The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-16 00:00:00

FURZE AND GORSE AS FODDER,

may. Assuming, for the sake of argument, that
it was lawful to wrest from Denmark the fairest
portion of her possessions, it can scarcely be called
honourable where many triumph over the weak,
and armed hosts gain the victory over armies
that are not composed of serried ranks, but count
their battalions few and far between in compari-
son with those of their foes. Continuing the ad-
dress, we learn that the peace which has been
signed fulfils the highest expectations. Some
well-wishers to Austria and Prussia tried to per-
suade themselves and others that nothing
was further from the intentians of the aggressive
parties in the strife than to fullow up any
advantage which the chances of war and
the superiority of power might present to them.
They may now learn that " expectations" had
been formed of some such final glory to the
warlike venture. The enchantment which dis-
tance lent to their view has not disappointed
them, upon a nearer approach, but, on
the contrary, they seem inclined to follow Earl
RUSSELL'S advice to rest and be thankful. If any-
thing were wanting to complete the extravagance
of this whole passage, it would be the explanation
of the means that have conduced to the happy
issue. It is, then, to the courage of the allied
troops that the Germans are indebted for their
gain and glory. If it required each a vast ex-
penditure of this quality to face foes when the
odds were so much in their own favour, what
will they do to get up a sufficient supply if the
day should come that calls upon them to meet
foes equal in strength and numbers, to say nothing
of those superior in both. It is paying no com-
pliment to those who fought under the Rags of the
allied armies to tell them that they have done won-
ders, and are greatly to be respected in consequence.
They must have been carpet knights and fair
weather sailors, if the army and navy of gallant but
weak Denmark had sufficed to withstand their
troops or annihilate their ships. While Europe
was almost bursting with suppressed rage at the
cruel treatment received by the Danes, we find that
their oppressors have been proclaiming themselves
to be heroes, and now wish the admiring world to
weave the laurel and prepare the bay. The Aus-
trian EMPEROR must follow the example of his
august federal ally, the King of PRUSSIA," a craven
himself, for neither will the voice of popular opi-
nion nor the feeling of influential individuals be in
his favour. The solution" of the Schleswig-
Holstein question is, we are told, glorious and
happy." The affair is about as happy for the Danes
as it is glorious to the Germans, according to the
light of reason and the immovable decrees of right ;
but the language of the Allies is quite another
affair, and cannot be influenced by such high-
flawn sentiments and antiquated ideas. The EM-
PEROR
went on to state that the unfortunate events
that had occurred in Holland had compelled his
Government to take "exceptional measures." He
may well add that he regrets the stern necessity
when we call to mind that one of the " exceptional
cases" was to condemn a young nobleman to twelve
years' solitary imprisonment in a dungeon in chains
It is held as a doctrine that is of infallible truth:
that it is not lawful to do evil that good may come
of it, but, according to the Austrian EMPEROR'S ac-
count, all the bad actions and unjustifiable regulaa
lations of his kingdom produce the best effects, and
secure the most desirable ends. It is most discou.
raging to those who act in conformity to the
scruples of conscience and the claims of j'tstico to
learn how the works of darkness produce such
great and glorious results. Besides the. benefits
and blessings that have accrued from the DAno.
German war, the means adopted for the suppres.
iion of the Polish insurrection have, we are told,
wen eminently successful for the security of the
imperilled interests" of peace and the pro.
tection of the peaceable population, His Ma-

jesty concludes by wishing that he may receive
the assistance of his Reichs:ath, and feels con-
fident that he will succeed in conducting
the empire entrusted to him by PROVIDENCE " with
a strong hand towards a fortunate future." If these
fervent aspirations are fulfilled it will indeed be a
dark day for progress, and a sad era for the lovers
of liberty. Hope must bid the world farewell fen
a season, while a brave people are trampled upon
on one side, and freedom may shriek while patriots
are tortured and their country converted into a
slaughter-house. It is sad to think that such an
address should emanate from an EMPEROR, the
dawning of whose reign promised so well, and held
out such a cheering prospect to all who desired the
improvement of the people and elevation of the
country. Bad iefluencea have been at work to mar
And deface the goodly edifice of constitutional free-
dom that seemed about to become the bearer of pro.
gress, and the herald of reform, It is all very well
for Emperors to discourse to their senates, and
Kings to hold forth to their armies, but the philo-
sophical politicians will distrust the seeming
strength of such boastful asseverations, for the wit-
ness of history and the experience of ages Essure
them that the strongest Governments are not the
most austere and arbitrary ones, and that in times
of trouble it is not the throne based on tyranny that
survives the shock of revolutionary tactics. On the
contrary, at such periods it is often seen that the
self-sufficient are the first to fall and find their
boasted resources collapse around them, while their
power crumbles into dust, and conscience, at last
arousing from its lethargy, informs them that those
who sow the whirlwind must reap the storm.

Within a very few days we shall probably re-
ceive from New York the intelligence of the result
of that great election which has been foremost in
Woe thoughts of all American politicians for many
months past. Not in Ameriel alone is its issue an
object of excitement and anxiety, but throughout
Europe it is looked for with deep and earnest inte-
rest. In many quarters it is regarded as the
national declaration of the North in favour of
peace or war, and the solution of the great problem
is supposed to be in the ballot boxes, notwithstand-
ing 111‘CLELLAN's declaration in favour of the Union
at all haz Ards. But, in fact, the solution is not so
simple. In the first place, no one for a moment
questions that active interference on the part of the
Federal Government is likely to exercise a material
influence on the elections. Mr. LINCOLN, in fact,
is hardly at the pains to conceal his readiness to
resort to any means that will enable him to keep
office; and the device of the Governor of Tennessee,
not only to secure votes for his patron, but to sup-
preps those intended for that patron's rival, was
absurdly transparent. In Louisiana and Kentucky
it has been easy to find excuses for putting the
polling booths into the hands of soldiers, while New
York itself has witnessed the arrival of the obnoxi-
ous BUTLER, who is temporarily to supersede Gen.
Dix, retaining his co-operation. No official reason
is given for his presence, but it is not hard to supply
the deficiency. Meanwhile, the Government is pro-
pounding a new and striking theory, which really
for its boldness and its novelty deserves at any rate
the credit of originality. They have suddenly disco-
vered that there is imminent danger of a raid from
Canada, and, wonderful to relate, Mr SEWARD has
actually ascertained that there is a conspiracy
among the Canadians to fire the price pal Northern
cities on the day of the Presidential e'ection ! It is
certainly a most singular coinciden c that the pro-

posed incendiaries should have fixed upon that very
day, and of course it will be necessary to be armed
at all points to repel the invaders—those formid-
able Canadians who are thus about to rush headlong
into the very war which they profess to be most
anxious to avoid. The Secretary of War very kindly
informed the Mayors of New York and (Buffalo
of the danger, but the Mayor of the former city,
strange to say, did not appear conscious of the
risk, and the Democratic press openly charge the
Adminstration with fabricating the report in order
to give the necessary excuse for putting cities under
martial law. Of course, when the great event is
well over, it will be easy to say that the intended
scheme was frustrated by the wise precau'ions of
the Government, and the same excuse will probably
serve to account for General BUTLER'S uuex'
petted presence. It is possible, indeed, that there
may have been some collision between the civil
and military authorities on the great day itself, for
Governor SEYMOUR has declared that military in-
terference will be resisted with the whole force of
the law, and great discontent is felt at the unblush-
ing tyranny exercised by the Administration.
General Dex's proclamation, announcing that no
military will be embodied round the polls, but
that the military will, if necessary, assist the
civil authorities, may be taken for what it
is worth, and is not very likely to impose
upon any one. Under these circumstances, it is
idle to take the result of the election as a fair test
of American feeling, or to suppose for one moment
that it actually represents the wishes and opinions
of the Northern States of the Union. If the popular
sentiment were really in favour of LINCOLN, he
would not need to resort to such devices, or act
with a despotism as unscrupulous as it is oppressive.
The ballot itself is no protection in such a state of
things, though that fact furnishes no argument for
its adversaries, since most assuredly fair open
voting is equally impossible. No c:vil and consti-
tutional arrangements are subject to a fair test
under martial law, and it is virtually an armed
despotism which rules in the once free States. The
people, sick and weary of the war, may yet find it
difficult to give legal expression to their feelings,
and the unscrupulous hypocrisy with which the
LINCOLN Cabinet professes even now to be repre-
senting the real wishes and sentiments of the
nation will scarcely fail to supply them with suffi
cient effrontery to declare LINCOLN duly re-elected.
Like the lion in the fable, their real excuse lies in
the reckless exercise of their power. Individual
opposition is hopeless while the gates of Fort
Lafayette stand open ready to receive any too free-
spoken adversary of the Government, and until we
see an extensively organised opposition their pro-
ceeding will be difficult to check. But we very
much question whether, after all, the Presidential
election may be held to decide the policy of the
Federal States for the next four years; whether the
issue of peace or war lies between LINCOLN and
M'CLELLAN. If ABRAHAM LINCOLN were elected
twenty times over, he could not go on playing his
desperate game without materials. Men and money
ere the first requisites for every campaign, and the
North has well nigh exhausted both. The last
conscription nearly aroused New York to rebellion
while gold stands at a premium hardly credible
even for American recklessness. When taxes are
imposed at a rate, and with a comprehensiveness
that even raises lucifer matches from 8 cents. to 50
cents. a pack, and the national debt is increasing
daily by a sum that would once have been sufficient
for the debt itself, it is a strange time to talk of
prolonging the war four years. The North must
inevitably ccme to a standstill, sooner or later, for
lack of men and of money, and such a termination
will be more inglorious than a defeat or conces-
sion. We are not to suppose that the Northern
people will always submit to the despotism of the
LINCOLN Cabinet. Though the Stiites are far
from acting on the principle which makes Paris
represent France, yet New York alone is powerful
enough to overthrow the dynasty if it would. The
commercial interests engaged in the maintenance
of the war,the rapid fortunes made by unscrupulous
speculators and contractors,all influence the people.
There is no one brave enough, wise enough, and
above all public spirited and disinterested enough
to stand forward as the WASHINGTON of his time.
Yet America has produced great men, and can pro-
duce them still, as the Southern leaders testify.
Where are they, then, in this crisis in the North P
Meanwhile the _Richmond Sentinel, the Confederate
cfMal organ, recommends the aiming of the slaves
—a piece of intelligence no less important in a
social than a military point of view. It is the first
step towards the recognition of the rights of the
African race, the first step towards that ultimate
mancipation and abolition which every well-wisher
of the South must solemnly desire. No doubt it
will for this reason meet with strong opposition ;
but JEFFERSON DAVIS is not a man to be easily
shaken-from his purpose, and the necessities of the
war are paramount. By this bold move ho will so
greatly strengthen his forces as to be able to under-
take a decisive movement, and the Federal generals
will not easily obtain reinforcements to match him.
The military news brought by the Belgian is not
important. It records the advance of HOOD i❑
Tennessee, with what result we shall probably
hear by the next mail, for the other Confederate
generals in the vicinity are concentrating their
forces, and the Southern papers are full of
confidence. One pointin the news brought by the
latest mail must not he overlooked. GRANT'S
troops are building log houses, not very significant
we may suppose of an immediate capture of Rich-
mond.

ADMIRALTY, Nov. 16, 1864.—A1l letters for the
officers, seamen, and marines stationed at the new
Australian settlement at Cape York, in the vicinity
of Torres Straits, should be addressed to " Somer-
set, Queensland."

A Cabinet Council was held yesterday at the
official residence of the First Lord of the Treasury
in Downing-street. The Ministers present were Viscount
Palmerston, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, Sir
George Grey, Earl Russell, the Right Hon. Edward. Card•
well, Earl De Grey, Sir Charles Wood, the Chancellor of
the Exchequer, the Duke of Somerset, the Riglit Hon. T.
Milner Gibson, Lord Stanley of Alderley, the Earl of
Clarendon, and the Right Hon. C. P, Villiers.

The Gazette du Midi relates the following loci-.
dent which is said to have occurred on the occasion
of King Leopold's recent passage through Marseilles. His
Majesty, who travelled strictly incognito, entered the Cafe
Bodoni, and sat down at a table close by two persons who
were playing at dominoes. He appeared to watch the game
with great interest, and even gave way to a slight move-
ment of impatience when a wrong domino was played. The
player observed this movement, and said, " Perhaps you
would not have played so ?" " No," said the King, " 1
should not." Some minutes later the King again made a
similar movement, aril the player then remarked with some
ill-humour, " You think I have again played wrong ?"
" Yes," replied his Majesty, "I should have played the
double five." The player felt annoyed, and, shrugging his
shoulders, said, "You are a donkey I" A moment after the
King rose, Paid his reckoning, and withdrew. During this
scene the player had noticed that one of the waiters kept
making signs to him which he could not understand, and
after the King's departure ho asked for an explanation. " I
merely wanted to let you know," said the waiter, " that
you were talking to the King of the Belgians," " Indeed I"
exclaimed the player, " then I am afraid I have not been
over polite," The waiter seemed fully to concur in this
sentiment,

A correspondent of the 3lemorial de la Loire
mentions the following fact as a proof that certain journals
are ill-informed as to the attitude of persons in high quar-
ters. Before her departure fgr Compeigne the Empress
desired M. Nigra to present to her his son, who is a pupil
at the College of Ste.-Barbe. The Minister of course ac-
ceded to this wish, and both himself and son were most
graciously received by her Majesty.

An ingenious country gentleman of Ireland—'
one Mr John Walsh, of Stedalt, Balbriggan, in the
province of Leinster—has recently suggested an
entirely novel plan, by the adoption of which cattle
maybe fattened economically. Mr Walsh's name is to
us as the name of a total stranger: and, having even
no knowledge of the mere fact of his existence until
yesterday, we can speak, as we certainly do speak,
of his suggestion in regard to the employment of
wild Gorse or the common Furze as Fodder, quite
dispassionately. It is not simply that the originator
of this scheme for the turning to good account of
plants growing abundantly on waste lands—plants
hitherto turned to no account whatever—it is not
simply that Mr. Walsh has the merit of directing
the attention of cattle-feeders to the nutriment, in
the way of Fodder, lying unnoticed and uncared
for in acres of Gorse end Furze. But—in addition
to this—he appears to have won for himself the
credit of contriving a machine, a very simple
but very effectual cutting or champing machine, a
machine already beginning to be known as
Walsh's Patent Furze Bruiser, by the operations
of which Gorse, or Furze, may be prepared as
food for any description of stock. The same
machine being useful, moreover, for other purposes,
such as breaking down oilcakes and locust beans,
and, beyond this, for pulping roots. Small, ills
grown turnips, such as are usually left in the field,
Mr Walsh argues (we presume from his own expe-
rience) can be turned to account in this manner—of
itself a matter of some little consideration to
Agriculturists as connected with their various econo-
mic arrangements, In a review of a little pamphlet
explanatory of the scheme thus referred to, a pam-
phlet reeently published at Drogheda, we find it re-
marked in a recent number of the Gardener's
Chronicle as follows :

"Mr. Walsh," says our contemporary, the Garkneee
Chronicle, "has repeatedly called attention in our columns
to the U9O of gorse as food for cattle. He here describes the
machine by which the furzs shoots are reduced to an edible
pulp. It acts by a number of saw-tooth discs revolving in
to one another. When made with two rollers it is called a
single machine, when with four rollers it is termed the
double machine, and is then worked by power, A number
of testimonials to the efficiency of the implement are pub-
lished from well-known and trustworthy correspondents.—
Mr Dawson A. Milward of Tullogher, and the Rev, W. D.
Fox among them are known to us—and their favourable
testimony may be accepted as perfectly conclusive."

The subjoined, it is then added, is Mr. Walsh's
statement on the subj,ct _ _

"The operation of it is to tear up, and at the same time
to crush and soften the stuff, so that the prickles are
rendered inert, and the woody parts made more easy of
mastication. Of the numerous contrivances which have
from time to timb been applied to the purpose, none has
been found to act so effectually, and at so little cost, or with
so little labour, as this one. All those hitherto in use have
failed to give complete satisfaction from various causes.
Some, because their inventors, fancying it necessary that
the material should be reducel to a perfect pulp, have, to
that end constructed, very complicated and expensive
machines. These, requiring a vast deal of power, wasted
much time and superfluous labour to produce a result which
was not called for, and in quantities not at all adequate to the
expense. Oa the other hand, machines are much in use
which are supposed to cut the furze into 4 or i inch lengths.
These are inefficient, inasmuch as they do not soften the
stuff, so that a subsequent operation by pounding or rolling
becomes necessary, without which horned cattle cannot take
it freely. In that rough state horses may eat it, but cows will
not, unless starved into doing so. The machine described
meets all these objections, neither doing too much nor toe
little, besides possessing this great advantage—that it offers
the facility of preparing the stuff to different degrees of fine-
ness, according to the class of animals it is required for, by
passing it through once, twice, or three times. For horses,
whose mouths are harder, it is sufficient to pass it once,
For cows and stores, it is found best to pass it twice, which
process does not involve as much labour as would appear
at first sight, as the second run takes only half the time
the first one does. A. third run only requires half the time
that the second one does ; this is recommended only for
calves and sheep, and for fattening cattle in the stalls. The
application of fut zs to the fattening of cattle is rather
•a new feature in the cultivation of this plant, probably
unknown to many; but the practice of the last few
years has proved it to be a most important auxiliary tor
that purpose, not only as taking the place of more expen-
sive food. but as contributing to increase the digestive
powers of the animals, and to improve the quality of the
meat. With 4 stones of turnips, 2to 3 stones of furze, and
the usual allowance of meal daily, beasts have been fattened
to 7 cwt. in a much shorter time than under the usual treat-
ment. Without a suitable instrument for its preparation,
these results would never have been arrived at ; nor could
the valuable nutritive properties of the plant, as shown
by the annexed analyses, and confirmed by practice, hay)
been brought out. It is true that many people have long
been using furze for horses and cattle by means of the old
appliances; but, by referring to the accowpanying
letters, it will be seen that some of the writers had
been using the ordinary chaff-cutters, but now make

use of this machine in preference. It is simple in its
construction and operation. It can be attached to any horse
gear, one-horse power being sufficient for the double one ;
but a two-horse one will give more than a proportional in-
crease in the amount of work done. The single one can be
worked by power as well. In the cultivation of flux', great
stress has been laid upon the importance of having the
fu, ze grown close and thick, so as to cause the shoots to
be drawn up and tender, and more easily masticated when
cut by the chaff cutter. With the new machine, th's pre-
caution is unnecessary, as it will reduce the coarsest and
moat be brought to it. Where it
w
nothing Was to be had but strong
maos first Stubbornmad e shootsuse of, that may
shoots, cut by hand off hedge-rows and bushes, sometimes
with stalks more than half an inch thick, Of these, the
machine would easily prepare 4 cwt, is the hour, passing it
twice. This is given as the average quantity done in re-
gular work, for a touch larger quantity has been done when
-pecial trials were made."
The Gardeners' Chronicle further remarks that—
"Analyses are given by Dr Voelcker, Dr Cameron, and
Mr Masters, of Belfast. Dr Cameron's analysis in April,
put the water present at 78 per cent, ; the woody fibre, 10 ;
the nitrogenous portions at 2.18; and the starch, &0., at
82. Mr Masters, analysing a sample in Sepember, of no
doubt drier and riper stuff, found only 67 of water, 221 of
woody fibre, 8 of nitrogenous matter, and 10 of starch.
While Dr Voelcker, who examined a very much drier speci-
men, found only 32i per cent, of water, and as much as 17i
per cent. of nitrogenous matter."
In a letter from the Inventor of the Plan and of
the Machine—a communication witten by him
within this present month of November—we find
him thus addressing one of his inquiring correspon-
dents :—" In reply to your favour of the sth," he
writes, " respecting my furze machine, I have to
say that it is not to be had in England for sale at
present, I get them manufactured in Drogheda
within a few miles of my
own residence as
ordered. Hitherto I have not been able to do
more than execute the orders received. By the
circulars which I send you by this post you
will see that only three of them have as yet been
forwarded across the Channel, [l:he italics are
our own.] I endeavoured to form a connec-
tion witn some of
the English houses, but
none of them would entertain it. lam not a
manufacturer myself, being only a country gentle-
man, engaged in farming ; knowing what a vain.
able source of provender was neglected, I turned
my attention to improving the usual means adopted to
the use of gorse. T
have so far succeeded, that it
is now beginning to be made use of in ways never
before contemplated. It is generally
considered to
be a good resource in treasons of dearth, or as being
suited to derive
some benefit from lands totally
unfit for anything eke. I take to myself the merit
of having demonstrated that it may be useful even
in the most fertile districts, such as our own, which
is the great grazing county of Meath. I have
shown that it can be made an important auxie
liary in fattening cattle either out or in stalls,
quite irrespective of seasons of dearth or plenty.
I have endeavoured to establish a low pr:c3, by
making a serviceable implement, without any pre-
tensions to show which I can dispense with, not
having to maintain a character for finish which a re-
gular implement maker would be under the necessity
of doing. I make two s;zas ; one is the double mar.
shine for power, price £9 9s. The single one, for
hand power, is made at 1;6 6s. I find I cannot go
lower. It is to be regretted, in a national point of
view, that this resource doss not engage more of the
attention of the agricuituristp. Su much land, now
unprefit ab'e, could be wade prodective, and our re-
sources for rearing cattie could be so much extended.
But it is not a taking subject ;
oilcakes and any new
foreign substance will attract more attention, and
at the same time cost a vast deal more
Thus, very sensibly and very reasonably, writes
the Inventor—not boastfully as it seems to us, but
certainly for all that very confidently—in regard
to his own contrivance. It is a contrivance—this
one of Mr. Walsh's—at least worthy of being ex-
amined into by intelligent agriculturists. It her;
at anyrate appeared to us worthy of having the
attention of country gentlemen and of l'arrnere
generally thus pointedly directed to it as a matter
deserving some little inquiry, as very possibly,
in-
deed, a matter entitled to their most earnest con.
eideration.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

POLAND.

WARSAW, Nov. 10.

At noon to-day the Viceroy, Count Berg, opened
the ordinary session of the State Council for the
Kingdom of Poland with the following speech in
French :

" Gentlemen,—While I bid you welcome, I have
satisfaction in directing your attention to the pro-
gress made in tranquillising the country since your
last meeting. Evidently, however, as this is the
case, we must not conceal from ourselves that imM
portant labours still await us.

"An extensive conspiracy and insurrectionary
efforts have threatened the prosperity of all classes
of the population. The present Government of the
kingdom is called to the task of rebuilding the
shattered edifice, in order to repair the damages
Poland has inflicted upon herself.

" We must reorganise all branches of the Ad■

ministration.

"I invite you to commence with the examination
of the budget for the year 1865.

" You will learn with satisfaction that the
Government of this country belongs to the number
of those in Europe who are least in financial diffi-
culties, notwithstanding the losses and the extra-
ordinary expenses of the years 1863 and 1864.
"I entertain the hope that we shall succeed, in a
very brief period, in bringing the finances into a
satisfactory condition, and that our labours in all
other branches of the Administration will be at-
tended with the same result.

VENETIA.
STATE OF SIEGE 1N FRIULI.
MILAN, Nov. 16.

Intelligence received here from Venetia an■
nounces that the district of Friuli has been pro-
claimed in a state of siege.

MEXICO.

PARIS, Nov. 16.

Official advices received here from Mexico state
the condition of affairs to be most satisfactory. The
Emperor Maximilian continued his journey amid
the enthusiasm of the populations.

A great impression had been created by the cap-
ture of Matamoras. The Juarist troops had revolted
and disbanded; and since the fight of Sept. 21,
Juirez had with him not more than 100 cavalry.
He fled on the 27th towards Chihuahua.

THE BRAZILS.
(By telegraph from Lisbon.)
BUENOS AYRES, OCT. 14.

Exchange, 49i. Ounces, 28.75. Wet salted
ox hides, no transactions, held more firmly. Dry
American, 34. Wool unchanged, no sales or stock.
Tallow steady. Lumber, 37 to 42, weaker. Flour,
6 to 64, being a further decline. Refined sugar,
19 to 29. Imports unchanged.

RIO JANEIRO, OCT. 24.

Exchange on London, 262, Coffee, good first,
6,300 to 6,400 rein. Shipments since the departure
of the last steamer, 48,500 bags, including 1,900
for the Channel. Stoek, 80,000 bags. Freights to
the Channel, 6)s.

LISBON, Nov. 13.
The Messageries Imperiales steamer Beam,
with the above mail, arrived here this morning.