The Sun.
London, England, 1846-11-14 00:00:00

DUTCH MAIL.

THE HAGUE, Nov. iO.---(511 the debate upon the ad-
dress, several members of the Second Chamber made
objections on the subject of pauperism. M. Von Pan-
huys, member of the Committee for drawing up the ad-
dress, brought forward some highly interesting consider-
ations. The draft of the address, he observed, made no
mention of the increase of pauperism in our country, nor
expressed any desire that a new system of taxation might
be introduced ; in the first place, because it is not proper
that these delicate questions should fie brought for-
ward in the address, and secondly, because the Nether-
lands is not the only country which, at this moment,
has to lament the increase of pauperism. We hear of
numerous complaints in all the neighbouring countries.
If, with us, some of the inhabitants seek for means of
subsistence in other climates, is it not the same
in other nations ? Pauperism increases in proportion
to the population. May not this distress be caused by
the increased wants in all classes of society, in propor-
tion to the progress of civilisation ? We have heard one
of the speakers in the Chambers give such a picture of
the state of our country that, according to him, both
here and in our colonies, there is nothing encouraging in
the prospects. Let us beware, however, of conceiving
so deplorable an idea of the state of the country. Do we
not observe, on the contrary, many signs of prosperity ?
Are there any complaints respecting agriculture ? Are
not manufactures advancing in many places ? Do not
the great works of embanking and draining lakes and
marshes, insure important advantages for the future ?
If we examine all these questions with impartiality they
will doubtless be answered in the affirmative, and in our
opinion the state of the country is far from being so un-
favourable as some are pleased to represent it.
The question of introducing a new fiscal system, and
reducing the imports on the principal articles of subsist-
ance has been discussed. Undoubtedly important ques-
tions, worthy of all the attention of a Legislative Cham-
ber, will be brought forward on this subject when we
coins to the discussions of the budget, but it would be
imprudent to mention them iu the address.
The excise, which some would desire to suppress, or
at least reduce, produces annually a revenue cf 19 mil-
lion?. What tax equally productive, can be substituted
for it ? Shall it be an income or a property-tax ?
The nation, said M. Von Panmys, is not disposed to
bear these new burdens.
THE HAGUE. Nov. 10.—We are informed of the death
of one of the superior officers of the Netherlands
army who acquired a great reputation by his conduct in
the East Indies, and in his own country in the most try-
ing circumstances. Lieutenant-General Van Geen died
at his country seat at Ityswick. After the battle of
Waterloo, he was appointed to the important Govern-
ment of Namur, where he acquired general confidence.
His thorough knowledge of the organisation of an army
appeared in the composing of the battalion of infantry,
with which he was charged in 1815 at Louvein, and
afterwards in India, where he arrived in 1820. In
1824 and 1825, he was placed at the head of the expe-
dition against Celebes, the success of which greatly con-
tributed to confirm our power in the East Indies. In
the war of Java, Lieutenant-General Van Geen equally
distinguished himself, and when he returned to the
Netherlands, he was called, in 1830, to new dangers,
under the most critical circumstances.—Dutch Papers,
November 11.

THE WEATHER, CROPS, &c.
(From the Inverness Courier.)
The turnip crop in this quarter, as in most other dis-
tricts, has recovered from the mildew which appeared so
formidable in 3ctober. It is doubtful, however, whether
the crop will be so good as that of last year. Most of
the farmers say that the bulbs are considerably smaller ;
but they are still growing, end the soft weather has
been favourable. The demand for sheep continues, and
prices are almost unprecedented. Lambs are particu-
larly in request. As a farmer said to us the other day,
"Any lamb that has four legs, acid can go to a market,
is worth 103." The abundance of pasture is, no doubt,
one main cause of this demand. Bill farmers who have
known the north for forty years, assure us that the pas-
tures at this advanced time of the year are beyond what
they ever witnessed at any former period.
A correspondent in Strathspey states that the weather
in that district is favourable for turning down stubble
land and general farming purposes. He remarks that
about the half of the potato crup in Strathspey is free
from disease ; and the '(Train on the barn floor tells re-
markably well. The flocks are in excellent condition
and smearing has commenced. The prices obtained in
Strathspey for sheep this season are higher than at any
previous period since the war. The turnip fields are
reviving after the blight of August and September.
There has been a considerable export of grain lately
from most of the northern ports, as Beauly, Invergordon,
&c. On the east coast, we observe, there were last week
vessels taking in grain for the southern markets ; at
Banff, 3,000 quarters were to he exported.

WORTHY OF IMITATION.—The Sanatory Commit-
tee of the City Commissioners .of Worcester have issued
a list of questions, to which answers are invited ; and
which might be beneficially propounded in other places.
They are as follow :-1. Do you experience any annoy-
ance arising from bad drainage, open cesspool, pigstye,
slaughter- house,or other nuisance,in your neigh bourhood ?
—2. Are there any houses in your neighbourhood which
have no privies attached to them, or if any houses have
the joint use of the same?-3. Is the spring water used
by you of good quality and abundant in quantity, or is it
at any time contaminated with leakage from cesspools,
&c.-4. How often are the streets or courts in your
neighbourhood swept, cleansed, and the refuse moved by
the scavengers?-5. Are there any other particulars
within your knowledge which in your opinion the Com-
mittee should be made acquainted with?
THE ART-UNION OF PRAGUE, AUSTRIA.—The
interest which the public take in such establishments
increases even in these hitherto reputed half-civilised
countries. At the last exhibition, the number of visitors
increased to 16,480, and twenty shareholders bought
forty pictures for the sum of 10,434 florins (1,0001.).
The Union purchased forty-six pictures for 8,353 florins.
The number of shareholders increases not only in
Prague and Bohemia, but also in Silicia and Galicia, where
hitherto no such association existed. In the year 1845
the number of members was 2,473, who possessed 3,149
shares—this year the proportion has increased to 2,966
members and 3,622 shares. The Prague Union has also
put aside a separate fund for executing public monu-
ments, which amounts now to 18,000 florins. They in-
tend to begin with the pleasure pavilion of the Emperor
Ferdinand 1., in the palace gardens at Prague—a beau-
tiful structure in the best Renaissance style, which has
been already perfectly restored, and which the Union
intends to have ornamented with frescos from Bohemian
history. The estimated costs will be 30,000 florins.—
Me Builder.
M. ALExANDBE DUMAS AGAIN. We find the
following in the Clamor Publico of Madrid:—" Our cor-
respondent at Grenada writes thus, on October 31st:—
The celebrated writer of novels, Dumas, with his son,
is arrived in this city,-having come to visit its historical
monuments. We did not wish to speak of this distin-
guished man of letters in other than terms of admiration
and respect; but we have unfortunately to relate a
scandalous act, in which he and his son have played a
prominent part. They went together to the residence
of a French artist, who takes portraits in Daguerreo-
type. They were looking at a dance of gipsies on the
terrace in front, and were very much amused, when sud-
denly a stone, thrown by as unseen hand, struck the
young_ Dumas on the forehead and slightly bruised it.
Alarmed and irritated by this occurrence, all
the French who were in the house rushed
into the street to endeavour to learn whence
the stone came. It appears that one of the young
gipsies pointed out the house of the architect, Jose
Contreras, directly opposite. Without giving themselves
time to verify the fact, without going to the competent
authority, the Frenchmen rushed into the house, made
their way into the apartments of the architect, and,
finding- one of his sons quietly occupied in drawing, they
beat him severely, and even threatened to kill him with
the weapons which they carried. In the midst of the
noise and confusion, the mother and sister of the young
man interposed to save him from further injury. These
ladies the Frenchmen also struck and threw to the
ground, and were about to further ill-treat them, when a
police-officer came in with a troop, and put an end to this
scandalous scene, or rather committed still greater out-
rage against propriety, if that were possible. The worthy
officer, without any formal inquiry, suffered the French-
men to go unpunished, because, as he stated, he had no
jurisdiction over them, and carried his arbitrary conduct
so far as to impose a tine of 1,000 rials on the house.
This was because Dumas said he came into Spain as an
attache of the French embassy. The result is, that the
poor architect Contreras has laid a complaint before the
Captain-General, who is the only judge in the case of
foreigners, in order that he may receive legal protec-
tion."

MORE COACHES OFF THE ROAD.—Thursday, in
consequence of her Majesty's mail being now forwarded
by the Brighton South Coast Railway, the whole stock
that worked the day mail coach between Hastings, Sta-
plehurat, and St. Leonards, was sold at Robinson's repo-
ilitorY7 Little Britain.

THE DUCHY OF LANCASTER
COMMISSION.
(From the Post.)
We have already glanced at the curious aspect in
which political party connexion is placed by the new
commission for managing the affairs of the Duchy of
Lancaster. We have a word or two to say about the
extreme absurdity of this whole affair, unless something
worse than mere absurdity be intended, which we sus-
pect to he the case. It is said by persons who have more
knowledge of the projects entertained in certain high
places than we can pretend to, that some monstrous job
is in view. It is believed that something is about to be
done with the property of the Duchy which was thought
rather too much for sole responsibility, and therefore it
it was deemed expedient to lay it upon the aggregate
shoulders of a Royal Commission. Certainly, if there is
nothing to be done beyond managing the ordinary re-
venues of the Duchy with care and economy, the organi-
sation of so portentous a commission for so small an affair
is one of the most ridiculous things that ever was done.
Here we have a Noble Baron very learned in the law; one
who has filled the first legal offices, and advised in the
weightiest and most important affairs for the last thirty
years, occupying the office of Chancellor of the Duchy.
But all his learning and all his experience are not suffi-
cient. He must be helped by three Earls and an ex-
Secretary of State for the Home Department. And
what is this exceedingly grand Commission to do?
What are the mighty details of revenue which it will
have to manage? Is there any prospect that by the
clubbing of their wits they may enable her Majesty to
have the pleasure of paying off the national debt with
the proceeds of the commission-governed Duchy of Lan-
caster? Here comes tha absurdity. Every man of the
Commission, except Lord Lincoln, whose fortunes are in
expectancy, has a revenue of his own equal to, or ex-
ceeding that, of the Duchy of Lancaster. And what
would Lord Hardwicke, or Lord Spencer, or Sir
James Graham say to any one who should propose
to any of them a commission of three Earls and an
ex-Secretary of State to manage their estates for
them? Would they not regard such a proposition
as more fit for Bedlam than any other place; yet
there they are, compiling and compounding such
wisdom as they can muster, to manage on the Queen's
behalf certain land revenues amounting to between
twenty and twenty-five thousand a year ! We really
are surprised that Lord Campbell should require this
kind of assistance. We should have thought that " plain
John Campbell " would have been quite sufficient for a
matter of such moment as the government of the Duchy
of Lancaster, and now that he is a Lord and an ex-
Chancellor of Ireland, we do not see thatshe should be
considered disqualified for transacting such business as
would render any chief clerk in a solicitor's office un-
worthy of his salary, if he could not properly manage.
As soon as Lord Campbell has the opportunity. it will
be necessary for him to explain to the public how this
Commission of three Earls and an ex-Secretary of
State has become necessary to manage a property not
one-third so great as that possessed by many Members
of the House in which his Lordship sits. It will be
necessary to explain what these men are wanted for, if
not for a job ; and if a job, what job ?
(From the Chronicle.)
The Morning Post of yesterday contained the follow-
ing article:—
" On the sth of October we made the following state-

ment;—
" We understand that a department of the Govern-
ment, hitherto carried on under a chief, is, for the
future, to be managed by the same chief, assisted by a
board of unpaid commissioners. The names of the latter
we are not yet at liberty to disclose; but, if we mistake
not, they will throw a very curious light on the present
state of parties in this country.'
" There is now no longer any necessity for preserving
the secresy that was at the time imposed on us. The
department alluded to is that of the Duchy orLancaster,
and the intended Board of Commissioners—however
surprising the fact may appear to our readers—will be
composed of the Earl SPENCER, the Earl of Lincoln, Sir
James Graham, and the Earl of Harwiche !
" We were strictly correct in saying that these com-
missioners will receive no pecuniary emolument; but we
do hear that certain arrangements have been made in
reference to the distribution of patronage, by virtue of
which the new hoard will not be left altogether without
influence. Indeed, it is hinted that this provision is so
ample as to have already excited no inconsiderable in-
dignation in a Noble Lord, who imagines that he has
been unfairly deprived of the advantages he formerly
possessed.
" Of this, however, we know nothing ; it is for
the present quite enough for us to know that two
members of Sir Robert Peel's late Cabinet, and a noble-
man who held an appointment in the royal household
under the same Administration, have accepted office at
the hands of Lord John Russell. Were we altogether
wrong when, five weeks ago, we ventured to say that
the circumstance would throw a very curious light on
the present state of parties in this country ?' "
We have good reason for believing that the foregoing
statement contains a very erroneous impression of the
real facts of the case. It has for some time been con-
sidered highly expedient that a permament board should
be established for the management of the property of
the Crown in the Duchy of Lancaster; and, if we mistake
not, a somewhat similar arrangement already exists for
the management of the estates of the Duchy of Cornwall.*
The commissioners appointed are Earl Spencer, the Earl
of Hardwieke, Lord Portman, the Earl ofLincoln, and
Sir Jarees Graham ; but the political duties and pa-
tronage of the duchy remains as before with the Chan-
csllor. The inferences, therefore, which our Contempo-
rary has attempted to draw are scarcely warranted
by the facts. But if the case were otherwise, and if
these appointments had more of a political cha-
racter than can be fairly attributed to them, we may at
least express a doubt whether the public at large would
take that very particular interest in the matter, one way
or the other, which the Morning Post appears to expect.
We imagine, from our Contemporary's tone, that he
much exaggerates, in his own mind, the impression
which a political rumour of this sort is just now calcu-
lated to produce. Very " surprising" it would be, no
doubt, to your regular bred, professed politicians, to hear
of the ex-members of a 'Conservative" Cabinet taking
office under a " Whig" Premier. Quite exciting. So
wilful a forgetfulness, or so daring a defiance, of respect-
able and old-established political traditions, would, we
are sure, produce an immense sensation in all " political
circles." To the clubs, or so much of them as may be
left at this season of the year, it would be a profoundly
interesting and perfectly invaluable subject for intelli-
gent curiosity and collequy. We more than doubt,
however, whether the excitement would go deeper than
the surface of the political world. The good-natured,
insouciant public would take it quite easily. We should
not anticipate anything that could be called a " sensa-
tion," either of pleased or of displeased astonisment, at a ru -
moured official arrangement which so aptly represents the
present anarchical fusion, or confusion, of political par-
ties. Our impression is, that public feeling on the
matter—what there may be of it—would simply amount
to a very moderate and quiet satisraction at witnessing
so intelligible a recognition of an undeniable political
fact. As the public is very much of opinion that the
nominal party distinctions of " Conservatism " and
" Whiggism " have ceased to symbolise real differences
of opinion and policy, the public would, on the whole,
be well enough pleased with an arrangement which
tended to reconcile forms with realities. The public is
so thoroughly possessed with the notion of the practical
unimportance of those distinctions—cares so little about
the mere personnel of the cast of official parts—is so
free from all strong resentments or predilections, preju-
dices, or favouritisms, of a party kind—and so intently
desirous of seeing itself served by those who possess
most ability and presumable inclination to serve it well
—that the reported re-introduction into office of some
of the ablest members of the late Government will seem
the most natural thing in the world. It will be taken
as a sort of " homage to truth and reason." We
are not at all sure, even, that our good, easy, philoso-
phical, omnibus-going public would be horrified
if the rumoured political amnesty and hand-skaking
included the very highest personage in the realm of
Conservatism. It would lead us too far to inquire whe-
ther our worty aad respected omnibus-going public does
not carry its good-natured tolerance to an extreme that
is more amiable than judicious. The present state of
our domestic politics has certainly, taken from the
ethical point of view, a somewhat mixed character.
There is evil as well as good in this universal oblitera-
tion of old land-marks--this prevalent disposition to
accept or condemn public men, without much reference
to the past, by the sole and exclusive test of their pre-
sumed competency for present and future public service.
Without, however, going into those delicate and some-
what entangled questions which the existing aspects of
our political world offer to the consideration of the
moralist, we cannot but contemplate, with much hopeful
complacency, the more immediate practical tendencies
of this state of things. It is unquestionably a great ad-
vantage to the country that her Majesty's Ministers are
able to approach the grave and difficult problems that
will present themselves for solution during the next ses-
sion of Parliament, unembarrassed by any opposition of
a party character, We do not know that we can un-
qualifiedly congratulate Ministers themselves on the en.
joyment of this novel and extraordinary privilege, which
though affording certain rare facilities for beneficent
action, is not altogether without its attendant inconveni-
ences. Exemption from the peculiar embarrassments of
party antagonism implies a corresponding and equivalent
destitution of the peculiar aids arrising from party con-
nexion and support. The position of a Government
which has as little to hope as to fear from the old tra-
ditional forces of party organization—which, while it is
in no danger of falling by its party weakness, is equally
unable to stand on its party strength—which has posi-
tively nothing to rest upon but the excellence of its mea-
sures, and their felt adaptation to the demands of opinion
and events—is a position, the difficuties of which obvi-
ously bear a large proportion to its facilities. At the
same time, we cannot doubt but that the statesmen who
have deliberately accepted the new conditions which
circumstances have annexed to official power in this
country,: are.; well prepared to abide the test by which
henceforth all public men must stand or fall. We are
persuaded that her Majesty's Ministers, however deeply
sensible of the magnitude of those difficulties with winch
they have to grapple, must feel themselves cheered and
invigorated by the conviction, that the important ques-
tions of social reform now under discussion may be dealt
with freely and boldly, according to their own real and
independent merits, and that no well-devised measure of
public usefulness has anything to fear from a factious
and obstructive opposition.

THE FORESTS.—The Duke of Leeds and party
have shot seventy-five head of deer in Mar Forest. Lord
Henry Bentinck has killed thirty-eight at Inchrory.
The latter, with kindlier feelings than his ducal neigh-
bour, allows large ninehers of sheep to be reared in the
forest of Glenavon, of which he is lessee—and hence the
paucity of the deer killed by himself and party in com-
parison with the large number slaughtered by his Grace
of Leeds,—lnverness Courier.