The Sun.
London, England, 1870-10-10 00:00:00

BANDAGES AND RIFLES.

The Bishop of Argyll has entered a strong protest
against the inconsistency which characterises the
conduct of the English, or at any rate a numerous
section of the people of this country, in respect of the
war on the Continent. The good-hearted Bishop
complains that England is placed in a false position
when her people with the one hand supply weapons
of destruction, and with the other the means of heal-
ing the wounds they inflict. His lordship cannot, he
says, serve on a committee for aiding the sick and
wounded, conscious that the same vessel is
taking out instruments for the infliction of more
and other wounds, without protesting against the in-
consistency which is thus manifested. The senti-
ment of the bishop on this matter is endorsed by
thousands in the country, and several of his col-
leagues quite coincide with his views. His lordship
confesses that the present law does not prevent the
exportation of arms, but he points out that it is not a
question of law, but of morality—of that which gives
birth to law, "for is not all law," he asks, " but the
expression of morality ?" He believes that the exist-
ing law simply expresses our past and not our
present morality, and he, therefore argues that
our present morality must be put in force
by the expression of a new law which shall override
the old. The flag of England, continues the Bishop,
is already soiled by present and dirtied by past trans-
actions, and, "if we were saved from the
penalties of the past by the magnanimity of the
Americans, who is to save us from those of the
Present ? I care not whether the weapons be supplied
to the French or to the Germans. What, in behalf
of my country, I care for is that she should be pure ;
that she should not deceive herself or attempt to
deceive others by picturing herself as the defender o.

the oppressed, a large lion protecting a little one, or
as the lover of peace, and its promoter, a virgin
supplying balm and bandages, while supplying also,
and at the same time, weapons of destruction by a
back stair !"

RUSSIA AND THE TREATY OF PARIS.

A St. Petersburg correspondent of the Telegraph
refers to the Treaty of Paris in connection with
England and Russia. He says that the Eastern
question is again lowering on ,the political horizon,
and rumours are substantiated by facts. " Here, in
the palace, it is no longer a secret that Russia will
seek the earliest opportunity to disengage herself
from the obligations of the Treaty of Paris." It is a
f

.act that Russia is actively pushing on her arma-
ments, and there is a movement of troops towards
the south. The abrogation of the Treaty of Paris,
or at least a part of it, is looked forward
to as a certain result of the present dis-
astrous struggle between Prussia and France.
The Emperor intends to hold a grand review at
Kieft; but it is uncertain if the troops will return
when the display is over, or whether the review is

put forward as au excuse to assemble the troops in
the south without exciting suspicion. Among other
rumours it is said that the Emperor of Russia on
bearing of the capitulation of Sedan, exclaimed, "At
last there's an end of the Treaty of Paris." England
will have to make up her mind how far she is dis-

posed t o yield in the abrogation of that
Treaty." The correspondent concludes by expressing
his opinion teat the English press is mistaken in
favouring the aggressive policy of a country, whose
history has been one long course of aggression, of a
country who is crushing to the earth our only for-
midable ally—in favour of Russia, who at the end of
the war is thinking of walking over our heads in
the East.

TURNING ACORNS TO ACCOUNT.
The great calamities following in the track of war

have made us temporarily forgetful of the distress
occasioned by the drought, but even in this fortu-
nate country the scarcity of grass and hay, and indeed
of all forage crops, has produced great inconvenience.
It has been suggested that two valuable esculents
are in most districts almost entirely over-
looked. Acorns and horse chesnuts are very
suitable as food both for flocks and herds.
Horse chesnuts are greedily devoured by cattle, and
are wholesome food for them, though little known or
used as such. Acorns, which are this year unprece-
dentedly abundant, are found to be a most hearty
and nutritious support to sheep as well as to pigs.
Some persons deprecate their use for the latter
animals, thinking them injurious to the quality of
the meat; but they are used in Hampshire and
Wiltshire as pigs' food, both of which counties are
famous for their bacon. The scarcity of grass and
hay, and the mildew among the turnips this year
render the abundant crop of acorns a valuable and
readily available substitute for the ordinary food of
the flocks and herds. The collection of the acorns
affords a useful employment to women and
children, and it is proposed that landowners should
have them gathered at so much a bushel under
proper supervision, thereby avoiding the risk of in-

juring the trees. As there is a positive lack of the
ordinary supply of forage it would be highly de-
sirable to turn the unusual stock of acorns and
chesnuts to account.

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