The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-14 00:00:00

are possibly supposed to be influenced by

its interests.

The common sense of the

question is certainly on the side of the Fourth
Estate. It is manifestly the business and duty of
the newspaper proprietor to publish full and faithful
reports of the proceedings at all public meetings.
In pursuance of this duty he inserts (very possibly
without reading it) an accurate report of an intem-
perate or slanderous speech. The speaker's name
is published at the head of the speech, all the atten-

dant circumstances of time and place are given, so

that any one who likes to verify the statement can
do so without trouble, and yet the proprietor is
liable for heavy damages and still heavier
costs. The person slandered must seek redress,

not from the false or malicious speaker, who

has wilfully attacked him, but from the pro-
prietor of the newspaper, although he never heard
of his name, and knows nothing of the matter. So
that supposing the slander to be proved and damages
given the slanderer still escapes scot free, while a

gentleman who is perfectly innocent must pay a

large sum, and be subjected to all the annoyance,
loss of time, and inconvenience of a lawsuit.

In fact, such is the present state of the law that if
a man of sufficient standing to get his words reported
wished to injure a newspaper proprietor the shortest
way of doing so with impunity to himself would be
to slander somebody else ! Sir C. O'LOGIILEN'S

very sensible and timely measure deals with this
part of the question in a practical and straightfor-

ward manner. Despite the fears expressed by some

hon. members he gives no scope for an abuse of
the liberty of the press. Newspaper proprietors

and publishers3are still to be liable for unfounded
attacks upon individuals published on their own
authority ; but in the matter of reports public
speakers are to be made responsible for what they
say at public meetings. The proprietor may be re-

quired to publish a contradiction of the false state
ment, which naturally he would be eager to do, but
the real offender is to be the person punished for
the offence, not a substitute who knows nothing of
the matter. Mr. BAINES very justly said in the
course of last night's discussion that gentlemen con-
nected with the press were now liable to heavy
punishment for not doing that which it was notori-
ously impossible that they should do—that was to
say for not examining reports, often brought in at
the last moment before publication, in order
order to eliminate from them whatever might be
defamatory. Mr. BAINES reminded the house that
speakers at public meetings were fully aware that
their words would be reported, and therefore they
ought to be held responsible for their speeches.
We admit, with Sir G. BOWYER, that the publication
of a refutation of the slander does not always com-
pletely undo the mischief done by its publication,
because many persons might read the slander who
did not read the contradiction. At the same time
the hon. baronet fully concurred in the justice of
punishing the speaker, setting forth his rea-
sons very forcibly. "At present what a man
said against the character of his neigh-
bour at a public meeting was actionable only
if it came within the law of slander, which was of a
very narrow description. But if he said anything
which, if written, would be actionable, but which
was not actionable if spoken, he was entirely exempt
from responsibility. That was a great abuse, be-
cause the man who spoke slanderous words knew
perfectly well that there were other persons present
who were writing them down. Therefore, as he
sl oke the words, knowing that they were going to
be published, he ought to be liable the same
as if he had wrote them with his own hand."
Mr. ROEBUCK, who, no doubt, in pursuance
of his professional duties, had often had the
opportunity of hearing the real history of a libel
case, summed up in a few terse and vigorous sen-
tences the present working of the law. If an honest
man found himself libelled, he said, he went to the
newspaper proprietor and said so, and if the pro-
prietor refused to publish his answer he would still
have his remedy under the new bill. But what did
a dishonest man do? He rushed to a dishonest
attorney, who immediately demanded the name of
the newspaper's attorney. No opportunity for ex-
planation was sought, and if offered it was re-
fused ; they must wait. " The meaning of that was
till costs bad been incurred, otherwise there would
be no pickings and no bill." When the case came on
for trial the attorney was ready for an arrangement,
which meant that the unfortunate proprietor should
pay his costs. We apprehend that the fidelity of
this picture will be recognised by a good many gen-
tlemen of the press. In reference to this point of
costs, Sir C. O'LOGHLEN'S Bill provides that no
plaintiff shall be entitled to more costs than
damages, unless the jury shall give damages ex-
ceeding £5. Also it extends the provisions of the
English law, with respect to costs, to Ireland ; for
in Ireland even a farthing damages carry costs.
The debate was an able and interesting one, and
the evidence given by those who knew most about
the matter abundantly proved that there is urgent
need of a change. The principles of the Bill,
which was read a second time, are sound and rea-
sonable, and any minor alterations or improvements
that may be desirable can be easily effected in its
progress through committee.

The arrival of the China from Boston and Halifax,
with news from New York to the 28th ult., brings
us fuller details of the proceedings of Congress than
we could obtain by the telegraph. The House of
Representatives have passed the amendment to the
Army Bill ordering the disbandment of the Southern
militia. The Army Appropriation Bill, as passed,
prohibits the PRESIDENT from removing General
GRANT, or assigning him to do duty elsewhere
than in Washington, without the approval of
the Senate. It further requires all the PRE-
SIDENT'S military orders to be issued through a
General in the army. These provisions are
of course intended to restrict the PRESIDENT'S
authority over the army, and is both an impertinent
and an unconstitutional interference with the
Presidential powers. It is said that General GRANT
favours the bill for the military government of the
South, though whether this is actually true or not
is uncertain. Possibly his military associations in-
cline him to the rule of the sword, but if he throws
his influence into the balance against the South the
prospects of America are darkening. It is not to
be imagined that the Southern States can be much
longer kept in their present condition, and therefore
everything that postpones the prospect of a speedy
restoration of the Union increases the danger that
soon union may become impossible.

THE CATTLE PLAGUE.—We regret to announce
that, after the county of Cumberland has enjoyed an im-
munity from cattle plague for several months, the dread
disease has again appeared in this district. Mr. Thomas
Atkinson, of Wall Dub, in the parish of Burtholme, Lauer-
cost, had a cow destroyed on Monday, the animal having
been condemned by Mr. Thomas Coats, veterinary sur-
geon, the Government inspector, as being affected with the
rinderpest. Mr. Atkinson had only this one cow, which
he had purchased last month in Carlisle. It was of the
Irish breed, and had in all probability been newly im-
ported.—Carlisle Journal.
THE PANTHEON, IN OXFORD-STREET, having lost
its occupation as a bazaar, why not, suggests the Athenaeum,
bring it back to its estate as a concert-room, as it was in
Burney's days, when La Bastardella (Lucrezia Agujari),
the most amazing singer of her time, sang there for the
thou moms a= of XlOO a night.

Verdi's opera of " Don Carlos," about which
there has been feverish excitement for many months
past, was at length produced on Monday evening.
I was not present, for in truth it was very ,klifficult
to get a ticket of admission for love or money. As
much as 500 f. was paid for an orchestra stall, a
fact which may prove how great is the rage for
musical novelty. The excitement respecting " Don
Carlos" was increased from the circumstance that
quality of the music
regular the
performance. The
the rehearsals were private,
private, so that nobody should
d
b e
untila b able
the g
t o
ngiivhet ofan 1
the of
leading musical writers have deferred their criticisms
for the present. Critics and political writers in
Paris sometimes require a long time before they
can digest their opinions. I therefore hasten to
say that from sonic whispers I have heard from
musical localities this opera has hardly risen to
the marvellous height of art which was expected.
In other words, some consider it as a sort
of failure. One critic, not of first-rate
authority, however, who has given his views upon
the production, says :—" This opera illustrates the
principal incidents of Schiller's celebrated piece,
which is of rather sombre character, but suited to
the energetic talent of the composer. There was an
anxiety to know if Verdi, on again working for the
French scene, would persist in his first style, or
would exhibit the influence which the French school
had operated upon him. Without abandoning his
melodious qualities, it appears that Verdi has un-
dergone a powerful transformation. He has made
a step towards the style of the author of the
" Huguenots" and the " Africaine." Verdi, in
"Don Carlos," has Meyerbeerised himself. It is
after the great scene of the auto-da-fe that his con-
version becomes striking, but the orchestration ,of
the whole work evinces a constant effort. Verdi
happily deserts the precedents of the Italian school
to recognise in dramatic music, the importance of
symphony. The first act is only a preparatory in-
troduction of little importance ; the second has much
grace and freshness, but Verdi has only reached the
element of grand opera in the third act. There is no
overture to this opera. Up to the third act Verdi
has been powerful. Then he becomes grand. The
fourth act continues this impression of grandeur.
The last act, a little severe perhaps, demanded
something more striking ; but the curtain neverthe-
less fell upon a noble musical page, the success of
which cannot be told upon a single representation."
The Emperor and Empress were present, and seve-
ral times gave the signal for applause.
Last evening and night the rain fell abundantly
and violently, with such a copious intermixture of
snow that the snow was uppermost on the ground
in the morning. Some of the snow still remains in
the gardens of Paris and in the vicinity of the city,
and, upon the whole, it has been a dull, cold, win-
tee', day, with quite enough rain to be extremely
disagreeable. If I were a weather prophet I should
say it will be frosty to-night.

THE ITALIAN FLEET.—The Italian Government
has had three vessels of war for some time in the Candian
waters. The Italia now announces that this number of
vessels is to be considerably augmented, and adds—" Italy
is preparing for the grave events which may take place in
the spring, and which everybody anticipates." " The
Italian fleet," writes the Florence correspondent of the
Debats, "collected at Cagliari under the orders of Admiral
Ribotti, will leave for the Levant in a few days. Between
this and the month of April events are expected to take
place in the East, and Italy appears destined to play a
considerable part in them—a part of conciliation rather
than of war—a part which it l 5 difficult to define, but
which it is easy to foresee.''