The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-16 00:00:00

Mr. Bass, M.P., on Mr. Somes's Bill,

At the dinner of the Manchester and Salford Vic-
tuallers' Association on Friday evening,
Mr. BASS, echo presided, took occasion to observe
that the licensed victuallers of the kingdom had set
an example to all other tradesmen, by showing the
manner in which the legitimate interests of a trade
could be fostered and protected Wh they came
to consider the peculiarity of their n
business in aine
being
licensed and privileged, and thereforteperhapsmore
hey would liable to be carped at than others,
see
the necessity of banding together, not only to
keepgeneral order among themselves, but with a view
to guard against encroachments. He hardly knew
whet her it was quite to the point to remark on the
legislation of the past Parliamentary session which
was promoted by Mr. Somes and others. The
noise that was made by that party of temperance
orators led to considerable apprehension, and many
thought the licensed victuallers' party would be in
a minority. He believed that many who took part
in the temperance movement in Parliament were
most sincere, and believed they were attempting
what would be righteous and good by putting an
end to all drinking whatever. But the members
in Parliament who in their hearts supported the
views advocated at present by Mr. Somes, Mr. Law-
son, and a very few others, were very small indeed.
He could relate an anecdote proving this. On the
evening of the division on Mr. Somes's motion, he
(the chairman) was in a downstairs room in the
House of Commons, where honourable members,
overcome with fatigue, or oppressed by the elo-
quence of talking members, sometimes assembled
to chat and smoke cigars. (Cheers.) One gentle-
man there said to him, in reference to the subject of
the bill, " What -- nonsense it is. (Loud cheers
and laughter.) Without swearing, however, he
(the chairman) entirely agreed with this remark.
But when the house a few hours afterwards went
to a division, he saw this gentleman coming out
of the one end, while he (the chairman) was coming
out of the other. The gentleman excused himself
by saying that he knew there was no harm in
doing what he was doing, as Mr. Somes's party
was sure to be in a minority. (Laughter.) And
this was no solitary instance. He knew that
the far larger proportion of those who voted
for the second reading of that bill did so
without any expectation that it would be car- -
ried, and no doubt they were pressed into it by
the temperance people. He was quite persuaded
there were not a dozen men in Parliament in favour
of this temperance movement. (Cheers.) Not-
withstanding this, it would be very unsafe for the
association to remain quiet, for he had had personal
proof of the indefatigable restlessness of these
people. No man in the world could be more op-
posed to intemperance than he was, and no man
could accuse him of ever being under the influence
of liquor, or of contributing to make any other man
so. There scarcely could be any more unhappy
position than that of a man who drank himself
senseless. But was this any reason why they
should be denied the use of those things which the
Almigh'y had placed within their reach? If that
measure of Mr. Somes had been passed, it would
have been a rank injustice if they did not lock every
cellar door in England from Saturday night till
Monday morning. (Cheers.) It was almost amusing
when one came to consider how these temperance
people estimated the vast interests concerned. It was
calculated that from 86 to 100 millions sterling were
invested in the trades in which the licensed victual-
lers were concerned, and all this would be put an
end to if the teetotallers succeeded in their proposal.
The capital of the licensed victuallers was be-
tween 50 and 60 millions of money; and the com-
mon brewers had no less than 20 millions actively
engaged in trade. It was a curious fact that the
trade done by common brewers was the largest trade
done by any tradesmen in the world. (Cheers.)
There were many brewers who manufactured and
sold an article to the amount of e million a year.
He knew a gentleman who sold lest year £1,100,000
worth of beer. (Cheers.) And yet all this was a
mere bagatelle to those people who wished to de-
stroy the trade upon which 600,000 persons were
dependent for their livelihood. (Hear, hear.)

THE CONFEDERATE CRUISERS FLORIDA AND
ALABAMA.—The Courrier de Havre publishes the
following from a correspondent at Cherbourg :—" The Con-
federate cruiser Alabama will probably be in Cherbourg in
a short time. It is known that, a few days ago, a ship-
broker of this place received a letter addressed to Captain
Semmes, and this has confirmed the rumours in cir-
culation."—The Florida is being rapidly repaired in
one of the Government basins at Brest. Her screw has been
detached, and several parts of her machinery have been re-
paired or replaced. With respect to the claims made upon
her by certain French merchants for property destroyed, it
is stated chat Captain Maffit has offered to deposit a sum of
money sufficient to pay all demands until the tribunals
have decided upon the claims. It would thus appear
that, so far as the provisional embargo on the Florida is
concerned, it will not interfere with the freedom of her
movements whenever she is ready to put to sea. The
Opinions Nationale, in its Saturday's impression says :
" Our coadjutor, who left Brest on Thursday morning,
assures us that there was no question in the town of the
seizure of the Florida, on the demand of two shipowners,
victims of the ravages of that cruiser. On Wednesday
evening he witnessed the opening of the immense metal
bridge which separates the commercial from the Govern-
ment port—and which is never opened except for our own
men of war—for the passage through of the Florida. The
Southern cruiser has obtained the exceptional favour of ad-
mission for reparation to a careening basin of the state. The
Florida floats very low in the water, and is of great length.
She is the best sailer known, making 16 knots an hour, a
speed never previous:y attained by any vessel? She only
carries seven guns. It is reported that each sailor belong-
ing to the Florida is entitled to 45,0001. (L 1,800) as his share
of the captures, amounting in ull to 4,000,000 f. Before the
Florida is ready to put to sea the Federal men-of-war will
certainly be on the look-out for her at the mouth of the
harbour. But it is not likely that she will expose herself
to this danger. It is said that as soon as repaired she will
be offered for sale, and that her place will be supplied by a
vessel constructed on the same model in some unknown
shipyard of England. This vessel will bo manned by the
crew of the Florida, and commanded by the same captain.
AVALANCHES have been observed in the canton of
Appenzell and in the chain of the Alps on the side of the
valley of the Rhine. A terrific avalanche precipitated itself
frorm the top of the Falkniss into the valley.

A REMARKABLE DREAM.—On Saturday morn-
ing a man about 30 years of age, named Benjamin
Collins, was found drowned in a small dam belonging to the
White-hull pit, at Wyke. When found he was kneeling
in the water with his head down, being only up to the
shoulders in the water. He had been drinking for several
days, and became restless. He got up about 2 o'clock in
the morning, partly dressed himself, and said he could not
sleep. Soon afterwards he went out, and about 4 o'clock
his uncle, Mr. Mark Collin, of Lower Car Close farm, wen'
in search of him in the barn and stables, but not finding him
there returned to the house. Mrs. Collins then desired her
husband to go to the place where the body was found, as
she had just dreamt her nephew was drowned there. Mr.
Collins acted as his wife requested, and, to his amazement
and horror, saw the literal fulfilment of her dream.— York
Herald.

THE GREAT DRAUGHT MATCH.—This tedious
and wearisome contest—if contest that can be called
which consisted in the terminated repetition of precisely the
—r yesterday. When the
same series of moves
farce had been solemnly performed up to the very last game,
the English champion, Martins, suggested whether it was
worth while to go through it for the fiftieth time ; and
proposed that the match should be considered wholly " a
draw." This proposition was assented to on the other
aide; and so both parties took themselves off with the
proud consciousness that if they had done no good to their
friends they had done them quite as little harm. The
issue, and still more the character, of the contest, have
caused much disappointment among skilful and enthusi-
astic players. It is but just to Wylie, however, to say that
he made repeated overtures to his rival in favour of import-
ing something of life and reality into the play by a variation
of moves, but Martins declined, arguing that while it might
be all very well for Wylie, surrounded as he was by his sup-
porters, to venture on such a course, yet he, in justice to
his chief backer, who was absent, could not adopt a change
of policy. At the close a proposal to play a game or two
for a couple of pounds aside was rejected by Wylie, on the
ground that to do so might interfere with another match,
designed to come off in London, for which arrangements are
now being made—indeed, we understand that all which is
needed is that Martins should fix the time.—North British.
Mail.

ALARMING ANNOUNCEMENT.-A MAGAZINE AT
OUR ANTIPODES I-A. magazine has been started at Auck-
land, New Zealand, and is called the " Southern Monthly
Magazine."

" WINE--THE VINE AND THE CELLAR"—is the
title of a new book about to be published by the Messrs.
Longman.