The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-12 00:00:00

1,, LONDON, TUESDAY, DEC. 12, 1865.

All the intelligence that has reached us of the
state of affairs in Belgium, and the manner in which
the sad news of the death of the KING has affected
foreign nations, confirm the impression already
entertained of the high esteem in which the departed
monarch was held. In all ranks and classes great
sympathy and sorrow have been expressed, and
numerous are the testimonials which the bereaved
family have received to the worth of the departed,
and the great loss which has been sustained thereby
in the councils of Europe. Yesterday the new KING re-
ceived a telegram from the Emperor NAPOLEON, which
expressed in the most emphatic language the senti-
ruentsof regret, and the feelings of respect and admira-
tion entertained for the King by the Imperial family
of France, and stated King LEOPOLD was renowned
for intelligence and wisdom ; he was one of the
most justly revered monarchs of Europe. Such
language is not flattery, but merely expresses in
appropriate terms the high position which the King
held among the Sovereigns of Europe. On Satur.
day the funeral will take place, and already the
Prince of WALES, the King of PORTUGAL, the
Crown Prince of PRUSSIA, and the Prince
Louis of HESSX have signified their in-

tention of being present. Her MAJESTY was,
much affected when she received the sadl
intelligence on Sunday ; and the reflections conse-
quent
upon the receipt of the mournful news must
have carried her back through the vista of years to
long-past scenes of brighter hopes and happier days.
The late King LEOPOLD has always been a welcome
visitor in this country ; he lived so long here that
he understood the character of the English people
well, and his advice was always of great service on
momentous occasions. The semi-official Neue
Preussische at Berlin published a biography of the
late King, in which we meet with the follow-
ing passage :--" Even the political adversaries of
the deceased monarch allow that he was a highly
gifted Prince, and that in him the House of Coburg
has lost its chief, through whose political abilities
it derived a lustre almost unparalleled in modern
history." The French papers, with hardly an
exception, accord their tribute of praise to the
memory of the late Monarch, and the Atoniteur
declares that throughout the capital the intelligence
has produced a deep and melancholy impression,
and that the loss of a Sovereign who by his wisdom
acquired so high a position in the councils of Europe
has excited universal regret. The French Court,
out of respect to his memory, have put off the fetes
at Compiegne, and in all directions regret is ex-
pressed and respect manifested. The Council of
Ministers, at Brussels, have issued a proclamation,
in which they state that the people will await with
confidence the day when the Constitutional oath
from the Heir to the Throne will be received by
the representatives of the nation. A proclamation
was also posted in the streets of Brussels, which
announced the sad news on Sunday, and truly
declared that " all Belgium would deplore the loss
of the Sovereign who has been associated with the
destinies of Belgium for the last thirty-four years."
Equally correct was the statement that the late King
was eminently successful in his efforts to establish
a monarchy based on independent principles. It
is to the lasting renown of the KING that his little
kimgdom survived the fall of thrones and crash of
empires which convulsed Europe in 1848, and such
an event will be a witness to his fame in the coming
ages of History. The Independence Beige declares
that the Belgian nation is afflicted but not depressed.
" It weeps for the past, but it faces the future with
confidence." That these cheering anticipations
may be realised will be the earnest wish of all who
take an interest in the welfare of the brave little
kingdom of Belgium and its intelligent people.

The great Smithfield Cattle Show has for many
years past been one of our regular Christmas Exhi-
bitions, and the visitors to the metropolis at the
holiday season would be sorely disappointed if they
were deprived of the annual sight. This year the
beasts of the field have risen into unwonted promi-
nence. They have occupied the anxious attention
of statesmen and politicians, they have formed
matter for correspondence between Secretaries of
States and ambassadors, they have originated public
meetings in various parts of the three kingdoms,
they have filled the columns of the press, and have
thrown medical science into a state of bewilderment
and incapacity. Having accomplished all this,
some persons thought they had done enough, and
would not be able to go through the exertion of the
annual show ; but such anticipations have been,
happily, proved mistaken. Despite the ravages of
the plague, and the apprehensions which the breeders
might naturally have been supposed to entertain in
sending their beasts to a large exhibition, the show
was good in quality, and the number, though not
so high as in some previous years, was larger than
could have been expected. The managers have
taken every possible precaution against the admission
of infected animals, and the senders had every
reason to repose full confidence in the care taken.
Every animal was examined and certificated before
quitting home, and was again examined on its ar-
rival at Islington by Professor SIMONDS and his
assistants from the Veterinary College, who, if they
have as yet proved unable to cure the disease, may
certainly be supposed to be capable of detecting its
very earliest indications. The vans and trucks
which brought the beasts were also carefully disin-
fected, and kept under lock and key. We may
remember also, as very possibly those immediately
concerned remembered, that the class of animals
who are brought to a show like this are far less
liable to the attacks of the fatal rinderpest. They
are well fed, well housed, and properly cared for ;
they are kept in good condition, which, with animals
as_with human beings, greatly diminishes the risk of
infection. When it is necessary to remove them
from one place to another their wants are attended
to, and competent herdsmen take charge of them.
All this is very different from the career of those
miserable animals who are knocked about in the
steamboat or on the railway; left for long hours
without food or drink, driven ti►rough the crowded
thoroughfares amid yelling and hooting and baiting
of boys and men, to whom the fact of having charge
of an animal is sufficient reason for ill-using it.
There is good reason to believe that our inhumanity
and indifference respecting the treatment of cattle
has brought a heavy punishment upon ourselves,
since it has undoubtedly been the means of predis-
posing to the disease and encouraging its rapid ex-
tension, though it may have had nothing to do with
its origin. The exhibitors yesterday had as usual
no easy task in deciding between the rival merits of
the various breeds, and our northern neighbours
will rejoice over the final adjudication of the silver
cup for prize oxen to the Duke of SUTHERLAND'S
Highlander. The varions prizes and medals were
distribued among the nobility and the professional
breeders ; and it is satisfactory to find that the pigs
and sheep were of very good quality, and in unusual
numbers. The visitors mustered in great force, and
the inaugural day of the Cattle Show week pro-
mised well for the success and reputation of that
time-honoured institution.

If no man was ever more unjustly attacked than
Governor EYRE, it is satisfactory to find that he is
in no lack of able and efficient allies in the shape of
undoubted Position and unquestionable authority
who testify to his worth
and
list
n
Another
o f
has been added to thelong
CHARLES COOPER, the late Chief Justice in Aus-
tralia. This gentleman, in a letter to the Times of
to-day, declares that ho has been asked by many
why he has not added his name to those who have
come forward on behalf of the Governor, and he i
does so now not to appear to " shrink from his friend,
when surrounded by enemies," but at the same timche
states that the reason why he has not done so before
was that he felt sure all along that this lamentable
affair in Jamaica would be " thoroughly investigated"
by Government, and considered in Parliament.
Mr. COOPER goes on to state that he feels con-
vinced, from a long observation of Mr. EYRE'S life
in South Australia, that he would " not willingly
or unnecessarily, much less wantonly, cause the
death of any human being." He also expresses his
" confident trust" that when all the circumstances
have been gone into concerning this Jamaica out-
break, that Governor EYRE will " come forth
from the inquiry with his good and hon-
oured name altogether untarnished." How
much better it would have been if others had
followed
the wise example here set them, and waited

.:to express an opinion until they were in possession
,of the facts of the case, instead of rushing into
-wild extremes and jumping to hasty conclusions,
and then refusing to listen to any explanation and
to hear any argument that confuted their statement.
:Mr. COOPER very properly deprecates the course
:pursued by some members of Parliament who have
-.vehemently denounced Mr. EYRE with no positive
;proof against him ; and indeed the conduct of such
H:individuals cannot be too strongly denounced or
[ -too severely reprobated. When the House meets,
however, they will find their proper level. It is one
thing to be the demagogue at a violent and igno-
rant assembly, and another to attempt to lay
down the law before an enlightened and educated
assembly, the most independent and the most im-
partial in the world. It may safely be said that a
more un-English proceeding has seldom been seen
than this " conspiracy," for it deserves no better
term, against the reputation of an honoured servant
of the Crown, a man who has won his posi-
tion by his own exertions, and who had
achieved for himself a world-wide reputation
for courage and constancy before he assumed
the office he now holds. While we entertain with
Mr. COOPER and others a " confident trust" that
he will come out of the inquiry with his fame un-
affected, we cannot too deeply deplore, and too
emphatically condemn the course now pursued by
those set in array against him. One of the members
of the deputation who waited upon Mr. CARDWELL
the other day declared that he was abroad when
the news of the outbreak at Jamaica was first dis-
seminated for the first time. He blushed for his
country when h e heard the comments that were made.
We have far more cause to blush for our country
when we find the total want of fairplay exhibited in
many quarters, and the virulent intolerance that
characterises the language of those who ought to
know better to be led away by the passions of the
moment into a forgetfulness of proper tone and
bearing to be expected from public speakers. It
will be a great relief to all impartial individuals
when these scandal-mongers are silenced by the all-
important voice of public opinion.

The news brought by the Moravian tells us that
President JOHNSON has issued a proclamation re-
storing the right of habeas corpus throughout the
country, excepting in the late rebellious States.
This is a further step towards the re-establishment
of the supremacy of civil over military law, and the
restoration of the old forms of individual security
and public liberty. The PRESIDENT has undoubtedly
an anxious and difficult task before him—the
pacification of the country—and the meeting of
Congress must increase rather than lighten
his troubles. The Radical party are strong
in the Senate, whose officers were chosen
at the extra session convened for Mr. LINCOLN'S
second inauguration, and in the House of Repre-
sentatives the Radicals have a majority. The first
great difficulty which will present itself to the
Congress will be the question of the admission of
the Southern members. The PRESIDENT himself
holds that such States as have repudiated the
Confederate debt, abolished slavery, and protect
the freedmen, ought to have their members admitted
to Congress, but the Radicals will not agree to this.
There will probably be a sharp struggle on the mat-
ter, as on other points connected with reconstruc-
tion. Another difficulty is likely to arise respecting
the Free-trade policy. The Democrats, wisely enough,
uphold Free-trade principles in their platform,
and there is also r, Free-trade League among the
Republicans. Of course these parties will have to
encounter a formidable opposition from the Pro-
tectionists, but it is to be hoped that good
sense and public spirit will carry the day.
The condition of the South as described
by witnesses is not encouraging. The people are
uneasy and apprehensive as to their political future.
They object, as a high-minded and honourable
people naturally might, to the forced repudiation
of their public debt, while the threatened
exclusion of their representatives from Con-
gress leaves them little hope of having their
wants and grievances fairly stated. It remains to
be seen whether the Congress will be actually as
antagonistic to the South as is ffared, and much
will depend on the results of its deliberations. The
President is known to be on the side of conciliation
and moderation, but the Radicals include the wildest
extremes in their ranks. It is true that those ranks
are divided, and therefore there is some ground for
hoping that moderate men of all parties may yet be
able to combine and endeavour to bring about a
better state of things.

THE FENIAN TRIALS.

DUBLIN, Monday.

When Nagle's (the informer) direct examination
was concluded, O'Donovan (Rossa) insisted upon
cross-examining him himself, thereupon Mr. Butt
and Mr. Dowse threw down their briefs. The pri-
sioner broke down Nagle on two or three points,
which was not done on any previous cross-examina•
tion. There was considerable excitement in court.
D ÜBLIN, Monday Evening.

Rossa continued his cross-examination all day.

He was often interrupted by Judge Keogh, who
said he was making his case worse, and was wasting
public time.

O'Donovan replied that the prospect of 20 years'
penal servitude gave him good right to the public
time, and that if things were as Judge Keogh had
said his trial was a legal farce.
The whole proceedings became very irregular.
The Board of Prison Superintendence, at their
meeting to-day, passed a resolution calling on Lord
Wodehouse to appoint a special commissioner to
inquire into Stephens's escape.

FlRES.—During last night and this -morning
a number of fires took place in various parts of London.
The premises of Mr. Sinclair, carpenter, Thomas- street,
Woolwich, were destroyed. About 3 o'clock the house of
Mr. Woodward, auctioneer, Thornhill-road, Barnsbury,
took fire, when there were 13 people in the house, who were
rescued by the escapemen. The damage was not serious.
Another fire took place at Weymouth-street, Portland-
place, caused by an escape of gas; one at Windsor-terrace,
Edgware -road ; one at 113, Whitechapel-road ; and one at
Margaret-street, Cavendish-square, with more or less
damage in each case.
AMERICAN EXTRAVAGANCE IN EUROPE.—On
this subject the London correspondent of the New
York Times discourses thus feelingly :—" In London
there are so many American visitors, so few who
spend any time except for business, that Mr. Adams has
very little trouble. He gives a few official and some
social dinners, and usually presides at Fourth of July
festivals. But, were I of an inquisitive disposition, I might
ask, why should Americans spend so much money abroad
for the honor of their country when their official represen-
tatives are kept on the meanest and most meagre pittances ?
America may claim to be the richest country in the world.
It has the largest revenue in proportion to its population.
Fifty thousand dollars a year is not too much salary for a
Minister to either of the great Powers. The representative
of America should be in a position to maintain the honor
of his country, and not be ridden over either by foreign
aristocrats or rich Americans, whose profusion in splen-
dour quite throw him into the shade. These Yankee
money-kings spend a thousand dollars a week in pun
folly, sowing gold wherever they go. Think of a thou-
sand francs for a supper, and a gold-piece of twenty francs
tossed as a gratuity to the waiter. A landed potentate
from the Empire City, whose father may have been a
market gardener, came over in a steamer the other day
(and would have come in two if ho could), and at the end
of the trip gave every waiter on board a sovereign—to
keep his memory green. If the rich Americans travelling
in Europe would send home works of art, they would en-
rich themselves and their country.
.If they would spend
half the money they fool away in giving orders to Ame-
rican artists in Paris, Florence, Borne, &c., either for good
copies of the unattainable old masters, or for origins
they good dioheigroomdonaenyd
togeetngj
el oyry.
and
ITheyleave
wwoourksld okflarve4ththee
behind them. They would do good And get good."