The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-15 00:00:00

rim SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, MARCH 15, 1866.1

-------------------T--
mentary to the Colonial Office ;, t so much that the chief object of it has
bee'n fru' ,
contained some wise hints. The noble lord declared '
4, Arated. It ought to have been passed with
but doubtless, it 1 retarded 7 .
that he had never heard a good word for the Colo- despai .1, with stringent provisions for the move-
nial-office from the colonists during all his extensive 111014 t 'of cattle. As it is the Government have taken
observation in the colonies. Earl RUSSELL, in pro- the -' whole responsibility of the matter into their
posing the second reading of the bill, mentioned the own hands, and if they do not make much more
fact that when he was Under Secretary for the prog. ress than they have hitherto done, and exercise
Colonies, in 1839, he asked the house to agree to a a lit tie more discretion, they will incur just
mlo enwi
hesa:t similar measure ; but so great was the censtrre, and increase the odium that already rests
s oo
opposition it met with that Ministers were compelled ur on theinfortheir unwise and unmistakable conduct.
. Pr ecious time is being lost in not attending to most
to withdraw it, and substitute one of a most imper-
fect character. Happily the present day secs no imTorte.nt points connected with the traffic of cattle,
party struggles made on colonial topics, and we need the deaning of railway trucks, &c. Mr. READ re-
entertain no doubt that the present measure will meet mark( sd that the history of the cattle plague has
with success. The noble earl also attributed the '
zhow.la that " whatever interests might be represented
' wretched condition of Jamaica to the faults of the lin the Government, but little weight was given to
Legislature. If this be true, a new era will now the farming interest." This calamity, however,
commence, and we may hope and believe that the affects all interests more or less, and it is a subject
late disastrous state of affairs in that island may be in which the whole community are concerned. One
put a stop to. It is certain that too great laxity of thing is quite certain, that the cattle plague might
speech was permitted in the House of Assembly, and have been greatiy mitigated, if not altogether ex-
sufficient proof of this is given in the extracts from tinguished, if the authorities had acted promptly,
the speeches of GORDON and others that have ap- but they now seem to emulate the dog in the manger,
peared in this country, and which could answer no and to be unwilling to permit any one else to do that
other purpose than to foster discontent and to give which they have not effected themselves.
rise to sedition.

We are sorry to find that the Sabbatarians
yesterday afternoon achieved a decided victory, and
that after a manner most congenial to Sabbatarians
—by interfering with other people's business. It is
certainly a contemptible manner of legislating by
deputy for the Scotch members to decide upon what
is right and what is wrong for the inhabitants of
Ireland ! Yet such seems to be the case. A bill
enacting the very moderate provision that every
railway company which carries passengers six days
in the week shall be obliged to run one train each
way on Sundays, unless excused by the Board of
Trade, has been thrown out by a conclusive
majority. Last year 53 Scotch members combined
against it, and defeated it with some difficulty.
This year a more formidable opposition has pre-
sented itself, and has rejected it by 200
to 83. The consequence is, that while 32 out of
the 35 railways in Ireland run Sunday trains, the
remaining three do not, and as all other public
traffic on the roads has been stopped by the iron
highways the people in Waterford and Limerick
must remain in statu quo during 24 hours, whatever
urgent necessity, illness or business, may require
their presence at the other end of the useless line.
Taken in the religious aspect, it is clearly a case
for the Irish to settle, and the Scotch members have
no more right to interfere with the running of the
Sunday trains than they have to compel the people
of Limerick to attend the Kirk instead of the Mass.
Taken in a financial question it is simple nonsense
to pretend that running one train each way can
bring a company to ruin ; if so the clause of the
bill proviles exemption. In either case we can only
regret the triumph of intolerance and fanaticism as
calculated to do in every way more harm than good.

There is probably none of our philanthropic or
benevolent institutions which has gained so large a
share of general approval and support as the Na-
tional Lifeboat Institution. Its objects are so prac-
tically important, and their urgency so imperative,
that the most cautious or niggardly critic can hardly
blame the generous and kindly hand which is
stretched out to the imperilled sailor without paus-
ing to ask his origin or destination. Very often
charitable enterprises are discouraged by the cavils
of those who warn the originators that they are only
encouraging improvidence or inducing others respon-
sible to neglect their own duty, but in the case of the
Lifeboat Institution no one can deny that it is the
first duty of those on shore, if possible, to assist a
ship in danger, without stopping to ask whether any
one is to blame for her getting into difficulties, or
whether all proper precautions have been taken by
her owners in case of wreck. The terrible storms
of the winter just passing have certainly not lessened
the warmth of the interest felt in the Institution.
It is long, indeed, since the public mind has received
such a shock as on the loss of the London, but
though, happily, that catastrophe was of unusual
magnitude, there have been a vast number of lesser
casualties involving loss of life and property. These
tragedies would have have been far more numerous
had it not been for the admirable Institution whose
annual assembly was held last Tuesday. It is a
very gratifying fact for the members and suppor-
ters of the society, that since the formation of the
Lifeboat Institution the average number of lives
lost by shipwreck along our cost has been reduced
nearly one-half, although there has certainly been
neither a diminution of traffic nor an amelioration
of the winter storms. During the 42 years in
which the society has been in existence it
has been the direct means of saving
14,980 lives, the proportion of late years
rapidly increasing with the number of the
lifeboat stations, and the increased efficiency of the
whole system. Thus the number saved in 1845,
half way from its origin to the present time, was
only 235, and this was above the average for that
period ; whereas, in 1865, it was 714, more than
three times that amount, and in the two years pre-
ceding the numbers were respectively 698 and 714.
The lifeboats of the institution now number 162,
and have been directly instrumental in saving 532
lives during the year, the remaining 182, which the
institution include in their list, having been saved by
shore boats and other means. During the year 37 new
boats have been added to the fleet, and the report
of the committee mentions with pride and pleasure
the large number of splendid gifts, defraying the
whole cost of lifeboats which have been presented
by individuals during the past twelve months,
and in some instances by inland towns.
Another gratifying fact is the formation of
a French society on the same principle,
which already possesses 11 self-righting boats, built
under the direct superintendence of the committee.
The example thus wisely and worthily set by
France will, it is to be hoped, be speedily
followed on a similar scale by other con-
tinental nations, since lifeboats • have been
established along the entire seaboard of the
Baltic and German Oceans. At the same time,
while congratulating themselves and the public
upon the results already accomplished, the cora-
-1 mittee are far from supposing that their work is
already done. The Wreck Register for the year
shows us 1,738 shipwrecks, attended with the loss
of 472 persons, on the coasts and in the seas of the
British Isles. So far from relaxing their efforts,
then, they are stimulated to make fresh ones, and
to endeavour by every means in their power to
increase the efficiency and extent of their noble
establishment, which has already become an example
and an encouragement to all the maritime nations
of the civilised world.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

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

The continued discussion in the Legislative Body
upon the subject of agriculture has no further in-
terest for English readers ; but yesterday M.
Forcade de la Roquette, Vice-President of the
Council of State, made some statements respecting
the cattle disease which are well worth translation.
He said that the contagious typhus which had
visited England and Holland with such disas-
trous results had not, with the exception of a
few isolated cases, yet reached France. English
legislation upon this subject deserved praise
upon certain points ; but there were omissions
and imperfections fu it. England had had a cruel
experience of the disease, which had been propa-
gated with frightful rapidity. Out of 117,000
animals attacked with the malady 113,000 had
died, 20,000 bad been slaughtered, and 43,000 were
now suffering from the disease. In France the
ravages of the disease had been arrested by the
energetic measures adopted. Belgium had not suf-
fered so much as England. Only 476 oxen had
been attacked ; but a new and unexpected incident
had arisen—the sheep had experienced the effect of
the disease. The malady at last reached France.
It was introduced by a cow which had been sold at
the market at Mons. Forty-three animals had
been affected with the disease. The value of these
animals was 14,000 f. The Minister then minutely
described the energetic measures which had been
taken to prevent the propagation of the disease,
and mentioned—what I was enabled to state several
days ago—that two professors of veterinary surgery
had been charged with the mission of inquiring into
the disease in foreign countries. It had been proved
by the investigations of scientific men that the
malady was eminently contagious, and spread
exclusively by contact. It had never manifested
itself spontaneously in the western part of Europe,
but had been brought from the steppes of Russia and
Hungary by animals labouring under the disease.
The remedy was, therefore, indicated by the nature
of the disease. It was to prevent contact with
animals affected by it. From September to Decem-
ber the measures adopted kept away the disease from
France, but in the latter month two gazelles, brought
from England to the garden of acclimitation in the
Bois de Boulogne, had the germs of the disease.
Several of the animals there were attacked, 17 were
killed, and the disease was stopped. Thus upon
two occasions the typhus was successfully overcome,
and there was all reason to hope that the measures
adopted would preserve the country from the
scourge. The present was not the first time that
a contagious disease had manifested itself among
horned cattle.. It was imported:into France in the
last century, and also in 1814 by the allied army.
The Minister then discussed the question of indem-
nity for the loss incurred by killing animals. The
English Parliament awarded the half of the value,
and, under these circumstances, the French Govern-
ment admitted that a third was insufficient. The
subject, however, was under the consideration of the
Council of State, and full justice would be done
between all concerned. The proprietor whose animal
was killed was himself interested in the extinction
of the malady, and could not be considered as a
person who had no desire to be preserved from the
scourge. For him to claim the total value of the
animal destroyed was to go quite beyond the mark.
(That is true.) The Government, therefore, though
opposing the amendment which has this object,
promised to examine the question carefully with the
view of augmenting the rate of indemnity. This
declaration satisfied the Chamber.
The Theatre at Brest has been entirely destroyed
by fire. The fire occurred in the day time, after
rehearsal, and spread with such rapidity that, in
spite of the exertions of the firemen arid the assist-
ance of the inhabitants, in a few hours the building
was only a heap of ruins. No personal injury was
sustained. Had the fire taken place at night no
doubt the consequences would have been serious,
for the theatre was badly constructed, and the mode
of egress very deficient. The theatre was built in
1780. It was insured for 180,000 f., but this sum is
very insignificant compared with the value of the
property destroyed.
There is great activity in the manufacture of
sugar from beet-root in France, and the quantity
manufactured is much on the increase. The quan-
tity manufactured during the month of July last was
226,061,180 kilogrammes, against 135,370,628
kilogrammes at the corresponding period of last
year, being an increase of 90,675,498 kilogrammes.
(A kilogramme is 2lbs.) There was manufactured
in the month of January last sugar to the value of
41 millions of francs, against 14 millions in 1865,
and this with only 21 manufactories in activity. It
results from accurate tables that the total manu-
facture of the season will amount to, if not exceed,
250 millions of kilogrammes. The quality of the
plant was last year exceptionally good, and the pro-
duce 01 sugar between 7 and 8 per cent., which is

No doubt Mr. HUNT feels disappointed at the
withdrawal of his bill ; and yet he has no particular
cause to be so, for the principles which he was so
anxious to introduce into the measure are to be
carried out by the Government. At any rate so
they have promised, and if they do not it will re-
main for the House and the country to call them to
account for their faithlessness. It must be observed
that the members of the Government have not been
very straightforward in the manner in which they
have acted, and it is quite absurd for them to talk
of Mr. HUNT'S bill as a failure, for it in reality suc-
ceeded better than theirs. As Lord J. MANNERS
said, the Home Secretary was not correct in stating
that Mr. HUNT bad failed in his endeavours, because
he had " at length compelled the Government to
come forward and take the responsibility of dealing
with the subject upon their own shoulders." We
entirely agree with Mr. READ in his remarks when
he said that " the course the Government now pro- 1
posed to adopt was exactly that recommended in
the Report of the Royal Commission in November
last, and had Government then thought proper to
adopt it the cattle plague would by this time have
been extinguished." In fact, the course the Go-
vernment has pursued in the affair of the Cattle
plague has been open to censure from the outset, for
they have hesitated and drawn back just when they
ought to have bestirred themselves, and sad indeed
have been the consequences of their unequal efforts
and dilatory proceedings. It is a little too much for
them now to talk as if any merit accrued to them
from the recent measures introduced into Parlia-
ment, because action was imperatively forced upon
them, and the debate of the first night of the session
assumed a character
Neither can we a
only sure and cegrrteaein
that they could not mistake.
with Sir G. GREY that the
-way is to issue Orders in
Council, because the orders have been tried ever
since the middle of last summer, and they have not
produced the desired effect. Mr. HUNT'S bill has
not been fairly treated, and therefore it is easy now
for the Government to turn round and declare that
it is a failure, because they have tak_n very good
care that none of its intentions should be fulfilled.
As the hon. member said, the Fabian policy which
they hare adopted in both klouses re
~ecting it has

considered as a real phenomenon in France. By
improvement in the process a much greater quantity
of saccharine matter is now obtained than hereto-
fore.

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE,

Some of the restaurateurs of Paris have lately
been victimised by a clever thief. An individual
of distinguished manners and wearing a decoration,
after partaking of an excellent dinner, asks for a
newspaper, and, watching his opportunity, throws
the paper carelessly on the table, but so as to con-
ceal the spoons and forks. Thus he is enabled to
slip one or two of them into his pocket, and they
are not missed till the plate is counted late at night.
A very rich Swedish Prince is now in Paris, who
distinguished himself by various eccentricities. Ile
has driven an equipage in the Champs Elyscies which
attracted such immense crowds that he was obliged
to retire to his hotel. His carriage is a Norwegian
droiska, which is drawn by fourteen Norway dogs,
and the Prince drives them with great ease and
celerity.

In addition to the volcanic phenomena at the
Island of Santorin, accounts have just been received
in Paris of alarming and peculiar eruptions at
Mount Etna.

Although another candidate is announced for the
perilous honour of presiding over the Danubian
Principalities—the brother of the reigning Duke of
Hesse Darmstadt—yet the Presse of Vienna states
a singular fact, tending to show that the:Provisional
Government of Roumania is still determined to
have the Count de Flandre to rule over those pro-
vinces whether he will or not. They sent a despatch
to Baron Chazal, Minister of War for the kingdom
of Belgium, in the name of the army of Roumania,
thanking the Belgian army for its "fraternal sym-
pathy," and also expressing fidelity and devotion to
the Count de Flandre, our august Sovereign."
Baron de Chazal mildly and discreetly left the ex-
pression unnoticed, and, in his reply to this strange
address, merely expressed his sympathy with the
Belgian army, and said ho " sincerely desired the
prosperity of the Danubian Principalities."
The weather has been very fine and bright to-
day, but we have had occasional showers of snow
and sleet.

(REITTEWS TELEGRAMS.)

RE-APPEARANCE OP CHOLERA. IN
EGYPT.

MARSEILLES, MARCH 15.

The jgnrnaLs of this city confirm the intelligence
that a quarantine of one month was established at
Malta last Monday for all arrivals from Alexandria.
They do not, however, explain the cause of this
measure, although a statement is made that cholera
has re-appeared in Egypt. The latest Alexandria
papers received here, bearing date the Bth inst., only
mention a total of 16 deaths.

ITALY.
FLORENCE, MARCH 15.

The Superior Council of Public Health has or-
dered a quarantine of seven days for all vessels ar-
riving at Italian ports from Egypt.
It is stated that Signor Carraciola Bella has been
appointed Italian Ambassador at Madrid, and Emile
Visconti Venosta at Constantinople.
Prince Napoleon left here this morning for Leg-
horn.

SPAIN.

MADRID, MARCH 14 (Evening).

It is rumoured that General Olano will replace
General Dulce in the Captain Generalship of Cuba,
General Cordova being appointed to the Director-
ship of Infantry, thus left vacant by General Olano.
General Messina, it is added, will re-assume the
post of Chief of the Staff.

AMERICA.
ARRIVAL OF THE ALLEMANIA.
(Via Southampton.)

The Hamburgh and American Company's steamship
Allemania brings 199 passengers for Southampton, Ham-
burg, and Havre, and the usual mails. She also brings
$62,000 for France and $1,200 for Hamburg. Three miles
outside New York the Allemania passed the Hamburg
barque Eugenie bound west, and off Fire Island a French
steamer bound for New York. The first part of the pas-
sage she experienced westerly winds and snow storms,
subsequently changing winds, unsettled weather, and high
seas. The last few days northerly winds and fine weather.
NEW YORK, March 3 (Morning).

Numerous delegations have visited President Johnson
to offer him their support. Mr. Johnson, in replying to
them, reiterated his determination to continue his policy,
regardless of opposition or taunts. He spoke hopefully of
the future of the country, and believed that all would
come right, despite Southern secession and the extremists
of the Northern consolidation party, both of whom la-
boured equally to, destroy the Government. By the early
restoration of the South its products would be brought
into commerce, thus extending the area of circulation for
the currency, whereby financial disaster would be averted.
The Senate has adopted the resolution of the re,:onstruc-
tion committee, excluding the Southern representatives,
until Congress declares the rebellious States to be entitled
to representation, by 29 against 18 votes.
The New York Times represents the Cabinet to be en-
tirely united in favour of President Johnson's policy.
The United States Public Debt, on March 1, was
$2,820,000,000, being an increase of three and a-half millions
since last month.

Lloyd Garrison has delivered a public discourse, vio-
lently denouncing President Johnson, and charging him
with intending, if he dared, to make a coup d'etat, either
by forcing the rebels into Congress at the point of the
bayonet, or by driving the Congress out of the Capitol.
The President, he said, ought to be tried by both houses
and dismissed from office.

The Republican caucus have appointed a committee to
inaugurate determined political measures against Presi-
dent Johnson's policy. The opinion gains ground that
the reconstruction committee will shortly report in favour
of the admission of the Tennessee members to Congress.
The Senate has adopted a resolution reiterating the re-
quest to the President for information regarding the Pro-
visional Governmerits in the South.

The military committee of the Rouse of Representatives
have reported a resolution to disband the Southern militia
to prevent their reorganisation.
The House has postponed until the 10th of April the
consideration of the constitutional amendment empower-
ing Congress to legislate to secure to the citizens of each
State the rights of citizens of the several States. This is
considered a virtual defeat of the amendment.

A resolution has been introduced in the House, and re-
ferred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs, declaring that
the employment of French troops in the further conquest
of Mexico would be a violation of the pledge made by
Napoleon in his recent speech to the French Chambers.
The House adopted the resolution, asking the President for
information regarding the extension of Juarez's term of
office.

The Committee of Ways and Means have reported a
bill to regulate trade with Canada.
The New York Herald says that Mr. Seward during his
trip to the West Indies concluded negotiations with Den-
mark securing to the United States the use of the harbour
of St. Thomas as a place of rendezvous for the Federal
fleet.

The suspension of the Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland
has caused intense sensation in Fenian circles, and meet-
ings have been called throughout the country to determine
their course of action. Upon receipt of the intelligence
011ahony immediately issued a circular from the military
department, urging the people to be prepared for imme-
diate action, and look out for secret orders.

The Roberts' faction have also hold a meeting. A large
Fenian demonstration will take place at Jones-wood, New
York, on Sunday next, to express sympathy with the
prisoners in Ireland, and denounce the suspension of the
Habeas Corpus Act. Another meeting will be held at the
Cooper Institute on Friday.

At a Ministerial dinner in Canada Mr. M'Donald stated
that the confederation of the provinces would be certain to
take place in a few weeks. He said Canada had now
2,000 well-drilled militia officers. Mr. Galt denied that
Canada was made subordinate to the United States in the
recent reciprocity negotiations, and recommended the cul-
tivation of trade with the lower provincesof South America
and Europe. He also said that the enlargement of the
canals-must for the present be postponed.
The Edinburgh, the City of Manchester, the Asia, and
the North America have arrived out.

COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

NEW YORK, MARCH 3 (Morning).

Money tight. Gold, 1344. Exchange on London, 1471;
ditto Paris, 3831. Stocks slightly firmer. New York Cen-
trals, 91i; Illinois, 1151 ; Erie, 86 ; 5-20 Bonds, lon.
Cotton slightly firmer. Mid. Upland, 44. Flour very firm.
Wheat good inquiry. Corn slightly firmer. Provisions
and coffee steady. Sugar and molasses steady. Petroleum
dull. Crude, 28 ; refined, 45.
NEW ORLEANS, FEB. 27.
Cotton, 45 to 46. Three days sales, 8,000 bales.