The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-24 00:00:00

THE SUIN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EV ENIN G, MAY 24, 1865.

legal profession. He was satisfied that before a committee
appointed by the committee of selection an impartial in-
quiry would take place, and he sincerely hoped the result
would be that the suspicions so long attached to the name
of the noble lord would be removed. He was, however,
bound to say that if the charges against him wore proved,
no one would rejoice more than he (Mr. Malins) in the
condemnation of the practices alleged to have been carried
on by the noble lord.

Lord R. CECIL--I shall not offer any opposition to the
proposal that this matter should be referred to a committee
chosen by the committee of selection, although I am not
sure that I share altogether in the general opinion as to the
absolute impartiality of the latter tribunal ; but 1 know
that that opinion is cherished in this house with as much
fondness as if it were a matter of religious belief. I shall
be very glad, however, to see the impartial committee
when it is nominated, but I will indulge in the charitable
hope that all these charges will prove untrue. 1 confess I
was alarmed at the proposition of the hon. and learned
gentleman who has just sat down, that all members of
the legal profession should be excluded. Now, as I
am not a member of that profession, nevertheless I
think that would be simply braining the committee.
(Laughter.) At all events, it would be taking out the brains
which would be available for this purpose. What idea, I
want to know, can a man form of a judicial inquiry from
which lawyers are to be studiously excluded ? Who was
to conduct the case and cross-examine the witnesses ?
Who was to have the talent to perform those important
duties which did not come to a man instinctively, but which
could only be acquired by long study and experience ?
Now, on the contrary, I was going to impress upon the
Government that this shouldnot onlybe a committee chosen
by the committee of selection, but that an addition should
be made to it of two thoroughly impartial lawyers, whose
duty it should be to conduct the case on either side, for
otherwise I do not see how the different charges against
the Lord Chancellor could be properly laid before the com-
mittee, unless they were thrown before the seven gentle-
men who would be told to make the best of them. Then
there is another point which I would suggest. As an hon.
gentleman has observed, there are several other cases of
the Lord Chancellor's bankruptcy appointments which have
been subjected to imputationsprecisely similar to that which
will form the subject of inquiry by this committee. I do
not say that they are true, but at all events there is a strong
prinui facie case, and I do not think the public will be satis-
fied unless all these imputations, which assume so palpable
a form against the Lord Chancellor, shall have been sub-
mitted to this tribunal. The issue which will be raised is
whether the Lord Chancellor is to be believed, or whether
the Hon. Richard Bothell is to ba believed. That, I am
told, is the issue which is to be presented to the committee.
In that event they will have to go to the previous charac-
ter of the witnesses who are opposed to each other, and
therefore it will be necessary that the committee should
have the power of examining into the mode in which other
bankruptcy appointments have been mado. If it turn out
that the Lord Chancellor's general appointments have been
pure it will raise a strong presumption in his favour ; on the
contrary,if it be proved that a general system of nepotism and
corruption has prevailed, the presumption against him would
be sound and reliable. I hope therefore that the Government
will so far extend the basis of this inquiry as to include one
or two of the other more prominent cases, and I trust that
the case will be impartially judged and thoroughly folloWed
through. (Hear, hear.)
Mr. HORSMAN thought hon. members had not placed
the matter in a more satisfactory position by the numerous
suggestions they had made. Nothing could be more fair
than the manner in which the Lord Chancellor had courted
inquiry, and the hon. member for Devonport (Mr. Ferrand)
had acted with great propriety in refraining from making
any statement. When the Government had assented to the
proposition of the right hon. gentleman (Mr. Disraeli), the
discussion surely ought to have ended. If the inquiry were
extended in the manner suggested by the last speaker, it
would probably not close before the end of the session. If
the inquiry before the committee were limited to the case
now before the house, the other cases might be considered
when the report of the committee was brought up.

Mr. HADFIELD said that from the time of Lord Bacon
to the present day it had been the custom of Lord Chan-
cellors to exercise great patrontage, and to give the prefer-
ence to their own relations. (Laughter.) He must, indeed,
be very innocent who thought otherwise. He should like
the inquiry to have a wider scope, so as to include the sine-
cures now in existence of £B,OOO apiece, two of which had
been enjoyed for more than half a century, and the remain-
ing one for nearly a century. in conclusion, he expressed
his belief that this was simply an attack upon an individual
—an attack from politics, and not from justice. (Hear.)
Mr. DUNCOMBE, in reply to the last speaker, pointed
out that there was a vast difference between a Lord Chan-
cellor Who exercised patronage even for the benefit of his
own relatives, and a Lord Chancellor who took a course by
which offices became vacant in order that they might be
filled by his relatives. He maintained that such conduct
was a slur upon the high profession to which the noble and
learned lord belonged, and he hoped that an impartial in-
'quiry would take place.
The SOLICITOR-GENERAL thought it was unde-
sirable to prolong the discussion.
Mr. AYRTON said that if the committee proceeded
beyond the question immediately submitted for their con-
sideration they would be carried away into all kinds of
irrelevant matters.

The motion was then put and agreed to.
CERTIFICATES OF MARRIAGE, &c.

Sir J. FERGUSSON obtained leavo to bring in a bill to
repeal so much of the Act 55 Goo. 111., cap. 184, as imposed
a stamp duty of ss. on certificates of marriagos and of any
persons having received the holy sacrament.
PIER AND HARBOUR ORDERS CONFIRMATION

THE DANTE FESTIVAL,

(From the Times Correspondent.)
FLORENCE, May 18.

The Danto Festival has been brought to a close
with an unabated spirit, that never for an instant
flagged, and with a uniform success in all its phases
and scenes. Not a single accident or mistake, not
the slightest disorder or brawl, so far as I have ob-
served or heard, has saddened or troubled any por-
tion of the festivities, which, although limited to
three days, have been prolonged to four. The
weather has been favourable throughout. On
Tuesday evening there was a storm and heavy
rain within 20 miles of Florence, which explained a
fall in the barometer that had caused some anxiety
in the morning ; but scarcely a drop fell here, and
the evening was find and calm for the great ball in
the Ufizi. That vast quadrangle had been gorgeously
decked out for the occasion. In the centre was an
illuminated fountain, with flames issuing from the
centre of large coloured flowers ; above the open
part of the square, which is narrow in proportion
to its length, hundreds of Chinese lanterns were
suspended ; the spacious covered walks that run the
whole length of the two longer sides were rendered
as light as day by lustres and chandeliers reflected
in numerous mirrors ; and garlands, tapestry, and
draperies of the Italian colours concealed the dark
stonework of the walls. The entrance was exclu-
sively from the side of the Piazza della Signoria,
and such was the crowd of people that the gendarmes
who acted as doorkeepers were repeatedly almost
carried off their legs by the eager, good-humoured
throng. It was rather a great popular meeting and
promenade than a ball ; there was an excellent band
which played dance music all the evening, but the
only dancers I saw were lads, who were not particu-
lar about being crowded upon, and who managed to
find space for gyration in the centre of the prodi-
gious throng. It appears not to be the custom here
for women, even of the lowest class, to dance at pub-
lic balls of this character. Nothing, however, could
be gayer than the whole affair ; there was a most
complete mixture of classes ; the announcement of
the entertainment had said that only decently dressed
persons would be admitted, but that is rather a vague
definition, and leaves a good dealof latitude to the
ball-goers who present themselves, while it also im-
poses an odious responsibility on doorkeepers. It is
quite possible that some merchant sailors who had
come up from Leghorn for a lark, and whose costume
was decidedly better adapted to the forecastle than
to a ball-room even in the open air, would have been
as much surprised as offended had any one questioned
the propriety of their attire; eccentricity in respect
of head gear, displayed by one or two individuals
whose hats had the appearance of having lately been
involved in the humours of Donnybrook,- might be
overlooked at a ball, where it is usual to appear
hat in hand, and where the agility of heels is so
much more important than the covering of heads.
In short, the gathering was a striking example of a
principle of equality practically carried out, and
well befitting a province so noted as Tuscany for its
democratic tendencies. All classes were there not
only brought together, but pressed, wedged, and at
times and in places almost crushed together. I
observed more than a few elegant ladies who did
not fear the contact of the grisette and the artisan,
who on their part were as well behaved as their
betters. The temperature was high, and Piver and
Houbigant had evidently not very largely contri-
buted to the fragrance of the assembly; but squeam-
ishness would have been out of place, and as a gene-
ral rule persons troubled with tender feet and
fastidious olfactories had better not risk themselves
in mobs of 20,000 people, especially when these are
gathered together on a sultry evening in May under
the porticoes of the Ufizi. The multitude continued
to amuse themselves for some hours after midnight.
On Tuesday evening entertainment was also pro-
vided for the more intellectual classes in the shape of
tableaux vivants of groups from Dante. At the same
time and place (Pagliano Theatre) passages from
his poems were declaimed by Ristori, Salvini, and
other distinguished artists. The King was present,
and at a passage from the Inferno having a strong
reference to Rome, in a sense decidedlyunfavourable
to the maintenance of the present regimen, an at-
tempt was made, by vehement applause, to win a
sign from him, but his Majesty would not be moved
to a demonstration which, at the present moment,
might have been ill-advised. On Tuesday morning
there was a solemn and extraordinary sitting of the
Della Cruscan Academy. After a few words from
the Arch-Consul Marquis Gino Capponi, Senator
Centofanti, Rector of the University of Pisa, read a
speech, which was enthusiastically received, and in
which, with great eloquence and elevation of ideas,
he dwelt upon Dante as the founder of a new litera-
ture, and declared that his virtues, his generous
heart, his great intellect, and his patriotism rendered
him worthy to be considered the father of that
united Italy by him invoked, and which at last has
arisen as the result of fortunate- events and of a con-
cord at one time seemingly hopeless of attainment.
The discourse of the learned Centofanti, which said
a great deal in very moderate compass, is praised as
a masterpiece by those best qualified to judge.
High praise is also awarded to a eulogium of Nicco-
lini, spoken afterwards by Professor Vannucci.
Although not a few persons departed on Tuesday
night, and the hotel-keepers were yesterday fain
unwillingly to replace by the usual tariff the ex-
orbitant prices they have been asking and obtain-
ing for their apartments since the early part of
last week, Florence continues very full of strangers
lingering on the scene of past pleasures, and, as the
flags and decorations of the streets and houses
have not been removed, the city still wears a festive
air. The second day's racing, which came off in
the afternoon, showed a far smaller attendance
than on Monday. People went late, and were still
arriving after the third race was over. The running
began an hour earlier than usual, at 3 o'clock. Now,
at this particular season many of the Florentines
take to dining at 3, in order to go to the
Cascine in the evening, and. they naturally preferred
losing the sight of a race to going without their
macaroni. Towards 4 o'clock, however, there was
a fair show of carriages and not a few pretty women
—ltalian, English, and American. The running
was fair, the dust tremendous. The late inunda-
tions swept a great deal of sand over the race-coarse,
and horses and jockeys were enveloped in clouds of
dust. The King came, with two carriages and four,
and was well received and looked pleased. Judging
from the manner in which I have seen him greeted
on several occasions during these fetes, he is de-
cidedly popular here ; and in estimating the value
of the demonstrations his presence elicits it must be
remembered that Florence is the headquarters of a
great many of the disaffected, friends of the old
dynasty, clericals and democrats.
• A great dinner was given yesterday evening in the
magnificent banqueting-hall of the Serristori Palace,
the owner of which, Count Serristori, kindly lent it
for the occasion. One hundred Italian noblemen
and gentlemen gave it, and invited 30 of the
foreigners whom the Dante Festival had brought to
Florence. Some few persons were hindered at the
last moment, but nearly the whole number of in-
viters and invited sat down at 7 o'clock. The spa-
cious square hall would with ease have held thrice
the number. The tables extended along one side
and part of two others. Ccnint Mamiani, the emi-
nent scholar and orator, the Senator and ex-Minister,
presided. The Prefect and G onfaloniere of Florence,
Counts Cantelli and Digny, General Cucchiari,
commanding the military division of Italy, and a
number of senators, deputies, professors, and men of
letters, including Aleardi, Dall'Ongaro, Gen. Bixio,
Pazzi the sculptor, and other well-known persons,
were present. A military band attended ; the dinner
did the highest honour to the accomplished cordon
bleu who presided at its confection. The King's
health was proposed in a ferw words by Mamiani,
and was drunk with hearty good will. The toast to
the foreigners present brought on
good deal of
speechifying, but most of the'orators had the good
taste to be brief. For the Entglish Dr. Barlow re-
turned thanks in Italian. Th. ree Frenchmen found
more or less to say upon the occasion, and two Ger-
mans made vehement haran gnu, declaring that
nowhere had Italian unity and i udependencewaxmer
sympathisers and well-wishers than in Germany.
In the course of the evening
gamiani made an ex-
cellent speech. Pulszky spok :e for the Hungarians,
shortly and to the purpose, and, at later hour,

when the guests had left the table, and were stand-
ing in groups about the great hall taking coffee, a
Russian got upon a chair with the evident desire
of saying something in harmony with the tone of
the evening, which had been one of very decided
political liberalism, such as may, at times, have
rather transcended the views of some who sat there.
But whether it was a consequence of want of words,
or of the habitual caution which in such matters
marks most of the Czar's subjects, he descended
from his elevation after- merely expressing his best
wishes for the spread of civilisation and liberty.
Poland and America had representatives at the feast,
who each spoke in turn, and the occasion narrowly
missed being graced by the presence of Spain's most
distinguished orator, Don Salustiano de Olazaga,
who arrived here at 11 last night, on his way to
Naples. At that hour the dinner company were dis-
persing, some to the Pergola Theatre, where there
was a performance, lighted a giorno, which the King
attended.

The weather is unsettled to-day, and the streets
are thin of people, and although flags still hang from
many houses, and the faded and dusty garlands of
flowers and laurel still festoon the streets, it is evi-
dent that the festival is at an end. It will have cost
Florence, a member of the municipality informs me,
fully 400,000 f., and the city will be fortunate if it
gets off with that, when all comes to be paid. The
money has been well spent, if, as there is reason to
believe,ithis Dante Festival has contributed to spread
goodwill among Italians of all provinces, and to bury
old jealousies and rivalries.
In case it should not have reached you through
some nearer channel, I translate the excellent order
of the day voted by the Italian Senate two days be-
fore it broke up :

" The Senate, in the act of terminating its sittings in
this hall, in which the constitution was first proclaimed,
and where wore pronounced the magnanimous words subse-
quently realised by the splendid deeds that led to the for-
mation of the kingdom of Italy, declares the lot of this well-
deserving city of Turin to be even more indissolubly bound
up and confounded in that of the united Italy of whose
liberty it was the cradle, and of whose present glory it is the
standard-bearer. The Senate makes this declaration as the
sincerest attestation that can possibly be given of the grati-
tude of all Italians towards Turin, and orders that an ex-
tract of the prods-verbal in which the present order of the
day is comprised be sent to the municipality of that city."

Similar sentiments wore expressed by the Deputies
before they broke up. They were proclaimed again
by the many thousands of voices that greeted the
banners of Turin on their passage through the
streets and entrance into the square of Santa Croce
on Sunday last. " The whole Italian nation," said
the Nazione yesterday, _

" Knows how much it owes to the noble sacrifices and
lofty patriotism of Turin, and there is not a corner of Italy
where her name is not surrounded by veneration and affec-
tion."

We will hope, and confidently, that if this declara-
tion be at the present moment a slight exaggeration
as regards one or two of those corners that might be
mentioned, it will very soon become an exact and
literal truth.