The Sun.
London, England, 1863-01-13 00:00:00

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, Jan. 12.
The Board of Superintendence of the Dublin
Prisons, in their annual report just printed, make
some important and seasonable remarks on ticket-
of-leave men and the Irish convict system. Refer-
ing to the number of criminal offenders sentenced
to penal servitude, which shows an increase from
42 in 1861 to 78 in 1862, the Board express their
gratification that, while the English convict sys-
tem has been pronounced a failure, the Irish convict
system, from its judicious management and effec-
tual supervision, has not only been found free from
such alarming evils as prevail in England, but has
been of much benefit to the convict desirous of
changing his former life. Conceding, however,
to the warmest advocates of the ticket-of-leave
system all the advantages believed to be derived
from it, it bhould, nevertheless, be remembered
that the Irish system has not yet had time to
develope itself, nor has it the same difficulties to
contend with as exist in England. The experi-
ence of the Board of Superintendence 'cads them to
apprehend that the present convict system is un-
availing with the hardened and habitual criminal;
that professed thieves and burglars, brought up from
their youth in vice and crime, cannot possibly be
reformed ; and that if some more rigorous method of
dealing with such hardened offenders be not devised,
" garotting" and other acts of personal violence will
soon extend to Ireland. It has often been remarked
by those practically conversant with the working of
the convict system that the treatment which con-
victs receive in the Government prisons affords them
such advantages as to furnish an inducement to com-
mit crime. In many instances it has been found that
criminals, when receiving the sentence of the court,
earnestly supplicate to be consigned to penal servi-
tude. As an instance of this, the report alludes to
the conduct of a large number of the paupers who
pleaded guilty to the charge of setting fire to the
South Union Workhouse, and subsequently on re-
ceiving the sentence of the court. The opinion of
the Board of Superintendence is, that whenever such
characters are convicted of any serious offence, after
having been discharged from penal servitude, tran-
sportation should be their next sentence.

The Ballinasloe winter fair, which was held on
Saturday, is said to have been the dullest since its
establishment seven years ago. The supply of
cattle was equal to former years, but visitors and
buyers were scarce ; not more than a fourth were
sold, and these at prices 30s. a-head for cattle less
than last year. The causes assigned for the bad
demand were the late heavy rains, the distress in
Lancashire, and the want of due publicity in the
newspapers. There were buyers enough, however,
if they could have got great bargains. But the far-
mers preferred not to make the sacrifice, and drove
home their stock. Their being able to wait is a
proof that the farmers arc not so badly off as some
represent.

On Saturday George Samuel Matthews, a respect-
able looking old man, was brought up at the Head
Police-office, in custody of Acting Inspector Daw-
son, of the G division, charged wish stealing a num-
ber of books—in all about 100—from the libraries of
Trinity College, the Royal Dublin Society, and the
Dublin Young Men's Christian Association. It ap-
peared that on the 2d inst., Dawson, while in the
pawn-office of Mr. Cairns, saw the prisoner offering
a book entitled," The History of Greece" in pledge.
Suspecting that he had not come by it honestly, the
detective searched him, and found pawn-officQdupli-
cates for nearly 80 volumes in his possession. He
then, of course, arrested him, and recovered the
books, which consisted of costly medical, scientific,
and historical works. The prisoner had obtained
admission to the libraries of the College and the
Dublin Society, as a reader, and had been known
by the librarians in the latter place for ten years.
A number of witnesses connected viith the libraries
having been examined, the prisoner asked his
worship to dispose of the matter at the earliest pos-
sible moment. He felt that his character was gone,
and the result, be it what it may, was a matter of
indifference. The magistrate decided on sending
the case for trial to the city sessions.

FOUR FRENCH STATESMEN.

As Sketched by Daniel Stern.

M. LEDRU RoLLIN.—The new Minister of the Interior
was sufficiently gifted to become conspicuous in the ranks
of the militant democracy ; but from the moment he was
lifted up to the pinnacle of power, these gifts lost much of
their value by the absence of a quality which ought to have
united, and in some degree crowned all other advantages.
M. Ledru Rollin was devoid of authoritative power.
Neither his private life, which he had not been able suffi-
ciently to regulate ; nor his sincere, but somewhat ostenta-
tious patriotism ; nor his open and generous, but slightly
unsettled character ; nor his more showy than solid acquire-
ments ; nor even his natural uprightness, too open spoilt
by an excessive thirst of popularity, made him fit for com-
mand. He was quite conscious of this incapacity, and to
escape the uneasiness which it caused to him, he made use
of a device well known to minds whose ardour is not sus-
tained nor tempered by judgment. He affected haughti-
ness of speech , he used big words, and tried to play the
despot. Feeling not sufficiently strong to lead the revolu-
tion, he wanted to outdo it. Unable to impose respect, he
attempted to create terror. It is here that lies the secret of
all the contradictory actions and movements of M. Ledru
Rollin. From the moment that he began to perceive the
success of his tactics; from the day that he saw fear take
hold of the public imagination, and heard his name pro-
nounced in faltering accents; from the time he knew him-
self compared by his flatterers to Danton, he fancied he
possessed an immense power. The more his form of speech
was in exaggeration of his real sentiments, and his words
opposed to his intentions, the more he believed himself a
profound politician. He seemed to think with native sim-
plicity that the best method to prevent a recurrence of the
terrorism of 1793 would be a suspended threat of the same.
He evidently did not understand that this momentary
effect could impose upon none but the most verdant in poli-
tics.

M. GTIZOT.—To see this large head, too big almost for
the feeble shoulders, thrown back with an effort as if to
grasp a power which will escape ; to regard this pale and
ascetic face, the high furrowed forehead, the fine, proud
mouth, the bilious lines of the depressed temples, the eyes
so full of subdued fire—to regard this whole form, the fm-
proeosdsioanndiselvefilt aesnodfinagloinnga
victory
struggle in a proud soul between
of all that is great and
nobleg over low and vulgar passions. But from the moment
this head begins to speak, the picture changes, and we see
nothing but a man p 'messed of no faith. -Under a sea of
imperative formulas is hidden a deep current of inveterate
scepticism, which is involuntarily communicated to the
hearer. We hesitate; we suspend our judgment ; we fee
an insurmountable uneasiness in listening, and we end by
either disliking the orator, or according him a forced admi-
ration. Though Prime Minister, M. Guizot was never able
to divest himself of the professor, the man of Geneva, the
Calvinist.

M. PROUDHON.—M. Proudhon appeared in the political
arena with an audacity of aspect and strangeness of speech
which struck all bystanders, and, the circumstances being
favourable, at once fixed public opinion on him and his
workki. Born in a small village of Franche-Comte, he went
through a painful system of self-education ; but in spite o f
great personal sacrifices, was only enabled to make the most
incomplete studies. With the rude stubbornness of the
men of his province, he first turned his mind towards reli-
gious questions, and occupied himself with researches on
the origin of Christianity, But soon after his literary_
hours took another direction, and in 1840 he addri:s.se,dtr:
the,:Academy of Moral Sciences a memoir, in which
his searches
stated that, having chosen for the subject ottresp
e_ted,
and
" one of the oldest, least contested, tano2seiy,
the right to
most universal things upon earth," namely,
the conclusion that
upon an absolute ne.
hold property, he had finally aTrßirsedted
there was no such right. lie insisted
formula, La prupriete,
gallon, expressed in the celebrated
struck by the eccentricity
cite le vol, property is
unthinking people thereupon be-
gan to fancy that there of these forms and ideas,
er was a profound originality
in
Proudhon's writings; and even a few more serious minds,
who had gone through his works superficially, joined the
chorus of admiration. They all regarded M. Proudhon as
a philosopher, while he was nothing but a sophist.
M. Ds LAMARTINE.—M. de Lamartine has few rivals
His rich and highly coloured poetical style, splendid often
to gorgeousness; the sonorous flow of his diction, accom-
panied in speaking by a deportment and air full of majesty;
the even march of his sentences, which come rolling on, in their magnificent monotony, like the waves on the sea-
shore, make him an orator of gigantic proportions. Rarely
he•rises into a passion; more rarely still ho descends into
familiarity. Neither the heat of the debate, nor the right
of replying to an attack, ever brings from his lips a bitter
word, or even the shadow of a sarcasm. His thought
always dwells in serene regions. The very essence of his
mind is foreign to satire, and to French humour in particu-
lar. He has never read Aristophanes ;he detests Rabelais,
and does not understand either Montaigne or Lafontaine.
It may almost be said that the faculty of observation and
criticism exists not within him, and that he is conscious
only to a very feeble degree of the necessity of facts
bogin

Opening of the French Chambers.

THE EMPEROR'S SPEECH.
The following appeared in a portion of our impression of
yesterday evening

lulus, JAN. 12.
The session of the Senate and Corps Legislatif was

opened to-day by the Emperor, who delivered the follow-
ing Speech :
Messieurs les Sa.ateurs, Messieurs les Deputes—
The Legislative Corps is about to commence its last ses-
sion. To advance the term fixed by the Constitution would
in my eyes be an act of ingratitude towards the Chamber
and of mistrust towards the country. This is no longer a
time when it might be necessary to avail one's self of the
occasion to make sure of the suffrages of a limited number
of electors, Let every one see at the present day that
there is no longer in these masses the mobility of former
times, and that opinions do not change with the least breath
that agitates the political atmosphere.
Since we find ourselves united for the last time, it will
not be loss of time to east back our eyes over that which we
have done together for the last five years, since it is only
by embracing a period of some duration that it is possible
to appreciate the spirit which has presided at the direction
of our affairs.
People are often pleased to seek in the acts of sovereigns
concealed motives and mysterious combinations, my policy,
nevertheless, has been simply to augment the prosperity
and moral ascendancy of France, maintaining without
abusing it, as without weakening it, the power entrusted
to our hands.
Abroad, favoured in a just policy by treaties, the legiti-
mate aspirations of the peoples tend towards an improved
future. To develope our commercial relations with the
countries towards which we approach in community of in_
terests; to remove from diplomacy questions that
have long been under discussion, so as to obviate all pre-
texts of misunderstanding; finally, to pursue boldly the
policy of repairing all insults to our flag, and everything
injurious to our national interests; in such a course of
action it has been permitted to me to apply these principles.
In the East the national wish of the Danubian Principali-
ties to form but one people could not find us insensible, and
our concurrence has contributed to cement their union. We
have supported all that is just in the grievances of Servia,
of Montenegro, and of the Christians of Syria, without ?is
regarding the rights of the Ottoman Porte. Our arms have
defended the independence ofltaly without associating them-
selves with revolution, leaving unaltered after the field of
battle our good relations with our adversaries of a day
without abandoning the Holy Father, whom our honou
and our engagements oblige us to sustain.
We have suppressed causes which might have given rise
to contests in Spain, either on questions of boundary, or of
the old debt of 1823. With Switzerland we have smoothed
over the difficulty connected with the valley of Dappes,
Treaties of Commerce have been or are on the eve of being
completed with England, Belgium, Prussia, Italy, and.
Switzerland.
Finally, expeditions in China and Cochin China, and in
Mexico, prove that there are no countries so far removed
from us that an attempt against the honour of France can
be made with impunity. Events like these cannot have
taken place without bringing with them some complica-
tions. Duty always runs counter to interest. Neverthe-
less France has been aggrandised by two provinces. The
barriers which separated us from our neighbours have been
lowered, A vast territory has been opened to our activity
in the extreme East, and what is better than conquest, we
have acquired a title to the sympathy of the peoples
without losing the confidence and esteem of Govern-
ments. During the years which have gone by it has
been given to me to meet most of the sovereigns, and from
these interviews friendly relations have arisen which are so
many pledges for the peace of Europe. This peace has not
been troubled by the events which have taken place in,
Greece. This rapid expose of the past will give you a gyta-
rantee for the future, and in spite of the pressure of con-
flicting events and opposing opinions, you will recognise,
I trust, that I have always followed with firmness the
same line of conduct.

With reference to that which morn particularly concerns
internal affairs, I have endeavoured on the one part to efface
as far as possible by a complete amnesty the recollection
of civil discord. On the other, in order to increase the im-
portance of the great bodies of State, I have called on you
to take a more direct part in tho management of affairs. I
have surrounded your deliberations with all the guarantees
necessary to preserve liberty of discussion, I•have re-
nounced a prerogative hitherto considered indispensable in
order to enable the Legislative Body to control the expen-
diture the more absolutely, and in order to give greater
solidity to the bases on which public credit rests. In order
to relieve our finaaces,:the armies on land:and sea have been
reduced in their proportions, the floating debt has been re-
duced, and by the success of the conversion of ;the Rentes,
a great step has been taken towards the unification of the
debt.

Indirect revenues constantly augment by the increase of
the general prosperity, and the situation of the Empire
would be flourishing if the American war had not come to
dry up one of the chief sources of our industry. The
forced stagnation of manufacture has engendered in several
places a distress worthy of all our solicitude, and you will
be asked for a credit to assist those who support with so
much resignation the effects of a misfortune, the cessation
of which does not depend on us. Nevertheless, I have en-
deavoured to offer, on the other side of the Atlantic, advice
inspired by a sincere sympathy, but as the great maritime
Powers have not yet thought themselves able to join with
me, I have been forced to remit until a later period the offer
of a mediation, the object of which will be to stop the effu-
sion of blood and to prevent the exhaustion of a country
whose future cannot be indifferent to us.
I will not enter into a detail of the various administrative
improvements, such as the creation of a reserve for the army
the transformation of the fleet, the establishment of insti-
tutions for the benefit of the poor; great publieswpiotrekos: the
e
encouragement of agriculture, science and art ; the main-
tenance of the prosperity of our colonies, in
suppression of negro emigration
the affections positns in
nof theA
fricaby our
carehe
in firm
Constantlyin
establishmentain f
Arabian people, and in protecting our
colonists. The expose of the situation of the empire will ex-
plain to you all these measures.
You will iloW mark, by useful labours, the end of your
term of service; and when you return to your departments,
do not forget that if we have surmounted many obstacles,
and accomplished much that is useful, it is owing to the
devoted assistance of the great bodies of the State, and to
the good understanding that reigns amongst us. At the
same time much remains to be done to perfect our institu-
tions, to disseminate sound ideas, and to accustom the coun-
try to self-reliance. Say to your fellow-citizens that I shall
be constantly ready to accept everything that is to the inte-
rest of the greatest number, but that if they have at heart
the progress of the work commenced, the avoidance of
fti
con-
flicts which could engender bad feeling,
theysend to the
deliberationsorfortificationmust of
the constitution which is their work, th
new Chamber men who, like you,wil accept without reserve
the present regime; who prefer serious
sterile conflicts ; men who, animated by the spirit of the
c Government,
the an
time and by a genuine patriotism, will illustrate by their
independence to
sd stability will
ity not
of
theheta State an to place
d the
theabpozvvthe
gre
essof
interests
of
c
grandeur of the country.
hesitate lae

PARLIAMENTARY REFORM. A movement is
again being made by the friends of Parliamen-
tary reform in different parts of the country. It is pro-
posed to hold a conference of reformers either in London
or Manchester to reorganise a popular agitation on the
question, and with the view of directing the attention of
the friends of complete suffrage in this district to the
project, Lord Teynham had addressed a letter to the
treasurer of the Northern Reform TJaion.—Newcastle
Chronicle.

A deputation of the British community resident
in Brussels had an interview with the burgomaster,
requesting his support for the erection of a place of wor-
ship where the rites of the English church would be per-
formed exclusively, and without any dependence upon
other communities who heretofore have shared the same
chapel, and have consequently caused great inconvenience
on account of the untimely hours when Divine service took
place, The burgomaster gave them a . very good recep-
tion, and promised them his assistance m choosing a spot
on which they might erect a new church.
FEDERAL FALSEHOODS.—The lying statements
of our generals are so notorious that even dying sol-
diers allude to it. Not long ago a soldier belonging to one
of the regiments that fought under Genet al Pope at No. 2
Bull Run, where he was
badly Wounded, was given up.
The chaplain of the
read from the
Bible an account of the slaying by Sam-
son of Omany Philistines with the jawbone of an ass.
,iNirhatois that you are reading?" asked the spoke-for man.
The Word of God," replied the clergyman. " Excuse
me, but I thought it was one of John Pope's dispatch"
to Waslungtcu.r, Soon after the soldier died.