The Sun.
London, England, 1869-01-13 00:00:00

VIE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 13, 1.69.

MISCELLANEOUS IVEIVS.

Grattan:—ln doing so Mr. ()Eagan says that, while
men may hold various views as to. Grattan's policy,
there can be no dissension as to his " pure and
earnest life—h.-is public virtue—his indomitable
courage—his true and unchanging devotion to his
country—the achievements by which he lighted up
the fairest page in our dismal story—the genius which
made him matchless amongst the orators of the
modern world."
Captain White, M.P., has contributed £10(1
towards the new Roman Catholic cathedral ai
Thurles. In returning thanks for the gift, Dr.
Leahy says : " We have the more reason to acknow•
ledge our indebtedness that, whilst we are all, you
and we, linked together in the bonds of charity, you
do not kneel before the same altar with us."

humanity. There was a time wnen prisoners were
butchered or else sold into slavery, and civilised
communities considered it to be no evil. There
was also a time when criminals were tortured, and
this practice was looked upon as legal ; but a better
state of things supervened, and slavery and tor-
ture have been abolished. What is called " senti-
mental" at first often exercises a beneficial influence
upon human nature. The improved treatment of
brute animals has been a distinguishing feature of
modern society, and noble protests have been made
against certain cruel practices which prevailed. The
process of vivisection has been condemned by the
most eminent surgical and medical men and phy-
siologists of the country, and a society for the pre-
vention of cruelty to animals is advantageous to a
community, if only to represent the-growing sentiment
of tne age.

THE HOPE OF THE CONSERVATIVES.
The upholders of the Irish Church will not—do
or say what you will—believe it is " doomed.
The Protestants of the North of Ireland have passe
a resolution declaring such an idea to be party
heresy. And Colonel Wilmot, the Conservative
candidate at the South Derbyshire nomination.
seemed quite hopeful that the Irish Church would
live as long as he should. He said he looked upon
the question as very far from being settled,
great as the Government majority might be. They
had a remarkable instance fresh in their memories
of what might become of large Liberal
majorities. They saw the position in which they
were placed when they had a majority of seventy at
their backs. They dwindled away—to use a simile
which one of his kind Liberal opponents supplied
him with—like the American man of snow. Did
they mean to tell him that the Irish Church was not
surrounded with as many difficulties as the Reform
question ? He hoped to see that majority again
dwindle away.

THE EPISCOPATE.
A correspondent in India writes in the highest
terms of the Bishop of Calcutta. He was to remain
five days at Lahore, and during that time would hold
twelve services or meetings. He was to address thi
workmen engaged on the railway, and to preach at a
Hindustani service in the bazaar. He was also tc
visit the European prisoners in the gaol
Inspect the Schools, address the soldiers, pay
a visit to the Presbyterian mission school,
and hold a confirmation. His immense diocese in-
cludes Bengal, Burmah, Moulmein, the North-West
Provinces, Oude, the Central Provinces, and the
Punjab. He hopes to visit every part in two years.
Previous bishops have generally taken four years.
His heart and soul are in his work, and he looks upon
his position as a most solemn responsibility, and not
in the light of a worldly advantage. All the charges
about Ritualism are simply false, and seem to have
been concocted by_ " that stiff Baptist publication, the
Friend of India," whose editor, by the way, is the
Calcutta correspondent of that leading journal in
which the charges appeared.
The Bishop of Salisbury had arranged for an ex-
tensive series of confirmations in his diocese, but
being prevented by illness from carrying it out him-
self, he has arranged with the Bishop of Sodor and
Man to do so ; and Dr. Powys, having virtually no
episcopal duty, can easily accomplish this without
THE ELECTIONS. , neglecting his own diocese,
Mr. R. Dudley Baxter comes forwara to plal the THE GIBRALTAR QUESTION.
part of a political Mr. Toots. He is a Conservative, A correspondent of the Times, in treating of this
and has been trying to get comfort to himself from subject, as7.s where restitution is to end if all
.acquisi-
the returns as to the elections. He finds, according tions by conquest are to be restored. By the (session
to his own calculations, that there is a Liberal of Corfu we have not gained the gratitude of the '
majority of 111. But he assures us, as a Greeks, while we have relinquished a position of
party man, " it's of no consequence." He consequence. The writer asks if India is to
discovers the Liberal majority to have increased be restored to the undoes and Mahomedans.
by 37 votes since the last Parliament—but it's No reason holds good with respect to
of no consequence. He acknowledges that both the cession of - Gibraltar that does not apply
Scotland and Ireland have pronounced unmistake- with equal force to Hong Kong-; and then we must
ably for the disestablishment of the Irish Church— consider the claims of New Zealand. The Cape of
but it's of no consequence. The Reform Bill of Mr. Good Hope should be surrendered to the Dutch, and
Disraeli was a satisfactory measure, notwithstanding they might emulate our example by returning it to
that it has destroyed its author's Ministry and disor- the Hottentots. As for the gratitude of Spain, it is
ganised his party. Mr. Baxter shews reason for his asked, what recognition has she ever made of the AMERICA.
jubilation. The Reform Bill of 1831 positively for services of England. A more rational view There is, unfortunately, too much reason to fear that the
the time destroyed the Conservatives, and made them is taken by those who desire, at least, that we should settlement of the Alabama claims will be much impeded
powerless until the new voters became what Mr. have Ceuta in exchange for Gibraltar; but that place by the uncompromising nature of the American demands.
Baxter calls " eonseevatisecu But by the new bill cannot be looked upon as an equivalent. Large English statesmen desire to see the end of this difficulty,
only nineteen seats have been handed over to the sums must be expended upon Ceuta before she can
Liberals—" a mere nothing when compared with so come up to Gibraltar in the requirements of peace, both because England will be most benefited by an inter-
national judgment on such a question, and because
great an enlargement of the suffrage." Besides, the while in time of war she must utterly fall short. It
Conservatives represent a larger number than the is finally urged that the possession of such places as unfriendly relations between the two countries are pre-
Liberals. Mr. Baxter has made calculations, and Gibraltar has enabled our merchants to carry on judicial to the interests of both. But this sentiment is
finds that on the population the Conservatives have a their trade advantageously, and therefore it is not
not reciprocated in the United States. The Americans
net gain in the United Kingdom of 430,000. More: in correct to look upon these fortified stations as nothing
do not like England, and rather desire that we should
England there is a net vain of 2,ooo,ooovoters, besides, but military posts. know it. Mr. Reverdy Johnson's efforts as a peace-
sa says
ttehremcionrarteisopno
tno-
which the Irish Church as a question by itself decided
maker only draw upon him the hostility of the Republicans.
COUNTY FINANCIAL BOARDS
The Government is likely to bring out a social
the elections, slid, seeing the number of Dissenters in
policy, as it is called, at the re-opening of Parliament.
Ireland and Scotland, the vote must of necessity go
'Chamber of Agriculture Journal announces,
against the Conservatives' position. Mr. Baxter The dentT her There
fi
the
hneo
Times,tal talk o
af
good deal
but there e re
earnestis,
hopes, therefore, that the next elections will skew a
" therough the kindness of an influential friend," yield.as k muchll
The
more
press, of
for
t Englandhe most
tnp shea rpart,
opposesseems
rmtos
reaction. The Times, in criticisins, the letter, declares
that a bill is being prepared for the establishment of of the settlement recently announced, and advocates
Conservatism to be dying. Wha7t it wants is a man
County Financial Boards. Mr. Johnson's recall. Intelligence from other sources
like Peel, courageous enough to free himself from
,
mere party traditions; and strike out a path of his THE YOUNG MEN OF THE PERIOD. confirms these unfavourable omens. The correspondent
the success which attended the
own. Such a man the "leading journal'.' thinks the , Encouraged by
Tories have not got. : articles in the Saturday Review on the Girls of the
Period, the Daily Telegraph has started a correspond- -anxious, notwithstanding all that has been said to the
of the Telegraph believes that Mr. Seward is really
MR. MORLEY, M.P. ON THE LIBERATION SOCIETY.
youngmen. The letters are for the most
ence on the part of most American politicians there is an increas-
Mr. Morley's withdrawal from the Liberationcontrary, to pass a settlement. through.. the Senate ; but on
part exceedingly trite and commonplace, though ing indifference or unwillingness to conclude the matter.
Society since he became member for Bristol, has true enough.
excited some comment among his co-religionists. In We are told, for instance, what we all Whatever protocol may be agreed upon must secure the
knew before, that young men now like to spend their ratification of two-thirds of the Senate. Mr. Reverdy
reply to a letter from a Bristol Nonconformist, Mr.
.money entirely on themselves; shun marriage because Johnson has few friends in that body, and it is there-
Morley says that he holds, as distinctly as ever he did,
the opinions that religion is hindered and the 1 would deprive them of all their freedom, whiCh fore likely that the credit of settling this dispute will be
being interpreted means license ; rote the society reserved spiritual character of the Church injured by political of
.modest women slow, and do their flirting at
interference. But his conviction deepens that thewill send out another ambassador. It is certain that many
c. asinoes. All this is, unhappily, a stale story, though by the Republicans for themselves, and that they
cessation of such interference is not to be brought it would be a nice question to determine the amount
about by an assault on the part of Nonconformists, .of responsibility attaches to each of the two The progress of the negotiations under 2,
Ir. Seward's
but by indoctrinating the public mind with right _ which
views as to the separate functions of the Church and sexes. The young man does not like the girl of the management is still the subject of very conflicting state.
the State, and by encouraging Churchmen to seek period because she is fast and loud ; the girl is fast ments. One account affirms that Mr. Seward insists uprn
more liberty. His chief objection to the Liberation and loud because a young man of the period prefers England admitting her liability, leaving only the amount
Society consists in the declaration of its wish to
the society of venal to modest women. Amid the to be settled; another that he assents to an arbiter, but
columns of commonplace which the Telegraph has
apply to secular uses the national property of the published there is, however, one new idea. It is that
Established Churches. He could not be committed the present degrdation of young men is due in larse : dThisesiredso
etshna
(t) t theexhaust cboi choice
the
shalllist
obfeverrastiiofinesd: btyhetNheewSe
ynaotrek
.
to this hard-and-fast line, and therefore, while he- measure to the lower tone of literary men. In tte
has cordially co-operated with the society in efforts days of Charles Lamb the wittiest literary men in
for abolishing church rates, opening the universities,
London met at one another 's houses at family
papers publish fresh "settlements" weekly.
and securing tine right of burial in churchyards, 1101 gatherings—with a leg of mutton,. if a dinner
cannot continue a member of the association. This
is a remarkable statement, coining from such a
were in questiOn ; with punch, ' not wine, if it were
quarter. It seems to indicate that there is a merely an evening gathering. But now, if we may
even a part y, believe the outponrings of our literary men, they sre
mong the opponents of State Churches who do all on the side of the,
luxurious and the rich; they
not w:s11 to secularise Church property; in a word, spurn the (to use Wordsworth's expressaon) " plain
that while Mr. Gladstone will have their assistance in living and the high thinking "of other d et-s. Not
disestablishing the Irish Church, he must not count
only do they discourse learnedly of the different
upon their unconditional support when he comes to
clisendowment, kinds of wines that ought to accompany different
courses, but they sneer persistently at anybody who
THE IRISH BISHOPS gives a dinner that is not grand. In fact, they have
According to the Record, the Irish bishops have bartered the glorious symposia of former days, when
been holding a meeting at Dublin, to consider what there really was a feast of reason and a flow of soul,
ought to be their course with respect to the disesta- for entrees, early peas, and vapid talk. They have
blishment of the Irish Church. The variety of the fallen down and worshipped the golden image which
proposals made shewed, according to our con- that tyrant king, Mammon, has set up.
temporary, how entirely the bishops were without a
policy, and how soundly they had been slumbering
Until the enemy was thundering at the doors. It
was found impossible, from a want of unanimity, to
carry a proposal for confiding the defence
of the Irish Church to the two arch-
bishops and a suffragan, who were to act
as delegates in London. But at last it was
resolved that there should be a memorial to the
Crown, with the view of inducing the Government
to assemble the two 'louses of Convocation of -both
provinces, which are, in fact, under the patriarchal
iurisdiction of the Archbishop of Armagh.

FOREIGN NOTES:

lINFAVOURABLE OMENS.

The general aspect of European politics 18 not such al
to reassure the public mind respecting the " hitch " which
seems to have occurred at the first meeting of the Con-
ference. There is no doubt that Russia, whether anxious
for a war or not, is making preparations for the worst.
News from Odessa says that the Government has con-
cluded a contract for a large supply of provisions and
forage for the Army of the South. General Kotzebue,
the commander, is doing his utmost to get his troops ready
for a winter campaign. The officers speak openly, it is
said, of a war with Austria. The Vienna journals confirm
this intelligence. Horses are being purchased and carriages

TIIE SCOTCH CLERGY AND THE IRISH CHURCH.
An analysis has been published of the Glasgow
and Aberdeen Universities election, which is interest-
ing as shewing the attitude of the Scotch clergy on
the question of disestablishment. It appears that the
great bulk of the ministers of the Established
Church of Scotland-408 out of 429—voted for
Mr. Gordon, the Conservative candidate, while
only eleven voted for Mr. Moncreiff. The
proportion is reversed when we come to
the Free Churches. Of the Free Church, properly
so called, 168 voted as Liberals, 8 as Conservatives.
Of the United Presbyterians, 219 voted as Liberals,
nine as Conservatives, and only one was neutral.
The English and Irish Presbyterians, Independents,
and other denominations gave Mr. Moncreiff 228,
and Mr. Gordon only 14 votes : Mr. Gordon had a
majority of doctors, but Mr. Moncreiff had a
majority of lawyers, students, merchants. and-,archi-
b.xts.

onstructed in great numbers. More than this, the un-
friendliness between Austria and Prussia—which the
Standard believes to be the precursor of war—is a gloomy
reality. At Berlin there is a palpable impression that
Austria is not disposed to forget all she suffered in 1866.
The Prussians are equally convinced that the French
Government has not abandoned all idea of a conflict
with Prussia, and that so far the two Emperors are
on the best of terms. Hence the Prussian press has com-
menced a series of attacks upon Austrian policy, and
especially upon Baron Beust, the object being to force the
skilful Austrian Chancellor's hand. Unless some end of
his kind were in view, the Prussian semi-official papers,
which are by no means allowed to write as they please,
would not talk about the rupture of diplomatic relations,
as does the North German Gazette. On the whole,
European politics wear an aspect of pronounced gloom,
which is not improved by the fact that the arrangements
for the Conference are such as to renderits success entirely
useless as a peace guarantee.
The Constitutionnel says the Progressist party Is
gradually coming round to an alliance with the Repub. 11
licans, and fears are entertained that the benefit of such
a union will be all on the side of the latter.

RUSSIA AND ENGLAND,

The Moniteur says that the incessant encroachments of
Russia in Central Asia have led to " representations " on
the part of the English Ambassador at St. Petersburg.
" The English Government vit,ws with some concern the
attitude which Russia is taking in that part of Asia, and
desires to elicit, as soon as possible. the inten•
tions of the Czar iu that quarter. The Monitet,r
—which is no longer an official journal—may have got hold
of a story with some foundation of truth. It is possible
that our Ambassador may have made inquiries respecting
the prohibitive duty which has been levied on all Indian
goods imported into Central Asia, and that this little fact
has been elaborated in the true Parisian style. It is greatly
to be desired that our Government should make " repre-
sentations " of this kind.

MISDIRECTED PHILANTHROPY
Mr. Beggs has just read a paper on "Misdirected
Philanthropy as an Economical Question," at a
• meeting of the Social Science Association. Its object
was to inquire whether the philanthropy of the
present day is not in a great measure misdirected.
In support of this view of. the question Mr. Beggs de-
clared. that the sums spent in poor rates and charity were
bad investments. lle considered that the chief efforts of
all should be directed to save those who are tottering
On the brink of pauperism. To effect this he advised
the revision of the poor laws, the equalisation of the
poor rates, and the adoption of stringent rules
respecting the able-bodied. Employment was the first
necessity for the poor, but he was opposed to Govern-
ment works and to organised schemes of emigration ;
neither had he any hope that prison or workhouse
labour would check crime and pauperism. Mr. Beggs
thought that the best plan would be to reduce the
national expenditure and encourage those public"
works which would afford employment to hun-
dreds now n want of it. Another mode
of raising the people would be to improve
their homes, and education would, of course, conduce
materially to the desirable end. lie observed, in
conclusion, that the philanthropist had failed in
dealing with the pauper, and that therefore we had
better try the economist.

A STRANGE STORY.
There is an exceedingly strange story, which we
can hardly credit, in the Liverpool Porcupine. And
yet it is one which would not be told without some
foundation. A correspondent writes :—" The new
Liberal brooms are making a clean sweep of their
new establishment, and in doing so have discovered
a number of very foul spots which their Conservative
predecessors have left behind them. Amongst the rest,
it is positively affirmed that the new heads of depart-
ment have made the startling discovery that immense
sums of public money have been illegally expended in
a vain attempt to keep the late Government in power.
It is further stated that the Bank of England has
advanced money on loan for the same purpose, and
that the sum total so obtained and expended will
greatly astonish the nation. Mr. Lowe is said to
have got a full scent of this terrible mare's-nest ;
and, as his budget is to be produced about the middle
or latter end of February, the public may reasonably
look forward for disclosures of a most sensational and
scandalous nature. As a matter of course the illegal
transactions to which I allude were unknown to
the responsible Ministers in whose departments they
occurred."