The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LOINPON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 9 1867

LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 9, 1867.

The motion for new writs for Droitwich, North
I)avon, and the county of Tyrone, last evening,
gave the House of Commons the welcome intelli-
gence that Lord DERBY had succeeded in adjusting
his Cabinet. As was previously intimated, Sir
JOHN PAKINGTON is to pass from one service to the
other, and after acquiring some reputation as a

Naval Reformer, be is to assume the direction of
the War-office. This change is in some respects to
be regretted ; but if the right hon. baronet will
bring to the discharge of his new duties the same
straightforward honesty of purpose, the same sound
:English common sense and clear judgment, which
lave rendered him so efficient as a naval adminis-
trator, no doubt he will do good service at the War-
office, and will redress some of those grievances of
-which the British soldier has to cause to complain,
and which are producing their effect in diminishing
the number of our recruits. Mr. CORRY is already
familiar with the duties of the Board of Admiralty,
:And will no doubt be an efficient First Lord. Sir
ISTAFFORD NORTHCOTE is to take the control of
India, and as he is one of Lord DERBY'S most expe-
rienced and most liberal colleagues, we trust he will
administer the affairs of that great empire in a
prudent and enlightened spirit. Sir STAFFORD'S
successor at the Board of Trade is to be the Duke of
RICHMOND. The Duke of MARLBOROUGH has been

appointed Lord President of the Council, and the
Duke of BUCKINGHAM has accepted the Seals for
the Colonies. The Government is, therefore,
complete, and there is reason to hope that the
new members of the Cabinet have assumed office
intending to pursue a liberal and statesmanlike
policy with regard to the great questions of the
day.
MT. DISRAELI, in answer to Mr. AYRTON'S in-

quiries last night, explained the position of the
Cabinet, and expressed a confident hope that he
would be able to fulfil his pledge and introduce a
Reform Bill on the 18th inst. This announcement
was received with cheers, the main body of the
members being, no doubt, sincerely anxious to see
the question settled. Mr. ATRTON said that the
house had watched with anxiety the progress of the
Ministerial arrangements, because rumour had been
very busy, and there was some apprehension that
they would be disappointed of the promised Re-
form Bill by the failure of the head of the Govern•
ment to reconstruct his Cabinet. Mr. AYRTON
concluded by expressing the hope that all such fears
might prove groundless, and that on the 18th the
house might see a Reform Bill introduced " large
and comprehensive in its character, simple in its
provisions, which should commend itself to the
forbearance of the Opposition, and to the respect
and enlightened public opinion of the country."
Such, in fact, must be the distinctive features of
any successful Reform Bill, and we trust that Lord
DERBY and his colleagues have now finally resolved
upon submitting such a measure to the considera-
tion of the House and of the country. No doubt
under any circumstances the taste would be one of
great difficulty. It would be impossible for any
statesman, whether Liberal or Conservative, Whig
or Tory, to silence all opposition and to please
everybody. There will always be some mal-
cOntents, some to whom any reform whatever
is obnoxious, and some who can be satisfied
with nothing less than a wholesale overthrow of our
existing system. To attempt to conciliate these is
worse than useless, because it is impossible to bring
them into harmony with moderate and practical
men who rightly estimate the value of the good we
at present possess, while perceiving that it is
possible to increase it. The Bill, to have a chance
of success, must be liberal and comprehensive--
more liberal than the Bill of last year, which was
limited and partial in its principle. The con-
viction has long been gaining ground that our
representative system, though based on ex,:ellent
principles, does not adequately represent the popu-
lation, and .the mere alteration of a pound or two
in the limit of the franchise would not satisfy the
public mind. There must be a readjustment of the
representation, which shall leave no further change

necessary, at least in this generation, though to

attempt to legislate for our successors is as idle as
it is undesirable. They will not be bound by our
restrictions any more than we consider ourselves
provided for by the Act of '32. Their necessities may
change, and if the country go on progressing they
will certainly enlarge. Let the new Reform Bill
deal with the wants of the day in a broad and
liberal spirit, putting the representation of the
country on a definite and satisfactory basis, and the
future may be safely left to legislate for itself.
We hope Mr. DISRAELI will set about his difficult
and responsible task in a statesmanlike spirit. The
opportunity fur a settlement of the question is most
favourable, because the great body of the public,
wearied of both extremes, are anxious to see a na-
tional question dealt with in a national spirit, so
that the constitution of the House of Commons
being definitively settled, the attention of the Legis-
lature may be directed to the many pressing ques-
tions which have been compelled to wait unheeded.
The general wish of the country is for a good
Reform Bill, no matter who carries it ; and if Lord

DEBBY'S Government will bring in a really good
measure, they may safely rely on public support.

A rather animated discussion took place last
night iu the House of Commons on the subject of
searching passengers' baggage. Mr. BERESFORD
HOPE brought forward a motion on the subject,
and supported his arguments in an amusing speech.
He said that he wished to remove a grievance from
many of her MAJESTY'S subjects, and to put a stop
to evils which arose from " red-tape prejudice."
A deputation, considerable in numbers, had already
waited upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer; but
he heard their case, shook his head, and sent them
away with the Papal non possums. The hon. mem-
ber seemed to think that all the fuss made about
the matter was quite unnecessary, and he illustrated
his opinion in a striking manner, at any rate, for
he said that " they all knew that cheap and nasty
spirits. were just as cheap and nasty in England as
in France, and that there was no appreciable
difference of price in the French cognac and the
English cognac brandy." The suggestion he made
was that a detective should be employed, instead of
having some one who rummaged about the things
at random. In the course of his speech he created
some amusement by giving the Chancellor of the
Exchequer a " wrinkle," namely, for the parties to
handle the luggage roughly, and then those
who sought to smuggle French brandy would
rue the attempt they had made. As
for cigars, Mr. HOPE thinks that those made
in this country are often better than the ones
manufactured in France, because over there the
manufacture of tobacco is a Government monopoly,
and every one is not at liberty to open a shop and
sell it. He concluded his entertaining speech by
moving, that during the period of the French Ex-
hibtion of 1867 the present practice of searching
the baggage of travellers in London, Dover, Folke-
stone, and Newhaven be suspended. Subsequently,
however, the hon. member withdrew this in conse-
quence of various representations that were made to
him; and we think that he acted wisely in so doing,
for the advantages of the system preponderate over
its inconveniences. Mr. HUNT stated, in the first
instance, that the Government had found it quite
impossible to accede to the request of the deputa-
tion referred to by the hon. member. It was not,
he declared, " red-tapeism " which actuated them
in the matter ; but they found it impossible to do
so after duly considering the pros and cons of the
affair. He referred to the papers on the table to
allow that they had gone into the subject with great

care and caution, and had fully proved the neces-
sity that existed for continuing the practice of
searching baggage. It bad been stated by this
deputation that the French were quite willing to
meet us half way in the case, but subsequent in-
quiries had shown that this auspicious
motion had no foundation in truth, for the
French authorities positively refused to give
up the right of search, although they were
willing to afford every facility in the matter. We
think that ➢lr. HUNT had the best of the argument
when he said that it was not fair to expect a great
change to be made by our authorities when the
Government, which was actually the most con-
cerned in the influx of visitors, would not, or could
not, suspend the practice of search. As for the
idea that if searching were temporarily abolished it
would still be easy to detect the smugglers, Mr.
HUNT showed that this was erroneous, for people
would find it worth their while to employ agents to
go by different routes. We think that an admirable
suggestion was made by the Secretary to the Trea-
sury in conclusion, when he expressed a hope that
the railway companies would have the counters ex-
tended in length on which the baggage was put to
be searched, adding that in consideration of the
great harvest they were likely to reap through the
increase of their passengers, they might very reason-
ably do so.

Mr. GLADSTONE made a few remarks, and as he
must be considered an authority in the matter his
words deserve attention. He said that it involved
a question of importance respecting the connection
between the House and the Executive Government.
The right hon. gentleman showed very clearly that,
if we adopted the system then proposed, we should
have to continue it after the Exhibition as well as
during its course. The Chancellor of the Exchequer
settled the matter in a decisive way, and, while
he admitted that the Government should
do all they can to facilitate the conve-
nience of visitors to the Exhibition, he put
the real question at issue before the House in its
simplicity and clearness—" Were the House of Com-
mons prepared to support her MAJESTY'S Govern-
ment in their attempt to defend the revenue of the
country ?" Mr. DISRAELI also turned the tables
on Mr. B. HOPE for his sallies at the expense of
Government, by saying that he represented the
interests of the potteries in his quaint rhetoric. He
did full justice to his case and his client, but said
" I think his case not a good one, and his clients
somewhat unreasonable." This was evidently also
the opinion of the House when the argument against
the proposal had been heard and duly considered.

The Duke of ARGYLL last night referred to the
insurrection in Crete, and moved for the papers
relating thereto, and the noble duke made a long
and able speech, but did not arrive at any definite
conclusion, which was pointed out by Lord DERBY
in reply, for he said he bad hoped her Majesty's
Government would have received a hint as to the
course they should have pursued in his estimation,
as he had been very free in his criticisms there-
upon. We think the noble earl was quite correct
in the expressions he used corncerning the
Turkish EMPEROR. The Duke of ARGYLL
said that it was in a state of decay, but as
Lord DERBY added, it is not the duty of the Brq.ish
Government to lend a hand in assisting its over-
throw, or to seek to precipitate the fall. It is
therefore unwise to prmote a discussion in Parlia-
ment which may really support, or appear to do so,
any attompt on the part of the subjects of that
Empire to revolt. As for the course pursued by
Lord STANLEY, which had been condemned by the
Duke in reference to the removal of women
and children, he had only shown that the
Foreign Secretary was obliged to act thus
through painful necessity, as he had to
preserve the policy of non-intervention, became
by acceding to the request made he would have
been favouring one of the parties in the conflict.
In the course of his speech the noble earl entered
into the chief points of the arguments, and showed
that, considering the great difficulties in the way,
her MAJESTY'S Government had acted fairly.
Things are now more hopeful in every respect, as a
general amnesty has been promised. Deputies have
been asked to go to Constantinople, and lay
before the committee there the wrongs and the
grievances of Crete. "It is our duty," said Lord
DERBY, " as friends of Turkey, to encourage her
and advise her, and to lose no opportunity of press-
ing on her how much it is for her own interest that
she should pursue a conciliatory course ; but it is
not our policy, and will not be so long as I have a
voice in the direction of it, by means of exciting
speeches or by strong expressions of sympathy, or by
coloured representations of the wrongs of the Chris-
tian populations in any of the provinces of Turkey,
in the Epirus,
in Thessaly, and in the immediate
neighbourhood of Greece, to encourage exaggerated
hopes and expectations." This is the exposition of
a very sound policy, and we think the Ministers
have contrived to adopt the wisest course they
I could, and by taking no extreme views on either
side of the question to arrive at the juste milieu,
which is :always in the end the most satisfactory in
such complicated cases.

The Metropolitan Poor Bill continues to make its
wayrea
B tnh rought o
doubt
ai tt t ei
te ,
wa nll d
bt he
feorree s eleomsn vaesry su
ml i tet e
a
practical shape. Several points were brought under
consideration last evening, but the general result of
the discussion was in favour of the measure as it
originally stood. It was proposed that the medical
officers of the workhouses should be members of the
boards without power of voting, and some islausible•
reasons were adduced for such a course, as
the medical officers could give valuable in-
formation and their opinion on disputed points.
The House, however, negatived theproposition, since
several gentlemen argued reasonably enough that the
Board could always have the opinion of the medical
officer under existing arrangements, if they wished
for it, and that the attendance on board days would
consume a great part of the medical officer's time,
while he would be powerless in council. Mr.
HARDY showed that if he expressed an adverse
opinion to the majority of guardians he would be
liable to dismissal. Another amendment was carried
to a division, but was rejected by 115 to 10.
This was a matter of some importance—.
the mixture of nominated and elected members on
the Board, the general feeling being strongly in
favour of the change. There can be no denying
that, however excellent the intentions of the exist-
ing boards of guardians, they have failed signally
iu the superintendence of the sick and suffering
under their charge. No one wants to deprive them
of their position ; but, since the labour of efficient
superintendence appears too great, it is highly de-
sirable that the services of volunteers should be
accepted. Mr. HARDY cited, in support of his asser-
tion, that many persons would be willing to give
their services for the sake of doing good ; that he had
received a note from a gentleman well skilled in medi-
cal science, a friend of Sir J. LAURENCE, offering his
services in the district in which he lived. No doubt
many more such public-spirited and benevolent
gentlemen will willingly come forward ; and if the
Guardians are really anxious for necessary reform
they will be glad of their assistance. The ease of

St. Pancras shows that the Boards, as at present
constituted, have not time or inclination to see their
own orders properly carried out, and far too much
latitude is left to the workhouse officials. In this as
in many other respects Mr. HARDY'S bill promises
an improvement.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

PARIS, Friday Evening.

The Moniteur says—" The Emperor recently made
another visit to the Champ de Mars, and expressed
his extreme satisfaction at the activity displayed in
completing the general arrangements of tbe Exhi-
bition. His Majesty was very Lunch astonished at
seeing the immense number of articles sent for this
great national and intellectual struggle for peaceful
superiority. Before the Emperor left he said be
hoped that the French exhibitors would not allow
the foreign competitors to be beforehand with the
other exhibitors, but that they would consider it as
a matter of duty to be entirely ready before the
28th of March."

Public opinion is now concentrated upon the dis-
cussions in the Chambers. In the Legislative Body
the discussion turns upon primary instruction. In
the Senate attention is fixed upon the proposed
changes in Article 26 of the Constitution ; that is to
say, the abolition of discussions upon the address,
and the regulation of the mode of obtaining infor-
mation from the Ministers in the Chambers upon
the current topics of the day.
The questions upon foreign affairs to which I
have alluded will be put as soon as possible. A
claim for the right to put questions has been already
made in the proper form, signed by Messieurs Thiers,
Lambrecht, Aurel, and other influential members,
has been placed in the hands of the President of the
Corps Legislatif, in conformity with the new regu-
lations made by the Emperor's decree. The dis-
cussions upon foreign affairs will no doubt occupy
the attention of the Chamber very seriously, and
perhaps for a day or two.
The next subject of discussion will be the law for
the abolition of imprisonment for debt. This has
been a subject of anxiety with intelligent men for
many years in France as well as in England. In
March, 1848, the Provisional Government, by a
temporary measure, to be confirmed by the decision
of the National Assembly, suspended the power of
arrest for debt. The Law of the 13th of December,
1848, however replaced the power of arrest in opera-
tion, with some modifications. I have already
mentioned that the commission appointed to con-
sider the subject has given an opinion in favour
of the principle of imprisonment for debt. The
Government does not coincide with this view, and
as soon as tho discussion on foreign affairs shall be
concluded a project of law will be submitted, the
first Article of which will be thus :

" Arrest for debt is suppressed in matters com-
mercial and civil, and in regard to foreigners."
The report of the Commission above alluded to
justifies arrest for debt as " moral and just," but
the Government does not participate in this view,
and I am fully justified in stating that it intended
to use all its influence and to employ all legitimate
means to prevent debt from being treated as a
crime to be punished with imprisonment.
The Tribunal Correctional of Paris sentenced M.
Emile de Girardin, Editor of the Liberte; to pay a
fine of 5,000 f. for an article in that paper, tending
to bring the Government into hatred and contempt.
The printer, M. Serriere was sentenced to pay a
fine of 100 f., he having printed the article,
knowing the intention and object of it. The
expenses of the prosecution are to be shared by the
defendant. This case affords a strong illustration
of the saying that many unjust and despotic acts
are practised under the guise of the protection of
the cause of liberty. The article incriminated was
violent, unjust, and subversive of all real liberty.
The Government simply did its duty in contro-
verting and punishing it. This journal, La Liberte;
is the worst enemy of that sacred principle.

"An open foe may prove a curse,
But a pretended friend is worse."
The condemnation is hailed with satisfaction by
all the true friends of progress' and independent
principles.
The Journal des Debots has a very sensible and
reasonable appreciation of the manifestations to
Garibaldi in Venetia. It says that his displays,
half military and half electoral, are now useless, and
are beyond the law. "Venice is now free," adds
the Debuts, "we have evacuated Rome, and in all
the whole of Italy, from the Alps to the Adriatic,
from the north of Lombardy to the extremity of
Sicily, there is only one battalion paid by a foreign
country." In short, the Italian journals are sick
ofso
rGaribaldi,
of
foolish
and visionary exploits—for instance, as they say he now coatemplates all
an expedition in behalf of extended revolution in
Crete.

Charles Lemaire, the young murderer, was exe-
cuted this morning. Ile died, as he said he would,
and refused to receivo the consolation of religion.
To-day has been a winter day, and no mistake.
In the morning the frost covered the ground in the
vicinity of Paris. It has snowed during most of
the day, and a mixture of snow and rain falls as I
close my letter.

MARIO T S.—This day.

COVENT GARDEN.

pp chestnuts,
to Bs;nu grapes,
las to 4s Od to 8s Od ;
per
;
IFie bushel
Moderato supplies of fruit and vegetables are on sale.
The trade on the whole, is steady, at our quotations :
anietus:r4
oPdin t o e
oranges, 2s 6d to 7s ; lemons, 4s to 8s per 100.
VEGETABLES—Cauliflowers, 2s to 6s Od ; cabbages, Ss to
Lip POI d e ;8'
3s Od; turnips, 5s Od to 6s Ode carrots, 6s Od to 8s Od per
dozen bunches; onions, 4s t 65 Od per bushel ; celery,
is 6d to 2s Od ; horseradish, 46 Od to 6s Od; and forced
rhuburb, 6d to is 3d per bundle.

POULTRY.
Turkeys, 58 Od to 108 Od ; geese, es Od to 98; goslings
6s Od to 88 Od ; dueks, 2s 6d to 3s 6d ; ducklings, as Od
to 4s Od ; tame rabbits, Os Osl to Os Od; wild do, Os 10d
to is Od; pigeons, 10d to is Od ; hares, 2s 6d to 4a Od ;
Surrey fowls, 7s to 98 ; do. ohiekens, 6s to 108 Od ; barn-
door fowls, 5s Od to Gs Od per couple. English eggs, 9s
to 13s Od ; French do., 780 d to lls per 100. Fresh butter,
ls,',3d to is 61 per lb.
NEWPORT.

Per 81b. by the carcase.
Beef as Od to 4s 8d 1 Veal
Mutton ... 3s 2d to 4s 10d 1 Pork

WHITECHAPEL.
Per Elb. by the carcase.
Beef 3s Od to 4s 10d f Veal
Mutton 3s 2d to 4s Iod Pork

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AUSTRIA.

VIENNA, March 9.

The Emperor has addressed an autograph letter
to Baron von Beust abolishing the Ministry of State,
and creating a Ministry of the Interior, for the non-
Hungarian provinces.
Independent Ministries are also created for public
instruction and worship. His Majesty appoints
Count Taafe Minister of the Interior, and Herr von
Becke Minister of Finance.
Count Rothkirch has been relieved of his func-
tions as Governor of Bohemia, and replaced by
Baron Kellerspergan.

The negotiations between Austria, Belgium, and
the Netherlands for the conclusion of treaties of
commerce and navigation have been brought to a
satisfactory termination, and the treaties are ready
for signature.
The Vienna papers state that Lord Bloomfield
has summoned to Vienna the English Consul-
General at Belgrade, in order to receive from him
an account of the state of affairs in Servia.