The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-10 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESLAY EV ENING, JULY 10, 1867.

0........4 .......

soon as, the existing dynasty was swept away there
could be only a repetition of those scenes of vio-
fence! which years ago called forth the active inter-
fere, ace of European Governments, and made
Mex ice a byeword and a reproach. The
unss ttled and unhappy condition of the coun-
tr' afforded, in fact, a substantial ex-
cite e for MAximuaAN's experiment. But what-
eve r the circumstances attending the French occu-
pation of Mexico, and the gift of the throne to a
foreign prince, there can be but one opinion of the
conduct of the so-called Liberals. Popular sym-
p Ally is always on the side of heroic resistance ou
b ehalf of a failing cause ; and the picture of Maxt-
MILIAN and his few faithful adherents holding out in
Queretaro against desperate odds for the sake, not
so, much of the chances of success as for the hope
of protecting those Mexicans who had
asst in their lot with the Emperor, is
ono which no one can regard with indifference. The
circumstantial account of the EMPEROR'S last hours,
published in a French journal, is, some think, apo-
cryphal, but we know at least the leading features
of the mournful story. We know that Qeretaro
was lost by an act of treachery, that the EMPEROR'S
fate was sealed by a man whom he had known and
trusted, that he and his two chief generals were
captives for a month, and that they must have
given up hope long before they actually fell
under the bullets of the soldiers. We know,
too, that the EMPEROR met his fate with a
courage and a dignity worthy of his imperial race,
that while his kinsfolk must mourn over the un-
timely close of what promised to be a brilliant and
prosperous career, they are spared the deeper grief
of thinking that his honour was sullied or his mis-
fortunes deserved.
For Mexico itself we may well believe that the
crime will be as disastrous as it has been unpar-
donable. We can hardly doubt that the European
Governments will combine to make some protest, to
mark their sense of this outrageous conduct in some
tangible form. If a reward were offered for the
surrender of the principal actors in the tragedy of
LOPEZ, of ESICOBEDO, and of JUAREZ himself, it
might teach the Mexicans the estimation in which
their leaders are held by Europe. They have put
themselves beyond the pale of civilisation by au act
which no civilised Government would have dreamed
of contemplating. As for their nearest and most
powerful neighbours, it remains to be seen
what course they will pursue. The Americans
are usually very careful of their national dignity,
and they are besides far from being deficient
in humanity. The fate of the fallen Prince
has excited great interest, and they have through
their representatives exerted themselves strongly on
his behalf. It is not likely that they will continue
to accord to JUAREZ the moral support they have
hitherto given him. They will feel themselves in-
sulted by the outrage, and implicated in some
degree in the crime. We hope before long that in
both Houses of the English Parliament we shall ob-
tain some expression of opinion, some unanimous
condemnation of an act committed by a people who,
while they claim to be free and self-governing,
would throw back the cause of civilisation and
liberty to the darkness of the middle ages.

The Sheffield Commission has fairly ended its
labours, and has delivered the desired certificates to
most of those witnesses who applied for them. They
laid down very simple and comprehensible principles
for their guidance. If a man came forward and
gave his evidence, awl made his confession unre-
servedly in the first instance, he was allowed not
only his certificate but his costs. If he prevaricated
or perjured himself at first, and only confessed at a
second examination, he was allowed a certificate
without costs. To this class belong the notorious
BROADHEAD and CROOKES. Thirdly, if the state-
ments of the witnesses were not satisfactory, no
certificate was granted. It would have been more
consonant with the public feeling, and more appro-
priate to the circumstances, had no costs whatever
been allowed. The criminals might have been

thankful to escape with protection from the con-
sequences of crimes the least of which would have
doomed them to many years' penal servitude. It
is too bad that such men should, under any circum-
stances, receive public money.

We hope the meter will not end here, but that
a thorough and searching investigation will be
made into the whole position of these unions. The
working men of Sheffield held a large meeting last
night, to denounce in unmeasured terms the
offences of which these persons have been guilty,
and we have no doubt they meant sincerely. Half
the energy shown in denouncing the crimes, when
confessed, would, if used at the time of the offences,
have long since detected the criminals.

But this duty has a special action as regards its

own countrymen."
The result of all this is that the position into
which the matter has drifted is a shuffling one.
More notes have been exchanged, in which various

questions are put to the Danish Government. For
instance, is it in a condition to give precise guaran-
tees for the protection and security of Germans living
alone or in communes in the territory to be ceded

eventually ? Does the Danish Government believe
it can protect the interests of its future German
subjects? Other questions, different in form but
to the same effect, in addition to that above noticed

relative to the debt, are ptit to the Danish Govern-

ment, and when the answers come no doubt Prussia
will require time to reflect upon them. In this way
a sort of conference has been establshed, which may

be indefinitely prolonged, so as to give a pretext for
the non-execution of the treaty.

The Emperor and Empress received at the
Tuileries Prince Nicholas the First, Prince of Mon-

tenegro. Their Majesties have aIK) given audience
to the Grand Duke of Saxe-Weimar, who travels
under the name of Count de Zetta. His Royal
Highness is accompanied by Count de Beust, aide-
de• camp-general and grand marsLal of his house-
household, and Major Triesenvettcr, one of his
aides-de-camp. It was the intention of the Em-
press to accompany the Imperial Prince to Biarritz,
but the journey is postponed for the present in con-
sequence of slight indisposition. The Prince, who
has arrived in perfect health, was everywhere re-
ceived with enthusiasm.

At the departure of the mail from China, on the
Ist of May, the Primauget of the Imperial navy,
having on board Count de Lallemand, Envoy Ex-
traordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary to China,
had arrived at Tien-sin on his return from an ex-
cursion to Nankin. The Minister was expected to
return to Pekin on the 11th of May.
The project of law,for military re-organisation in
Denmark, which was sent to the Folkething, after
having been subjected to some modifications by the
Upper Chamber, has been adopted by the Deputies
by a large majority.
The Danish Parliament will adjourn after the
vote upon the laws for the payment of the army
and the duties, the reports respecting which have
been submitted to the house.

Ponsard, the well-known author, has just died a
Passy, in his 53d year. He was a member of the
French Academy, and author of many pieces, among
others, " Lucrece," " a translation of
Byron's "Manfred,"
" Agnes de Meranie," played
at the Odeon ; " Charlotte Corday," " UlYsse,''
" Le Lion Amoureux,"
'. L'fionneur et l'Argent,"
" Horace et Lydie," "La Bourse," "Ce qui
plait aux Femmes." The representation of " Lu-
crece" led to some tumultuous scenes, there being
passages which some thought immoral. The fune-
ral ceremony took place to-day at Passy church,
and was attended by great numbers of literary men
and artists.
Only the carriages of royalty are admitted within
certain portions of the Exhibition. The other day
Madlle. Schneider, the actress, went in her carriage
to visit it. The officer on duty stopped the carriage
immediately, upon which Madlle. Schneider said,
"lam the Duchess de Gerolstein." The worthy
functionary, who is not very learned in aristocratic
matters, touched his hat with great respect and hu-
mility, apologised, and allowed the carriage to pro-
ceed. The Duchess de Gerolstein is a character
which Madlle. Schneider is now playing with great
success at the theatre.
The Emperor has just given another proof of his
kind disposition, and his desire to add to the attrac-
tions of the Exhibition. It having become known
that very great disappointment had been manifested
in consequence of its having been necessary to re-
tain at the Hotel de Ville the magnificent table
ornaments manufactured by Messrs. Christofle and
Co., his Majesty has, with great consideration,
allowed another splendid table ornament, manufac-
tured at the same eminent establishment, to be sent
to the Exhibition, where it may now be seen. It is
beautiful and tasteful in the extreme, and excites
general admiration. It represents the Genius of
France and Peace.
The Empress was not quite so successful at her
last visit to the Exhibition as Mademoiselle Schnei-
der. Her Majesty wished to see the representation
of the new route through the Suez Canal, but it
being before the time it was usually opened, the
officer refused to allow her admission. The Em-
press told him she was a friend of M. Lesseps, and
she was certain that he would allow her to go in if
he were there. The Dogberry was inexorable, and
the Empress, not wishing to disclose her rank, would
have been disappointed if oue of her ladies of honour
had not remonstrated, and assured him that thelady
was indeed a friend of M. Lesseps. The man would
have been discharged if the Empress had not inter-
ceded for him.
At the Vesinet Steeple Chases on Sunday, tho
Prix des Cascades was won by Annette. The result
of a private bet was that Queen of the Harvest was
beaten by Katinka. Sharpshooter won the Prix do
Lac. Dodge won the Prix 4 Reclamer.
The races in the Bois; de Boulogne, which were
postponed on Thursday last, will take place next
Thursday.

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

ITALY.

FLORENCE, July 9 (Evening.)

In the sitting of the Chamber of Deputies, to-
day, Signor Nicotera moved the production of the
documents relating to the last negotiations with
Rome. Signor Rattazzi promised to present them
to the Chamber after having examined them.