The Sun.
London, England, 1869-06-01 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY " EVENING, JUNE 1, 1E69.

once threatened to swamp it, by the creation
of a large number of Liberal Lords so as to
turn the balance of parties in the Upper house in
favour of the existing Government. From any such
formidable alternative as that, the Conservative
leaders may well shrink back aghast. In either case
the influence of the Upper House would be at once
in a very great measure destroyed. Its very exis-
tence, as an active political institution, would be se-
riously jeopardised. A General Election neces-
sitated within a year from the date of the last,
and necessitated by reason of the rejection by
the Lords of that Irish Church Bill which the re-
cently erected House of Commons had passed
through all its stages so triumphantly—a General
Election thus caused and thus precipitated would
excite a flame of indignation against the House of
Lords, such as would hazard a permanent estrange-
ment between the peerage and the people. It would
shake to its very foundations the whole fabric of our
curiously mixed, and hitherto admirably well adjusted,
and to this moment exquisitely balanced constitution.
Hardly less mischievous results, we cannot but think,
would accrue from any wholesale creation of peers by a
Great Party Leader simply with a view to press upon
the acceptance of the Upper House of Parli anent
the otherwise moat unacceptable policy of the actual
Government. From neither proceeding must the
chiefs of party upon both sides but shrink back with
the greatest possible reluctance. The wish of reta-
liation—that would inevitably be run by the Conser-
vative majority of the House of Lords in the event
of their throwing out the Bill in defiance of the
clearly expressed pinions in its favour of the House
of Commons and of the whole country, is altogether
too co4derable% to bo overlooked, is altogether
too f6rmidable of its kind not to exer-
cise a wholesome influence in tempering
the decision now immediately to be ar-
rived at. Our conviction is that the House of
Peers will patriotically evidence the full appreciation
by their lordships of the momentous character of
the present political situation—and that they will do
this by manfully protesting, if they so please, against
the policy involved in the great measure now
coming before them, after having been tirtumpbantly
carried through the House of Commons, but by
bowing to the decision of the country, now
that in direct support of the Ministerial policy
in this matter that decision of the whole
country has been thus emphatically and de-
liberately pronounced. We have no more doubt
as to the virtual though of course reluctant accepta-
tion of this measure of the Irish Church Bill by the
House of Lords, thin we have of the utterance after-
wards as evidence of the Royal assent by those
magical words, la Regne le reveult 1 y which the 13i1
will be eventual!) transformed into an Act of Parlia-
ment.

THE Orangemen were in great force at Chester-
field house on Saturday. But Lord CAIRNS, says an
Orange paper, was " conspicuous by his absence."
This fact is very significant, and must be very dis-
couraging to the Orangemen. Lord CAIRNS was
selected by Mr. DISRAELI as Lord Chancellor, vice
Lord CHELMSFORD deposed, and leader of the
House of Lords, vice Lord MALMESBURY likewise
deposed. It is understood that he has just
been to Ireland, and has had interviews with Arch-
bishop TRENCH and Sir JOSEPH NAPIER, the most
distinguished clerical and the most distinguished lay
member of the Irish Church, in the hope of inducing
them to abandon the " No Surrender" standard and
come to terms. It would seem as if the ex-
Chancellor had not been particularly successful. It
is only on this supposition that we can explain
his absence from the meeting at which five
deputations attended to represent inter alias
80,000 of his old friends and electors at Belfast.
Lord CAIRNS wishes to be Lord Chancellor again,
knows very well that he has no more chance of
grasping the great seal a second time than the most
pettifogging country attorney has, so long as the
Irish
,Church question remains unsettled, and,
therefore, naturally enough refuses to sanction in
any way the policy which would be fatal alike to his
party, his prospects, and the whole House of Lords.
We imagine that this circumstance alone sntli-
ciently indicates the intention of the Peers not to
reject, or to seriously modify, the Irish Church Bill.
This supposition is confirmed by the fact that the
Times, which rarely recommends a course until sure
that such a coursehas been determined upon, strongly
advises the Upper House not to fly in the
face of the nation, but to protest against the bill and
then pass it. Certainly there was nothing in the
Duke of ADERCORN'S reply to the deputations which
could lead them to hope for any other result. Their
arguments against the bill, however cogent, however
unanswerable, had no novelty, hadall been urged pre-
av
at
otuhsl y in P
e general Parliament li am
election,
t last
an
dsession,nw before
onee mtohe re ni
na tti ohiei
House of Commons. All have been useless ;
the nation and its representative body have decided
that the pleas have no force, and that justice must
not be arrested. Moreover, the Orangemen have
taken a singularly ill-timed step in attempting to
bully the Government by the threat of repealing the
Union. They have thereby not only shewn that
their loyalty is conditional upon their ascendancy,
but they have forced upon the Government an arith-
metical calculation whereof the quotient is not at all
likely to prove advantageous to Orange ism. If, on the
one hand, the loyalty of the Protestants is de-
pendent upon the ascendancy of that party,
and if, on the other hand, the loyalty of the
Romanists is dependent upon the termination
of that asctmlancy, Government may well be par-
doned if they prefer to secure the 41 millions instead
of the three-quarters of a million. The Orangemen
might have gained a point if they had appealed
to their unshaken adherence to the Crown
and their English connection. But when
they began to threaten they surrendered
a most powerful position, and entered into
a competition in which (it is to their credit) they
are sure to be miserably beaten. Belfast and
Londonderry cannot vie with Cork and Limerick in
treason. It is a thousand pities that they ever
attempted to do so.

SiMuLTANEOUSLY with the arrival in England of
Mr. REVERDY JOHNSON'S successor, Mr. PEABODY,
foremost amongst wealthy philanthropists, leaves
the country which owes him so much to return to his
native land. During Mr. JOHNSON's unfortunate
career of mistaken conciliation Mr. PEABODY was
pursuing a labour of love towards England which
even Americans were not disposed to regret. Whilst
the two nations were doubting whether they should
not prepare for war, he was practically
proving,al friendship b 3
mwiiniiichstering to the severest of
England's necessities, the real bonds of sympathy
divisions of the Anglo -syaext
onbinrcalcet.ogetrhe.r
pteu
ot
Dwlo,
remains
Atelisilllealrilii-locsarnthtliovlyhobree:arsseeseented the Great Republic ; it
Jr s
tw 1:
re
rt
ihveera thewill accomplish
distinguished
the
not less important work of peace which lies within
his power. Mr. MOTLEY comes upon a difficult
mission of uncertain result. With the commence-
ment of his diplomatic career the relations between
the two countries enter upon a new phase. his pre-
decessor failed because he did not represent the domi-
nant party : but though the work will have to be done
over again, we shall have the satisfaction of knowing
that whatever progress is made for the future will be
substantial. Mr. MOTLEY will not indulge in any of
the outpourings of spirit by which his predecessor gave
snail offence; but whatever action he takes will be done
in the name of the party which now rules the United
States. Just after Mr. SUMNER'S speech it was
apprehended that
_Mr. MOTLEY would ,come with
instructions based on that warlike manifesto, or that
he would at least adopt a rolicy of hostile inactivity.

Mr. Surnm's speech, however, is no longer looked
upon in America as an oratilar emission.
The new Ambassador comes amongst us with words
of peace ; and, dispassionately considered, the situa-
tion is one which ought not to give rise to any serious
fear of war.

• Various momentous considerations confine the
policy of America within limits as narrow as our
own. Mr. SUMNER and the editor of the New York
Herald have unbounded liberty of making unofficial
declarations of war to which little responsibility
can be attached ; but President GRANT is not
in the position of these bellicose personages.
As the head of a nation he has nol
alternative to a peaceful policy. It is needless to
recount the losses which the Americans would incur
by a great war; and it is not less certain
whatever they might hope to gain will be more
readily acquired by rigid abstention from war.
No doubt the Monroe doctrine is still the creed of a
large and powerful party in the United Stater. The
United States might possibly acquire Canada as the
reward of a conflict, whereas England could not hope
to obtain any substantial advantage whatever.
But the conquest of Canada is by no
means- the matter-of-course undertaking which
the New York Herald and some Englishmen
are disposed to believe. The colony could not be
taken by a coup de main. It is true that in 1865 the
United States possessed an immense army, to which
England and its colony could offer no effective oppo-
sition. But this army exists no longer. It has
dwindled down to a force of 20,000 men, who find
abundance of employment in garrisoning the South
and keeping the Indians in subjection. Before a
campaign could commence an army must be raised,
and the delay thus involved would place the two
nations, at the beginning at least, on an equal footing.
England would have time to throw all the force she
Could raise uptut frontier; it is not
impossible that New York might be taken before an
American army could be raised to strike a blow.
The American navy is now confessedly unequal to
our own, and it is to be still further weakened by
large sales of ironclads. It would be long before
the United States could make any effective attempt
to keep the sea in time of battle against
us. These and similar considerations shew how
little real importance is to be attached to the vapour-
ing of irresponsible orators and writers. Most likely
Canada might be captured in the end, but the danger
and difficulty of a war with a nation of Great Britain's
tried resources are so serious that something more
definite than Mr. SUMNER'S speech ought to be re-
quired to cause a panic amongst the holders of Five-
Twenties.

It is certain, then, that the Monroe doctrine of
"America forth eAm erica ns " can never advantageously
prevail by force ; whether by process of natural
selection the whole of North America will come
under one rule, is a question with more than one
aspect. Experience is not in favour of the Monroe
doctrine. History teaches us that States which
exceed a certain territorial magnitude are liable
to fall to pieces by their own weight. There is
a certain point at which the differences of
climate, race, and soil become incompatible with
single government. The map of Europe has been
vastly altered during the last two centuries; but all
attempts to unite a large portion of the continent
under one rule have failed. The Roman Empire
divided in two soon after it attained its greatest
strength. • Victoria and New South Wales are be-
ginning to display a peaceful sort of antagonism ;
rivalry is rapidly springing up between them. And,
judging by these precedents,' it is more than ques-
tionable whether the United States, which are now
as large as all Europe,can extend from Panama to the
Polar Sea without imminent danger of disruption.
At present the Canadians display no desire to join
the States. The American journals point trium-
phantly to the large emigration from Canada south-
wards ; but though the States, from their greater
population, may be preferred as settlements, it
by no means follows that a people now settled
in Canada must desire annexation, They
can expect to reap no benefit which they do not
already enjoy, except heavy taxes. The W4shington
GOvernment has it in its power to reduce the burdens
which press upon the American nation: It is rapidly
doing so. The A rmy mid Navy Budgets are being ruth-
lessly cut down, and the Treasury frauds will belessened
as much as possible. These wise measures, combined
with the utter disgrace into which the doctrine of
repudiation has fallen, may do much to counter-
balance Mr. SUMNER'S foolish speech, and raise Ame-
rican credit. With an improved position in the money
markets of the world, lighter taxes, and that general
prosperity which is sure to attend American fortunes,
the States may invite their Canadian neighbours to
join them. Whether they can live in peace and
harmony will be an interesting question of the
future; but they can never live in peace as con-
querors and conquered with infinitely increased
burdens, diminished trade, and a trebled national
debt.

LITERATURE.

The Poetical IVorks •of William Wordsworth.

Popular Edition. One Vol. Pp. 704. Moxon.
In the form of a noble volume we have here the
only complete popular edition of the great philoso-
phic poet of nature, William Wordsworth. Within
the first quarter of a hundred pages are comprised
the Poems, written in youth, beginning with the
Extract penned in 1786, and ending with the tragedy
of the Borderers. Afterwards come the Poems re-
ferring to the Period of Childhood, followed imme-
diately by those founded on the Affections. Next
in order are those on the, Naming of Places—•then
the Poems of the Fancy—then the Poems of the
Imagination. As a finale to the Poems of Fancy,
there are the four cantos of The Waggoner. And
as the sequel to the Poems of Imagination, the tale
in four divisions of Peter Bell. In three parts
are subsequently arranged the noble sonnets
of a miscellaneous character—" best, beautiful "
among them all the Sonnet on the Sonnet. A
Sonnet than which no nobler was ever written by
Milton or by Petrarch. Memorials of Two Tours in
Scotland—that of 1803 and that of 1813—occupy
the next position in this comprehensive collection of
the poetical works of Wordsworth. Then there are
placed in sequence—the two parts or divisions of the
group of poems Dedicated to Liberty and National
Independence. Referring to 1820, we next have.
Memorials of a Tour on the Continent —an 1 relating
to 1837 Memorials of a Tour in Italy. Subjoined
to the Series of Sonnets in honour of The River
Duddon, come the seven cantos of The White
Doe of Rylstone, in which the fate of the
Nortons is celebrated. Portione.l out into
three parts, are the numerous Sonnets of au
Ecclesiastical character. Then comes Yarrow
Revisited, and after that Evening Volunteers. A
Tour in the Summer of 1833 will be found to have
suggested the next collection of Poems. Afterwards
we have Poems of Sentiment and Reflection.. Son-
nets, especially dedicated to Liberty and Order, are
followed by Sonnets upon the Puuishment of Death.
Purely Miscellaneous Poems arc succeeded by In-
scriptions•—then by Selections from Chaucer mo-
dernised—then again by Poems referring to the
Period of Old Age—then Epitaphs and Elegiac
Pieces—then The Prelude—and finally, and to
crown all, The Excursion. Appendix, Prefaces,
Dedication, Post script, Additional Poems, an
Index to the whole of the Poems, an In-
dex to the first line of them ra-
pidly summarised, are the contents of a volume
comprising within it the published attestations of
the poetic genius of Wordsworth. As a frontis-
piece to the book there is an engraving from the
well-known portrait of the venerable Poet of th 3
Lakes, by Pickersgill. The little cclandine, the
daisy, th daffodil, the primrose, the snowdrop, are
among the flowers especially wreathing a coronet
for Wordsworth. The cuckoo, the redbreast, the
green linnet, the skylark, are among; the familiar
birds -singing his praises as if in gratitude for
having been sung by him. Anything almost—an
idiot—a kitten playing with dead leaves—a robin
'chasing a butterfly—an - echo—a needle case—a
sea shell--a rock—a cloud—a:bird's nest—each in
I turn is theme enough for Wordsworth.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS. MONDAY, May 31.

The best friends of the Empire in England and other
countries—and its foreign friends are not specially nume-
rous just now—are so struck with the shock sustained by
Imperialism at the general election, that they advise
immediate reform. Even the Morning Herald, well-
known as one of the firmest of Napoleon's supporters, is,
I observe, of opinion that concessions ought to be made to
the Liberal spirit of France. A little relaxation of
personal rule now may save the dynasty ; a little later
may be too late. Unfortunately, the official
papers of Paris write in the opposite strain. The Public
publishes an article precisely similar to the reactionary
manifesto which I yesterday noticed in the People. The
Public says that the elections of Paris, Lyons, and Mar-
seilles are a menace to which the Government cannot
oppose a policy of weakness.
Decidedly, the behaviour of the authorities at this
electoral contest has not been remarkable for its
honesty. The Patrie, of to-day, comes out with a
flourish of trumpets and drums, about the perfect good
faith and justice of the administration in the various
departments. It complains that Liberal journals have
accused the authorities of exercising undue pressure for
the purpose of returning official candidates. In answer to
this charge, it publishes the text of M. de Forcade la
Roquette's famous circular to the prefects—the circular of
which so much has been said, but which has never before
seen the light. This document states that though the
prefects have the power to suspend the maires and
their subordinates, yet this power must not be
exercised during the electoral period, lest it might be
attributed to political motives. "We are not accustomed,"
says M. de Forcade la Roquette, "to influence elections
by measures of this kind."
This parade of justice is very imposing, no doubt, and
looks well in print. Unfortunately the Empire adopts
one policy in the sight of the public and another in
private. At. the moment that this generous circular is
published, a curious illustration of the " mildness
and equity" of the authorities comes to light. M.
Gourdon, mayor of Lormont, who has been twenty
years a member of the Council of Arrondissement at
Bordeaux, and who has recently been decorated for his
administrative services, has resigned. In a letter to the
Gironde, M. Gourdon declares that "his dignity as a man,
as a citizen, and as a public functionary, does not permit
him to submit to the instructions sent to him from
the Prefecture relative to the second balloting
which is to take place in the third circumscription."
These orders, transmitted to M. Gourdon verbally
by the Vice-President of the Council of Prefecture, are
to the effect that " the Prefect is determined, at any
price, to return M. Travot (the official candidate) ; that a
mayor is required at Lormont who will go from door
to door, to the house of every elector ; and, finally, that
the superior functionary is disposed to remove every ob-
stacle in order to secure the triumph of his protégé."
This remarkable example of the impartiality of the autho-
rities needs no comment. When the local authorities are
expected to canvass votes from house to house, the force
of official intervention can no further go.
M. Lissagaray, in the Arenir, of Auch, promises us some
lively details respecting the election of the notorious M.
Granier de Cassagnac, the Emperor's intimate friend and
—the editor of the Pays. The Avenir plainly states that
the electoral urns have been tampered with in several
communes. Fair means or foul, it is much to be regretted
that M. de Cassagnac has been returned. It is said that
when the Corps Legislatif does assemble there will
be a desperate fight at the first onset on the confirma-
tion of various returns. The Opposition mean to protest
against numerous official deputies as unfairly returned.
So fierce, it is expected, will be the opening sittings that
a strong party in high quarters advocate the putting off
of the preliminary session for six months. This is the
limit allowed by the Constitution. It was originally
designed to assemble the House at the end of June.
Public meetings are now being held in all the circum-
scriptions. Some of them are very tumultuous, but so far
riot has been avoided.
The epidemic amongst the cashiers has seized an inter-
esting pair of twins. The managers of the Agricultural
Banks of Laon and of Coucy have taken to flight, each
leaving a considerable deficit.
The revolutionary spirit in France seems to be in-
herent from earliest youth. One of those school
revolts which are not unfrequent in this country has
just taken place at the College of Evreux. Some
of the elder students had for some time shewn great dis-
satisfaction with the harshness of the director of the
college. The punishments he inflicted were heavy, and
his language by no means mild. A day or two ago some
thirty of them were confined at their studies whilst the
rest were at la c~•eation. During the absence of the
director a young usher inflicted afresh punishment, which
the pupils, with the support of the whole school, refused
to submit to. On the head master's return lie ordered
three of the offending pupils to be confined in a cell ; their
companions rose in revolt and broke open the door; but
the three prisoners declined to take advantage of this
opportunity to recover their liberty, and remained calmly
in their confinement. The director now lost all control
over his temper, and ordered the expulsion of the three
youths in question, but who had not taken any part in
the riot. This act nas considered so unjust that all the elder
boys demanded that the measure should be retracted or be
extended to them likewise. The original three have, in
consequence, been swelled to thirty, all of whom have
been sent back to their parents.

-
A singular advertisement appears in Gatignani to-day. A-
partner who can dispose of £l2O is `• wanted." The under-
taking to be embarked in is the making of "an excava-
tion, at two le.agues from Paris, in an underground
passage, which afforded communication between two con-
vents destroyed several centuries back. The excavations
will be directed by means of an electro-attractive '
instrument, which reveals the presence of precious
metals at whatever depth they may be buried."
In addition to large stores of the precious metals, rich
archeological treasures may be expected in this mine
which requires but £l2O to work it. The advertiser is a
lady.
I notice an announcement in some of the German papers
that Count Bismarck might possibly retire into private
life if the North German Parliament and the Prussian
Chambers reject his financial schemes. The papers here
have reproduced this statement with the usual anti-
Prussian
m pan, but the Cross Gazette indignantly denies
that Count Bismarck entertains such an idea.

The Established Church of Scotland in its General
Assembly has resolved to petition Parliament for an altera-
tion of the law of patronage.
intelligence reached West Hartlepool on Saturday
morning of the total loss of a large Prussian brig, with all
hands. Nothing certain is known as to the brig's identity
further than that she was painted white, had a figurehead of
the same colour, and her headboards bore the name (as nearly
as could be made out) of Ostern.
It is stated that Mr. Bernal Osborne will become
a candidate in the Liberal interest for Nottingham in the
room of Sir Robert Clifton. The Echo is informed that Mr.
George Potter will come forward as the working-men's can-
didate. Mr. Potter will refrain from issuing his address
until after the funeral of the deceased.
A murder, as revolting in some of its incidents as
the Norwich tragedy itself, has just come to light at Dews-
bury. The dismembered body of a female child, far gone in
decomposition, was found on Saturday in a well that sup-
plied many families with water. Typhoid fever has been
prevalent in tha neighbourhood, and it is now attributed to
the use of the water poisoned in this horrible manner.
A. stabbing case of a serious nature, and involving
two sufferers, occurred in Liverpool on Saturday night. A
man named Richard Larkin, residing with his daughters
Catherine Kirby, and her husband, James Kirby, at 113,
Elias-street, quarrelled with his daughter, and during the
quarrel he stabbed her under the arm with a bayonet, and
arterwards stabbed her husband in the abdomen. Larkin is
in custody.

The Star is assured, upon the very best authority,
that Mr. Motley comes to this country upon a mission of
peace, and for the purpose of conciliating and binding
closer and closer the ties of friendship between the two
countries. lie repudiates entirely the statements which
have been promulgated to the effect that he comes armed
with authority to demand an immediate settlement of the
Alabama claims.

A conference of the representatives from the vari-
ous Conservative associations throughout Lancashire was
held in the Town Hall, Manchester, on Saturday afternoon,
for the purpose cf making arrangements for a great county
mass meeting to be held in Manchester, calling upon the
House of Lords to throw out the Bill of Mr. Gladstone for
disestablishing and disendowing the Irish Chu;ch. It was
resolved that the dimonstratian he held in the Pomona
Gardens on the 12th of Juno.

The brig Robert and Mary, belonging to West
Hart', pool, sailed front that port ;Llama a month ago, with a
cargo of coal, for Cronstadt, and, in the absence of Captain
Knaggs, the command was entrusted to the mate, Thomas
Darker, a Whitby man. Information has Leen received
that• a quarrel ensued between • the mato and a lad of 20
years of age, named Elder, also belonging to Whitby, relative
to disobedience of orders given by Lim to Elder. In the
course of the quarrel the mate dealt the natter a back-
handed blow, on which the lad seized -a handspike, and felled
him on the deck with a violent-blow on the head, fipl the
effects of which Ikz:ket;dieq th 9 pm.R eyp4ig,