The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-22 00:00:00

11,
NMAI t e e

LONDON, SATURDAY, DEC. 22, 1866.

Sir JOIIN LAWRENCE has been most assiduous in
his efforts of late ; and, in the magnificent displays
he has made, has continued to act in a style worthy
of an Oriental potentate. It is always desirable in
a country like India to have recourse to such mag-
nificence occasionally, for it cannot fail to irapressthe
peaple, and it tends to give the commanding powers
that influence which alone can secure lasting autho-
rity, and establish a sway that rests on better founda-
tions than that of fear or intimidation. At this season
when festivities are all the rage and when amuse-
ments and diversions of all kinds are eagerly sought
after, it slay well serve as an entertainment to some
to peruse the glowing descriptions of the great Dur-
bar at Agra. In some respects it seems to rival the
world-renowned talk of the "Arabian Nights," and
the dwellers in our colder clime, surrounded by our
more sedate forms and customs, may be puzzled to
realise the splendid vision here held out to them.
Indeed such an affair as we here comment upon
was an unusual occurrence even for the East, and
in many respects it surpassed the Lahore Durbar of
two years back, both in its intrinsic magnificence
and grandeur, as well as in the character of
its assemblage, which was larger and of a more
important nature. The Governor-General had a
brilliant company around him, and among those
Nvh3 appeared to do honour to the affair were the
Commander-in-Chief, three Lieutenant-Governors,
and various other persons of note. To meet her
MAJESTY'S representatives there came leading princes

and chiefs to the number of nearly a hundred, and
about three hundred chiefs and nobles of lesser
note, with their attendants and retinue, and
with those who thronged to witness the splendid
affair, it may be easily imagined what a number
there was altogether.
The installation of the various knights and com-
panies of the Star of India was one of the chief
matters that occupied attention, and there was also
a grand entertainment given by the Maharajah of
Gwalior in honour of Sir JOHN LAWRENCE. Be-
tween the passing of these greater events there was
a constant succession of balls, races, &c. The
Viceroy delivered a speech in the purest vernacular,
was celebrated for its energy and decision, and
must have afforded considerable satisfaction to those
who heard him. In many respects this grand dis-
play may be considered a good thing ; it must have
tended to soften the asperities of feeling between
those who thus met in cordiality ; and the Oriental
character of the affair must inevitably have lent a
charm and an influence to the arrangements. Be-
sides, we must remember that there could not possi-
bly have been a better spot selected for the theatre
of a grand display of this nature. Agra is the
centre of the native powers of India, and Sir JOHN
LAWRENCE showed himself worthy of the occasion
when he selected such a spot for the sphere of his
operations.

The commencement of the session of the Ameri-
can Congress has certainly more than confirmed all
previous anticipations of the folly and extravagance
of the Radical party. These gentlemen are so well
convinced of their own administrative talent that
they are not content with reversing the legislation
of the past, and assuming the entire control of the
whole country in the present, but they have super-
fluous energy to spare for the direction of the future.
Their successors will not, they think, be
able to decide for themselves, and, accord-
ingly, the members of the next Congress
are to be bound by the actions of the present.
Perhaps Messrs. STEVENS, PHILLIPS, and Co., are
intolerant of any rival, and dislike the idea of their
dictation being put an end to. At any rate we
learn by the arrival of the Scotia, from New York
on the 12th, that the House of Representatives has
passed the bill excluding from the next Congress
the representatives from all States not recognised
by the present Congress. This is really amusing.
It is quite a new doctrine of constitutional law that
one representative assembly is to be bound by the
actions of its predecessor. If it were carried out it
would very soon put au end to all legislative
reform, and would roll the tide of progress
and improvement backwards. It is nothing
more than a piece of unqualified and use-
less impertinence, since the next Congress will
only have to pass another bill reversing the deci-
sions of its meddlesome predecessor, but it is a fair
specimen of the arrogance and unwarrantableness
of the dominant party. It shows us, too, how much
the South has to expect from the Radicals, and how
little truth there was in the talk about the Consti-
tutional Amendment. It is quite evident that if
the Southern Legislatures had accepted it, and the
PRESIDENT made the concession demanded from him,
the Southern members would have been no nearer
the floor of Congress than they are now. Ihere is one
consolation : the very dominance of the ultra-Radicals
in the present Congress will show them in their true
colours to the people, and it is most probable that
the extravagance of their pretensions and the in-
tolerance of their tyranny towards the South will
disgust the sensible and moderate men of their party.
Without going over to the other extreme, the less
violent Radicals will probably join the moderate
Democrats, and form a strong party, who will yet
be able to save the country from discord and dis-
ruption. At the very first opening of the Congress
when THADDELB STEVENS had the effrontery to pro-
pose the postponement of the PRESIDENT'S Message,
to suit his party arrangements, the division which
took place showed that a number of his own fol-
lowers resented the unwarrantable assumption. We
sincerely trust that the same result may occur on
other occasions, since it is impossible that the whole
Radical party can be composed of reckless fanatics,
who are totally indifferent to the consequences to
their country, provided that their own theories are
carried out ; or of unscrupulous politicians, whose
only object is to secure the rule of the Congress, and
to turn the convulsions and divisions of the nation
to good account for themselves. The news
from Mexico tells us that a proclamation has been
issued at Vera Cruz declaring that MAXIMILIAN will
not abdicate. The Atlantic Telegraph brings us
intelligence to the same effect, adding that MAxI-
MILIAN himself has announced it. The EMPEROR,
we learn by the mail, has formed a strong alliance
with the Church party, securing important monetary
advantages. It is also stated that he has offered to
turn the Government over to MIRAMoN, AlincluEz,
and MARIN, and appeal to the popular vote to de-
cide upon a new Government. Whatever his de-
signs he will find it no easy task to carry them out
in the face of the Opposition of the Americans; and
if they give, as they seem inclined to do, active
support to JUAREZ, MAXIMILIAN will have a hard
struggle to keep his footing. The Republicans are
concentrating their forces for an attack upon San
Luis Potosi. General SHERMAN and Minister
CAMPBELL have arrived at Vera Cruz ; SIIEIIMAN
has released Ortega and ordered the arrest of Gen.
SEDGAVICK. Mexico is likely, in any shape, to to give
come,
trouble to the Americans for some time t
though, perhaps, the Government of the States \vitt
not regret the distraction from home affairs.

It is one of the noticeable effects of advancing
progress in humanity and civilisation, aid in care
and thought for those who cannot help themselves,
that the condition of our pauper lunatics and imbe-
ciles has begun to occupy a good deal of attention.
It is not too soon, notwithstanding the great amelio-
ration which has taken place in the position of
these unfortunates of every class within the last
twenty or thirty years. Science has been brought
to bear upon their treatment, and the mingled
cruelty and cowardice of which they were in former
times the victims has been repressed by the strong
hand of the law, and checked by the enlightenment
of public opinion. The poor maniac who in former
times was condemned to chains and darkness is
now free, under watchful supervision, to enjoy the
light and air which are such potent influences for
good upon him. The garden, the gymnasium, the
pleasure ground, are most important elements in
the treatment of the lunatic, and if we shut him up
in a dull close room, his poor distracted mind has
nothing to sooth and divert it, but can only torment
itself. This is one of the great secrets in the im-
proved treatment of the lunatics and imbeciles
of our time. At Earlswood the garden and the
farm have contributed greatly to the development
ofthestunted faculties of the boys, and at most of
our large
public asylums there is provision made for
out-door recreation. Some time ago, when it was
proposed to remove Bethlehem Hospital from its
present site, it was urged that there was not suffi-
cient space for the patients out of doors, and cer-
tainly this necessity should be borne in mind in
connection with the building or enlargement
of every establishment of the kind. It is
in this respect that the case of f
pauper