The Sun.
London, England, 1867-09-21 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

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LONDON, SATURDAY, SEPT. 21, 1867.

Mr. GLADSTONE has been most fortunate in hav-
ing an opportunity of displaying his eloquence in
discoursing on the iron trade of Lancashire. On
Thursday a ceremonial took place at Barrow, in
Furness, on the Lancashire coast, to celebrate the
opening of the new docks which have been made
by the Furness Railway company. The manner
in which the town of Barrow has sprung up into
importance is really surprising, and is a tribute to
the wonders of commercial enterprise. After the busi-
ness of the day was over a grand banquet took place,
at which an immense company assembled. The D uke
of DEVONSHIRE occupied the chair, and in propose
ing " Success to the Barrow Docks," he entered at
some length into the chief points of interest con-
nected with the affair. He said that it required an
effort of the imagination to " realise the condition
of things which existed at Barrow in the pre-rail-
way times. In his early days Barrow consisted of
a few cottages." It is, indeed, a transformation,
from the population consisting of fewer than a hun-
dred inhabitants to having nearly 20,000 inhabi-
tants. The deposits of " iron ore" have been the
cause of this rapid change, and the introduc-
tion of the railway system into the district
has also tended much to its development.
Mr. GLADSTONE proposed "The Town and Trade
of Barrow," and remarked that the occasion which
brought them thus together was one of national
interest. "We have heard," said the right hon.
gentleman, " a great deal at different times about
King Cotton as king in England, and far be it from
me to say anything against his majesty, to whom I
wish to be sincerely loyal ; but although they could
not get on with two kings in Brentford, yet of this
class and character there are two kings in England.
There is a King Iron as well as a King Cotton, and
I think in every sense as Englishmen we must
rejoice that in these latter years especially King
Iron has risen up out of the bowels of the earth to
assert his claim to a share in the sovereignty."
This is put in that graphic style for which Mr.
GLADSTONE'S oratory is so famous, and brings be-
fore us in an impressive manner the remarkable cha-
racteristics of the trade and commerce of the

country.
It is always desirable and profitable to turn
aside when we can from the mere material interests
of the moment, and consider the meaning of things,
and when the inquirer and speculative can follow
a master mind it is a rare opportunity that should
be duly appreciated. The fate of Iron has
been, as Mr. GLADSTONE remarked, a singular one ;
and, in taking a retrospective glance at his course,
we may understand how PROVIDENCE adapts the
productions of the earth in their varied forms and
several characters to the requirements of society at
different stages. Thus looking at barbarous life,
we see that iron is utterly unknown as a luxury in
these earliest days. They passed from stone and
wood to metal, but iron was still untouched. We
may form the best notion of the matter by taking a
practical view of the value of the different metals, and
hence we see that iron, which was three thousand years
ago ten times more valuable than copper, is now
not one-tenth of the price of copper; and this change
is not accounted for by any decrease in the value of
copper, which is indeed obtained more readily than
heretofore, and put to more use, but because, to take
the illustration here given, " the gigantic strides
with which iron has attested itself, and because by
far the most useful and valuable of all the metals
which the earth affords, perhaps more useful and
more necessary than all the rest put together, has
effected this extraordinary change." There are
many things to think of in connection with this
striking change, and one is the rapid improvements
that have been made. As Mr. GLADSTONE said,
the men of olden times would have regarded in the
light of a miracle many of the commodities now
supplied to us, and which, from habit and custom,
we consider as ordinary affairs. The result of all
these inquiries is that we arrive at a satisfactory
conclusion, for the more the use of "iron" advances
the more the power of England advances also.
Hence, as we find mentioned impressively in this
discourse, it may be very well for us to obtain com-
modities from our neighbours if we cannot produce
them cheaper and better for ourselves; but the value of
a treasure is greatly increased if we can produce them
for ourselves, and in this especial instance of Bar-
row we may note that the " commodity" is one
which is intimately associated with national wealth,
and with national security and power. We think
that Mr. GLADSTONE did not make a rash venture
when he said that looking forward the progress of
iron was so rooted and fixed in the essential wants
of society that it assumed the character of a law of
modern trade and industry.

It is indeed encouraging to look upon such
a picture as Barrow presents, and to draw
from thence the conclusion that much may
yet be done in the way of real advancement
among us, although it is the fashion nowadays to
talk as if our day was departing. As Mr. GLAD-
STONE remarked, it seems extraordinary to see that
"in what we call an old country like this there
should be still so much youth and still so much
energy to develope and expand itself." Among
many of the drawbacks of the present day it is
pleasant to think that in one respect a decided
change for the better has taken place, and that
such is the progress of things, and the increase in the
resources of trade and capital, that any particular
place may start into prominence from a state of pre-
vious insignificance, without materially injuring
others, or interfering with their prosperity. In point of
fact, they may sometimes be of service to those with
whom they seem at first sight to compete prejudi-
cially, for they serve as a stimulus to their efforts,
and may compel them to improve their condition
through the exercise of care and judgment, instead
of wasting their natural gifts and treasures through
lavish prodigality. Mr. GLADSTONE speaks out
boldly, and with the true English spirit of per-
severance. Some say that Barrow will be-
come a Liverpool. " Let it become a Liverpool if
it will and can," he replies. " The old Liverpool
will be none the worse, but the better for its exist-
ence, and as a Liverpool man I cordially join in the
sentiment I ask you to adopt, and make you join
in drinking ' Prosperity to the Trade and Town
of Barrow.' " The proceedings at this affair were
altogether of a most interesting kind, and we refer
our readers to them, with the confident assurance
that they will find plenty to attract notice, for the
y
refer
refer to matters which are of great importance and
interest in a national sense.

The interest attaching to the news brought from
New York by the Cuba is thrown into the shade
by the melancholy intelligence transmitted through
the cable. Sir FREDERICK BRUCE is gone in the
prime of life and the full strength of his powers,
gone just when his services were most valuable to
his country—his aid most needed in the future. By
a singular fatality three brothers, all of whom

played
promi vent parts in the public sight, have
died
vi thin a few years of each other. General
BRUCE, Till ose faithful attendance on the Heir
Apparent had won him the respect and con.
fideneß, of the Crown and people, died on the
eve of a roar al wedding ; Lord ELGIN, the most emi-
nent perhaps of the three, sunk, after a brief illness
in the Indian hills. He had not long assumed those
onerous and .difficult duties of Viceroy of India,
which all parties agreed in thinking he was the most
capable and worthy to fulfil. His long diplomatic
career had won him. .a high reputation, and his mis-
sion to China, in which he was assisted by his
brother Frederick, Yib s a remarkable success. Not-
withstanding these -kw° premature deaths there
seemed reason to hops that our Ambassador to the
United States might represent his nation for many
years more. General BRUCE was long known to be
in delicate health, and Lord ELGIN had suffered
from his assiduous public services in many trying
climates and conditions. Bnt the strong man is
laid low, and the confidence which we all felt that
the honour and the interests of England were safe
in the hands of our Transatlantic representative is
rudely shaken. How shall we fill his place ? That
is the question that will to-day be anxiously asked
and doubtfully answered. The negotiations which
Sir FREDERICK BRUCE so ably conducted, and
which he cherished the hope of bringing
to a conclusion, satisfactory and honourable to both
sides, are still pending. The course of events, while
bringing conviction to the leading minds of both
countries that a rupture between them would be a
loss, has not removed those causes of irritation,
which, if ill-managed, often lead to the most serious
results. It is necessary for a capable ambassador
to understood correctly his own people, and the
people among whom he dwells. Sir FREDERICK
BRUCE was fortunate in this respect, and the
best proof how well he understood the
somewhat complex character of the people
among whom he dwelt is to be found
in the high estimation in which he was held
by the Americans. Mr. SEWARD himself, not
always friendly to England, and constantly engaged
in a paper war with the English representative, was
on the best of terms with Sir FREDERICK BRUCE
individually. Sir FREDERICK had but recently
returned from visiting his venerable antagonist at
his home at Auburn, when he was attacked by the
fatal malady to which ho succumbed. His self-
control and calm self-possession often stood him in
good stead in times of the greatest difficulty,
when less able men might have been provoked
into some fatal blunder. Thus, on the memorable
occasion when the oration to the memory of Presi-
dent LINCOLN was made the pretext for virulent
abuse of England, many prominent Americans
thought it their duty to call upon the English
Minister and express their regret. Sir FREDERICK
received them with courtesy, and soon showed that
he felt the real affront was not to himself or to the
people whom he represented, but to the American
people, for the desecration of the tribute paid to the
memory of a good man by the unseemly exhibi-
tion. In conducting the correspondence on
the troublesome question of the Alabama claims
Sir F. BRUCE showed great tact, firmness, and
command of temper. He was always on the watch
for a favourable opportunity for their adjustment,
and although it suited the political necessities of
American statesmen to take up and lay aside the
claims according to the humour of the moment,
the English Minister was always consistent and
equable. He showed a firm front to the somewhat
exacting and aggressive representatives of American
policy, while at the same time he did not scruple to
advise the Home Government to make what he
considered necessary or desirable concessions. In any
case the post which Sir F. BRUCE leaves vacant would
be one difficult to fill, and at the present time it is
beset with peculiar perplexity. No doubt many
able and accomplished men will be forthcoming
who would be ready to accept the responsibility
and to undertake the duties, but the combination
of qualities demanded in our Minister at Wash-
ington is not so quickly found. Sir F. BRUCE
has held the post for a comparatively short period,
but he gave unlimited satisfaction. Let us hope that
his successor, whoever he may be, may leave a not
less worthy name behind him.

From New York, on September 10th, we learn
that the famous amnesty proclamation was issued
the day before, and excludes Mr. DAVIES, all
heads of departments, governors of Confederate
States, persons who illtreated Federal prisoners, and
all who were directly or indirectly concerned in the
assassination of President LINCOLN, from its benefits.
Many of the former classes have already applied
for and obtained individual pardons ; for the
rest, no ono will wish to include them.
Such as it is, the amnesty has given
great offence to Mr. WENDELL PHILLIPS, who
denounces it as treasonable and rebellious, and
declares that the PRESIDENT will be impeached upon
the reassembling of Congress. We do not hear of
the general effect produced throughout the States,
though the Cabinet, we are given to understand,
believe it will have very extensive effects. What-
ever course the Radicals determine upon pursuing,
it is evident that the PRESIDENT is resolved upon
vigorous action, and possibly he may yet prove to
have been the most politically sagacious of the two.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, Friday Evening.
The Moniteur gives the following news in its
bulletin :

" The Federal Diet of Northern Germany. has
decided that the project of the address presented to
it shall be discussed in a general sitting, as well as
the proposals relative to the new Zollverein and
Budget of 1868. It has remitted to special
countries the laws concerning passports, post-
offices, and the salt duty. A portion of the
Chamber having proposed to invalidate the election
of General Vogel de Falkenstein, the motion was
agreed to. The Diet also consented to a proposi-
tion, having for object the promulgation of
electoral regulations to be common to all the Con-
federation of the North.
" The King of Prussia, who arrived at Frankfort
on Wednesday, went to Darmstadt upon the
invitation of the Grand Duke of Hesse. His
Majesty intends to go to Wiesbaden to pay a visit
to the Princess of Wales." _ _

vv
The Marquis de Moustier, Minister of Foreign
Affairs, having resumed the direction of his depart-
ment yesterday, received the members of the diplo-
matic body, who were accredited to their functions
i❑ Paris.

In an article relative to Mexico the Revue Content-
poreire lately gave an account, by M. Keratry, of
a supposed angry conversation which had taken
place at St. Cloud between the Empress Charlotte
and the Emperor. It is stated officially that there
is no truth in this alleged conversation.
The Siecle has some remarks worth attention
relative to the policy of Prussia. It says :
" It becomes difficult to understand the situation
of the Cabinet of Berlin. When it speaks, in
whose name does it speak? The new circular
of M. de Bismarck, explaining the character
of the interview at Salzbourg, is addressed
to the agents of Prussia in foreign countries,
and yet the Prussian Minister of Foreign Affairs
expresses himself as the representative of the whole
of Germany. In almost every sentence the words
national German feeling are repeated, and also the
words national interests of Germany and the dignity