The Sun.
London, England, 1867-03-07 00:00:00

L.-LYDON, THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 1867

fresh development of Fenianism is a matter of grave
regret, and it is evidently the result of an elaborate
organisation. Lord NAAS, in reply to a question
from Mr. MONSELL, read last night to the House
the telegrams which had been received from Sir
THOMAS LARCOM, the Under Secretary ; and from
Commander WILLIAMS, who is stationed at
Youghal. According to the first of these the wires
between Dublin and Cork, Dublin and Limerick,
and Dublin Junction were cut in the course of
the night before last, and all communication with
Cork, Limerick, and Tipperary was therefore cut
off. There was a general though not formidable
rising from Drogheda to Dundrum. The numbers
were variously estimated at from 1,000 to 4,000.
Several of the police stations had been attacked,
though without success. The line from Thurles
to Dublin was found to be blocked by sleepers,
and in one part the rails were torn up. The tele-
gram from Youghal was briefer, and stated that
a body of Fenians had attacked the police-station
at Castlemartyr in the night. The troops had left
Youghal to assist the civil force, and the tele-
graph wires had been cut. Lord NAAS added, for
the satisfaction of the house, that most ample pre-
parations had been made, and that the military
authorities throughout the country were fully pre-
pared.

The news received in London last night fully
confirms the previous statements. Great excitement
prevails in Dublin, where large quantities of arms
and ammunition had been seized. Yesterday morn-
ing 1,000 Fenians took possession of the Market-
house, and fired on the police, who returned the fire.
A body of Fenians, 200 strong, had disarmed and
captured the constables at two suburban stations, and
carried them prisoners to Greenhills, near Tallaght,
where, it is said, they muster 5,000 or 6,000. The
military yesterday brought into D üblin 208 prisoners,
the main body of insurgents having gone north-
wards through the mountains. One hundred and
five young men are missing from the drapery esta-
blishments, and it is worth notice that half of the
insurgents who assembled in the vicinity of Dublin
on Tuesday night were said to be youths of 18 and
20. This is just the class from which Fenianism
gains its largest number of recruits, but the leaders
are evidently Irish-Americans. Two prominent
characters—JOßN MoRRISSEY, the prize-fighter, and
an individual giving the name of GODFREY MASSEY
—have been arrested ; and, no doubt, among the
other captures some will be found who know a good
deal cf the origin of the outbreak.
The cutting of the telegraph wires and the de-
struction of the railway lines leave us very much in
the dark as to what is occurring in some parts. Late
last night the afternoon mail from Cork had not ar-
rived in Dublin, S 3 that great uncertainty was felt.
The attacks on the police stations have been in some
places attended with severe fighting, and there is no
doubt whatever that the Fenians are really in earnest
this time. What end they propose to themselves,
whether they really believe it possible for them to dis-
lodge the English and to establish an Irish Republic,
may well form matter of conjecture, but there can be
no uncertainty whatever as to the course to be pur-
sued by the Government. However much we may
pity the misguided youths who are enticed from
their employment by the specious professions of
mischievous impostors, no leniency can be shown in
dealing with the offenders. The inzeitte must be
crushed with a strong hand, not only in the inte-
rests of England, but of Ireland. The well-disposed
and peaceable citizens of Dublin have been sub-
jected to risk, annoyance, and alarm, while in
other parts of the country actual danger has
been incurred. If we are to keep up a form of
government at all, -we cannot allow such outbreaks
to be committed with impunity, and must sum-
marily punish those who are concerned in them.
Feuianism has suddenly developed itself with un-
expected strength, but its career will be propor-

tionately short, and we can hope that the accounts
which we now publish will record the progress of
the last of these dangerous and foolish exploits.

On Tuesday last a conference of delegates from
the principal trades' unions throughout the kingdom
was held at St. Martin's Hall, Long-acre. The
reason of the meeting being called was partly in
consequence of the judgment lately delivered in the
Court of Queen's Bench, and also to make arrange-
ments for the production of witnesses to give evi-
dence on behalf of trades' unions before the Royal
Commission now about to commence its sittings.
air. GEORGE POTTER, the President of the Working
lien's Association, was in the chair, and explained
the reasons which had led them to call this confer-
ence. He said that the trades did not object to a
commission of inquiry, but they really desired that
investigation should take place. We are glad, at
any rate, to hear this straightforward statement,
although we doubt if the prediction that followed
will be realised in its entirety, namely, that " they
would come out of it with honour and credit." Mr.
POTTER was appointed chairman of the conference,
and a secretary and treasurer were also chosen. A
representation was made by some one to the effect
that the Royal Commission were to sit with " closed
doors ;" and he said, with great indignation, that "as
a trades' unionist, he protested against being dragged
before any secret tribunal." This is very absurd to
begin with, and quite out of character, when we
remember that all the proceedings of the trades'
unionists themselves are carried on secretly, and
that in the case of the outrages on those who differ
from them all is done in a mysterious manner. It
was suggested that the conference en masse should
wait on Mr. WALroLE and represent the feeling of
the meeting; and to " claim that the inquiry should
be open to all." It is not settled whether the Com-
mission will sit with open or closed doors, but we
have no doubt that the latter alternative will not be
adopted without good reasons for so doing, and at
any rate, as we said before, so much fuss about the
matter is uncalled for, and we do not recognise the
right of those who have caused this inquiry to be made
at all through their outrageous and vexatious course
of action to dictate terms, and to claim that their
ways should be taken. The Royal Commission is
instituted to inquire into the undue exercise of
power wielded by those unions, and not to bow to
its behests and follow in its wake.

Yesterday another meeting was held, and a re-
port was brought up from the previous committee,
which advised that the conference should di3cuss the
question of the committee of inquiry before the
legality of the trades' unions. It was arranged that
the secretary should write to Mr. WALPOLE and
request that he receive a deputation. The secretary
of die Sheffield trades spoke very strongly about
the affair, and declared that the indemnity proposed
by the bill was not well devised, for any man who
could commit such an outrage as the one refel red to
would not hesitate to swear falsely before the com-
mission. Mr. INI`DONALD seemed inclined to

infuse a wrong spirit into the matter ; and
the tone he adopted was quite unwarrantable
under the circumstances. lle said that they

should not ask any favour from the Home Se-
cretary or the Commission. They should claim
as a " right for their Committee to be present,
and act as they thought fit in the interest of the
Trades' Societies." If this request were not com-
plied with, his advice would be for the trades to
have nothing to do with the Coramiss.ion. Accord-

The public will learn with regret the seriou,
state of affairs in Ireland. There is every reasor:
to believe that the disturbances will be irnmediatel3
repressed, and that the agitation can only be of
very temprary II:Auto, since the authorities are
fully prepared for any contingency. Still this

, ing to this doctrine the Royal Commission will Devisnes were put up for sale, as he does not in-
tend to hunt again, at all events for the present.
have to be the slaves of the unions as much as
any of the poor victims they delude and denounce. No less than 7,875 f. were paid for 13 pair of hounds.
We hope that more moderation will be displayed Baron de Herissem paid 1,550 f. for two, named
Fanblas and Pandour. An amateur paid 1,700 f.
before the proceedings actually commence, or
for 12 beagles, and 12 puppies, not of very splendid
the Trades' Unions will rank still lower in breed, realized the sum of 2,860 francs.
public estimation, instead of cheating themselves. The Minister of the Emperor's Household and
Those who have demurred as to the necessity for the Fine Arts has drawn up an account of the gene-
having this commission had better peruse the re- ral position of the Tiaras (the establishment for
port of this meeting, and we think that the tone breeding and improving the culture of horses). It
is about to be presented to the Chambers. This ac-
there met with will convince them of the propriety
count particularises the present number of horses in
of some restraining influence being used when such
the 23 depots for stallions and their value. The
extreme opinions are held on matters that affect horses which entered the establishments up to the
such great interests. end of December last were, in number, 1,074, valued
at 3,961,551 f., and the horses which left for sale,
123 in number, produced 495,100 f. There remained
in the establishment, on the 31st of December, 951
horses of the estimated total value of 3,169,151 f.
Shortly before I closed my letter it was snowing
heavily, and it had been snowing for more than an
hour previously. The French weather prophets
have been remarkably accurate in their predictions
up to the present time.

The procee,lings of the North German Parlia-
ment do not appear to be exactly what Herr Bls-
MARCK desired. In the first place, the election of
the President is not what was anticipated, and we
question very much if Herr SIMSON prove so mode-
rate as some seem to expect. We never thought
that the Berlin Government would find things go
so very smoothly as they declared at first, and it
was not natural that they should care for the feel-
ings of the various States and provinces that had
been greatly outraged by the harsh course of the
Prussians, and they were certain to wake out of
their dream before long, and to recognise that
German unity means Prussian exterminers. The
object of Herr BIS3IARCK'S present decision is to in-
duce the Southern States to join, and then to con-
vert the Prussian Sovereign into a German Emperor.
This, we trust, that he will not succeed in doing; but
if he does, he cannot possibly prosper in the long
run by so doing. The best proof of the folly of
talking about this new order of things improving
the freedom of the German is that the most strin-
gent regulations are laid down, and we find it
said that the Government will not make any real
objection to the publication of reports of what
takes place in the North German Parliament so
long as the speakers keep within proper limits.
This is liberty after a fashion, and we wonder at
any one allowing themselves to be taken in by such
very transparent devices. " Proper limits" is a
very significant term, and includes a wide or
narrow range of subjects as may suit the
convenience of the authorities.

There is too much reason to fear that another
distinguished name must be added to the long list
of brave and good men who have fallen martyrs in
the cause_of science and enterprise. The name of
Dr. LIVINGSTONE is known and honoured through-
out the whole civilised world, and to him belongs
the glory of having greatly increased our know-
ledge, not only of the African interior, but of
the character and habits of its people. His
achievements are familiar to all of us, and
there seemed good reason to hope that
before his career was finished he would leave
permanent traces of his exertions even in that
barbarous and dangerous country. If the news
which Sir RODERICK MURCHISON transmits to us
should unhappily prove to be well founded, Eng-
land has lost a man of whom she may well be
proud, and the accounts bear, unfortunately, an
appearance of probability. We must hope even
yet that they may be exaggerated or mistaken, and
in this hope all Europe will share.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

STATE OP TRADE.

MANCHESTER, March G.—Messrs. Ellison and
He)wood,:cottonbrokers, of Liveipool, have issued
their circular for the present month, and in their re-
view of the trade during February estimate the im-
ports into the country at 239,364 bales; total ex-
ports light, being 64,287, against 91,587 for the
same month last year. They estimate the quantity
taken for home kconsumption at 38,793 bales per
week, and the actual consumption at 40,000 per
week, against 42,000 in the previous month, and
45,000 per week during the latter part of last year ;
the receipts at the American ports up to February
22 they give at 1,309,000, against 1,295,000 the
same date last year. Of the Manchester market
they give what appears to be a very reliable account.
With the exception of a temporary improvement
at the close of the first week, during which a com-
paratively good business was done at low prices, and
whereby producers were to some extent relieved of
stocks, the Manchester market has been exceedingly
dull and gloomy in tone during the month ; and,
notwithstanding the return of goods has been much
reduced by the further spread of the short-time
movement, the tendency of stocks has been to accu-
mulate. The uncertainty in which the ultimate ex-
tent of the American crop is involved, and the dis-
couraging accounts and returns received from the
principal foreign markets, have deterred buyers
from operating to an extent sufficiently large to take
off the reduced production of manufacturers. All
departments of the trade, both home and foreign,
have been slack, buyers for the more distant mar-
kets being very cautious. Under these circumstances
it is not surprising that the position of producers
continues most unsatisfactory. It has improved a
little during the past week, owing to the rapid de-
cline in the price of cotton, but it is still very
unremunerative. Messrs. Ellison and Heywood's
comparative table of prices shows a elechne of ld.
per lb. in cop twist, id. in mule and water twist,
3d. to 9d. per piece in 41b. to 51d. printers, 6d. to
9d. per piece in 71b. to 8 lb. shirtings, and id. to
id. per yard in domestics.
BELFAST, sth.—Flax.—The supplies in the mar-
kets of Ulster during the past week were about equal
to those of the week preceding. Demand, except
for very fine qualities, has not been by any means
active. Prices have not undergone any change of
importance. Yarns.—The demand during the early
part of last week was decidedly dull ; towards the
close of the week improvement was apparent, which
was the result of the abandonment of the proposed
American Tariff. Not much improvement in home
demand. The business on English account was
considerable. Scotch orders more numerous. A
fair continental trade has been accomplished. Stocks
not large. Very little change in prices. Linens, brown,
power-looms.—Heavy linens, cloth suitable for
the foreign clothing trade, printing lawns, and
coarse sets of roughs are not in active demand.
Prices of cloth for foreign clothing trade are a shade
easier, others without change. Fine and medium
sets of roughs are inactive demand, at full rates.
Cloth for dyeing and hollands continues in fair re-
quest, at steady prices. An improved demand ex-
ists for light linens. Handloom.—Light linens for
bleaching, heavy linens, diapers, and damasks con-
tinue in moderate demand. Prices of all, except
heavy linens, have a slightly downward tendency.
Linen handkerchiefs and the finer sets of cloth for
dyeing and hollands are in active request, at full
prices. Cambric handkerchiefs and printing lawns
are dull of sale. Bleached and finished linens.—A
fair home trade has been accomplished. Conti-
nental demand not active. No much doing on
American account. Stocks small, prices firm.
NOTTINGHAM, 6Tll.—ln hosiery the home trade is
good, but not particularly busy, as, owing to the pre-
valent idea that cotton will be lower, buyers are
ythere healthy Spring trade. In the
foreign
ex-
cessively cautious. There is evrey prospect, how-
ever,l
ar
e o
n departmentbaen the seasons whent
between
er eo thoroughly
is not much doing, as we
w business is active.
Yarns keep their price, and have not at any time
fallen in proportion to the reduction of cotton.
The
entihoeyel D
hosiery manufactures are
moderately well impuring
the week there
has been a marked improvement in the lace trade
workmen
generally, but principally in the export business.

PARIS, Wednesday Evening.

In consequence of the religious observance of
Shrove Tuesday, several papers have not appeared
to-day. The Moniteur was published, but it does
not contain any news of importance. It, however,
announces the departure from Lisbon of the Portu-
guese Commission, appointed in reference to the
Exhibition. It is composed of Councillor Palha de
Faria e Hacerda, Chief of Division of Commerce at
the Ministry of Public Works in Portugal, and of
several gentlemen connected with that department,
and some civil engineers.
The Moniteur also states that a private telegram
from Bombay mentions that the Emir Schir-Ali-
Khan has been completely beaten by the troops of
Azim Khan, and compelled to take refuge at Herat.
There was another meeting of Ministers yester-
day at the Tuileries, under the presidency of the
Emperor, when the discussion was renewed relative
to the project of law for the relaxation of the
restrictions now in force in regard to public meet-
ings. There are some reports to the effect that
France, as well as England, is to have a modifica-
tion in the composition of its Ministry. For the
moment I have not authentic information sufficient
to enable me either to confirm or contradict these
reports, and I therefore merely mention their
existence.

One of the papers has mentioned that the
Minister of the Interior, the Marquis de la Valette,
is about to retire, and to be superseded by M.
Baroche, the Minister of Justice. This report, at
all events, is apparently unfounded, for
it is known that the Emperor places
great confidence in him, and men of all
shades of opinion acknowledge the zeal and liberal
spirit which have characterised the administration
of the department. While I am speaking of the
composition of the French Ministry, it may be well
to explain a point upon which some misapprehen-
sion exists in England. What is meant by a Minis-
ter without a portfolio (portefeuille) does not seem
to be generally or accurately understood. A Minis-
ter without a portfolio is simply a Minister who does
not hold any specific office, but who participates in
Cabinet Councils, gives explanations, and defends
the Government in the Chamber, and affords gene-
ral assistance to the Administration. The Adminis-
tration of France is composed of nine Ministers,
called the Minister of State, the Minister of
Justice and Public Worship, the Minister of
Foreign Affairs, the Minister of the Interior,
the Minister of Marine and the Colonies, the
Minister of Public Instruction, the Minister of
Agriculture and Commerce, the Minister of the
Household of the Emperor and the,Fine,Arts, ,and
the Minister President of the Council of State.
There is, a saying of the grandfather of Charles the
Fifth that the Ministers of a King are the spectacles
to which he is obliged to have recourse when he
does not wish to look upon the course of events with
his own eyes.

Railway and Other Compan•es.

RAILWAY PASSENGERS ASSURANCE.

A Cabinet Council has been held to-day at the
Tuileries, at which the Emperor presided. It lasted
a considerable time, and, if I be rightly informed,
a final decision has been arrived at, both in regard
to the proposed law respecting public meetings and
the regulation of the press. The latter project will,
I think, be satisfactory.
In the absence of " metal more attractive " the
peculiar weather forms a general and interesting
topic of conversation. The most learned astrono-
mers announced that there would be a partial but
rather extensive eclipse of the sun this morning.
The fact is, that there was a total eclipse. The
appearance of the clouds at the time for the eclipse
was dark and gloomy. The sun was not to be seen
at all. The time for the greatest observation,
according to astronomical prediction, had hardly
passed away when the sun broke forth with great
splendour in its full proportions. The snow then
began to fall, and fur nearly an hour it snowed
slightly, the dun shining all the time. Such a
spectacle as this, perhaps, Las not been often wit-
nessed. The cold has relaxed a little in it 3
rigour. In the Chairps Ely sees a remarkable
phenomenon attracts many. The beautiful
and rare tree, known as the pear tree,
of Japan (pirus japonica) which exhibited its red
buds some days ago, has, under the influence of the
frost, broken forth into full flower. The mild
weather seemed to stop its process of vegetation,
but winter for this tree seems to be its spring. At
all events it is now in full and beautiful flower.

The half-yearly meeting of this company was
held yesterday, at the office, Cornhill ; Mr. J. Clay,
M.P., in the chair.
The report stated that there had been a con-
siderable falling off in the number of poli-
cies and tickets issued, the causes of which were
attributed to the commercial depression of the
year 1866. The income of the company from pre-
miums increased from £84,543 in 1865 to £91,682
in 1865, or at the rate of 8.44 per cent. The total
income from all sources was £94,091. The total
number of general accident policies on the books
during the year was 33,957, and of railway accident
policies and tickets 471,262, making together
505,219 insurers during the year. The balance at
the credit of revenue account was £45,891, out of
which the directors proposed to pay interest on the
paid-up capital at the rate of 3 per cent. for the
half-year ending the 31st of December, making,
with 3 per cent. in September, 6 per cent. for the
year. In addition to this a bonusof 10s. per share was
declared, of which one moiety would be paid in cash
to the shareholders, and the other moiety applied iu
augmentation of the share capital. The claims for
compensation during the year had been 24 for fatal
accidents, amounting to £14,600, and 2,584 for
personal injury, to £35,077—t0ta1, £49,677, being
54.18 per cent. of the income. The directors
had made arrangements for issuing short term
policies for one or three months, to cover the risk of
accidents of all kinds during the journey to and
from Paris, and while residing there. They had
also prepared journey and excursion tickets cover-
ing the risk of accident by railway or steamboat
alone during the journey.
On the motion of the CHAIRMAN the report was
adopted, and the retiring directors and auditors
were re-91ected.

The price paid for hounds in Paris shows the in-
creasing taste for hunting. The hounds of M

MADRAS.
The traffic receipts on this company's south-west
line for the half-year ending the 31st of December
last amounted to £190,736 against £185,898, for
the first half of the year, and £192,055 for the
corresponding half of the previous year. On
the north-west line the receipts for the six
months have been £33,955 against £27,778 for the
first half of the year, and £33,058 for the corre-
sponding half of the previous year. The mileage
of the south-west line had been the same
throughout. On the north-west line the open
mileage had increased 28 miles during the half-year,
equal to 23f per cent. The receipts had shown
much steadiness under the unfavourable circum-
stances of the stagnation of trade, failure of crops
from drought, famine prices of food, and distress,
which during the last year had afflicted the south of
India, but were now happily disappearing under
the ihflueuce of the late favourable mougoout