The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-08 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 8, 1867.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

rxis DAY.—Morning, 3h. 29m.—Afternoon, 3h. 46m
lb-Monnow.-31@rning, 4h. 2m.—Afternoon, 4h. 20m

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LONDON, TUESDAY, JAN. 8, 1867.

The New Year has, indeed, opened most inaus-
piciously so far as the weather is concerned,
and many homes will be desolated and many
hearts ache on receipt of the intelligence
which the particulars of the late storm will bring
them. Already the list of fatal shipwrecks is great,
and of course we shall shortly hear of more to the
same effect. A great loss was sustained on Satur-
day night when the iron ship James Crosfield, of
1,000 tons, was wrecked off Langness Point, Isleman.
She was bound from Calcutta for Liverpool, and
had on board nearly 1,700 bales of cotton. All
hands were lost. From Great Yarmouth we also
learn sad tidings. During the gale on Sunday two
vessels were totally lost, and it is thought that
their crews perished in both instances. There was
tremendous weather on Sunday night, and in the
midst of the storm a brig was driven ashore. Various
means were used to arouse the crew, but it was
found that the vessel was empty. No doubt the
men had taken to their boats and were drowned in
the heavy sea, as by the next day no news of them
was beard. Another brig, also from Sunderland,
was lest, and a sloop was driven on the Scroby Sand,
which is very dangerous, but in this case the crew
were saved. At Penzance the National Lifeboat
Institution's boat was of signal service. A
schooner was driven ashore at Long Roche, and
the lifeboat being launched was the means of
rescuing six men, which comprised the crew of the
doomed vessel, and the next morning the same life-
boat went out again and saved the crews of various
vessels. All over this coast there are wrecks to be
seen, and the lifeboats, beside the Richard Lewis,
went out, but unhappily were not successful in their
efforts to save life, not meeting with shipwrecked
crews.

At Ramsgate very gallant services were rendered
bythe lifeboat Bradford, also of the same institution,
which has been the means of preserving so many
lives. Guns were heard, and the lifeboat was im-
mediately manned and started for the point
of danger. It was the means of rescuing
the crew of a schooner from Amsterdam, who were
in a ship's boat, the schooner having gone ashore
the previous evening. In the evening the same
lifeboat went out again in tow of the harbour steam
tug, and were forced to return from the extreme
cold. The next morning, however, they started
again in " a strong gale and a tremendous sea,"
and were fortunate enough to find a vessel ashore.
After attempting six times to bring the lifeboat
alongside the vessel ashore they succeeded in res-
cuing the crew. The severity of the storm may be
appreciated from the fact that the lifeboat lost both
anchors and cables in the wreck. The arduous task
took more than six hours, and the coxswain of the
lifeboat reports that he never encountered such
" terrific weather, intense cold, and heavy sea in
all his experience." At Shields dreadful weather
was experienced, and the greatest loss of shipping
has taken place there which has occurred this
winter. The pier was covered with ice, and the
men had to crawl along it to carry the rocket-lines
to a vessel in distress, the crew were so benumbed
that they could not use the lines, and the lifeboats
that went out, though they were pulled for two
hours, could not get out of the harbour. By
three in the morning there were four ves-
sels all knockin against each other outside
the pier. By strenuous efforts nearly all of the
four crews were saved, but the scene was an extra-
ordinary and exciting one altogether. Most heroic
deeds are performed by those who peril their lives
to save the shipwrecked crews, and the crew of one
of these vessels at Shields would not have been saved
had not a man plunged into the serf, and thus
enabled the life brigade to get a hawser and cradle
off to them. With all the exertions made there
will still be a sad catalogue of horrors to peruse
when the full particulars of the late disasters come
to be laid before us, and many will have bitter cause
to remember and regret the fearful storms which
attended the commencement of the year 1867.

It is not surprising that the discussion on

Democracy which took place last week in the Music
Hall, Edinburgh, should have attracted a good deal
of attention. The merits and demerits, the advan-
tages and drawbacks, attending a democratic form
of Government have lately been the topic of much
consideration and debate. History, contemporary
and retrospective, has been ransacked by the con-
troversialists, and practice, theory, and illustration
have been cited in support of the rival arguments.
Seldom, however, has the whole question been more
ably and temperately discussed than by Professor
BLAME and Mr. ERNEST JONES, in Edinburgh.
Both sides may be well satisfied with their
respective advocates; and the audiences, who lis-
tened to them in turn with the closest attention,
were unable to withhold their hearty plaudits from
either. Probably each left the other unconvinced,
but the more such questions are fully, fairly, and
temperately discussed, the better it will be for
the interests of the public. It is difficult, if not
impossible, wholly to separate political and party
feeeling from the discussion of these topics in the

National Assembly; and, therefore, if men o:

education and ability, who have studied them in
all their branches, will set before the people the
reasons which have led them to form their political
opinions, it will tend greatly to disabuse prejudice and
to diffuse that political knowledge among the masses
which is indispensable to a just and moderate judg-
ment on public affairs. Professor BLACKIE was
bold enough to declare, in Edinburgh itself, that

the General Assembly was inclined to be tyrannical
on account of its democratic constituency. The
Ministers say, " You must all think according to
the view of the majority." The Professor went on
to show, from the example of America, the dangers
of a totally democratic form of Government ; but
Mr. ERNEST JONES, in his reply, availed himself of
the same illustration as an argument on his side.
America is populous and powerful enough to
furnish a good many examples; but, looked
at impartially, Englishmen must admit that
they would lose much by exchanging their
constitution for that of America. The whole
British constitution is founded on a system of
checks. The power of the Crown is checked by
the control of the national finances by the
Commons, the power of the Commons is checked
by the Lords, who again are held in check by the
periodical elections and by the power of the Crown
to appeal to the people. The abuse of power by a
particular Parliament is checked by the limit to its
existence, the abuse of the power of the Crown to get
rid of troublesome popular representatives is checked
by the constitutional law which forbids a prorogation
for more than forty days, and which stipulates
that one Parliament shall immediately succeed
another. The abuse of the power given by a stand-
ing army to the rulers of the rcopie is checked by
the yearly estimates, Our auceritorfi learned their

lessons by 1 Atter experience. They had seen the
tyranny of t. he few and of the many ; they perceived
that the liber ties of the people were best protected
by a constitut, ional monarchy, and while they left
much for us t.) enlarge, improve, and amend, ac-
cording to the :increasing requirements of the age,
they laid dowt. landmarks and erected barriers,
which, if we will t ) preserve the blessings of free
thought, free action, , a free press, and civil and re-
ligious liberty, we; .shall take care not lightly to
remove.

Mr. JONES says that, with manhood suffrage and
the ballot, bribery an d co) Tuption would be at an
end. We should hay eAn end, then, of human na-
ture, as at present coluta.tuted ; for it is not the
fact of living in a ilOt house that makes a man
open to temptation, but:. the inherent weakness of
mankind. The eloquent ;advocate of manhood suf-
frage goes on to ask, "1 Where are the purses that
could bribe the majority cd 7,000,000 electors, and
where is the fool to attempt it when he could never
tell how the man he bribed had voted after all ?"
But although this sounds very plausible, facts are
stubborn things, and politic:ad corruption has reached
a height in America which is happily at present
unknown in England. 'There are other evil
influences besides the electioneering agent,
who offers a voter £lO or C. 20 for his vote. The
tyranny of intimidation by litndlords has often been
justly denounced, and forms .one of the strong points
of the democratic case agaiu.s t the aristocracy. But
the Trades' Unions have given us some pretty
strong specimens that the tyranny of intimidation
is not a vice unknown to the, working men. Why
should it be ? Is he not flenh and blood like the
nobleman or the millionnaiec ? Would not their
vices be his vices, and vice versa if their positions
were exchanged. There is nothing in the fact that
a man has not received a clansical education, and has
worked with his hands instead of his head, that will
prevent him from abusing power over his fellows
when he gets the opportunity. Neither do the cir-
cumstances of his birth and his bringing up tend to
render him superior in political wisdom and public
spirit to the man above him in station. Of course
he may be so. A working num may be not only
more honest, but more shrewdaand clear-sighted than
a highly-educated gentleman, because natural
ability will force its way, and the self-education
painfully now in face of great difficulties often does
more to quicken a man's faculties than the
routine knowledge obtained by the indolent
or the incapable under the most favourable
auspices. Men of genius and talent in all
professions have risen from the lower ranks,
but we must not, therefore, conclude that every
artisan or mechanic is a GEORGE STEPHENSON or a
HUMPHREY DAVY in disguise. Such an inference
would be as unjust as Mr. ,TortEs's insinuation that
a Parliament composed exclusively of the upper
classes would be an assembly of DEAN PAULS. Mr.
JONES argues sensibly enough that the working
classes would not, like one vast machine, vote all
one way at elections ; but his logic is sometimes in-
consistent. For instance, he tells us, first, that the
working classes have been mainly instrumental in
securing Catholic Emancipation, the removal of
Jewish disabilities, Free-trade, Reform, and the Ten
Hours Bill. Yet a sentence or two after he complains
of their exclusion from political power. Again he
says, "Establish manhood suffrage and in six months
education would be made compulsory throughout
the country." But after a while, in opposing the
educational test, he says :—" I presume all your
present electors can read, write, and cipher, or
where's the use of your £lO test ?—and see what
they are worth. Indeed, sir, our criminal calen-
dars show that nearly all the more serious crimes,
excepting these of highway robbery, are committed
by persons who can read and write generally well."
According to this statement (which we believe to be
incorrect) the increase of education would mean the
increase of criminals. But we must also differ
from his first statement, without disparaging the
more intellectual portion of the working classes,
because ignorance cannot appreciate the advantages
of education; and if we had a Parliament of work-
ing men they would be the last to insist upon their
children going to school instead of earning their one
or two shillings a week. " The working-classes,"
says Mr. JONES, " instesi of wanting education to
fit them for the franchise, want the franchise to
enable them to obtain education." Then are they
to gain their experience at the cost of the country,
and are we to be governed by the representatives
of the opinions of uneducated men ? Such ques-
tions present themselves with such overwhelming
force to some minds that, like Professor BLACKIE,
they declare they would rather have no Reform
than a movement in favour of democracy. But,
while we differ from Mr. JONES, we cannot
agree with the Professor that the bill of
1832 should have been final. Final for that
generation it might be, but a new generation has
sprung up, with new wants and requirements. If
all the legislation of that day had been final, where
should we be now? It was a great experiment,
and established a great principle, leaving the details
to be adjusted by its successors. The England of
1867 is not the same England as in 1832. Happily
she still retains many of her best and most
distinctive characteristics, prominent among which
are the love of liberty and fair play which
distinguishes both the accomplished disputants a
Edinburgh.

It is announced as a grand work of Prussian
clemency that the public functionaries in the an-
nexed provinces are not to be superseded, and,
according to the North German Gazette, this may be

taken as a proof that the Berlin Government can
rely upon a tranquil spirit prevailing in these places.

It is amusing, however, to see that in the midst of
this felicitation and self-glorifying some clouds are
to be discerned, and we find that a comparison is

instituted between the state of the electoral move-
ment in Prussia and that now witnessed in
the minor States, in reference to the North
German Parliament. The North German Gazette is
virtuously indignant at the conclusion it is forced to
arrive at, and declares that there should not be so
much apathy in Prussia, when it ;is known that the
Budget, the Military Constitution, will have to be
determined upon. General activity ought to rule
the day, observes this wise and patriotic authority ;
but really we are not surprised to find that the
Prussians are getting rather tired of all this con-
stant fuss about the same thing. A deputation of
the nobles from Schleswig-Holstein waited upon the
KING, and delivered an address, couched in

isome terms of praise anti approving of

the plan for uniting them to Prussia. We
never hear the particulars of the deputations
from the other side, because the authorities in
Berlin take very good care that they shall never
have an opportunity of making their wishes known.
It has been said by some one, more credulous than
wise, that the Duchies of the Elbe form the Christ-
mas tree of the Prussian monarchy ; but they may
yet find the tree bear bitter fruits, and richly do
they deserve that it should do so. A greater system
of treachery and deceit has never been witnessed in
the world's history than that which has marked the
whole course of the procedure of the Prussian
Government in matter of Seblenig-Holstein.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Monday Evening.
In imitation of the German journals, some of the
Paris papers are endeavouring to create anxiety
about the affairs of the East, and with this view
alarming reports are fabricated. They have not
escaped the attention of the 3ioniteur, which, in
allusion to some statements in the Patrie, says they
are the work purely of imagination.

A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday at the
Tuileries, at which the ,Emperor presided. The
Empress was present at this Council.
The Illoniteur, in reference to a former notifica-
tion that various States, upon the suggestion of
France, had agreed to abolish the fee heretofore
paid for the signature to passports, enumerates the
various Governments which have agreed to the
abolition. They are, the Duchies of Saxony, the
free cities of Bremen, Hamburg, and Lubeck, the
United States of America, Chili, the Argentine
Republic, the United States of Columbia, Hayti,
and Uruguay. Travellers belonging to those States
will in future, therefore, be exempt from payment
for the visa to passports in the Diplomatic Chan-
celleries and Consulates of France in foreign
countries.

A private despatch from Florence, received by
the journal l'ltalie, confirms the news of the satis-
factory progress of the negotiations between Com-
mander Tonello and the Pope. Indeed it is stated
that they are upon the point of being terminated by
an agreement exclusively relating to religious affairs.
Already the task of choosing new Bishops has
commenced. It is probable that there will not be
any formal treaty, which fact excludes the idea of a
Concordat, but simply a verbal arrangement.
A Madrid paper announces that M. Fernando
Guzman has been elected President of the Republic
of Nicaragua.

The Imperial Commission having been inundated
with applications for cards of admission to inspect
the progress of the Exhibition Building, they have
made a very simple arrangement by which all may
be accommodated. A turnstile, like that at
Waterloo-bridge, has been erected at two points
leading to the Champ de Mars, the Porte Domi-
nique, and the bridge of Jena—and the payment of
a small sum enables any one to visit the Exhibition.
One day last week about 140 sterling was received
for ingress to the Champ de Mars. The privilege
for the direction of the International Theatre has
been granted to Mons. J. Reymier. The decora-
tions of the interior of the theatre are to be consi-
dered as articles exhibited, after having been sub-
jected to the inspection of theAdmissionCommittee,
and consequently they will be inserted in the official
catalogue, and they will be included for the compe-
tition for prizes.

The Siecle says—tc
Most of the Governments
which constitute the Germanic Confederation of the
North have consented to the resolution adopted by
the Prussian Cabinet to convoke the Parliament for
the 15th of February. It is desirable that all of
them come to a speedy agreement. Hitherto Ger-
many has, so to speak, been dragged Lin the orbit
of the Prussian Government, which had become
master of the situation by a brilliant campaign.
But the preponderance of the Cabinet of Berlin
will be balanced by the national representation of
Germany, based upon universal suffrage. This will
be a Congress of a new kind, of which it would be
difficult to foresee the consequences. At all events
we are convinced that it will condemn the ancient
career of personal ambition, ideas of absolutism, and
retrograde movements, while the cause of liberty
and progress will gain ground."
M. Devine, in the name of the Committee of
Finance, has published some details respecting the
financial position of the City of Paris, which is
favourable. The ordinary expenses of the coming
year will not exceed those of the past year. The
result, presented in a supplement of the resources
of the Budget of 1867, shows that the Municipal
Council have calculated as follows :
Receipts 941,653,613 f. 30e.
General fund5...180,525,613f. 30c.
Special funds ... 61,128,000 f.

241,653,613 f. 30e.
Expenses 241,653,613 f. 30e.
General fund5...180,525,613f. 30c
Special funds 61,128,000 f.

241,633,613 f. 30c.
Thus showing a result which every Government
cannot obtain—a balance of receipts and expenses.
During the greater portion of last night the rain
fell in torrents, and there has been very heavy rain
this morning. It has been showery throughout the
day, and no gleam of sunshine. Every vestige of
snow has departed. The temperature is mild, but
it is very stormy.
A fac-simile of a literary curiosity has been pro-
duced at Ghent. The Gazette de Gand has
s an
cele-
brated its
ri 2boero th
imitation,
anniversaryproduced
by sending round to
its subs
by photo-
graphy upon old paper, of its first number, which
c appeared on the Bth of September, 1667. This
journal, which is in the Flemish language, is printed
in with two sorts of type, the Roman like the type
of English and French newspapers and the German
type. The first number contains foreign news and
a short chronicle of local incidents.
During the progress of the trial of the young
convicts for revolt and the destruction of the Peni-
tentiary at Ilyeres, M. Lepelatier Ducondray, the
director of the Semaphore at Marseilles, who, as I
mentioned, endeavoured to render assistance, was
brought into court on a bed to give evidence.
His injuries are very severe. Both his thighs
were broken when the prisoners threw him into
the ditch. When asked to assist in quelling the
riot he said he had no objection, but he would rather
stay and protect his wife and two infants. When
ho went he saw Galaret, one of the prisoners, who
was drunk, and had a bar of iron in his hand. The
witness identified Laurent, one of the prisoners, as
having assisted to throw him into the dry ditch,
which was 20 feet deep. Another tied his cravat
very tightly in order to suffocate him. While the
witness was in the ditch he heard one of the victims
call out, " Oh, my mother." The prisoners were
furious. He saw them bite the bars and scratch the
walls with their nails. " I," continued the witness,
"I, who had never cried in my life—l, who had
sailed upon the ocean for fourteen years an d had
seen death near me hundreds of times—l sat down
upon a stone and wept like a child. I could no
longer endure the terrible sight. I dragged myself
to a distance of 50 paces with my broken limb, and
rolled upon the ground. My senses were gone !"
Here the Procureur-General rose, and impressively
said—" Monsieur Ducondray—lf I do not offer you
public congratulations it is because your conduct
was above all praise. But I wish to offer you here
the testimony of my personal admiration, and the
gratitude of society and the Government." These
words, says the report, were received with thunders
of applause. Many persons went to M. Ducon-
dray's bed-side, grasped his hand fervently, and
congratulated him. It is feared that it will be ne-
cessary to amputate one of the fractured thighs.
Some very inaccurate accounts have been pub-
lished of a murder in the streets of Paris. The real
facts are these :--The name of the victim is
Laurent Aymon. He is about 40, and was foreman
in the saddlery establishment of Messrs. Binder,
Boulevard Hausman. He was proceeding home
along the Boulevard de Neuilly, and had nearly
reached the round point of the old barrierMouveau,
when a ruffian who followed him gave him a mortal
stab in the side with some sharp instrument. M.
Aymon was a Powerful, vigorous man, and had it
not been for the cowardly nature of the attack he
would no doubt have been able to defend hinnelf.
The police, with all their activity, have not yet
been able to discover any clue to the murderer, nor
is it yet known whether the motive of the crime was
robbery or some feeling of vengeance.
A paper of Boulogne-sur-Mer says that the em-
barkation of oxen at that port for England con-
tinues on a very extensive scale. Some hundreds of
oxen and calves are exported every week.
Although the weather has been so severe both in
London and Paris, in someTparts of the south of
France there has been a spring temperature. At
Toulouse it was mild and at Nice a day or two
ago ripe cherries were sold in the market at a cheap
price, In Paris the cold led to comical incidents,