The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-05 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 5, 1867

object of all this fracas. GARIBALDI hopelessly
defeated, and still more GARIBALDI captured, will
be a very swift termination to the matter ; and in
the best interests of France, Italy, and Europe
we shall rejoice if it turns out that
the news from Florence is correct. As for the
conduct of GARIBALDI himself, it is indeed impos-
sible to speak of it otherwise than with sentiments
of reproach and feelings of disappointment. He
has wilfully and recklessly thrown away the best
chances which his country had had for years, indeed
in this generation, and that too in the face of all
warnings and protests, and in spite of all the proofs
that were before his eyes. He deserves what suffer-
ings and mortifications he may have to endure, but
it is sad indeed to think of the many who
must pay the penalty of the folly and madness
of the few. History teems with such illustrations,
but to no purpose. One race of men cannot, or will
not, profit by the lessons of their predecessors, they
must run the gauntlet and learn for themselves.
It is sad, indeed, to think of what Italy is now and
what she might have been had these hair-brained
enthusiasts not meddled or muddled with her
policy. It shows that we must not be too cer-
tain or rest too securely [upon the doctrine of
chance. What an outcry was raised of the benefits
and blessings that would accrue to Italy when
Venice was restored to her ! And what do we see ?
A disturbed land, with many rival parties, of fight-
ing men disputing for the mastery, and all under-
mining the prosperity of the people, while peace has
vanished far away, and the work of progress is in
abeyance. And no one can rightly say how soon
this state of confusion worse confounded will be
exchanged for a better one.

Mr. LOWE, M.P., on Education, was certain to
draw together a large and intelligent audience, and
it is not surprising thst the Edinburgh Philoso-
phical Institution should on Friday evening have
been crowded with eager listeners. The speech to
which they listened could hardly have disappointed
them whether or no they altogether agreed with its
doctrines, for Mr. LowE, himself an eminent
example of the brilliancy and the polish conferred by
a first-rate classical education, at every opportunity
makes a merciless onslaught on classical studies.
It must be confessed that there was a good deal of
truth in Mr. LowE's criticisms on some defects of our
modern system of mental training. He accuses our
instructors of almost total neglect of matters which
are not only profitable in themselves, but in con-
stant use in every-day political life. "We are
expected," he says, "to know how many Archons
there were at Athexs, though we probably do not
know how many Lords of the Treasury there are in
London. The pupil must know all about their
courts, though he hardly knows the names of his
own. Ile must be dosed with the laws and institu-
tions of the ancients, things only valuable in com-
parison with our own institutions, of which institu-
tions he is kept in profound ignorance." In this
criticism Mr. LOWE, however, forgets one thing.
The pupil studies these ancient institutions and laws
and customs in his youth and leisure. If he did
not he would assuredly never do so in the pressure of
occupation and the multiplying interests of later life.
The number of the Lords of the Treasury and the
names of the courts of law are of no more imme-
diate service to the young student than the list of
Athenian civil dignitaries ; but ho is tolerably sure,
if be mixes much in the world, to learn the former
in the course of his business or his pleasure, whereas
the latter he will never acquire except in youth.
Whatever advantage may accrue from the compa-
rision of ancient and modern institutions, the clas-
sical student may obtain so soon as he grows old
enough to do so. Mr. LOWE takes extreme cases,
and infers from them that if a man is a
good classical scholar he must necessarily be
totally indifferent or incompetent with regard to
the affairs of every-day life. LAPLACE, he says,
was perhaps the greatest mathematician that ever
lived ; but when NAPOLEON employed him .as a
Minister he found that his only idea of transacting
the business of his office was with reference to the
differential and integral calculus. But all students
of mathematics are not likely to be LAPLACES !
LArLAcE would always have been a mathematician
had he been bred up in the Treasury and never seen
a Euclid till he arrived at man's estate. It is im-
possible to counteract so strong a natural bias.
The general fault of our statesmen and politicians
in this respect, we would venture to hint, is that
they know too little of figures rather than too
much. If it were necessary to choose between the
two—between what is understood by a classical
education and an adaptability to the events of
modern life—it would undoubtedly be desired that
the youths of our upper classes should shut up their
Latin grammars and leave 2EsciaLus and EURI-
PIDES to the study of dreamy recluses. But,
happily, such is not the case, and it is not difficult to
find instances of men eminent in the service of their
country who have turned for relief from the harassing
cares of state and strifes of party to the unimpas-
sioned society of the silent teachers of their school
days. Lord DERBY is none the less able to preside
over the Imperial councils for having given us an
English version of the " Iliad." Lord STANLEY
has proved himself only too practical for foreign
diplomatists, in spite of that first-class education at
the University which Mr. Lowx thinks so dangerous
an advantage. Mr. DISRAELI has proved none the
loss gifted to deal with the question of
Reform because of his early enthusiasm for
the classics. Lord MACAULAY was no less '
an authority on Indian policy, on judicial
and civil and social questions, for that familiarity
with the ancient history which gave us the " Lays
of Ancient Rome." Mr. GLADSTONE is almost as
great at Troy as at the Exchequer. Mr. LowE
himself has all the names and figures of his much-
abused classical friends at his fingers' ends, and all
the while he is exhibiting them to condemn them
he is showing how excellent is their training for a
public speaker.
Nevertheless it must be owned that, so far as
general knowledge is concerned, there is room for
a great deal of improvement. We can hardly, in-
deed, accept the University man who never hard
of Lord MELBOURNE'S Ministry as a sample of
educated Englishmen, and an acquaintance with
French at least is not so great a marvel as Mr.
LOWE would have us believe. But we hate followed
a little too much the system which Mr. LOWE calls
the worship of inutility, the study of

" The languages, especially the dead ;
All sciences, especially the abstrus ;
The arts, at least all such as could be said
To be the most remote from common use."

The col:180.0=e is that of some very necessary
studies, such as geography, we do not know half
enough, and there is no people to whom such a
knowledge would be moro useful. Mr. LOWE has
the worst opinion of our national accomplishments
in this respect. He had, he says, to tell his friends
where the Cave of Adullam was, thus turning his
knowledge against himself. No one can show him
Gondar on the map, and he once heard a statesman
make a speech in the House in which he alluded
to Upper Canada as close to the mouth of
tho St. Lawrence. Lord CASTLEREAGH, he
believes, gave up Java to the Dutch because
he could not find it on the map, and was ashamed
to say so, and few people can tell him anything

about Australia unless they have been there. Here
is a terrible picture, but, however humorously over-
coloured, there is a substratum of truth in it which
our public instructors would do well to bear in mind.
So, too, with the study of our English classics,
though we apprehend that our young students
would find CHAUCER and SPENCER harder work
than VIRGIL or HORACE. We must aim at a com-
bination of old and new, not laying aside all those
atudies which have given us great and practical
men, not through their direct teaching, but through
their indirect training of the mind and cultivation
of the taste. The old and new systems are alike
good and bad, according as they are applied. A
wise medium and combination of the two is the
safest, and Mr. LOWE, if somewhat too cautious in
the matter of political change, is rather two sweep-
ing a reformer in respect to education.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, Monday Evening.

The Circular of the Marquis de Moustier to the
representative of France in Italy has, of course,
excited some agitation, and several of the alarmist
journals affect to believe that we are on the eve of
a serious and sanguinary war. Happily, however,
such is not the opinion of the general public, and it
is considered in well-informed quarters that there is
nothing in the present momentary difference be-
tween the French and Italian Governments which
cannot be speedily arranged.
The Moniteur has no news from Italy to-day,
from which it may be inferred that nothing of im-
portance has transpired.
The marriage of the King of the Greeks with the
Grand Duchess Olga Constantinovua was celebrated
on the 27th of October, at the winter palace of St.
Petersburg, in the presence of the Emperor Alexan-
der, the Princes of the Imperial family at present
in Russia, and the Diplomatic Body. The ceremony
was followed by a ball, and there was a general
illumination in the city in the evening. Their
Greek Majesties intended to leave St. Petersburg
in a few days for Greece, passing through Vienna.
It is right to remark that although the Siecle, the
leading opposition journal, and some others, seem
to wish to make it be believed that France and
Italy will certainly go to war, such an opinion
does not actuate reflecting men in Paris, nor do the
journals of moderate views and great influence join
in it.

The Journal des Debats says :—" The position
is grave. Nevertheless we do not see, removed for
the moment, the extreme resolutions which some of
the journals would persuade us are definitively de-
cided upon."

I might multiply such reassuring views from
many of the Paris papers, but they have the same
pacific tendency, and in spite of the attempts of
some journals to raise the war cry, I can assure you
that the vast majority of Parisians do not think
that peace will be disturbed.

The following order of the day was issued by
Garibaldi at Monte Rotondo on the 27th October:—
" Three hundred prisoners, two large cannon, and a
quantity of arms and munitions, fifty horses and
artillery—these are the trophies which the brave
volunteers offer to Italy as the guarantee of its free
and happy future. When I shall have received the
complete report of the many feats of arms which
signalised this glorious affair, I will give the details
of it. The Romans, our fathers, conquered the
world by bravery and discipline. To the bravery
of which the volunteers have given proof it is in-
dispensable to add their discipline, without which
no military corps whatever can exist. I recommend,
above all, to the volunteers the care of the corps
and arms."

It will be recollected that at the opening of the
Exhibition the Emperor sent 10,000 fr. to the
Society of Men of Letters, which sum was to be
devoted to au International Literary Congress. The
Congress did not take plice, and, in consequence,
the Marquis de La Valette, the Minister of the
Interior, who is a great patron of literature,
has written to the President of the Society
to state that it would give pleasure to the Emperor
If the money were to be applied to the foundation
of a pension in favour of a literary man in distress.
The Committee of the Society of Gens de Lettres
have taken steps to comply with the Emperor's
wish.

A marriage, connected with circumstances of
romance and interest, has just taken place at the
church of St. _Etienne du Mont—that of M. Anedde
Raoul with the daughter of one of the richest pro-
prietors of the arrondissement. In the time of th e
Consulate Bonaparte one day received a letter
soliciting assistance to carry out a new process for
the manufacture of files. At that time France was
dependent upon England for such articles. The
Emperor wished to be personally convinced of the
superiority of files made by the new process over
English files, and accordingly he put some Eng-
lish files in his pocket an I paid a visit to the
inventor. The Emperor examined some of his files
very minutely, and wished to ascertain their quality
by an experiment. Accordingly, after subjecting
the English and French files to long friction,
ho found that the English one suffered a great deal
from it, but that the French file was hardly worn
at all. " Very well," said the Emperor, " there is
a great triumph for French industry. Unfortunately
there is not much encouragement for useful inven-
tions in France. Why don't you go to England ?
You would soon be magnificently rewarded there.
inventor,
oar
,d difference." n
indignation.c e .''
"Never I would
"I go to England !" said the
pre-
fer to throw all the files you see there into the Seine."
The eyes of Bonaparte glistened with pleasure, but
he repressed his feelings, congratulated the inventor
upon his discovery, and left after buying a few of
his files. The next day the inventor received free a
patent of invention, accompanied by a sum of
60,000 fr. and a letter stating that a special esta-
cb
al i
rhymoeuntt
hisinvention.
would be a t hdisposal,e
name
ame of this workman where he might
was Jean Louis Raoul, and it was his son whose
marriage has just been celebrated at the Church of
St. Etienne du Mont.

General de Failly, who commands the French
troops sent to Rome, has seen a good deal of ser-
vice. He was born in 1810, and, although 56, he is
full of activity and vigour. Ho was sub-lieutenant
in the 35th Regiment of the Line at the capture of
Algiers, on which occasion he was promoted to the
rank of Lieutenant. His further advancement was
very rapid. He was officer of ordnance to Louis
Philippe. When colonel of the 20th of the Line
he made several campaigns in Africa, where he ob-
tained the cross of the Legion of Honour for his
eminent services. At Alma he was General of Bri-
gade, and particularly distinguished himself in that
memorable battle. The General has a great military
reputation, both in theory and practice, and is very
skilful in the management and array of his troops.
In the Crimea General Failly bad two
splendid regiments under his orders, the 95th
and the 97th. On the Bth of June, while
an attack on the Mainelon was made in front, Gen.
Failly attacked one of the batteries with his brigade,
the second of the Mayran division. The other
brigade carried a battery close to it, and both were
carried with amazing vigour and rapidity. At some
distance there was an entrenchment, the assault
upon which was considered at headquarters as so
perilous that it was not included in the programme
of the day. The 2d Regiment of Zouaves, however,
rushed upon it in the most daring manner, on seeing
which General Failly determined to support them in
their dangerous enterprise. With the assistance of
his brigade and some marines the redoubt was
carried almost in an instant, and a panic seized the
Russians. They were driven to the sea, and some
officers were made prisoners. Some were so exas-
perated at being beaten by a small force that they
broke their swords.

SHIP WRECK.—At six a.ru. yesterday the captain
and crew of the Scottish Lass arrived in their boat at
Dover. The schooner struck on the Value, or as the cap-
tain tbinko on the mast of a sunken vessel. Sho wont down
between the Vain° and the Goodwin. Tho men took to
their boat, wore out in a rough sea all night, and arrived
at thQ Salim; Raw cold, wet, and adorable.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE ROMAN QUESTION.
DEFEAT OF GARIBALDI.

FLOP:VICE, Nov. 4, 2.50 p.m.
Yesterday a large body of Papal troops, with
artillery, attacked Garibaldi, between Tivoli and
Monte Rotondo. After a long and obstinate en-
gagement, with many killed and wounded on both
sides, Garibaldi was def ay.ted and compelled to re-
treat, carrying away his -wounded with him. It is
stated that Garibaldi wiLg arrested upon arriving on
•
Italian territory.

Nicotera has withdrawn from Frosinone, and has
entered the Neapolitan. territory.
Acerbi has left ViteOao, after imposing a forced
loan upon it of 8,000 crowns.

Volunteers from the Pontifical States arc daily
returning to Florence.

FLORENCE, Nov. 5, 10 a.m.

The Opinione publishes a second edition contain-
ing its previous announcement that Garibaldi had
been sent back to Caprera, and says that he will
be conducted to Spezzia.
Postal communication with Rome is restored.

THE ITALIAN INSURRECTION.
PARIS, Nov. 5.

The Moniteur of this morning publishes the fol-
lowing account of the defeat of the Garibaldians on
Sunday. The Papal troops met near Tivoli some
Garibaldian bands, and at once attacked them.
After a hard fight the Garibaldians fled in disorder
and left on the field 3,000 men either killed,
wounded, or taken prisoners.
Garibaldi succeeded in escaping to:Terni, and the
Italian authorities have had him brought to
Florence with his two sons.

General Ricotti, commander of the Italian forces
on the frontier,succeeded in arresting and disarming
4,000 Garibaldians, who sought to take refuge in
the Italian territory.

ITALY.

FLORENCE, Nov. 4.

The Italialsays that a Council of Ministers was
held to-day, when a Note, in reply to that of the
Marquis de Moustier, was discussed.
General Cialdini has been recalled to Florence
by telegraph.
The Corriere Italiano states that Garibaldi was
marching in the direction of the Abruzzi with 3,000
men, when he was attacked by 12,000 Pontifical
troops. It is rumoured that 500 Garibaldians were
placed hors de combat.

The Gazetta _ltalia says that Nicotera, with his
staff, has already gone back to Naples.
The Volunteers are returning to their homes.
The Opinione announces that Garibaldi has passed
through Florence and gone to Caprera.