The Sun.
London, England, 1869-02-26 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 26, 1169.

TIIK PAPAL STATES.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

ROME, FEB. 19.

Rome is full of notabilities. Longfellow is spending his
winter here, and Gounod, the composer of "Faust," has
arrived, and intends, it is said, to settle here, and conse-
crate his talent to the cultivation of sacred music. He
has been received with especial kindness by the Pope.
The Marquis of Bute, with Mgr. Capel, left Rome for
Civita Vecchia on Monday, where they embarked on board
a yacht for the East, and intend returning to Rome for
the Holy Week.

The celebrated Abbess of Mintk, the victim of Russian
cruelty, who sought a refuge in Rome in the time of
Gregory XVI., died a few days since in her convent of
exiled Polish Basilican nuns on the Esquiline, of which she
bad been for many years superioress. The Pope sent her
his benediction on her death-bed. The name of Makrina
Mieroslawski was once intimately associated with that of
the Czar Nicholas, from the reproof administered to him
apropos of the affair of his visit to Rome in 1844.
A very large quantity of warlike stores, including 60,000
cartouches, have been disembarked at Civita Vecchia for
the use of the French garrison. There does not appear to
be any intention whatever of a change of policy on the
part of France—at least before the March elections—
as the clerical influence in the departments goes
too thoroughly hand in hand with the national feeling
to admit of the Emperor's ignoring it. The Archbishops
of Rouen and of Rheims have each remitted about £3,200
to Rome this week, and immense sums are arriving from
all the departments and great religious centres in France,
and I may add Germany, where a complete revival of
devotion to the Holy See is taking the form of public sub-
scriptions to an immense value for the coming 11th of
April, the anniversary of the day when Pius IX.
celebrated his first mass in the poor schools of Tata
Giovanni, of which he was then a great benefactor,
The French Ambassador, M. De Banneville, delivered
his letters of credit to the Pope on Tuesday, and after-
wards received the Roman and foreign aristocracy in the
Palazzo Colonna. Nothing could be more brilliant than
the reception. Few noble names in Europe were with-
out a representative, and the uniforms, official
costumes, and magnificent jewels of the guests,
rendered the scene a most imposing one. The
great affluence of guests is regarded by the friends of
the Temporal Power as an important demonstration in its
favour, as the Marquis de Banneville has lost no occasion
of publishing his sentiments, and of declaring his resolution
of resigning his post, if the Foreign Office at Paris sent
him instructions in an adverse sense. Madame de
Banneville wore a magnificent gold-coloured train over
white, and a coiffure, also of the Pontifical colours—a very
strong measure in Rome for a French ambassadress.

Archbishop Manning preached on Wednesday at San
Marcello in aid of the Opera Apostolica, a pious society,
presided over by the Princess Orsini, for the purpose of
furnishing poor foreign missions with plate and vestments.
The Pope continues perfectly well.
A horrible accident occurred yesterday at the Villa
Borghese. A landau, containing Mrs. Firnim and her
two daughters, and driven, it is supposed, by a coachman
the worse for liquor, was seen advancing at full speed
along the principal alley, drawn by two runaway
horses. A French nobleman, well known for his courage
and coolness, the Comte de Christen, happened
to be on the spot, and threw himself before the
horses in hopes of stopping them. Before he was able,
however, to reach the reins a square stone in the road
caused the overturn of the carriage, and the ladies were
precipitated with the greatest violence to the ground.
Mrs. Firnim was taken up senseless, having received
several dreadful contusions on the head and body, and her
life is despaired of. Her elder daughter is also in a dan-
gerous condition from her bruises, which were also on the
head. The younger lady was more slightly injured, and
it is hoped the accident may, for her at least, be devoid of
serious consequences.

Athenceum. Mr. Dilke, who has been more successful
than his father in finding a seat, is, I believe, but 24 years
of age. Yet the narrative of his tour round the world,
which he made by way of supplementing his Cambridge
education, shews such powers of observation, such
originality of thought, such vigour of expression, that it is
clear he- must be a man of no ordinary powers. Those
who know him prophesy that he will rise to be a Cabinet
Minister. He holds very advanced views, and is one of
the most able additions made of late to the young Radical
party.

The Temperance party are very active this year, and
with good reason. Never was there so much attention called
to their question as there is now; never were we so near im-
portant legislation on this most important subject. Sir Wil-
frid Lawson's Permissive Bill has been already read a first
time, and is down for a second reading early in May. In
the interval the most strenuous efforts will be made to
get up memorials and petitions in its favour.
Temperance is now also under the consideration of the
Convocation of the Southern Province, and I have before
me a copy of the report which will be presented to the
committee, obtained by Archdeacon Sandford. As this
document has not yet been formally adopted, I will say
only that it is a most exhaustive and able report, based on
an enormous quantity of evidence. This morning there
has been a gathering of Welsh Temperance men at the
Freemasons"favern.

The Government has determined to reward Mr.
Moncrieff handsomely for his invention (the first
notice of which appeared in this correspondence). He
is to be repaid the cost of his models and experiments, to
receive £l,OOO a year for the time he has spent in perfect-
ing his invention, and is to continue to receive that sum
so long as he is employed by the Government ; he is
also to receive a lump sum of £15,000, whereof £lO,OOO is
to be paid at once, and £5,000 when be ceases to be
employed by the Government. This is the reward of
eleven years of perseverance ; only why did not General
Peel, why did not Earl De Grey, why did not the
Marquis of Hartington discover the value of the inven-
tion before? By so doing they might have saved us
hundreds of thousands for our now superfluous fortifica-
tions.

Mr. Fitzherbert, the Colonial Treasurer of New Zealand,
leaves here for that country this week. He has been in
England for some weeks vainly endeavouring to persuade
our Government to guarantee the interest on a loan which
the New Zealand Government proposes to raise. The truth
is, New Zealand prospects are anything but bright now,
and the only too great probability of another Maori war
renders the colonial financiers very uneasy. But the
policy of guaranteeing colonial debts is one that the party
now in office has almost always refused to sanction. In
this case there are special reasons for refusal, inasmuch
as the dispute with the Maories was brought about
originally by the lust for land. Mr. Fitzherbert
therefore departs re infects. Meanwhile Colonel Maude,
of the Free Labour Society, Mr. Thomas Briggs, who has
long taken great interest in emigration, and other gentle-
men, have suggested to Mr. Fitzherbert that a certain
portion of land lying on the frontier of the district in
which the quarrel has been raging shall be granted free to
emigrants who will undertake to settle there, and to bear
arms in their own defence against the Maories. In fact,
they will be a kind of human breakwater against the
waves of aboriginal hostility. To this end emigrants
who had formerly served in the army would be preferred,
and grants would be made from 64 up to 664 acres, in
proportion to the rank of the colonist, and his supposed
ability to direct or assist military operations. The scheme
was laid before Mr. Fitzherbert this morning, and he will
take it back with him for consideration. I may add that
another well-known colonial politician, Sir George Cartier,
is over here now, negotiating for the annexation of the
Hudson's Bay territory to the dominion of Canada.

No fewer than 500-additional members were added to
the Junior Carlton Club on Tuesday. This raises the
total number to 2,000, quite sufficient even for the splendid
new building in Pall Mall and St. James's-square. There
are still a large number of candidates waiting for admis-
sion. The City Carlton, started last year, is full. It
would seem, therefore, as if Conservatism were anything
but dead, notwithstanding its severe treatment in Novem-
ber. The new Marlborough Club is to be opened next week.
In art, literature, and the drama, the most important
event is the amalgamation of the two opera-houses, an
arrangement which excites much unfavourable comment.
Mr. Millais, who has been alarmingly ill, is said to-day to
be out of danger. Mr. Holman Hunt is still at Florence,
and in a few days he will receive a proof of the engraving,
"Isabella and the Pot of Basil" for his last corrections.
M. Dore is painting a picture of Rossini on his deathbed.
Mr. Henry Gales has painted a picture of the late Cabinet
deciding upon the Abyssinian expedition, each member of
it having sat for his portrait. Mr. Jeaffreson, the author
of the "Book about Lawyers" and other well-known
books, is engaged upon an historical work which will pro-
bably be out before the long vacation.

MISCEL LANE° US NEWS.

PQLITICAL 3fEETINGS.

Political banquets do not as a rule take place
during the session, but just after a general election
there are certain consolation banquets to be held.
As the duties of those to be consoled do not require
them at Westminster the gatherings may as well be
held during the session as before or after it. Liberal
Cambridgeshire has just been entertaining Mr. Young,
who, bringing down Mr. Brand to defeat the Conser-
vative, saw himself thrown out by his own protégé.
To shew him that though the electors had not chosen
him yet they respected him, a testimonial was presented
to the unfortunate candidate, and he had the plea-
sure of hearing everybody saying pleasant things
about him for some two hours. Mr. Brand was very
sorry that he had been successful, and declared that
if he had thought it possible he would not have come
down to disturb the representation.

The Welsh Liberals residing in London have been
rejoicing over the return of twenty-three Liberals
by Wales. They got together more than a score of
" M.P.'s," and the list of those present included
twenty-two gentlemen called Williams, fourteen of
the name of Davis, and fourteen Jones's. Mr.
linatchbull-Hugessen, who presided, pointed out that
the Liberals of Wales had to contend against large
territorial influence, and the weight of old family
associations and traditions. But, like other portions
of the country, they were determined that injustice
should be done away with, and that all the subjects
of her Majesty should be placed on a footing of
perfect equality. They had, therefore, overcome the
old prejudices, and contributed largely to the Liberal
majority.

The Marquis of liartington, in his address at the
Radnor elections, has strongly protested against the
boasting of the Conservatives, that Lord Stanley
settled the Alabama claims. These claims are as far
from settlement now as ever. In his allusion to the
Irish Church, the noble marquis has confined himself
to the general Question.

ana liilOWn amongst the Orange ana nigh Protestant
party in Ireland as Popish Stanley." Again, whet.
Lord Derby (then Mr. Stanley) proposed his Tithes
Bill the same flag was unfurled—but with no result.
Other Ministries came into power, but the measures
they proposed were by no means so advantageous to
the clergy. " All the clergy gained on this occasion
was a delay of some seven years, and a loss of 10 per
cent. for ever of their incomes." These cases ought.
the Dean thinks, to be sufficient warning.