The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-23 00:00:00

The Government and Reform.

A correspondent of the Scotsman writes as follows :
—" That a Reform Bill was at one time thought
necessary by Mr. Disraeli, that its heads and leading
clauses were drawn up by him, and that the em-
bryo measure is at the present moment pigeon-
holed somewhere in readiness to be produced in the
event of an urgent overpowering demand there are
good reasons for believing. When the Cabi-
net met after the recess, it was necessary to deter-
mine whether the Reform Bill should form part of
the Ministerial programme. It is rumoured that
the decision was delayed as long as possible,
that the objections of an inhfluaeknitnia,lumpaojofritthyeiGveor-e
re
insuperable, and that the „
vernment seemed inevitable if Mr. Disraeli persisted
in laying his Reform Bill upon the table. It is now
believed that a via media has been resolved upon,
and that the Chancellor of the Exchequer will an-
nounce the willingness of the Government to bring
in a Reform Bill if the House of Commons should
be of opinion that the reform of the representation
ought to take precedence of all other measures of
legislative improvement. The notion that Reform
must be the work of the house itself, rather than a
party, is a favourite one in Conservative circles ;
and if the house, either by resolutions or by instruc-
tions, would declare its mind and call upon the
Conservative Government to give legislative effect
to its wishes, Mr. Disraeli would be only too happy
to comply with the general desire. It is, however,
fondly hoped by the Premier, General Peel, Lord
Cranborne, and other members of the'Cabinet' that
the House of Commons does not in its inmost heart
desire a Reform Bill, and that it will gladly accept
any pretext for hanging up the question for another
session. Legislative and administrative reforms have
almost stood still of late, it will be said, and many
measures of domestic improvement, equal in their
aggregate importance to any Reform Bill, demand
-the attention of the Legislature. it is hoped that
the Adullamites, and the Liberals representing the
?wailer boroughs likely to be disfranchised,

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follow the Chancellor of the - --
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lobby on that issue. The Govern -eittftpaelf*V-
- ~• .. ,-,,,,
are industriously engaged in prepa '.. '6--reteasn -
which, it is hoped, the Lower lions - ' ill ilcepiti
instead of a Reform Bill. The Treasury and Board
C . rr
-de are framing bills for the registration of
railway debentures, for amending the law relatinc,
to limited liability companies, for preventing ac-
cidents in coal mines, for relieving shipowners and
certain grievances on the one hand, and compelling
them, on the other, to take measures for the health
and comfort of merchant seamen. The Home-
office will seek to bring the labour of women and
children in certain trades and manufactures under
the law for regulating the hours of labour, •wiii
propose to deal with the metropolitan gas question,
will endeavour to carry into effect certain I CCOln•
mendations of the Capital Punishment Com-
mission, and possibly of the Committee on Turn-
pike Tolls. Lord Naas will bid high for the sup-
port of Irish M.P.'s, by measures relating to Irish
railways, piers, harbours, and public works, which
will involve the expenditure of a good deal of
public money, and entail a considerable annual
charge upon the country. The Lord Chancellor
and the Attorney-General are engaged upon half-a-
dozen measures of law amendment, including, of
course, a Bankruptcy Bill. The Colonial Secretary
has in his portfolio a Bill authorising the Confede-
ration of the North-American Provinces, ar.d plans
for the pacification of Jamaica and New Zealand.
The President of the Poor-Law Board is ready
with measures for the improvement of workhouse
infirmaries, the better treatment of casual paupers,
&c. Lord Stanley will claim credit for putting the
Alabama claims in a train of settlement ; and the
Tories will see in Lord Stanley's action a proof that
be must be another " heaven-born Minister."
General Peel has been reorganising the War-office
during the recess, and will have important views to
unfold in regard to recruiting, army-pay, improved
ordnance, and breechloaders. Sir J. Pakington
will again reconstruct the navy in accordance with
the latest scientific improvements. He will carry
out further measures of reform in the dockyards,
and will endeavour to attract a steadier
supply of seamen to the Royal Navy. Lord
Cranborne will show that he, too, has not been,
idle, and will point to new public wo-.:ks
in India. These and other measures will douljtless
make an imposing array in the Queen's Speech ;
but when the House of Commons ineelis in the
evening one question will override all others—Will
Lord Derby be allowed to govern the country with
a minority of the House of Commons, except on
the condition that he makes an honest and bona fide
attempt to settle the Reform question ? Commu-
nications have, I hear, been received in town from
Mr. Gladstone, expressing a strong opinion on this
point. There will be found, I have reason to be-
lieve, a general agreement between the Liberal
M.P.'s upon two subjects—first, that they should
acknowledge and support Mr. Gladstone as their
leader ; and, secondly, that they should declare that
the Government of Lord Derby, having disappointed
the just expectations of the country, does not pos-
sess the confidence of the House of Commons.
Even Adullamites like Colonel Biddulph assert that
the Government will be unworthy of the confidence
of the country if they do not attempt at once to
settle the question of Parliamentary Reform. Mr.
Gladstone is said to entertain a similar opinion still
more energetically.

Execution of Two Soldiers.

The two soldiers of the Imperial Guard, Ciosi
and Agostini, were shot on Monday morning at
Vincennes, pursuant to the sentence of a court-
martial, for the murder in a wine shop at Cham-
perret. The execution was a grand and terrible
military spectacle. A company from every regiment
of the army of Paris attended. The 2d and 3d regi-
ments of Voltigeurs of the Guard, to which tho
unfortunate prisoners belonged, were on the ground
in full force. Generol Soumain commanded the
parade. The firing party consisted of four sergeants,
four corporals, and four privates, commanded by
two adjutants. The men to whom the sad task was
assigned were feelingly told by their officers, while
loading their firelocks in their respective barracks,
that they had not only a military duty to perform,
but one of humanity, which required them to
take good aim. The prisoners were warned at
four o'clock in the morning that their request for
the Emperor's pardon had been rejected, and that
they must prepare to die. One of them, Ciosi, received

the fatal news with a coolness and courage which he
maintained to the last ; but Agostini's nerve failed
him. The two priests in attendance effected a
reconciliation between the two men. Agostini had
spoken very bitterly of his comrade ; and when at
last he stretched out his hand to him he said, ".You
know well enough that you alone are guilty." Be-
fore mounting the cellular carriage in waiting to
conduct them to the place of execution they were
offered wine, brandy, and bread ; Agostini took
some refreshment, but Ciosi asked only for cigars,
which he continued to smoke to the end. The morn-
ing was terribly cold. At half-past 8 the condemned
men stepped out of the carriage to the spot where
they were to be shot to death. They were warmly
clad in full uniform, with military cloaks around
them, and Ciosi hal carefully put on white gloves.
General Soumain exercised the prerogative which
the military code gave him of excusing the men from
military degradation, and they were shot in their
uniforms. When a French soldier is shot he is per-
mitted, if he pleases, to refuse to have his eyes ban-
daged. Ciosi at first refused—afterwards, at the
suggestion of his confessor, consented ; but ulti-
mately tore off the bandage, knelt down, and looked
steadily in the face of his old comrades who were to
fire at 10 paces. Looking at Agostini, who, though
has not a ad b en
at o
tone keep uppi
toyn hi,
ands
the order to fire was given, Ciosi, in a firm voice,
ckwonintehteesmbpetus,t,bf‘eoPlulondodo;wwAngostini !" Immediately before
7
addressing the firing party, said : " Dear comrades,
I am guilty of the crime, but, upon my conscience,
I did not intend to rob. I beg pardon of God and
of you. Adieu." Agostini, completely broken down
by fear, was obliged to be tied to a post before he
could be shot at. The criminals were fired at sepa-
rately. One of them—the reports differ as to which
—did not appear to be quite dead after the volley ;
and one of the soldiers, coming near him, blew out
his brains, which were scattered about in a manner
shocking to behold. According to military regula-
tions, all the troops present filed past before the
dead bodies, drums beating and colours flying.
It is believed that they never premeditated
murder when they entered the publichouso
at Champerret, but committed the crime
when half drunk in a sort of " chance med-
ley." There was a great crowd of Parisians on the
vast plain of Vincennes, attracted by the news of the
execution. Night cabmen who had seen the move-
ment of troops and ascertained the cause canvassed
many with success. But all the would-be sightseers
were disappointed, and had a cold ride for nothing.
The military kept all civilians outside their lines, and
thesspectacle of the death of the two Corsican sol-
diers was witnessed exclusively by the soldiers for
whose example it was intended.

An attack of apoplexy has carried off a favourite
artist for the young in Mr. George Baxter, inventor of the
process of printing in oil colours, a process chiefly em-
ployed in the production of such art-toys as children
prefer. He was in his sixty-third year.
THE INTERNATIONAL RACE-COURSE SOCIETY
(LimlTED).—Yesterday, in the winding-up suit of
the International Race-course Society (Limited), an appli-
cation was made by Mr. M. Abrahams, as solicitor for the
official liquidator (Mr. Kemp), for a:call of £7 10s. per
share. lle said the company was formed for the improve-
ment of race-courses, and soon "came to grief." The sum
required for the debts and expenses was £11,114. There
were 24 contributories, and 1,803 shares at £lO each
taken. The only assets of the company amounted to
£1 3s. 7d. in cash, and it was necessary to make a call of
£7 10s. per share, allowing for those who could not pay.
Mr. Woodbridge, for three contributories holding 100
shares, who could pay, objected to the proposed call. Mr.
M. Abrahams said the list was very
"rotten ;" and the
Chief Clerk (Mr. Hawkins) went over some of the names.
He had no doubt of its rottenness, and in making the call
suggested to Mr. 31. Abrahams that the contributories
who could pay should be accommodated by being allowed
to pay the call by instalments. Order of £7 10s. call
made accordingly,

~ ;~'.

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