The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-13 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONUON, WEDNESOAY EVENING, INIARCH 13, 1867.

have to deal with a foe in the rear as well as in the

front. Such considerations are not beneath the
notice of the most powerful and united people; and
possibly they may have some weight when, as it
seems, all arguments founded on constitutionalism
and justice are powerless.

The Berlin Government have learned some home-
truths from the sitting of Tuesday in the North
German Parliament. Two of the Deputies de-
nounced the policy pursued by Prussia in strong
terms, and declared that the recent war was pro-
voked by that Power, and that the " right of con-
quest had in'aitself no record or foundation;" adding,
that the war had deprived the kingdom of the grace
of GOD. It is quite a relief to find that there are
some individuals bold and honest enough to speak
out, and to utter a few remarks which have mean-
ing in them. After the senseless iteration of
the commonplace phrases of unity, and such like
delusions, the decided language of these Deputies is
refreshing. Of course the ➢Ministers were very vir-
tuously indignant, and repelled the accusations
with their usual warmth and energy. Count BB-
mAncK said that the disruptions in Germany dated
from the triumph of the Ultramontanes. He is,
certainly, never at a loss for injurious statements
and insulting remarks. Two Deputies from Saxony
opposed the draught of the Constitution, on the
ground that it was destitute of any constitutional
guarantees ; so that, with one thing and another,
the Prussian authorities have found out by this
time that all is not so satisfactory as they imagined.
The fact is, the whole arrangements that are con-
nected with this proposition bear a very one-sided
character, and it does not require any very great
clear-sightedness to see this, or any very great
stretch of imagination to comprehend that
the object of Prussia is to compromise
this North German Parliament into agree-
ing so far that it cannot easily draw back.

It remains to be seen, however, how far this stra-
tagem will succeed, and at any rate, at this early
stage of the proceedings, there has been a great deal
of opposition to encounter ; and it cannot be said
by the most sanguine that things are likely to be
settled shortly and in a satisfactory manner to the
Berlin Government. Once the element of distrust
has crept in it is sure to do its fatal work, and gra-
dually undermine all that is done by time-serving
and crafty schemers, however powerful they may be.

It would seem from the various accounts received
from Ireland that the country is still in a very un-
settled condition, and although, as yet, there is not
much further news, the Government evidently feel
it necessary to be strictly on the watch. As is
usual in such
.cases reports and rumours get very
much exaggerated, and the most trivial incidents
get magnified by popular excitement into serious
catastrophes. At the same time there can be no
doubt that there is ground for considerable un-
easiness, not because of the possible result of an
outbreak, which could only be disastrous to the
Fenians themselves, but because of the risks incur-
red by individuals, and the alarm and confusion
excited by the sudden movements of the conspira-
tors. The country people are by no means ardent
in the cause, but, if they speak truly, they are often
compelled by the Fenians to join them. One man,
who was killed during an attack on a police station,
was stated by his relatives to have been forced from'
his bed by the Fenians under threat of cutting his
hands off. Such threats are not altogether empty
menaces, for a man named TRACEY, living near
Thurles, having refused to join them, was shot dead
on the spot. It is said that many of the country people
hide themselves from the Fenian agents, and at any
rate they do not show much enthusiasm in the cause
of the Irish Republic. In the towns there is more
agitation, but the chief ground for apprehension is
the rumour that large bodies of armed Fenians are
in different parts of the country, and the uncer-
tainty as to where the next outbreak may be. The
prevalent feeling seems to be that the Fenians
escaped too easily last time, and they are not likely
to meet with much indulgence on this occasion.
Business, of course, suffers from the unsettled state
of the country, though life goes on much as
usual in Dublin, despite uncomfortable rumours.
General confidence is felt in the vigour and efficiency
of the preparations made by the authorities to re-
press any attack ; and this confidence appears well
placed, for necessary vigilance is exerted. Several
flying columns have been organised, which are to
scour the country in all directions. No doubt this
will have a good effect in dispersing the Fenians,
and breaking up the large bodies said to be con-
gregated in various parts. The Government have
also determined to issue special commissions
for Dublin, Limerick, and Cork immediately,
with two judges at each commission. Those
parts of Queen's county, and county Louth, not
already proclaimed are placed under the Peace
Preservation Act, as is also county Meath. Nume-
rous arrests continue to be made in Dublin, and
strong patrols of armed police patrol the streets.
In Belfast the police have made a discovery of some
Enfield rifles, 19 bayonets, and 2,000 percussion
caps, hidden under the flooring of a house in Pound-
street. The owner of the house was naturally
arrested. How the Enfield rifles came into Fenian
possession is a mystery wcrth unravelling.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Tuesday Evening.

The Moniteur, in its Bulletin of to-day, gives a
summary of the result of the elections for the new
Chamber of Deputies in Italy. The former Chamber
was dissolved on the 12th of February last. The
Conservative party have now obtained an immense
majority in all the districts. Of 80 definitive elec-
tions, 66 Government candidates were chosen, and
108 obtained a relative majority in 156 elections.
In the four colleges or divisions of Florence, Baron
Ricasoli, President of the: Council, was elected by
961 votes against 97 only obtained by Garibaldi
(Garibaldi cuts but a very sorry figure of late, and
his influence is evidently on the wane). In the
second college the ballot between M. Perrozzi, the
Government candidate, and M. Crispi, the candidate
of the Opposition ; M. Perrozzi had 834 votes, and
M. Crispi only 193. Ia the third, the ballot be-
tween M. Ferozi, Government candidate, and M.
Rubieri, the Opposition candidates, the votes were
—for M. Feosi, 736 votes ; M. Rubieri, 261. In
the fourth, the result of the ballot was—M. An-
drecci, Conservative, 586 ; M. Ciprani, Opposition,
157. In the other great towns of Italy, in the
greater portion of the elections, the majority was
in favour of the present Ministry.
The Military Section of the Council of Sweden
has just ordered the purchase in foreign countries
of 10,000 breech-loading guns, and the manufac-
ture at home of 30,000 guns upon the Remington
system, the patent of which has been purchased by
the Swedish Government.
The accounts from Spain speak of great commo-
tion and excitement at Madrid in consequence of
several recent despotic acts of the Ministry. The
press is completely shackled, and there is less indi-
vidual liberty every day. Some of the letters from
Madrid speak of insurrection or revolution as a
matter of course, and at no distant time. One of
the ordonnances is to the effect that any individual
who may issue false news (that is to say, any infor-
mation unfavourable to the Government), may be
instantly tried (and of course executed immediately)
by a council of war. In short, the existing Spanish
Ministry seems determined to out-Herod Vae most

despotic acts of the terrible reign of the Narvaez
Government.

A new Siamese mission, composed of three per-
sons, has arrived in France, and the three gentlemen,
rolled into one, are daily expected in Paris. Some
of the papers seem to attach much importance to
what may be expected from this mission, and con-
sider that the Siamese trinity may rival in interest
the Siamese twins.

The important debate upon the Senat'is Consulte,
modifying the Constitution under the conditions
proposed by the late decree of the Emperor, com-
menced yesterday. The chief speakers were the
Duke de,Persigny, Baron Charles Dupin, and M.
Rouland. There was nothing sufficiently important
in these addresses to require further analysis than
that sent by telegraph They are, however, given
so voluminously in the Paris papers as to exclude all
miscellaneous news.

The weather has been of three or four kinds to-
day—everything by turns and nothing long. Dur-
ing the morning the temperature was agreeable and
spring-like. Then the wind turned to the opposite
point of the compass, and it blew bitterly and vio-
lently. The next change was to rather heavy rain,
which at the hour of post seemed likely to continue.
The Observatory records indicate unsettled and
stormy weather.
The English steamer Kinsale, which bas arrived
at Havre, met a small boat near Barfieur, contain-
ing three men and a boy who had escaped from the
wreck of an English sloop. They were in a terrible
state, and almost dead from cold, They had been
three days at sea in the boat. Every possible com-
fort and assistance was given to them by the autho-
rities at Havre. The name of the English sloop is
not mentioned.

Monseigneur Dupanloup has returned to Paris
from Nice, where the illustrious prelate has been
stopping some time for the benefit of his health.
According to the Bavarian Gazette a military
conference will take place at latest by the Ist of
October at Munich, between Bavaria, Wurtemberg,
Baden, and Hesse, to make a final arrangement re-
specting the common military regulations between
those States, which were agreed to at the late
Stuttgard Conference.
M. Philarete Chasles, the erudite and indefatigable
chief librarian of the Bibliotheque Mazarine at the
Institute of France, who has made various valuable
literary discoveries, has now found a volume which
must be considered of peculiar importance. On the
title page is the name " William Shakespeare,"
written thus with his own hand by the great poet.
Another curious work has been discovered by M.
Philarete Chasles—a kind of squib, with illustra-
tions, written by Sir John Harrington, a friend of
Shakespeare, in the time of Queen Elizabeth. He
records that in the Courtyard of the Palace of
that Queen were vessels for the reception of filth,
and he advised her Majesty, in the interest both
of health and propriety, to substitute a system of
water-closets. The Queen was so ill-pleased with
the recommendation that she disgraced and banished
the author of the book, and ordered all the copies of
it to be destroyed. The copy now alluded to is
perhaps the only one which is at present in exist-
ence. It may, I believe, be seen at the Mazarine
Library of the Institute, so ably and courteously
directed by M. Chasles.
Letters from Rome speak positively of a pro-
posed erection of new Cardinals. The most pro-
minent among the names of the new Cardinals
suggested are those of M. Ferrari, Minister of
Finance, and Mons. Chigi, now Apostolical
Nuncio at Paris. In the latter case M. Chigi
will be succeeded at Paris by M. Franchi, Secretary
of the Ecclesiastical Congregation.
The Patrie of this evening announces further
elections of Ministerial candidates in Italy.
M. and Madame Benedetti have just arrived in

Paris from Berlin, in consequence of the serious in-
disposition of the Marchioness de la Valette, the
wife of the Minister of the Interior. M. and
Madame Benedetti are closely connected with the

family.
The Bourse has been rather more animated to-
day, with a tendency to advance; but I am not
aware of any particular news to excite speculation.

that year were :—On the Irish Church Bill, for
317; against, 78. On the vote of confidence—affairs
of Portugal, for 361 ; against, 93. On the Iri,h
Church Bill, for 274 ; against, 94. In each of
these three discussions the late Sir R. Peel voted

and spoke, yet he had not so many asloo followers
in either of them. Strong, indeel, must have been
that Government which could baffle the wonderful

talent and eloquence of this gigantic genius. The
working majority of the Ministry in that session
may be safely put down as at least 300. The fol-
lowing year, 1834, the appropriation clause began
to show itself, and curious enough in the month of
May, in that last-named year, our present Premier,
then Mr. Secretary Stanley, and the late Sir James
Graham seceded from that Whig Government of
which for three years and a half they had been such

useful and eminent members ; and from this time
I can begin to trace the beginning of declension in

strength— as well as in principle. The only two
great divisions of this year were :—Admission of
Dissenters to the Universities, for 321 ; against,
147. Irish Tithe Bill, for 235 ; against 171.

The opening of the Ministerial majority at the
beginning of this session was about 2JO. This was
when Lord Derby was a member of it ; before the

close, when Lord Derby and Sir James Graham had
quitted it, it had fallen to 150. The year 1835
Bright and Cobden's model year—opened with a
new Parliament ; the old one, which was the first

elected under the Reform Bill, having been dis-

solved by the late Sir R. Peel on his accession to
office at the close of the previous year, and now it
began to be seen how wofully the Whigs had already
lost the confidence of the people. Their majority
was almost gone. With difficulty they defeated the

late Sir R. Peel by a majority of 33 ; and, even with
the added influence of Government, they scarcely

reached a majority of 50. The great divisions of
1835 were :—On the Irish Church Appropriation
Clause— for, 322 ; against, 288. On the Irish
Church Bill Appropriation Clause—for, 307 ;
against, 243. On the Irish Corporation Bill—for,
267 ; against, 176. On the Irish Corporation Bill
--for, 262 ; against, 234. In 1836 they opened
with more confidence and courage ; continuance in
office had added somewhat to their strength. On
the Address—for, 234 ; against, 243. On the
Irish Corporation Bill—for, 307 ; against, 243. On
the Irish Corporation Bill—for, 260 ; against, 199.
Ou the Irish Tithe Bill—for, 300 ; against, 261.
Their average majority seemed now to have risen to
something above 50. In 1837 the session began in
a still more promising manner, but it declined to-
wards its close. The great divisions were these :
, On the Irish Corporation Bill—for, 322 ; against,
250. On the Church Rates Bill—for, 273 ; against,
250. On the Irish Corporation Bill—for, 300; against,
247. On the Order in Council—for, 278; against, 247.
On the Church Rate Bill—for, 287 ; against, 282.
On the Commission of Church Leases—for, 319 ;
against, 236. Thus twice the majority had risen
as high as 80, but once it had fallen as low as 5.
This brings us to the period when her present Most
Gracious Majesty ascended the throne in 1838 ; the
Whigs had, in consequence of the demise of the
Crown in 1837, again a Parliament of their own, a
House elected under Whig influence, but their
strength was rapidly fading away. The chief divi-
sions of the Session were :—On Foreign Policy—
for, 316 ; against, 287. Lord Sandon on Church
Leases—for, 277 ; against, 244. On Church In-
struction—for, 265 ; against, 254. On the Irish
Tithe Bill—for, 217 ; against, 298. On the Irish
Corporation Bill—for, 286 ; against, 266. Thus it
became manifest that the standing majority for
Ministers had fallen to about 30 votes. In 1839,
the year of the Bedchamber Plot, and the melan-
choly death of poor Lady Flora Hastings, which
last named event had a most serious effect upon the
Ministerial and political events of that year ; matters
became still worse. The divisions of this Session
were as follows : —Oa the Irish Policy—for, 319 ;
against, 296. On the Jamaica Bill—for, 294 ;
against, 289. On the Jamaica Bill—for, 267 ;
against, 257. On National Education—for, 280 ;
against, 275. On National Education—for, 275 ;
against, 273. The Ministerial majority, then, for
all practical purposes seemed to have fallen down to
about 5, 10, or 15 votes. They were not, however,
left in a minority on any important question, with
the exception of their defeat and temporary resig-
nation in May, 1839, on the Jamaica question.
Most elderly and middle-aged people can remember
their return to office, and the famous bed-
chamber plot of the above named year.
The Session of 1840 opened with an evident increase
of power and courage on the part of the Conserva-
tives, and a proportionate falling off in the strength
of the Whigs. The strongest proceeding of all, a
vote of want of confidence, was at once proposed.
This measure, seldom indeed ventured upon, and
which Lord Russell himself, in 1835, even at an
ascertained majority, did not dare to direct against
the late Sir R. Peel, this proposition was barely
defeated by a majority of 21. On their Chinese
Policy Ministers had only the smaller majority of
10. In almost every other encounter they were
defeated. The chief contests of the session were
these (reckoning the vote on the late Prince Con-
sort's pension as nothing unusual or strange, as it
may appear at this distance of time), Radicals and
Conservatives were mingled in that majority :
On Sir J. Yards Buller's motion, 308 for, 287
against; on Mr. Herrie's motion, 172 for, 182
against ; on Mr. Liddle's motion, 212 for, 240
against ; on Sir J. Graham's motion, 277 for, 261
against ; on the Ludlow Writ, 215 for, 226 against;
on Lord Stanley's Bill, 234 for, 250 against ; on
Lord Stanley's Bill, 298 for, 301 against ; on Lord
Stanley's Bill, 195 for, 206 against ; on Lord Stan-
ley's Bill, 296 for, 289 against; on Lord Stanley's
Bill, 271 for, 275 against. So that on these 10 great
divisions the Whig Ministers could muster only
2,472 votes, or 247 in each on an average. Can
anything be more plain than that during those
seven years above named the Whig majority be-
came annihilated. There is, however, one view
of the question which cannot be forgotten. It is
that their progress downward was unceasing after
our present Premier quitted the aforesaid Whig
Government in 1834. Thus stood the account :-
1833 majority, 300 ; 1834 majority, 150 ;
1835, majority, 50 ; 1836, majority, 50 ; 1837,
majority, 30 ; 1838, majority 30 ;
1839, majority, 30 ; 1840, majority,
All middle aged meta are full'well able to remember
the excitement of the country in 1841, and the
general election which gave the late Sir R. Peel his
overwhelming majority, and sent the Whigs, who
then held office, with the exception of a few short
mouths for 11 years to the bleak and dreary re-
gions of the Opposition for five years, during which
time we had the most powerful Government ever
known since the days of Pitt. In 1846 the late Sir
R. Peel was defeated on the Irish Coercion Bill,
and the Whigs again took the reins of Government,
and until their defeat last summer had held office
ever since. But why were they permitted to remain
so long in office ? The answer is very obvious.
Merely because party spirit has been at such a low
ebb that it was not thought worth while to turn
them out. Their power is, however, as completely
gone as it was a quarter of a century ago ; and I
trust they are now banished to the bleak and dreary
regions of the Opposition not for five but for fifty
i years. In 1859 they turned out the present Go-
vernment of Lord Derby on a very sensible reform
bill, because, according to their notion of things, it
did not go far enough ; and since then, until last
year, reform was in as hopeless and drooping a
I plight as it was described to be in 1827 by the late
Earl Grey towards the close of the Georgian era.
However I think I have said enough, and more
than enough, to show that the sun of the Whigs is
set. I trust it has now become as completely a
thing of the past as the Georgian era, the Stuart
dynasty, or even the Heptarchy.—l remain, sir,
your obedient servant,
A LOVER OF HISTORICAL DATES AND FACTS.

THE EMPEROR NAPOLEON AND THE ARMY.—
On Sunday morning, at ten o'clock, the Emperor Napoleon
descended to the post of troops on guard, situated in the
courtyard of the Palace, and there, sitting down in the can-
teen, waited patiently until the cooking of the soldiers soup
was terminated. llis Majesty then tasted it, and declaring
it to be of good quality, had it distributed in the usual way
to the men. " Now, gentlemen," ho said, in taking his de-
parture, "you can partake of it." This kind and simple
act of the Emperor produced the greatest enthusiasm
amongst the men,