The Sun.
London, England, 1867-12-04 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

THIS DAY.—Morning, 6h. 50m. I Afternoon, 7h. 15m.
To-lionitow.-Morning, 7h. 45m. 1 Afternoon, Bh. 20m

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, DEC. 4,
.1867.

It is not surprising that in both Houses of Par-
liament reference was made to the procession which
passed through the streets of the metropolis to
Hyde-park the Sunday before last. The most im-
portant part connected with the affair is that it was
not a solitary affair. Last Sunday a procession of
the same character was formed in Manchester, and
one also was seen at Cork. This can hardly be con-
sidered as a circumstance of no moment, but the
difficulty is, how are we to deal with the question,
and what steps can the authorities take in the case ?
The present Ministers of the Crown are certainly
most unfortunate in being called upon to decide in
such awkward matters. This party procession
question touches upon points that are connected
with dangerous consequences. It is difficult to say
what is the best thing to do, to let these ill-
judged and ill-timed proceedings alone, or to en-
deavour by putting in force existing statutes, or
creating some for the exigencies of the moment, to
put them down with a strong hand, or at least to
prevent their recurrence for the future. Mr. VANCE
has signified his intention to inquire of the Irish
Attorney-General whether he would consider it
advisable to go on with those prosecutions which
have been begun in consequence of breaches of the
Party Procession Act. In the House of Lords
Lord DUFFERIN moved for the police reports re-
lating to party processions in Ireland, and during
the course of his speech on that occasion he endea-
voured to impress upon the Government the im-
portance of thoit carrying out the regulations of
law throughout all Ireland, and not to suffer them-
selves to make any difference or distinction for
party feeling or religious sentiment. This is real
sincere advice, and it does credit to the noble
lord's judgment and good sense. Besides this,
it is a refreshing change to find a political
opponent speaking out in a straightforward style
without regard to illustrating the doctrines of pre-
judice, or making a grand effect by a denunciatory
speech, and the recital of a long list of grievances,
real or imaginary, as the case may be.
Lord DERBY'S reply was all that can be desired.
First of all, the noble lord declared that he had
no sympathy with the Orange Society. As Lord
DERBY emphatically declared, her MAJESTY'S Go-
vernment have a most difficult task before them in
dealing with the various pretensions of the different
denominations. It is indeed a subject of universal
regret that the state of feeling which had arisen
in Ireland should have been fostered by the press,
and by other influences, until it became to be
believed, in some quarters, that the Ministers of the
Crown were induced to carry out the full
penalty of the law to gratify feelings
of vindictiveness and animosity. As the noble
Premier described the affair at Manchester
" was not a political offence, but a deliberate and
premeditated murder ; that is to say, it was a pre-
meditated act of violence, to be supported and fol-
lowed up, if necessary, by murder ; therefore,
without the slightest vindictive feeling—on the con-
trary, with a desire to carry the prerogative of mercy
as far as possible, the Ministers of the law felt that
it would be an absolute dereliction of their duty
if they allowed a case of deliberate and premedi-
tated murder to pass over without such a signal
example as would show that treason was
not to be played with in this country,
that it was an offence which involved the most
serious consequences, and one that must be visited
with the most serious penalty of the law." This
decided language is worth noting, coming as it does
from the head of the Cabinet, after so much misre-
presentation has been rife on the subject. It is very
satisfactory to find from the remarks here made
that a very decided policy will be pursued throughout
the whole of Ireland, for that is the only successful
course that can possibly be pursued. With regard
to the recent demonstrations in Ireland, it appears
that they did not infringe the existing statute, but
it must be borne in mind by those who will persist
in such absurdities for the future that they run a
great risk, and that the slightest deviation from
their narrow limits may cause great confusion, and
entail serious consequences.

We have scarcely ascertained the full extent of
the disasters wrought by the recent hurricanes in
the West Indies than from another quarter come
the details of even greater devastation. On the night
of Friday, Nov. 1, a cyclone raged in Bengal, de-
solating a vast tract of country. It is difficult indeed
to estimate the amount of injuries inflicted. On

land and at sea the cyclone seems to have swept all
before it, and to have had no more mercy on the
growing crops than on the stout vessels afloat, and
to have carried down before its resistless strength
the solid masonry of European buildings, as well
as the slight and unsubstantial huts of the
natives. In Calcutta the cyclone lasted nearly
eight hours, and it is easy to imagine what mischief

it could work in that space of time. It has proved
more destructive to the city than its memorable pre-
decessor of three years since. In the suburbs more
than 1,000 lives are ascertained to have been lost
and 30,000 native huts destroyed. The City of
Palaces is converted into a city of ruins, and in the
harbour the desolation is even greater. More than
600 native boats have been destroyed, carrying with
them probably several hundreds of lives. The
European vessels have not, of course, escaped
its effects. Many of them are missing,
and others returning disabled ; even the steam
transport Euphrates has had to put in tt Calcutta to