The Sun.
London, England, 1869-04-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, APRIL 9, 1869.

We have long ago shewn that the postal rate for a
newspaper might be reduced to a halfpenny, not
merely without loss, but with a handsome profit to
the department which is so laudably proud of its
yearly gains. The Post Office has far greater re-
sources at command than private carriers, but even
these can transmit newspapers at a very low
rate. Newsagents in great numbers now pay
the railway charges for delivering papers to a few
scattered subscribers, and give three months' credit,
for a commission amounting to no more than a third
of the price of the penny journal they deliver. The
London company which excited the jealousy of the
Post Office calculated upon a dividend from the dis-
tribution of circulars and the like at a halfpenny rate.
Railway companies will convey a daily paper from
London to Edinburgh for one guinea a year. Par-
cels of six newspapers are carried short distances for
a halfpenny. In none of these cases is the considera-
tion of the public good—to which the Post Office ought
not to be entirely indifferent—in the slightest degree
involved. These low rates are charged with advantage
purely in the way of business. The fact is, the
experiment has not been tried at the Post
Office. The quantity of newspapers passing
through the department is comparatively small.
A large and profitable public business which might
be secured by competition with private carriers is
thrown away, because the Post Office insists upon
charging as much for delivering a newspaper as the
paper costs. Comparison with the practice abroad is
still more adverse to the present system. In Canada
all publications for the promotion of educational or
religious objects are carried free. In the United
States all newspapers are free of postal
charges within the county where they are
published. The introduction of free carriage into
England is not advisable, because those who did not
avail themselves of the privilege would have to pay
the cost equally with those who did. But it is abun-
dantly clear that the Government ought, as a social
benefit, to institute a halfpenny rate; and it is not
the less clear that the change would be profitable in a
pecuniary sense.

On Tuesday this question will be brought before
the House of Commons. Should the Government
return a favourable answer, some important
questions of detail will arise. Mr. GRAVES proposes
to carry one newspaper, or two ounces of printed
matter, for a halfpenny. It would be much
better to make no distinction of this kind.
Some single newspapers weigh six ounces, and as the
weight is made up of advertising sheets, which are
not entitled to preference rates, there is no reason
why the Times or the Saturday Review should be
carried at one-third the cost charged for the British
TT in•kman and other publications. A uniform rate of
one halfpenny for four ounces, irrespective of
quantity, will be more equitable and practicable. It
will obviate the inequality of carrying very light
and heavy papers at the same charge, and it will
prevent all trouble in ascertaining whether
a parcel contains one packet or More.
A standard by weight is preferable in every respect
to a standard by quantity. Under the present
system more than one paper is often carried for a
penny. Of course the privilege of transmission and
retransmission within fifteen days which is now granted
to newspapers with the impressed stamp would be
given up under the halfpenny system. Similarly the
anomaly which prevents an impressed stamp being
available beyond the United Kingdom might be
abolished. The carriage of newspapers would be
thus reduced to one simple and uniform rule.

Mn. GLADSTONE, as all the world knows, spent his
Easter at Wilton. He attended a concert in that
town, and was the cynosure of neighbouring eyes.
One gentleman, rather young, and not very wise, to
wit, the Rev. DACRES OLIVIER, curate of Wilton,
suggested that a portion of the school fund might
be used to place a brass plate 'where Mr.
GLADSTONE had sat during the concert.
The suggestion does not seem to have been
adopted, but it is an incident full of inte-
rest to the student of human nature. Mr.
OLiviEn, being an Oxford man, proposed to mark
his admiration of the PREMIER by putting a brass
plate to mark the bench on which he had sat. An
equally ardent admirer, but without the refining
influence of a university education, would have pro-
posed to hang up the trousers in which Mr. GLAD-
STONE had sat.

Is there any Minister of modern times who has
excited such strong emotions in the minds of other
persons as Mr. GLADSTONE has done? There was
one clergyman in Lancashire who said that hanging
was too good for him ; and here we have one in
Wiltshire proposing to glorify the bench which had
been honoured by contact with his breeches. One
man has denounced the PREMIER as JUDAS, another
has compared him to the Master whom JUDAS
betrayed. A bishop has told the Liberal leader to
go to the devil; a nation has given him such a majority
as has not been enjoyed by any Minister for a gene-
ration. Mr. GLADSTONE has already accomplished
great things, and proposes still greater, and he is so
earnest in everything which he undertakes that it is
impossible for his critics not to be in earnest too. It
is a case of angel or devil. Happily for Mr. GLAD-
STONE the nation is, to quote one of Mr. DISRAELI'S
epigrams, " on the side of the angel,"

ei,t4q

TIER MAJESTY.


BUCKINGHAM PALACE, April 8.
The Queen, accompanied by Princess Beatrice,
drove out this)norning.
Princess Louise honoured Mr. Watts with a
visit to his studio.
Her Majesty, accompanied by Princess Beatrice,
drove out in the afternoon.

LATEST INTELL LUNGE

(REU"'ER'S TELEGRAMS.)

'TURKEY.

CONSTANTINOPLE, April 8.
Ills Royal Highness the Prince of Wales was
present at an English cricket match to-day.
An official dither will be given at the British
Embassy this evening.

Their Royal Highnesses will pay a visit to the
Grand Vizier to-morrow and lunch at his red lence.

AMERICA.

WASIIINGTGN, April 8.

The House of Representatives passed General
Butler's bill, authorising the President to submit
Mississippi, and Texas
b
t to
the the
Constitutionsvoters of
framed Virginia, y
the Conventions of
those States, and when ratified to order the elec-
tion of their State officers.

Gold closed at 1321, the highest quotation dur-
ing the day was 1321, the lowest 1311. Sterling
exchange op London, 108 ; 5.20 United States
Bonds, 1882, 1191 ; ditto, 1885, 1161; ditto,
1865, 1131; 10-40 Bonds, 1051 ; Illinois, 1384;
Erie, 314. Cotton, midland upland, 28i. Pe-
troleum, standard white, 311. Flour, extra state,
$5.95 6.55 ; corn, old mixed, 88c.

FRANCE.

ST. NAZAIRE, April 9.

The Transatlantic Mail Company's steamer
Panama has arrivel here with 131 passengers.
Her dates are—Vera Cruz, March 14 ; Havannah,
19:; and St. Thomas, 24.
UOURSE, April B.—Three o'clock—The market
closed as follows :-
41 per Cent.
End of mouth_ --- _ Ittkl,an Fives 55 75
3 per Cent
End of month 7O 25 Mexican Loan ...
Credit Mobilier
.........
...
End of month._ 270 _ Spanish Threes
Credit Fonder ...1190 _ Home Debt
End of month...
_,Deferred
RAILWAYS. Cash
Orleans ....... ... .
. !',061.
Northern .... 10974
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern.... 6071
Western
Eastern .................
Sardinian .......... .•
Austrian
Lombard
North of Spain ......
63
Saragossa
Roman ......... _

LOUIS NAPOLEON'S ESCAPE FROM HA 111.

M. Vermorel, says the Paris correspondent of the
Standard, has just published a book about the men
of 1851. It contains a very curious letter, which,
though not new,
will be read with interest. It was
addressed to the editor of the Progres di Pas de
Calais by the present Emperor of the French, and
gives an account of his escape from the fortress of
Liam

"My dear Monsieur Degeorge,—My desire to
see my father once more before his death has led
me to embark on the boldest adventure I ever at-
tempted ; one which taxed my courage and reso-
lution far more than Boulogne or Strasbourg, for
I was determined not to subject myself to the ridi-
cule which attaches to those. who allow themselves
to be captured in a costume not their own, and I
could not have endured another failure. But
here are the details of my escape. You know
that the fortress is kept by a force of four
hundred men, who supplied a body guard of 60 men
who were stationed as sentries within and without
the fortress; moreover, the gate of the prison was
kept by three gaolers, two of whom were can-
stantly on duty. It was, therefore, requisite to
pass these in the first place, then cross the inner
yard, under the windows of the commander's lodg-
ing ; then pass a wicket where an orderly and a
sergeant were constantly on duty, supported by
a gate-keeper, a sentry, and a guard of 30 men.
Having resolved not to tamper with any of
athdeissegtpliesoep. leNloww,as
which I occupied were being
of the rooms in the
part of the building
repaired, it was easy
as naturallysever a l Compelled to assume
enough to procure a workman's
musta-
chio, and took up a
dress. My good and worthy Charles Thelin got me
a blouse and wooden shoes. I cut off my musta-
I saw the workmen coming
the Monday morning,
upon my shoulder. On
t
to their work at six in the morning. As soon as
tthheeymcootunttnoefnetehde operationsway,took Charles Thelin, to get
the keepers to them into a room to
have something to drink, and invited one of
join them, whilst Dr. Conneau
was chatting
with the others in my room.
However, I had hardly emerged from my bedroom
when I was hailed by one of the workmen who took
me for one of his comrades; at the foot of the stairs
I came plump on one of the keepers, but escaped by
putting the plank before his face, and I reached the
courtyard holding the plank as a screen between
myself and all whom I met.
On passing before the
first sentinel I let my pipe fall, but I stopped to pick
up the pieces. I then met the officer of the guard,
but he was reading a letter, and did not perceive
me. The soldiers at the gates seemed astonished at
my dress, the drummer especially ;
he turned round
to look at me several times. However, the guard
opened the door, and I found myself outside the
fortress. I was here met by two workmen, who
looked at me steadfastly. I,changed the plank and
put it on my other shoulder, but they appeared so
curious that I thought I should not be able to escape
them, when I heard one of them say, ' Oh, it's
Berthoud.' Once outside, I walked in the
direction of St.
Quentin. A little while after
Charles, who had retained a cab, joined me, and
we arrived at St Quentin. I traversed the town
on foot, having taken off my blouse. Charles bad
obtained a post chaise, under pretext that it was for
the races at Cambrai.
We arrived without obstacle
at Valenciennes, where I took the railway. I had
obtained a Belgian passport, but nowhere was I
asked to show it. During this time Conneau,
always so devoted, remained in
the prison, and
made belief that I was ill, in order to give me time
to reach the frontier. I hope
that he has not
been ill-treated ; as you can understand, it would
give me great pain. But, my dear Monsieur
Degeorge, if I felt a deep feeling of gladness
on finding
myself outside the fortress, I also felt
a very sad impression iu crossing the frontier ;
to decide on quitting France it was necessary to
believe Government would never set me at liberty
if I did not consent to dishonour myself ; finally, it
was necessary that I should be stimulated by the
desire to try all means to console my father in his
old age. Adieu,
my dear M. Degeorge. Although
free, I feel very miserable. Accept my deep friend-
ship, and, if you can, endeavour to be useful to my
good Connean. " Loins NAPOLEON."

At the Leeds Assizes on Tuesday, Miss Crookes,
a maid of all work, at Sheffield, brought an action against
the Manchester, Sheffield, and Lincolnshire Railway
Company for damages to compensate her for injaries
sustained by a collision on tho line on the 9th October.
The defendants paid ss. into court, but the jury gave her
£2OO.

DuNvILLE and Co., Belfast, are the largest
to French
holders of Whisky in the World. Their Old Irish Whisky is re-
commended by the medical profession in preference
Brandy. Supplied in casks and cases for home use or exporta
tion. Quotations on application 'to .31essrs. Danville and Co.,
Belfast; or 4, Bealifort-bull.lings, Stiand, London, W.Q..-Letd-
vertisement.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWNCORP.ESPONDENT.)
PARIS, THURSDAY, April 8.

The shareholders of the Opira at Paris suffer from r
most lamentable grievance. They do not get enougl
ballet for their money, and they are now raising a piteous
cry of " More leg !" They have no particular objection
to Rossini and Mozart, Gounod and Meyerbeer, but they
did not subscribe for too much of these gentlemen. The
ordinary mind may readily be strained by too close atten.
tion to fine music ; but the higher faculties are not required
to gaze at the caperings of half-dressed young women ;
and as the shareholders appeared to be endowed with
much more of the lower than of the higher faculties, the
great operas are to be set aside in order to provide " more
leg." That such a demand has really been made is hardly
credible, but such is the fact.

The Belgian affair does not wear the most reassuring
aspect at present. M. FrZ.re-Orban is here, and that of
itself is not a favourable symptom. When a Government finds
it necessary to send an envoy to settle its differences with
another Government, it rarely chooses its leading Minister
for such a purpose. If England were involved in a diffe-
rence with France, it would be deemed a very grave, not
to say humiliating, symptom if Mr. Gladstone were to set
out for Paris with the avowed object of ensuring a pacific
arrangement. The present is a precisely similar case. M.
Fr re Urban is the leading Minister of Belgium, and yet he is
dancing attendance upon the French Government in Paris.
His presence has led to the conclusion that the difficulty
is of a serious nature, and recent disclosures have fully
confirmed that impression. The two Governments differ
in the chief point at issue. Belgium will not consent to the
ratification of the treaty between the Luxembourg
and the East of France Railway Companies, and we now
learn, from a series of remarkable disclosures in the Inde-
pendence Beige, that the French Government insists
upon this ratification, as a leading stipulation
in the settlement. The affair is making no pro-
gress, but we are again assured of a satisfactory
result. The Independence Beige has been seized the
last two days, on account, it is said, of its unsatisfactory
estimate of some Ministerial Budget speeches. The truth
is, that it was seized on account of unwelcome disclosures
about the railway affair.
Reports of disasters by the late storm continue to come
in. The Norwegian brig Wenern, from Frederickshall,
bound for Caen, with a cargo of wood, was wrecked near
BerniZTes (Seine-Inftfrieure), but the crew were landed in
safety. The English schooner Ann White has been driven
aground under the redoubt of Colleville, and is expected
to go to pieces. The crew were saved. Two fishing,-
boats from Trouville were lost, with the men on board.
A Havre pilot-boat had found a wreck, supposed to be
that of a three-master, floating out at sea.

Queen Isabella, the King, her husband, and the Count
knd Countess Girgenti, heard the " Barbkre " at the
Italiens the night before last. The party occupied the
Imperial box. Patti, with delicate courtesy, made a slight
change in the programme by giving in the singing-lesson
a Spanish song " Los Toros del Puerto," instead of the
one announced. It is stated that this lady's marriage
has not proved a thoroughly happy one. She has
gained title, but at a heavy cost. It has been
reported for some days, without contradiction, that Mdfle.
Nilsson will become Duchess de Marsa.

The Budget discussion has at length merged into an
examination of the various details. Some litttle progress
has been made, but the Left contrived yesterday to worry
the Government a good deal respecting an amendment
setting aside a sum of £B, 000 to provide electoral urns
of uniform pattern. As might have been expected, the
deputies contrived to get up a debate on " Purity of
Elections."