The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-31 00:00:00

sary proportion of supporters in both Houses. New
York, the Empire State, has declared umistakeably
for the Democrats. California, New Jersey, and
Pennsylvania itself have gone over to the same
side, while in those States which had been formerly
regarded as undoubtedly Radical the majorities
were largely diminished. The PRESIDENT, IN ho
has apparently learned something by the expe-
rience of 1866, remained quiet during the earlier
part of the year, though striking a sudden and
overwhelming blow at Radical insolence and
ati-
sumption in the person of STANTON. Events
showed that he had not miscalculated his
position. The country supported the ex-
treme measure, and general disgust was
expressed on all sides at the manner in which the
registration of voters was managed in the South.
The preponderance given to the negroes has un-
questionably much to do with the growing unpopu-
larity of the Radicals, while the position of the
national finances call loudly for wise and temperate
legislation, instead of rash and lavish expenditure.
The Radical Reconstruction Scheme has proved too
costly for the coffers of a nation just emerging from
war, and the PRESIDENT'S Message, delivered at
the opening of the December Session, refers espe-
cially to this argument against it. So far, then,
matters promise better for both North and South,
while all eyes turn to General GRANT as the
next President—a choice which effectually proves
how altered is the position of the rival parties since
the 31st of December, 1866.
In Mexico the twelvemonth has been marked by
an imperial tragedy. The collapse of the Empire,
the treachery of LOPEZ, the cruelty of JUAREZ, the
murder of MAXIMILIAN, are all still fresh in the
public memory. The sympathy evoked by the gal-
lantry and devotion of the unfortunate Archduke
and his beautiful but still more unhappy bride was
strong and universal. Those who disliked the
establishment of the Empire, or regarded the enter-
prise from the first as chimerical, were moved to
pity and regret at the mournful ending of the story.
JUAREZ, re-elected President, still rules in Mexico,
but anarchy and confusion are by no means ba-
nished.

In South America, too, the year has been a stormy
one. The war between Paraguay and Brazil and
the Argentine Republic has been its principal event.
It is difficult to ascertain the real facts of the case,
but there is reason to believe that the Paraguayans
have a good chance of ultimate success.
In the West Indies the year has been a most dis-
astrous one. The terrible cyclone which swept
over Tortola and St. Thomas at the end of October
did fearful damage to life and property, and very
soon after an earthquake, with its dangerous
attendant, a huge sea roller, brought fresh desola-
tion in its train. The casualties among the ship-
ping in the vicinity, caused by these misfortunes,
were very numerous, and the mail steamers of the
Royal West India Mail Company suffered heavily.
In other parts of the globe, too, the elemental dis-
turbances have been of an exceptional character.
China and India have alike been visited by terrific
cyclones, and immense mischief done. Happily in
India the Orissa famine is passing rapidly away.
In the early part of the year shocks of earthquake
were felt in Cephalonia and Mitylene ; and
looking back over the record of the year we
find the number and severity of such visitations
have been remarkable and startling.
Of what may be called artificial catastrophes we
have had more than our share. The list of explo-
sion,,,, conflagrations, and accidents has been un-
usually numerous. The severe frost with which the
year opened had a disaster of its own, and the
breaking of the ice iu the Regent's-park threw a
gloom over the metropolis at the outset. As if the
latter end were to match the beginning, we have had,
this N ery month of December, to chronicle more
than one accidental explosion of a fatal character,
culminating in the terrible disaster at Faversham,
which we recorded yesterday.
At the early part of this year considerable gloom
was thrown over the fashionable season through the
serious illness of the Princess of WALES, and al-
though the alarming symptoms :passed away her
Royal Highness was an invalid for many months,
and has not yet been able to resume her former
habits of activity. Happily she is now greatly re-
covered, and it is hoped may soon be restored to
the duties and pleasures of her exalted station. A
long list of deaths has made many blanks in political,
artistic, and literary circles; and this, as well as
other reasons, has conspired to cast a shadow over
the country. Instead of the New Year coining in
with mirth and rejoicing, it is enveloped and en-
circled with doubts ; but nations, no more than
individuals, can hope or expect to meet with an
unchequered fate, and must pass through the half
shade and half sunshine along which the world ad-
vances. The poet has told us that •

" The darkest day,
Live till to-morrow, will have passed away"

and thus this gloomy year is over. Let us hope
that the next one may be better in many respects,
and that the voice of lamentation and distress may
not again be heard in so many quarters of our land.
The beneficent POVIDERNCE which has showered so
many blessings on our favoured land for long years
may well inspire our hearts with faith in the future,
and confidence in the Constitution of our country,
which has stood so many storms and survived so
many changes.

The news from Cork is of a startling character.
The Fenians, probably the same who attacked the
Martell° Tower, have made a new and daring move
by which they have obtained possession of a quan-
tity of arms and ammunition. Early yesterday
morning, eight men entered a gunsmith's shop in
one of the large thoroughfares, and while five of
them kept guard with loaded revolvers over the
owner of the shop and his two assistants the three
others deliberately rifled the shop, carrying off 60
revolvers and 1,500 rounds of ammunition.
When they had achieved their object, they quietly
went out of the shop and disappeared without
any interruption, going on in different directions.
The men bad no disguise, and the police have some
hope of tracing the offenders. They are not very
likely, however, to recover the arms or the
ammunition which has been thus daringly
seized, and the bold and open nature of
the attack has created much excitement i❑
the city. It would seem that they must have had
some prior information as to the contents of the
shop and their chances of success, else they would
hardly have ventured on so deperate an experiment
in broad daylight. The non-detection or arrest
of the offenders is no great wonder, if they silenced
tha men within, as they went off by different routes.
These repeated misadventures should teach the pro-
prietors and employes of such places to keep a bet-
ter look out, as it is far easier to keep such intruders
outside the walls and doors than to allow them to
gain admittance for the sake of turning them out
again.

SOUTH KENSINGTON MUSEUll.—Visitors during
the week ending December 28 :—On Monday, Tuesday,
and Saturday, pee from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., 17,947 ; on
Thursday and Friday, from 10 a.m. till 10 p.m., 9,543—
total, 17,490. Average of corresponding wsek in former
years, 19,403. Total from the opining of the Museum,
7,124,754. Patent Office Museum—Number of visitors fo-f

the week ending the 28th of December, 9,292...t0tal num-
ber since the opening of the Museum free daily (12th of
May, 1858), 1,222,160.