The Sun.
London, England, 1858-03-15 00:00:00

0,,N1070 N NlO Nb A Y VTF i
NO, MARC 11 15 1858

TaE SUN,

GREAT SOLAR ECLIPSE.

To-day about mid-day the inhabitants of this country
had an opportunity of witnessing the rare and, at the
same time, remarkable phenomenon in astronomy—a
solar eclipse.
Foremost among all the sublime and beautiful pheno-
menon which flow from the operation of the laws of
nature, exciting the admiration and the delight as well
as the terror and the gloom of mankind, may be classed
solar eclipses, more especially if they are total eclipses.
On no other occasion, in fact, does the stupendous power
manifested in the economy of the physical universe exer-
cise so subduing an influence over the mind, or produce
-uch a humiliating conviction of the impotence of all
human efforts to control the immutable laws of nature.
The sun, while riding with unclouded splendour, begins
to fade away from an unseen cause, and soon totally dis-
appears, leaving the ere while laughing earth and heavens
iii darkness.
In early times an eclipse of the sun cast dismay on
whole nations, and Milton says " perplexed monarchs
with fear of change." It was then regarded by Christian
and Pagan as a manifestation of divine wrath with man-
kind ; now it is known to be a necessary consequence of
the laws of nature. Eclipses are therefore none the loss
remarkable for that reason. Seven eolipree may take
place in each year, and two certainly must take place,
and of these, on an average of 18 years, the greater
number are solar. But though solar eclipses are, there-
fore, not uncommon, a nearly total eclipse of the sun is
an event of great rarity, and of still greater rarity is its
occurrence in any particular place—so near, for instance,
the meridian of London as Swindon. In fact, there had
not been a total eclipse of the sun in or near London
from the 20th March, 1140, to the 3d May, 1715, ac-
cording to the calculations of the astronomer Halley—
that is to say, for a period of upwards of 500 years.
The most ancient total eclipse of the sun is that recorded
by Herodotus, as having occurred while the battle be.
tween the Medea and the Lydeans was going on. The
contending armies regarded it as a sign of the displea-
sure of the gods, and, desisting at once from the com-
bat, hastened to make peace. This eclipse was predicted
by Thales of Miletus to the lonians ; and it is calculated
by Cicero and Pliny to have happened in the fourth year
of the forty-eighth Olympiad, which would concur with
the year 585 before the Christian era. That date was
adopted by Sir Isaac Newton and other modern autho-
rities ; but Bailey, the astronomer, found it on calcula-
tion to have happened in the year 610 8.C., or a quar-
ter of a century later. Herodotus also records a second
total eclipse of the sun, which has been referred to the
year 480 8.C., when Xerxes was advancing with his
army from Sardis to Abydos to invade Greece. Another
is recorded by Thacydidee, as having occurred during
the first year of the Peloponesian war, Aug. 3, A.C.
310, in which the stars were visible at noon, when it
took place ; and Diodoruo Siculus mentions a further
eclipse of the same character—namely total—when
Agathoclis was proceeding with his fleet from Syracuse
to Africa, A.C. 310, Aug. 16. The other total eclipses
recorded in ancient times are that which preceded
the death of Domitian, the Roman emperor, A.D. 95;
that referred to by Plutarch, supposed to have taken
place A.D 113; that mentioned by Philostratus, A.D.
96 ; and those which happened in the years 237, 360,
418, 484, 787, 842, 873, 957, 1113, and 1140. The
latter took place on the 20th of March ; and it is a re-
markable fact the only account of it is by William of
Malmesbury, who is supposed to have observed it from
the monastery in which he resided—not far from the
spot where the eclipse of this day was most com-
pletely visible, viz., Swindon. That old chronicler states
that it oceurred at noon, " while persons were sitting
at their meals," and that "the darkness was so great
that they feared the ancient Chaos was about to return ;
and upon going out immediately they perceived several
stars about the sun." There were subsequent total
eclipses in the years 1137, 1241, 1415, 1433 (the latter
known in Scottish history as " The Black Hour")
1485, 1506, 1530, 1544, 1560, 1567, 1598 (called
The Black Saturday), 1605 (called the Black Monday),
1652, and 1699, but none of these were total to Eng-
land. In the year 1715 (May 3) there was a total
eclipse in London, before which it was observed that the ,
cocks began to crow as if it were dawn, and then went
to roost—crowing again with all their might and main
when the sun reappeared. The shadow of the moon in
this eclipse passed over Switzerland, and from the high
mountains in that country the stars were observed as
thickly strewed in the heavens as if it were midnight.
In London, according to Halley—who observed the
eclipse, astronomically—it created a sense of horror in
the minds of the people, besides causing the greatest
concern to all the inferior animals, wild and tame—
`birds, beasts, and fishes." The eclipse only lasted four
minutes nine seconds, but some solar eclipses are re-
corded as having endured full three hours.
Several other total eclipses have taken place since
then in various parts of the world, the most
accurately observed of which was that of July 8,
1842. The great astronomer Aragn gives an aceount
of this eclipse as noted by him at Perpignan; and other
astronomers equally describe the evraordinary appear-
ances of the earth and of the heavens, as well as the
singular effects produced by it upon the
animal creation. Horses and other animals employed in
labour halted at once when the eclipse became total, lay
down, and obstinately refused to move for whip or spur
until it was over. Bats came forth as though it were
midnight ; so likewise did owls, who were seen flying
in the streets of populous cities. The swallows disap-
peared ; the fowls went to roost ; a herd of cattle in a
field formed itself into a circle as if to resist an attack ;
plants closed up their leaves ; and many other curious
results were proved to have been caused during the con.
tinuance of this preternatural darkness. Rose-coloured
protuberances were seen on the moon's edge—no doubt
the tops of the higher lunar mountains ; stars of the first
magnitude were visible ; the little light that remained
had a livid ashy colour; reddish zones extended along
the horizon ; the sudden cold of the atmosphere was
severe for the moment, the centigrade thermometer
falling 3 degs., and a heavy dew rising during the obscu-
ration. This was one of the most striking eclipses on
record, though in no respect more extraordinary than
that which occurred to-day; the magnitude of the
scale—atmospheric and celestial—upon which it took
place being patent to every observer, as no doubt it was
at Swindon. "The extensive colouration of an un-
usual hue that was visible," writes a scientific observer
(Signor Piolo), "the rapid changes which occurred,
above all, the obscurity which settled over nature, like
a funeral pall thrown over a dead body, and whose subse-
quent withdrawal in an instant operated like a resurrec,
tion—all this pr ,duced on the mind a mixture of pro-
found and undefinable impressions, which it will be
pleasing to hold long in remembrance." Arago, who
observed it at Perpignan, says the birds ceased to sing ;
that a profound etiliness reigned all around, in the air,
on the earth, and that an undefinable feeling of melan-
chi ly pervaded the breasts of the thousands of spectators
who had assembled to witness the phenomena. But when
the sun again burst forth, a universal cry of joy from all
nature seemed to greet him, and men congratulated each
other that the eclipse was over, as though they had escaped
from a terrible calamity. This eclipse was not visible in the
British islessthe lunar shadow being limited to the southern
portions of France, Germany, and Russia. The last total
obscuration of the sun in this country was that of 1715,
mentioned above. It will be perceived, therefore, that
the phenomena of to-day presented features of the most
unusual character, which are not likely to be again wit-
nessed by any one now living; and it is certainly credit,
able to the public utility, as well as to the private enter-
prise, of the Great Wester n Ralway Company, that they
have laid the special trains at an extremely reduced rate
to Swindon and back for the day, to accommodate the
curious and the intelligent thousands who doubtless
desired towitnees the wondrous obscuration of the heavens
and all its extraordinary concomitant circumstances then
to be seen.

SPORTING NOTES.

TITTLE TATTLE.

The betting has not been marked by any incident
which at present calls for especial comment.
With the exception of those meetings which took
place at Lincoln, Nottingham, and Derby, the gathering
whioh will commence to-morrow at Warwick is likely
to be the most successful of the present season.
People anticipate an unusually interesting
Trial
Stakes from the fact of so many good horses being
amongst the nominations. Saunterer will only have to go
sound and well to the post to make the event "all one
way." It is said, however, that Commotion and Tour-
nament are likely to be the only combatants.
I am induced to stand the two Jumpers, }Knight of the
Shire and Lough Bawn, for the Willoughby Handicap,
and for the Great Warwickshire I shall select Vander-
meulin and Broadlands. Sister to Goldfinch will
carry off
the Two-year-old Stakes, and for the Handi-
cap Plate I shall look to either Englemere or Barbara to
be the winner. Weatherglass may show the winner of
the Welter. Thursday's racing I shall reserve for dis-
cussion until Wednesday.
March 15. A FRESH DIAN,

This is the only eclipse of the sun which will be nearly
,otal in England during the remainder of the present cen-
,ury.

THE METROPOLIE.
The morning betokened everything that the most
ardent astronomer, amateur, or the curious publio could
have wished. The sky was clear and unclouded-- not
the slightest dash of the most flimsy cloud eould be dis-
tinguished, and the sun shone forth at an early hour
with a brilliancy greatly in contrast with the sombre
character of the horizon with which the metropolis has
lately been blessed, and every one anticipated that
nothing would by possibility occur to mar the plea-
sure, delight, and instruction to be derived from a full
and careful observation of this great phenomenon DONCASTER SPRING MEETING.--SATURDAY.
of Nature. The consequence was that thousands were
Red...(i3
...(Bra
y ) goose
l
The Scurry Stakes (Handicap) of 8 soya each, with 20
induced to leave their homes at an early hour in the
added. A winner
after the publication of the weights,
morning for the best places of observation, and the
streams of numerous persons in and from the metropolis
313 ayv res , h7issts St al
bk . e.
..
. . .
at once informed the minute and careful observer of inci- in. 7 subs.
dents the quarter to which the sight-loving inhabitants Mr. Hynde's Queen Lily,
71b extra. The second to
of the metropolis were making the best of their way.
Every point of prominence, both in the metropolis and Mr. Dunn's Pontifical, 4 yra, Bst 61b ...... (Charlton) 3
Captain Verner 's Lancet, 4 yrs, Bst 71b (Wilberforce) 2
in what might be termed its neighbourhood, drew The following also ran :—Antidote, Lady of Tam worth,
and Little Emma.
together a large concourse of persons. The arks
Primrose hill, Hampstead heath, Greenwich park, Black. Betting-6 to 5 apt Queen Lily, 9to 2 agst Antidote,
heath, and the other different open spaces, were thronged
Queen Lily being second and
sto 1 agst any ether. Lancet got on a long way in
14.893 17,562
---- by persons provided with glasses to observe the sun's advance, Pontifical and 66,0d to 55s Od to .I).ouration, as was Trafalgar-square, the bridges, the third, close together. At the distance Queen Lily
---. 00 --s Od Duke of York's columir, the Monument, St. P
334 1,256 the public offices, and, indeed, every place from by a short neck ; about three lengths bet ween the•secoud
90,217 90,281 which an -uninterrupted sight was likely to
"'IP', challenged Lancet, and after a good ease in, beat him
1,394 998
be ' and third The others were tailed off.
88,130 94,731 obtained ; and the itinerant vendors of stained The Betting Room Stakes of 5 soya each, with 50 added
531 64 50§ 64 glass Obtaited a ready !Imo for flair "mon till for 2-yr-olde and upwards, Allowances and penaltieL
._ ___

about the middle of the day, when a "change name o'er
the spirit" of the dream, and the obscuration of the sun
by the clouds that then took place put a stop to their
traffic, and cooled the ardour of many a spectator.
As we have stated, the sky was cloudless, and the sun
shone with brilliancy delightful to behold, and the re-
membrance of yesterday, when a change took place.
about mid-day, and the sun was obscured, was looked
upon in the character of a " rehearsal " not likely to
occur to-day, and the public were kept in the beet
spirits up to 12 o'clock.
About 44 min. 55 sec. past 11 o'clock the com-
mencement of the eclipse was first visible, through
the medium cf coloured glasses, to those who had
congregated in St. James's Park, but at first, as cer-
tain capricious clouds had burst their bondage and
were flitting about, hither and thither, over the sun's
face, it was doubted whether it was really the com-
mencement of the extraordinary phenomenon so many
thousands bad b: en induced to leave their homes at an
earlier hour than usual on a spring morning to witness.
However, after looking stedfastly at the sun, it soon
become apparent to all that the astronomers were right
in their calculation, and in a few minutes after the
lower part of the sun, on the right hand side, presented
a speck of obscuration very like (to use a homely phrase)
a small bit taken out of a halfpenny, and which
appeared to increase rapidly. From this time
the clouds began to come up from the west-
ward, covering the sun at frequent intervals, as
if Nature was jealous of her handiwork, and wished to
hide from public gaze this extraordinary phenomenon,
which requires the work of centuries to accomplish in
this part of the globe. As time progressed, and the
admiration and anxiety of the public increased, the
clouds begaa to gather with a rapidity truly astonishing,
and by 12 o'clock a dense curtain, which entirely hid the
sun, had spread itself from east to west, and north to
south, so as to dissipate all hopes of another glance at
the eclipse, folio wed by a cold wind and a heavy leaden
misty kind of haze, very much resembling an early
autumnal metropolitan fog.
The appearance of the sky and all around continued
in this state till about a quarter to one o'clock, when
darkness began to appear a little visible, and continued
in that state till a few minutes before 1 o'clock, but at
no time did it assume a most unnatural aspect ;
a livid hue overspread all objects around the scared
spectator ; the plants closed up their leaves as on
the
_approach of night ; the domestic fowls sought
their resting-places ; the song of the birds was hushed,
and universal nature seemed for the time to have relaxed
her energies, as if the pulse of this world stood still,
and the universe were dead." At this period,
which was the darkest throughout the period
of the eclipse, and which must have been
during the time of the greatest amount of totality many
of the shops in the metropolis lit their gas, and some of
the illuminated clocks showed a strange ruddiness of
hue for a limited period and soon faded before the ligh'
of day.

' The second to save his' stake. ^ Red House in. (18
subs.)
Mr. S. Williams's Costrel, 3 yrs, 9st 31b, (inc. 31h ex.)
(Flatman) 1
Mr. Parker's Snap, 2 yrs, 7st 2lb (inc, 51b ex ) (Bray) 2
Mr. J. Bates's Raßpberry, 2 yrs, 6,4 11lb (Challoner) 3
Mr. J. Merry's Miss Finch, 3 yrs, 7a (Inc. 31b extra)
Sapp) 4
Betting—Even on Costrel; 3 to 1 aget Miss Finch.
After about a dozen failures and much waste of time,
the flag was lowered. Miss Finch made the running to
the distance, where the favourite came up on the out-
side, and deprived her of the lead ; half-way up Snap
came with a rush, but Costrel held his lead to the end,
and won very easily by a neck ; half a length between
the second and third, and a neck between the third and
fourth ; Macbeth was fifth, Lady Bell *as last.
The Grand National Steeplechase Han& ap of 10 sovs
each, h ft. with 100 added. Winners after the decla-
ration of the weights to carry extra. The second to
save his stake. About three milles and three-quarters.
(46 subs.)
Mr. S. Jacob's Glautias, 5 yrs, Pet (inc. 71b extra)
(McLean) 1
Mr. H. Edwards's Border Chief, 6 yrs, 9st 101 b

(Watling) 2
Mr. Barber's Potter, aged, 9et 71b (C. Green) 3
The following also ran :—Old Dog Tray, The Forest
Queen, Morgan Rattler, The Colonel, Abd-el-Kader,
Omar Pacba, Chance, The Sweeper, Fleur de Lis.
Betting at Starting.-4 to 1 aget The Potter, 7to 1
each agst Morgan Rattler and Abd-el-Bader ; 8 to 1
each aget Old Dog Tray, Forest Queen, and Omar
Pacha ; 10 to 1 each agst Border Chief, 12 to 1 agst
Glautias. The Colonel, with The Potter well laid up,
made nearly all the running until after crossing the
road the seam d time round, when he dropped away
beaten, and The Potter landed first over the Dyke
leap on to the racecourse, but about midway across the
Common he was passed by the B girder Chief and Glautias.
Glautias waited upon Border Chief until after landing
over the last hurdles, when he challenged, had him safe
half way up to the distance, and won easily by a length.
The Potter, who pulled up lame in his near fore leg,
finished about the same distance from Border Chief.
Morgan Rattler was cannoned against at the hurdle,
soon after starting, unseated Burrowes, and got loose ;
and Old Dog Tray fell on jumping out of the road the
first time round. Forest Queen came down at the blind
ditch in the low pasture—the same spot where Sandboy
fell last year—the second time round ; and Omar Paoha
whilst lying forward, came to grief at the second fence,
after landing on the racecourse. The Sweeper and
Fleur de Lis were beaten early, and Abd-el-Kader and
Chance were stopped in the low pasture, the second time
ronsd. Only the three placed past the post. The pace
was severe throughout. .M`Lean rode the winner with
admirable tact and patience throughout the encounter.

LATEST BETTING.
NORTHAMPTONSHIRE STAKES.
100 to 8 agst Costrel (taken)
14 to 1 aget Zoyder Zee (taken)
CHESTER CUP.
,SPO to 7 agt Adamas (taken)

At 10 minutes past one o'clock a slight break in the
clouds showed the faint outline of the sun with
the shadow of the moon just leaving after totality of
obscuration, which had a most beautiful effect. This
continued for a few seconds, and the outer line of the
sun, crescent-shaped like a new moon, shone out with a
brilliancy truly delightful, and was again as suddenly
lost to view. The light from this time continued to io-
crease till it assumed the usual smoky aspect of a Lon-
don wintry day, and which continued throughout the
remainder of the day.

THE FRENCH GOVERNMENT.

(From the Times.)
It can serve no good purpose for us to avoid
allusion to a matter which has become the subject
of common conversation, and which may at any
time produce consequences important to ourselves.
The position of the French Government and the
state of things which now exists in Paris are noto-
riously the cause of much uneasiness throughout
Europe. The feeling must naturally be strongest
in this country. We are close neighbours of
France ; we are joined to the French people poli-
tically and commercially ; we are not only their
allies, acting with them on several great European
questions, but, what is of even more importance,
the two communities are united by comtnere al re-
lations, whin affect the interes s directly or indi-
rectly of half the families in England. The prices
of French funds and French railway shares are
quoted every day on the London market, our ma-
nufacturers supply the French with a ',umber of
articles, and our people take other articles in re-
turn. Then, the English are fond of travelling
and excursions ; Paris is withib 12 hours of Lon-
don, and they have of late years come to consider
a visit to the French capital as a pleasant way of
spending a few days which they may have to spare.
So, while fully admitting that no nation has a
right to interfere in the domestic concerns of
atF the Franco,
of government which is being orga-
nised
in that country, and to raise a voice of re-
monstrance, while there is yet time. This we do
with no feeling of hostility to the existing autho-
rities, but merely in the interest of quiet and good
order in Europe. Common sense, when not blinded
by fear or the intoxication of power, must point
out how dangerous are elaborate schemes of sur-
veillance and repression, and how hopeless is the
attempt to check the tongues or watch the move-
ments of many millions of people.
We are told that the Ministry of Police is to
be reorganised, and that its Chief will be placed
in the first rank of Ministers. He should, indeed,
take precedence of them all, for everything seems
likely to be brought within the sphere of his con-
trol, The gay city of Paris, the home of social
intercourse, of lively conversation and free opi-
nions, hardly knows itself. The outward aspect of
the place is the same ; there are the same Boule-
vards, the same fountains flashing in the sun, the
same cafes frequented by the same loungere, and
in private life the same drawing-rooms, and hang-
ings, and toilets. But over everything there are
gloom and uneasiness. People are talking timidly
and with unusual dulness on unusually common-
place topics. Families are hesitating whom they
shall visit and whom they shall be visited by. Men
consider whether they ought to be seen walking
with a friend whom they have known for years.
Two persons will be speaking together, and on see.
ing a third about to join them will suddenly pause
and turn the conversation. There will be in the
midst of a social concourse a man who checks the
mirth and puts a guard on every tongue. People
will talk with him, shake hands with him, but they
will be careful of what they say before him. Indi-
viduals are careful of what books they have in theie
libraries, what papers they have in their writing
desks. They do not talk affably with their inferiors,
as light-hearted Frenchmen in the old times did.
The concierge, the waiter at the cafe, even the
private servants, are kept at a distance. In a rail-
way carriage it is as well not to be too communica-
tive with a neighbour. In a letter it is as well to
confine yourself to your own private business and
good wishes for your correspondent's health. For
Paris and France are under strict surveillance, and
no one knows who are the watchers and who aro the
watched. The Empire is espionnage. Its incar-
nation is a mouchard. It is not only that tectog-
nised agents of police are in every street and every
public place, that the comings and goings of well-
known Democrats are watched, that the assemblies
of Communists are hunted out, but men of every
rank, every phase of character, every shade of
political opinions, are at the mercy of an immense
army of spies, who penetrate everywhere, who fol-
low the individual into the cenfideuce even of his
family and his private life, and who have spread
distrust and apprehension throughout the country.
It has, indeed, long been the misfortune of France
that the security of private relations has been
weakened by the means used by Government to
obtain intelligence, and this fact has doubtless had
no little effect on society and domestic life ; but it
would seem that now the evil has assumed fearfu'

The severity of the weather "mulled" the Liverpool
meeting, spoiled the Doncaster gathering, and caused
the races at Thirak, Ludlow, and certain minor places
of sport in Lincolnshire, to be abandoned. The Ludlow
meeting is not likely to be revived, and Mr. Frail will
not deem it expedient to make another spring venture
in that locality. The suddenness with which all the
favourites came to grief in the steeplechases at
Liverpool and at Doncaster, has ctauled those en-
coueters to be regarded with snore than usual
interest. Still the unexpected results were perhaps
mainly the effect of rotten ground. The muccess of
Little Charlie at Aintree, however, did not create half
the surprise which was excited by the triumph of Glau-
tias at Doncaster. The latter, trained in the town, in-
deed completely astonished the natives, albeit his owner
placed some faith in his horse's chance after his easy
success on Friday. Glautias was well served by the
Doncaster ground, and his trainer, Mr. W. King, had
evidently taken advantage of the comparatively open
weather which bad lasted at Doncaster up to the
Sunday before the meeting, when a frost set in which
necessitated a postponement of the events. Despite the
success which has attended the establishment of the
Hopeful Stakes, and the general popularity of the
meeting, the race committee seem easily discouraged
by difficulties, and are, it is said, determined either to
discontinue the meeting altogether, or will alter the
fixture to a more congenial period of the year. In the
crowd of meetings which are appointed between April
and September, however, they will be puzzled to select
a suitable time for celebrating their ....ciering Meet-
ing. A steeplechase in the summer months will
be a novelty in Edgiand, and at Doncaster I am informed
that it will ho perfectly practicable.
Mr. Rarey has summoned numerous horse trainers
into existence. Whether be be the only original pos-
sessor of the secret, and the fitting successor of the cele-
brated " whisperer" I am not able to determine.
Amongst the host of persons who proclaim their know-
ledge of Mr. Rarey's secret, or some art equally effica-
cious there must be many sham prefessors, and I would
warn the public against being too easily duped by
their tricks and assertions which certainly seem
to me mendacious. 'What most surprises me is that
Mr. Rarey's fame never preceded him from America,
journals s
b intoe n t the
is
the Americanfa ct that everybody
and that he appears to be only known in his own country
by the reports which have been copied out of the
Englishau n
An
has
nther
se for
long known how to practioe on the nerves and sym-
pathies pathies of the horse. Veterinary surgeons of deservedly
vast reputation have declared that Mr. Rarey's art has
been long known to them, and that yet they have never
practised it. Why, many carriage horses worth 5001. have
been degraded to the cab rank simply on account
of their vicious propensities, and now we are informed
by certain people whom I must deem charlatans
that in a quarter of an hour the most unruly
horse can be rendered perfeety docile and ma-
nageable, without detracting from its courage
and usefulness. I have heard many stories of vicious
horses being perfectly cured. The last one is, that
a gentleman was riding an unruly brute down a green
lane, and that suddenly the horse stopped, plunged and
kicked furiously, and refused to budge an inch.
These antics be bad frequently repeated before,
but never, perhaps, le Wildly, and his owner
was in despair, when up came his good genius
in the shape of a burly butcher, who proffered his as-
sistance. He 'lmmediately seized the vicious beast by
the head, and rammed a handful of dirt intodits mouth I
The effect was inetantaneone, and ever after the horse
became as quiet as a lady's back I Such is the story as
I had it from a person, too, who evidently placed im-
plicit faith in it. All
Persons apparently agree
that either drugs are used or the nerves are practised
upon, yet if my memory serves me aright, Mr. Rarey
states that he effects bis cure by simply appealing
to the passions and the intellect" of the horse I
A friend of mine, at my elbow, suggests, that to do
this he must be well verged in the Norse language.—So
many people have expressed themselves satisfied with
Mr. Rairey'e experiments, that I am—against my own
convictions I confess—fain to think that there must be
something in his art.

proportions. We bear of professional spies of every
apparent rank in life, from the well-dressed gentle-
man to the workman in his blouse ; we hear of
lorettes paid for information concerning those with
whom they associate ; we hear of hotels and restau-
.

rants being frequented by persons whose duty it is
to listen to the conversation of suspicious visitors,
and to endeavour to draw them into au expression
of opinion. But the worst feature of all is the en-
couragement of domestic treachery by the corrup-
tion of private servants. No one can be secure that
the man who brushes his coat or the woman who
attends on his children is not in correspondence
with the police. We are not repeating any gobe-
mouche gossip ; we are stating facts proved beyond
a doubt, and commenting ou practices which are
not even denied. Domestic servants of every de-
gree are encouraged to report what passes in the
houses where they are employed—who comes, who
goes, what is said, what is proposed to be done.
Apart from the moral degradation which a Go-
vernment receives by a resort to such practices, it
is evident that the information must be most

untrustworthy. The sort of half-knowledge which
servants have of their masters' proceedings will
naturally cause them to distort all they see
and hear. The most innocent conversation will

be misinterpreted ; any allusion which the spy
does not understand will be construed into trea-

son ; a letter from England or a trip into Swit-
zerland will be at once a correspondence with re-
fugees, and disaffection will be found in a shrug of
the shoulders or a raising of the eyebrow. How
much will this tendency to exaggeratioß be increased
when the servant knows that the value of his re-

port and the reward liereceivesiiso i❑ proportion

_
to the incrimination of his virtue.
Such a system as this, added to the new law of
public security and the appointment of General
Espinasse, has naturally thrown over the capital a
gloom which seems not likely to be dissipated. The
baneful consequences, even in a material point of,
view, aro to be found in the sudden depression of
business and the general anxiety of the mercantile
world. The whole policy of the French Govern-
ment of late is indeed much to be regretted. No
one who has watched the career of the Emperor and
has seen his opportunities can help regr.-tting tat
be sir' uld have allowed those who surround hint
to entangle him in such a net. He has involv.d
himself in a system which no man can hope ro
con-
trol, 'and which must every day become More un-
manageable. He is striving to take the whole of
FRAM. into cultocly. To live every infui 01
wealth,

j or position, or political note in the empire, every
theorist, or fanatic, or vainglorious democrat, or
reckless desperado under his eye, is the purpose i.f
t. 6, present ruler. That he must be unsu- ces-ful
we know beforehand, and
,the ques ion is whether
the only eyik -Twill be th?-ili lure cif his object. - 0 ;
o ..pinion‘ must b , that such a Lua.chiliey-Will
tend to create what it seeks to repress. Sedition
will be generated bythe intolerable omnipresence of
the police. Every advance of the new power will
necessitate a still further ext-nsion, until a crisis
arrives, on which it would be premature to specu-
late.

The proceedings of the French Government are
not only unjust but unwise. What was there in
the attempt of January 14 which called for such
measures I The general impression at the time
was that the deed would add to the Emperor's
popularity, and the resul!s of an examination
seemed to confirm this view. Four or five Italians
were alone overtly concerned in the crime, and it
would have been in the powerof the Imperial Court
to proclaim that France and Frenchmen were
strangers to the treason. The circumstances of the
act might also have shown the Emperor and his
advisers how little can be done by the most elabo-
rate system of precaution. In spite of passports,
and police, and t elegraphic despatches, the assassins
penetrated to the Emperor's person with their in-
struments of death, and a score of police agents,
blind to their master's danger, were struck down
by the explosion. Ought not this to have been a
warning that security is to be sought rather in the
confidence and respect of the people than in any
web of detection ? The exhibition by the Emperor
of confidence in his subjects would have done more
to deter future attempts than any penal law.
Frenchmen, even where they did not love their ruler,
would have respected him, had they seen him con-
tinuing to maintain the confident bearing for which
he has always before been so remarkable. Some-
thing like contempt will be their feeling for this
frenzy of repression in a Sovereign who used to show
himself so fearlessly, and who was at least as safe
driving his phaeton like a private gentleman on the
Boulevard as when surrounded by spies and with
whOle squadrons for an escort. That the Ministers
of the Emperor are more to blame than their master
we can well believe, but he himself will have to
bear all the punishment. Distrust and fear reign in
Paris, but nowhere will they be stronger than in
the Imperial breast. All history teaches that those
who govern by such means suffer more than they
inflict. Why should Napoleon 111., after all his
exploits and his glory, prepare for himself the old
age of Tiberius t He has still the opportunity to
be the admired Chief of a free and great people ;
why should he throw it away under the advice
of men whose incapacity is no secret to
Europe ? Personally, he has the good wishes
of the world ; no one wishes to see his Em-
pire overthrown to make place for an effete
Bourbon or a Republican President. But, in the
name of a friendly people, we must tell him that
the system which his Ministers have organised for
the government of a high-spirited nation is full of
danger to himself and the world. Is this an age
for the suppression of all private political action ?
Is this an age when a quick-witted people can be
totally deprived of intellectual food by the extinc-
tion of the public) press 7 Already men of every
class are uneasy, and the roll of political offences
resembles that of enslaved Rome. If a man is
popular, he is dangerous to Vie Prince—if he is
riots, he is likely to be a powerful enemy—if he is
poor, poverty may spur him on to crime, if lie is
lively, he must be expecting some sediti us intyllt
genre—if he is melanihely, he is grieving at the
supremacy of the established power. Nay, to make
the parallel comple e, we have recently heard such
phrases as " seditious si/ence " and " culpable
expectation." So that no caution, no abnegation
of publicity, can avert suspir ion. Quanto metu
occultior Canto plus fanta adept us. For the sake
of France and the world we hope that this dark
phase of history will be but temporary, and that
the Emperor's good sense will soon sweep away a
system which threatens to bring so many troubles
on a great people.