The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-15 00:00:00

talked-of measure, it would be a very unwise
arrangement ; and since the First Lord is entirely
new to his present post, however familiar of old
with the details of Admiralty management, we can-
not help feeling surprised that Mr. GLADSTONE
should have thought it necessary to interrupt the
course of public business on such a plea. The
Chancellor of the Exchequer had, however, a very
ready reply to the right honourable gentleman's
objections, and one which even Mr. GLAD-
STONE'S ingenuity c.mld not escape from.
" The right hon. gentleman," said Mr. DISRAELI,
" was a member of a Government that for seven
years regulated the destinies of the country, and
during those seven years the Navy Estimates were
always moved by the Secretary to the Admiralty."
This reminder was received with loud cheers ; and
Mr. DISRAELI further said, in answer to Mr. GLAD-
STONE'S objection, as to the absence of the specially
responsible Minister, that every Minister was, in
fact, responsible for the Estimates. An untoward
accident, the non-arrival of the writ, prevented
Sir JOHN PAKINGTON from taking his seat. Mr.
DISRAELI, however, did not fail to remind the
House that if no exception had been made
to General PEEL'S moving the Army Esti-
mates, as intended, the late First Lord
would have moved the Navy Estimates before
resigning his office, and the embarrassment of last
night would have been entirely avoided. Gentle-
men of the Opposition have, therefore, themselves
to thank for any deviation from the ordinary routine;
and it is only fair to say that the general feeling
was decidedly in favour of allowing Lord HENRY
LENNOX to proceed with his statement, which,
after some time, was done, though on the very first
vote Mr. GLADSTONE renewed his protest, and Mr.
DISRAELI consented to its postponement, as he
had just heard by telegram that Mr. CORRY would
be in his place on Thursday next.
Lord HENRY LENNOX acquitted himself
of his difficult and somewhat ungracious
task very creditably. The sum of £10,926,250
will be asked, which is very nearly half a
million in excess of last year's estimate. The
effective services would cost £9,867,750—being an
increase of £480,000—and the non-effective ser-
vices £2,000,000; but over many items in the latter
amount Lord HENRY LENNOX explained that the
Admiralty had no control. The expenses of repairs,
we are glad to find, are less by £60,000 than the
building estimates,whereas last year they were nearly
as much in excess of it.

In the matter of shipbuilding Lord HENRY
LENNOX tells us that the Admiralty intend
to build four new ships of the Amazon class,
also steamers to replace the old paddle-
wheel steamers, ten gunboats, and a new class of
gunboats intended specially for the suppression of
piracy, much wanted in some quarters. The lat-
ter are intended to use up the machinery of the
Crimean gunboats, which have been lying idle and
neglected. Three hundred and fifty thousand pounds
are to be spent on iron shipbuilding—a sum,
which the Secretary argued, was by no means ex-
cessive, considering the large sums recently spent
by other European countries in this matter. All
these details will no doubt be fully discussed before
the votes are taken, and we must hope that no
more frivolous opposition will obstruct the course
of public business.
The Admiralty have just now enough on their
hands, for rumours have been current of an intended
descent on the Irish coast by more of the Fenian
worthies from America. A telegram was accord-
ingly despatched to Portsmouth directing that the
whole of the available seagoing vessels i❑ commis-
sion in that port should proceed to Ireland early
yesterday morning, so that the Fenians, should they
come, will find a ready reception. We are glad to
find that our naval as well as our civil authorities
are determined to be prompt and vigorous in their
repression of Fenianism.

The subject of recruiting for the Army came
on last night in the House of Lords, the Earl of
DALHOUSIE calling the attention of their lordships
to the report of the commissioners appointed to
inquire into the recruiting. First of all, he defended
the commissioners with great animation from some
charges which had been brought against them as
to not sending out to the public a full report of
matters. As the chairman of the commission the
noble lord was well qualified to speak on the sub-
ject, but he did much in his attempt to show the House
that the Government had acted unwisely in their
proposals based upon the report of the commissioners.
He was averse to the plan of increasing the pay
of soldiers in place of an abolition of stoppages
and improvement in rations ; but Lord LONGFORD
stated several weighty reasons in favour of the
course proposed. The noble earl created some
amusement by stating that accidentally he ap-
peared on both sides of this question, for he was
a member of the commission, and he was also a
member of the Government, which had partly dis-
agreed with the recommendations of the commis-
sion; but he got out of his difficulty by saying
that he agreed with both. In general he concurred
with the commissioners, but he did not think their
attention had been directed so much to the question
of obtaining recruits as to those matters that
affect the condition of the soldier. No doubt Lord
LONGFORD is right in his opinion that the recruiting
should be the first object, and all that tends to
make that more popular and successful should be
attentively studied by our authorities, for it is a
matter that has far too long been neglected, and
the service has suffered in consequence. It stands
to reason that an addition to the pay, how-
ever small, will be a powerful inducement,
and be far more easily understood and ap-
preciated by those whom it concerns than other
and more remote advantages. We also think
with the noble lord that it will be very desirable to
make recruiting more respectable. During last
year the efforts in this direction were more suc-
cessful, but that was in consequence of work being
so slack, and hence too much stress cannot be laid
upon it.
Lord DALHOUSIE made one suggestion that would
never answer if carried out, and which, indeed, is
directly opposed to the feeling of the people of this
country. He said that the service in the QUEEN'S
Army was voluntary, but that the Militia was
a compulsory service. " The compulsion had
been suspended from year to year, but the
power of compulsion was not dead." He
therefore rroposed that the militia should be in-
creased, and that if the voluntary system failed, the
compulsory one should he resorted to ; but this
would never do, and we do not believe that any
Government would try it. Let everything be done
that can possibly improve the condition of the ser-
vice, but nothing that is directly contrary to the
general feeling of the country is ever likely to
answer.

The Duke of CAMBRIDGE made a few observa-
tions, and said that the Government had had many
difficulties to contend against, and that they must
consider the House of Commonswas not very willing
to increase the military expenditure, which was not
to be wondered at. His Royal Highness was of
opinion that an increase of pay would be the most
likely thing to advance the recruiting of our army.
On the whole, we think that the public will be

satisfied with the manner in which the debate was

carried on last night on this important matter, and
we think that the Government have done wisely
and well in their determination regarding the
changes and alterations that have been made in the
matter.

The public will learn with feelings of great re-
joicing that the Princess of WALES is improving,
although her complete recovery must necessarily be
slow. For some days past most alarming rumours
have been afloat respecting the state of her Royal
Highness, but happily they appear to have been
devoid of foundation. The bulletin issued yester-
day afternoon stated that no " important change"
had taken place since the last one was issued, and
that the " inflammation of the knee-joint, though
still causing pain and interrupting sleep, is slowly
diminishing." More explicit details are furnished by
the Lancet, which also tend to reassure those who
have felt doubtful as to the result of the attack from
which her Royal Highness has suffered. It is ex-
pected that in a short time she will be able to leave
her bed, and though it is expected that she will have
to submit to some mechanical support for some
time, it is, of course, a secondary consideration to
her recovery from the more immediate danger. The
Queen of DENMARK'S visit has added, of course, to
the unfavourable impression produced in
the minds of people, but it does not follow
from this that the illustrious patient is
seriously ill, because her unnatisfactory state
of health itself is sufficient to render her mother
anxious to see her. Of one thing we are certain,
that everywhere the news of her more promising
condition will be received with satisfaction. No
one could possibly have rendered themselves more
popular than this Royal lady has done, and from
the time of her coming among us as a stranger to
the present time nothing has occurred to change
the enthusiasm with which she was greeted on her
first arrival. The Prince and Princess of WALES
have been general favourites everywhere, and it
will be a consolation to them to know, in this their
first trial of their married life, that the sympathy of
the nation is theirs, and that those who rejoiced in
their joy now mourn in their sorrow, and that the
prayers of the people of England will not be want-
ing to solicit from the Giver of all Goodness that
the young Princess may speedily be restored to
health and strength, and long be spared to her
family and to her adopted country which has so
warmly welcomed her.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Thursday Droning.

The new law upon the press, which was yester-
day submitted to the Legislative Body, completely
confirms the information I sent you that many of
the papers had raised a false impression as to its
character, by anticipating supposed provisions of a
stringent nature. The bill is, in fact, framed in a
liberal spirit, and suppresses many vexatious regu-
lations which formerly shattered the press. For
instance any one may now establish a newspaper,
after giving proper notice, just in the same manner
as it is requisite to make a declaration at the Stamp-
office in England. Literary journals and periodicals
are exempted from stamp-duty. No member of the
Senate or of the Legislative Body is allowed to sign
a newspaper as director or manager. Imprison-
ment for offences of press is abolished and a fine
substituted, of from I,ooof. to 5,000f.' The Tribunal
of Correctional POliceOr the Imperial Tribunal will
judge alleged offences of the press. For journals not
compelled to lodge security money the minimum
fine is to be 500 f., and the maximum fine 10,000 f.
An elector condemned for an offence against the
press may be deprived of his electoral rights for a
period not exceeding five years. A condemnation
for " crime committed by the press" may entail the
suppression of the newspaper which has offended.
An appeal is allowed against the sentences of the
tribunals. Printers or publishers will no longer be
compelled to have a patent or permission. In short,
a very injurious monopoly long complained of has
been abolished.

The Jfoniteur states that the Emperor of Austria
arrived on Tuesday at Pesth. The Hungarian
Ministers, the members of the Diet, and numerous
deputations from influential bodies received the
King at the station, and his Majesty entered the
city, which had been ornamented and decorated with
flags, amidst great enthusiasm. An immense crowd
assembled, and exhibited every mark of devotion
and affection to his Majesty.
A letter from Rome, dated March 9, states that
the carnival was terminated without the least symp-
tom of disorder. Great numbers both of foreigners
and natives took part in it. The number of
foreigners in Rome is greater than in any preceding
year. The hotels are full, and money is circulated
in great abundance. The people are tranquil and
security reigns in the City. The same security pre-
vails in the other parts of the States of the Holy
See, except in a few mountainous districts near the
Neapolitan provinces, which are sill desolated by
bands of brigands in spite of the efforts of the
Pontifical gendarmerie and the watchfulness exer-
cised by the Italian troops on the frontiers. King
Victor Emmanuel returned to Florence on Monday
from Milan.

The Constitutionnel, remarking upon the fact that
the Senatus Consults was agreed to unanimously,
says :—" Discussions like those which have just
taken place in the Senate, and which occupied two
long sittings, do the greatest honour to that high
assembly, which has thus acquired one more claim
to the confidence of the Emperor and the gratitude
of the country."
The splendid new room at the Imperial Library,
in the Rue de Richelieu, will be opened on the Ist
of April. On the same day will also be opened the
Museum of Antiques at the Louvre, under the Gal-
lery of Apollo, formerly the apartments of Anne of
Austria. The part of the Grand Museum which
contains the " Venus" of Milo has been restored
and decorated with great taste and splendour.
The Paris papers being again nearly filled with
the discussions in the Chambers do not contain any
miscellaneous news of interest.

Italy is augmenting the number of her ships of
war in the waters .of Candia. It is stated from
Toulon that two steam gunboats of the first class
have received orders to arm with as little delay as
possible. They are destined, it is said, to reinforce
the French Naval Division in the Levant under the
command of Vice-Admiral Simon.

The young Prince Imperial, who has been suf-
fering for some days in consequence of a contusion
of the leg, is now much better, and it is supposed
that he will be able to regain his accustomed exer-
cises in a few days. The accident occurred while the
Prince was practising gymnastics, and he has un-
dergone a slight operation. •
The Directing Committee of the Races at La
Marche having fixed upon the 10th of June, which
is the day chosen by the Society of Vesinet for their
steeplechases, the first day of the La Marche meet-
ing is postponed till July 14.
The visit of M. Benedetti, the Ambassador of
France at Berlin to Paris, which I mentioned yes-
terday, has naturally given rise to various reports,
some of them of a very puerile kind. Some papers
say his visit is connected with a project of the cession
of Luxembourg to France for 300 millions of francs.
According to others he has some suggestion to
make to the Ministry in reference to the policy of
M. Bismark. Further inquiries enable me to con-
firm what I said yesterday, that M. Benedetti, who
is accompanied by his wife, and whose stay in Paris
will be very short, has come solely in consequence
of the indisposition of the Marchioness de la Valette,
the wife of the Interior, to whose family he is con-
nected by ties of affection. The Marchioness, an
English lady, I believe is 71. _

The Belgian papers contain further notices of the
spread of the cattle plague in Belgium. In the
commune of Zele, near Ghent, a flock of sheep which
had been placed near a receptacle for cattle, where