The Sun.
London, England, 1867-08-28 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, AUG. 28, 1867.

The Emperor NAPOLEON was likely to do his best
to keep things stirring during this dead season, and
thus chronicles of his journey and reports of his
speeches infuse animation into the details of foreign
affairs. During his journey to Lille, to appear at
the fetes held there in commemoration of the two
hundredth anniversary of its annexation to France,
he passed through Arras. His MAJESTY'S reply to
the address of the Mayor of that city is a charac-
teristic one, and deserves attention at this particu-
lar crisis of affairs. After which expressions of good-
will and pleasure at again meeting his friends in the
city, after so long an absence, the EMPEROR goes on
to say that they are right to have confidence in the
future, and adds emphatically that " it is only weak
Governments who seek in foreign complications to
divert attention from troubles at home," which is
certainly true enough in many instances. The
greatest confidence is expressed in this speech as to
the relations which exist between the people of
France and the authorities, and the prosperity which
is likely to accrue therefrom. Some hints are given as
to the advisability of maintaining peace if possible,
notwithstanding any inducements to pursue a con-
trary policy. " While holding aloft the national
flag, we should not allow ourselves to be drawn
away by intemperate impulses, however patriotic
they may be." These are significant words, and
doubtless intended to have due effect upon those
restless spirits who are never satisfied but when
they discern the prospect of hostilities, and are con-
stantly doing their utmost to fan the flame of dis-
cord. The EMPEROR seems anxious to impress upon
his hearers, wherever they may be, that his mission is
to secure the interests and work out the welfare of the
community as much as possible, without reference
to other countries. The policy of the Empire is
peace, he announced many years ago in a speech
that disappointed the enthusiastic and set the cap-
tious to criticise him ; but he has kept the law be
then laid down as much as possible, nor does he
now seem willing to depart from it. So far as the
good people of Arras ara concerned, they will have
no excuse for saying that any idea has been held

out to them of warlike doings.
At Lille the E3IT'EIZOR delivered a much fuller
reply to the authorities in that place, and-entered
more minutely into an analysis of the state of
affairs. Taking a retrospective glance, his MAJESTY
referred to the period at which he had seen the
part for the first time. Everything then was pro-
pitious ; he had espoused the E3wnEss, he had also
wedded France before eight millions of witnesses.
" Order was restored, political treasons were lulled
to rest, and I foresaw for the country a new era of
greatness and prosperity." Such were the pleasing
prospects which appeared at that time, and the

EMPEROR does not seemdisappointed when engaged
in the untoward task of comparing the then with
the now. Many of his hopes have been realised, and
great progress has been made, but he admits that dark
spots have darkened the horizon. With his in-
domitable courage and remarkable equanimity, he
declares, however, that as he has not been dazzled
by good fortune, so he will not be discouraged by
any " transient reverses." Why should he feel
despairing, he asks, when, from one end of France
to the other he sees the people greeting the EMPRESS
and himself with acclamations, and referring enthu-
siastically to their son. "I do not come," adds the
EMPEROR, "among you to-day merely for the purpose
of celebrating a glorious anniversary in the capital of
ancient Flanders. I ccme to learn your wants,
to heighten the courage of some, to confirm the con-
fidence of all, and to endeavour to increase the
prosperity of this great department by still further
developing its agriculture, manufactures, and com-
merce." In the prosecution of this nob!e work
his MAJESTY asked for the assistance of those
around him, and earnestly impressed upon them the
conviction that nothing great or lasting could be
effected without the nation possessing the
consciousness of its own strength, and not giving
way to imaginary fears. To rely upon the Govern-
ment, and believe in its wisdom and patriotism, is
the advice which is tendered to the people of France
through the medium of this reply at Lille, and very
likely the counsel may be sound in some respects.
It is certain that no great end will be attained
so long as the nation is restless and agitated,
or presages conspiracy on the one hand,
and foolish imaginings of evil on the
other. The Emperor NAPOLEON has undoubtedly
committed many errors, and he has erred in not re-
moving the restrictions on the French press, but he
has certainly been a great benefactor to France,
and under his vigorous rule the country has attained
a height of social improvement and commercial pro-
sperity such as at one time was never dreamed of by
the most sanguine. It is this which gives him the
hold he possesses on the great body of the people ;
they see order established out of chaos, and pro-
sperity dawning upon them, where before they had
cause to fear misrule and anarchy. It would be a
source of great satisfaction to those who take an in-
terest in France, although not connected with that
nation by ties of consanguinity, to find that in the
course of time a more liberal policy was inaugurated
by the Government of the EMPEROR, and that free-•
dom might be more than a name in a land where
its idea is so ardently worshipped. Meanwhile
those will be the truest friends of the people who
counsel moderation and inculcate feelings of good-
will, instead of following the ordinary mode of
virtuously indignant patriots by setting one against
another. The France of to-day may not approach
the realisation of the Utopian dream of enthusiasts,
it may disappoint some who formed more moderate
expectations ; but it is no exaggeration to say that
the earnest endeavours of the Emperor NAPOLEON
to preserve the prosperity of the land, and to im-
prove the condition of the people, have been
crowned with success beyond what his most ardent
desires at one time could have supposed likely to
take place.

The progress which England has made in the in-
dustrial arts since 1767 might fill a good many
volumes if it were accurately recorded. The men
of that day, could they look upon our mills and
factories full of their wonder-working machinery,
would find it difficult to conceive that they were
standing in the same England which witnessed our
slow and tedious processes. In no trade or profession
would the changes be more startling than in that
calling which, in olden times, was thought least
liable to alteration of any kind. The far-
mers of a century ago, could they see our
steam ploughs, our thrashing, winnowing, and
chaff-cutting machines, our agricultural implements
of various kinds, to say nothing of the application
of scientific principles to the cultivation of the land,
would be probably more amazed at the transforma-
tion than the quiet hand-loom weaver as he looked
on the whirring wheels and countless bands and
straps by which in these marvellous days "a worsted
stocking gets up and knits itself." Fancy one of
the good old-fashioned farmers of GEORGE lll.'s
reign, with the traditional hatred of foreigners,
the contempt for " book-learning," and comfortable
confidence in the routine his father and his grand-
father followed before him, peeping in at the grand
centenary meeting of the Manchester and Liverpool
Agricultural Society, now being celebrated with all
the honours in the former city. What should such
a visitor think as he watched a machine cutting
chaff in four different lengths for horses, cattle,
and bullocks without changing wheels ? or if he
looked at a horse-rake for hay in which the horse
lifts the rake himself ? If he brought his dame with
him in the mob cap and scarlet handkerchief be-
longing to her memory, the good woman might
have the satisfaction or the shock of seeing a ma-
chine make butter ! Thanks to the fertile invention
of our Transatlantic cousins, such a sight is now
to be seen at Manchester, where an atmospheric
churn, worked by atmospheric pressure, actually
turns out delicious butter from new milk even in
al,out ten minutes' time.

And of 3,000 entries in the various departments
of the Exhibition no less than 1,000 belong to
that of machinery alone. Of course there is also
a good show of beasts of all kinds ; but the
machinery in some respects--the most interesting
and valuable part of the exhibition—has the
predominance. Such assemblies answer many good
purposes. They give a stimulus to invention and
to enterprise—they encourage an honour-
able competition, and they afford inventors
a ready means of bringing their designs
or improvements under the immediate notice
of the very class for whose use they were
intended. To walk round one of these large exhi-
bitions is an education of itself ; and the farmer,
who is perhaps unable or unwilling to learn much
from books, can see for himself the practical utility
of the new improvements, and can judge of machines
by what he actually sees them do. Prejudice has
been a great obstacle to the diffusion of a knowledge
of scientific agriculture, although, since all science
is nothing more than an adaptation of the laws of
nature, there isnothing very incongruous in applying

it to the cultivation of mother earth and her natural
products. However vast our achievements in other
directions, we cannot afford to do without agricul-
ture, and we possess many facilities for the special
development of some branclies. More especially
may we look to it as of the highest value
iu developing the resources of the sister
island, in affording peaceable and profit-
able employment for her people, and in
improving altogether the position of the coun-
try. We are therefore glad to find that, almost
simultaneously with the grand meeting at. Man-
chester, the Royal Agricultural Society of Ireland
will open their annual show of cattle, sheep, and
machinery in Dublin. The particular feature of
this exhibition is that it will be held in the capital,
an event which has not occurred for many years
past. It is encouraging to find that it is expected,
notwithstanding the drawbacks of the last
twelvemonth, to be the largest and most suc-
cessful ever held in Ireland. The number of entries