The Sun.
London, England, 1869-09-27 00:00:00

THE CATASTROPHE AT AVONDALE.

It is believed in some quarters that the Avondale mine
was sot on fire by an incendiary, and this opinion is cor-
roborated by the fact that the fire was not communicated
from the furnace, but commenced near the top of the shaft.
The miners do not think that incendiarism clears the present
system of the peril of working mines with but one outlet,
and that outlet encumbered with inflammable material.
They consider the carelessness of the owners to have been
nearly as culpable as the act of the incendiary. Some tes-
timony has been taken, but the inquest has not yet been
concluded. The fund for the sufferers by the calamity has
increased so much of late that it is confidently expected to
reach the desired amount of £250,000, thus enabling per-
manent provision to he made. The company to whom the
mine belongs have undertaken the funeral expenses of the
victims, but have not as yet subscribed to the general
fund. The other great coal companies have con-
tributed to the Relief Fund. New York has
sent the bulk of the subscriptions. The general
foreman of the Delaware, Lackawanna, and Western
Company has sent a letter of thanks to the brave
men who dared death and horror to bring out the en-
tombed miners. The miners have resumed work, and the
terrible calamity seems already to belong in a great MU'.
sure to the past.

The Liberte quotes an article from the Times, and de'Claies
that it expresses sentiments with which the readers of the
Liberte are already familiar. It lays particular stress upon
the remark that the only safeguard against a revolution
from below will be a revolution from above, and declares
that all these delays can but aggravate the situation. To
maintain the statu quo the revolution must be accom-
plished from above, if the authorities do not wish to see it
effected in the streets. The Temps refers to the remarks
which have been made on the subject of the opening
of the Corps Legislatif, and declares that the
general voice of public opinion has demanded
its convocation. The different journals have spoken
out most strongly. The Francais in particular puts
the case in the clearest manner before the public, and
affirms that the Government has no right to complain of
suspicions being excited, for it has given foundation for
them, nor of anxiety being felt, for it has produced the
feeling. While it could restore confidence by the utter-
ance of a single word, it will not utter it.

There seems to have been only too much reason to fear
the consequences of the double responsibility of Ministers
to the Emperor and the Chamber. In some recent conver-
sations at his Councils the Emperor is said to have expressed
a desire for the development of constitutional and parlia-
mentary reforms. Ile added, however, the significant fact
that he did not mean to be the slave of the Corps Legislatif.
If his present Ministers were not popular, he would
willingly choose new ones, but the selection must depend
entirely on himself.

One reason given for the delay in opening the
Corps Ugislatif is that the state of the Emperor's
health renders it uncertain when he can perform the cere-
mony. It is also added that the Government cannot come
to a decision on many points which must be determined
upon prior to the meeting of the Chamber. A Ministerial
crisis is very likely to take place shortly, for several mem-
bers of the Cabinet entertain opinions which arc diametri-
cally opposed to those now obtaining public favour. Prince
Napoleon sides with the Ministers, and may be willing to
take part in public affairs if he thinks it likely that the
Corps Ugislatif will be dissolved should occasion
require it.

Some changes are likely to take place in the great mili-
tary appointments before long, but just now M. do
Mahanit stops the way by refusing to give up the Chan-
cellorship of the LOgion Monacan He is now advanced

:Si years, and generally resides in England, but still hesi-
tates to resign the office. If the authorities can persuade
him to take a place at the Privy Council, Marshal Regnault
will give up the command of the Imperial Guard to take
the Chancellorship, and Marshal Canrobert will take the
Imperial Guard.
Letters from Madrid contain, some accounts of the
assassination of the civil Governor of Tarragona. At the
)inie of the murder, General Pierrad was haranguing the
crowd and holding a Republican flag in his hand. He
galled out, in an excited manner, "Death to Kings, and
Long Life to the Federal Republic !" The young governor
remonstrated with him on his violence, and while he was
speaking he was suddenly attacked and felled to the ground.
The crowd trampled on him, and dragged his body along
the quay, shouting in favour of the Republic. General
Pierrad took to flight, but is said to have been arrested
with some others connected with the crime.

The Pantin murder still engrosses a large share of public
attention, and all the details of tho affair are eagerly
sought after.
M. de Montalembert has written to the Journal de Paris
denying some words recently attributed to him by M.
Laurier, a Parisian advocate, who made a speCch at Lau-
sanne. M. do Montalembert, according to M. Laurier, once
said, " When I am in Opposition I demand liberty in the
name of your principles ; when lam in the Government I
refuse it in the name of my own." The illustrious parlia-
mentary orator indignantly disowns both the words and
the sentiment they convey, and' defies anyone to cito
them from his speeches or his works. They contain,
he says the very doctrine which he has been opposing dur•
ing his whole lifetime, alike among the Catholics and
among the Liberals, •
M. Felix Pyat has returned to France, making, however,
only a temporary stay in the capital. The Fatrie
is delighted to find that the election of M.
Marion, the new ally of M. Keratry, has not been substan-
tiated. Unluckily for the Patrie, there seems no reason to
doubt that the Breton reformer at least is duly qualified for
action in the Parliamentary arena.

The forthcoming Paris elections a',e beginning to occupy
attention. M. Gueroult has not definitely stated whether
or no he will come forward as a candidate, but it seems
probable that he will do so. In any case we may expect to
see a strong reinforcement of the Liberal ranks, whatever
influence the Government may exert to the contrary.
The French papers still continue their criticisms on
Father Hyacinthe, and seem to be greatly interested in the
affair. With one thing and another the French Press has
had plenty of opportunity for plain speaking of late.