The Sun.
London, England, 1871-01-12 00:00:00

A PAGE OF SECRET HISTORY.

Quevedo's question, " Who Js she P" which he
asked in connection with every catastrophe, large and
small, firmly believing that a woman must have a
hand in it, has just been answered in regard to the
European war by the Washington Patriot. Under
the title of "A Page of Secret History," this journal
publishes an account of the early negotiations
with Don Fernando of Portugal, respecting the
Spanish Crown. The husband of Maria da Gloria
married as his 'second wife, a brilliant and, ambitious
young American actress, Mss Hensler, on whom he
has since bestowed the title of Countess d'Edla.
Accordingto the American version of the story, it was
the refusal of the Spanish Ministers to recognise
this lady as Queen of Spain, which prevented Dom
Fernando from accepting the crown. The ambassa-
dor who had the charge of conducting the negotia-
tions informed the countess that she might be made
a duchess or grandee, or have any other title, but
could never he received as Queen. This was
conclusive, and all previous arrangements were
useless. It is said that Prim and his colleagues bad
hoped the marriage of the ex-King would help them
rather than hinder them, as his wife, whom he only
married 18 months since, was coldly received in
Lisbon, and they thought the oiler of high honours
to her at Madrid would relieve him of all social
embarrassment. The ambition of the lady proved
, however to be too strong for the diplomatists, and
thus, says the Washington Patriot, "a groat Euro-
pean war with all.its vast consequences, is to_be attri-
buted to the unsatisfied ambition of a Boston girl."

failed to pass through Parliament, in consequence,
the- Archbishop thinks, of not having been suffi-
cently discussed by the public. He touches upon
the chief points which demand attention, such as the
various alterations or modifications to be allowed by
the recommendations of the Ritual Commission, the
influence of the laity on the parochial services, the
restraint of the sale of next presentations, the abuses
attendant on the sequestration of be►:efices, an 1 the
reform of the Ecclesiastical Courts. The Archbishoi)
does not think we shall have done our duty to the
Church and nation till all these questions have been
finally nettled. He considers the heads of the
Church should at oi.oo consult with her Majesty's
Government as to the best means of carrying out
these important reforms; and he thinks it also de-
irable that joint committees of the two Convoca-
tions of Canterbury and York should be appointed to
discuss the proposals, and communicate with the
Government respecting them.

" TRucK!'

At a recent sitting of the Royal Commission on I
" Truck," the working of the system in the Welsh I
mines came under consideration. It was proved to I
be most prejudicial to the interests of the working--
classes. It was shown that the payment of
wages at intervals of eight or nine weeks
led to drinking, and necessitated draws and
help at the shop. Archdeacon Stanton said that in
Wiltshire the rate of wages was low amongst
agricultural labourers, and they were paid monthly,
which was productive of much inconvenience.
The people were always in debt to the little
shopkeepers, and could not go to market and lay
out their money to advantage. The men were
not paid in kind, with the exception of some small
articles. He thought that the payment of weekly
wages would decrease drunkenness, b4cause when
the men obtained a month's earnings they felt com-
paratively rich, and made free accorlingly. He was
constantly met with the excuse that it was "pay-
day" when he spoke to the men about getting
drunk. Another great evil was that the
men were often paid in public-houses. The hawkers
caused great mischief by getting the women into
debt, and by summoning them to the County
Court, thus increasing the cost of the goods. Some
evidence was given by a Bavarian, who was Sub-
Inspector of Factories in Warwickshire, Berks, and
Herts. He said that in some parts of his district no
payment in money was given to the women end
children engaged in different trades. H 3 considered
it a very injurious practice, and one that made
it impossible for the people to raise them-
selves. The Sub-Inspector of Factories for Hampshire
gave the result of his inquiries among the women
who worked at home. The people of Ringwood,
who knitted gloves, were in a wretched state, as no
money was paid to the workers. Their employer
kept a grocery store, in which they were compelled
to take out their wages. If they wanted money,
and not goods, they had to allow twopence in the
shilling for the convenience. The employers stated
that the system was for the " convenience of the
workpeople."