The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-26 00:00:00

THE SUN) LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 26, 1867

been given to have everthing ready for embarking
troops at the first request, whether such a thing
seemed necessary or not at present, as most signi-
ficant tokens of a war not being far off. We may
have nothing to do directly with these matters, but
they must more or less concern us all in this
country, and it is greatly to be deplored that the
Continent does not present a better prospect of
peace; but it may be that after the storm has burst
there may be a calm:more likely to last, and to con-
duce to prosperous results than this uncertain state
of affairs.

The arrival of the Etna from New York on the
14th brings us news of a message of some import-
ance transmitted by the PRESIDENT to the Senate.
There is some uncertainty about it, at least the
account given says that " it is reported that Presi-
dent JOHNSON sent a Message to the Senate ;" but
the Message itself bears the appearance of authen-
ticity. Its subject was the removal of Mr. STANTON
from the Secretaryship, for which the PRESIDENT,
according to the report, gives the following rea-
sons :—The want of proper respect shown by the
Secretary, who attempted, in defiance of the PRE-
SIDENT, to retain office under the Tenure of Office
Bill, which Mr. STANTON, with the rest of the
Cabinet, had previously denounced as unconsti-
tutional. Furthermore, Mr. STANTON was the cause
of the New Orleans riots, by withholding from the
PRESIDENT the fact that the district comman-
der had asked for special instructions relative
to the expected disturbance. On these grounds
Mr. JOHNSON justifies his removal, and he
brings forward a powerful argument in favour of
his coup d'etat. Mr. STANTON'S successor has, he
says, already saved the country millions of dollars,
and he adds that his Cabinet are now entirely in
accord with reference to the Reconstruction policy.
The account of this Message is, as we have said,
somewhat indefinite and uncertain, and we are not
told what impression it made upon the Senate.
Probably, if it is authentic, it was addressed as
much to the country at large as to the Congress.
The PRESIDENT, finding the tide turn so much in
his favour, may think it a favourable opportunity
to set himself right with the public with respect to
that part of his official career which provoked the
most criticism. The financial extravagance of the
Radical policy has been one of its weakest points,
and has materially affected its position in the public
favour. The PRESIDENT has taken care to show on
several occasions that the Reconstruction Act, as at
present enforced, will be a costly amusement to the
North, and the Secretary of the Treasury will not
hesitate to confirm this view. We have further in-
dications that this conviction is pressing home to
the people, in the fact that a resolution
directing the military committee to inquire
into the expediency of a further reduction
in the army has passed unanimously through
the House of Representatives. It will not be pos-
sible to reduce the army so long as the Southern
States are to be governed by military law, and of
this the Radicals themselves seem to be aware, for
the Herald states that Mr. STEVENS has announced
his intention of introducing a bill providing loyal
provisional government for the Southern States.
Possibly the anxiety of the extreme Republicans to
keep the South under military rule may be modified
by the fact of GRANT'S retention of office. So long
as STANTON had the command of the War Office, the
removal of Southern civil officers' interference with the
processes of the civil courts, and the most arbitrary
and oppressive exercise of the district commandesr'
powers, were the order of the day. Under GRANT,
acting in accordance with the directions of the
PRESIDENT, matters are very different; and although
under the present constitution of Congress confi-
dence and loyalty can hardly be restored in the
South at lead, there is lees apprehension of tyran-
nical interference with private liberty.

It is curious to notice in the accounts from the
Southern States the very different versions of affairs
given by the rival Conventions in the same State.
Thus the Virginian Convention has memorialised
Congress to continue the Freedmen's Bureau, and
has recommended the removal of the State officials
in Virginia. The Virginia Conservative Conven-
tion has passed a resolution declaring this to be a
white man's Government, and pledging the people
of Virginia to perform all their constitutioi:al duties
on their restoration to the Union. In Alabama
there is the same difference, but the negroes in some
parts themselves object to the progosed constitution.
There are still some threatenings of disturbance,
but the Federal troops are generally on the alert.
A negro mob threatened lately to attack the stu-
dents at the Georgia University of Athens, but was
promptly dispersed by the troops. The Tennessee
Legislature has just passed a bill prohibiting dis-
tinctions of colour in public conveyances, a measure
which, if it be enforced, will remove a fertile cause
of contention and disturbance. It is more than
time that these matters were adjusted, and some-
thing like social and political harmony restored, for
the country has suffered severley from the thorough
disorganisation produced by the war, and continued
by the Radicals. The commercial prospects of the
States are anything but satisfactory, and com-
plaints long and loud are heard on all sides from the
manufacturing towns. Trade is thoroughly de-
pressed, and frequent failures are announced. The
one idea of the manufacturers for relief is the in-
crease of protection. It is marvellous how back-
ward the Americans who have made such rapid
progress in other matters are with respect to free
trade. The manufacturers are to meet in national
convention at Ohio on the 18th December to con-
sider the present state of affairs, and its principal
object is said to petition Congress for the removal of
the inland revenue duties from all manufactures,
and productions except luxuries. The import duties
are another matter, and the higher these go up the
better the manufacturers are pleased, One would
imagine that the mischievous results of their com-
mercial policy would before this have convinced
them that free trade was without a trial, but it
seems that in commerce as in politics even the
Northern States have something yet to learn.

The news which reaches us from Abyssinia is
most encouraging. More satisfactory even than
the friendly disposition of the natives and the rea-
sonable prospect of success which our commanders
entertain is the discovery of the real nature of the
climate and the country. The stories which were
circulated respecting its deadly and dangerous
nature had their origin, it would seem, far back in
the days when most of our knowledge with respect
to it was gained from the Portuguese, who
either wished to keep the place to them-
selves, or else thought it desirable to mag-
nify their adventurous exploits by exaggerating
their dangers. Mass'awah, which has been de-
scribed as particularly unhealthy, seems to have
been grievously lib elled. All the European resi-
dents, including the Consul, declare it to be excep-
tionally free from disease and healthy for Euro-
peans, providing that they take precautions against
the heat. No body in his senses, we presume, goes
to Northern Africa in search of a cool climate, and
the precautions necessary are no more than ordinary
travellers must necessarily take in Egypt or
parts of India itself. Sunitrokes and fevers
must always be more oc less probable,
when travellers expose themselves unduly to

an excessively hot sun, but there is nothing in
the climate of Massowah to frighten Englishmen
into subjection to King Theodore's caprices. It is
worth notice that a rumour has lately gained
ground in Abyssinia that THEODORE, who is be-
lieved by his people to have dealings with super-
natural powers, has had warning that his kingdom
is coming to an end. This shows the feeling of
the people, and the conviction that is growing of
the failing chances of their cruel and unworthy
Monarch. At present there is every reason to
hope that the augury may be shortly fulfilled.

LATEST INTELL CGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

-o

CALCUTTA, CHINA, AND AUSTRALIAN

MAILS.

The Emue, from China, arrived yesterday, and
the Bombay, from Australia, to-day.
The Candia leaves for Suez to-day.

OUTWARD MAIL OF 20-26TH NOV.
The Geelong reached Melbourne on the 14th, and
Sydney on the 17th Nov.

OUTWARD MAIL OF 4-11TH NOV.
The Nubia arrived at Gallo on the 11th.

MARSEILLES, Dec. 26.
The Nyanza arrived at 8 a.m., to-day. The
mails leave for London at 11.30 a.m.

FRANCE.

BOURSE, Dec. 24, Three o'clock.—The market
closed as follows :

41 per Cent.
End of month —
3 per Cent
End of month 6B 65
Credit Mobilier
End of month l6B 75
Credit Foncier 1368 75
End of month 1361 23

Bank Shares 3lOO
Rai:an Loan
End of month 45 20
Mexican Loan
Do. Bonds
Spanish Threes
Home Debt 35
Deferred —

Account.
Orleans ... 856;
Northern
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern._ 5534
Western
Eastern .
Sardinian

RAILWAY

-.4
532}
42

Austrian
Lombard
North of Spain
Saragossa
Roman

5054
350
621
87f,
50

FRENCH HOSPI7 AL.

-~----

A dinner was given on Saturday evening, at
Verrey's Cafe, Regent-street, in aid of a London
hospital, open to all foreigners, speaking the French
language, when the chair was taken by M. Devaux.
A French dispensary, established in 1861, has ren-
dered gratuitous medical aid to more than 7,000
sick and indigent persons, and last year it was
determined to found an hospital, in order to
complete the work commenced in the dispen-
sary, and to offer to those speaking the French
tongue the succour which the Germans have
for many years provided for persons of that nation.
The French Government promised an annual grant,
and the appeal to the French in London was so
generously responded to that the committee felt
justified in beginning operations at once, by hiring
a commodious house at the corner of Lisle-street and
Leicester-place, in the centre of the French quarter,
where patients are attended by two French physi-
cians of eminence. Among the subscriptions
which have been already received are the fol-
lowing :—The French Embassy, £4B; Notre Damc
de France (Leicester square), £5O ; le Comte do
Paris, £42 ; Due de Chartres, £42 ; Duc do Ne-
mours, Due d'Alencon, Princees Marguerite d'Or-
leans, £52; PrincedeJoinville, £42; Due d'Aumale
(another subscription), £100; Prince de la Tour
d'Auvergue, £lO ; Duchess of Newcastle, £5O ;
Madame Hope, £5O ; Baroness Meyer dc Roths-
child, £10; and MM. Devaux et Cie., £25. It ap-
peared from the statement of M. Kimmel, the hon.
secretary, that the hospital and dispensary are
under the same roof, and offer to patients the ad-
vantage of a consultation hull, a pharmacy perfectly
organised, 14 beds, and four chambers allotted to
persons who, having some small resources, may be
able to ply a moderate weekly sum towards their
maintenance. It was also announced that the
French and other residents at Hongkong had re-
mitted a sum of 5,000 f. fur the hospital through M.
de Neuwitt, Chancellor of the Consulate.--Times,
23d December, 1867.

111.4RKETS—(1his Day.)

METROPOLITAN CATTLE.

This was almost a holiday market. The few beasts on
offer sold slowly, but at prices quite equal to Monday.
The show of sheep was very limited, and all breeds met a
dull inquiry at late rates. The extreme quotation for the
best Downs and half-brods was 5s 2d por 81bs. In calves
next to nothing was doing at previous currencies. The
supply was small. The inquiry for pigs ruled heavy at
barely stationary prices.
Per 81bs. to sick the offal.

sdsds (1 s d
Crse & inf. beasts... 3 4 3 6 Pmecrs-wool sheep 4 4 4 8
Second quality do ..3 8 4 o Prime S'tlidown oo 4 1.0 i
Prime large oxen ..4 2 + 6 Large Coarse calves 4 4 4 8
Prime Scuts, ac.... 4 8 5 0 Prune sin All do 4 10 5 4
Crse. and int. sheep. 3 4 3 8 Large hogs 3 4 3 8
Second quality do ..3 10 4 2 , Small porkers. 31 ' 4 2
Suckling calves, —s to —s ; andquarter old-store pigs 25s
to 26s each.
Head of stock on sale.
Total supply. Foreign supply.
Beasts
Cows.
Sheep anq 1 ,nibs
Calves 2,
riga ......

Beasts 412
Cows. —
Sheep and hunts 2,( 60
Calves 4 )
Ms .. llO

NEWGATE AND

LEADENBALL.

There are fair supplies on sale, but the Christmas de-
mand is now over, and prices are rather weaker.
Beef
Mutton 3 oto 6 Pork 3 0 to 4 0
Per 81b by the carcase.

CORRESPONDENCE PROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, WEDNESDAY, Dec. 25.

In the cathedrals one is reminded of " Glory to God in
the highest," out of them I am sorry to sa,y the feeling
of Paris is not sufficiently in harmony with the rest of the
sublime anthem, "on earth peace and goodwill towards
men." The debate on the Army Bill, the uncertainties
with respect to Italy and the Eastern question, and the
never subsiding jealousy of Prussia, make us think more
of war than of peace.
The debate on the Army Bill was worthy of the Corps
Legislatif. Jules Simon spoke impressively, and though
his amendment was negatived without a division, it con-
tained great principles. Jules Favre, his friends say.
never spoke better. The great advocate, whom clients
are wont to .sa3/ they can trust with their principles as
well as their interests, took up a position in the line of
M. Simon. The conscription produces in France a disas-
trous inequality of the sexes. While 372,000 maidens
every year attain maturity in France, their choice and
chance of husbands are limited to a great extent to
79,000 "pigmies," as Jules Fasre described them, who
are disqualified for military service.
Marshal Niel's speech on the Army Bill was straightfor-
ward and soldierlike. In opposition to Jules Simonhe main-
tained that military spirit and discipline—in fact, a stand-
ing army—were necessary to the defence of the country.
As the official papers say, you may suppress your standing
army, but if you do not suppress war at the same time
you cannot ensure the safety of the country by levies
en masse at the moment. I doubt, however, whether
all his eulogies on the military spirit of France and the
excellent moral effect of barrack life will reconcile the
French people to the enormous army with which it is pro-
posed to saddle the country. They will believe with
Simon that such a protracted armed peace is worse than a
decisive war.

The first of January is now entering into political cal-
culations. What new oracular utterances at the Tuileries?
It is announced that the Emperor will receive the Corps
Diplomatique at one, and the military and naval officers
at two o'clock.

It appears to be thought at Florence that General Mena-
brea, in forming a new Cabinet, will simply replace two
or three mefabers of the late Cabinet with more popular
men. Rattazzi and Crispi were never thought of by the
King.
The Patric informs its readers that the grand situation
of Italian affairs will be in no way aggravated by any
changes of policy at the Tuileries.

The simultaneous recal of three Russian Ambassadors to
St. Petersburg—namely, those of Paris, Vienna, and Con-
stantinople—has attracted a great deal of attention. It is
said that a sort of Conference is to be held, under the
presidency of Count Gortschakoff, the subject of delibe-
ration being the Austro-French alliance. Austria regards
the matter seriously. Count Andrassy referred to it a
few days ago when he said : " Whatever enemy supposes
he may attack Austria with impunity will soon be taught
by the support of Hungary that Austria is not ' a sick
man."' According to the Memorial Diplomatique, usually
well-informed in Austrian matters, an attack on the Rus-
sian frontier would not be a surprise.

M. Sainte-Beuve, who has been invalided by an infiam•
matory affection of the chest, is reported be con va-
lescent.

A meeting of the Compagnie Immobiliere has been
held. The liabilities of the concern were put down at
321,751,347 f., and the assets at 284,570,044 f., a deficiency
of very nearly £1,500,000. It seems that the Marseilles
branch of the btAiness has been the least productive. The
return on the capital is less than 4 per cent.

The Boulevards of Paris are beginning to look pic-
turesque with the little wooden houses erected at this
season for the sale of fancy Christmas goods. For the
first time the booths this year are all after the same
pattern, their construction having been taken out of pri-
vate hands and entrusted to the Prefect of the Seine. I
am not certain that the uniformity has not been purchased
at some loss of picturesqueness.

A large number of petitions have been presented to the
Senate relative to the military law. These petitions ex-
hibit solicitude with regard to the new law, and express
an earnest wish for the preservation of peace.
The Hungarian loan is to be brought out at an early
date—the 9th proximo. The Socidt6 G6n6rale is entrusted
with its introduction.
The trial before the Correctional Police-court of the
twelve persons accused of belonging to a secret society
and exciting to hatred and contempt of the Government
has terminated in a verdict of guilty on each of the pri-
soners. Accolas has been sentenced to a year's imprison-
ment and a fine of 500 f. ; Naquet, Verliere, and Chouteau
each to fifteen months' imprisonment, 500 f. fine, and five
nars' deprivation of civic rights ; Hayot and Godichet
each to a year's imprisonment, 500 f. fine, and five years'
interdiction ; Adel, Las, .Gorand, Meili, Genouilld, and
Hermann each to three years' imprisonment and fivt
years' interdiction. The costs are to be borne conjointly.

A rumour prevails on the Continent that Napoleon, tne
Conference having lapsed, has applied to some of the
Catholic Powers to share the honours of the occupation.
It is supposed Spain would willingly accept the offer.
Since the beginning of the late Garibaldian troubles,
France has sent £120,000 and Ireland £40,000 to the Papal
Exchequer.

The Paris official press have been reporting a widening
estrangement between Prussia and Denmark. The Berlin
correspondent of the Times denies that any animosity to-
wards Denmark exists in Prussia. The Danes are re-
garded as natural allies. They could reconcile themselves
to a greater cession of territory than is required by the
Treaty of Prague if that would meet the Schleswig negotia-
tions. But the opinion prevails at Berlin that the Danes
will attempt to recoveraffore of Prussia should her affairs ever
become entangled. Danish Ministers are still proposing
in the King's presence toasts to the recovery of " all that
has been lost." In this predicament the Prussians are
keeping what they have, so as to be able to offer Denmark
a bribe to neutrality in the outbreak of any future war.

The Greeks continue to meddle in the affairs of Crete.
Blockade-running is kept up, and military stores and
volunteers are being landed on the island. The unsettled
state of the island has convinced the Greeks that foreign
intervention in Cretan affairs must take place soon. The
Sultan has 12,000 men on the island, between whom and
the insurgents, who hold the mountains of the Sphakian
district, occasional skirmishes still take place.

An interesting discovery has been made at Ifumi, in
Natal, of ancient places and appliances of the natives for
Smelting copper. Two centuries ago, it would seem, the
savage tribes found ore rich enough to smelt in their rude
fashion, and this has led to the belief that deposits of
much importance may be found at a greater depth.

It is somewhat remarkable that on the very day on
which the congg d'elire for Dr. Selwyn's electiOn to Lich-
field was gazetted, there died near Birmingham,- "in
reduced circumstances," his old university rival, Mr.
Charles Rann Kennedy, barrister, an eminent scholar in
a family of scholars, but better known to the world at
large for the part he played in the great Swinfen will case
on behalf of Mrs. Swinfen, whose interests, as it proved,
he advocated not wisely but too well. Nearly thirty-seven
years ago he graduated at Cambridge with the highest
honours, going out as Senior Classic, the name next to his
in the Tripes being that of George Augustus Selwyn, the
new Bishop of Lichfield. The career of the victor in
that youthful contest has ended in poverty and failure
at the very moment when the other has commenced
afresh in a higher and more dignified if not a happier
sphere.
As the Israelites of old were occasionally called upon to
manufacture bricks without having been supplied by their
taskmasters with straw, so invariably, on the 26th of
December, is the newspaper editor called upon to fill the
columns of his journal without having any material for
that purpose. He turns to the pages of the morning
papers, he seeks for intelligence, and finds none. There
is very little information as to the progress of events either
in the heavens above, or in the earth beneath, or in the
waters which are under the earth. This is the time which
is seized for getting rid of reviews of books. Volumes of
which few have heard, volumes which many read months
ago and have forgotten, volumes of interest both general
and circumscribed, all appear to-day in the glory of bold
bourgeois, as though the subjects were of the utmost impor-
tance to the welfare of the people.
The new Bishop of. Lichfield has just made his first
ncquaintance with the clergy of the diocese to which he
has been translated. In presiding over a meeting held to
assist the funds of the Society for the Propagation of the
Gospel, his lordship spoke gratefully of the assistance
which it had rendered to him in his early efforts to carry
on missionary work in New Zealand. In appealing for
assistance, Dr. Selwyn reminded his hearers that those
who sat at home at ease knew full well the debt they
owed to the soldiers and sailors who protected the
country and its interests in far distant places; and'
they, as Church people, should have the same feel-
ings for the missionaries who went forth to do that
duty of spreading the Gospel everywhere which really
belongs to all Christ's disciples. But whilst they stayed
at home in the camp, they might powerfully aid the
efforts of those who went forth to distant places by their
fervent prayers, by which, in their own chambers, they
might strengthen the hands of such bishops as Bishop
Twells and Bishop Patterson, in places the names of which
they had never heard, and so also by their alms they
mieht assist to extend the true Gospel. _