The Sun.
London, England, 1869-03-04 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 4, 1 69.

well in these his first performances, that he was i CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS,
moved to a far more eventful stage, the I 4,

Spanish Peninsula. There he shewed himself .
as brave as the " golden lion," Lord COMBER- (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
'
MERE himself. He got well wounded at PARIS. WEDNESDAY, March 3.
Talavera, and well rewarded afterwards. He was f 114 f.
blEmile 011ti.vier'sIbto.ok has not met with a very
placed in command on occasions requiring special
e for which it eNevaps wnritten ; it ist Iniko etlylltol y o gat in
n. the
reve verdtihct
e
courage, and he amply justified the confidence position of its author. An Apologia of
this kind seldom
reposed in him. After the peace of 1815 there was does answer the purpose:for which it is designed, and there
little for him to do in the way of foreign war. He is small probability of an exception to the general
was entrusted with the far less agreeable duty of rule in the case of a man who at present occupies
keeping the peace at home. He was stationed in the no political position, except the unenviable one of
South of Ireland during the excitement which at forming a party by himself. I believe M. 011ivier is rather
last became so formidable that even the Duke of
hardly treated, but it is unquestionable that the Impe-
rialists know him no more, whilst he is distrusted by all
WELLINGTON quailed before it, and granted shades of the Opposition. But though the book is not
hated emancipation to the Roman Catholics rather likely to do its author much good, it is very interesting.
than incur the certain alternative of civil war. I M. Emile 011ivier, one of the deputies for the city of Paris,
GOUGH, who had seen service in three continents, managed to persuade the Dec de Morny and Count
was now to take a command in the fourth. Walewski that large and liberal reforms were essential to
the stability of the empire. These deceased statesmen acted
He went to India, headed the force sent
as middlemen, and M. 011ivier was brought in contact with
against Canton, and obtained a victory so Wm- the Emperor, who accepted his advice. But, unfortu-
plete that he was publicly thanked in Parliament, nately for his project, M. 011ivier would not become a
and was rewarded with a baronetcy. Then came the Minister, and his large and liberal measure of reform was
great struggle with the bravest race in India. Never lost. M. Rouher was chosen by the Emperor as his repre-
had England a more gallant foe than she found sentative in the negotiations, and the result was that
in the Sikh. The Sikh had the true British , thoeuhradical changeser could t tolerate
incou templattion no•eirerebfourrmkedx.vhillclh.
R
quality of not knowing when he was beaten.
I would hand tke Emperor over to other influence. Instead
Ile rallied again and again after each defeat. The ' of crowning the edifice, M. Rouher so ordered matters that
battle of Moodke was followed by Ferozeshah, and only a few miserable alterations were made, leaving
that by Sobraon, which was so decisive that the the spirit of despotism and personal government precisely
enemy laid down their arms, and eccepted our terms where it was. M. Rouher's ascendancy grew, and M.
of peace at Lahore. Sir HUGH GOUGH was created a 011ivier was thrown out of the contest. The Opposition
baron baron for this success. But he was to rise to higher ,
papersoll: here
vier was deliverdefeateda and the cause of liberty
tolerablyu
lrtmeusy lost, because
honours, for his work was not yet over. After a he had such intense self-consciousness as to believe he was
short breathing space, the Sikhs rallied, and took the the prime mover of everything. Whilst he imagined that he
field again. Then were fought the battles of : had the ascendancy over men's minds he was being duped.
He left his party in order to secure reform with the help
Ramnuggur, Chillianwallah, bloody and indecisive, '
to be followed by the still more bloody battle of of
The Imperialists.. He failed, and is now alone.
N.
Goojerat. This, however, was decisive. It was :h i
cnhe itpharlo
w sitemm u 'cnii t hl
ieg
ibi
to oukp
oi sn ahliest teehrarbaye t e r a psonlde oin
111, s
bound to be ;;for the country was crying out altogether a moat interesting epistle. Speaking of the
at GOUGH 'S butcher's bills. The Sikhs were time of the proposed reforms, his Majesty says : "Believe
thoroughly mastered; GouGH was made a viscount, me that what impedes me is neither uncertainty nor a
and received a grant of £2,000 a year from Parlia- vain infatuation concerning my prerogatives, but the fear
of depriving myself of the means of re-establishing
ment for three generations, and a like sum from the
that
country, East India Company. From that date his in this so troubledis the e
essential
adli different t 0
f
moral r a
l ordr which
fighting days were over. He had already nearly
What makes me uneasy on the subject of the law on the
attained the ordinary limit of human life. He was press is not to find the force which shall repress, but the
to survive for twenty years, and during that time he manner of defining a law on infractions which merit
received numerous honours. He died a nova- repression. The most dangerous articles may escape all
genarian.

condemnation, whilst insignificant ones may fall under
the penalty of the law. Here has always been the diffi-
culty. Nevertheless, to strike the imagination by decisive
measures, I would wish at one stroke to establish what
has been called the crowning of the edifice ; I should like to
do this and never undo the work, for a settlement is neces-
sary to me and to the country. I must mark out resolutely
the goal that I desire to reach without having the appear-
ance of being forced, year by year, to make successive
concessions, for one always falls, as said M. Guizot, on the
side one leans, and I wish to march straight and firmly,
without oscillating, now to the right, now to the left."
This is frank, clear, and instructive. Few persons
perusing this letter can have any doubt as to the secret
desires of the Imperial writer. It shews clearly the
great difficulties by which he is beset. But it also
shews that if he were convinced of his security he would not
hesitate to make a change which should establish a definite
form of Governments to outlast his time. The Emperor
cannot but look to the future. He cannot but see the
great probability of his responsible system of Government
being upset when left to the charge of his wife and son.
He wishes to crown the edifice, and consolidate his power,
but he fears that it cannot be done. Most men, having
two evils before them, choose the least. Is the Emperor
sure that, in refusing freedom, he is choosing the least?
Reform might be dange, ous ; the present system must
explode sometime.
The Corps TAgislatif has again had the City of Paris
finances under consideration. The issue has been that the
contract with the Crddit Foncier, which was attacked
and condemned, even by M. Rouher himself, has been
passed intact. No amendment has been made. There
are some things which they► do not manage better in
France.

AN UNPUBLISHED LETTER BY M. DE
LAMARTINE.

The following letter, addressed sixteen years ago
by M. de Lamartine to the Author of " Aletheia,"
having reference to a poem in that work entitled
" Lamartine in February," possesses an especial inte-
rest at this moment by reason of M. de Lamartine's
allusion to his tomb, and to the light in which he
was desirous of being regarded by posterity :

"Paris, 7 Avril, 1853.

" Monsieur,—Un heureux hasard place sous toes yeux
adjourhui seulement les magnifiques strophes d'Aletheia, dans
lesouelles 'IOUS avez eneadre mon nom•

" Combien je regrette de ne les avoir pas connues plutot,
et de vous avoir laisse croire ainsi que je manquais ou d'ad-
miration ou de reconnaissance ! Je.ne manque ni de I'un ni
de l'autre en vous lisant, et je m'empresse de reparer autant
qu'il eat en :Doi le tort du basard.

"Aucun tableau des evciuetnents de 1848 ne me place en
scene devant la Posterit6 avec plus de favour, et sous nn
jour plus resplendissant, c'est le jour do la Prdventiou et de
lu Poesie, mais la Poesie quo j'ai taut airuie me devait un
leger retour. Elle me le paye largement par vos mains.
"Je garde ces beaux vers comma une inscription un jour
b, mon tombeau.

"Si. -roue venez k Paris, aongez que vows y trouverez un
stni. "ALPHONSE DE LAALAItTINE.
"Rue de l'Universit6, 80."
[Translation.]
" Paris, April 7, 1853.

" Sir,—A happy chance places, only to-day, under my
eyes the magnificent strophes of Aletheia,' in which you
have enshrined my name.
" How much I regret that I did not know them sooner,
and that I have allowed you to believe me wanting either
in admiration or in gratitude. I am wanting in neither
when I read you, and I hasten to repair as much as pos-
sible the neglect occasioned by accident.
" No picture of the events of 1843 places me in view of
Posterity under a more favourable aspect, or in a light
more resplendent. It is the light of Partiality and of
Poetry. But Poetry, whom I have loved so much, owed
me some slight return. She pays me largely by your
hands.

Queen Isabella has left the Pavillon de Rohan, and
taken up her residence at her house in the Avenue du Roi
de Rome, Champs Elys6es.
A tremendous storm has raged all over the coast of France
during the last day or two. At Bayonne and Havre the
tempest has been most disastrous.
A divorce case, which may serve to illustrate the state
of morality in France, has just been tried at Marseilles.
A merchant had but one child, which died. Being fond of
children, and finding his affection likely to waste its
sweetness on the desert air, he addressed himself to his
wife's femme de chambre, who very speedily favoured him
with three olive branches. It was represented
that they were the children of an individual con-
nected with the firm, and the merchant's wife,
quite unaware of the truth, treated them with
great kindness. At length, on the death of the
mother, the merchant, anxious to let his illegitimate off-
spring share his immense fortune, revealed the secret to
his wife. She, however, was deeply hurt, retired from his
home, and has obtained a judicial separation. The odd
part of the story is that the lady should so quietly have
permitted a servant to rear and bring up three children in
her house. The merchant possesses an annual income of
£BO,OOO.

" I preserve these beautiful verses as an inscription one
day for my tomb.

" If you come to Paris, remember that you will there
find a friend. " ALPHONSE DE LAMAItTINE.

"Rue de l'UniversitO, 80."

LAIEST INTELL MEN GE

(REU^'ER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.

WASHINGTON, March 3.

THE WEATHER TABLE.-THIS DAY.

Congress finally passed General Schenck's Bill
substantially as it was passed by the House of Re-
presentatives.

- -

The State Legislatures of Missouri, Nevada, and
iVest Virginia ratified the Negro Suffrage Amend-

ment.

QUEENSTOWN, March 4.

The National Steamship Company's steamer
England, from New York, arrived here at 9 a.m.
to-day. She landed passengers and proceeded for
Liverpool. All well. .

LIVERPOOL, March 4.

The Inman steamer City of New York, from
New York, on the 20th ult., arrived here to-day.
The storm prevented her calling at Queenstown.

JAPAN.

(Via Brindisi.)
YOKOHAMA, Jan. 13.

An engagement has taken place between 600
Southern (Mikados) troops and 900 Northerners.
complete defeat, and fled
The former suffered a
in confusion.

The German ship Cornelia has been lost. The
Japanese.
crew was rescued by

CHINA.
Ilona KONG, Jan. 26.

Mr. Hart announces that the Chinese Govern-
ment intends to appropriate all the tonnage dues,
averaging 300,000 taels annually, towards improv-
ing the navigable waters of the country.
Nicholson's dock has been completed at Shanghai.
An unsuccessful attempt has been made to rob
the powder magazine.

JAN. 28.

The force sent to punish the inhabitants of the
villages near Swatow for the outrage on the crew
of H.M.S. Grasshopper comprised H.M.S. Icarus,
Rinaldo, and three gunboats, under the command
of Commodore Oliver Jones.

INDIA.

CALCUTTA, March 2.

Sir Richard Temple will introduce the Indian
Budget on the 7th, or at the latest on the 13th of
March.

THE ADMIRALTY.—In consequence of the aboli-
tion of the office of the Storekeeper-General of the Navy
as a separate department, the Secretary of the Admiralty
directs that tenders fcr articles, formerly sent to that de-
partment at Somerset-house, be in future addressed to the
Controller of the Navy, Admiralty, Whitehall.
[AnvEnTtsENtENT.]—Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—
Prevention of Weakness. —Whanever circumstances prc-
duce impure blood, lessen the force, or in any way disar-
range the balance of the circulation, s'agnation takes
place in the lungs, and consumption or other formidable
symptoms discover themselves. Let Holloway's remedies
be tried on the first feeling of debility, or on the first an-
noyance of a dry hacking cough. After the chest, both
before and behind, has been fomented with warm brine,
and the skin has been dried with a towel, the ointment
should be well rubbed twice a day upon the chest and be-
tween the shoulders, and the pills should be taken in alter-
native doses to purify the blood and cleanse the system,
without weakening if -
or rousing or aggravating nervous
irritation.

THE BALLOT.

The supporters of the Ballot are hoicring a series of

meetings in the metropolis. The second was held on
Wednesday, under the presidency of Lord Campbell.
Amongst those present were Mr. Muntz, M.P., Mr. Eykyn,
M.P., Dr. Brewer, M.P., Dr. Dalrymple, M.P., Mr.
Howard, M.P., Mr. Rylands, M.P., Mr. Illingworth,
M.P., Mr. Stapylton, ALP., the Hon. Auberon Herbert,
the Hon. George Brodrick, Mr. Bowring, M.P., &c.
In his opening speech the noble CHAIRMAN said what
they now had to combat was that vague and false
association which connected the Ballot in some minds
with everything that was coarse and dangerous ; but
the best answer to that feeling, his lordship thought,
was a brief reference to those hon. gentlemen by whom
the cause had been advocated. In highly complimentary
terms he referred to the labours of Lord Macaulay, Mr.
Grote, and Mr. Berkeley, and said that a new advocate
had sprung up in the person of Sir Henry Bulwer, whose
talent had been exercised in every quarter of the world.
It had been urged that the Ballot was un-English, and no
doubt the observation was correct ; but as yet it hadnever
been tried in pr.rliamentaly elections, and therefore no
decided opinion could Le formed respecting it. He sought
by argument to counteract the unjust impressions that
existed in the imagination and the sentiments of some
men against the Ballot, and spoke of many circumstances
which gave additional encouragement to the society. His
lordship said that many of the most conspicuous and
effective members of the Government were in their favour,
and he especially adverted to Mr. Bright, whose name
was received with marked applause. Other circumstances
of great encouragement were the experience which has
been gained by the friends of the Ballot in Australia,
where the machinery had been pretty well adjusted; and
the great success that had attended the movement in Man-
chester subsequently.

Mr. EYKYN, in a brief speech, said that however great
corrupt practices at parliamentary elections may have
been, the hotbed of corruption was in the municipal elec-
tions, and being strongly impressed with that belief he had
given notice of his intention to move that the Ballot be
adopted at all future municipal elections.

The Hon. GEORGE BRODRICK said the only argument
against the Ballot worth answering was that urged by
Mr. Mill, namely, that the evils which the Ballot would
cure were now diminishing, and might be abated
altogether. He maintained that the dependence of the
poorer class of voters, and the rural population especially,
was a refutation of that argument. At Woodstock,
for instance, out of 1,200 voters, no less than
500 were agricultural labourers, of whom 400 were
under the direct influence of the Duke of Marlborough.
The opponents of the Ballot pointed to the experience of
America as a reason for its rejection, but he maintained
that the reference to America did not bear upon the ques-
tion at all. The ballot in America was what was known
as the open Ballot, there being no secrecy whatever,
because in the United States the poorer portion of the
population was ten times more independent than the same
section in England.

The Hon. AUBERON HERBERT said that during his stay
is America he was struck with the law-abiding character
of the people, which, he said, was the result of their con-
viction that, being in possession of the Ballot, they could,
when the elections came roand,remove any undue pressure
that was put upon them.

Mr. MUNTZ said that whenever the Ballot was referred
to, distant countries, such as Australia and America, were
spoken of ; but people had only to visit Belgium to find
proof of its happy results. He believed that of the recent
converts to the Ballot the defeated candidates formed a
very large portion. He regretted that at the last election
South-West Lancashire went the wrong way, but he con-
soled himself with the reflection that Mr. Gladstone's
rejection was one of the greatest triumphs that had been
obtained for the Ballot.

Dr. BREWER said the prevention of ferment at elec•
tions constituted sufficient ground for the adoption of the
Ballot.

Mr. BOWRING and other gentlemen also addressed the
meeting.

The proceedings terminated with a cordial vote of thanks
to the noble chairman.

THE REPRESENTATION OF MIDDLESEX.

The Conservatives of the county of Middlesex have
again been celebrating their victory at the general election.
Lord George Hamilton's return was unexpected to a
large body of even the Conservatives themselves ; and their
joy is proportionately greater. Willis's Rooms, the old
banquetting ball, was crowded with a large and distin-
guished company. Amongst others there were present
Sir J. Pakington, M.P., Sir S. Northcote, M.P., Earl
Beauchamp, the Earl of Verulam, Lord C. Hamilton,
M.P., Lord C. J. Hamilton, the Earl of Bective, Lord
John Manners, M.P., Mr. Mowbray, M.P., Lord E. V.
Tempest, Viscount Crichton, M.P., Mr. Christopher
Sykes, M.P., Mr. H. Dyke, M.P., Mr. W. 11. Smith,
M.P., Sir W. Farquhar, Sir John Gibbons, Mr. Newde-
gate, M.P., Mr. Fowler, ALP., Mr. Cubitt, M.P., &c.
Among the speakers were Lord C. J. Hamilton, Lord
George Hamilton, Sir John Pakington, and Sir Stafford
Northcote. Lord C. J. HAMILTON rejoiced that the
Government had somewl at qualified the reckless reduc-
tions which they were making in other branches of the
service by the assurance that they would soon institute
reforms in the Militia calculated to bring that force into
closer relations with the army, and to increase its efficiency.
To all real reforms Militia officers would accede with plea-
sure, but whether they would hail with equal satisfaction the
transfer of patronage from the hands of lords-lieutenant
of counties to those of the Secretary of State remained to
be seen. The proof of a pudding lay admittedly in the
eating of it, and he must say this particular pudding
carried with it some feelings of indignation. In speaking
of the question of the day, he translated the cry " Justice
to Ireland" into_" Obedience to Cardinal Cullen."

Lord GEORGE HAMILTON, in congratulating himself and
the meeting on the glorious victory which had been
attained, protested against explaining away on the part
the Liberals. While, however, they had been victorious in
Middlesex, it was useless to disguise that the Conserva-
tives had been beaten at the elections in a manner they
had no right to expect. They had some consolation, how-
ever, in the importance of the victories they had gained.
It certainly was not of frequent occurrence that by a
single county three Liberal Cabinet Ministers were sent
begging about the country for seats. Passing to the
state of Ireland he said : The present Government
took credit for discontinuing the suspension of the
Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland, but it was owing to
the state in which the country had been handed over
to them that they were able to do so. As regarded the
Irish Church Bill, looking back at what had occurred
200 years ago in an historic city in the north of Ireland,
he saw that a small but determined minority by the skill
of their leaders and by the dissensions and jealousies of their
adversaries were able to resist the assaults of overwhelm-
ing force. Whatever might happen in the future, the pre-
sent duty of the Opposition was plain—to resist a violation
of national compacts.

Sir J. PAKINGTON, on the Irish Church, said he had all
along disapproved the principle of the Irish Church Bill,
but now that it had been published to the world, with all
its characteristics of plunder, injustice, and irreligion, he
was more opposed to it than ever.

Sir STAFFORD NORTIICOTE pointed out how a Parlia-
ment elected under Lord Palmerston's Government really
to oppose a Reform Bill had turned out the very one to
pass a Reform measure. Might not a Parliament chosen
to pass the Irish Church Bill do as its immediate prede-
cessor had done—the very opposite of what it was intended
to do. He referred to the loss of Mr. Fawcett's measure
that day as an augury of the same kind. The Govern-
ment, elected by a majority of 123 to carry out a parti-
cular policy announced in the Queen's Speech, were
interrupted by one of their most ardent supporters, who
proposed a bill interfering with the course which they
intended to pursue. Her Majesty's Government sup-
ported their supporter, as, indeed, they were bound
to do, and the Opposition were gratified to find
that the Government were placed in a- minority
of three. Might that happen very often ! On
the Irish Church question, Sir Stafford said he bad
listened to the wonderful speech which was delivered by
Mr. Gladstone on Monday with a feeling that it was one
of the greatest efforts of one of the greatest orators, not
only of the present day, but, he might say, of the present
century. But one thing surpassed his admiration for the
eloquence, the skill, the lucidity of that address, and with
that feeling that assembly now present would sympathise
—it was a feeling of alarm and horror at the scheme
which the address embodied. The ingenious and
elaborate proposals that were made in that speech
were as bad as the speech itself was good ; and he
confessed that he should look with the greatest dread at
the prospect held out were it not that Englishmen and
Conservatives did not readily know when they were beaten.
He was satisfied that when Englishmen understood the
measure they would feel that it was one unparalleled in
its character—one combining a gigantic scheme of robbery
with a still u orse system of bribery ; one threatening
not only the branch of the Church established in Ireland,
but the existence of the Established Church in Eng-
land also. When once the people of England knew
the true nature of this scheme, he had no doubt and no
fear but that public opinion would make itself felt in Par-
liament, and that the measure which was now threatening
the country would be dissipated like many others which
had threatened it in times gone by. At all events, the
course of the Conservative party was clear. They
might be in a minority. It might even turn out that they
were in a small minority, but they had a clear line of duty
before them, which was to resist this measure to the utter-
most, to do their best on every occasion thoroughly to
PAM amilliva love Ow bra a