The Sun.
London, England, 1867-07-23 00:00:00

LONDON, 7UESDAY, JULY 23, 1867.

Lord Dun v had a proud task to perform last
night in moving the second reading of the
Reform Bill in the House of Lords. Indeed
the noble lord, with the leaders of the Op-
position, found himself in peculiar circumstances,
since it is seldom if ever that the same men
are engaged twice in a lifetime in the consideration
of so important a question as that of Parliamentary
Reform. It was curious also to find that the son
of the Minister whose Administration carried the
first Reform Bill should have been prominent last
night in opposing and seeking to hinder the progress of
the second Reform measure. A generation haspassed
away since the exciting scenes which took place at
the former period, and it is interesting and impor-
tant to dwell upon the changes which have been
wrought in public opinion since that time. Lord
DERBY, in a masterly speech, dwelt upon all the
topics that were incidental to the subject, and criti-
cised the various attempts that preceded the present
effort in the direction of Parliamentary Reform.
Au unusual interest attached itself to the observa-
tions which the noble lord made upon the circum-
stances which attended the passing of the first
Reform Bill, since he did not speak from hearsay,
but had himself taken part in the stirring scenes
alluded to. As he remarked, it was difficult for the
younger members of that House to realise the state
of things at that time, when the voices of Manches-
ter, Leeds, and Birmingham were unheard ; the
question, in fact, involved a social revolution in the
country. The excitement which prevailed was of
course great ; but, as the noble lord said, it was a
somewhat doubtful advantage that enabled the Go-
vernment to carry their measure chiefly through
the popular enthusiasm of the hour. The
details of the measure were little cared for so long
as the bill itself became law. The great measure
of 1832 was carried in the heat of " political
passion," and not after the calm and deliberate
attention suitable to the introduction of so impor-
tant
a change and so comprehensive a scheme. In
referring to this bill as a whole, however, Lord
DERBY said that he believed it had " contributed
more than any measure of recent times to place the
Government and the people of this country upon a
footing of amicable relations, and to promote the
prosperity and wellbeing of the country at large."
Some amusement was created by Lord DERBY'S
comments upon the course pursued by one of the
champions of Reform, Earl RUSSELL. He began
by stating his conviction that it would be desirable
to consider the question settled for a long time
after the passing of the measure ; because, he added,
England could not bear a revolution every quarter
of a century ; but, strange to say, he himself did
not wait for the period he had prescribed, and
abandoned those doctrines which gave him the name
of " Finality." The noble lord paid a tribute to the
character of the House of Commons as it
had existed since 1832 down to the pre-
sent time, and expressed his conviction that

the measure he then proposed would not produce a
body of men more intelligent and more devoted to
their duty than that which at prseut represented

the Administration was then engaged in the prosecu-
ti an of that earlier measure, which he last night so
for cibly alluded to. All who are Liberals at heart
will concede the due meed of applause to the Con-
serva ive Government, which has done so much
in this popular cause, and refrain from indulging in
those batter taunts and unmeaning comments which
some :me so prone to. The House of Lords will
speedily settle the matter, and the session of 1567
will long b remembered as a notable one, and will
stand out :prominent and conspicuous in Parliamen-
tary annals as having witnessed the triumph of a
great repmentative reform and of political signifi-

cance.

The sertaacl reading of the Public Parks Bill last
evening reopened the discussion about public places
of resort which we bad so much of last year. Mr.
HARDY, in moving the second reading, entered
briefly upon the principal points, and was succeeded
by Mr. NEATE in opposition. The chief speaker
against the measure was, however, Mr. MILL, who
strongly advocated a theory which we suspect he,
as well as other people, would be very sorry to find
commonly put into practice. However, even his
accomplished logic failed to convince the common
sense of the House, who finally determined to allow
the second reading by a majority of 117. The fact
is that the opposition which meets any measure fur
the protection of the London parks is founded upon
a misapprehension. An attempt to preserve the
trees and shrubs is at once construed into an attack
upon our national civil liberties! In provincial
towns and cities, however, civil rights and liberties
are still flourishing, although in almost every in-
stance in which private munificence has provided a
park or pleasure ground for the residents
special care has been taken to guard against
its use or abuse for the purposes of public discussion.
We have no reason to suppose that such Liberal
and enlightened donors wish to fetter the minds or
the tongues of their fellow-citizens. They know
very well that when such meetings begin to be held
iu parks and gardens they are anything but select.
Probably not one-tenth of the number present at
these assemblies know or care anything about the
question under dispute,whether it be political or re-
ligious, and very certainly not one-twentieth of
them can hear the speeches which are supposed to
be the principal attraction. Does any one believe
that the rival factions, who broke each other's heads
years ago in the names of the
pinctlPlEydaen-dpaurkArtani:
few
LDI, were to be accepted as the
representatives of Catholic faith or of Italian Libe-
ralism ? The attraction of a temporary excitement,
the pleasures of a riot, and with some, at least, the
chances of window-breaking and pocket-picking,
have in fact a good deal more to do with the advan-
tages of the Park for a rendezvous than any-
thing else. It is idle to talk about suppressing
the right of public meeting. No Ministry,
Whig or Tory, dare attempt it, and very
certainly, if they did attempt it, they
would fail. But there are plenty other places,
both under cover and in open ground; and when
hon. members gravely affirm that no other place
in London will suit the purpose, it really looks
as if they were arguing for the sake of contra-
diction. We all heard and said a great deal
about the immense inconvenience which would be
occasioned to the working classes by the re-
moval of the National Gallery to South Ken-
sington. South Kensington, it is true, is a
mile or so beyond Hyde Park, but the differ-
ence of distance is hardly so great as to
render the one place virtually inaccessible to the
residents in Lambeth and lloxton and the Borough,
and the other the most convenient spot in the
metropolis. It is quite time that people made up
their minds on this point, because if Hyde Pork,
Regent's Park, and Victoria Park are to be the
theatres of discussion, to be thronged and trodden
down by the disputants in every local quarrel,
it is worse than 'useless to bo at a heavy,
continuous expense for ornamenting and
cultivating them. If the ground were en-
closed and left bare and rugged, it would be quite
sufficient for a place of crowded and tumultuous
afdusaslyefiTal
oieeri assemblies.
office,i
nT hseu summer
ag lnudenrt
sht
ieoraf:Lrooirsnk
dnoognn'
e'
n:watinhl nowthr longeroeonp
hoisf
e
children, the invalid, and other habitue's of the parks
as they
prcain:
ko
oswf a
easter
ne
j, ny must
andnt
ta. kwee
cost
thne maars
cesl vueansldwoa
affyy
aselsewhereshe
t
oioutif rseiadlers enjoying themselves in very plea-
sant and inoffensive fashion, and most cer-
tainly Sunday afternoon is the very time
p
ir; eMroa.oci
MILL
rLfsLo
rahnaodli
holds
tisne agtchl
altehtresiilroo f st
one hieeacnst
cs
ae and
right
gu
hd
ttheoriesttlolcirl l
trespass
.

the people in the House of Commons. Still, as the
noble lord added, it is not suflicimt that the instru-
ment should work_well : it is necessary that those
for whom it does v:otk should be convinced that it
works well. In the course of his remarks, Lord
DERBY said with perfect truth that the Go-
vernment of last year would have carried
their measure had not Mr. GLADSTONE
adopted so dictatorial a manner, and declared
that no alteration would be permitted in the plan
they proposed. The noble lord's defence of the
Conservative party was a very successful one. lie
declared that they had never shown any wish to
prevent the passing of a Reform Bill, as was evi-
denced by the second reading of the various bills
not being contested by them. A different course
was, however, pursued by the other side, for in 1858
Lord RUSSELL had defeated the second read-
ing of the Bill of that year, and again this
session Mr. GLADSTONE had sought to arrest
progress at the same stage. Respecting the
changes which had taken place in the present
scheme the noble lord explained that they were
rendered necessary by the earnest desire that pre-
vailed for the settlement of this great question, and
their intention to study the wishes of the house
of Commons. Some of the objections which have
been made agaipst the measure were ably met by
the noble lord, particularly those concerning the
borough franchise and the redistribution scheme.
lie concluded in a passage of great eloquence
by alluding to the amendment of Lord

GREY, which he emphatically declared was unne-
cessary. As he said, it was perfectly true that their
lordships' house had a right to criticise the details of
the measure, but it was not a suitable mode to
adopt to stamp the measure beforehand mith con-
demnation. "Do not," he added, " stultify your-

upon private rroperty, but (awful reflection !.

wherever he has a right to be there he has a right
to talk politics, whether to one person or to fifty.
Mr. MILL is applying the rcductio ad absurdunz to
his own theories. Aro there uo considerations of

public convenience, of private courtesy, to restrain
him ? Is a man to talk politics to 50 listeners in

church, in a theatre, at a public dinner, or
in a private entertainment. If every individual

is to exercise this right without scruple, what a life
we should have of it ! Mr. MILL'S own rule may
be more safely relied on. In his admirable essay
on " Liberty," he says that ev'ry man should be
perfectly free to do what he likes, so long as he

selves by condemning the measure in the first in-
stance ; contemptuous treatment such as this is not
the treatment which a measure that has received
the unanimous assent of the other House hasa right

does not interfere with the rights or pleasures of
others. The political malcontents hare a perfect
right to rehearse their grievances and to devise a
means of remedy. They have no right to curtail
the enjoyments and interfere with the customary
pursuits of those who do not wish to join in their
demonstrations.

to expect at your lordships' hands. I believe that this is
a bill at once large, extensive, and Conservative,
and that if it should receive the sanction of your

Lordships' House it will effect a settlemesnatttishfaatctoy
willr
for a long time to come be considered
of a question which, while it remains
b s unsettled,truc
twi
oi will
be a source of perpetual agitation, an o
and impediment
an advantageedimenttoallo that
raut Lordsef DERBYnllegislati
legislation."
It was '
spoke
first last night, for he evidentlyis m
im-
pression on the House by h
comprehensive discourse that neao brilliantf
GREYthose
who succeeded him could remove.° Lord de a tiand
n
seemed against the chief points of the bill, and ad-
dressed himself to his task in rather a crotchety
spirit. So general was the opinion that prevailed
respecting the second reading being carried with
no amendment that we should not be surprised if
the noble lord should seek to withdraw his amend-
ment. Whether he do so or not, however, there
is no doubt as to the result that will be arrived at.
The Government are certain to carry their point by
a large majority, if it is pressed to a
division ; and the cordial reception given
to the noble lord at the head of the Government in
his speech last night fully proves that without the
numerous remarks subsequently made, we may then,
with no undue expectation, consider the question of
Reform safe for this year, ant those most interested
in the cause will rejoice in such a belief. Th.: dan-
gers have been great and the work arduous, and
only the greatest courage and caution combined
have succeeded in achieving the desired end. We
have all along watched the course of this bill with
the greatest interest, and that interest was increased
by the recollection of the part which this journal
took in the stirring days of the first Reform Bill.
, There is no inconsistency in this Government pass-
ing this second measure, because the present head of

The days of gas monopoly are well nigh at an
end, and the companies who have long had matters
entirely their own way are henceforth to see their
powers considerably curtailed. They have not shown
much mercey to the public during their time of un-
checked authority, and have certainly shown no dis-
position to lower their prices when their returns
enabled them to pay good dividends. There have
been numerous complaints too, not altogether with-
out reason, respecting the quality of the gas sup-
plied, and in our foggy, smoky London so much of
the world's work has to be carried on by gaslight
that it becomes a matter of very great importance
that we should obtain a good illuminating power.
Our City warehouses and offices can only boast in
summertime itself of "a dim religious light," and
during the short days of autumn and winter, to
say nothing of November fogs and January snow
storms, a liberal supply of gaslight is one of the
first requisites for active business. The select com-
mittee on the gas supply of the metropolis are
sparing neither time nor pains. They held their
twenty-second sitting on Saturday, and were en-
gaged in the discussion of certain clauses, calling

Dr. LETSIEBY as a witness on some of the chemical
points in dispute. The bill, eTen as it now stands,
will be of great service to the public. It appoints a
permanent board of three gas referees, who will con-
trol the mode of testing the gas, and the Board of
trade are to have power to revise yearly the scale
of illuminating power and price. There will there-
fore be an cud of the very obnoxious method hitherto
pursued of the companies being judge and jury in

their own case. A chief gag examiner and a staff LATEST INT,..TI.JILLIGE.NCIF.
of minor examiners will also help to keep the supply
up to the recognised standard, and to take care that (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)
the public do not pay too much for what is, under
our present circumstances, almost a necessary
of life.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

-.-----...-

(Fnom OUR CORRESPONDENT.)OWNPARIS,Monday E
vening.

In conformity with the announcement 1 made,
the Empress left Paris yesterday afternoon for
Havre, to embark on board the IZcine Hortense for
Southampton, to pay a short visit to the Queen.
The Emperor accompanied her Majesty to Havre,
but returned to Paris very Loon after her Majesty
went on board.

Tc,ister of the Empress
of
Rhiels Psirai,ncz of
hher Oldenburg,
sonand
two daughters, has
arrived in Paris.

ITA LY.

TIIE ROMAN QUESTION.

FLORENCE, July 23.

In yesterday's sitting of the Chamber of De-
puties Signors Pianciani and Curti interrogated
the Government respecting the inspection of the
Papal troops by a French General, which they
declared to be a flagrant violation of the Sep-
tember Convention ; and on the armaments and
enlistments which were being made, it was sup-
posed, for the invasion of the States of the
Church.

Signor Rattazzi, in reply, said that he believed
the rumours of these armaments were exagge-
rated, and declared that they were being made by
the Romans themselves. Ile ‘lid not consider it
necessary for him to contradict the reports that
the Italian Government had assented to or
indirectly participated in these preparations. He
said that those were under a delusion who believed
that the Italian Government would tolerate any vio-
lation of their engagements. The Roman question
must be solved by moral means. Explanations had
been, he said, demanded of the French Government
as to the reported inspection, and which would be
contrary both to the spirit and the letter of the con-
vention, which it would cause to be respected. Sig-
nor Rattazzi denied that any arrangement had been
entered into with France for the restitution of Ro-
man deserters, and no representations of France had
ever stated that a foreign legion should be
regarded as an indirect intervention on
the part of France. He believed that the French
Government, which desired the execution of the
convention, would not be the first to violate it.

The Viceroy of Egypt is still in Paris, and it is
said intends to remain some days. The Viceroy
was warmly greeted to-day when he left the Rue
Castiglione in his carriage to pay some Tisits and
see the lions.

The Grand Duke Constantine, brother of the
Emperor of Russia, who is coming to Paris by way
oflV urtemberg, has left Copenhagen for the pur-
pose. The last mail from the Antilles has brought the
news of the death of M. Lafont de la Verriade,
Consul of France at Porto Rico, from a very viru-
lent fever. M. do Verriade had been long employed
at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before he was
made Consul.

The journal the Situation mentions some fresh
incidents exhibiting the dislik3 and resistance to the
Prussian rule. At Wiesbaden the burgomaster, 111.
Fischer, has sent in his resignation. At Cassel
three members of the Court of Cassation, appointed
by the Minister of Justice to form part of the new
head Tribunal of Berlin, Messrs. Martin, Rorke,
and Baehr, refused to accept the office. This refusal

has created a profound impression at Cassel, which
is in perfect accord with the patriotic sentiments by
which the population of that country are animated,
and it also affords a striking proof of the repulsive
impression created by the domination of Prussia.
Private accounts from Madrid lead to the belief

that insurrectionary movements are extending in
Spain, and begin to assume a serious character.
Many persons arrested at Barcelona, upon the
charge of being concerned in revolutionary pro-
ceedings, have been shot in the most summary
manner.

The Nottvelliste de Rotten mentions a strange inci-
dent. It says that great sensation has been excited
among
the Jewish population by the publication
of a book written by M. 11. V. Cohen, a Jewish
Rabbi,who, in this work, acknowledges Jesus Christ
as the Messiah.

The Prussian Ministry displays the utmost inte-
rest in the result of the coming elections to the
Federal Diet. The Gazette de l'Allemayne the Nord
makes an energetic appeal to the Conservative
party. It says :

" The result of the approaching elections to the
Reichstag will be of extreme importance. This will
explain the unusual activity of the Confederate
party in the endeavour to be conquerors in the
struggle. There is no doubt that in the first three
Legislatures discussions and votes will take place
upon organic laws of the greatest gravity, upon the
application of which will depend not only the pro-
gress and direction of internal policy, but even the
existence of the Confederation of Northern Ger-
many. We, therefore, see that the triumph
of the Conservative party in the elections
would be not only favourable to the inte-
rests of party, but also of importance to the
cause of order of the highest rank. Let it not be
forgotten. The Prusso-German power reposes
upon the success obtained by our army last year,
and it has too many inveterate enemies to be able to
do without the support and the efforts of the Con-
servative party."
There has been a mock funeral ceremony at the
Clichy prison over the effigy of Madame Contrainte
(im;:risonment). A mortuary chapel was erected
on the third floor, where the deceased lady was

lying in state. Eight hundred persons, each bear-
ing a lighted wax candle, ascended in hilarious pro-
cession, and then descended, marched along the
passages, and went into the garden, round which
they marched to a rose tree, beneath which the
h r u
s "
grave had been dug. The pall was borne by four
of the debtors deputed for the purpose, who made
themselves as funny as possible. When the remains
were being carried to the grave the merry mourners
broke out in joyous strains in memory of their
" over Laugh away
a the ove,7'and sung
s Iln
g in
On reaching chorus
the second floor
a funeral chant was sung to the tune of " Mal-
brook"—Marlbroug s'en va-t-en guerre. As soon as
rd
departed."the remains were lowered all broke out in joyous
song, and the chorus " Imprisonment is dead" was
joined in by every one. The prison poet wrote an
inscription, which was placed over the tomb, calling
upon the passers-by to laugh over the ashes of a
terrible scourge. The mourners then retired in
the same merry mood in which they had come.
The stormy aspect of the last few days is lulled
for the present, and to-day the atmosphere is more
tranquil, but the temperature has been intensely hot
and oppressive.
The Paris papers are remarkably flat to-day. I
made a brief excursion to-day at the Exhibition to
Japan. The exhibition of the Government of
Taishion de Satsouma is well worth a visit. The
varied military costumes of the Japanese aro very
characteristic. A prominent object is a tremendous
warrior on horseback, who is literally covered with
red and black plates. lle has two long daggers on
his left side. In his right hand he bears a bow, and
on his shoulder he carries a quiver full of arrows.
By his side is a Fantassin habited in equally rich
style. lie has a long lance in his right hand, and
on his left side are a sword and dagger. The orna-
ments of the costume are very rich.

Curiously enough, to-day..-.when the Reform
Question is upon the very verge of triumphing in
the House of Lords over what we presume will be
about the last obstacle in its pathway—to-day
(this 23d July) is the anniversary of the
notorious Riot in Hyde Park when the
railings gave way before the Roughs. The
success then achieved was symbolical, of course, on
the part of the Rioters, of their wish to get within
the pale of the Constitution. And to signalise this
their ambition, they
toppled down the hard-and-fast
line then denying them access to the Park. Another
hard-and-fast line of far larger importance has since
then given way as
completely under the sheer
force of circumstances. And access to some-
thing far better than the greensward of Hyde Park,
has been virtually ensured by
her Majesty's Go-
vernment, whereby many hundreds of thousands of
hitherto unenfranchised citizens are secure of being
very speedily brought, honourably and permanently,
in their newly-defined character as electors, within
the pale of our
•,-, (simply widened) Constitution. .
SUDDEN JJEATII OF SIR CHARLES MONCK.—Str
Charles Monck, of Belsay Castle, the oldest of the
Northumberland county magistrates, he having reached 88
years of age, died suddenly at his seat in Northumberland
on Saturday morning.
The venerable baronet was con-
sidered in batter health on Friday ; but on Saturday morn-
ing at 2 o'clock he rang his bell and called up his butler,
stating that ho was dying, and before any medical gentle-
man could be brought to the Castle he expired. Sir Charles
was twice elected a knight to represent the county of
Northumberland in Parliament, in 1812 and 1819. lie was
a Liberal in polities, and was a warm and enthusiastic
champion of the independence of the Greeks at that time.
Sir Charles was a descendant of the Middletons of Nor-
thumberland, who, since the reign of Edward 11., made
Belsay their residence. Sir Charles was a great lover of
field sports, and maintained a numerous stud of horses. He
was known and respected on the turf as an old-fashioned
sportsman, and ran a number of celebrated horses in his
time. He is succeeded in his estates and title by his
grandson, Mr. Arthur Edward Monck.
THE SULTAN AND THE CORPORATION OF PARTS-
NtouTit.—Tho follow;ng reply was received yesterday
evening from the Sultan by the Mayor of Portsmouth:
"1 receive your address with sincere pleasure, and I thank
you for this mark of attention. To visit your country and
see the many indications of its greatness, one element of
which is always before you, gives me much satisfaction,
land I am happy to reiterate on this occasion also my
hearty sympathy for your noble nation,"

Signor Laporta said that the Romans had the
right to enter their territory, and endeavour to ob-
tain freedom for their country.

Signor Rattazzi, in reply, declared that he would
always cause the territory subject to another Go-
vernment to be respected.
The matter then dropped.