The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 28, 1869.

nature been introduced into a Budget of Mr. ths-
IZAELI.S contrivance, we should never have beard the
last of it. '['he suggestion, coming from the right
bon. member for Bucks, would have been scouted fis
simply ridiculous. It emanated, however, from th(
philosophical mind of the bran new financier induc•ed
into office, only a few months previously, as Mr.
GLADSTONE'S Chancellor of the Exchequer. Wiling
from Mr. DISRAELI, the notion would have been re-
garded as a dodge. Coming from Mr. LOWE, it waF
considered in the light of a most sagacious contriv-

ance.

Startling as the Budget Speech of the present
Chancellor of the Exchequer was, however, it was
by no means so st trtling as several of the statements
set forth by Mr. LOWE last evening in support of it.
So astounding were some of these that the House
could only laugh as theatre-goers laugh at the more
bizarre and incomprehensible puns in a burlesque.
According to the argument of Mr. LOWE—an argu-
ment, serious ? comic? or eerie-comic ? which is it ?
—five quarters' income tax are always collected in
every twelvemonth ! According to Mr. LOWE—the
payment of five quarters' income tax is not a bit
more onerous to the taxpayer than the payment of
four quarters ! According to Mr. LOWE—five quar-
ters being paid in one year, the number of quarters
paid in two years would be nine! And so on. No
wonder the House laughed. No wonder the Gover-
nor of the Bank of England, who rose immediately
after Mr. LOWE had resumed his seat—no wonder,
we say, that Mr. CRAWFORD began his remarks upon
the right hon. gentleman's astounding state-
ment2,._ by saying that it was rather a fortunate
thing for him that he had not had to undergo
a Civil Service Examination before assuming office
as Chancellor of the EAGUetiu,,r. 13Ut:,
all this is past joking about. What, in the name o'
common sense, is the meaning of observations suet
as those coolly articulated yesterday by the lips of the
Chancellor of the Exchequer? nibbling quips and
cranks like those are about as relevant as the inco-
herent words of JACK BUNSBY when called in by Cap-
tain CUTTLE to pronounce as to the fate of Mr.
DOMBEY'S missing ship, the " Son and Heir." The
" bearing of the observations" may provoke a langll
by their very absurdity ; but the laugh is empty,
and, when it is over, the listeners are left quite as
much at sea as ever even in their conjectures.
With something like an aspect of rebuke, and cer-
tainly in words of solemnity, Mr. CRAWFORD.
as Governor of the Bank of England, and
as member for the City of London, depre-
cated the "airy tone" in which Mr. LOWE repu-
diated anything like official responsibility, on his part,
in regard to the Money Market. The Money 111,trket.
said t he Chancellor of the Exchequer, must take care
itself ! The Bank of England was not to be cockered
up by the Government ! " Cockered" is Mr. LowE's
own phrase. Yet, hardly este it be thought as pos-
sible in any way to apply to himself—he who, in
violation, or in defiance of the elementary dictum of
COCKER, that two and two make four, start!es the
House of Commons into a laugh, by insisting (as
though he himself were an Irishman) that in one
sense the year always has jive
quartos, and—imme-
diately thereupon—that twice five make nine !

IT was a foiegone conclusion that the general elec-
on in France should terminate in the return of a

large majority of Imperialists. So powerful is
the influence of the Government in the rural
districts—so unsparing is the labour, so un-
scrupulous the agencies employed to preserve
and strengthen it—that except in town constitu-
encies, the opponents of the Empire enter
the lists with very meagre chances of success. The
rustic representatives of universal suffrage are
bribed by the prefects, exhorted by their priests, and
bullied by their employers into voting for the official
candidates. The secrecy of the Ballot is violated, for
the vot;ng, tiolzets are, in the country, supplied to the
elector in front of the urn, the authorities watch
every voter, and the name he deposits in the box c::n
always be known. If lie vote 3 for the " wrong
man," i.e., for the Opposition candidate, he loses the
situation which the Prefect or Maire had promised
to him or to his son. The priest discountenances
him. He is in great danger of being dismissed by

his employer. Knowing and caring litt:e about
politics, it is hardly likely that he will
sacrifice any material interest for the Liberal
cause, and hence .universal suffrage in the
vast majority of French constituencies is only an
Imperial tool. The contest is therefore only a rela-
tive one. The Imperialists must have a large
majority ; the Opposition can gain only in the sense
of increasing their diminutive force. This sort of
success they have undoubtedly attained. In the
first Parliament under the Empire the Left wns
so small that all its members could have been coin-

fortably conveyed in a hackney coach. In 1857
this forlorn hope had increased, in 1863 it was much
greater, and in 1869, though the contest is not yet
over, there can be no doubt that it will be larger

than in any previous Chamber. More than this
could not be expected.

So far as regards the respective forces of the
Government and its various opponents, the contest
of 1869 has achieved no remarkable result. But
with respect to the principles advocated by the
Opposition, a singularly decisive change has been
effected. The Empire was founded in 1852 in

. face of the hostility of three important parties.
The Republicans had just been overthrown by the
coup d'etat ; the Orleanists had fallen when Louis
PHILIPPE, the chief of the Orleanist House, was
driven from France; and the hopes of the Legiti-
mists—the supporters of the direct line of the Bour-
bons—had been wrecked at a still more remote date,
at the revolution of 1830. But all these parties
have up to the present time preserved more or less
of vitality, and each of them has contrived to secure
a certain influence in the Corps L6gislatif. The
general election of 1869 will ever be memor-
able for the final downfall of the two
royalist sections. France hars filially renounced
her allegiance to both branches of the House
of BOURBON. The Orleanists, who were re-
presented by numerous candidates in different
parts of France, have everywhere been beaten by
large majorities. Of more than a dozen repre-
sentatives it is probable that only one, M.
THIEns, will get a seat in the Corps L4gislatif.
Of the Legitimists but two, to all appearance, will be
successful. The minority against the Empire has
not only slightly increased, but it has gained
strength by concentration. The Opposition, small
as it is, will gather under one standard. The French
electors have rejected the claims of the Royal houses.
They have chosen only the most extreme Radicals to
sit on the Left of the Chamber ; and the issue is
now reduced to a contest between the Republic and
the Empire. This is the chief result of the elections
of 1869. .

SPANISH INTRIGUES.
It has long been known, on the c-Alfession of the impru-
dent Admiral Topete, that the Duke of Montpensier took
a leading, thou1;11 secret, part in the overthrow of Queer.
Isabella. Since then the Duke la, not easel to a :Ore
to the throne from lrhich 1 e auisteo to e::pel his sister-in-
law, and the Orleanist family in EnglAnd have given him
cordial support in the shape of money. But the
Duke has apparently very little chance at present. 'fie
London correspondent (,f the Manchester Guardian says
the Orleanists in England are "much excited" at the ill
success of their intrigues. Moreover, the discovery that
the agents.of the Duke de Montpensier hail been actively
engaged in plotting the overthrow of Queen Isabella's
throne has stimulated, if not in some degree justified, the
altered attitude of the French Government. The Emperor
is no longer spoken of in diplomatic circles, or in the
journals under his influence, as inflexibly neutral. His
visits to the exiled Queen are more frequently and osten-
tatiously made than -formerly, and hiter.. partisans are loud
An his praise.

.~

TIIE GENERA& ELECTIO2t3 IN rzurrar

(not out ow comtEspoicurr.)
PARIS, THURSDAY.
In England, after the turmoil of the great electoral
battle, a period of u►natural quiet follows. Parties rest
themselves after the extreme tension of the conflict, and

employ their exhaisted energies in the light task of
estimating the issue of the battle. Owing to the double.
ballot system we enjoy no such repose at present here in
France. The striggle is still raging with almost
all the energy which marked the first onset. The

papers are full of intelligence from the fifty-
nine circumscriptions which remain to be decided.
This is indeed the most important part of the
contest, for it is just in these districts that the Opposition
will gain or lose. The authorities, there is no doubt, are
making desperate efforts to turn the tide at the
second ballot ; the " screw " is being applied unspar-
ingly, and the Imperial election screw, as you know, is a
complicated machine. The Opposition, on the other hand,
is not less active. But amid this renewed uproar the
different parties find time to count their gains. The
Rappel believes that the total strength of the Opposition
will be not less than 113! It estimates the number of the
Left already elected at 24, and the Third Party, includ-
ing Independents, men who hold to the formula of
" Liberty under the Empire," and Moderates of all kinds,
at 37. Out of the elections to be decided, it calculates,
and I think with some plausibility, that the Left
will get 31, and the Third Party 21. Thus the total
strength of the Left will be 55; of the Third Party, 58 ;
and of official deputies, 171. Of course it is always
hazardous to make such calculations ; but this estimate
is at any rate impartial, and the result here predicted is
very probable. It is scarcely within the bounds of possi-
bility that the figures can differ greatly from these.
But the weak point of the Rappel's argument, and of
similar arguments which I find in other papers, is the
assumption that the Left and the Third Party will coalesce
into one compact hostile force. For some purposes they un-
doubtedly will do so. Such an Imperialist scheme as the
expedition to Mexico would be resisted to the death by
Third Party and Left alike. But the Third Party
cannot be counted on for joining unreservedly with the
.11,;rm
between the two would be possible ; but the very greatness
of the Red victory frustrates this end. How can the
Third Party go hand in hand with the Reds when their
chief representative, Emile 011ivier, was savagely opposed
and rejected in Paris by the Republicans themselves? The
Rappel itself aided largely to overthrow M. 011ivier, and
yet it now confidently counts upon him to bring over his
party en masse to recruit the Left. The Third Party are,
it is true, opposed to personal Government, but they
are not less opposed to revolution. The victory of the
Liberals, as it is, is a very great one, and there is nothing
to be gained by over-rating it. If the Emperor were to
grant a responsible Ministry, the Third Party would at
once turn decisively against the Left.
" 'What dues the Emperor think of the elections? " is a
question much more interesting to ask than easy to
answer. One writer asserts that the issue has given great
satisfaction in Government circles. "As the intermediate
shades have disappeared, the ruling power calculates on
being placed face to face with the Radical revolution, and
therefore on having greater freedom of action," I do not
see any cause for this " great satisfaction." The Repub-
licans, who were yesterday a contemptible handful,
are now a great party in the State. Their repre-
sentatives are actually members of the Corps L6gislatif,
and there is but one way by which the Emperor's
"freedom of action" can dispose of them—another
coup d'etat. Very likely this resource is within the
sovereign's Power, but it is a very disagreeable
and highly -
dangerous alternative, one, in short,
which a man in the autumn of life is not likely to
eagerly embrace. The decline of the Emperor's influence
and power is most unmistakeably shewn by this triumph
of the Reds. The great towns have passed a vote of
"No confidence" in him. There is very little material
for satisfaction here. The Empress, a very
good authority informs me, is by no means
satisfied. Her Majesty has not been able to
restrain expressions of profound regret at the issue. The
general impression is that great changes in the system of
overnment will now be necessary. Personal government
in the face of 100 independent deputies may safely be
pronounced impracticable, Even the miserable fragment
of an Opposition in the last Chamber on more than one
occasion almost proved too much for M. Rouher.

The total number of votes polled by the official candi-
dates was 4,053,056 ; for all candidates opposed by the
prefects 3,248,885. The Liberals, it will be seen, have
gained in votes even more than in seats. Mr. Layard
and Mr. Grant Duff visited Paris for the purpose of
watching this memorable contest. No doubt they would
closely observe 'the working of the Ballot. If they
did, they could not fail to be struck with the
admirable order, absence of drunkenness, and general
facility secured 1;37 secret- voting. Such an cicction as
that in Paris could never be possible where the voting is
open, and where returns are published as the struggle
goes on.

We are told by the Lilc.•t that the concentration of
war material and provisions goes on at the Eastern
(rontier without interruption, notwithstanding the
elections. Some think that the Emperor will try
the effect of a war as a means of strengthening him-
self ; but this, I need hardly say, is purely speculation.
Further accounts of the riots at St. Etienne, and other
places, have been received. The details add little to
what is already known. At no place, say the authori-
ties, was a shot tired or a wound inflicted by the
troops. At Poitiers there Was an earthquake during the
polling.

On Thursday an accident occurred to Mr. Williams,
of Stamford Villa, Clapham, whilst ho was riding a 'veloci-
pede in the 13:ackfriars-road: In trying to avoid an omnibus
the machine toppled over. lie fell to the ground with much
force, and was insensible for some time. On Wednesday a
velocipede rider ran into a cab near the Elephant Castle, and
received such injuries as to necessitate his removal to Cuy's
Hospital.

l'he borough of Sunderland, which he represented
in his days of prosperity, has commenced a subscription for
the purpose of providing an annuity for the ex-Railway King.
On Wednesday, s.t a meeting 6f the River Wear Commissioners,
it was stated that Mr. Hudson is suffering great destitution,
and had scarcely the means of subsibtence. Two sums of
100 guineas were given, one by Mr. Elliott, who had met Mr.
Hudson in Paris, and was struck by his destitute condition,
and it is proposed to raise about £3,000, which will provide
an annuity of £4OO.

The death is announced on Thursday of Admiral
Sir Charles Howe Fremantle, G.C.8., a brother of the Right
}lon. Sir Thomas Fremantle, the first baronet. He was born
in 1800, and at thirteen ye.irs of age, entered the Royal
Navy, and served in the Mediterranean, at the Cape of Good
Hope, and on the North American station. He served with
much distinction in the Russian war, and for his services
was created K.C.B. in 1857. .He was for some years com-
mander-in-chief at Devonport. The late admiral was
married in 1836 to a daughter of Mr. James weddorburn.

On Wednesday Mr. Elihu Burritt, who has been
for four years American Consul at Birmingham,
was presented with a copy of Shakspere's works,
and a complimentary address by the inhabitants of
Harborne, where he has resided, on his approaching
return to America. Mr. Burritt feelingly acknowledged
the presentation, and expressed his hope that the same sen-
timents of affection might exist between England and Arne..
merles. as bad been expressed towards himself during
his four Tears' residence in Birmingham, and said it would
be the crowning remembrance of his life that he bad laboured
to bring about this state of feeling between England and
America.

Dr. Cumming delivered his second lecture in
Manchester on Wednesday on " The Signs of the Last Times."
In the course of his lecture ho stated that if the con-
clusions of certain interpreters of prophecy to whom he
had referred wore correct, we should shortly bo
treated to the following programme of novel sensations;
convulsions most stupendous ; changes most rapid ; evolu-
tion of scenes most startling ; the disappearance of the
crescent; the restoration of the Jews; Jerusalem inhabited;
the fulness of the Gentiles; and streaks on the horizon of
that glory that shall fill heaven and earth, and shall neither
know cloud, suspension, nor eclipse. The doctor also
divulged another singular discovery. The Marquis of Bute
has given to the Pope 1,260 sovereigns in the shape of
Peter's pence; and Dr. Cumming declares that it is "mar
vellous to 'find that that precise number had been selected,
because it represented, in the opinion of students of prophecy,
the duration of Papacy on earth."

A point highly interesting to the meiLbers of
Volunteer corps Las been Irougtt before the Sheffield
magistrates. An es• sergeant-major in the late volunteer
artillery summoned the ccinnianding officer; Lieut.-
Colonel Creswkk, for refusing to strike him off the muster
roll of the brigade after the usual fourteen days' notice had
been given. The notice was not disputed, but it was urged
that the resignation could not be accepted till the com-
plainant had handed over a badge which on his part it was
contended was his private property. The complainant had
formed one of a detachment from Sheffield, who in 1867
shot as non-competitors for the challenge cup offered by the
Scottish Association, and having made the highest score,
were each rewarded by an officer connected with the Asso-
ciation with a silver bade worth between £3 and £4, to
mark his estimate of their ekill. This was the badge in dis-
pute. The Bench, however, held that proper notice had
been given, and the Volunteer was therefore entitled to his
discharge, but said that this would not prevent the Colonel
from titian action in another Court.

THE JERUSALEM EXCAVATIONS.

2lr. Emmanuel Deutsch, the writer of the Talmud
article in the Quarterly, has prepared a report on the ope.
rations of the Palestine Exploration Fund in Jerusalem
and elsewhere. He holds that, important as are the
results already obtained, the labours of the explorers are
only in their infancy, and ought to be carried out on a far
more extensive footing. The chief interest of Mr. Deutsch's
report lies in his observations on the singular marks dis-
covered on the foundation courses of the great
' wall of underground Jerusalem, ninety feet below
the present surface :—" I have come to the following
conclusions :-1, The signs cut or painted were on the
stones when they were first laid in their present places ;
2, they do not represent any ' inscription ;' 3, they are
Phoenician. I consider them to be partly letters, partly
numerals, and partly special masons' or quarry signs. Some
of them were recognisable at once as well-known Phoenician
characters ; others, hitherto unknown in Phoenician
epigraphy, I had the rare satisfaction of being able to
identify on absolutely undoubted antique Phoenician
structures in Syria, such as the primitive substructures of
the harbour at Sidon. No less did I observe them on the
' bevelled ' stones taken from ancient edifices and built
into later work throughout Phoenicia. It may not be
superfluous to add that, though I found extremely
well-preserved painted frescoes in Phoenician tombs. I
think all attempts to determine the exact meaning of each
and all these technical signs would, at least at this stage,
be premature. If the excavations are properly carried on,
I venture to predict the occurrence of similar signs on
corresponding rows of the wall—signs which conjointly
with those now discovered may contain not only a full
explanation of their own purport, but also solve perhaps
some other vital question regarding the plan of the whole
building."