The Sun.
London, England, 1867-10-07 00:00:00

THE SUN. LONDoiv. MONDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 7, HA.

Republican votes in Ohio being nearly 50,000
in txcess of the Dei nocrats. The offices to be voted
for are all important. In Ohio it is the Go-
vernorship, for which two rival Generals are
contending. In Pennsylvania it is the post of
Judge of the Supreme Court which is held for 15
years. In lowa it is the Governor who is to be
chosen; and in Indiana only members of the State
Legislature. It may easily be supposed that these
contests are exciting the greatest interest ; and
since there can be no question that the Radicals
have succeeded in disgusting a very large party
through their reckless mismanagement of public
funds and their extravagant animosity towards
the South, it is very probable that the Re-
publican majorities may be at least reduced.
The misfortune in all these contests is that
the best men refuse to come forward, and the voters
are often compelled to choose between rival candi-
dates who are both unfit for the post. This
grievance is loudly lamented by all the better
classes of Americans, but so mischievous is the
system under which candidates are selected that it
is almost hopeless to expect good men to come for-
ward. The Union League of Philadelphia has
offered prizes for the best essays, suggesting plans
for the selection of candidates, but, unluckily, in
real life, the prizes are ready for any unscrupulous
man who can thrust himself into a position in
which he can handle public money, and use his
political influence to his own profit. This system
of making a trade of politics is an openly recog-
nised evil in America; and, until some means can
be devised of grappling with it, we cannot hope to
see a permanent change for the better in the con-
duct of the national affairs.

Mr. GRANT DUFF has made an interesting speech
at Elgin. He addressed his observations more to
the prospects of the coming session than to the
reminiscences of the last, which was a refreshing
change at any rate to those wearied with the oft-
repeated tale of the struggle that took place on
the Reform Bill of 1867. We concur in the hope
expressed by the hon. member that we may have no
party fighting during the necessary work that will
remain in the matter of Reform Legislation
If the year 1868 be looked upon as a
" time of armistice" no doubt a great deal
may be effected of a lasting and a satisfactory
character. Referring to the Scotch Reform Bill,
Mr. DUFF said he thought that the Government
bad pledged itself to two things—first of all, to give
additional members to Scotland ; and secondly, to
lower the franchise. As for the notion of grouping
boroughs, respecting which so much doubt has pre-
vailed, in all probability the general expression of
opinion on the subject will prevail with the Go-
vernment and the House of Commons. Mr. GRANT
DUFF said with great truth that the Government had
no cause to apprehend any factious opposition from
the Scotch members. On this we may remark, in
passing, that they present a very favourable con-
trast to some of the Irish members, who harass and
worry the Government, and seem determined to b•
satisfied with nothing that is done.
Trades unions were considered in this speech,
and indeed the subject nowadays occupies so much
attention that it is not likely any speaker
would pass it over. Mr. DUFF thinks that
they must be dealt with in a fair but
firm spirit, receiving protection from the law when
their objects are not wrong, but restrained wh en
they interfere with the liberty of others. We wish
that we could believe with the hon. member that the
atrocities of Sheffield and Manchester are rather
the remains of old evils than the forerunners of new
ones. On the contrary, we apprehend that con-
tinued investigation will result in bringing to light
more revelations of a shocking nature, and that the
evil sentiment which animates these Unions,
in many instances, is spreading rather than
decreasing. It is at anyrate most encou-
raging to find that men of experience and in-
telligence in all directions are coming to the con-
clusion that something must be done in the matter
to check the progress of the evil and to counteract
its fatal influences. As it is here put, " The work-
ing class have surely not been freed from the
tyranny of guilds and corporations created by law
only to fall under a new tyranny." The importance
of education was laid great stress upon by Mr.
GRANT DUFF, who is himself in favour of
compulsory education being adopted. This
system will not, however, find favour with the
people of this country, as it is contrary to the
practices and usages which have long been in vogue,
and accord with the spirit of the national institu-
tions. Mr. DUFF does not entertain a very sanguine
view of the aspect of political matters in some re-
spects. He says that " Lord RUSSELL has mistaken
the clock ; pray Heaven that his mistake may not
break up the Libera: party." But he thinks that
the Democratic England of the twentieth century
will be a better place to live in than the England
of to-day.

The year 1866 has been generally recognised as a
very stormy and inclement one, and it is not, there-
fore, surprising to find that the demands on the
resources of the National Lifeboat Association have
been more than usually heavy. At the meeting
held on Thursday, at the offices of the Institution,
in the Adelphi, payments amounting to nearly
£4,000 were ordered to be made on the various
establishments, making a total of £23,290 ex-
pended on the lifeboat stations during the current
year. The pressure on the funds was stated to be
very heavy at the present time, and it was probable
that some of the funded capital of the society
would be sold out to meet the demands. Those
who are interested in the successful prosecution of
the great work so ably carried on by this associa-
tion will no doubt respond to this announcement by
liberal subscriptions. There is no lack of tangible
evidence of the good done through their efforts.
During this year they have been instrumental in
rescuing 762 lives, and during the gales of the last
month alone 47 lives and 9 vessels have been saved
on the north-eastern coast. For these services re-
wards, amounting to £53, were voted, as well as £4O
for services during the recent heavy gales at Mar-
gate, Dundalk, and New Brighton. Visits of inspec-
tion have recently been paid to the several stations,
and a strict supervision is kept over the boats and their
crews. It is interesting to find that the Order of
Foresters, keep up their interest in the Association.
They have just sent £5O for the support of their
lifeboat Forester at Newquay, Cardigan, and they
are collecting funds for a new boat. The institu-
tion has recently sent new boats to Mullion, in
Cornwall, to Brighton, and to Dundalk, in Ire-
land; these three being the gifts of several Sunday
schools. Such facts are highly interesting, because
they show how widely the efforts of the Association
are now appreciated, and there is no doubt that the
more their labours are understood the more nume-
rous and ready will be their supporters.

THE OUTRAGE ON THE REV. ALBAN CRADOCK
AT STOURBRIDGE.—A few weeks ago when Murphy was
lecturing at Stourbridge the Rev. Alban Cradock, Roman
Catholic priest at Kidderminster, was set upon in the
streets of Stourbridgo by an infuriated mob and compelled
to take shelter in the Talbot Hotel. Ho returned home,
but has never been well since, and a short time ago was
taken most dangerously ill, and is now dying, it is feared,
from internal injuries received from the attack of Murphy's
folio wers.—.Birmingliant Gazette.

CORRESPONDENCE PROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Sunday Evening.

Considerable sensation has been produced in
Paris by an announcement made in the Diritto of
Florence that the Italian Government had again
arrested Garibaldi. This news was circulated in
Paris on Friday evening after post hour, but not-
withstanding the time which has elapsed there is
no real confirmation of the alleged news, although
it has formed the basis of many exciting conjec-
tures as to the cause and probable consequences of
the arrest. No telegram confirmatory of the in-
telligence has since been received in Paris, or at all
events no account to be relied upon has been pub-
lished. Many believe that a hoax has been played
upon the Diritto. I have recently alluded to the
extensive fabrication of news in Paris, and per-
haps the system has commenced in Italy.
M. Simson, the President of the Reichsrath, has
arrived at the chateau of Hohenzollern, and has
presented the address of the Chamber in answer to
the address of the King of Prussia at the opening
of the Parliament of Northern Germany. His Ma-
jesty received the document very graciously, and
he was invited to breakfast with the King.
It is stated from Stuttgard that the project of
law relative to military service in Wurtemberg has
been referred to a Committee of the Chamber. This
project enacts the universal obligation to serve in
the army without a substitute. The active service
will be for three years, a service of four years in
the army of reserve, and a service of five years in
the Landwehr. The Chamber will decide upon the
number of men of which the army is to be
composed.
The Moniteur says—" We hear that the Jewish
community of Tripoli, in Barbary, has obtained com-
plete satisfaction for the violation and incendiarism
of the synagogue of Zelitan. An indemnity of
70,000 piastres has been accorded for the recon-
struction of the Synagogue, and energetic measures
have been adopted for the punishment of the guilty
and the security of the Jews. This result is mainly
to be attributed to the intervention of the French
Consul, who has given to the Jews a support which
they never before obtained from any representative
of the French Government."

The postal convention concluded on the 27th of
May last between France and Denmark has been
published. The minimum price of a letter not ex-
ceeding 10 grammes between the two countries will
be half a franc if stamped, and 12 sous if not
stamped. The minimum postage of a letter from
France to England, if stamped, is eight sous, or
fourpence ; but, if the letter be not stamped, treble
postage, or one shilling, is charged, but the weight
must not exceed seven grammes, or a quarter of an
ounce.

A transatlantic cable is about to be laid between
Brest and the French colony of St. Pierre-Miquelon.
The cable will be manufactured in England on
the new system for which a gold medal was obtained
at the Exhibition. The length will be about
2,600 kilometres (a kilometre is upwards of 1,000
yards). St. Pierre Miquelon is a small island in
the North Atlantic Ocean, at the entrance of the
Gulf of St. Lawrence, near Newfoundland. From
St. Pierre the cable will go direct to Now York.
By this cable France will, as it were, form a central
medium of telegraphic communication with the
whole world.

The arms to be seen at the Exhibition excite
peculiar interest. There are some admirable speci-
mens of English, French, and American manu-
facture. It has been said that the success of
Prussia against Austria in 1866 is to be mainly
attributed to the needle-gun. This opinion is con-
troverted by Colonel Borbftced, who has written an
interesting work upon the Prussian campaigns.
He says :—" The infantry had entire confidence in
its needle-gun. At all events, this weapon was
superior to the Austrian gun, and it contributed
much to the success and the confident
attitude of the Prussian infantry, but it
is an exaggeration to attribute to it the
great results obtained upon the field of battle.
Under most of the circumstances of the combat the
Prussians assumed the offensive, and oftener re-
sorted to the use of the bayonet than to the needle-
gun. It was only when momentarily the Prussians
were compelled to act on the defensive, or when
they pursued the enemy with their gun after having
repulsed them, that the needle-gun really caused
ravages." The colonel was engaged in the cam-
paign, and, whether his opinion be wrong or right,
the French Government, I am informed on good
authority, is about to make a practical adoption for
the army of another gun of a more formidable
character, which is to be seen in the Exhibition.
It is the invention and manufacture of the cele-
brated gunsmith, M. Devisme. The percussion is
effected by a strong piercing instrument, which
strikes the cartridge at the back without entering
it. This cartridge is of metallic basis. This gun
is handled with peculiar ease, and the receptacle for
the cartridge is opened by a sort of key which acts
as a lever.

An accident has occurred near Biarritz which
might have been attended with most terrific results.
The Empress and the Imperial Prince, with the
Marquis de la Valette and the Imperial attendants,
embarked in a small boat to make an excursion to
Fontarabria. The Prince landed and walked about
the town. The boat, the Chamois, then sailed for
St. Jean do Luz It became dark, and the pilot
missed the entrance to the port. The boat struck a
rock, and afterwards sunk, but happily the passen-
gers were able to land in safety at Cibcoune. The
poor pilot, however, was knocked into the sea.
With assistance he gained the shore, but in spite of
every attention he died in the course of the night.
The annual vintage fete at Argenteuil, which
takes place the evening before the vintage com-
mences, is always attended with Bacchanalian
orgies, but this year it was kept up with more than
the accustomed spirit, not to say disorder. The
whole population, men, women, and children, en-
camp in the open air, walk in procession, and sing,
dance, and converse during the whole of the night.
" They won't go home till morning." About
12,000 persons kept up the fete this year. The
police are always in attendance, as they know the
scene enacted is something like that at Donnybrook
fair, but with the exception of a fair fight, which
ended in laughter, nothing particularly wrong
occurred. Soon after daybreak_ the vintage opera-
tions commenced, in which all joined except those
who had a headache, and were a little the worse for
the mighty wine of the old year, which ushered in
the operations for the process of the year to come.
Kilotz, the proprietor of our namesake in
Paris, the Soleil, has been ordered by the Tribunal
of Correctional Police to pay a fine of 500 f., M.
Faure, the writer, to two months' imprisonment,
and M. Schillar, the printer, to a fine of 300 f., for
an article in that journal, 4, tending to trouble the
public peace, and to excite the hatred and contempt
of the citizens against each other." This article
formed a culpable attack upon the National Guard
and the authorities charged with the maintenance
of good order and tranquillity.
A monument has recently been erected in the
cemetery of Montmartre, on which is the following
inscription :—" Here lies B. He died on the 27th
of August, 1867, and made his wife happy."
Scarcely was ever a colder wind felt in the middle
of winter than has prevailed to-day. Yesterday
morning some large flakes of snow fell in the Boule-
vards.

Au interesting sale of autographs is now in prc-
gress in Paris. A receipt of Moliere was sold
for 220 f. It is a receipt for 440 francs, signed J.
B. P. Moliere. The receipt is " for board and
rent of room during five days that the King's
company played at St. Germain, by order of his
Majesty, at the fete of St. Hubert, Paris, November
11, 1668." As a mere receipt of the great comedy
writer sold for such a sum, the probability is that
some of his autograph letters will realise a good deal
of money. The collection is said to include many
valuable and curious letters of eminent personages.

G UN ACCIDENT.—AU accident resulting in death
is reported from Guisborough, in Yorkshire. A girl named
Emma Featherstone, who was servant at a farm-house, was
shot by a fellow servant. Death was immediate.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

FEARFUL EXPLOSION AND LOSS OF
LIFE ON THE NORTH LONDON RAIL-
WAY,

Shortly before seven o'cock this morning a fearful
explosion, involving loss of life, took place at the
Highbury Coal Depot of the North London Rail-
way. The depot is situated on the south side of the
line, near the Highbury station, and is approached
from St. Paul's-road. There are several lofty tun.
ber lifts for raising the coal trucks from the line
into the yard, and they were worked by a powerful
stationary engine. It appears that the unfortunate
driver, named Charles Platt, who has perished, got
up steam at the usual hour this morning, and the
work proceeded in a comparatively safe manner.
Twelve coal trucks had been raised, the thirteenth was
about being lifted, and when it had got some two
feet or so from the ground, a fearful explosion oc-
curred which shook the whole neighbourhood.
Considering the nature of the catastrophe, it is mar-
vellous that there was not a greater luss of life. As
it was, however, the destruction of property was
something fearful to witness. The brick walls of
the engine-house were shattered to atoms, and much
of the massive timbers of the lift torn away. Such
was the terrific force of the explosion that the
heavy tube of the boiler, weighing some three
tons was hurled completely across the line into
the Mews, behind Highbury-place, and half of the
carriage into the 6 ft. way between the two line of
rails, the other portion being thrown up into the
wreck of the lift. Had a passenger train been pass-
ing at the time, it is fearful to contemplate what
would have been the consequence. The officers on
the Highbury-station immediately took every pre-
caution to block the line, and as soon as practicable
an examination was made amongst the ruins of the
engine house. The remains of the driver Platt were
found sadly mutilated, life, of course, being extinct.
His arm was found round the piston rod, and it is
thought that he had heard something, and
was endeavouring to escape when the ex-
plosion occurred. The coal man, who had
been attending to the coal truck, which was
about being raised, had a miraculous escape, as had
some of the other labourers. From an inspection
which has been made of the remains of the boiler,
it appears that it was the casing that exploded, the
tube, which was thrown across the line, being almost
uninjured. The lifts and depot are the property
of the North London Railway Company, but they
were in the occupation of Messrs. Lea and Co.,
coal merchants. The deceased was in the service
of the railway company, and it is stated that the
orders were never to exceed a pressure of 401bs. to
the inch. The boiler was what is called a Cornish
one, and had been in use some years. The deceased
has left a widow and numerous family. The pas-
senger trains ran as usual afterwards.