The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-16 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, JANUARY 16, 1866.

LONDON, TUESDAY, JAIV. 16, 1866.

---~►--

The Conservatives of North Devon have been
making an active display, and mustering their forces
preparatory to the grand campaign. Last Thurs-
day evening a company of 300 gentlemen sat down
to celebrate the annual meeting of two local
Conservative associations by the good old fashion
'of a dinner. The speeches were long and the
speakers numerous, but the audience were fortunate
in /laving, for the most part, to listen to addresses
-very well worth hearing ;
tinged, of course, through-
out
with party politics; but sensible, straightfor-
to the purpose nevertheless. It
ward, and
is significant of the times that, in spite
of the reiterated disclaimer of any gene-
ral desire for Reform, the leading Conserva-
tives at such meetings invariably assert that their
principles are by no means opposed to wise, pru-
dent, and constitutional changes. The fact is that
men of ability and enlightenment are no longer
likely to be so completely blinded by prejudice and
custom as in the olden days, and they cannot help
admitting the right and reason of gradual and pro-
reasive change. If there is no longer• the eager
excitement, the popular convulsion, the disturbances
which at last wrested the •Bill of 1832 from a
reluctant Parliament, it. is by no means sur-
prising. In the first place,• that bill, how-
ever partial or defeletive, effected so' much
good that there are fewer abuses to complain of,
while there is no longer the
same opposition to en-

counter. The indifference charged against the friends
of Reform should really be rather charged against
their opponents, but it is a gratifying proof
how much party feeling and prejudice is
becoming secondary to the real interests of the
country. We may learn, too, from the attitude
assumed by the Conservative party of to-day
respecting the proposed reform how much
the present condition of political knowledge
and the opportunities of observation and travel
afforded in these days to all men of education and
position have a tendency to promote united and
harmonious action. While, of course, having no
power to make all think exactly alike, a consum-
mation never it is to be hoped likely to be reached
in this country, these influences tend at least to
make them all start from similar points and all aim
at the same goal.
The Earl of DEVON, who on the other evening
represented the Upper House, expressed the feeling
alike of the peerage and the populace in his brief
and pertinent address. In returning thanks for the
cordial expression of approval which, as might have
been looked for in a Conservative assembly, the
mention of the House of Lords had called forth.
Lord DEVON said that he accepted it as a proof tha
the Peers were not looked upon as an obstructive+
body, " not as a body that would blindly adhere to
old institutions because they were old—but as a
body which is not disposed after taking such mea-
sures, and they think fit to secure careful and deli-
berate consideration, to put a veto on all or any
measures of safe and rational progress." It is only
by taking up such a position, added the noble
Earl, that the House of Lords can be useful.
For himself, he boldly said that he thought
it a wise, safe, and expedient thing that as
wealth extended and education spread a judicious
and moderate extension of the franchise should take
place, happily illustrating his case by the remark
that the foundation of a pyramid was strengthened
as you widened its base.

Sir STAF FORD N o RT FI C 0 TE, the principal speaker of
the evening, addressed himself rather to the position
of the House to which he himself belongs, observing
that he was dealing with an unknown quantity
since not only had the present House of Com-
mons never met, but its members were by no
means the same who sat in the last Parliament.
No less than 200 gentlemen who sat in the last
House find no place in the new one, and thus
actually one-third of the popular assembly is
changed. Many of the 200 new members have
previously been M.P.s, but a great proportion,
of them are absolute strangers to St. Stephen's.
Some of the changes are losses to the
Conservative party, prominent among whom Sir
STAFFORD NORTIICOTE naturally placed the names
of Mr. SEYMOUR FITZGERALD and Sir JOHN HAY,
though there is reason to hope that even yet the
latter may present himself at the opening
of Parliament. Sir STAFFORD NORTIICOTE ad-
mitted that his party had lost ground by the
general election, but he bade them remember that
their efforts had not been in vain, since the vigorous
action of the minorities might naturally be sup-
posed to temper in some degree the course of the
representatives of the majorities.

Sir STAFFORD NORTIICOTE is kind enough to
foretell two serious drawbacks to the new Govern-
ment. The first is the difficulty of harmonious
action between Mr. GLADSTONE, the new leader of
the llouse, and the indolent and apathetic division
of his own party, which, under the easy dolce far
?dente of Lord PALMERSTON has long held pre-
eminence, and the second being the deficient repre-
sentation of the Ministry in the Lower House.
" We know," said Sir STAFFORD, " that the great
offices to which the administration of money is
chiefly committed, the Admiralty, the War-office,
are represented not in the House of Commons but
in the house of Lords. We know that the Foreign-
office is now represented wholly in the House of
Lords. These things were complained of in the
last Parliament, even when the Prime Minister was
in the House of Commons and able to answer ques-
tions and conduct the debates on great questions
if his subordinates were not present, and defend
the Under-Secretaries when they got into any diffi-
culties. But when we find the difficulties increased
tenfold, I venture to say it is impossible that
Government can be carried on satisfactorily with-
out those departments being more adequately repre-
sented in the House of Commons than they are
at present." Lord DEVON hinted at another and
more formidable element of weakness in the Cabi-
net—its tendency to yield its better judgment to the
clamour of a party or a faction, a tendency of
which we have already had painful evidence in
their conduct to Governor EYRE. But we must
not prejudge. They have a right to the cld Eng-
lish grant of " a fair field and no favour," and,
while we must hope they will fulfil the confident
anticipations of their supporters, we must certainly
admit that they are likely to do none the worse for
the vigilant scrutiny of their adversaries.

An able letter on the subject of Governor EYRIE
and Jamaica appears in the Herald of to-day,
andtmhead"e unjust and malicious attacks" which have
been
upon the character and conduct of that
zealous officer are shown in their true colours. The
writer truly declares that those who are in haste to
prejudge his conduct should first of all consider the
position in which he was placed in all its peculiarities
and significance. Very likely many well-disposed
persons have been led away by the violent language
and excited statements made upon this subject, and
become really so confused that they have judged
matters and measured the standard of conduct
according to the rules of every-day life more than
they regarded them in the light of extraordinary
circumstances. Governor EYRE'S position was in-
deed a most perilous one, and he had, besides, the
responsibility of providing for the safety of the
population. " His military resources were small,
his position isolated from all assistance ; his foes
numerous, reckless, and abandoned, and daily and
hourly likely to increase, augmenting just in pro:
Portion as success attended the first stages of
opposition."
This is a very true delineation
of the state of affairs at the period of the outbreak,
and those who are so ready to declaim against the
severity which was employed forget, or do not know,
that the only chance of safety that existed under
such circumstances lay in the adoption of bold
and decisiTe measures. To those wise and ener-
getic schemes we owe the safety of the island, and
the English public are indebted to the Governor,
while the white population of the island must
certainly be said to owe to him their preservation
from an imminent peril ; yet, as the writer of this
letter says, the man who rendered these inestimable
services has been suspended, and the " mutinous
faction" in Jamaica will rejoice in the re-
call of him who proved himself equal to
the emergency, and was able to put
I down the insurgents with a steady hand and a de-
termined will.

Very true also are the remarks here made upon
the course pursued by the same Members of Parlia-
ment; in following the dictates of the, faction and
joining those who condemn a' man unheard.
" How," it is asked, " can Mr. BRIGHT or Mr.
BAZTER, compromised as they are by their declared

judgments against Governor EYRE, bring unbiassed
and impartial minds to investigate his case when
presented to the House for their decision ?"

Another instance of glaring inconsistency and
misstatements has been the pertinacity with which
some have declared that the volunteers fired at an
unarmedmob. The statements of several persons well
qualified to judge have contradicted this before, and
the account given by one who was left on the spot for
dead, Mr. BROOKS COOK, completely falsifies the
absurd report that gained such favour at Exeter
Hall. The rioters continued their approach until
they were within ten or twelve yards of the
volunteers, " when they showered in stones, bottles,
and brickbats upon the magistrates and volunteers,
until it became necessary to fire upon the mob."
It is really quite intolerable that a particular party
should take up a thing in this manner, and for their
own ends and purposes distort truths and alter facts
until the second reading differs in all essential
points from the first. It was quite out of character
that before private letters could reach us from the
island, and more detailed accounts could be given,
that this intolerant clique should take upon them-
selves to lay down the law and to present a history
of their own to their hearers. They seem to have
taken upon themselves the office of " clairvoyants,"
and to have pretended to know by intuition what
was and what was not taking place—what had and
what had not occurred in Jamaica.

Those who take an interest in the politics of
Germany will be curious to notice the effect pro-
duced by the opening of the Prussian Chambers.
Count BISMARCK read the Speech from the Throne,
and certainly he must have done so con amore, for
it appears to have been in conformity with his own
views, and to have expressed those opinions which
ho has so long advocated with all his might and
main. It would really seem as if the KING and his
chief Minister had set themselves to work to
study the wishes of the members, and then had
framed their plans diametrically opposite to them.
At any rate their conduct is virtually the
same, and through the whole of the speech that is
here presented to us there breathes a spirit of con-
tradiction and an arbitrary tone that prove how
little intention there is to profit by experience or
take heed to warnings. The burden of the song is
" supplies, supplies ;" they are the beginning and
end of the affair, and seem required for all imagi-
nable and unimaginable purposes. Bills are to be
brought in settling the Budget, and supplies are re-
quested for the " unchanged maintenance of the
military organisation and the increase of the navy.
Money will be also required for the execution
of the Nox th Sea and Baltic Canal. The finances
of the kingdom are in a favourable state,'
and the Chambers are furthermore informed
that " the relations of Prussia with foreign powers
are friendly and satisfactory."
Contrary to the usual practice the framers of this
Speech have put the most unfavourable and un-
promising topics first, and then resort to the expe-
dient of bringing forward those matters which are
more likely to win regard. Thus we find the union
of Lauenburg to the Prussian Crowu trium-
phantly attended to, and the everlasting topic of
Schleswig Holstein also figures as an auxiliary
agent. Its definitive decision has not yet been made,
but the Chambers are informed that the Gastein
Convention has reserved it for their negotiation.
Then, in summing up the advantages gained, the
Speech declares that, by "t he occupation of Schleswig
and by her position in holstein, Prussia has acquired
a sufficient guarantee that the decision can only be
in a sense corresponding to the interests of Ger-
many and the claims of Prussia." This means,
of course, that whoever join to divide the
spoil, Prussia will take the lion's share.
In the present advanced state of nations, it is a
disgrace that a Royal Speech should contain such a
passage as that which asserts the inten-
tion of the KING to pursue the course of
spoliation in an unflinching manner and with
unabated zeal. It is insulting common
sense and violating the rules of justice to fall back
upon the monstrous declaration of the Crown
lawyers for support ; but where there is a will
there is a way, and if King WILLIAM'S way is
not very outlanded, at all events, his will
cannot be questioned. It is strong enough and firm
enough for anything. " I am determined to hold
fast this pledge under all circumstances, until the
desired end is attained," is the emphatic declaration
made ; and, of course, this grandiloquent assertion
means that the Crown of Prussia will rob and plun-
der as much as possible, and that no remonstrances
will prove effectual in stopping its path of ruin and
of wrong. The Chambers have certainly no easy
task before them in stemming the tide of oppression.

MR. COBDEN AND THE PROJECTORS OF COM-
PANIES.—During his stay in Paris he was beset with
applications for his name and influence in the promotion
of joint-stock companies of various kind.. Hardly a day
passed without letters from sanguine projectors, offering
him directorships in their promiseful undertakings, with
the usual guarantee against loss, and upon any terms as to
shares he chose to name. His sense of what was due to
himself, to his character as the representative of his coun-
try, and to the cause he had in hand, rendered it impossible
that he should entertain any of these proposals. He re-
ferred them all to his friend Mr. Ellison, with whom an
intimacy of many years had begotten confidence the most
complete and unreserved; and by him they were generally
answered. Ordinary speculators were thus easily got rid
of, andiwere heard of by him no more, his friend's position
as a banker in Paris enabling him to discriminate in what
terms each of the various applications ought most fitly to
be declined. There were some whose imposing air and
provoking tone of bienfaisance disturbed for the moment
the negotiator's equanimity. One day he received a cour-
teous but somewhat condescending intimation that one of
the greatest financial adventurers of the day intended to
call on him on the morrow, with tho view of laying before
him a forthcoming scheme of more than ordinary magnifi
cence, and which, in the slang of the Bourse, would be
found to present features of peculiar importance to thosa
who might be fortunate enough to be connected with it.
Mr. Cobden requested his confidential adviser to be present
at the interview, which the latter declined, upon the
ground that his doing so would probably prove a restraint,
and would consequently lead only to a second visit or a
correspondence, both of which it was desirable to avoid.
But he consented to be within reach should anything
occur rendering reference to him necessary. At the hour
appointed the subtle weaver of golden dreams appeared,
bowed benignantly to tho un-worldly wise diplomatist,
whose single-heartedness he probably pitied, while he
thought it might be turned to account as a cutwater for
the gorgeous and heavily-laden barge he was about to
launch ; and, having seated himself and thrown open his
furred pelisse, he began his revelations in the customary
strain. His host listened with ill-concealed impatience,
and eventually cut short the interview by unconditionally
refusing to take the matter into consideration, stating his
opinion that if any public man in France or England lent
his sanction to the speculation, ho would be guilty of com-
plicity in something little short of swindling. The scheme,
however, was too splendid to bo abandoned. It did not
fail ; but not very long afterwards its, author did, under
circumstances that gave rise to litigation in many ways
remarkable. When informed of the catastrophe, Mr.
Cobden only remarked that he had sometimes regretted
not havingb
desc
r ikepted
his
for
hetemd have posrh littleoaul
ger
likedat the
toknow
interview
above the
price at which the fellow had " valued his honesty."—
British Quarterly Review, January number.

GENERAL 11E1 TRICAL FUND.—The Lord Mayor
1'
has consented to preside at the forthcoming annual dinner
of the General Theatrical Fund. It is expected that the
right hon. gentleman will be supported by the most dis-
tinguished literary and artistic friends of the association.
A GENERAL'S SON CONVICTED OF FELONY.—
At the Middlesex Sessions yesterday morning William
Henry Oakes Warren, the son of a general in the army,
was put on his trial, charged with having stolen a coat at
the Westminster Palace Hotel. The case was one of an
interesting kind, the question for the jury being whether
the coat was taken by mistake or design. The jury found
the prisoner guilty, and he was sentenced to nine months'
imprisonment with hard labour.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, Monday Evening.
The Moniteur has very little about Spain to-day,
but it expresses a sort of confidence that the insur-
rection will very shortly be suppressed. No reasons,
however, are given for this belief or hope. As to
the telegrams, and indeed some of the private letters,
their information is so contradictory that little
reliance can be placed on it. Generals Zabala and
Echague, according to the former, continue to follow
the rebels, but even yet they do not seem to have
reached them. The other day the Royal troops
had cut off their retreat from the mountains ; but
yet the information I gave yesterday, that General
Prim had been able to gain the frontier of Portugal,
is repeated to -day.

Batty, the American beast tamer, has very nearly
fallen a victim to his audacity in performing the
foolish trick of putting his head into the lion's
mouth. This feat has drawn immense crowds to
the Cirque Napoleon. On Saturday evening, as
usual, Batty put his head into the mouth of a savage
lioness with a confident air, keeping his hands be-
hind his back. All of a sudden the lioness closed
her jaws, and Batty made a convulsive movement.
He, however, contrived to open the animal's jaws,
and succeeded in withdrawing his head, which was
bleeding. One of the lioness's teeth had inflicted
rather a serious wound on the temple. A cry of horror
arose from the audience. Batty, standing still,
with perfect composure, looked sternly, with his eye
fixed on the lioness, which seemed fascinated and
slowly retired. Ile wiped the blood from his fore-
head and bowed to the audience. Batty never lost
his presence of mind, but itis to be hoped that this
occurrence will prevent a repetition of this danger-
ous and foolish manoeuvre.
Immense sums are lost in the omnibuses of Paris,
but what is most astonishing is that the property is
almost always restored to the owner. During the
year 1865 the servants of the General Omnibus
Company deposited at the offices of the company
17,432 articles which had been left in the vehicles,
of the estimated value of 115,000 f. Of these ar-
ticles 928 were purses which contained 63,306 f.
The other articles were trifling—umbrellas, sticks,
&c. Of this sum of 63,306 f. the owners, within
three days, reclaimed the sum of 52,556 f. 3,800
miscellaneous articles were also reclaimed. The
amount given in rewards to the agents by the owners
was 4,158 f. Tho number of persons who travelled
by omnibus in 1865 exceeded 100 millions ; and,
from calculation, it appears that on the average out
of 100 persons 17 lost articles the average value of
115 f.

The trial of Poncet for the murder of M. Lavergne,
in the wood near Argenteuil, did not conclude till
nearly ten o'clock on Saturday night. The jury
deliberated an hour and a half, and then returned
with a verdict of guilty. As the jury did not find
that there were " extenuating circumstances," which
is too often the case with French juries, there is
little doubt that Poncet will be executed. The Pre-
sident, however, informed him that he had throe
days to appeal against the sentence. The
prisoner said, " I thank you. I know that
I am innocent, and, that is all I have to say."
Although the trial lasted a long time, the material
facts to prove the prisoner's guilt were few. It was
proved that he was at a dancing-room at Cour-
bevoie the night after the murder, and that he had
at least 1,000 f., most of it in English gold, and that
he spent money lavishly amongst some girls there.
A gold repeater, which belonged to M. Lavergne,
was found in his possession. It was also proved
that he had employed a dyer and scourer to take
out the stains of blood from his trousers. A knife
belonging to the prisoner had some stains on it,
which were believed to be caused by human blood.
According to the fashionable gossip of Paris,
the title of Highness has been conferred
by the Emperor upon Prince Lucien Bona-
parte, who will take rank after Prince Murat
at Court. The. Prince is brother of Prince Charles
Napoleon Bonaparte, and of the Princesses Julie,
Charlotte, and Augusta Bonaparte. Prince Lucien
is doubly a Bonaparte. Ms father was the son of
Lucien, Prince of Canino, brother of the first
Napoleon, and his mother,:the Princess Zenardo,
was the daughter of Joseph Bonaparte, whom
Napoleon the First made King of Spain. The
fashionable world at Paris is getting busy. The
first ball at the Tuileries will take place on Wed-
nesday, and balls are about to be given by the
ladies of the foreign ambassadors. A splendid
dress ball at the Tuileries is talked of, and a ball on
a magnificent scale by Madame Drouyn de L'Huys,
wife of the Minister of Foreign Affairs.'

A watchman named Polyte has been found guilty
by the Court of Assize of Paris, of causing the
death of his wife by throwing her out of the win-
dow of the fourth floor ; but as there were " ex-
tenuating circumstances," he has escaped the capital
punishment and is sentenced to 20 years hard labour.
The prisoner and his wife frequentlyquarrelled, and
the crime was committed during one of these
quarrels when they were both in a violent passion.
Another extraordinary change has taken place in
the weather. The sun has shone all day with little
interruption, and the temperature has been really
warm, if not hot.

The Moniteur du Soir publishes a telegram, ac-
cording to which General Prim was near Guadiana,
and that he still was enabled to keep in advance of
the troops sent to pursue him. A column had
been despatched from Badajoz to prevent him from
reaching the frontiers of Portugal, from which he
was now only at a short distance.
Yesterday King Leopold the Second gave an
a letter of con-
gratulation
throne. King
the
audience to Monseigneur Ledochowski, charged by
the Pop Pope to
on
his presentaect
accession
shi Majestyiosnto
Victor Emmanuel also received yesterday, in a
solemn audience, the Belgian Envoys charged with
a similar mission.

During the terrible storm 22 vessels were driven
on shore at Cherbourg, and 12 others were more or
less seriously damaged.
The Moniteur mentions the receipt by the Minis
ter of War of despatches from Mexico, dated Dee.
10, and Vera Cruz to the 13th Dec. They state
that the condition of the provinces was satisfactory,
and that there had not been any serious interrup-
tion of tranquillity upon any point. There had not
been any military operations of importance. Gen.
Mejia had not been inquieted by any fresh attack
at Matamoras. The reinforcement of Mexican
troops sent by the Marshal commanding-in-chief
sufficed for the security of that place. After his
repulse at Matamoras, Escobedo had made an
attempt to retake Monterey, and after three day s'
resistance the small garrison retired within the
citadel, leaving the town in his possession. Gen.
Jeanningros, however, was sent against him, and
Escobedo was soon compelled to retreat, with the
loss of 110 men. The French columns had one
man killed and two officers wounded. Colonel
d'Ornano continued his operations in the Tamau-
lipas.

The only fact of importance contained in the
correspondence of the Moniteur from Spain is that
General Prim has succeeded in crossing the Tagus,
and was marching towards Portugal. Measures,
however, had been taken by the Portuguese Govern-
ment to capture any Spanish refugees who might
present themselves at the frontier. One of the
Madrid letters contains a copy
of pr3clamations
which had been furtively circulated at Madrid.
One of the proclamations, in the name of au Insur-
rectional Committee, calls apon the soldiers to unite
with the Liberals to save the country and liberty.
The second emanates from General Prim himself,
who puts forth as his rallying sign the last mani-
festo of the Central Progressiste Committee—.
" Honest citizens," says the General, " aid me in
bringing to a successful conclusion a political revo-
lution which will render unnecessary the terrible
social revolution with which ive are threat-
ened." It will be remarked that the insurrec-
tion is no longer styled
a military but a political
revolution. Such was the character which I gave
it from the first. The Siecle to-day says " there is
no truth in the various accounts published by the
Spanish Government to show the insignificance of
the insurrectipn." The whole of Spain is in gre4t
agitation. There are few Generals better known, I
not only in Spain but in foreign countries, than

Gen. Prim. He has been at the head of many pro-
nunciamientos. He was born in 1814, and while very
young was an officer in the civil war, and colonel
at 26 in the brilliant staff of the Queen Christina.
He was one of the first to declare himself against
Espartero, and was exiled in 1842. But the fol-
lowing year he was chosen Deputy for Barcelona.
He returned to Spain and ranged himself under the
banner of Narvaez. His pronunciamiento at Rens
obtained for him the title of Count. Although Go-
vernor of Madrida nd overpowered with honours, he
soon quarrelled with Narvaez and became one of the
chiefs of the Progressive party. He was accused of
complicity in the attempt to assassinate that Minis-
ter, but although acquitted was again exiled under
the accusation of conspiracy. He afterwards tra-
versed France and Italy, and fought in Turkey
against the Russians. The great pronounciamento
of 1854, and a second election as a deputy for Bar-
celona, again obtained for him permission to return
to Spain, and more honours. O'Donnell conciliated
him and gave him the command of an expedition to
Morocco. He was afterwards appointed to the
command of the expeditionary corps destined to co-
operate with England and France in Mexico. Every
one knows how he separated himself from France,
and nearly caused a rupture between France and
Spain. Since then he has held himself aloof from
political movements, and finding that there was
dissatisfaction with the Spanish Government
he was determined to change it. He has for
a long period been preparing to take up arms, and
meditating upon the means of obtaining a change
of system, if not of dynasty, in Spain. This move-
ment would have been more successful if his friends
had not precipitated the insurrection, and taken up
arms before the time appointed for so doing.

The weather has become much more calm and
mild at Paris, but the provincial journals contain
long and rather disastrous accounts of casualties
by sea and land. The storm is stated to have been
more violent at Cherbourg than has been known
within the memory of man. The town is described
to be "in consternation." The streets are encum-
bered with fragments of chimneys, walls, and roofs
of houses. There has not, however, been any loss
of life. From the observations taken by the Obser-
vatory of. Paris there have not been such sudden
and extensive variations in the barometer since
1768 as there were on Friday night.
I gave you some particulars of the charge against
a man named Poncet, for the murder and robbery
of M. Lavergne in the wood of Orgemont near
Argenteuil. The trial commenced before the Court
of Assize, at Versailles, on Friday. Evidence was
given to show that the deceased was in the posses-
sion of large sums of money. M. Barrat, the pro-
prietor of the Hotel Buckingham, Rue de la
Madeleine, deposed that M. Lavergne wrote to him
from England in October requesting him
to reserve three rooms for him, and that
he arrived on the sth of that month. The
prisoner accompanied him, and said he was engaged
as M. Lavergne's cook. They went out together,
and he never saw M. Lavergne afterwards. His
body was found in the wood of Orgemont the next
day. There was a mortal wound in the neck
extending to the vertebral column. No money was
found in the pockets of the deceased, although he
was in the habit of carrying large sums in notes
and gold about him. The deceased was seen with
the prisoner on the afternoon of the murder.

The death is announced of the son of M. Ferdi-
nand de Lesseps, the projector of the Suez Canal.
It took place at Ismaila, after a short illness of
two days.

The murderer of the girl in the Rue de la Ville
l'Eveque, of which I gave you an account, has
been arrested. He is a man named Joseph
Philippe, and has confessed his guilt, and from
certain articles found in his room he is supposed
to have been concerned in the recent attempted
murder of the wife of an artist, and to have com-
mitted other crimes. He is watched very carefully,
as he has twice attempted to commit suicide.
The Patrie states that the Court of the Vatican
has decided upon an entire change of policy as re-
gards the defence of the Pontifical territory by its
own forces. Independently ofathc energetic repres-
sion of brigandage, there is great activity in the war
department with a view to the reconstruction of the
Roman arm y. These changes have the complete
sanct ion of the Pope.
The most eminent and reliable authority on
Finance, M. Forcade, in his weekly review of the
position of affairs in the Sentaine Financiere of yes-
terday says .—" There has been an excess of credit,
and to diminish the difficulties which this state of
things has created in England in France, and
upon the great financial markets, the only
efficacious influence would be a restriction on
the part of the Government upon their
wants and their demands for money. The situation
of the banks ought to serve as a warning. The
position of the Bank of England, as is seen by the
return, does not improve. The rate of discount ha
reached 8 per cent. In France the amount at the
Bank has diminished 20 millions, whilst the circula-
tion has increased six millions. " These symptoms,"
adds M. Forcade, " sbould not create alarm, but it
would be imprudent to disregard them."

CHANG AT COVENT-GARDEN THEATRE.—On Fri-
day evening last, after their usual levies at the
Egyptian Hall, Chang-Woo-Gow and his Celestial com-
panions went to see the pantomime at the Theatre Royal,
Covent-garden. No one suspecting his presence, from his
private box ho was enabled to quietly enjoy, doubtless
with wonderment, the pictures of Chinese life as given in
the Eastern and certainly gorgeous spectacle of "Aladdin.,
Yet Chang's admiration must have been, as usual, hidden
beneath his philosopher's cloak of profound coldness, from
which the splendid pictures of " The Streets of Canton,"
The Moving Palace," " The Light of Day," and the mazy
whirl of 100 ballet girls failed to awaken him, until the
towering caricature of himself strode on to the stage.
Then, suddenly thrown off his guard, Chang rushed from
his hidden corner, and, leaning over the front of the box,
exclaimed in a loud voice, " Ah Yah !" a kind of Chinese
" Goodpess gracious." The scene was at once a most
amusing one, and the giant, finding that a multitude of
eyes were in a moment averted from the false to the real
Chang, beat a hasty retreat into his corner.
ORIGIN OF UNIFORMS.—At the Restoration,
when forces were established in England an d Scot-
land, each country having its separate guards, line, and
artillery, scarlet was the colour almost uniformly adopted,
save in ono instance, when the king clothed in blue, faced
with red, the Royal Regiment of English Horse Guards
which was embodied on the 26th of August, 1661, under
Aubrey, Earl of Oxford. These colours it still retains ;
but a corps of marines raised about the same time, oddly
enough, wore yellow coats—the old Dutch uniform.
On the 2d of April in the same year, 1661, the Scot-
tish Life Guards rode through the city of Edinburgh
"in gallant order," says Nicol the Diarist, "their carbines
upon their saddles, and swords drawn in their hands. It
pleased his Majesty to clothe their trumpeters and the mas-
ter of the kettledrum in very rich apparel." Colours were
presented, and soon after the king gave to each gentleman
a buff coat. In February, 1683, General Sir. Thomas Dal-
zell obtained from the Privy Council at Edinburgh a li-
cence permitting the manufacturers at Newmills "to im-
port 2,536 ells of stone-grey cloth from England" for his
dragoon regiment, the Scots Greys, which had been raised
two years before—hence their costume, as well as their
grey horses, may have led to their present well-known ap-
pellation. This grey cloth cost ss. an ell.— United Service
Magazine.

ASSAULT ON A DOMESTIC SERVANT.—At the latter
end of last week Mrs. Bellamy, sister to Miss Theresa
Longworth, appeared at the Abergavenny County Court
to defend an action which had been brought against her for
assaulting her servant girl by throwing water over her; she
was further charged with non-payment of wages by the
same complainant. Mrs. Bellamy resides at Abergavenny
Castle, and it seems that on the Wednesday following
Christmas-day her girl retired to bed at an unusual hour in
consequence of being unwell. She was requested to get up
again by Mrs. Bellamy, but refused, stating that she was
too unwell to do so. Mrs. Bellamy then threw some water
over her, and this constituted the assault complained of
The committal of the assault was confirmed by the evidence
of a man-servant, and in cross-examination Mrs. Bellamy
said, "The complainant is aware that I suspected her of
having stolen a shawl value £17." The damages for the
assault were laid at £l, for which judgment was given, his
honour remarking that the assault had been proved.
Judgment was given for the amount of wages due.
CHAIR OF GEOLOGY IN THE EDINBURGH UNI-
VERSITT.—It has transpired within the last day or two
that the Senatus Academicus have resolved to petition
Government to erect a chair of geology, as a complement
to the chair of natural history, so ably filled by Professor
Allman.—Daily Review.
RESPITE OF SENTENCE.—John Jamieson, who
was condemned to be executed on the 17th instant, for the
murder of Isabella 3PKinnon or GalloCher, in a spirit shop
in Glasgow, on the 30th September last, has been respited

LA TEST INTELLIGENOE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

ITALY AND PRUSSIA.

FLORENCE, JAN. 16.

The King of Prussia has conferred upon King
Victor Emmanuel the insignia of the Order of the
Black Eagle.