The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-06 00:00:00

0,41

LONDON, TUESDAY, NOV. 6, 1866.

The terrible catastrophe tQuebec has called
forth a prompt and liberal r sponse from London
and M an ch ester. Yesterday a small preliminary
meeting was held in Manchester, and so substantially
satisfactory did it prove that the honorary
secretary
was able to communicate at once with the Mayor of
Quebec, and to authorise him to draw on a Man-
chester bank for £l,OOO sterling. This intelligence
was transmitted through the Atlantic Cable, which
has already done good service in conveying these
kindly messages free of charge, so that the Liberal
donors have the satisfaction of knowing that their gifts
and subscriptions are rendered immediately available
for the assistance of the homeless sufferers. Man-
chester is determined not to lose time in coming
forward, for a 'canvassing committee was yesterday
organised, and a public meeting to be held in the
Town Hall was called for Friday next. It is thought
likely that similar steps will- be taken in Liverpool
and other great towns, while the metropolis cannot

cf course be far behind. At the Mansion-house
yesterday the Lord Mayor made an appeal to the
citizens. He referred to the number and severity
of the great public disasters, which of late years have
called forth the characteristicliberality of the citizens.
The Indian mutiny, the famine which followed
it, the cotton distress, and very recently the visita-
tion of the cholera, have in turn called forth the
public sympathy. The present calamity is of great
extent, and presses heavily upon the whole com-
munity of Quebec. The sufferers are numbered by
thousands, and the intensity of their distress is
aggravated by the anticipated horrors of the coming
winter. In the appeal issued a fortnight ago by the
Mayor of Quebec, he gives an appalling description
of the state of affairs. " For the present," he says,
" the sufferers find refuge in the undestroyed por-
tion of the city, in the surrounding parishes, and in
the public buildings, where food is distributed daily
by the relief committee. If, as already narrated,
some among them have perished in the conflagra-
tion, how many others must succumb to the rigours
of the Canadian winter, or to those diseases which
develope themselves and often propagate in a terrible
manner in large and crowded agglomerations of
human beings !" No time is to be lost in providing
some better accommodation, since, as the Mayor of
Quebec reminds us, in another month the snows of
a long winter will be around them. The calamity
itself would be great enough in the height of sum-
mer or on the eve of spring, but occurring, as it
has done, on the very verge of winter, in a climate
of whose severity Englishmen can form little notion,
it is indeed overwhelming. Canada is not a rich
colony, and what wealth she possesses is more in
substance than in funds. Prompt and liberal assist-
ance is therefore greatly needed, and as the Lord
Mayor observed yesterday, if there was ever an
occasion on which it became the duty of the chief
magistrate to enlist the sympathies of the public,
this misfortune which has befallen our own kith and
kin must surely be so reckoned. We cannot doubt
but that the appeal will be promptly answered, and
that the munificent donations of many of our leading
firms will be followed by liberal contributions from
the general public.
The origin of the fire is now said to have been in
a drinking saloon, where some men, contrary to
regulation, had been keeping up their revels all
night. About four o'clock on the morning of
Sunday, the 14th October, they began fighting and
upset the table, on which was an oil lamp, which
broke to pieces and quickly set fire to the room.
We may naturally suppose that whatever chance
there was of extinguishing the fire at the outset was
lost in such a company ; but at best it could have
been a slender one, for the houses are, as we know,
built of wood, dried, of course, by age,
and certain in cases of fire to burn with
terrible rapidity. So great has the danger been
considered that the insurance companies have been
reducing their risks and raising their premiums
until risks, which were taken at five shillings in
Montreal, were charged twelve and sixpence in
Quebec. A very strong wind rendered the spread
of the flames more rapid, and it is said, whether
correctly or not is uncertain, that what supply of
water there was was useless from some wretch
having cut the hose. In any case there is no doubt
that the flames extended with terrible quickness.
The fire, as we have said, broke out at four o'clock,
at half-past five eight houses were burning. An hour
later 150 were consumed, and the devastation went
on between twelve and thirteen hours. "A moderate
computation places the number of houses destroyed
at 2,500, and the loss of real property at from
2,500,u00 dolls. to 3,000,000 dolls. Over 25,000
persons are thrown on the charity of the world."
One-third of the city has been desolated. At St.
Laurie and Stone-streets out of 2,000 houses only
175 are left standing. The Mayor sent to request
the instant assistance of the military, who did all
they could, blowing up and tearing down houses
and buildings as fast as possible to arrest
the progress of the flames. But the mighty
sea of fire rolled onwards in spite of every
effort. All that the miserable population could-do
was to save what property they could, until, an eye
witness describes, the surrounding country was a
vast fair, the owners of houses far away from the
actual fire bringing out all they could carry, certain
that the flames would soon reach them. Great blame
has been attached to the city authorities, but the
conflagration seems speedily to have assumed the
most formidable proportions, and the nature of the
houses rendered it very difficult to deal with. It is
very much to be feared that the pressure
of the distress will occasion the building of
more of these dangerous wooden houses ; but it is
to be hoped that, if so, they will only be regarded
as temporary shelters, and that a better class of
habitations may speedily replace them. The catas-
trophe has excited great sympathy in the States,
where collections for the sufferers are being set on
foot. France and England have been also appealed
to, and are certain to come forward largely. We
cope i t:rheas ts
wa llh i
et
hh e
ts
he e efiffroer t
hassmoacyeasesirovnee to
and which, we f
ear,
press heavily despite all endeavours, will
on the Canadians during the coming
winter.

Mr. BERESFORD HOPE, M.p., delivered an open-
ing address of great interest to the first of the ses-
sional meeting of the Royal Institute of British
Architects. He commenced by awarding credit to
the late Government for the earnest manner in
which they had taken up the question of the Insti-
tute and the National Gallery. Mr. HOPE entered
at some length upon the difficulties that presented
themselves in the shape of alterations, &c., and de-
clared that he had no fault to find with the ar-
rangements, adding that when the " Royal Aca-
demy found itself established in a mansion of its
own, and master of its own time and actions, it
would act with wisdom if it set itself to consider
seriously the position in which it annually placed
itself, by adhering to the programmseoolifmanitarchitec-
tural exhibition which met with
re-
sponse." We think Mr.
tioirePtaEin T is
wrraofnagl gianr s -hisq udairse-
approval of the decision
as the site for the National Galleirnyio.n
iCnerotrainolnyt,
as he observes, there is only one op
of Parliament that neither in " size, arrangement,
nor nor external appearance is the structure y
its destination." llowever, we see no reason to fear
that with the means which are to be employed there
will be disappontment at the result ; and as for the
outlines of the undertaking,- which Mr. HOPE ad-
verts to, how can he lay out money to more advan-
tage than in improving and adorning a work which
should last for a long time? With the appropriation
of the various places in the vicinity of the present
structure we think that sufficient space will be found
for containing a collection which, as is here appro-
priately said, our just national pride " leads us to
hope will not in the twentieth century be deprecia-
torily quoted after Rome, Paris, Dresden, and
Berlin." A more central spot than Charing-Cross
affords could nowhere be found for the erection of
a work of national interest and artistic importance,
presenting, as it does, an opportunity for
the representatives of all classes :to assem-
ble, and to share in the benefits which
the study and contemplatipn of the objects
there present. The uninikatecl can hardly

realise the many difficulties which lie in the way of
these undertakings, and the almost insuperable ob-
stacles which seem to interpose themselves when it
is imagined the chief struggle is over and the affair
in a manner settled: The importance of the work
of rebuilding the National Gallery justly deter-
mined the Government to select the architect by
competition, and that a limited one, as it chanced
in the other great competition of the year, that for
the Law Courts, the number of six was also se-
lected. The House of Commons has, however,
decided, and we think wisely so, that
there are to be twelve in either case, and thus the
"double adjudication" of their design will be in all
probability the architectural event of next session.
In alluding to the part he had taken in
this matter, Mr. HOPE said that two years
ago he moved the House of Commons to
reverse the decision which closed Burlington
House to the National Gallery, believing, on general
principles of art policy, that a certain scheme was
faulty, but so long as it was a " fait accompli,
as it is now destined to be, it has been, and it will
be, my duty to deal with the incidents of the new
building in Trafalgar-square as a question to be
treated within it on four corners, with a single re-
gard to the advantage of that building in itself, and
in relation to the site which it occupies." It is satis-
factory to find him taking so elevated a view of his
duties, and so willing to adopt a course free
from partiality or prejudice. Referring to the
very important work of the Palace of Justice, Mr.
HOPE said that last year he had expressed his
wishes that it might be worthy of its destination
and of the country to which it belonged. We
now hear that he thinks the lists of competitors
afford a " material guarantee" for its success,
and that " artistic patriotism" may be satisfied,
provided the judges are competent, and " Parlia-
ment, in y6rs to come, is wisely generous enough
not to grudge the necessarily large sums requisite
to bring so grand a work to its legitimate com-
pletion." We cordially concur with the sentiment
here expressed, and it will be indeed a pity if any
shortsighted economy, or mistaken prudence, steps
in to mar the stupendous work.

Mr. HOPE, in the course of his discursive speech,
alluded to the prospects of British Architecture and
of the cognate arts at the coming Exhibition in
Paris. Unfortunately only a comparatively small
space has been allowed, but by judicious arrange-
ment it is hoped to overcome much of this draw-
back. The South Kensington authorities wished to
have a preliminary exhibition in December,
and those who hope to appear at Paris
must be content to conform themselves to
the regulations for size, &c. ; but the Committee
trust that this affair will not be regarded merely as
a trial for Paris, but that it may partake in some
degree of a national character. In consequence of
this there will be au opportunity of bringing to-
gether a mass of contemporaneous collections, such
as the English public has never yet been able to
study, so that iu some respects we may really gain
by what appeared to be at first sight a complete
disadvantage and loss to our exhibitors. It is
impossible to overrate the influence and im-
portance of the study of these matters,
and the more they are brought before the
public the better will ,it be for the national taste
and judgment. We commend Mr. HOPE'S speech
to the notice of all who would acquaint themselves
with the progress and prospects of art in this coun-
try, and they will find that he speaks on a subject
of which he is well-informed with candour and dis-
cretion. His last words were very impressive when
he said, " True to ourselves let us be, and no self-
ishness, no stingyness, or ignorance displayed by the
world, which is so largely our debtor, can check the
architecture of Great Britain in its onward course
of great and rapid improvement."

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Monday Evening.
. _

The Moniteur in its bulletin says :—The official
Gazette of Vienna of the 3d contains four auto-
graph letters of the Emperor of Austria. The first
appoints as Minister of War Field Marshal St.
Baron John. The second accepts the resignation
of Count de Mensdorff, and confers upon him the
grand cross of St. Etienne. The third appoints as
Minister of Foreign Affairs Baron de Beust, and
confers upon him the dignity of Privy Councillor.
The fourth letter accepts the resigriation of Count
Esterhazy of his post of Minister without porte-
feuille. The Gazette also contains the circular
addressed by Baron de Beust to all the agents of
Austria in foreign countries explanatory of the
policy which he intends to adopt. Of this document
I have already explained the substance.
A letter from Naples, dated Oct. 31, states that
the Provincial Council of Health has announced
that the cholera has entirely disappeared from that
city. In consequence vessels leaving the port are
furnished with clean bills of health.

The Moniteur announces that the Taikoun, the
temporal sovereign of Japan, has died at Osaka
from the effects of a chronic disease with which he
had been for a long time afflicted. Letters from
Yeddo do not say anything in regard to the choice
of his successor, who, according to the laws of
Japan, should be elected by the gorodgios (members
of the Council of Ministers), assisted by the fami-
lies allied to the dynasty, and chosen from one of
the three families of Daimios, relatives of the reign-
ing house, and designated under the family name
of Taikounales.

The Emperor reviewed the Imperial Guard and
the division of cavalry at Versailles this afternoon
in th,e Bois de Boulogne, but the review took place
at too late an hour to enable me to give an account
of it to-day.
A very melancholy accident has taken place at
Marseilles. A young man returned home from his
occupation late at night as was his custom. Ills
brother-in-law and sister-in-law were at supper.
During the repast the brother-in-law alluded to the
danger to which he was exposed in consequence of
his return through a lonely thoroughfare at a late
hour. Upon this the young man produced a 14-
barrelled revolver, saying that with such a weapon
he could defend himself from 14 persons at all events.
Suiting the action to the words, he held out the
pistol. His wife was sitting opposite, and, unfortu-
nately, the pistol went off and the ball entered her
heart. The poor woman, when taken to the hos-
pital, could only utter her fervent hopes that justice
would be indulgent to her husband, as she knew
that the fatal occurrence was purely accidental.
The total amount of the subscriptions for the
relief of the sufferers by the inundations is now
1,903,774 f. _ _

The evening Alloniteur contains a much more
favourable account of the health of the Empress
of Mexico than that received a few days since in
Paris, and it says it has received the information
from a source on which it fully relies.
According to a letter from Prague, received by
the Journal des Debats, the supposed attempt upon
the life of the Emperor turns out to be a fabrication,
or at all events a work of imagination- The Debats
says :—" The reader, like ourselves, will no doubt
be happy to learn that the reported attack upon the
Emperor amounts in fact to a vary small affair.
Indeed it becomes more and more doubtful, and
people almost believe that the attempt only existed
in the imagination of the persons who wished to
make a show of their zeal on the occasion. This
appears to be the opinion of the }Emperor himself,
who said to a deputation of the municipal authori-
ties who waited upon him to congratulate him upon
his escape from the assassin, " This attempt is per-
haps only a fiction." All that is posit ive at present
is that there has been found on the gran and in a street
through which the Emperor passed, pistol, loaded

it is true, but without a capsule, and that an Eng-
lishman, Captain Palmer, arrested at the same time,
on the other side of the street, the individual sus-
pected of having the intention to make an attempt
on the life of the Emperor. If there be no other
circumstances to support the idea of a conspiracy,
it must be admitted the affair is not a very grave
one. But the name of the English officer who is
supposed to have saved the life of the Emperor has
been printed in all the journals of Europe, and this
is about the only fact that is clear in the whole
business."

The Presse of Vienna refers to this mysterious
affair in the following terms :

" It appears certain that there was no ground for
alarm, and that there was not the shadow of an at-
tempt at assassination. A regretable misunder-
standing was the sole cause of the arrest of a sup-
posed intended murderer, who was only an inoffen-
sive spectator. The mistake appears to be evident,
and there is every reason to believe that this affair
will not lead to any result."
The papers discuss the recent diplomatic changes,
and some of them profess to discover all sorts of
views and intentions on the part of the French
Government in regard to its foreign policy. As
these supposed changss are founded upon pure con-
jecture, the arguments and anticipationi of these
journals deserve very little attention. It may, how-
ever, be well to make a brief allusion to the views
of the Siecle, as that journal has some authority
upon foreign topics. The Siecle thinks that the no-
mination of M. Bouree as ambassador at Constan-
tinople proves that France does not consider the
Eastern question so menacing as has been supposed.
The second change, that of Count de Montholon,
the Siecle supposes to afford more evidence of a
change of policy, for M. de Montholon was always
favourable to the expedition to Mexico. He always
urged the United States to recognise the Government
of the Emperor Maximilian. As to the appointment
of M. de Bonneville, the Siecle does not believe that
it indicates the least change of policy in regard to
Switzerland. After alluding to the changes in
French diplomatic agents, the Siecle refers to the
appointment of M. Beust. It says:—" The nomi-
nation of M. Beust will force Prussia to keep a
watch over herself, for M. Beust will attack her
with her own arms, the feeling of Germany.
It is not a secret to anybody that great
discontent reigns in the Prussian countries. It was
hoped that her home policy would be on a level with
her foreign policy, and that liberty and glory would
progress together. Liberty does not come, how-
ever, and glory evaporates like smoke. Without
being a prophet, one may foresee moral explosions
more or less distant. Those men of the Landwehr
who fought so well at Konigsgratz wish to be paid
for their services in liberty."
The weather continues warm and magnificent.
To-day has been even more beautiful than yester-
day. _ _

The Constitutionnel, upon the authority of a letter
from Berlin, denies the reported modifications in
the Prussian Cabinet. It says that M. Bismarck is
better, but that his health is not yet completely re-
established.

The races at I'orchefontaine, near Versailles,
yesterday, went off brilliantly. The Prix d'Autonme
(Free Handicap), 1,500 f.,
was won by Betty,
Sinite second. The Cours de Hales (Handicap),
1,000 f., was won by Julien. The races concluded
with the Prix de Cloture (Selling Race), 1,000 f.,
which was won by Montjoie. Grenoble fell with
its rider in the first race, but neither were hurt.

The Fira in Quebec•

•- -
TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

SIR, —lt affords me much gratification to inform
you that, as the result of a small preliminary meet-
ing held at Manchester to-day to raise a fund in aid
of the sufferers by the Quebec.fire, I have been in-
structed by the Mayor of that city to authorise the
Mayor of Quebec to draw on Messrs. Heywood
Brothers and Co., Manchester, for £l,OOO sterling.
This instruction I have sent through the cable, so
that the money raised here to-day becomes at once
available to relieve the awful distress now existing,
in Quebec. I have again to thank the Anglo-Ame-
rican Telegraph Company for their liberality in
franking these messages of "good news" to the
other side of the Atlantic.

The Mayorin an appeal which he
issued on
and which reached me this
the 20 o f t
hQ u et ec ,
morning, says :
"To the generous-hearted of all countries we
direct our appeal, and, in the recollection of the
compassion bestowed upon us in 1845, we place our
hopes to be enabled to surmount the appalling mis-
fortune of 1866. For the present the sufferers find
refuge in the undestroyed portion of the city, in the
surrounding parishes, and in the public buildings,
where food is distributed daily by the relief com-
mittee. If, as already narrated, some among them
have perished in the conflagration, how many others
must succumb to the rigours of the Canadian win-
ter, or to those diseases which develope themselves,
and often propagate in a terrible manner iu large
and crowded agglomerations of human beings !
Some of the places in which they are sheltered are
now so overcrowded as to endanger alike morality
845 winter, and ter-
riblefrom that fact
and existence. In a month hence our city will be
covered
as withwas thethe
scourge snows
ebur ofgeof
longa
1
alone, it was less calamitous than was the conflagra-
tion which, on Sunday last, threw over our city so
much mourning and desolation. For this reason,
then, we humbly crave permission to appeal to you
in our distress, and to implore your sympathy and
your generous contributions towards the relief of
our unutterable misfortune."

It is unnecessary to add one word to this strong
appeal, which tells of thousands of our fellow-coun-
trymen being at this moment in Quebec without
food, clothing, or even shelter.
The urgency and the magnitude of this distress
were felt to be so great that at the meeting held at
Manchester to-day a canvassing committee of citi-
zens was organised, and a public meeting, to be held
in the Town-hall, was called for Friday next. Simi-
lar steps will probably be also taken in Liverpool
and elsewhere.

I have the honour to be, air, yours, &c.,
JOHN M. GRANT, Hon. Secretary.
21, Old Broad-street, Nov. 5.

Testimonial to the Lord Mayor.

The inhabitants of the Ward of Farringdon Within this
evening present a magnificent testimonial to the Lord
Mayor on his retirement from office. It consists of a sil-
ver dessert service in the Roman classic style, and em-
braces an oblong plateaux nearly four feet in length, with
panelled sides richly ornamented, and supported by eight
antique winged swans; upon this is placed a most elabo-
rately executed centre-piece of an architectural character ;
the base of the centre-piece, which is quadrangular in
form, has inserted into each side a panel containing
the corporate arms of the City of London, the Lord
Mayor's arms, an emblematical design, illustrative of
Art, Science, and Commerce, and an appropriate inscription.
There are also in addition four shields, having emblems of
Industry, Justice, Commerce, kc., and between these is
placed a beautifully executed mythological head of the
Thames, from this base rise four richly decorated pillars.
surmounted by an elegantly designed arched canopy, from
each of which angles springs a beautiful foliated branch,
carrying's, glass dish, and is so arranged that these can
be removed at pleasure, and in their places is substituted,
• clusters of smaller branches for candles ; an elegant
tazza rises from centre of canopy,
supporting a richly
engraved fruit dibh, in addilion the service includes two
assiettes monteos, and four dessert or fruit stands
partaking of th 3 gen3ral character of the design.
The production of the testimonial has been confided to
the eminent firm of Howell and James, of Regent-street,
and the result has proved the wisdom of the selection. A
more splendid piece of work in silver has never been pro-
duced either in design or workmanship, and the admira-
tion it elicited from those who had the privilege of a pri-
vate view yesterday was unbounded. The old conven-
tional style of shape and form has been entirely cast aside,
in place of which we have a new and original design as
chaste as it is beautiful. Although the eminent firm have
not up to the present time entered prominently into com-
petition for testimonials of the description under notice,
their manufacture of the Phillips Testimonial will render
them at once famous fo; such production. The splendid
service weighs over 1,000 ozs., and the wonder is that it has
been entirely manufactured in the short space of two
months.

The Shalelia, a steam yacht owned by Mr. Barff,
of Glasgow, has made two trips to Gravesend and back,
propelled by steam raised with liquid fuel, without the use,
of au atom of coal.-011 Trade Review.

LATEST INTELLIGENUZ

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.
ARRIVAL OF THE BELGIAN.
(Via Greencastle.)
NEW YORK, Oct. 26, Evening.
Mr. Davis's trial has been postponed until next

spring.

New Orleans despatches state that Mr. Johnson
has urged the Governor of Louisiana to force the
constitutional amendment through the Legislature.
It is reported that several prominent South Caro-
linians are aiding the Government to carry the con-
stitutional amendment through the South Carolina
Legislature as a measure of relief for Mr. Johnson.

Mr. Wendell Phillips has delivered a violent
Radical oration at Brooklyn, in which he denounced
the President, the Cabinet, General Grant, and the
constitutional amendment.

Efforts are being made to indict Mr. Fourney,
editor of the Washington Chronicle, and the Balti-
more Police Commissioners for an attempt to incite
to a riot. The Governor of Maryland has announced
that he claims jurisdiction to try and pass judgment
upon the Commissioners. If during the investiga-
tion the innocence or guilt of the Commissioners
appears established he would act instantly, even in
the midst of the proceedings. The trial progresses.
Washington despatches deny the report that the
United States will take any territory from Mexico.
The steamer Theodore Wagner, from Boston for
Charleston, has been burned. The crew and pas-
sengers were saved.
NEW YORK, Oct. 27, Morning. •

General Sheridan has issued an order to General
Sedgwick, commanding at Brownsville, that the
only way to a letter condition of things on the Rio
Grande is to give the heartiest support to Juarez,
and that the Government therefore warns all parties
that they will not be permitted to violate the neu-
trality laws between the Mexican Government and
the United States. These instructions will be en-
forced against adherents of the Imperial Govern-
ment, and also against the Ortega, Santa Anna, and
other factions. Juarez is acknowledged to be the
head of the Liberal Government in Mexico. Gen.
Ortega and his staff have arrived at New Orleans
unmolested. They were about to leave for Browns-
ville, in order to re-establish a constitutional Go-
vernment in Mexico. It is reported that the Federal
authorities will not permit Ortega to enter Mexico,
and will probably arrest him in New Orleans.
A Canadian jury has found the Fenian Colonel
John Lynch and the Rev. John M'Mahon guilty,
and the judge has sentenced them to be hung on
December 13, giving the prisoners the privilege to
appeal against the decision of the Court. This sen-
tence has caused great excitement among the
Fenians. The New York Municipality have passed
resolutions requesting the Canadian authorities to
release the prisoners, and has also sent a deputation
to Washington requesting the President to use his
efforts to obtain their pardon.
The Tammany Hall Democrats have passed re-
solutions calling upon the Government to intervene
and insist upon _the Fenian prisoners being delivered
up, and to assure the British Government that the
American people will retaliate for the violation of
humanity, civilisation, and justice such as the exe-
cution of the prisoners would involve.
(BY ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.)
NEW YORK, Nov. 5.
Tranquillity is restored at Baltimore.

SPAIN.

MADRID, Nov. 6.

The Epoca of to-day contradicts the rumour of an
intended alliance between Spain and Brazil against
Paraguay.