The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FIIIOAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 6, 1867

generally entertained at the time of the London
Conference were decidedly in favour of France
rather than Prussia ; and that overweening Power
had to submit to arrangements and compromises
which at first she stoutly refused to entertain. This
Circular concludes by asserting that the Salzburg
interview is to be regarded in the light of a
fresh security for the preservation of peace, in-
stead of the several Courts of Europe thinking
that they must see therein a subject of " pre-occu-
pation and anxiety." Thus the matter ends for
the present, and we must all wait for the next
scene of the drama to be enacted. All that is here
put forth is no doubt strictly true so far as the
matter goes, but the readers of history need hardly
be told that the most peaceful assurances are the
most rife, and the most serene state of things the
most apparent, very often upon the eve of contro-
versy, and that the calm which precedes the storm
may be mistaken for that which follows after it.

The intelligence which reaches us from the United
States, both by mail and telegraph, is very sugges-
tive. It is evident that the PRESIDENT intends to
exercise his authority with vigour and determina-
tion, and that whatever new and mischievous legis-
lation may be in store for the country when Con-
gress re-assembles, the recess at least shall restore
in some degree the semblance of law and order. A
telegram, dated New York, Sept. 4th, 6 p.m., is to
the effect that Mr. JOHNSON has issued a proclama-
tion warning persons not to obstruct the decrees of
the Federal Courts, as was recently the case
in Carolina, and ordering the military and civil
officers to assist the enforcement of those decrees.
The order is based upon constitutional law and
common sense. There can be no possible reason
why, in the present condition of affairs, civil law
should be subverted by military authority. No one
is in arms against the Government, there are no
plots or conspiracies afloat except those of Radical
manufacture. Why then should one of the first
and most important guarantees of the rights and
liberties of a people be wilfully and recklessly
abandoned ? It may make very
little difference
to the residents in New York or Washington
just now that civil law is subverted in the
Southern States, and an organised military
despotism substituted ; but they may depend
upon it that the precedent is a very dangerous one,
and the example now set in Carolina and the vici-
nity may yet be turned against them in future days.
It is not a little singular that the people who so long
shrunk from maintaining a regular army should
now be giving their tacit sanction to so extravagant
an elevation of military authority. The PRESIDENT,
who in spite of occasional mistakes and extrava-
gances always upholds the spirit of constitutional
law, has from the first set his face against this
scheme of the Congress. On the very face
of it it is a contradiction in terms. How
can there be a veritable " Reconstruction,"
a restoration of internal tranquillity, prosperity, and
confidence under an irregular and despotic military
system ? To make matters worse each district
commander puts his own interpretation upon the
law, so that there can be no kind of certainty as to
the extent of his powers. If the South were still
ripe for rebellion, or, more properly speaking, revo-
lution, if there were a formidable party advocating
another outbreak and organising a secret force, if
the orders from Washington were rejected
or disobeyed, there might be some reason for
stern repressive measures. But the Southern
people have accepted their fate, however unwel-
come, and there has been no indication of any de-
sire to draw the sword anew, if indeed they could
muster force enough to be formidable. The course
adopted by General SHERIDAN could only be justified
among a chronically disaffected people, wherea3 the
great desire of the Southern whites now is to obtain
representation in the National Assembly. SHERIDAN,
we learn from the intelligence brought by the Java,
has removed the city attorney and city surveyor of
New Orleans, and ordered the jurors to be chosen
from among the registered voters. As we know
how the registration is conducted, we may guess
what sort of persons are likely to be selected.
It is rumoured all the members of the Cabinet
have notified to the PRESIDENT their willingness to
tender their resignations, if requested to do so ; but
this is not confirmed, and we may accept it cum
grano salis. The PRESIDENT, however, seems to
have resolved upon a vigorous course of action, and
civil
possible
rights
a restorednd
constitutionalpublic confidence,
liberty.
we may hope before the autumn is over he will have
as far
protected as

The annual gathering of the members of the
British Association is always an interesting event.
It breaks the monotony of autumnal discussions, by
lifting us for a while into the higher and purer
atmosphere of scientific inquiry. It forms a
standing point from which to look back upon the
achievements and advancement, the gains and
losses of each year, and to look forward at the plans
and hopes of the future. The assembly of this year
is held at Dundee, and is presided over by the
Duke of BUCCLEUCti, who has always taken a
scientific progress. His
deepGrae
Grace
interest
delivered
in
the inaugural address on
and, contrary to usual
flroVremd,n ehsedadyeliveevreendinigt,
extempore. W ith straight-
forwarel simplicity, he said that he had broken
through the customary rule, for he had never been
accustomed to prepare a written address, and had
he attempted to do so he must have called in the
aid of others. He preferred therefore to speak in
his own words, which were certainly very much to
the point. The Duke observed that none of his
ancestors, the " bold BUCCLEUCHS," of Border song
and legend, had attempted so bold a deed
as the acceptance of the Presidency offered
him, but from the specimen he has given us
there is very little doubt that, in true Border
fashion, he will come
.off victoriously from
the charge. The DUKE summed up briefly the
salient points of discussion, alluding more particu-
larly to the increase of scientific education in schools,
and to the restoration of a system of storm signals.
He had urged, he said, in common with others in-
terested in the subject, upon the Government of
the day the importance of renewing the storm signals
at different ports. His Grace urged very sensibly
that without expecting the Board of Trade to turn
into weather prophets, it is not unreasonable to
ask them to give us the benefit of their supe-
rior information. "As they have the means to
ascertain the strength and prevalence of winds
by telegraphic communication over this country and
over Europe and other distant parts, they can in-
form us whether there are any great disturbances of
the elements prevailing. For instance, there may
be a tremendous gale of wind 'on the south coast of
Ireland and at the entrance to the Channel. Well,
notice of that is telegraphed to, Glasgow, Liverpool,
and other ports upon the West coast, and com-
manders of vessels will hesita to to set sail when they
hear of such a storm in the seas which they had
expected in the ccurse of A few hours to pass
through." Such a system of sienals, as the Duke
observed, may save many lives an d a vast amount
of property, and the British' Assoc iation will do the
public good service, if they can isuc4 3ed in obtaining
its renewal from the Government,

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(PROM OTJR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Thursday Evening.
There was a Cabinet Council yesterday at the
Tuileries, at which the Emperor presided.
The evening Moniteur, in reviewing political
facts, has the following :
" King Charles XV. of Sweden returned to his
capital ou the 24th of August. On his arrival at
Stockholm he immediately went to the chateau,
where, in the presence of his Minister, he dissolved
the Regency and resumed the reins of Government.
The manceuvres of the camp, which is formed every
autumn, will this year be commanded by Prince
Oscar, his Majesty's brother.
" The plenipotentiaries who compose the Federal
Council of Northern 'Germany began their labours
by preparing a programme of the matters which
will be submitted to the Confederate Parliament
during the approaching session. The budget of
the federal expenses has been arranged. They
amount in round numbers to 270 millions of
francs. The expenses of the army are estimated
at 67 millions and a half of dollars. Taking
the total budget, 54 millions of dollars will
be derived from the receipts of the Zollverein, and
the duties upon articles of consumption and the
excess of receipts over the expenses of the post-
office and telegraphs. Thus 21 millions of dollars
will be demanded from the Confederate Govern-
ments pro rata according to their population.
Prussia will have to pay rather more than 18 mil-
lions, Saxony 1 million, and the other States of
Northern Germany collectively will contribute
almost a million of dollars.

" Numerous postal treaties have been concluded
between Prussia and the various States of the new
Confederation. Ilesse Darmstadt, like all the coun-
tries where the family of 'four and Taxis continues
to exercise its privilege, has confided the postal ser-
vice of the Grand Duchy to Prussia. Royal
Saxony, Brunswick, and the two Mecklenbourgs
are now the only States of Northern Germany
which have preserved an exclusive postal service for
themselves.

" The military arrangements concluded between
Prussia and the Confederate Government are now
in course of execution. The towns situated out of
the kingdom in which the Prussian troops keep
garrison under the title of Federal troops are
Kcenigstein, Hamburg, Lubeck, Sonderhausen,
Detinold, and Buckebourg.
" At the meeting of the last Council of Ministers
of the kingdom of Hungary, it was decided that
the Diet of Pesth should be again convoked towards
the end of this month to vote the national loan of
40 millions of florins to hasten the completion of the
Hungarian railways.
" The hopes which we have several times ex-
pressed for the complete frustration of every attempt
at disorder in the Pontifical States seem to be
realised. The agitators who reckoned upon the
co-operation of the Romans appear to be discou-
raged by the good sense of the population. The
Italian Government continues to post numerous
troops on the frontier to prevent any formation of
revolutionary bands, and to cause the convention of
the 15th of September last to be respected. Active
watch is kept throughout the whole territory. By
a privilege which dates from the times of Louis
XIII., whenever the Popo is at Rome on the 25th
of August he honours the Church of St. Louis des
Francais with his presence, where be is received
with solemnity by the representative of France.
The ceremony was celebrated this year with the
accustomed solemnity. The Holy Father had a con-
versation with the charge d'affaires of the Emperor,
and at his arrival, as well as at his departure, Pius
IX. was greeted with cordial acclamations from
the crowd. The Italian Government is actively
occupied in the preparation of all the measures re-
lative to the liquidation of ecclesiastical property.
" M. Dano, who has arrived at New York from
Mexico, will come direct to France, with all the
memlers of his legate.
"The Viceroy of Egypt, who has been at Con-
stantinople since the 17th of August, intends to stay
a month longer in that city. The Egyptian Go-
vernment has recently declared that it is about to
enter upon a course of reform and economy, which
will enable it to provide for every want with the
ordinary resources of the country, without having
recourse to a loan. This system will be assisted by
a good harvest, the rise of the Nile having this year
taken place under circumstances favourable to agri-
culture. A direct service of boats between Alex-
andria and Venice is about to be established."
Kossuth, it appears, is not satisfied with the new
German arrangements, and will not return to his
native land. The electors of Vaitzen have chosen
him to represent them, but he has written a letter
in which he declines to accept the mission. Kos-
suth in this letter explains the reasons which induce
him to prolong his exile. He disapproves of the
arrangements concluded with the Hapsbourgs, and
says he will not connect himself with the policy of
the Government.
of Hungary,he adds, does not want
the
Hungary is powerful
enough to
assistance
play a perfectly independent part in
Aestria ;
Europe.
The Salzbourg
reports and fabrications are re-
vived, but faintly. Various diplomatic notes are
still talked of. The report of one from M. Beust
to the diplomatic agents of Austria is formally con-
tradicted.

A terrible case has occupied the Court of Assize
of the Ha.utes Pyrenees, at Tarbes, which the law
inmurder, but in Franco
this treated as such. A gentle-
man, 0
el
namedand occurrence
is n
Arnaud
n woulda
ud oe consideras a
t a
ignet, his wife, and Anna
J
Cassagnet,inflicted the victim'smother, were indicted
foruna
having
blows and wounds, on the 22d
of March last, upon Colina Cassagnet, which blows
and wounds were not inflicted with the intention of
causing death, although death ensued from them.
Colina Cassagnet, the deceased, a girl of 16, who
was servant to M. Castaignet, died on the 29th of
March last, and in consequence of rumours that
ca e I
her death was
by violence the body was
examined by
who
found numerous serious
wounds and bruises, which, in their opinion, were
the cause of death. It appeared, from the evidence,
that the deceased left her master's house on the
morning of the 23d of March, and went to stay with
u surgeons,s
her aunt, a woman named Prehau, at Vic, not far
from Tarbes. She was so ill that she was compelled
to go to bed, from which she never rose, but died
five days afterwards. During her illness she told
her aunt that on the previous night her master and
mistress had complained of her having stolen some
eggs and a piece of pork, and had locked her up
all day and sent for her mother, who arrived in
the evening. A Scene of revolting violence and
brutality ensued. 'The child's mother, and her
master and mistress (the three prisoners) struck,
beat, and kicked her, and, after using their fists,
they knocked her about with a chair. The male
prisoner stood upon her stomach and kicked her
on the chest. The defence made by the husband
and wife was that it was the mother of the de-
ceased who had inflicted the blows in her passion
when told that she had been guilty of stealing,
and that they tried to rescue her from her
mother's violence. The woman Cassagnet, the
mother, on the contrary, said that Madame Cas-
taignet seized the girl by the throat, and that
both she and Ler husband beat and kicked her
very brutally. According to other evidence the
petty larceny was only the pretext for the vio-
lence, but that the real motive of the crime was the
refusal of the poor girl to consent to improper ven-
tures made by her master. It was proved that
the master is a man of very irritable temper
and violent disposition. 'I he trial is not over yet.
On Tuesday there was a grand dinner at the
Tuileries in honour of the Queen of Wurtemberg.
The latest arrival of note in Paris is that of M. de
Goltz, and of course all sorts of political combina-
tions are anticipated from the visit of the Minister.
The weather continues heavy and stormy, with
occasional rain.

There is plenty of partridges in the market and
shops, but they are rather dear. Two francs and a
half arc asked for a small bird. They are, however,
to be had in the streets at a cheaper rate. Hares
are not yet abundant, and are dear.
Among the anecdotes of the day is one respecting
two provincials who have come to see the Exhibi-

tion, one from Toulouse, the other from Marseilles.
At a café they were discussing the attractions and
wonders of their respective localities. The Gaston
of course boasted largely about his native place.
He said the Garonne was so full of fish that even
a steamer could hardly get through the shoals.
" Oh," rejoined the Marseilles visitor, " that is
nothing ; we have a river near Marseilles where the
fish come in such enormous abundance that they
have driven all the water out of the river."

The grave Moniteur records au anecdote of two
Englishmen, which, if true, does not redound much
to their politeness. The omnibus which takes pas-
sengers from Etretat to the station at 13euzeville
was about to leave when two Englishmen jumped
into places in the coupe which had been retained by
ladies. Every plan was adopted with politeness to
induce them to give up the places. Even the threat
of sending for gendarmes had no effect. The coach-
man, however, hit upon a clever expedient. He
locked the doors of the coupe and brought out
another carriage, to which all the baggage was re-
moved. In spite of the cries and menaces of the
Englishmen they were kept locked up for two
hours, and of course lost their places by the train.
They went to the Mayor to complain, but he told
them they were in the wrong, and said the best
thing they could do, if they were in a hurry, would
be to post it to their destination.

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE ABYSSINIAN PRISONERS.

Foreign-office, September 6, 11 a.m.

Her Majesty's Acting Consul-General in Egypt
reports yesterday from Alexandria that nothing is
known there respecting the alleged release of the
Abyssinian prisoners. The Armenian patriarch, at
Jerusalem, who sent the bishops to Abyssinia, is
now at Cairo, and has heard nothing of their move-
ments subsequently to their departure from Sonakin
for Gondar, in June last.

ALEXANDRIA, Sept. 5.

The Armenian Patriarch of Jerusalem, who is
now staying at Cairo, and who recently sent a
bishop to effect the liberation of the Abyssinian
captives, has no knowledge of their alleged re-
lease.