The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-27 00:00:00

The French Councils-General.

The Paris papers publish the speech of the Duke
de Persigny at a banquet to which he had invited
the members of the Council• General of La Loire.
M.de Persigny drew the following parallel between
the existing institutions cf France and England:—

I am aware, gentlemen, that there exists among us a
political school which, while wishing to maintain the
monarchical principle, the only one which evidently is
suited to the traditions of France, pretends to have the pri-
vilege of liberal ideas ; that this school fancies that it has
found the very formula of liberty ; and that, in despite of
unquestionable experience,it perseveres to maintain that be-
yond its formula no liberty is peseible. To this singular
propooitiou the Dimple acply inibile be given that the idea of
subjecting liberty to fixed rules is r ot philosophical ; that
liberty, like despotism, changes ad znfinitunt, and that every
free country has a peculiar character of its own. We might
add that real Mercy is recognisable by unmistakable signs,
by the solidity and duration of the governments which it
establishes, and especially by the passion with which it in-
spires them for great things. If, on the contrary, you see
governments—so called liberal—disappear after a few years
of feverish existence, we can only presume that all that
they had of liberty was only the name. But this does not
satisfy me; I wish to examine closer the pretensions of this
school. I first ask how it happens that in the century in
which we live—a century of experience and of universal
emancipation—men dare to recall the remembrance of a
liberty which commenced by reducing 10,000,000 citizens
to the condition of political exiles. I understand that sys-
tem as it is organised in the country from which it emanates,
that is to say, with our neighbour on the other side of the
Channel, whom I am compelled incessantly to quote. In
fact, there is there, spread over the surface of the country, a
whole electoral body, a whole political class which, tradi-
tional heir of the Conquest, possesses, since William the
Conqueror, all the means of influence. The lord of the
county is the justice of peace, levies the taxes, regulates
public order ; in fact, is invested with all the powers of
authority which in France appertain to the administrative
hierarchy. That this powerful class, from the very fact that
it has all the powers of the nation at its disposal, disposes
also of its government ; that, master of the lower elements,
its also commands the higher ones; that it makes or
upset Ministries at its will—all this is logical, natural, and
especially suited to the character of "self-government,': to
the traditions of the country, and to its internal crganiza-
tion. There the principals of authority and of liberty can-
not clash and are not sacrificed one to the other, for liberty
is in the hands of those who exercise authority in all things.
But in our country, which is differently organized, whore
"centralization" prevails, where for centuries society has
been accumstomed to trust to the Administration which
provides for public safety and order, how can the so-called
Liberal school wish to apply to France the political system
of England ? By arbitrarily constituting a class of 200,000
electors to take a part in the state of the English electoral
body what did it do? As it was impossible to give to that
class the authority which belonged to other hands, was it
not a moat dangerous and false application ? For, while
the political class with our neighbours is all in all—does
everything, can do everything, on its own hook—the class
artificially constituted in the presence of 10,000,000 French-
men thrown into a political nullity could do nothing ex..
cept by a fiction contrary to the very organization of the
country. Will you, in fact, comprehend the error by a
sensible comparison of the internal administration of the
two nations? Fancy that a catastrophe should demolish all
the electors of an English county, or of an old electoral
county of France. In the English county everything
would be upset, there would not be either order, justice, or
safety. In the French electoral college, on the contrary,
as constituted under the Parliamentary system, the sudden
loss of 100 or 200 citizens would have been no loss. It will
be the glory of the Emperor Napoleon 111. to be the first
to have understood that the constitution of a free people
ought to rest upon the natural bases it meets with in the
soil, and not upon assimilations, upon copies more or less
faithful, taken arbitrarily from abroad. In submitting to
the nation the principles of a constitution drawn both
from the traditions of the chief of his race and his own
reflections, he has, with the French people, erected a
monument on which authority and liberty are both seated
with:equal firmness,and the disposition of which is as simple,
a s logical, as conformable to the organisation of society as
in any other country in the world. And first, gentlemen,
whatever may be thought of the administrative regime
which is actually imposed, not on the press in general,
which is free, but on political journals, it is clear that this
regime has nothing to do with the fundamental principle of
our institutions, It has only been inspired, evidently, by
considerations analogous to those which in the last century
determined the founders of English liberty to place tempo-
rarily all the agents of publicity beyond the pale of the com-
mon liberty. They had thought that so long as a new State
meets with internal enemies, the Government in possession
is still in the position of a conqueror, that it is not at liberty
to disarm, and that at any cost it ought not to permit that
instruments of liberty should, in the hands of enemies of
the State, serve to oppose the State. Such with us also is
the reason of the regime of the periodical press, a reason of
State completely foreign to the form or the principle of
liberty, for this regime is transitory in its very nature ; it
may, it ought, to be reodfied. For myself, I believe it sus-
ceptible of receiving in practice notable ameliorations in re•
spect to the right of discussion, which the Government, no
more than our institutions, has reason to distrust. But in
what concerns the movements of parties to deceive the coun-
try as to its situation, and cherish passions or hopes con-
trary to the established order, if wo follow the example of
every free people in what is really sage and politic, we will
wait for other circumstances before changing this regime.
The vice of epochs which have been preceded by long revo-
lution is not so much, indeed, the survival of old parties, as
s
the moral condition of a certain fraction of the classes mixed
up with public affairs, which, by reason of having seen
changes, by reason of having cried in turn, Vice le Rol ! Five
4 jig 11,4‘) vgkdod political braise, aid, troubled

by the souvenirs of the past, distrusts the future of every
government, shows itself preoccupied in manoeuvring every
eventuality, and is surprised, on each occasion of public emo-
tion, in the act of secretly stretching out its hand to the
enemies of the State. Hence, in order that the liberty of the
press may be a real benefit, it is necessary that in a country
newly constituted a new political generation, young, vigo-
rous, and independent, should spring up to replace those
spirits enervated by revolutions. Now, gentlemen, let us
look at the theory, pure and simple, of the liberty founded
by the Empire. As authority and liberty cannot be in the
hands of the same class as in England, in place of subordi-
nating them one to the other, it is natural to render them
independent; and here is the fundamental principle of our
institutions. From the moment indeed that a vast admi-
nistration is with us in possession of all the instruments of
authority, and is alone charged with the duty of maintain-
ing order and public security—reason, good sense, and pa-
triotism, in accord with experience, said very emphatically
that it was necessary to assure before everything the bene-
fits of authority, and no longer make it the prize of the am-
` bitions, of vanities, and of desires which liberty can set in
motion ; in other words, it was indispensable that the inde-
pendence of the executive powear, intrusted by the will of the
whole people to the hands of the Sovereign, should be
henceforth a reality. It was necessary then that the chiefs
of the various branches of the administrative hierarchy, the
Ministers, being in the exclusive nomination of the chief of
the State, should no longer be responsible before the Cham.
bers—that is to say, removable by the Chambers; that the
Prince alone should be responsible to the people, as the
father of a family to his children and that, finally, the man
most interested in the public order and security should be
invested with the force necessary to' secure this first of all
blessings to the nation. Such then is authority established
upon foundations solid, natural, and agreeable to the orga-
nisation of the country. Let us see how liberty, in its
turn, is organised, and especially if the function assigned
to the Executive Government, or the independence of au-
thority, is established at the expense of liberty. Universal
suffrage—that is to say, the will of a whole people—which
constitutes public authority in the person of the
Emperor, produces in its turn every liberty—com-
munal liberty by the municipal council, at the side of the
mayor, the delegate of authority; departmental liberty by
the General Council, at the side of the prefect; and national
liberty by the Legislative Body, at the side of the Sovereign.
Now, if it is considered that these public councils, which
all together form the hierarchy of liberty by the side of the
hierarchy of authority, are not only councils but delibera-
tive bodies; that they exercise the enormous power of dis-
cussing and voting budgets, approving or prohibiting ex-
penses; that in consequeece they are possessed of all the
means of control and influence which really constitute
modern liberty; that, finally, it is in the hands of the prin-
cipal of these bodies that the veritable legislative power
resides, every man of sense and good faith will recognise
that, in assuring the reciprocal independence of authority
and liberty, the Napoleonic theory has virtually salved the
problem of liberty in France. Gentlemen, I have not the
simplicity to believe that those who are interested in criti-
cising everything, in denying everything, in distorting
everything, that those whc wish only to play with authority,
and not to submit to it, ever approve a liberty which takes
away from them the means of overturning Ministers and
usurping authority. But the country, which knows what
ambitions and vanities of this kind have cost it, will never
be of their opinion. It is besides curious to listen to the
argument which is given to the public in place of the real
one as the reason for the presence of Ministers in the Cham-
bers. It is, said this year in the Corps Legislatif one of the
eminent chiefs of the so-called Liberal school, because
" there is always great benefit and great instruction in dis-
cussing affairs with those who transact them." What I
It is because it may be a little more advantageous, a little
more convenient for the orators to discuss with Ministers
rather than with intermediaries—it is for this reason that
the re-establishment of a regima which has been so fatal to
the country is demanded I It is not then liberty itself which
claims the presence of Ministers in the Chambers. And, in-
deed, how should liberty be concerned ? What can the So-
vereign do with the exception of right of declaring peace
and war, and the right of pardon, which are not in question,
being inscribed in the national charter as well as in the Im-
perial Constitution—what can he do without the concur-
rence of the public bodies and the will of the country ?
Nothing. What, on the contrary, with the country ? E vere -
thing. Now, I demand ol you, is not that liberty the true
liberty, the only liberty P And not only is that liberty such
as it has been always understood—that is to say, the reignof
opinion; but the particular form which it assumes with us
gives it an evident superiority t o all the liberties of our time.
For, on the one hand, proceeding from universal suffrage, it
does not wound the dignity of a people like those privileged
liberties made for the profit of a class ; and, on the other, in
assuring to the country by the independence of authority
the invaluable benefit of a perfi ct security for all, it does not
reproduce, in spite of universal suffrage, the vice of Ameri-
can Constitutions, which, superb in appearance, magnificent
by the principles which they clispley, offer in reality the only
coarse domination, often violent and odious, of majorities
over minorities. And see, however, what men, considerable
by genius and talent, affect not to see I Those very persons
who should bless the hand which has drawn them from the
abyss, who enjoy the most the security and independence
which the liberty of the Empire assures them, are the first
to deny it. They forget that the greatest affirmation of this
liberty is the right which they use and abuse in protesting
against it. Like the atheists, who make use of the reason
God has given them in denying God, they blaspheme the
liberty which covers them with its shield. And now, gen-
tlemen, let me be allowed to consider an important point in
the mechanism of our institutions. The principle of our
Constitution reposing upon the reciprocal independence of
authority and liberty, it was needful at once to assure that
independence, and establish in lieu of responsible Mi.
nisters new relations between the Government and the
Chambers. Now you are aware that the Constitution has
provided for this double object by the creation of two
great bodies—the Senate, guardian of the funda-
mental pact, and of the public liberties, alone charged
with the duty of applying to the Constitution the
modifications which time may render necessary, and the
Council of State formed, according to the text of the Con-
stitution, of distinguished men, in order to prepare laws,
and support the discussion of them in the Chambers. This
last body is one of the characteristic innovations of our.
Constitution, for it is to that belongs the duty of serving
as a link between the executive and legislative powers ; it
is it which is placed to receive the observations of the
ed authority
at
h
o and t
view
of the preceding
Chambers and the explanations of Ministers; in a word, it
isin its
liberty ought to join hands.
If one is bosom
pia
con-
siderations, I will be pardoned for believing that, in order
that such a body may fulfil its lofty mission in all its extent
it is not sufficient that it be composed of eloquent orators,
wise jurisconsults, and experienced administrators, but that
it should have, as regards both Ministers and the Chambers,
all the independence which the two other bodies of the State
enjoy. How, indeed, could such a body have authority is
the Chambers if it was at the discretion of Ministers, and
how could it inspire confidence in the Ministers, if it was
ruled by the Chambers ? The independence of the Council
of State appears to me then indispensable to the free work-
ing of our institutions. Now, as there is no body indepen-
dent, if the right of speech is not accorded to each of its
members, it scans also there is also no independence for the
Councillor of State, if his eine, is
not sufficient to give him
the right of speaking, or remaining silent in the Chambers.
But it is not in a day that the spirit of new institutions
penetrates into practice. We are, perhaps, in regard to the
Constitution and the'Empire, like the generation which has
seen the decimal system established, and can only form an
idea of the new measures by mental reference to the old. /8
it not under the dominion of this preoccupation that we have
seen the Council of State absorbed little by little, and per-
sonified in a President, then in the Ministers without port-
folios, then again in vice-presidents,waiting perhaps farther
incarnations? But I understand well the spirit of our in-
stitutions. I ace authorised to believe that after the inevit-
able trials during their period, experience will cause to be
renounced combinations which partly present the inconveni•
ences of the parliamentary regime without having its
advantages. I
am, then, convinced that, soon or late, the
Council of State, which, in the spirit as in the letter of the
Constitution, is charged with sustaining discussions before
the Chambers, will no longer be personified but by itself;
that restored to the independence, which alone gives wings
to talent, under a new regulation, easily introduced !n prac-
tice, it will suffice for every exigency, and that then not only
will it be at the level of every discussion, but will be able to
redeem every responsibility. Whatever it may be with my
particular views upon this point, time, which is necessary
to found Governments, is also necessary to develops the
liberties of a country. But from the present moment we
can boldly say that our institutions rest upon the most prac-
tically liberal principle which ever was, that in separating
authority and liberty, that in rendering them inde-
pendent of each other, that in permitting the one to de-
velops freely without checking the other, our Constitution
has realised the greatest benefit which a people can receive.
Already Europe, which has seen with astonishment all the
greatness of this reign—the glory of arms united to internal
prosperity_ begins to contemplate with not loss astonish-
ment, the spectacle of our liberty, and cannot prevent herself
admiring that erder, as security at once so admirably
assured by our organisation and so brilliantly ennobled by
our public discussions. As for the country, happy in having
at length found its natural path, prowl of feeling that its
liberty is worth to it all the liberties of the world, it reposes
with confidence upon the strength of its institutions. It
comprehends, now that it is destined to see realised, that
beautiful thought of Itlontesquieu, that great men make
great institutions, and in their turn great institutions make
great men. I have then the honour to propose to you this
toast—" To the Emperor Napoleon 111,, to the founder of
liberty in France."

The Patent Office.

The report of the Commons' Select Committee appointed
to inquire as to the most suitable arrangements to be made
respecting the Patent-cffiee, library, and museum has been
printed. The committee, in the first place, made inquiries
as to the Patent-offiee and library it Southampton-buildings,
with the view to ascertain whether they are adequate to carry
out the provisions of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
Upon this point the committee have found that, in the
opinion of all the witnesses they have examined, and, so far
as they could collect from the evidence of all those who have
devoted attention to the subject, the present office is totally
wanting in the accommodation requisite for giving full
effect to that Act and the patent system generally. For
this purpose suitable apartments for the Commissioners,
law officers, and clerks, with a record-office and rooms for
inspecting provisional specifications, drawings, and scien-
tific publications, should be at once provided ; the place
now used for the inspection of classifications and draw-
ings is little better than a dark passage, in which there is
barely standing room. With regard to the library, the com-
mitte have found that it is one of great value and utility,
but that its utility is seriously impaired by its crowded state
and the want of sufficient attendants; the books are now
stowed away in a number of small rooms, or rather closets,
some on floors, some on tables, some !n passages, and some
on shelves; while the storerooms are so overloaded that the
floors have already sunk, and the surveyor of the Board of
Works has refused to allow them to be loaded any more lest
they should break down. The inconvenience to those who
frequent the office and library arising from this state of
things is enhanced by the want of a sufficient staff of atten-
dants. ThEecommittee consider that the want of increased
accommodation in respect of the Patent-office and library is
so much felt as to prejudice the due administration of the
patent law, and they therefore recommend that sufficient
office room with an additional reading room and extension
of the library, should be provided with the least possible de-
lay. The committee further recommend that the library
should on no account be separated from the office. All
witnesses concur in this opinion.
The second point to which the committee directed their
attention was that of the Patent Museum, having regard
especially to its formation, its present state, its relation to
the Patent-office and library, and the nature of its contents,
so as to render it practically useful. The committee found
that the Patent Museum was formed by Mr Woodcroft,the
superintendent of specifications, by the request of the Com-
missioners of Patents, and that it consists of models and
machines, belonging partly to the Commissioners of Patents
partly to the Commissioners of the Exhibition of 1851, and
partly to Mr Woodcroft himself, and various private per-
sons. This collection has been exhibited since 1857 in the
iron building at South Kensington. It occupies a floor
space of only 6,700 feet, and is too much overcrowded for
classification or for due inspection by visitors. The com-
mittee are of opinion that the term " Patent Museum,"
which is generally applied to this collection, tends to give
an erroneous impression as to its character and object.
Various suggestions have been made by witnesses respect-
ing the nature of a museum connected with the mechanical
arts, which may be summed up as follows :—That it should
illustrate the histery of those arts by a collection of original
machines from an early period to the present time ; that it
should exhibit all known inventions respecting machinery
and manufactures; that it should show the present state of
all machinery and manufactures. Some of the witnesses
suggested that the collection should be restricted to the
machinery and manufactures of the United Kingdom,
while others proposed that it should be extended to those of
foreign countries. Some, again, proposed that the collection
should contain all the objects of each class, while others
proposed that a selection only of the most important objects
should be exhibited. There was no less diversity of opinion
respecting the primary purpose for which any collection or
exhibition should be made, some of the witnesses consi-
dered that it should be for the purpose of conveying instruc-
tion in the mechanical arts, either in a cursory way to people
who might visit the museum, or to students in mechanics,
or to persons desirous of applying themselves to the dis-
covery of improvements in machinery and manufactures.
Other witnesses deemed the museum chiefly desirable for
the information of persons intending to take out or purchase
patents in aid of the information afforded by books and spe-
cifications, to assist them in ascertaining whether the con-
templated patent would be valid as a new invention. On the
other hand, two witnesses, Mr Carpmael and Mr Johnson,
gave it as their opinion that for all purposes of the patent
law a museum of models would be practically useless. The
committee are of opinion that any special collection of pa-
tented inventions made for the purpose of evidence, illustra-
tion, or record of patent rights, is not so connected with a
general museum of mechanical inventions as to render the
neighbourhood of such a museum to a patent-office and
library or law courts necessary. It appears to the committee
that the purpose of a general museum is to illustrate and ex-
plain the commencement, progress, and present positions of
the most important branches of mechanical inventions; to
show the chief steps by which the most remarkable machines
have reached their present degree of excellence; to convey
interesting and useful information, and to stimulate inven-
tion.

At this part of the report it was proposed to add—" The
committee are not prepared to express any opinion as to the
advisability of such a general museum of mechanical inven-
tions, nor do they consider that the funds derived from
patent fees are applicable to such an object; but the pro-
posal was negatived by five votes against four, the chairman
not voting. The,committee proceeded to say that, in forming
an illustrative collection of inventions, it would be necessary
to adopt the principle of selection. This, however, does
not appear to the committee to be an insuperable objection,
especially as no one proposes to substitute models for specifi-
cations, which, for all the purposes of administering the
patent law, would still have to be consulted, and bear the
stamp of authority. Such a collection should contain a
selection of models of moderate size which should illustrate
different departments of inventions, and also a selection of
models of current patented inventions. This collection
should be exhibited in connection with the Patent-office.
The attention of the committee has been given to the
most eligible situation for the buildings, in connection with
the Patent-office—that is to say, the office, library, and
such last-mentioned collection, and the following are the
sites respecting which their inquiries have been chiefly
directed.-1. Chancery-lane.—This is a block of land oc-
cupied principally by old and delapidated houses, and
surrounded by Southampton-buildings, Chancery-lane,
Cursitor-street, and Took's-court. It is most conveniently
placed, being in close proximity to the law courts at Lin-
coln's-inn, the Inns of Court, and the new Record Office.
Another site immediately adjoining the last named was
suggested ; it extends to the north side of the Record-office.
Should the plan for concentrating all the law courts in the
neighbourhood of Chancery-lane, which has been recently
under the consideration of Government, be carried into
effect, it will afford an additional argument in favour of
either site. The cost of the first named site, amounting to
6,878 yards, was estimated at £205,C00. 2. Fife-house.—
This block consists of Fife-house (in which the East India
Museum is now placed) an adjoining garden, and some small
houses. It contains in all about two acres, and appears to the
committee to be well situated for the buildings in question.
The committee, however, do not consider that it offers as
many advantages as the Chancery-lane site would afford,
being more distant from the law courts and offices. This has
been estimated at the price of £52,800 per acre. 3. Victoria-
street—This consists of a block of land in Victoria-street,
which would afford sufficient space for the proposed build-
ings, but the committee do not consider the situation would
be as convenient as either of the two last named sites for in-
ventors, professional men, and others who would principally
resort to it. This site is estimated at £66,000. It contains
an area of nearly an acre and a quarter. 4. Trafalgar-square.
—This has been recommended by some witnesses; but,
having regard to the recent decision of the House upon the
subject of the National Gallery, the committee did not feel
justified in entertaining the proposition. 5. South Ken-
sington—Ample space may be afforded in the vicinity of
neighbour-
hood the present museum for a general museum of mechanical
inventions. The land of this site is vested in Government
for localbut the
hbour-
hood is of a high value. This part of the report, as
ascertained cci n nec ed with
that science
landin and
this
origi-
nally proposed by the chairman (Mr Dillwyn) contained the
following clause :—" The committee aro of opinion that this
site is too far removed from the business parts of the me-
tropolis to render it a desirable situation for institutions of
committee
a practical or industrial character." This clause was
struck out on a division by five against four ; but, as the
chairman did not vote, the opinions of the members
present would seem to have been equally divided. The
report proceeds to state that upon a full consideration of the
advantages and disadvantages of these sites the committee
have arrived at the conclusion that the balance of advan-
tages in favour of the neighbourhood of Chancery-lane out-
weighs that of the others, and they therefore recommend it
for adoption. The committee find that the surplus of receipts
beyond expenditure on the balance of accounts of the fees
payable by stamps under the Provisions of the Patent Law
Amendment Act, 1852, has amounted to £173,044, up to
the end of 1562, and that the surplus for the year 1863, of
which the accounts have not yet been publb lied, is estimated
to amount to .£37,600, making up to th,, end of last year it
total surplus revenue of :C120,014 [I he Patont:otTien report
just issued states last year's surplus to be £53,968.] The
committee consider that the principal object of the fees pay-
able under the Provisions of the Patent Law Amendment
Act was to provide for the proper working of that measure,
and not for the purpose of increasing the general revenue
of the country. Without entering upon the qestion whether
or not a claim exists to have the surplus exclusively devoted
to the purposes of the Act of 1852, the committee aro of
opinion that for the future the annual surplus revenue ac-
cruing from the operation of that act should be supplied to
the extent which Loy be ueceeeary,

PRICE .4d.
STAMPED,— ..sd.

The Disturbances in Geneva.

We extract from a S,viss paper, Le Journal de
Geneve, of the 231, the following account of the dis-
turbances which lately took place et Geneva :—This
place has been the scene of disgraceful disturbances
attended with bloodshed, which Will, we have no
doubt, excite the aurae indignation throughout all
Switzerland as here. The formation of the commit-
tee for the F-lection of a ineraber of the C9ancil of
State gave 17 votes for the Radicals and 10 for the
Independents, the names of the members to farm
the committee being always drawn by lot from
among the citizens present at the opening of the
electoral operations. Party spirit ran very high
during the voting, and the electoral place was filled
all day with a compact crowd. Yesterday morn-
ing the counting of the votes was commenced
and watched with the same feverish anxiety
as had accompanied the voting on the pre-
vious day. The total number of valid votes given
was 11,025 ; of which M. Arthur Cheneviere ob.
tamed 5,677, and M. James Fazy 5,340. The former
was consequently elected by a majority of 337. As
soon as this result was known several members of
the radical party demanded that the election should
be annulled, and the committee, consisting as above
stated of seventeen radicals and ten independents,
at once decided against its validity, all the radicals
voting in that sense. This abuse of power, which
is justified neither by the letter nor the spirit of
the law, excited extreme indignation among the
conservatives, and a meeting of 2,000 or 3,000 per-
sons was immediately held on the Place Molard, in
which several speakers advocated the necessity of
protesting against the decision of the committee by
all legal means, and delegates were chosen to lay
the matter before the Council of State, then sitting
at the Hotel de Ville. This was done, and the
Council did not hesitate to acknowledge that the
committee had exceeded it's powers, but added that
the law gave it (the Council) no authority over the
decision, and that nothing remained to be done but
to proclaim the numbers of the votes, reserving a
further deliberation of the committee, to be held as
soon as possible. This decision, having been made
known to the !crowd in the environs of the Hotel
de Ville, was received with' loud cheering ; and a
commissary of police, attended by drummers and
tipstaffs, proceeded to proclaim the result. An
enormous crowd followed the cortege through the
streets to the Place de Chevelu, on entering which
a shot, fired frcm the entrance of the Rue du Cen-
drier, struck a citizen in the knee, and caused some
confusion in the cortege, which nevertheless con-
tinued to advance. But, on reaching the Rue du
Chantepoulet, it was received with a volley of 60
or 80 musket shots from the windows and from a
band of armed men at the top of the street. The
crowd thus fired at was totally unarmed, and there-
fore could not have given any provocation. This
volley, fired into a compact crowd, killed several
persons and wounded mauy others. We have not
been able to learn the names of all the sufferers, but
we know that ore of them was a young man of 17., the
eldest son of M. Jerome,agent de change. He was shot
through the thigh and died an hour afterwards. In
presence of this murderous attack on a defenceless
crowd, the column turned back towards the Hotel
de Ville, which from that moment became their
central position. A strong barricade was erected at
each end of the Rue de l'Hotel de Ville ; the wine
doers of the arsenal wore forced open, and every
man endeavoured to obtain a musket ; so that the
street became a kind of fortress occupied by men
resolved to sell their lives dearly. We do not know
what the Council of State, then sitting, was doing
while these events occurrd, but at five o'clock it
sent for a &tech:nut of rLerui!s, a cltnpany of car-
bineers, and a company of the 20th Regiment,
under Major Arrneud, and entrusted them with the
guard of certain posts. Two hours later the Coun-
cil issued the following proclamation
"The Council of State earnestly calls on all citi-
zens of Geneva to join in maintaining order. It
relies on the patriotism of the citizens for the safety
of the conntry.—la the name of the Council of State,
" MOISE VAUTIERS."
It is also said that several parleys took place be-
tween the hostile parties, which led to no result.
10 P.M.—We have only to add that the aggres-
sore, whose exploits we have above described, have
raised several barricades at the approaches of the
bridges over the Rhone, and have placed cannon,
taken from the arsenal of Grand-Pre, to command
the principal streets of the quarter St. Gervais A
Despatch from Berne announces the arrival of
Councillor Fornerod, with full power to levy troops
in the cantons of Vaud and Neufchatel. At the
present moment we learn that the night %ppm&
likely to pass off more tranquilly than was ex-
pected, as the barricades are everywhere partially
removed, and circulation is again free.
Advices from Berne, dated the 24th, are as fol-
lows :

The official report of Councillor Fornerod states
that yesterday morning passed off quietly in Geneva.
Both parties had, on the urgent representations of
the Councillor of State, replaced the arms and can•
nous which they had taken from the arsenals; the
Conservatives having stormed an arsenal as well as
the Radicals, and the people seemed to have re-
turned to a better frame of mind, so that the
Federal Commissioners had resolved on allowing
the Waadtlandcr battalion to remain on the Gene.
van frontier, and determined to proceed alone to the
disturbed town, accompanied only by a few Waadt•
landre and Genevan officers who had returned from
the officer's fete at Friburg.
Unfortunately the order fur the march of the
troops into the town had noverthless to be given,
because the radical electoral committee refused to
give the Federal Commissioners any satisfactory
explanation of their proceedings on the previous
Sunday, and the Conservatives, notwithstanding
the warning of Councillor Fornerod, intended to
hold a popular meeting yesterday afternoon, which
it was feared would give rise to fresh conflicts be-
tween the rival parties.

Councillor Fornerod says nothing of the result
of this meeting, but states his belief that he need
not yet give up the hope of a peaceful solution, as
the Committee of the Genevan Grand Council had
decided upon calling a meeting of the Grand Coun-
cil, and on submitting to it a motion that the elec•
lion of Sunday be investigated by the Federal
Commissioners.

P.S.—The funeral of eight persons killed during
the disturbances takes places this morning. As it
is feared here that this ceremony will be made the
occasion of fresh disturbances, orders have been
given for a second battalion to march into Geneva.
The popular meeting of the Conservative party
does not seem to have taken place yesterday, the
Radicals having threatened to take up arms again
in case the meeting took place, M. J. Fazy re-
turned to Geneva on Saturday from Paris.
The Federal Diet has entrusted the Federal ma-
gistrate, M. Duplan•Veillon, from the canton of
Waadt, and the Berne Councillor of State, M. Migg,
with the investigation into the occurrences at
Geneva.

THE FATAL CASE OF DROWNING AT SOUTHEND.
—A correspondent writes :—" In your impression
of the 24th inst you state that on Monday last a gentleman
of the name of Terry was drowned at Southend while
bathing, and that the Sea was very rough at the time. But
as I was en eye-witncss to this sad occurrence I think it
only right to the public that you should hear my version of
the accident, of which I can vouch for the truth. On Sun-
da) afternoon, about 1 o'clock (uot Monday) a Mr Berry
(not Terry) got into No 6 machine, on the west side of the
pier, for the purpoFe of having a bathe, but not long after
he was missed, amd the net being procured, he was dragged
oat after 20 minutes had elapsed. Dr Warwick (to whom
all praise is due) was quickly on the spot, but after trying
the usual remedies for more than an hoar the poor fellow
was given over as dead ; and, as to the sea being rough, it
was quite the revatte, but the tide was (as y041154v0 it in
your impression) rising rapidly at the time."

The Channel Fleet sailed from Spithe ad ca—its
cruise westward yesterday afternoon. At 1 part.
dense smoke from the funnels of the respective,
ships told of the preparations making on board, and.
very shortly afterwards the ships could be seezt
with wreaths of steam escaping from their steam..
pipes and cables hove in short, waiting the signal
to start. At 3.45 p.m. the Edgar screw two-decker,
74 guns, Capt. G. P. Hernby, bearing the flag of
the Admiral Commanding Rear-Admiral S. C.
axres, C. 8., led The way oat of Spithead by the
eastern passage for the Channel, :followed in litte,
by the other ships in the order in which they are
named. Aurora, 35, (unarrnoured) screw, Capt. 5.r
F. M'Clintock ; Hector, 21, iron frigate, scre•vv,
Copt. G. W. Preedy, C.B. ; Defence, 16, iron h
gate, screw, Cnpt. A. Phillimore ; Warrior, -10,
iron frigate, screw, Cant. A. A. Cochrane, C.B. ;
Prince Consort, 35, iroticase.l frigate, screw, Cap!.
0. Welles, C. 13.; 13i,ek Price, 40, iron friga!e.
t•erevi, Copt. S. F. B. Wainwright; Enterprise, 1,
iron-caned sloop, Conitnencier C. J. Rowley. The
fleet will ho put threupf a series of evolutions under
steam, and sail between Portland and the Chops of
the Channel by Rear-Admiral Decree, and will oc.
"si"all.Y, until further Admiralty orders, look in
at Torbay anchorage. Letters for the fleet should
therefore for the present be directed to Torquay.
The Royal Sovereign, turret ship, Capt. Sherard
Osborn, C. 8., did not join the Channel Fleet at
Spithead previous to its sailing, as had been pre..
viously arranged.
Up to sunset last evening sh
remained in Portsmouth harbour.
Her Majesty's paddle yachts Victoria and Albert,
Capt. H. S. H. the Prince Leiningen, and the
Alberta,Staff-Commander Welch, sailed from Portsi
mouth yesterday morning, the former for Graves•
end and the latter for FlushiPg, both in the servio e
of the Prince and Princess Louis of Besse.
The Forte, 39, screw frigate, Capt. Arthur Met.
lish, bearing the flag of Rear-Admiril Laird
Warren, late Commander in Chief of her Majesty's
naval forces on the south east coast of America,
arrived at Spithead yesterday, and on anchoring
exchanged the usual salute with the flagship of the
Admiral in command at Portsmouth. The Forte
sailed from Rio de Janeiro on the 30th June, from
Bahia on the 12th of July, and from keyal on the
9th of August. Light winds were generally ex.,
perienced throughout the voyage until Monday,
last, when a very strong easterly gale was fallm
in with. Off the Start a steamer showing the
Federal American colours was sighted, resemblinig
the Kearsage in her hull and rig. Admiral Warren
with his family and secretary landed at Portsmouth
yesterday from the Forte, and his flag was hauled
down at sunset. The Forte is.ordered to proceed
from Spithcad to Sheerness to dismantle and pay
out of commission, and will sail some time during
to-day. Forty naval invalids and supernumera-
ries came home in the ship from vessels on the
station, and were transferred to her Majesty's ship
the Victory and Haslar Naval Hospital yesterday.

Yesterday Mr. E. C. Nepean, one of the officials
from the War-office, who has been occupied for the
past week in the inspection of the armoury for land
and sea service, guns, shot, shell, and other War
Department stores, together with the land maga-
zines at Chatham, as well as those for the navy at
Upnor, brought his inspection to a close, and during
the day left the garrison for Dover, to commenco
the inspection at that station. The number of the
smoothbore cast iron ordnance, consisting of a 2
pounders, 68 pounders, and 95 cwt. 10 inch guns,
now in store at Chatham is very considerable, and
as these are comparatively useless against armour
plated ships, no further ordnance of the kind will
be stored at Chatham. A large number of the 100
pounder smoothbore guns, for naval service, which
are now in course of manufacture at the Royal gun
factory, will shortly be received at the Gun wharf,
together with the first supply of the Armstrong
300 pounders, for distribution to the ironclad
frigates now under construction at the doe'syard.
T‘l9:iorsGen. A. J. Taylor, the recently-appointed.
Inspeetor-General o: Royal Artillery, accompanied
by C ,ps. S. Nicholson, his aide-de-camp, yestet' sy
brought to a termination his first annual inspection
of the Royal Artillery forces in the Chatham
district, in which duty he had been engaged for
two days. On the previous day the Inspector-
General was occupied in the inspection of the Ist
division of the depot brigade, consisting of five
batteries, under the command of Lieut.-Col. W. K.
Fooks, the forces comprising which were paxaded
in marching order on the review ground in the
centre bastion, Sheerness, where the Major-General
was received with the customary "present." After
a close inspection had been made of the clothing,
and accoutrements of the non-commissioned officers
and men, the line broke into open columns of
divisions, right in front, and marched past in slow
and quick time with remarkable steadiness and
precision, considering that the ranks were mainly-
composed of young soldiers, the wheeling intervals
being very correctly preserved, and the align.
went -of the divisk.as wall sustained, both in open
and quarter-distance oolumns. A series of battalion
movements followed, at the termination of which
the parade was dismissed, and the Armstrong rifled
and smoothbore guns commanding the channel ap-
proaches to Chatham harbour manned, when some
excellent practice was made from both descriptions
of ordnance, with shot and shell, the target being
moored to seaward at a distance of 2,000 yards.
During this portion of the inspection the officers
and men were closely examined as to their know-
ledge of their various duties pertaining to the use
and management of artillery and the appliances of
guns, sling-carts, parbuckling, and the numerous
modes of shifting and handling heavy ordnance. In
company with Col: C. J. B. Riddell, C. 8., in com-
mand of the Royal Artillery stationed in the Chats
ham district, MajoreGen. Taylor subsequently made
an inspection of the offices, barracksrooms, married
quarters, hospital, and other buildings, with the
whole of which he expressed himself in generally
satisfactory terms. The afternoon of yesterday was
devoted to an inspection of the mounted field-bats
eery of Royal Artillery, now occupying the north
square at Brompton Barracks, and the efficiency of
the officers and men, tested by a series of field
mqmouvres on Chatham lines, where the customary
review movements wore gone through in a highly
creditable and efficient manner. The men were also
inspected dismounted in the barrack square, by
Majors General Taylor, who likewise inspected the
Armstrong guns, waggons, horses, stables, &c. The
annual inspection was brought to a termination yes-
terday afternoon, and Major-General Taylor will
this morning proceed to the other Royal Artillery
stations in the south-eastern district.

In accordance with instructions to that effect
from the Admiralty, the boats. anchors, and cables
for the iron frigate Valiant, 24, 800. horse power,
have been sent from Chatham and Sheerness dock •
yards to the Victoria Docks, where the Valiant is
being prepared for sea.

The following appointments and promotions have
been made at the Admiralty :—Lieut. D. a Fre-
mantle to the Brisk—Denton H. Speer, master ill
command of the Acorn—James B. Haines, master
to the Brisk—Sub.Lieut. J. J. Bell and Sab•Lieut.
Edward A. Liadert to the Brisk—John H. Robin•
son, Chat les T. Turner, James M. Bance, and Claude
C. de Crespigny, midshipmen to the Brisk—Stephen
H. Thompson, George Wilson, and Pits 11. E.
Crowe, naval dadets to the Brisk--w. H. cipna,
paymaster, to the Brisk—A. G. Young, assist. pay
master, to the Brisk—Edward J. Butler, assist.
burg., to the Hibernia—Arthur J. Ireland, assist.
surg., to the Caradoc—Virilliam Redmond, assist.
surg., to the Royal Adelaide—W. Clay, clerk, to
the Brisk_Charier G. Thibflteen and G. H. Stoate,
master's clf,',ilitnnts, to the Brisk _... A Borthwick and
W. C. of the Aeia, and
J. Milntyre, of the
Royal Sovereign,
promoted to ho enginecri;—J,
Barber, of the Asia, and C. J. Jeldly, of the Ciala•
tea, promoted to be feet-class.assist. engineers—F.
, Pugh, of the Medusa'''. Catchpole, of the Asia, and
P. Sutton and I. Finlay, of the Cumberland,

confirmed as first-class assist. engineers—R. Irwin,
of the Wolvercne, and William Savage, of the Cum-
berland. confirmed as second-class assist. engineers
____and Frederick Smiley, assist. engineer to the
IVlarlborough, as supernumerary.