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

VIE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 28,
_1869.

nature b€en introduced into a Budget of Mr. Drs
RAELI'S contrivance, we shoutd never have beard tl e
last of it. The suggestion, coming from the right
hon. member for Bucks, would have been scouted as
simply ridiculous. It emanated, however, from tb
philosophical mind of the bran new financier induc..ed
into office, only a few months previously, as Mr.
GLADSTONE'S Chancellor of the Exchequer. Coming
from Mr. DISRAELI, the notion would have been re-
garded as a dodge. Coming from Mr. LOW E, it was
considered in the light of a most sagacious contriv-

THE GENER4L ELECTIONS IN Fla NOE,

(nom OVI OWN CORRESPONDENT.) A
PARIS, THURSDAY.

In England, after the turmoil of the great electoral
battle, a period of unnatural quiet follows. Parties rest
themselves after the extreme tension of the conflict, and
employ their exhausted 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 struggle 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, aro
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, 53 ;
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
Left. Had a Moderate Opposition been elected, a union
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 does 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. TLe 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 he 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
0100013- the woikiva of the Ballot. If they
did, they could not fail to be struck with the
admirable order, absence of drunkenness, and general
facility secured by secret voting. Such an election 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 Libo* that the concentration of
war material and provisions goes on at the Eastern
frontier 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 fired 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 Blackfriars-road. In trying to avoid an omnibus
the machine toppled over. Ile 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 toCuy's
Hospital.

The 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, at a meeting of the River Wear Commissioners,
it was stated that Mr. Hudson is suffering great destitution,
and hid scarcely the means of subsistence. Two sums of
100 guineas were given, one by Mr. Elliott, who had net Mr.
Hudson in Paris, and was struck by his destitute condition,
and it is proposed to raise about £3,000, which will provide
au 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 years of age, entered the Royal
Navy, and served in the Mediterranean, at the Cape of Good
Hope, and on the North American station. Ho served with
much distinction in the Russian war, and for his services
was created K.C.B. in 1857. Be was for some years com-
mander-in-chief at Devonport. The late admiral was
married in 183 G to a daughter of Mr. James Wedderburn.

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 presentatlou, tinna that the tame sen-
timents of affection might exist between England and Amo.
tnerica as had been expressed towards himself during
his four years' 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 be stated that if the con-
clusions of certain interpreters of prophecy to whom he
had referred were correct, we should shortly be
treated to the following programme of novel sensations;
convulsions most stupendous ; changes most rapid ; evolu-
tion of scenes most startling; the disappearance of tho
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. Gumming declares that it is "mar
venous 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 members of
Volunteer corps has been brought before the Sheffield
magistrates. Au ex-sergeant-major in the late volunteer
artillery sumniDned the commanding officer, Lieut.-
Colonel Creswiek, for refusing to strike him off the muster
roll of the brigade after the usual fourteen days' notice had
Leon given. The notice was not disputed, but it was urged
that the resignation could not be accepted till the com-
plainant Lad Landed over a badge which on Lis part it was
contended was his private propel ty. 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 w:th the Asso-
ciation with a silver bfidza worth between .£3 and £4, to
mark his estimate of their skill. 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 taking action in another 000..

TEE JPEUSALEM EXCAVATIONS.

21r. 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 haibour 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."