The Sun.
London, England, 1867-05-10 00:00:00

T,ONDON, FRIDAY, MAY 10, 1867.

A majority of sixty-six for Government, in favour
of Mr. DISRAELI'S amendment over that of Mr.
HissEßT's proposition, seems to have virtually de-
cided the fate of the Bill before Parliament, and
to prove to its opponents, small and great, that
their efforts are fruitless. In some respects, indeed,
the division before Easter may be considered to have
determined the thing, but last night has certainly
made the question more settled and secure. The
decision that the committee came to was not arrived
at without much debating, and various arguments
were used by the speakers against Mr. DISRAELI'S
proposal. Mr. MILL was very decided in his lan-
guage, and pronounced that the effect of passing
this measure would be to make a central reg,istra-
tion society into the chief institution of the country.
The hon. member was so eager in his denunciation
of the scheme that he was not very particular in
the war is he employed to express his views. He
said that through the instrumentality of this pro-
ps..l a number of voters would be put upon the
register by unfair means. " All creatures fought
with their natural weapons, and those with

which hon. gentlemen opposite were most
fatniliar were carried in their pockets." This
is a ridiculous sort of argument, and in the
present instance quite out of character, because any
one at all conversant with the subject knows that it
is the Liberal side of the House which is the most
distinguished for bribery, and which always meets
with the greatest losses when the test of a general
election takes place. General PEEL, at any rate,
made a little diversion, for be infused some amuse-
ment into the dull discussion by saying that he had
been asked how he could reconcile his opposition to

this scheme with his desire to see the question
settled, and his answer was that a man may wish to
see himself settled, andyet "does not, in the hope of
securing a settlement, throw himself into the river
in despair of getting over the bridge." Mr. GLAD-
STONE has now found it convenient to forget his
determination not to come forward in the discus-
sions that take place on this subject, for he made a
long speech, in which he exhausted his inge-
nuity to prove that nothing could, would, and
should be right which did not fall in
with his views and with his system. The
House did not, however, seem to pay much at-
tention to the observations of the right hon. gen-
tleman, and at any rate were not much influenced
by them, if at all. He went a great deal too far in
his attempt to prove that the Government plan was
wrong, and the close of his remarks brought him
indeed to a lame and impotent conclusion. He
was actually obliged to withdraw an expression
which he had used, "fraud." The good sense and
right feeling of the House of Commons will always
triumph in the end over the most daring attempts
made by the most eminent individuals in support
of their extreme views and opinions, and in some
respects Mr. GLADSTONE made a greater mistake
last night than he has ever done yet, and he had
not the last resource of the destitute to fall back
upon and plead the " heat of debate," for every-
thing was perfectly calm.
We consider it a very uncalled-for thing for Mr.
GLADSTONE to get up and use this language, at a
time too when so much had been conceded by the
Government. "My belief is that you may do
anything with the people of England if you
will treat them honestly and above board.
But fraud —(ob, oh)—dissimulation, circuitous
methods ; legislative fraud, I mean, of course."
After some futile attempts to explain himself, the
right hon. gentleman was compelled to withdraw
the word altogether, but his subsequent observations
were not much better. " I will not speak of fraud,
but of an adjustment of provisions in an Act of
Parliament, which will produce in the public mind,
as these provisions are now widely producing, the
impression or conviction that Parliament is palter-
ing in a double sense with the people of England,
and professing to give that which it means, in sub-
stance, as to the far greater part of it, to withhold ;
and I say that such a course as this, instead of lead-
ing to the settlement of the question of Reform,
will be a blow to the honour and the credit of the
Legislature, and a serious injury to the institutions
of the country." All we can say is that, if this was
the best Mr. GLADSTONE could do, he had far better
have fulfilled his threat, and retired from the
lead of the Opposition, and the conduct of
affairs on the left hand of the Speaker.
His latter end has been worse than his beginning,
but we hope that we have heard the last of his vin-
dictive vituperation on the subject of Reform for
this Session. Lord J. MANNERS made an admirable
reply to the right hon. gentleman, and showed how
in his endeavours to damage the Government he
was, in reality, assailing the House of Commons
itself by attacking its deliberate act.

Mr. LOWE favoured the House with a few re-
marks, in which he seemed to condemn the scheme
before the Committee, and argued that the Govern-
ment had never taken into account the part the
compound householder would play in this question.
We do not blame them if they did not, for we ex-
pect that no one else did, before affairs took a par-
' ticular turn. Mr. BRIGHT made another of those
earnest appeals to the Committee of which we may
truly say that their name is legion, and declared
that the bill would not stop agitation. lle called
Mr. DISRAELI'S plan an " audacious" one, but he
fared even worse than Mr. GLADSTONE, fur his
most pathetic adjurations were met with laughter,
which evidently irritated him very much, for be
said that if he had not a right to speak for those
who wished for Reform out of doors no man had.
He went on to say that he " la.neuted with a grief
that he could not well express the course the House
was taking." This mournful announcement was
also met with shouts of laughter. The hon. member
then waxed wroth, and told the supporters of the
Ministry that he ventured at the last hour to tell
them they were not acting with fairness or equality.
Mr. ROEBUCK'S remarks were a relief to the House
after the one-sided harangues they had listened to
in many quarters, and the hon. member for Sheffield
came out strong,.and showed the difference between
the real Reformer and the party one. He told Mr.
BRIGHT his mind pretty plainly, and declared that
his arguments were a part of that " stump oratory
which anybody who goes about telling people that
they are dealt unjustly with will always find people
ready to listen." As for the unworthy device that
was resorted to about Sheffield, Mr. ROEBUCK soon
disposed of that, and said that not one respectable
man went to the meeting in question, and he won-
dered at the right hon. gentleman, the member for
South Lancashire, alluding to it, with the example
of Oxford just in their memories. Again, " when
the hon. member for Birmingham twitted me with
the altered state of feeling in Sheffield, I should
have thought that he would have recollected Man-
chester."

Mr. DISRAELI'S speech was greatly to Cr; point,
and he showed the weakness of the arguments
employed against the Bill, and that part of it which
was the subject of immediate consideration. He
made a great point by quoting some of Lord Rus-
SELL'S observations, in 1851, about the compound
householder, and raised a laugh against Mr.
BRIGHT, who interrupted to ask the date, by urging
that he had been too many for the hon. member,
and had brought his authority to the House. Mr.
GLADSTONE'S conduct and manner were properly
treated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who
eahlthat he had expressed himself viih that "fer-
vent violence of which he was SO thoroughly a
master." Further on be very properly animad-
verted upon the language employed by the hon.
gentleman respecting the doings of the Govern-
ment, and observed with great force that one who
had taken for so long a period a leading part in
public affairs ought to have known better than to
make use of such expressions. The cheers that rang
through the House sufficiently showed the feeling
with which hon. members regarded the extravagant
language used by Mr. GLADSTONE. The Chancellor
of the Exchequer concluded by thanking the House
for the candour with which the propositions of the
Government had been generally received, and
wound up his remarks by this impressive passage :
" All I can say of the Government is that we have
had no other wish in this business than to bring it
to a happy conclusion ; that wish has not been the
result of any desire to retain power or acquire
reputation. Indeed we have at all times been
ready to give to the House of Commons
in the conduct of this business that.
influential position which would show to the
country that the measure, if passed at all, was
passed by the House and not by the Govern-
ment. This assurance I again at the last hour con-
vey to the consideration of the committee, and
still venture to express a hope that, with the aid
and assistance of the House, her Majesty's Govern-
ment may yet succeed in conducting this business
to a happy and satisfactory solution." We should
think, after last night's division, that, there was no

longer any doubt as to the issue of the matter, and
we congratulate the Government upon the result of
the division. The attacks made upon them recoiled
upon their authors, and never was there a greater
failure than that met with by Mr. GLADsTONE, Mr.
BRIGHT, and others. The course these have taken
shows them to be anything but genuine Reformers,
and the House of Commons is evidently quite tired
of their persistency in a line that they have seen is
inimical to its wishes and opinions.

The disputes about the Hyde Park affair have
now reached the tranquil atmosphere of the Upper
House, and they occupied, last evening, a consi-
derable share of attention. It was no doubt satis-
factory to their lordships, and it will be satisfac-
tory to the public, to have Lord DERBY'S own
account of the course pursued by the Govern-
ment. The noble earl gave his explanation with
the frankness and straightforwardness which
usually distinguish him, and vindicated the con-
duct of his Cabinet. He informed the House that
Mr. WALPOLE, owing to ill-health and the pres-
sure of anxiety, had resigned his office, so that
those who have grumbled at the leniency of his
administration may possibly find a more forcible
Minister not more welcome. Whatever line of
policy has been selected by Mr. WALPOLE, there
is very little doubt that he would have been
severely blamed by somebody. It is always so
easy to censure those in power, and to decide
theoretically on the best course to pursue. If he
had made no sign, and permitted a stormy meeting
which might have resulted in riot or window
breaking, he would have been blamed by the
peaceable householders of the vicinity. If he had
attempted active interference, And a collision had
ensued between the people and the military,
he would have been censured for pro-
voking an unpopular conflict. Having left
the meeting undisturbed while preparing for a pos-
sible disturbance, he is blamed for bringing the
Executive into contempt. If conduct is to be
judged by its results, Mr. WALPOLE was not so
unwise as his critics pretended, since the
,much-
dreaded collision has been avoided, the park and the
neighbouring property are uninjured, the Reform
League are satisfied, and all is at rest. It must
also be remembered that the excellent behaviour of
the crowd on Monday was no doubt partly due to
the previous communications with the Government,
because the members of the League were put on
their mettle and exerted themselves to the utmost
to preserve order. The knowledge of the ample
provision made by the Government for the repres-
sion of riot and disturbance had no doubt a consi-
derable effect upon the army of roughs and pick-
pockets who are always the real sources of danger
and confusion in these affairs. Lord DERBY, in
answer to Lard CoweEn's speech on the matter,
entered fully into the whole history of the matter,
and succeeded in placing the conduct of the Go-
vernment in a more consistent and reasonable light
than has heretofore been done by any of its mem-
bers. He explained that last year, before the dis-
turbances, the Government, referring to precedents,
found that, by the decision of the law officers
of the Crown in 1856, there was a right to close
the gates of the park or to exclude persons
when the gates were open, though of course it was
undesirable to exercise such powers unreservedly.
" The authority to close and exclude the public
from the parks," so run the legal statement, " is
that which every landowner has to prevent the
public from trespassing on his lands." Acting
upon this decision, the Government closed the gates
of the park, with, what Lord DERBY justly termed,
unfortunate results. Whatever the right of the
Crown, he would not, he said, for his part have
repeated au experiment which had such disastrous
consequences, occasioned so much ill feeling, and
rendered the Park for long after the resort of the
most lawless and abandoned characters. Lord
DERBY declared that it was his full conviction that
the Crown had a right to protect the park, and
that the intention of the Government in issuing the
much-censured notice of the Home Secretary was to
found on it an action for trespass against the prin-
cipal leaders of the movement, an intention which
they still intended to fulfil. The legal opinion of
their own advisers was not taken till after the
affair of last year, and Lord DERBY says it
would have been an unsuitable time to hove en-
deavoured to increase the powers of the Crown
at the end of a session when the new
bill could not have been passed, and would
only have given rise to increased irritation. There
was, as we have said, a good deal of debate on the
subject, the noble lords on the opposition side being
very ready to find fault, but Lord DERBY declared
himself quite satisfied with the result, and indifferent
to any humiliation brought upon the Government
by their own forbearance. " I will say, my lords,
over and over again, that I consider as nothing the
temporary violation of the rights of the Crown—a
subject more especially to be dealt with by a mea-
sure placing it on a more satisfactory footing—l say
I consider that as nothing in comparison with the
risk which might have occurred if, iu the exercise of
that power, we had brought on a collision between
an infuriated mob and a large force of the military
and police." Such a conflict would have been on every
account much to be deplored. We hope the
good sense of the people at large will prevent any
repetition of the risk. All unprejudiced observers
must see that, as Lord GREY, always a friend to
free discussion, last night observed, that the parks
are not intended for political discussion, but for
the recreation of the public at large. "If the
parks were allowed to be used for political why
not for religious discussion ? But if the members
of the various religious persuasions were allowed to
hold forth there, was it not likely that angry con-
troversies would arise, and that the parks would
be soon altogether diverted from their legitimate
objecls If the prospect which Lord RUSSELL
dimly referred to be realised, and Mr. BEALES
thinks it desirable to get up a weekly meeting in
Hyde-park, will it not be time for the ratepayers of
London to protest against the expenditure of the
public money in the futile attempt to beautify and
preserve the parks as places of public recreation?

The House of Commons beard, with great satis-
faction last night, the statement of Lord STANLEY
respecting the Luxemburg question, and it is a mat-
ter of general congratulation and relief that, for the
present at least, the risk of a European war is
averted. " Ten days ago," said Lord STANLEY,
" I expretzsed a hope that this Luxemburg question,
which was then disturbing Europe, was in a fair
way of being brought to an amicable termination,
and I believe I am not too sanguine when I say
that the hope I then expressed is practically rea•
Used." The guarantee given by England is, as
Lord STANLEY explained, no new one, and
although it was impossible for him in the present
position of affairs 'to go into the details of the
matter, be reminded the House that England, in
common with the rest of the signataries to the
Treaty of 1839, actually guaranteed the Grand
Duchy of Luxemburg to the King of HOLLAND in
the most full, absolute, and unconditional manner.
All that has been done now is to adapt that engage-
ment to the changed circumstances of the times,
the present position of the Duchy itself, and

the dissolution of the Germanic Confedera-
tion. Lord STANLEY is so confident of an
immediate adjustment of all difficulties, that he
hoped in a few days to lay on the table of the Ilouse
all papers relating to the negotiations. According
to the Etendard of last evening, the Plenipoten-
tiaries will have several more meetings, though it
admits that definite conclusions have been arrived
at on the three important points of the neutralisa-
tion, evacuation, and future position of Luxemburg.
Peace, according to all accounts, seems, therefore,
secured for the present ; and Lord STANLEY, in his
dealing with this grave and difficult question, has
acquitted himself in a manner that reflects honour
on himself and his country.

CORRESPONDENCE FRULYI PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

peeerilor presided. The
yesterday at the
PARIS, Thursday Evening.
Empress was present.
TuTilhereirees was
a t aw h ahb int
he te CE omu
Although it may perhaps be like sending coals to
Newcastle to give you information respecting the
Conference at London, yet a few particulars will be
interesting. At the ccnclusion of the first sitting
on Tuesday, the French Ambassador sent to the
Marquis de Moustier, the Minister of Foreign
Affairs, a telegraphic note of the proceedings. The
exact particulars have not transpired, but I am in-
formed, in an official quarter, that the proceedings
were merely formal, and were almost entirely con-
fined to the verification of the powers of the re-
spective representatives. Lord Stanley presided,
and it was arranged that the Conference should
meet again to-day. All the representatives of the
Powers who signed the Treaties of 1835, th Lt is to
say, Austria, Belgium, France, England, Prussia,
Holland, and Russia were present, as well as the
foreign ambassadors at the British Court. The
Plenipotentiaries who take part in the Conference,
nine in number are—For Austria, Count Apponyi ;
for France, Prince de la Tour d'Auvergne ; for
England, Lord Stanley; for Italy, M. Azeglio ; for
Prussia, Count Bernstorff ; for Russia, Baron
Brunnow ; for Belgium, M. Von de Weyer ; for the
Netherlands, Count Bentinek. The Grand Duchy
of Luxembourg has a special representative, Baron
Tornaco, Minister President of the Grand Ducal
Government. It was at the suggestion of the King
of Belgium, acting in his title of territorial Sove-
reign, that the different Courts were called upon to
take part in the deliberations. The Cabinets, after
discussion, agreed to recommend as the basis of the
arrangement the neutralisation of the Grand
Duchy, with the consequences which it will entail,
and particularly the evacuation of the fortress by
the Prussian garrison. France, in pursuance of her
policy of moderation and disinterestedness, agreed
to this programme, and thus gave a proof of her
conciliatory views, for which all Europe will thank
her. In the best informed circles in Paris there is
now full confidence of a pacific solution of all
the questions connected with the Luxembourg
difficulty.

The Illoniteur, in reviewing the position of foreign
affairs, says :
" The situation of the Roman States improves
every day, and the Holy Father has only to con-
gratulate himself upon the proofs of devotion and
respectful gratitude evinced to•vards him by his
subjects. The zeal displayed by the Pontifical
troops in the pursuit of the brigands has spread
discouragement among the bands, who were still
upon the frontier. A great number of brigands
surrender themselves every day to the authorities,
and only ask to be allowed to participate in the
amnesty, the period for which expired on the 14th
of April. In general this favour is granted to
them. This increases the number of submissions,
and there is every hope that the scourge from which
the Roman States suffered so long will very shortly
be radically destroyed. The verbal accord between
the military authorities of Italy and the Holy
Father has powerfully contributed to this happy
result."

" The constitutional reorganisation of the empire
of Austria proceeds rapidly. Even at present the
relative positions of Hungary and the Imperial
Government may be considered as settled."

The Venice Gazette announces that King Victor
Emmanuel is expected this (Thursday) evening in
that city, and that he will remain there for several
days.
The Queen of Portugal, Marie Pie, youngest
sister
ncessameCroloutsildseuite. Napoleon,iier Majesty is
has arrived
in Paris, o fthe
with l'riu
at present staying with the Princess Clotilde. The
a
Emperor has given a splendid dinner and ball at
the Tuileries to the members of the Imperial Corn-
mission and to French and foreign Juries. The
Palace could hardly contain the distinguished guests,
among whom was Prince Oscar of Sweden, the
Duke de Leuchtenberg, the brother of the Taicoon
of Japan, and his Embassy, the Duke of Manches-
ter, and several English noblemen.
Again is there a little cloud or something sinister
looming in the future about Luxembourg, arising
from the account coming from London that
England is not disposed to guarantee her
neutrality of Luxembourg, or from some other
cause. The following article from the Siecle affords
an important illustrationof those apprehensive feel-
ings, even under present circumstances.
In spite of the painful probabilities to which
the meeting of the Conference and the conciliatory
disposition of the Governments interested give
such authority serious apprehensions continue to
arise. Military preparations in Germany are
talked of. As to France, it may be well to remark
that the incorporation of the reserve of 1864 had
been ordered prior to the publication of the note in
the Moniteur announcing the suspension of the
armaments. At all events, we are convinced that
France would be very soon ready if pretensions
which could not be accepted on the part of
Prussia were to be put forth at the Conference.
It is well not to be carried away by too
much confidence in the best. However fa-
vourable may be the indications of peace
which we have noticed with satisfaction for
some days past, we ought to be in a con-
dition to provide against any eventualities. The
reasons which induce us to
believe that Prussia
feels the necessity of conciliation
are very serious.
We alluded to them yesterday. (I translated these
important passages), and similar arguments are
developed in several of the E • •
English journals. Prus-
sia will, no doubt, have to overcome strong resist-
ance against an attempt to drag the Southern
States, Saxony, and the annexed provinces into
war. But we ought not to forget that M. Bis-
marck last year overcame c resistance
against strong resistance
against Precipitating the q •people '
Prussian into a
war against Austria. If, therefore, there be the
most favourable chance for a pacific solution, it
should not be lost sight of that chances are not equal
to a certainty."

The latest news from Mexico confirms in a very
precise manner the report of the capture of Puebla,
by Porfirio Diaz. The place was carried by assau:t
after a sanguinary combat. it is stated that Diaz
ordered six Generals and sixty
Imperialist officers
to be shot, who had themselves ordered the execu-
tion of Republican prisoners. Marquez had been
beaten in endeavouring to assist Puebla. The re-
duction of Queretaro, where Maximilian and the
remnant of his troops had taken refuge, appeared
to be imminent.

Novelties are imagined every day either for the
convenience or to add to the pleasure of visitors to
the Exhibiton. The Emperor has ordered an exa-
mination into an improved system of locomotion by
steam. The inventor proposes to
take 40,000 per-
sons every hour from the Place de la Concorde to
the Exhibition for three halfpence only for each
person. Similar vehicles will ply from the Ecole
Militaire to the Place de la Concorde.

MINISTERIAL CIIANGES.—It is understood that
the post vacated by the resignation of Mr. Walpolo will be
filled by the appointment of Mr. Ga,thorne Hardy as Home
Secretary; and, according to the report generally
current
last night, Mr. Hardy will be succeeded at the Poor-law
Board by the Earl of Devon. In that case, a fresh vacancy
would be created in the Chancellorship of the Duchy of
Lancaster.

LATEST INTEL LIGENUE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

ITALY.

FLORENCE, May 9 (Evening.)

In continuation of the financial statement, Sig-
nor Ferrara said that the budgets of 1867 and 1868
would be regulated solely by extraordinary mea-
sures. The Government will avoid having re-
course to a hasty imposition of new taxes. In order
to provide for the ordinary deficit from 1869, Sig-
nor Ferrara reckons before all on an increased re-
venne from the present taxes, and especially by a
partial farming of the collection of the indirect
taxes and the tobacco monopoly. The proceeds of
the octroi will be given up entirely to the com-
munes and provinces, in return for which certain
extra imposts now existing in some provinces will
revert to the State, in addition to the direct taxes
which will thus be equalised, and if possible dimi-
nished.

An alteration is also proposed in the tax on
lauded property, with the object of increasing the
revenue therefrom derived. An endeavour would
also be made to reach those sources of income which
have not hitherto been assessed under the tax on
personal property. These alterations are to be
made after 1867, but will not prevent the Govern-
ment at once proposing various new taxes, which,
however, will not come into operation until after
1869. Means would thus be obtained to cover any
annual deficit which might still exist after the re-
duction of the expenditure by the strictest and
firmest economies possible to the indispensable

BANK OF FRANCE.

PARIS, May 9.

The following is the return of the Bank of France
for the week ending to-day, together with the cor-
responding figures of the previous account :