The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-15 00:00:00

the interests of the Opposition. Mere waste of
time ought on no account to be tolerated. The Irish
Church Bill, already read a first and second time in
the House of Cotnmons, has to be examined in detail
there, clauso by clause, iu Committee, to be read a
third time afterwards, and then, on going up to the
Lords, it has to pass through all these various stages,
one after another, in that hereditary branch of the
Legislature. Obstruction, for mere obstruction's
sake, is not to be heard of. The Government is suf-
ficiently strong in its majority to secure the nation,
we should conceive, from any such intolerable vexa-
The Irish Church is doomed. There is
no possibility of its being saved. And,
knowing that, the most energetic supporters of
that Church, as it is constituted at the present
moment, ought to recognise that the obvious course
before them is to make the best of things, in so far as
they may mitigate the shock to the whole system of
the Irish Church as it has been hitherto, as it is still
to this hour, to make the best of it in the way of
breaking its fall, of lowering it gently as it were both
in regard to its disestablishment, and in regard
to disendownment. No gag does any one want to
have put, of course, upon the conscientious express-
sion of no matter how obsolete opinions. Orange-
men of the most pronounced views, have as perfect a
right as any one else to give to those views of
their's free utterance. And, in that sense, there
is no one who would for an instant be desirous of
closing the discussion of these matters prematurely at
any stage of the bill now before Parliament. Whether
t be in the Lords or in the Commons, whether
be at the first, second, or third reading, or in
It is especially one of those vitally
.rnportant measures that ought to be argued
right out, if, indeed, it has not been so argued already.
But, while it should in reason, and in fair-play, and
i❑ common honesty, be regarded thus as a matter
essentially requiring, by reason of its very
character, the most full, fair, and deliberate

CORBESr

111 PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT;

PARIS, WEDNESDAY, April 14.
Tho "Haussmann Battle," as re-enacted in the Senate,
tiro greatly resembled another struggle in which the French
took no very glorious part—the Battle of Spurs. Baron
Haussmann's senatorial antagonists, if he had any, have
taken to flight. It had been fondly hoped that the severe
attack in the Corps Legislatif upon the system of getting
into debt, lawfully and unlawfully, for the purpose of
rebuilding Paris, would be repeated, though in a milder
key, in the Senate. Some of the senators, it was
affirmed, looked very gravely at the debt of
eighty millions sterling, all contracted for the
sake of beautifying Paris. Many were still more indignant
at the illegal way in which the money has been raised—at
Baron Haussmann's expedient of spending many millions
first, and getting legislative sanction afterwards. Great
hopes were entertained of the "youthful party," as it
is jocularly called. They would surely do something.
M. de Maupas, at least, would attempt another charge.
But yesterday, when the famous City of Paris Loan
came on for ratification, it was ratified without demur.
The malcontents were all silent ; the law was adopted by
a majority of 110 to—one !
Baron Haussmann's speech was of a piece with the entire
proceeding. It was the mildest of harangues, and had
clearly been devised with great care and for the express
purpose of " getting out of it." If any errors had been
committed, said the Minister, they were the effect rather of
miscalculation than of intention. The city of Paris had,
in fact, been suddenly pulled up in the course of the
works. In the construction of new streets and boulevards
unforeseen obstacles had presented themselves. Unfore-
seen obstacles entail unforeseen expense. It was
necessary either to go on spending or stop the
reconstruction, which latter alternative Baron Hauss-
mann thought " would have produced a humiliating
spectacle in the face of all Europe." If this were the
most humiliating spectacle which France has of late pre-
sented, Europe would have very little cause for critrcism
—but never mind. The money, continued the Minister,
had therefore been spent without authorisation. Of the
fierce debate in the Corps L6gislatif Baron Haussmann
said little ; of the manner in which he had been sold
by M. Rouher—nothing. It will be remembered
that the Minister of State acknowledged the cul-
pability of the Government in spending money
without authority, hut he maintained that the Emperor
could not look after .City of Paris affairs. Baron Hauss-
mann was answerable for it all. In answer to this, Baron
Haussmann yesterday said that he was "eternally grateful
to the Minister of State for the energy and warmth with
which he replied to certain offensive observations in the
Corps L&gislatif !" There ends this affair.
As I have previously remarked, the Left display the
most laudable activity in face of the coming election,
but their unanimity is not all that could be wished. The
Liberte and the Siecle are quarrelling. M. Emile
de Girardin supports INL Emile 011ivier as one
of the candidates for the City of Paris. The Siecle will
have none of the author of "Le 19 Janvier," and accord-
ingly another Opposition candidate, a Republican of
advanced views, is to be put up. M. de Girardin laments
this policy. He urges that the S'eicle maylegitimately differ
from M. Emile 011ivier, but that both stand on the
common ground of hostility to despotism. If liberty is to
be won, there must be unity. The last election in Paris
was carried by unity ; this is in danger of being lost by
discord. M. de Girardin further states that M. Havin,
the late proprietor of the Siecle, promised his support to
M. 011ivier, but that now the Siecle is actuated by a
different policy.

tion.

committee.

rediscussion and reconsideration—it should

also, at the same time, be felt that on no

account ought Legislature in regard to it to be un-
necessarily delayed by means, or through the medium,

of a series of simply vexatious obstructions. To the

course pursued by the house in Committee, the

country will look, therefore, with eager solicitude.

From it we shall be enabled to see at once

whether the powerful majority on the side of the

Government will so far exercise their preponderating

influence that the heart of the session will not be
allowed to be eaten away by a succession of speci-

ously lengthened discussions, now upon this, now

upon that, really and truly impossible amendmen

THE Lord bath delivered them into my hand "
were the words of CROMWELL which Mr. BRIGHT
put into the mouth of Mr. DISRAELI when the
Liberals decided to let the Conservative Reform Bill
go into committee. " The Lord hath delivered them
into my hand" may Mr. BRIGHT say for himself
now that Mr. DISRAELI has given notice of the
amendments which he means to move when
the Irish Church Bill goes into committee.
While Archbishop TRENCH and the Irish Protestants
generally are shouting " No surrender," " No com-
promise," and are giving it to be understood that
rather than accept disestablishment they would con-
sent to be beggared of all their endowments, Mr.
DISRAELI quietly proposes a series of resolutions
which involve disestablishment and concede the
principle of disendowment, but only in order
to re-endow the Church with nearly all the
revenues which, theoretically, she is to lose.
We are not in a position to say if there is any secret
understanding between the Irish bishops and the
Opposition chief. Yet we can almost fancy we see
the first winking at the second in token of a private
understanding, by which the spiritual defenders of
the Church are to adopt the high, heroic tone of
victims and martyrs to the sacred union of Church
and State, without which all gold is but dross, all
endowments but encumbrances, while the political
defender is to Teep a sharp look out after the said
endowments, and to secure as much as possible of
the said dross. It is in accordance with this under-
standing that Mr. DISRAELI means to ask Parliament
to let the Church have the episcopal residences and
the parsonage houses free, to make her a present of
four times the aggregate of the net annual incomes
of all incumbents as a sustentation fund for main-
taining the worship of the Free Church, to
give her £200,000 for defraying the ex-
penses of the committee of management of the
Church ; also fourteen times the average cost
of repairing, heating, and lighting churches, and
fourteen times the average aggregate of salaries of
parish clerks and sextons, as a second fund for main-
taining worship. It is in accordance with the same
supposed understanding that Mr. DISRIELI means
to persuade Parliament, if he can, that all private
endowments made to the Church at any time, even
prior to the Conquest, and all the grants of confis-
cated lands made by ELIZABETH and the STUARTS,
shall be retained by the Church. Mr. DISRAELI
is not particular about establishing the titles
to those grants. It is enough for him that the
evidence, whether historical or legal, or of any other
kind, satisfies three unpaid commissioners whom he
proposes to appoint, and two of whom, being strong
Conservatives and Protestants, will not be likely to
err on the side of stringency ; will, for instance, be
quite willing to accept the statement that St.
PATRICK was an Orangeman. The Pall Mall Gazette
well remarks that " all public endowments since the
Reformation, and all private endowments, whether
before or since, would not make a bad provision for
the shorn lambs of Irish Protestantism." Yet these are
by no means all the provision which Mr. DISRAELI,
in the abundance of his generosity, would bestow
upon the Church. Mr. GLADSTONE'S bill proposes
that an ecclesiastical person may, after January 1,
1871, apply to the commissioners to commute his
life interest, and the commissioners are thereupon to
pay the estimated value of his life interest at the
time of commutation to the representative body of
the Church charged with the payment of the
annuity so long as it is required. By Mr.
DisitAELfs amendment, the representative boily
may at any time during 1871 apply to the
commissioners to commute the life interests of all
ecclesiastical persons, and the commissioners shall
thereupon pay to the representative body, not the
then present value of such life interests, but a capital
sum equal to fourteen times the aggregate amount
of the yearly income to which such persons are enti-
tled, charged with the payment of the annuities so
long as they are required. In fact, Mr. DISRAELI is
so generous that he leaves actually nothing wherewith
to compensate the college of Maynooth and the
recipients of the Regium Donum. They must look
elsewhere. If they are to be paid at all, it must be
bythe English taxpayer, not by the Irish Churchman.
This excellent pecuniary bargain which the Con-
servative leader hopes to make for his clients is not
the only benefit that he seeks to confer upon them.
He proposes to continue the present archbishops
and bishops in their dignities during their lives, and
to permit the Crown to nominate prelates on and
after January 1, 1872. In other words, having
secured for the Church the whole, or the greater
portion, of the funds she now enjoys, he would continue
the connection between the Church and the State by
allowing the State to appoint the chief officers of the
Church. In other words, he would first of all accept
the two principles of disestablishment and disendow-
ment, and then seek to stultify them by retaining
the endowments in another shape, and by maintain-
ing establishment in a disguised form. The conces-
sion to inevitable circumstances was wise ; the
attempt to withdraw it is wise only after that fashion
described as too clever by half. It is satisfactory to
know that we are now acquainted with the tactics
which the Opposition leader means to adopt. The
House of Commons will certainly defeat them,

A desperate attempt to escape, with a tragic ending, was
made the other day at Besancon. A prisoner, named
Zacher, awaiting his trial, succeeded in filing the bars of
his cell, and scaled the walls of the arsenal where he was
confined. The sentinel perceived him ache was dropping
into the street outside, and fired, but without hitting the
man, who ran off to the ramparts, pursued by the guard
and some police agents. One of these latter overtook
him just as he reached the terrace, but the prisoner, who
was of herculean strength, suddenly turned round, and
seizing his pursuer, named Roberts, hurled him over the
parapet on the rocks below, a depth of about eighty feet.
A second agent shared the same fate. Then the desperate
man, seeing the military rapidly surrounding him, threw
himself down the precipice without hesitation. He was
found dashed to pieces, so was Roberts, but the other
agent was alive with both legs broken.
Algiers has been visited with a hail storm of re-
markable severity. The country was in a few moments
covered with a layer of hailstones, in some places from
four to Rix inches deep, several being as large as a nut.
The fruit trees were much injured, but not the wheat and
barley fields. All accounts agree that the long season of
miseey in Algeria will probably cease. A most favourable
harvest is confidently anticipated. •

THE COMIC PAPERS.

From the Ow/.

WEAL AN!) Wor.—By a curious inversion of the usual
reed the cabman's aspirations are fixed not on above, but
on B-Lowe.

GRANT-ED.

The Alabama Claims. The Disinte,ration of lesser
The Annexation of Cuba. 13ritain. b
Our Dominion of Canada. And the Presidentship of
The Cession of Gibraltar. John Bright.
The Absorption of Belgium. —New York Herald.

(From Punch.)
HIS FAVOURITE DlSH.—Lanib is now in perfection.
There is no one so likely to enjoy his Mint sauce as—Mr.
Freemantle.

ECCLESIASTICAL INTELLIGENCE.—We rejoice to hear
that the musical services of St. Paul's have been much
improved by Canou Gregory. Congregations will doubt-
less be attracted to the cathedral by its Gregorian music.
AN AGREEABLE SURPRISE.—Mr. Lowe will go down
to posterity as the author of a Surprise Budget. He
may be said to have surprised everybody by Lowe-ring
taxation.

THEIR GUARDIAN ANGEL.--Miss Burdett Coutts has
been nominated one of the guardians for Bethnal Green.
Of course she will be elected by acclamation. But the
office and title will not be new to her, for she has long
been the Guardian of the Poor.

HATTENTION !—Members who find it a sell to discover
some other M.P.'s hat on a favourite seat, and who wish
to know how to act under the circumstances, are recom-
mended to go into the Library and consult " Hatsell's
Precedents of Proceedings in the House of Commons."
Or they might take the opinion of the law officers of the
Crown.

(From Fun.)
POISSONS D'AVRIL.—To land a pickled salmon one
would naturally use a " rod in pickle," but how, ye plena-
tors, may a smoke-jack be brought to hank?
FURTHER PATTI-cuLiuts.—Adelina Patti is making such
stir in the Russian capital that it is not improbable that
't will be re-christened St. Pattisburgh.
HARE-BRAINED.—We congratulate Lord Elcho on his
'election of the month of March for the introduction of his
' Bill about Scotch hares." He should be created Earl
)f March (hares) in the Scotch peerage.
GREAT GUNS.—We see a good deal of discussion going
)n about the " Fraser guns." Well, guns may be good
?hrasers, but we should like to know how they will speak
-o an enemy, when required to do so.

(From Judy.)

The long run—Mr. Benjamin Higgs's—to America!
Can the fork of a river be considered as part of the River
Nate 1

When a promise is binding, is it Russia leather or
Nioroceo ?

NATURAL !—Some youthful friends of ours, during the
Easte? vacation, have been taken to see the dramas of Mr.
Robertson. They are unanimous in preferring "Home "
nd "Play " to " School."
LOST 1— One evening last week, in the House of Can-
nons, during a discussion with Mr. Ward Hunt, a Temper.
Apply to W. E. G., Downing-street, where a portion of
he lost article will be bestowed upon the finder.
QUITE RIGHT, TOO.—The most reverend and right
•everend members of the bench of bishops " laugh in their
*eves" at the idea that they are not going to oppose Mr.
';ladstone's bill in the House of Lords !
THE NEW PEER.—The reason why Mr. Gladstone has
•aised Judge Wilde to the peerage is, that he may take an
tctive part in the hearing of the great Irish Divorce Case
—that, namely, of Church and State—which is likely to
)e brought, at no distant date, before the House of Lords !

Wednesday being the twelfth anniversary of the
iirth of her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice Mary Victoria
Feodore, the youngest child of her 3lajesty, the occasion
was celebrated at Windsor in the usual manner. Princess
Beatrice was born on the 14:h April, 1857.
At the Bristol County Court, on Tuesday, an so-
ion was brought against Sir G. Smith by Mr. Watkins,
solicitor. The complaint was that bares from the
lefendant's grounds injured the plaintiff's property.
rho Judge, Mr. Lloyd, Q. 0., add that the law did not re-
:ognise bares as property., and the plaintiff's remedy would
•)e to destroy them when they came on his land. Ho
liractA a nonsuit.

Colonel William Henry Vicars, who died at
Cheltenham on the 4th inst., was 27 years in the
Glst Regiment, from which he retired in 1854 with
with the rank of lieut.-col. He served in the second
Sikh war, and was present in the battles of Chillian-
wallah and Goojerat, and in the actions of Ram-
nuggur and Sadoolapore, for which he received a
medal and two clasps.

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, APRIL 15, 1869,