The Sun.
London, England, 1866-06-27 00:00:00

LONDON, TVEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 1866.

THE NEW MINISTRY.

This afternoon the Earl of DERBY was granted
an interview with the QUEEN at Windsor Castle.

The result of that interview between the SOVE-
REIGN and the new Prime Minister that-is-to-be,
there can be little doubt, will be the formation of a
Cabinet composed of the "pick" of Lord DERBY'S two
previous Administrations, associated with a few of
the more important recruits recently gained to the
Conservative Party, and of the young blood of what
was until yesterday the Conservative Opposition.
The select recruits hinted at may be very readily con-
jectured. The enumeration of them at the present
moment would be perhaps more than simply indis-
creet and superfluous would be, perchance
little less than invidious and precipitate —that
is, while the coming► Cabinet is in actual process
of formation. As to what is meant by the
young blood of the Conservative Party, who is
there that can require to be reminded of such men
as Lord CRANBORNE and Sir STAFFORD NORTH-
COTE, men of eminence, who had won their
spurs as Cabinet Ministers in posse long before Mr.
GOSCHEN was ever heard of in Parliament, much
less before his eccentric summersault, over the heads
of so many far abler men than himself, landed
him in that seat in the late Administration—
which was set apart for his especial gratification as
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster. As to the
foremost chiefs of the Conservative Party in the
House of Commons, such statesmen and administra-
tors as Mr. DISRAELI, as Sir BI_TLIVER LYTTON, and as
Lord STANLEY, their assumption of office, in :the
highest places at the disposal of Lord DERBY in
his discriminating distribution of those highest
places among his Ministerial colleagues, is
simply a matter-of-course, and in a few hours
more will have become simply a matter-of-
fact. One probability in regard to this
distribution of administrative responsibili-
ties by Lord DERBY among his colleagues,
is already foreseen, and foreseen with satisfaction—
that exceeding probability being the award of The
Foreign Secretaryship to Lord STANLEY—whether
coupled with his transference to the House of Peers, is
not so clearly indicated. The Earlof MAL3IESRURY,
in this case, will, in all likelihood, thereupon suc-
ceed Lord COWLEY as Ambassadorat Paris. Sir Frrz-
ROY KELLY, as Attorney-General in Lord DERBY'S
last Government, has a professional claim, by right
of official etiquette and of official precedent, to his
advancement to the woolsack. Otherwise, could
but Sir FITZROY be advanced to the bench oppor-
tunely as Lord Chief Baron, or what not—the
Chancellor by choice, the Chancellor by all the
claims of popular genius and of forensic reputa-
tion would inevitably be Sir HUGH CAIRNS. Whether
—to the relegating to someless responsible post of Sir
STAFFORD NoRTIICOTE--Mr. DISRAELI will resume
his position as Chancellor of the Exchequer?
Whether Sir BL'LWER LYTTON will return to the
Colonies ? Who is to be the new Home Secretary ?
Who the new Indian Secretary? Who the War
Secretary ? To say nothing of such mere stately
and ornamental offices, unencumbered with de-
partments, as President of the Council
and Privy Seal ? These are precisely the
very problems of Ministerial or administrative
arrangement upon which Lord DERBY is at this
moment deliberating, with a view to the attain-
ment of the most satisfactory result in any way practi-
cable under the circumstances. At a time of prepara:
tion and deliberation such as this, the indulgence
of any mere speculative guesses would be simply
frivolous. All we have to do now is to wait—
certain that, while we are thus:waiting, our patience
cannot long be tested or our curiosity tantalised.

At length the weightyquestion which has agitated
political circles during the past ten days has been
answered. Her MAJESTY has accepted the resigna-
tion of Earl RUSSELL and his colleagues, and has
sent for Lord DERBY, upon whom now devolves the
task of forming an Administration. If any one has
leisure, in the inevitable excitement attending a
Ministerial crisis, to go back to the memories of
1859, they will find an instance of retributive
justice in Lord RUSSELL'S expulsion from office on
a Reform Bill. However, few will trouble them-
selves about queStions of abstract political
morality just now. Le roi est wort vive
e roi will be the cry, and any regrets over the fall
of the departing Cabinet will be lost in the crowd
of eager anticipations and speculations as to the
division of offices and the chances of a durable Con-
servative Administration.

The individual Minister who will carry most
of the popular sympathies with him is probably
Mr. GLADSTONE. lie has gone through a trying
and laborious session, and has had to combat not
only the open opposition which he had reason to
expect from his enemies, but the covert antago_
oism, which he had no right to look for, from
his friends and supporters. The resignation
of Ministers, which was, under the circum-
stances, the most straightforward and honourable
course they could adopt, was no doubt mainly due
to the influence of Mr. GLADSTONE. He had de-
clared plainly that he considered the main principles
of the Bill a Government question, and had said
prior to the division of the other night that the
point at issue involved one of the vital character-
istics of the measure. The difficulty, moreover,
was not merely an adverse majority on a particular
clause, but the
weakness of the Ministry in the
s.ller MAJESTY, according to
House of
explanationscoronf
last
thoughtthe
the reverse
wh.eevhening, very reasonably
merely on a questionthe Ministry had suf-
positio,of detail they
suf-
ered being
might reconsider their
and she therefore
declined to accept the reaiguatiou of the Cabinet i

until she had had the opportunity of conferring with

its chief.

After an interview with Earl RUSSELL and the
Chancellor of the Exchequer, however, she under-
stood the situation, and perceived that however
inconvenient a change of Administration would be,
it would be less detrimental to the public interests
than a Ministry on sufferance. She, therefore,
agreed reluctantly to accept the resignations ten-
dered to her. Mr. GLADSTONE, in a speech which
was worthy of himself and of the occasion, said,
after explaining the reasons which led the Govern-
ment so strongly to oppose the rating franchise,
that this was not the whole of their diffi-
culty. They had to consider, he said, the
previous history of the bill, and the pledges
which they had given deliberately and advisedly.
" In my opinion," added the right hon. gentleman,
" the pledge on the part of a Government to stand
or fall by a particular measure is a pledge that
should be rarely given. It is the last weapon in
the armoury of a Government; it should not
lightly be taken down from the wall. But if it is
taken down it should not lightly be replaced until
it has served the purpose that it was intended to
serve." Upon this principle Mr. GLADSTONE has
acted, and as he believed it to be the duty of the
Government to make the Reform Bill their
first and principal object, the pledges about
which he has been often ridiculed were
neither extravagant nor out of place.
Earl RUSSELL, in the Upper House, did not bear
his reverses with quite so much dignity as his lieu-
tenant, and his personal attack upon Lord Derby
brought up the Conservative leader in reply. The Earl
of DERBY has something more than speech-making
before him, and must now address himself to the
arduous and responsible task of constructing a
Cabinet. Rumour, already busy with names and
offices, suggests that he will probably include in his
staff some of those gentlemen not belonging to
his immediate supporters who have acted with
the Opposition during this session. We hope,
however, that Lord DERBY will require something
more from his coadjutors than a mere antagonism
to Reform. The question still lies unsettled, and
whoever hopes to retain office or to secure
the confidence of the country must deal
with it boldly and decisively. It is like a stumbling-
block in the way, which must be removed before
much progress can be made. If he can bring into his
Administration some gentlemen not strictly pledged
to Conservatism, it will be all the better for him-
self and for the country. The aspect of the
Continent is certainly threatening, and the guid-
ance of the Foreign-office will need a wary pilot.
We hope that whoever may accept the post will not
come to it with a predetermined course of inaction
and hesitation. There is no need to fulfil the
threats of the Liberals by involving the country in
war, but England should assume a firm and
dignified attitude, commanding respect and
not exciting derision. Earl RUSSELL'S foreign
policy has been one of his weakest points, and the
country will watch jealously the conduct of his
successor. At any rate, we cannot deny that
Whigs, Liberals, and Radicals have had a fair
chance, and a prolonged tenure of office. A trial
of the cold shade of opposition may recruit their
energies and refresh their memories, while the
country is bound, in accordance with constitutional
traditions, to give the new Administration—what
we are always anxious to accord to statesmen of
every party—a fair and impartial trial.

We have now the official account of the battle of
Custozza from the Italian head-quarters, and al-
though they try hard to make the best of it, it is
but a sorry affair after all. After declaring that
the Royal troops performed prodigies of valour, it
is admitted that their losses were considerable, and
that several were seriously wounded among the
leaders, and that General VILLAREY was killed.
The Moniteur of yesterday confirms the news of the
Italian army under King VICTOR EMMANUEL being
forced to recross the Mincio, but adds that General
CIALDINI has not yet crossed the Po. We
doubt, however, that he will shortly be com-
pelled to do so. After all the parade which
they made it must be very mortifying to the
Italians thus to commence their campaign by
chronicling a defeat. At all events, the Austrians
have done something at last, and it is a satisfaction
thus to find their troops in such excellent order and
animated by so bold a spirit. The idea of this
initiatory triumph must certainly inspire the army
of Marshal BENEDEK with confidence and incite
them on to fresh exertions. Austria was at great
disadvantage at the outset of this war with the
Italians and the Prussians against her; but we may
hope that this portentous event of the battle of
Custozza will turn the tide of fortune in their favour,
and that they may go on in the way they have
begun. Now that the Italians have received this
decided check, the best plan for the Austrians to
adopt will be to push on and follow up their advan-
tage before the enemy can recover themselves ;
but it would really seem as if they have
had laid down an imperative rule for themselves as
to the tardiness of their proceedings. We know
nothing as yet of the movements of Marshal
BENEDEK, nor of the course which he intends to pur-
sue, but it certainly appears to us as if he ought to
be on the alert, and effecting some object to counter-
act the many successes the Prussians have met
with.

As for the Hanoverian corps it is again positively
stated that it is completely surrounded, and that the
attempts made by some of the detachments to escape
have been repulsed. It is said that the King of
HANOVER has asked for 24 hours to determine
upon the conditions upon which his army are to
capitulate. This has been agreed to, although it is
supposed the request has been made in order to take
the chance of assistance from the Bavarian army.
It is not believed in Berlin that this hope will be
fulfilled. It is now supposed that Bremen will
withdraw its representative from the Federal Diet
and accept the Prussian alliance. On the other
hand, the Minister of Baden at the Court of Berlin
has been recalled, and the Grand Duke will join his
forces to the Federal army corps.
An official despatch has been received which an-
nounces the engagement between the Austrians and
the Italian Volunteers; in this struggle the Austrians
were repulsed, and several were killed and wounded.
The Volunteers had no losses, which, of course, was
considered a great triumph on their part. Alto-
gether there does not seem so much chance of an
engagement taking place between the Austrians and
Prussians so speedily as was thought probable a day
or two ago. Both parties seem resting on their
oars, as it were, but, with what object who can
divine?

It is possible, indeed, that even now an attempt
may be made to patch up matters, but we consider
it highly improbable that such will be the case. Of
course, it would be most advantageous to many
interests if any settlement be arrived at which pre-
vents the loss of life, while at the same time it. serves
the general welfare of Europe. But, with Count
BISMARCK at the head of affairs in Prussia, we see
no prospect of ,a satisfactory compromise being
made. The Emperor of AUSTRIA is greatly to
blame for the course which he has pursued
in respect to "Venetia. liad lie yielded to the

representation of his best advisers, and made the
sacrifice, he would by this time be in a very diffe-
rent position, whether he was in peace or at war
with his neighbours. The recent changes in Ger-
many will not complicate matters more than they
have been for years past. The question of the D uchies
will be the great stumbling-block in the way of
reconciliation, and it is very unlikely that any power
but that of the sword will settle it. If, however,
Prussia gain the day in this contest now before us,
we shall not consider the decision to be a final one,
for Austria will never again consent to be the tool
of Berlin ; but we may hope that, if the chalices of
war go against Prussia, she will desist from those
efforts to aggrandise her territory which have caused
so much disaster to all parties. It will be well for
the interests of the nations of Europe collectively
if the Prussian army meet with a decided defeat,
and then the tactics of the Government of Berlin
must alter for the better .

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, Tuesday Evening.

The Moniteur gives in its non-official part with-
out observation a sketch of the battle between the
Austrians and Italians from the telegraphic de-
spatches. It adds that General Cialdini had not
Yet crossed the Po. According to a private
despatch from Gotha, the Hanoverian army had
consented to a capitulation.
The information of the Siecle is not in accordance
with that of the Moniteur. The former journal says
that Cialdini bas crossed the Po. It adds, " Austria
and her defenders declare openly that the war has
not a local object. The victory of Benedek will be
the victory of reaction in Europe. That is the
reason why in the struggle which Italy has com-
menced so valiantly the wishes of the friends of
revolution accompany the intrepid soldiers of
Victor Emmanuel and Garibaldi.

The Siec&, in reviewing the news of the above
battle, says :--ci The Austrian despatches render
homage to the valour of the soldiers of Italy. The
real object of the battle undertaken by the King's
army was to give Cialdini the means of passing the
Po to penetrate into Venetia, whilst Victor Em-
manuel himself occupied the grand army under
Verona. This object is attained. Cialdini, with
70,000 to 80,000 men, crossed the river without re-
sistance. To-morrow we shall know the effect
which this beautiful and intrepid manoeuvre has had
upon the Austrians. Last night we received a
despatch stating that the army of Victor Emmanuel
had recrossed the Mincio ; but this news requires
confirmation. It is from an Austrian source."

The Europe, of Frankfort, repeats its statements
in regard to dangerous projects entertained by
Russia. It not only affirms confidently that the
Czar is making formidable armaments along the
frontiers of Silesia and Roumania, but it mentions
a large concentration of troops in the Crimea.
Upon this statement the Opinion Nationale says :
" France and England would do well to redouble
their vigilance, and to hold themselves in readiness
to renew their alliance of 1854-SG. Their interests
are precisely the same in the East, in spite of cer-
tain rivalry of influence, because they arise out of
the principle that no great Power can be allowed to
seize any portion whatever of the Ottoman Empire.
We feel greatly indebted to the Europe for calling
public attention to these grave eventualities."
The Empress, accompanied by the Prince Imperial,
made a minute inspection of the Bank of France on
Saturday. The most curious stringent precautions
arc taken there for the security of the valuables in
the cellars. The Empress inquired for Count Pillet-
Will and M. Mallet, Directors, and in the name
of the Emperor presented to the former the
cross of War of the Legion of Honour, and to
the latter the cross of a Knight, in requital of
good and honourable services. M. Rouland, the
governor, requested her Majesty to accept one of
the four large gold medals, struck in 1809, after
the definitive organisation of the Bank by Napo-
leon the First, there not having been time, as
M. Rouland said, to finish one in commemoration
of the visit of her Majesty. The Empress ac-
knowledged the present in very grateful and ap-
propriate terms. Her Majesty was accompanied
by the Countess de Rayneval and the Countess de
la Poeze, Ladies of the Palace, and Count Cosse
Bressac, one of her Chamberlains.

One frequently hears of ovations to distinguished
individuals, but it is not often that ovations are
manifested to individuals suspected of atrocious
crimes. A Brest paper, however, says that
when Tessier, Pierre, and Leclerc visited
the theatre, which they did on the evening of their
acquittal on the charge of murder and piracy, the
public gave them an ovation. Pierre, the mulatto,
attracted particular attention, " he was so expansive
in his manifestations of joy that he imparted enjoy-
ment to all present."

The maximum heat to-day was about the same
as yesterday, viz., 30 deg. Reaumur.

It is, I believe, now arranged that the Empero r
will leave Paris for Vichy in the course of this week,
unless any very important event connected with the
war should render it desirable for him to remain
longer in Paris. As I was able to inform you some
days ago, the contemplated tour in the provinces
will be of much shorter duration than was at first
intended. The Empress and the young Imperial
Prince will not leave Paris for the present.
Some of the Paris papers allude to a report that
General Prim had arrived in Catalonia, and that
two regiments had joined him in revolt.
Joseph Philippe, the man suspected of murder-
ing so many women, is now on his trial before the
Court of Assize of the Seine. The police, it is said,
suspect the prisoner of having murdered and robbed
no less than 15 women, but the indictments on
which he is tried are limited to the alleged murder
of three women and a child, viz., Julie Robart,
Flore Theresa Mage, her son, Henri Mage, and
Marie Victor Bodeux. He is also charged with at-
tempting to murder Louise Alme Labouche, widow
Midy. The evidence goes to prove that the prisoner
has for years been in the habit of visiting women of
bad character, whom he robbed and murdered. His
age is 34. He has been a soldier, but latterly he
has been employed in a shop. While in the service
he was condemned to a year's imprisonment for
robbery, and he then went with his regiment to
Africa. On. the Bth of January, 1860, he ac-
costed the deceased girl Bodeux in the Rue
Dauphine, and went to her lodging. The next
morning she was found with her throat cut, and
a razor was lying by her side. About 104 francs and
some linen and other property were taken from her
drawers. A witness identified the prisoner as the
man who was seen to go out of the house. Three
days afterwards he attempted to murder a lady who
lived in the Rue d'Erfarth, named Midy. In this
case the prisoner went to the house of Mrs. Midy
under the pretence that he had been sent there for
a tool which had been left by a man named Dangle-
terre, and he attempted to strangle her. She, how -
ever, gave the alarm in time, but the prisoner
escaped. Before the corpse of the girl, Victor Bo-
veux, the prisoner confessed that he had murdered
her. It was on the 15th of April, 1864, that the
deceased Julie Robart, aged 36, who lived in the
Rue Saint Joseph, was murdered. Some of her
property was found at the prisoner's lodgings. The
murder of the woman Maye took place in Novem-
ber, 1865. Her murdered infant was found by her
side. In the case of Louise Alme Labouche, widow
Midy, the evidence goes to 'prove that he inflicted
very severe injuries upon her. The evidence given
on the first day (yesterday) was chiefly confined
to this alleged attempted murder and robbery. She
is sufficiently recovered to make a statement upon
the subject. When the prisoner tried to strangle
her she bit his hand, and he has still marks of the
wound. Several articles, identified as having be-
longed to the deceased woman, were found at the
prisoner's lodging, and some
portions of his own
dress bad been stained with blood, and evident
attempts had been made to wash out the stains.
Although the prisoner partially confessed one of the
murders, it seems that his general defence will re-
solve itself into the attempt to
prove an alibi.