The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVI'NING, APRIL 28, 1869

a project plumped
,out all of a sudden, and yet
for all that a project, which it now appears
is deliberately going to be acted upon in cold
blood by her MAJESTY'S Government. True, no
doubt, that the country has already purchased a
site at a very considerable outlay, and has even
gono so far as to clear it, so that there is an arid
unsightly wilderness opened up in the very heart
of the metropolis, between the Strand and Lincoln's-
inn, between Drury-lane and Chancery-lane. That
we must get rid of somehow. But to build upon the
New Courts of Law, as originally proposed, is,
according to the Government, altogether out of the
question. The site is to be the one pointed out by
the Chancellor of the Exchequer. Six acres of
ground are the sum total of its dimensions.
Ample space for all that is required, if we are to be-
lieve Mr. STREET, the architect. Its boundary line
to the north is lloward•street, running parallel with
the Strand—to the south the Thames Embankment—
to the east the Temple—to the west Somerset House.
Aud that site can be bought, can be cleared, can be
built upon from the foundations upwards, can be
fittingly furnished throughout when the structure
shall have been completed, can be provided north,
west, and east with numerous and most convenient
approaches, at a total cost, at the very outside, of
£1,600,000. That is the tempting scheme which Govern-
ment propose to embody in a bill, which Mr. LAYARD, as
Chief Commissioner of Public Works, has the inter-
tion, as he told the House of Commons last evening,
of introducing very shortly—if possible before Whit-
suntide. Mr. STREET, said the right hon. gentleman,
is now preparing detailed plans—plans which Mr.
LAYARD gave the House good hope of seeing before
the Second Reading. If Mr. STREET is doing this
nevertheless—bow about that splendid design by
INIGO JONES, paid for two hundred years ago, and
ready to hand for adaptation to present purposes,
about which the Chancellor of the Exchequer spoke so
enticingly the other evening ? However that may be,
it is interesting to note the closing statement made
last night by Mr. LAYARD before resuming his seat,
when he observed—" I have received a communica-
tion from the Chief Baron of the Exchequer, Sir
FITZROY KELLY, stating that he and all the Judges
with whom he has communicated, except one, are of
opinion that •upon every ground, as regrrds the
bench, the bar, the solicitors, the suitors and the
public -- I quote his own words the Thames
Embankment should be preferred for the
site of the Law courts." As to that " one" among
the Judges who is the exception or the dissentient
—who is he, and what may be his objections to this
otherwise unanimous preference, by the Bench, of
some site upon the Thames Embankment ? Upon
this, and upon all other matters relating to the sub-
ject, the ccuntry will look eagerly and curiously for
an explanation to the Government statement on the
introduction of the promised bill, and to the discus-
sions which the mere fact of its introduction will, as a
matter of course, necessitate.

•
THE fine spring weather has put fresh life into the
flagging parliamentary debates. On Monday Mr.
DISRAELI occupied the period of a brilliant
sunset in making a lively personal attack upon Mr.
GLADSTONE. The leader of the Opposition, finding
that his followers were getting wearied by successive
adverse majorities of three figures, and were
losing heart and interest in the chief measure of the
session, delivered himself of a philippic which
was almost in his best style. He diverted his party
by pointing out the apparent discrepancy between
the descriptions of the bill given by Mr. BRIGHT and
by Mr. CHICHESTER FORTESCUE, and so far raised
their drooping spirits that they followed his
example in attacking the PREMIER ; though not
having Mr. DISRAELI'S esprit, they were simply
impertinent where he had been ironical.
In the Upper Chamber there was some very
sharp sparring indeed. Lord CLANRICARDE'S Land
Tenure Bill was down for going into committee, but
before reaching that stage Lord GRANVILLE rose to
explain why the Government had assumed a
neutral position towards this measure. The leader
of the House of Lords is so persuasive and good-
humoured that he rarely wounds. But he indulged
in unwonted sarcasm when he remarked of 'Earl
GREY " I am bound to say that for the last twenty
years I hardly remember half a dozen cases in which the
noble earl, immediately following me in debate, did
not begin his speech with one of two declarations—
the one that he had heard with the deepest regret all
I had said, the other that strong as had been
his previous opinion, that opinion had been
intensified and strengthened by all the ar-
guments I had used against it." This wit-
ticism most completely describes the imprac-
ticable egotism of the able peer whose inability to
act with other personshas reduced him to the position
of heading a party which consists of himself alone.
Lord GRANVILLE let off his other critics more
lightly. We doubt if the country will be so lenient,
if it will not rather support the Duke of ARGYLL in
his somewhat severe comments upon the obj ections
raised by the Liberal peers for whom Mr. GLADSTONE
found no place in his Administration. It is, indeed,
difficult to know whether to laugh or to be
angry at the attitude assumed by Lord WESTBURY
towards the Government. The advanced Radical
Attorney-General has developed into the Tory
ex-Chancellor, who denounces the Government for
the " universal depreciation of property in Ireland "
which has resulted from their measures. Lord
WESTBURY declares that the mischief was begun by
the Suspensory Bill of last session ; to which the
Duke of ARGYLL replied that his lordship himself
supported that bill, and was, therefore, an accomplice
in the crime which he attributed to the Administra-
tion. The SECRETARY for INDIA was forbidden
by courtesy to add that at that time Lord WESTBURY
was thought to have a good chance of returning to
the woolsack because of Sir ROUNDELL PALMER'S
secession from his party on this question. The Duke
of SOMERSET had probably no such hope of returning
to the Admiralty, for though he voted in favour of
the Suspensory Bill, he spoke against it. The
Marquis of CLANRICARDE has been at feud with his
party ever since Lord PALMERSTON omitted him
from the list of Ministers which" he drew up ten
years ago.

Leaving the personal part of this controversy, let
us consider this matter dispassionately. An accusa-
tion is brought against the Government that, having
promised to deal with the land question in Ireland,
having by that promise excited great agitation in
the
lamentable
island,crimes, athgiet;trieuseofnwhieth is led e
her to dealthe question this session, to say how they will deal
either to witt
with it next session, or to accept the measure
which Lord CLANRICARDE has introduced. In
reply to these charges it may in the first place be
asked, is there such agitation as is alleged ? True
there have been murders in Ireland, but have there been
none in England ? Is it not a fact that they are far
more numerous, even in proportion to population,
on this side of the Channel than on the other side ?
Is it not also a fact that directly a murder takes
place on that side it is always assumed to
be an " agrarian outrage," whereas it may
have nothing at all to do with the land
rimy, as seems to have been the fact in Mr.
81l A D SHAW' s case, to havebeen prompted by jealousy?
Undoubtedly some murders have originated in dis-
putes about the land, but these have not been con-
fined to the present year; they took place under a
Conservative. Administration as well as under the
present Liberal Government. They are, unhappily,
no new feature in the history of Ireland. Succes-
sive Governinenta have brought in tenant-right
bills, but these have always been dropped for want
of time, and the impression became general
that the. Governments were insincere in thin matter.
Ift; GLADaroYz will not, if he can licdp it,
allow that impression to bo repeated this year

He will not add another to the heap of abortive
measures. Better postpone the matter to another
session than attempt to legislate upon it this session
and fail. And who can honestly say that the
Government have not good reason for declining to
undertake a second Irish measure of primary im-
portance during the present year ? There are
already two bills of great magnitude to which the
Ministerial honour and reputation are committed—
the Irish Church Bill and the Bankruptcy
Bill. There are other measures, only less important,
such as the Criminals Bill. All these are in hand;
it is doubtful if they will all pass. It is certain that
they would not pass if such an addition were made to
them as Lord GREY, Lord 'WESTBURY, and the
Conservative peers desire. It may be that even now
the Government will, against its better judgment,
give way ; though this is scarcely likely. The
theory, started by the Times, that Ministers
have not yet come to any agreement upon the
question, is surely a good reason why they
should not start it at present. They have one
great work to accomplish, the disestablishment of the
Irish Church ; upon that they are agreed ; that they
will pass. Let them do so, and if they should find
co-operation impossible upon the land question, it
will be time for them to break up their Administra-
tion when they have settled the ecclesiastical question.
Of course, if the land question were very urgent, all
other considerations would have to beset aside. But no
case of urgency has yet been made out. A far stronger
case must be established before Ministers incur the
risk of spoiling one great reform by simultaneously
undertaking another.

THE French Chambers are dissolved. They had
existed almost their full legal term. It was on May
8, 1863, that the last previous dissolution took place,
so that the present Chambers had but a fortnight
longer to live. During these six years many events
have taken place, yet little progress has been made.
The EMPEROR has made one or two attempts at an
International Congress, but they have failed. He has
attempted to get capital out of the quarrel between
Prussia and Austria, but found that he had been
merely used as a catspaw by the former State. He
has withdrawn his troops from Rome, and sent them
back thither. He has been compelled to evacuate
Mexico. He has been equally obliged to
give up the purchase of Luxemburg, and
up to this moment the little State of Belgium has
been refusing to yield to his strong representations in
behalf of the leasing of the Belgian railways to
French companies, In fact, French foreign policy
has failed everywhere; and France has perhaps
never since the later days of Lours XIV.
been in such little • repute on the Continent as
she is at the present moment. At the same
time she has never, in time of peace, had such
gigantic armies. The coincidence is remarkable.
On the one hand, we see France able to throw more
than a million of men into the field at a fortnight's
notice; on the other, her influence with foreign
nations is less than it has been at any time since the
Peace of Utrecht. This double fact is a lesson
that might well be learnt by statesmen who think
that the influence of a nation is maintained only by
huge standing armies.
While France has thus retrograded in this respect
she has made but small progress in her domestic
policy. The chief measure of the Chambers just
dissolved has been the new conscription law. The
laws which conferred additional liberty upon the press
and the right of public meeting were accompanied
with so many restrictions that the newly granted
privileges, rights as we should call them, proved
almost illusory. At the present moment the
EMPEROR dares not appeal fairly to the country for
its verdict upon his policy. His Ministers have
openly avowed their intention of supporting the
Ministerial candidates with all the influence which
the Government can command. The electors are
told in words whose meaning there is no attempt to
disguise, that if they want favours they must support
the " official " candidate ; if they want a new bridge,
or town hall, or railway, they must vote for the man
whom the EmpEnon. approves. This, the n, is the
result of seventeen years of imperialism. .NAPOLEON
finds France with rapidly diminishing influence in
the councils of Europe; he finds her opprt s3ed with
an enormous army, and with a largely increased
debt ; he finds the crowning of the edifice as far off
as ever. And now that in his declining years he is
deprived by death of nearly all his associates of the
coup (refill, he has to appeal once more to the nation
which he has ruled for so long.

41
st*
COD rt• Caen

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, April 27.
The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise,
drove out yesterday afternoon.
Her Majesty, accompanied by Princess Christian,
drove out this morning.
Princess Beatrico, and Prince
LeopoldP rPrincess
ss
wentLoouui Louise,
.

CO UN' GARDEN LIFE-BOAT CONCERT.

This concert was brought to a very successful
conclusion last evening. Previous to the commence-
ment of the programme every seat in the Great
Hall of the Freemasons' Tavern was filled by a
very brilliant audience, and the whole of the enter-
tainments were given without the least omission.
The first part of the concert was devoted to
ballad music, and amongst which Miss Pallant
sang Smart's graceful composition "The Lady
of the Lea" very charmingly. Mies Plummer also
sung " Roaming through the green fields" with
exquisite taste, and Miss Smith elicited loud ap-
plause by her rendering of " Tell me, my heart."
Mr. G. Bell sang " Hearts of Oak" in the most
hearty and spirited manner, and Mr. Vigny fol-
lowed with the favourite and appropriate song,
" Man the Lifeboat." Miss Coleman played
Lindsay Sloper's " Ballad Fantasia" with
the most finished execution and effect, and
with this excellent performance the first part
of the concert concluded. The second portion was
devoted entirely to the entertainment M the
" Covent Garden Snowdrops," a clever troup,
numbering over a doien, and although they mo-
destly styled themselves amateurs, they showed as
much talent as any of 'our professional " niggers."
The great hits in their entertainment were " Beauti-
ful Isle of the Sea," by Mr. Deuvall ; " The Mon-
key's Wedding," byMr;R. Hunt, a very funny bones;
and " The Covent Garden Snowdrops" (an original
song), by Mr. H. Boating, who was immense upon
the tamborine. Mr. H. Pallant sang " Wake us at
dawn, mother," with remarkable sweetness and
feeling; and Mr. S. Pallant created the utmost
merriment by his humorous song "Off to Brighton."
The concert in brief was a great success, and every
one engaged in it has the most ample ground for
self gratification. We did not care to ascertain
who supplied the pianoforte, as it was a most harsh
and intractable instrument, and certainly no credit
to the maktr.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.,

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDEN;I

PARIS, TUESDki, April 27.

The attendance on the last day of the session was small
throughout. M. Thiess was absent, but, M. Jules Favre,
just returned from his electoral battle at Masseube with
M. de Cassagnac, came to take part in the funeral obse-
quies of the Chamber, as did MM. Jules Simon, Pelletan,
and Picard. It was thought that these heroes of the Left
would make strenuous opposition to the pension law, but
they appeared resolved to get rid of the sitting as soon
as possible. M. Pelletan desired to protest against the
despotism of the First Empire, but was snubbed by the
President, who declared that the task of the deputies was
to make laws, and not to indulge in historical disquisitions.
How laws can be made without historical references it is hard
to say ; but anything will do for the last day of a Parlia-
ment. The law was passed with hardly a show of opposi-
tion. M. Schneider gave the usual wine dimittimus,
' hazarding the assertion that the expiring Legislature
would mark a pace in history. And then, amid
cries of " Long Live the Emperor !" and shouts on behalf of
Liberty and the Nation from the Left, the Chamber
melted away. Vi it.
The present session commenced on the 19th of January,
and has lested a little more than three months. The
number of public sittings has been fifty-one.
The prophets of war may comfort themselves with the
assurance that their predictions have not been altogether
in vain. War has for some time past been raging
in Paris, and if the conflict possesses no great
importance, it has been conducted in a style
exceptionally vehement and unmerciful. The contest
between the Liberal journals, the SOcle and the Liberte,
has become a perfect nuisance. Regardless of the claims
of the public, the editors have appropriated half their
columns to the unfolding of their private differences, and
to the enregistering of volumes of spite. Both papers are
on the same side, and their quarrel—which, as I have said,
is about M. Emile 011ivier—is by no means favourable to
the cause of the Oppoiition. But attempts to bring about
a reconciliation have been made and have failed. The
Liberte thinks M. Emile 011ivier is a true representative
of French Liberalips ; the Siècle believes him to be nothing
better than a true representative—of French Imperialism.
The result is unfortunate. At the last election the Oppo-
sition united, and carried all the eight circumscriptions of
Paris. This time there is division in the camp. The Siecle
desires that M. 011ivier may not be returned, whilst the
Liberte retorts b 3,,. opposing M. Eugszie Pelletan.
In order to counteract this alarming difference
an alliance has been spoken of between the Liberte, the
Presse, the Debats, the Journal de Paris and the Opinion
Nationale. I cannot believe in the possibility of such a
coalition. The Prose is a clerical paper of the first flavour;
the Opinion Nationale is very much like the Siecle in its
religious creed.

This is certainly not the mode in which the fond anti-
cipations of Liberals and Independents will be realised.
Some speculators count upon getting in about a hundred
of the Third party, and from forty to forty-five of the
decidedly Left clement. But amongst this host,
which would certainly render the Emperor very
uncomfortable, must be reckoned several deputies
who now sit in the Chamber, and who have
never failed to give their vote for the Government.
Of these it is fondly hoped that, with the clear expanse of
six years' membership before them (and who knows what
may happen in that time?) they will throw off their
chains and take up an inclependendent position, which
they dare not assume on the eve of the contest. But the
speculators may rest assured that, even with the aid of
these Imperialists in csse and Independents in posse, a
fair Liberal Opposition cats be got in only by the strictest
unity.

Dr. Epstein, the master of legerdemain, who was acci-
dentally injured by a ramrod being left in his gun, is
pronounced out of danger. It was a very narrow escape
he had. Had the ramrod entered his breast the fraction
of an inch lower the case would have been
hopeless. Very general sympathy has been shewn
on behalf of this unfortunate conjuror. The Em.
peror and Empress sent to inquire after him. The doctor
has once performed before their Majesties, and it is note-
worthy that, previously to commencing, he was informed
that no gun trick would be allowed. This accident will
probably put an end to jugglery with firearms. Few spec-
tators will in future be ready to fire a gun with the possi-
bility of repeating this disaster. At the Cirque Napoleon
four persons were asked before one consented to fire.

Her Majesty the Queen will, it is expected, hold a
council at Osborne on Thursday.

The indisposition which prevented ➢ladlle. Titiens
from apt oaring cm Monday at the 'loyal Italian Opera still
continues. She is suffering from a severe attack of eryse-
pelas in the head and face, the result of an accident.

The convict Jenkins, who was sentenced to death
for murder, at the last Bristol Assizes, has been released in
corsequenee of the decision of the Court of Queen's Bcnch
quashing his conviction.

Tne bodieB of four of the men who perished by the
recent inundation of tho Molyneux Coal-pit, near Mansfield,
were recovered on Monday. '1 hey wore in a dreadful stato of
decomr o ;hien.

We hear that Lord Lyttelton, the Right Hon. C.
C. Addt rley, and S'r Lawronco Peel aro to be nominated
members of the new Colonial Order of Knighthood re-
cently organised on the basis of the order of St. Michael
and St. George.

The misunderstanding between tLe West Riding
operative masons and their employers with reference to pay-
ment by the hour and the use of machinery, promises to be
amicably arranged. For several months back a general turn
ont on the Zld of next month was threatened, but at the
eleventh hour bettor counsels prevailed, and mutual con-
cessions aro likely to be made, which will prevent work
being suspended for a single day.
- -

At a meeting of -the Home Cattle Defence
Association on Monday, Mr. Waller, the secretary, stated that
he had just been informed that a cargo of upwards of 900
sheep by the Trident, from Hamburg, arriving for that day's
marktt had been stopped as being infected with small. pox.
Mr, Waller added that it was worthy of note that the cargo
from Antwerp to Harwich last week was not condemned by
the local authority at Harwich but by an officer sent spociall;
from London.
A special meeting of the Cambridge University
Boat Club was held on Monday evening, for the pur-
pose of considering a challenge from Harvard College,
United States, to row a race from Putney to Mortlake
in August next next, within a row days of the race with
Oxford 'University. After the matter had been fully dis-
cussed it was resolved to accept the challenge conditionally,
and tl.o matter was left in the hands of the president to be
carried out.

The Constitutionnel publishes a letterfrom St. Peters-
burg, in whi6l we are assured that Russia has no designs on
India. Thewriter says that the Russians have returned
Bokhar% to the Emir, which is a proof that they do not
wish to extend their rule over the whole of that State.
It is true they have reached Samarcand, which is not 500
miles from the British possessions, but between Samarcand
and British India lie the Emirates of Bolchara, Afghanistan,
Herat, and Cabool, and a tract of country impassable for an
army.
- - -

A Treasury return just issued shows that the
average of the amount of the balances during the last seven
years at the close of the quarter ending 30th June had been
£6,190,443; and for the quarter ending 30th Sept., £1,150,574;
for 31st December, £5,798,366 ; and for the 31st March,.
£0,420,268. From the first three amounts must be allowed
a reduction of £1,850,000 on the quarter ending 30th Juno ;
£2,450,000 on 30th September ; and £1,650,000 on 31st
December. These reductions would not have resulted if
the taxes had been collected in the manner and at the dates
proposed in the financial statement of the Chancellor of the
Exchequer on the Bth inst.
Mr. Charley, one of the Conservative members for
Salford, writes to a Manchester...contemporary, explaining
his statement some short time since that he intended to
devote the remainder of his life to working out a " re-
ligious retribution on William Ewart Gladstone." Mr.
Charley says :—" The 'mission' to which I promised to de-
vote my life was that of depriving Mr. Gladstone of the
power to destroy our Protestant Constitution in Church
and State, by relieving him of the cares of office. I
am net so weak or vain as to suppose that I can suc-
ceed in accomplishing such a mission' single-handed;
but there are hundreds in Parliament and millions out of it,
who look upon such a ' mission' as a 'high and holy' one,
and who will join heartily in the good work. It will take
months, perhaps years, to accomplish it, but accomplished it
must and will be, in due time."

The Eastern _Morning New 3 says Mr. Edwarj
Stillingflect Cayley, who was a candidate for the North
Riding at the late general election, believing that " Mr.
Gladstone's UM to take away what belongs to other
p'-ogle, and give it to somebody else," Will lnecino
law, unless stopped by the Lords, provmd§ 1,1 fql.lll
associations throughout the country for encerraging
the Lords so to act, and proposes a gefi.etal
meeting, at York, to set the scheme ag,olr,g,
offering himself as honorary secretary. Mr. Cayloy
would then bold meetings in every county and market
town. He says that unless this bill is stopped by the
Lords, there is every chance that the property of the Irish
landowner will next be transferred toile tenant Without
him paying for it, and this malady of appropriation, if not
stamped out, will be very likely to infect -tbe;adjacent
island of Great Cayley pr co-operation
Igg plaA.

SETTLEMENT OF THE BELGIAN RAIL-
WAY QUESTION.

According to information received at the Foreign Office,
it was expected that the Belgian Railway dispute would
be settled yesterday. This question, it will be remembered,
had reference to the leasing of certain Belgian lines to
French companies. Two such leases had been agreed
upon between their Belgian owners and the
East of France Company, when the Brussels
Legislature passed a law forbidding such contracts unless
sanctioned by the Government. The French Government
demanded that the two treaties which had been partially
concluded should be ratified. The Belgian Ministry,
though willing to facilitate traffic between the two coun-
tries, was not disposed to allow these lines to pass into
French hands. But, according to intelligence given by
the IluUpcndance Bclge, it would appear that the settle-
ment has been secured only by allowing a portion of the
lines to be leased to the French company.