The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-03 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 3, 1869.

LONDON, MONDAY, OCT. 3, 1864.

Every now and then the country is startled from
its propriety by an awful catastrophe, which, for
the time being, absorbs the attention to the setting
aside of all other objects of interest and importance.
Since the fatal accident at the Hartley mines there
has not been such a fearful event as that of last
Saturday at Erith. The explosion of powder-mills
is, of course, at any time a serious evil, but in the
present case the catastrophe at Erith seems to have
been attended with the utmost loss and productive
of extraordinary injuries to human beings. Doubts
less it will be almost impossible to ascertain the
exact amount of injury occasioned by this affair.
Many persons have sustained a severe shock to
their nerves, and other minor but annoying circum-
stances will assuredly have occurred, such as change
of plans and loss of time consequent upon the
sudden calamity. It is, however, when we come to
rt fleet upon the fearful sufferings that have taken
place and the sudden deaths occasioned that it
seems requisite to consider thecause of such a serious
event, and to think if any means could not be
adopted to prevent the recurrence of such an
awful catastrophe. It appears that the beginning
of the accident was not in the mills, but originated
in some barges that were proceeding to take the
casks of gunpowder to the magazine. It is sup.
posed that one of the men on board must have
dropped a piece of lighted tobacco when smoking,
and thus ignited the powder. This is only sur-
mise, but most likely it is the correct interpretation
of the awful event. Unfortunately, there may be
no means of ascertaining if such be the fact or not
for all those on board the barges have, it
is fear, been destroyed. It is certain that the
mischief begun there from the fact that a
man who was at work near the spot where the ex-
plosion took place beheld a light suddenly appear
on board one of the barges. He thought it was a
flesh of lightning, but was speedily undeceived, for
he was blown into the air, and afterwards was
struck by a piece of timber and much injured, It
is positively frightful to contemplate the agonies
endured by the unhappy persons who felt victims
to this awful occurrence. It is most important
then that on the supposition of the accident arising
from smoking having taken place in consequence of
smoking being practised on board the barges that
more care should be taken b prevent the habit
being adopted than is at all the case at present.
People are always too apt to thick that because
nothing appears immediately dangerous that no
harm will ensue, and that it is idle to make such a
fuss about a trifle. Events have shown, however,
that this is not the case, for fi ightful sufferings and
terrible deaths occur in consequence of a moment's
carelessness. Tills has been proved in innumerable
instances, and the serious accidents on the railway
lines have borne testimony to the fact that want
productive of most die-
of thought will be
as'sous occurrences. Surely some plan might
b 3 devised, by means of which the insane habit
o' smoking may be put a stop to in places where it
is courting death and destruction to themselves and
others for the men to do it. It is, at all events,
worthy of the trial, and whether or not the circuna-

stance is elicited at the evidence, it will be a duty
for those who are at the head of a large body of
workmen to insist on the discontinuance of the habit
in places where danger results to life and property
is injured. Perhaps more care and caution might
be adopted in molly other ways, but at all events
it is the one thing needful that this reprehensible
custom be discarded. It is strange that the expes
rience of so many calamities does not impress more
of consideration upon the minds of those employed
in places of danger; but there is no use trusting to
this. Use is everything, and those engaged in
perilous employments proceed about their business
as recklessly and carelessly as if nothing of conse-
qaence would ensue from their forgetfulness and in-
attention. The event of Saturday has been a
startling shock to the community, and it will
be well if the occasion is improved by the sub-
stitution in future of more care in places
which contai❑ combustible matter. It is
satisfactory to think that after the awful event
occurred the greatest care seems to have been
taken everywhere to rectify the evil effects of the
sad disaster. Where this was unhappily impos-
sible then all possible means of mitigation were
employed. The sufferers were removed by trains
to the hospital, where every possible care was
bestowed upon them. It is at times like these
that we fully appreciate the value of these insti-
tutions. It would be impossible to have the same
care and attendance bestowed upon the sufferers
from such casualties at any other place, and once
within the walls of the hospitals they are treated
with all possible speed and tended with care. The
scenes that took place at the station were most
distressing, and the numbers of persons who ar-
rived there to glean intelligence of their friends
was very great. The exertions used to prevent the
danger to the Thames embankment from spread-
ing were most praiseworthy, and altogether this
' accident seems to have been attended with more
skill and enterprise than are often witnessed in
such sad affairs. The speedy arrival of the troops
from Woolwich was productive of great assistance,
and it is satisfactory to think that no means were
neglected which could obviate the spread of the
evil. Occasions like these call forth the resources
and appliances which in safer times lie dormant,
and the scene down the river on Saturday was a
strange one that does not often occur. Considering
the violence of the shock, and the distances at which
it was felt, it cannot be supposed that all the sad
particulars connected with it have yet been ascer-
tained. The state of the poor sufferers in the hos-
pital is the most serious consideration, and many
of them will doubtless feel the effects of the accident
to their dying day, So deplorable a calamity is
fortunately not often witnessed, but since there is
no knowing when or how such events may take
place, it behoves all in authority to be on their
guard and keep themselves prepared for emergencies.
With the exception of the supposed carelessness
that originated the catastrophe, there is no biame
to be attached to those who superintended the
subiequent arrangements, and all possible means
appear to have bed put in requisition to prevent
farther mischief ensuing, or more sufferings experi-
enced: This fearful occurrence is another proof of
the solemn fact so often slighted and universally
disregarded, that in the midst of life we are in
death. Those engaged in the pursuit of their
callings were in a moment scattered abroad, their
dwellings destroyed, and themselves injured seri-
ously. Such reflections should teach humility, for
in the midst of the appliances of civilisation men
may be really as much exposed to danger as if they
ware in the desert or surrounded by savage tribes
upon a barbarous coast. Perhaps this may be re-
garded as an illustration of the tenth, that there are
limits set to out finite attempts at excellence, and
when we think ourselves most successful, it is said,
" Thus far shalt thou go, but no farther."

Englishmen have good cause to be thankful for
their national prosperity, which seems not only to
be totally unaffected by the convulsions of other
States, but increases and enlarges with a rapidity
that finds no parallel in financial history. The
Revenue—sure test of public welfare—continues to
improve; and the tables just issued show an in-
crease in the quarter just ended over the correspond-
ing quarter of 1863 of more than £380,000, although
we are now experiencing the effect of the late re-
ductions in the Customs and in the Income-tax,
The decrease perceptible under these heads is there.
fore simply consequent upon the remission of duties,
and, notwithstanding that grant to the public, ws
can still boast an improvement of £380,000
in the poorest quarter of the year. Such a fact
demonstrates very forcibly the elasticity of our
revenue, but in truth that principle of compensa-
tion which has always made Free Trade the most
profitable policy, and has converted our Post-cffice
into one of our principal sources of profit instead
of being one of our national burdens, is already a'
work. The benefits accruing, not only to the popue
lation, but to the Exchequer, are now being felt from
the reduction of duties on what may almost be
called the necessaries of life. The reduction of the
tea duty is felt in the increased consumption, and
we hope that the next budget will deal with sugar
in the same liberal spirit, for those articles, so
necessary to the public comfort, will always repay
a generous consideration for the requirements of
the people. The decrease in the Customs is £248,000
for the quarter, but it is noticeable that the decrease
on the half year was £659,000, so that we are mak-
ing rapid progress even in this particular. The loss
of the £248,000 under this head is amply atoned
for by the increase in the next great source of
revenue—the Excise, which is £430,000, or on the
half-year £889,000. This is a rate of increase
rapid enough to satisfy the most impatient of
financiers, while stamps show an addition of
£76,000, and the Post-office no less than £140,000.
The latter is a somewhat remarkable item when
we contrast it with the half-year's increase of
£150,000. Our dull quarter can certainly boast of
a very active correspondence. The reduction in the
Income tae produces a decrease in that department
of £84,000, and other taxes generally the trifling
difference of £B,OOO. But these items of decrease,
in common with the losses under the head of the
Customs, are scarcely felt. The E seise
has come valiantly to the rescue, and thanks
to its increase at the rate of about
half a million a quarter, the revenue of a year,
in which reductions amounting to three millions
and a quarter have been made, only shows the net
decrease of £120,438. We apprehend that more
than one of the Continental States would be very
thankful to arrive at such a conclusion even by
the help of putting on a few taxes instead of re-
mitting them and truly Englishmen have reason to
be grateful to PROVIDENCE when they look around
them. The extraordinary buoyancy of our revenue
proves at least that the principles which govern our
commercial and financial policy are sound, and
foreign legislators might well profit from the re-
sults of our experience so clearly set before them.
Whether the vast revenue so easily acquired is
always laid out to the best possible advantage may
well be questioned, but like a young spendthrift,
whose fortune is sufficiently large to cover many
follies, we can afford to indulge ourselves nationally
with costly freaks at the Admiralty, and in other
kaarters, and can even venture to maintain our

effete currency laws in defiance of right and reason.
How long the growing wealth of the country will
consent to be fettered by them remains a question
for the future to solve.

The meeting of the Herta Agricultural Society
on Friday had little to distinguish it from the ordi-
nary rural gatherings of the season. We may ex.
pect at this time of the year to hear of a succession
of agricultural shows, exhibitions, banquets, and
gatherings of various kinds. They ar© as regularly

looked for by the upper classes of our counties as
the harvest homes of the labourer's anticipations.
According to a wise and long-standing rule the
discussion of politics is usually forbidden by the
rules of each societies, although due respect is not
always paid to the prohibition by the speakers.
The other day the determined breach of this regu-
lation produced some unpleasantness between a
noble chairman and his associates, but it is to be
expected that when a Minister of State forms
part of the company the audience will be a
little more indulgent if he touches upon the topics
with which he is habitually familiar. Apparently
the speakers at the Hertford dinner thought so,
far peace and war, the cotton supply, and the malt
tar, were all touched upon in succession. When it
came to Mr CowrEß's tarn he did not hesitate to
follow their example, but apparently finding some
little embarrassment in expressing his opinions re-
specting the malt tax, he took refuge in the CODBi
deration of the aspect of foreign affairs. Upon these
his sentiments were certainly worth hearing, for he
laid down a new and striking theory. It was of
coarse to be supposed that a member of the Govern-
ment would be quite prepared to take up arms in
defence of his allies, but the mode of his strategy
was at least novel. It is interesting to know what, in
Mr CowrEß's opinion, is the whole duty of a great
nation with ships on every sea, and an amount of
revenue unequalled among the nations of the
world :—" Our business in foreign affairs is to ex-
press our sympathy, and use that freedom of speech
which is the great privilege of Englishmen.'
Truly, if the whole of our obligations are fulfilled
by words, cynics might well ask the use of our
costly army and navy. But it is really too much
for patience, after the manner in which
_England
has suffered Denmark to be despoiled, nay, after
having advised her to submit to dismemberment,
for our political leaders to turn round upon the
unhappy little kingdom and lay the blame of her
misfortunes at her own doors because she did not
make use of the diplomatic assistance of England
and France. Such unworthy pretexts are not likely
to redeem the errors and mismanagement of the
Ministry.

THE PRUSSIANS IN JUTLAND.

AARHUUS, Sept. 27. -

The following stringent proclamations have re
con tly been issued by General von Falkenstein, the
Prussian Military Governor in Jutland :
The protocol respecting the armistice, appended to the
peace preliminaries of Ist August last, orders in Art. 6 that
only the necessary costs of administration (lea depenges
necessaires a la marche de l'administration), besides the ex-
penses for the maintenance of the troops, are to be paid out
of the revenues of Jutland. By reason of this order I can
only in future sanction such payments out of the income of
the province as appear unavoidablylnecessary for the admi-
nistration. From this day forth especially no pensions or
support money are to be drawn from these sources, no mat•
ter under what head they are comprised or from what fund
they are payable.

All order; of an opposite character are devoid of force.
(Signed) VON FALKENSTEIN, Milirary Governor.

Owing to the unfavourable weather and the continual
high winds prevailing in Jutland, as well as in consideration
of the approaching winter, it is requisite for the preservation
f the health of the tr.( ops that their maintenance should be
regulated as follows :
The Prussian scale of dietary permits under such circum •
stances an increased rate of allowance, which will be of meat
And an addition to the brandy. It is therefore ordered that
Irom the day following the issue of this proclamation each
Prussian soldier in Jutland is to be furnished with the fol-
lowing provisions daily :-1. flb fresh or salt meat ; 2. As
vegetables, 3cz rice, or 3f-oz groats, or 71oz husked vega-
tables, or 7/oz flour, or 31b potatoes ;3. •a salt; 4. loz
coffee ; 5. llb 13oz bread, all in Prussian weights; 6.
1.6 pint brandy. The country depots have to govern them-
selves accordingly, but the landlords of quarters to whom
the materials are furnished from the depots, shall see to
their being properly and well cooked, to that the soldier
may be regularly served with a good breakfast, dinner, and
supper. Should, however, the soldier prefer to dress his
own victuals, the landlord of quarters shall provide him with
the requisite utensils, wood, and cooking convenience. In
quarters where board is included the soldier is to be satisfied
with the table of the house according to the Prussian scale,
but shall at least receive so much as is allotted to him from
the depots.
The allowance of 311 b straw to the Prussian field ration
is calculated upon the requisite straw for litter beirg fur-
nished by the landlords or quarters. As this, however, is
not the case at present in Jutland, and the health of the
horses of the Prussian 2d combined Army Corp, has already
suffered by the deficiency of straw, it is hereby further
ordered that from this day forth the allowance of straw in
the heavy as well as light field ration is to be increased from
311 b to 61b daily, the mature being left to the landlords of
quarters without compensation.
(Signed) VON FALKENSTEIN, Military Governor.
The royal Prussian troops will take up their winter
quarters chirily in the following towns. The permanent
stay of the troops in one and the same place requires settled
quarters and garrison arrangement, and the respective com-
mandants have received orders to do what is necessary.
The authorities 0 the towns concerned are hereby desired
to comply at once with the demands that may be made
upon them by the King's commandants. The troops will
be distributed as follows :—Horsens, 4 battalion, 4 squad-
rons, 2 batteries—Skanderberg, 1 battalion —Silkeborg, 1
battalion—Aarhuus, 4 battalions, 4 squadron, 2 batteries—
Abeltoft, 1 battalion—Grenaa, 1 battalion—Randers, 1: bat-
talions, 5 squadrons, 2 batteries—Viborg, 2 battali,ns and
1 battery—Skive, 1 battalion 'Aalborg, 4 battalions, 4
bquadrens, 1 battery—Hjorring, 1 battalion—and Frede-
riskhavn. 1 battalion.

(Signed) YON FALKENSTEIN, Military Governor.
Some notion may be formed of the pressure which
will be put upon the towns by the distribution of
troops ordered in the last proclamation by a glance
t the following table, showing the population of
each place and the number of soldiers allotted to
its share ;

Population. Troops.
Horsens 8,980
Skanderborg.... 1,423 . .
Silkeborg
Aarhuus 11,000
tion of the general staff
corps offid 1.
Ebeltoft 1,313

Grenaa
Randers 9,72.5
___

Viborg .. 4,801 -

Skive /,709
Aalborg 10,039
Hjorring
Frederikabavn .. 1,843
Orders lnvp likewise been issued that the inhabits
tants of the above.named towns, no matter what
the size of their families, shall confine themselves
to a minimum of rooms, in most cases occupying
only a single apartment, and that in any case the
best rooms in the house are always to be allotted to
the military.

Orders have further been given that the park of
waggons, so great a tax upon the country people,
and a cause of the greatest danger to both men and
horses in winter, shall immediately be re•established
upon the same footing as during the campaign.
Fresh proclamations of General von Falkenstein
have made their appearance to-day. One orders
that all goods imported from the remainder of Den-
mark into Jutland shall again be subjected to duty,
although they have already paid duty once upon
entering the country. This order, quite contrary
to the terms of the peace preliminaries, at once cuts
off Jutland from all traffic, with the remainder of the
Danish kingdom.

ST. lirEs, Sept. 30.—The Champion Prizes in
,he All England Ploughing matches continue to
go to Ipswich. At the Huntingdon Society's match held
to-day this piizi was agalu won for the Messrs. Ransome
by their man Barker, although he had as competitors
Messrs. Howard's crack ploughmen, Brown and Purser,
one cr whom ploughed on each side of Barker's piece of
land,

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTERS TELEGRAMS.)

M. Drouyn de Lhuys Despatch on the
Evacuation of Rome.
PARIS, OCT. 3.

The following is a summary of the despatch, dated
12th September, addressed by M. Dronyn de Lhuys
to M. de Sartigee, on the evacuation of Rome :
The despatch recalls that the French Govern-
ment always considered the occupation of Romp as
abnormal and temporary. In 1859 the Pope pro-
posed to fix the end of that year for the evacua-
tion of the Papal territory by the French ; but
events prevented this from taking place. In 1860
the French troops were to have returned at the
end of August, but the agitation which arose
again prevented the evacuation from being accom.
plished. M. Drouyn de Lhuys then explains the
reasons which made France desire the evacuation
of Rome, and continues :
" The occupation of Rome constitutes an act of
intervention contrary to one of the fundamental
principles of our public law, and is the more diffi-
cult to justify, inasmuch as our object in lending
Piedmont armed support was to free Italy from
foreign intervention. The consequence of this
state of things is to place two distinct sovereign-
ties face to face on the same territory, and
to frequently give rise to serious difficulties.
The equity of things is stronger than the will of
man. Frequent changes have taken place in the
chief command of the French army, and, neverthe-
less, the same dissensions and the same conflicts of
jurisprudence have continually recurred. Other
inconveniences result from different political points
of view. Two Governments, not following the same
inspirations, do not proceed on the same principles,
and our conscience obliges us too often to give ad-
vice which too often the Court of Rome believes
itself bound to decline. In witnessing acts at vari-
ance with onr social condition and the maxims of
our legislation we escape with difficulty the respon.
sibility of a policy which we cannot approve."
The despatch continues ;

" Notwithstanding the manifest inconvenience
which we experienced, we resolved not to allow
ourselves to be diverted from the mission we had
accepted."

M. Dronyn de Lbuys then points out the happy
changes which have taken place in the general con•
dition of the Peninsula. He says :--
"The Italian Government has succeeded in dis-
solving the formidable associations directed against
Rome. It did not confine itself to opposing the
organisation of any regular force against the Pon•
tifical territory, bat impressed its policy towards the
Holy See with a tendency more in harmony with
international. duties. It ceased to put forward in
the Chamber the absoluto programme proclaiming
Rome as the capital of Italy, and to address to us
peremptory declarations on that subject. Other
ideas now begin to prevail. Renouncing the pur..
snit by force of the realisation of a project we were
determined to oppose, and being unable to retain
Turin as the seat of authority, the presence of
which is essential at a more central point, the
Cabinet of Turin itself intends transferring the
capital to another city. This eventuality is of the
highest importance for the Holy See as well as for
the Emperor's Government, for it will constitute a
new state of things no longer offering the same
dangers."
The despatch says, in conclusion, that France, on
seeing the stipulations for the protection of the
Holy See, might then fix a term for the evacuation
of Rome. The Holy See must also desire to return
to the normal state of an independent Govern.
meat. TLe Minister says:—
" We are confident that it will do us full justice
for the sentiments by which we are guided."

DENMARK. AND SCHLESWIG.

COPENHAGEN, OCT. 3.

The question of the boundary line between
Schleswig and Jutland is still unsettled: Captain
Scholler, of the Danish service, has arrived here
hom_Vienna to discuss that point with the Danish
Minister for Schleswig. The point in dispute is
the small town of Christiansfeld, in Schleswig,
which is claimed by Denmark.

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

(Rom the Times Correspondent)

CLIFTON-110USE, NIAGARA FALLS, Sept. 19.

General M'Clellan's prospects do not brighten.
His repudiation of the platform on which he was
nominated has rejoiced his foes, discouraged his
friends, and alienated the honester, though perhaps
the smaller, section of the Democratic party, and
reconciled many of the sincerest opponents of the
war to accept the re-election of Mr Lincoln as pre-
ferable to a triumph achieved on an issue not pre-
sented to the candidate. The peace party loudly
proclaims the shiftiness of his principles, while the
It-publicans deny that he has any principles at all,
and assert that he would have accepted the plat-
form as readily as he has rejected it, it Gen. Sher■
man had been defeated at Atlanta. The peace men,
composed mainly of Democrats, do not like the idea
of mutiny against the discipline of the party, and,
though they have no faith in the General, would
be glad if ho would give them an opportunity of
voting in his favour. With this view attempts have
been made to induce him to write a supplementary
letter to the Chicago Committee, declaring himself
emphatically for an armistice and a convention of
the States. It is urged that he would thus restore
the harmony of the party, gain the votes, if he
could not secure the confidence, of the friends of
peace, and set himself right in the estimation of
honest men and lovers of fair play, He has not yet
seen the necessity of responding to the call, and pro
bably will make no sign, unless a defeat of Grant or
Sherman should again push the fickle people into
the Slough of Despond in which they floundered in
August, and set the tongues that now wag so furi-
ously for war wagging as dolorously for peace, as
they did a month ago. And while the Democracy is
thus divided in opinion with regard to the Presiden-
tial candidate, there is some curiosity expressed
to know what the nominee for the Vice-Presidency
will do under the circumstances. It is asked if Mr
Pendleton, a thorough and uncompromising peace
man, will allow his name to be dragged through the
mire to suit the purposes and further the ambitions
views of another, and whether he does not owe it to
himself as well as to his party either to resign the
nomination, or to declare in terms that no one can
mistake his adhesion to the plit'orm which the
other candidate has repudiated. It is even argued by
some that Mr Pendleton, by pursuing this course,
might at a new peace convention to be immediately
summoned become the nominee for the Presidency.
All this, however, is mere talk that shows nothing
but the confusion into which Gen. M'Clellan has
thrown the Democracy. All the support that he
loses Mr Lincoln receives, and to so great an extent
that the chances of the latter were never so brilliant
as now, or the hopes of his supporters so high that
he will not only be able to win, but to win fairly.
As in all previous contests the people grow im-
patient as the day of election approaches, and resort
to an infinitude cf devices to gauge the state of opi-
nion and form an approximate estimate of the
strength of each candidate. If there be a large as-
semblage of guests in an hotel some one will take
the trouble when they have all sat down to dinner,
or are otherwise easy of access, to ask and record
their votes, and as such assemblages are held to he
fair epitomes of the general public, the result is
thought to prefigure with tolerable accuracy the
final decision at the polls. Large manufactories or
workshops furnish a readily a 7 ailablo opportunity
for taking a vote of this kind, and the thing is
pushed to such an extent that the inmates of hospi-
tals, prisons, and even of lunatic asylums are called
on for an expression of their opinion on the all-en-
grossing topic. A week ago the lunatics in one of
the chief asylums in the West recorded a clear ma-
jority for Mr Lincoln, with a large majority for
Gen. M'Clellan, and a score or two of scetering
votes for " Beast Butler," Wendel Phillips, Frede-
rick Douglas, the negro orator, and as many as three
votes for no less awful a personage than the Davi'.
In the steamboat by which I travelled up the Hud-
son River on Thursday night from New York to
Albany, en route to Canada, the vote was taken of
.all the male passengers. The results showed 123
for Mr. Lincoln, 104 for General M'Clellan, and
three for General Fremont. Some one having sug-
gested that the ladies on board were as well quali-
fied to form an opinion as the gentlemen, the vote
of the blushing,end I must add the unblushing, fair
ones was taken, and found to be still more strongly
in favour of Mr Lincoln than that of the ruder sex
—a fact which may be accounted for by the pulpit
influence which has converted the women into fu-
rious fanatics for the prosecution of the war and the
immediate and unconditional emancipation of the
negroes. Oa the folio win Way in the railway train
from Albany to Niagara rails, a pedlar, or, as he
would be called in this country, a " merchant," and
who seemed to consider himself the equal if not the
superior of every one present, entered the carriage
in which I was seated, and began to discourse to
the passengers on the patriotism, the virtue, and the
heroism of General M'Clellan, and offered for sale,
at 25 cents each, badges to be worn at the button-
holes containing what he asserted to be a "first-rate
likeness of that illustrious soldier and statesman."
He was met with cries of " Dry up I" " Shut up !"
" M'Clellan's dead," 1. You will see his funeral in
November." The pedlar was not daunted at this
inhospitable reception, and plied his vocation as be.
fore. " Gentlemen," he said, " 5,,0u have a right to
your opinions, just as I have. lam for M'Clellan to
the marrow of my bones, He is the only man who
can save the country." " Haven't you a badge of
old Abe ?" inquired a passenger. "No, I have'nt,
and I don't want to ; and if I had I could not sell
three in a week on this line of road." Later in
the day the vote of the passengers was taken by
two meP, one in Lincoln's interest, the other in
Ve'Clellan'e, who proceeded tcgether feom car to
car, no`e book in hand, for the purpose. The re-
sults were 57 for Lincoln, 54 for M'Clellan, and 2
for Fremont. The newspapers daily record similar
experiments in all parts of .the country, the figures
invariably showing a balance so close as to fore-
shadow a severe contest, with the preponderance
slightly against M'Clellan, and not very likely to Oe
turned to the other side by any event, civil or mili-
tary, that may occur before the election.

As it was well known to the Government that
Gen. M.Clellan was among the first of the military
authorities to urge the necessity of a conscription,
Mr Lincoln, after much hesitation and apparently
much misgiving, has resolved to rick the enforce-
ment of his last call, and ordered the draught to
commence to-day. Should the measure be as un-
popular as expected Gen. M'Clellan will share the
odium with the Administration, and gain no votes
from that source. And, as it was considered in Wash-
ington that the people were in unusually good spirits
with the prospects of the war—that they really be-
lieved that the end was at hand ; that the tough
" backbone of the rebellion" was well nigh broken ;
that Grant would certainly take Richmond ; that
Sherman would swallow up Hood's army, and that
the inestimable and never-failing Farragut would
beyond all doubt add Mobile to the list of his tri■
umphs—it was suggested by the War Secretary to
Gans. Grant and Sherman that they should each
write official letters to him, calling for reinforce-
ments, and recommending the immediate enforce,
meat of the draught. Tho two generals obeyed
orders, and each on the same day set forth, in a curt
and soldierly epistle, his want of men and the abso-
lute necessity of a conscription:if volunteers did not.
offer themselves in sufficient numbers. Fortified by
this support, Mr Lincoln and Mr Stanton took the
decisive leap and ordered an immediate draught
throughout the Federal dominion. New York and
some other cities will be exeliipted on the pretence
that they have eu2plicd their quotas, but for the real
reason that fcrniidable riots would ensue if working
men we. a draughted, taken from their work and their
fimilies, and compelled to serve against their will.
What may be the state of feeling throughout the
country on the subject it is yet too early to deter-
mine; but if there be as much excitement every-
where else as exists on the American side of the
Niagara river, there may be danger to the public
peace in other places than the city of New York,
and a troublesome time before the Administration,
Tee ferrks and ma:Tension bridge are strongly
guarded by soldi: re, to arrest any free American
who may try to escape into freer Canada to avoid
military service, and knots of men are gathered at
street corners in Niagara EAlle City, de'oAting per•

haps whether they shall skede.dd!e aryl transfer their
allegiance to the British Crown, er whether it will
not be better to stand the chance of the draught,
and trust to the fears or the liberality of the wealthy
to purchase substitutes for them. Several regiments
have been ordered to the West to help to preserve
the peace of Ohio, Illinois, and Indiana; and a gen-
tleman who arrived yesterday at Clifton-house from
Nashville, in Tennessee, relates tLat he had to wait
two days before he could secure a passage by the
railway, the trains being wholly occupied by soldiers
of General Sherman's army proceeding westward.
The number who had been sent off during the week
prior to his departure amounted to 15,000. Many
of these were supposed to be hundred-day volun-
teers, whose term of service had expired ; but the
larger number, it was believed, was destined fur
service somewhere else than it, Atlanta or the army
of General Sherman. A tc-legralli'c det.p a'c's from
ledianopolis, dated the 15,h inst., and published in
the Cincinnati Inquirer, may perhaps serve to cars
roborate the traveller's statement. The despatch
says—" The Fremont men are holding an enthu)i-
astic meeting here tonight. The principal speaker
is an original Republican, but is terrifically severe
on Lincoln. I understand from military men that
the remnants of 30 regiments are to be quartered
hero in Indians, and to remain during the ensuing
two months. What for ? " The writer does not
attempt an answer to the inquiry, but will proba-
bly be able to reply to it before the day of the Pre•
sidential election, especially if the feeling against
Mr Lincoln is very strong in the district, and there
should be no chance of carrying the State of Indiana
peaceably in his favour.

The influx of Southern refugees from Kentucky
and elsewhere into Canada continnes as great as ever.
As the Clifton-house is but a summer hotel, and not
adapted for winter residence in this climate, the
stream of travel sets in other directions, and the
exiles distribute themselves over the cities of Toronto,
Montreal, and Quebec, or, if they have been fortu-
nate enough to rescue any portion of their ready
cash, or other available means, from the greedy
hands of the brigadier-generals who do Mr Lincoln's
bidding i❑ their decimated and groaning lands, they
betake themselves, after short sojourn, to Europe,
via Halifax or St John's, and strive to forget in
Paris or Naples the miseries of their country.

Vote by Ballot and Extended Suffrage.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sir,—Whenever the proposal for vote by ballot is dis-
cussed in the Ilouse of Commons, there is continually
brought forward as an objection that secret voting is some-
thing un-English, and that the elective franchise being a
public trust the exercise of it has ever been and ought to
be attended with the greatest publicity. In Mr Foster's
valuable new work, "The Biography of Sir John Eliot,"
there is a striking exemplification of the contrary fact, and
that, so far from secret voting being a novel proposal, it was
practised and recognised by Parliament more than 230 years
ago. In the Parliamentary session of 1628, a very few days
after the opening, an inquiry was instituted into the pro-
ceedings in certain boroughs and counties during the then
recent general election. The election fur the county of York
furnished one of the cases specially investigated, resulting
in a very striking decision, thus related in Mr Foster's
work :

"The point eattled by the Yorkshire election had wider
significance. Wentworth had carried this return not only
against his old enemies, the Saviles, but against the influ-
ence cf the Crown ; and the principal question started
whether claiman s to vote who refused to declare their
names were not thereby disabled to be electors. It appeared
that during the days of the election men presented them-
selves at York who, having braved the displeasure of the
officers et the Northern presidency in refusing to vote for
the Saviles, had, at the polling booths, after offering proof
of their possession of 40s, freeholds, of their residency, and
of their not having before polled, refused to declare their
names. Their votes were nevertheless held good, on the
ground that as it might be inconvenient to them to set down
their names, because notice might be taken of them to
their prejudice,' it was not necessary to insert the names in
the indenture."

And the biographer shows that this was cmfirmed by a
decision of the House of Commons, and stands on record as
a precedent, and a judicial declaration in the j-urnal of the
proceedings of that house :
" Resolved,—That if an elector or freeholder being, by the
sheriff upon the polls demanded his name, shall refuse it, he
is not disabled to be an elector.' '— Commonsiournal, April 17.

This mode of obtaining secrecy and consequent security
for the elector Mr Foster acknowledges to be a clumsy ex-
pedient or sorry substitute for the ballot, but he adds—
" But for want of a better it has the decisive support of
Eliot, who desired at all risks to protect the elector in the
exercise of his vote."--Biography of )sinfolli2 Eliot, vol. 11,,
p. 271.
The protection of the poorer voters from the influences of
the wealthy and powerful, and the extension of the franchise
so as to comprehend all classes, were the main results of the
investigation regarding elections in other places. Thus—
" The same points generally were at issue in the majority
of the disputed borough elections. At Warwick the ques
tion was whether the mayor and common council, or the
commons in general, should return the member, and the
decision was for the latter. A counter petition had in this
case been got up by the mayor and council, which 200 of
the commons bad been induced to sign, disclaiming the
right, but the committee rejected it, resolving upon the
question that the right of election belonged to the common-
alty, and if but one commoner sued for his right they would
hear him."—lbid.

In the Parliaments of our day not merely may one com-
moner, but one million of commoners, sue fJr the right of
admission within the pale of the constitution, yet the ap-
plication be utterly disregarded I
" At Colchester, the dispute was between the bailiffs,
aldermen, and common council, who, to the number of 42,
met in an upper room, and the much greater number of
the common sort of burgesses, who assembled in the lower
and larger room. The claim of the first was alleged to be
one of prescription; but it having been shown, in reply,
that until Richard the First there were no bailiffs, and from
that reign till E 'ward the Fourth no common council, the
title of prescription was disallowed and the power of election
adjudged to the common sort of burgesses exclusively. At
Lewes, where neither mayor nor bailiff existed, and the
election had been by a small number of constables, it was
altogether taken from them and given to the inhabitants.
At Coventry, where the return was of two ' gentlemen of
worth' for whom there had voted a majority of six hundred
of the freemen in whom the right of election was admitted
to rest, but where the return was nevertheless disputed on
the ground that the elected were not freemen themselves,
and not even resident within the borough, it was resolved,
upon the statute of henry the Fifth, that the election was
good. At Bridport the question was whether the election
resided in the commonalty in general or in two bailiffs and
13 capital burgesses claiming by prescription ; and the deci-
sion was in favour of the commonalty, the return being held
void 'in respect of no warning to them.' At Boston, upon
similar dispute between a select number and the commonalty
it was again decided for the latter ; and further, it was de-
clared that nothing might avail to rt-strict such rights but
a prescription and constant usage beyond memory. In all
these cases Eliot took earnest share, and never but in be-
half of the more extended franchise."—lbid.

For proof of these important decisions and resolutions of
the House of Commons reference is made to the Commons
Journals of the respective dates of May 31, March. 28,
March 29, April 29, April 12, and May 7. The decision
and resolution of date April 12 are quoted verbatim:--•
6 Resolved upon question—The commonalty in general
ought to have vJice in the election of burgesses for Parlia-
ment. Secondly, the election is void in respect of warning
to the commonalty. A new writ."

Yes, "the commonalty in general ought to have voice
in the election of burgesses for Parliament," and
the eve of the general election now approaching would be a
fitting time for the commonalty throughout the island to
make themselves heard by demanding their birthright.
Especially in the parliamentary boroughs should " the
commonalty" who do not inhabit ten pound houses, and
those who are qualified to vote, but are not protected from
the undue influences of landlords, employers, creditors, or
customers, raise their voices to render unpopular and by
every justifiable means thwart the election of such candi-
dates who cannot be fully relied upon for assisting to ob-
tain the right of voting for nonvoters and protection by
secret voting to those who have, as well as those who
ma) in future have, votes. The Parliament which is
shown by Mr. Fester, on the evidence of its own journals,
to have declared the right of the elector to be protected
from undue influence by secrecy in giving his vote, and
further that "the commonalty in general ought to hav
voice in the election of burgeses for Parliament," was not
Barebones Parliament, nor the Long Parliament, nor any
of the assemblages of questionable authority as precedents.
It was the Parliament which contained the illustrious names
of Coke, Hampden, SAclon, Pyrn, Phillips, and Eliot—in
deed, a greater number of men of established reputation
and lasting fame than probably any other which has pre
ceded it or succeeded it. Moreover, it is worthy of not.:
that all the names which tea held in veneration by poste
rity are those which identified themselves with the prin-
ciples exemplified in the foregoing extracts. Indeed, it was
the Parliament to which wo aro indebted for that landmark
in history, the Bill of 'tights. Mr Fos'ter's own descrip-
tion of it is that it was

" The greatest of all the Parliaments that England had
sees in her history."—Vul. p. 724. JAMES HILL.
Landon, August 29.

It is her Alttj,!sty's intent on to return to Wind-
sor an the 25th inst., rind to remain there until sax ut the
1011 or 20th llecemb3r. The Court will then leave for Os-
borne to lipoid the Christmas.—Couit Ion) nal,

N3,l‘
uurt elximblt

HER MAJESTY.

BALMOItAL, Sept. 30.
The Queen, accompanied by the princesses, drove
out in the morning, end went up the Glen in the
afternoon.

OcT• 1•

The Queen, accompinied by
Princess Helena,
and attended by the Hon. Mrs. Bruce and the Hon•
Emma Llsceres. drove to Alt-na-Guithassch and
went to the Rills of Glasselt yesterday.
Her njesty has honoured Mr. Brodie of Abe"
then with sittings for a statue to be erected in
Aberdeen, which has been subscribed for by the
working classes of Aberdeenshire.
Colonel the Hon. D. F. do Ros has succeeded
Major-General the Hon. A. Hood as equerry in •A
ing to the Queen.

The Prince and Princess of Wales,
STOCKHOLM, Oct' 2,
The departure of the Prince and Princess 0t
Wales for Copenhagen has been postponed until
Tuesday next. Their royal highnesses Will then
be accompanied by Prince Oscar.