The Sun.
London, England, 1864-12-22 00:00:00

OPINIONS OF VIE PRESS.

"Mr. Eskell, dental-surgeon, has succeeded in producing
artificial teeth, and so constructing them that they last their
purpose a lifetime. . . . The process has been patented,
and promises to be most valuable."—Court Journal, August
4, 1860. _ _

"A surpr,sing novelty in the adaptation of artificial teeth
othe gum by a patented principle, which secures the most
perfect aid, combined with the greatest ease and agreeable
appearance."—Morning Advertiser, August 9, 1860.
Decayed teeth stopped, &c. Terms strictly moderate.
8, Grosvenor-street, Bond-street.

BUS IN ES SE S.-Mr. ANDREW HIND'S
NOVEMBER LIST,
Containing 500 Businesses, Premises, Partnerships, &c.,
Gratis.
Letters, enclose stamp.—Particulars entered free.
OFFICES-CORNER OF LITTLE CARTER-LANE, ST. PAUL'S.

TEIGNMOUT H, Devon.—Mr. ANDREW
HIND has received instructions to SELL a Gentle-
man's RESIDENCE, with grounds of about 3 acres. The
house is pleasantly situate; contains dining, two drawing-
rooms, nine bed-rooms, three dressing-rooms, library, house-
keeper's room and offices, conservatory, garden, three-stall
stable, two coach-houses, &c. It stands on high ground, and
the views from it are gooi. Distance trom the sea about a
mile. Price £2,6oo.—Particulars and cards to view at the
City Central Estate Offices, corner of Little Carter-lane, St.
Paul's.

rill PERSONS SEEKING LANDED
SATES, TOWN AND COUNTRY RE 3IDENCES.
PREF HOLD AND LEASE EIOL D INVESTMANTS, AND
PROPER VIES GENERALLY—
To BE HAD GRATIS, at the principal Railway Bookstalls
throughout the kingdom, or at the Auction and Estate Offices,
No. 67, Chancery-lane, London, Messrs. E. and TI. Lumley's
"FREE PROPERTY REGISTER," containing a varied selection
of landed and house properties now in the market, from
the nobleman's mansion, with its manorial domain, to the
cottage with its few acres.
OWNERS OFtPROPERTIES wishing to Sell or Let can em-
brace the oppot unity that the medium of .this Register
affords, by sending the particulars of their properties to the
Estate Offices, 67, Chancery-lane, London, as the Messrs.
Lumley can in most cases introduce immediate customers
where the property is of an eligible character, thereby avoid-
ing the disadvantages of delay and its attendant incon-
veniences.
THERE IS NO CHARGE incurred, unless a tenant or pur-
chaser is introduced through Messrs. Lumley's Agency,
%ad then only the usual moderate commission.
AnetiOn and Land Offices, 67, Chancery-lane, London.

The Spanish Ministerial Crisis

MADRID, Dec 17.

The Madrid press discuss the present Ministerial
crisis at great length, and from various points of
view, according to their political opinions.
The Contopporaneo points out the necessity for an
immediate settlement of the great questions of Fi.
nance, San Voningo, and Peru. These demand great
energy and decision on the part of the Government,
and the examination, the intellig(nce, and concur•
rence of the re presentatives of the nation. The
Government should possess the confidence of the
majority in the new Cortes unless it intends a dis-
solution. This the Contenzporaneo considers an im-
mense risk, in view of the present grave state of
things. To delay the settlement of the pending
questions would create a fresh complication, a fresh
difficulty, and another rock ahead.
The Contenzporaneo eulogises the Narvaez Cabi-
net for entertaining the views above expressed, and
says :

" We joyfully hail the proposal attributed to the
Narvaez Ministry of bringing before the Chambers
the settlement of all these matters. It is necessary
to act with energetic activity in settling questions
involving the national honour, as in Peru, and quese
tions in which the national interests aricomprised,
as in &An Domingo. Postponement can only aug-
ment the gravity of the silt nation, and this some.
times reaches a point in which anything is less
perilous than immobility."
The Progreso Constitutional views the crisis pro-
duced by the resignation of Narvaez as due to the
want of system and unconstitutional tendencies of the
successive Administrations, and believes that what-
ever Ministry may be constituted, will, like the last
and its predecessors, be Condemned, through its want
of principles, to complete impotence. Rends bysaying
that it is not sufficient for the Ministry in power to
have a fixed policy, but that this policy should re-
spond to the aspirations of the age, and seek in
public opinion the support necessary to govern.
The Epoca of to-day says :
"Several journals speak of a long political Cone
ference held by her Majesty with the Duke of
Tetuan after Senor Isturitz had undertaken the for-
mation of a new Ministry. We have no authentic
i ntelligence on this point. It was said in political
circles yesterday that the Queen summoned the
Dukes of Tetuan and Valencia to the Palace to re.
quest their support for a cabinet of conciliation
under Senor Isturitz. It is added that General
O'Donnell, speaking on the San Domingo question,
said to the Queen that if the Government con-
sidered his services necessary in that island he
should be perfectly ready to put himself at the
expeditionary army. Many persons state that the
Duke de la Torre has voluntarily promised to go to
San Domingo should a Government of the Liberal
Union party resolve to continue the war.'"
The Regeneration publishes the followiu g
"We have well-founded reasons for believing
that what has been said respecting the action of
England is false. It appears that it is not certain
that the British Government has resolved to meg.
nice the San Domingo insurgents as belligerents.
The despatches making this account were fabricated
in Madrid. All this, therefore, has been a miser-
able farce to intimidate us."
The Epoca, in reproducing the above paragraph,

says:—
" We cannot comprehend how such imputations
can be made without entire certainty. That the
official telegraphic despatch was received in Madrid
we know positively. Our colleague should consider,
therefore, whether it is conduct in harmony with
the principles he professes thus to impute procetd-
iugs meriting the severest punishment, and of which
the persons concerned in the matter are, from their
position, incapable."

The Prussian Army.

BEELIN, Dec. 19.
At the grand dinner given yesterday evening in
the Palace his Majesty made the folio wing spot ch :
" A twofold festivity unites us to-day. I have
welcomed portions of my glorious army upon their

return to their homes, and we all celebrate the con

elusion of peace. Endurance and valour have bound
victory to our colours—victory which we have

achieved in union with the brave troops of my illus

rioas ally his Majesty the Emperor of Austria. Al

years.

Austria has to-day brought humble thanks to the
God of battles and the bestower of peace. My grati-
tude is also due to the highest Generals as well as
the lowest soldiers, for their sagacious leadership

and heroic conduct. I have ecia9l thanks to return
to the conductors of my Government, who have
achieved most honourable results in their especial

sphere. The people have assisted my undertakings
with patriotic devotion and readiness to make sacri-
fices. With these sentiments of gratitude I raise
to the welfare of my valiant
marymygl,aa which and
emptyhasit conquered peace for the country,
il 29th Juneob last,
to the welfare of Prussia."
Field-Marshal Count von Wrangel then proposed
" The health of the King?.
The following is the statute issued by the King,
instituting a military cross to celebrate the capture
' of the Island of Alsen ;—..
‘, We, William, by God's grace King of Prussia,
&c., have determined, as already stated in our order
of the 18th October last, to grant to the warriors
who took part in the glorious deed of arms on the
29
of the memorable crossing to the
i n dof
y
Alssten, and there helped to achieve the
victory
which the island was conquered, a dis-
tinction exclusively destined for them, in proof of
our recognition of their valiant conduct; for this
purpose we have instituted the ' Allen Cross,' and
order, in reference thereto, as follows :--
1' 1. The Alsen Cross is to consist of a cross of
4 wreath of laurel upon both
the centre of the obverse is
sides
iuedlreli osrwoo
yfbari
lot
sn
izai
kre ,mebearing
as. In
eßs,with the inscription, ' Wilhelm
(William, King of Prussia).
The
is
the Koenigsymbolte
boat carrying a flag, on which
II:ron Cross and an eagle hover-
re vonrs
reverse
d Preussen' eultsah ay
eesn
hover-
ing ov,r the flag. Upon the arms of the cross is the
inscription, ' Alsen, 29th June, 1864:
" 2. This distinction will be worn upon the breast
_ _

in two forms : either appended to a blue watered
ribbon with two orange stripes and a black and
white border, or hanging from an orange water rib-
bon with one blue stripe and the black and white
border. It takes rank after the inland Prussian
orders, with reference to military or general dig.
tinctions, behind the Duppel Storm Cross, and
before the medals.
3. The following will receive the Alsen Cross
with the blue watered ribbon, and two orange stripes
and blank and white border :—The commander-in-
chief of the allied army, and the general in com-
mand of the first combined army corps, with all
generals and officers upon their respective staffs on
duty during the engagement upon the 29th June
last; all officers and men whoecrossed the Alsen
Sound in the execution of their duty on the 29th
June last until the close of the engagement upon the
island that day; officers aid men of the batteries
and corps who covered the crossing with their fire;
all combatant officers and men engaged in the
direction, manning, and service of the boats used for
the crossing on the 29th June.
"The following persons will receive the Alsen
Cross, with the orange watered ribbon, with one
blue stripe and tho black acd white border :—All
surgeons, chaplains, and other non-combatants at-
tached to the troops in !action upon the 29th June,
or otherwise present in the execution of their duty.
Individuals under punishment upon the day of the
crossing for offences against military honour, or
who have since become liable to the same, are ex-
cluded from the distribution of the cross.
" 4. The regulations in operation as to the for-
feiture of orders and honorary distinctions apply
also to the Alsen Gloss.
" 5. Upon the decease of s moon holding the

Alsen Cross the distinction is to be preserved in
the parish to which the deceased has belonged in
the same manner as is prescribed for the war medal
of 181346, and the Duppel Storm Cross.
" 6. A certificate of possession will be made out,
according to the form approved by us, and delivered
to the person entitled to hold the cross. We reserve
to ourselves the execution of this certificate for
generals and staff officers, while the certificates of
possession for the other holders shall be made out
by General Herwarth von Bittenfeld, at that time
commanding the Ist combined army corps.
"Given under our hand and royal seal at Berlin,
this 7th December, 1864,

(Signed) " WILLIAM."
Countersigned by all the Ministers.

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, Wednesday Morning.

Lord Wodehouse assisted yesterday at an interesting
ceremony often presided over by his gifted predecessor, who
took an affectionate interest in the noble institution in
which it takes place, I allude to the distrilftion of the
Crimean Banquet Fund prizes to the
.boys of the Royal
Hibernian School. These prizes are awarded out of the
interest of a residue of the money subscribed in 1856 for
the banquet which was given in this city to the troops who
returned here from the Crimean war. They vary in value
from 30s to £B, and about £3O is thus annually expended.
They are not given for literary excellence alone; the winners
must be proficient in soma industrial arts—such as car-
pentry, tailorini, shoemaking, &e. ; they aro required to
possess a fair knowledge of gunnery, and it is indispensable
that they be. bold swimmers and agile gymnaste. The suc-
cessful competitors only receive certificates of the prizes"
which are delivered to them in public, usually by the Lord
Lieutenant ; but the money is invested for them until they
attain their majority. The honour of obtaining oneof these
prizes is highly coveted, and the competition for them is very
keen, while their distribution is a fete for the whole school.
The ceremony took place as usual in the large dining-hall
of the school, which 'was most tastefully decorated with
banners, military trophies, garlands and mottoes. A little
crape in various places amongst the graceful traceries and
festoons brought to mind him who had presided in the hall
on many grand occasions, but who has passed away to
another world. The arms of the lamented Earl of Car-
lisle, emblazoned on a black ground, were placed in a corner,
and in other corners were those of the Lord Lieutenant
and Sir Robert Peel. The Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress,
General Sir G. Brown, and a great number of military
officers and distinguished citizens, with their ladies, were
present. The Lord Lieutenant arrived at half-past one
o'clock, at which hour the royal standard was hoisted on
the flagstaff in front of the parade. His Excellency
was received at the door by the Commandant, Colonel
Wynyard, Major Speedy, the Rev. W. H. Neville, General
Sir George Brown, Col. Lake, and Col. M'Kenzie. The
viceregal party approached the dining hall through the west
corridor, each side of which was lined by former pupils of
the school, now quartered in Dublin, who formed a brilliant
guard of honour. There were amongst them, in full dress,
Dragoons, Lancers, Hussars, Riflemen, Artillerymen, High-
landers, Royal Engineers, and others, about 50 in number.
His excellency was conducted to the platform by Major
Speedy, the band of'the 8 it h Regiment playing the National
Anthem, When his excellency had taken his seat, the Com-
mandant read the annual report of the school, from which

it appeared that the date of the last return of tioldiers, for-
merly boys here, there were serving in the Queen's army,
in different parts of her Majesty's dominions, 318 of all ranks
(17 more than last year, when the number was greater than
any hitherto recorded), of whom there were eight officers,
five bandmasters, three sergeants-major, 13 enlisted school.
masters, four quartermaster-sergeants, three troop ser-
geant-majors, 12 colour-sergeants, seven trumpet or drum -
majors, 33 sergeants, 69 non-commissioned offi3ers of other
grades, and 670 musicians, drummers, gunners, sappers,
and privates. No less than 215 officers and men who had
been brought up in this school served in the Crimea during
the war. The successful competitors were then brought up
to his excellency, who presented each with the certificate Of
his prize. They were—First class: first prize, £B, Robert
Martin Pascoe, aged 14 1-12th years ; second prize, £6,
David Allan, aged 13 9-12th Tars. Second class: first
prize, Li, Robt. John Dunne, aged 14 5.12 th years; seond
prizs, £l, John Thom ,s Hughes, aged 12 8 12th years.
Third class : first Ariz 3, £3, Thos. Newton, aged 12 6.12: h
years ; second prize, £2 10s, Joseph Cowley, aged 12 4-12th

Lord Wodehouse then addressed the assembled company
as follows :—Sir George Brown, Col. Wynyard, ladies and
gentlemen,—lt is my pleas:tog duty to say a few worde upon
:his oece.ren to the boys who are here aee,oarieled,• but, in
the first place, I must allude to tue loss wnich has been
feeling:y touched upon by your Commandant, Colonel
Wynyard. I mean the lamented death of your late presi-
dent. Many of you here must have been accustomed to
hear the tones of his voice—the tones of that kindly and
affectionate eloquence which always moved and instructed
his audience. I will say to the boys whom I see here that
they cannot take a better example than the example of the
late Lord iarlisle, and they may see in the universal hon-
our and respect which is shown to his memory the reward
which follows every upright, disinterested, honest exertion
in the service of the public, and that is proved in whatever
station of life—whether it be the highest or whether it be
the lowest—a man may be placed. To those who have to-
day attained Lhe honourable distinction of receiving the
prizes from the Crimean Fund, I will say let this be an in-
citement to them to go on in the career they have so well
begun. To those who have not succeeded I will say let
them not despair, but remember that those who persevere
will often win the prize even from those who are more for-
ward at first. There is no lesson that is more necessary to
learn than this, not to be discouraged but to persevere, and
be sure that the reward will come at last. You may depend
upon it—and it is proved in every station of life—that some
attain early distinction, while others have minds that ripen
but slowly, and attain that distinction afterwards ; and if
you just use the opportunities that are given to you here
well and wisely, even though you may not immediately meet
with the success you seem to deserve by your exertions,you
will find the time come when the knowledge and the good
habits of industry you have acquired will stand you in good
stead, and:you will obtain the distinction which you rightly
covet. I have, had the opportunity, under the guidance of
your colonel commandant, of going round this establish-
ment. I did so upon a day when yob were not engaged in
your usual studies, and I am glad I did so, because it gave
me an opportunity of quietly inspecting the buildings and
arrangements here. I can say that they aro, on the whole,
exceedingly well suited to the requirements of the school,
and I would be unjust if I did not bear testimony to the
evident strong desire which exists on the part of all those
who are placed over you to do their u'most to consult the
efficiency and comfort, and the good arrangements, of the
school. With such a desire and such a kindly feeling on
the part of those placed over you, I am not surprised to find
there is on your part that kindly feeling which should exist
between superior's and those placed under them ; and I do
congratulate the commandant of the school that that feeling
exists, which is perhaps the best foundation for efficiency
and progress. Upon any occasion I shall be happy to come
to the school, and see you engaged in your studies and your
work ; and I trust you will find that, although I will not
be able to equal my predecessor, for it would be difficult to
do so, and lay that foundation for securing your affectionate
feelings, yet I shall not be behind in taking a warm interest
in an institution which has always borne a high character,
which has ever been most valuable to the army, and which
is conducted in a manner that does credit to its boys,
and to those placed over them. I beg to return thanks for
the kind expressions used to myself by your commandant,
and to say, in concluding, that it will always give me great
pleasure to attend on these occasions, or any other occasions
where I can be of use or give encouragement to the school.
(Loud applause.)
Some musical performances brought the proceedings to a
close.
Mr Pierce Creagh, a member of the Irish bar, publicly
denies the truth of an incident which the compiler of the
annals in a popular work introduces into the history of his
family—namely, that Michael Creagh, in the year 1688,
absconded with the golden chain called the collar of SS,
presented by King Charles 11. to the mayors of Dublin.
Mr Creagh, in establishing the honesty of his progenitor,
mentions many interesting facts :—" The Corporation of
Dublin was," he says, "by the King's selection, composed
of the gentry of the greatest mark and consequence amongst
the English pale. They were associated partly for the pur-
pose of increasing the royal influence in the metropolis, and
partly for the protection of the citizens and for the encou-
ragement of trade. In AD. 1688 King James 11. held a
Parliament in Dublin, and appointed a commissL,n to ap-
plot and levy £20,000 per month throughout Ireland. For
the city and county of Dublin he appointed the then Lord
Mayor, Celcnel Sir Michael Creagh, and the then High
Sheriff, Christopher Palles, and Luttrell, the governor of
the city. Sir Michael Creagb, at his own expense, raised a
regiment for the service of the King. In that regiment
the sheriff, Christopher Palles, was a captain; they both,
with that regiment, fought throughout the entire of the
Williamite wars, including the blockade of Derry, the en-
gagement against Schomberg's army at Dundalk, and the
battle of the Boyne, and they continued in the service to
the last of the war. Sir Michael Creagh was M.P. for
Dublin, and was one of the field officers of King James's
army, and was also paymaster-general of the forces in Ire-
land. lie sent the gold chain to the mist to be coined into
money to assist in paying his royal master's troops, just as
the English republicans had used the great seal, Sir Michael
Creagh was attainted with the Williamite party in 1891,
and fied to France, and hie estates and property in the

county and city of Dublin were sold to Warneford and
Ormsby. That distinguished officer, Colonel jasper Creagh,
at present in Ireland, is, I believe, a descendant of Sir
Michael Creagh. Sir Michael's brother, my ancestor, had
large tracts of land in Clare, but he escaped forfeiture by
having had the benefit of the articles of Limerick. Cap-
tain Christopher Palles and his brother Andrew were also
attainted, and thereby lost large possessions in Dublin and
Cavan. Christopher Palles, of Mounijoy-square, the
eminent barrister, is the lineal descendant of the above-
mentioned sheriffs, Captain C. Palles. For the above
historical facts I refer to D'Alton's Army List, vol. 1, p. 33,
and vol. 2, pp. 651-652, and to the several histories of the
IVillismite wars. I, therefore, hope that Mr Thom will
erase the libel which bas crept into his book against the
memory of a brave and loyal officer. King William gave
the present m,yor's chain to the corporation in lieu of that
which had been melted at the mint."

Mr Pierce Creagh, singular enough, at the moment he
is engaged in thus relieving the memory of one of his ances-
tors from an unmerited reproach, is an applicant in Chan-

cery for a writ de lunatico inquirindo to inquire into the state
of mind of his first cousin, Mr Cornelius Creagh, who is
possessed of landed property in the county of Clare worth
£3,500 a year. Tho circumstances under which this appli-
cation has been made are not a little singular. The petition
which came before the court yesterday alleged that many
members of the Creagh family had been insane, and many
other persons of weak mind. That in 1793 Robert Creagh,
the then owner of the estate, was found a lunatic. That
he died in 1842, and was succeeded by Richard Creagh, the
father of the supposed lunatic, whose eldest son Richard,
an idiot, was found to be so under a commission issued in
the year 1838. Upon his death. in 181_,.7,-.Mr Cornelius
Creagh. the -present snppoged lunatic, cams IE-terthe
perty, and, says the petitioner, was then, and has ever
since been, a person of unsound mind and incapable of
managing his affairs. The petition proceeded to say that
when the supposed lunatic was a young man he got a
commission in the navy, but soon left that service, and
became an inmate of the house of the late Mr Cornelius
O'Brien, M.P., of Birchfield, in the county Clare, who was
the solicitor of the Creagh family, where he remained for
some time. He then left the county Clare and visited
the city of Limerick, where he went to reside with a
person named Spain. That at Mr Spain's house he
took a fancy to a servant girl, whom he wanted to marry,
and, that steps having been taken to prevent him marry-
ing her in Limerick, he brought her to Dublin, and went
through a ceremony of marriage with her; and that there
were six children issue of the marriage—two sons and four
daughters, two of whom were married during the present
year. The petition went on to state that Mr Creagh had
been lately examined by Dr, Hamilton, of Dublin, and Dr.
Glisten, of Limerick, and that both those gentlemen had
certified to his being a person of unsound mind, and wholly
incapable of managing his affairs; that he could rot add up
two or three figures ; and by his general manner and conduct
showed himself to be a person of very weak intellect. Vari-
ous other affidavits, of a most voluminous character, were
relied on in support of the petition. Upon behalf of Mr
Cornelius Creagh, it was wholly denied, on affidavits, that
he was a lunatic, or even a person of weak mind, and it was
alleged that it was for an ulterior purpose that the present
proceedings were instituted, It was admitted that Mr
Creagh was not a very good accountant, but alleged that that
was owing to some natural defect which was rot uncommon,
and affidavits or certificates were produced from several doc-
tors testifying that Mr Creagh, although a bad arithmeti-
cian, was not a person of unsound mind, or a proper object
for a commission of lunacy. - These certificates showed that
Mr Creagh could not add up the simplest figures in a sum
of addition, but could, notwii hatanding, go into a detail of
the value of his property, and the amount of its incum.
brances, &c.
Mr Brewster yesterday made an eloquent speech in de-
fence of Mr C. Creagh's sanity, and is to be followed to-day
by Mr Barry. The opposite view of the case will be pre-
sented to the court by Mr Whiteside.

The Members for Reading and their Con-

stituents.

Sir F. Goldsmid, and Mr G. Shaw Lefevre. the Parlia-
mentary representative of the borough of Reading, ad.
dressed a meeting of their constituentsat the Town-hall on

46 •
Tuesday evening, when Mr Monek, the chairman of the
Liberal Electors Association, presided. On the platform
were seated Aldermen Palmer, Darter,:and Email; the ex-

Mayor, Mr L. Cooper; the Revs. J. F. Stevenson and It.
Balmer ; Messrs. G. Fall, H. 1.1. Cowele.de (Reading Ater
cury), Fearnley, C. J. Andrewes, T. Rogers (the Liberal
agent), C. Easton, and a number of the leading Liberals in
the borough. _

The CHAIRMAN briefly addressed the meeting, and in

;roduced

Sir F. GOLDSMID. M.P., who delivered it eirech of con-
bict4tatila'length: He first Baithe tibA
ho made when elected by giving her Mejestyl Government

a general support—hut that had not invented him expres-
sing on occasions wlien he thought it fit, either in debate or
by vote, his conscientious dissent. The hon. member then
proceeded to speak upon some of the most important and
iatereating matters which had occupied the attention of
Parliament during the period he had represented the
borough, and first alluded to the commercial treaty with
France, which promised such great advantages—next to the
repeal of the paper duty—and also to the reduction of the
insurance, which was a most unjust tax. (Hear.) Among

other questions touched on was Italy, and the hon. mem-
ber expressed himself thankful and gratified at the change
effected there. He then passed on to the wrongs of Poland,
and tho proposal made by France to England to combine in
defending the oppressed people. He did not say our Go-
vernment should have led England into war, but it should
have known its own mind a little earlier—(hear)—and bot
France and Poland had a right to complain that we did
not inform them at an earlier period that we would not
assist France in rescuing Poland. (Cheers.) With regard
to Denmark, he said he did not by any means intend to
assert that the Ministers ought to have led England to war,
but they should have known their minds a little sooner, and
that if they had not intended to do more they should have
said less. (Hear, hear.) In observing a strict neutrality in
the struggle going on in America our Government, aided by
most able law officers, had steered through the shoals and
quicksands of international law with courage, with ability,
and success. (Cheers.) The worthy baronet next adverted
to the question of reform in the representation of the people,
and said he considered the principal reason of the subject
being delayed was the attention excited by the state of affairs
abroad, and not because the House of Commons had lost its
interest in it. Lord Palmerston was not likely to undertake
a measure of reform unless forced on him by public opinion,
but he felt the Prime Minister would undertake it whenever
public opinion was strong in its favour. There was a lull,
but he believed the lull would not be of long duration, and
that at no distant period the question of reform would be re-
vived, and when it was revived he should be prepared to act
on his opinions as to the desirability of an extension of the
franchise. Ile reviewed the change which had taken place
in the working classes, as the result of extended education,
and instanced the conduct of the Lancashire operatives in
distress, with the conduct of the machine breakers and bread
rioters, and asked whether they ought not to anticipate
with confidence the extension of the suffrage. Another ques-
tion, the abolition of church rates, had not made much pro-
gress lately, and those who did not desire the abolition had
not contented themselves to stand still, but the great Tory
leader had indicated some measures of a different character
for the benefit of religion and the Church, but he thought
the measures proposed by Mr Disraeli would find little ac-
ceptance with the Liberals of Reading—not because they
were enemies of the Church, but because that was not their
way of benefiting it. (A. voice—How about the ballot ?) Sir
Francis said he would be prepared to vote, as they would
see he had voted if they consulted the division lists, in
favour of the ballot. (Loud cheers.) After some remarks
on a few other topics, the hon. member resumed his seat
amid much applause.
Mr GEO, SHAW LEPEVRE, M.P., on rising was loudly
cheered. lie said it had been so much the habit for members
to address their constituents this autumn, in prospect of the
general election, and even for Cabinet Ministers to make
progresses through the country, which the American would
call "stumping"—(laughter)—that there hardly needed
apology for his being there that night to give an account of
his stewardship during the last session. His cruise on the
sea of politics had been a short one, and in the compara-
tively few opportunities which had presented themselves in
the last SE@SiOll to a Liberal, he could not feel that he had
done an) thing in respect of which ho had to claim their
and
-
dulgence, or that so far as his votes had been given, he a
belied any expectations he gave on the hustings. (Hear,
hear.) Ile did not propose to go through al tat h OCCUT red
last session. What was past was done, and its interest lies
in the effect only it would have in the future. He was one
of those who thought tha the policy adepted by the house
in the last cession on the istion would have con.
eiderable efLet upon our policy in the future. He thou!
fi st address himself to qnestions cf t )reign policy, because
the house did lbticelse than talk on the foreign eff eirs, be-
cause when all eyes are turned to foreign matters it was not
in human nature that much attention would be given to
questions of domestic reform—an.l,last ly,beeause the foreign
p aioy was an index to a great extent of another sul j
expenditure and finance. (Applause.) Ile should deal first
with the American question, because it was incomparably
the most important, and compared to it in the effect it would
have upon the future of the world the Schleswig-Holstein
question sank into utter insignificance. Now, Rhatever
might be thought about the merits and prospects of that
unhappy conflict, there were not two opinions as to the
general policy to be pursued by this country in regard to
it. All parties were unanimous in wishing to maintain a
strict and impartial neutrality, leaving it to the two bel-
ligererate to fight out their differences between them, and to

individuals here to hold what opinions they like~i pons
merits of the two sides. (Applause.) The only difference,
which had occurred had been upon the manner in which
that neutrality was to be enforced as against the subjects of
this country ; to what extent, when this country had deter-
mined not to go to war, it should not permit its subjects to
make war on their own account by organising expeditions
from our shores. (Hear.) Upon these questions there had
been several debates and more than one party fight. If he
had ventured to take part in these discussions, insisting
upon the strictest view of neutrality, it was not because of
the views which he held favourable to the cause of the North,
but because he held it to be most important to this country
that every security should be given to commerce on the
seas, so that, should we have hereafter the misfortune to be
at war ourselves we might not bo subj•tct to the annoyance
of vessels of war isauing from neutral ports to prey upon
our commerce. (Applause) Ire thought it was a matter
of great satisfaction that the Conservatives had not been in
cffico during the American war, for unless their opposition
on these questions was merely fac'ions their policy would
have permitted that which would bawl been a dangerous
precedent, and by permitting the ironclad rams to leave
Liverpool, which everybody knew were intended for the
Confederates, we should have been involved in a war with
the Federals, and should have found ourselves fightitia• for
slavery, contrary to our di dared intentions, (Hear. hear.)
Other questions in respect to the Alabama and the Florida
were set at rest by the destruction of those vessels, and the
last in a manner which appeared to bo a very serious breach
of international law by tho Federals, which was much to be
regretted, for those who appealed to the law of nations so
often should not be remiss themselves in observing it. (Ap.
please) As to the war which was now raging, he deplored
as much as any one the horrors and misery which it entailed
and the loss of life which it had caused, recalling so eom-
pletely the lines of Shakspere—
" Take heed how you invoke the sleeping God of war,
For never two such people did contend
Without much fell of blood."
No one could wish more for its termination, or more admire
the gallantry, resolution, and pluck which the Confederates
had shown, and which had gained for them a host of friends
who did not originally admire their cause. But, while
much of one's sympathy was with them, his reason was, as
it always had been, withetheAortht, iced-hardly say
thectit—vetraistrote hententisretliv Apart fforn' tlavery,
he should be comparatively indifferent to the cause of the
Union. He did not mean to say that he agree I with those
who wished for the break up of the Union, on the ground
of its being too powerful, or as likely to be dangerous to the
influence of this country. He thought it was neither gene-
rous nor expedient to entertain and express such views, be-
cause nothing was so likely to breed ill feeling between the
two countries, and perhaps at some future time lead to war.
Again, it was a feeling which might be equally applied to
our own countrS, by other nations. (Hear, hear.) Suppose,
for instance, owing to the Indian mutiny, France had oc-
cupied herself with expressions of satisfaction at the break
up of our ludian empire, would such a feeling haveetended
to promote peace between the two countries? He meant
rather, he could not wish for the restoration of the Union if
it were again to be the support of slavery. Now, he often
heard it said " Well, ',thank God, whichever way the war
ends, slavery is.doomed." The war had already gone far
enough to destroy slavery. and he wished and hoped it might
be so. (Applause.) He did not, however, believe that
there was sufficient grounds for this as yet. He believed it
to be a fallacy. The refusal of the Confederate Congress to
employ thelr negroes as soldiers told a different tale. The
fact of its having been suggested even showed that a change
must be slowly wcrking even in the South. Bat it had not
been adopted. The politicians of the South had rejected it,
and be quoted from the spseches of several Southerners to
show their grounds for it; and he thought that the
speeches justified him in saying that the South had not
lost the instinct for slavery, and had not yet abandoned
the principle they intended to be the corner stone of a new
State, on which to erect an Elysium of slaveowners. He
believed, however, that even now, at the last moment, if
they were to abandon slavery and to come before the world
with a programme of freedom, they might insure success;
they would rob the North of a great moral engine which
directed their force. But it was said the North itself was
not in earnest about slavery. Well, he had no doubt that .
in the eerier period of the war they would have compromised
with the South on slavery in order to restore the Union.
Bat that could not be said now, after the recent Presiden-
tial election, when the issue was plainly put to the people
of the North whether they would fight for the Union with
slavery, or for the Union and:the extermination of slavery?
The issue, as they:well knew, was determined in favour of
Mr Lincoln by avast majority of the 4,000,000 who voted,
and the new platform, as it was called, pledged him to tbo
extinction of slavery. (Applause.) Every one must allow
that the order and moderation with which that election was
conducted in the very midst of civil war, and with such
great grievances at stake, were most remarkable, It was
in itself the strongest argument for the ballot which had yet
been produced. (Applause) In the re-election of Mr Lin-
colu we in this country had at least the satisfaction that he
had always shown himself anxious to keep on terms with
us, more so than any of the democratic Presidents who pre-
ceded him the last 20 years. Whatever one might think of
the abilities of this quondam rail-splitter and country attor-
ney, he had rhown himself to be honest, straightforward,
and courageous—qualities which, when shown in times of
such great difficulty, would, whatever might la, his success,
entitle hint to an honourable place in 4i4ary. (Applause.)
;was• then tear: ed to,
and Mr Lefevre expressed himself as much gratified
at the determination the Government came to, because
he thought it was the height of folly if this country
had been led into war with Germany on behalf of
the few parishes of Schleswig, as to whose destination
the question was at length narrowed. The hon. gen-
tleman next adverted to the question of our military expen-
diture, and he asked whether such great armaments as we
now had were necessary. One needed but go round Ireland
as he had done this last autumn, to see what he feared was
the normal state of poverty of the greater portion of the po-
pulation there, who were unquestionably the worst fed,
worst clothed, and worst housed people in Europe; or look
at the great bulk of the agricultural population of the
southern counties to be convinced that economy was a duty
second only to that of defence. What was there, he asked,
in the state of Europe now as compared with the period
when the Crimean war commenced which should cause so
great an increase as had taken place ? Europe always had
been and always would be replete with ugly questions, but
many that were imminent then had disappeared now. Be-
sides this they had declined the only two great causes in
Europe which seemed to be really worth fighting for, is
which we should also have had as an ally the greatest mill.
tary power in Europe. They bad declined to fight for Po-
land, and had also declined to fight for Italy. Here the
speaker referred to the forces on the Continent, and to other
matters urged in favour of keeping up a large armament in
this country, and he observed that if some statesmen would
only take the matter in hand and persuade Europe to reduce
its military establishments, he would confer a great benefit
upon the world, compared to which free trade would be a
trifle. After touching upon the church rate question and.
the Irish, the hon; member criticised the proposal made by
Mr Disraeli on the occasion of what had been designated as
an angel visit of Mr Disraeli to Oxford. (Laughter.) Bee
aides a consistent opposition to all the measures he had.
named, he promised no less than eight measures, for, as he
called it, asserting the nationality of the Church. The most
important of those measures was an alteration of the present
courts cf ecclesiastical appeal, taking them from the Privy
Council, and forming a court of bishops as a court of last ree
sort. He believed such a measure would be eminently cal-
culated to convert the Church into a close ecclesiastical
corporation, with the principle of exclusion rather than of
comprehension as at present, and he hoped it would be op..
posed by all Liberals. To permit a Court of Bishops who
did not even claim to be infallible to determine questions of
doctrine and to fix the boundaries of the Church would be
something like creating a pseudo Papacy in this country.
had always thought it was one great object and prin..
ciple of the Reformation of this country to take such mat-
ters out of purely ecclesiastical hands, and to define the
boundaries of the National Church by Act of Parliament,
leaving it to a court of law to decide what was within or
without that Act. However pious, eloquent, or learned the
bishops might be, they would not be a competent tribunal
to construe an Act of Parliament. (Applause.) He hoped,
therefore, that Liberals would oppose this project. He
should not have mentioned it had not Dr Pusey and other
able men, who were probably wire-pullers to Mr Disraeli,
already announced their intention of appealing to the coulee
try upon the subject, and making it a hustings cry at the
next election. Mr Lefevre. in conclusion, referred to the
question of Reform, and said it seemed to him that the un-
enfranchised were much in the position that one recollected.
being when a child, and when one was often told, " Those
who ask shan't have, and those who don t ask don t want."
(Laughter.) It was only children who were stopped by
logic of this kind. He believed that there was a large num-
ber of men outside the present franchise who were no longer
L in the position of children, and who were as able and as fit
to exercise it as those within. It was the problem for
Liberal statesmen how to admit those without at the same
time swamping the present constituencies. This measure of
right men were entitled to, and he urged a proper agita-
tion until Parliament conceded it.
The hon. gentleman resumed his seat amid loud cheers.
A vote of confidence to Sir Francis Goldsmid and Mr
Lefevre was proposed by Alderman Flaa en,. seconded by
Councillor ANDREW ES, and carried by acclamation.
Id

GERMAN FMIGRATION TO TIIE UNITED F_ TATES

----AcTorrling to the fourth report of tbr! P,den
Socicty for German emigrants (1553) from 1843 to 1853 in-
clusive, 40,996 persons emigrated, More eccurate investi-
gations make tho number 60,000, as many kit without per-
mission of the authorities. In 1854 21,560 emigrated,
making, in seven years, 81,501, cut of a population which
in 1848 was 1,364,342, and in 1855, 1,314,837. The average
yearly emigration from Wurtemburg to the United States
• from 1858- to 1863 was 4,000 ; in 185?, 14.852; in 1854,
21,320. Even under the unfavourable circumstances of the
war in the United States, the number in the month of May,
1863, amounted to 600; this, through fear of being pressed
into the military service, was reduod in September to 150.
I—New York Tbnes.