The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-23 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 23, 1869,

interferes with their means of usefulness." Alto-
gether we may believe that affairs are flourishing with
this excellent trust, and that it bids fair to fulfil all
the expectations of its most sanguine supporters. It
is a work which deserves to prosper, and the generous
and high-minded donor may rejoice to think that
when all who now minister to the bestowal of its
funds have passed away from the scene, the spirit
which actuates it may live and prosper, and that gene-
rations still to come, in appreciating its beneficial
effects and gracious influence, will rise up and call
him blessed.

Among the various schemes for economising the
public money now suggested to the Government, we
must hope they will not overlook the advantage of
saving by prevention as well as by cure. It is very
easy and tempting, by the stroke of a pen, to re-
duce the estimates by tens of thousands, but it oc-
casionally happens that a timely outlay in the right
direction will save, eventually, not tens, but hun-
dreds of thousands. We have an instance of this
kind brought before us by the discussion now pend-
ing respecting the use of hill stations for the British
troops in India. The extraordinary mortality which
at one time prevailed among our troops in India has
been reduced by a due observance of the laws
of health to an average below that of European
cities. Nevertheless, so long as there remains anything
more to be done we should not relax our efforts.
Drainage and water supply, ventilation and cleanli-
ness, temperance and sobriety, proper regulations as
to clothing and exercise, all have no doubt played
an important part in effecting the improvement
already accomplished. But we must always remem-
ber that when every sanitary regulation has been
tried, we have to deal with a climate which is in
many instances naturally unfavourable to English
constitutions, and that when we can diminish its
effects by a judicious system of removal and ex-
change without injury to the public service, it is
manifestly our duty to do so. Experience has
abundantly proved that when the regiments are
periodically stationed on the hills the health of the
men is greatly improved. Not only is the actual
mortality of the troops diminished, but they
are preserved in a state of vigour and
efficiency which is highly advantageous to the ser-
vice. It is useless to reckon the numerical strength
of an army on paper, when perhaps a third of its men
are enfeebled by sickness. Dr. BEATSON, Inspector-
General, late principal medical officer of the Anglo-
Indian force, has published a reply to some attacks
which have been made on the system of hill stations.

Dr. BEATSON speaks on the subject with authority and
decision, as his long official experience entitles him to
do. Ile tells us that in parts of the Himalayas the
climate is not inferior to that of the Malvern Hills.
In India there must always, it is admitted, be a re-
serve force, and the Doctor very pertinently asks
why those who arc not actually wanted to hold the
stragetic posts, should not be available for resi-
dence in the hills in ordinary times and
circumstances ? Some persons have urged
that it is of importance to keep the British troops
always in view of the natives. But Dr
BEATSON asks which is most likely to impress a dis-
affected native population with awe, the sight of a
splendid and efficient brigade of British soldiers
coming down from the hills for a winter camp of
exercise, or the sad and mournful spectacle of a cho-
lera stricken corps, moving feebly along in the heat
and rain from place to place, in its endeavours to
escape from pestilence and death ! The avoidance
of the cholera is one of the great objects aimed at
by the use of hill stations. Dr. BEATSON plainly
connects the cholera outbreak of 18G7 with the large
number of rn-n constantly located in the plains. As

each well-trained soldier costs the Government a good

. .
sanction the outlay for the increase of hill sta-
tions even ou the low ground of prudential con-
siderations. The public at large, however, will look
on the question from a higher point of view, and will
readily acknowledge that we are bound to do the
best we possibly can for our soldiers as for our
sailors. They may, indeed, be called upon to sacrifice
their lives for their country, but we have no right to
demand from them needless and tedious sacrifices ;
the slow sapping of the health and spirits, the prema-
ture old age, the broken constitution. Yet the
opposition to the hil! system is very strong, and there
are not wanting those who, living themselves in a
genial and temperate climate, are very ready to con-
demn our soldiers to bear the beat and glare of
Indian summers unrelieved by an occasional visit to
the healthy slopes of the Ilimalayas.

HEADED by one of the ablest journals in Europe,
the Liberal party in Belgium has commenced
a determined agitation on behalf of representative
reform. It does not appear that the Belgians
have any special grievance to redress by
an extended suffrage. On the contrary, the
State is one of the best governed in Europe, and is
second in prosperity to none. But the inhabitants
who like to set the example in progress to their
powerful neighbours are sorely chafed to find that in
this respect they are behind almost every other
State. The great constitutional changes which have
affected almost every other nation have left Belgium
untouched. It is remarkable that this active little
country had the most liberal representative system
in Europe in 1830, but such have been the
changes since that it is now almost last.
It has but one elector to every 48
inhabitants, whereas England, even before
the Reform of 1832, had 1 in 22 or 23, and
the proportion is now about lin 9. The suffrage in
Belgium is granted. to all citizens of 25 years
of age who pay a small amount of direct taxes. The
advocates of reform do not demand universal
suffrage ; the Belgians in no wise admire French
institutions, and the cry for universal suffraep
finds no partisans. But they argue that between the

1,500,000 who are capable of exercising the franchise,
and the 104,000 who actually possess it, there is
abundant scope for every kind of medium Reform.
It is urged that so small a body of electors is likely
to act rather on behalf of its own interests than
with a view to the general good. In reply to the
argument that Belgium does not need change, the
Reformers point to England, where national
prosperity was not deemed a plea for withholding a
sweeping change. Their party seems on the
increase.

Belgium is not a very large country, but this
movement is important as affecting not merely the
destinies of five millions of people, but indirectly the
political position of an industrious and prosperous
nation. The independence of Belgium is of
the highest moment to the peace of Europe,
and so far as free institutions strengthen
the desire of independence, this change in
the Belgian constitution may contribute to the
desired end. But the agitation on behalf of repre-
sentative reform is most important, not because it
will have much influence for good or for evil on the
history of Belgium, but because it is another act in
the mighty but silent revolution now being accom-
plished in Europe. The great changes of contem-
porary history are too liable to be overlooked ; in
our contemplation of isolated events we are
apt to forget their collective result. Yet
there can be no doubt that at the present'.
time Europe. is in our generation making greater
progress than in any previous two 1)r three centuries.
The frantic efforts on behalf of freedom which began
with the meeting of the States-General, and ended
in the foundation of the Second. Empire, are pro-
ducing an ultimate effect very different to what was

expected. The struggle of the first half of the cen-
tury has ended neither in despotism nor democracy.
Political passion has calmed down, violence has
been found abortive, and the nations have
settled down to a calm redress of their
grievances by legislative means. A general
and earnest movement in favour of repre-
sentative government and just constitutional liberty
has set in all over Europe, and everywhere it is pro-
ducing beneficial consequences. It may be that this
great change errs, in the opinion of some, on the side
of excess ; certain it is that in no case do the conse-
quences of this excess appear baneful. In England,
where reform of every kind is tardy, the work
has required the longest time. It has required
forty years to change a strictly aristocratic
Government into a very popular regime.
The condition of Spain has already improved
greatly since the fall of ISAEBLLA. Nor is
there any just reason why the blessings of free insti-
tutions and good government should not be still further
extended in the Peninsula. If the attempt break
down, it will not be because the play is bad, but
because the actors are incapable. In Italy much the
same thing has taken place. The whole of Italy,
except the Papal States, is governed by a King
and a responsible Ministry, with two Houses of
Parliament, the Chamber of Deputies being
elected by all citizens who pay £1 12s. intaxes. This
constitution looks well enough onpaper, but its
practical working is by no means all that could be
desired. Greece has a constitution which is
but four years old. With universal suffrage, elec-
toral districts, and one legislative chamber, the
Hellenic Kingdom is the most democratic in
Europe. Servia and Roumania have each Constitutions.
Of these it is sufficient to say that Servia is the best-
governed of the Eastern States, and promises tole-
rably well, whilst both Roumania and Greece are very
badly ruled, and at present hold out no promise at
all. Russia has not eseaped the reforming mania,
but has acted up to her lights in abolishing serfdom.
Relatively this is a more difficult and more important
step in the direction of liberty than any that the
present generation has witnessed in Europe. But
the most perfect example of change from despotism
to freedom is to be found in Austria. The
great internal struggle which commenced imme-
diately after the war of 1866, and is yet going
on, has, so far, resulted in three reforms of the
highest moment. Instead of the Government
being centred wholly in the German element
of the population, each people is rapidly
acquiring a share proportioned to its impor- ,
tance. Hungary is represented by its Diet, and all
the rest of the empire by the Reichsrath ; but so
equal is the division that Bohemia and Galicia, which
call so loudly for separate Constitutions, like that
of Hungary, return nearly one-half of the Reichsrath.
Representative government in Austria is now three-
fold. The provincial Diets, which are elected by the
different classes separately, make laws concerning
local administration ; the provincial Diets elect the
Reichsrath, which has influence on;the laws and finance
of the whole of Austria, except Hungary ; and the
Reichsrath sends a delegation to confer with a similar
delegation from the Hungarian Diet in matters
affecting the whole empire. The united power of all
these assemblies is very great. In matters of finance
it is all but absolute. Some argue that the com-
plexity of such a system must end in renewed
difficulties ; but it appears to be overlooked that the
excellent system of local government, which has
resulted from these conflicts of diverse nationalities is
itself a guarantee of safety.
The tour of Europe is nearly complete. Sweden,
Norway, and Denmark, all possess Constitutions
which, recently modified, are now tolerably liberal.
In none of these countries is the franchise very low,
and in Denmark and Norway the system of indirect
election prevails, that is, the people choose
deputies, and these deputies select the national
representatives. Hence the lower orders of the
countries do not possess much political power; but
all three States are in the main well and economically

governed, and it does not appear that there exist
any grievances which clll for a change of constitution

tinkered at their systems of government more than
once during the century, will do wisely not to change
for the sake of change. It is to be regretted that in
the two most powerful States on the Continent
liberal institutions are most ignored. In Prussia,
not only does the system of indirect election prevail,
but even the indirect electors are divided into three
classes, so that each class pays one-third of the
direct taxes levied on the whole. The representatives
chosen by these three classes elect the Chamber
of Deputies. The national representation is, there-
fore, almost wholly in the hands of the upper grades;
and, more than this, the royal prerogative is so great
as to be little short of absolute. Government in
Prussia is decidedly paternal. Public opinion is,
however, being directed to the question of Reform,
and it is highly probable that before long the agita-
tion on this subject will become serious. Many
symptoms attest that the Prussians are becoming
impatient of leading-strings, and are looking
with envy at Austria, so rapidly rising from
her ashes and outstripping her victorious
neighbour in the peaceful race. France is
lowest in the scale of constitutional progress. The
Government is the most absolute in Europe, except
in Russia and Turkey. The EMPEROR rules by
an irresponsible MilastrY) Which he changes at dis-
cretion ; commands the army and navy ; makes
peace, war, and treaties ; nominates to all offices, and
has the sole initiative in legislation. The Corps
Le-gislatif is elected by universal suffrage, " managed "
by the State functionaries, and even under this
system has few privileges. The Senate is merely a
body of the EMPEROR'S nominees. Between such a
regime and anything approaching a free Constitution
there is a great gulf, which the French are little
likely to cross under the present rule. The new press
law and the law on public meetings have given rise
to a conflict between the Imperialists and Liberals of
a more serious character than any since the founding
of the Second Empire. The demand for change is
louder now than at any time since the coup d'etat, is
as easy to underrate as it is to overrate the value of
such symptoms. So is it easy to depreciate, the effect
of any or all the constitutional reforms which have
taken place throughout Europe, easy to select
States, from Greece upwards, where a übeKta
House of Representatives does not ensure social
order or national prosperity. These effects
must be estimated by comparison. Even the rule
in Roumania is preferable to domination of Turkish
pachas, and yet Roumania presents constitutional
government in its most imperfect form. In every
other quarter of Europe the gradual improvement
wrought by free institutions in conjunction with the
spread of social reform is incontestable. Much
more may yet be expected, for whilst not
one European Constitution dates from the last cen-
tury, the vast majority have been radically altered
within the last ten years. Is it too much to hope
that the revolution which has been so sudden, yet so
peaceful and complete, may produce greater things ?
Is it optimism to believe that the terrible baptism of
blood has not been for nought, and that liberty may
yet be recompensed for the crimes that have been
done in her name ?

THE HOME CATTLE DEFENCE ASSOCIATION.—A
meeting of this association was held yesterday, at which
resolutions were passed expressing surprise and alarm
that the regulations enforced by the Privy Council in
order to prevent the reintroduction of sheep-pox into
this country have been rescinded. The resolutions ex-
press a desire that the regulations should be again en-
forced.

CONFIRMATION OF THE BISHOP OF LINCOLN.—
The ceremony of confirming the election of the Ray. Dr.
Christopher Wordsworth to the Bishopric of Lincoln,
vacant by the preferment of the Right Rey. Dr. John
Jackson to the Bishopric of London, tooK placo yester-
day morning, in the parish church of St. Mary-le-Bow,
Choapside.

Despatches were received yesterday at tLe Colo-
nial Office from the Governors of the Australian Colo-
nies, New Zealand, Labuan, the Straits settlements, and
Heligoland. Despatches were sent to the Governor Ge-
neral of Canada, and to the Governor of British Columbia.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, MONDAY, February 22.
The great City of Paris debate began to-day. The
Corps L4gislatif, however, did not present the scene that
was expected at the opening, for it was known that
M. Thiers was not going to speak until Tuesday. Never-
theless there was a fair gathering both of deputies and
spectators, Rangab4, who has not yet ceased to be the
lion of a capital which never keeps a lion long, being
amongst the latter. M. Garnier-Pagtss opened the cam-

paign.
The heading " Election Intelligence," which must have
become so drearily familiar to your readers last autumn, is
now becoming a stock heading in the journals here. The
campaign is rapidly opening. I shall not, however,
trouble you with any details of individual candidatures
which can have little interest in England. Amongst the
most noteworthy items is the certainty that M. Pinard is
going to contest a seat as an independent candidate. lle
has fixed upon Cambray as the constituency of his choice.
M. Jules Favre has selected the third circumscription of
G ers.

The press laws have been very quiet during the last
few days, but if they have ceased to be exercised openly
their effects are known in secret. lam told that several
journalists who were sentenced to imprisonment at the
recent trials, and are now undergoing their sentence, are
treated most rigorously. Ordinarily, it is the rule to make
imprisonment for such an offence as a breach of the press
law a very mild punishment. The prisoner can have any
luxury he chooses to pay for, and is allowed many other
privileges. But some, at least, of M. Pinard's victims
are suffering the treatment which is usually awarded
only to the forger or the thief. Perhaps the reason why the
press prosecutions have fallen out of notice lately is that
the public meetings are sharing with them the weight of
Imperial odium. A meeting at Montparnasse was broken
up the other day, and another at Belleville narrowly
escaped the same fate. The disturbance here had a curious
origin. One of those present wished to read the Minister
of the Interior's letter concerning public meetings, but the
Commissioner of Police would not allow it. He alleged
that such a proceeding would come within the range of
politics ; that is, a Minister's letter on a law which forbids
political discussion would itself be political. The audience
did not see the force of this logic, and raised an uproar
but ultimately the meeting went on.
Count Walewski gives an interesting account of the hos-
pitable reception he met with at Athens. The King
seemed to trouble himself very little about the political
crisis. Dressed in a plain black coat, he received the Count
alone in his cabinet, and exhibited no eagerness to learn the
contents of the documents which were presented to him.
The envoy was invited to dinner, and met only a few
intimate friends of the King and Queen. No politics
were discussed. After that evening the Count saw
but little of his Majesty until the moment of his
departure, when King George bade him farewell in
an affectionate manner. " I hope," said he, " that
the Emperor will be pleased with Greece. You
are going to take back my reply ; do you know what it is ?"
" No, sire, but I will learn it from M. Baude." " Tell
the Emperor," added the King, " that I have done my
best to respond to his sentiments for a pacification. For
you, sir, I regret not having seen you oftener; but, as a
souvenir, I have given you my Order."
Bad news continues to arrive from the missionary
stations in the East of Asia. Letters from Japan state
that some entire Christian communities have been put
to the torture. At one place, bearing the name of
Fonsakadjima, in the Goto Islands, 181 Christians—men,
women, and children—have been confined in a vast
prison, and there subjected to horrible tortures. The
Japanese Government is the object of severe condemnation
by the Missions Catholiques which gives these details.
The Chapel St. Nicholas, in the Faubourg St Honore,
has become the most famous religious edifice in

Paris. The fame is only temporary, and depends
wholly upon a certain preacher who has officiated there.
The chapel is by no means a model edifice, but Father
Claret, who has preached on the Thursdays of Lent, is a
celebrated personage, and his discourses have attracted
crowds far too large for the modest, but, sooth to say,
miserable chapel in which he has officiated. There is
nothing particularly noticeable in Father Claret's appear-
ance, though every lineament of his countenance, every
item of his garments, are considered available capital by
the Paris journals. Queen Isabella's confessor is some-
thing below the middle stature, has expressive eyes, and a
deeply-wrinkled face, but in no respect a physiognomy
which can be called distinctive. His style of preaching,
too, is very plain, and the matter of his sermons of the
usual exhortative kind.

With the exception of the few days during which the
Bois de Boulogne was covered with ice, the skaters have
had a very bad winter. Almost throughout the tempera-
ture has been exceptionally mild. Such vegetables as
green peas have been sold at the markets the whole

the lily of the valley, lilac, azalea, rhododendron, and
violets are plentiful. But there are symptoms that all
this is coming to an end. The winter is not to be a
nonentity after all.

THE WEATHER TABLE.-TILTS DAY.

3IL•TLOEOLOGICAL ruonTs.

Extreme Sea
Tuesday, F. 0
8 a.m. pa
Feb. 23, B. T. W. Ito F. D. WR. 'to
--12 _
9
Nairn
Aberdeen
Leith
Shields ..
Scarborough 30175. 36 34 W.N.W. 1 5 E.S.E. o.f. 3
Yarmouth 3olor. 36 35 N.N.W. 3 7 E.N.E. r.o. 014 3
Helder
Cuz haven _
Skudesnms _
Ardrossau 3015 r. 35 34 S.E. 1 2 F. ,Lin. 0131 1
Greencastle 30'15r. 40 39 W.S.W. 1 3 N.W. mro o'll,
Holyhead ;
Liverpool
Valentia 3o'32r. 48 46 N.W.5 6 N. r.c. o'osl 5
Care Clear — _ _
Roch e's Pt W3OI. 40 ,38 Z. 0 5 N. c.b.'o'os, 1
Penzance
Plymouth - 1
Weymouth 30'24r. 37 34 N.N.W. 1 1 N.N.E. o.c. 2
Portsmouth 30•19 r. 35 .2 I N. 2 5 N.E. o.c. o'oll 2
London , 3016r. 35 33 N.N.W. 4 7 N. r.s.c 0'25
C'peGrisNez 30t9r. 37, 35 N.E. 7 7j E. N.E. sm. 0•071 5
Brest
L'Orient 30'20r. 41' 39 N. 3 5 N. c. 2
Rochefort
Biarritz
Corunna — _
Brussels .. .
Paris
Strasbourg — —
Lyons . . — _
Toulon
Heart's Con-
tent (9 a.m.
local time)