The Sun.
London, England, 1851-04-28 00:00:00

MONDAY EVENING, APR! i. 28„ 1851

for nothing. A similar result happened if
the signature of the testators were not
affixed at the end of the testamentary part of the will,
as, for instance, if it were placed after the attestation
clause (as is very frequently the case), or with any
interval from the last paragraph.

The practical effect of these stringent and impera-
tive provisions is, to act as a snare to the unwary, and
constantly to defeat the intentions of those who are
unable, either through want of means or want
of time, to obtain professional assistance. It
is not the less wealthy classes only that
are affected ; many persons of considerable
fortune fall into similar errors. We believe that we
may mention the case of the late lamented QUEEN
DOWAGER as one among rainy similar instances,
where a testamentary document offered for proof was
rejected for informality, although there could be no
possible doubt as to its authenticity. The formalites
required really act as so many snares to entrap per-
sons into some omission or variation that may occa-
sion litigation in the Prerogative Court, and bring
profitable business to procrors and advocate,.
They do no good whatsoever, afford no additional
guarantee for the authenticity of the document. We
believe that few Court days pass without expressions
of regret being heard from the Bench at being com-
pelled to reject proofs, and to decide contrary to the
real merits of the case. In these days of legal re-
forms a suitable remedy should be speedily pro-
vided for a grievance of such magnitude, affect•
ing the fortunes and future prospects of
entire families, and we trust that the present session
may not be suffered to elapse without the attention of
Parliament being directed to the %Vills Act, with
a view to its revision and amendments.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of Saturday
and of yesterday.
A rather animated discussion took place in the
Assembly on Saturday, in consequence of the opposi-
tion of M. BODRZAT to the proposed grant for defray-
ing the expenses of the installation of the French
cardinals. In opposing the grant, M. BOURZAT re-
minded the Assembly that every cardinal was a
Roman prince, and as such bound to obey the orders
and behests of the Holy See. Why should the French
Republic, he asked, give its funds to support the
princes of a foreign power, for such were in reality
the French cardinals ? Then what could be more
unsatisfactory than the manner in which the 45,000 f.
allowed for the installation of each cardinal were em-
ployed. A sum of 11,000 f. was paid to the Sacred
College ; 7,000 f. to the congregation of the faith,
3,500 f. to a chamberlain, and so on throughout the
whole grant. What was given in return? A piece
of parchment with a leaden seal ! The Hon. Gentle-
man then launched out into a violent diatribe against
the expedition to Rome, which, he said, would cost,
according to M. CHARRAS, sixty millions ; and, ac-
cording to M. PASSY, twenty-seven millions. He con-
cluded by turning into ridicule the office of cardinal
as totally useless, and consequently not worthy of
the grant which his proposition tended to suppress.
The proposition of M. Bovezesr for the suppression
of this article of the Budget was ulimately rejected
by a majority of 441 to 194.
General D'HAUTPOUL has incurred the stigma of an
official disavowal in the itioniteur, on the part of the
Government, of certain of his proceedings as Go-
verner General of Algeria. It appears that on the
15th inst. General D'HAUTPOUL thought proper to
publish the following order of the day at Algiers :
" On arriving yesterday from Com•tantina, I learned,
with painful astonishment, that Colonel d'Aurelle, com-
manding the camp of the Beni-Mansours, had gone out
in the night of the 9th at the head of his troops to attack
the village of SAloum, on the southern slope of the
Djurdjura. He returned on the evening of the 10th to
his camp. The most formal orders had been given to
Colonel d'Aurelle to remain in observation of the Beni-
Mansours, where he bad established his head-quarters.
He was expressly forbieden to come to any collision
with the lisbyles in the mountain; he was ordered even
to allow himself to be attacked by the Cherif Bon
Bargbie, if he dared to pass to the right bank of
the Oiled Sabel, when, by a bold sortie, the colonel
might have overthrown him, aed not have a'lowed
a Ksbyle to escape. The Zouaves gave a proof in
this affair of what they had always been; they showed
the greatest enthusiasm and a courage which the en-
trenchments formed by the enemy could not stop. Sel-
loum was carried and burnt, but the column had ten men
killed and twenty-six wounded. This wretched village
was far from being worth the blood of so many brave
men. It is not by partial combats that the Djurdjura is
to be attacked; it is by two numerous columns, which,
leaving simultaneously the Oued Sebaen and the Oued
Sate], would climb the steeps and unite among the zen-
acuas. These ferecious mountaineers, having been brought
to submission, the conquest of Kabylla would be termi-
nated at a single blow. This plan I proposed to the Mi•
sister of War. The Government, although admitting
the justice of it, considered the moment inopportune,
and decided that for this campaign the submission of
the tribes situated between Zdila.h, Philippeville and
Djidjelli should alone be accomplished. These orders
gave me pain, but my first duty was to execute them,
and it is from this motive that I have come from the
province of Constantino, to give my instructions to Gene-
ral Saint-Arnaud. What I have done Colonel d'Aurelle
ought also to have done; the bravery which he has
shown oannot justify his transgression of formal orders
which he has not attended to. It would be no longer
possible to direct an army, if every isolated chief were
to make himself the judge of what he was to do. How-
ever painful it may be to be inactive in presence of an
insolent enemy, he should have bad sufficient command
over himself not to forget the formal orders which had
been given to him. Colonel d'Aurelle, who has already
received a severe reprimand from General Blenqui, will
remain under arrest. The Ministor of War has been
informed of these facts. The troops which are to form
part of the expedition of Djidjelli are about to be fixed
on. A battalion of Zouaves will form the head of the
eoluma of the Bosquet brigade. A part of the troops of
the division of Algiers will remain in observation before
the Djurdjura.
(Signed) "D'HAUTPOUL."
The Moniteur of yesterday contains an official note,
signed by the Minister of War, expressing the formal
disapproval by the Government of this order of the
day, published by General D'HauTrouL, and con-
demning it as contrary to discipline and military
rule, inasniuch as it offers to the appreciation of the
army the opinions of the generals in command.
A grand ball was given on Friday evening at the
British Embassy by the Marquis and Marchioness of
NORMA.NRY. The number of invitations issued was
upwards of eighteen hundred, and although the
guests present were very little inferior to that num-
ber, the splendid and spacious saloons were not by any
means overcrowded. The refreshment-rooms, abun-
dantly supplied, were open all the evening. At one
o'clock a splendid supper, consisting of all the deli-
cacies of the season, was served. Dancing was kept
up with great spirit till past four o'clock. The com-
pany at this splendid file consisted of the elite of Pa-
risian society. The whole of the members of the
corps diplomatique, the Ministers, and a great num-
ber of the Representatives were present, besides all
the English of note now in Paris. The PRESIDENT
of the Republic, although confines for the last few
days to the Elystie with a alight fit of gout, had ex-
pressed his intention to do honour to the Marquis of
NORMANBYitS fête, and it was not until late in the
evening that he was forced to abandon his intention.
After ihe commencement of the ball, one of the PRE•
SIDENT'S aides-de-camp was sent to announce to his
Lordship that it was physically impossible for him to
attend.

The Committee on the Paris and Avignon Rail-
way Bill assembled on Saturday to hear explanations
from MM. SEGUIN, FERRERE, and ROUSSELOT, re-
presenting the different companies which have pro •
posed to contract for the line. M. SEGUIN undertakes
to complete the line from Chalon to Avignon in thirty
months, on receiving an indemnity of from 180 to
185 millions. In the event of the State taking on
itself the passage through Lyons, the company would
make a deduction from the indemnity of 21 millions.
It offers to lodge, as a guarantee in the htinds of the
State, a sum of six millons for twenty years. It
also consents to leave to the state the profits
over and above 10 per cent., and undertakes
haulage and the repairs of the line at the rate of sf.
a metre. M. FERitERE, who represents an English
company, demanded the matter to be post-
poned to Tuesday next, in order that he might obtain
an answer from England. M. ROUSSELOT proposes
to farm the line for 40 years. He offers to reimburse
in capital and interest the sum which the State shall
have paid to MM. REDAUD READ up to the aniount,of
200 millions, which is equivalent to an annual rental
of 14 millions, and to deposit by way of caution-
money a sum equal to the amount of one year's rent.
The committee separated without coming to any re-
solution.

BUSINESS DONF IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, APRIL 26.
Boulogne and Amiens, 9% - Central of France (Orleans
and Vierzon), 17 ex d iv.— Luxembourg, 3%—Namur and
Liege, B—Northern of Franee, 14 <,—Orleans and Bordeaux,
4—Paris and Strasbourg, 10%—Rouen and Havre, 93. ex
div.—Sambre and Meuse, 4—Tours and Nantes, Oil—West
Flanders, 3.

GERMANY.

Accounts from Berlin of the 25 h state that Austria
and Prussia have both addressed notes to the Govern-
ment of Denmark, demanding the immediate settle-
ment of the Holstein question.
The Dresden Conferences are ahatidoned.

The Independance of Brussels says—
" There is nothing new from Germany. Still we are
assured that the negotiations between Austria and Prus-
sia, which vrere at one moment languishing, have as-
sumed a good deal of activity. One of the important
points of these negotiations is as to the number of votes
necessary for the adoption of resolutions in the Diet.
Austria proposes to establish the system of the absolute
simple majority, which would assure her the superiortiy
in all deliberations, and so render her in some sort mis-
tress of the destinies of Germany. It is rumoured that
Prussia is about to cede to this pretension; but this is
doubted, as it would amount to the abdication by Prussia
of her position as a great European power. It is now
said that it is on the 12th that the Prussian Plenipoten-
tisry will present himself to tee Diet; but this is not
official. The 13. riin Cabinet, in fact, has not yet chosen
the Plenipotentiary."
The Prince and Princess of PausslA, accompanied
by their son, left C'blt-niz on the 23d, far London.
The PRINCE, on his arrival at Colowee, was met by
the nothicipsl council. The, firs,: bourgornaster made
a speech, to which the PRINCE replied as follows :
" What you have just said is perfectly true. We are
still on a volcano; the dangers are not over, but if they
should again present themselves, we have a force on
which we can rely—the army. Let us not deceive our-
selves. We have not yet crossed the mountain. But if
the sentiments which you have just expressed are those
of the gentlemen who surround you and of the citizens of
Cologne, end they will march i❑ accord with the autho-
rities, we shall have nothing to fear. It is necessary
that all should unite their effsrts to strengthen confidence
between the people and the King. One word more,
gentlemen. The press of Cologne is bad, it must improve
itself; it sows discord and discontent. Act in a contrary
sense, exert your influence, and all will go well."
A letter from Vienna of the 22d states that the
Archduchess SOPHIA, mother of the EMPEROR, had
left for Trieste, with two physicians, in consequence
of the receipt of a telegraphic dispatch announcing
that her son, the Archduke FERDINAND MAXI-
MILIAN, brother of the EMPEROR, had fallen dan-
gerously ill.
" A letter from Hamburgh," says the Independance
of Brussels, "states that the Federal troops are dis-
posed to occupy indefinitely the northern part of
Germany. The order of evacuation sent to the troops
in Holstein has been revoked. A grave discussion
has broken out between the Federal Commissioners
and the Danish Plenipotentiary, with respect to the
amnesty—the former wishing for an amnesty, which
excludes no one; the latter w ishing to make several
exclusions. The matter has been referred to the re•
spective Governments."
A letter from Vit nna, of the 20th, says—
The Russia❑ Embassy has received dispatches in
which the Cabinet of St. Petersburgh insists on a
prompt settlement of the question of the Duchies. It
appears that the succession to the throne of Den-
mark as relates to Oldenburgh is not yet arranged,
as no branch of the Danish dynasty will accept the
crown unless the integrity of the monarchy is gua-
ranteed. The Cabinet of St. Petersburgh persists in
demanding a European Congress fur a settlement of
all disputed German questions ; but Prince SCHWAR-
ZENBERG as strongly opposes the proposition, con•
tending that there is no need for foreign interfe-
rence ; that Germany can settle her own affairs, and
at all events Austria will not take part in such a
Congress.
General CHARLES DR SCHWARZENBERG is named
military Governor of Transylvania in place of the
late General WOHLGEMIITH. There is now a
SCHWARZENBERO at Lemberg, at Hermnnstadt, and
at Pesth.

The Austrian Government is reported to have
proposed to the Ottoman Porte to interferh in its
behalf in Bosnia, but the offer has been declined by
ALi PACHA. The Porte has confidence in its own
powers to put down the insurrection, as public
opinion is with it, as upholding (quality against
privilege.
According to the news of the 17th from Cassel, a
report current that an army of 60,000 men is to
be concentrated near Frankfort. Austria and Prus-
sia are to contribute 20,000 men each ; Bavaria
10,000, and the other Sr.res 10,000 among them.

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