The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-30 00:00:00

rHE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 30, 1867.

high honour and estimation long after the slanders
of his persecutors have sunk into well-merited
oblivion.

The National Gallery seems likely for some time
to come to provide matter for discussion in the
House of Commons, and last night it occupied no
inconsiderable share of attention. It would seem
at first sight no very arduous task to erect a build-
ing worthy of the' wealth and civilisation of the
nation, and suitable for the objects aimed at, since
all sides agree in its necessity, and there is no lack
of funds for carrying on the work. When it comes
to practice, however, the obstacles in the way of a
satisfactory conclusion appear to be very great, and
after endless discussion we seem to be very much
where we were some years ago, excepting that the
site of the gallery that is to be is now actually fixed.
The grievances of the architects who have submitted
their designs for the new building without success
formed the principal topic last evening, but we
cannot see why the country should be bound to
accept a plan which competent judges disapproved
of. Whatever expectations may have been formed
by the architects it is absurd to suppose that the
judges are bound to accept one of a certain num-
ber of plans if all are unsatisfactory. Whatever
course is decided upon respecting the new building,
we hope the Government will carefully avoid giving
any rash pledges. Too often some great public
work is spoiled by such thoughtless and foolish
promises, which those who make them feel bound
to keep at any cost. The Malta Dock was a fair
specimen of the difficulties which such indiscretion
puts in the way of improvements. Had it not been
for the perseverance of some hon. members familiar
with the island in bringing the matter under the
notice of the House, the dock, an important and
costly undertaking, would have been constructed in
a most disadvantageous situation, because of some
hasty pledge given to the Maltese Government.
In the same way the determination to employ the
Carlton House pillars in the erection of the National
Gallery has resulted in the mean and discreditable
structure which everyone has been abusing for years.
The fact is, that this matter is a national one, and
the national interests should be regarded above any
personal matters or points of professional etiquette.
It seems that there were great difficulties in the
way of the designers, and that the instructions
which they had received from the late First Com-
missioner of 'Works were not sufficiently clear and
precise, consequently none of the designs fulfilled
the public requirements, though the judges
describe them all as creditable, and some as
highly meritorious. Under these circumstances,
it would have been a most rash and foolish proceed-
ing on the part of the Commissioners had they ad-
vised the Government to accept any one of the
plans, and the architects have been unnecessarily
sensitive on the point. Mr. CowlEa, indeed, encou-
raged their view of the case, since in a letter on the
subject he defined it as the duty of the judges "to
declare the winner of the race, even though they
may form a low opinion of the running ;" and he
adds that " they would inflict a heavy and unde-
served professional stigma upon those architects if
they were to declare themselves unable to make an
award." This is scarcely reasonable, inasmuch as
the Commissioners "readily acknowledged the archi-
tectural skill of the competitors," and e,:pcially
mentioned two plans, one of which concerned the
construction of a new building, and the other the
adaptation of the old one. The Commissioners,
after referring to the difficulties of the site and other
obstacles, only refrained from recommending any
individual plan for adoption, and it is hard to see
how this can, in the words of the architects' me-
morial, " confer lasting injury on every one of the
competitors." There is much more fear of another
lasting injury being conferred upon the metropolitan
architecture, if personal feeling and professional
jealousy are allowed to intrude into the matter.
The public will not be satisfied without a really
good and comprehensive work, and we are glad to
find that the First Commissioner is anxious not to
be rash or incautious in his pledges. Any petty
economy, such as attempting to remodel the existing
building, cau only result in failure and disappoint-
ment. The National Gallery should be designed
and carried out in a spirit worthy of its name and
its object; and although the matter has in all con-
science been often enough under discussion, it is
better to wait a little longer, and proceed slowly but
surely, than by any premature attempt to settle the
question to involve us in fresh entanglements, fresh
mortifications, and fresh architectural failures.

The British North American Confederation Bill
has passed through its final stages, and yesterday
received the Royal assent. We congratulate our
North American Provinces on this important mea-
sure having become law, and we trust it will inaugu-
rate a season of still more rapid progress and
national development. The immense extent and
vast natural capacities of British America are very
imperfectly understood or appreciated in this
country. There are wide tracts of fertile land lying
idle and uninhabited. Nature every year developes
some fresh resource in the parts already peopled.
The population although increasing is still thin
and scattered ; the people are poor, and they have to
contend against the severity of their long winter,
which, as yet, science does little to mitigate. When
the railway is in working order a Canadian winter
will be less formidable, since it seems that the
Grand Trunk Railway has very rarely suffered from a
stoppage of the traffic. All the provinces in fact want
capital and enterprise, and these will be materially
encouraged by the proposed Confederation. The
union of the colonies, and the hearty sympathy and
good feeling shown in this country in the matter will
be a double source of strength to the colonists ; and
when more confidence in the security of the local
form of government is felt intending emigrants
will be more inclined to look northwards. Thanks
to political agitation, the States just now are less
attractive than of old, while the Radicals are doing
their best to make the public burdens oppressive
and to bring about fresh disturbances in the States.
It only requires fuller and more general knowledge
of the country to induce those who are about to try
their fortune westward to select the British pro-
vinces ; and since there is good reason to believe
that recent events will inspire the colonists with
a little more of the energy and enterprise hitherto
wanting in the country, we have little doubt that a
few years will see important changes.

DEATI, OF SIR JOHN DICK LAUDER.-0 ur obi-
tuary of to-day contains the name of Sir John Dick Lauder,
of Fountain Hall, Bart., who died at Bournemouth, Hants,
on Saturday forenoon. Although Sir John had not been
very well for sane time, and went to Hants in autumn for
the benefit of his health, residing there during the win-
ter, he had not until a few days ago been so ill as to
cause uneasiness to his friends, and his death was some-
what unexpected. The deceased, Sir John Dick Lauder,
eighth baronet, was born in 1815, being therefore, at his
death, in the 54th year of his ago. He succeeded to the
baronetcy when in his 35th year, or 1848, on the death of
his father, the well known Sir Thomas Dick Lauder, author
of "The Wolf of Badenocb," "The Floods of Moray," and
other publications— an excellent man, who enjoyed a long
lease of political and personal popularity, and did great
service in Scotland during the -Reform Bill agitation of
1831-2. In 1845 Sir John married Lady Anne Dalrymple,
daughter of the ninth Earl of Stair ; and he leaves a family
of four sons and three daughters. The eldest son, Thomas
North Dick Lauder, who will now succeed to the baronetcy,
has been for some time in the 60th Rifles, and is in his 21st
year. The deceased gentleman, it may be mentioned, was
for, several years in the service of the East India Compan y
He was a deputy-lieutenant Qf

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Friday Evening.

Yesterday, after a discussion of four days, the
Legislative Body decided, by a vote of 136 to 92, in
favour of the abolition of imprisonment for debt.
There was a previous vote of 122 against 114 in
opposition to the proposal to send back the clause
to the Commission. The abolition of the power of
imprisonment applies to foreigners as well as
Frenchmen. One remarkable circumstance is that
the clause abolishing arrest was defended by mem-
bers of the Opposition, and had for adversaries
members of the in ijority. The powerful speech of
the Minister, M. Rouher, against imprisonment for
debt decided and enlisted many doubtful on his side.
The waverers were convinced, and the advocates
were filled with admiration. There is a report that
Count Walewski has sent in his resignation as
President of the Legislative Body. It is, however,
believed that it will not be accepted. Another
question in connection with the abolition of impri-
sonment in civil cases remains to be discussed—
whether there will be imprisonment for non-payment
of damages, fines, and law costs. The opinion seems
to be that the punishment will be utterly abolished.
The Pontifical Government has just published an
edict in the provinces of Frosinone and Valletri,
dated March 18, containing the new measures
adopted by the Government for the suppression of
brigandage. They give an idea of the great extent
of the disorders which it is now the endeavour to
suppress. In future the meeting even of two armed
brigands will be considered as a band. Any one
who may deliver up a living brigand will receive
a reward of 3,000 livres, and 6,000 if the
robber be a chief of a band. Whoever may kill a
brigand will receive 2,500 livres, and 5,000 if he be
a chief of a band. From 200 to 300 levres will be
allowed to any one who may give suck certain in-
formation relative to the accomplice of a brigand or
any individual who may have given him an asylum.
A brigand who may deliver up one of his com-
panions to the authorities, living or dead, will be
pardoned. He will also receive a reward of 500
livres, and 1,000 if the brigand, living or dead, be
the chief of the band. It is forbidden for any per-
son whatever to take sufficient provisions into the
country to suffice for a whole day. Shepherds and
cattle-drivers are not allowed to take provisions into
the country to last for more than three days, under
pain of imprisonment from a month to a year.
Brigands seem to be very valuable in Italy. These
high premiums remind oue of the Frenchman who,
writing respecting England, says that pirate thieves
are so scarce there that the Government often offers
a reward for them.

The Vigic of Dieppe relates a remarkable occur-
rence at sea. The master of the Amiable, on his
return voyage to that port, says that he met with
great quantities of portions of wreck in the open
sea. On the coast of Ireland he saw a large three-
masted vessel, but two of the masts were gone, and
it appeared to be sinking. There were two ships
near, one Norwegian and one American. The crew
of the Norwegian ship took in a boat the sails of his
own vessel on board the three-masted American.
Seeing that the vessel was abandoned, the master
of the Amiable made up to it, and offered to take it
in tow, but the captain of the ship returned on board,
with his crew and took away the greater part of the
cargo. The vessel was very high out of the water,
which much astonished the master. He continued
to watch the vessel, and at night tried to board it
again. The boat with the captain had just left it,
and the vessel almost instantly began to sink, and
soon disappeared. We give these facts without
commenting, says the Vigie. The master of the
Amiable and all his men are decidedly of opinion
that the American vessel was purposely scuttled,
but no doubt there will soon be a clue to the enigma.

The Exhibition has suggested rather a lively
farce, called " Les Voyageurs pour l'Exposition,"
just produced at the Polies Dramatiques. It is by
Messrs. Busnach and Thicrry. The fun is a little
exaggerated, but nevertheless the extravagances
imagined will have something like reality. All the
proprietors of horses leave them, and let even cel-
lars and garrets at an enormous rate. In order to
assist in making rapid fortunes, they turn water-
carriers or pursue some other laborious occupation,
and sleep in their gardens or in the fields, while
their houses are occupied by foreigners. Of course
foreigners and visitors are fleeced with equal avidity
and impartiality. A company of lodging-house
keepers, to keep pace with the enormous demand
for lodgings, erect tents in the fields, which are let
at sf. an hour. The young girls who were engaged
all put off their marriages till next year, in the hope
that during the Exhibition they may meet with rich
nabobs, Persian princes, Turkish sultans, or Chinese
mandarins. Even the young work-girls let their
lodgings to foreigners. One of the type is charm-
ingly represented by Madlle. Gervaise. All these
incidents are turned to ludicrous account.

It is announced that, by order of the Emperor,
the public will be admitted during the whole period
of the Exhibition to visit the apartments of the
Palace of Compiegne every day, except Monday,
from 12 till 4 o'clock. The dungeon of Pierrefond,
a point of curious historical attraction, will also be
opened to the public. An immense platform with
mats is now in course of erection at the palace in
the Champ de Mars, to accommodate 50,000 per-
sons at the distribution of the prizes to be awarded
to exhibitors on the Ist of July next.
Yesterday, on the occasion of Mid-Lent, the usual
procession of the washerwomen took place, but the
affair was rather flat, and there were fewer masks
than usual. The procession proceeded along the
boulevards to the Bastille. The most attractive
features of the exhibition were two very small car-
riages, each drawn by six Lilliputian horses. In the
carriages were young boys dressed as gladiators.
Above the carriages was the inscription—" The
terrible combatants of the Grand Gymnase." In-
stead of fat oxen there were twenty fat
horses in the procession. They will be killed for
amateurs in a few days. It is stated that at
one of the horse butchers a very young poney was
killed, and one of the gentlemen who partook of it
pronounced that " it was delicious and better than
veal." The sweetbread of a young horse is said to
be an extreme delicacy.
A secret committee of Bulgarians have drawn up
a memorial to the Sultan of Turkey, Abdul-Azis-
Ichan, in which they made an energetic representa-
tion of the many grievances under which they
labour, and earnestly claim that they shall be adopted.
Of old the Christian populations who are under the
dominion of the Sultan, the most numerous is that
of Bulgaria, whose rich territory, estimated at
80,000 square kilometres, provides for the subsist-
ence of five million of inhabitants. The Bulgarians
determined to make a struggle during the present
crisis, which may decide the fate of the East, and ex-
plain in this memorial the unjust anddeplorable posi-
tion in which they are placed. They say that the
Administration if corrupt, that justice is in the
hands of ignorant magistrates, and that legislation
has retrograded. " The Bulgarian does not
possess any rights. He does not in any way parti-
cipate in the Government, and yet he has to support
all the burthens of it. For him there are no rights,
but many duties. His voice is never listened to.
He cannot raise his voice, if even it were to applaud
his oppressors. Taxes and imposts increase to such
an extent as to become insupportable. Loans and
subsidies are continually demanded, and never re-
paid, to the detriment of individual property and
the destruction of credit and justice." The memo-
rial, after alluding to the defects existing in the
social system generally, and to other persecutions to
which the Bulgarians are subjected, demands, as a
remedy, the creation of a Bulgarian kingdom,
placed under the political dependence of the Sultan,
who shall add to his title of Sultan of the Osmanlis
that of King of the Bulgarians. Tnis kingdom
should be governed by a Christian Viceroy, elected
by a National Assembly, with the assistance
of a Council, the members of which should
consist exclusively of Bulgarians. The memo-
rial also claims that justice shall be adminis-
tered in conformity with the special laws of the
Bulgarian State, agreed to by the Assembly. The
memorialists also claim the guarantee of civil and
religious liberties, the liberty of speech, the liberty
of•the press, the right of public meeting, the right

of having public conference for the discussion of
political and social questions, and also individual
liberty, the inviolability of domestic and religious
toleration. There is a pretty considerable number
of reforms, for which the Bulgarians are ready to
struggle, even to the death. It is to be wished that
they may get them. The claims, at all events,
prove that there are grave incidents connected with
the Eastern question.
Although the morning was cold, nearly approach-
ing frost, during the day in the sun it was very
hot. There has not been any rain. In the shade
a rather cold wind was felt.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AUSTRIA.

VIENNA, March 30.

A conference is asserted to have taken place be-
ween Cardinal Rauscher and B iron von Beust,
resulting in an understanding by which the Ministry
will obtain the absolute support of the Austrian
clergy.

ITALY.

FLORENCE, March 29 (Evening).

In to-day's sitting of the Chamber of Deputies
the Bureau of the Presidency was definitively con-

stituted.

Signor Mari, the President of the Chamber, made
a speech, in which he said :—" Dangers for Italy do
not exist in party rivalries, but in the financial con-
dition of the country, which must be remedied at
all cost. Other nations after passing through wars
and revolutions, and being reduced to extremities,
have examined and adopted the remedies which
their position required ; why cannot Italy do so
also ? The representatives of the nation ought to
be animated by full confidence, and they will be
successful." The Minister of Finance then brought
forward the appendix to the budget with some
modifications, and the bill for the provisional exer-
cise of the budget for three months. He also an-
nounced that to-morrow he will present several
financial bills and report on the state of the

Treasury.
To-morrow morning the bureaux of the Chamber
will examine the bill for the provisional exercise of
the budget, and immediately afterwards it will be
discussed in the plenum.
A meeting of the Deputies who are favourable to
the Government will be held this evening. The
Minister of Finance will, it is believed, be present in
order to make an exposition of the financial projects
which he is shortly to lay before the Chamber.

ROME, March 27 (via Marseilles).

An enthusiastic ovation was given to the Pope
during his progress from the Vatican to the Church
of Santa Maria Minor; on the festival of the
Annunciation. The carriage in which his Holiness
was riding was covered with flowers by the people.

SPAIN.

MADRID, March 29.

The Pensamiento Espanoe announces that Senor
Nocedal, the new Catholic Deputy, has written a
letter declining to become a candidate for the Pre-
sidency of the Congress, as he is opposed to libe-
ralism and the Parliamentary system of govern-
ment.

RUSSIA.

ST. PETERSBURG, March 30.

The Bank of Russia has reduced its rate of dis-
count to 7 per cent. The rate of interest for ad-
vances upon securities remains unchanged.

BAVARIA.

MUNICH, March 30.

The Minister of War is stated to have tendered
his resignation, on account of the delay in carrying
cut the bill brought forward by him for the reorga-
nisation of the army.

AMERICA.

NEW YORK, March 28 (6 p.m.)

Gold, 1341. Exchange on London, 109. Five-
twenty United States Bonds, 1091; Illinois, 114 ;
Erie, 581. Cotton—Middling Upland, 31. Pe-
toleum, refined, 26c.
The Transatlantic Company's steamship Europe
has arrived out.

SO UTHAM PTON, March 30.

The Hamburg and American Company's steam-
ship Teutouia, from New York on the 17th inst.,
arrived here to-day with 122 passengers for this
port, Havre, and Hamburg, but no specie.
She was detained 23 hours off Staten Island by a
heavy snow-storm, and experienced strong north and
north-easterly winds throughout her passage.

WRECK IN MOUNT'S BAY.

FALMOUTH, Saturday Morning.

On Friday afternoon a soiled, saturated parch-
ment document was washed on shore from the
wreck of the Dutch East Indiaman, at Mullion,
which, being immediately delivered to Mr. Broad,
the Netherlands Consul, he deciphered it to be a
Masonic diploma of Klaas Lammerts, thereby
proving, without further doubt, the unfortunate
ship to be the Jonkheer M. Van der Wal Van
Puttershoek, of Dordrecht, himself captain.
Up to Friday no more bodies were found, and the
vessel was literally in shreds; few of her materials
had washed up, but a considerable quantity of
coffee mixed with sand had been salved.

AUSTRALIA.

MELBOURNE, Feb. 27.

The discussion upon the tariff question has been
renewed in the Victoria Parliament. Additional
taxes have been imposed, which has created great
excitement in the colony.

FRANCE.

PARIS, March 30.

Count Walewski has addressed a letter to the
Emperor, in which he says :—" Personal differences,
independent of my will, having arisen between
some members of the Government and myself, I do
not hesitate, in the interest of harmony and concord,
to pray your Majesty to accept my resignation of
the post of President of the Legislative body."
The Emperor, in reply, accepts Count Walewski's
proffered resignation, while expressing his regret at
this step, and thanking the Count for the proofs of
devotion which he has afforded to the Imperial
dynasty.

The Senate yesterday rejected the proposal to
send back the bill upon primary instruction for
fresh deliberation in the Legislative Body.

BOURSEI March 29, Three o'clock.— Quotations
declined, and closed as fo-

lows

ci per Gents 9B
Do. and month —
3 per Cents. 69 15
Do. end month 69 12f

Bank Shares 3337 .50
Ltalian Loan 44 15
Do. end month 64 15
Mexican Loan 2l 50
Do. Bonds l5O
Spanish Threes
Home Debt
Deferred
VATS.
- •

Credit Mobilier ... 457 56
Do. end month ~. 453 75

'oncier

Do. end month 1467 50

For Account.
Orleans
Northern 1175
Lyons and Mediterranean 926 25
Southern 578 75
Western —
Eastern
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard 416 25

North of Spain —
Saragossa

Ditto to Barcelona — --

101)aan 4;