The Sun.
London, England, 1866-04-04 00:00:00

CORRESPO,

upon Mr. GLADSTONE'S assertion, that the franchise
was a good of itself, " not merely with respect to
the change it would produce in the government of the
country, and the changes it might bring about for
the well-being of the people, and not merely that it
would interest more and more people in the affairs
of the country, but because it was a good thing for
every individual man to have additional rights
and responsibility, and to make him feel more
the importance of his position as a citizen
and his duties as a man." This is the view which Lord
HOUGHTON thinks so just and so admirable, and
in which he so heartily coincides. It would be a
good thing in his opinion for every man of edu-
cation and independence, who can think and feel
for himself, to have a vote, and he carries
his theory further than most speakers dare
to do. It does not matter, he says, whether their
inclinations are good or bad; they may be Chartists,
anti-socialists, or what they like, they will do less
harm in Parliament than out of it. In fact, he ap-
pears to look upon the vote as a kind of safety-valve,
and asks if their representatives would be dangerous
in Parliament whether they would not be still more
so out of it? "It would be better for all," he
of capital
withef
sotri s ‘ that
betweenal
employer questions
and employed, should be debated in the House of
a n labour,considerable
u q
Commons than that they should remain like
powder under society capable of exploding." Lord
HOUGHTON himself evidently thinks there is reason-
able cause of complaint against the bill for notgoing
far enough, but he exclaims with indignation against
the professing Liberals, whose want of sincerity is the
hidden rock which has shipwrecked so many Reform
Bills. Lord HOUGHTON concluded his speech by a
very sensible argument, which has already been
several times brought forward in answer to the fears
of anti-Reformers, declaring that it could not be
supposed that the working men who were admitted
to the franchise would think alike on every subject,
for they would be very unlike Englishmen if they
did.

Mr. FORSTER, M.P., made a good speech, and one
to the purpose. had he been asked a year ago, he
said, who would have opposed this bill, he would have
said the very people who were now supporting it,
and he thought it spoke strongly for the good sense
and generous feelings of the people that they should
have come forward on behalf of this bill, which
must have disappointed them by not going far
enough. The bill was in fact, he declared, a Con-
servative measure, but those who had lost their faith
in the old English principle of self-government
could not fairly claim to belong to either of the
great parties. " This want of trust was not old
English Liberalism. It was not even old English
Toryism. They would have to go out of England
for the real champions of this new creed of
Liberalism which believed in government for the
the people, and not government by the people." Mr.
FORSTER concluded by enforcing that old principle
which lies at the root of the Liberalism professed by
one side, while it is the fundamental principle of
the Conservatism upheld by the other, which
seems occasionally to be quite forgotten or disre-
garded by the politicians of both ways of thinking.
" The Commons House of England should be chosen
by the people of England," by the whole people ;
that is, not by the working classes exclusively, not
by the aristocracy, not by the middle class, not by
any one rank, sect, or degree, but by that blending
of all which mates up the great body politic of a
united nation. We must have the representatives
of the wants, the wishes, the opinions, and even the
prejudices of each class, if we would get a real
national House of Commons. The cobbler thinks
there is nothing like leather, no doubt, but the
landowner thinks there is nothing like landed pro-
perty, the merchant thinks no principle so important
as the preservation of peace, the manufacturer
holds to the-rights of the employer, the mill " hand"
to the rights of labour. No one class can trust its
interests to another class, and we do not learn this
lesson from the aristocracy alone, but from every
rank which has to decide between its own ad-
vantage and that of its neighbour. Dukes and
earls do not certainly govern our poor houses, yet
the interests of the poor man are nowhere less
considered. Thn " rights of labour" are not always
respected by the large employer, although the ma-
nufacturing class may furnish eloquent M.P.'s and
fervent Reformers. The Reform which begins at
home, like charity, is not always the most welcome,
and unfortunately for our Parliamentary heroes it
falls to their share. If we had a house made up of

men

" Like Cato firm, like Aristides just,
Like rigid Cincinnatus nobly pure,"
we might find Reform taken up in earnest and
carried out disinterestedly. But it is very hard in
the 19th century to expect a man who has
paid some thousands for his seat to vote for the
disfranchisement of his borough some few months
later. It is unpleasant for a member who knows
the weak points of his constituents, and whose
agents can get him safely through a contested elec-
tion, to anticipate a thorough reorganisation of the
electoral body. An election, in the opinion of a
good many politicians, comes only too often in the
ordinary course. Who then shall vote for Triennial
parliaments? And as to the manner of voting, if
we could only invest St. Stephen's with the magie
attributes of Madame de GENUS'S famous Palace
of Truth, what little arguments we should
hear against the Ballot ! However, because
our statesmen are not more perfect than
ordinary mortals that is no reason why we should
not attempt some movement. In the rush and
excitement of modern life inaction is impossible. If
we do not go forward we shall retrograde; if we do
not take our place in the van, as becomes our:history
and position, we shall be left far behind on the great
march of national progress. No time could be
more suitable than the present for constitutional
reform. It is the very absence of fever and excite-
ment which some deplore that renders it so favour-
able. As Mr. CHILDERS justly observed at the meeting
last evening—" We are at peace with all the world;
our finances never were in a more prosperous condi-
tion ; commerce never was more flourishing ; the
country is not harassed by any great social and
religious question, nor is there any political one
dividing the people into factions ; and if we pass
over this opportunity, who can tell what times may
come ? Let us, then, all address ourselves seriously
to the consideration of this great question, not seek-
ing the temporary gain of this or that party, the
triumph of one particular principle, or the evasion
of any personal sacrifice ; but the full and fair re-
presentation of the whole people, in accordance with
the fundamental doctrines of that constitution
which alone has secured the happy mean which pre-
serves individual liberty while maintaining social
order."

WHISKERS AND MusTAcirEs.—When Was the
term whisker first applied to the Lair on the side of the
cheeks. In Bailey's Dictionary (234 edition, 1773) we find
" a whisker, a tuft of hair on the upper lip of a man ; "
"mustaches, that part of the beard growingupon the upper
lip, whiskers." Similar definitions are given in all the
other dictionaries, Johnson's included, and even in Wor-
cester's as late as 1828. When the• beard was an entire ap-
pendage, no name was wanted for the parts at the side of
the cheeks, but when it was cut in two, and the true
whiskers disappeared as well, their same must have been
transferred to the mutton-chop -parts of the beard left on
the oheeks.—Reader.

M PARIS.

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

The Paris papers have nothing particular about
Germany to-day, but both the Austrian and the'
Prussian journals revert to their bellicose tone.
Some of them treat a war between these two Powers
as a matter of certainty, and allude to the only point
of doubt as being which of those two Powers is to
take the initiative in war. Both parties profess to
desire peace, and descant upon the terrible respon-
sibility of commencing war. The actual news from
Germany being deficient, the papers have vague
arguments and speculations upon the subject. M.
de Girardin in La Liberte; his retreat from the
Presse, is very bitter against Count Bismark, and
says if war should take place between Austria and
Prussia, it will be exclusively the Count's fault.
Whenever the Emperor appears in public he is
received most cordially and enthusiastically. On
Sunday he drove to the Place du Trone and the Rue
St. Antoine without any escort. Those localities
now present a curious scene of bustle and gaiety,
there being at one place the large horse fair, and at
the other the great annual gingerbread and cake
fair. There are shows, mountebanks, and all sorts
of grotesque sights. The Emperor was received
with acclamations throughout the whole of the route
from the Tuileries. An enormous mass of people
collected at one point, and escorted the carriage
with cordial cheers to the Boulevard du Temple.
On Easter Sunday the Pope officiated at the Basi-
lisk of the Vatican, and afterwards pronounced the
solemn blessing urbi et orbi. The whole corps of
the French division and the Pontifical militia were
under arms in full uniform. After the blessing his
Holiness was warmly and affectionately greeted by
thousands.

Some interesting archmological discoveries have
been made in digging near the foundations of the
new Hotel Dieu. An ancient pavement of the time
of Philip Augustus has been brought to light. The
surface is not so even as that of the pavements of
the present day. It is formed chiefly of a close
layer of small stones, and resembles the pavement
of some of the towns in the south of France now in
use. Some Roman remains and Merovingian wall
have also been discovered in this part of the Cite,
where some of the most ancient constructions of
Paris exist.

A Dutch workman, named Meier, claims to have
discovered an infallible remedy for the cattle
disease. Meier has been received at a private
audience by the King of Holland, in whose hands
he placed a bottle containing the alleged remedy.
The King has intrusted some men of art with the
task of examining the mixture and its effects.
The following is the result of the races in the
Bois de Boulogne yesterday :—La Bourse, 2,000 f.,
Castagnette, 1 ; Le Velasse, 2. Prix de la Grotte,
2,ooof.—Commandeur, belonging to Mr. Jennings,
1 ; Gaulois, 2. Prix de Guiche, 3,oooL—Equivoque,
belonging to the lucky Count de Lagrange, 1 ;
Tarpeia, 2 ; Macarou (Lagrange), 3. Prix de
Lutece, 10,000f.—Etoile Filante, 1; Stilton, 2 ;
Sultan, 3. Prix du Cadran, 10,000 f Fortune
(Count Lagrange), 1; Fumee, 2 ; Gontran, 3.
The yacht match on Sunday in the Argentine
bason was won by Count Cavour ; Belle Helene,
2 ; Verveine, 3. _ _ _

There has been an attempted murder and suicide
for love, in the Rue Corbineau, under the following
circumstances :—A young girl named Leontine
D-- has for some months been courted by a
working man, Louis B—. The lover, however,
of late was chary of his visits. The girl became
suspicious, and the information she received inflamed
her jealousy. ller suspicions being confirmed, she
obtained a six-barrel revolver. As ill fate would
have it, the young man was returning home with his
new love just at the moment when the old love was
watching for him. The jealous girl shot at her
lover from no less than five of the barrels, but was
so agitated that it was without effect. The sixth
barrel she turned against herself, but this missed
fire, so that both she and her lover are unharmed.
She has been arrested by the police on the charge of
attempted murder.
The weather in Switzerland, it appears, has been
very severe during the last few days. The snow
which has fallen on Mount Gothard is stated to
I have been more abundant than has been known

within the memory of man, and the postal commu-
nications have been interrupted. At Paris the
weather continues mild and agreeable, so much so

that the summer campaign has been commenced by
the opening of the open-air concerts in the Champs
Elysees. _
. _

Some little excitement has been created in Paris
by the discovery of the body of a woman near Cour-
berrie, about four miles from the capital, who is
supposed to have been murdered. The information
upon the subject, however, is so imperfect that for
the moment I cannot furnish details.
A letter from Rome states the number of visitors
in that city is so considerable that they find it diffi-
cult to procure accommodation. Many are com-
pelled to go to Tivoli and Albans, several miles
from Rome. Living at hotels in a moderate way
costs 25c. a day, and hotel-keeping is such a good
card that even the Prince Torlonia has transformed
his palace into a hotel, where the English are de-
lighted to pay a pound a day for a furnished room.
The Pope bestows his blessings daily upon foreigners
of note, and Cardinal Antonelli gives at least 200
audiences a day to foreign visitors. The Marquis
de Boissy, the firebrand of the French Chamber,
who fulminates so much wrath and brimstone
against the English, is at Rome.
The English Ambassador in Paris is to give a
grand ball to-morrow night.

The Proposed Russo-American Telegraph

Line.

ST. PETERSBURG, March 30.

The following summary of a report drawn up by
Colonel Bulkley, chief of the expedition despatched
to survey the route of the Russo-American tele-
graph line, has been published here :

" The expedition placed in charge of Mr. Conway, which
was sent to the Fraser River, conveyed the telegraph line
over a distance of 450 miles, and only failed to finish the
route marked out fox them through want of the necessary
material. Mr. Conway states that up to the 57th degree of
north latitude there was no obstacles to the placing of the
line. Mr. Keninkott, chief of the second section, had to
survey the country between the river Kirptchak and
Norton Strait, and to reach thri south in order to connect
his section with the first. The principal expedition
learned from the natives at Fort St. Michael that the
Kirptchak and the Youkone are one and the same river,
flowing into the sea of Behring, and that vessels could easily
enter the river. On the American side of Behring's Strait
the only suitable point for landing the telegraph cable was
Port Grantly. On the Asiatic shore Seniavine Strait offers
all the conditions desirable. Between this strait and Port
Grantly the bottom of Behring's Strait is covered with
ooze and sand. The supposed distance between the two
points of submersion of the cable is 178 miles. Further on
the Bay of Anadyr, at the mouth of the river of that name,
presents a favourable situation for the submersion of the
cable. The principal expedition ascended the river to
distance of about 300 miles from Tolstey Cape, but could
not proceed further on account of the ice The seashore to
the south of th• river Anadyr is mountainous, and offers no
suitable spot for the submersion of the cable. The pro-
jected submarine telegraph in the Bay of Anadyr ex-
tends over a distance of 209 miles. This route can only
be avoided by a land line to the north, crossing the Gulf of
St. Croix. In order to obtain a survey of the localities iu
Kamschatka, and of the coast of the Sea of Okotsk, an
expedition was formed under M. Abaza, who discovered
that a line might easily be laid between Okotsk and
Yak outsk, going round the mountains, and reaching the
Amoor at a point considerably above its mouth. The most
distant regions to the north through which the telegraph
lino will be carried offer no serious obstacle either to the
construction or working of the line. The submersion of
the cable can be effected very easily on account of the level
and sandy sea bed, and the short length of the cable re-
moves any apprehension relative to the working of the
line. With respect to the land portion of the lino, the
posts will be as solid in the frozen earth as if they were
fixed in stone, and as there is no woods to traverse there
is no danger from falling trees. The examination of the
line in winter will be a comparatively easy matter, from
I the facility of travelling by sledges drawn by reindeer or
dogs. To cross Behring's Strait, 178 marine miles of cable
will be required; for the Gulf of Anadyr, 209 miles. The
depth of the sea is so great that the cable can only be da-
maged by icebergs, which, however, never appear in Beh-
ring's Strait, nor to the south, on account of the northern
current. Contrary to the opinion generally received, the
native tribes inhabiting the sea coast are peaceable and
honest, and hospitable in the highest degree. It is ex-
pected that in time they will be very useful to the under-
taking. The numbers of the specimens of natural history
that have been collected surpess all expectation. Opera-
tions will be mimed in the spring.

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.
ARRIVAL OF THE CITY OF BOSTON.
(Via Crookhaven.)

NEW YORK, MAncn 23 (Evening).

The Fenians continue their organisation, and are
mustering regiments into the service of the Irish
Republic in various parts of the country.
Sweeney has made a speech, in which he said that
many thought he was about to strike Canada, but
he did not himself know where the first blow would
be struck.

NEW YORK, MAP,CH 21, Morning

The house of Representatives has passed the
Loan Bill, with amendments restricting the reduc-
tion of the currency to ten million dollars during
the first six months after the adoption of the bill,
and four millions per month after that period.
The bill now goes to the Senate.
Advices received from Valparaiso state that two
Spanish frigates have been repulsed by the allied
batteries off the island of Chiloe, and have returned
to Valparaiso considerably damaged.
It is reported that the President will certainly
veto the Civil Rights' Bill.
The Herald says that the Government has issued
orders to prepare a flying squadron for duty on the
British North American coast. The various rea-
sons assigned for this are—•the assembling of the
British West India fleet at llalifax, the Fenian
movements, and the effect upon the American
fisheries of the termination of the Reciprocity

Treaty.
The President has forwarded to the House of
Representatives the information asked regarding
the internal condition of Mexico. The information
includes a letter from Senor Romero to Mr. Seward,
dated the 9th inst., stating that he had received
intelligence from a highly reliable source in Paris,
that Napoleon proposed to adopt a middle course on
the Mexican question by abandoning Maximilian,
and re-establishing the Mexican Republic, with
Marshal Bazaine as President ad interim.

In reply to an application from Senor Gonzales,
a merchant of San Salvador, for payment by the
United States for the loss of goods on a vessel
destroyed by the Alabama, Mr. Seward stated that
that, Gonzales being an alien, he could not interfere
with the British Government on his behalf, nor
assume responsibility for injuries he had suffered at
the hands of British subjects and of rebels whom
they had aided.