The Sun.
London, England, 1866-12-14 00:00:00

THE SUN, LoN L ON, FIII Y E V ENING, DECEMBER 14 1866.

culxkion the bulk of the gold found in Victoria since
185'.7. A similar column was erected in the last
Lon don Exhibition, representing then 100 millions
worth of gold—an amount now left far behind.
Not n2any countries could present such a valuable
and various display, though Australia may rather
be called a continent than a single country. The
United States must look to their laurels, for this
young and vigorous population is gaining upon them
in the path of progress and civilisation.

There is no social question which engages so much
attention at the present day as that of workhouse
management, or, indeed, as it may often unhappily
be termed, mismanagement. Although many mat-
ters of interest and importance have engaged our
time and thought of late, and the affairs of the Con-
tinent have been unusually momentous and eventful
this year, the subject of the workhouses has not been
allowed to drop out of notice. No doubt such was
the hope and belief of many, but it has not been
realised, and well for the good of the community
that it should not have been. We expect that next
session Parliament will be called upon to discuss the
matter, and we hope that some comprehensive
changes will be wrought in the law so that there
may be no chance of a repetition of those scenes
which have been such a disgrace to our wealthy and
civilised metropolis. Of course opinions will differ
in this case, as in all others, as to the best mode of
proceeding, so that we may rectify the evils that
abound in our workhouse system generally, and
remedy those errors of our poor-laws which defeat the
very objects for which they were originally framed,
and zealously urged on by the well-wishers to the
numerous class they affect. Amid the hosts of sug-
gestions which meet us on every side, and the mul-
titudinous schemes that abound as to the most direct
form of counteracting the evil influences so con-
stantly arising in these places, perhaps there is no
plan adopted which so little challenges controversy,
and concerning which so many agree as to its ad-
visability, than the practice which prevails in some
places of admitting visitors. Those who are perfectly
independent of the guardians, the officials, and all
connected with the establishment, will naturally
form the most accurate judgments as to the mode
of procedure, and be necessarily the best qualified
to detect abuses and discover faults in the manage-
ment of the sick and afflicted paupers whom they
meet with. The lady visitors have been a great
boon to many workhouse establishments, and also a
great assistance to the work of improving the con-
dition of the inmates, both directly and indirectly,
though, unhappily, so strong has been the prejudice
entertained that comparatively few of our London
workhouses have permitted the entrance of these
visitors, which is to be regretted in every respect.
Mistaken as such a course may be, it is, however, more
consistent than to depart from the practice if once
entered upon. It appears that the guardians of the
Paddington Workhouse have refused the further
admisssion of lady visitors, and that for no very
creditable reasons.

driven from theirsight stand a good chance of being
rendered as comfortable as the circumstances will
admit,! and if unhappily such should not be the
case, that the wrongs they complain of may be re-
dressed before some fearful case is brought to light,
such as periodically comes before us in the present
management of the metropolitan workhouses, and
shows us how little cause we have to be satisfied
with the result of our legislation upon this impor-
tant matter.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, ThurAay Evening.

The Moniteur, after describing the order in which
the French troops left Marseilles, says that the aviso
L'Eclaireur had been kept in readiness to embark
General Montebello, the French Ambassador, who
was to leave Rome this day (the 13th).
The Cardinal Archbishop of Naples, M. Riario
Sforza, returned to Naples on the 6th, and resumed
possession of his see. The return of the cardinal
was hailed with general satisfaction by the city of
Naples. Cardinal Caraffa, Archbishop of Bene-
vento, and the Archbishops of Reggio and Avellino
have also returned to their respective residences.
The Bishops of Gallipoli, &versa, and Teano have
likewise returned to their dioceses.
The following announcement in the Moniteur
completely confirms the impression which prevailed
in well-informed quarters in Paris of the inaccuracy
of the news that the Emperor Maximilian had left
Mexico :—" The Government has received by the
transatlantic cable the following despatch, dated
Dec. 3, from Mexico, and Dec. 9, from New Or-
leans The Emperor Maximilian is still in Mexico.
He has not yet come to a decision. As the evacua-
tion of the troops is to be finished in March, it is
urgent that the transports should arrive without
delay. The Campbell and Sherman mission, which
arrived on the 29th Nov. at Vera Cruz, left on the
3d of December. It appears to be animated with
the Most conciliatory sentiments." This despatch is
signed by Marshal Bazaine and General Castelnau.
The ceremony of the translation and burial of
the remains of Cardinal Richelieu is to take place
with becoming pomp and ceremony at the church
of the Sorbonne on Saturday next. It will be at-
tended by Senators, Deputies, Ministers, and many
other eminent personages.
The Paris papers at present discuss but partially
the plan for the reorganisation of the French army,
of which the Moniteur has given the details. The
main point of which you have been advised by tele-
graph is so simple that they probably consider
nothing is to be said about it. France believes that
in order to maintain her position and her just in-
fluence she ought to have an army of 800,000 men,
to be available for any foreign expedition. Besides
this, a military force, the numerial strength of
which is not defined, is always to be available to
preserve order and tranquillity at home.

A telegram from Vienna states that the commer-
cial treaty between France and Austria was signed
yesterday.

The Count de Sarteges, Ambassador from France
to Rome, has left Paris to resume the duties of his
office.

LATEST INTELLIGTwor,

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

BELGIUM.

BRUSSELS, Dec. 14.

A Royal decree 'has been issued appointing
General Baron Goethals, aide-de-camp to the King,
to the post of Minister of 'War.

CHINA.
(By Overland Telegraph from Galle.)
HONG KONG, Nov. 15.

The French expedition in the Corea has pene-
trated to Kang-chan without meeting any resist-

ante.
Advices from Japan announce that the civil war
is suspended.

FRANCE.

BOURSE, Dec. 13, Two o'clock.—The market
is devoid of interest, and transactions are scarce.
Prices are nevertheless very well maintained, and
generally at an advance. French Threes are doing
at 69f. 75c., or sc. higher. Italian Fives at first
gained an advance, and were doing at 57f. 20c., but
offers have caused this Stock to retrograde to 56f.
95c, at which it is now quoted—a decline of 10c.
Credit Mobilier Shares have advanced to 591 f. 25c.,
a gain of sf. A similar advance is quoted on Credit
Foncier shares, at 1,387 f. 50c. Railway shares are
firm, with generally a fractional advance. English
Consols are again telegraphed to-day with an
advance of
Three o'clock.—Quotations closed as follows :
Bank Shares 3625
Italian Loan 56 80
Do. end month 56 80
Mexican Loan —
Do. Bonds —
Spanish Threes
Home Debt

4i per Cents 9B
Do. end month —
3 per Cents. 69 75
Do. end month 69 72i
Credit Mobilier
Do. end month
Credit Foncier —
Do. end month 1387 50

Deferred

'AYR.

For Account.
Orleans BBO
Northern ll9O
Lyons and Mediterranean 9OO
Southern 583 75
Western
Eastern 533 75
Sardinian . 72 50
Austrian
Lombard 396 25
North of Spain ll5
S aragosea 135
Ditto to Barcelona..
Roman.

77 50

BANK OF FRANCE.

PARIS, Dec. 13.

The following is the return of the Bank of France
for the week ending to-day, together with the cor-
responding figures of the previous account :