The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-12 00:00:00

I ensibly adds the commentary that what was really
I on its trial was the mode in which we organised the
physical force of the empire, which 'proved, as all
know-, to be sadly defective. Mr. HOWE says that,
combined with France, we found it hard to bring
Rn asia to terms. What, then, would be our position
we Te France and Russia united against us ? This
proposition must be considered with some reserve,
as, without the slightest disparagement of French
military skill and courage, we may remember
that an alliance of armies, with the natural
drawbacks of divided authority and national
jealousies for precedence and distinction, is always a
questionable good. We may consider also that
the English Government of that day carried on the
war into which they drifted, rather than boldly
entered, in a half-hearted, uncertain fashion, very
different, we may reasonably presume, from the
manner. in which any Administration would direct
affairs were the safety and integrity of the empire
really at stake. Nevertheless, it is not unreasonable
to examine, as Mr. HOWE does, into the strength and
character of the forces which might be brought against
us. Russia, with her wide extent of territory,
and her 74 millions of people, would be a formidable
foe. France, " with a powerful navy and a naval
reserve, fostered with politic liberality on the banks

Quartier, in the Rue St. Placide, was alone in the
apartment when a man knocked at the door,
and rushed in when it was opened. There was it
is supposed a struggle, for she ran into the kitchen.
The assassin took up a knife, with which he stabbed
her in the back of the neck, and the knife entered
the breast. Death must have been almost instan-
taneous. The assassin locked the door on leaving
and took away the key. Jealousy, not robbery, is
supposed to have been the motive for the crime, for
no property was taken away. The occurrence
is still shrouded in mystery. The concierge of the
house noticed that a man in a white hat went up
stairs in the evening at the time Madame Quartier
was out, but did not pay any attention to the cir-
cumstance, as several lodgers in the house wear
white hats.
The numb.A. of em'grants who embarked at
Havre for the United States during the month of
November was 1,513, viz., 1,466 for New York, 7
for New Orleans, and 40 for La Plata.
The cotton factory of Roubaix, the largest fac-
tory of the kind in France, has been nearly destroyed
by fire. The flames reached another factory oppo-
site, which was also destroyed. An immense num-
ber of workmen have been thrown out of employ.
The Emperor, who " has a hand open as day for
immediately on becoming ac-
quainted
ciamuel
egd c
with
y ,the
disastrous
occurrence, sent
5,000 f. to assist the sufferers. He did the same for
the artists of the little theatre which took fire the
other day. The damage to the factory at Roubaix
is estimated at no less than 3,000,000 f.
The journals continue to give particulars mere or

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

and coasts of Newfoundland," is still more so, since
one single will controls her vast resources with

secrecy and directness which are impossible with-
ourselves. Our alliance with France is at this time
cordial; but Mr. HOWE islooking for ward beyond this
generation to the time when the sovereignty of France
must be in other, and perhaps less sagacious, hands.
The United States he holds to be (Air chief com-
mercial rival and our least pliable friend ; and
they would also, in his opinion, prove our most
dangerous antagonist. The advantage in numbers
is already on their side, while 20 years hence, he
adds, they would be more disproportionate. There is
another side to the question which Mr. HOME over-
looks, and which is, that it is more than doubtful
whether the S:ates of America will be " United"
20 years hence. It is highly probable that we may
then have two or more separate republics, kingdoms,
presidencies, or whatever title may be selected.
There is, in fact,already one nation of the Northern
States, one of the Southern, one of the Western,
and we do not find in them the elements of unity
and cohesion. The Union, the Constitution,
which we were told during the war it was the great
object of the Northern people to preserve, has since
proved to be a very visionary sentiment. The very
men who were most vehement in urging on the war,
in fighting for " an idea," have since proved that
they cared in fact very little about it. If it was the
aim and end, as we heard of old of every loyal
Northerner, to preserve the national Union un-
broken, how is it that we see them unwilling to
profit by their own success ? They fought for four
years to keep the South in the Union, and when
they had won they turn round and say the
South is out of the Union and cannot come in.
Supposing it possible, though it is scarcely so to be
reckoned, that the Radicals of the North should
keep the Southern States in political subjection
during this generation, no increase of population, no
extent of territory will atone for the element of
weakness introduced into the American forces. So
far from co-operating heartily with the North in
case of a foreign war, the South will absorb a share
of the strength and vigilance of the Government,
to prevent their combining with the foe. It is, how-

less accurate as to the nature of the plan proposed
by the commission on the re-organisation of the
army. According to one of them the annual con-

tingent of the army will comprise all the young
men who have no legal exemptions and no in-
firmities ; the number will amount to 160,000.
This contingent will be thus divided :-1. The
active army on the peace footing ; 2.The reserve.
These two categories united will form an active
army in time of war. They will each include an-
nually 80,000 men. The duration of service will
be six years as well in the active army as in the

reserve.
M. Barbey, the commissioner from New York to
the Great Exhibition, has arrived in Paris. A letter
from New York received here says that great ac-
tivity prevails in arranging the products which will
be sent from the United States.
Moliere's " Tartuffe," translated into Flemish, is
now being played at Ghent and Brussels with great
success.

A tremendous south-easter prevailed off Boulogne
yesterday evening, when. the South-Eastern Com-
pany's steamer Prince Ernest from Folkestone at-
tempted to enter the port. The steamer struck upon
the western jetty, but the passengers were safely
landed.

An account has been received from Berlin of the
death in that city of General Pfuel in his 85th year.
In 1815 he was commander of the city of Paris,
and in 1848 First Minister and Minister of War.

The Marquis Scipione Bargali, who was for a
long time Envoy Extraordinary and Minister Pleni-
potentiary of the Grand Duke of Tuscany to the
Pope, has just died at Rome.

The prison of Gex, in the department of the Ain,
has thrown open its doors, from the rare circum-
stance that it has no prisoners. Such an event has
not occurred there for more than forty years. I
have visited the romantic little town of Gex, and a
word or two respecting it may not be out of place.
It is situated on the Jornant, at the foot of the Jura
mountains. It was formerly a free town like Frank-
fort-on-the-Maine, but it was subjected to three
invasions, and was ceded to France in 1601. Under
the first Empire it was in the department of the
Leman, but now it is a chief town of the Ain. The
population is nearly 3,000. Gex is but a short dis-
tance from Ferney, where Voltaire lived from 1758
to 1778. Voltaire's bedroom at Ferney is often
visited by travellers. That and the ante-room
still possess some old-fashioned furniture which he
used. There is also the mausoleum which was des-
tined to receive the heart of Voltaire. On it are
the inscriptions made by M. de Villette :—" His
spirit is everywhere, but his heart is here." " My

ever, possible that a happier state of things may pre-
vail in America, and that, even anticipating the
division of the country into separate nations, the
division may leave the rivals good friends and allies,
in which case they might combine against us. At
any rate it is not unlikely that in the event of a
general war Russia and America might effect an
alliance against Great Britain, which their fleets
would render formidable.

manes fial consolation as my heart is in the midst
of you." The room also contains portraits of Vol-
taire's chimney sweeper and his washerwoman, and
also portraits of actors and celebrated historical
characters. Voltaire's bed is still in good preser-
vation.

Mr. HowE, having thus examined iuto the
danger, pzoceeds to suggest a very practical and
effectual remedy, by means of which the British
empire would be, humanly speaking, secure from
all attacks. What this scheme is, and how it is to
be carried into effect, we propose to consider at an
early opportunity.

Railway and Other Companies.

GROSVENOR AND WEST-END RAILWAY TER

MINUS HOTEL.

An extraordinery general meeting of this com-
pany was held yesterday at the Hotel, Pimlico—
Major Murray in the chair.

The CHAIRMAN said the shareholders bad only
been called together to confirm and adopt a resolu-
tion affecting the regulations of the company, which
he then moved, and which was to the effect that the
company might from time to time increase the capi-
tal by the issue of new shares to such amount as
might be thought expedient, and issue such new
s hares as one or several classes, and attach to the
whole or any of them such guaranteed or preferen-
tial dividend as the company might determine, and
that these resolutions be adopted to the exclusion of
regulation No. 25 of the articles of the association.
This having been put to the meeting was carried
unanimously.

A second extraordinary general meeting of the
company was then held, for the purpose of submit-

tiny to the shareholders resolutions enabling the
directors to increase the capital of the company.
The CHAIRMAN said they would require £lO,OOO
to pay off debentures. The sum of £5,000 which
was due by the company they were not pressed
for, as an arrangement had been agreed to
which would enable them to meet it. They were
paying 5 per cent. interest on the debentures,
which would become due in three years, by which
time he hoped to see the company in a very satisfac-
tory position. He wished to raise the £lO,OOO on
preference shares. He thought that when all their
accessories came into play the company would be in
a first-rate position. They had £40,050 in deben-
tures at 7 per cent., and a mortgage of £30,000,
making a total of £70,050. The company were
now paying 5 per cent. upon the mortgage debt.
They commenced the half-year by paying 10 per
cent., but in a few weeks the rate went down to 5
per cent. The debentures falling due at intervals
of three, five, and seven years would be duly met.

He then moved a series of resolutions to the effect
that the capital of the company be increased by
2100,000, in 20,000 shares of £5 each, as perpetual
8 per cent. preference shares, in priority to the
12,000 shares of £lO each, into which the nominal
share capital of £120,000 was divided, and that if
in any year the profits applicable for dividend
should be insufficient to pay the full dividend of £8
per cent. then the deficiency should be paid out of
the profits of any subsequent year.
The CHAIUMAN stated that the share capital was
increased by £30,000 at the request of the general
meeting, £90,000 being the original capital. All
they received on the 8 per cent. preferential shares
would go to cancel an equal amount of the 7 per
cent. debentures. The directors would like to have
a working capital of some £4,000 or £5,000. In a
short tilde all the northern railways would be run-
ning close to the hotel, and first-class shops would
be built around them, while the metropolitan rail-
ways would bring the hotel in connexion with nearly
all parts of the city as well as the Houses of Par-
liament.

'The resolutions were carried unanimously.
A vote of thanks to the chairman and directors
terminated the proceedings.

Yesterday the mechanics employed on the iron
frigate Hercules, 12, 1,200 horse power, building
at Chatham, commenced fitting the fourth tier
of 6-inch Plates along the broadsides of that
vessel, to be followed by a tier of plates eight
inches in thickness, The inner plating of the
armour- plated fore and aft bulkheads, protecting the
ship's central battery, has been commenced, prepa-
ratory
plates. The llercules is to be constructed with in-
to fixing the timber backing for the armour
dented sides, similar to the Pallas and Research, to
enable her battery guns to be fired ahead and astern
in a line with the vessel's keel, in addition to which
she will be provided with one or more guns at her
bow.

THE SUN, LONLON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 12, 1806.

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE.

ADDRESS OF THE HUNGARIAN DIET.
PESTI', Dec. 12.

The following is a more complete summary of the
draft of the address which will be discussed on Sa-
turday next in the Lower House of the Hungarian
Diet.

The address states that the last Royal Rescript
has not been able to allay the apprehensions enter-
tained by Hungary, notwithstanding the pro►nises
and the acknowledgments of the national rights
contained therein, since the request of the Diet for
an immediate re-establishment of the constitution
has not been complied with.

The address requests the Emperor not to render
a satisfactory reconciliation impossible by postpon-
ing the re-establishment of the legal basis of public
affairs, and continues as follows : " There are
situations in the life of nations which can never
be maintained without danger. Such is the case
when the internal affairs of a nation have been un-
settled for a long period. Always dangerous such
a position of things is in thepresent day particularly
perilous, when we are threatened by great European
questions calculated to produce serious complications.
Our own affairs, and those of the empire generally,
are not so completely set in order that we could
calmly meet all the emergencies that might arise,
foreign complications might reach us by some un-
foreseen incident."

The address requests his Majesty to grant means
and opportunities to the Diet for effecting a satis-
factory compromise. " Before all," it continues,
"it is necessary to that end that the Constitution
of Hungary should be re-established."

We ask this in the interest of our own country,
ok your Majesty, of the dynasty, and of the whole
empire. Our demands are justified by the funda-
mental laws which form the basis of the mutual
legal relations between us and the Imperial dynasty.
That portion of the Royal Rescript which refers to
the common affairs of Austria and Hungary, and,to
the draft of the committee of fifteen, can only be
discussed when the Diet is in a position to consider
the whole constitutional scheme, and to pass resolu-
tions in reference thereto. The Address again re-
quests that those persons upon whoin sentences have
been passed, or who are exiled, for political
offences, shall be amnestied. The fulfilment of
these requests can alone satisfy the Hungarian
nation, and give hope for the arrangtnent of a suc-
cessful compromise."

In conclusion, the address requests his Majesty
not to delay the fulfilment of these demands, and
states that the Diet has learned with great satisfac-
tion from the Royal Rescript that the Emperor
intends to introduce in his other provinces also the
principle of Ministerial responsibility.

ARRIVAL OF THE CITY OF
WASHINGTON.
( Via Queenstown.)
NEW YORK, Dec. 1 (Morning.)
The financial report of Secretary M'Culloch will
show the deficiency in the Treasury for the year
ending December, 1865, was $619,000,000. Six
months after that time there was an excess of
receipts over expenditure of $38,000,000, and the
public debt has been reduced $200,000,000 during
the last 12 months.
Advices received here from Mexico to the 25th
ult. state that the Emperor Maximilian's luggage
had arrived at Vera Cruz. Maximilian remaine d
at Orizaba, but exercised no official functions. The
Imperial garrison at Zulapa had surrendered to the
Liberals.
Letters received at Washington assert that
Bazaine anticipated no trouble from Sheridan's
visit.

Reports had reached New York to the 28th ult.
of Sedgwick's occupation of Matamoras, and that
Maximilian left Vera Cruz for Havannah. Both re-
ports have since been denied.

Sedgwick advised the Government on the 27th
of his reported occupation of Matamoras, whereupon
General Grant telegraphed to General Sheridan to
depose Sedgwick if the report was verified, disavow-
ing endorsement by the United States.

Washington despatches state that the Federal
Government are perfectly satisfied of Napoleon's
intention to remove his troops from Mexico. M.
de Montholon has furnished the United States
Cabinet with the names of 20 transports about to
sail from France to bring home the French troops
by the end of December.
Gen. Sherman was to leave Havannah on the 25th
ult. for Mexico.

It is believed in Canada that the recent news of
a projected Fenian rising in Ireland will have a bad
effect upon the condemned Fenians. No decision
has as yet been delivered regarding a new trial of
the condemned.

SOUTHAMPTON, Dec. 12.

The Hamburg American Company's steamer
Allemannia, Captain Trautman, sails at noon for
New York with a full complement of cabin and
steerage passengers, and a large cargo, including
French jewellery from Havre, value 92,305 francs.