The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-30 00:00:00

''.IIIIE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY tVENIG, DECEMBER so, 1.86 i.

ing pfoof of the indignation and contempt in which
this conspiracy is held. Her MAJEsnr evinces her
usual spirit and self-possession by driving about as
frequently as usual, and it will be no surprise to
those acquainted with her freedom from serious
alarms to know that she was not herself aware of
any extra mode of defence being ordered. In this
exhibition of loyalty on the part of the inhabitants
of Cowes we recognise an instance of the good feel-
ing and right spirit which characterise the greater
part of the community, and we feel convinced that
many a city, town, and hamlet would gladly follow
their example if occasion rendered or circumstances
demanded such an earnest of their fidelity to the
Throne, and zeal for the preservation of peace and
order.

It is really almost impossible to overrate the
annoyance, inconvenience, and anxiety occasioned
by the repeated and miserable attempts of these
Fenian conspirators. At Portland Prison great ex-
citement was occasioned by the report that an at-
tempt was about to be made to rescue the twenty
Fenian prisoners who were confined there. In
consequence of this the most stringent measures
-,,re adopted, and the whole of the soldiers at
Barracks were kept to their quarters
WeymouLh
on Christmas-day
to be ready for any emergency
.
Lhorities at Leicester have
that might arise. The au,-
`:nn, to the effect
received an anonymous communica,._
that an attempt will be made on the boroug,-
craol
and hence they have been on the alert. It is sup-
posed that the precautionary measures adopted
have induced the conspirators to relinquish
their idea, but on other grounds will be
kept up for some time. In Liverpool
the greatest care is being taken to provide
against any mischievous schemes that may be
afloat. The " haunts" of Fenianism are under con-
stant surveillance day and night, and the public
buildings, gas works, and docks are most strictly
watched. The same caution may be adopted with
advantage in all parts of the country, and by this
means, in all probability, any further catastrophe
may be prevented, while the conspiracy itself may
be completely put an end to, never more to obtrude
itself on our notice.

In dwelling upon the lists of horrors that meet
our view at this season, we may well exclaim,
" Another and another still succeeds !" and seldom
indeed has a year closed more ominously with one
thing and another. The loss of life has been very
considerable in consequence of the various accidents
that have occurred, and the last news that records
the explosion at Faversham powder-mills is a very
sad one. On Saturday morning about 11 o'clock a
tremendous explosion took place, the force of which
may be appreciated from the fact that Canterbury,
some ten miles distant, the windows were shaken
and some glass was broken. Had the works in
question not been situated a mile from Faversham
the consequence's must have been far mors serious,
for on the spot itself nothing could exceed the fury of
the explosion. The giant trees of the neighbour-
hood were uprooted and thrown some hundred
yards off, while the boiler of the engine was
found embedded in a field some distance off. As
this boiler weighed half a ton an idea may
be conveyed of the force with which it
was moved. The neighbourhood in the vicinity of
the catastrophe presents a sad spectacle, but the
worst of the affair is the loss of human life, eleven
men were blown into the air and killed on the spot.
Three houses were blown into fragments, which
were large and substantially built, and were also at
a distance of three hundred feet from each other.
To add to the horrors of the scene scarcely a frag-
ment of the bodies of the unfortunate men can be
found. Eleven widows and twenty-nine children
are left to mourn the loss of their natural pro-

dent that the unconstitutonal .tsumption talked
about was on the side of the Radicals. The PRE-
SIDENT ;has now proceeded to take further mea=
sures, and we learn by the telegraph that General
GRANT by his order has removed Generals POPE
and ORDE from the commands of their respective
districts, and appointed Generals MEADE and
lti'DowELL, as their successors. Another charge of a
similar character has been made in Alabama, Gen.
SWAYNE has been removed from the head of the
Freedmen's Bureau. Remembering the violence
and extravagance of the negro claims and con-
duct in that State we can hardly consider this
change to be otherwise than justifiable and salu-
tary. These alterations, however unwelcome to
Radicals, will no doubt exercise a beneficial in-
fluence. The PRESIDENT is wise to take advantage
of the opportunity, and the condition of affairs in
the South has been gradually gaining attention. The
apprehensions of a negro outbreak have been on
the increase, and it is manifest that such a notion
must be fatal to commercial prosperity and en-
terprise. We hope a better order of things is now
being inaugurated, for so long as there are divi-
sions in the Cabinet and disaffection among the
military commanders, it is idle to expect vigour
in the Administration, or harmony among the
people.

LATEST INTELL IGEN CE.

(REUTER'S TELLORAUS.)

THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.
ALEXANDRIA, Dec. 28.

The Crocodile troopship, with the troops brought
by the Euphrates, sailed to-day. The troops con-
sist of 17 officers, two officers' wives, 382 men, 23
soldiers' wives, and 51 children of the Royal Artil-
lery ; 24 officers, eight officers' wives, 15 officers'
children, six servants, 452 men, 29 women, and 71
children of the 27th Foot ; also 10 officers, one offi-
cer's wife, 65 men, two soldiers' wives, and two
children of other corps.

It is reported that the Chief of the Shohoes has
surrounded Alagdala.

ATHENS, Dec. 29.

The Ministerial crisis continues, and the new
Cabinet is not yet formed.

AUSTRALIA.
ARRIVAL OF THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH.

MELBOURNE, Dec. 27.

His Royal Highness the Duke of Edinburgh
arrived in her Majesty's ship Galatea on the 23d

inst.

Unprecedented demonstrations have been made
and fetes in his Royal Highness's honour have been
daily held.
The dissolution of Parliament has been suspended

In consequence.
The amount of gold shipped during the month
for Europe is 105,625 ounces.

SuEz, Dec. 27.
Her Majesty's Indian steam transport Malabar,
with the 35th Regiment, arrived here to-day.

711HALABANA

Tito .Podon Atlvover, publish ek the tifiv:01081-0.N;
ipit 4.0 A.l4ams;elaiins iEt •
:: •
14•74egation of the. United Stites: Loncrori.l
4,-1867.-I,'
flit =E have the honour to trinhdLiildo-cuthent Tiub;
lished ter the use of Parliament, Containing the latest por-
tion
‘Of the correspondence relative to the questions in
dispute 13itween the two countries. From the tone of the
r9ply, Lord Stanley inonneetion with despatcil
414 peCeiyed3 No: 2,093, 6f the 16th NOArember, it seems
plain that noth.l4 'More: can be expected fioni this nego-
liekion. shall therefore, in'. iceordance with your desire,
give out hereafter that it is so understood.—l have the
honour, &c., " CHAS. F. ADAMS.
" Eon. W. H. Seward."
" Department of State, Washington, Nov. 29, 1867.
(No. 2,102.)

" Sir,—Mr. Ford has given me a copy of a letter which
Lord Stanley wrote to him on the 16th riovember inst. ,'con-.
cerning the questions of arbitration upon the so-called
Alabama claims. I have submitted Lord S tanlev's remarks
to the President, and have received his directions there-
upon. The Government of the United States refers to
the views concerning the proposed arbitration which I have
heretofore had occasion to make known through your
legation to Lord Stanley. We are now distinctly in.
formed by Lord Stanley's letter that the limited reference
of the so-called Alabama claims which Lord Stanley pro-
poses is tendered upon the consideration that the United
States shall waive, before the arbitration, the position they
have constantly maintained from the beginning—nanuly,
that the Queen's proclamation of 1861, which accorded
belligerent rights to insl 'gents against the authority of
the United States, was not justified on any grounds, either
of necessity or of moral rights, and therefore was an act of
wrongful intervention, a departure from the obligations of
existing tref.ties, and without the sanction of the law of
nations. The conditions being inadmissible, the proposed
limited reference is, therefore, declined.--I am, sir, your
obedient servant, " W. U. SEW RD.
" To Charles Francis Adams, Esq., &c."

ACCID-T&T TO MM. GLADSTONE.—Mr. Gladstone
is spending Christmas at Hawarden Castle. A few days
ago he was watching the cutting down of a tree in the
grounds, when a splinter flew and struck him on one of the
eyes. The pain was very severe, and at first it was feared
that the sight was imperilled. Happily, the only effect
will be that for a short time it will be necessary to use the
eyes very sparingly.
DEATH OF MR, GODSON, SUPERINTENDENT OF
THE SOUTH-WESTERN RAILWAY.—The death of Mr. W,
H. Godson, who had for nearly twenty years occupied the
position of Superintendent of the London and South-
Western Railway, and whose connection with that line
dates from its first opening, took place on Friday last.
Mr. Godson had been suffering from severe illness for
several months, and during that time lost his wife, so that
his _family now labour under a double affliction.
THE PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES.—Her
Royal Highness the Princess of Wales has so far re-
covered her health as to be able on Christmas Day to pro-
ceed to the pretty little church in the park at Sandring-
ham for the first time since her illness. His Royal
Highness the Prince of Wales has this year obtained the
shooting on the splendid estate of Houghton, which a
century ago was the property of Sir Robert Walpole. It
was here that
.Sir R. Walpole kept that large and valuable
collection of pictures which Catherine, Empress of Russia,
afterwards purchased of the Earl of Oxford for £40,090.
PRESENCE OF MIND OF AN ACTRESS. Lord
Londesborough, dating the 28th instant, has written to
the Times as follows :—"I was witness yesterday-of an act
of gallantry and presence of mind on the part of Miss
Furtado, at the Lyceum, that ought, I think, to be men-
tioned. During the performance of last night's panto-
mime a crash, followed by some scuffling, was heard
behind the scenes, and the next minute three or four
actresses ran across the stage, screaming ' Fire ! '—one of
them taking a header into a stage box. In an instant the
whole of the audience, with hardly an exception, rose to
their feet, and shouting wildly, attempted to fly. Miss
Furtado, without an instant's hesitation, advanced to the
footlights and implored the audience to resume their seats.
Her calmness partially checked the stampede, and gave
time to the manager and others connected with the
theatre to come forward, when after a time confidence
was restored. I ne,Fer saw such a disgraceful panic and
utter want of nerve. Alfa Furtado's presence of mind
afforded a brilliant contrast. I have no hesitation in
saying that, had it not been for her, a serious disaster
must have taken place."
THE NEW LAW ON VACCINATION.—On Wednes-
day the Act passed in the late session to amend and con
solidate the laws relating to vaccination in England wid
come into operation. Some important alterations will be
made. Where unions and parishes are not divided into
vaccination districts, the guardians may make districts,
and alter the same, subject to the approval of the Poor-law
Board. The guardians may enter into contracts with
medical practitioners to be "public vaccinators," or, where
the existing contracts terminate new contracts to be made
with the approval of the Lords of the Privy Council, and
their lordships are to prescribe the qualification of the
medical practitioner, and may allow one shilling in each
case for successful vaccination. The fee to be paid by
guardians is to be ls. 6d. in each case within a mile, and
2s. under two miles, and 3s. above that distance from
the residence of a public vaccinator. Certificates of
vaccination are to transmitted to the registrar of the dis-
trict, and when the operation is performed by a non-public
vaccinator a certificate to be forwarded. On a child
being registered the registrar is to give, within seven days,
a notice to the parent that the child be vaccinated within
three months under a penalty of 20s. Where it is supposed
that a child under 14 has not been vaccinated, notice is to
be given, and in default a penalty to be imposed. It is
an offence to inoculate with variolous matter for the
small-pox, and the offender to be liable to a month's im-
prisonment.
TERRIFIC BOILER EXPLOSION AT BARNSLEY.—
About noon on Saturday a fearful boiler explosion oc-
curred in Barnsley, which resulted in the instantaneous
death of one man and serious if not fatal injuries to
several others, and a great destruction of property. The
boiler was attached to the steam corn mill of Mr. George
Jackson, in Peel-street, and was situated at the rear of
the mill, and in close proximity to several blocks of build-
ings. The boiler was blown a distance of some sixty or
seventy yards, and fell in with a fearful crash on the roofs
of the shops of Mr. Pepper, druggist, and Mr. Potter,
shoemaker. In its course it drove away the roof of one
of the neighbouring cottages, and also took off a large
portion of the Friendship Inn. The fireman,
named Laycock, was instantly killed, and a man named
Somersgill, who was working in the shop with Mr. Potter,
was so seriously injured that he is not expected to re-
cover. A woman named Catherine Conley and Mrs.
Newsome, inhabitants of houses adjoining, were both
severely injured, and two children of the latter were also
scalded. The windows of the Athenaeum and the pro-
perty around the mill are completely riddled. The damage
to the property will be very great. The large chimney of
the mill was situated within a few feet 9f the boiler, and
had this been blown down the consequences would have
been more serious still. The fireman, who was 30 years
of age, leaves a wife and four children. The accident is
said to have been caused by a defect at the bottom the
boiler, which was completely blown out. The boiler is a
very old one, and was removed last summer from another
mill to the one at Barnsley.
THE " PEOPLE'S KITCHENS" AT BERLIN.
A correspondent of the Horning Herald sends a descrip-
tion of the Berlin People's Kitchen, which•rnay be useful
to those who are casting about for the most economical
modes of alleviating the prevailing distress in large cities.
Of these institutions Berlin at present possesses four, and
they have proved their efficacy, more especially in such
cases when the indigent are still in a position to pay a
trifle for what they receive. The capital requisite for
establishing the " People's Kitchens " has been'raised by
general collections, after which a number of benevolent
women unite for the purpose of wholesale purchases and
of supplying relishable food conscientiously prepared, and
selling it at low prices in fixed localities at noonday. A
whole dinner, consisting of a quart of excellent broth and
a ration of meat or bacon, costs only about twopence. A
slice of bread is charged one farthing. The female
members of the association make their appearance in the
kitchen a little before eleven o'clock, and distribute the
rations of meat. From eleven o'clock the sitting customers
arrive and take their seats at tables covered with green
oilcloth. The basins stand on a repository ; tin spoons,
knives and forks, arc, always in a state of perfect clean
liness, laid out on the tables. The lady superintendent;
are bound to taste of the food, to deliver the rations, and
to receive the tickets previously bought at the ticket-
office. All the customers are bound to quit the place as
soon as they have emptied their basins. In one of these
kitchens 600 whole, and as many half rations are daily con-
sumed. The customers consist of members of the most
various classes of society. Besides labourers and porters
may be seen old men of letters, employes pensioned off,
together with their sons, and even gentlemen belonging to
the nobility, who have seen better da3s. The tone pre-
vailing here is extremely decorous. If any insolvent cus-
tomers appear, the lady superintendent, as a general rule,
relieve their distress by giving them a ticket; but no food is
allowed to be given for nothing. Married women and girls,
among whom there are many,who are employed at the neigh-
bouring factories, take their dinners in a little back parlour.
In spite of the low prices at which the dinners are sold,
and of the high prices of food in general, the four kitchens
have during the last four weeks had a surplus of one
hundred thalers