The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-15 00:00:00

THE SON. LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 15, 1863.

vhose repu%ation for spirit and ability stands high.
The colonists on theirside have come forward readily
(
on behalf of their homes and possessions. They
have declared from the first their readiness to assist
the Government to the full extent of their power,
and volunteers have been forthcoming in large
numbers. If the war proceeds on the same scale,
which is feared, more men will be needed, and the
colonists will doubtless reply readily to the call.
Meanwhile, if, as we are assured by the local jour-
nals, the energies of the troops in the colony will
be heavily taxed to suppress the rebellion, why not
invite assistance from the sister colonies of Austra-
lia ? A band of volunteers could very quickly be
enlisted there under certain regulations, who would
do good service among the IVlaories, and, in the in-
terest of all parties, it is desirable that the war
should be as short as possible. It will not do for
the authorities to resign themselves to the prospect
of a war of the interminable length which we have
had of old; and it is mistaken kindness to the na-
tives to suffer it to drag on, while it is absolute
cruelty to the colonists and ruin to the colony. Let
decisive measures be taken at once by the enrol,
ment of Australian volunteers. A few hours' notice
would suffice to raise in Melbourne alone a force
which would offer very serious difficulties to the
Maori prophets ; and it is certainly unbecoming the
power and dignity of England to suffer one of her
recognised colonies to be convulsed and impove-
rished by a horde of savages.

Mr. HENLEY has been distinguishing himself at
Oxford. The annual meeting of the Theme Agri-
cultural Society took place on Thursday. Mr.
HENLEY'S health, as the senior member of the
county, was received with great applause. The
right hon. gentleman commenced by observing that
he rejoiced on some accounts, and regretted on
others, that he was the senicr member. He was
happy to think that he had served them so long,
and he was sorry to feel that his advancing age
precluded him from entertaining the hope of being
able to serve them much longer. Ho said, which
was very true, that it was matter for rejoicing that
the country was now so happily circumstanced with
regard to all parts of the world, that there was no
one vital question of interest. It might be more
pleasant for members of Parliament coming into
the country, to have something very striking to
talk about, but the result was not always so satis-
factory. As compared with the rest of the world,
it was impossible for them not to feel how much our
nation owed to Almighty God for its present pros-
perous state. Whether we looked to America, and
glanced at the various countries of Europe, the
home condition was greatly delightful to contem-
plate and encouraging to consider. Not only are
we at peace within ourselves, but are blessed with
one of the most abundant harvests that has been
known for years. At one time it was considered
the fashion for all farmers and agriculturists to
grumble and be dissatisfied with everything. All
weather was unfavourable ; if it was fine, it was
too late to repair the evil done by previous incle-
mency ; and if tempestuous, it was exactly at the
most unfortunate moment that the deleterious
change took place. Mr: HENLEY has learned a
better lesson, and strives to inculcate among his
hearers a right appreciation of the benefits they are
enjoying, and a spirit of thankfulness to the Giver
of all good gifts, who has so altered the seasons
and controlled the elements, that their garners are
plenteous with all manner of store, and that they
have brought their joyful harvest home. Mr.
HENLEY then touched upon the serious topic
of the Lancashire distress, but even there
he said that it was a relief to think that the
sufferings had not spread further and affected
the entire population of the country. Many
feared at one time that the deplorable state
of things in the north would have extended much
further than it has done ; for setting aside the dis-
tressed classes in particular, the rest of the county
has been prosperous. It was, therefore, subject of
congratulation to feel that the cotton interest was
not quite so entirely England's, as it had been as-
serted to be at the time. While we sympathised
with that interest, and deplored its present eclipse,
it was gratifying to feel that the welfare of the
country did not so materially depend upon it as had
been surmised in former times by competent judges
and well-informed individuals. This is very correct
reasoning, for it is always a great drawback and
fatal hindrance to any community to depend en-
tirely on any one source of employment, and to
draw its support, and derive its strength from one
origin. The more extended the means, and the
more widely-spread the ramifications, the more sure
and solid will be the progress, and the more cheer-
ing the prospects. Mr. HENLEY then referred to
agricultural statistics, and said he wished to correct
an error into which some had fallen regarding the
prejudices of the farmers militating against these
returns being made. He was convinced that they
had no objection whatever to their taking place,
and did not interpose any obstacles, or interrupt
the process. All that the agricultural con-
stituencies, through their members, had wished,
was that the farmers should not be obliged to pay
for the collection. "Let the nation pay," they had
argued, "as it is a matter in which the whole
country is concerned, and not the farmer alone ;

you want to get at how many acres of corn are
planted, get it by all means, but let the nation pay
for it." Tne gentlemen who clamoured for " agri-
cultural statistics" demurred, however, to this wise
proposal, and hence, as Mr. HENLEY ably sum-

marised the course of events, the affair has gone on
" shuffle," " shuffle" ever since, and every now and
then some astute economist, or far-seeing disciple
of Progress calls out that the farmers are stopping
the way. It was said that in Ireland the attempt
Was always successfully made, but then the
reason was that over there the Government pay
every farthing of the expense. They used there the
machinery of the police, while well•paid by them-
selves. Mr. HENLEY went on at some length to
explain that the Chancellor of the Exchequer
wanted them to bear all the burden of the expense
of collecting information, and told them to pay it
out of the rates. This they very naturally refused
to do, and he wound up by declaring that until
those who wanted the information chose to pay for
it, he, for one, should decline to accede to their re-
quests, and he hoped that all his constituents would
follow his example, and do the same. Certainly
Mr. HENLEY succeeded in making out a very good
case for his friends, the farmers, and it seems very
unreasonable that they should be expected to

take so ranch trouble, and incur so much expense
for nothing. It is short-sighted policy, on the part

of the Government, to propose such a scheme, and

they show that they have not truly learned the doe-

trine of political economy in insisting on maintain-
ing their parsimonious scrupulosity in this par-

titular. There are times and seasons to save, and

there are also epochs when to spend is a duty,

and it would appear that the subject here re-
ferred to is a case in point, when the gain is a loss,
and the reliance in reality an expense, since it is

money kept back at the expense of knowledge that
might be useful, and the altercations occasioned by
the angry bickerings and debates are not worth the

amount that is called under notice in the discus-

sion and dispute. Mr. HENLEY wisely remarked
that if thou who possessed any steam machinery

ould bring it to meetings of that kind it would
be very beneficial in showing the farmers and
labourers its actual workings. He considered it
the " great arm" of agricultural improvement now
in vogue, and just being made conducive to the
cultivation of land by being brought into active
use. Mr. HENLEY concluded his excellent address
by impressing upon his hearers the importance of
their making progress and keeping up with the
spirit of the age in which they lived. "In the race
of life now being run by different classes of the com-
munity," he said that it behoved farmers to use
every means that " skill, energy, and capital"
allowed to make the best of their trade, which
agriculture, after all, must be considered to be. In
the cultivation of the earth, steam-power was of
the greatest advantage. Those who have been in
the habit of ranking Mr. HENLEY as one of the old
school who do not approve of change and progress,
must acknowledge that he could not have spoken
out more heartily for improvements, and advised
more strenuously the use of the appliances of
modern science, had he been an out-and-out re-
former of the latest date. He remarked that "in
this world an impetus is required to be given to
everything—nothing will gu of itself; and certainly
a very great impulse has been given to agriculture
of late years which cannot but be attended with
the most important results." On the whole it may
be considered that the "senior member for Oxford-
shire" spoke to the point, and his speech deserved
the applause with which it was greeted. It was
suited to the occasion, which, as one of the after-
speakers observed, was the only opportunity afforded
to agriculturists of bringing their three classes—
the gentry, farmers, and labourers—" together at
least once in the year."

---
Opening of the Nunnery at Abbotsleigh,

It is known to many of our readers that for some
time past the Catholics have been preparing a very
large building at Abbotsleigh, about a mile and a
half from Newton Abbot, and within sight of the
South Devon Railway, for a Nunnery. An elegant
chapel has been erected at one end of the building,
and on Tuesday it was consecrated, and yesterday
it was opened with all that form and ceremonial
which marks the principal services in the Catholic
Church. At eleven o'clock a procession entered the
church, when the choir sang "Lutatus Sum;" and
high mass commenced. This was performed by the
Right Rev. and Hon. Dr. Clifford, Bishop of Clifton,
assisted by the Rev. Dr. Drinkwater, vice-president'
of the English College at Rome; Canon Wollett
Rev. Mr. Walsh, Rev. Mr. Graham, Rev. Mr.
Meagher, Canon Mansfield, and a number of other
priests. The choir then sang Kyrie Elieson,
vocal fugue by Jomelli, the Gloria in Excelsis by
Sechter. Between the Epistle and Gospel the Hal-
lelujah Chorus, by Handel, was sung. The Right
Rev. Dr. Vaughan, the Bishop of Plymouth, then
preached the sermon, and took his text from the
Book of Chronicles. After the sermon the choir
sang the Credo, from Mozart's N 0.12 Mass. Dur •
ing the offertory the Laudi Jerusalem was sung;
Sanctus, Mozart's 12th Mass ; 0 Salutaris, by
Himill ; Agnus Dei, by Mozart.
After the mass was finished the procession re-
formed and left the chapel. The choir was com-
posed of the members of the Plymouth Cathedral,
consisting, besides the boys, of the Revs. Mr. Walsh,
Truman, O'Flaherty, and Trenor ; conductor,
Father Crowther; organist, M. de Prins.
After high mass all the company dined together
at the Nunnery, and at four o'clock the Blessed
Sacrament was carried in procession into the cha-
pel, all the nuns carrying lighted tapers. The
Benediction was performed by the Bishop of Ply-
mouth, which brought the interesting proceedings
to a c lose.— Wertern Daily Mercury.

THE PROBLEM OF COMPLEXION made as plain
es Black and White I.—As Africans are very dark,
and the inhabitants cl Northern Europa very fair, and as,
moreover, the nations of Southern Europe are much darker
than those of Northern Europe, it is perfectly reasonable
to suppose that climate has a tendency to bleach as well as
to blacken. The thickness of the skulls of the negroes has
been wisely arranged by Providence to defend their brains
from the tropical climate in which they live. If God had
not given them thick skulls their brains would probably
have become very much like those of many scientific gentle.
men of the present day. The woolly hair is not considered
by Africans as a mark of inferiority, though some of them
shave it off, but it also answers the purpose of defending
the head from the sun.
VICTOR HUGO'S BETRoTRAL,—When the gates
were closed Victor wandered on to the boulevards,
overwhelmed with grief and tired of life. [He had just
attended the funeral of his mother in Pere la Chaise.] The
ardent desire of having something still to hope for caused
him to wend his way towards the Rue du Cherche-Midi,
where the Fouchers lived. It was 11 o'clock at night, and
he expected to find everybody asleep and the lights put out ;
but he perceived that the door stood wide open, and that the
courtyard and the windows were brilliantly lighted up. He
was pushed about by
a group who entered there, indulging
in shouts of laughter. He wished to make his way out, but
it was impossible to take a step in advance. He paused for
an instant, and then, impelled by a strong desire to suffer,
he hastened towards the courtyard, rapidly ascended
the great staircase, and entered into a large deserted
room, where a play ha j
d ust been acted, the stage of
which reminded him of another tomb. He saw his face
reflected in a mirror and noticed it.- was deadly pale,
and he also saw the crape round his hat, which he had not
removed from his head. The sight of this brought him
to his senses. He fled precipitately and lost himself in
a dark passage, whilst overhead he heard the sounds of
thesn oplan ,
h e g
of a
z thee
d
music and dancing. He could not resist ascending one
flight of stairs, and then
gluedto h
anothert;e
window
knowingnw p
shouse he directed his course towards a sort of skylight,
which lighted the ball-room from above. There, alone, and
in darkness, his eye
despairingly on the gay multitude. He soon saw her for
whom he sought. She was dressed in white, crowned with
flowers, and was dancing with a smile on her countenance.
Mademoiselle Foucher had suffered quite as mu& as Vic-
tor did at the separation that had occurred between the two
families. Her father and mother sought to cheer her by
taking her to every kind of entertainment. The 29th June
was M. Foucher'a fete day ; they had solemnised it to the
best of their ability; they had organised a ball, and had
got up some private theatricals. "Monsieur Guillaume"
was the title of the piece they acted, and Mademoiselle Adele
took the principal female character. On the eve of that
important day M. Foucher heard of the death of his old
friend, whom he had not seen for so long, and whose ill-
ness he had scarcely heard of. He thought of his daughter,
who would be deprived of an entertainment, had she known
of it, and he kept the sad intelligence to himself. The next
day Mademoiselle Toucher,
dizzy and tired with the gaiety
of the preceding evening, was sauntering in the gardens
belonging to the War-office. She perceived Victor coming
in, at the sight of whom and of his pale face she knew im-
mediately that some misfortune had happened. She ran
up to him. 64 What is the matter ?" "My mother is dead I
I buried her yesterday.' "And I was dancing at the
time I" He saw at once that she had known nothing about
it. They began to sob together, and thus were they be-
trothed.—
Madame Huqo's Life of her Husband.
PERILOUS POSITION OF AN AERONAUT, AND
FATAL ACCIDENT.—.Last Saturday night a gala was
given in the Pree!..hall, Halifax, and
a grand balloon ascent
was announced, in the car of which it was said would be
seated Mr. Young and a lady. A little before 7 o'clock Mr.
Young took his seat) but not the lady, and the balloon corn •
menced its ascent. On leaving the hall it came against some
telegraph wires which pass over the hall. This had the
effect of rendering the balance somewhat unsteady. After
it had risen out of the building a slight breeze from the
carried
west it against the top of Messrs. Firth and Son's
mill chimney, and there it was held, either by the lightning
conductor or by the net getting fast to the cornice. There
it collapsed. The crowds of spectators were horrified, ex-
pecting every minute that the aeronaut would be precipi-
tated from the top of the chimney, which is about 35 yards
high. He, however, retained presence of mind and more
than once waved his hat, of which the people took note and
cheered. A rope was let down out of the car, and eventually
to it was attached a pulley and another rope, which were
drawn into the car. The pulley was fastened to the car,
and the aeronaut was fortunate enough to reach the ground
without being hurt. There the balloon remained all night.
Next day some men ascended to the top of the chimney to
recover the balloon. One of them, a man named Charles
Rawson, had reached to the top, when the rope snapped in
two, he fell to the ground, and was taken up dead. His
body was shockingly mangled. Rawson was 37 years of
age, and has left a family.
AN INTERNATIONAL ART EXHIBITION AT VIENNA
is to take place in 1864, to open on the 15th April,
and to close on the 31st May, and works of art will be re-
ceived only from the 15th of March to the Ist of April, and
must be sent by the artists themselves. There will be eleven
prizes, but only Austrians can receive them. They consist
of three gold medals, oven prizes of 315 gulden, and one
prize of 840 gulden,

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

SPAIN.
MADRID, SEPT. 15.

The Queen has sent the Preftct of Alava end a
General to compliment the Emperor Napoleon.
Her Majesty has left for Atocha.
Several Progressistas have protested against the
policy of abstaining from voting.

PORTUGAL.
LISBON, SEPT. 14 (Evening).
The railway to Evora has been successfully
opened, under the auspices of the Duke de Louse.

The accouchement of the Queen is daily expected.
Great preparations are made for national rejoicings
upon the occasion.

THE BRAZIL MAIL.
LISBON, SEPT. 14.

The Messageries Imperiales steamer Estramadure
with the above mail arrived here at noon to day.
RIO DE JANIERO, AUG. 24.
Exchange on Paris, 350 to 353.
BUENOS AYRES, AUG. 15.
The question of the Southern Railway has been
settled.

Exchange, 66.3; ounces, 431 ; wet salted hides,
36 ; dry American, 33 to 35; wool dull, small stock ;
tallow, 14a ; lumber, 34 to 37 ; flour unchanged;
refined sugar, 16i.

FRANCE.

PARIS, SEPT. 15.

The Moniteur of this morning states that the
King of Greece will embark on the 17th inst. for
St. Petersburg.
BOURSE, Sept.l4.—The market has been firm, but
without a large amount of business doing. Threes,
for the Account, are now at 69f. sc. Railway
Shares have been also well maintained at Satur-
day's closing quotations, with a slight advanee on
some of the lines. The market closed as follows :
It per Cent 5....... 95 75 Italian Loan 74
Do. end month.... Do. end month 73 95
3 per Cents ...... 69 15 Nev ditto
Do. end month.... 69 10 Do. end month 73 80
Credit Mobilier.... 1200 Russian
Do. end month.... 1202 50 Austrian
Bank Shares ...... 3380 Spanish Threes.,, •
Credit k ancier ....1420 Home Debt