The Sun.
London, England, 1870-03-12 00:00:00

TIIE FRENCH MINISTER ON ALGERIA.

The debate on the new constitution for Algeria was
brought to a close on Thursday in the French Chamber of
Deputies. M. Ernie 011ivier made a speech of some
length in reply to that of M. Jules Favre on
the preceding day, and explained the views and
policy of the Government on the Algerian ques-
tion. They admitted, he said, the necessity of
altering the 27th Article of the Constitution which sub-
jects Algeria to the regime of a senatus-consultum, and
they propose for the future to restrict the powers of
the Senate with regard to the colony. On the
question of representation, M. 011ivier entered
at some length. M. Favre had asked the
Government to grant Algeria the right of returning
deputies—a right which the decree of 1852 deprived her
fa. The Government, said M. 011ivier could not do
this. Algeria had not the number of elec-
tors (35,000) required by the Constitution for the
el ction of a deputy, and in empowering her to
send three deputies to Congress the Government would
be infringing the Constitution in a manner that would re-
quire the especial sanction of the Senate. In conclusion,
M. 011ivier, after declaring the Government would not
oppose the motion of M. le Hon (proposing the sub-
stitution of civil for military Government in the
colony), said that the day of reparation and of justice had
at last come for Algeria, her interests would no longer find
their sole defenders in the Corps Legislatif, but in the
Government itself. The predominance of the civil
element would bring to the colony credit,
commerce, and agriculture, which were the
true elements of prosperity, fostered by that
which was the first consideration of all—Liberty.
M. 011ivier's speech was much applauded, and after an
animated passage at arms between M. de Forcade and
Mr. Jules Favre, the motion was agreed to.

The Atheumum says that the new edition of Bishop
Berkeley's works, edited by Professor Fraser, of Edin-
burgh, for the Clarendon Press, may be expected before
Christmas. Besides the editor's prefaces and notes, and
his account of Berkeley's life and philosophy, it contains
much hitherto unpublished matter from the bishop's
MSS., which have been supplied by Archdeacon Rose.
Professor ITeberweg' of Konigsberg, has lately pub-
lished a German translation of Bishop Berkeley ;
the bishop has hitherto been appreciated in
Germany and neglected in England.—The death
of Dr. Duncan, a professor in the New College
Edinburgh. is announced. Professor Duncan was a very
"absent minded" man, and a legend used to be current
about him which has been told of many people in slightly
different forms. The doctor was coming, so says the
story, out of the college one day, when a cow brushed
slightly against him the Doctor mechanically lifted his
hat and muttered "I beg your pardon, ma'am." He was
a good deal rallied about this, and a day or two afterwards
as he was again coming from his class he stumbled
.against
a lady, and at once exclaimed "Is that you again, you
beast ?"—Professor Max Miller's four lectures on the
" Science of Religion," will be published in four consecu-
tivelnumber3 of one of the magazines. The first lecture
will appear in the April number.—The total number of
unattached students at Oxford up to the end of last year
was sixty-six, Among them are a considerable sprinkling
of under-graduates, who have been obliged to - leave
their colleges through failure in University examinations.
Mr. James Dodds, the author of " The Fifty Years
Struggle of the Scottish Covenanters," has written a
sketch of the life of Dr. Chalmers.—ln a paper read at the
last meeting of the Acad6mie des Inscriptions, M. Defrd-
mery maintained that the date of the capture of Jeru-
salem by the Egyptian Caliph should be 1098 and
not 1096, the date hitherto adopted by histarians.—
Notwithstanding many assertions to the contrary which
have been made in this country and France, it is certain
that our National Gallery has not acquired any pictures
from the San Donato collection.—The Californian legis-
lature has abolished the law prohibiting operatic and the-
atrical performances on Sundays.—Mr. Legros will pro-
bably contribute to the Royal Academy a picture styled
" The Barricade," and representing the defence of such a
rude fort ; also two priests at the reading-desk, and a
figure of an old man kneeling in prayer.
Nature announces that M. Delaunay is the new director
of the Paris Observatory. He has just received the
Medal of our Royal Astronomical Society for his
researches on the moon's motion, is an astro-
nomer second to none, and is in every way
admirably qualified for such an important post.—
At a meeting of the Royal Society last week, the names
of the candidates for election, fifty-three in number, were
read. From these, in accordance with the usual
practice, fifteen ill be chosen to be elected
by the Fellows of the Society in June next.
Last year the number of candidates was forty-five.—
The examination of candidates for the Royal Agricultural
Society's prizes will take place in the week
commencing 26th April—There is a talk of an
International Congress of Geographers at Antwerp. Many
eminent French savants have promised to take part.—
At a session of the council of University College, London,
on Saturday last, Mr. George Crote, president, in the
chair, Mr. Henry Maudsley, M.D. Lond., Fellow of the
College, was appointed Professor of Medical Jurisprudence.
A Whitworth Exhibition of £25 was awarded to Mr.
Robert Forsyth Scott, a student of the college.—
The new chemical laboratory erected for the use of the
scholars at Eton College has just been opened for school
purposes, under the superintendence of Mr. Madan.
There are two large rooms,*one of which will be used for
lectures, and the other for school purposes. The British
Medical Journal states that Professor Affassiz is ill from
nervous prostration and over-work, not being able even to
write letters.

The Graphic has the following notes :—The Abbd Liszt
is at present engaged on the completion of a magnificent
symphony, entitled, " Le Roi Etienne."—The Americans
are organising a monster festival in honour of Beethoven's
centenary. It is to be done on a splendid scale—no less
than five thousand musicians.—We understand that Mr.
Theed is engaged upon a colossal statue of the late Sir
Robert Peel, to be erected at Huddersfield. He has also
received a commission for a replica of his fine statue in
St. George's Hall, Liverpool, of the late Earl Derby. This
work is for the Junior Carlton Club.—Mr. Charles
Dickens, jun., has made another successful appearance at
the old theatre at Richmond in the character of Toby
Heywood, in Douglas Jerrold's comedy of the " Rent
Day." There is, by the way, no truth in the report that
Mr. Charles Dickens, jun., intends to adopt the stage as
a profession. At the Richmond Theatre he has performed
as one of a company of amateurs, strengthened only by a
few professional ladies.—A new daily paper, Le Citoye,n,
has been started in Paris. As its name denotes, it is
emphatically a Republican organ. -

It is reported that Mr. Dick, M.P., as well as his
agent, has received a threatening letter with respect to
some evictions pending on his estate of ICilpedder, in the
county Wicklow; and itis also stated that five respectable
persons, residing in and near Virginia, county Cavan,
have received notices signed " Rory of the Hills," in
which they are threatened with death, and in two cases
graves were dug near their residences.—Freeman's Journal.
111 E 7COTCIi _Mom LAW.—The select committee
on this subject sat.; yesterday, when the Rev. Dr. Bisset,
a moderator of the General Assembly, was examined.
lie attributed the increase of pauperism and the deVaio-
ration of the morals of the people to the introduction of
the present poor-law system, and the prevalence of re-
ligious dissention.

The •mcgield 7'elearaph states that two hundred
men have been on strike for a fortnight at the Metropoli-
tan Railway Carriage Works, Saltley. Yesterday some
new hands went to work, when they were set upon and
stoned by a large mob of the old men. Some of the latter
forcibly ejected the new comers and led them away.
The remainder, being intimidated by this display of
force, refused to continue at work. A body of police
arrived from Aston and remained guarding the workz till
night,