The Sun.
London, England, 1866-11-21 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONUON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, NOVEMBER 21, 1866.

his opinions clearly, uncompromisingly, and em-
phatically, on a good many of our vexed questions,
and those opinions are, as we all know, often some-
' what peculiar. But he is the last man who would
expect or wish for wholesale and unreflecting
acquiescence. He would like every man to
form an honest opinion, to express it on fit-
I ting occasions, and, most trying of all, to
act up to it. This is what Mr. HUGHES does
himself, and it is this straightforward consistency
which has won him respect and influence, both in
and out of Parliament. He takes the unpopular
side in reference to our disputes with America ; he
I does not hesitate to support it in the House of Com-
mons. He thinks Governor EYRE exceeded his
powers in Jamaica, and therefore places his name
(which we regret to see in such a position) in the
list of the prosecuting committee. He holds trades'
unions, when carried to excess, to be mischievous
things, and, therefore, he does not shrink
from facing a large assemblage of working men and
telling them so. This genuine English courage is
accompanied, as it generally is, by fair play, and
therefore we do not find Mr. HUGHES playing the
part of a political ISHMAEL with his hand against
every man. He is ready and willing to give his
opponents a fair hearing, and proved this by declar-
ing that if the Tories brought in a good Reform
Bill he would be glad to have it, and that while he
did not altogether like Mr. CLAY'S measure
he could not conscientiously go against a
simple, honest educational test. Mr. HUGHES
gave a summary of his labours last ses-
;;ion, prominent among which were his efforts on
behalf of the evicted poor. In this good cause we
heartily wish him the success he will no doubt obtain
if he frame his measure a little more cautiously. We
believe him to be mistaken in attributing indiffer-
ence to the Legislature ; but the fact is, the ques-
tion is a complicated one, not very easy to settle.
We can hardly stop public improvements altogether,
and there is little room left in London itself for
building new houses for either rich or poor. Then
if the construction of workmen's houses be made
compulsory in the suburbs, there are many who
will not be able to profit by them from the distance.
It is worth while to consider whether a great deal
might not be done in the way of rebuilding some of
our poorer districts, where the ground is covered
with low, wretched tenements, instead of lofty and
well-built houses, which might be let in rooms. If
Mr. HUGHES and other gentlemen interested in this
question would examine carefully into all its bearings,
and could lay some plan for organised action before
Parliament, we are sure he would obtain attention.
It is quite clear that the matter must be dealt with
in a comprehensive spirit, and cannot longer be
left to individual effort, if we are to get rid of the
monster evil of the day. Mr. HUGHES touched
upon several other domestic questions, especially
on education, which he would make compulsory.
This mode of cure, however, would have great
drawbacks, and would certainly not at present
be tried with the consent of the working
classes with whom the fault lies. He
would also have the Government interfere
with regard to the food of the people, as well as
with their houses and education. But all these
matters are difficult to legislate upon, and though,
theoretically, it may seem better to enforce good
laws, yet Mr. HUGHES must remember that both
Cabinets and Parliaments are far from being per-
fect, and that there are great, though hidden, dan-
gers attending a centralisation of government.
Nevertheless, his straightforward common-sense may
teach his auditors something, though we fear he
will find it a tougher task to reform the weights and
measures of the borough of Lambeth than Lord
DERBY will to reform the House of Commons !

wife returned home well and hearty, and she soon
convinced her friends, and indeed the husband him-
self, that he had no claim to the title of widower.
It became necessary to send out letters of counter-
mand and contradiction, and so extensive was the
correspondence that the husband sought for a sec-
retary to write for him and explain that he was not
a bereaved widower. It is mentioned as a fact that
this gentleman commenced his letter in these terms:
" M. Rousseau has the honour to inform his friends
and acquaintances that, in consequence of a deplor-
able mistake, his wife is not dead." Another odd
circumstance connected with this " deplorable mis-
take" is that Madame Rousseau, having been duly
registered in the parochial records as dead, the
authorities refuse to take any steps to expunge a
record the truth of which was fully proved to them
in the usual way when the register was made. In
fact, therefore, the poor woman was to be treated
as civilly dead for life.
News has been received in Paris of the death of
Monsigneur Pavy, Bishop of Algiers.
When Prince Napoleon Jerome returned to Paris,
after his recent journey, he stopped at a small town
to dine at a hotel, where he dined at the table d'hote
with his medical attendant, Dr. Byvan, but wishing
to preserve his incognito, the Prince requested that
gentleman not to use any expression which might
lead to the knowledge of his rank. In the course
of the dinner Dr. Byvan inadvertently dropped the
word " Monseigneur" while talking to the Prince.
It was heard by the servant girl who attended at
the dinner, and, after the other guests had retired,
she went up to Dr. Byvan and whispered to him,
" I heard you call the person who is with you Mon-
seigneur. Is he a bishop 2"
A fact startling to epicures, if it be true, is men-
tioned. The tubercle called truffle, which has just
made its first appearance in Paris for the season,
and is sold at some three or four shillings a pound,
has heretofore been supposed to be only found in
the distant locality of Perigueux and its environs.
The report, however, is that truffles of excellent
quality have been discovered in a garden at Ville
d'Avray, about eight miles from Paris.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE'.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.
(BY ATLANTIC TELEGRAPH.)

NEW YORK, Nov. 20.
Efforts are being made to effect a compromise
between President Johnson and the Congress.
ARRIVAL OF THE DEUTSCHLAND.
SOUTHAMPTON, Nov. 21.

The North German Lloyd's steamship Deutsch-
land, from New York on the 10th inst., has arrived.
She brings 128 passengers for this port, Havre, and
Bremen, 007,773 for England, $203,200 for
France, and $3,485 for Bremen.
On the 11th inst., off Stndy Hook, she passed the
steamers New York and Saxonia, and on the 13th
spoke the American ship Albert Galater.

PRUSSIA AND THE POPE.
MADRID, Nov. 21.

The Lealtad of to-day states that the King of
Prussia has written to the Pope offering to His
Holiness the protection of Prussia.
The Bank of Spain has reduced its rate of dis-
count to 7 per cent.

OPENING OF THE HUNGARIAN DIET.
PESTH, Monday.
_ .

The Hungarian Diet was opened to-day.
The following are the chief points of the Royal
rescript, read at the commencement of the sitting :

" The unalterable aim of the deliberations which
are about to be resumed on the basis of the last
speech from the Throne is the accomplishment of
the union of the different parts of the monarchy,
and the re-establishment of the autonomous rights
of Hungary."
After adverting to the late war and the conclusion
of peace, the rescript points out the necessity and
urgency of a prompt settlement of internal affairs.
His Majesty declares that the suspension of the
deliberations of the Diet was all the more regretted
by him, as precisely at the moment of the adjourn-
ment the sub-committee of the commission on com-
mon affairs bad drawn up a project which recog-
nised the principle of the Royal sanction, and which
he considers as the basis for an understapding on the
question of the discussion and treatment of common
affairs. It is gratifying, adds the rescript, to find
expressed in that project the sentiment that it is
indispensable that the different countries composing
the monarchy should remain united, and thus insure
the existence of the whole monarchy.
The rescript then states some general views for
the deliberations which are about to commence.
Before all, the unity of the army in its direction and
organisation, as well as in the principles regulating
the terms of service and the recruitment, must be
maintained. The customs, the indirect taxes, and
the state monopolies, must also be regulated in
accordance with the uniform principles which have
yet to be laid down. An uniform treatment is not
less necessary for the public debt and credit.
"If," continues the royal rescript, " the Diet's
deliberations result in the removal of difficulties con-
nected with the unity of the monarchy, which must
be maintained, the wishes and demands of Hungary
will also be complied with by the appointment of a
responsible Ministry, and by the re-establishment
of the municipal autonomy.
" The system of the responsibility of the Govern-
ment must be established not only in Hungary, but
in all parts of the monarchy. The questions of detail
as well as the modifications to be introduced into the
legislation of 1848 will be settled by means of an
understanding between the responsible Ministry and
the Diet."

In conclusion the rescript expresses the hope that
the Diet will give its serious attention to these over-
tures in order to hasten the establishment of a con-
stitutional organisation.