The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-19 00:00:00

IRELAND.

The Daily News publishes another letter from its special
correspondent in Ireland. In it a visit to the house of the
Dwyer's, who shot down Mr. Scully, is described. "At
first (the writer says) I was suspected—and naturally
so. Dwyer, the occupier, was absent at a neighbouring
fair ; but there were two women—one a daughter—and a
labouring man within. After a few sentences explaining
why I came, suspicion departed and courtesy took its
place. The daughter sheaved me over the rooms ; she
pointed out the marks of the bullets. The centre pane of
the small window in front has the mark of a shot in it, just
as it was made. It went clean through, only slightly
fracturing the pane. Lower down there is the impress of
another shot ; but a bit of glass has been put over the
hole. One of the chairs has a piece taken away by a
bullet, and the internal wall opposite the attacking party
has several indentures—some of them very large. The
window, I am told, was riddled to pieces, but the glass
has been replaced, with the exception of the two panes
which I have spoken of. The wall outside has been
recently whitewashed, but the bullet-marks are still dis-
tinct. To the right of the window the wall is literally
pockfretted with shot marks. Mr. Scully and his eight
assistants must have come well provided with ammunition.
But whilst they were firing into the ground floor the
occupants of the house were firing from the loop-holed
loft with more deadly effect. The exact spot
where Mr. Scully fell was pointed out to me, and
as he lay wounded on the ground, I am informed,
he fired some shots into the house. I observed that Mr.
Scully's conduct was universally condemned, even by the
landlords themselves, and was somewhat astounded by the
answer, Sure, sir, he only went by the law after all.'
And I suppose you went by the "Lord.'" But the allu-
sion was only vaguely understood. ' I hope you will feel
more secure,' I observed, now that you are under Mr.
Moore.' God send it !' was the reply. The rent, I was
told, of the land about here averages from £2 to £2 108.
an acre, but the recent addition to the police force
would raise it another pound or more ; and
that, sir,' said another tenant on the land, 'is too
much. We cannot afford it; we might as well leave
the country altogether. The police are not wanted now,
and I think they are sent to punish and not to protect us.'
This was regarded as a great grievance. This second tenant
invited me into his house—l suppose I must call it so—and
desired his wife to fetch me a 'basin of new milk, as I
must feel tired after my walk.' I took some that I may
have it to say I shared in Irish hospitality on the town
land of Ballycobey. The railway to Cork and Queens.
town passes by the farm, and I am told that there is not
a train of emigrants to America from which the shout of
Success to I3allycohey !' is not heard as it dashes along."
The Earl of Derby's grounds were seen also by the
g 4 special." " The houses on the estate are clean-looking
and comfortable. I understand he gives every encourage.
ment to his tenants, in the way of buildings and drainage,
but I have had repeated to me on his own farms what I
heard in the town► of Tipperary—that he gives a decided
and marked preference to Protestants and Englishmen
over Roman Catholics and Irishmen. There may be no
injustice in this, but it would not be made a subject of
comment if it was not a source of irritation."

CIVILISATION IN CHINA.

Sir Rutherford Alcock, the British Ambassador at
Pekin, has addressed an important letter to Mr. Med-
burst, the British Consul at Shanghai. Sir Rutherford does
not take a very hopeful view of the progress of modern
ideas in China. Mr. Medhurst had sent him a
despatch inviting him to press upon the Chinese Govern-
ment the uses and benefits of telegraphy. Sir Rutherford
replies that there is no probability of such repre-
sentation producing any effect. "So far, the effect
of all the arguments adduced, and the constant
representations made, of the advantages to be
derived from railroads and telegraphs, has not been such
as to encourage any sanguine hopes of progress in this or
any other direction." Our Ambassador states that there
is no evidence whatever at Pekin of that desire for
progress which the Chinese Embassy has assured Europe
is so ardent and general with the Government of China.
" If any hopes are built upon its existence, therefore, I
fear there is nothing but disappointment in store for those
who indulge in them. Projectors of telegraphic lines, rail-
roads, and other plans for the sudden development of the
resources of this country are but losing their time, while
the Government here chews no disposition to entertain
their projects. I think it is in the interest of all who are
go occupied, that they should know the truth, than be..
deluded by false hopes and expectations of changes n hich
are still far in the distance. It seems to be forgotten that
all treaties hitherto made with China have been such as
were dictated by foreign Powers, and in accordance with
their views rather than those of the other contracting
party. The revision at present in contemplation will take
place under totally different circumstances. Nothing
new can find place therein, which is directly contrary to
Chinese views of their interests in relation with foreign
Powers. If the rulers of China cannot be made to see
the advantage to themselves and the nation, as well
as the practicability and safety of inland steam navi-
gation, railroads, and telegraphic, lines, or the working
of mines, and residence of merchants in the inte-
rior with ex-territorial privileges attaching, it is
very certain they will not yield to any force of argument
and reason, or earnestness of friendly counsel." "There
remains," adds Sir Rutherford Alcock, " only coercion,
and this agency neither the British nor the American
Governments are likely to employ." This is certainly rather
unexpected testimony after the constant assurances which
have been made of the Chinese Government's desire for
progress. A document has recently been published at
Shanghai, purporting to contain the draft of important
changes which the Chinese Government will advocate
when the treaties with European Governments
are revised. It stated that the Celestial Empire
was about to throw off its old traditions, and
enter upon a life of progress and civilisation. All
sorts of revolutionary changes are promised. But of
course small hope of progress can be entertained after the
letter of Sir Rutherford Alcock.

VISIT OF COUNT BIS'.IIARCK'S SONS TO ALDER-
SHOT.—On Tuesday two of Connt Bismarck's sons, who
have only very recently arrived in England from Prussia,
for the purpose of studying at Oxford University, visited
the camp at Aldershot, and spent the greater part of the
day in inspecting different parts of the camp. Instruc-
tions were issued to the troops, on the previous after
noon, from the Assistant Adjutant-General's Office, to
assemble in the Long Valley, at 10.30 a.m., for the purpose
of holding a review, under the command of Lieutenant.
General the Hon. Sir James Yorke Scarlett, K.C.8., at
which the visitors would have been present, but, in conse-
quence of the unfavourable state of the weather, it having
rained continuously the whole morning, the order for the
men to parade was countermanded. The visitors arrived
at the camp from London by train at an early hour, and
were conducted through the cavalry barracks and camps
by,344jutffooSl• 4021113r, Aini4taut,Adita
orinhau -