The Sun.
London, England, 1869-06-11 00:00:00

THE SUN, 'LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JUNE 11, 1869.-

us all only too painfully the inefficient state to which
our land forces had been reduced. The Italian war
of NAPOLEON 111. indicated, on the other hand, the
extraordinary state of efficiency arrived at by the
greatest of all the military nations of the continent.
The indifference as to our military defences, conse-
quent upon a prolonged peace, terminated almost
abruptly. England suddenly awoke to the recogni-
tion of the imperative need there was of some com-
plete reorganization of her forces both by land and by
sea. The navy has been transformed. The army has
been transformed. The militia has been increased
and multiplied. A National Guard, never dreamt of
but a very few years ago, has, with astounding
rapidity, sprung into existence. Barristers and mer-
chants, shopkeepers and artiztns, clerks and work-
men, have volunteered their services as defenders, in
case of need, of their houses awl altars ; have donned
their uniforms ; have allowed themselves to be labo-
riously drilled, and have sedulously cultivated their
capabilities in the skilled handling of their rifles.
The result being, as we have said, that England is
not to-day what she entirely-was in a manner yes-
terday, to all intents and purposes, defenceless. WEL-
LINGTON could say seriously, in 1847, that there
was no reason why forty thousand Frenchmen could
not be landed any day quite easily on our shores, and
marched straight upon the unguarded metropolis.
WELLINGTON would never dream,' were he still

amongst us, of making any similar assertion nowa-
days, under existing :circumstances. We have the
forces now that were then required. All that is
wantel at the present moment in regard to them is at
better system of systernatiz Won. Numberless propo-
sitions to this end are being perpetu Illy brought for-
ward both within and without the walls of the im peria 1
Parliament. Very recently appeared some exceedingly
thoughtful, and for the most part thoroughly well-con-
sidered suggestions for the better organisation of our
military forces, in the pages of Blackwood's Magazine
—papers which have since been published separately
with their author's name, that of the present Sir
ARCHIBALD ALISON, duly announced upon the title-
page. Ouly last evening, again, a number of other
equally thoughtful and not less thoroughly well-con-
sidered suggestions of a similar character were brought
by Lord ELCHO under the consideration of the House
of Commons. Consequent upon the speech then de-
livered by Lord ELcno an interesting discussion en-
sued, a discussion in which Colonel NORTH, Colonel
GILPIN, Colonel WILSON PATIEN, Capt. VIVIAN, and
Col. LOYD LINDSAY severally participated—the late
Secretary for War, Sir JOHN PAKINGTON, and the
present Secretary for V% ar, the Right Hon. EDWARD
CARDWELL, more or less candidly avowing their
opinions also, as being, or as having been, responsible
Ministers of the Crown, in regard to the more urge .t
requirements of the time upon the vital subject of
our Army of Reserve. Remembering that retrench-
ment is just now the order of the day, the moment
seems hardly propitious for any costly suggestions as
to the better organisation of our land forces, whether
in the matter of the Royal Army, of the Militia, oT
the Yeomanry, or of the Volunteers. DI )re particu-
larly bearing in minl that there is no especial urgency
at thin moment in the shape of any revival of the old
panics as to the possibility, not to say the probability,
of an invasion. As matters now are, already,
we are as a people tolerably well prepared for
any emergency. This being said in no boast-
fulness, but simply as the recognition of au
indisputable fact. There is, moreover, a conscious-
ness on the part of the community that our national
defences are materially strengthened by the sitnple
fact of the extension of our railway and e!eAro-tele-
graphic systems. Aided by those two great system 4,
the troops of the line, the militia, the yeomanry, and
the volunteers conk!, now, with the greatest facility

anal rapidi y, be concentratel upon any given
point according to the requirements of any sud-
denly realisal emergency. Nothing, as a nutter
of course came, or apparently was intended to come,
of the debate provoked last evening in the House of
Commons by the mo:ion brought forward by Lord
ELcuo, a motion commented It; on by so many
speakers both on the side of the Opposition ani on
t!,e E.ide of the Government, only, however, to be
eventually withdrawn—as having serve] i:s purpose,
namely, the ventilation, once more, within the walls
of the Legislature of the vitally important theme of
our national defences.

THE New Zealand despatch by which Earl GRAN-
VILLE has already in a way made himself famous
may be regarded as the official announcement of that
great change in our colonial policy which has been
in process for some years past. The issue between
the Colonial Office and the New Zealand authorities
involves the great question of where colonial self-
government and self-defence shall begin and
where Imperial intervention shall end. The
difficulties in which the colonists are involved with
the Maories will require a sum of not less than
£1,400,000, distributed over seven years, for their
ultimate settlement. To raise such an amount out
of taxation is hopeless. A loan is deemed necessary,
and the New Zealand Government has applied
to the Colonial Office for the assistance in the shape
of an Imperial guarantee on a loan of a million
and a half. Their agent in London argues that the
credit of the colony is not good enough to raise this
loan except at a high rate, and that the relations
between the mother country and its distant depen-
dency are such that England is fairly under the
obligation. It is true, says Mr. FITZIIERBERT, the
New Zealand agent, that the colonists have under-
taken the duties and responsibilities of self-govern-
ment, and that British aid in financial matters
cannot as a rule be looked for. But these troubles
with the Maories began before the transfer of autho-
rity was made. The Colonial Office handed over its
authority and the Maori embroglio together.
In order to make a, fair beginning the colonikth
plead that Great- 13ritain; -,tiimler -a- morn
obligation to help them through thin costly business,
and then for the future the infant hopes that it will
be able to walk alone. Earl GRANVILLE takes quite
the opposite view. Very truly he remarks that the
colony was governed from the first for its own
benefit ; not the slightest advantage was derived by
England front the connection. The colonists took
the work of government at their own reqUest Even
after the transfer of " the reins" a large military
force was kept in the islands to protect the settlers.
The total cost of forming, governing, and defending
the colony has been more than sufficient to purchase
the entire territory. Why, then, asks the COLONIAL
SECRETARY, should this expenditure be continued? So
far from the mother country owing her offspring
anything more, the colony is already under large
obligations for past help. It might be argued that
a guarantee does not involve much ; but it is ex-
tremely probable—almost certain—that the colony
would not be able to pay, and the Imperial Govern-
ment would be called upon.

Earl GRANVILLE'S decision is perfectly sound.
Englishmen cannot fail to feel the liveliest interest
in the future of the colonies, and the most sincere
wishes for their prosilerity. Their population are in
great part immediate relations of the generation
now living their advancement must be England's
triumph. But our frienclship for the colonies ought

not to be regarded as a pretext for saddling us with
their pecuniary liabilities. We have paid too much
on their behalf already. It is clearly absurd that the
hard-pressed taxpayer of East London should be
asked to contribute for the protection and government
of colonists whose situation, as a rule, is better than
his own. The proposed guarantee amounts
to nothing less than this. For a guaran-
tee in itself implies a liability to pay, and
in this case the chance of our being called

upon to refund part of the million and a half
is very considerable. Let the colonists but consider
our position, and they will see the unfairness of
looking for more assistance to a country which can'
hardly well support its own paupers. We
have in times past freely accorded assistance
in money and protection by land and sea to the
colonies which were in need ; and of these New Zea-
land has been the chief. What has England
received in return ? As a rule not only has
the English nation paid its money to its offspring
unconditionally, and without recompence, but as fast
as the colonies have grown to ,maturity they have
evinced their gratitude by adopting protective tariffs
and closing their ports against us. It is wholly a mis-
take to suppose that the wealth of England is to be attri-
buted to the facts that her empire is the most magnifi-
cent the world has yet seen, and that on the QUEEN'S
dominions the sun never sets. England's greatness
is not measured by the number of square miles over
which her authority extends. The size of the
British Empire is the effect, not the cause,
of British prosperity. India, which is not
a colony, is a direct source of wealth ;
but the colonies proper contribute nothing except in
the ordinary course of trade, and there is no proof
that our trade with them would be smaller if they
were independent. Their independence, in fact, is a
contingency to which Englishmen look forward
with no apprehension whatever. In Austra- 1
lia and New Zealand the colonial Government
is rapidly growing more and more powerful, and
more independent of home control. When these
vigorous young States arrive at full maturity,
England cannot prevent their shaking off Imperial
rule pltogether, nor can she have any wish to do so.
It might be asked : If Britain's connection with
the colonies is for the future to be so restricted, and
if they are, when possible, to be self-supporting,
what is the use of continuing the alliance at home ?
The question admits of a very definite reply. Many
of the colonies are wholly unfit to take care of them-
selves. To leave Barbadoes, Jamaica, or even Cape
Colony to their fate, would simply be to abandon
them to the sovereignty of some other Power, or to
hopeless internal dissensions. All the minor colonies
have everything to lose and nothing to gain by their
independence. They have no differences of
moment with the Home Government. Some of
them, it has been ascertained, will not take
the trouble to elect a local assembly.
The number of
men competent to do duty as legis-
lators and governors is very small. It is only in the
case of two or three of the most important colonies
that independence can be thought of. The New
Zealanders must admit that, even under these more
restricted conditions, even on the terms that they
raise their own funds, and pay their own troops,
the connection with England is of great advantage
to them. Two hundred thousand people are not
sufficient to form a State. We supply them with a
governor, and so save them a political turmoil for
which they have not the slightest desire. England will
not protect them atthe ccst of the British taxpayer, but
they may have any needful force by paying a reason-
able sum—
a sum which is much smaller than that
required for a colonial levy. It is, however, useless
to enter into detail; for the colonists have seen the
value of English connection since they demanded
and obtained a Legislature of their own, a pro-
ceeding which is now admitted to be premature.
As to the more populous British colonies, the inde-
pendence of New South Wales and Victoria is a
question merely of time and convenience. Canada
is very loyal. She needs time to consolidate
the new Confederation, and she needs still more
protection against possible encroachment from the
South. , The Dominion is prosperous at present ;
jealousies, necessarily arising from the welding of
so many provinces into one State, are disappearing,
and there is no ground for the belief that
much future trouble can arise from this source.
It is not easy to unite small provinces, but it is still
less easy to dissever them when the union has once
been formed. " When the Dominion has gained
strength] it will be quite at the choico of its inhabi-
tants whether an independent State be formed,
or whether they will join their great neighbour.
England can suffer nothing by the transfer. So long
as her prosperity lasts it will not be diminished by
the severance of colonial connections. When it
decays the many empires founded in different parts
of the world will secure to the Anglo-Saxon race the
glory of having contributed more than any other to
the happiness and civilization of the world.

PCLICE INTELLIGEANCE.-7his Day.

DI ARLBOROUCUI-STREET.

EVENING .A MUSENIENT.—Margaret Welstead and Mary
women, living in
SAenvnenMDoioadlsy,,wte"toe cl•ho'avr-gloedokbinegfoie"Munr.6—Tyrwhitt with rho
following disorderly conduct.
" From thelevidence it:appeared that the prisonels bad
amused themselves of an evening for some time past by
throwing red ochre and flour over tradesmen in and pass-
ing through Tower-street, and their conduct had at length
become sc intolerable that last night they were given into
ower-street.
to the charge Wel-
cu swtohdcy;
n• bayskaecaoNffvehealitouthsee-3,
had
rtoin
Barr y
stead fainted, and was carried out of court.

Subsequently Mr Tyrwhitt, after cattioning the pri-
soners as to their future conduct, fined them os. each.

THAMES.

SHAMEFUL CRUELTY TO ITORSES.—John Amos, aged 40
years, of No. 2, Wharf-road, Cubitt-town, Poplar, carman,
was charged by Mr. Simeon Sell, an officer cf the Royal
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, with
wilfully and cruelly torturing a horse by working it in an
unfit state. Sell was making inquiries about the defeud-
aut it] Poplar relating to the se'zure of two other horses
belonging to him. They were found yoked to two carts
at the West-end and in a very miserable condition. They
were sore on their backs and they were evidently suffer-
ing great agony. The magistrates remanded the drivers
9f the horses and carts and ordered summonses to
issue against Amos, the owner of the horses, for allowing
them to bo worked in an unfit state. While Sell was in
Poplar he saw another of the defendant's horses drawing
a heavy van, and returning to his yard after delivering a
heavy load of manure. There were large sores on the
Withers and back. The horse was old, and there was
scarcely a bit of flesh on its bones. Sell arrested the pri-
soner immediately.
Mr. Paget said be was glad the Royal Society had taken
ttp this case. The horse was in a most wretched condi-
tion. It was better.) prevent suffering than to fine people,
---uirleas there was_a_cime of great aggravation. Whenever a
case of wanton cruelty to a horse or any other animal was
proved, he would inffict severe penalties and punish the
offenders to the ftal9st extent in his power.
Mr. Pelham, solicitor, said the prisoner did not see the
horse before it was sent with a van.

Mr, Paget - Ile might to have seen it.
Mr. Pelham—He has been incapacitated by illness from
looking after his horses, and has trusted to his men.
Mr. Paget said the horse must have suffered acute pain,
and must not ho worked again until it was thoroughly
cured. Ile would adjourn the case for four weeks, and it
would depend on the state of tho horse when the case was
again presented to his notice as to what sentence he
should pronounce on the prisoner.

WESTMINSTER.
SILLY DittNICEINEBB.—Mr. John Shaw, a person of
gentlemanly appearance, of 24, Queen-street, Brompton,
was charged with being drunk and disorderly.
Policeman 190 B said that at a little before two this
morning the defendant was drunk in Rutland-gate. He
stepped upon a coal plate at 22, which made a noise, and
then inquired of w;tness whAlier it was quite right. Wit-
ness stooped and picked it up with some difficulty, as it
was not fastened anderneath, but it was perfectly safe.
Defendant insisted upon ringing at 22, and getting the
family up. Witness endeavoured to dissuade him, but I► 3
insisted and rung
.the bell, and a male servant got up.
Then pr:soner idled a c ►b to go to Rutland-gat,', al hough
he 'via there, and taking up the coal plate put it in the cab.
Mr. Arnold —Wina do you say, Mr. Shaw ?
Defet.daut— I ma very sorry for being drunk, Lut I was
not drunk.
Mr. Arnold—l don't know what you mean by that.
Defendant—l hkd been drinking, but was not d.
A sergeant at the station said he was what you would
call "silly" drunk. He gave irrelevant and absurd
answers to questions. I asked him what he was, and he
said a scavenger, and that it was the first time ho had
been in a station, and he should like to remain.
Lady Perceval's servant, at 22, Rutland-gate, proved
being disturbed in his sleep as described.
Defendant said be wished to protect the safety of others
by taking up the coal. plate.
Mr. Arnold thought he was going the right way to en-
danger it by taking away the plate. His conduct had been
very silly, and ho must pay 10s. fine.

Tu AROBBISHOP OE CA2 TE7 BUIW.

Some months ago a number of influential laymen, witn
the Lord Mayor and Mr. G. Moore at their head, having
formed a high opinion of Dr. Tait during the time that he
was Bishop of London, determined, when he was trans-
lated to the Archiepiscopal See of Canterbury,
to present a portrait of him to the Bishop's Palace at
Fulham. The commission was entrusted to Mr. Sydney
Hodges, who has painted a very admirable full-length
portrait of the Archbishop. This picture was on Thursday
presented at Mr. Graves's, Mall-Mall, to the Bishop
of Londor, in the presence of the subscribers,
the Lord Mayor, and the Sheriffs of London.
The subscribers were wholly laymen, although several
clergymen desired to contribute. The Bishop of London,
in acknowledging the presentation, spoke of the excellent
qualities of his predecessor, and the valuable legacy he
had left them in his munificence and zeal.

SUNDAY AND RAGGED SCHOOLS

EXEMPTION BILL.

On Thursday a meeting to devise the best means to
be adopted for securing the passing of Mr. C. Reed's bill
exempting Sunday and Ragged Schools from local taxation,
was held at the Westminster Palace Hotel.

Mr. C. Reed occupied the chair, and amongst those
present were Mr. Bazley, M.P., Mr. A. Cross,
M.P., Mr. Baines, M.P., Mr. Pell, IMP., Mr.
Serjeant Simon, M.P., Mr. J. Briscoe, M.P., Mr. Mellor,
M.P., Mr. M'Arthur, M.P., the Hon. W. Egerton,
Mr. Armitstead, N.P., Mr. C. Turner, M.P.,
Mr. Muntz, M.P., Mr. Hibbert, M.P. _ _

The CHAIRMAN, having referred to the efforts that had
been made in Parliament in former years to get Sundayand
ragged schools exempted from taxation, said they must allbe
agreed that it would be a wise thing to test the feeling of the
new House of Commons. They would, no doubt, meet
with obstacles from the Government in getting their bill
passed, but they must set about the task with all ear-
nestness.

Mr. BAILEY observed that nothing could be more
unjust than the principle of taxing the benevo-
lence of the country. Whatever might be the case
with the great endowed schools, it was certainly not fair
to those which were supported by voluntary contributions.
He trusted that Mr. Reed's bill would be well supported.
In answer to a question from Mr. Wright, Birming-
ham, the chairman said his bill did not embrace
elementary schools.
Several speakers deprecated any addition being made to
the bill, Mr. Cross reminding the meeting that the opposi-
tton of the Government would be so great that it would be
very unwise to strengthen their hands by anything like
disunion.

Serjeant SimoN urged that deputations should at once
wait upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Mr. EGERTON thought it would be better to influence
the House of Commons first.

Mr. lIIBBERT supported this view. Let them fight the
question out in the House.
Mr. BAZLEY said the Government had much more
respect for votes in the House than they had for deputa-
tations out of the House.

Mr. JOHNSTON, as an Irish, and Mr. ARMITSTEAD, as a
Scotch member, each warmly supported the object of the
meeting.

Mr. BAINES was strongly of opinion that justice, com-
mon sense, and religion were all against the imposition of
a tax on Sunday and ragged schools.

Mr. BRISCOE quite agreed with previous speakers that
if they asked too much from the Government they would
probably get nothing. It was absolutely necessary that
the meeting should be unanimous.

Mr. GHENT, secretary of the Ragged School Union,
pointed out that it was absolutely certain that if the tax-
ation of ragged schools continued, many of them must be

closed.

Mr. M'ARTEUR would have no faith in a deputatitw to
11Ir. Lowe, but he would sziggest that the facts of the case
should be stated to Mr. Gladstone and Mr. Goschen,
without asking for any expression of their opinion.

MARRIAGE OF LORD LYTTELTON.—The marriage
of the Right Hon. Lord Lyttelton, Lord• Lieutenant of
Worcestershire, with Mrs. Mildmay, was celebrated on
Thursday morning, at Perrystone, near Ross. The wed-
ding was a very quiet one. his lordship has been a
widower ten years.

THE MILITARY KNIGHTS OF WINDSOR. —The
death of Major John M. Hewson has occasioned a vacancy
in the Lower Foundation of the Military Knights of
Windsor. Major Hew•son died on Monday, in his 71st
year, after a long and painful illness. This veteran officer
retired on full pay from the 89th Regiment of Foot, and
obtained his appointment as a Military Knight of Wind-
sor about three years ago.

THE TRIAL OF A. CHIEF CONSTAELL
The trial of Major Beswick, late Chief Constable for
Birkenhead, was resumed on Thursday at the Central
Criminal Court. The Major was charged with forgery. In
defence the prisoner stated that be had been imposed upon,
and called several witnesses as to character, amongst
others Sir H. Storks. The jury found the prisoner guilty,
but strongly recommended him to mercy on account of
the character he had received. The prisoner was sen-
tenced to five years' penal servitude.

A JURY OF SMITTIS.—The other day, at the
Sheffield County Court, a case came on for trial which
was to be beard before a jury. Each juryman, on being
sworn, answered to the name of "Smith," and Mr.
Hartley, the clerk, experienced some difficulty in deter-
mining who were the right persons. This could only be
ascertained by calling out the residence of each Smith.
After the jury had been empannelled, the Smiths formed
a line, and Mr. Blackburn said: "Are you all Smiths?
Then I have no objection."

ROYALTY IN SCOTLAND.—A despatch, dated
Wick, Thursday, is as follows :—" Her Majesty's steam
yacht Vivid, with his Royal Highness Prince Arthur on
hoard, arrived at Stornoway on Monday night, on A
tour through the Hebrides. Being desirous that his visit
should not be accompanied by any demonstrations there
was no public display, but a large crowd cheered him
on landing next morning with Colonel Elphinstone and
Lieutenant Pritchard. On Tuesday his Royal Highness
visited Stornoway Castle, accompanied by Mr. Munro
Chamberlain, for Sir James Matheson, who is Low in
London. He then visited some Druidical remains at
Callenish, sixteen miles from Stornoway, and thereafter
spent Tuesday in rod-fishing, at which he was very suc-
cessful. The Prince enjoyed his visit exceedingly. The
Vivid sailed hence on Wednesday morning."

CHARLES DICKENS AND WASHINGTON IRVING.—
The following letter from Charles Dickens is published in
a recent number of the Round " Washington,
February 9, 1868.—My dear Sir,—Your reference to my
dear friend, Washington Irving, renews the vivid impres-
sions reawakened in my mind at Baltimore but the other
day. I saw his fine face for the last time in that city.
He came there from New York to pass a day or two with
me before I went westward, and they were made among
the most memorable of my life by his delightful fancy
and genial humour. Some unknown admirer of his
books and mine sent to the hotel a most enormous
mint-julep wreathed with flowers. We sat, one on
either side of it, with great solemnity (it filled a
respectable-sized round table) ; but the solemnity was of
very short duration. It was quite an enchanted julep,
and carried us among innumerable people and places that
we both knew. The julep held out far into the night, and
my memory never saw him afterwards otherwise than as
bending over it with his straw with an attempted air of
gravity (after some anecdote involving some wonderfully
droll and delicate observation of character), and then, as
his eye caught mine, melting into that captivating laugh
of his, which was the brightest and best I have ever
beard.—Dear sir, with many thanks, faithfully yours,
CHARLES DICKENS.—Charles Lanman, Esq., Georgetown,
D.C."
THE SUTHERLAND GOLDFIELDS.—A despatch
which appears in the Northern Ensign, dated from Helms-
dale, states that the Duke of Sutherland visited the
. diggings on Wednesday, when those selected for the pur-
pose sank a shaft on the level ground of the Strath near
Kildonan Lodge. The result did not come up to the expecta-
tions of those interested, a few particles of gold being all
that remained in the dishes after the stuff was washed out.
The Duke did . not consider the prospect sufficient to
warrant further proceedings, and accordingly gave it to be
understood that sinking would have to be discontinued in
the meantime. He stated that the revenue derived from
the diggings was not sufficient to cover the expenses in con-
nection with them. The diggers are generally dissatisfied
at the insufficient nature of the search, and consider that,
in order to ascertain whether rich deposits really exist or
the Strath, some thirty or forty holes ought to be sunk,
and a thorough investigation made at various points along
the valley, a few dishfuls of stuff from the bottom of one
shaft being, in their opinion, not a sufficient test. The
workings on the Suiegill and Kildunan burns are still
being carried on, but many of those engaged in the work
are making very little of it, and have lost much of their
former courage and good spirits. Numbers of those that
took out claims last month got vary tired of the daily
round of hard work and little pay, so that when their mond
expired they did not renew their licenses, and left the
district. A good many fresh bands have, however, ap-
peared on the scene, and up to Saturday some eighty-two
licenses bad been issued for this month, and a considerable
addition is expected to be made to the number. It wouli
appear that the Duke has been much gratified by the
discovery of gold on his estate, and that he entertains
kindly feelings towards the discoverer. He brought with
him on this occasion a valuable gold watch, which he pre-
, seated to