The Sun.
London, England, 1860-03-15 00:00:00

SAVOY AND SWITZERLAND.

The following despatch from our Minister at
Berne indicates the point of view in which the
proposed cession of Savoy to France is regarded
by the Swiss Government and people :
Capt. Harris to Lord J. Russell.—Reeeived March 2.
Berne, Feb. 27, 1860
•

_ .
My Lord,—As the attitude of the Swiss Govern-
ment and people must have an important bearing
on the question of the proposed cession of Savoy, I
have made it my business to observe that attitude
closely ; and having read in some of the newspapers
an answer of the Federa' Council to the address of
the Vaudoise section of the influential society of
the Helvetic, which implied that they directly ap-
proved of the annexation of Northern Savoy to
Switzerland, I sought an interview with
the President this morning, who stated to
me that those versions of the answer were
purposely strained and incorrect, and pointed
to me, in the Bund, a semi-official newspaper, the
answer as it was really given, and whist' contained
nothing of the kind. The President said that, no
doubt, there were many people throughout Swit-
zerland who were fascinated by the idea of the an-
nexation of the provinces of the Chablais, Fair-
cigny, and the Genevois, and who would, in such
a case, view with indifference the cession of thereat
of Savoy to France ; but that sounder heads looked
more closely into the matter, and, reflecting calmly
on the future, foresaw difficulties and dangers in.
such an arrangement which made the statue quo
infinitely preferable. He said that, in the
first place, this annexation would introduce into
the conferation a Roman Catholic element
of a very bigoted character, which would
increase the difficulties with which the
federal Government had to deal already.
That many persons in the Canton of Geneva were
anxious for the annexation of the provinces of
North Savoy to their canton, in order to increase
the area of taxation, and relieve themselves from its
heavy pressure, arising from the enormous outlay
which has taken place lately in the city of Geneva
for the construction of quays and other public im-
provements; but that this would engender discon-
tent in the newly annexed provinces. The Presi-
dent added that in drawing the new military fron-
tier French engineer officers would doubtless be
sent to act with those of Switzerland for that pur-
pose, and that difficulties and jealousies world
arise similar to those in the vexatious question.
in the Vallee des Dappes. The first portion of
these remarks suggested to my mind a very
palpable danger, which I stated to the Pre-
sident, and which he had already foreseen,
namely, that the province of North Savoy, sub-
sequent to the arrangement above alluded to, might,
when worked upon by dissidences in religious mat-
ters (and those who have witnessed the strife in
this country between the Calvinist and ultramon-
tane will easily understand how it can be made a
powerful political engine), and impatient under in-
creased taxation, throw themselves into the arms of
, France with such a manifestation of the popular
will, and would render the interference of the great
powers with a view to prevent their annexation to
the French Empire extremely difficult. I need
hardly add that with the southern shore of ;,tie
Lake of Geneva and the approaches to the ljalaia
in the hands of France, the independence and
neutrality of Switzerland would be seriously com-
promised. Of the value of that neutrality, and of
the sagacity of the statesmen who secured it in
1815, the late war afforded ample proof. Switzer-
land, thus guaranteed, interposed her mountain
bulwarks between the vast armies contending in
the plains of Italy and the rest of Europe. Thou-
sands of innocent persons, flying from the horrors
of war, found refuge with their property within her
frontiers. Commerce and industry pursued her
avocations even in intercourse with her three belli-
gerent neighbours, and with the rest of Europe;
and it was one of her cities which was chosen for
the site of the conferences which were to give
peace to the Continent. Of the practicability of her
neutrality, proof appears in the frank admission
by the Governments of the belligerent powers at
the conclusion of the war, of the honest course pur-
sued by the Swiss Federal Council throughout its
duration. I have reported this conversation with
the President of the Confederation, and have ven-
tured on these remarks, in order to place before
your lordship the very serious aspect under which
the cession of any part of Savoy to France must be
regarded as affecting the future independence and.
neutrality of Switzerland, quite apart and distinct
from what is taking place in Italy.—l have, &c.,
(Signed) E. A. J. HARRIS.

DEFORM.

TO TIER EDITOR OF THE BUN.

SlR,—What is mainly wanted by the country in our re-
presentation is—that while every class should be hoard, one
class should not preponderate by mere numbers, and thus
be able to overpower and tyrannise over the others. The
difficulty is to know how to accomplish this moat desirable
result. It is submitted that there is a basis for doing so :
it is simply to give men votes in proportion to their pro-
perty. If a man with a property worth £6 a-year has a
vote, a man with a property worth £6O a-year should have
six votes. What would be wanting in property in one
class would be made up in numbers ; what would be want-
ing in numbers in another class would be made up in pro-
perty. Thus would the balance be preserved, and ekes
tyranny be impossible. The suggestion is not yet too later
more especially as the Reform Bill is not likely to pass this
session. On this principle Conservatives would become
household suffragists at once.—Your obedient servant,
Edinburgh, March 4 H. K.

DEATH OF LADY GRANVILLE.—We (Brighter;
Gazette) regret to announce the death of Lady Granville,
which took place at the Royal-crescent in this town (where
her ladyship had been for some months residing) at twelve
o'clock on Tuesday night, in the presence of Lord Granville
and her ladyship's mother the Duchess of Dalberg, who had
arrived from the continent about a week previously. The
deceased lady was afflicted with dropsy, and had been in
dying state for the last fortnight. Her ladyship, who wail
only forty-six years of age—two years Lord Granville'e
senior—has left one son by a former husband. She was a
remarkably fine and handsome lady, and her death is deepll
lamented by her sorrowing relations and friends.
THE DEATH OF BARON WATSON.—It was stated
yesterday at Guildhall that Russell Gurney, Esq., Q.C.,
the Recorder of London, had received instructions from the
Lord Chancellor to proceed without delay to Welshpool, to
conduct the business of the assizes, in consequence of the
sudden demise of Baron Watson.

LIGHT DUES.—The amount paid for light dues
during the past year, according to a return just made to
the House of Commons, was £273,570 9s. 7d., of which
sum British ships paid £179,984 14s. 7d., and foreign shiPs
£93,585 15s. The over sea trade paid £219,810 14s. 9d. of
the gross sum, and the coasting trade £53,759 14s. 10d.
THE COAL TRADE OF THE TYNE.—Accordini
to the annual abstract of the Tyne Coal Commissioners' so;
counts published yesterday, the enormous quantity °I
4,407,225 tons of coals was exported from the Tyne to
1859; in thoyear 1858 there were 4,018,990 tons exported,
the increase during 1859 over 1858 being 388,235 tons.
BURRADON COLLIERY EXPLOSION.—When the
last despatch was sent from Burradonithe coroner's inquest
was still inquiring into the circumstances of the-explosion
in the colliery at that place, but had not finished the exo'
mination of the officials of the pit, who were entering into
lengthened details of the internal arrangements of the
colliery and the mode of working it. The object of the
counsel engaged for the relatives of the deceased men and
boys in going so much into detail appears to be to test til°
parties, and compare their evidence as to the responsibility
of those in charge of the colliery at the time of the xo
sion. After they are all examined, and that will bo a Wort.
of some days, independent evidence as to the state and n10‘"
of working the mine will be called by the owner of the NJ'
liery and by the Government; pitmen will then be 80'
mined, and possibly the inquiry will close with the evidence
of the Government Inspectors. As the court has been caw
pied two days and a half in taking the evidence of two ern
sons, it is difficult to state when the inquiry will close.
relatives of the deceased have the assistance of Mr. Se,
geant Ballantine, who has been brought down to the lit
by one or two large manufacturers for that purpose,
learned gentlemen having received a retainer of 200 gnioen
The examination of the witnesses on behalf of the oveirlica
meat is conducted with considerable ability by Mr. War:fti,
Lockey Harle, and the inquiry promises to be the most
ing and searching ever held upon a coal mine explosion w'of
the northern counties. The fact that large employers..-
labour have come forward se handsomely to protect the
terests of the bereaved women and children beforh the 'dy,.
roner's Court has given great satisfaction among the wo_te
ing men of the north, who, with the public generallY)
taking a very lively interest ii the proceedings.