The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-29 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

fins DAY.—Morning, Bh. 23m.—Afternoon, 9h. Om.
To-Mon.now.-31@rning, :_9h. 33m.—Afternoon, 10h. 12m.

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LONDON, TUESDAY, JAN. 29, 1867.

After a retirement of some months from public
life Mr. GLADSTONE has appeared in Parrs, where
he seems to have been received in the most flatter-
ing manner. IVhile he was still in Florence the
right hon. gentleman received an invitation from
the Political Economy Society to meet them when
he visited Paris. Accordingly, on Saturday, the
entertainment took place, and the affair went off
very well, the proceedings being of a most interest-
ing nature. This society was foundel sometime
ago, at a period when few persons in France
troubled themselves much about the subject,
or, indeed, understood its import. It is curious

as well as instructive to mark the changes
which have taken place of late in the consideration
attached to this question. Mr. GLADSTONE'S speech
was delivered in English, but it appeared to afford
complete satisfaction to all who heard it, and the
right hon. gentleman was enthusiastically received.
After thanking them for the honour done to him, he
referred more particularly to the subjects that im-
mediately concerned his hearers. In alluding to
the French Treaty of Commerce, he said that he had
merely played a secondary part in that great under-
taking. Two persons shared the merit be-
fore him one, the Emperor NAPOLEON,
who had achieved great wonders in accom-
plishing this work, which, indeed, would never
have been effected but for his strong will and per-
severance, his power had transformed a pleasing
dream into a brilliant and solid reality ; and next
came Mr. COBDF.N. The right. hon. gentleman
alluded to the apostle of Free Trade in a most im-
pressive manner, '*hich seemed to affect his hearers.

As for England, Mr. GLADSTONE admitted that
she had been once greatly in fault respecting the
course she took in commercial freedom, but her
improvement is now patent to the world, and all
must see that we are willing to change for
the better. The good example set by France
and England will, no doubt, influence
the other nations, and, sooner or later,
they will be glad to follow in the way set before
them by such high examples. " The path of com-
mercial freedom," said Mr. GLADSTONE, "is like
the path of virtue, only the first steps are arduous,
and the most easy are the latter ones." The right
hon. gentlemen concluded his impressive and
interesting discourse with expressing a hope that
the two countries might continue in the good
works they had began ; affording, as they did, the
surest guarantee for the increase of goodwill and
friendly feeling the best security for the
peace of . Europe. Mr. CARDEWELL made
a brief speech, in which he alluded to the
distinguished service rendered to the cause of civi-
lization by the late Sir ROBERT PEEL. In referring
to the present state of feeling that existed between
us and our continental neighbours, he said that he
rejoiced to think the words of the great poet of his
nation seemed likely to be realized—

" That the contending kingdoms
Of France and England, whose very shores look pale

With envy of each other's happiness,

May cease their hatred."

It is very satisfactory to meet with an instance
like this, showing that ancient rivalries may cease,
and national prejudices may disappear, while some
of the chief persons of either country may
meet to discuss matters of common interest
with sense, spirit, and intelligence. The more
intimate the connexion between the two people
the more lasting is likely to be their respect
for each other and the more firmer their regard.
Mr. GLADSTONE may rejoice not only at the imme-
diate aspect of his visit to France, but also at the
lasting results it may produce in improving the
Parisians in their knowledge of our ways and in-
creasing their interest in our statesmen.

The public will read with interest the verdict
given in the case of the Regent's-park accident, and
we think that the general opinion will be that it is a
very fair one, and seems to comprehend all the
most important points. After stating that the acci-
dent arose from overcrowding on the ice, some
recommendations are made to the Legislature which
merit the greatest attention. First of all, it is sug-
gested that it should consider the propriety of in-
vesting " the police or other authority with power
to prevent the public venturing upon the
ice when in an unsound state, as the evi-
dence at this inquiry clearly shows that mere
verbal warning is not headed in such cases." This
is a very wise determination on the part of the
jury, for it is certain that greater power should be
given to those in authority to prevent people from
exposing themselves to risks by their temerity and
obstinacy. When so many restrictions are put upon
traffic in many places to suit particular objects, and
when various parts of the parks and other places
of public resort are kept from the public at
various times, it does, indeed, seem inconsistent
that they should be allowed such unre-
stricted liberty to expose themselves to
danger, and perhaps destruction. Another
recommendation is that the Government should
reduce the depth of the water, so that there may be
no repetition ot:the terrible calamity. This has
already been acted upon, and the Chief Commissioner
of the Board of Works deserves great credit for
his promptitude in the matter. We fully concur
with the jury in the praises they award to the ice-
men, police, and others, for the part they took in
this said affair and the efforts they made to save
life. We never remember an occasion when so much
sympathy was shown in all directions for the suf-
ferers by a calamity as has been evidenced on this
unfortunate occasion. It is to be h aped that the
sad affair of this accident may not pass away from
men's minds without teaching some useful lessons.
There are thousands who, from mere perversity,
will not give any heed to the warnings of those
who must know best about the matter they speak
of. Not only as regards going on the ice, but in
railway-travelling, steam-boat conveyance, and
other things, great carelessness prevails. Courage
in danger is very different from reckless exposure
of life ; and the sooner the inexperienced and wil-
ful among the community lay this to heart the
better it will be for themselves and their friends.

We learn by the Atlantic Cable that President
JOHNSON has approved the bill for re-assembling
Congress on the 4th of March. This is important,
because the bill in question was passed by the
Radical party in order to control him in the right
of political appointments. Mr. JOIINSON might, had
he chosen, at least have made a protest against the
unwarrantable assumption of the Radicals by putting
his veto upon the bill ; but he was not, perhaps,
sorry to show his countrymen how little he cared
for merely personal attacks. The Radicals, since
their rupture with the PRESIDENT, have never
missed an opportunity of putting an affront upon
Mr. JOHNSON ; and to them, no doubt, the loss
of the power of appointment seemed the severest
punishment which they could inflict upon their
adversary. Mr. JOHNSON, however, has given a
fresh example of his indifference to questions of
mere personal aggrandisement or the extension of
his political influence. He has over and over again
declared that he is not solicitous of re-election, and
his acts confirm his words. If a long tenure of
oflice and an unscrupulous use of power had been

his objects he might easily have secured them by
hearty co-operation with the Radicals. If instead
of resolutely opposing their encroachments on the
civil liberties protected by the Constitution, and
maintaining the doctrine of the Union when it
involved the sacrifice of -vindictiveness and
prejudice, as well as mere -verbal professions, Mr.
JOHNSON bad employed all his energies in filling
the public service with Radicals and in crushing
down the Southern States he would for the time
have been immensely powerful. As he himself
clearly pointed out, the constant effect of the Radi-
cal movement has been to centralise power ; and he
himself, had he so chosen, might live become Bic-