The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-30 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JAN. 30, 1867.

Mr. MILNER GIBSON last night delivered his an-
nual address to his constituents at the Town-hall,
Ashton-under-Lyne. The right hon. gentleman
took a survey of the chief events of the past year,
and he seemed to take a hopeful view of matters
on the whole, notwithstanding the severe financial
crisis that had taken place ; and he also thinks that
our -trade with the United, States of America will
shortly revive. It would certainly be a very good
thing for everyone if such turned out to be the case,
but there does not as yet seem much probability of
its being realised. There is a great deal of truth in
the remarks of Mr. GIBSON about the state of affairs
cAincctcd with armaments, although international
treaties may provide for establishing feelings of
unity ; still, with existing circumstance; the forces
of the European powers have been increased, so as
to render peace almost as costly as in a state of
xar." As for the change of Ministry that has
recently taken place, of course Mr. GIBSON had a
great deal to say about it, and his remarks will
most likely attract notice. He said that the reason
why the change took place so quietly was that the
people generally felt convinced that whichever
government was in they must act according to the
laws, and " though a ministry might die, its policy
might live, and acquire a fresh vigour !" Really it
would puzzle anyone to decide exactly what was the
nature of the policy that actuated the late Govern-
'tient, although any one that succeeded them could

readily infuse more vigour into their ways. Mr.
GIBSON thinks that no one who interprets rightly
the signs of the times can fail to recognise the neces-
sity of Parliamentary Reform ; but we cannot over-.
look the fact that he was a member of a Govern,-
ment which failed to realise this truth for seven
years. The right hon. gentleman declared that the
measure introduced by his colleagues was sound so
far as it went, and that was why Mr. BRIGHT gave it
his support ; but the real truth of the matter is
the idea of the measure originated with Mr. BRIGHT,
and hence most of the confusion and misunderstand-
ing that arose. In Mr. GIBSON'S eyes, the Bill no
doubt semis perfect, and he naturally feels disap-
pointed at the result of its discussion.
It is almost aniu,ing to notice the virtuous la-
di,gnation with which he regards all who opposed it,
and the eagerness with which he seeks to defend
the malplot of the affair. Instead of being grateful
forthemoderation shown to them, people exclaimed,
when Mr. BRIGHT supported it, " Oh, there must
be something shocking." Finally, Mr. GIBSON
thinks that a good Reform Bill might
be carried if the Reform party were
united as one man as they were in 1832. This mny
be true enough, so far as it goes, but he seems to
forget that this is the most difficult thing of the
whole to effect, and that to make soi disant Liberals
really liberal is a far more arduous thing than to
propound any measure, however complete and com-
prehensive, and to attempt passing it through the
Legislature. Had there been as much sincerity as
earnestness and honesty among the ranks of the
Reformers as there was in former times, we should
not all be so weary and worn-out with this
everlasting subject of Reform, but unhappily
such is not the case, and we are left to mourn the
consequences. It is all very well to talk of the
faults of others, but we wish, for the sake of the
cause they profess to serve, and declare that they
have at heart, that the members of the Liberal
side would be a little more alive to their own defi-

ciencies.

Mr. GIBSON passed on to consider the probability
of the present Government bringing in a measure
of Reform ; but, as might have been expected, he
was not very sanguine as to the result of their
doing so. He was very indignant at the notion
that some had expressed as to the new mea-
sure being framed in such a manner as to put
Mr. BRIGHT and Mr. GLADSTONE in the wrong, and
declared that if such were the case it would satisfy
neither the country nor the great body of the
Liberal party. This, however, is neither here nor
there, because it is not likely that anything which
her MAJESTY'S present Ministers may propose will
be looked upon very favourably, or even perhaps
fairly, by those who preceded them in office. We
hope, however, for their own credit, as much as for
the good of the nation at large, that there will
be no extreme measures resorted to, and that
we shall not witness a repetition of that jea-
lousy which so much embittered the cause of
the best measures which was proposed by the Con-
servatives. The Liberals may rest assured than any
prestige that they might lose by not originating the
scheme that is to pass into law would be more than
made up for by the respect and regard which they
would deserve, and undoubtedly receive, if they show
themselves above party considerations and anxious
to secure the welfare of the community, rather than
put forward their own pretensions to popularity.
We can hardly believe that much improvement will
be shown in the ensuing session from what we
have noticed in past years ; but still there may
be a better spirit infused into the Parliamentary
proceedings. It is to be trusted that there may be,
for many reasons, and one is—that so much other
important legislation .is stopped by the delays
interposed by the constant consideration of the
Reform question. Mr. GIBSON speaks of the
necessity for improving a system of national
education, and that is vtry true in the main, but
while so much prejudice and party feeling are dis-
played it is difficult, if not impossible, for public
men to get on very rapidly with any new under-
takings of however much importance they may be.

The Earl of CLARENDON has been making a short
but sensible speech on agricultural affairs. The re-
appearance of the noble lord in public is the more
welcome from the fact that illness has prevented
him for some time from being present at the meet-
ings of the society over which ho has presided for the
year. The West netts Agricultural Society was
the association whose annual assembly was held
yesterday afternoon, and Lord CLARENDON, who
took the chair, touched briefly upon the advantages
which such institutions offered. The committee,
said the noble lord, were particularly anxious
to call the attention of the tenant farmers to
the prizes which they offered for the best
cultivated farms. He was himself of opi-
nion that such prizes were most beneficial to a
district, since they stimulated men's energies and
induced them to bring all their kdowledge to bear
on the increase of their land. These prizes are of
considerable value, ranging from £5O downwards,
but the prizes for labourers, though only £2 or £3
were ranked even higher in importance by the noble
chairman. There had, he reminded his hearers,
been a good deal of ridicule attached to these
prizes, but he thought, for his part, that such critics
did not understand the mainspring of human action
—ambition. It would be absurd, said Lord CLA-
RENDON, to estimate the Order of the Bath or the
Victoria Cross at their money value and in the same
way the public recognition of his good conduct by
the chief residents in his own locality is worth more
to the labourer and his family than the commercial
worth of the forty or fifty shillings. Lord CLAREN-
DON very wisely suggested that the prizes ought to
be accompanied by a diploma recording the causes
of the gift, which would be to the man's family his
Order of the Bath or his Victoria Cross.

Lord CLARENDON, having given his opinion on
the matter of prizes and testimonials, proceeded to
examine a question of very great practical import-
ance to agriculturists, but one whose value they are
very slow and unwilling to recognise. In the matter
of agricultural statistics England has hitherto been
sadly deficient. In all other departments of indus-
try the great advantage of collecting returns and
collating information is usually promptly acknow-
ledged by all parties concerned. " Upon our trade
and commerce," said Lord CLARENDON, " our ex-
ports and imports, our currency, our population, our
criminal jurisprudence, and in short upon everything
that can throw light on the moral and social condi-
tion of the country, we have for years past been in
the habit of collecting and acting upon the most re-
liable information we could obtain. But it is upon
the produce of our soil, upon the relation between
production and population, upon that knowledge
which will impart to us the amount of the pro-
duction of our own soil, and how far we must
rely upon foreigners for our food, what are the
regulating causes of price upon everything which
it is most important for the producer to know, the
agricultural interest have refused to be informed and
have preferred to remain in ignorance and dark-
ness." Lord CLARENDON himself has always
strenuously endeavoured to remove this prejudice,
and his extended experience of foreign countries
has enabled him to see what immense advan-
tage other nations derive from an accurate

collection of agricultural statistics. When
he was at the head of the Board of
Trade in 1847, he therefore prepared a bill authoris-
ing the collection of such figures, but the existing
prejudice against the principle of the measure was
so strong, and the opposition to it, as odious and in-
quisitorial, was so bitter, that he was obliged
to give it up altogether. When he subse-
quently assumed the office of Lord Lieutenant of
Ireland he made another effort, and. the quick in-
telligence of the Irish people immediately appre-
hended the value of such information, and they
readily agreed to adopt the system. -These admira-
ble statistics, said Lord CLAP,ENDON, have been for
many years a standing reproach to Great Britain.
At last, however, matters are improving in this
country, and a return for 1866 shows the total
population, area, abstract of acreage under crops,
bare fallow, and grass, and the total number of
cattle and sheep in each division of the United
Kingdom, in each (county, and in various foreign
countries. It is at once evident to the impartial
observer how very serviceable such statistics must
be to the producer and cultivator, and it is only
wonderful that the experiment should have been so
long delayed. In other matters the agriculturists
have made rapid progress, and gladly avail
themselves now of the aid of science which
once they refused to admit. Surely, then,
it need be no great sacrifice on their part to agree
to the collection of general facts, and their publica-
tion in official returns. A man's neighbours need
know no more about his affairs than they do now ;
but there will be the summary of facts to go upon,
which will enable everyone to judge for himself
how far we are advancing or receding in compa-
rison with foreign countries, and what will be the
probable rate of prices at home and abroad. It has
always been found that the more freedom and pub-
licity is given to any industry the more it flourishes,
and surely English agriculture is not so con-
temptible a thing that it need be shrouded in
mystery and protected by prejudice.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROJI OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, Tuesday Evening.

An analysis has been received by telegraph of the
project of law presented to the Italian Parliament
relative to the liquidation of ecclesiastical property
and the separation of the Church from the State in
the kingdom of Italy. According to this law, the
Catholic Church is freed from all intervention on
the part of the State with the exercise of worship,
from the nomination of bishops by the State, from
the oath, and from the placet and the exequatur.
The privileges, exemptions, and immunities of the
Church in the State are also abolished. The Church
will be able to provide herself for her wants,
with the free assistance of the faithful, and
the property belonging to her which she has
legitimately acquired. As a consequence of this
the expenses which were heretofore at the charge of
the State, the provinces, the communes, and of pri-
vate individuals will cease. The following are the
precise terms of the clause relative to the liquidation
of ecclesiastical property :

" If the Bishops should declare that they wish to
take upon themselves the conversion and liquidation
of ecclesiastical property, they must alienate within
a delay of ten years all that property by converting
it immovable into moveable property. They will
then have to pay to the Government the sum of 800
millions of francs in proportional amounts of 50
millions every six months, and to take upon them-
selves besides the pensions to be paid to the sup-
pressed religious corporations. The pensions granted
to the members of the suppressed religious corpora-
tions will remain at the charge of the Bishops.,,
It may be well to add that the Journal de Rome
announces that the Pope is opposed to the measures
adopted in regard to ecclesiastical property, and
will only give his consent to them with the idea of
states that an un-
avoiding
Frsetlinl genrteiaattetr uof ivs fioernt
nu
an ess.
The t

derstanding is approaching between the Austrian
Government and Hungary. The only difficulties
which remain to be overcome consist of the necessity
of determining general affairs, and of separating
from them those which specially regard the attri-
butions of the Hungarian Ministry.
Some of the theological journals vigorously oppose
the project of erecting a statue to Voltaire. The
Pays is conspicuous in this attack. It speaks of
Voltaire as the defamer of the popular classes and
the enemy to the diffusion of intelligence. Among
the epithets applied to Voltaire, he is called a poor
creature, a bad Frenchman, and a proud aristocrat.
The Russian papers publish details respecting the
progress of the works of the Russian-American
Railways, upon which it appears that the Russian
line will come into operation in the autumn of this
year. The work of sounding and measurement of
Behring's Straits is terminated. The American line
is finished up to those straits.

A man named Jacques-Charles Van Damme has
just died at Ghent, in his 87th year, who was an
old servant of the French empire, and the last of the
natives of Ghent who accompanied Napoleon the
First to the island of Elba.

The provincial journals continue to publish in-
teresting reminiscences connected with the late
severe weather. From Montfaucon it is stated that
c so much snow had not been seen there within the
memory of man. One day last week the snow in the
open felds was nine-tenths of a metre in depth.
All the roads were stopped up and the
houses covered. A traveller who had penetrated to
Montefaucon with much difficulty announced that
at two or three miles from the town there was a
family dying from cold and hunger. The father
and mother were in bed dangerously ill from fever.
A number of young men instantly volunteered to
traverse the snow with fuel and provisions to com-
fort the unhappy family. Indeed the account says
that every inhabitant of the town would have gone
if it had been necessary. The church bells rang
from the departure till the return of the expedition
on its dangerous mission. One of this courageous
and benevolent party was suffocated in the snow.
When the snow was at its height in the mountains
of the Tyrol an immense avalanche was precipitated
from the Brenner, and fell upon twelve wood-
cutters, who were at work in the valley beneath.
Six of them were completely buried in the snow. The
other six immediately ran for assistance, but it
was only after three-quarters of au hour of
unwearied exertion that the sufferers were extri-
cated. They were in an exhausted and perilous
state, but from the care taken of them they were
restored in a few hours.

A Vienna journal describes an odd adventure
which took place at a masked ball in that city. A
newly-married merchant, with the consent of his
wife, went to the ball dressed as a woman. She
assisted at his toilet, and indeed made him up so
admirably that he appeared to be a very handsome,
captivating lady. He produced such an impression
at the ball as to make several conquests, and some
dashing young fellows paid for a splendid supper
for him. The repast over, he requested the gallant
young fellows to conduct him home. His wife
opened the door, and he then thanked his friends
for their polite attention, the more particularly, as
he ironically added, as they had been paid to a man
and not to a woman. The young fellows did not
relish the joke, and on finding how they had boen
my:Ail-led they attacked both the merchant and his
wife. They then began to break the windows and
the furniture, and were so employed when apassing
patrol heard the noise and stopped the work of fury
by taking them to the police station.
The Court of the Assize of the Seine et Oise has
just condemned to 10 years' imprisonment a child
only 11 years and a half old, but who, in the
space of 11 months, committed no less than eight
acts of incendiarism.

M. Pollet, the head of an important banking
establishment at Lille, died suddenly a night or two
ago, it is said of suicide. The house has stopped
payment; although the assets are supposed to amount

Last evening the late President of the Board of
Trade delivered his annual address to his consti-
tuents at the Toi,vn-hall, Ashton-under-Lyne. Mr.
Alderman Galt presided, and there was a crowded
attendance.

Mr. MILNER GIBSON, in reviewing the past year,
mmarked that we had had severe financial crises ;
and although he believed there was a very gloomy
feeling, and that distrust and much local distress
had prevailed, yet it was hoped that the real indus-
try and trade of the country had not sustained very
serious check. Indeed, it was surprising that not-
withstanding the crippled state of our monetary
affairs, our commerce had gone on increasing during
the last year to a great extent, and we might rejoice
in believing that before long trade with the United
States would have so far revived that we should
again see that country at the head of the list of
foreign countries in reference to the proportion of
trade that we did with them. We might congratu-
late ourselves, also, that the beneficent policy an-
nounced by Mr. Cobden in the French Treaty was
still bearing fruits. The French trade had deve-
loped itself, and only lately the French Government
had made a most important relaxation in its naviga-
tion laws. Although in all our international treaties
there was a clause for the purpose of establishing
perpetual amity between the nations, nevertheless
the forces of each European Power had been in-
creased so as to render peace as costly almost as a
state of war. Referring to the change of Ministry,
he said the reason why the change took place so
quietly was that the people were aware that what-
ever set of men had charge of public affairs they
must carry on their administration under the laws;
that the people were not governed by prerogative
nor by the will of the Executive, but by the statutes
and the common law of the realm, and though a
Ministry might die, its policy might live and acquire
a fresh vigour. No one who interpreted rightly
the signs of the times could fail to see the necessity
of Parliamentary Reform. Although it had
been said that the people were indifferent
on the subject, he knew of no Reform of which,
previous to its passing, the same thing had not been
said. When the late Government entered upon the
work of Reform they attempted to deal with that
branch which !seeded to be the first in the natu-
ral order of things, viz., the extension of the suffrage.
They found that while everything else was advanc-
ing in the country the franchise was stationary. In
1866 the proportion of voters to the population was
one in five, and that was the proportion 30 or 40
years ago ; and yet we were told that the franchise
was getting more extensivelyspread, and that it was
a self-adjusting system. If the late Government
were chargeable with anything, it was not with going
too far, but with not going far enough. lie analysed
the statistics of the subject, and contended that the
bill was more a middle-class than a working-class
measure; but it was sound so far asit vent, and that
was why Mr. Bright gave it his support. The result
however showed how little was gained by concilia-
tion. One might havesupposed that, as the Govern-
ment gave way on the question of the borough
franchise, the Conservative party would receive the
bill with something like favour, but the moment Mr.
Bright supported it, the cry was, " Oh, there must
be something shocking." In the opposition directed
against it, everybody professed to be in favour of a
complete measure ; but when the Redistribution Bill
was introduced the whole measure fared no better.
He would not weary them with the anomalies of the
existing
were known to them
all ; b
be carried if the Reform party were united as one
man as in 1832. It was said that the present ut constituencies,
he
observed
that a s
a they
good
Reform Bill could
Go-
vernment were going to try their hands at Reform.
A Conservative journal had stated that they must
produce such a meP.sure as would put Mr. Gladstone
and Mr. Bright as much in the wrong as possible ;
but if a bill were brought in on that principle it
would satisfy neither the country nor thegreat body
of the Liberal party. A Conservative member told
him that if a good bill were introduced there was
some danger of a Cave of Adullam on the Conserva-
tiveside. The caves might thenbepaired off against
each other, and there would still remain a sufficient
number of independent men in the House to pass
the Bill into law. If he were asked what were the
advantages to be gained by Reform, he should
answer that there were many important questions
that could be better dealt with by a Reformed Par-
liament than the present House of Commons, among
others the question of national education. If we
had a system of national education supported by all,
it should be one from which all could derive ad-
vantage, and therefore it should be devised by a Par-
liament in which all were fairly represented. Class
legislation would also be done away with in a house
where the people were fairly represented. lie be-
lieved that the possession of the franchise had in
itself an elevating influence on those who possessed
it, and though this was called the sentimental view
of the subject, he believed it to be the true one. The
advantages of self-government had been proved in
municipal affairs, and he thought the same advan-
tages would arise in the great work of self-govern-
ment—the making of those laws which the com-
munity at large had to obey.
The right hon. member was frequently applauded
during his speech, and at its close a cordial vote of
confidence in the speaker was crrried by acclamation.

NEW lIIONCLADS roR FRANCE.—A letter from
Rochefort of the 23d says :—" Orders have been received
here from Paris to lay down the keel of a new coastguard
armour-plated vessel, to be called tho Tigre, and which
will be adapted chiefly
to rua down an enemy by great
speed. Three other vessels of the same kind aro at Fesent
being built in our dockyards—the Belier at Cherbourg, the
B owle-Dogue at ',orient, awl the Corhi:re at Brest. These
vessels will be of 530-horse power, and aro on the model Of
the Taureau, finished at Toulon.
The coastguard armour
plated ships are specially intended fur the protection of the
French ports. They are furnished with a formidable spur
at the stem, and two screws working , independently of
each other, enable them to turn rapidly, thus making them
as suitable for defence its for attack. Tho Taureau has
lately been tried, and her success is perfect. Her speed is
good, she turns easily, has admirable sea-going qualities
even in the worst weather, and her weight and rapidity
combined will enable her to strike an enemy's vessel with
the most destructive effect."
Sixteen thousand dollars have beet[ subscribed in
New York fur the families of the unfortunate men who
were lost from the yacht Flootwing, and they are to have
a theatrical benefit in that city, at which the principal
New York. actora will perform.

To-day, in the Chamber of Deputies, General
Bixio requested information from the Government
relative to the affair of the frigate Formidabile,
which was fired upon by an Austrian fort in the
waters of Gravosa. lie also condemned the con-
duct of the captain of the Formidabile on that
occasion. The Minister of Marine, in reply, related
the circumstances of the case, and said the Austrian
Commandant had declared that in firing upon the
frigate he acted entirely under a misapprehension, as
the Austrian Government since October last had
given orders for Italian vessels to be treated as
those of a friendly nation. The Minister added
that the captain of the Formidabile did not take
the proper course under the circumstances, and
had been removed from his command in conse-
quence. As the matter was still the subject of ex-
planations between the Italian and Austrian Go-
verments the Minister could state nothing further
for the present, but would communicate to the
House the diplomatic acts of the Government as
soon as the correspondence should have terminated.
The Chamber subsequently approved the unifi-
cation of the land tax in Venetia.

FINLAND.

ST. PETERSBURG, Jan. 30.

The Diet of Finland was opened on the 26th inst.,
at Helsingfors, by an Imperial Commmissioner, who
read the Emperor's Speeeh from the Throne. The
speech announced that a bill would be laid before
the Chamber, fixing the periods at which the Diet
is to assemble. The Emperor does not intend to
impose new taxes. A bill will be communicated
effecting a reform of the tax upon landed property
in Finland. Financial reforms are adjourned.