The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-28 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON. THURSOAY EVENING, NOVEIVIBER 28, 1867.

Chamber of Deputies the motions of Herr LASKER
came on for discussion. These were to " quash"
the trial of Herr TWESTEN by a special law, and to
modify the
.84th Article of the Prussian Constitu-
tion, so as to make it consistent with the Constitu-
tion of the North Germanic Confederation. Some
opposition was made to this by Herr VON HOVER..
BECK, who proposed that the House should proceed
to the order of the day; and Count VON LIPPE, the
Minister of Justice, suggested that the members
should wait for the decision of the Supreme Court,
and then they could easily determine upon what
measures they might adopt on the subject
with the most advantage. The speech of Count
BISMARCK was certainly a significant one,
for upon this all-important topic, as it was
considered a short time ago, he merely expressed his
personal views, and refrained from committing the
Government. He said that ho attached no "prac-
tical importance" to the question. This is the more
remarkable, because the Berlin Cabinet have been
prosecuting the affair with the utmost perseverance
and energy for some time past, and have insisted on
the most rigorous measures being adopted. It shows
the signs of the time when BISMARCK has to make
himself a way of retreat in this ignominious fashion,
and decline on the part of his Government to give
an opinion. He said that the conflict between the
Chamber and the Government had arisen from a
" misuse of the freedom of speech." He tried to
get out of the dilemma in which be was placed by
suggesting a middle course, namely, to distinguish
between two conditions of liberty of speech, the
right of speech in the Chamber, and the
right of the newspapers to publish the speeches.
This is absurd, to say the least of it, be-
cause the speeches in question would lose half
their value if they were not published, but we do
not anticipate such a stultifying of the rights of
free debate as this will be allowed. The motions of
Herr LASKER were adopted by 181 votes against
160, and hence a great success has been achieved.
This is certainly a step in the right direction, and
it must be looked upon as of the more conse-
quence now that so great a change is taking
place in the Constitution of Prussia. It is
all very well to try to get out of it by a course of
duplicity such as Count BISMARCK so skilfully pur-
sued; but the truth is not concealed by this means,
and perhaps it is not too much to expect that this
decision of the Diet may influence events in the
most desirable manner. One thing seems certain
at any rate, that we are not likely to see any more
of these political convictions taking place in a hurry,
which in itself is an advantage in every sense of the
word to the cause of freedom and for the sake of
progress.

The result of the debate on the Abyssinian expe-
dition has been a satisfactory one for many reasons,
and the arguments which some speakers put forth
with so much assurance were more or less disposed
of in a summary style. No doubt Mr. LOWE, Mr.
HORSMAN, and Mr. OSBORNE were all very well
satisfied with their performances, and found some
admirers and supporters, but in reality their objec-
tions were quite superfluous, and did not touch the
real question at issue, how the captives were to be
freed, and which was the most expeditious way of
doing so. Lord STANLEY'S speech contains a great
deal of intelligence of the most reassuring kind,
and one of the chief contradictions to the croaking
of certain parties may be found in the telegram
which he received in the House, and the contents of
which he interpolated with his discourse. It ap-
pears that there exists a great desire on the part of
the inhabitants to render the expedition all the as-
sistance possible, and the fact that one hundred and
twenty villages have applied to Colonel MERE-
wETH ERfor friendly treatment, and have offered their
services, is of itself a most important announcement.
As for the difficulties of the route, as the noble
lord said, they will not be more serious than those
which were overcome in Affghanistan, and there is
this advantage that a warlike population inhabited
the latter, which is not the case in Abyssinia. The
question is asked, said Lord STANLEY, " What will
you do in the event of his murdering the prisoners?
My answer is, that King THEODORE has never
shown himself wanting in cunning, and therefore
he is not likely to throw away his last chance of
buying peace by murdering the prisoners, especially
after he has been warned that he will be held per-
sonally responsible for their safety. The prisoners
themselves know the risk they run, and they think
lightly of it, and beg us to ignore it." Really
to notice the manner in which people talk, we
might suppose that King THEODORE was surrounded
by devoted subjects, instead of being most unpopular
and only obeyed from fear in the places where his
power is the strongest. As for the notion of some
that we cannot get out of Abyssinia, that we shall
have destroyed the Government of the KING, and
must not leave the country to anarchy, the best
reply to it is that anarchy is preferable to the govern-
ment of King THEODORE.

It seems hardly worth giving much attention
to the scruples of those who declare that the
Expedition is too large, for how can they expect
that a smaller ono would do? In all probability it
would not succeed, and the Government would not
be justified is going about the business in an insuf-
ficient manner, and in a style not likely to be
crowned with success so far as calculations before-
hand can render them certain. It would be but a
poor saving to the country to send out an insufficient
force, which must stop half way, lose the proper
season, and then have to begin over again next year.
The money loss of such a failure would be nothing
compared to the damage to our reputation thereby,
which on all accounts must be deprecated. Lord
STANLEY employed a very sensible argument when
he said that we must trust to opinion in India. The
rest our position there on prestige. " You hold
power not by force, but in a great measure by the
knowledge or belief that, however mildly and
justly British authority be exercised, it is in the
last resort backed by a force which cannot be
resisted." This is the time now to talk of the
question, and the right principle upon which
to act. We see no reason whatever
why this expedition to Abyssinia may not
be successful ; and, if so, those who have been so
ready to animadvert will regret the course they have
taken in allowing prejudice and party spirit to blind
them to the perception of what the dignity of the
country requires, and which no Government could
overlook with propriety.

A conference of some importance was on Tues-
day last opened at Westminster. It consisted of
members of the Associated Chambers of Commerce
throughout the country, and the representatives of
some forty towns and cities were present. Sub-
jects of national interest awaited their discussion,
and the principal object of the meeting was not to
supersede the annual conference in February, but
to lighten its labours and give Parliament timely
notice of its plans. This is a wise precaution, and
will greatly forward the progress of legislation,
while the labours of the conference are likely,
judging from the list of topics, to be in any
case sufficiently severe. The most important
brought under discussion on Tuesday were Bank-
ruptcy Law Reform, Registration of Partnership,
Registration of Trade Marks, Postal Reform,

and Technical Education, and International Mari-
time Law. Resolutions were passed on most of
these subjects, and in some cases committees were
appointed to promote the wishes of the Association.
This was done in the case of Technical Education,
concerning which several speakers expressed them-
selves very strongly. Mr." FORSTER, M.P.,
who has had some experience of the work-
ing of such schools on the continent,
attributed the rapid progress of continental manu-
factures in a great measure to them, since by their
means the art of design anl other valuable know-
ledge has been very generally acquired. Much has
been done in this country to improve the technical
and artistic education of our mechanics, but morn
roinains to be done ; and we are glad to find that
these gentlemen are determined, among their heavier
duties, not to overlook a less pressing but not less
interesting question.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

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

The Moniteur is entirely destitute of news to-
day, and the other papers are much in the same
position.
In Hungary an important measure has been pro-
posed in behalf of the cause of religious and civil
liberty. The President of the Council of Ministers
has laid upon the table of the Chamber of _Deputies
of Pesth a project of law, having for object to give
to professors of the Jewish religion the same civil
and political rights as are enjoyed by all the other
subjects in the kingdom, and abolishing all pre-
vious laws which placed restrictions upon Jewish
subjects. The deputies received this proposition of
Count Andrassy with general marks of satisfaction
and interest. The Emperor of Austria has arrived
at Pesth.

The " Alnoanack de Paris for 1868," just pub-
lished, estimates the population of France, accord-
ing to the late census, at 38,067,094. This calcu-
lation does not include the population of Algeria.
The population of Paris amounts to 1,779,436. In
the 13th century there were iu Paris only 120,000
inhabitants. In 1846 the population was
1,053,897. In 1851, 1,053,262, In 1856,
1,174,346. In 1862, after the annexation of the
suburbs, the population was 1,696,181 inhabitants.
The number of houses is now 56,000. Of lodgings
the estimated number is 637,369.
In the account of the "Situation of the Empire" it
is stated that the railway traffic during the Exhi-
bition was enormous. The companies made reduc-
tions to the extent of from 50 to 75 per cent. on the
fares. The total number of passengers from the
Ist of April to the 3d of November on the six lines
was 441,816, thus partitioned :—On the Western
Railway, by special trains, 21.000. By the ordi-
nary trains, 101,800. Total, 122,800. Ou the
Northern line, by special trains, 27,920. By the
ordinary trains, 107,808. Total, 135,728. On
the Eastern line, by special trains, 56,032; on the
Orleans line, by special trains, 61,560; ou the
Southern line, by special trains, 3,288; on the
Mediterranean line, including the Victor Emmanuel
Railway, by special trains, 59,410. This total does
not give the full estimate of the number of passen-
gers, because it does not include the first-class
travellers, in respect to whom the companies did
not deem it expedient to make a reduction in the
fare, or the passengers in the environs of Paris and
the adjoining depattineets.
The Prussian budget, which will shortly be sub-
mitted for discussion to the Second Chamber at
Berlin, amounts to 159,862,000 dollars, including
the expenses of the ancient provinces of the Mo-
narchy, as well as those lately annexed. Compared
with the budget of the preceding year, the present
estimate exhibits an increase of receipts to the
amount of 4,738,000 dollars.
The death is announced of one of the most emi-
nent Generals of the first Empire, General Duke de
Fezeuac, who expired in the midst of his family at
his chateau of Mootier, near Tours, in his 84th year,
after a short illness. Ile descended from one of the
most illustrious famiqes of France, allied to the
Kings of Aragon and Navarre. lie entered the
army as a volunteer in 1804, and afterwards served
in many campaigns. lie was in the disastrous
campaign in Russia when the Emperor was com-
pelled to re'reat. Marshal Ney, in reference to his
conduct there, wrote a letter frcm Berlin, dated
June 23, 1813, in which he spoke of the ad-
mirable conduct of the young officer under
very critical circumstances. M. de Fezenac inherited
by transmission the title of Duke, created by Louis
XVIII. in favour of his uncle, the Abbe de Mon-
teequion, Minister of the Interior, in 1814, and one
of the chief authors of the Constitutional Charter,
who died iu 1832. In the same year M. Fezenac
was called to the Chamber of Peers, and in 1838
Count Mole, Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sent him
to Madrid as Ambassador for France. The duke
was an author as well as a soldier. He wrote a
journal of the Russian campaign. The present
Emperor, on learning the General's death, sent his
condolences immediately by telegraph. When the
first Napoleon returned from Russia he asked Count
Mole, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, if be knew
M. de Fezenac, and on being informed that they
were relatives, Napoleon said, “I congratulate you
upon the circumstance ; that young colonel con-
ducted himself admirably throughout the whole
campaign, particularly at Beresina, and he has
brought the eagle of his regiment back to France."
As I informed you would shortly be the case, two
regiments of the French Army have left Rome for
Civita Vecchia, with two batteries of artillery and
a squadron of cavalry.
La France asserts that almost all the Powers
have consented to the Congress, and adds that of
the adhesion of Prussia, but not officially communi.
cated; there is no doubt that she will agree to it.
There has been a Cabinet Council to-day at St.
Cloud, at which the Emperor presided.
The Government has received a despatch an-
nouncing the arrival of five transports at Civita
Vecchia. The first division of French troops had
embarke 3.

The weather has changed again. The frost is
gone. There was a little rain in the morning, but
the afternoon has been bright and fine, and almost
as warm as in summer.

.IIIARKETS—(This Day.)

METROPOLITAN CATTLE.

Our market to-day was well supplied with beasts both
as to number and quality. The demand for all breeds was
in a sluggish state, and Monday's advance in the quota-
tions was with difficulty supported. Sheep, though in
limited supply, moved off slowly, at barely late rates. The
best Downs and half-breds sold at ss. per 81b. The sale
for calves ruled steady at about stationary prices. The
supply was limited. Wo have no change to notice in the
value of pigs. Sales, however, progressed slowly. Much
cows were a dull inquiry.
Per 81bs. to sink the offal

aided sded
Crse & inf. beasts... 3 6 3 8 Pine crs-Wool sheep 4 4 4 8
Second quality do ..3 10 4 2 Prime th'tliaown tie 4 10 5 0
Prime large oxeu ..4 41 8 Large coarse calves 4 4 4 8
Prime 5....0t5, ac.... 4 .0 5 2 Prune ainall do 4 10 5 2
CrBe. and int. sacep.3 4 3 8 Large hogs .3 4 3 8
Second quality do ..3 10 4 2 thmal! porkers 3 1j 4 2
Suckling calves, 221 to 23a ; stud quarter old-store pigs, 23s
to 278 each.

Head of stock on sale.
Total supply. Forolgtesupply.
Beasts
Cows. .. Cows.
Sheep .nd lambs 3,850 Sheep 810_1 tmbs
Calves • N Uatves .. 7J
Vigs .. 220 rigs lO

NEIVGATE AND LEA.DENBALL.
Boef 3 0 to 4 6 Veal 3 6 to 4 6
Mutton.
Per 81bs by the carcase.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

ITALY.

FLORENCE, Nov. 28.

The Italie says that M. Cambray Digny will de-
finitively retain the Portfolio of Finance. Signor
Broglio has been entrusted with the Portfolio of
Agriculture.
The same journal refutes the statement made by
the Osservatore Romano of the organisation of new
Garibaldian bands.

AMERICA.
ARRIVAL OF THE GERMANIA
(via Southampton).
NEW YORK, Nov. 16 (Morning).

The elections in Arkansas, Mississippi, and
Florida have resulted in favour of the Reconstruc-
tion Convention. The delegates elected were
nearly all Radicals, the voting being carried on
mostly by negroes.

The New York Herald states that General Scho-
field, during a recent interview with the President,
expressed the opinion that the Virginia Convention
would prove a failure, and corroborated the report
that the negroes generally were armed and the
whites defenceless.

It is reported that Chief Justice Chase has repri-
manded Hunnicutt, of Richmond, for the in-
cendiary course he is pursuing.
The New Hampshire Democratic State Conven-
tion have nominated Mr. John Sinclair as Governor
and have passed a resolution strongly denouncing
the views of Congress.
The official returns of the election to the State of
New York show a Democratic majority of nearly
49,000.

The steamer City of Cork from Antwerp arrived
out yesterday with cholera on board and was placed
in quarantine.

SOUTHAMPTON, Nov. 27.

The Hamburg and American Company's steam-
ship Germania, from New York on the 16th, ar-
rived here to-day with 75 passengers and $38,407

in specie.

During her passage she spoke the following vessels
on the 16th off Sandy Hook :—The Bremen ship
Amaranth, bound west; and on the 19th, in lat.
42 9 N. and 51 54 W., the English ship Victoria
Nyanja, bound east.