The Sun.
London, England, 1851-12-05 00:00:00

rb THE SUN,

411 k.
Minna Into

LONDON, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 5, 1851.

A revolution at Paris, without some opposition
and some little bloodshed, would be almost an impos-
sibility. It will not, therefore, create any surprise
in the minds of the English public to learn that the
recent events in the French capital have led to some
degree of excitement. What, in the name of com-
mon sense, the antagonists of the Government are
fighting for it would be difficult to conjecture—unless
it be to inaugurate Communism by wholesale rapine
and massacre, or to grind down the liberty of the
country under the heel of a new Restoration. The
honest Republicans hare nothing whatever to obtain
by overthrowing the power of Louis NAPOLEON—
but rather everything to lose. They have Universal
Suffrage. What more can be required for the con-
servation of the liberties of the multitude ? Happily
for thirty millions of free citizens, there:is now at the
head of affairs a BONAYARTE, who will not yield
to the clamours of a faction, however desperate,
but who will employ, with the utmost imaginable
rigour, the vast military powers now at his disposal.
As will be seen, from the latest intelligence, given
elsewhere in our impression of this evening,
the insane attempt at a movement on the
part of the Reds in Paris has been
utterly crushed by the energetic measures adopted by
the PRESIDENT. The few miserable barricades
erected appear, from those accounts, to have been
stormed by the soldiers, and taken in every in-
stance, some of them having to be de-
stroyed by artillery. From the departments, more-
ever, notwithstanding the sinister rumours previously
in circulation, the most satisfactory intelligence seems
to have been forwarded to the authorities through
the medium of the telegraphs. The disaffection of
some has been more, immeasurably more, than com-
pensated by the adhesion of the vast majority.
Already it has been reported that the soldiers,
with scarcely an exception, have decided in
favour of the PRESIDENT. We await with con-
siderable anxiety the confirmation of the news
thus satisfactorily conveyed to us after the dis-
astrous accounts by which they bad been preceded.
Under any circumstances we cannot doubt that
the friends of France, of Order, and of Freedom
will wish well to that gallant Chieftain who has
drawn his sword in defence of the national sove-
reignty against anarchists and conspirators—mani-
festing the sincerity of his patriotic ambition by the
re-establishment of the Ballot as well as of Universal
Suffrage.

A fortnight ago we exposed the shameful manner
in which Captain PENNY was treated on the occasion
of his late expedition in search of Sir JOHN FRANKLIN.
A blue book has just been published in which are
comprised the various documents connected with
these transactions. They contain the revelation of
facts already commented upon by ourselves. They
show, as we have before shown, that Captain PENNY
was impeded in his exertions by those who depre-
ciated his abilities, apparently for the sole reason that
his name is not followed by certain magical initials.
Had this very intelligent officer been able to append
R.N. to his signature, he would not, we are satisfied,
have been compelled to return to this country
without having penetrated much further north-
wards, according to his original intention. This
we maintain is most unfortunate, whether considered
as a circumstance injurious to the cause of science or
as detrimental to the interests of humanity. It is pos-
sible to revert to the occurrences here alluded to at
the present instance without finding our regrets, as
formerly, altogether unalloyed. Lieut. Pim has enabled
us to regard the facts stated in these Parliamentary re-
ports with some degree of equanimity from the re-
flection that exertions are at the present moment be-
ing made to carry assistance to the missing expedi-
tion. Aware that while we are talking over the
blunders committed in past efforts of relief, we
are not frittering away time wholly inestima-
ble to the gallant men still presumed to be
shut up by the eternal ice of the Arctic Regions, we
can with more calmness turn to the records of pro-
ceedings such as must otherwise have been fraught
alone with the most melancholy considerations.
Glancing through the pages of the official publica-
tion before mentioned, it is impossible not to be im-
pressed with the accuracy of the views long since put
forward by us in these columns—views of which the
blue book in question contains only the threadbare
repetition. Upon the very first page of the " Mi-
nutes of Evidence" taken before the Com-
mittee will be found, for example, the
important assertion from the lips of Captain
PENNY himself, that the last expedition in search of
Sir Jowl FRANKLIN came to a premature termination,
notwithstanding his judgment pronounced against
any such precipitate course with all the distinct-
ness and resolution imaginable. He states among
other things, for instance, that the ice was broken up
in Wellington Strait as far on the 25th of July,
1851, as it was on the Bth of the preceding Septem-
ber. " At the time we left that country," says he,
"it was too early to decide whether the channel
would clear away or not. We could have stopped
there one month longer, and had strong north-cast
winds come it would have cleared away the ice through
Queen Victoria's Channel." A month longer—m irk
that—and the passage opening then before them ! Is
it not lamentable, with a statement like that here
inscribed on the pages of the blue book under con-
sideration, that no effort was made to test the practi-
cability of such an experiment ? Might not that
single month have effected more than all the rest of
the time consumed in these operations ? Might not
the venture here pointed out as by no means impos-
sible, have led at last to the discovery of the
whereabouts of Sir Jousi FRANKLIN ? Again
we ask, is it not lamentable that from four or
five weeks as precious as those indicated should
have been neglected simply—it would appear—be-
cause Captain PENNY was so unfortunate as not to
be a commander in the Royal Navy ? It is, unhap-
pily, very far, indeed, from being the first time that
this professional jealousy has been manifested. The
public have, however, in some measure been accus-
tomed to incidents of a similar character—but we
doubt very much if they have ever been made aware
of one so signally disgraceful of its kind, because so
shamefully interfering with the rights of humanity,
by shutting a door of relief against men entitled to
every generous consideration.
What renders yet more melancholy the fact of this
hasty abandonment of the search in opposition to the
wishes and suggestions of Captain PENNY, is the re-
flection that the channel already spoken of (Queen
Victoria's Channel) is only open (according to the
decisive assertion of that officer) to navigation about
once every two years. That it was closed in 1850 is
notorious. That it might, on the contrary, have been
readilycertaint' passed this year is known with scarcely less
though
us by
ghthe actual proof of the fact
was denied t
ad
pedremature return of
the exploring vessels,
i the
uponConsequentlyortu
unpleasantni the
oft
conviction is force
Captain
At
p n obedience to the de-
man t
our minds
that, by neglecting the op
out by Captain PENNY, we have lost they chance pointed f
sending our ships again in that particular direction
until 1853 has arrived. The loss of time is therefore
" this,the
vderreyadfaublietoanrdefleinctteullpigon—ent annd avaigll in
atorcque e of
happeningn byilal
lsuercvkicne.o”t to
It
mbeayimbemed
objected,iately hcoolin,neevcetre,dtbwatith in
only one quarter is closed for a while against the
conveyance of relief. But what say the Minutes of
Evidence before us upon this point ? Why, in
answers to the 14th question of the Chairman of the
Committee, " Do you think Sir JOHN FRANKLIN
went through this channel ?" Captain Plat replies,
" I have no doubt on my mind that he went through
it in clear water ; my conviction has always been so ;
nobody has heard me say anything else." From this
evidence we %lag loam that, as it Tao,
_the larthvet 1

point reached up the channel on this last so-called
Expedition of Relief was to Cape Becher in Queen
Victoria's Channel, being 76° 25 N. latitude. In con-
tinuation of his narrative, Captain PENNY avows his
firm belief that at the time when he turned
back in compliance with the wishes of others, and
in opposition to the dictates of his own judgment, he
was probably but sixty or seventy miles from the
main points of Sir Joax FRANKLIN ! "Do you
think," asks the Chairman of the Committee (Q. 39),
" the water was all clear and open ?" " I have no
doubt of it, from the way the winds prevailed," is
the reply. " What sort of weather was it when
you turned back ?" is the next inquiry. "It was a
Icear day when we turned," is the reply, " but it
came on very moist weather afterwards." Again
Captain :PENNY is asked, and this time by
Admiral FANSHAWE (Q. 42), "I think you ex-
pressed your opinion that Sir JOHN FRANKLIN passed
that way ?" " Yes," says the witness, " that
was my conviction, and has ever been !" But then
Captain PENNY was not Captain PENNY, R.N. And
so the expedition was turned back, and the opportu-
nity (for all practical purposes) lost for ever in that
direction. Such are among the lamentable conse-
quences of a jealousy most unbecoming, and we can-
not but add most disgraceful in so gallant and illus-
trious a profession.

Two important meetings have just been held at
Manchester. The long expected and anxiously
looked for Reform conference was held at the Spread
Eagle on Wednesday morning, which was 'attended
by delegates from the manufacturing districts, and
many leading Reformers, including several'well-
known and influential Members of Parliament. At
that meeting the resolutions, which had been prepared
For the occasion, in accordance with the opinions put for-
ward at the preliminary meetings were freely canvassed
and discussed, and being carried by a large majority,
were subsequently submitted to an aggregate meeting
at the Free-trade Hall, at which many thousands of
earnest and zealous men were in attendance to pro-
claim their allegiance to the great cause of Reform,
and to show their firm determination that the
forthcoming charter of 1852 should be worthy of
acceptance by the British nation; or that, if
inadequate to the exigencies of the case, it should
be rejected with disdain, or, at least, only received as
a small instalment of justice. In the morning there were
some slight differences of opinion, some thinking that
the resolutions went too far, others that they did not go
quite far enough—some that they were drawn up
with two much particularity, not allowing sufficient
freedom of action to the Legislature, others that
they were too vague and uncertain, without that close
attention to details which was essential in a matter of
such vital importance to the national welfare. All,
however, were actuated by the same spirit, all were
devoted to the popular cause, and prepared to sacrifice
their individual views in order to obtain perfect
unanimity. We confess that we should ourselves,
with Sir JOSHUA WALMSLEY, have desired that it
should have been clearly stated whether or not the elec-
tive franchise was dependent on the preliminary pay-
ment of rates. Loud and well-founded complaints have
been repeatedly put forward against the disfranchise-
ment of parties who had been struck off the registry
in consequence of some trifling arrear, that had pro-
bably been forgotten, and which, in the great ma-
jority of instances, was speedily enforced. In many
cases the tax-collectors neglected making any demand
on persons entertaining political views adverse to
their own: until after the appointed time ;
and in others an opportunity has been
afforded to parties desirous of obtaining such
an influence as Mr. EDWARDS appears to have
exercised at St. Albans, to adopt a refined system of
bribery and corruption. There are men who would
not directly accept a sum of money to vote for a
particular candidate, who would tacitly permit their
rates to be paid for them, and thus, to a certain ex-
tent at least, surrender their freedom of choice in the
selection of representatives.

It is almost unnecessary to say, that every one of
the great questions—" the Extension of the Suffrage,'
" the Equalization of Electoral Districts," " the Bal-
lot," " the Duration of Parliament," and " the Pro-
perty Qualification for Members,"—were alluded
to. Were it otherwise, it would have bitterly
disappointed the reasonable expectations of the people,
who look for just and proper decisions on each of
these interesting points. The chief discussion arose
on the first topic. There was scarcely a difference
on any of the others. The extension of the franchise,
however, elicited a variety of views on this deeply
interesting subject. Some were the advocates of
universal suffrage—of permitting every man of sound
mind and full age the possession of a vote. The
Hon. Gentleman the Member for the Tower Ham-
lets led the Liberal side, and proposed as an amend-
ment the precise words of Mr. Ilumm's motion in
Parliament. Others there were, who although ad-
vancing in the path of reform, would still proceed
with slow and cautious steps—increasing the fran-
chise in some degree, but still leaving much to be de-
manded by the people, and being by no means a set-
tlement of the vexatio questio. The resolutions
adopted may be regarded as coming between the
extremes on either side, and offering a very fair
instalment of justice.

On the first point, the Conference recommended
that the elective franchise be based upon occupation
and liability to the poor-rate, with such limitation as
to period of residence as shall be necessary to afford
a guarantee that the occupation is bona fide.
In addition it urged the extension of the
40s. franchise to the owners of property
in the United Kingdom of that annual
value, whether derived from freehold, copy-
hold, or leasboid tenure, with a view to open a
way to the right of voting to many, who, from vari-
ous causes, would not be in the direct occupation of
premises rated to the relief of the poor, but whose
claim to the franchise, from industry, character, and
station is undoubted. The whole constituency of the
United Kingdom would thus consist of occupiers rated
to the relief of the poor, and of the owners of pro-
perty, freehold, copyhold, and leasehold, of the
annual value of 40s.

We then find on the equalization of the electoral
districts the assertion—" that no extension of the
franchise will make the House of Commons a fair re-
presentation of the nation without a very con-
siderable change in the distribution of the electoral
power." It is, therefore, proposed—" That, where
practicable and convenient, small and neighbour-
ing boroughs be united and form one borough.
That, where such union is not practicable, small
boroughs cease to return Members, and that their
existing constituencies merge in the constituency of
the county in which they are situate. That corres-
ponding to the extent to which small boroughs shall
be united, or shall cease to return Members to Parlia-
ment, new borougbs be created from the populous
towns now unrepresented, and that additional
Members be conferred on the metropolitan and other
first-class boroughs in the United Kingdom."
As a general rule, it is suggested that no constitu-
ency should henceforward be composed of fewer than
5,000 electors.
The proposition on the Ballot is no less satisfac-
tory—" That the adoption of the ballot is indispensable
to an honest representation ; that it would make the
convictions of the elector, rather than his personal
interests and fears, the leading motive in the exercise
of his franchise ; that it would repress the demo-
ralizing practices so humiliating to candidates and so
degrading to electors which seem almost inseparable
from a canvass ; and that it would aid most effec-
tually in preventing the turbulence and riot with
which elections have hitherto been too often attended."

In addition, triennial Parliaments are proposed,
and there is the most unequivocal adoption of the
abolition of the property qualification. We have no
doubt that Reformers of all classes throughout the
length and breadth of the land will cordially concur
in these well-considered resolutions, and that they will
be received as the basis of the New Reform Bill
of 1852.

LOUIS KOSSUTIL—Another engraved likness of this
great man has within the last few days appeared. It
is copied from an original painting by Mr. Skaife,
and represents Kossuth as he appeared when closing
his speech in the Guildhall, Though out of all
drawing, the sketch has a certain exaggerated energy;
and, like everything relating to the same illustrious
will be eagerly welcomed, we doubt not,
by personage,
the
mtltitude.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

DREADFUL FIGHTING IN THE
STREETS OF PARIS.
We have received the Paris journals of yesterday
and accounts from Paris up to last evening.
The journals are principally filled with official
documents and proclamations, but the accounts they
give of events is meagre; private accounts, however,
state that the fighting, which still continued when the
last accounts were dispatched, was of a character
more fearful than even that of June, 1848, and that
no quarter was given ; it is also stated that some of
the troops have joined the people, and that General
MAGNAN, the Commander-in-Chief of the garrison in
Paris, was inclined to declare against the PRESIDENT.
Galignani's Messenger gives the following account of
the events of Wednesday :
" Informed that orders had been given to the demago-
gic sections to meet this morning at seven o'clock, in the
Faubourg Saint Antoine, the Prefect of Police had pre-
scribed the most energetic and efficacious measures to
defeat the designs of these exciters to disturbance, who,
emboldened by former success, had not reckoned on the
resolute action of the authorities. This meeting decided
upon in the committees, held here and there during the
night, did not take place. The freres et anus not re-
spond to the appeal of their chiefs. During the first
hours of the morning the faubourgs were calm, and the
shops were opened as usual. The wine-shops of the
faubourg, however, were gradually filled, and among the
persons who entered were remarked a considerable
number of those sinister faces which are seen
whenever the enemies of order meet in days
of crisis. The Prefect of Police soon ascertained
that deliberations were going on. Toward ten o'clock
gooups were formed in several parts of the fau-
bourg, and in some of the adjacent streets. Several
Montagnard ex-representatives, and some men armed
with fowling pieces and poniard-knives, were seen.
Soon afterwards were posted up appeals to arms in ma-
nuscript, some in red, others in black, signed by Michel
(de B ,urges), Madier de Montjau, Emmanuel Arago,
Schoelcher, Baudin, Deflotte, and other members of the
Mountain. Almost at the same time, some persons,
most of them armed, passed along the Boulevards St.
Martin, St. Denis, Bonne Nouvelle, and Montmartre,
endeavouring, by reading aloud a proclamation of the
ex-representatives who assembled yesterday at the
Maine of the 10th Arrondissement, to rally the crowd
to their cause, and excite seditious cries. In an in-
stant, these groups, very compact and assuming an
hostile attitude, were dispersed by some sergens-
de-ville. The placards posted up were taken down
without the slightest resistance, and frequently
amidst the acclamations of the persons present. At this
moment (half-past eleven), three or four bands of
men en blouse left the Faubourg St. Antoine and the
Rue du Temple and spread themselves in different di-
rections. They had at their head several of the ex-
Montagnard representatives. That band which was
led on by the ex-representative Baudin began to raise a
barricade at the corner of the Rue St. Marguerite. On
a battalion of the line advancing, a shot was fired from
the barricade. The troops returned the fire very vigor-
ously, and the chief of the barricade, the ex-representa-
tive Baudin, fell dead, having been struck in the head
with a ball. On another point, the ex-representative
M. Madier de Montjau was struck by a ball from the
troops in defending a barricade erected on the
Boulevard Beaumarchais. It is positively stated
that the ex-representative Schoelcher has been
wounded in an engagement with the sol-
diers. The rioters had an intention of attack-
ing the prison Mazas, but the measures taken for its
defence prevented the execution of the plan. At noon,
the whole of that part of the Boulevards from the
Chateau d'Eau to the Bastille was cleared and occupied
militarily by the regiments of cuirassiers, chasseurs, and
the line. The brigade of General Maruilaz was
stationed on the Place de la Bastille, with twelve pieces
of cannon. The houses at the corner of the streets
from whence the insurgents were able in the days of
June, 1848, to kill seven generals, and the venerable
Archbishop of Paris, were occupied militarily from the
cellar to the garret. Three mortars were directed to-
wards the Faubourg Saint Antoine, and ready to fire.
In presence of the moat vigorous orders, executed with
promptness, and the excellent conduct of the
troops, the rioters retired to the bottom of
the faubourg, from whence they were driven in a
few minutes by the brigade of General Courtigis, which
followed them up close. Several arrests were made.
The court-martials sitting en permanence will decide on
the fate of these persons, most of whom were taken in
arms. Several groups of students went through the
Quartier Latin, calling to arms. Some vain attempts at
raising barricades were made, but a single company of
the Chasseurs de Vincinnes was sufficient to restore the
quarter to its usual calm. The ex-Montagnard repre-
sentative Delbetz was arrested in the afternoon, at the
corner of the Rue Richelieu. He was in a cabrioh t,
and wore his badge as a representative. He was utter-
ing seditious cries in the midst of an extremely agitated
crowd. The attempts at disorder which a few de-
magogical leaders endeavoured to got up may
be now, it is to be hoped, considered at an end.
The authority is on the alert, and proper measures hove
been taken to put down any commencement at disturb-
ance. A student was arrested on the Place de l'Ecole
do Milicine, for having struck a sergeant-de-ville with
a cane. Ho was taken to the Coneiergerie. The bar-
ricade raised in the Rue du Faubourg St. Antoine, at
which the ex-representative Baudin was killed, was
carried by Captain Henry, at the head of the Ist Com-
pany of the first battalion of the 19th Light Infantry,
commanded by Chef de Bataillon Pujol. The Faubourg
Saint Marceau is perfectly tranquil. Towards the
middle of the day some men of disorder, driven from the
Faubourg St. Antoine, attempted to get up a demon-
stration on the Place de l'Ecole de Melicine. General
Sauboul dispersed the persons making this attempt by
sending out a strong patrol. By measure of precaution the
Pantheon will be occupied to-night by the military.
The Faubourg St. Antoine, which was exceedingly
agitated in the morning, was quite calm in the evening.
It appears that some workmen, determined to maintain
order in the interest of the labouring classes, whom any
disturbance in the street would most probably deprive at
once of employment, dispersed themselves in the morn-
ing through the faubourgs, and argued with their com-
rades that Louis Napoleon only wanted to re-establish
universal suffrage by conferring political equality. If
our information is correct, their patriotism put a atop to
a Socialist movement which was to have burst out.
e The Fatrie of yesterday states that before the troops
fired on the barricade in the Rue St. Marguerite a
soldier was killed by the insurgents, and that by the fire
of the troops M. Madier de Montjau as well as M.
Baudin was killed. M. Esquires is said to have saved
himself by
flight.
We read in the Petrie of yesterday evening:—
' About five o'clock this evening barricades were
raised in the Rue Rambuteau. General Magnan ordered
some troops to that point with orders for them to be im-
mediately carried and destroyed. That was accom-
plished with difficulty by the 9th Foot Chasseurs and- a
battalion of the Gendarmerie Mobile, the rioters taking
to flight on the approach of the troops. About half-past
four a band of about two hundred persons formed a bar-
ricade in the Rue des Vieilles Audriettes by upsetting
some carts. M. de St. Georges, director of the Nattonal
Printing-office, had a detachment of the gendarmery
directed to the spot. The rioters fired, and the fire was re-
turned by the troops, when the barricade was deserted by
its defenders. Another attempt at a riot was commenced
in the Clear() St. Mary, but it was immediately quelled.
General Leydet, ex-representative of the Mountain,
has been arrested. The circulation was only interrupted
for a few hours in the neighbourhood of the faubourg,
whore the remnants of the demagogues had sought re-
fuge, hoping to be able to make it the scene of sangui-
nary scenes similar to the days of June, but all their
projects failed. The population of the capital, strong in
the intelligent and energetic action of the magistrates,
whose mission it is more particularly to watch over its
security, may attend to their business without alarm or
anxiety.
.6 Two aides-de-camp of the Minister of War went
yesterday morning in coloured clothes to the Faubourg
St. Antoine to judge for themselves of the feelings of
the population, In passing the corner of one of the
streets, they saw a man appear for a moment and then
disappear as rapidly. Immediately after a whistle was
beard, and a band of fifteen men came forward. The
aides-de-camp seeing this thought it prudent to retire,
convinced that the secret societies were assembled and
ready to act.
" Captain Armand, belonging to the staff, was yes-
terday proceeding through the Faubourg Saint Antoine
at the head of some men, when a body of rioters throw
themselves before him with menacing cries. One man
more daring than the rest attempted to seize the bridle
of Captain Armand's horse, the officer seized him by the
collar, and, in spite of the cries around him, hauled him
off to the barracks of the Celestine, where ho was de-
tained in custody. The brigades of Vincennes after-
wards passed through the Faubourg Saint Antoine with-
out meeting with any obstacle.
"M. Brun, commissary of police at the Assembly,
was arrested on Tuesday at the same time as the two
questors. He had been appointed, it may be remem-
bered, to replace M. Yen' and had previously been at
the head of the section of police belonging to General
Changarnier. M. Brun has since been set at liberty."
The following is the new Ministry, as announced
by the decree of the PRESIDENT :—MM. de Morny,
Interior ; Fould, Finances ; Rouher, Justice ; Magne,
Public Works; Saint Arnaud, War; Th. Ducos,
Marine ; Turgot, Foreign Affairs ; Lefebvre-Durufle,
Commerce and Agriculture ; Fourtoul, Public In-
struction.
The Consultative Commission (the decree for the
formation of which we noticed yesterday) is to be
presided over by M. BAROCLIE, as Vice-President, in
the absence of the PRESIDENT of the Republic.
We read in the 'Pairie:—" It has been stated
that Generals LANDRICIREE and BEDEAU and M.
CLIARRAS had been wounded on Tuesday, and some
r
went so far as to say that they had since died. These
are completely unfounded, as all these ex-re-
presentatives are in perfect health. Lieutenannt-
Colonel FLEURY, orderly officer of the PRESIDENT of
pthreocßeeedping alongublich the Boulevard d
ada ballpassthru Tougehmbpile.sTp while
The Moniteur Parisien, in giving the letter from
M. MOLE to the Journal des Debats (which appeared
in yesterday's Messenger), says—" If M. MOLE iS
desirous of joining his colleagues at Mazes or at the
fort of Mont Val6rien, he is perfectly at liberty do so.
The country attaches very little importance to his
personal apprechitioni."