The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-28 00:00:00

Drury-Lane Theatre. ...1..--

The play-bill at Drury-lane is now so quickly and
pleasantly diversified with tragedy, comedy, pan-
tonaime,•and farce, as to suit the tastes of all classes
and conditions of playgoers. Those. who -relish '7
stage-pictures of life antrinanaidffin llinalt—c-en-
tury may chO6se befiveen Mr: Phelbs'aflereilrVpei.:.:
formance of- oAkley The JetillineWife:'an-04
same actor's still more finfsgedinan per*:4 10
PertinaxMaesyeophantin "The Man of the World ;5'3%
while Shaksperianis will find. that their inheres • 4
been consulted' in 'the production of "The Iferl‘ •
Chant of Venice," With Mr. Pherii;-"arinriz-s7trei:,.. '
manVeziii as the efficient representativbs
4. •
and:Portia. • -
The Christanasar entertainment has long outli-i-ed! •
the season for which it was originally intended.
• King Pippin,". the
Aost.,suc9essful pantomime
that has ever been producalupoti these-boards, still .
pursues ilinlerryeand prosperous Caieer:aild niglytty
ilvolens the-mondpr.and &light of the juvenile por- .
tion of the audience.
Sir Bulwer Lyttoß's pArouriie play of ".Richelieu"
is underlined for Monday net.

4''x!•4

Gam. f

\*.

Universityintelligence.-

. . •
OxftD, Feb. 27.
lii.a.convocation held this day at two o'clock44l:-
bomination of Henry_ IVentworth Acland,*
Christ ClinrchTand the Rev; 'George Rawljpson,
M.A.; Exeier College, as Curators of. the Univer-
Sity Galleries, and that of the Rev. WILI Jackson,
M.A., Worcester College, as Curator of Sir Robt.
Taylor's foundation; Were Submitted-and approved.
The new regulations for the Burdett Coutts'
Scholarships .were approved.
Ina Congre„cration afterwards a
„ ...cgumuniti; vac .rvit-abviata.L.
mental Philosophy was promulgated.
Professor ROLLESTON proposed an amendment
enlarging the power of the professor to take fees.
Professor ROGERS objected to dealing with the
question of professorial fees piecemeal, and criticised
the wording of the statute.

Professor GOLDWIN SMITH supported Dr. Rolle-
ston's amendment.

The VICE-CHANCELLOR explained that the clause
which it was proposed to amend was no .new regu-
lation, but was adopted from an existing statute.
Professor PHILLIPS urged that the legislation, at
least for all the Museum Professors, should be uni-
form.

Dr. ACLAND supported Dr. Rolleston, and men-

tinned that in the case of the Clinical Professorship
a fee was claimed from each of the professor's pupils
by a person unconnected with the University.
A statute was then promulgated suppressing the
Aldrichian Professorship of Chemistry, and devot-
ing the stipend to other objects connected with
physical science.

Sir 'I3ENJA3IIN BRODIE asked whether the new
disposition of the funds would be permanent, or
whether a powei would be taken of restoring them
at some future time to a Professor of Chemistry.
As it appeared, after some discussion, that a per-
manent diversion would probably be effected by the
statute, Sir Benjamin proposed an amendment to
the effect that the endowment should not be per-
manently diverted from a Professorship
of. Che-
mistry.

A statute modifying the composition payable in
lieu of University fees was also promulgated.
Professor ROGERS objected to the rate of com-
position as altogether too high, and stated that only
11 per cent. of the members of Convocation availed
themselves of it. The charge ought not to exceed
the amount of ten years' dues.

Mr. OGLE, of Lincoln, observed that the statute
as it stood inflicted an injury on all those who had
already compounded, since a portion of the sum for
which they had compounded was now to be trans-
ferred to the Colleges, and would be chargeable
upon them. He understood that it was intended to
remedy this injustice by decree ; but he would be
glad of an assurance to that effect.
The VICE-CHANCELLOR gave the assurance re-
quested.

ProfessorPßicE explained thathe was not answer-
able for the rate of the composition, which he him-
self thoughttoo high. The principle which he wished
to calculate had been fixed by the Council. He was
only answerable for the exactness of his calculations.
Mr. BAYNE, of Christ Church (on behalf of Dr
Shirley) handed in an amendment altering the scale
of the compositions.

:z-.+t':

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 28, 186 G.

- Metropolitan local govermnent is a subject that
may well engage serious attention, for it is one
that concerns the interests of the community in a
great degree. Lord R. MONTAGU on Monday
called the notice of the louse to the very inefficient
manner in which the work was carried on by the
local self-governments ; and in the course of his
speech he gave some very good definitions of the
state of the case. Indeed the noble lord very truly
said that, in many respects, London was worse off
than Paris, and even than small corporate cities in the
kingdom. In illustration of this he mentioned the
miseries endured during the last snow-storm through
the state of the London streets, he himself finding the
slush ancle-deep. The vestries never perform their
appointed duty of causing the footpaths to be swept
and cleaned. In the frost, also, great danger
accrues from the neglect that prevails in not adopting
proper measures to preserve passengers on foot or
on horseback from slipping. Another important
thing to notice is that from want of a "ruling autho-
rity " many persons are run over, 232 being killed
in one year by being driven against by cabs, drays,
and carts. A better proof of the want of a better
arrangement could not be furnished than the fact that
typhus fever is greatly on the increase. Under the
existing system little or no attention is paid to the
removal of nuisances, and no thanks are given to
those who point them out. The medical officer of
St. Pancras in his report showed where the nests
of typhus might be found, and in consequence he
was called impertinent by some of the vestrymen.
No wonder that the noble lord should deny that
there was any advantage in this so-called " noble
principle of self-government." If one board had the
complete jurisdiction over all the metropolis a better
state of things would follow. It would not be
necessary to break up the minor boards.
Last night Mr. AYRTON moved that a Select
Committee be appointed to inquire into the local
government and local taxation of the metropolis.
The hon. member was
made by the verY
indignant at the re-
marksand
he n oble lord the even-
ing before,
expressed a hope that
he might A/o hear a t again " repetition in that
Rouse of such observations as had recently been
made with respect to the vestrymen of the metro-
polis."
This is certainly rather an extraordinary
observation, and we should like to know why this
class in particular should be considered sacred from
criticism. Mr. AYRTON did his best to defend the
and declared that local self-govern-
present system,
malt had been of more service to the community
than the doings of the central Government by way
of interference. Lord R. MoNTAGu again made
some observations in. favour of a commission
instead of a committee, and blamed the conduct of
Sir G. GREY in not dealing with the subject in a de-
cisive manner, instead of showing great hesitation.
That, however, is the fashionable course for
Ministers to pursue nowadays, and therefore
110 one 'need feel surprise, though it is
very inconsistent for the Government to leave
all these matters to be settled by the house instead
of inaug-ara,4dr,--
g a policy of their own. Lord R.
MONTAGU "very Properly said that " the ordinary rule
Was to aPppint a committee to ascertain facts, and

when these were known to appoint a Royal Corn-
missionto devise a measure to meet an acknowledged
difficulty." Sir G. GREY said that the House
seemed in favour of the appointment of a committee,
and he coincided in that opinion, because the diffe-
rent members of the metropolis could assist at the
inquiry.

Mr. LIDDELL made some observations on the coal
tax, which, he said, he feared the Metropolitan
Board were hankering to continue, in order to carry
on improvements. The hon. member truly stated
that " coal in the metropolis was an absolute neces-
sary of life, and there was no impost to which he
understood there was a greater objection, because it
was a tax levied in its worst form."
Lord ELcHo's remarks reverted to the state of
the poorer classes, and he stated that people might
well imagine no one took into account how far,
and in what way, all these improvements
might affect the working classes. The House
of Lords had, however, as the noble
lord said, issued a standing order, to the effect that
statements should be made of the number of persons
displaced by any works for which compulsory
powers were granted, and what was to be done to
remedy the evils of such displacement ? 'We con-
cur with the noble lord in his wish that the House
of Commons should adopt a 'provision similar to
that of the House of Lords, which certainly has the
credit of making the first attempt to protect the
rights of the poor. In this money-making age there
is no danger more to be guarded against than this
encroachment on the dwellings of the working
classes, because .little or no effort is made
to remedy the ills thus occasioned. Mr. LOCKE
pointed out the great difficulty that laid in the way
of providing dwellings for those who were turned
out by railways being brought near their habita-
tions, because in many neighbourhoods the inha-
bitants are most averse to the poorer classez coming
to settle in their parish for fear they should even-
tually become chargeable to the parish rates. To
put a stop to this evil the hon. member advocated
the advantage of union rating. A uniform rate in
all the parishes of the metropolis is what has long
been wanted, both for the interests of the
community in general, and for the free-
dom and welfare of the working classes.
As Mr. LOCKE stated, the parishes which are the
richest are the most lightly taxed, and the inhabi-
tants of St. George's, Hanover-square, only pay a
six or seven-pence in the pound. The committee
having been granted, it is to be hoped that their
labours may be successful, and that results may
follow alike creditable to the House and beneficial
to the public ; and certainly the matter under their
consideration is one that should long ago have been
dealt with in a vigorous manner.

The subject to which Mr. CRAWFORD last nigh
directed the attention of the House is unquestion
ably- a very important one, and its importance in
these days of commercial enterprise is likely to in-
crease rather than diminish. Our mercantile con-
nection with India, which has been so long allowed
to languish from various causes, is now extending
so rapidly owing to the peculiar position of the
cotton trade, the new tea plantations, and many
other movements of the kind, that the rapidity
and fidelity of the telegraphic communi-
cation becomes a matter of considerable
moment. It might naturally have been sup-
posed that a country, whose wealth and whose
mechanical resources are alike illimitable, would
have made the communication with its own terri-
tories one of the first objects of its ambition. If we
..", UTTIWITTISL-4 LIU IV uau Ll'
ing a cable under the Atlantic, we might surely have
contrived to establish a rapid and effectual system
of communication between England and India.
Some parts of the route are no doubt difficult and
dangerous, but the great point of complaint is not
that the line does not work, but that the
messages transmitted by it are most inaccurately
rendered. The cases which Mr. CRAWFORD cited
last evening were of a very serious nature, especi-
ally when we remember the extent of the interests
involved. As Mr. CRAWFORD observed, the tele-
graph at the present day has almost super-
seded the post in commercial matters, especi-
ally with regard to a tedious and dangerous
voyage. "In relation to the trade with India it
was the custom when goods were shipped for tele-
graphic information to be sent of that fact. On
the receipt of the bill of lading, if the market were
favourable, the goods were sold while on their
way to their destination, and by that
means the shipper was relieved from a great part
of the risk, and was therefore content to re-
ceive less than he otherwise would accept, and so
the public were enabled to obtain the goods at a
reduced price." There is, however, another aspect
to the question in which the telegraphic system is
not so advantageous to any party concerned. A
mercantile house in Liverpool sent last September
an order for 1,000 bales of cotton, which was deli-
vered in India as an order for 21,000 ! Another
order from another house was transformed from
500 bales at 12d. per lb. to 500 bales
at 20d. per lb. It will not take a
man of business very long to calculate the effect of
such blunders, although their consequences would
naturally vary with the resources of the firm which
gave them the order. Thus we find that the
failure of one house was ascribed to the fact of a
telegraphic order to Egypt for 500 bales of cotton
being converted into an order for 5,000. When we
remember the extraordinary accuracy with which
telegraphic messages are transmitted on other occa-
sions, we shall le more surprised that greater fidelity
is not attained in respect to so important a trade.
According to the official returns of 1864 the aggregate
value of the commodities imported into-this coun-
try from abroad was 275 millions sterling, and of
the goods exported was 2121 millions sterling.
"Of the goods imported," said Mr. CRAWFORD,
" those from India were 20 per cent. of the
whole, and Ceylon, Singapore, China, Japan,
Australia, and the Mauritius supplied 11 or
12 per cent. in addition, so that portion of the
world which was the subject of his motion supplied
no less than one-third of the whole of the imports.
In the case of exports, out of the total of 2121
millions those countries took no less than 42 millions
sterling." The nature of the goods imported is also
a matter of consideration. Rice, sugar, and tea
enter largely into the list, while articles supplying
material for the industry of the country amount to
nine millions, exclusive of cotton, which is 38 mil-
-1 lions alone.

The confusion created by the inaccuracy of the
telegraph is heightened by another evil, the extreme
uncertainty and tardiness in the delivery of the
messages. If a message is correctly given, the
delay of a month in the transmission may
render it virtually inaccurate. Yet this is
no uncommon occurrence. Mr. HORS-
FALL, who seconded Air. CRAWFORD'S motion,
mentioned that a message which should have been
delivered in 36 hours at Bombay did not reach its
destination for 36 days--in fact, after a letter en-
closing a duplicate of the order telegraphed had
reached the parties. The complaints, in fact, have
been so numerous that both mover and seconder
declared themselves unablestated h
co alludetat
sincetOa h
titehehaodf
them. Mr. CRAWNE

given notice of his motion be had received hundreds
of letters on the subject ; • while Mr. HORSFALL'S
account was very similar. He had received nume-
rous communications lately from India fully con-
firming the accounts given in this country. From
Madras one party sent during six months 250
messages, of which 153 only were received.
Two telegrams were sent off on the same day, one
of which took 7 days and the other 27 in transmis-
sion. As a sample of the confusion arising from
the mismanagement, Mr. 110 RSFALL mentioned that
a firm he knew received a telegram from Bombay,
stating that the managing partner was leaving from
ill-health, and asking for a gentleman to be sent
out to take his place. A gentleman was engaged
at a salary of £l,OOO a-year, and despatched to
Bombay, when lo ! it turned out that the telegram
was not from Bombay at all, but from Madras, and
that it was only a clerk who was ill ! The Chamber
of Commerce at Liverpool, when trying to collect
information on the subject, were told that it was
difficult to single out instances where all the
system was so bad. The messages have to pass
through seven different administrations, and the
mistakes occur in Turkey, where the employes are
ignorant of the English language, and apathetic and
indifferent to business. The line in India was worked
well enough, as was every part under the direction
of Englishmen ; and what is wanted is clearly to
have British operators all along the line, as between
Bussora and Kurrachee, where the messages are
sent 1,500 miles in half an hour. National jealousies
on the partof Russia and France are said tointerfere
with this proposal, but it is quite impossible that
a system so mischievous and so unbusinesslike
should be tolerated any longer. It is most injurious
to those commercial interests with which the ma-
terial welfare of our vast Indian possessions is
identified, and we can only hope that the committee
obtained by Mr. CRAWFORD will be able to effect a
radical reform in the system of telegraphic com-
munication between this country and India.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FRO3I OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Tuesday Evening.

A speech from M. Thiers—the man of many
Ministries, it might be said Dynasties—always an
incident of interest, acquires more than usual im-
portance at the present time. He spoke yesterday
in the Corps Legislatif, but in such vague and
rambling terms, that as he did not say what he
meant to do, I for one am at a loss to know whether
he intends to support any of the amendments to the
Address or to vote for it purely and simply. M.
Thiers commenced with a truism---that there were
so many topics to deal with as to make it a real
case of embarrassment of choice. However, he
plunged in medias res, remarking that, of all sub-
jects, none was so worthy of attention as the politi-
cal constitution of the country. The great interest
of a nation was its political constitution. M. Thiers
proceeded to say that any change of dynasty was
now out of the question ; but, as far as could be
gathered from his argument, he wants now an ex-
tension of popular principles, for he said that " the
re-e3tablishnient of liberty was now only a question
of time. The Revolution had given to Frenchmen
real equality—equality before the law." M. Thiers,
after remarking upon the press—he did not say it
was not free—accused the Government of interfer-
ing with the electors, but did not venture to point
out any proof or example of such interference. M.
Thiers, after reviewing seriatim the topics of the
Speech having especial reference to foreign politics,
touched upon England, admitting by implication at
least that the most important point to be considered
was how far the institutions of France ought to be
assimilated with our own. lie said free trade was
universal suffrage liberty. It
was a step to liberty. The suffrage was restricted
in England, but no one could say that England was
not free. Nothing was so becoming in the speech of
M. Thiers as the end of it. I give it in his own
words.

" In England how many things are contrary to
liberty (let the reader recollect that he had just said
that England was undoubtedly free). The law of
primogeniture, substitutions, a national church—
intolerance everywhere, and yet England is free.
Why ? Because in a Republic or in a Monarchy
people are free when they have such institutions
as I have enumerated. Nations may be mis-
taken, but they are less liable to mistakes than
a man. A man commits faults, because not being
forced to deliberate, to weigh the for and against,
he is carried away by his passions. If he should
hold in his hands the destinies of nations he may
precipitate them into great misfortunes. Thus the
real definition of a free nation is this—A free nation
is a being who is obliged to reflect before he acts."
(Applause from some parts of the Chamber.)
The enrolment of soldiers for the Pope is now
completed. His Holiness has ordered the following
prayer, his own composition, to be offered up on the
occasion.—" Protect this city, Oh Lord ! and let
your angels guard its walls. In your mercy hear
the prayers of your people. Let your anger turn
from your people because we are threatened by the
coalition of our enemies, they who glorify themselves
in their strength. But you, destroy their power and
disperse them, so that they may know that there is
no one to fight for us but you, our God." The
prayer is inlatin, but the above is a literal trans-
lation of it.

The Committee of the Great Exhibition having
expressed a desire to thank his Imperial Majesty for
having named the Imperial Prince as honorary Pre-
sident, the Emperor received the members of it on
Sunday at the Tuileries. The Emperor said to
them, " My son is yet too young to take an active
part in your deliberations, but at least he will have
an opportunity of learning in good time to honour
labours which insure the splendour and prosperity
of the State." The Emperor was engaged in con-
versation for a long time with the committee, and
the young Prince graciously held out his hand to
the members of it when they were about to depart.
I have already. mentioned the intention to erect
a statue to Joan of Arc in the new square by the
Rue St. Honore. The attention of artistA has long
been directed to the endeavour to obtain an accu-
rate resemblance of the heroine. In the archives of
the Empire an authentic portrait of her has been
found taken from life by an officer of the Court
before which she was tried by the English. She
was born in 1412 at the village of Domvemry la
Pucelle, near Orleans. There is a statue of her in
that city, and also in the Museum of Domvemry.'
The family of Joan of Arc is not yet entirely ex-
tinct. Only a few days ago there died at Orleans
Madame de Julienne, whose maiden name was
Gauthier Dave, who was a descendant of the great
female warrior.

An old man, named Antoine Granier, and his
wife have just been tried before the Court of As-
size at Nismes, for atrocious cruelty towards their
child Adeline for a series of years past. The child
disappeared ten years ago, being then four years
old, and was recently discovered in a sort of cave,
deprived of fresh air and lit. She was crouched
on the floor, quite naked, an idiot, and having
hardly the human forth. She cannot speak, but
utters monotonous and piercing cries. The child
was almost like a corpse. The only explanation of
these unnatural parents was that they were obliged
to keep the child in a " sequestered" spot, because
she had frequent fits of furious madness, and they
were afraid that she would dishonour the family.
A witness deposed to having thrown a fig to the
child, who crawled along the floor and seized and
ate it with avidity. The jury found both prisoners
guilty, but, it will hardly be credited, with " ex-
tenuating circumstances," and they were sentenced
to six years' imprisonment.
Last night and to-day there has been much rain,
but the temperature is that of advanced spring.
I enclose a blossom of a peach-tree. There are
myriads of trees in the vicinity of Paris in full
bloom. [Our Correspondent sends a beautiful
blossom.]

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AUSTRIA.

VIENNA, FEB. 28.
It is officially announced that the International
Exhibition at Vienna will take place in 1870.
Intelligence received here from Constantinople
states that the diplomatic representatives of the
Powers who signed the Treaty of Paris have
communicated to their respective Governments
the wish of the Sublime Porte that a commission
should be sent to Bucharest on behalf of each of
the above Powers in order to inquire into the recent
events in Roumania.

POLAND.
WARSAW, FB. 28.

An imperial ukase has been issued, permitting
Jews who have received a diploma at a Prussian or
Polish university to enter the public service in Po-
land, with the enjoyments of the rights and
privileges connected with the office of public func-

ionaries.

HOLSTEIN.

KIEL, FEB. 28.

General Gablenz, the Austrian commander in
Holstein, has addressed an order to the Provincial
Government of that Duchy, sanctioning the extra-
ordinary convocation of the committee on the
Budget.
General Gablenz in this document alludes as
follows to the recognition) of the Constitution Of
1854 :--

" I do not hesitate to express myself in favour of
the Constitution of 1854 as the proper basis for the
future political organisation of Holstein, and I re-
cognise in their full extent the obligations thereby
imposed upon the Government of the Emperor of
Austria."