The Sun.
London, England, 1871-02-24 00:00:00

THE NAVY ESTIMATES.

The Daily News remarks :—Although the Navy
Estimates shew an increase of 2385,826 upon the vote for
last year, it is refreshing to compare a total of
£9,756,356 to be expended on the maintenance of that
service to which the British Empire owes its existence
with the total of 215,851,700 to be expended on the
forces which, were our naval supremacy once suc-
cessfully disputed, might become as unavailing and
unprofitable as the last reserves of an invaded
province or a beleaguered city. The British
Army, with all its proud traditions and its
glorious memories, would cease to be available even for
defence after the loss of our maritime supremacy. In
*round numbers, the Army Estimates for the year 1871.72
amount to something less than sixteen millions ; the Navy
Estimates to something less than ten millions. Where
are we to look for the cause or the explanation of this
enormous difference? Why, in the nature of things, should
an efficient navy cost five or six millions less than an in-
efficient army ? It is not in additions to the effec-
tive strength of our land forces that the reason of the
difference between ten and sixteen millions is disoovered.
The Navy Estimates shew similar or analogous additions,
and, proportionally speaking, larger additions. The whole
increase in the Navy Estimates is on the " effective '
item, while there is a considerable decrease on the "non-
effective items. If the War Minister promises more
soldiers and more guns, the Admiralty undertakes to fur-
nish more and better ships, more machinery, and snore
stores. We must build and launch as many ships as
we want far immediate necessities on the best available
models of the present day, No naval administration can.
do more or better than this ; and we may hope that the
the constructors of the future from irreparable errors
that there is
Committee of Designs 110 W sitting will at least save
and preventible disasters. The country will soe, with
!pecoreeaseteiveissi t;,lse Estimates e
Royal Marines ; while
the coming year
to be no dimmutio
• • •n in the number of seamen and boys,
satisfaction that theis
the prancip
• ' al items of decrease are due to the pervading
aBllithrt
,initiated by Mr. Childers, of maintaining ft
. .
and in that admirable corps of
constant minimum standard of efficiency, matersa both • i
.
and perso.ial ; of getting rid of useiess and anti-
quated rubbish throughout the establishments, ashore
and afloat ; of clearing the civil and militar
branches of the Navy of all that d
i
does not repre-
y
sent real strength. Such is the simple secret of
the difference of little more than six millions between the
Army and the Navy Estimates. It is by the redundant
cost of administration, and the superfluity of " non-effee-
tives " in the army organisation, that the contrast is ex-
plained. Official navy reformers 'spending are less than
ten millions, and giving the country its money's worth;
official army reformers are spending nearly sixteen millions,
and then asking for eight millioni more to begin their
reforms !

TIIEBR7A TONi. RITUAL CASE.
The Teleg rap 4 says u:ll:l:Teianti Committeeseverityofgreatof h
tha:
been pronounced by the "
Privy Council against Mr. Purchas, and the showy cere-
monial which was one of the great sights of Brighton must
henceforth be discontinued. The general result of the
litigation is that, with reference to most of the prac-
tices impugned, the judgment of the Arches Court
was adverse to the clergyman ; and the appeal
has resulted in a still more comprehensive con-
demnation. It would be altogether unjust to the High
Church party to regard the sentence as one directed es-
pecially against them ; for it is well understood that the
extravagancies of St. James's Chapel at Brighton were
generally disavowed be the recognised leaders of the Ritu-
alistic movement. Indeed, it is scarcely too severe
an observation upon Mr. Purchas's performance
*call it a parody on the service of the Church
ur to
of England.
Vhat with the processions, the
incense
burning, the bell - ringing, the exhibition
bambinosof and other figures, the carrying of lighted
appeals totQ theol
essesiTil'atitp'ovint as
sailln
the service the clergyman had reached. The Rubrics of
strangetlie
the Prayer Book certainly afforded no clue to the puzzle.
but tapers,impossible
gild
d other
f for o
The Liturgy was so overladen with extraneous ornament
that all trace of the original was lost. The highest
ecclesiastical tribunal has declared that these excesses
shall be, uc longer tolerated, and has condemned
M. Purchas in the cost of the proceedings, It would be
idle to affect any commiseration for him. If ever a man
deliberately and wilfully brought a legal penalty upon
himself, this rash clergyman has done so.. Trustinq
probably, to the law's delays and the cumbrousness and
inefficiency of ecclesiastical procedure, he has made
an experiment, and has failed. It is quite
plain that, with reference to the English clergy,
there must be a, limit of toleration somewhere, We
recognise the z,e-al and diligence with which many of the
High Church party perform their duties among the
poor of their flocks, the undauntee courage with which
they visit fever-laden dwellings and the haunts of vice
and ruffianism, at the risk of insult and violence. We
admire, too, the real scholarship which is frequently to
be found in their works, and most readily acknow-
ledge their sincerity and integrity of purpose. But
CinbugrruobtesofquEengexlaturadvraugbarnicose,pnerompi
for the men who have little learnirg, and who run riot
permit ernyeecdon besi d efreat e lati-
tude even in matter& of. ceremonial ; but a limit exists,
and the doings at St. James's Chapel shew that it is quite
time that limit 'ere clearly defined. Mr. Purchas him-
self, on calm reflection, will, we hope, be grateful for the
authoritative interpretation now given to the law of that,
church whote commission he holds.

METROPOLITAN GOSSIP.-T HMI SDAY.

in admirable order, the Household Brigade
advanced to the attack without a single skirmisher or
patrol. It would have gone hard with the crack corps, had
it been real instead of sham warfare. Truly a more
useless body than the heavy cavalry that decorate the ap-
proaches to the Horse Guards could not well be imagined.
But how can we hope for efficiency in these matters ?
Whilst the Germans are never satisfied with the skill
attained by their troops, Englishmen are content with
talking about Wellington, fields of glory, and the honour
of Old England.
Among the ftresentations to the Queen on Tuesday
were Mrs. Fish and Mr. Nicholas Fish, wife and son
respectively of the American Secretary of State.
Lady lecturers are at present attracting no small amount
of public 'attention. On Sunday Miss Blackwell gave an
oration at St. George's Hall, and the following evening
Miss Emily Faithfull lectured at the Hanover-square
Rooms on " Women's Work and Women's Sphere," the
Proceeds being given to Lady Lothian for the benefit of
the French female refugees. The audience was very
large and fashionable and Lord Lyttelton pre-
sided. Mr. Carlyle, in a letter regretting his
unavoidable absence wished her an " abundant harvest,"
and sent his "own little ear of corn" to add thereto. Mr.
Ruskin, heartily sympathising with Miss Faithfull in de-
fining woman's work and sphere, said, "it is as refreshing
as the dew's, and as defined as the moon's, but is not the
rain's nor the sun's." Miss Faithfull said that Mr. Tenny-
son, whose " Princess" had been often quoted, and oftener
perverted, was one of the foremost and strongest sup-
porters of the new college for women.
Business in the match line has been singularly brisk at
the most fashionable church in London during the last
few days. The period when the trees begin
to bud is always the period when the hopes
of young couples begin to develop themselves,
but this week the press of matrimony at St. George's;
Hanover-square, has been exceptional. So great was the
crowd of wedding guests that it sometimes became
necessary to marry two couples at once, a proceeding
which excited the susceptibilities of those concerned, and
marred that placidity of mind that ought to prevail on
such occasions. Stylish parties appear to prefer a wedding
to themselves, leaving humbler pairs to be married in
batches, as they often are. Country cousins are fond of
paying a visit to St. George's during the season. Now is
their time, for it is not often that one has the opportunity
of witnessing half a dozen grand weddings at once.
A family feat of an extraordinary character has been
accomplished by three of the girl art-students, of the
South Kensington Museum. The annual competition in
fans of pretty design has taken place, and the first, second,
and third prizes, valued respeCtively at £5, £3, and £2,
have all been won by members of one family, by the Misses
Montalba. There were eleven prizes in all, given by the
Science and Art Department, and for these thirteen fan
painters presented themselves. The eleven students who
have been fortunate enough to win prizes have the extra
satisfaction of knowing that their fans will be entered, at
the expense of the department, for the competition
for the Queen's Prize, which will take place
late in the spring. As her Majesty's prize
is open to national competition on the part of English
girls under twenty-five years of age, it is expected that
some hundreds of artists and art students will send in
designs. It has, moreover, been arranged that all the
fans of successful candidates and others shall be exhibited,
and in some cases offered for sale, in the forthcoming
International Exhibition. The National Gallery pictures
have been increased in the past year, a Parliamentary paper
informs me, by only five extra paintings, and these for the
most part represent sacred subjects by old masters.
Lovers of Turner's style will be interested in knowing
that his handsome picture of " The Fighting T4m4raire"
has been oftenest copied of all the works in the gallery
during the past twelve months. Uwins's painting, "Le
Chapeau du Brigand," has also been a great favourite,
while, curiously enough, poor Mulready's more social sub-
ject, "The Last In," is amongst those least reproduced.
The five new pictures were furnished to the gallery at a
cost of £14;503. Sir Walter James, Bart., has been ap-
pointed a Director of the National Gallery, in place of
Lord Overstone, who retires.
The proprietors of the Irish comic journals Blarney and
the Knight Errant have opened, offices in London for the
sale of these publications. The former is now advertised
on boards at the• Metropolitan stations in these, words,
"Blarney, Twopence a Kiss." From Ireland, too, we
have a rejoinder to "Dame Europa's School," entitled
" John's Fag." The fag is, of course, Ireland, and the
country is represented as being bullied and maltreated by
England in a manner that calls forth the displeasure of
all other nations, especially " Brother Sam," America.
The book concludes with an appeal for an effort at Inde-
pendent rule on the part of the Fag.
The French version of " Dame Europa's School," due
I believe, to the pen of a talented French lady, which is
remarkable for the curiously correct manner in which the
slang words and phrases are rendered into a very uncon-
genial language, is having an immense sale on the Con-
tinent. Upwards of twenty-five imitations of the pamphlet
have already appeared, one of which is attributed
to a bishop, and several others to dignataries in the Church.
Canon Pullen is busily engaged in writing a longer and
much more ambitious work, in which the same style and
manner will be exercised on a very different subject. The
volume, which will probably appear in about a fortnight,
will be published by the same London firm as was " Dame
Europa's School," and will be certain to command an im-
mense circulation,
It is reported that G. A. Sala will not claim the £5OO
he has gained by his action against the publishers of Hain
Friswell's " Honest" criticisms. This is disinterested.
Mr. Friswell himself is the person who ought to suffer
punishment ; but doubtless he will, for few publishers will
trouble him again. A new novel, " Her
Lord and Master," by Florence Marryat, is an-
nounced ; and Mr. Mathew Arnold comes out with
"Friendship's Garland : being the conversations, letters,
and opinions of the late Arminius, Baron von Thunder-
ten-Tronckh." The most important literary announce-
ments are Mr. Darwin's book on " The Descent of Man,
and Selection in relation to .Sex ;" and the forthcoming
" Life of Brougham," by himself. The Domestic World is
announced as a new weekly journal of homely and useful
information.
The French Post Office have just issued the new postage-
stamps of the Republic. The impress is that of a female
head surmounted by a garland, over which again appears
the one word "Itepublique."

We are in firm anticipation of a speedy peace. Every-
thing points to peace, from the solemn assurances
of the most accomplished political prophet to
the glorious weather and peaceful aspect of the
heavens, protesting, it would seem, against a
renewal of the war. There are some more. substantial
indications. It is now positively known that M. Thiers is
in favour of peace at almost any price, that the Assembly
will accept whatever he offers, and that nothing but the
most flagrant demands will provoke a renewal of the war.
He is confident that he will be able to lead France if a
treaty be signed at once, but' if he continued the
war and failed to succeed, he would fall as
surely as did the September Government. From the
foreign papers I gather that the despatch of fresh troops
from Germany has ceased. Several orders for raising
fresh regiments have been countermanded, so that the
male population, which must be woefully decimated, will
now be left in peace. If the war continues, the host now
on French soil will suffice for a time ; but. the chances of
a renewal are so small, that the German leaders justly
deem it useless to disturb industry any further. Hence
the drain has stopped, and great is the rejoicing through-
out the Fatherland.
There appears to be little doubt that Earl Granville has
been making overtures in the way of mediation, and
equally little doubt that they have met with no very
gracious reception. Indeed, I see that the Augsburg
Allgemeine Zeitung, indisput.ably one of the best informed
papers in Europe, says that the armistice would have been
extended to a reasonable length, but for the desire of the
German authorities to frustrate the intervention of the
neutrals. The meagre additions of five and then two
days to the period originally agreed upon are owing
not to the fear of French preparations, but to
the fear of neutrals meddling in the matter. Earl Gran-
vllle has undoubtedly interested himself during the last
few days much more actively than before. To shew how
little his services are appreciated, I may mention that the
officials at Berlin refused to forward to Versailles a des-
patch from the English Foreign Office, dated January'
20. Other proceedings have been as ungraciously
met. The other neutral powers, too, shew great timidity
in this matter of interference. Lastly, the French Go-
vernment has been assured that a more favourable peace
could be gained by confining the negotiations strictly to
the two parties. So that at present matters do not look
very promising for the cause of mediation.
I have heard from an excellent authority on English
politics that in Government circles the prospect of the
Republic being maintained in France is very favourably
regarded. I believe this to be true. It might appear that
as the reigning English House was very friendly to the
Claremont exiles, it would, if not actually favour a
restoration, at least regard an Orleanist triumph with
satisfaction. But there are other considerations. The
Orleanist family are notoriously. hostile to Germany. One
of the Berlin official papers the other day openly
declared against them. An Orleanist king would
be irresistibly impelled to ' strengthen his dynasty
by regaining the lost provinces, if a favour-
able opportunity occurred ; whereas a Republic,
consisting of no tangible persons, would not be in-
fluenced by such considerations. Hence the Republic is
thought to offer the best chance of peace ; and warm as
may be the friendship felt in the highest quarter for the
Orleanists, the feeling towards the Hohenzollerns is
warmer still. For my own part I find great difficulty in
believing that any French Uovernment whatsoever will
keep the peace longer than is necessary to recruit the
national strength and reform the army.
I venture to make a suggestion which may be worth
considering. The
,French cannot possibly raise the
immense indemnity they will have to pay at less than
eight per cent, (their Rentes are now quoted at little over
50). England could get it at fopr per cent. If we could
not help our old ally and intimate friend on the field of
battle, would there be any objection to helping her to raise
the money? It would cost England nothing, for France
would bear the interest. So long as Germany received
her terms, she need not insist upon the burden to France
being twice as heavy as it might possibly be made, and if
she did insist, it would not necessarily follow that her
instances should be regarded by us.
The bill for amending the conduct of parliamentary and
municipal elections is likely to prove the great Govern-
ment triumph of the session—that is, likely to give
greatest satisfaction to the Ministerial supporters. It
is a very advanced measure, and if the amendments
to extend the hours of polling until eight in
the evening, and to forbid paid canvassing be
accepted, it will be nearly perfect. The liveliest Demo-
crats could only want one provision more—the payment of
members. If that were conceded, and the two amend-
ments I have mentioned inserted, we should see
some changes at the next general election. Per-
haps we shall as it is. Nothing more than
the overthrow of the moneyed interest in elections
is required to give a fair chance' to the Democratic clubs,
which at present have their being and their supporters,
though they find no representative in the press. By the
way, a bill for paying members of the Victoria Legisla-
ture has passed both Houses. Upper and Lower legislators
are to have £3OO a year.
It is a very bad business, that resignation of Sir Spencer
Robinson, and the circumstances connected therewith. It
would be premature, perhaps, to pronounce upon the
matter before Mr. Childers has made his statement, but
nobody whom I have met with can discover a mode by
which either the First Lord of the Admiralty or Mr.
Gladstone can get out of this terrible muddle.
When the loss of the Captain raised the question,
Who is responsible? everybody was, of course, anxious
to prove that he in particular was not responsible. Mr.
Childers said in his official minute that Sir Spencer
Robinson had not called his attention to the consequences
which might he expected from sending the Captain to sea.
Mr. Reed and Mr. Barnes (Mr. Reed's deputy) had given
opinions that the vessel was more or lessunsatisfactory, and
Mr. Childers affirms that Sir S. Robinson did not refer him
to the reports of these officers. Sir Spencer Robinson
replies that he expressly forwarded the reports, and that
Mr. Childers, in referring to his letter, has omitted that
part of it in which the enclosure of the papers in question
was mentioned. In other words, Mr. Childers is charged
with tampering with a communication of the first import-
ance, and what is worse, the general public is unable
to see how the difficulty is to be got over. Thep lot, how-
ever, thickened after this. Mr. Gladstone endeavours
to get Sir Spencer Robinson to resign voluntarily. This
act would obviously have been self-condemnatory, and Sir
Spencer refused either to resign or to forego his right of
answering Mr. Childers's minute, He was dismissed, and
Mr. Gladstone asks him to date his reply to the minute
posterior to the dismissal, in which case it would have ap-
peared only as the complaint of an aggrieved official, not
as the just representation of right. It is a very painful
affair, and by the confession of the Government's warmest
supporters, it looks as if Sir Spencer Robinson had been
treated with as little justice as judgment.
The opening of the Military Reform debates in Parlia-
ment has been the signal for a shower of pamphlets,
written by officers and civilians, demonstrating almost
every
weak point of the existing system of army organisa-
tion. One of the best of these is a reprint of some propo-
sals submittedprivately to the Under Secretary of War in
1869, and is compiled by two officers, " Two usketeers,"
as they call themselves, who have devoted many years to
the practical working of their profession at horn*, abroad,
and in the field. They principally suggest that the re-
serves of the army should be strengthened, not by un-
tried recruits, but by soldiers who have experienced
short periods of service. The militia, they consider,
ought to afford the first training. From the Militia
soldiers should be drafted into the standard army, and
from thence, as stated, into the reserves. A second ex-
haustive pamphlet deals with the alleged necessity of abo-
lishing the offiee of military secretary. It is entitled" Horse
Guards Law," and the army journals are quoted to prove
the disadvantage of leaving it in the power of a Military
Secretary alone to advise his Royal chief in important
army matters. The writer of the pamphlet argues that
although the brunt of complaints against the Horsef
Guards Department must fall to the share of the
Mike o
Cambridge, still certain questions are, owing to the Duke's
delicacy and other caus.es, virtually left to be decided
nowadays by the Military Seoretary, who has, it is said,
a general authority to act in his 4,4 v al Highness's name.
In the military clubs in the neighbourheed of Pall Mall
these brochures are in the hands of all the menabere, and
each has its share of partisans and opponents.
It happened rather unfortunately for the reputation
of the Household Brigade that this very body made a
wretched exhibition of incompetency just before an at-
tack was made upon the cavalry in the House of Cr-
mons. The handling of these troops at Wimble-
don was truly laughable. Whilst the 10th Hus-
sars, who represented the enemy; were placed

NAVAL AND MILITARY INTELLIQENCE.
The Admiralty, having been unable to find a Chief
Constructor to fill the post vacated by Mr. E. J. Reed, C. 8.,
it is said they, are desirous of continuing the " Council of
Construction" for one month longer .than was originally
intended.
The Globe understands that the Treasury has refused to
carry out the scheme proposed by the Admiralty for the
compulsory retirement of assistant paymasterS,
Materials for torpedoes on an extensive scale have been
ordered to be sent to Malta from England, and there is
no doubt that for some time past measures have been un-
ostentatiously taken to place that island in an efficient
state of defence.
On account of the epidemic now prevailing, the autho-
rities of tlae Admiralty have considered it necessary that
all the officials connected with the departments at White-
hall And Somerset House should be re-vaccinated.

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24, 1871.

25 Alliance (L)
10 Anglo-Austrian
20 Auglo-Egyptian. (14 22; 23t 15 Loudon Joiut-tock 374 8
50 British N American 52 53 20 Lou and Weatninster C2l 6'!
20 Ch of India, Auatrlia 131 141
621, 3, 2.1, 3
131, 1 10 Metropolitan__
25 Char Mere of India 23 24 20 Midland (L)
10 City
11t 34
:0 Colonial
4 n olidated (Ti
20 Eng. Scot. and Aus C 151 161 25 Union of Australia.. 39 40
2 Imporhil %Li
3.7 t . 15 Union of bondon .. 40 41
10 1 iiipt.ria.l fittmmui
11'1, a, ;, 1

tdis pin
. 35

Pd
10 Agra !Sink (IA ....