The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-07 00:00:00

ground belongs to the Duke of Norf(glk.

OUR DEFENSIVE FORCER.
General Sir John Burgoyne and Colonel Harnley
have both addressed the Times on the subject of our
national defences. Sir John Burgoyne does not con-

sider that an invasion of this country would be likely
to succeed even with its present means of defence.
but he believes that we could not go to war with

any of the great Powers without being subjected to
loss and humiliation. lle states briefly the motives

and means for an attack upon us, leaving those facts
to be compared with our own means of defence.
The doctrine of non-intervention will not save us

from acts of aggression if to weak to defend our-
selves, and the large military forces of the Continent
are constantly available and fully equipped, while
ours are comparatively small in number, with
imperfect and inefficient reserves. With the
view of improving our position, he there-
fore directs our efforts to two objects—
the estaiulishment of a standing army on the
smallest possible basis, and the formation of a
powerful, ready, and efficient reserve. He suggests
that the Militia might be so combined with the
Regulars as to become a reserve of good troops ; an
object which might be obtained by shortening
the period of service in the standing army, and Mr. Bright has his wish. We have an Irish session.
transferring the men to the Militia. Colonel Ilamley Nothing else but Irish religion, andlrishpolitiacrse and
on the other hand, has little faith in the Militia. lie
• Irish treason, and Irish riots, and Irish murders
believes that we may obtain a vastly superior reserve cussed in Parliament. There is not a day passes but
force in another way, which, however, he does g
island avenes herself for years of past
not specify. Colonel Ilamley is strongly opposed to what the sister
the theory that we should limit ourselves to the de-
neglect by monopolising the whole attention of
ctuhletLjoebgiisn-
fensive in war. lle thinks, therefore, that we should lature. The truth is, Ministers have a very di
pause in the design of adapting oiti arii2 mainly to baud, more difficult than they calculated when they first
purposes of defence. undertook it. If the disestablishment of the Irish Church
TUE STRAITS SETT:.,Z.L:r:v•; :4, is but the first step towards the consummation they so

111ETROPOLITAN GOSSlP—Thursday.

_
The Secretary of the ColfeticA :na° recently been devoutly wish—the pacification of Ireland—it is only a
waited upon by a large deputation who wanted to short step ; a far longer and
more difficult one will
have the government of the Straits Settlements re- have to be taken next year, if not this. Even the Liberal
iberal
formed. The Straits Settlements is a colony journals are now freely admitting the excitement which
formed by the union of the islands of prevails in Ireland about—not the Church, but the land.
Singapore and Pen n 7, and of the pro- The very remarkable letter which appears to-day from the
winces of Malacca and wenesley. They were special correspondent of the Daily News, writing from
formerly governed from Calcutta, as a part of the Thurles, shews that while there may be noisy
Bengal Presidency. In 18t7, however, Lord Derby's meetings of a few persons in Dublin and Belfast
Government changed this. The colony was handed
with reference to the Church, the nation attaches very
over to a governor and council. A majority of the .
little importance to the matter, considers it settled, in fact,
council is appointed by the governor, his nominees
being bound to support him. lie has the power of and needing no longer any attention on its part. At
appointing and removing judges—is, in fact, given the same time it is intensely interested in the land (ies-
arbitrary rule. The deputation protested against this. tion, profoundly penetrated by the idea that those who
The governor, they said, was military, and imbued till the soil ought to own it. It is this prevalent feeling which
with the old style of Indian rule. The colony, being renders the position of the Government so difficult. Any
purely commercial, wanted dSferent treatment. The measure that they bring in must fall short
judges, being creaturs of the governor, were looked of the national expectation, and there is no telling what
upon with disfavour. Free trade in the colony was results will follow when the first feeling of disappoint-
threatened. Would Earl Granville step in and help
the colonists, justice, and the merchants ? The earl went arises. At the same time it may fairly
be questioned if it would not be safest and wisest to put an
briefly replied that he had no intention of doing so at
present; that he would do what he could to keep end to extravagant expectations at once by an official
down extravagance, either of expenditure or govern- declaration of the Ministerial intentions on this important
nient, and he would take the other question into question. Mr. Bright (whose views are most dreaded by
consideration. the Irish landlords) has indeed declared that he will not

➢IISS RYE'S EMIGRATION SCHEME.

sanction any legislation transferring the estates from the
landlords to the tenants without the consent of the first ;
all that he wants, in fact, is to facilitate the quiet and un-
revolutionary establishment of a native Roman Catholic
proprietary. It is doubtful if this is clearly understood
by the Irish people.
It is very probable that the present agitation will be
turned to account for party purposes, and that by the
time the Irish Church Bill has reached the Upper House
the position may have grown so strained that Lord West-
bury's contemplated manoeuvre of demanding the whole
Irish programme of the Government may become serious,
and involve decisive action. This is rendered more
likely by the conduct of Mr. Disraeli yesterday.
One would have supposed that all parties would support
the bill for deposing the Mayor of Cork. Nevertheless,
the leader of the Opposition delivered a most hostile
speech, and adopted such a carping and unworthy tone
that men like Colonel Knox and Mr. Beresford Hope
repudiated it, and even Mr. Hardy refused to endorse it,
and came to the aid of the Government. Altogether it
was an exciting debate, and shewed to what lengths party
spirit will carry even men like Mr. Disraeli. Lord Stanley's
speech on Friday night, in which he declaredthat Govern-
ment could not possibly deal with the Church and the
land in the same session, and Mr. Hardy's speech above-
mentioned, shew that there are statesmen who resognise
in a political crisis a period for an armistice between
political rivals.
Much interest is felt in the anticipation of next Wednes-
day's debate on the Permissive Bill. The meeting at St.
James's Hall on Tuesday night was by far the most
enthusiastic that the supporters of the measure have ever
had in London, and it shewed that the Alliance has at
last made an impression upon that great inorganic
mass of population called the metropolis. The
Times, which • hitherto has ridiculed the Alliance,
this morning condescends to argue. The Times
is no doubt well aware that the Government is
seriously discussing this topic, is resolved upon doing
something, and so far it is an open question if the per-
missive veto shall be included in the Government measure
or not. It is, I believe, quite intended that the operation
of the Beerhouses Act shall be suspended for two years, and
that no fresh licenses shall be granted to fill up the vacancies
occurring through death and bankruptcy, and other causes.
It is not yet decided if a division shall be taken on Sir Wilfrid
Lawson's bill next Wednesday, or if the debate shall be
adjourned. Should the House divide, it is probable that
the numbers in favour of the bill will be nearly twice as
large as in the division which took place in the last Par-
liament but one. Now that Mr. Birley retains his seat
all three members for Manchester will be found voting
for the bill. Remembering that Mr. Miall when
he first divided the House on the Irish Church question,
had under 80 votes, and that he has entered the House
again, after a lapse of a few years, in order to see that
measure carried by majorities of over 100, no Reformer
need despair, least of all the members of the Alliance.
American matters still occupy much attention, and
excite more interest than satisfaction. I hear that Mr.
Motley, who will arrive early next month, will be
instructed to make demands which it will be impossible
for us to grant. They will probably include a bill for a
very large sum of money which, acting on Mr. Sumner's
suggestion, will be considered due from us for having pro-
longed the war by our recognition of the Confederates as
belligerents. Our Government, I have reason to know,
considers that the present position of the Alabama question
is serious. The conviction seems to be gaining ground that
Mr. Thornton is not strong enough forhis place. It is thought
that he ought not to have been so badly informed as to
let us sign a convention which the Americans meant to
throw in our faces. However, Mr. Reverdy Johnson was
deceived no less than our Minister at Washington.
Mr. Thornton owes his position, I believe, to Mr. Ham-
mond, the Permanent Under-Secretary for Foreign
Affairs—a gentleman little known to the public, not even
thought worthy of mention among " Men of the Time," ,

Miss Rye writes to the Times informing the public
that she is going to take. out to Canada 100 more
working women on the 10th of June, and asking for
money to help her to carry on her work. She gives
reasons for refusing to do two things which she has
repeatedly been asked to do. She will have nothing
to do with women of bad character. The waters of the
Atlantic she has not yet discovered to be waters of
regeneration ; nor has the ocean air the power of
dispelling bad habits, bad principles, and bad lives.
She has taken bad cases in hand, and has failed in
every one. Nor will she tare out girls of from 12
to 10 years of age. Children may go abroad secure
in the love they bring with them or create ; grown
women have experience enough to make the best of
their positions. But young inexperienced girls, im-
patient of control and ignorant of the world, are not
fit subjects for emigration.