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

THE SUN, LONDoN, THURSDAY EVENING, DE'OEMBER 12, 1867.

up by some influential persons. A letter from the
Duke of NEWCASTLE sets forth the state of the
cases, -very truly ; and it is said that the sympathy
so generally expressed leads to the belief that
" were the initiative taken many would be
glad to come forward to alleviate in some measure
the aererity of his position, and assist him in the
resumption of his career." In pursuance of this
obj eett, and duly appreciating the energy which the
lessee and director of her Majesty's Theatre dis-
plajed in. his task, the noble duke declares his
rely-liners to further a subscription, and expressed
his desire to receive communications from those
willing to " co-operate with him." We hope
that this kindly suggestion will meet with all the
notile it deserves, and that in consequence of it
such a sum may be raised as will extricate Mr.
MA.PLESON from his present difficulty, and enable
him to pursue his career with his old spirit and
en..xgy. When an actor has devoted himself to the
amusement and recreation of the public, and em-
ployed his best energies in their service, it is not
too much to expect that some special interest should
be shown when a sudden and unexpected calamity
threatens to overwhelm him and extinguish his
future efforts. In connection with the calamity at
Her Majesty's Theatre, it is not surprising that
many suggestions have been made in various guar -
ters, and it would be well if those immediately con-
cerned would pay heed to them ; and now that the
chief part of the excitement of the affair is over con-
sider what steps to take to prevent the recurrence
of such fearful scenes in other places. At any rate
we have had a warning that should not be neglected'
and it behoves all to attend to it. It often appear s
upon strict inquiry that the adoption of the most
simple measures may prevent the occurrence of
fires, that the greatest efforts cannot check when
it has once arisen. It seems, indeed, a matter of
regret that when so much care is taken to produce
effect some sound precautions cannot be taken to
insure the safety of the audience, and to protect
the property so constantly exposed to great risk •
A great part of the mischief arises from the habit
people get into of thinking that a misfortune which
may come any day will never befall them ; and
hence they rest in fatal indifference, putting confi-
dence in chances that may in a manner turn corn-
' pletely against them, and cause them irreparable loss.

The policy of France still continues to excite in-
terest and attention, and the bulletin of the
Moniteur de Soir will be certain to attract notice.
This expression of opinion does not seem exactly to
coincide with the emphatic announcements just
made in the Legislative Chamber by M. MOUSTIER
and 11. ROUHER. It alludes to the almost una-
nimous vote of confidence which had been given
in favour of the Government, and affirms that there
was never a better understanding between the
Ministry and the Chambers. In conclusion, this
article declares that the Government of theE3trEnon
will solicit the concurrence of the Houses for the
work of conciliation and justice, which has been
undertaken in the interests of the Papacy and
Italy. One passage may be looked upon as a very
significant one, namely, that which sets forth
that the Government " desires that all hatred, and
secession, and mistrust may be forgotten, instead
of invoking disorder and indifference upon Italian
unity." This, no doubt, means that there has
been of late too much discussion upon theories
rather than a regard to the principles of action.
It appears that the idea of the Conference has not
been given up, and that it still gives rise to
anxiety and expectation. It has, we hear, lost
nothing of its " opportuneness." This can, no
doubt, be explained by its advocates ; but, at the
same time, it seems to the lookers-on that
a Conference at which the chief parties
cannot or will not agree is not likely to prove a very
promising affair. As Lord STANLEY said, in the
House of Commons the other day, there does not
seem much likelihood of such an affair coming to
much, however earnestly the well-wishers of both
countries might desire it to answer for their own
interests and for the maintenance of the peace of
Europe. It cannot be doubted that the somewhat
hasty declarations of the French Ministers have
tended to unsettle things still more, and that the
Italians feel irritated thereby. Perhaps this bulletin
may soften down things a little, and induce all parties
to incline to more moderate views. Of course it will
require time to set things straight again in Italy,
but meanwhile little or no good can come from
using expressions that excite and irritate, rarely
producing any good effect. As for the " complete
understanding and sympathetic bearing " here
referred to, as existing between the Government
and the Chambers, it has not been very fully proved
of late; but no doubt the Emperor NAPOLEON has
discovered the awkward state of things, and taken
steps to obviate the consequences of any difference
or disagreement between the Government and the
Legislative Chamber. What with one thing and
another, the work of the French EMPEROR has
indeed of late been a most arduous one.

Among the many blessings in store for regene-
rated Ireland, in the happy days to come when the
Union shall be dissolved, Fenianism triumphant, and
Messrs. STEVENS, ROBERTS, DEASY, and their asso-

ciates shall have assumed the reins of Government,
an increase of the privilege of free speech can hardly
be reckoned. If unmeasured abuse of the powers
that be can afford any satisfaction to the discontented
Hibernian, ho has it at the present moment under
the oppressive sway of " greedy, haughty, robbing,
and insulting" England. We all know, however,
that a great deal can be said where very little isdone,
and the old adage which tells us that " Still waters
run deep" may be safely applied in its converse, for
much noise is generally indicative of shallowness•
We bad no mob oratory when GARIBALDI broke
the yoke of the hated King off the neck of the
Sicilian people. We saw acts, not words, when
France could endure no longer the tyranny of the
Bourbons. But if an Irishman is not to talk of what
use would freedom, independence, or any other
national blessing be to him ? Knowing this, and
knowing, too, the easily moved sympathies of an
excitable and uneducated people, our authorities
are inclined to view with great leniency the ex-
travagant proceedings now going ou in various
parts of Ireland with respect to the Manchester
executions. Men whom the common sense of man-
kird can hardly refuse to call murderers, seeing
they wantonly took the life of an unoffending man
i❑ the purbuit of his daily duty, are wept and
mourned over as " innocent" martyrs, " pious and
virtuous men, who feared GOD and loved their
country." They showed courage and patience
worthy of " the greatest heroes that ever live 1;"
their memories are to be " held in honour." But
we need not pause to examine this rhodomontade,
easily spoken from a balcony to an excited multi-
tude, but we would caution the ringleaders of these
demonstrations that they are following a rash and
dangerous course. If their own sense will not
stop them they must be stopped otherwise, for
they are stirring up disaffedion and creating
excitement in a dangerous and retellious manner.
ALLEN, LARKIN, and GOULD have been buried
often enough ; the best thing their friends and
their foes alike can do is to let them rest in peace,

AT a meeting of the Associated Chambers of
Commerce at Westminster, the other day, the
question of technical education was discussed at
some length, and the following resolution was
passed :—" That the rapid progress and high ex-
" cellence of continental manufactures are, in the
" opinion of this Association, mainly attributable
" to the schools for technical education which have
" for many years been established in Germany
" and other parts of the Continent, and by means
" of which the art of design and other valuable
" scientific knowledge has been very generally
" acquired to the great advantage of industrial
" pursuits ; awl that, in order to enable our mann-
" facturers to m ►intain the position which they
" have so long enjoyed, the necessity of institutions
" of a similar character be urged upon the Govern-
" ment, and for this purpose a committee be ap-
" pointed by the Associated Chambers." As a
result of this discussion, and as carrying out the
terms of the resolution, a deputation, accompanied
by six members of Parliament, waited upon Lord
ROBERT MONTAGU—who, in the absence of the Duke
of MARLBOROUGH, represented the President of the
Council of Education—and presented their memorial
respecting technical training. The subject was
introduced by Mr. MUNBELLA, and the most telling
facts of the case were sot forth. Lord ROBERT
MONTA.GH replied that " Government were anxious
" to prontote science-teaching, and, he might add,
" they had gone into a particular scheme, the
" details'of which he need not explain."
The subject is a most pressing and important
one. We have not yet taken one single step of
any practical importance with regard to the subject
itself, though we are glad to learn that the Secre-
taries of Legation on the Continent have been
requested to report to Government upon the nature
and working of foreign technical schools. Many
of their reports have already been Sent in, and will
shortly be published ; so that the question is
clearly ripening for legislation. But we have a
long lee-way to make up. Other nations are
already considerably in advance of us. It is
quite a mistake to suppose that the recent
revival and development of art - manufacture
is a thing of yesterday. Forty years ago
designers were employed in all the great manu-
facturing centres of the United Kingdom to take
multiplied copies from imported French designs.
For in France the art of design, even before the
establishment of technical schools throughout the
Empire, has always been more or less successfully
cultivated, and long ago a branch of commerce
flourished in Paris, with which to the present day
we have nothing to compare—the export of designs.
British manufacturers buy these designs and place
them in the hands of their draughtsmen, who make
a dozen English patterns out of one French one,
with something of Parisian elegance in all of them.
And this export has become a great and lucrative
branch of trade since the establishment of practical
schools of art throughout France. The most suc-
cessful students in the provincial schools of art
find their way to Paris, to complete their know-
ledge of and accomplishment in design. They
then establish themselves in atidiers, and begin
the practice of their profession. All the
Parisian manufacturers seek their help the
artist produces the design in a drawing or a cast,
and the manufacturer carries it out in the proper
material. No manufacturer of any standing in
Paris, or even in the provinces, either depends upon
himself or retains designers in his service—he pre-
fers to have his drawings from the professional
master of the art in. Paris, one who has received a
thorough education—has, in fact, mastered the art of
ornamentation. Thus, thousands of articles of do-
mestic use, bearing upon them the stamp of cultivated
talent if not of genius, are manufactured daily in
Paris, and go forth into the households of the
people, carrying with them that air of grace and
elegance which goes so far to :refine a people's
taste.

And while we in England are only awaking to
the importance of artistic accomplishment in our
manufactures, the French, whose draughtsmen are
finished masters, are urging uPon each other the
absolute necessity of cultivating with ever-increas-
ing assiduity the art of drawing—the science and
practice of design. Ire have not begun our art
education ; the French are " finishing " theirs.

The constitution of the continental schools is
not yet thoroughly known. We know, however,
that in these establishments the more skilled teach
the younger and less skilled workmen ; that all
attend lectures by professors, and are taught design
scientifically. There are everywhere practical
workshops, museums, laboratories, art-libraries,
&c. In many instances the employers not only
give the time of their workpeople, but defray the
cost of their attendance at the classes. The schools
in Saxony are supported by Govenunent grants and
voluntary taxation ; the teachers are specially
trained, and the establishments are under the
superintendence of Government. Indeed, every-
where on the Continent the expense of the techni-
cal schools seems to be divided between the Govern-
ment, the employers, and the workmen—though
upon the latter the burden laid is a light one.
Among us the most favourable circumstance
connected with this subject is that British working
men are becoming alive to the necessity of the case.
Let them only be faithful to themselves, and soon
this question, at present regarded in some quarters
as one of altogether minor importance, will be
carried out to a successful settlement.

BREMEN, Dec. 11.—The North German Lloyd
have sold to the English Royal Mail Company, the steamer
Rhein, now in course of construction, and have ordered
two new steamers of Messrs. Laird and Co.
IRON SHIPBUILDING ON THE HUMBER.—For the
first time for many months an iron ship was launched
at Hull on Monday evening. This was from Messrs
Earle and Co.'s yard, the only ono now in operation. Tho
vessel was for Messrs. 'Wilson, Sons, and Co., of Hull, by
whom she is intended during the season to ply in the
Baltic trade. She is 217 ft. long, 29ft. broad, and has a
depth of hold of 17ft. Her gross tonnage is about 900
tons, and she will be fitted with engines with a power of
90 horses. The vessel was named the Fido. She will be
schooner-rigged, and has open docks, with the exception
of a bridge amidships. For the same owners Messrs.
E ,rlo and Co. are building another steamer of similar bur-
den and power. They also have on the stocks a vessel
of about 500 tons for another Hull firm, and a largo one,
about 2,000 tons, for Mr. J. Moss, of Liverpool, for whom
several very large vessels have already been built at the
same yard.
COUNT MONTROND.—GeneraI Count Montrond
was not an unfrequent combination of diplomatist and
gambler. He had outlived the Reign of Terror, was held
in some favour during the Empire, and got pensioned by
"the citizen king." He was singularly fortunate at cards,
and won money in England from everybody with whom
he played, particularly the Duke of York, Lord Sefton, and
Lord Foley. He was frequent in attendance at the clubs,
where ho was known as " Old French." lie passed for a wit,
and his bald pate, bright complexion, somewhat sly, demure
look, and his corpulent figure, were sure to be recognised
wherev.v the laugh was loud and the play high. Mr.
Duncombe met him frequently, always in the best society
—at Prince Talleyrand's mere than anywhere. Montrond
is said to havo been attacked with epileptic fits after dining
with Prince Talleyrand. For a few minutes the latter
watched the writhings of his guest, stretched at full length
on the carpet, and then exclaimed, with a sardonic smile,
" C'est qu'il me parait vent absolutnent deseendre."
He, however, recovered, and presently returned to his
avocation, won more money, told more anecdotes, and was
again the leading star of all the dandies and wits about
town.—LVe (f Thomas Sunfish!, Duncombe.
TIM: It Rl' AND BL.JIS.—AII French colleges comi,t
of eight classes, and a; there ara many prizes in each class,
their distribution, however interesting at first, when those
with moustaches were being kissed, became afterwards
tame, so that I did not remain to see it finished. At this
school all classes of society are educated, except appa-
rently the lowest, the ouvrier class; there the children of
the judge and cure sit side by side with the bourgeois. It
was hero that Augustin Thierry, author of the "Norman
Conquest" was educated; and he himself tells how, in one
of the class rooms, reading "Los Martyrs," he was first
inspired with the enthusiasm of an historian, the zeal
which afterwards cost him his eyesight. The "Homer of
History," as he has been called, seems to mo the greatest
of the Bloises ; and the city seems to have recognised his
importance in the prominent position which they have
assigned to his bust in the public library. He was born
in Blois, and of very poor parents; his father was an
organ-blower, or something of that sort in the cathedral.
Ills brother, Amedee Thierry, also was a historian, the
w,rk by which he is best known being the "History of the
Gauls.' —Once a Week,

CORREMPONDENOR PROM PAM%

(FROM A 00R11X5PON'DENT.)

EmzisTslY:

The great debate on the affairs of GermanY and Italy
was long, verbose, and dreary. The several speakers—
MM. 011ivier, Thiers, and Rouher—l shall say nothing
about M. Garnier-Paos, as he does not count for much—
did not by any means exhaust the subject, but skimmed
over it with the lightness and the brightness of swallow-
flight. M. Thiers was proud and triumphant ; his voice,
in itself not of much account, rose above and put
down the sonorous tones of M. 011ivier, the deep base
of M. Jules Favre, the piercing tones of M. Pelletan, and
the yelpings and barkings of M. Gueroult, who was so
enraged at the overbearing manner of M. Thiers that he
became purple in the face.
It is said here that the French Government will refuse
to support the claims of the Papal Government, which,
among other demands, asserts its right to obtain from
Italy full indemnity for devastations committed during
the Garibaldian invasion and the occupation of the Italian
troops.

Quite a sensation has been caused here to-day by
rumours from Italy. It was said that General Menabrea
had been defeated, and that M. Rattazzi had resumed the
Presidency of the Council in consequence of a compro-
mise with the Party of Action. No story is too
absurd not to be believed by some ; but although
Menabrea's position is a most precarious one, and
no political &cute, however extravagant, is at all impos-
sible in the present condition of affairs in Italy, I cannot
accept this rumour as having any foundation. What is
ascertained is, that General Menabrea stated, in answer
to a despatch from M. de Moustier, that the
Italian Government was inspired with the most
pacific sentiments, but that it could not make known
its programme before the conclusion of the debates
of Parliament. lam further informed, from a source
usually well-informed, that the idea of a Conference has
again emerged, and that Austria, acting in harmony with
England, has resumed negotiations to this end with
enthusiasm.

After the sudden thaw yesterday keen frost as suddenly
set in, and the pavements were literally covered with
sheets of ice. Accidents, many of them serious, have oc-
curred in the streets. A great deal of ice floated down
the Seine, and the rapid steamers, which visitors to the
Exhibition will well remember, met with some difficulty
in getting along.

Speaking of the Exhibition, an interesting fact has just
tome to light. We now know the exact number of the
visitors to the Exposition Universelle. The railway
companies, with the view of facilitating the immense
movement towards Paris from all quarters, organised
special trains to run at a rate 50 t) 70 per cent. below the
usual tariff. The number of visitors, exclusive of those
who arrived by express, was 437,784 during the seven
months—May till November. Of travellers by express
train there were about 150,000, so that the number of the
visitors during the time the Exposition was open was about
600,000.

The Imperial Family will return to the Tuileries on the
23rd December. The intention was to have returned a
considerable time ago ; but the alterations made in the
apartments of the Prince Imperial not having been com.
pleted the Emperor and his household took refuge in St.
Cloud.

In Italy,the rage of the people, aroused by M. Rouher's
speech, finds full expression in the Opposition news-
papers, and especially in the democratic and Garibaldian
portion of them. The Biforma says " The audacity and
insolence of the Imperial language addressed to Italy are
unbounded." The Diritto exclaims, " War or isolation
from France ? " and again : "We should be miserable
wretches if we ever forgot that France has atrociously
injured us." The Florence correspondent of the Times
seems to have caught the national enthusiasm, and
thus expresses himself : " Let us protest and
retire to our tents such is in substance the
language of the paper which represents advanced
Liberal ideas, but not those of the most extreme section
of the Left. Let us leave to the Emperor the responsi-
bility of his militlry occupation and appeal to the future.
If war be impossible, let us tranquillise our souls and
labour to strengthen this Italy which one day will find
troops and ships and guns and financial credit accumulated
in the storehouses of peace, and a people ready, and
unanimity of purpose, and unbounded hatred and favour-
able opportunities. All these things we then will hurl
against France if she still would bar the path to Rome.
And it will be war, the holiest war that Italy can ever
make !"

The Budget of the Italian Government has not yet been
voted, but the estimates have been distributed to the
deputies, and they show a deficit of about eight millions
sterling on the coming year. But this fact is not the only
one which presents itself as evidence of what is practically
the bankruptcy of the country. There are arrears which
have been stated at twenty millions, though the precise
figure has not been ascertained. If the arrears of taxes
could he got in, the country would experience much relief ;
but heavy sums still remain due on the years 1866 and
1867, a circumstance which results not from the insolvency
of the taxpayers, but from the inefficiency of the suc-
cessive Governments. It is a somewhat ominous fact that
paper-money to the value of 844 millions of francs
is in circulation in Italy, and that besides this amount of
notes having a forced currency, " it is estimated that those
issued by popular banks and private establishments amount
to fifty millions more." It thus appears that there is
nearly half the paper-money in Italy alone that there is in
the United States ; but in proportion to the resources,
prospects, and elasticity, there is really more paper-money
in the small European peninsula than there is in the vast
country of the new world.
We learn from the Standard's Athens correspondent that
the Provisional Government of Crete has addressed to the
Consuls of Christians residing at Canea a refutation of
the last proclamation of the Grand Vizier, and also
a protestation against the behaviour of the Turkish
troops who, at Diraliscari, had attacked and shot,
on the 12th of November, women, children, and
old men, who were waiting along the shore
for steamers to convey them to Greece. Hostilities were
expected to be commenced on a large scale, for the Turkish
troops had moved forward to Laki, where the insurgents
were massed. The demonstrations on the arrival of the
newly-married King and Queen of Greece were of the
most enthusiastic description, and have not been sur-
passed by any event of the kind since the celebration of
the arrival of the Princess Alexandria in England. Het
Hellenic Majesty Queen Olga has already won the cordial
rood-will of the people.

EXTRAORDINARY BILL TRANSACTION.

The excitable people of Dublin have at last got hold of
a scandal, which turns attention from the hitherto all-
pervading ,ne of mock funerals and Fenian heroics. In
the Irish Court of Common Pleas, Dublin, on Tuesday,
Mr. Lewis Harris, an Israelite, sued by Mr. J. L. Bagot,
the possessor of considerable property in the county of
Galway, to recover £.500, the amount of two bills of
exchange drawn by Mr. W. Sidney, Q.O. (an Irish
barrister lately in large practice), upon the defendant. Mr.
Begot denies his responsibility, averring that he did not
accept the bills, and that the signature to them is not his.
The case for the plaintiff is that Mr. Bagot gave full au-
thority to Mr. Sidney to sign for him. The transactions
began in 1864, and continued up to August 1866, when
Mr. Sidney left the country under pressure of monetary
difficulties. The interest of the case centres in the exami-
nation of Mr. Sidney, who has returned to Ireland for
the purpose, and was produced as a witness for the plain-
tiff. Mr. Sidney has distinctly stated that he had the
most extended authority from Mr. Bagot to use his name.
A letter written by Mr. Sidney previous to his departure
from this country, admitting that he had no such autho-
rity, was declared by counsel for the plaintiff to have been
extorted from him.

THE ECONOMY OF FAT OXEN.—In reference to
the Smithfield Show a contemporary says : " A butcher,
in our hearing on Wednesday, made a calculation that the
price at which the prize ox had been sold would make
about 3s. a pound wholesale ; and as it is notoriously mi.
remunerative to the breeder, it may be a question whether
animals fattened scientifically as "Black Prince" jun.
has been, fulfil the intention of the Smithfield Club; which
at its foundation was stated to be to encourage the pro-
duction of good and cheap meat kr the London markets.

M. SPURG7ON'S COLLEGB.-At a meeting of the
friends of Mr. Spurgeon's college, the president related
how he began the work. Some years ago ho maintained
and educated a youth who seemed a promising servant for
the ministry. As he himself could only occupy one chapel
and pulpit, he saw how the work of the Lord might be
enhanced if he could only educate and prepare a number
of young men to fill those places he could not, and where
the work of God was want: d. Mr. Spurgeon also stated
that they had sent out twenty-eight ministers to various
parts of England ; they had four in Scotland, and thirty-
five were still preparing for the ministry.

TILE SOLWAY RAILWAY VIADUCT. —An important
point in the erection of the iron viaduct which is to carry
the Solway Junction Railway across that firth has just
been reached. The foundation of the viaduct, which was
commenced about two years ago, has since been carried
on from both shores, and the two sections have been
gradually approaching each other, until, on Saturday
last, a junction between. them was successfully effected.
The bridge, however, is not yet quite complete, as there
are twenty bays or arches still to be added to the southern
end. The portion erected consists of 183 bays, and is
just about a mile in length, and with its completion the
anticipated difficulties of crossing the Solway may now
be said to have been oyez:g4. let-1-.049am &Md.