The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-06 00:00:00

TuE SUN) LO:NDuN, FRIDAY EVENING, DECENIBER, 6, 1837.

portunity to call the attention of the House to the
charges lorought against an official holding a recog-
nised position in the British Government. The
charger. against Mr. MURRAY were indignantly de-
nied on both sides of the House, and there seemed
to 1)e but one opinion of his honour and integrity.
Lor d STANLEY denied in strong terms the hints of
mal versation and extortion, which seem indeed to
have, had no foundation but the rumoured careless-
ness. referred as much to the heads of the Cabinet as
to ':heir Under-Secretaries. We can hardly suppose
that Lord RUSSELL would have written a minute
on a letter ho had not read, and the affairs of
Abyminia have been for some time past so pressing
that it is not likely so little heed would have been
paid them. At any rate Icing 'THEODORE'S conduct
must have produced war if we would save our coun-
tryuien from his power, and, therefore, there is little
need to trouble ourselves about minor matters.

The Atlantic Telegraph is likely to be busy just
now recording the action of Congress and the
changes of the political situation. We learn by the
news from New York yesterday that the House of
Representatives has passed a bill for the repeal of
the tax on cotton grown after the present year.
This is a step in the right direction, and we hope
it will prove the inauguration of a freer system of
commercial policy in the United States. It refers,
indeed, only to internal taxation, but the mis-
chievous effect of such burdens on trade has only
to be thoroughly realised by the commercial classes
to secure a reform. The Americans, strange to
say, are more retrograde in their commercial
policy than many other nations far behind them in
general intelligence and in other branches of poli-
tical economy. They seem seldom or never to ap-
preciate the actual position of their commerce, and
their first idea of vengeance against those who have
offended them is to impose commercial burdens.
Because they took offence at England's refusal to
acknowledge the Alabama claims, they must needs
put an end to the Reciprocity Treaty with Canada,
although a little reflection would have shown its
most violent opponents that the real loss of its ter-
mination fell upon American traders. The mer-
chants of Detroit published a forcible remonstrance,
showing how injurious were the probable
consequences of such rash legislation. The
tariff on foreign goods has for some time past
been almost prohibitory, and the cotton tax has
been for some time past the subject of complaint.
The agitation which has been going on has proved
successful, and the House of Representatives has,
as we see, taken active measures.
HORACE GREELEY has refused his appointment
as Minister at the Court of Vienna, for what rea-
son is not stated, as the unusul harmony of the
Senate and the PRESIDENT has been ineffective.
Congress, however, has not surrendered its deter-
mination to interfere as much as possible with the
Executive, and yesterday the Committee of Way s
and Means reported a bill to suspend the authority
of Secretary M'CuLLocif further to contract the
currency. The public, however, have good reason
for doubting the financial wisdom of the Radical
party, and they will probably find their interference
with the national exchequer less welcome than
formerly.
An important though not unexpected item of
news comes to us from New York. At a mass
meeting held there, and called by bankers and mer-
chants of the city, General GRANT was nominated
national candidate for the Presidency. New York's
influence in this matter far outweighs that of any
other State, and the nomination of GRANT by its
leading men is probably the first step towards the
General's installation at the White House.

THE judicious attempt which was made during
the last session of Parliament to check the disas-
trous speculation then going on in bank shares has
been eminently successful, and it is now proposed
to extend the principle to the shares of railway
and gas companies. A bill has been brought
into Parliament to enact that " contracts for
" the sale and purchase of shares shall be void,
" unless the numbers by which such shares are
" distinguished are set forth in the contract."
When it was proposed to apply this principle to the
sale of bank shares, numerous forebodings were
indulged in as to the restriction of business which
it would cause. These anticipations have not
been realised. Bank shares appear as often as
before in the share list, under the head of
" business done," and it is well 'mown
that these shares have increased in favour as
an investment since they have been removed
from the range of unsound speculation. Investors
are more willing to purchase when they know that
their property is not at the mercy of destructives
who can deprive them of its value by selling what
they do not possess for the purpose of creating a
panic. That railway shareholders require the pro-
tection which has been extended to banks is obvious
from events which have recently taken place. Enor-
mous sales of Caledonian stock have lately been
made by those who have no interest in the line,
and whose chance of profit in the transaction lies
in the hope of creating distrust. If these men
could not have sold what they did not possess,
the owners of Caledonian stock would have
been able to deal with their own property
in accordance with the merits of the case,
and they would probably have manifested
sufficient fortitude to prevent the fall of forty per
cent. which has taken place. Before the passing of
the Act respecting bank shares, banking companies
were subjected to the same system of terrorism
which is now being successfully adopted against
railways. The limitation of the sales to
bona fide transactions has completely stopped
the violent fluctuations which formerly oc-
curred in bank shares. There is clearly the
same necessity for regulating the sale of shares
in-other companies, and the only fault to be found
with the short bill now introduced is, that it does
not go further and include other shares as well as
those of railway and gas companies.

DEATH OF M. BENAZET.—The news reached
Paris on Tuesday evening that M. Benazet, the celebrated
lessee of the gaming tables at Baden-Baden, died .on the
2,1 inst. He was very commonly called King Benazet, and
in reality for many years reigned as King of Baden-Baden.
His house, the Villa Benazot, placed on an eminence com-
manding the town, was famous for its good dinners and
pleasant soirees dansantes at Baden. A very slight in-
troduction indeed sufficed to command M. Benaze's hos-
pitality, and many a quiet English family who after dinner
played whist at penny points with his wife and daughter
never dreamt that they were passing a delightful evening
at the expense of that never-failing crop of gamblers who
pay tribute to the greatest " hell" in Europe.
A PROBABLE VICTIM TO " FINANCING."—The
Liverpool newspapers yesterday announced the death, at
Allerton Hall, near that town, of Mrs. Molyneux, widow of
the late Mr. Edmund Molyneux, who was one of the
wealthiest of the Liverpool " merchant princes." A large
portion of Mrs. Molyneux's property was invested in the
Royal Bank of Liverpool, she being by far the largest
shareholder in that unlucky concern, in which she was
also a depositor to the extent of about .£30,000. The liqui-
dators of the lloy.d Bank recently made a call of .£l.O per
sharp, awl, iu the case of Mrs. Molynoux, this necessitated
Ow prompt payment of about £120,000. Th,re can be
little doubt but,tliat the Royal Bank and its disastrous
crash hastened the death of at least one of its vic'ims.

It is with pleasure that we refer our sporting and
miscellaneous readers to the advertisement of MAISON
DOREE, which appears in our advertising columns of this
day. A spirited Englishman has had the lucky idea of
endowing London with a MAISON DOREE on the same
plan as tho Paris one ; and why not ? Wo live in an age
of imitation and competition, as tho late Grand Universal
Exhibition has proved, and out of which England has
come with golden honours. Why, then, should not a
MAISON DOREE succeed in London, the city of all nations,
since its homonyrne holds such a high standing in Paris?
We soo no reason—the more so, as the London MAISON
DOREE is under the able direction ('f an English manager,
who, as we are informal, sprnt many years in Paris in
the special line of c ►terer for the castnop)litan population
of that gay city. Allow, done it /04 JfaiJon

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUft OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Thursday Evening.

The Vienna Gazette makes an official announce-
ment of the pregnancy of the Empress of Austria.
The discussions respecting Italy continue to hold
the first rank in public attention. The report of
what took place yesterday occupies nearly thirty
columns of the Moniteur.

In the Legislative Body the Marquis de Moustier,
l‘linister of Foreign Affairs, entered into au elabo-
rate defence of the whole foreign policy of the
Government. He contended that it was not un-
certain and changeable, as had been asserted, but
that it had carried out all the principles it pro-
fessed. In respect to the Pope, its object was to
place the Papacy under the safeguard of Italian
honour, and under the safeguard of the engagement
entered into with France by Italy, and thus to
furnish to the latter country the opportunity of de-
stroying, by the faithful performance of its engage-
ments, the mistrust and the accusations which
we had it at heart to remove. After refuting the
arguments of M. Jules Favre, the Minister said
that the Convention of the 15th September was not
forced upon Italy ; not only it was not forced upon
her, but she had desired it, and therefore she must
have signed it freely. So far from leaving any un-
certainty to the Cabinet of Florence, the French
Government had never left it the shade of a doubt
as to its intentions. The Government pointed out
to M. Rattazzi the circumstances which had caused
uneasiness. We could not adopt the policy recom-
mended by M. Jules Favre. The Italian Govern-
ment bad posted a considerable number of troops
upon the frontiers. By some the number of men
is estimated at 40,000. This may be an exaggera-
tion, but certainly the number was sufficient to
guarantee the security of the frontier, if those troops
had assumed the active attitude which we recoil'-
, mended instead of the passive position which they
kept. The Marquis, after a further minute and
elaborate defence of the Government, concluded in
the following terms :
" We have given satisfaction to the principle of
right and to the religious sentiments of the immense
majority of the French people, and we shall contrive
to act upon the same policy without losing sight of
the great general interests of France. We do not
believe that any of those interests are irreconcilable
with it. At all events, if our task be difficult we
rely upon the sympathies of the country, and upon
the energetic support of that Assembly which is the
living expression of those sympathies. Fortified by
that assistance we shall pursue our task to the end."
Energetic and numerous marks of approbation
greeted his speech.
Then followed M. Thiers with the voluminous
and cutting denunciation which I told you some
days ago he was preparing. Last year the speech
of M. Thiers rivetted attention from the memorable
accusation that the Ministry had not left any crime
to commit. This year his speech is distinguished
by the astounding assertion that conciliation be-
tween the Pope and Italy is impossible. " The
Pope says, if I have not Rome I shall be obliged
to descend from the throne ;" and Italy says, " My
unity is not possible without Rome. What com-
promise therefore could be expected ?"
The drift of the long and laboured oration of
M. Thiers may be understood by the following sen-
tences. It may be remarked, en passant, that
although M. Thiers occupied hours in cavilling at
the policy of the French Government, his great
point was to prove that it had no policy at all.
M. Thiers said—" Of policy, there is none. There
was a bad policy, allow me to say, and you will
find these words pardonable with my convictions.
There was a bad policy when there were propaga-
tors in Europe of those false ideas of nationality
which has placed us in the deplorable con-
dition in which we now find ourselves. (Marks
of assent on some benches). This was discovered
but too late, when the evil was irreparable, and now
there is no policy. (Laughter from several benches.)

Here is the argument of M. Thiers to prove the
failure of the course which has been identified :--
"Is not the Pope in a desperate condition ? You
have assisted him. Yes, but already, I know not
by what management, you withdrew, and im-
mediately uneasiness prevails at Rome. This un-
fortunate Pontiff, of whose august virtues no one
is ignorant—(very good)—is now in frightful
trances. More than this. It is with difficulty that
he can can procure the means of living. His bud-
get is known. Italy has not gained by the Pope
being deprived of his authority and dignity. Dis-
order reigns there. It is not possible to
provide for the most simple expenses except
by issuing oceans of paper money. Look
now to the results of this policy in Europe. There
was a Germanic Confederation which was during
fifty years the principal authority for the mainte-
nance of European peaco. Well, it has disappeared.
It is replaced by a military monarchy, disposing of
40 millions of men. You find yourselves between
two unities, one which you made yourself, and the
other which you allowed to be made, which shakes
hands above the Alps, and which places the condi-
tion upon peace that you will allow it to finish its
work, one by taking possession of the States of the
Pope, the other by swallowing up the Southern
States of Germany. There is the situation. I defy
anyone, whoever he may be, to denyit. (4 Right,' from
some benches.) I should be grieved to increase the
flames which spread in Europe, but there is a strik-
ing proof of the agitation in the minds of all—the
uneasiness of the various great interests."

It is understood that the damage done at the
Exhibition by the late storm will amount to £4,000
sterling. The palm trees and the exotic plants be-
longing to the city of Paris have been nearly all
destroyed. The roof of the family restaurant was
entirely carried away, sheds torn down, and even
iron pillars broken. The storm has so aided the
work that, according to the architect, a week's
labour will be saved.
A lamentable affair has occurred on the Boule-
vard de la Villette. A gentleman and his wife re-
siding there have been on bad terms for some time.
The differences are said to have arisen from jealousy,
although the character of the wife is irreproachable.
About midnight on Tuesday the husband came
home, and cries were heard soon afterwards from
the apartment. The persons in the house have been
accustomed to scenes of violence, but this time the
noize was so terrific that the door of the apartment
was broken open. A frightful spectacle presented
itself. The room was streaming with blood,
and in the midst of it WAS the body
of the husband pierced to the heart with
a sharp knife. On the other side was the wife, who
was dangerously wounded in the chest with the
same instrument. It appears that in a fit of anger
and jealousy the husband had stabbed his wife, and
believing he had killed her, he stabbed himself
and died instantly. It is feared that the wife can-
not recover.

This has been a day of real winter. Dull and
intensely cold. It has snowed for some time this
afternoon, and seems likely to continue. The tem-
pest, however, has passed away. The accounts
from the provinces give indications of very severe
weather. The barometer seems to denote more
storms or reverse weather.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—Lord William Lennox de-
livered yesterday one of the free Thursday lectures to a
large and appreciative audience on the subject of " Loco-
motion, and how people travelled from the days of Charles
11. up to the present time." The lecture was instructive
and most entertaining, and interTersed throughout with
a variety of amusing au.! well-told anecdote&
_

M. iiLoNDIN.-:A paragraph having appeared in
a contemporary stating that M. Bloudin had fallen from
the rope at Cologne, we are requested to annoutv.:e that
the accident did not befall " the hero of Niagara," he
having just returned from a most successful tour on the
Continent.

THE OxFor.D. —On Monday, Mr. Alfred Stodare
(brother of the late Colonel Stodare) will introduce his
magical entertainment, as given by him during the last
five mouths at the Theatre des Boulevards, Brussels, and
in Paris. Mr. Harry Sidney also commences an engage-
meni, during which he will instruct Cattle Show visitors
in contemporary social politics. Mr. E. W. Mackney will
appear as soon as he has recovered from his late accident;
and the pre-Ohristmas entertainments, which we shall
notice more in detail, are likely to prove very attractive
this side of Christmas.

LATEST INTELL LGENCE.

(REUTEP:S TELEGRAMS.)