The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-14 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, FEB. 14, 1860.

We have, happily, little cause to apprehend the
receipt of disturbing intelligence from our Austra-
l'an colonies. They are blessed with a fertile soil,
and with a favourable climate; they are endowed
with great mineral wealth, in addition to their rich
agricultural lands, and their population, so far from
suffering from the excessive competition which
leaves so many willing hands idle among ourselves,
does not as yet bear any proportion to the capa-
cities of the country. What would our Registrar-
General here, 41
lamenting our oyercrowdiog,

think of a return giving about four persons
to a house ? Yet such was the result
of the last census in Victoria, taken
in 1861. Few persons in that colony are absolutely
without means, and none seed be in the abject dis-
tress only too common in the mother country, if
they have the strength and the will to work. The
chief difficulties fromwhich this self-governed colony
suffers are political grievances. The parliamentary
system gets periodically to a deadlock, and while
in a good many European countries the people are
clamouring for the right of representation, in the
National Assemblies in Victoria, where it is no
unattainable good, the privilege is very little
val'ied. Another general election has been
just going on at Melbourne, although
last year the troublesome ceremony was gone
through in due form. The reason of the dissolution
was, however, forcible enough, since the Council
and the Assembly found it impossible to reconcile
their differences and to work together with any
show of unani►nity. Of course each House declared
that the feeling of the country was in their favour.
The chief point at issue was rather an awkward
one, being the question as to which House
should have the control of the finances ; and
as it was simply impossible to go on with
the public business until this difference
was settled the Governor could not do otherwise
than resort to a general election to test public
opinion in a definite form. By the acceptance or
rejection of the Ministerial Tariff the matter is to be
decided, but there were few new candidates for elec-
tion coming forward when the mail left, and most
of the old members were standing again ; so that,
according to appearances, there will not be a very
decided alteration in the strength of parties in the
new Assembly.
How the Victorians will extricate themselves from
the horns of their Parliamentary dilemma remains
to be seen ; but, in other matters, they have little to
complain of. There has been a good deal of loss from
drought in the northern ports ; but, although the
agricultural interest has suffered, the scarcity of
water has fortunately not produced any perceptible
effect upon the operations of the gold field. Another
important addition to the mineral wealth of Australia
is reported in the discovery of immense deposits
of a substance resembling Cannel coal in parts of
New South Wales, which yields 147 gallons of oil
to the ton. The oil burns readily and clearly, and
Wollongong, near which it has been found, i 3 already
lighted. with it. It is not a little singular that such
a discovery should follow as quickly on the petro-
leum treasures of America.

The cattle plague is exciting the greatest alarm
and uneasiness, as it well might, among the large
farmers and graziers of the south. Happily there
has been as yet no manifestation of it whatever,
so that we must hope our colonies will be spared
a misfortune which they are perhaps less able to
bear than the mother country.

The arrival of the City of Boston from New
York on the 3rd, informs us that Mr. SUMNER has
introduced a most comprehensive measure into the
Senate respecting the representation of the Southern
States. It seems that the late Constitutional
amendment adopted by the Lower House, which
most persons thought decidedly unfavourable to the
South, has excited Mr. SUMNER'S indignation and
displeasure, and the resolution which he has intro-
duced into the Senate is intended as a substitute
for it. He moves that in the lately rebellious
States there shall be no class invested with
peculiar privileges or powers, and no denial
of civil and political rights to any one on
account of colour. All persons are to be equal before
the law and at the ballot-box. So far as the law is
concerned the resolution is just and right, and such
as all parties in this country have always cordially
upheld. When we come to the ballot-box, how-
ever, it is a different thing, and Mr. SUMNER aims
at nothing less than a complete disruption of the
whole social and political system of the South, and
the subjugation of its people. The Senate being
far less under the Radical influence than the House
of Representatives, is not likely so abruptly to
settle the whole question of the Southern suf-
frage, so that Mr. SUMNER'S resolution is not
likely to be adopted. By a vote of 31 to 10 the
Upper House has passed the amendment to the bill
for protection in civil rights, by which all natives of
the United States, except Indians, are declared
citizens, without distinction of colour. The negroes
have not, therefore, any reason to complain of being
harshly or unjustly treated by the Legislature,
which has throughout manifested a determination
to support their civil rights unhesitatingly.
The Virginia Legislature has passed a resolution
which endorses President JOHNSON'S policy, and de-
nounces those who represent the Legislature as
being opposed. The Southern States, indeed, will
do very wisely to give their hearty support to the
PRESIDENT, and to put no unnecessary obstacles in
his way, since his task is quite sufficiently arduous
in dealing with the prejudices and factious opposi-
tion which meet him among his own people, with-
out those whom he is trying to befriend counter-
mining his plans and affording ground for the
insinuations and accusations of their enemies.

The events of the last few weeks in Prussia fur-
nish plenty of subjects for contemplation and re-
flection. It seems, indeed, as if a new state of
things had arisen, and as if people were beginning
to wake up from the lethargy in which they have
too long been plunged. The course adopted by
the Judge of Appeal in Cologne, Herr von AMMAN,
is worthy of the occasion, and redounds to his credit.
He has written to the editor of the Cologne Gazette,
stating that in March, 1848, it was he who was
charged by the Government of that day with draw-
ing up that part of the Constitution in which
the disputed clause occurs. He also was the chair-
man of the committee which subsequently prepared
and settled the Charter in the same year. Hence
ho is indisputably in a position to give a correct
opinion of the matter, and he declares emphatically
that neither in the Government nor in the Parlia-
ment was there at the time a single man who did
mean to bestow upon members for the future the
privilege of freedom of speech unreserved and un-
conditionally. It has proved a great satisfaction
generally that Herr von AMMAN has thus come for-
ward in so decided a manner. He declares that this
is his firm conviction, and by it he will stand or fall.
There are not wanting many proofs of the indig-
nation universally felt. The member for Bonn,
being compelled to leave Berlin for a short time,
wrote a letter to the President of the Lower House,
in which he expressed himself in the most decided
manner. He said that he felt the greatest regret
at being unable to be present for the purpose of
voting against the recent decree of the Supreme
Tribunal, and truly affirms that if the people do
not commit
illegal acts, it will be no thanks to
those who set this
evilexample in high quarters.
This is quite to the point
the condition of affairs
a,t and
present exactlye xisetixnpglainins
Prussia. Addresses of a congratulatory charac-
ter have been sent to the Lower House, and
also to Herr von AMMAN, -which show the feeling
prevalent in the country. As for the debate upon
the question, it displayed in a marked manner the
temper of the lame at being AO long thwarted

and interfered with. Dr. GUEIST, the Pro-
fessor of Law, delivered some remarks, which
were distinguished for their force and clearness.
He reminded the members that they had now been
for two years debarred from the exercise of their
prerogative, and now it was proposed that Parlia-
ment should be muzzled. Doubtless Ministers found
it rather awkward to appear before the Assembly ;
hence, argued Dr. GUIST, they deemed it expedient
to break the law which gave them freedom of
speech, the same as they had already broken all the
other rules of the Constitution. Well might the
eloquent speaker declare that " Europe shuddered
to see what had become of Prussian justice
under the action of these modern new-fangled
and altogether non-German laws." Such is a good
epitome of the state of affairs as at present existing
in Berlin, and all hope cannot reasonably be ex-
tinct of a change for the better while men are
found to speak out their minds boldly
and decidedly, and to protest against
the mean and mischievous course pursued by the
Government. Certainly Herr von BISMARCK and
his friends cannot say in exculpation that they are
not aware of the unpopularity of their propositions,
for on all sides and from all quarters they are
unremittingly assailed, and if freedom of expres-
sion were not so greatly prohibited in Prussia at
present they would hear and see still more that they
did not like. Herr WALDECK, in the course of the
debate, appropriately expressed himself concerning
the topic under discussion, when he said that
" the members of that high assembly were quite as
free and irresponsible representatives as the KING
himself ;" and he went on to say that the Govern-
ment had better speak out and say openly,
Gentlemen, beware, we have a certain class of
people at our disposal who will aid us in incarce-
rating yon if bidden to do so." Herr von BIS-
MARCK has been more insolent and indignant than
usual in his relies to those speeches, which is,
perhaps, a sign that the home truths uttered have
been only too well understood by him.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, Tuesday Evening.

The discussion yesterday in the Senate was of an
important character, being almust exclusively de-
voted to religion. The speakers maintained the
necessity of supporting the rights and privileges of
the Pope. Count Segur d'Aguesseau commenced
by expressing his opinion that the treaty of Sept.
15 had created a perilous position in Italy, but he
appreciated the great value of the Imperial Speech,
which declared " indispensable the power of the
Holy Father," and passed a just eulogium upon the
manner in which the Pope had exercised his autho-
rity in the Roman States. The paragraph (9) re-
called to recollection, also, that Rome was the city
of the Holy Father, the capital of Catholicism. It
also acknowledged that the desire of the Emperor
always was that the Papacy should be respected by
Italy, just as he wished, and wishes, that Italy
should be respected by Europe. Such words
and such declarations could only be received
with gratitude by all French hearts, and
by all truly Catholic hearts. After this
exordium the speaker commented upon various
points connected with the policy of France towards
Italy, and expressed some apprehension of the views
of the Italian Government in regard to Rome.
Cardinal Bonnechose, as I had rea§on to antici-
pate, spoke at great length upon the subject of
Italy. He criticised the passage respecting it, but
said his vote would be favourable, particularly as
the Emperor had determined to maintain the tem-
poral power of the Pope.
Cardinal Mathieu deprecated the occupation of
the provinces of Italy, and particularly those of the
Pontifical States, but said he must look at all the
points connected with the question with a practical
eye. He did not believe that the Emperor had cal-
culated all the consequences of the treaty of the
15th September, but he shauld adopt with entire
confidence the paragraph under consideration.

Cardinal Donnet concurred in the sentiments of
the two cardinals who preceded him.
The paragraph was then adopted.
Commercial and trading affairs, it is said, have
improved so wonderfully in France within the last
two months that the railway companies have found
it difficult to expedite the goods entrusted for
transmission. The Western and Eastern Railway
Companies, instead of receiving an annuity from
the Government as additional interest, intend to
pay a considerable sum to Government by way of
deduction from that received from it last year in
consequence of conventions for the guarantee of
interest. The sum to be paid by the Eastern Rail-
way Company will amount to at least 1,500,000 f.

M. Bougenier, historical painter, has just died
at Paris. He was one of the oldest pupils of Gros,
the eminent painter, whose labours adorn the
domes of several of the churches of the capital. A
Paris paper says that Bougenier was one of the
men the most known in the world. His nose was
of a peculiar shape. A daring hand traced it on
the walls of Paris, and it was speedily sketched
from one end of Europe to the other, and even on
the Pyramids of Egypt. Bougenier, an excellent
man, bore his strange popularity like a philosopher.
The Salta Public of Lyons gives an account of a
triple marriage at the village of Villars. At the
same altar were married a mother and her two
daughters. The same priest performed the marriage
ceremony for the three wedded pair on the same day
and hour.

A man named Poncet, who for years kept a wine
shop at Vanves, in the vicinity of Montrouge, has
committed suicide from disgust at being of the same
name as the criminal just executed at Versailles,
although there was no sort of relationship between
them. The inquiries which have taken place respect-
ing his property have led to the discovery that he
was on very intimate terms with his servant girl,
and that she and another lover had long been in the
habit of robbing the deceased man.

The unprecedented weather is certainly a leading
topic of the day. In the vicinity of Paris trees
show signs of being ready to burst into leaf. In
the reserved garden of the Tuileries are two weep-
ing willows, which are as green as they generally
are in the month of April. The Itioniteur takes up
the subject as it were officially, and asks what has
become of the predictions which presaged a terrible
winter. The successor to the deceased weather
prophet Mathieu de la Drome, himself a Mathieu,
but Mathieu de la Nievre, expressed confidence that
the Seine would be entirely frozen over on the 15th
of January, and that there would be sledges on the
Boulevards. On the contrary, says the Illoniteur,
the gutters could not make up their minds to freeze.
M. Babinet, a member of the Academy, who is a
fair authority upon scientific subjects, also predicted
that it would not be cold this winter. He says,
however, that he is completely ignorant of the cause of
the absence of cold, and candidly confesses that he
had no faith in his own prediction. M. Babinet
expresses his apprehensions of drought this year,
because, he says, no snow no water. Snow, too, he
says, is required to wet the interior of the earth.
Rain does not penetrate the land. It is too rapidly
absorbed by the atmosphere, except in woody
districts.

The fancy dress ball on Saturday evening, at
he Ministry of Foreign Affairs, appears to have
exceeded in magnificence those of the Tuileries. A
Chinese Princess was brought into the ball-room in
a splendid palanquin, which was used by Baron
Gros, who, when ambassador from France to China,
went to Pekin to dictate terms of peace to the
Government of the Celestial Empire. It would be
useless to describe the costumes ; they were the
most brilliant and original of ancient and modern
times. Madame Drouyn de l'Huys, the wife of the
Minister for Foreign Affairs, had a dress of the
time of Louis the Fifteenth, which she wore so
gracefully and so naturally that it did not appear
to be a disguise.

The Tribunal Correctional c 4 the Seine hag been