The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-01 00:00:00

THE FRENCH PROVISIONAL GOVERNMENT.

The Standard says Iva have refrained hitherto' from •
criticising too severely the actions of the Provisional Go-
Vernment lest we might subject ourselves to the charge of
desiring to trouble the already overburdened cause of
France. But it is time that all who wish the
French people to emery with honour out of
this desperate conflict should ask themselves what
hope there remains of any favourable result for the
arms of Franco when the destinies of the country aro
subject to such as M. Gambetta and M. Cremieux? What
spectaole can be more deplorable than that which the so-
called Government of Defence presents to the eyo of the
world at the present moment? What has the soi-disant
Republic done from the beginning but to weaken and to
damage the cause of France ? Repeatedly as the
memories of 1792 have been invoked, have we seen
any proof that the invocation has been fertile of real'
deeds ! If France could be saved by windy proclama-
Lions, then M. Gambotta would be a competent dictator.
M. Gambotta proclaims and protests, still the old Re-
publican energy does not come. Nothing in the
state of 1870 resembles 1792 except the dis-
order and the anarchy. The spirit which ani-
mated the forefathers of the French in their
great struggle against Continental Europe is either
absent altogether, or it is buried under the heap of M.
Gambetta's proclamations. The new Republic, in fact,
while it has imitated all the worst faults charged
against the Empire, has done literally nothing to justify
its exaltation. It has filled the country with Re-
Rublican prefects, which prefects are perpetually quarrel-
ling with the local generals. In the meantime the work of
driving the Prussians off the soil of France does not advance
—is scarcely attempted. There aro soldiers everywhere,
full of courage and patriotism. There are endless re-
sources, in money and in stores, beskios what the new
loan will give them. But M. Gambetta, is still content
with issuing his apocryphal bulletins and his bombastic
proclamations.

Tice APPROACIrING ROYAL MARRIAGE.—At the
meeting of the Commissioners of Supply for Argyleshire,
held at Inverary last week, his Grace the Duke of Argyll
presiding, Air. Campbell, of Inverawe, proposed a resolu-
tion to the effect that the meeting had heard with the
greatest satisfaction the announcement of the proposed
alliance between her Royal. Highness the Princess Louise
and the Marquis of Lorne, and begged b-ave to offer their
warmest congratulations to the Marquis and his noble
parents. His Grace in reply, expressed how deeply grati-
fied he felt by the resolution.

PUBLIC SCHOOLS OF NEW YOBE.—The sixteenth
annual report of the Superintendent of Public Instruction
in the State of New York has been recently issued in a
convenient shape. It appears that in the year ending the
30th of September, 1869, there were in that State 11,703
schoolhouses. The expenditure since 1860 on buildings
devoted to free education has amounted to 11,097,547 dols.,
of which 6,378,061 was for cities, and the- remainder for
w h
the rural districts. The hole number of child-
ren between the ages of five and 12 years
was 1,463,299, of which 998,661 attended the com-
mon schools during some portion of the year, the
average daily attendance, however, only reaching 468,421.
Tis discrepancy between actual attendance and the total
number on the school books is always a matter for regret,
but it appears to be unavoidable. Still, an ijnprovement
is noted in this .respect, especially in the rural districts.
The whole number of teachers under the public school
system was 28,310, of whom 22,080 were f dmales. Whether
the manner of licensing this large bq,sly orinstruetors may
,
be accepted as deciding the measure of fitness for their
duties or not, the report gives important figures upon the
subject. Thus, 401 were licensed by normal schools, 968
by the State superintendent, and 26,641 by local officers.
NOTICE —KINAHAN'S LL. Whisky Depot. Kinahan
and Co. have removed to their new and spacious premises,
No. 6a, Great Titchfield-street, Oxford-street, leading
from Margaret-street, Regent-street, and Market-street,
Oxford-Street. Kinahan's LL. Whisky.—This famous
and most delicious old mellow spirit is the very cream of
Irish whiskies, in quality unrivalled, perfectly pure,
and more wholesome than the finest cognac brandy.
Can be obtained all over the kingdom,
,in the well-known
sealed and labelled bottles, or in bond for exportation at
the London Docks. Wholesale Agents to Messrs. Bass,
Guinness, and Younger, and Dealers in Foreign Wines
and Spirits. .
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