The Sun.
London, England, 1867-01-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 14 1867

quit e whether their grievances are true or false. If

tb ey set about their concerns in a business-like way,
and will give the public a little more detailed in-
formation as to their actual position than they
_are generally willing to afford, there is no fear but
-that they will obtain a hearing, and possibly win
substantial advantages. The farmers have
discouraged the idea of a system of agri-
cultural statistics, which would have been as
useful to themselves as to anybody else. We
believe that this reluctance on their part
chiefly arose from prejudice, naturally enough at-
tachieg to old-fashioned ways of thinking. The
farmers are naturally, from the very nature of their
occupation, a little behind the quick progress of
town thought, although they may be none the less
useful to the community for that slowness. They
are unwilling to change, slow to run risks, and to
break new ground in politics and legislation, but
they are neither to be despised nor railed at on that
score. They have already made great strides in
scientific knowledge, and the agriculture of to-day is
something very different from the agriculture of 25
years ago. They will probably make the same
advance in political liberalism if we give them time
enough ; but if they find that every complaint they
make, however reasonable, is put aside, and the
expression of their opinions is received with in-
difference, if not contempt, they may well entertain
a very low estimate of the toleration and enlighten-
ment of the school of modern progress. Mr. PELL,
the Chairman of the Central Chamber of Agricul-
ture, gave an amusing account of the difficulties
with which the promoters of the Asso-
ciation bad to contend, some calling the
movement too Radical, and others too Con-
servative. "It would be their province,"
said Mr. PELL, " to discuss all questions affecting
Agriculture, irrespective of all party or class in-
terests, and instead of having them handled by men
in cities, who knew nothing about the farming in-
terests, they would have them discussed by them-
selves." This is a sound principle of action, and
will, we hope, fulfil the aspiration of its promoters
by benefiting all classes of agriculturists, labourers
as well as farmers. The Duke of RUTLAND, who
presided, made a brief but sensible speech, in which
he gave Mr. BRIGHT a well-deserved thrust for his
wholesale attack on the political integrity of the
Conservatives.

Affairs are still very unprosperous in Hungary,
and despite all the talk we find that little or no re-
suit is come to. This is the more to be regretted,
because of the peculiar circumstances of the case,
which seem to call for unusual expedition and in-
creased unanimity on all sides, in order that the pre-
sent period of interregnum, as we may call it, should
be passed over. The debate on M. DEAR'S address
will commence to-morrow, and, no doubt, it will be
an exciting one whichever way it ends. It is believed
in political circles that affairs are in such a state
that the next news will be the dissolution of the
Diet, or else the immediate formation of a Hun-
garian Ministry. In either case we do not suppose
that public approval will be met with. The Impe-
rial Patent seems to be held in great odium, and we
fear that the consequence will be serious if it is
endeavoured to put it into effect. Many signs are
apparent which show that there is meaning
in the opposition made to it, about the re-
organisation of the army in particular. It
has been proposed that the House should declare
I it null and void, and some officials have already de-
; dared that in the event of the Government carrying

it into effect they will immediately tender their re-
signations. We cannot too deeply deplore this
estrangement which exists between the Imperial
Government and the Hungarians, and we feel con-
vinced that both sides will lose by their persistency
if they do not consent to meet half-way and adopt
a middle course of policy.

Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Plenipotentiary
of his Majesty the Emperor of the French.
" In confiding to me the mission of representing
him at your Court, the Emperor, my Sovereign, has
specially charged me to make known to you the
value which be attaches to the relations of friend-
ship which exist between France and the United
States. To maintain these relations, to unite them
more closely, if it be possible, with the view of
developing the common interests of the two coun-
tries,—such will be the constant object of my efforts,
and I have the firm hope of attaining that object if,
as I feel convinced beforehand, the Government
and the people of the United States will share the
sentiments of which I bring here the sincere ex-
pression. _ _

President Johnson replied as follows to the
Minister of the Emperor :
" Monsieur,—A grateful affection for the French
nation is among the number of the d •arest, deepest,
and most durable sentiments felt by the people and
Government of the United States.
" We are in the constant belief that no interest
either of one or the other country can entail irri-
tation or antagonistic feelings. While important
commercial interests tend to unite them, as you
have justly observed, the two nations have at the
same time a common interest in the progress of
civilisation and humanity throughout the whole
world. In expressing these sentiments, I only re-
peat what has always been said since the United
States have been independent.
" We have had many reasons to be satisfied with
the conduct of your predecessor, the Marquis de
Montholon. Be assured, Monsieur Berthemy, that
no mark of respect or courtesy will be omitted to
render the accomplishment of your duties easy
and agreeable."
The Imperial Scientific Association will hold its
next sitting at the Observatory next Wednesday
evening. M. le Verrier is' ; -*titer into an explana-
tion respecting comets, the times'of their appearance,
and their origin. He will also give a minute history
of shooting stars, and particularly of those re-
marked in August and November lass. The ex-
, planatious will be illustrated by powerful instru-
ments.

The general meeting of the Society of Parisian
Regattas (Rowing Club and Sailing Club united)
took place on Friday evening at their club-room in
the Rue de Valois, near the Palais Royal. M.
Gabriel Benort Champy presided, and upwards of
250 members were present. The administrative
council was then appointed as follows :—President,
M. Adolphe Young; vice-president, M. Adrian
Flenret ; president of the Rowing Club, M. Tous-
saint ; president of the Sailing Club, secretary,
and treasurer, M. E. Barnet. Several important
arrangements were made respecting the grand inter-
national regattas which will take place during the
period of the Exhibition under the direction of the
Parisian Regatta Society. The annual dinner of
the society will take place at the Grand Hotel next
Saturday week, the 26th inst.
The total receipts of the Paris theatres, which
are subjected to a tax for the poor, were for the
month of Nov. last no less than 2,019,708 f. 38c.
Madlle. Georges, the great tragic actress—the
Mrs. Siddons of France, who was in the zenith of
her fame more than 40 years ago, has just died at
Passy, near Paris, in her 80th year. The theatrical
name of this lady was Georges, but she was Ma
dame Marguerite Georges Weimer. She was born
at Bayeux in 1786—(not at Amiens, as stated by
one of the papers)—and made her debut with pro-
nounced success at the Theatre Francais on Nov.
27, 1802. Her triumphs as the intepreter of the
heroines of Corneille, Racine, and Voltaire gave her
a world-wide reputation. Iler Lucretia Borgia in
Victor Hugo's drama will not be easily forgotten.
At Dresden kings went to applaud her, and yet this
triumphant actress is said to have died in compara-
tive indigence. Her last appearance was ten years
ago in " Britannicus."
Russia is reported to have made some pro-
posals for the arrangement of the Eastern question.
Among the conditions are the separation of Egypt,
which is to be constituted an independent State,
under the hereditary government of a Viceroy ; the
enfranchisement of the islands of Crete, Cyprus,
Rhodes, Chio, Mitylene; and Lemnos ; the reunion
of Thessaly and the Epirus to Greece ; the indepen-
dence of Roumania and Montenegro ; the formation
of a Duchy of Bosnia and Herzegovine, under an
Austrian Archduke ; the independence of Servia ;
and the formation of a Bulgarian State, under a
Russian Archduke. These supposed combinations
occupy politicians ; but, as far as I can ascertain,
imagination has a large share in them.
A valuable historical relic has just been sold at
the public saleroom in the Rue Drouot, a splendid
pocket-book of the time of Lous XVI. It is richly
decorated with gold and coloured ornaments. It
also contains two miniatures on wood, one of Marie
Antoinette in a satin dress, and her hair ornamented
with an ostrich feather. The other miniature is
composed of portraits of the Countess d'Artois, her
two children, and the Countess of Provence. This
ir i
book contains an Almanac of the year 1781, and on
o;iiaercohfiontehsse
del ceavaeus s m
on t
governesstt e n—
to the children
of the Count d'Artois, by the Queen Marie Antoi-
nette Given to the
on the 12th of July, 1781." This relic was
sold for 900 f.
Yesterday and to-day have been bright and
beautiful, with almost continual sunshine. To-day
there has been a very cold wind, BO that the white
frost of the morning and the ice remain, the thaw
being very moderate.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

ITALY.
SPEECH OF THE KING.

FLORENCE, Jan. 13 (Evening).
To-clay King Victor Emmanuel received the de-
putation charged to present the Address of the
Chamber of Deputies, in reply to the speech from
the Throne.

The King addressed a few words to the deputa-
tion, in which his Majesty, after expressing congra-
tulations at the results which Italy had obtained,
said that there now remained two questions to be
resolved—that of the finances and the Roman
question. With respect to the finances he hoped
that the difficulties would be shortly surmounted,
and that the financial statement of Signor Scialoja
would disperse many clouds. Concerning Rome
'his Majesty said that this was a question of time,
which will resolve it agreeably to the national aspi-

Miramar, the position of political parties in that
country is of such a character that were a plebis-
citum to be ordered by the Emperor Maximilian
a majority in favour of the Empire might be ex-
pected. Public opinion in Mexico is also stated to
be adverse to any intervention on the part of the
United States.

More Christmas Books and New Year's

Gift-book F.

Another cluster of brightly-bound Christmas
books and children's books again claims our atten-
tion. Foremost among them is a welcome gift to

,he young from that charming authoress, a favourite

alike with young and old, Mrs. S. C. Hall.

The

Prince of the Fair Family, a Fairy Tale, by Mrs.
S. C. Hall (Chapman and Hall), records the
adventures anc: misadventures of Ivor, Prince
of the Fair Family. The son of King
Rosemary, a fairy roi faineant, who pass
all his time in drowsy ease, and of Queen
Foam, who is both Queen Consort and Queen Reg-

nant of the fairy domain. This imperious Queen
banishes her disobedient son from fairyland, and
Ivor for a time takes up his abode'among the mor-
tal inhabitants of Tenby-on-Sea. Whether the

record tells us of the doings of fays or mortals, it
abounds throughout with touches of pleasant
humour. The illustrations scattered with lavish

hand on almost every page are singularly graceful,
nor is this to be wondered at when among the

artists we find the names of E. Ward, R.A., and
Mrs. Ward, and Noel Patou, and Kenny Meadows,
and many others of equal celebrity ; and the ini-
tial letters to many of the chapters are from the

graceful pencil of T. K. Macquid. Another delight-
ful book for the juveniles, Animal Sagacity (S. W .
Partridge), is edited by the same authoress, Mrs. S.
C. Hall, and is deserving the attention of children

of every age. It is just the book to please a child.
The stories are all wonderful and they are all
" true"—that great desideratum in a nursery-tale.
The pictures of animal life are very attractive.
There is the clever cat on the window-ledge, who
catches her dinner when tossed up to her by (to use
an elegant expression) the customary purveyor of
feline refreshment. There is the gallant dog who
rushed through the pane of glass to rescue a burn-
ing child. There is the sagacious rat who dipped
his tail in the oil-bottle, and innumerable others
of equal interest. The book abounds with anecdotes,
and will instruct while it amuses the reader.
Legends of Savage Life, by James Greenwood
(John Camden Hotten), with thirty-six coloured
illustrations by Ernest Griset, is a counterpart to
that miniature Munchausen, " The Hatchet
Throwers," which appeared with the last year's
Christmas books.. It is hardly possible, without
exhibiting to our readers one of these singularly
ridiculous illustrations, to convey any idea of this
bewildering book. Whether it is the Elk Demon
turning a gigantic somersault, or the ostrich pursued
by the Indian, each making a stride that rivals the
footsteps of the seven-league boots, whether it is
the hairy spider endeavouring to take the Milkee-
kokum captive, or the marvellous escape of the
canoe from Black Stone Island, each picture appears
to be more grotesque, not to say more utterly ab-
surd, than its • predecessor ! The letter-press is
of course as amazing as are the illustrations.
Peter Parley's Annual (Darton and Co.) contains
a pleasant variety of juvenile tales and adventures,
with many illustrations, some of them coloured,
while for yet younger readers Little Folks and The
Three Little Friends (FrederickWarne and Co.) will
prove singularly delightful. Each of these little books
is adorned with twenty pictures of Oscar Pletsch, and
charming pictures they are—pictures that may well
excite the admiration and delight, not only of the
little ones, for whom they are designed, but of
their papas and mammas also. In one picture we
find the three little friends "keeping shop," in an-
other, " Playing at Housekeeping in Umbrella
Cottage ;" in another, performing a concert, in
which the voice of Fido takes the part of bass. In
" Little Folks" the descriptions are in verse, and the
pictures are equally amusingand equally well drawn.
Turning from picture-books to story-books, we
have for girls a delightful story from the indefatig-
able authoress of "John Halifax," " How to TVin
Love, or Rhoda's Lesson," by Miss Mulock (Dean
and Sons). This is a charming little tale, with an
excellent moral, and will delight many a little
Annie and Rhoda during the Christmas holidays,
while their brothers will welcome, with exceeding
glee, another history of their favourite Ernie.
Ernie Elton at School, by Mrs. Eiloart (George
Routlege and Son) records the sad misdoings and
wonderful misadventures of Ernie Eltou as a school-
boy. It is said that " lazy people take the most
pains," and the saying appears realised in the
amazing escapade of Master Ernie. His adventures
in this volume are too extravagant for belief.
Donald Cameron, or Irust TVinneth troth (Darton
and Co.) is a little tale for older readers illus-
trating the proverb that " all is well that ends well."
Devout Moments, by Lord Kinlock (E Imonston and
Douglas) contains, in the most unpretending form,
some very beautiful devotional pieces of short
length well worthy of remembrance. The Cloud
and the Beam, a Christmas story (Lothian and Co.),
is an interesting little story on that happy truth
familiar to every one's experience how " every
cloud has a silver lining." Glum-glum, a fairy
romance (Richard Bentley), is a most humorous
burlesque upon the extravagances of the day,
adorned with numerous quotations (imitated) from
favourite authors. Foremost among them is
Carl-parl (Carlyle, of course), who, " seizing a red-
hot poker, burnt the following words into the
world for ever" —we do not give the quota-
tions, which is very happily done. Doleful as he
is by name and nature, " Glum-glum" will pro-
voke many a laugh from those who may read his
very marvellous and eccentric history. Quotations
from Shakespere, selected and arranged by
Edmund Routledge (Routledge and Sons), is
another collection of some of Shakespere's house-
hold words. Sunday Acrostics (edited by Mrs.
Ogilvy) and Hidden Senses; Seek and Find, double
acrostics, edited by E. R. Babington (Warne and
Co.), are two little volumes of acrostics to amuse
and bewilder the Christmas fireside group—the
one for Sunday being on religious themes, and the
other upon a variety of miscellaneous matters.
Among other cheap works of light reading we
have Penny Readings, in prose and verse,
and Sunday Readings, both edited by J. Car-
penter (Warne and Co.), and Original Penny
Readings, by George M. Fenn, and Original
Penny Christmas Readings (Routledge and Sons),
all of which contain an agreeable variety of plea-
sant reading. Among the cheap books now before
us, let us also enumerate the new volume of Rout-
ledge's Library, containing the romantic tale of
Gilderoy. 2he Companion Library (Warne) con-
taining Aunt Prue's Railway Journey, and Dan's
Treasure, by Leigh Tempest (Darton and Co.)

My New Year's Gift to My Son. By Parnphilius

Virtue Brothers and Co.
This little book is worthy of a separate notice. It
forms, indeed, an admirable giftbook for the young,
especially for a young man entering life. The in-
structicns which it so pleasantly conveys are evi-
dently founded upon experience, and truth—that
truth which is " stranger than fiction"—is appa-
rently the foundation of the very interesting his-
tory which it relates. "The head and heart legacy"
contains the history of a father's life, recorded for
the benefit of his son. By industry and steady
determination the author of this history made his
way in the world from poverty and obscurity to
comparative wealth and eminence. The record of
the history is full of interest and encouragement.
The remainder of the volume is occupied with very
interesting anecdotes and reminiscences of George
Stephenson and James Watt and other self-made
men.

SNOWBALLING AT LIVERPOOL.—On Saturday
morning a heavy fall of snow again visited Liverpool, the
wind at the time blowing at intervals from the south and
then from the north, the breezes from the latter quarter
very rapidly and sensibly lowering the temperature to
freezing point. About ten o'clock somo of the "young
swells" on 'Change began the dangerous game of snow-
balling, in which a number of idlers soon joined. Profiting
by previous affairs of the same description, the police
promptly appeared at the scone of action, and finding their
remonstrances disregarded, they at once seized 14 of the
most energetic throwers and walked them off to Bridowell.
This unhesitating display of vigour at once put a stop to
the proceedings. In the course of the morning the young
gentlemen taken into custody wore brought up at the
police-court before Mr. Raffles, tho stipendiary magistrate,
who Sued them each 20s, and costs, and said, if another
batch were brought before him on the same charge, ho
should make the fine 100.