The Sun.
London, England, 1867-11-06 00:00:00

TCE SUN, LONDOI4i, WEDNESIIAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 6, 1867.

assist in, the work. As we have said three piers
are to bt made in all ; one, for landing troops, is to
have rA double line of tramway, two miles of tram-
way Shaving been already despatched for the pur-
pos€l. Everything that could be prepared before-
hand has been done; even the commissariat
sheds have been fitted in Bombay, and Chinese
carpenters sent to fit them up. The pains-
taking and laborious Chinese will be of
vast service in carrying on their work in spite of
the heat ; and what with coolies from Aden, and
Sikhs and Ghoorkas from India, we shall make a
good many different nations contribute to the dis-
comfi Lure of King THEODORUS.
At present all promises well, and the members of
the expedition are in excellent spirits, and sanguine
of the results. The tone of feeling in Bombay is in
striking contrast to the forebodings in England,
and some profess to hope that the main body of the
expedition will never be needed, as THEODORE will
give in at the sound of their approach. The difficulties
of climate and country, which appear so formidable
to Englishmen at home, are not likely to affect Anglo-
Indians ; and though the good folks of Bombay
may be over-confident, it is well that their hopeful-
ness should temper our over-caution. The British
taxpayer, who is beginning to feel some apprehen-
sion as to the possible effect of the Abyssinian ex-
pedition upon his budget, if he exercise a little
patience will have no grounds for complaint. If we
establish a footing in Abyssinia the affair will very
soon pay itself. The mineral wealth of the country
is so great that we should readily obtain sufficient,
ore to pay our expenses, while the fetture holds out
a promising prospect. Whatever the immediate
effect of this expedition, King THEODORE can hardly
be long on the Throne which he disgraces ; and the
semi-civilisation of his people paves the way for
that commercial intercourse with European nations
which is the high road to civilisation. Already we
have many standing places on that vast con-
tinent which we seem especially fitted to
subdue. The intrepidity and the persever-
ance of English explorers have laid open
the secrets of the interior of Africa, and they are
still redoubling their energies and pushing on their
discoveries in the face of every danger. Our colonies
at the Cape are thriving. Why should we not have
other settlements on the coast, and by and by in
the interior, and try whether modern science and
industry and civilisation cannot be brought to bear
even upon Abyssinia ?

A dinner has taken place to celebrate the forma-
tion of the Bristol Working Men's Conservative
Association, at which Sir STAFFORD NORTHCOTE
made a most interesting speech. The right hon.
gentleman described Bristol as a thoroughly English
city, and it has been associated with the past times
of our country. The discoverer of the Continent
of America went forth from Bristol, and from that
city the first steamer went across the Atlantic and
home. Concerning the all-engrossing topic of Re-
form, Sir S. NORTHCOTE said that he thought
there had been an exaggeration of language
in what both sides had said of it. There
is some truth in this, for people are very apt
to talk as if the working classes were just about to
begin their influence in public affairs instead of
having had it for long years. It is rather, as here
put, that public men were so much impressed Ly
the sense and patriotism displayed by the working
classes that they were eager and ready to allow of
their admission to the franchise. As for " the leap
in the dark," about which so much has been said,
the right hon. gentleman very truly said, it is not
the same in all human affairs, and how
can any one predict the result of this or that step
they are taking or propose to take? We must bear
in mind that in speaking of the ' working classes"
we are speaking of a large and divided body, and
there is much to consider about the matter. As Sir
STAFFORD NORTHCOTE said, very impressively, a
great deal will depend upon the men themselves,
and they must feel the responsibility that rests upon
them if they hope for success or prosperity in the
great work of public progress. We quite
agree with him in looking to the experience
that has been made with confidence, and believe
that, " under GoD's blessing, the spirit of loyalty,
and contentment, and good feeling which has pre-
vailed among the working classes of this country,
will carry us safely through the difficult times
which are no doubt coming." It is certainly most
encouraging to find that all the members of the
Government speak so cheerfully and hopefully of
the Reform Biil, which some captious opponents
said they detested in their hearts. Whether
it be Lord DERBY at Manchester, Mr. DISRAELI at
Edinburgh, Sir J. PAKINGTON at York, or Sir S.
NORTHCOTE at Bristol, it is the same story ; they
all rejoice at having had the opportunity of passing
a measure that the interests of the country so im-
peratively demanded, and that the experience of
the wisest and the opinion of the ablest politician
declared to be necessary to the community.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

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

The chief point of interest of an official character
connected with the affairs of Italy is that on the
day when General de Failly entered Rome with
some detachments of the French army he issued the
following proclamation, some fragments only of
which had previously transpired :
" Romans,—The Emperor Napoleon again sends
an expeditionary corps to Rome to protect the
Holy Father and the Pontifical throne against the
armed attacks of revolutionary bands. You have
known us for a long time. We come to fulfil a
mission entirely moral and disinterested. We will
aid you in establishing confidence and security.
Our soldiers will continue to respect your persons,
your customs, and your laws. The past affords a
guarantee of this.
" The General-in-Chief of the French Expedi-
tionary Corps, DE FAILLY.
" Civita Vecchia, Oct. 29, 1867."

Garibaldi bad a narrow escape a day or two ago
of being killed. He went accompanied only by a
guide to an isolated house only three or four miles
from Rome. His intention was to reconnoitre the
positions of the Papal troops, and he was standing
on the steps of the house for the purpose. All of a
sudden two shots were fired which severely wounded
the guide. The General was unharmed. lie im-
mediately returned to headquarters. The two shots
were fired by two Pontifical gendarmes, who, in-
formed of the intention of Garibaldi to visit the
house, had concealed themselves until they had the
opportunity of firing at him.
Reports of all sorts continue to abound. Ac-
cording to one of them Garibaldi had marched back
upon Monte Rotondo, in consequence of the ap-
proach of several battalions of Papal troops with
the intention of cutting off his retreat. Another
engagement is spoken of, it being added that re-
ports of cannon bad been heard in the environs of
Monte Rotondo. The Spanish frigate La Ville de
Madrid was anchored off Civita Vecchia.

When the Empress last visited the Exhibition
her Majesty went in a public vehicle and quite nu-
attended. On leaving the Empress crossed the Pont
de Zena, and it began to rain, but her Majesty pro-
ceeded with indifference. According to the etiquette
here, persons with umbrellas keep on the footway,
but a gentleman recognising the Empress, who was
in the middle of the bridge, rushed forward, regard-
less of ceremony, and, taking off his hat, said, "An
English Sovereign inspired, in similar weather to
this, an act not allowed by etiquette. Your Ma-

jesty is as much beloved and as indulgent. She
will forgive like Queen Elizabeth, and "—the Em-
press smiled, and, finishing the sentence, said—" she
accepts the umbrella."
A labouring man, named Legros, is about to be
tried before the Court of Assize of the Doubs sitting
at Besancon, charged with the murder of an old
gentleman named Demandre and his servant girl
at the chateau de Rigney, near the village of that
name. M. Demandre was formerly a magistrate,
and was much respected in the locality. Legros,
the prisoner, is a man of very bad character, and
there is a chain of circumstantial evidence against
him, tending to prove that he was guilty of the
murder, the motive for which was robbery. The
poor girl was about to be married, and .the banns
had been published. The murder took place on the
Gth of April. The village of Rigney contains about
800 inhabitants, and the chateau is very ancient
and of great architectural beauty.
Henri Pierre Langier, a farmer of 38, has been
convicted before the Court of Assize at Draguiguan
for poisoning his wife by means of strychnine. The
evidence went to prove that, on the morning of the
31st of March last, the previous wife died suddenly
in great agony. She was quite well at seven o'clock,
and as she died before eight there was little doubt
that she had been poisoned. The medical men also
made a post-mortem examination, and declared that
the stomach of the deceased contained strychnine.
One strong point of suspicion against the prisoner
was that at five o'clock on the same morning he had
told the barber of Bargemen, the village where
the prisoner and his wife resided, that his wife
was dangerously ill, although the illness
did not commence till two hours afterwards.
It was supposed that the prisoner gave this account
iu orarr to prepare the reslac.to of the village for
the melancholy event. He pretended to be in great
alarm about his wife, but it was reme:nbered that
he did not send for a doctor. When the police came
to the house to make inquiries about the death, the
prisoner pretended to be in an agony of grief, and
sighed and sobbed aloud. It also was proved that
the prisoner had bought strychnine at several shops
many months before the death of his wife occurred.
The only evidence as to the inducement to the crime
was that the prisoner had never liked his wife, but
only married her for her money, and he pretended
to be greatly disappointed because his wife had not
borne him a child. The prisoner had abandoned a
young girl whom he had seduced before he married
the deceased, and afterwards he had said that he
wished to get rid of the latter in order that he
might be married to the girl. The prisoner had
often beaten his wife, and one witness deposed that
he had been heard to say that he must kill his wife
in order that he might have another, who would
bring him a child. The jury gave a verdict to the
effect that the prisoner was guilty of the wilful mur-
der of his wife, Madeleine Leonard Langier, "by
the administration of substances calculated to cause
death." The full details of the trial have not
transpired, and the reason why sentence of death
was not pronounced is not known. The Court
condemned the murderer to hard labour for life.

The weather continues bright and beautiful, and
not cold for the season.

La Liberte (not a very reliable authority) says
that the audience granted by the Emperor to Gen.
Marmora did not result in consequences so favour-
able to the maintenance of amicable relations be-
tween the Cabinets of Paris and Florence as might
have been expected. The General, it appears, gave
his opinion that under present circumstances it was
impossible for the Italian Government to retire from
the Pontifical. territory before the troops of the
Holy Father. Also that a rectification of fron-
tiers, which would give the promise of Viterbo to
Italy, was equally indispensable, as well in a national
as in a military point of view.
The Emperor of Austria has conferred the Grand
Cross of the Order of Marie Therese upon Prince
Napoleon, through the medium of M. de Metter-
nich.

On the occasion of the reopening of the courts of
law in Paris mass was said in the Sainte Chapelle
by the Archbishop of Paris.

I HEATRE ROYAL, DUBLIN.

(From Saunders' News-Letter.)

There are so few really accomplished performers
on the stage at the present day, despite the in-
ducements which it offers, either as respects fame
or fortune, that it was a subject of sincere inte-
rest to find that Miss Bateman had returned to
the scene of her former triumphs from the
quietude of private life, and on Monday evening
she appeared before a brilliant and crowded house
in her favourite character of Leah. As to the play
itself, it is utterly worthless, whether as regards the
plot or the language ; and the conduct of Rudolf,
vacillating, weak, and inconstant, renders him an
object unworthy of the passionate love of the
Jewess, while Madelina, whom he eventually weds,
is satisfied to accept his hand without hesitation,
after finding his affections (if they can be dignified
by the name) are directed to another. But Miss
Bateman by the force of her genius, by the bright-
ness of her imagination, and by the grace with which
she has invested the part of Leah, has made the
feeble text glow and sparkle under her interpre-
tation, and the play becomes invested with a
reality and depth due to extrinsic influences alone.
In the first act the presence of the Jewess is little
more than momentary, but her gestures speak with
more than the eloquence of language the terror
under which she suffers, and when the Christian
priest lays his protecting hands on her the shudder
passing over her was most expressive. But the
great scene is that in the fourth act, where, en-
countering Rudolf after he has left the church the
husband of another, Leah pronounces the fearful
curse. Sometimes, when speaking in level pass-
ages, Miss Bateman intones too much, but here
every word, every action is apposite and true to
nature, and the alternating tones of bitter scorn,
vehement denunciation, and womanly emotion, ter-
minated in a noble burst that held the audience
wrapt in earnest attention. In the closing act,
where the poor wanderer returns, dying and broken-
hearted, there was a touching and quiet pathos that
won from not a few the tribute of tears.

UNIVERSITY IMELLIGENCE.

OXFORD, Nov. 5.

ALL SOULS' COLLEGE.

At a meeting of the Society of All Souls' College
this morning Edward Ridley, 8.A., was admitted
an actual Fellow, after the expiration of one year's
probation.
At the same time the following were elected
Fellows, on a year's probation, viz. : —William
Reynell Anson, 8.A., Balliol ; Walter George Frank
Phillimore, 8.A., student, Ch. Ch.

CAMBRIDGE, Nov. 5.
TIIE ELECTION OF VICE CHANCELLOR.

In Congregation this morning the Rev. Dr.
Thompson, Master of Trinity College, was elected,
without opposition, Vice Chancellor for the ensuing
academical year.
NATURAL SCIENCES TRIPOS.

Gentlemen intending to present themselves for
the Natural Science Tripos examination in December
next, are requested to send their names to Pro-
fessor Humphry on or before the 20th of November.

OLD Sin DOUGLAS. By the Hon. Mrs. Norton.
Second Edition. 3 Vols.—"A tale of love betrayed, and of
hearts parted by the whispering tongues that poison
truth,' of the strength of true natures and their weakness,
of ill-regulated passion, hero outspoken and luxuriant,
there as buried fire under an Iceland ; of the shallows and
the depths of the groat social sea; the true religion that is
largo, liberal, long-suffering, and the false religion that is
narrow and intolerant. Mrs. Norton's story is a work of
genius that deals with the essentials of life. There is a
soul eloquent in every book she writes."—Examiner.
UNITED STATES SECURITIES.—Do not sell your
Five-Twenty Bonds from fear of their not being paid in
GOLD—but if you have any doubts as to this, exchange
them for Ten Forties, as the Act under which the latter
were issued specifies that they aro payable, interest and
principal, in GOLD. They have ten or forty years, from
1864, to run, and pay 5 per cant. Messrs. Belding, Keith,
and Co., American Bankers and Merchants, 80, Lombard-
street, buy or sell United States Ten-Forty Bonds at the
same Commission as Five-Twenties, but will exchange
for one Commission. Their Pamphlet on United States
Bonds and Securities gratis on application. 80, Lombard-
street.

THE RUSSIAN NICHOLAS RAILWAY.

(FROM A CORRESPONDENT.)

M. de Reutern, the Russian Minister of Finance,
has lately been at a loss for money. This is no un-
usual position for a Minister of Finance to find
himself in. Nations, like individuals, fall occa-
sionally into pecuniary embarrassments; but with
good management and strict honesty the diffi-
culty may be tided over and affairs be re-adjusted.
As with private men, so with great empires—in
such straits they generally test the good-will of their
neighbours, and ask for a loan of money. To
comply with such a request is an evidence of
confidence reposed by the lender in the borrower.
In private life such loan may be a proof of
friendship ; in public transactions it is an evidence
of credit, and the sacredness of both sentiments is
imperilled by any breach of faith on the part of the
borrower. When, last year (1866), M. deßeutern
was in want of money he raised a loan, which was
subscribed both in England and on the Continent.
The bonds for that loan were issued at 84. In the
present year (1867) M. de Reutern again wanted
money, and again asked for a loan. And how did
benct ? Regardless of his faith to the bondholders
of the 1866 loan he issued bonds for the new loan
at 76, and gave, besides, the Nicholas Railway
as collateral security for the twelve millions
sterling he sought to raise. How could M.
de Reutern blind himself to the fact that,
whilst damaging the interest of the bondholders
of 1866, he at the same time dealt a deadly blow to
the Russian national credit? If Russia be as solvent
now as she was last year, why issue bonds for the
new loan at a lower rate than those of the former?
and why add a pledge as security ? But the evil
effects of this terrible error of judgment—to give
M. de Reutern's conau.t,
quickly manifested. For the Russian loan of the
present year 600,000 bonds were issued. Let us
see what favour they found in the commercial world.
Though such eminent bankers as Baring and Hope,
of London, and Pinand and Hottingen, of Paris,
undertook to negotiate the loan, the success was
only such as may be expected to follow a distrust
of the borrower. These great bankers took on
their own responsibility 150,000 bonds, or, in
other words, one-fourth of the number issued, and
what account do we find of the remainder?--291.
229 were placed in France, and a vague report said
that 1,000 were placed in England. The placing of
the remaining 158,771 bonds was left to exercise the
ingenuity of some gentlemen of the Stock Exchange.
When we consider that the bankers who took
150,000 bonds had a commission of 4 per cent. on
their nominal value, which was equivalent to about
7 per cent. on their real value, we cannot regard
the Russian loan of 1867 as a very flattering speci-
men of the financial ability of M. de Reutern.

But there remains the Nicholas Railway, which,
being the property of the Russian Government, M.
de Reutern pledged as security for the loan raised
this year. This Nicholas Railway, burdened as it is,
is about to be sold; La Grande Societe des Chemin
de fer Russes is to be the purchaser. M. de Reutern
seems determined to make the Nicholas Railway do
him good service. He is again in want of money,
and the Grande Societe, which enjoys the reputation
of being a private company, but which, from its
organisation, looks at least semi-official, is elected
to the honour of relieving the Minister of Finance
from his difficulty. We learn that the Nicholas
Railway will be ceded to the Grande Societe des
Chemins de fer Russes for the term of 84 years.
And upon what conditions ? The Grande Societe
steps into the place of the Government, as-
suming all their rights and responsibilities.
It may be well to mention that the Nicholas
Railway is a lino running between St. Peters-
burg and Moscow, and has been hitherto used
for the transport of troops. Mr. Wynans, an
American, has a contract with the Russian Go-
vernment for keeping the rolling material of this
line in repair. Now that the Government wish to
sell the railway it becomes necessary to cancel Mr.
Wynan's contract. The Government have offered
Mr. Wynan three million roubles as compensation
but he has refused, from which wo may conclude
that the American gentleman finds his contract
profitable. Now, let us examine the terms offered
by the Russian Government to the Grande Societe
in this railway transaction. The first and most
important condition is, that the company shall
undertake the annual payment during 84 years
of the sum of 3,115,540 metallic roubles, the same
to be applied to the payment of the interest and to
the liquidation of the Government loan of 1867.
The company undertakes to place at the disposal of
the Government a new issue of bonds, the rate of
interest and other conditions to be fixed by the Go-
vernment. And what advantages do the Govern-
ment offer the company? The Government pro-
mises to give a sum, the amount to be hereafter
fixed, for the repair of the line, the improvement of
the stations, and the increase of the material, but
on condition that the estimates for these expenses
be submitted to theGovernrnent, and distributed in
equal portions over the years 1868-69. These terms
would not offer any great attraction to an Eng-
lish company, but one is tempted to laugh
upon finding amongst the conditions laid down in
this transfer of the Nicholas Railway that, should
the net revenue of this line exceed the sum required
to pay the obligations contracted by the loan of 1867,
the overplus is to be transferred to the revenue of
the Warsaw-Nijni line, and should the revenue of
all the lines exceed the amount of interest guaran-
teed on the shares and bonds then the overplus is
to be divided between the Government and the
company. There is a financial solemnity in the
suggestions of a possible division of profits between
the company and the Government, which cannot
fail to excite the risible propensities of any one ac-
quainted with the financial position of the Grand
Societe des Chemins de fer Russes.

According to the official report published this
year at St. Petersburgh, we find that the company
has a capital of £28,346,791, yielding a net revenue
of £483,533, being equivalent to 1 88-100ths per
cent. Such a return speaks volumes for the work-
ing of the company, after an existence of 10 years.
To this company belong the lines running from
Warsaw to St. Petersburg, and from Moscow to
Nijni. Upon these lines the Government have
guaranteed an interest of 5 per cent., so that the
difference between 1 88-100ths which the lines at
present pay and 5 per cent. is paid by the Govern-
ment. And thus the indebtedness of the company
to the Government will be constantly increasing
until its net revenue exceeds 5 per cent. This must
be kept in mind whilst we take into consideration
the exact value of the terms proposed by the Rus-
sian Government in the transfer of the Nicholas
Railway. Stripped of technicalities, it amounts to
an invitation to the company to undertake the
yearly payment of a large sum, for which
no equivalent is offered unless we should con-
sider as such the honour of becoming proprie-
tors of this heavily-burdened Nicholas line.
But some matter-of-fact Englishmen may ask
whether the shareholders have no voice in the
matter. Of course they have a voice in the ques-
tion, but shareholders in all countries seem to be a
credulous class, and in the present instance the hope
of sharing large profits with the Government—
which will take place when the joint revenues of
all the lines exceed 5 per cent. !I—the shareholders
overlook the fact that they will be called on to meet
an immediate demand for eleven millions sterling,
and which they must meet themselves should the
directors of the company not be clever enough to
entrap fresh flies into their net. As the chairman
and half the directors of the Grande Societe are
Government officials no doubt the terms offered
will be painted in the most attractive colours. This
may succeed at St. Peterburg and Moscow, but we
venture to predict that the capitalists of Western
Europe will be very chary of making investments
in Russia until M. de Reutern abandons his present
sinuous financial policy for one more statesmanlike
and straightforward.

GAS EXPLOSION.—This morning, at eight o'clock,
an explosion of gas took place at the King's Head, Wal-
North-road, which completely shattered the front of the
house, taking the lapips with it, and sending the frame-
work in splinters to the other side of the road. Tho pot-
man at the house and a shoeblack sustained so serious in-
juries that both had to be conveyed to the hospital.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE,

(REUTEIt'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE ROMAN QUESTION.
PARIS, Nov. 6, 5 a.m.

The Moniteur of this morning says :—" Garibaldi
was arrested on the evening of the 4th at Figline
by the Italian authorities, and on the following
morning was taken to Fort Varignano with his two
sons. The Roman States are now completely free
of the invading bands.
" The Italian Government has ordered the Royal
troops which had occupied certain points of the Pon-
tifical territory near the frontier to return to Italian
territory."
Telegraphic communication lias been re-established
between Rome and Florence, and between Rome
and Naples.

ITALY.

FLORENCE, Nov. 16.

The Reforma mentions a report that the Deputy
Bertaui has been taken prisoner by the Pontifical
troops.