independence of
the South are well worthy of attention. The ques-
tion was one of such paramount importance, and
concerned such vital interests of the community,
that at any rate some consequence must have been

imparted to the speech. But Mr. SPENCE was so
earnest and eloquent that he could not fail to im-
press the assembly with his address. There was
great truth in many of his observations, and more
than one argument which he adduced appears in-
controvertible. For instance, at the Declaration of
Independence of the United States it was decreed
that, if the Government failed to produce certain
ends, the people had a right to alter or abolish
it, and institute a new Government. From this
Mr. SrENcE correctly affirmed that the South had
a right to secede. He said it was absurd to declare
that there was a right to abolish a Government
without seceding from it ; that it was as absurd" as
to say that if you differ from a man you have a right
to destroy him, but have no right to leave his com-
pany." It is sometimes very useful to put a case
forcibly by way of illustration ; and the extraordi-
nary mistakes that are made by would-be reformers
and social vindicators of the rights of man, are often
quite as inconsistent with the fundamental prin-
ciples of independence, and interfere as much with
the exercise of freedom, as any of the dogmas of ab-
solutism and the doctrines of tyranny. So far, Mr.
SPENCE proved his case with great perspicuity ;
and, notwithstanding some interruptions, the gene•
ral audience were attentive, and appeared to be im-
pressed with the force of his remarks. It is at all

times desirable that great public questions should
he mooted, and brought before the public in all
their bearings, so that the mind of the people can
embrace at once the arguments pro and con., and
decide and ,
determine for themselves as to the value
of this
'suggestion or the validity of that proposal.
This til__.oof
altogether tr . Southern independence has not
have been eeetved the notice it deserves. People
:ve7:eady to declaim agaiust slavery
without con
that this is not the real ques-
tion at issue ; ;3,eitu as g
the right of one part of the
Union to withdrew to
r cede, it is not calmly con-
sidered, but only fiercely alluded to in angry
fancied that the
de-
bates, or sneeringly adverted
philosophers of progress, who
to by disappointed
h
Utopia of the world's long
desires
in the flourishing whose fresh republic, W was to bo found
and fervid
youth had electrified the nations, and
'whose green
old ago far distant generations would
revere, y
re-
spect, and admire. As to the subject of
slaver
itself, as it actually exists, 'Mr. PENCE showed that
it was greatly misunderstood and misrepresented.
South
they was not invented by the people of the gooth-...
they did not originate it; on the contrary, it was
the people of this country who had taken the
negroes from Africa and planted the slavery there.
There is some sense in this statement, and it would
be well if those who are excriin2. the'ruselves in de •
crying the evils of the system took oca.Bion to re-
member that the last generation witnessed the error
in our own possessions, and witnessed the crimes
they shudder at rife among their own countrymen.
It is wise to turn from the excitement of the present
spheres of discussion and now and then to contem-
plate them from afar, as ":-LL :*4:') cairn and shady

regions of the past. Nothing can excuse slavery ;
it is a disgrace and a degradation to humanity; but
nothing great waswellacn
mayieve declaim,dinthi
this world by
Demagoguesprecipitancy. and agi-
tators may stir up revolts, but the solid and lasting
change must take time for its working out. There
' is no greater mistake than to introduce a startling
change with undue rapidity—in fact, it often
does more harm than leaving things alone for a
time. Mr. SPENCE very truly said that there could
be no " emancipation that would benefit the negro
without the co-operation and by the act of the
Southerners themselves." This is strictly founded
on fact ; all else would create confusion worse con-
founded, and give rise to far greater and more
fearful evils than those at present existing. The
gradual infusion of influeLee, the spread of the
refining impressions of civilisation, will do more
real and lasting work towards the great achieve.
ment of emancipation than all the violence of
public speakers, and all the vaunted efficacy
of spurious proclamations. Mr. SPENCE put
the question well, when he asked the assembly if
they thought we should ever have agreed to eman-
cipation if the people of France had invaded us to
make us to do so. There is consistency in every-
thing, and the very notion of anything approach-
ing to intimidation naturally rouses the just in-
dignation, and provokes the wrath of a nation.
Mr. SPENCE concluded his address by an earnest
expression of hope that this country would do
something in this great point at issue. Truly did
he say that it was not by doing nothing that we
became what we are, and " that it was our duty
upon an American question not to follow but to
lead." This a subject well deserving reflection, for
it concerns our reputation, as one of the foremost
powers of the world, not to be always left behind
in the regulation of great questions, and the dis-
cussion of important interests. It was not always
so in the history of this land. " Not thus we
gained an empire where never sets the sun." The
annals of our race record many a stirring scene in
which England was the arbiter of the destinies of
other nations ; but now all we dare to do is to
fold our hands, and leave things to take
their course. It is a deplorable calamity to
witness such strife and slaughter among the descen-
dants of the Anglo-Saxon race. We are intimately
connected with them, and old associations should
have their way, even among the arid ways, and
through the unsympathetic labyrinths of politics.
As Mr. SPENCE observed, " the blessing of peace
can only endure on one basis, and that is the lode-
pence of the South." At least, if we must not aid
in any way this desirable solution of this difficulty,
let us not add to the suffering which now presses
so heavily on thousands, by attempting to deny
that this is the sober reality and the undisputable
fact.

A very interesting ceremony took place on Satur-
day last in the old historic Hall at Westminster. It
was in honour of that Volunteer movement which
has been so remarkable a feature of our times, and
the selection of the spot was by no means inappro-
priate as an illustration of the readiness with which
Englishmen muster to the defence of their old
strongholds of law and liberty. The occasion was
the presentation of prizes to those successful mem-
bers of the London Scottish Rifles who had distin-
guished themselves at the various rifle meetings of
the year, and the distribution was rendered espe-
cially interesting, from the fact of the prizes being
given away by Lady ELcHo, the wife of the noble
Colonel of the Corps. Her ladyship, in a brief
address to the members, congratulated them on
having made considerable progress, as shown by
the shooting returns. In comparing the numbers
with those of last year, it seems that there were this
season 249 men who fired in their classes against
154 last year; 151 who fired the three periods
against 71; and 50 marksmen against half that
number in 1862. Further, two of the members
appeared in the lists for the Queen's Prize, and one
was fortunate enough to secure that given in honour
of the-Royal Bride. Her ladyship, however, told
them they must not rest satisfied until they had
gained the highest point of honour—the Queen's
Prize. The number of efficients in the Corps has
nearly doubled, having been last year only 180, and
now 322. Such statistics afford satisfactory evidence
that there is no flagging of the Volunteer spirit
among us, and that the work so eagerly begun is
not likely to droop for want of perseverance and
energy.

Foreign Musical and Theatrical Intelligence.

A new oratorio, " The Eternal Country," by Herr Kuster,
has been performed at Berlin, without much success.
Madame Grisi has been appearing in her favourite part
of Norma at La Pergola Theatre, Florence. A new teaor,
Signor Limberti, is said to be successful at Rome. Madame
Borghi-Mamo has reappeared at the Italian Opera at Paris,
where Madame Meric Lablache has made her debut : also
Signor Sterbini, a new baritone, and Signor Baragli.
" Rigoletto' is to be given in French at the Theatre
Lyrique.

Signor Piatti is to play at the next of M. Pasdeloup's
Popular Concerts in Paris.

M. Janin writes in favourable phrases on " Les Indif-
ftlrens," a four-act comedy by M. Belot, which has been
produced at the Theatrelde l'Odiion, Paris. After a long
absence from the stage, Madame Docile is playing with M.
Melingue, in " Benvenuto Cellini," at the Porte St. Martin
Theatre. The Countess Batthyany-Apraxin has made
what may be called a probationary appearance, as Phedro,
at the Theatre des Jeunes Artistes; This is said to have
fulfilled expectation, which was raised very high. She will
possibly, it is added, appear in a new "Attila," translated
from the Hungarian of M. Dobsa by Mdlle. Jeanne Wohl.
—Athomum,

CAPTAIN SIIAW.—Her Majesty the Queen visited
yesterday afternoon the Dowager Duchess of
Sutherland, at Stafford House, and kindly inquired after
Captain Shaw, the chief of the Fire Brigade, who is but
slowly recovering from the effects of the accident he re-
cently met with at a fire. Mr. Hewitt, who is attending on
the dowager duchess, was instructed to make known to
Captain Shaw (on whom he is also attending profession-
ally) her Majesty's kind inquiry.
COLOURS OF THE STARS.—If the stars be observed
on a clear night, it will be seen that they shine with
different colours, Tho most noticeable hues are red, white,
and yellow ; no stars exhibit a distinct blue or green colour,
though Some have a bluish or greenish tinge. In our
Northern latitudes, where the air is scarcely ever free from
haze and vapour, this diversity of colouring is not, perhaps,
very striking ; but in Southern climes, and especially in
inland regions, where the air is less humid, the effect is far
greater : the whole vault of heaven seems set with sparkling
gems. The difference of tint we have mentioned, is per-
ceptible to the naked eye, in our clime, only among stars of
the first and second magnitudes. Even among these
observers differ slightly The ancients noted
some of these brighter stars, and we thus learn the remark-
able fact that their colours are not unchangeable. Sirius
was celebrated in the writings of the ancients as a bright
red star ;it is now decidedly white. Other changes have
been noted, and some of these have occurred within a com-
paratively short time Among the stars either
altogether unseen, or but faintly visible, to the naked eye,
the telescope reveals the same diversity of colouring, Many
of these stars, indeed, are found to be coloured in a more
marked manner than these we have hitheri:o mentioned.
Stars are found shining with a scarlet, blood red, brilliant
orange, or deep yellow colour. Still, however, no stars of a
deep blue or green tint occur singly. Thus far, then, the
telescope has merely extended the range of our view, with.
out disclosing appearances difleriag in any important respect
Not only do
and secondary colours,
ofo:iflithese already observed. When, however, a telescope
ti I cicnt power is directed miccessively to double or mul-
P e stars, we soon notice new and singular phenomena.
we find every shade and tint of the primary
forming a binary': and such hues as grey, fawn, and
sh-colour, but w
notice that in many eases the stars
Struve has observefl Salter°. are of complementary colours.
cioutied this is the case in upwards of ono
systems• In triple and multiple
systems, similar arrangeraent„
hundred of the
of
a total
acsotlo:eaerke noticed.—rec/klise
C'oriikill for 'december.
WRECK'S.—Daring the
have been reported, maliing
for the present year
of 2,257.

LATEST MTELLIGENCE.

(fiEUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AUSTRIA.

VIENNA, DEC. 1.

The Obergespans, chiefs of the public admini-
stration of Croatia, who have met here, have resolved
that Croatia shall send deputies to the Council of
the Empire, provided that the February constitu-
tion be modified in a manner guaranteeing to the
Croats the maintenance of their autonomy, the in-
tegrity of their territory, and the disposal of the
direct taxes and revenue of Croatia.

THE HOLSTEIN QUESTION.
BERLIN, DEC. 1.

A despatch of Earl Russell on the Schleswig-
Holstein question, dated Nov. 23, to Sir Andrew
Buchanan, English Ambassador at Berlin, has been
published.

This despatch perfectly coincides with Earl
Russell's despatch to Sir Alexander Mallet.

FRANCE.

PARIS, DEc. 1.

The 2loniteur of this morning says :—" The
Government is entirely unconnected with the
pamphlet, entitled " Napoleon 111., et Lo Con-
gres," to which several papers have alluded."

A decree ,has been published suspending the
Progies, a Lyons paper, for two months, on account
of the summary it has given of the proceedings in
the Corps Legislatif.

BOURSE, Nov. 30.—The market continues heavy
and the business done shows a decline, Threes, for
the present Account, are now at 66f. 75c. Rail-
way shares rather offered. The market closed as
follows

41 per Cents. 94 40
Do. end month
3 per Cents
Do. end month 66 65
Credit Mobilier 1035
Do. end month 1037 50
Bank Shares 3360
Credit k oncier 1220
Roman —

Italian Loan 7l 45
Do. end month —
New ditto
Do. end month....
Russiau
Austrian
Spanish Threes,,~
Home Debt
Deferred
PAYE.
Cash. Account.
961 25 .. 965
955 .. 960

BAIL

Orleans ...
Northern ....
New ditto .... ..
Lyons and Mediturranean 942 50 .. 920
New ditto
Geneva..
498 75 ..
Southern ...... 670 .. 672 50
Western
Eastern
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard
North of Spain
Saragossa .. 610 .. 612 50
Ditto to Barcelona .... 305 .. 302 50

Brazilian Government, therefore, has tot rejected
the mediation which has been offered. It has
simply submitted to the consideration of the Portu-
guese Government the seasons which would pre-
vent its immediate acceptance.