The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-05 00:00:00

been. returned for a great industrial community like
the borough of Liverpool, and also in a town like
Btackburn, composed almost exclusively of opera-
ti•ies ? The same thing has occurred in Preston ;
-while in the two seaports of Devonport and South-
ampton, notwithstanding all the Government influ-
ence, a Conservative member was returned in one
and two in the other. Like many others, Mr. BovILL
thinks the majority of the returns favourable to
Government were in consequence of the great po-
pularity of Lord PALMERSTON, and that his suc-
cessors can never enjoy the same confidence.
They rely greatly upon the support of Mr. BRIGHT
and his friends, and certainly they have already
led them into mischief enough to show that they are
dangerous allies and most unwise counsellors. Re-
specting the diatribes of Mr. BRIGHT and his fol-
lowers, the hon. and learned gentleman very truly
remarked that they never showed in what manner
the House of Commons failed to discharge its duties
in an adequate manner, although they were con-
stantly lavishing abuse upon it in an unsparing
manner and with great vehemence of expres-
sion. Great fault was found in the system of
education at present existing, and also in the great
want of education that exists ; but the House of
Commons has never been backward in giving its
attention to this important subject, and therefore
such strictures fall to the ground. Referring to
Mr. BRIGHT'S extreme opinions, Mr. BOVILL
showed that the effect of conferring the franchise
indiscriminately on the working classes in
America had been to prevent those men
from taking office who were the best qualified,
from their position and education, to preside
over the government of the country. The hon.
and learned gentleman concluded his interesting
speech by declaring his intention to give an earnest
support to all measures calculated to preserve that
pure and glorious constitution which has acquired
for this country the admiration, if not the envy, of the
civilised world, under which our wealth has increased,
our commerce has flourished, and we have been
enabled to enjoy in peace and freedom an amount
of prosperity such as has never yet been known
among any other people. Mr. CUBIT; M.P., made
an amusing speech, in which he drew a lively pic-
ture of the thousand ills which the present Govern-
ment would have to encounter, and declared that
the vaunted majority was composed of a mere

" fortuitous congregation of atoms." He declared
that they had lost their chief stronghold in the name
and influence of Lord PALMERSTON, and that there
must necessarily exist a source of. internal weakness
in " a combination which included the members of

lie Israelitish persuasion, the Papal brigade, the
members for the metropolitan boroughs, the Scotch
Radicals, and the hereditary Whigs." Such a pros-
pect is not very encouraging certainly, nor one very
calculated to realise the truth of the saying, " Union
is strength."

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

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

The Paris papers are so unanimous in expressions
of satisfaction at the brief but admirable answer of
the Emperor to the addresses presented to him on
New Year's Day that I refrain from translating
any extracts upon the subject. The absence of
Lord Cowley, our Ambassador, has drawn forth a
sort of sneer from one of the journals notorious for
making mischief out of nothing. A plain fact dis-
poses of the diatribes of the mischief-maker. Lord
Cowley, who has been in England for some weeks,
made his arrangements to be in Paris on New
Year's Day, but there was such a heavy sea in
the Channel when he arrived for embarkation
at Dover that he delayed his departure, and thus
he was only enabled to reach Paris on Tuesday
morning. The noble lord, I have reason to know,
was much annoyed at the eirrilm.tAn c.o, which
frustrated his intention, but an official communica-
tion has been made to the Emperor explaining the
reason of the noble earl's abtence.
A striking illustration of the impotency and
malice of the opposition press in Paris is afforded
by the course taken by the Siecle. As I have
already told you, that paper, with an affectation
that a speech of the Emperor was not of much con-
sequence, did not publish it yesterday, although it
might easily have done so, and only copies it to-day.
Had any mischievous or virulent incident occurred
derogatory to the Government, it would have found
ample room for sympathetic commentary, but it will
hardly be believed that it dismisses one of the most
I
satisfactory royal manifestations of modern times in
this short sentence—

" We think we discover in these words the hope
of the cessation of distant wars, and the consecra-
tion of all that has been accomplished in Italy."
The moral of this is that his Imperial Majesty's
Opposition can say a great deal when the topic is
eliminatory ; but be it a question of giving just
support or approbation, it must be silent or " damn
with faint praise."

In the list published by some of the papers of
eminent diplomatists who died during the last year,
the name of Count Nigra, the Italian Minister, has
been omitted. He was 67, and devoted a great
part of his life to the service of his country. He
was formerly the head of a banking-house at Turin,
but on the 27th of March, 1849, he was appointed
Finance Minister in the Delauney Cabinet, and was
afterwards a powerful and devoted member of the
Azeglio Ministry. The King of Italy has lost a
sincere friend, and the Italian people a man devoted
to their interests and to constitutional liberty.

Madame Recamier, the wife of the celebrated
French surgeon, has just died in Paris.
It is not true that the French Government is in-
disposed to conclude another treaty of extradition
with England. It is as desirous as the English Go-
vernment to give facilities to bring criminals to
justice. The treaty of 1843 had nothing political
about it ; but as the English Government could not
carry it into execution, the French Cabinet thought
it right to take advantage of the privilege allowed
to both parties, that of declining to renew it. The
subject, however, is still under consideration, and,
as I believe 1 have told you already, another treaty
will be arranged, the object of which will be to
facilitate the bringing to justice of all offenders,
be their crimes social or political.
All doubts as to the easy communication between
the Mediterranean and the Red Sea across the
Isthmus of Suez are removed by a despatch from M.
Lesseps, dated Suez, December 24, which is as fol-
lows :—" The galette Eugenie, for the Mediter-
ranean, arrived in 27 hours at Suez, with 30 pas-
sengers. She anchored in the Red Sea, opposite the
Hotel Anglais." M. Lesseps left Paris at the begin-
ning of December; and arrived on the 13th at
Ismailia. He embarked on the 14th in the Eugenie,
and landed at Suez on the 24th, the vessel being
one which could navigate the sea in calm weather.
From Ismaila to Suez the voyage is performed by the
new canal. A regular service is about to be established
between Marseilles and Port Said, so that among
other novelties of the present day may be reckoned
a trip across the Mediterranean and the Suez Canal
to the Red Sea, which will be performed in a com-
paratively brief period. In fact trips will ere long
be made from London to the Red Sea as easily, as
briefly, and as cheaply as a holiday visit to the
Rhine.

The

Lady thieves are often heard of in Paris.
Police Correctionnelle has just punished one in
rather an exemplary manner. The passion or fancy
which she said she could not resist was to go to
shops, bargain for one article, and steal a great
many others. At her house the police found 39
remnants of silk or stuff, 13 pairs of trousers, 14
paletots, 8 waistcoats, many pairs of gloves, shawls,
watches, gowns, cloaks; and many miscellaneous
articles too numerous to mention, as the advertise-
ments say, alb the produce of the irresistible passion

for acquisition. The lady's husband said he always
thought his wife bought such articles with the money
he gave her for housekeeping.
The weather in Paris is still very delightful.
To-day it has more resembled that of April or May
than that of January.
The rise at the Bourse was maintained to-day.
There was also a disposition to do business in rail-
ways and other securities.

THE LATE VINCENT WALLACE.

4

Last evening the first of a series of memorial con-
certs, proposed for the benefit of the late composer's
bereaved family, was given at Hanover-square
Rooms, but we regret to say the attendance was
limited in the extreme. The artistee who gave their
services on the occasion were—Madame Lemmens-
Sherrington, Miss Whytock, Mr. W. H. Cummings,
and Mr. G. Patey ; and the instrumentalists were
—Mr. H. Blagrove (violin), and Mr. Chevalier
Lemmens (pianoforte and harmonium). Madame
Sherrington sang the brilliant and difficult rondo
from the "Amber Witch," "My long hair is
braided," in a brilliant manner ; and Miss Why-
tock sang " Gentle Troubadour," from " Lurline,"
charmingly. The beautiful trio, "Turn on, old
Time" (" Maritana"), was also given with great
taste and judgment by the last named lady and Mr.
W. H. Cummings and Mr. G. Patey. Chevalier
Lemmens and Mr. Blagrove executed a brilliant
Tema and variations for piano and violin, which
contributed much to the gratification of those pre-
sent. It is to be hoped that some more active steps
may be taken before the next concert is given.

Early Recognition of the Genius of Charles

Dickens

(By the Quarterly and Edinburgh Reviews.)
The success of the "Pickwick Papers" may be
regarded not only as an era in the life of its author,
but in the history of modern English literature. It
is very interesting to observe the immediate re-
sponse to this remarkable book, not only amongst
the public of readers but of critics. We will here give
an extract from the Quarterly Review of October,
1837 :

" The popularity of this writer," remarks the re-
viewer, "is one of the most remarkable literary
phenomena of recent times, for it has been fairly
earned without resorting to any of the means by
which most other writers have succeeded in attract-
ing the attention of their contemporaries. He has
flattered no popular prejudice, and profited by no
passing folly ; he has attempted no caricature
sketches of the manners or conversation of the aris-

tocracy ' • and there are very few political or per-
sonal allusions in his works. Moreover, his class of
subjects are such as to expose him at the outset to
the fatal objection of vulgarity; and, with the ex-
ception of occasional extracts in the newspapers, he
received little or no assistance from the press. Yet,
in less than six months from the appearance of the
first number of the " Pickwick Papers,' the whole
reading public were talking about them ; the names
of Winkle, Wardle, Weller, Snodgrass, Dodson,
and Fogg had become familiar in our mouths as
household words, and Mr. Dickens was the grand
object of interest to the whole tribe of " Leo-
hunters," male and female, of the metropolis. Nay,
Pickwick chintzes figured in linendrapers' windows,
and Weller corduroys in breeches-makers' adver-
tisements ; Boz cabs might be seen rattling through
the streets, and the portrait of the author of " Pel-
ham" or " Crichton" was scraped down or passed
over, to make room for that of the new popular
favourite in the omnibuses. This is only to be
accounted for on the supposition that a fresh vein
of humour had been opened ; that a new and decid-
edly original genius had sprung up."
During the publication of " Pickwick " Mr.
Dickens had married the daughter of Mr. George
Hogarth, the well-known writer upon music. The
great success of " Pickwick" turned the eager re-
gards of the public upon the young author, and he
published, in twenty monthly parts, the story of
" Nicholas Nickleby," the aim of this second R ork
being, not so much amusement as a moral purpose.
Inn' Nicholas Nickleby " Dickens commenced that
crusade against public and private abuses and
oppressions which has formed so marked a feature
in the later works from his pen.
The Edinburgh Review of October, 1838, ob-
serves, in reference to " Nicholas Nickleby," and
to "Oliver Twist," its immediate successor :

" There is no misanthropy in his satire, and no
coarseness in his descriptions--a merit enhanced by
the nature of his subjects. The reader is led
through scenes of poverty and crime, and all the
characters are made to discourse in the appropriate
language of their respective classes ; and yet we
recollect no passage which ought to cause pain to
the most sensitive delicacy if read aloud in female
society. One of the qualities we the most admire
in hiau is hipuumprehensive spirit of humanity.
The tendency of his writings is to make us prac-
tically benevolent, to excite our sympathy in behalf
of the aggrieved and suffering in all classes, and
especially in those most removed from observation.
He especially directs our attention to the helpless
victims of untoward circumstances or a vicious sys-
tem, to the imprisoned debtor, the orphan pauper,
the parish apprentice, the juvenile criminal, and to
the tyranny which, under the combination of pa-
rental neglect with the mercenary brutality of a
pedagogue, may be exercised with impunity in
schools. His humanity is plain, practical, and
manly."—Extracted from Photo Portraits of Men of
Eminence.

Auguste Comte, the Founder of Positivism.

From a remarkable Paper on Comte and his Philosophy, by
G. 11. Lewis, in the newly published Number of " The
Fortnightly."
The last of his private pupils, whose name has
not transpired, has given an interesting glimpse of
his illustrious teacher, in a paper which appeared in
Chambers's Journal (June 19, 1858). After nar-
rating how he found himself in this position, he
adds :—" Daily as the clock struck eight on the
horloge of the Luxembourg, while the ringing ham-
mer on the bell was yet audible, the door of my
room opened, and there entered a man, short, rather
stout, almost one might call sleek, freshly shaven,
without vestige of whisker or moustache. He was
invariably dressed in a suit of the most spotless
black, as if going to a dinner party ; his white neck-
cloth was fresh from the laundress's hands, and his
hat shining like a racer's coat. He advanced to the
arm-chair prepared for" him in the centre of the
writing-table, laid his hat on the left-hand corner,
his snuff-box was deposited on the same side beside
the quire of paper placed in readiness for his use,
and dipping the pen twice into the ink-bottle, then
bringing it to within an inch of his nose, to make
sure it was properly filled, he broke silence : ' We
have said that the chord A B,' &c. For three-quar-
ters of an hour he continued his demonstration,
making short notes as he went on, to guide the
listener in repeating the problem alone ; then, tak-
ing up another cahier which lay beside him, he went
over the written repetition of the former lesson.
He explained, corrected, or commented ti;l the clock
struck nine; then, with the little finger of the right
hand brushing from his coat and waistcoat the
shower of superfluous snuff which had fallen on
them, he pocketed his snuff-box, and, resuming his
hat, he as silently as when he came in made his
exit by the door which I rushed to open for him.
This man of few words was the Aristotle or Bacon
of the 19th century."
Naturally the pupil at first regarded this silent
and automatic teacher with a certain vague fear.
He learned at length to love him. Not, as he can-
didly says, that he knew anything of the hidden
greatness of the man, tut because he instinctively
felt the smothered kindliness beneath that cold ex-
terior. Years afterwards he saw him, when he was
celebrated and in poverty. "He recalled one of
those pictures of the middle ages representing St.
Francis wedded to poverty." But I must refer to
the narrative itself, which is too long for extract
here.

The year 1842 is doubly memorable : it saw the
termination of his great work and of his conjugal
life. I have already said that into the domestic
question I cannot enter. Be the blame of the
failure chiefly.hers or chiefly his, the failure sprang
from conditions we cannot accurately appreciate.
That the separation was her deed, and not his,
seems indisputable ; and in one of his letters to
Madame de Vaux he writes :—" An indispensable
separation, all the more irrevocable on my side be-
cause I in no way provoked it, completely relieved
me of an intolerable domestic oppression, now hap
pily converted into a simple pecuniary charge which
my character forbids my feeling in its true weight.
In truth, the two first years of that new situation,
during the interval between the close of my first
great elaboration and the opening of the second,
were passed in enjoyment of the negative happiness
resulting from this unhoped-for calm succeeding the
long and daily agitation." It is clear from many
indications that they quarrelled frequently and vio-
lently ; their views of life were different, and pro-
bably the worldly views of the one were a continual
exasperation to the other; but it is also clear that
he did not regard her as having done anything to
forfeit his respect and admiration. In one of his
letters he lays the principal stress on the fact of
her having never loved him. He continued for
some years to correspond with her on affectionate
terms.