The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-15 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 15, 1867.

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LONDON, FRIDAY, NO V. 15, 1867.

All that concerns Abyssinia is certain just now
to attract a considerable share of public attention,
and the article on the subject in the last number of
the Quarterly* may confidently be recommended to
the notice of the public. It puts the question be-
fore us in the most comprehensive manner, and
affords us as correct a notion of the place
as can be expected lor ;devised. It is curious to
notice how circumstances change things, and sud-
denly bring a particular spot into notice which
heretofore may have been disregarded. As
it is truly stated here, " Not many months ago
Abyssinia was to the generality of Englishmen
terra incognito. None save a few geographers, the
readers of BRUCE'S Travels,' some missionaries,
and the relatives of the unhappy prisoners at Mag-
dala knew, or cared to know, much about this part
of the world." How striking is the position of
affairs now in respect to that country. Parlia-

ment is to meet next week to arrange

matters, in order that no pains or expense
shall be spared to render the expedition now fit-
ting out a successful one. The general features
of the case, the peculiarities of the place, the sad
condition of the prisoners, and so on, engage the

attention of readers and writers, and form a uni-
versal topic of conversation in many circles. If
anything could have rendered the course pursued
by King THEODORE more intolerable than his first
deeds of darkness and violence in putting the Consul
and his companions in chains it would have been
his conduct to Mr. RASSAJI. This was about as
uncalled for as it was impertinent to those who de-
puted him to be the bearer of messages from our
Government to the barbarian KING. It did not

mend matters, and indeed it may be questioned if it
did not make them worse for the Emperor to make
believe that he was friendly disposed towards the
messenger whom he so insulted. Due credit is given
here to the manner in which the British Govern-
ment have endeavoured to settle this awkward
question without having recourse to arms. No
doubt at the very beginning of the affair there was
great inadvertence displayed by the late Govern-
ment, but during the recent steps we do not sce
how anything could have been done better

than that which has been effected. Indeed, as
observed, only a very powerful nation could

have afforded to have exhibited so much
patience, or it would have been attributed to a
wrong motive ; "and we doubt whether any reason-
able man who is by habit or experience at all
qualified to judge of such matters could now sug-
gest any other course with any prospect of success,
but either to place the matter in the hands of a
soldier empowered to back his demands by force,
or to leave the Consul and the gentlemen who
went at the bidding of the British Government to
negotiate for his freedom to perish."
Public opinion has virtually succeeded upon the
necessity of sending forth this expedition, and the
next thing to consider is the nature of the country and
the difficulties which an invading force will meet
with. The reputation of England is at stake until
something definite and decided be done to rescue
these unfortunate captives, and we must also bear
in mind that our progress and success in the forth-
coming expedition will be closely watched and
criticised by other countries, and hence no care
and consideration should be spared in the under-
taking. The object of this article is to put before
the readers the " topography of Abyssinia," and
that task is faithfully performed, for no one can rise
from its perusal without having a clearer idea of the
plan or a more definite notion of what should be done
to insure success, and what should be avoided to
escape failure. A very natural consequence of the
sudden interest and excitement which have been '
awakened on the subject is that innumerable advisers
and informers have started up, some of whom con-
tradict the others, and some indeed who make such
extraordinary statements that a little investigation
show their invalidity, as many, if not all, the terrors
and horrors which they set forth are implicitly
credited by certain persons. It is well to have a
good authority to rely upon, and to know for certain
what is true and what is not true in such an impor-
tant venture as that our forces are about to make.
Those hitherto unfamiliar with this subject will be
surprised to study the peculiarities of this country.
Abyssinia may be described as a table land, and yet

it presents to the traveller the " features and diffi-
culties of a highly mountainous country. A
single.day's journey may carry the traveller over
plains luxuriant with vegetation, and corn and
flowers, where his progress is rapid and easy. It
may take him through narrow and intricate
valleys, down one steep bank of a river and up
another, by narrow and difficult paths, and may
even oblige him to escalade a mountain's side,
which he can only accomplish by scrambling and
climbing up the face of the rocks."

It follows as a matter of course that for such a
country no description of carriage except " pack
animals" can be relied on, and whichever other
mode may be employed at first, pack animals must
essentially be the carriage in the mountains, and
therefore it is advised that all loads should be made
up in packages suitable for this kind of transport.
A strong body of pioneers can considerably lessen
the difficulties of the attempt, and the saying of
NAPOLEON is quoted for encouragement, when he
declared that m here two men could stand abreast
an army might pass. The climate of Abys-
sinia is as varied as its topography, and the
description of it shows that the climate of the high
lauds is healthy, equable, and temperate, while that
of the low desert country between the high land and
the sea is hot and unhealthy beyond imagination.
We fully expect that many of the evils said to
abound in Abyssinia will be found pretty much the
same as those of other tropical countries, and that
the field forces, mainly comprising native Indian
troops, will not be much affected by them, and their
experience will show them to be far less serious than
at first supposed. It is very emphatically stated here
that when one country decides upon making war
upon another, it should be well informed upon
certain points, such as " the military forces of
the enemy, the situation of his capital, and the
nature of the country to be operated in as to
supplies." In the present war we have no " ac-

* "The Abyssinian Expedition." The Qua/ tcrly Review,
No. 246.

curate knowledge of the first two points, and not
over much of the third ;" and hence it naturally
follows that the difficulties of the expedition are
considerably heightened and increased.
It is stated here that "of all the many roads
suggested, leading from the Red Sea to Abys-
sinia, the choice will in all probability be reduced
to two—that from Arkika or Annesley Bay by
Adi-gerat, and another to Salkota, and that
from Amphilla Bay to Salkota." A great deal must
be left to the judgment of the officer in command
of the forces and to the Government ; and the object
of this valuable article is not to advise so much as
to correct some errors that have attained credence
on the subject, and to collect from various docu-
ments such information as mayavail to impart con-
fidence to those who have been led away by
desponding accounts to form an exaggerated notion
of the whole affair. We would commend to the
notice of the public the concluding observations
here met with as to what has already been achieved
by English expeditions in different places, and
thence to derive confidence and hope for the succe:s
of this undertaking. There is no reason whatever
why this Abyssinian expedition should not furnish
another instance to the many which have gone
before of the triumph of our forces by that com-
bined courage and perseverance which have
already brought them successfully through perils
and difficulties.

The good folks of the provinces must be getting
nearly as wearied of the very name of Reform as
our metropolitan politicians have been for the last
six months. The near approach of a fresh session,
though the vexed question may be allowed to
slumber in peace until Christmas is over, seems to
have lent fresh energy to the orators, who are
starring it in the country, and the whole story of
the last two sessions is told again and again with
various interpretations. It is only consistent with
human nature that the men who have been the
means of giving us a substantially good measure of
enfranchisement should be the most loudly abused,
and there are two considerations which may fully
account for the unmitigated abuse of the Tory Re-
form Government which we hear on these occasions.
One is that the Liberal M.P.'s are naturally irri-
tated at seeing the work they have so long consi-
dered their own taken out of their hands. What-
ever credit or praise belongs to the successful Re-
formers they have forfeited, and all their satires
about Tory sacrifice of principles for power do not
compensate them for the annoyance consequent upon
their being left behind in the race. SJcendly, the
Reform question has been for a good many years past
a safe thing to talk about. It gave the opportunity.
They have lost the opportunity of enunciating ex-
cellent general theories, of making popular pro-
fessions, and of having a safe subject for the hustings
upon which they are secure of the sympathies of
their constituents. It is natural, under such circum-

stances, that men should like to make the most of
their lost opportunity of the sort and to relieve
their natural irritation, and accordingly we find
the anniversary of COLSON'S Day at Bristol
chiefly occupied with discussions on the Reform
Bill. It is curious to notice the very different
views which persons take of the same things, and
we do not often see it more strongly exemplified
than when two festive gatherings of opposite parties
are held in the same town. The Anchor Society
denounces the wickedness of the Tories, and laments
that the doctrines of the country should be com-
mitted to such unworthy hands. The Dolphin
Society sees the other side of the shield, and looks
at the events of the Session with very different eyes.
We must admit, however, that the Dolphins have
the best of it, so far as moderation goes ; but,

in the first place, it must be remembered that the
winning side can best afford to be magnanimous,
and also the principal speakers at the Dolphin ban-
quet, the Earl of DEVON and the Right lion. S.
CAVE, M.P., are naturally moderate and sensible
speakers, who think more of expressing their own
convictions than of moving the passions of their
hearers. had Mr. GRANTLEY BERKELEY been in
the place of Mr. F. BERKELEY at the Anchor din-
ner, he would not, we think, have been so whole-
sale in his condemnation of the bill and its authors.
Mr. JOHN BRIGHT, whom Mr. F. BERKELEY praised
so highly for his honesty and straightforwardness,
was too genuine a reformer to refuse to ack now-

ledge the points gained. "Now they had got house-
hold suffrage !" exclaims Mr. EIBERKELEY, " and
what was household suffrage ? It would be useless
without the ballot." But because we want two good
things, and can only get one at a time, are we to
refuse that one? Household suffrage, if it is worth
anything, will prepare the way for the ballot. It is
quite evident that the classes of electors that we
have hitherto had do not care about the ballot, or
we should have had it carried instead of
talked about. Let us, then, see whether
the fresh ranks of voters will send a little
more genuine liberality into Parliament.
Besides there are many excellent but timorous
politicians who regard the ballot as a greater " leap

n the dark" than the extension of the franchise.

When they see the latter accomplished with safety,
and England standing where it was, much of their
prejudice and fear respecting the ballot will also be
removed. Unless they protected the voter, says
Mr. BERKELEY, they had positively achieved no-
thing ; but in the same breath he added that they
had made the elections more expensive than they
were, thus tacitly admitting that the increased size
of the constituencies would of itself present
an obstacle to bribery. We are surprised that
Mr. F. BERKELEY, who must be very well aware of
the indifference, if not dislike, to the ballot existing
in the present House of Commons, should not be
glad to see the promise of a change which will in-
crease the chances of success. As for the mutual
recriminations of political parties such invidious
matters were best disposed of by Mr. CAVE, who
frankly declared that he thought neither side had
any right to blame the other for the seven years'
inaction. "If blame there be, the Liberal party
cannot, I say, be called on to bear that blame alone
But what right has that party which came in on
the Reform cry, and kept their places for
seven long years without passing a Reform
Bill, to turn round and blame us for keeping our
places and passing one ?" Mr. CAVE quoted the
words of Mr. RoEnucK. last February, and said
that he thought it would be difficult to state

the case in fewer or better words. " e are
obliged to change," said Mr. Itot:BucK ; " shall we
be the better for the change? lam by no means
assured of that. But some change is absolutely
requisite, and we are called upon to admit classes of
our countrymen who, by their habits, their intelli-
gence, and their probity, are entitled to have a
share in the voice of the country." Mr. CAVE took
the novel course of referring to the sentiments of
his oppoucats for testimony. He quoted, as we have
seen, the opinion of Mr. ROEBUCK, and he quoted
also the verdict of Mr. FORSTER.

We are glad to find the Earl of DEVON, in his
address, speaking strongly of the necessity of im-
proving the condition of our workhouse infirmaries.

He referred to the recent statements published on
the subject, and said that, as the head of the depart-
ment, he felt they were obliged to those gentlemen
whose inquiries hadbrought to light evils requiring

remedy. We hope that, if the Poor Law Board
will accept the interference of voluntary inspectors
in this spirit, they may be induced to adopt them-
selves a more stringent and vigilant system of super-
vision, which shall prevent the possibility of any
such horrors as those we have recently read of being
matters of every-day occurrence in institutions
supposed to be under State control.

--
CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

-~--

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, Thursday Evening.
The information about the proposed Congress is
now more specific. Circulars have been addressed
by the French Government to the principal Courts
of Europe, in which the proposal for a Congress is
made, and it is probable that most of them will send
representatives, with a view to endeavour to settle
the difficulties connected with the Italian question.
These Governments it is said will require the appli-
cation of paragraph 4 of the protocol of the Con-
ference of Aix-la-Chapelle of the 15th November,
1818. England at present has not sent any adhe-
sion to the proposed congress.
The police have discovered the existence of a
secret society. Eighteen persons have been arrested,
and it is said that some documents of a treasonable
character have been found at their respective resi-
dences. The 14th Chamber of Correctional Police
yesterday heard the charges against the persons
accused of proffering seditious cries at the Place de
l'Hotel de Ville on the 18th of October. Some of
them were sentenced to imprisonment fov fifteen
days, and the others for a month.
Claude Leon Menager, a young Frenchman of
27, has come to grief in consequence, according to
his own showing, of his being a great gorman-
dizer. He is indeed a gormandizer of the first water.
During the Exhibition he was in the employ of
Messrs. Dows and Gueld, American restaurateurs,
as a waiter, and one fine morning ho was stopped
on his way out, having in his possession bottles of
liquor, brandy, fragments of meat, and other articles
belonging to his employers. In answer to the Pre-
sident of the court before which he has just been
tried as to what was his motive for committing the
robbery, the prisoner said " Nothing else but
gormandism." In truth, the search of his lodgings
went far to prove the truth of his assertion, for the
police found there chocolate, sardines, .figs, pre-
serves, and other good eatables belonging to his
masters, and also a box of excellent cigars, which
would afford a pleaaant smoke after a relish. It was
evident also that tb e prisoner was delicate in his habits
and did not eat with his fingers, for plenty of forks
and spoons were found, and also glasses, teapots,
coffee pots, mustard pots, and other miscellaneous
articles connected with the table. The prisoner ad-
mitted that he had stolen all these little matters

from his masters, but said he consented that they
should be restored to them. The Court, without
asking his consent in that respect, sentenced him to
imprisonment for 14 months.
Garrotting attacks have become so numerous in
Paris and the environs that alarm is beginning to
be felt upon the subject. A gentleman, who was
passing along the Rue de Vauvcs about midnight,
was attacked by six individuals, some of whom
seized him by the throat, whilst the others rifled
his pockets. his cries attracted the attention of
the police, who seized one of the malefactors, who
attempted to get rid of the gentleman's purse.
A poultry dealer was returning Lome to his
residence, a few miles from
.Paris, on Tuesday
night, after having sold his poultry at market.
lie arrived at a point where there is a steep
ascent, and dismounted from his cart to relieve
the horse. Ile had only proceeded a few paces
when a main jumped from a hedge and inflicted
some serious wounds on his head with a stick.
He had the presence of mind to call out to his
son, who was in the cart, to reach him his gun.
This frightened the ruffian, who made off. The
dealer had' rather a large sum of money in his
possession, which fact was no doubt known. A
similar case has occurred in another district in
die environs of Paris. in this instance, however,
the aggressor get the worst of it, for the intended
victim, a man of powerful frame, struck him a
blow which felled him to the ground, and whip-
ping his horse was enabled to escape. The police
have arrested no less than 19 vag tbonds, who
have been in the habit of sleeping in a quarry
near Paris, where it is known that they concoct
these plans of robbery. So many night attacks
upon persons have not occurred for some years as
have been recorded recently.
The French robbers do not have it all to them-
selves, for an Irish pickpocket has been arrested.
lie gave his name as Lincoln, but was good
enough to mention that he was no relative
of the late American President. This individual
was carrying on his industry in an omnibus going
towards the Rue du Temple. A lady, who was
getting out of the omnibus, discovered that she
had been robbed of her purse containing about 30
francs. The Irishman got out at the same time,
and was running off, but the lady having cried out
that she had been robbed, he was stopped and the
purse was found upon him.
This has been another extraordinary day in re-
gard to weather. It was very dry, warm, and
bright. Again, however, there was a white frost
in the fields at sunrise.

A postal treaty is under consideration between
France and Northern Germany, which, if carried
into effect, will considerably reduce the postage of
letters between the two countries.

Empress is
is
A private letter from Vienna, which is to be
The
relied upon, states that the Empress Charlotte of
Mexico continues in the same condition. Occa-
sionally she betrays agitation of mind, but in gene-
ralnot to say, in-
sensible isstilibeleEemenpdriestisnn.still unaware
of the sad fate of Maximilian. An attempt was
lately made to prepare her for the fatal news by
telling her that Juarez had arrived in Mexico. The
Empress smiled, and replied, " So much the better,
for I think the Emperor would appoint him Presi-
dent of the Council of State." This reply seems to
be foun led upon the fact that in the early part of
his career Maximilian had the idea of conciliating
Juarez by enlisting him into his Cabinet, and thus
putting an end to further revolutionary struggle and
difficulty.
The French Government has just ordered from
the manufactories of Eshilstuna, in Sweden, 60,000
sabre-bayonets, which are to be delivered at the end
of March next.

Another telegraphic communication has just been
effected between England and the continent by
means of a cable, which has been carried to the vil-
lage of Lapan, in Belgiam.
Lord Lyons, who is now accredited as Eng-
lish Ambassador in Paris, and commenced his
career under such happy circumstances, completes
the list of fourteen diplomatists who have repre-
sented England in France since the fall of Napoleon
I. The Duke of Wellington was accredited on the
Bth of August, 1814, and Lord Stuart. de Rothesay
on the 26th of March, 1815 ; Lord Granville on the
3d of November, 1824 ; he was recalled in 1828.
Lord Stuart de Rothesay was accredited for the
second time in 1828, and for the third time after
the Revolution of July, 1830. Lord Granville,
accredited for the second time in January, 1831,
was recalled in November, 1841. Lord Cowley,
accredited on the 15th of November, 1841, was
recalled on the 11th of August, 1846. The Mar-
quis of Nornianby, accredited on the 24th August,
1846, to the King, was re-accredited on the 20th of
August, 1848, to the Republic, and again accre-
dited to the Prince President on the 31st June,
1849. Lord Cowley was accredited for the second
time in 1832, and remained in Paris as the English
Ambassador until the present appointment of Lord
Lyons.

ABSCONDING OF A LIVERPOOL SOLICITOR.—Mr.
William Stockley, the senior member of the firm of Stock-
ley, Wrigley, and Stockley, solicitors, of Liverpool, was
yesterday adjudicated a bankrupt in the Liverpool Court
of Bankruptcy. The act of bankruptcy was the alleged
absconding of the debtor. The petitioning creditor is a
lady, who is stated to have deposited a considerable amount
in trust moneys with the bankrupt's firm, which the bank"
rupt, without the knowledge of his partne►s, contrived to
appropriate, together with other sums, amounting, it is
said, in all to about £lO,OOO.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE,

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

ITALY.

FLORENCE, Nov. 15.

The official Gazette publishes a decree appointing
General Cialdini commander-in-chief of the active
troops in Central Italy.

The Journal de Rome, of the 12th inst , announces
that the Pope has decided to bestow a mark of
honour upon all the Pontifical troops who repulsed
the Garibaldian invasion, and upon the French
troops who participated in the battle of Mentana.

THE PROPOSED CONFERENCE.

BERLIN, Nov. 14.

S))eners Gazette of this morning says—" The
French invitation to the Conference is dated the
9th, and begins with a statement of the warm and
well justified interest of the French Government
in Italian events. The reputation and the impar-
tial and far-sighted attitude of the French Govern-
ment with regard to the September Convention
guaranteed that it will not prove untrue to the en-
gagements into which it has entered. The ques-
tion of the Pope and of the holy See must en-
gage the serious attention of the Cabinets. The
recent confusion in Italy was the result of a prema-
ture attempt."
The Note proposes a common deliberation of the
Powers, and says that nothing but a calm and
attentive examination can supply the bases for a
satisfactory and lasting solution.
The invitation does not state a date for the meet-
ing of the Conference, nor does it enter into details
or put forward definite proposals.

THE EASTERN QUESTION.

ST. PETERSBURG, Nov. 14 (Evening).

The Invalide and the Bourse Gazette give a cate-
gorical denial to the statement that the Russian
Minister at Constantinople had presented the Porte
with proposals for a reform of the last Hatti-
humayoun, and add—" The adoption of such a
course would be iu entire opposition to the dignity
of Russia, as well as to the position she has now as-
sumed in conformity with her last declaration to the
Porte on the subject of Crete."