The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-11 00:00:00

TOE SUN, LON_DON, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY .11,
.1871.

SYMPATHY WITH FRANCE.

THE SPANISH PRESS ON THE ELECTIVE
MONARCHY.

MADRID, January 5.
At this crisis it is not without interest to learn what
.e several journals of Madrid, most of them strong
partisan papers, say of the new monarchy. The
Iberia indulges in unqualified rejoicing, and exults
in the public enthusiasm, which it declares was
manifested on the entry of the king. It resents the
comment of La Discusion that the Progressist party must
feel overthrown and desolate. So far from that being the
case, says La Iberia, the Progressist party regards the new
Ministry as its own work. The Nacion is also inclined t)
see matters in couleur de rose, and prophecies great things
for the new reign. Liberty and monarchism united will ful-
fil the aspirations of the country. Amadeus ascends the
throne amidst the blessings of a people who confide their
destinies to his protection. Glory inspires him, virtue is his
breath, courage his soul, and justice traces his course. Noble
and magnanimous, he will befriend the unfortunate, just
and severe, he will uphold the laws; loyal and
chivalrous, he will offer an example to his subjects,
will respect their Constitution and protect their liber-
ties. So much • for the enthusiasm of La Nacion.
The Puente de Alcolea is less highflown, and more prac-
tical, and discusses chiefly the formation of the new
Ministry, of which it is disposed to take a favourable
view, especially of General Izquierdo. The Imparcial
has very little in common with the hopes and the re-
joicings of its compeers. The fate of the country, it says,
is in the hands of the citizens. The monarch
must abstain completely from personal politics. The
confidence, or the censure, of the Chambers in respect to
a responsible Ministy, this must guide the course of the
Government and the administration of the State. The
Chamber, the Senate, the press, the political
parties, the electoral bodies—it is all these and not the
King who must decide the questions of political and finan-
cial regeneration, the liberty and prosperity of the country.
The Eco del Progreso without naming the Duke de la
Torre, protests against the proposed leadership of the ex-
Regent, and recommends the formation of a new Ministry.
The Progressist-Democratic party has many distinguished
men. Let them reconstitute their party on a fresh basis,
and since they haye had the misfortune to lose their
military chief, they must accept a civil one,
but of all things they must not exhibit to the
world the spectacle of perpetual tutelage. The In-
dependencia Espanol also advises a reconstitution of the
party. As for the Montpensierist papers, the Diario
Espanol salutes the new reign, and declares the work
of the September Revolution to be done. The Pais
only relates the King's entrance, and indulges

no comments. The Noveclades favours the elevation of
Zorrilla, which constitutional precedent and practical
convenience alike require. The Politica says that no
vacillation is possible, and that if the Duke de la Torre
forms a Conservative Cabinet he may succeed, but if he
allows the Radicals to predominate, he will loss
the last chance which fortune gives him. Only
one man is really fit to take the lead at

present, and that is Sagasta. The Republican
organs are altogether opposed to the new regime. The Pueblo
holds that the person of the King is sacred, and declares
there is no conspiracy against him, but is hopeless of the
future. The Republica Iberia is convinced that liberty is
impossible under an hereditary King, and con-
siders that the Progressists and Democrats have worked
for their ruin ; but it consoles itself by recalling
that the nineteenth century is the era of revolutions.
The Diseusion thinks an interval of Monarchy may
purify the Republican party from the excesses of dema-

gognes. The Igualdad thinks the Progrossists have com-
mitted moral suicide. The Carlist journals content them-
selves with declaring that liberty is dead, and that
Spain must begin her work again. The Epoca, the most
noticeable of the Alfonsist papers, is inclined to give a
fair trial to the new King. The editor of El Combate, the
frantic revolutionary paper, has been released.

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC.—In our notice of the
Christmas entertainments at this institution, we were in
error in stating that the drawings for the " Yellow Dwarf "
had been designed by the Messrs. Hills. They were, in
reality, executed by Mr. F. Page.
We understand that Mr. Robert W. Edis, F.S.A.,
is a candidate for the office of architect and surveyor to
the Metropolitan School Board.

Miss Alleyne, manager of the Globe Theatre, was
yesterday convicted at Bow-street of having assaulted
one of her assistants. The magistrate imposed a small
fine.

Last night's Gazette announces the appointment
of Mr. Moiisell to the office of Postmaster-General.
As this position is held directly from the Crown,
which an Under-Secretaryship is nut, Mr. Molisell's
seat for the county of Limerick becomes formally
vacant.

The clergyman in a certain town, as the custom
is, having published the banns of matrimony between two
persons, was followed by the clerk's reading the hymn
beginning with these words—" Mistaken souls, who dream
of Heaven."
A. MYSTERY OF THE SEA.—The fishing smack
Veto, of Grimsby, S. Cousins, master, arrived in port from
the Dogger Bank on Saturday night. The master reports
that on the previous Wednesday, when about 200 miles
from Spurn, he sighted to tho leeward what at first ap-
peared to be a small schooner in distress, but on bearing
down to her found her to be a full-sized lifeboat, upwards of
20 feet long, and full of water up to the corks. There was
no name on the boat, which had evidently belonged to some
large ship or steamer. It was painted white both inside
and out, with a brown streak round the rim. When
alongside, on closer examination, three dead sailors were
perceived lying aft, huddled together, and a fourth
athwart in the bow, with his head hanging over the
rollocks. They seemed from their dress and general ap-
pearance to be foreigners, but the bodies had been
frightfully "washed about " and were in a state of de-
composition, and had evidently been dead some weeks.
The water-logged waif drifted on with its ghastly cargo,
and the horrible sight so shocked the crew of the Veto
that afterwards they were almost too unnerved to attend
to their trawling, and the smack, in consequence, returned
to port with a comparatively small catch, and sooner than
expected.

Yesterday evening a public meeting was held at St.
James's Hall, for the purpose of expressing sympathy
with France, and calling on the Government to recognise
the French Republic. The hall was crowded. Pro-
fessor Beesly was in the chair, and opened the
proceedings by stating that he was not one who would cut
down the discretion or remove the responsibility of a
Government, so as to render it a mere instrument of the
people. But still the people had a right to give its opi-
nion on questions of broad policy, and especially on
foreign policy. Looking back to occasions when public
opinion gave advice to Government, as in the case of
Poland, it would have been better if it had been taken,
for we should not now have been sneaking into a confe-
rence, in order to eat the leek of Prince Gortschakoff ; and
if the advice of the people had been listened to in
regard to our policy during the American civil war, we
should not now be embarrassed by the Alabama question.
As to the present war, meetings were constantly happen-
ing on behalf of France, while none had taken place on
behalf of Germany ; for as soon as the policy of Germany
was apparent, the working men of London made up their
minds to resist it. He urged that the peace and pros-
perity of France were matters of utmost moment to
working men, who were not yet on the eve
of the establishment of that social democracy
which *as looked forward to by that class.—Mr.
Odger moved the following resolution :—" That
this meeting warmly sympathises with France in her
struggle against foreign invasion, welcomes the restora-
tion of the Republic, and applauds M. Gambetta and the
French Government for their patriotic efforts to defend it
against all enemies." Mr. Odger affirmed that the King
of Prussia and his people had said they
were not making war against the French
people ; they had belied that assertion, and
refused the reasonable overtures of the Republic
for peace. M. Jules Favre, he said, was fully justified
in the course which he took in the interview at Ferribres,
and Count Bismarck clearly had no wish for peace. Mr.
Odger drew a picture of the astonishing feats being accom-
plished by the French under that " wonder of the world,"
Gambetta (at whose name there was tremendous cheering),
whom he eulogised in fervid terms, especially as a " gen-
tleman of the pavement." The resolution was carried
by acclamation. Mr. Marriott moved : " That this
meeting condemns and resents the conduct of Mr.
Gladstone ; firstly, for his persistent refusal to accord
full official' recognition to the existing Government of
France ; and, secondly, for compromising the honour
and safety of this country by the vacilla-
tion and feebleness of his foreign policy." Mr.
Howell seconded the resolution, and begged that
itimight be understood that it dealt with Mr. Gladstone and
the Ministry only in reference to their foreign policy.
The resolution was carried. Mr: Frederick Harrison
briefly moved :—" Thpt this meeting urges upon the
English Government the necessity of ascertaining officially
from Germany the terms upon which she will con-
clude peace, and declares that, in the event of her insisting
on the dismembermentof France, England should call upon
the neutral Powers to unite with her in resisting it." An
amendment was moved by Mr. Lucraft, but not pressed, and
the resolution was carried by acclamation. The proceed-
ings, which were marked throughout by a considerable
amount of enthusiasm, then concluded.