The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-29 00:00:00

THL SUN, LOADoN, TUESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 29, 1867.

framed it. Due credit should be allowed to those
who have resolved upon taking this decisive step,
and employed such strong terms to check the evil
that is rapidly spreading, and threatens injury, if
not destruction, to all concerned. This proclama-
tion begins by declaring that bands of volun-
teers, without the authorisation of the KING
or his Government, have violated the fron-
tier of the State. An " inexorable debt of hon-
our" is prescribed, it goes on to say, by the respect
due to international stipulations and to the laws
that all citizens should obey. Europe is aware that
the flag raised in the Papal dominions is not VICTOR
EMMANUEL'S, and that fact imposes upon him and
his advisers serious responsibilities, and tho imperi-
ous duty of saving both his honour and the country
of not " confounding two causes absolutely distinct,
two different objects." This is plain spoaking,
at any rate, and whether it answers all
the desired ends or not, at least it can-
not fail to secure great results. We are glad,
both for his own sake and that of Italy, that the
KING should thus have spoken out, and in common
with his Ministers have put a veto upon the mad
attempt that the volunteers under GARIBALDI have
engaged in. The French will, we doubt not, also
rejoice to find that the Italian Government have
known how to act in this great emergency, and has
boldly stood forward to protect the best interests of
their country from dangers at home and abroad,
from an internal revulsion no less than from an ex-
ternal assault. A calm tone of dignity pervades
this proclamation from beginning to end, while at
the same time it is spirited and divided. " Italy
must be secured against the dangers she must run.
Europe must be convinced that, faithful to her en-
gagements, Italy does not desire to be, and cannot
be, the disturber of public order." These are em-
phatic words, and cannot possibly be misunderstood
by those who read them and hear of them.
They are well calculated to impress upon the minds
of waverers the great danger of acting in defiance
of the laws or in violation of treaties.
Further on we find that the threatened conflic
with France is denounced in the strongest terms,

and indeed, it is said, that a " war with an ally
would be a fratricidal war between two armies who
have fought for the same cause." As holder of
the right of peace or war, the KING affirms that he
cannot tolerate its usurpation, and very justly too,
for it is a great encroachment on his privileges,
made too at a most inopportune time. There is
neither doubt nor hesitation to be found in the

language here employed, and it is encouraging
to meet with an expression like the following :

" I feel confident, therefore, that the voice of rea-
son will be listened to, and that the Italian citizens

who have violated that right will promptly with,

draw behind the line of our troops." No one who
is unprejudiced can refuse to admit that the ICING

evinces a very fair disposition to make the best o:

things, and to meet difficulties half way. He pro-
mises that when calm shall be restored to men's

minds, and public order again be observed, his Go-

vernment, in agreement with that of France, shall

seek to make a practicable arrangement that
will be calculated to put an end to the
" serious and important Roman question." We
cannot see, under these circumstances, how any one

can possibly find a reasonable excuse for holding

out against the voice of entreaty that is addressed

to them, and urges them, in the name of their

common country, to abstain from acts of violence,
and to consider well the consequences of their rash

venture. Finally, the KING declares- that the

honour of the country is in his hands, and that the

confidence the nation has hitherto shown him can-
not foil him. He will confide in the wisdom

of his subjects, even as they must trust
in his affection for the great country which, thanks

to their common sacrifices, has been "at last re

stored to the number of nations, and which we

must hand down entire and honoured to our ch

dren."

We are not surprised to find that this procla-
mation has been received everywhere with approval
by those who recognise the significance of the
situation, and the urgent necessity for prompt
and decisive measures being taken. The
French press have welcomed it with cordiality.
The Constitutionnel thus speaks of it—" VICTOR
EMMANUEL shows himself equal to the occasion.
He has spoken like a King, and has thereby saved
the honour of the Italian nation and the dignity of
the Crown." The Pattie declares that it is the in-
tention of the French Government to send a Circular
Despatch to the foreign agents of France, in order
that the real nature of the intervention of that
country in Italy may be known, which, however,
is accurately explained in the note in the
ifoniteur recently published. The same journal
adds that the new Italian Ministers made

two stipulations when they took office, which were
to the effect that the KING should disavow com-
pletely any connivance at the violation of the
Roman frontier by the Garibaldians, and that his
MAJESTY should continue to associate the French
intervention with the Italian army by a movement
on the frontier. Taking all things into considera-
tion it does not seem unreasonable to hope that
even now, at the eleventh hour with some, we may
be spared the mortification of hearing of a
collision between the French and the volun-
teers who act under GARIBALDI. If any
remnant of reason be left among the leaders of the
movement they must perceive pretty plainly by this
time that it is entailing certain defeat on themselves,
and involving great losses to their country to
persist in their resolve to do or die by the
walls of Rome. We hope and trust that the
sad experience they have had already may
serve them in good stead, and that Europe will
be saved from the scandal of witnessing an encoun-
ter between the forces of France and Italy. We con-
gratulate the KrN upon his wise choice of action,
under circumstances of extraordinary peril and per-
plexity, and venture to indulge in the hope that his
efforts will not be thrown away, but that Italy may
emerge from the cloud which now envelopes her, and
flourish in that peace, progress, and prosperity
which shall be her rightful portion, and that she
may present to Europe a spectacle worthy of her
glorious part and the responsibilities of her future

undue proportion ; but the position in which they
now find themselves is bad enough to arouse them
into vigorous and united action. It is a fact of
which any one who chooses to take the trouble
of a journey citywards can readily convince
themselves, that the prices of the suburban butchers
are one-third more, and sometimes even twice as
much, as the money asked of retail customers in
the wholesale market. Joints of mutton, for which
our family purveyors do not scruple to charge 11d.
per lb., are there obtainable for 7d. Beef, of the
best quality, changes its price from 10d. to 6id. or
7d., and beef-steak, which has long been the terror
of housekeepers, recedes from the inevitable 10d. to
sd. per lb. And it must further be noticed that the
meat thus supplied is the best of its kind, and often
bears favourable comparison with what the local
traders often send to their customers. Of course
the latter are expected to charge a good percentage
not only for their ordinary expenses, but for the
other outlays which the arrangements of modern
society compel them to make; but with these facts
before our eyes we can hardly doubt that they take
very unceremonious advantage of the necessities of
their customers. Paterfamilias, unless he is driven
to absolute desperation, is not very likely to start
for Newgate or Leadenhall, and shoulder his own
meat, and consequently he has little or no
resource but the local butcher, who charges
him what he likes. A very ready excuse
for increasing prices already too high was
forthcoming in the cattle plague, but since its
disappearance we see very little corresponding re-
duction. A great deal has been said about the in-
creasing wealth of the country, and the consequent
increase of the numbers who consume butchers'
meat, but that does not account for the discrepancy
between the wholesale and retail prices. The pre-
sent system of housekeeping throws a great deal too
much power into the hands of the local dealers.
Our grandmothers used to start off, purse in
hand, and choose their own goods and
pay their weekly bills. Now-a-days the
feminine head of the household never sees the
joints till they appear on the dinner table, and the
account is a matter of quarterly arrangement. The
butcher charges as other people do for long credit,
and, what is more, he knows that it is often very
inconvenient to make a change in the middle of the
quarter. Then he charges a good sum for the wages
of the extra hands he employs, and for the time lost
in waiting on his customers, being tolerably secure
that they will grumble along while before they leave
him, and knowing, moreover, that if they do they
will be little or no betas off. The butchers and
bakers need no defenders, as they have plenty of
advocates forthcoming but however ably their case
may be stated, there still remains no valid reason
why the same meat should be sd. at one end of the
town and 10d. at another, or why the scales seldom
or never balance with a 41b. weight and a (supposed)
quartern loaf. The truth is that most people in
these days are living behind the world instead of
before it. The gooc old English rule of substance
without show has now been superseded by the pre-
vailing taste for shov rather than substance. The
retail traders are afftcted by this like all the rest of
the community, anc consequently their own domes-
tic expenses are hervy. They " make haste to be
rich," not contest with the modest profits of
their fathers, and the money sunk in plate
glass windows, gorgeous shop fronts, and
other accessories of a dashing trade, of course
must come oat of the pockets of their
customers. In houses, in dress, in every other
domestic arrangement, the butcher or baker in a
wealthy suburb must keep pace with the family of
she professional man, indeed be is very often more
than able to do so. How could this be done with
a moderate rate of profit and the long credit
system? It is a matter with which legislation is
often, after all, powerless to deal. In France the
monthly average of the corn market is taken,
profits allowed for the several hands the
corn passes through, and the price of bread
fixed at a uniform rate. Some of the malcontents
among ourselves wish for the adoption of a
similar method ; but, supposing for a moment that
such a plan would be tolerated, the bakers could
still find means to indemnify themselves by giving
inferior bread and using less flour. Instead of
trying such unsatisfactory means, it would be much
better if the co-operative plan, spoken of in some
quarters, could be adopted. If a dozen or two
householders in every suburb combined to organise
a system of purveying from the wholesale markets,
our retail tradesmen would be brought to
their proper level. By a system of indolence
and thoughtlessness we have allowed a
domestic grievance to swell into national propor-
tions, and it will need some vigorous steps to set
matters at all right again. The sums now paid for
the ordinary expenses of a household produces a
serious effect on all other trades and markets, and
if the butchers and bakers have reason to be satisfied
with such a state of things they are about the only
members of the community who do so.

CORRESPONDENCE PROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Monday Evening.
The Ministers and the members of the Privy
Council assembled yesterday morning in council at
St. Cloud under the presidency of the Emperor.
The Empress received at the Palace of St. Cloud
on Saturday morning King Louis the First of
Bavaria, who arrived in Paris on the previous
evening from Munich. His Majesty travels in
strict privacy, under the title of Count Augusta.
Baron Pergler de Perglas, Envoy Extraordinary
and Minister Plenipotentiary of King Louis the
Second of Bavaria, was present at the reception.
The Moniteur has the following explanation of
the reasons which induced the Government to
rescind the order for delaying the departure of the
troops from Toulon :—.

" The departure of the fleet and the troops assem-
bled at Toulon for Civita Vecchia had been sus-
pended until Saturday evening at the demand of
King Victor Emmanuel ; but no Ministry had been
formed at Florence, the revolutionary bands con-
tinued to invade the Pontifical States, and placed
Rome in danger. The French Government there-
fore could no longer adjourn the occupation upon
which it had decided, and the Emperor made known
his resolution at Florence. This measure has no
aggressive character against Italy. Both countries
are equally interested in the triumph of order and
loyalty. The revolutionary invasions attempted
against Rome are but a violation of public rights
and treaties. The Italian nation and its sovereign
can have no other feeling respecting these events
than ours, and we preserve the hope that the amiable
relations which unite the two people will not be
disturbed.

The grand favourite banquet given by the Foreign
Commissioners to the Imperial Commission took
place on Saturday at the Hotel du Louvre, and, as
I announced would be the case, Lord Granville
presided. More than 300 guests were present, and
the cordiality and good feeling which prevailed
rendered the banquet as interesting as it was im-
portant. Lord Granville proposed the health of the
Imperial family, which was received with appro-
priate and prolonged expressions of applause. M.
Rouher then made an excellent speech, to which
Lord Granville responded, and proposed a toast to
the Imperial Commission. M. Forcade de la Ro-
quette, Minister of Agriculture, Commerce, and
Public Works, returned thanks on the part of the
Commission. The health of M. Le Play, the Pre-

sident of the Commission, was received with well-
deserved enthusiasm. MarshalVaillant proposed the
health of Lord Granville, who, in returning thanks,
with much grace and courtesy proposed " The
Ladies."

M. Rouher, after doing full justice to the value
of the Exhibition, adverted prominently to politics.
He said—
" Some persons had feared that a neighbouring
nation (Italy) would assume the heavy responsi-
bility of a war with France. That uneasiness, I
think, is without foundation. The only object of
the Imperial resolution is to stop the disorderly
progress of dangerous revolutionists, individuals
without authority, who dare to violate the fidelity
sworn by the regular powers of the country. (Pro-
longed applause.)
" The Italian nation know, thanks to God, that
blind anarchists threaten Florence as much as
Rome, and the existence of the Italian Monarchy
as well as that of the Pontifical States. For my
part I have confidence in the wisdom of that people
to whom we have given so many proofs of sym-
pathy. They will not allow themselves tobe towed
along by bad passions. The trial which we are
undergoing will only serve to consolidate peace by
suppressing those disorderly and perturbatory vin
lences to which we cannot without shame and dan
ger abandon the interests of Europe and civilisa.
tion."

The last despatch from Rome received in Paris
states that the struggle still continued at Monte
Rotondo, and that a reinforcement of 1,000 men
had been sent to the assistance of the Papal troops.
This despatch is not much credited here, but it is
right to mention it as one of the announcements of
the day, as well as some other reports which follow.
The municipal junta of Genoa has ♦oted an address
to the King, stating that Genoa is ready to make
any sacrifices for the defence of the honour of the
country. More Garibaldian manifestations are said
to have taken place at Venice and Turin. The ,
officers of the National Guard of Genoa have signed
an address of confidence and fidelity to the King,
and say they aro ready to sacrifice their lives for
their country.

One of the letters from Florence states that the
insurrectional movement broke out at Rome after
the Pope refused to take into consideration the ad-
dress of the 12,000 Romans. The excitement was
at its height when Cardinal Antonelli gave orders
to arrest the promoters of the demonstration, and
to act against the municipal officers who have un-
dertaken to present the address. It is added that
200,000 needle Prussian guns have been received in
Italy to arm the troops.
In the correspondence from Piedmont it is stated
that several Englishmen of note and destination are

among the ranks of the insurgents who intend to
march upon Rome.

For several days we have been without Italian
papers in Paris. Some have arrived to-day, but
they are quite destitute of news. It was believed
at Civita Vecchia that it would be attacked. The
Minister had sent Colonel d'Argy with the Roman
Legion to defend it until the arrival of the French
troops.

Rather a serious accident has happened to the
mail train from Calais to Paris on the Northern
Railway. Near the station of Villiers le Bel, not
far from St. Denis, the train ran into a locomotive
which had been carelessly left upon the line; the
tender was broken to pieces, and the first carriage
of the first-class was much injured. The engine-
driver was so much hurt that he died soon after he
was taken to the hospital. An English passenger
had his thigh broken, and several other persons
were more or less hurt. An English surgeon who
was in the train rendered every possible assistance.
The weather has again a tendency to storm, and
it has become much colder.

LORD MAYOR'S DAY.

At present there is some reason to apprehend that
he Lord Mayor Elect, in spite of his ardent desire
to the contrary, and to improve and modify the
civic pageant in conformity alike with good taste
and common sense, may yet be coerced into going
from Guildhall to Westminster on the 9th of
November in the antiquated and lumbering State
coach. The Entertainment Committee have agreed,
at his urgent solicitation, to dispense with the men
carrying banners and the rest of the pedestrian part
of the procession, which is a great point gained, but
in other respects, so far as they are concerned, the
pageant is to be made up in the accustomed manner,
including, of course, the State carriage, and pos-
sibly, for anything yet known to the contrary,
the men in armour. Those of the Aldermen who
have expressed themselves in public on the subject,
with perhaps a single exception, are resolutely
opposed to any change, and at their meeting on
Tuesday last not one among them gave the slightest
countenance to the proposed modification. The
younger members of the Court remained silent, with
the exception of Alderman Stone, who spoke rather
in his capacity of Sheriff than of a magistrate, and
the discussion was confined to those of the members
present who had filled the office of Lord Mayor,
and who were of one mind upon the subject. In
Common Council the case is somewhat different.
At their meeting on Thursday last the subject was
brought abruptly under consideration, without
notice of any kind, and at the end of a long
sitting, when only 57 of the 200 members of which
the body is composed were present. They had even
to suspend the orders to enable them to enter
upon the discussion, and it was commenced by Mr.
Gower, who moved, that in accordance with an old
resolution of the Common Council, the Lord Mayor
Elect be requested to use the State coach in his
progress from Guildhall to Westminster to be pre-
sented to the Barons of the Exchequer. It appeared
that the Town Clerk, who has the traditions and
urages of the Corporation at his fingers' ends, had
dug out from among their archives a resolution
passed on the subject by the Common Council 90
years ago, in the time of Lord Mayor Halifax, and
upon this precedent, which was produced at the
request of Alderman Wilson, Mr. Gower founded
his motion, which was carried by a majority of 25
in a Court of 57 members. That ancient document
recited that some of the chief magistrates of the
city in those days had relinquished the use of the
State coach on certain recurring occasions on which
it had long been the custom to use it, and the Com-
mon Council recommended that it should be used
in future on those occasions. The Town Clerk
stated that, notwithstanding that resolution, in his
time the state carriage had not been used on many
what were called State occasions, with the excep-
tion of the 9th of November (Lord Mayor's Day),
when it had always been used. After all, the reso-
lution of Mr. Gower, -passed under these circum-
stances, and far from unanimously, on Thursday
last, amounted only to a civil request that the Lord
Mayor Elect would use the state coach on the
forthcoming occasion. It binds him to nothing ;
he may either comply with it or not, as he pleases.
On the other hand, he has been urged by upwards
of 200 men of standing in the city—eminent
bankers, merchants, traders, and others—to so cur-
tail and modify the pageant as to interfere as little
as possible with the ordinary traffic, the more so as
ono great line of thoroughfare leading from the
west-end into the city is now seriously narrowed and
diverted in places by the viaduct now in course of

erection over the Holborn-valley. It is of corn-

paratively little use to curtail the pageant if the pon-
derous State coach is to be retained as part of it,
seeing that the pace will be thereby retarded as much
as ever. Few people are, probably, aware that the
coach when empty weighs nearly five tons. Although
drawn by six horses in turning a corner the
draught is thrown almost entirely upon the two
wheelers, which aro often much exhausted in come-
_

queuce for the moment, notwithstanding their fine
condition, and the bystanders before now have had
to assist in the difficulty. Nearly a fortnight has
still to elapse before the 9th of November, and it is
to be hoped that tho Common Council and the En-
tertainment Committee may yet see the propriety,
in the public interest and in that of good taste, of
furthering the wish of the Lord Mayor elect to dis-
pense with the antiquated coach, and to go in his
private State carriage, which, like those of his pre-
decessors iu office, is a stately and handsome equi-
page, drawn by four hose