The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-09 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

THIS DAY.—Morning, sh. 26m.—Afternoott, 5:1.50,n,
Ta-Moltßow.-Morning, 6h. 15m.—Afternoon, 6h. 49m.

44' 2,
mitcr"-•
esig . Sun.

Los-DoN, TIICRSDAY, 31.11' 9, 1367

-4.--

An interesting entertainment took place last night
in Rooms, on the occasion of the anniver-
sary dinner of the Institute of Civil Engineers. A

brilliant company assomblea, among whom were the
Duke of CAIIBRID(;E, the Earl of CAITHNESS, the

CHAINC 1.01; of the Excurgur.R, and others. At

the presAit day we mly safely say that there is no
institution more popular than that of the Civil En-
gineers, and one more in harmony with the tastes
awl habits of the ty?,oVe. Mr. J. FOWLER,
the prLsi.leet, of the Institution, occupied the
chair, and made some very appropriate remarks or+
the immediate subjects before him, showing the,
relation that cause had -with their own objects of
interest. In allusion to the army and navy, he
remarked very truly that we are becoming each year
more dependent oa " scientific calculations"

a knowledge of engineering. Breech-loading rifles
alone testify to this fact, and are, as he said, most
bewildering to those upon whom the choice and
decision rests. It is satisfactory that so eminent an
authority as Mr. FOWLER, should pronounce a
favourable opinion of the collection of munitions of
war and specimens of marine engineering, which
are found in the English. department of the French
Exhibition. In associating the name of Mr. CORRY,
the First Lord of the Admiralty, with the toast, the
President alluded to the hopeful prophecy of that
gentleman concerning the possibility of our
hideous ironclads being rendered peaceful,
and added that he was entitled to give
his judgment, and to be listened to with respect.
A quarter of a century ago Mr. CORRY was the
earnest advocate of the " screw propeller" into the
Royal Navy and the adoption of iron as a material
for building ships of war. Mr. CORRY made some
interesting revelations concerning the introduction
of iron and of the screw propeller into the navy,
and said that the navy of this country was greatly
indebted to the Civil Engineers for the exertions
they had made to induce the authorities to employ
iron as a material for shipbuilding, though " the
Chancellor of the Exchequer might not thank
them for having increased the cost of build-
ing a ship fourfold." It is curious at the
present day to think of the prejudices that
existed against the introduction of iron for the
material of ships of war, and he even told his
hearers that the iron vessels which had been built
under his superintendence had been turned by the
succeeding Board of Admiralty into transport ves-
sels, on the ground that it was absurd and ridicul-
ous to use ships built of that material for fighting
purposes. He had the satisfaction, however, of
finding that his plans were subsequently carried
out, and that he had been before the time, for
when he was appointed to his present position there
was building in Pembroke dockyard an ironclad
and iron-built frigate of 4,000, and to be propelled
by seven engines of 1,000 horse power, and which
was to carry six hundred . men and guns of
tne heaviest calibre.

The CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, who was
greeted most enthusiastically, said that a few nights
ago he had had the honour of returning thanks for the
House of Commons in the galleries of art, and on
that occasion the same duty devolved upon him in
the halls of science. The connection between the
House of Commons and the body of civil engineers
is a most interesting one, and the latter have, in
course of time, contributed several distinguished
members to the House of Commons. - LOCKE
and STSPIIENSON, who have left the scene
of their labours and triumphs, were mentioned by
Mr. DISRAELI as men whom all " regard with
esteem, and looked up to with the greatest respect.
They sat on different sides of the House, but that
did not interfere with the high consideration in
which they were held, and the right hon. gentle-
man said that it was with satisfaction he re-
membered he enjoyed their kind feelings, and, he
hoped, possessed their favourable opinions." The
President said that the relations of engineers with
the House of Commons were not so intimate as they
used to be, but Mr. DISRAELI facetiously observed,
that on his way to the House he saw that the Civil
Engineers were very busy in the neighbourhood.
" What may be the precise results, and what the
exact object of the works I saw going on there I
don't presume to understand, but all I hope is that
our future proceedings are not to partake of a subter-
ranean character, and thatatleast the House of Com-
mons may be permitted to perform its duties under
existing circumstances." In pursuing his remarks,
the Chancellor of the Exchequer said that he was
expected to propose the toast of " Prosperity to the
Civil Engineers," coupled with the name of the
President. After stating that his practical know.
ledge of the subject did not permit him to speak on
the matter, he added that it sometimes happened
that those who were bystanders were " more com-
petent to form a general opinion as to the state of
facts than those who create the circumstances and
control them." A quarter of a century ago, as
Mr. DISIIAELI said, a meeting like that before
them would have been looked upon as improbable.

A century ago there was not a canal in England,
and although we have been taught to look upon Bri-
tannia as the mistress of the ocean, still there is no
doubt that the Britih mariner encountered the
perils of the deep, and unprovided with artificial
advantages. In alluding to the wonderful changes
that have occurred recently, Mr. DISRAELI ex-
claimed, " flow is it that our country is covered
with railways and surrounded by wealth, studded
with floating steam vessels ? How is it that we

have instantaneous communication between distant
hemispheres and continents. All these would have
been achieved by the attentive observation of nature
by men of genius, whose scientific discoveries and
inventions have been made of service in practical
life." The right ' hon. gentleman gave some
useful advice in conclusion, •by saying that if
the Civil Engineers turned their attention to
the supply of water in London they would be doing
an immense service. Meetings like thid are always
interesting, and they are of service also, as they
awake thought, and turn the attention of the public
to the vessels and the achievements of those to whom
they are so much indebted, and to encourage whose
efforts should be alike a duty and a pleasure, for
much depends on the results of their success and
choice in the numerous tasks allotted to them.

The members of the Reform League are unable
to find fitting words adequately to express their
sense of their own excellence and ability. "Success
is virtue, and misfortune blame," and if the grand
affair of Monday was not exactly a political success,
at least it resulted in nothing mischievous or disas-
trous—thanks partly to the ample provision made to
keep the toughs in check, and prevent their inter-
ference with the day's proceedings. So the assembly
of the Council of the League last night was a
triumphant assembly, and Mr. BEALES having
praised himself to the echo received the
admiring tributes of his friends, while the
unfortunate Government, and that elastic " Tory
party which includes every one who is disinclined
to submit his own judgment to that of Messrs.
BEALES and BRADLAUGH, would have been the sub-
ject of fierce denunciation had they not been re-
garded as almost beneath contempt. Men who are so
well able to manage their own affairs are of course
likely to have a little time and attention to spare
for those of other people. Also it is very disagreeable
to the dauntless minds of those Adelphi lIAMPDENS
to believe that a duly constituted and recognised au-
thority can ever be iu the right when it exercises
the strong arm of the law to put down political

agitation.

Governments must always be in the
wrong ; agitators must always be in the right.
This is the doctrine of the League de facto, though
they might disown it in words. The very fact of
proceedings being taken in opposition to the Go-
vernment lends them au attraction, not to say a
recommendation, in the eyes of our would-be Re-
formers. How else are we to account for Fenianism
beingsuddenlyin vested with the merits of patriotism,
and the mischievous agitators,who are wilfully risking
the lives and property of other; to fill their own
pcckets, being considered worthy of English syna--
to And that
PatillY and oupport. It is encouraging

the Council of the Reform League, who are hence-
forth
to regulate all our affairs and opinions, are
favourable to such erratic displays of patriotism as
we have lately been treated in the sister island. At
the meeting last night Mr. GUEDALLA moved, and
Mr. DELL seconded, the following resolution :
" That the Council of the Reform League earnestly
calls upon all Englishmen desiring to uphold the
honour and preserve the fair fame of their country
to aid in saving the lives of the patriotic, if mis-
guided and mistaken men, who are now lying in
Dublin under sentence of death." This was passed,
the chairman adding, however, a few words
of especial approval. " There could be," he
said, " but one opinion as to the propriety of the
resolution. (We should say so beyond the doors of
the Council•chamber !) He had been requested to
prepare a petition to Parliament on the subject,
and he would have much pleasure in doing so."
Having thus happily disposed of the Irish difficulty,
it was necessary to come nearer home. Independ-
ence of opinion is nearly as great a crime as oppo-
sition to authority is a virtue. Men may with
great propriety oppose the Government, but their ac-
tion must be en masse —no one may dare to think for
himself, muchless to criticise the " patriotism" of pro-
fessional patriots. How heinous, then, is the offence
of a man of remarkable ability, considerable repu-
tation, and fearless straightforwardness in scrutinis-
ing too closely the organisation of those vast
societies which, professing to represent the many,
are in reality under the dictation of the few. Re-
membering the revelations of the report of the
Commission on Trades' Unions, we need not be
surprised at the 'following resolution being carried
unanimously at the meeting of the League :
" That the Council of the Reform League have
learnt with the greatest satisfaction that the Re-
formers of Sheffield have resolved to make au effort
to wipe away from their borough the political disgrace
of being misrepresented by Mr. J. A. ROEBUCK,
and this Council urgently advises all true friends
of progress at once to organise and select a candi-
date for the next election who will vindicate their
principles in the House of Comnions." A very
creditable and serviceable House of Commons we
shall have if a representative like Mr. ROEBUCK is to
be regarded as a " political disgrace !" It may occur

to some critics with inconveniently long memories
that Mr. J. A. ROEBUCK has toiled in the cause of
progress and Liberalism some years before Mr.
EDMOND BEALES was heard of. But the friends of
Trades' Unions will not . readily forgive the
searching cross-examination which the mem-
ber for Sheffield in his capacity as Commissioner
subjected the witnesses to in the recent
examinations. No ready-made plausible generali-
, ties would do. Mr. ROEBUCK put them aside with

the declaration that he could not understand figura-
tive language, and would have the answers he
wanted iu plain English. What did the witnesses
mean by the protection of trade ? by encroach-
ments upon trade ? Wby must men become mem-
bers of the Union whether they would or no under
pain of heavy penalties ? Why should unionists
object to work with • non-unionists? Such ques-
tions as these are not at all of the sort which

secretaries, and managers, and treasurers of unions

like to ans wer, and accordingly Mr. ROEBUCK gets
put down in their black lists. The member for

Sheffield has not much sympathy for the system of
terrorism in vogue with these associations, and
being never much inclined to act in opposition to
his own opinions, he is naturally indisposed to sup-
port the method employed to extend the power of
the unions. The unionists do not like to have their

affairs to closely inquired into, and conse-
quently they are much displeased at the ques-
tions propounded by the cownlision, and in
many cases the list of questions sent has
been returned unanswered. Some curious facts
have, however, come out. A master builder had
four sons employed in his trade, and it was in-
sisted by the men that these sous should join the
union. A struggle ensued between the masters
and the men of the district, but the end of the
affair was a compromise, one of the conditions
being that the sons should join the union, or the
men would not work. When we get a Parlia-
ment composed of members that are fortunate
enough to meet the approval of the League, we
shall have to prepare for a rigid supervision of
our individual acts and opinions.

COB,RESFONDENOE FROM FARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, ISrednesday Evening.

The Moniteur states that the Grand Duchy of
Niecklenburg is convoked for the Ist of June, with
a view to give its vote relative to the Constitution
of the Confederation of North Germany, adopted
by the Reichstag.
The Invalide Russe announces that the Diet of
Finland has definitively agreed to and adopted a
new law introducing free public worship of all de-
nominations. According to the ancient laws of
Finland, the Protestant Religion was dominant.
Henceforward all Christians will be equal before
the law, and may enjoy all civil and political
rights. This new law proposed by the Govern-
ment was unanimously voted by the Diet.
A letter from Vienna gives some interesting par-
ticulars relative to the new law introducing various
military innovations in Austria. The law con-
tains no less than 50 paragraphs, but the chief
changes made will have the effect of assimilating
the Austrian military system with that of France,
particularly as regards the advance in rank. In
future the rank of sub-lieutenant can only ba ob-
tained by cadets leaving the military schools after a
severe examination upon scientific and practical
matters. Ou the other hand the limit of age
appThis
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ee aaedhvraannk tagies aodf va e
render-
inged
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ee
Upon the whole the
efoortceodf tao
oaabmapnadiogno.the service at the com-
plan is conceived in a very liberal
maugeeewucamermeilitary

spirit.
The pious service in commemoration of the death
of Napoleon 1. was celebrated in the chapel of the
Tuileries on Monday, in presence of the Emperor
and Empress, Prince Napoleon, Princess Mathilda,
Princess Lucien Murat, Prince Lucien Napoleon
Bonaparte, Prince Joachim Murat, and Prince
Achille Murat. The chief officers of the Crown
and of the Emperor's. Household were also present,
as well as the ladies on service.
At the same time the usual imposing ceremony
took place in the chapel of the Invalides. The
Governor of the Invalides, Marquis de Lavcestine,
surrounded by his staff, presided. The glorious re-
mains of the armies of the first Emperor were re-
presented by the battalion of soldiers who are
decorated with the St. Helena medal, and by a few
of the old soldiers who delight in the souvenir,
whose ranks become thinner every year. They
-.yore their old uniforms on the occasion. Round
the crypt which contains the sarcophagus was a
detachment of military invalids, decorated with the
St. hleletia medal, and bearing lances covered with
crape. There were also present servants of the first
Emperor or their children and heirs designated by
the will of Napoleon. After the absolution, the
old soldiers defiled in front of the sarcophagus. The
spectators evinced deep veneration. In the even-
ing a banquet was given to the cld warriors, at
which M. Belmontel, deputy, presided.
The Siecie has the following moderate but
forcible observations in reference to Prussia :
" We are, disposed to bdieve in the conciliatory
intentions of Prussia. It is evident, from the
moderate laDuage of the officious _ jouraala of