The Sun.
London, England, 1870-05-30 00:00:00

The English Captives at Gibraltar.

A. correspondent of the Standard gives some
additional information respecting the captured
Englishmen near Gibraltar. If this account
be authentic, the brigands were even
more daring than their Marathon prototypes,
since they actually invaded their victim's dwelling
house. Mr. Bonne' and his nephew, merchants of
Gibraltar, and natives of that place, are in the habit,
it seems, of spending a few weeks every year in a
small cottage they have at Sabart, during the
hot season. Sabart is four miles from Gibraltar,
half way between San Roque and the eastern
beach. On the evening of the 21st the cottage was
entered by a strong party of brigands, who seized
the two gentlemen, one of whom being a confirmed
invalid was incapable of any resistance, and, mounting
them on horseback, carried them off to the moun-
tains, sending in a demand for a ransom of 20,000
doll. to Gibraltar early the next morning. Of the
two servants, who were said in a former account to
have been captured along with their masters, no
mention is made in this version of the story. It
appears that one of the gentlemen seized is known
to be wealthy, and it is believed that the object of
the affair is exclusively mercenary, having nothing
whatever to do with politics or nationalities.

The Greek Murders.
The French Government takes a very active
interest in the late massacres in Greece. Indeed,
it spares no pains to bring the little State to a sense
of its condition. Another French despatch has been
sent to Athens, severely blaming the Government of
King George for dragging on the negotiations. The
communication reiterates the menace expressed in a
previous despatch of the same Government, that
the Greeks as a nation will be made to nswer,
should any Frenchman sustain an injury in
their country. It may perhaps be doubted
how far one nation, however big, can claim to insult
another, however little, in this fashion. The Greek
Government has quite enough to do with the sins it
has already committed without being bullied about
sins which it has not, but only may, commit. The
French Government is anxious for a conference to
"fix the guarantees to be given by Greece of future
good behaviour."
Mr. Gladstone's Mystification.
Mr. Gladstone's manner of receiving deputations,
and of sending them away again, witfeelings of a
very satisfactory nature as to result of
their interviews, has at length been openly com-
mented upon by an intelligent Scotchman.
Addressing the General Assembly of the Church of
Scotland a day or two since, Dr. Norman Macleod
corrected an interpretation which had been
given to a statement made by the Pre-
mier to some representatives of the Church of
Scotland with reference to the Church patronage
question. Dr. M'Leod added that he was only inclined
to state what the Premier did not say, he would not
discuss what he did say, as he never found two men
agreed as to what was the purport of Mr. Gladstone's
words when replying to deputations.
Meetings of Educational Committees.
The Committee of the National Education
League met at Birmingham on Friday, and
subsequently they issued a circular to the various
branches concerning the Government amendments
to the Education Bill. The opinion expressed
is an unfavourable one, the concessions being
looked upon as unsatisfactory in themselves, and as
failing to deal with the objections of the League in
regard to the measure. It is not thought probable
that the Nonconformists will consent to them.
The further consideration of the question
will be taken up at a special meeting of
the League Executive on the third of June. A day
or two ago a meeting of the sub-committee of the
Manchester Education Bill Committee was held, at
which certain resolutions were unanimously adopted.
They set forth the approval of the committee with
regard to the establishment of a strict time-
table conscience clause in those schools
which receive public aid. The general committee
were advised to support the amendments which ad-
vocate the views of Mr. Jacob Bright and Mr.
Hibbert. The Government amendments are disap-
proved of for several reasons, among which is men-
tioned the unsectarian character of rate-provided
schools.

Mr. Baines and Education.
Mr. Baines has -written to the Daily Telegraph on
the subject of the Government Education Bill. He
is anxious to avoid any misunderstanding
with xespect to the opinions of the Liberal and Non-