The Sun.
London, England, 1869-08-10 00:00:00

ABYSSINIA.

Colonel Kirkham, before noted, has been commissioned
by Prince Kassa to take the control of his army at Adua,
Abyssinia. In a letter to Colonel Sykes, ALP., Colonel
Kirkham appears to be full of confidence as to the result
of his labours, and the Prince is pleased at the state of
efficiency to which he has brought the men. The chiefs
do not like the arrangement, but the Prince is
determined to take the poWer out of their
hands. Colonel Kirkham has given the Prince
some excellent advice, which he seems disposed
to take, such as granting tracts of land to European com
panies for growing cotton, coffee, &c. He has already
taken the duty off the merchandise carried by Europeans.
The Colonel hopes to do a great deal of good in the country
in a year or two, if he gets over the first difficulties of the
enterprise. Be declaras that his heart and soul is in
making Abyssinia a great country. Prince Kassa is
afraid of the Russian Government helping Prince Gobazi
who has applied to them for assistance, and Coloi.i
Kirkham thinks the Russians might be glad to get a
settlement on the coast.

tISIINDAT.

M. de Persigny's speech on the Constitutions,' reforms
has excited some interest. The ex-Minister regards the
Imperial concessions as the sign of strength rather than of

weakness.

There are, according to M. de Persigny, two

principles—both equally false—on which most monarchies
rest. The first principle declares the sovereign to be
irresponsible, it is the Cabinet alone who bears the respon-
sibility ; and this fiction has sent kings to exile and the
scaffold, for if the sovereign is inert he inspires con-
tempt, if he is active he is accused of usurping undue
power. In France this system has proved most unsuc-
cessful. The other principle condemned by M. de
Persigny regards the sovereign alone as responsible ; and
thus renders him the object of all public censure, and finally
of the public hatred. The Senatus-Consultum, according
to this speaker, avoids both dangers. The Emperor is re-
slonsible on great questions ; the Ministers on matters of
detail. The fifth article of the decree, which allows the
Senate to indicate the modifications it thinks necessary,
and to return a measure to the Corps L6gislatif, is, in M.
de Persigny's opinion, a dangerous experiment. He
forsees conflicts between the Chambers, conflicts which
must end in the discomfiture of the senators, whom he
warns not to sacrifice the shadow for the substance.

Apropos of the Senatus-Consultum, I may mention a
conversation which has just taken place between the
Emperor and a foreign diplomatist on the subject. The
Emperor sheaved himself really anxious to carry out the
reforms in good faith, but on one point he is immovable.
lie will not allow his personal responsibilityto be touched,
though he is willing that the Ministers should be respon-
sible before the Chambers. Some extraordinary rumours
arc current as to the Imperial intentions in case of the
failure of the present scheme. The Emperor, it is said, will
appeal to the people, and should they express any anxiety
for a Republic or for another Monarchy, Napoleon 111, will
not oppose their wishes, but will retreat from the struggle,
without allowing himself to be vanquished or bequeathing
anarchy to the country. Extravagant as these rumours
are, they have yet found currency in circles by to means
hostile to the Government.

The amnesty is still talked of. There are, I believe,
some difficulties in the way, owing to the antecedents of
some of the political offenders.
The appointment of the reporter to the committee
on the Senatus-Conmitum has been the object of
an animated discussion among the members. M.
Delangle seems to have a good chance. At yes-
terday's sitting of the committee he made a liberal speech,
professing his sympathy with the state of political feeling
which called forth the Senatus-Consultum. Upon this
several members, who had believed him to be the
Government nominee, called upon him for an explana-
tion. M. Delangle professed his entire independence,
declaring that M. Behic was the Ministerial candidate.
This explanation will, it is thought, greatly increase his
chance of success. M.M. de Maupas and La Guerronire,
the head of the Liberal party in the committee, will
support him. M. Delangle is popular in the
Senate, who wished to have him as President. It
is thought that the report may be brought up on
the 14th or the 16th, and that the debate may open on the
20th. It is rumoured that it has been suggested to the
Emperor that the session of the Conseils Generaux shall
be adjourned till the 30th August, in case the vote on the
Senatus-Consultum should not he taken before the 23rd.
The official journal has given the programme of the fete
on the 15th in celebration of the hundredth anniversary
of the birth of the First Napoleon. It does not appear,
however, that much variety has been introduced into the
details, or that those who take part in the affair will find
much to distinguish this fete from those which have pre-
cedei it.

Judgment has been given in the case of the miners on
strike at St. Etienne. Only ten were acquitted out of
seventy-two who were charged with the offence. Sixty-two
ha .re been condemned to various terms of imprisonment.
A curious case was heard lately at the Tribunal of Cor-
rectiOnal Police. A woman who kept a lodging-house
was charged with detaining the uniform of a National
Guard. He had been her tenant, but she expelled him
for non-payment, and detained all his effects. The
defaulter being called out for exercise, could not
appear without his regimentals, and in his difficulty applied
to a Commissary of Police, who requested the woman to give
up the uniform, explaining to her that it was the property
of the Government, and not of her debtor. This, however,
she positively refused to do until paid her money; she even
declined to appear at the police-office to give an explana-
tion. Her obstinacy was only overcome by a regular
prosecution, and she was condemned to two days' im-
prisonment.

A commission of nineteen members has been appointed
to inquire into printing and bookselling. It does not con-
tain many special names, and the interests which are
affected by this inquiry are only represented by two voices
in the commission. The appointment of this commission
has long been required, and it is so far satisfactory that it
has been arranged.