The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-16 00:00:00

quite a characteristic one in every way. Ile plainly
states that he will have his own way, and that
they may please themselves as to whether or not
they agree to it. The point in dispute was the bill
for increasing the number of the members of the
Chamber of Deputies, and the Court declared
that if the Upper House refused to let the proposi-
tion pass into law, the Government would have to
dissolve the Chambers and convoke a fresh Diet, so
that their object could be gained of introducing the
Prussian Constitution into the newly-formed States.
After reflecting upon the manner in which this bill
was passed, we may well turn to an appropriate
survey of the benefits and blessings that accrue to
these newly-annexed provinces and their inhabi-
tants. In the sitting of the Chamber of
Deputies on the same day on which Count
BISMARCK expatiated upon the necessity of
introducing the Prussian Constitution into these
States the Minister of Justice made a reply to a
question put to him by Herr TWESTEN, which
formed a curious appendix to the assertion of the
chief Minister to the other assembly. The ques-
tion referred to the unfortunate position of Herr
SouNTAG, a Hanoverian merchant, known to be un-
favourable to the Prussian annexation, who has
been confined in the fortress of Minden. The
Minister of Justice replied that he was the soul of
the agitation in Hanover, and that an inquiry had
been ordered into his acts. " The Government," said
he, " will continue to apply exceptional measures
in exceptional cases ;" and such questions as that
put by Herr TWESTEN have only the effect of main-
taining agitation." This may be all very fine, but
all we can say is that if such is to be the manner in
which affairs are to be conducted there is not much
to be afraid of on the one side, or to rejoice at on
the other. It is the old story of oppression and
might against right that it suits some to draw up in
a new form, and to call by new names, over those
of progress and improvement ; but there is no truth
or foundation for the appellations.

The agitators for the repeal of the Malt Tax are
not likely to miss the opportunity afforded them
for the enforcement of their claims upon the Go-

vernment by the fact of a Conservative Administra
tion. Accordingly, just upon the eve of the
Session, a numerous and influential deputation has
waited upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer to
plead for the remission, or at least the reduction,
of the obnoxious impost. The Chairman of the
Central Association, Mr. PUNNETT, after reminding
Mr. DISRAELI that he was the only statesman of
the day who had, when in office, made a practical
attempt to abolish the duty, declared that he
believed there was a growing conviction
in favour of the justice of their cause.
Mr. GLADSTONE had, he said, made re-
peated concessions, and the agricultural in-
terest now looked hopefully to Mr. DISRAELI to
grant at least a considerable instalment of their
demands. Several gentlemen representing the farm-
ing interest then brought forward some practical
arguments. Mr. FOWLER, an Aylesbury farmer,
complained that he found the tax interfere with the
natural rotation of the crops by restricting the use
of the inferior qualities of barley, which could pro-
duce good beer, but which the brewers would not
now take, as the same tax is levied on the higher
and lower qualities. In rearing young stock too
the lower kinds of barley would be very serviceable,
while the effect upon the labouring poor was
very injurious. In his own case he paid between £5O
and £.6o' a year in beer to his labourers, and £2O of
that went in duty. The same argument was used
by other farmers, and by Mr. FIELDING, of York-
shire, a manufacturer, who showed that if the tax
were removed the labourer could buy malt for the
purpose of cottage brewing for 4s. a bushel instead
of Bs., as at present. Cottage brewing he believed
to be conducive to habits of morality and virtue
among the poor. The Rev. 11. BAYLEY supported
this view, and was anxious to point out the bad
effects of the duty in a moral aspect among the
working people of Swindon, where he lived. The
beer shops were productive of a large amount of
drunkenness and depravity. The labourers and their
families would get drunk over their can of beer on
their own table ; he believed that the remedy for
' much of the drunkenness that now existed was the
free and untaxed access by the working classes to
pure and wholesome beer, which was essential to
their strength. Mr. PELL, chairman of the Central
Chamber of Agriculture, spoke from considerable
experience of farming, and said that he found among
the labourers he employed that beer was really a
necessary of life after field work. his men often
asked him for beer, but never for a glass of gin or
a cup of tea. These are strong arguments
in favour of a reduction of the tax upon
malt, and there is no doubt that if the benefit
of the change can be given to the public instead of
to the brewer, it will be a powerful counteractive
to the temptations of the fatal gin palace. In the
same way, if the benefit can teach the farmer instead
of the landlord, no doubt the lightening of the bur-
den will be a great boon to agriculturists. The
question, like many others of a kindred character, is
beset with difficulties ; but the Anti-Malt-tax party
have certainly a strong case in their favour, and
they have exercised patience during a good many
years. Mr. DISRAELI, while promising full con-
sideration of their arguments, reminded them that
they had not given very cordial support
to his proposal of removing one-half of the tax in
1852. Had they assisted him then in carrying out
that proposal most probably there would be none
of the tax left now. However, he did not conceal
his opinion that the tax was a bad one, and though
with due official reticence he gave no intimation of
his intentions respecting it, the deputation with-
drew, with the hope that he would at least endea-
vour to make some step in their direction.

Very great and general was the consternation and
regret expressed throughout the West-end last
evening when it became known that a terrible
accident had occurred on the ice in the Regent's
Park. It has been for many days a busy and ani-
mated scene, full of life and fun, while the banks
have been crowded with spectators resolutely brav-
ing the cold for the pleasure of watching the exhi-
larating sport which they could not or would not
share. A melancholy termination came to the
amusement—laughter was suddenly changed into
agony and terror, and the sacrifice of many lives
completed the tragedy. The scenes on the banks,
as described by eye-witnesses, were indeed most
painful. In many cases the friends and near
relatives of the skaters were condemned to stand
helpless on the shore watching their dear ones
slowly perishing and appealing for the help which
none could give. The immense number of persons
suddenly and simultaneously immersed forbade the
hope, almost the impossibility, of all being got out
alive, and it is only fortunate, long as is the list of
casualties, that it was not even longer. Very
distressing was the search for missing relatives car-
ried on last night at the different receptacles for the
drowned, and many a house, yesterday bright and
happy, is to-day darkened with mourning and
lamentation. Into the details of the melancholy
story we need not here enter. It may, however,
well be asked whether some means cannot be adopted
to prevent this fearful au d unnecessary sacrifice of