The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-07 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Sin,—A few days ago I addressed you a letter on
the subject of autumnal sessions, showing, as I then
did, that for the last thirty years, ever since the
accession of her present Majesty, we had had au-
tumnal sessions every ten years, whenever the
year has ended with the figure 7. I now proceed,
following the same chain of chronology, to
show you that for the last 100 years, whenever
the year has ended with the number 7, some re-
markable historical fact or date has occurred. I
happen to be a seventh child, and an old lady, who
was in the habit of studying the apocalypse when 1
came into the world, diligently told my poor dear
mother that seven was a mystical number, and that
something remarkably would happen to me.
Trusting you will pardon this egotistical little family
allusion, I will just take a brief historical summary
of the decennial events during the last 100 years.
Just this time in the last century, in November,
1767, was born Edward Duke of Kent, the ancestor
of the present line of succession to the British
Throne. 1777, popularly termed the three
sevens, was the most disastrous year of
that dreadful error and delusion (so at this
distance of time we see it to have been)
the American war, being shortly before France
joined America against England. 1787 was re-
markable as having been about the most peaceful
and prosperous period of the long reign of George
111., as we were then in a state of profound peace
with the whole world. 1797, the suspension of
bank payments took place, the issuing of £1 bank-
notes, and the first mutiny at the Nore. This was
about the most disastrous period of the old French
war.

There was the abolition of the slave trade in 1807,
and there was George ll[.'s celebrated speech in the
same year against Roman Catholic Emancipation,
wherein he said—" I have courage to relinquish my
crown and end my days in a cottage, and if needs
be I will do so ; nay, more, I have courage to forfeit
my life and lay my head upon the block, and if it
should be necessary I will do so, but I have not
courage to violate the coronation oath which I made
to my God."
1807 was remarkable for the treaty of Tilsit,
whereby Russia joined Napoleon against Great
Britain, and England was at war with the whole
Continent of Europe. Also, in the same year, took
place the celebrated No-Popery Election, conse-
quent upon the downfall of what was popularly
called " The Broad-Bottomed Government," " All
the Talents," which was something after the same
fashion as Lord Aberdeen's Government, by which
we were governed by (or rather misgoverned)
this time fourteen years ago, just prior to the out-
break of the Crimean war. I must here just step
out of the way to observe that it is not a little
singular that twice iu the course of the present
century, while we have been engaged in two
gigantic struggles, we should have been governed--
or rather misgoverned—by such imbecile Govern-
ments as was the Government of Lord Grenville in
1806 and 1807, and the Government of Lord Aber-
deen in 1853 and 1854. Returning, however, to
the thread of my argument, in narration to my
historical dates and facts, I proceed to show how in
1817, just this time half a century ago, all England
was thrown and plunged into heartfelt sorrow by
the death in one day of two generations of princes
to the English throne—the Princess Charlotte and
her infant—a thing without precedent in the
history of the country. In 1827 another
heir presumptive to the British throne died,
in the person of Frederic Duke of York,
the then reigning King's next brother. This
event took place at the very beginning of the year.
Later in the same year came to an end the old Eldon
and Liverpool Tory Government, which had reigned
supreme for the long period of 15 years. The im-
mortal George Canning succeeded as Prime Minis-
ter, and closed his brilliant earthly career only a
few short mouths afterwards, and was succeeded as
Premier by the late Earl of Ripon, then Lord
Goderich.

My historical summary of the memorable year
1827 would, however, be wholly incomplete without
mentioning " the untoward event" which took place
at the close of the year, viz., the battle of Navarino,
when England joined Russia in fighting the Turks,
just as twenty-eight years, one solar cycle, later she
joined Turkey against Russia. And considering the
disgraceful peace we made with Russia nearlytwelve
years ago, at the beginning of 3856, the Russian
war of 1855 might well be called "an untoward
event," no less so than the Turkish war of 1827.
The next decade brings us to the period of the
accession of Queen Victoria, and the commencement
of a new dynasty to the English Throne. 1847 was
remarkable for the most awful commercial panic
that England, or even the world, had ever seen. It
was also remarkable as having witnessed the termi-
nation of the first six years' Parliament since the
days of the Georgian era. The great Dan O'Connell
died, moreover, in the last-named year. 1857 was
remarkable for the passingof the new Divorce Courts,
whereby the ancient ecclesiastical courts may virtu-
ally be said to have been completely done away with.
It was also memorable for a rather excited general
election, which gave the Administration of the late
Lord Palmerston a large majority, one of the very few
large majorities any so-called Liberal Administra-
tion has ever gained since the old Ministry of the late
Earl Grey thirty-five years ago. At the close of
1857 there was also a slight commercial panic ; and
last, not least, comes in to crown the century of
decades, 1867, the most triumphant septimus of all
the Sevens, for this gentleman has carried a more
memorable Reform Bill than even the Bill, the
whole Bill, and the nothing but the Bill of
1832 ; and, moreover, it has been carried by the
very individual who, as I have often in the
course of my correspondence with you this now ex-
piring year, remarked to you took a most effective
part in carrying the great measure of the ever-
memorable year 1832. I have now given you an
historical narrative of the dates and events of every
decade during the last 100 years. What will take
place during the decades of the next 100 years is a
problem which we can none of us solve, as it lies
hidden in the reserved and silent but ever-
fruitful womb of old Grandmother Time. Nous
Verrons is all I can add in conclusion, et Q. E. D.—
I remain, sir, your faithful servant,
A LOVER AND OBSERVER OF HISTORICAL
DATES AND FACTS.
November 4, 1867.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE,

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE RECENT•BATTLE OF MONTANA,

PARIS, Nov. 7.
The Moniteur of this morning says that according
to news received by the Government 10,000 Gari-
baldians took part in the battle at Montana.
Their loss was 800 killed and wounded, and they
left 2,000 prisoners, 5,000 or 6,000 rifles, and six
guns. The loss of the Pontifical troops was 150
killed and wounded.

In consequence of the news from Italy the Em-
peror has ordered the departure of a third division,
hich was under orders to embark at Toulon for
Civita Vecchia to be countermanded.

FLORENCE, Nov. 6.
According to letters addressed by Garibaldian
officers to the Diritto reinforcements consisting of
French troops reached the field of battle just as the
Garibaldians had regained their position and the
Pontifical troops were in retreat.
The Diritto announces that the French still oc-
cupy Rome. The military political director has
ordered the release of various individuals who had
been imprisoned by the Pontifical police as a mea-
sure of precaution.

The Opinione states that the French troops who
participated in the combat at Montana consisted of
the Ist, 59th, and 80th regiments of the line, one
battalion of Chasseurs, and a battery.

FLORENCE, Nov. 7.

The French Government has telegraphed a re-
quest to the Pontifical Government to stop all pro-
ceedings against those persons who may have been
compromised by their votes in the plebiscitum for
the annexation of the Papal provinces to Italy.

BADEN.

CARLSRUHR, Nov. 6.

The Chamber of Deputies held an evening sitting
to-day, when the Budget of the Ministry for
Foreign Affairs was approved with- an amendment
reducing the expenses of the B.►den Legations at
Florence and Vienna, and that of the military
Plenipotentiary at Berlin. The expenses of the
legations for six months only was voted.

HUNGARY.

PESTH, Nov. 6 (Evening.)

In to-day's sitting of the Lower House of the
Hungarian Diet the proceedings taken against the
Municipalities which had opposed the orders of the
Government was approved by 195 against 79 votes.
The debate on this question has lasted six days.
The Emperor of Austria is expected here the day
after to-morrow.

VISIT OF BARON BEUST TO LONDON.
We read in the Vienna Presse :—" Baron Beust
went to London to enter into personal relations with
the leading statesmen of England, or rather to re-
new those relations with them, for since the confe-
rence on Danish affairs he has been held in esteem
in London. When it is considered that people here
await with the greatest impatience the arrival of
this politician, since it now rests with him to make
the new machine of the state work, it is evident that
importantreasons must havedetermined him to spend
even so short a period as two days in the English
capital. Among those reasons the chief one is the
desire to realise the long-promised understanding
with the western powers, and to act in this way on
Prussia through the medium of England. But,
besides this, we believe we can affirm with certainty
a thorough consideration will be given to the Italian
question. The Emperor Napoleon desires, as is
known, that a conference should take place. Austria
considers that she ought not to oppose any obstacle
to it ; but she would not lend herself to that kind of
proceeding unless England consented to join in the
conference. Baron Beust wishes to know what posi-
tion it is best to maintain on that question. As for
ourselves we are in no wise partisans of the pro-
jected conference. The conference which took place
in regard to Luxemburg had an end traced out
beforehand, especially after France had declared
that she renounced any desire for the acquisition of
the principality. Whether the town should be
evacuated or not was the issue. Can the Roman
question be defined in that way? Evidently not.
Europe will no more decide to abolish the temporal
sovereignty of the Pope than to guarantee it. The
majority of thn Pt iwara convoked will leave the
solution of the question to events, and, since
France has thrown herself between Rome and
Italy, upon the Cabinet of the Tuileries will rest in
the first instance the care of all that shall follow. It
is not necessary to be endowed with the gift of pro-
phecy to perceive that England will not bind herself
to the project of a conference ; and in that case
Austria must not only refuse to take part in it, but
even decline any responsibility for what may occur
at Rome. Let us not assume the position either of
champion or oppressor of the Holy See ; let us not
meddle with things which in no way concern us.