The Sun.
London, England, 1866-09-22 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SA TURDAY EVENING% SEPTEMBER 22, 1866.

the loss, as he pointed out, does not stop here ; the
distress and inconvenience occasioned by it spreads
further and wider. The masters lose heavily by
having their capital standing idle, and the whole
retail trade of the neighbourhood suffers in conse-
quence directly and indirectly. It does not by any
means follow that the men are always in the wrong
in these disputes, only they are too apt to rush into
strikes regardless of consequences. Combination
is, of course, the men's great weapon against their
employers, and if they only used it in cases of direct
oppression or injustice they would be justified in
resorting to it for the protection of their inte-
rests. But, unhappily, they are not sufficiently
educated to understand how far away events, of
which they have scarcely heard, may affect trade
more or less throughout the civilised world. This
year, every one knows, has been a bad one finan-
cially, and the iron trade and the building trade,
like other branches of industry, must of course feel
the consequences of commercial depression. Is it
the way to restore confidence and prosperity to
stop business altogether ? The masters, no doubt,
often take advantage of their men, and, in fact,
the men have often good reason to distrust them
as a class. But they in their turn suffer so much
from these stagnations of trade that a wise con-
cession on their part would often profit them
largely. It is a lamentable thing that some sys-
tem of arbitration cannot be adopted between mas-
ters and men in the interests of both. If war is
to be deplored between foreign nations, and
philosophers and philanthropists hope for a
time when national disputes shall be settled
in the council chamber rather than in the
battle-field, how much more reasonably may
we anticipate such a mode of dealing with a pacific
question, a matter of pounds, shillings, and pence,
which it would be ridiculous, if it were not so
lamentable, to settle by both sides voluntarily in-
flicting on themselves a heavy loss. Earl GREY, in
concluding his observations, which were received
with loud applause, expressed his conviction that it
was the duty as well as the interest of all parties,
to arrive at an amicable settlement of trade disputes,
and he added that if a really Christian spirit pre-
vailed amongst masters and men such a thing as a
lock-out or a strike would cease to be heard of. We
trust the noble earl's just and sensible remarks will
have their due weight with his audience, and
that they may influence those who are still pursuing
this mistaken policy in the iron trade. In these
times, when cholera is amongst us, and the bare
necessaries of life are so costly, it is no light thing
to occasion the loss of £lOO,OOO in wages. We
hope both employers and employed will reflect upon
this, and endeavour, in a spirit of mutual
conciliation and good faith, to bring to a speedy
close this lamentable state of things.

At the meeting of the Court of Common Council
on Thursday the question of the Holborn Valley
Improvement was brought under consideration. It
was agreed to borrow £400,000 to complete the un-
dertaking until the viaduct was completed and the
surplus ground realised. This is all very satisfac-
tory, and we are glad to find the good citizens of
London are determined to carry out this really im-
portant metropolitan improvement in an energetic
and liberal spirit. Holborn Valley has long called
loudly for some active reform, and it is quite time
that our metropolis was put to rights in such matters.
There is one point, hbwever, which the circumstance
of the present time renders very imperative, and
which we hope the Common Council will not over-
look. We allude to the destruction of the houses
occupied by the poor, which must inevitably re-
sult from this as from all other architectural or to-
pographical improvements. The neighbourhood of
Holborn-hill is densely populated, and in these days
of overcrowding it is not easy to see where those
who are turned out can betake themselves.
The destruction of Agar-town has been a
terrible grievance to the labouring classes, and it
is the duty of the Legislature to put a stop to the
present system of demolition with restoration. In
every act granting enlarged powers for the destruc-
tion of working men's homes there should be a
clause compelling the company who require the
ground to erect a given number of similar houses
or cottages elsewhere. If some plan of this kind is
not to be adopted the grievance will become into-
lerable, as the injustice is oppressive. The public
health already suffers, and the comfort and morals
of the people are sacrificed. What are they to do ?
They cannot build houses for themselves, even by
paying rents quite disproportionate to their earnings
they cannot obtain decent lodging? The streets
and squares which are demolished by the railway
or the improver are replaced by suburban terraces
and villas, but the court, and the lane, and the alley
are pulled down without their fellows being built
elsewhere. It would now make little difference in
an undertaking like the Holborn Valley Improve-
ment to borrow £lOO,OOO or £50,000 more, but
what a vast difference such a sum laid out in build-
ing commonly decent habitations for the poor
would effect ! Such an addition to a scheme for
improvement need not be eleemosynary, but
might be made remunerative, and we hope it will
be seen to.

His-spelling of Names in French and

English.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN' CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Friday Evening.

My information that the Emperor had not relin-
quished his intention of going to Biarritz proves
correct. His Majesty left St. Cloud for that town
last night at 11 o'clock.
The Moniteur, quoting from the official Gazette
of Florence, says that the insurrectional movement
which has taken place in Sicily has been nearly
suppressed. The great majority of the population
refrained from taking any part in the insurrection,
and are animated with the best spirit. A portion of
the National Guard of Palermo arrived speedily at
the scene of disturbance, and assisted the troops,
who took possession of the Palace Royal, the Trea-
sury, and the prisons. A squadron composed of
eight vessels was expected to anchor in the port for
the protection of the city. It was hoped that the
telegraphic communications would soon be re-esta-
blished. General Cadorno had been appointed
commander of the military forces of Sicily and com-
missioner extraordinary of the town and provinces
of Palermo. A force of 15,000 men had been placed
under his orders.

We are now enabled to judge of the effect pro-
duced in Germany by the Circular of the Marquis
de Lavalette. If possible it has produced more
enthusiasm and satisfaction than in Paris. I select
one specimen (the only exception) from the Gazette
de la Croix. That paper to a certain extent ap-
proves of it. It says—" The clear and moderate
language of the circular does not leave any doubt
that France has no intention to make the aggran-
disement of Prussia the pretext for aggrandising
herself ; but she holds firmly to peace. Thus
vanish all kinds of apprehensions, and, at the same
time, thus are frustrated the hopes of certain
patriots of a peculiar kind, happily not numerous,
even in Southern Germany, who thought that
France would aid their views. That is the prin-
cipal point of information to be derived from the
Circular. As a nation, of course we do not agree
with what it says respecting the principle of
Nationalities, but we approve of the conclusion at
which it arrives—that peace will be durable."
The Journal des Debats says :—" A notice from
the President of the Commission of Mexican
Finances states that the payment of the coupons
due on the Ist of October is postponed, no funds
having been transmitted by the Mexican Govern-
ment. He also recals to recollection that a sum of
34 millions placed in the Caisse des Depots and
Consignations, is for the purpose of reconstitution
of capital."
A great many documents have been sent to the
Academy of Sciences, communicating further in-
teresting particulars relative to the earthquake. At
Angers the noise was very peculiar and alarming.
At Nancy several shocks were felt. M. Le Verrier,
the astronomer, announced to the Academy that he
had received many letters mentioning circumstances
connected with the earthquake. M. Fagot exhibited
a map upon which
were marked localities which had
been more or less affected by the phenomenon.
These places include Rouen Auxerre, Bordeaux,
La Rochelle, Nantes, the valley of the Loire,
Le Mans, Chartres, and Alencon. M. Le Verrier
remarked that although only these places were
named, it was not to be supposed that
the earthquake did not manifest itself in
many other localities. A peculiarity to be noticed
is that in some towns the direction of the
shock was from west to east, and in others from the
south to the north. It was in the latter direction
that the shocks were the most violent. At Chartres
the bells rung, and the furniture was moved. The
mass of the concurrent testimony is that the earth-
quake took place at ten minutes after five in the
morning, but the writers of some of the letters
sent to the Academy say that they felt it at two
o'clock. M. Charles remarked that some fifteen
years ago an earthquake of the same kind was felt
at Chartres. A scientific gentleman at Versailles
wrote to the Academy to say that the earthquake
shook his bed with great violence. He felt four
lateral oscillations, the duration of each of which
was about two seconds.

The gendarmerie on duty in the Route do la
Revotte have had some rather difficult work to
pacify the eccentricities of one of the softer sex, a
lady of property, about 50, residing in that place.
She began her little game of excitement by going
into the rooms of some of the lodgers, and break-
ing their windows and chimney glasses. She next
directed her attention to her husband, and said she
would kill him with a washerwoman's iron which she
had in her hand. lle is a man of eighty, and on
the arrival of the police they found that she had
partially carried out her promise by striking him
some severe wounds with the iron, and kicking him
out of doors. She then locked the door of her
apartment, and barricaded it with the furni-
ture. When the police summoned her, in the
name of the law, to open the door, she politely in-
formed them that the first who attempted to enter
her room would be a dead man. They, however,
broke open the door, and the lady sallied forth,
armed with a brass basin, and dealt blows with it
right and left very impartially upon the lodgers who
had come to reinforce the police. Some of them
received rather severe injuries. The police tried to
disarm her without hurting her, and at length suc-
ceeded. She was conveyed to the barracks of the
gendarmerie, when she rushed under the bed and
began to howl and bark like a mad dog. In the
morning, when the police wished to take the fair
lady before the Commissary of Police, it was no
joke to drag her from under the bed. She bit their
hands, and kicked them with great violence. She
has been conveyed to a madhouse.
The fine weather has been as " brief as woman's
love." To-day the morning broke loweringly, the
wind was cold and violent, and heavy rain began
about mid-day, and continued for some hours. The
barometer indicates more storms.

The Constitutionnel again refers to the circular of
the Marquis de la Valette. It says the Times de-
votes a " great" (important) article to it, in which
it characterises the policy of the Emperor Napoleon
as wise, generous, and foreseeing."

The Presse, of Vienna, concludes an article upon
the subject by saying—" We admit with satisfac-
tion that M. de la Valette declares that no hostility,
no interest, separates France from Austria."
The death is announced of M. Maria, who was a
surgeon on board the French fleet during the battle
of Trafalggr.

The evening Moniteur announces that the Em-
peror stopped an hour on his way to Biarritz, in the
department of the Landes, to visit the agricultural
settlements of Solferino, and was expected to reach
Biarritz at four this afternoon.

It is officially announced from Vienna that peace
between Prussia and Saxony is definitely concluded,
and that the treaty would be immediately published.
The disarmament of the Austrian army proceeds
on a vast scale. The number of troops who will
remain in activity will not exceed 250,000.

GOVERNMENT INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES.—TiIe
following additional post-offices will bo open on and after
the 24th inst. for the receipt of proposals for the insurance
of lives or the purchase of Government annuities, under the
Act 27 and 28 Vict., cap. 43 ; and for the receipt of the
premiums becoming due to the Postmaster-General, from
time to time, under contracts for the insurance of lives or
the purchase of Government annuities, and for the payment
of any sums which shall become payable by the Postmaster-
General, under the said contracts :—Annan, N. 8., Auchter-
ardor, N. 8., Batley Carr (Dowsbury)„ Blockley (Moreton
Marsh), Jedburgh, N. 8., and A.thlone, Ireland.
DISINFECTANTS.---CARBOLIC ACID AND CHLORIDE
OF LIME. —Among the many valuable improvements in con-
nection with the application of chemistry to the purposes
of industry for which wo aro indebted to Dr. F. Crace-
Calvert, F.R.S., it is probable that his labours in connec-
tion with carbolic acid have contributed more to his
honour and reputation than any of his other discoveries.
The explanation of the reason of carbolic acid (consi-
dered only as a disinfectant, although it is largely used
in other forms) becoming so great a favourite as to
place so cheap a substance as chloride of limo in the
shade will, therefore, be generally interesting. The power
of carbolic acid is prompt and persistent—putrefaction can
neither commence nor go on in its presence. Chloride of
lime promptly deodorises the air, but destroys the noxious
matter by chemically changing it, and at the same time
becoming itself changed and useless for further good.
Carbolic acid does not change ; it mixes as readily with
everything as the chlorine of the lime, but always remains
ree carbolic acid, and continues indefinitely to perform its
good offices as Ps disinfectant.—. Mining

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.
ARRIVAL OF THE ASIA.
(Via Roche's Point.)

NEW YORK, Sept. 11 (Evening).

President Johnson received an enthusiastic recep-
tion at St. Louis. He made a long speech, declaring
that the Orleans riots were plotted in Radical Con-
gressional caucases, and announced his intention of
adopting a course of determined opposition to the
Radicals in all respects. At Indianopolis so many
groans and hisses came from the crowd and such
confusion prevailed that the President was unable to
make a speech, and was obliged to retire. Several
pistol shots were exchanged between political oppo-
nents among the crowd.
A delegation from the Southern Radicals who
attended the Philadelphia Convention are making
a tour through the States, addressing the people at
the various cities which President Johnson lately
visited. Thaddeus Stevens has made a speech de-
claring the future Radical policy to be territorial
government in the South, confiscation, and negro
suffrage.

Resolutions have been introduced into the New
Jersey Legislature declaring that Johnson's speech
to the Committee of the Philadelphia Convention
is calculated to excite a renewal of the rebellion
against the constitutional authorities of the Govern-
ment, and as being indicative of a revolutionary
purpose on the part of the executive.
The Republicans carried the Maine elections by
a majority of 30,000, showing a large Republican
gain. Numbers of Democratic Irish voted for the
Republicans.

The Rev. Mr. Beecher Ward has written another
letter, announcing him to be partly, but not wholly,
in favour of Johnson's policy.
The Fenian Congress at Troy have deposed
Sweeney for incompetency, and re-elected Roberts
as President. An American steamer has been seized
at Montreal on suspicion of being engaged by the
Fenians. It is believed that no Fenian raid will
occur before November.

MEXICO.
NEW YORK, Sept. 11.

Advices received here from Vera Cruz via New
Orleans, dated Aug. 25, state that an engagement
was expected to take place between Marshal Ba-
zaine and General Garcia, with 30,000 men, be-
tween Sans Luis de Potosi and the city of Mexico.
The Liberals had destroyed and sacked Medellin ;
they also captured 200 French troops near Tuxpan.
The Grench gunboat Eugenie had been repulsed
off Tuxpan Bay.

GREECE.

ATHENS, SEPT. 20.

The King returned here yesterday evening from
Corfu, after having visited Zante and other places.
The English and French Ministers have also re-
turned to this city.

THE CAPE MAIL.
PLYMOUTH, SEPT. 22.
The Cape mail steamer has arrived in the Chan-
nel, and will reach this port early this afternoon.