The Sun.
London, England, 1869-05-31 00:00:00

GERMANY.

The convention between Baden and North Germany, by
which the recruits of one nation may serve their time in
the army of the other, has been finally signed. The Paris
papers are of opinion that this treaty means the union of
the independent German States with the Corgederation ;
and it looks like a step in that direc ion.

D16'711E63 IN POLAND.

The poiicy of tile Russian Government in Poland has
produced the most lamentable zesults in the province of
Lithuania. Tile New Time of St. Petersburg draws a
dismal picture of the condition of this district, which, it
affirms, is solely owing to the extraordinary con-
tributions imposed by the Government on all land-
owners of Polish nationality, and the large increase of the
local taxes. " Many of the large landowners," it says,
" are now so utterly ruined that they live in dilapidated
houses with leaky roofs, and paper stuffed into the broken
window-panes. Their valuable pictures and plate, and
even their carriages, have been sold to foreign traders,
and their forests have passed into the hands of Jewish
speculators, who cut down the trees and send the wood
abroad. Many families live on potatoes, and travel from
place to place in common carts, such as are used for agri-
cultural purposes." llalf-naked starving beggars are to be
met everywhere, bearing contagious diseases from place to
place.

ARSENIC EATING.
The effect of eating arsenic in small doses like opium
promises to become an important medical question. The
young ladies of divers countries, in particular Austria and
the United States—we have not heard that the fashion has
spread to England—have taken to eating arsenic. The
outward effect of this poison in small doses is
to produce a clear complexion of unnatural brightness
and delicacy, much prized in these days of " rage" for
auburn tints and the blonde order of beauty. The prac-
tice is becoming a mania. But the more serious question
is, What must be the effect upon the constitution? In one
instance a young lady was poisoned by taking too large
a dose.

(Frcm the Anglo-American 7 inzes.)
There is something remarkaVe in the circum-
stances now ruling in Washington with reference
to the Alabama claims and to Cuba. The Spanish
Minister urges on the Secretary of State the neces-
sity for a Proclamation of neutrality which in the
interest of the islanders Mr. Fish has hitherto re-
sisted. It was for the benefit of the established
Government of the United States that Mr. W. E.
Forster urged her Majesty's Government to proclaim
neutrality in the conflict with the Confederates,
and the very same reasons which induced the friends
of the North in England to hurry on her Majesty's
Governnient that proclamation, now press on the
Spanish Minister in the interests of Spain. Yet it
is for precipitancy in issuing the proclamation thus
urged on the Government by America's English
friends that Mr. Sumner mainly grounds his rea-
sons for an apology and damages. The munitions
of war sold by order of the President are open for
purcha-e alike to both ; but hostile expeditions
will not be permitted to leave American ports. Same
remarks from a distinguished officer who served in the
United States Army, addressed to us from Madrid,
show that the feeling is not unfavourable to Ame-
ricans among the Spaniards at home, who are aware
that on the whole they have been treated fairly by
the Republic Movements are, it is thought, being
made for the eventual annexation of St. Domingo.
Mr. Fabens, the Press Despatch says, had an inter-
view with Secretary a
Fish as agent of that
strongly
over
Govern-
meet, and the annexation of the island ist
advocated both by its inhabitants and by the people
in Washington, who assert that professor Gabb has
discovered 200 square miles of gold-bearing terri-
tory surpassing anything yet known. His name,
whatever may be the professor's attainments, sounds
" wild-cat ;" but the fact that tha coal depot has
been trangferred from St. Thomas's to the Bay of
S.imana, together with the knowledge that annex.i-
ation is now being discussed in the Cabinet and
powerfully defended, lead to the belief tatannex-
ation may be the result.

The Economist has taken up new ground against
the Western route to China. It maintains that
human nature could scarcely endure the fatigue of
the seven days' railway travelling across the Con-
tinent, leaving its English readers under the im-
pression that the passengers in the American cars
sit as they do in an English carriage, where one
position only is possible.. Any person who has
spent twe!vecoi;secutive in a train would
ture with horror seven days thus passed, and the
hopelessness of evei i•taffiling erect again. The
picture of the Economist, of cours.,, found its way
into many Englili papers, some of which, with
strange inconsistency, had given an account of the
carriages building for the Pacific "through" trafhc.

Therein they had told their readers that the trains
became moveable hotels, with restaurant, smoking
room, and sleeping berths ; that men could un-
dress and go to bed, wash, and get up again while
the train was in motion ; dine, smoke their cigars,
and read their books. Men and women, even in
the present imperfect working state of the road,
have crossed in seven days. Three Englishmen,
from London to Hongkong, were among the pas-
sengers over the line when first opened. The cor-
respondent of the Daily News has resuscitated an
old story of men dining on dough on their way to
White Pine, as occurting on the • Pacific road ;
a strange mistake. An invoice of t ilet slap
has been sent direct from Philadelphia, and tea
from San Francisco, in considerable quantities,
has already reached the large cities of what
once were the Western Statece The world's
highway, now completed, has already produced no
small effects, and accounts for some figures lately
published in the City Articles of the Times witho'it
explanation. In comparing the import of the pre-
cious metals into New York from San Francisco
for the last with the preceding year a considerable
diminution has been the result. But why ? Be-
cause an immense export of silver had been shipped
direct to China, which otherwise would have found
its way to that destination, but through Europe.
John Bull is not to be " choked off" his faith in a
feed. Granted he wasted much good " wittals" on
Mr. Reverdy Johnson, yet scarcely had the Ame-
rican Minister taken a solitary farewell of England's
landscapes shrouded in mist, with tears falling in
the shape of rain, ere the Council of the Liverpool
Chamber of Commerce assembled to get ready an
address of welcome to the new American Minister,
and hint at a grand banquet. Mr. Clark, the
chairman, looked for a speedy and happy solution
of the difficulties between the nations, and consi
dered Mr. Motley's advent a godd omen. Although
the claims of late had been much exaggerated, he
would be the last to deprecate the just and reason-
able demands of America. The depredations of
the cruisers had always been censured in that Cham-
ber ; all regretted the inability of English laws to
detain such vessels, and English merchants were
satisfied that a very evil prece lent would be set if
the career of the Alabama stood as an example to
other nations. It is expected that the invitation to
the banquet will accompany the presentation of the
address to Mr. Motley.
There is no State of the Union more rapidly ris-
ing than Virginia. The Old Dominion was the
chief battle-field for the contending armies, and
bore the brunt of the war from the first battle to the
last battle, from threatening theFederalcapital to the
abandon men tof the Confederate seat of Government.
Virginia has moderated its political asperities ; it
will soon be a reconstructed State within the Union;
it receives a large share of settlers from Europe and
the Northern Sates; the wheat crop will probably
he 00 larg,,t and finest ever known, and the to-
, aim crop looks more the promisieg. So kAti:et i • are
:he people now on politics, that not many at a dis-
tance from the registration offices are likely to c )me
up to vote on the questions of a constitution about
:o be submitted.

Many rumours have lately been circulated by the
American press regarding the acts and intentions
of England. The European coalition against the
States scarcely found a believer even for a moment ;
for England's pacific inclinations were too well
known. Her intentions regarding the erection of a
Confederation of West India Islands to prevent Oh-
abEorption of Cuba by the Republic W 0.3 also dis-
- ; but the latest " sensation" comes from
Montreal, where information has been receivel that
the British Privy Council is considering the advi-
sability of re►inquishing all the British colonies ex-
cept India.

Mr. Colfax spoke at Chicago daring the celebra-
tion there of the completion of the Pacific Railroad, but
the only part of the Vice-President's speech we have seen
refers to Canada and the Alabama claims, but not to that
event. The Vice-President assures the citizens that they
may cease to long for Canada, for it is coming over the
border by the force of gravitation. In gravitation he be-
lieves, as in natural history, but not in daring civilized
nations to war with the Republic for their possessions.
The Vice• President informed his hearers that those with
whom the Union had a controversy would be required to
deliver up the rights justly demanded to the last jot and
tittle, other proffers being spurned. Mr. Colfax does no',
however, say whO is to be the judge of these rights, or
how claims which are said by other nations to be prepos-
terous are to be adjusted, but he announces that " there
must be a plain understanding by which justice shall be
done, or if not, iu the language of the ipaugural of your
President, we may choose our time when we shall here-
after follow the precedent which, in their hostility, they
have given us as an example."

Another charge 113 s been nude against the New
York Tribune, this time by the Evening Post, grounded on
what was stated by Mr. Charles Marshall, the treasurer
of the Free Trade League. The Tribune has persistently
asserted that the Free Trade League was supported bs
British gold, and has again and again cnallonge.l it tc
publish the names of the contributors, offering to print the
list free of charge. Tho League was in a fix, not for the
reason that its coffers were filled with foreign gold, but
because they were empty, as it had scarcely any contri-
butors at all. Mr. Marshall was in this dilemma. He had
either to expose tho weakness of the garrison to the
enemy, or to remain under the imputation of agi-
tating with foreign gold in the interests of foreigners.
The moment circumstances changed, and the League be-
came strong, he sent the required list to the Tribune
for publication, but instead of noticing the communication
the Tribune continued to repeat the challenge, and the
Evening Post took up the =Attar, healing its remarks,
"Unfair Journalism." The Tribune coolly takes out a
piece of this article and answers it, although it has nothing
to do with the point. The fact is that but one contribu-
tion was received from England, probably from some man
at a loss whether to send his £5 to the Chancellor of the
Exchequer, as conscience money, or to the League, show-
ing conclusively to the Tribune that he'had no conscience at
all; and had it not been for the 837 it realised there would
not have been a British cent in the coffers of the Free
Trade League of America.

THE MAJESTY OF 7HE LAW.

Our readers may remember a recent incident
*which occurred at Jarrettsville, Maryland. It was
there, on the 10th of April, that MARTHA CAIRNS
shot NICOLAS M'CoIAs, murdering him with the
coolest deliberation for seducing her under a pro-
mise of marriage he had failed to keep, the case
being aggravated by the fact that she had given
birth to a child. A breach of promise suit was
commenced by Miss CAIRNS against M'Comis,
but she did not await the dilatory proceedings of the
law. Announcing to M'Comas her intention, she
rode after him to that Maryland village, took off
her riding habit and hat, and walking through a
bar room crowded with men she marked out her
victim, and relentlessly emptied her revolver into
his body. Then putting on her habit and hat she
remounted the horse, previously tied up at the door,.
and quietly rode back to BeHair, where on the mor-
row she surrendered to the Sheriff.• When telling
the story we added, " Considering she will only
excite public compassion,have a subscription raised
for her, and be made the heroine of the day, she
ran little danger in an act which, as her hate was
cold-blooded and her nerve strong, was easy of ac-
complishment." The young lady (Miss CAIRNS is
about 30 years of age, and moves in a good social
circle) has realized all and more than we predicted.
The jury in five minutes acquitted her; the She-
riff, with obsequious politeness, handed her to and
from the dock, and it was on his own arm she leant
when proceeding between the Court House and her
hotel. At its door, with hat raised, he left a flagrant
murderess while the trial was proceeding, as he well
knew that restraint on his prisoner was unneces-
sary, for had she run away it would have been from
a reward, not from a punishment. The greatest
excitement prevailed, crowds assembled to catch
a glance of the gentlewoman, and through the
dense throngs which respectfully opened a way she
passed as an object of interest and compassion.
She held levcies during the day, and was sere-
naded at night. What she did and said, what
she wore and how she looked, were minutely re-
ported, and she was the sensation of the period till
her admirers carried her back in triumph a free
woman, absolved in the eye of the law from all
crime. The facts of the case, are too clear to he
mistaken or to leave any room for a maudlin z-s'n:i•
mentality, and it is their startling reality which give-s
so much importance to the action of the pubic.
A woman, verging ou thirty, is a participator in
a sin alike against the religion and laws of her 'coun-
try. If there is anything a woman of her age ought
to know, and.which a cool, deliberate person, as she

is, must have known, it is that the promisee made id
sin are not those observed with faith. As a matter of
policy, putting aside altogether the impiopriety, no
woman of sense would be a party to such a com-
pact, though very young people who mean well
might be betrayed by passion and opportunity into
the indiscretion. But no such excuse can be offered
for Miss CAIRNS, who was thoroughly well ac•
quainted with the fact that her course was not only
a bad introduction into marriage, but very seldom
preceded it. Those who intend to behave honour-
ably will not commence by behaving dishonourably,
nor will the first step of a man towards a solemn
ceremony be an outrage on a Divine command. If
his share of the crime was coupled with falsehood,
her's was equelly marked with folly, and thus stood
he case when she determined to slay her seducer.
That story has already been told, and we subniit it
to our readers if there is anything in these crimes
to call forth respect, admiration, and sympathy from
the public. The most noticeable feature in the
case is, that the course the people would pesos
could be calculated on with certainty by Miss CAIII
before she perpetrated the murder, as well as by
us on bearing the story. It is this sympathy
and immunity from punishment which lead to the
perpetration of such crimes, meaning nothing more
nor less than a swift march on the road to anarchy
"The majesty of the law" is not a mere phrase ; it is
the foundation stone on which society is laid; it LI
the key of the arch, and it bodes ill to a people
when their sympathy is often with those, who, in
defiance of the remedy it offers, erect themselves
into the judge and executioner for their own wrongs'
There are cases, such for instance as that of
CIIALONER, who, at Quebec, killed an officer of
the British Army, which might make the enforce'
talent of extreme legal penalties appear harsh and
unjustifiable, yet to a stern and unrelenting judge
-should be entrusted the measure of the punishraeo
and the vindication of the law, for it is not mcrelf
that Ensign WII ITAKER and Mr. M'CoMAs
been killed for crimes, but that society is injured.
Supposing a full justification in each case, if Mr'
CIIALONER can walk out with a loaded pistol t°
shoot another, and MARTHA J. CAIRNS can safell
empty her revolver into the body of her seducer'
what is to prevent REAL going forth from prig°
to murder the policeman to whom he owes a grudge,
or any scoundrel blowing out the brains exerted 11.
an honest man in counteracting his villanies. It°
vain for men to argue that the former cases are jusliva:6
able, the latter, unjustifiable ; the very princiFf
we conteed for being that no man is a fair judge °
his own case. Ile may be right, while it is equall),
probable he may be wrong ; in one instance there
may be this justification,ln another,with the same Per'
son, there may not, while he holds none the less firatif
to the justification of the latter case, however strouglif
opposed his conviction is to that of society.
REAL believed that he had been grossly injured and
suited by the polio •man, why should he not be Per'
nutted to shoot S3IEDICIC as well as Miss CAIRNS Pero
shoot .11.14.303fAs ; and is it a sufficient reply tb3t
the sentiment of society is against. him. That sent)
went hai no more right to rule than has the wrong
individual to decide ; but if it must rule it oug to
lay down a code specifying the offences for wlitch
the summary execution of the injurer by the injarea
will be condoned, and tilos., for which the criaria°o
will be rigorously given up to the law. What 'II
ifee
lintain is that that law should not be degr3 e
into a farce when it happens to be opposed to °i,
mau sentiment of the moment. Once the
tude is given, the flood-gates are opened ag'coi
the community, and all manner of noxious th.":o
come in with the inundation. In the South,
are often shot with impunity for expressing
pions in opposition to those of the majority. In
Noah a man may, and a women certainly can,„"tie
those who have offended against their honour. .i-te
habit then grows of carrying pistols, and co
result i 4, that, in a fit of momentary irritation, 113,
inflict death on each other. Society in loose
the restraints of law becomes the sufferer, fa,
more latitude given—the tendency being to gr°`y of
the more are honest, upright men at the malty
unscrupulous ruffi ans, and this carried to an 0
bounded excess creates a Mexico. The argionel3,o
BuLwErt puts into the m-)uth of an EUGENE All". 0
or of a PAUL CLIFFORD w OU'd carry the convie'l4
to the minds of many criminals that their acts ‘c fer
justifiable ; nor is it easy, if the law be set asp/ee*
ordinary men to draw the line where crime begif ba
May the father of a starving family steal the 1°,30,'0
has no opportunity of earning, to save his chilurv.
lives ? If sentiment is to decide, Yes ; if law, 'or
A thief is a thief in the eye of the law, and a Dithe
derer a murderer. Let the Judge consider.tail
degree of the crime ; but society will destroX
if the theft of the father leads to ample relle:`tterl
. stead of to punishment, and the murder coll:11'0
by the woman not only condones her sin from ,`lto
that highest of crimes sprang, but erects her
heroine. —Anglo-American Times.

ed
Senator Chandler, if he bas not already reBc,
btio
Europe, soon will, with his family, where ho inteea:ol
spend the summer. We hope that he will visit Vl'2t if
and ventilate his opinions, and we venture to eel 'l3; 0
he announced a lecture, he would fill the biggest 11—e of,
London, for the Cockneys are curious to know Wbf:
should be so hated by Mr. Chandler and the seedy

Americans be represents. :
At Washington letters from Loudon say Wit 0
George Peabody's health is not good, and he desireo Ten
return home to end his days. Mr. Peabody has W„ral to
to Georgetown, Massachusetts, stating his inteel''ol
supply the funds required for the public library b° or
the town, and also pres-nting $4,000 towards the Pe
neut fund.

Mr. E. B. Washburne is the guest of gr',:,,04
li'game, who, with all the Embassy from Chi°3'
Paris for Berlin on the 21st June, when the '/'133,11-00•46
Minister will take the house now occupied by the u,sie
Embassy. Mr. Washburne presented his credenti foe
the Emperor last Sunday, when General Dix bed*
well audience.
01*

• ulf
LADvEnnsEmENT.
_I Holloway's Ointment Ina atwelAt
A certain remedy for diseases of the skin. IZtnv
scurvy, scrofula, or king's evil, sore heads, and tbiy 511,8.
inveterate skin diseases to which the human 110,4 f '4O
ject, cannot be treated with a more safe and sit artj
medy than Holloway's Ointment and Pills, Whic- U1°
peculiarly on the constitution, and so purify tt eAndre
that these diseases are eradicated from the sYsteTile Cl/09
lasting cute is obtained. They are efficacious ill ulcer°,.<o
of tumours, burns, scalds, glandular swellings, TlTea
wounds, rheumatism, contracted and stiff joints. effect to
medicines operate mildly and surely. Thu Cur',ool'
by them is not temporary or apparent only, but -
Uls
and permanent. 011.'1;0
lit-DVERTISE3IENT.]—Eleneeforth no oue will doubt the Ar°oo
properties of Du Barry's health-restoring BevalenThiel
Invalids' and Infants' Food, since to the thousands of oa„pei
it has already received from Invalids whose positio tbe Jou.
deemed hopeless, we may now add that of his Holine.sf,yet(ll!
whose health has been perfectly restored by it after tht,Voetijoll
unsuccessful medical treatment. We quote from the o{oo-40;
Midi," July 25th ;—" Rome, July 21, 1866. The healtnotior
Father is excellent, especially since, abandoning all Rel*ol
dies, he has confined himself entirely to Du Bar*. ecettth4
Arabica Food, of which he consumes a plateful 51. s yea if
are csoKtio`,
It has produced a surprisingly beneficial effect on 1-"'„0•46.`;
his Holiness cannot praise this excellent food too 11,1,.
extract a few out of more than 68,000 cures:
the Marchioness de Brehan, of seven years' lisoimmin
wasting away, debility, nervousness, with a nerrordie t0..n,4 I'o
all over, bad digestion, constant sleeplessness, au„u„,.d St"'„cpo;,„
tolerable nervous agitation. Cure No 1.771: (lYtivo";,
Decics, Lord-Lieutenant of Waterford, of many Yf
No. 49,832: "Fifty years' indescribable agony Idol, °0: del
nervousness, asthma, cough, constipation, tist„ti,,,. 46. rd 111040
sickness, and vomiting —Maria Joly " Cure J,' ;'„ease k$
James Roberts, of Frimley, Surrey, of 30 years' ",,,000,, tlrp
spitting of blood, liver derangement, and pariial. v,l 00,1;0
portent Caution—Beware of the many unsavour3 „;
sloppy imitations to which, without authority, "-"" no NB
name is most audaciously attached.
In tins, at Is lid I lb 2s 9d; 211os 4s 6d 5Ms
24 lbs 40s. -Also Do BARRY'S REVALENTA ARABI'; for s itt;oi
POWDER is packed in tin canisters: for 12 cups a. tag 01;as';
at 3s 6d, for 48 cups at 6s, for 288 cups at 308, 1.4 ris tinosrie"ol
—being about one penny per cup. The 30s and 0 rigice
,43;
free of carriage in England on receipt of Post'joatl'
BARRY Do BARRY and Co., No, 77, Regent-street,
all Grocers and Chemists.

8n00.W...:E-On the 29th iust., at 6, Onslow-square' the
BIRTII.N.
Rolt J =nett Browne, Esq., of a son. L 1
ITLEDGE -On the 29th inst., at Kg
lane, the wife of Robert Warne a 6
orl
ser
..de
-111A1?RIAGES. ~, Go I°4
truninnoN-w AT3ON-On the 27th inst., 3farl,, p.
Hutchinson, Esq., Bth Hussars, to Florence gni' ' C. 04
Watson,\ daughter of the late Commodore Wet`
and Queen's A.D.O. ti,
HAr.sE -WESTALL-On the 28th inst., at WI Isjoll
Church, by the Rev. A. J. J Cachemadls, 13--''' rlf °
oldest son of JoLn Halse Esq of Acton, foral°f 00
St. James's Palace, to Fre'deric:, eldest dateitex,....°,teet'
late Samuel Westail, Esq. of 108, Guildfora
Russell-square, formerly of 'New-inn.
DEATHS. -cr. or:'Se'
GnunxitoorE-On the 28th inst. at Arkosden Yi
Essex, the Rev. T. G. Griffinhotife, aged ld• ,Breoa'
SMITH -On the 26th inst., Robert Edwin Smitb, c"
street, Cheapside, sode:tor, aged -13. soli
WALSII-At South Lambeth, J. W. Walsh, F-64*, s
agi.d '52
--------'
-lis, ANPIt: PJ,
Lonlon: Printed and Published by WM 1--- a, ill, - i'.,-,
of No. 112, btr3nd, Printer, at THE SUN Mc°, -:.,daieso•-
in il:e Precinct of the Savvy, in the County of IIP
Monday, May 31, 1869.