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

WHO HAS BELLED THE CAT?

When we had passed our Reform Bill, an amusing
party contest arose as to who had been its designer.
Something of the same thing is taking place in France :
now that the Empire has got a constitutional
Ministry, a discussion has commenced regarding its
founder. Palpably, say M. 011ivier's friends, the
new Minister of Justice was the politician called
by the Emperor; he drew the different leaders
to him ; he is practically Premier. Not so
say others. M. 011ivier tried and failed. The Count
Daru, the new Foreign Minister, is the real centre of
the Administration. He—the whilom Orleanist, the
opposer of the Empire, the sufferer by the coup d'etat
—he was appealed to when 011ivier broke down. It
was the Count who chose M. 011ivier, not M. 011ivier
who chose the Count. Thus the Orleanist leaning of
the Cabinet is accounted for. Which of these stories
is the true one ?
NEWSPAPER FREEDOM.

The new French Ministry, or rather the new sys-
tem of government, has begun well by allowing all
newspapers, without restriction, to be sold in the
streets. Some of them, of the _Revell and Rappel type,
were interdicted from sale in public places. This move
is to be followed up by another, if we ma credit
the Paris correspondent of the Standarjy •
The
stamp duty is to be abolished, and the system of
caution money as well. Then the French press will
be absolutely free.
_ _

The Earl of Derby is suffering from a severe cola,
and has been confined to his residence for two days.
Mr. Gladstone will return to town from Hawarden
on the 17th instant.

The Princess Mary Adelaide of Teck gave birth to
a prince at eleven o'clock last night. Her Royal Highness
and the infant prince (according to the latest bulletin) are
doing perfectly well.

The January session of the Central Criminal Court,
which was opened this morning, is remarkably destitute of
cases of interest. There are no cases to be tried involving
the loss of human life; but there are two indictments of Lad
cases of attempted murder.

The American correspondent of the Echo men-
tions a rumour, which, however, he discredits, to the effect
that it is intended to prosecute Mr. Beecher and Mr. Froth-
ingham for being accessories to a felony, to wit, an act of
bigamy, on account of the part they took in the death-lied
marriage of Mr. Richardson.

Josiah Hurst, a butcher, carrying on business in
Ashburner-street, Bolton, was sent to prison for three
months, by the magistrates, on Saturday, for having in his
possession the carcase of a cow so diseased as to be perfectly
unfit for human food. The animal bad been purchased by
the pr's ner for 455.

The death is announced this morning of the Rev,
Philip Cell, vicar of St. John's, Derby. Mr. Cell was a
member of the Evangelical party. He was educated at
Trinity College, Cambridge, where he took his B.A. degree
in 1305, being sixth senior optime in the mathematical
tripos. One of his sons is the Bishop of Madras.

Dr. Ainslie, Master of Pembroke College, Cam-
bridge, died last night, after a week's illness, from
paralysis, with which he was struck down on Monday last.
Dr. Ainslie has been master ever since 1828—he graduated
at Pembroke in 1815, when he was eighth wrangler. The
R3V. Joseph Power, one of the senior Fellows, and the
Rev. Professor Stokes are spoken of as his successors.

During the pantomime in Southminster Music-
hall, Edinburgh, on Saturday night, a bag, containing oxy-
gen gas, sw:d nly exploded behind the stage with a loud
noise. The gaslights were extinguished, and there was
much excitement among the crowded audience. Mr. Levy,
the proprietor, fortunately succeeded in restoring order be-
fore anything serious happened.

It appears that the' steamer run down off Flam-
borough Head, as reported by telegraph on Saturday, was
the Saint Bode, of Newcastle, Captain Brcwn. She was
bound for Spain from Shields with iron and coke. After the
collision with the screw steamer Black Swan, also of New-
cas le, one man was picked up by tho fishing-smack Thomas.
His name is James Denning, and Lc believes he is the oLly
person saved. There were about twenty cm board.

The Countess Delawarr (Baroness Buckhurst) died
last night at her residence in Upper Gro:venor-street. Lady
Delaware was the last of the noble house of Dotst t. She
was the youngest daughter of Join Frederick, third DLIto
of Dorset, and descends directly from Thomas, first Earl
Dorset, who was created Baron Buckhurst Bth June, 1567,
but that barony and other titles became extinct on the death
of the Fifth and last Duke of Dorset in 1843.

The return of Mr. W. 'Tipping, M.P., was cele-
brated in an enthusiastic manner by the Conservative Aaso-
elation of Stockport, at Manchester, on Saturday. Although
it was a chilling January day, upwards of 2,000 iersons
attended. Mr. G. A. Fernley, chairman of the associat:on
presided, and the cLief speakers were Cecil liaikes, M.P.,
Mr. Tipping himself, Mr. Ambrose (the unsuccessful cat. di-
date at the last election), and Mr. Cawley, M.P.
Mr. Sergeant Dowse, M.P., has addressed
his constituents at Londonderry. Precautions were
taken by the authorities to prevent an attack on the
building where the meeting was held, but all passed off
quietly. Mr. Dowse said that a good Land Bill would be
as beneficial to the landlord as to the tenant. Ile believed
such a bill would be passed next session, after which they
would be in a position to say that full justice had been done
to Ireland.

The nomination of candidates for the representation
of Merionethshire has been fixed for Wednesday next, and
the polling will take place on Saturday. Only two gen-
tlemen seek election to the vacant seat—Colonel Totten-
ham, Conservative, and Mr. Holland, Liberal. It is plea-
sant to hear, eays the Liverpool Courier, when alleged
evictions are so widely spoken of by Liberal members for
Welsh constituencies, that Mr. Price, of /Writ's, and other
prominent landlords, have nobly asked their tenants to vote
in the contest according to their convictions.

A colliers' strike or lock-out appears to be immi-
nent in this district (says the Manchester Courier). Large
numbers of men met near Bolton and at Farnworth on
Saturday, and after strongly denouncing the conduct of the
colliery proprietors for not raising their wages at the time
they increased the price of coal, resolved to commence the
"half-stint" system this morning. A miner's agents named
Halliwell, assured the men that if the masters resorted to
extreme measures with them in consequence of their resolu-
tion, they would be supported by the union.
A threatening letter has bcen addressed to Mr.
Davies, corn dealer and malster, of Duffryn, in the parish
of Llangranog, county of Cardigan. The effusion was found
by Mr. Davies under the outer door of his house on Tues-
day morning last. The Western Mail publishes the follow-
ing translation out from the Welsh :—"Th ffryn.—Mr. John
alYiefy I do inform you that, if you will not give some-
thing at the collection of the oppressed, there will be some-
thing revengeful done before long. The cow or a horse,
or a lead bullet to you yourself. Minot :her! otherwise it
will be so."

A correspondence which has taken place between
the hen. secretary of the National Education League and
Mr. W. Simmons, hon. secretary of the Merthyr Education
Committee, has teen published. Mr. Simmons withdraws
from the League, en the ground that he considers the bill
proposed by that body to be very objectionable. He says
that one of the principles of the League was that all schools
aided by local rates should be unsectarian, but the bill is in
direct antagonism to this principle. He expresses his
opinion that the Lcague will either die by its own hand, or
willittszuellatUthighilAkUNQYjacaailat-lai._.