The Sun.
London, England, 1870-11-17 00:00:00

THE SPANISH CANDIDATES.

The Iberia, a Spanish paper, intimates that the
Duke of Montpensier is in danger of being exiled
from Spain if he does not at once renounce
his pretensions to the throng. The journals which
are his partisans naturally resent this intimation
very strongly. One of them, El Pais, avers that if
the men now in power think that the law of
vengeance against the friends of the Duke of Mont-
pensier is a reason of State they must take
the consequences. Great violence produces
just reprisals, and they need not be sur-
prised if the force of the injuries received
drives their opponents to extremity in defence.
The Republicans and the Carlists, says the Epoca,
are ready for the combat; the Montpensierists,
active and diligent, though few in number, take up
the glove that is thrown down to them, and the
Government, for its part, is making energetic prepa-
rations for defence. Unhappy country !

THE AMERICAN ELECTIONS.

The election to the American House of Represen-
tatives have resulted in a decided advantage to the
Democrats. These will not, indeed, be in a majority
—they were too far behind previously for that, but
their position is very greatly improved. It is ex-
pected that their minority will now be only 35,
whereas it was in the last hous e more than twice as
many. So great a change in the fortunes
of parties may be attributed to various causes. First,
the Americans like to give each side "their turn" of
power, in the illogical spirit of fairness common to
the Anglo-Saxon race. Secondly, the policy
of the Republicans has not of late
been characterised by judgment or good
sense—in the opinion, at least, of a large section of
American electors, and a sensible revulsion of popu-
larity is noticeable. Lastly, and meat important to
Englishmen, the desire for a reform of the tariff has
greatly extended. The new house will contain a
large number, some think a majority, of tariff
reformers.

PANTOMIMICS AT THE INDIA OFFICE.

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SlR,—The changes at this establishment of late emulate
with those of the silk worm, or those of the wayward
Englishman, or something like it—•
"First I will wear this,
Then I will wear that ;
Next what will I wear ?
I cannot well tell what."

For the last five or six years young men have been
annually invited, varying from the numbers of 6 to 12,
to compete for Positions as Foresters for the Conser-
vation of Indian Forests. The examination requisite,
vide the published programme, is by no means one to be passed
by second-rate men, and as the students undergo a pro-
bationary career abroad, chiefly at their own ex-
pense, for 2i years, after they have passed the ordeal of
the Civil Service Examiners, either in France or Ger-
many, many competitors take up both languages, for the
express purpose of being able to study scientific works on
Forestry in both tongues (hence are they de facto more
valuable public servants). The public are now told that
in consequence of the war, the candidates are to be
examined in one language only, viz., German. They
give out, as the forests in France are annihilated,
no students will be sent there, and men conversant
with the German tongue can alone be admitted
at the next examination, yet they advertise for
three French candidates early in 1871 ! which men are not
to be allowed to be examined in German I Hitherto 300
marks have been awarded for both languages, and men
read up in both are clearly entitled to marks
in both. Why alter the Civil Service Commissioners' pre-
vious programme? The management throughout has been
one worthy of ancient females, and when matters of this
kind are " liable to (so much spasmodic) alteration," I
for one would prefer the daily mishaps of the China Service
to that of the INDIA FOREST SERVICE.

The Wesleyans and Church of England members
have combined at Sheffield in order to secure efficient
representatives on the School Board,

IRISH NOTES.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

The idea that in Ireland the population are "suffering
from contiguity to a melancholy ocean," must have
originated at a long distance from the locality to which
it refers. Melancholy is about the last thing to be found
in the country. Even at Galway, where the ocean has it
all its own way, and where land and houses exist only on
sufferance, and on condition of periodical overflowingg,
the people, though not prosperous, are lively enough•
The barren soil and limited industry of the neighbourhood
will not support the existing population, who are diminish'
ing in numbers by means of theocean steamers whichtrans'
port them to a more prosperous, but scarcely more lively,
country. Emigration is not the melancholy movement
that it once was. The people are not so much driven
from Ireland, as drawn to the vast western country,
where their relations and neighbours have gone before,
and await them with a hearty welcome to a well-provi'
sioned home. And of those who are left behind, the pro-
portion of stockingless feet is diminishing, as also the
number of dirty miserable cabins, of which, however,
it must be admitted, that there are plenty left„ and there
is still room for the work of the sanitary reformer in sePa"
rating the pigs from the children.

In this part of Ireland the stern features of nature are in
accordance with the traditions of the locality. The TOO
Commissioners have recently erected a monument to the
memory of the Mayor of Galway elected in 1693, of when'
they record with pride that he condemned and executed
his own son. The story runs that Walter FitzstePhen'
the son of this excellent mayor, was courting a young
lady who received some attention from a Spanish gen-
tleman, the guest of the civic fnnctionary. The young
man stabbed the Spaniard, and threw his body into the
sea. So strong was the public feeling in favour °i
the culprit that no executioner could be found
to carry out the sentence of the law, and the father
himself performed the act, which vindicated at once his
own authority and the sacred rights of hospitality; but se
terrible was the effect that he himself died soon after of a'
broken heart. This terrible tragedy has the advantage►
or disadvantage, of being historically true—at least, no
one in Galway is allowed to doubt the fact.

Throughout the whole of Ireland the crops have been
excellent for two years past. This year hay, oats, iiaX,
and potatoes are all wonderful crops. The potatoes are
so large that it seems to be impossible to boil them to the
middle. While in England the grass would not grow for
want of rain, in Ireland the heaviest crops of grass have been
grown, and the hay has been saved in excellent condition.
It is now being exported in large quantities at good
prices. Cork is nearly as prosperous as Belfast
at least in proportion to its usual condition, which
is a long way behind that of the northern capital of
industry.
On Sunday at Cork I attended service in the Cathe-
dral. Five services had been held previously that morn-
ing, and yet the building was crowded. For admission to
the centre aisle one penny was paid by each person, anY
one giving silver having the balance returned. For the
side aisles no charge was made, and no seats were pro-
vided. Every part of the large building was crowded, so
much so that it was impossible for all to kneel. The ser-
vice, including au exhortation and offertory on behalf
of a local charity, was over in forty minutes, leaving
me ample time to visit three large Protestant churches,
where I found patient congregations wearying • under
lengthy sermons. When will Protestant clergymen re-
member that "a good sermon need not be long, and a bad
sermon should not be long."
A curious fashion seems to prevail at funerals. I met
an empty hearse drawn by two horses, followed by four
men staggering under the coffin, and a large number of
people on foot. I suppose it was a mark of respect to
have a hearse, and a token of affection to carry the

corpse.
In Ireland comicalitie3 abound on every side : here is a
signboard, the title of which would scarcely be seen in
England :

O'Sullivan's TenmnacielLociety
Wine & Spirit Store.
The strains of the temperance band up-stairs attracted
the whisky-drinkers on the ground floor, and both con-
cerns appeared to be prosperous. Such cases make it
doubtful whether Irish humour arises from a sense of, or
insensibility to, that which is incongruous
Railway trains are still a wonderment in many parts of
Ireland ; crowds visit the stations in the evenings and
flatten their noses against the carriage windows with
wondering curiosity respecting the inmates.
The forbearance and good nature of Irish officials is
beyond all praise. On applying for letters at the Dublin
Post-office, I was informed that the mails were not all
sorted, acid letters would not be ready for delivery for a
quarter of an hour, but on explaining that my train WAS
leaving before that time, the good-natured porter inter-
rupted a still more good-natured clerk, who hunted up my
letters, with which I went off in triumph. At the tele-
graph office I asked a question as to the postage of letters.
The clerk replied that he did not know, but he would send
to the Post Office to ascertain, and immediately a mes-
senger was despatched a quarter of a mile in order that I
might have my question answered. It is not surprising
that when Irishmen visit England they feel injured by the
requirements of severe official habits, which afford so
strong a contrast to their own.
Belfast is one of the most thriving towns in the three
kingdoms. It is the centre and ontport for a large agri-
cultural population, and the seat of an important manu-
facture. Labour is cheap and coal is not dear. Signs
of material comfort and abundance are found on every
side ; well appointed carriages roll through the streets, and
the signs of poverty, if it exists, are not apparent to a
stranger. It is worthy of note that in Belfast excellent
cars can be had for a shilling an hour, and these cars and
their horses are very different to the wretched things
which are allowed to pervade the streets of Dublin.
In this town it is contrary to law to make known your
religious opinions. On the day that I was there Bridget
Savage was fined 40s. and costs for saying that she "was
as good a Catholic as ever was born." The law is im-
partial, and the same penalty would have been inflicted
if Bridget had declared herself to be a " good Protestant."
It would be curious to know how a "religious census"
could be taken in a locality where a declaration of re-
ligious belief is a statutable offence. It may be some
consolation to our Lancashire friends to know that
the American devil has been introduced at Belfast.
Every morning, at five o'clock, the whole
neighbourhood is aroused by the same alarm-
ug whirr which causes so much consternation
at Manchester. If it is necessary to make a noise at 5
a.m. could not the sounds be of a more agreeable and
scientific character? In sounds which are harmonious the
vibrations sustain each other, and the noise goes farther
than with discords; it might therefore be possible to invent
an instrument which would be both more effective and
more agreeable.
The sympathy felt in Ireland for France is universal.
A common question from the sociable Jehus on the cars
is " What will become of poor France ?" I was told by a
newspaper proprietor that when he received the news of
the fall of Sedan and the surrender of the Emperor, he
dared not announce the fact on the usual placard out-
side his office, or, he said, the place would have been torn
down. So he posted up "Important News from Paris,"
and left his readers to find out what the news might be.
One of the Dublin car-drivers was intensely indignant
because a priest had told him that France got nothing
more than what she deserved. This view of the case will
not be listened to for a moment. France is a friend
in distress, and must have our sympathies irrespective
of all faults. I believe that the intensity of this feeling
on behalf of France has done much to divert the Irish
from the contemplation of their own grievances, and they
thus realised the tone of the philosopher who declared
that—

"Grief should be .
Strong to consume small troubles."
When the Irish next turn their attention to their own
affairs, it is to be hoped that they will find their grievances
have ceased to exist, and that wise legislation and agricul-
tural prosperity have left no room for agitation and dis-
content.

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HER MAJESTY.

BALMORAL, Nov. 14.

The Queen went out in the morning, accompanied by
Princess Beatrice, and drove out in the afternoon with the
Marchioness of Ely.
Colonel Ferguson, of Pitfour, left the Castle,

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ighbourhood
re diminish'
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anent to the
93, of whom
id executed
Fitzstephent
ig a young.
panish go"
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dy into the
favour °f
be found
the father
at once his
lity ; but so
111 after of
advantage,
%t least, no

i have been
oats, flax,
potatoes are
them to the
Lot grow for
is have been

t condition•
;s at good
as Belfast

ion, which
capital of

the Cathe-
that morn-

dmission to

person, anY
1. For the

; were pro-

3rowded, so

• The ser-
on behalf
es, leaving
.t churches,
ring under
rgymen re-
', and a bad

lis. I met
led by four
number of
f respect to
carry the

: here is a

be seen iii

irit Store.

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I both con•
s make it
;ewe of, or

ny parts of
'enings and
lows with

officials is
the Dublin

ere not all

very for a
r train W&

rter inter-
led up my
Lt the tele-
of letter 3•
would send
tly a mos-
rder that I
surprising
'red by the
afford so

i the three

arge agri-
ant manu-

r. Signs
on every
treets, and
)arent to a

excellent
3 cars and
hed things
Alin.

town your
re Bridget
she " was

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L inflicted

'otestant.”

is census"

on of re•

be some
now that
t Belfast.
e whole

3 alarm-

Iternation

noise at 5
leable and
mious the
ies farther
to invent

,ctive and

universal.

n the cars
told by a
a news of

peror, he
:lard out-

been torn
m Paris,"
light be.
indignant
,t nothing
1 case will
a friend
.espective
is feeling
the Irish
and they
declared

heir own

rievances

I a,gricul-
and dis-

,
, r.

)v. 14.

tnied by
with the