The Sun.
London, England, 1863-12-11 00:00:00

Commence at 7.

ROYAL SADLER'S-WELLS THEATRE.
Manageress, Miss Marriott.
TIII3 EVENING, the successful new Play, by Westland
Marston, Esq., entitled PURE GoLD : Messrs. E. Phelps,
H. Marston, D. H. Jones, W. D. Gresham. S. Perfitt Miss
Mandlebert, Mrs. B. White, and Miss Marriott.
To conclude with THE BRIGAND : Mr. D. H. Jones, Miss
Mandlehert.

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HIG rI WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
This DA I.—Morning, 2h. 2m.—Afternoon, 2h. 21m.
To-aoßv ow.-Morning, 2h. 48m.—Afternoon. 3h. 10m.

The Weather—Sun Office, Dec. 11, 1863.

THERMOMETER.

Thia day at Two o'clock 5O

Barometer-30.19.
Wind—S.-W. ; moderate, and cloudy.

• ,ne eb ` ,
A .41",
1.5„, - , *VW 0440 Mt
-

.LONDON, FRIDAY, DEC. 11, 1863.

Althorigh the phrase is expressive so far of a
mere conventional courtesy amoig the Monarchs—
it is something for the French EMPEROR to have
elicited from each of the contemporary rulers of
Europe the assurance, " Je saiais cette occasion pour
vous renouireler les assurances de la haute estime et
de l'arritie toute particuliere avec lesquelles je suis,
Monsieur mon frere, de Votre Majesty, le bon frire"
—ALE XANDRE, FRANcCIS-JOSEPH, GUILLAUME,
GEORGE, LEOPOLD, and BO on through the whole
Het cf the reigning European Sovereigns. To cor-
dial esteem, to inviolable friendship, they are again
thus very recently and very formally pledged ; and
the potentate to whom they stand thus pledged
anew, is the very one who has hitherto
been flouted as the perpetual meditator of
disturbance throughout Christendom. This is
certainly._ if nothing else—a very curious
'urn .
his of the tables, indeed! Could anything be
more e
ua'tler than the terms in which the King of
PRUSSIA, for example, responds to the EMPEROR'S
invitation p-
to it, thus, by accepting it !
4, I thank ; „s,
'AJESTY for the hospitality you are
kind enough to offer me, and I am sure that I shall
find in Paris th„,
cordial reception which renders
the recollection
my stay at Compiegne so dear to
me! bat it will rather
appertain to our united Mini-
gas to enlighten by their
saneti_e
pr discussions and to
prepaee for the
un of the sovereigns the
oeositions that will be
submitted to the
,„
Congress." Language in
'atlve of the Royal
writer's conviction that the _
%agrees is in very
deed to be holden as proposed! 7,
ee Congress that
England has refused to participate •
His Im-
perial Majesty the Emperor of ita,sll..n_ 1
refraining from assurances of co althoughoperatilati,oexl. .
and greeetuu Ica'
observes most graciously
NAPOLEON'S project a
of Congress--'5Th
by step
ep
the sincere •
dictated to your MAJESTY dealt% to
spare the world the calamities which war leads to,
To preserve and assure to Europe the benefits of
peace, while maintaining the honour and dignity
of the country we govern from attaint, ought to be,
in fact, one of our mostconstant preoccupations. Such
an object
is also my dearest wish, and to attain such

my co-operation will always be secured by' your
MAJESTY." All the KAISER asks, therefore, by
way of preliminary, is a sufficiently clear and cate-
gorical indication of what might probably be the
subjects of discussion brought under the considera-
tion of Pontiff, Emperor, King, and Sovereign-
Prince, at the Council-board of this grandly con-
ceived Congress of the rulers of Christendom. An
indication of a programme, that England asked for
and obtained, only to repel the original invita-
tll when she had obtained it. The King
of
1341-ARIA, replying to the French Em-
PERott
, a letter dated Rome, the 27th
...November, observes, it will be seen, " I hope
that the pro
lowed.
by
ulteriorP
proposition of your Imperial Majesty, fol-
expl
will meet anations upon this subject,
with the
reception from the Powers
directly interested
th; to ensure
of these questions
indispenaably necessary
ensure its success." His
maje,ty adding, " In this
stlposition I do not hesi-
td:c,, To adhere to the proposition of your Imperial
Mrijesty, and I 811E4 your
myself fortunate
in co-operating in the work of
g
ficatir,n by taking part in
the future
ad
Confer-
„ Acrain—aa acceptance! The accordance
Flf PEROR'S proposition
given to the by the
is, if possible, more emphatic
Sovereign Pontiff,
in its precision and completeness. His Holiness,
beginning his reply to NAPOLEON 111. thus outtesi.
The idea your Majesty expresses of
being able to establish wichont commotion in Europe
—and, please GoD, elsewhere also—with the co_

ereCF.'

operation of the sovereigns or of their representa-
tives, a system which may calm the public mina and
restore peace, tranquillity, and order to numberless
countries in which, unfortunately, those benefits are
lost, is a desiga which greatly honours your Ma-
jesty, and which with the co-operation of all, assisted
by Divine grace, will produce the best effects. For
this reason, with an entirely cordial disposition,
we associate ourselves with such a praiseworthy
object"—and so forth. His Majesty the King of
HANOVER, by birth an English Prince, acknow-
ledges in so many words to his having received the
EMPEROR'S letter " with equal pleasure and grati-
tude." King LEOPOLD writes very frankly in
reference to his own individual sentiments, "As
regards my own personal feelings I should
tP,ke advantage of the cordial proposal of
your Imperial MAJESTY with the greatest
satisfaction." King VICTOR EMMANUEL answers
with point blank explicitness—" As soon as
the international Conference takes place I shall
take part (in it) in person, or at least send (to it) a
representative." • From all sides except from the
direction of England the answers have come in,
couched in terms the most conciliatory. For the
curt, snarling, almost cynical tone of our reply,
of this, that for that
hold responsible her
tone
England herself is not responsible—but, on the
contrary,she
we
may restrigorously
assured
will
Foreign Secretary.

At this season of the year one's attention is natu-
rally turned to the question of agriculture, there are
so many meetings and gatherings in the country ;
and the more absorbing and engrossing subjects of
politics being in abeyance for the time/so far there
is more opportunity for entering into the discussion
of other points. At the meeting of the Society of
Arts Mr. CHALMERS MORTON read a paper on
"Agricultural Projects, its Helps and Hindrances,"
which is deserving of consideration for many of its
suggestions and remarks. He gave it as his opinion
that the indisputable progress that had been made
was attributable to many causes, among which he
notified " the more extended use of machinery."
This opinion coming from an influential quarter is
very satisfactory, for some persons have been
much against this practice, and more especially in
regard to steam machinery. Mr. MORTON also
entered into the question of how much benefit had
accrued from the establishment of Societies ; the
Royal Agricultural Society, in particular, had been
most serviceable. There is no doubt that there is
great truth in this, as nothing can exercise a
stronger influence, or keep a spirit of emulation,
and impart interest to the subject in all its branches,
than the formation of Societies. They ensure
that due regard must be paid to the matter
in many varied forms, whereas otherwise, perhaps
with the best intentions, those more immediately
concerned or intimately connected with the affair
might neglect to study its peculiarities, and become
negligent or slothful in their vocation. The remarks
of Mr. COLE at this meeting were most worthy
of notice. He observed that one question of
paramount importance, which ought not to be passed
over, was the condition of the labourer. He con-
sidered that no one could deny that the labourer
was " worse housed and cared for than the horse,
the cow, and the pig." Certainly this is a sad and
sorrowful estimate to take of the question, and it is
of importance that the view Mr. COLE took of the
case be duly considered. He said much evil arose
from the practice that landlords had of putting a
stop to the existence of cottages on their estates.
Their object was to prevent them becoming charge-
able to the parish rates. This is a very reprehen-
sible course to adopt, and the results that ensue
from it are to sure to prove most deleterious to the
cause in which they are engaged, and ensure the
most hurtful effects on those connected with them.
It is satisfactory to mark in contradistinction to
this that many attempts are now made to improve
the dwellings of the labouring classes. No state of
society can prosper if the hands that toil, and the be-
ings who minister to the wants of others, are not well
provided for, and their comfort made one of the first
considerations in forming plans and devising means
for the carrying on of the various schemes of agri-
culture, and the several arrangements relating
thereto. A meeting was also held at the St.
James's Hall for the purpose of considering the
' best means of promoting their cultivation. The
conclusion arrived at was that they passed a reso-
,
lution highly approving of the objects of the
General Steam Cultivation Company. Another
resolution was also passed to the effect that it would
be advisable to establish a joint stock com-
pany, to supply " steam apparatus to
ap-
plicants.'' This would be a very desirable thing
if it could be managed with any degree of success,
as the results of the more extended use of steam
would certainly ensure great benefits to all con-
cerned in the matter. Lord ROBERT MONTAGU
spoke very strongly on the question, and declared
that if the steam plough was prevalent throughout
the country the " English farmer would be able
to compete with those of America, Russia, Poland,
and the Principalities of Turkey." This would
be indeed a desideratum, and the sooner the experi-
ment is made the better. There is always so much
prejudice to overcome in these matters that the
progress of any invention and the adoption of any
scheme is always most tardy and tedious. As soon
as possible, however, those who are more enlight•
ened should seek to dispel the illusions and dissipate
the tears of the timorous and mistaken persons who
will pursue the beaten track, and prove by their
conduct, if not by their words, that they adhere to
the old adage that " What they did with yesterday
they'll e'en do with to-day." Mr. HOLLAND, the
Chairman, adduced several reasons in favour of this
e2Petirnent. He said that as much could be done
in or,„
" week with steam as in six by the present
method
them arid very truly declared that this gave
to
"e extent the command of the seasons;
besides, il'a t
fifth harvest not expensive. He had now got in his
%I nee he had employed steam, and he
gave it as hie P'e'en that the old system cost 20s.
per acre, whereas t,
raustge_srtoeam did it for 10s. These
duce an effect in time, and
are facts
etnheartgetically
thos
emore
who are in favour of the
the unbelieving will be
method set to work the sooner
and the hesitating
confirmed in the right
quite certain that
a,.
views.
converted.lt
is
u. possible facilities
given to fartnera e
should be mploy steam
and therefore the co,
machines, -
come forward at a moat a
—1147 about to
be started has
encouragement hem all
PPropriate
progress of ogri
k whose
time, and deserves
eelture
There is nO nee in
interest it is to promote the
throughout the country. "Peet-
iog new things to succeed if the right means are
not adapted to enable them to do so, and cones,
quently any well organised scheme for providing
against difficulties cud supplying emergencies
should be encouraged. It is idle to
consider that
agriculture is to be left in statu quo, while all other
actiences are undergoing alterations and receiving
improvements. It is just and right that all pursuits
and professions should share in the great changes
now taking place, and reap the benefits that matured
experience and additional knowledge are so widely
diffusing and largely disseminating through the
civilised world. It was quite time that some
definite plan wad put is farce to supply the defi-
ciencies and rectify the error that militated against
the success of this invention ; and it is, therefore,