The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-16 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 16, 1867.

THE REFORM LEAGUE AND
REVOLUTION.

The utterances of the Reform League have at-
tracted far too little attention of late. Now that
the great question for which they so sedulously
and seditiously agitated a few months ago has at
length been set at rest, the members of this redoubt-
able association are directing their attention to
other matters, and casting their influence, which
must not be underrated, not on the side of religion
and order, but on that of infidelity and anarchy.
Their new platform is the upholding of the
doctrines of Garibaldianism and Fenianism, which
they rightly and logically judge to be synonymous.
This, with a little twaddle about compound house-
holders' rights, the ballot, and other cognate
matters, constitutes their new bill of fare.

It has for some time been too much the fashion
to jeer at and ridicule the performances of the
League without clearly pointing out what are
its aims and intentions. It is undoubtedly
composed of " the nincompoops of politics—
men more ridiculous than Hudibras," but it is
none the less a formidable power. To apply the
language of Sydney Smith—it must be as summarily
dealt with as a rat boring in a Dutch dyke, whose
depredations are instantly arrested by its extinc-
tion, for the vigilant burgomaster knows that,
however contemptible and feeble the animal may
be, it might, if left alone, cause the inundation
of a province. Such ought to have been the
treatment of the League long ago ; if allowed to
go on in its course, it bids fair to flood England
with all manner of evils. As it is, more sedition,
blasphemy, and encouragement to the resistance of
lawful authority has proceeded from it during the
last year or two than from all similar Societies
during the last half century. It has obtained con-
siderable favour—both tacit and openly expressed
—from some prominent politicians, though that
evil has been somewhat lessened of late by the
withdrawal of several of their names, as soon as
they perceived it was bent on prosecuting a revolu-
tionary policy.

Not content with impudently constituting itself
as the tribunal and supreme judge of those who
have been elected by the suffrages of their fellow-
citizens to manage the affairs of the nation, it has
now had the effrontery to set itself up as the
critic of other Governments, and the aider and
abettor of insurrection abroad as well as at home.
No sooner had the news reached England that
Garibaldi had been arrested at Asinalunga, than
an extraordinary meeting of the Reform League
was convened at St. James's Hall for the
purpose of expressing sympathy with the hero of
the two worlds, and indignation at his arrest. Mr..
Beales, the President of the august assembly, led
the dance, by bursting forth into a violent tirade
against the Emperor of the French, who was
styled " The despot of the Tuileries," and by
denouncing Victor Emmanuel as his tool and
slave. He then lauded Garibaldi, who only a few
days before had declared war against God at the
Congress of Geneva, as the impersonation of all
virtues, the very incarnation of patriotic sanctity.
"He is a man," said the speaker, " who is the
very pride, and glory, and honour of Italy, who
has made the name of Italians famous throughout
the world, whose life has been devoted with the
most singular and almost God-like self-denial and
disinterestedness to the promotion of the freedom
and welfare of his fellow-men," and so on for half
a column. After Mr. Beales had thus, by virtue
of his presidential power, conferred divine honours
on this violator of conventions and leader of
Godless assassins, who, it appears, is not only a
citizen of England, but—which is doubtless much
more glorious for him—an honorary president of
the Reform League—other members of what bids
fair to become an English Jacobin Club, arose and
held forth in a strain even more violent. One

Bradlaugh, styled the " Iconoclast," and who, we
are told, has just returned from Italy, where he has
doubtless been practising his calling with the red-
shirts at Monte Rotondo, confessed that he had
identified himself with the revolutionary movement
in that country long before the establishment of
the League. As a proof of his sincerity, he
reminded the audience that lie was the only one
who raised his voice " when one poor man paid
his testimony to the cause of liberty, and on a cold
morning his head rolled off—he alluded to Orsini

—(cheers)—to do justice to his name, and in
favour of that spirit which they had that night
met to revivify." This is pretty plain speaking,
we must allow; but it was not the plainest that was
heard that evening. One " spouter of sedition"
and blasphemy, throwing off the mask, burst forth
against all Kingly government, standing armies,
and especially against the Papacy, which, as Mgr.
de Segur tells us in a late useful little book, is the
exact programme of the Masonic sect. Then,
following Garibaldi's example at Geneva, he
preached the new religion of Genius and Know-
ledge, for whose perfect establishment the present
political arrangement of Europe—imperial, mo-
narchical, and hierarchal—must be swept away.
The blissful reign of universal peace must, accord-
ing to these scatter-brained enthusiasts, be inau-
gurated by universal war and universal destruction.
All the old landmarks must be swept away, and
mankind must embark on a stormy and tempestuous
ocean without either star or compass to guide
them in the black night of anarchy with which they
will be overwhelmed. This is the goal towards
which " the progress of the nineteenth century,"
to use the nauseous jargon of these Bedlamites,
is hurrying us on day by day. All this balderdash,
and much more to the:same effect, was cheered to
the echo by the audience, among which the fair
sex was largely represented. As a grand finale,
Ricciotti Garibaldi arose amid a perfect hurricane
of applause, and thanked the assembly for its
sympathy towards his father, informing them at
the same time that it was mainly by the help of
the English people that he had been able to com-
pass his iniquitous designs in Southern Italy. This
confession is exceedingly valuable.
When the report of the battle of Mentana, and
the consequent victory of religion, civilization,
and order over infidelity and barbarism, reached
this country, Mr. Beales took occasion, at the next
meeting of the League, to speak of it in the follow-
ing sanctimonious terms :—" Freedom, my friends,
freedom political, civil, and religious, has received
a grievous wound in the defeat of Garibaldi at
Mentana—a defeat caused entirely by the in-
famous intervention of the French Emperor and
his troops. But for them, assisted by the vile
treachery of Victor Emmanuel and his Govern-
ment, Garibaldi would have been in Rome, and
Rome would be now the capital of a free and
united Italy !" It would be impossible to compress
into fewer words a greater amount of mendacity
and misrepresentation.

Logically following out their belief that there
is no difference between the Garibaldians and the
Fenians, and desiring to draw England into the
maelstrom of Revolution, the Leaguers have now
begun to give their countenance to the wild, wicked,
and frenzied efforts of the Irish Carbonari. Some
of them have openly asserted that the Fenians are
perfectly authorized in having recourse to assassi -
nation and physical force for the redress of their
grievances. This was too much for the Presi-
dent, and he accordingly wrote a letter in which
he condemned such doctrines. When he next took
the chair, he said he could not believe that any
of those over whom he had the honour to preside
could advocate recourse to such measures ; but he
was, " nevertheless, delighted to be at the head of
a body of men of such independent spirit, how-
ever much he might regret the shape in which
that spirit had been exhibited." This is good.
Mr. Beales, whilst dissenting from the opinions of
the League, will yet preside over its deliberations ;
for he is afraid to resign his post, as he ought to
do, lest he should lose the little notoriety he has
thereby gained. So much for the consistency of
these preachers of the Rights of Man and the
Social Contract !

Since that occasion, the League has made much
progress, for we have had the outrageous ebulli-
tion at the Home Office and the pilgrimage to
Windsor—events which are beginning to open
men's eyes to the real character of these political
incendiaries. The strong arm of authority must
be called into play ere long to repress the " law-

less spirit that is abroad." How any men of
well-ordered minds can consent to associate them-
selves with such characters as these is beyond our
comprehension, for nothing but chaos can be the
result.

Demagogues and fomenters of sedition, whilst
they hypocritically preach up the rights of man,
and such like unexploded nonsense, are ever alive
to their own interest, for which they are always
ready to wade through a sea of blood, formed from
the gaping wounds of their slaughtered dupes. It
is such men as these who excite distrust and alarm
in the minds of men of such mental powers as
Lords Cranbourne and Carnarvon, Mr. Lowe and
Mr. Carlyle, with regard to the wisdom of pass-
ing the Reform Bill. And that it is not without
reason, we may see from an announcement that
Messrs. Beales, Bradlaugh, Mantle, and Colonels
Dickson and Chambers intend offering them-
selves as candidates for the representation of
different metropolitan boroughs as soon as the act
comes into operation. The chief, and only recom-
mendation of these valiant warriors is, that the
one acted as leader of the Hyde Park mob, while
the other's wife nursed Garibaldi when his in-
famous career was temporarily arrested by the
bullet at Aspromonte. Decidedly, England is
advancing, and setting a bright example to other
nations ! Our House of Commons, so far the most
wonderful of its kind, will soon, if the designs of
these would-be sans-culottes succeed, soon become
the worthy compeer of the American House of
Representatives. But it will not, cannot be so ;
we have too much confidence in the uprightness
and honesty of the English people to anticipate
such a fall as this. They will, we feel assured,
resolutely set their faces against the dictation of
such despicable demagogues as these, and, while
mindful of the glory of the thousand years of
England's history, so give justice to all, that the
demon of sedition and discontent will vanish for
ever from the mighty empire over which Queen
Victoria rules.----Westminster Gazette.

STATE OF BAVARIA.

MuNICH, Dec. 1.

I tell your readers nothing new when I say
that the state of public affairs here is one of
utter rottenness. Of the King, of course, I do not
speak ; he only occupies himself with his private
concerns, and with them, indeed, he has enough
to do ; getting, for instance, into a betrothal,
then dissolving the same ; then, as they say, trying
to renew its bonds ; and then, again, either re-
luctant or unsuccessful in the attempt. Only
think, what royal toils ! their mere rehearsal
fatigues the ear. Now, it is even reported he is
wavering between " to be or not to be," with re-
gard to his royal crown—not from the political
uncertainty alone, which he shares with theiwhole
of_Bavaria—but his will is wavering. From time
to time, the rumour gains ground, the King will
abdicate ; and this is not without its influence on
public affairs. Recently, when the Chamber of
Peers seemed resolved to set its face against the
Prussianizing of Bavaria, the King hastened to his
capital, then and there setting every lever in action,
to secure his being made a vassal of Prussia ;
and this time his efforts were crowned with
success, whilst the Chamber of Peers (I mean ,the
large majority ; by no means the noble and patriotic
minority, such as Prince Charle s of Lowenstein,
and Dr. Von Bayer) were so complaisant as to fur-
nish me with the sole proofs that were yet want-
ing to my old thesis, " All is rotten in Bavaria."
There are, nevertheless, still men in this majority
possessed of convictions, but these they have sacri-
ficed. This is at present a very general usage.
It is in the air, as it were. Other sacrifices are
not lightly made in this our age ; but our convic-
tions!—that is another thing. But, to return to
the King, in spite of his exceptional activity in
the service of Count Bismarck, I still maintain
that he does not concern himself in public affairs.
He remains passive. Others act through him.
He is, indeed, very long suffering. Of Prince
Hohenlohe I will not speak to-day. It is well
known that his mind is like a kaleidoscope, that
is—as motley and as variable, but devoid of its
beautiful colours. At his side sits an impudent
and narrow-minded bureaucrat, as Minister of
Instruction and Public *Worship, who is notworthy
that his name should pass one's lips—who busies
himself in raking together with impure hands
every possible obstacle to the growth of Catholic
interests. He is at the present moment zealously
engaged in delivering over the " people's schools "
into the hands of his Majesty the Devil. The
high schools he has long since tight in his grasp.
The bishops, it is true, somewhat embitter the life
of this said Minister. And in Ratisbonne a cleri-
cal fanatic has even been audacious enough to
publish with ample notes and commentaries the
project of law for un-Christianizing the schools
laid before the Chamber and given to a particular
bookseller by the Minister. Excellent, most excel-
lent, exclaims the Christian reader; but from the
official bureau echoes the cry " abominable !"
Hence the word of command issued from the
Ministerial offices, to prosecute the bookseller for
piracy. Will your readers believe this ? A bill
laid by the Government before the Chambers,
before the country, may not be published, because
itlis the property of the author, of the Minister I
—unlawful to publish the bill, even when it
forms only a supplementary part, appended for
the sake of clearness, in fact, to the chief work,
so that the whole constitutes a new work. Even
could there be a question in this case of private
property (instead of it being the common pro-
perty of the country), the publisher could not,
according to the laws of the press, be prosecuted
for piracy. Here our Volksbote pitches into his
Excellency in his own peculiar manner, closing
with the remark that he was so fortunate as to
possess a copy of the Ratisbonne work on the
new bill, and that lie intended to have it
bound as splendidly as a certain Excellency had
caused his copy of Renan's work to be bound, pro-
nouncing it, at the same time, " a highly distin-
guished work." This may be a hard morsel for
his Excellency to digest. As for the rest of the
Ministers, they are utterly ignorant of ecclesiasti-
cal affairs, and also of all that concerns the
schools, except in the mere routine of outward
formalities. This new bill is of itself sufficient.
to get a candidate for a subordinate place in
this branch of the Government plucked, had the
Government aspirants to pass an examination.
But of examinations there is no question. * *No
other qualification or preparation is needed to
be made Minister of Instruction and of Public
Worship than that required from any student to
become an advocate or a notary. Any bureau-
crat, that for a few years has been scribbling a
certain quantum of paper, is made, in case of need,
:a Minister of instruction, who, then, in due course,
deems himself entitled and called upon to correct
the appointed tasks of bishops and professors of
the university, making himself, at the same time,
perhaps, even more ridiculous than if he had
been made Minister of War. Our Minister of
Instruction, shameless ignoramus as he is, wrote
short time since to the Bishop of Ratisbonne
to complain that the number of missions in his
diocese had of late been too great, observing that
although he had not hindered them, he must call
the bishop's attention to the fact that through the
numerous missions many persons were called away
from their avocations ; and thence arose a danger
to the wellbeing of families and to the prosperity
of the nation. 'I he worthy bishop condescended
to explain the matter to this bureaucrat. First,
he proved to him that this reported increase
in the number of missions was untrue ; and
then he tried to give him some idea of
the importance of these missions, and of the
powerful influence they exercise over the manners
and morals of the people, by strengthening their
sense of duty, and inculcating)frugality and tem-
perance in fathers of families; thus promoting
the general well-being of the whole community—a
recompense of incalculable worth, granted even
here below to those who fear God. The reply
was good, and worthy of the bishop ; yet it
caused me some regret, when I reflected before
whom these pearls were cast. Still, I must bear
this Minister witness he has done more in one

year to renew a Catholic spirit and Catholic life
in Bavaria than any of his predecessors. lie has
worked wonders, he has aroused the Bavarian
clergy from their torpor ; and this Bavarian
Church which has been aptly called the ecclesia
dormiens, stands at length firmly on her feet. Cast-
ing away their nightcaps, all make front against
the Minister; but, that 1 may not be misunder
stood, I will add here I speak only of the parish
clergy—the bishops have always battled faithfully
for the rights of the Church, if not always so ener-
getically as now; but the Catholic parishioners, that
ought to back their clergy, have been long resting
on their oars. This is the general character of
South Germany. The people slumber. Those who
are floating on the surface are mostly of little
worth ; the half-educated Philister in Germany,
the great mass of the officials, the purse-proud
moneyed men, and the smaller fry of money-
makers and money-seekers are in general good
for nothir g. Religion, courage, patriotism, self-
sacrifice, and high endowments are extremely
rare. The organization of the bureaucracy, and
the very nature of our Parliaments, which in
Germany are essentially mere affiliated depen-
dencies of the bureaucracy, puts the governing
power precisely in those hands which are least
fitted to use it. Whatever of a better nature exists
in the higher circles, is purposely kept down—
smothered ; and the lower grades of society are
worked upon by artful demagogues, only to make
use of them as far as it suits their purpose. The
better part of the people remain isolated ; such
as those who attend to their religious duties, to
their domestic affairs, who watch over the edu-
cation of their children, and who are never to be
seen in popular meetings and at elections. I will
not say that these good people are all I could wish ;
rather there is much wanting in them. They are
mostly passive and indifferent in all political mat
ters, and not till they free themselves from this
fault can South Germany hope for better times.
The inferior clergy could do much to bring about
a better state of things in this quarter ; but, as
yet, the people have not learnt much from them.
God speedily grant a better state of things. As
a class, neither in town nor country districts are
they all well versed in ecclesiastical lore. A great
want of refinement is still displayed by many
among them, and withal a conceit of learning and a
presumed scientific superiority, at present only to
be met with, I believe, in Germany. It is noto-
rious how inferior most of our ecclesiastical semi-
naries are. Recently, I am sorry to say, a professor
in an episcopal seminary in Bamberg, Canon
Mayer, has published a work entitled " A Prepa-
ratory Work for the next Council," in which, with
incredible arrogance, the unity of Essence in the
three Divine Persons is disputed. Before I con-
clude, I must mention that the Bishop of Ratis-
bonne has just published, in a circular to his clergy,
the memorial which the assembled Bavarian bishops
handed to the Minister of Public Worship on the
new bill for the schools' The Bavarian Episco-
pacy in this memorial describe this scandalous
project of law as being intended and calculated
to sanction all previous abuses, and to call new
ones into life—to sever the schoolmasters from the
Church, and, if not by one blow at least by de-
grees, to rob the schools of their Christian cha-
racter. After thus characterizing the aforesaid
project of law, the united episcopacy then proceed
to lay before the Minister the demands it is their
bounden duty to make on the State. They de-
mand that the subordinate church officers (sac-
ristans) should be withdrawn from service in the
schools, and that the income provided for their ser-
vices should be restored to and preserved for its
original object. They demand, above all, abso-
lute freedom in founding private schools ; and
that the ecclesiastical private associations, which
have instruction and education for their object, in
so far as they do not lay aside their private cha-
racter, and do not lay claim to other rights than
those by the law of associations granted to all,
should enjoy the same rights as other private per-
sons, and should not be subjected to exceptional
laws, such as a " Special State Permission." They
demand, eventually, that every kind of coercion
with regard to the communal or State school should
be put an end to; that the Church should be rein-
stated in its natural and divinely-instituted right
of founding its own schools; that the religious
character of the schools as hitherto preserved be
guaranteed by law ; and that the right of the
Church to order, to guide, to foster, and watch
over the religious life in the schools, with the
power necessary to attain this object, be secured ;
so that the ecclesiastical authorities, for instance,
may have the power to remove from the schools
every dangerous book, every teacher, who, through
his teaching, his discourse, or his behaviour, gave
scandal to the religious or moral feelings of the
children, or who should display irreligious or indif-
fferent sentiments. Finally, they demand a con-
stant joint inspection over the whole school, over
all ecclesiastical administrators, and especially over
the person of the teacher.

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

(From the Anglo-American 27mes.)
PARIS, Dec. 12.

A year or two since in London, when passing one
day down Fleet-street, I remember to have been
much amused by a genius who was chanting at the
full power of his lungs what appeared to be the
most melodramatic and romantic adventures of a
young lady, who rejoiced in the appellation of
" Pretty little Polly Perkins of Paddington Green."
The adventures of the " Pretty little Paris Rag-
Picker" would form another most admirable subject
for the aforesaid minstrel, if he only knew the sin-
gular story which has recently created such a sen-
sation in Paris. The chiffoniers or rag-gathers of
Paris are a peculiar class, and every morning and
evening they sally forth in troops of men, women,
and children, furnished each with a large light
wicker-hamper strapped to their backs, and a light,
straight stick or cane, armed with a sharp crook at
the extremity, with which they toss rags, pieces of
paper, &c., into their hamper, called a bite, with
incredible celerity. In the evening they carry lan-
terns, which hang almost on a level with the
pavement, and are furnished with strong reflec-
tors, by the aid of which they can distinguish
the minutest object. The chiffoniers have all
their particular beat or district, and about a
year ago one of these beats in a most fashionable
quarter was occupied by a most interesting young
girl of some 18 years of age, beautiful as a houri,
and upon whose clear features and dazzling com-
plexion both the Goddess of Health and Madame
Rachael might have alike vainly attempted an im-
provement. Dressed plainly, but with the most
scrupulous neatness, the young girl came with the
utmost regularity to labour in her vocation ; it is
true the hotte and stick were somewhat of the
smallest, but they were regularly filled and carried
off. As might have been expected, so interesting
a damsel speedily became a favourite with the good-
natured bosses of Paris ; and though occasionally
many a tempting morsel was reserved for and offered
to their favourite, it was always and invariably re-
fused ; the thankfulness so politely expressed by
that Argentine voice, soft as a silver bell, allowing
no umbrage to be taken by the disappointed offerer.
A year rolled away in this manner, when all at once
the pretty little chiffoniere disappeared. Numerous
were the regrets of the abandoned clientele, nume-
rous the fearful suggestions nyt,,le by the worthy
gossips as to the fate that had befallen their fa-
vourite. llad she been carried off by one of the
idle dandies of Paris ? Would she be found in the
Morgue ? What had, iu fact, become of her ? Vain
alike, however, every suggestion and inquiry ; and
as a few weeks rolled on the matter was gradually
settling down into that oblivion which attends all
human affairs, when one fine morning a handsome
private carriage, drawn by two dashing bays, drew
up before one of the doors of the deserted quarter,
and a stalwart footman aided a handsome, and
fashionably dressed young lady to descend therefrom.
At her appearance the startled domestic who had
opened the door of the house in answer to the
noiry summons administered to the knocker by
Jeames drew back in affright. " You have not
forgotten me, then ?" said the young lady. "Mon
Dieu ! Mon Dieu !" was the only reply. " Yes,"
continued she, " it is indeed your old friend, the

Rag-Picker, who has come to thank you for your
numerous acts of kindness, and to explain to you
the circumstances of the past. lam the daughter
of Mr. F., of Paris. My father, who had amassed
a very large fortune, chiefly by the exportation of
rags, wished to retire from business, leaving the
profits to myself and an only brother. Previous,
however, to his doing so, he insisted on one proviso,
viz., that, in order to give us a practical knowledge
of the value of this article of commerce, my brother
and myself should spend a year, each in a different
quarter of Paris in the character of rag-pickers. A
short time since the period expired. lam now
married, and have only to discharge my debt of
gratitude to the numerous friends I have found in
the district assigned to me. Accept from your old
friend this trifling present." And in this manner
the carriage went through the Quarter, one servant
receiving a shawl, another a ring, and so on, to their
infinite delight and astonishment. And thus ends
the most dramatic episode of the " Queen of the
Rag-Pickers ; or, the Good Fairy of the Bonnes
of Paris." But I must not, whilst retailing
the pen and ink vaudevilles and gossip of
Paris for the amusement of my fair readers,
forget that I have still to resume my unfinished
critique upon the American section of the fine
arts. I had arrived, I believe, at the portrait
painters. Amongst these G. P. A. Healy, of Chicago,
Illinois, exhibits two paintings, which immediately,
and almost involuntarily, attract the spectator—the
one a portrait of General Sherman, the other that
of a lady. In the former the artist has succeeded
to a wonder in catching the traits which at once
illustrate the character of the great American hero
—the clear, shrewd eye, the high forehead, the
fearless, yet unassuming and business-like look, and
the whole ensemble of feature, which presents, as
it were, a natural attraction, showing a man in whom
one could trust all, are there, whilst for colouring
and general execution there is left nothing to be de-
' sired. Mr. Healy's portrait of a lady has this
piquancy, that the dame in question is seated before
her mirror, thus giving the opportunity of por-
traying a double likeness. The finish in this in-
stance also is exquisite. For beauty of colouring
and execution the name of G. A. Baker, of New
York, stands as high as that of any one amongst the
profession. His paintings are, however, plainly
and simply portraits, without any special peculiari-
ties or piquant additions. W. M. Hunt, of Boston,
Ilassachusetts,l, exhibits many very beautiful por-
traits, of which, perhaps, the best is his Italian Boy.
His portrait of Abraham Lincoln, although highly
elaborated, has a sombre effect at the first glance.
D. Huntington, of New York, also stands in the first
rank in this class. He exhibits a very highly finished
portrait of Gulian C. W. Verplauck, Esq., and
what may be termed a collection of portraits in a
representation of the Republican court in the time
of Washington. The great American hero himself
has approached the limit of man's age on earth, but
the manly beauty of the old Puritanic heroes who
compose his court, softened and elevated in the
features of their wives and daughters, has been re-
presented with a freshness and vividness of colour-
ing which renders this picture equal to any of the
kind to be found in the Exhibition. Following up
this class of painting we come to the name of H.
P. Gray, of .New York, equal in every respect to
any and every of his competitors. He exhibits the
" Apple of Discord" and " The Pride of the
Village ;" the former is upon a large scale, and
exhibits more boldness of outline and vividness of
colouring, but the latter is more especially attractive
from the deeply interesting nature of the scene it
depicts. A beautiful girl, the pride of the village,
upon whose cheek, otherwise pallid, the hectic glow
indicates the presence of a fatal malady, is seated
in a chair by the side of her mother, whose arm sup-
ports her ; the venerable village doctor is holding her
hand and counting, by the ail of his old-fashioned
watch, the quickened pulsations. Upon the table
an open Bible shows the recent occupation of
mother and daughter. In depicting this interest-
ing scene the artist has been singularly succe;s-
ful. The wistful yet weary look of the in-
valid, who regards the doctor intently, shows
the struggle between the weariness of life and the
instinctive clinging to it which rarely abandons a
sufferer ; the doctor looks gravely on the watch, his
plain, sensible, yet kind look, appearing to evince
a disinclination to pronounce too speedily an opi-
nion. The mother looks down as if dreading the
fiat, which she too well knows will result ; the
whole painting telling a story which renders it
one of the most attractive in the Exposition. I
fear, however, that I am exceeding my limits upon
this interesting subject, and as there are still several
other names whom it would be in the highest degree
unjust to pass over, I must again move the adjourn-
ment of the debate, for there yet remains, amongst
many others, all of whom deserve notice, " The Old
Kentucky Home," of E. Johnson, of New York,
which the French critics have set down as perhaps
one of the best pictures exhibited. In criticising
the American section, not only of the Fine Arts,
but by and bye of the other groups, I feel certain
that our friends will bear with me, as they must not
only feel proud of American talent, considered in-
dividually, but feel deeply interested in the practical
proof I hope to afford them, that America, under all
her disadvantages, will come well out of a compara-
tive examination of the Exposition of 1867.
The Roman question has been brought under
discussion both by the French and Italian Parlia-
ments ; as yet the party of.order has carried weight
in either instance. The battle, however, fought in
the field has been revived on paper, and that portion
of the French press opposed to the continuance of
the temporal power of the Pope are upon the
watch to pick up, and frequently, as in the case
of M. Rouher's speech, distort or strain to their
own signification the language of the Minister,
with the view of impeding the Conference. If the
European Powers are in earnest in desiring to
interpose in this matter upon the base—first, of
general goodwill to all mankind, they will soon
learn whether or not a practical base can be pro-
vided for a Conference. The Emperor of France
has acted in accordance with the terms of a Con-
vention by which he was bound. He has given the
guarantees required as to i he nature of his intentions
by the prompt withdrawal of his troops ; he has
shown, and is constantly showing, that his policy
is a liberal and enlightened one of peace and good-
will among nations. His policy has not been a
selfish one ; and I trust, looking at the question
with a moderate and not a partisan view, that the
great Powers of Europe will not listen to a selfish
policy in refusing to interest themselves in the pos-
sible settlement of this question.
The weather has become very severe in Paris in
the course of the past week, and the skaters of the
Bois du Boulogne, as well as those of various other
clubs, are in full activity. Warm overcoats are at
present the height of fashion.

A correspondent, writing from New York, Nov.
24, says :—" Although I arrived very into in the
season, I came soon enough ; for all tell me that such
adult one as the present has not been known for years;
indeed that there has been no business at all. The
effects of the almost criminal reconstruction policy
of the present Congress are now beginning to be
understood and felt at the North, vide the late elec-
tions. O wing to the military despotism exercised
over the South, not only arc the Southern people
being utterly ruined, but vast amounts of Northern
capital have been lost. There 13 but one remedy ;
though too late for present salvation ; and that is,
to oust the whole pack of madcaps now in office,
and replace them with patriots and statesmen."

RECENT INVENTIONS.-A WRITING MAC
A desideratum long sought for in the shape of a practical
writing machine, it is said, has been invontod by a Mr.
Pratt, of Alabama. It is called a typo writing machine,
and has been exhibited before the London Society of Arts.
It is said to print a man's thoughts twice as fast as ho can
write them with the presant process. By a sort of piano
arrangement the letters are brought in contact with car-
bonised paper, which is moved by the same manipulation.
The machine is compact and simple, and can be made for
$l5, with a handsome profit. Its feasibility is manifest.
Legal copying and the writing and delivery of sermons
and lectures, not to speak of letters and editorials, will
undergo a revolution as remarkable as that effected in
books by the invention of printing, and the weary pro-
cess of learning penmanship in schools will be reduced
to the requirement of the art of writing one's own signa-
ture ar.d playing on the literary piano above described, or
rather on its improved successors.

NEW YORK MARKETS.

(From the Correspondent of the Anglo-American Times.)
NEW YORK, Nov. 30, 1867.

To the list of failures given in my last I have now to
add the firm of Harris and Dayton, sugar refiners, of New
York, and others too numerous to mention—mercantile,
stocks, and shipping. Among those, however, there is
one house that deserves a record, as I hold it to be little
less than criminal, when the whole capital, which ought
to be embarked in the business, is expended in mere out-
side show. F. R. Sherwin and Co., retail dry goods
dealers, Union-square, commenced with $150,000, most of.
which was expended on the grand premises formerly
known as the Maisou Duree, of which they had a 21 years'
lease. Scarcely had they opened before they sank under
the prersure of hard times. These repeated suspensions
have created some alarm, and New York paper is now
everywhere carefully scrutinised. The contraction
I noticed during the preceding week in the Money
Market has proved le ief. The deinand for money is far
from pressing and the supply abundant, at 7 to 8 per cent.
Business is less brisk in the West, though the pork
trade still creates an active demand, and the market at
Cincinnati is decidedly stringent, as the rate for mercantile
paper is from 18 to 24 per cent. It is said that the New
York canals will be closed unusually early, the Albany
Argus reporting ice as having formed, and there are be-
tween 4,000,000 and 5,000,000 bushels of grain afloat,
besides a large supply of lumber, salt, potatoes, and other
produce. Wall Street regards with increasing interest the
financial action of Congress, and anticipates a sharp con-
test between the advocates of contraction and expansion.
The composition of the Committee of Ways and Means
and that on Banking and Currency is eagerly scrutinised,
as all measures in finance will be submitted to them. Both
committees are ascertained to favour stopping the present
contraction. The action of Congress cannot come into opera-
tion for several weeks, and Mr. M'Culloch continues for the
present to decrease legal tenders at the rate permitted. It
is considered certain that his power in this respect will be
withdrawn, but no one caa predict what further steps
will bo taken. The West strongly advocates inflation,
and there is a danger that to conciliate them for the
corning Presidential election injudicious measures may b 3
adopted. The 7-30's aro being converted at the rate of
$2,000,000 per diem, and it is calculated that the sum
transferred since October 15 is upwards of $44,000,000.
The transfers stop to-day for securing the January gold
dividend on the 5-20's. T hose who bought and held since July
in other names than the present owners should send
their col tificates to Washington immediately for registra-
tion to the names of parties entitled to the January divi-
dend. From next Monday, Dec. 2, the conversion will be
continued with interest lir currency up to the 31st Dec.,
the 5-20 Bonds being delivered with the January coupon
detached ; and if registered 5-20 stock be preferred, the
certificates of registration will be returned from Washing-
ton on the re-opening of the transfer book on January Ist.
Ten-Forties continue to grow in favour, and all Govern-
ment securities aro slowly rising. Gold is weak, closing
yesterday at 139. The publication of the reports of the
impeachment committee have extinguished the hopes of the
speculators, who looked for something strong, and got
thing as weak as water gruel. The New Y9rk Chamber
of Commerce is about to present a memorial to Congress
on the relation of gold to currency, and a select committee,
through its chairman, A. A. Low, has reported strongly in
favour of M'Culloch's contraction scheme, alleging that,
with a proper and judicious policy, a return may be made
to specie payments in 1869, giving these preliminary essen-
tial conditions; —That the floating Debt of Government be
funded ; that gold and greenbacks be equalised in value by
act of Congress, making greenbacks receivable at the
Customs for a tenth of all receipts and retiring from circu-
lation those paid in ; that the Treasury Department redeem
greenbacks with gold when the value approximates, pro-
vided there be no falling off in the revenue or the gold in
the Treasury, and banks and merchants must inevitably fol-
low in this resumption of specie payment. Mr. Chittanden
observed that if Congress would repeal the tax on
cotton and adjourn for six months, gold would fall to 120
by Christmas. American silver is at 5 to 6 cents below
gold. Mexican dollars, 1021 to 103 in gold. Exchange is
dull. Petroleum Stocks are active and rising, as are also
Express Stocks, which closed yesterday as follows :
Adams, 791 to 80 ; American, 76* to 77} ; United States,
79 to 791 ; Wells, Fargo, and Co., 54 to 541 ; Merchants
Union ($35 paid), 39i to 40. Mining stocks continue the
same, with a restricted business. Railroad stocks are
steady, and there is a fair business doing in Erie and New
York Central, the former closing at 113 i, the latter at 711.
The great excitement is in Pacific Mail shares. They de-
clined to 116 under heavy " bear" sales, then ralliei more
rapidly, closing on Thursday at 12'1, and yesterday at 127
to 129. The company is engaged in completing its lino
between San Francisco and Hongkong, and four of the
finest steamers afloat will next summer bo regularly
plying. A compromise is understood to have been
effected between the Directors and the Opposition;
six of the former retaining office, and admitting three
of the latter. The following gentlemen are proposed :
Messrs. Allan McLane, Howard Potter, James M. Brown,
Louis McLane, Jonathan Thorne and William Denuistoun
of the old board, and Abiel A. Low, George B. Hartson,
and Samuel G. Wheeler, jun., for the stockholders. The
exports of flour and wheat have lately been very large, but
prices decline ; and though domestic cottons have slightly
risen the raw material is still falling. The numerous and
heavy failures exercise an injurious influence on all trade,
and business remains unimproved. The following were
the closing quotations yesterday :—New York Central
1134, Erie 711, Hudson 125, Reading 961, Michigan South-
ern and N.J. 80, Illinois Central 1311 Cleveland and Pitts-
burgh 831, North West 571, North West Preferred 67/, Can-
ton 45, Rock Island 961, Cleveland and Toledo 101/, Fort
Wayne 971, Pacific Mail 129, Atlantic Mail 1191, Quick-
silver 15, W. U. Telegraph 331, Mariposa Preferred 15,
Ohio and Mississippi Certificates 271.
(Front Messrs. Belding, Keith, and Co.'s Circular.)
FRIDAY, Dec. 13.

The fall in the price of gold in New York to 1331 has
had a beneficial effect on all American securities. Five-
twenties of 1862 touched 721 this morning, or 11 per cent.
higher than this time last week. The rise in 5-20's of
1865 has boon also 14 per cent., the opening quotation being
701 71. Ten-forties show but little change ; this morning
they are quoted 671 68.

The improvement in railways has not been so uniform,
Illinois Central Shares having declined Ito per cent.,
and opening at 891 901. Erie Shares, on the other hand,
have improved about 1 percent. during the week. They are
now quoted 48 49. There has been no change in the
price of Atlantic and Great Western Consolidated Mort-
gage Bonds, the opening price being 19 20.

(From Messrs. Bowles, Drevet, and Co.'s Circular.)

Paris, Dec. 13, 1867.
We have had an active and steadily improving market
during the past week, and prices show marked advance.
United States Securities have been strong. Quotations
have steadily improved, the continued decline in gold re-
ported from New York exercising a very favourable in-
fluence.
We quote :

For the issue of 1862
For the issue of 1864
For the issue of 1865
Our advices from New York are to the 10th instant.
Gold

United States Bonds, 1862 (currency)... 108-
The Rente closes at 69f. 45c.

The Italian closes at
Exchange ou London 2sf. 15c.

(From E. F. Satterthwaite and Co.'s Weekly Circular, Dec.ll.)
The advices from New York, by the Scotia, to the 26th
November, are only four days later than those referred to
in our last. The stringency in the money market was
sensibly reduced, and brokers wore well supplied at seven
per cent. Government Stocks on firm quotations from
this side were strong, especially the 10-40 Bonds.
Railroad Stocks were largely dealt in, and quotations
had fluctuated considerably at almost each call of the
Board, the general tendency being towards improvement.
Illinois Central was quoted one per cent. higher, and Chi-
cago and North Western had also further advanced. In
Miscellaneous Shares, Pacific Mail was, as usual, the lead-
ing speculative stock, and on a reported failure had de-
clined nine per cent.

Gold was quoted one per cent. lower.
ILLINOIS CENTRAL.

Advices from the office of this company to Oct. 31 show a
large increase of collections in tho land office, the amount for
ten months being $2,-157,066, or nearly half a million
dollars over corresponding period last year. Sales of land
have reached $1,688,000, or 8520,000 in excess of 1866.
This still leaves on hand unsold 750,000 acres, and seven
and a half million dollars are owing on current contracts
for land sold. The bonded debt of the company, which,
on the Ist January last, was upwards of twelve millions
has, it is understood, been reduced by more than one)
million dollars. _

It app ars probable that the directors of this company
will, during the coming year, ia addition to the ordinary
cash dividend of 5 per cont. fur ca. 211 six months (being at
the rate of 10 per cent. per annum), also distribute a stock
dividend of the balance of stock the company is authorised
to issue (viz., 251 million dollars); this will give about 8
per cent. Thus it appears that this railroad, which for
some time after its opening throughout was financially in
so deplorablo a condition that any ono having any large
portion of his property in Illinois Central was considered
a ruined man, and that while 7 per Cent. Bonds had to be
issued at 70 to provide funds to finish up the road and
furnish it, it has now, like most other American railroads,
emerged from its difficulties, and become a sound dividend
paying security.
Since our last the London market for American Secu-
rities has been mainly affected by quotations per telegraph
iron New Yolk of prices of gold and Government stock;
to-day, however, although gold was reported lower, there
has not been a corresponding advance, owing to some con-
siderable sales on continental account. The closing
price of 5-20's is 71k to -1; for the 18G2 Bonds, and 1 per
cent. lower for the 1865 issue.