The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-23 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, MARCH 23, 1866.

Within the memory of living politicians few Go-
vernments have been more unlucky at the opening
of a session than the present one. Whatever they
do turns out to be a mistake, while all kind of old
grievances are brought to light, and add to their
discomfiture. Last night Mr. WinTERDE called the
attention of the House to the circumstances con-
nected with STEPHENS' escape, and also alluded to
the former part of his career. The right hon. gen-
tleman laid great stress upon the want of vigour
which Ministers had displayed in dealing with this
matter, and this was the more culpable because Fe-
nianism was identical with the Phoenix conspiracy
of 1858. Mr. WHITESIDE certainly said a good deal
in support of his views, perhaps more than was quite
agreeable, to judge from the excitement displayed by
those who answered him. At any rate, Mr. CARD-
WELL does not appear to great advantage for the
part which he played in releasing sonic prisoners
who were in prison awaiting trial when the Conser-
vative Government left office. As for the escape
of STEPHENS, it certainly showed that great laxity
pravailed somewhere, and instead of declaring that
everything was done as well as it could be, it would
be more becoming and truthful for the authorities to
admit that a mistake had been made, and be more
cautious for the future. As Mr. Willits= stated
due care was not employed throughout the
management of the•affair, especially as regarded the
guards of the prison. Indeed it is said that there
were twenty-five policemen, and that all were re-
moved but three ; if so, it certainly seems most
strange. The Executive Government and the Board
of Superintendence got up a quarrel at that very
awkward juncture, and while one declared that the
ratepayers ought not to keep State prisoners, the
voters said that the State would not do so. We
agree with Mr. WHITESIDE that "a more miserable
dispute under the circumstances cannot bo con-
ceived." Still nothing can excuse the Government,
because they must have heard of the dispute, and
should have adopted means to rectify the end.
Mr. WHITESIDE very truly said that under the cir-
cumstances of the case an investigation ought to be
made, and he wished to know if any objection
existed to laying the report of any inquiry upon the
table of the "louse.
Mr. Lawson made out a very bad case, and he
tksrtohis
that
talk
began by stating that Mr. WHITESIDE " had made
a long speech about
anything be more n a very small matter." Can
becoming than to call the
escape of a prisoner charged with high treason a
small matter ? It was showing the weakness of
his cause for
the
7Ahiro.noLsurAablv
honourable
)e
in this strain.
eo
speech by making
some rewarded
winch
would be too ridiculous to notice if it were
the subject was an important one. It is quite in_
consistent to throw ridicule upon a matter which
concerns the management of State prisoners, and
before Mr. LAWSON asked if " Colonel LAKE ought
to have entered the prison at the head of the troops
and turned all the troops out of it, and if Mr.
WHITESIDE misled the Attorney-General to keep
ground over the prisoners, relieved occasionally by
the Solicitor-General ?" He should have remem-
bered that his own friends had not succeeded in
showing how State prisoners could be kept ; but,
on the contrary, had exhibited a gross neglect of
duty in that important respect.
• GEORGESON showed the house the errors into
which Mr. LAwsos had fallen, when he gated that

There are probably very few persons who take
an interest either in the progress of art or in the
public affairs of the day who will not see with con-
siderable satisfaction the triumph of Mr. BENTINCK'S
motion respecting the new courts of law. Archi-
tecture has long been one of our national weak
points, notwithstanding the splendid buildings to
which we can point here and there. The general
character of our public edifices has certainly not
been equal to the purposes for which they are de-
signed, the wealth and liberality of the people, or
the talent that we possess among us; and consequently
when any large undertaking is in contemplation
our members of Parliament grow a little nervous
on the subject. There are not unreasonable
fears that favouritism and prejudice will ope-
rate injudiciously on the selection of the archi-
tect, while previous experience has shown that
comfort and convenience are very apt to be over-
looked, and every one knows that the original
estimate usually proves but the shadow of the
ultimate sum total. The New Courts of Law
are to be a grand national work. They
are to carry out a long-needed and most valuable
reform by the concentration of our scattered courts
in a convenient central situation; and as the delay
has been great before the work was undertaken, and
the object is a permanent and national one, the
primary object should certainly be to erect a build-
ing or group of buildings worthy of the country,
rather than to effect petty economies, or to give this
or that artist or architect a turn. We are pretty
certain not to do it cheaply, but let us do it well.
The selection of the architect may possibly be a
matter of some difficulty and delicacy, but it would
surely be most wisely and most effectually settled by
adopting that principle of free competition found
most serviceable in other cases, and by appointing a
competent and unprejudiced tribunal to decide
upon the best design ; and in making this
decision there would be no necessity to be led away
by gaudy colouring or elaborate elegance any
more than by a rigid economy or simplicity
of style. The judges should consist of gentle-
men of different professions and experiences. They
should include dignitaries of the law, who thoroughly
understand the requirements of law courts ; artists
who have an eye for the beautiful, architects who
understand the practical part of the work, and men
of business who look on the qttestion from the ordinary
common sense view. Without in the least detracting
from the taste or ability of those gentlemen, we
should certainly prefer that four out of the five ,'
members of the commission were not connected
with the Government. When we find the Chan-
cellor
of the Exchequer, the First Commissioner of
Works, the Lord Chief Justice, and the Attorney-
General joining four-fifths of the number of judges, we
are inclined to agree with Mr. BENTINCK in thinking '
that others less likely to be influenced by official
considerations ought to share their responsibilities.
But the chief point of Mr. BENTINCK'S motion was
directed to the number of architects rather than that
of the judges. He objected very justly to the narrow
limits placed to the competition. By some extra-
ordinary proceeding the number of competitors is
limited to six. Mr. BENTINCK urged with much
force that either the competition ought to be
entirely unlimited, as is usually the case for the
erection of public edifices, or if limited the
conditions ought to be such as to satisfy public
et:aincish.fiectldeEntliocTei,tland the tribunal should be perfectly dis-
interested and competent. The conditions which
cient
compete, to
numbec: reasonably thought should be at-
tached
e competition -were—lst, that a suffi-
of architects should be invited to
give the
country a fair opportunity of
obtaining a satisfactor i
amount to be expended ; 2
should be protected from any char
3d, that the tribunal should b
y nve
ds t, mteghneatot f ftofharev
otqhi‘uneiraiilntli
jafiissrntegleer;
e duly
We presume that the House approved of these
conditions, and did not consider these had been
properly fulfilled in the case of the new law courts,
for by a very decisive majority they adopted Mr.
BENTINCfS motion, in spite of the coLciliatory ad_
dreogea of lUr. COWER and t: 0 Attorney..

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, Thursday Evening.
The Aloniteur has no news of interest to-day,
'oreign or domestic; but, as it is usually very cau-
ious, the following explanation affords proof that
it considers the present position of affairs in Ger-
many to be one of great gravity :—" Public opinion
in Germany continues to be directed to the diffe-
rence which has arisen between Austria and Prussia
relative to the Elbe Duchies. A Leipsic journal,
which appears to be upon the present occasion the
organ of the Cabinet of Saxony, points out the
course which the secondary States of Germany
ought to adopt in the event of a conflict. It
advises a recourse, the case arising, to the clause of
the compact of 1815, in virtue of which the mem-
bers of the Confederation engage not to decide their
differences by the force of arms, but to submit them
to the Diet. The German papers say very little
about the views of the two great Powers, and there
is no indication at present of any symptom which
may give an idea of their intentions."
A letter from Havre states that much curiosity
has been excited at that port by the arrival in the
roads of two foreign vessels, the Cella, an English
four-masted steamer, which anchored there on her
voyage to IN ew York, and the Napoleon Trois,
the new steamer of the General Transatlantic
Company, which has arrived from the Thames, '
where it was built. The Napoleon Trois is a paddle
wheel steamer, but of much greater power than the
previous vessels of the company.
At the second meeting of the conference, which
I have already mentioned, Baron Budberg was pre-
sent as the representative of Russia. The sitting
lasted from two o'clock till five, and the seven
Plenipotentiaries separated without fixing a day
for the next meeting. It is believed that some little
time will elapse before the next meeting of the Con-
ference ; but the delay is not likely to cause
any anxiety or disappointment in Roumania, for
according to the last accounts from thence every-
thing was very quiet there, and the inhabitants of
the two provinces seem to be very indifferent as to
who may be chosen as Hospodar to rule over them,
or as to whether there is to be any change in the
Government there at all.
Accounts from Constantinople state that there is
great activity in carrying on the works for the new
fortifications of the Dardanelles. The Sultan has
been to inspect them. The new armament comprises
830 guns, 340 on the European side and 490 on the
coast of Asia, which will be increased to 1,100
cannon. They have constructed in the centre of
the strait batteries which will be armed with 400
guns, models of which have already arrived at the I
arsenal of Constantinople.
The musical art has just lost one of its
ornaments from the death of M. Clapisson,
the composer of a great many operas. His
first work, " La Figurante, " was played at
the Opera Comique in 1838. In 1840 his comic
opera, "La Symphonie," produced a great sensation.
The next opera was "La Perruche," followed in
1841 by " Frere et Mari," Some consider "La
Perruche" as his best effort ; others prefer " Gibby
la Cornemuse," produced in 1846. This was not so
successful at the Grand Opera as the Opera
Comique, his " Jene la Folic" having had but ,
meagre success, although aided by Taglioni, who
danced in the divertissement. This opera was only
played four times. "La Promise" introduced Ma-
dame Marie Cabel to a French audience. The singer
had a great success, but the opera was almost a
failure. The last work of M. Clapisson, "Margot,"
was represented at the Theatre Lyrique on the
sth of November, 1857. He has left two operas,
which are finished, but were never played, and seve-
ral comic romances or songs. For twenty years M.
Clapisson devoted a great deal of time to the selec-
tion of musical instruments, which he sold for
20,000 f. Among them were 500 different kinds
of whistles. He became a Member of the Insti-
tute in 1854 in the room of M. Halevy, the com-
poser. He leaves a widow and two sons. A dra-
matic author of some note, M. Mazeres, is also
dead. Among his works were "Le Jeune Mari,"
played recently with success at the Theatre Fran-
cais, " La Mere et la Fille," "Le Coiffeur et le
Perriquier," and "Le Bon Garcon." He was an
officer of the Legion of Honour, and was formerly 1
in the army.
The following truthful history should teach
young ladies to take care of their lovers them-
selves, and not intrust them to friends. For two
years Miss B. had resided at Montmartre. She
was studying for the stage. On the same floor
lived a young man, also an artist. She became
acquainted, first liked and then loved each other,
and a day was fixed for their marriage. Just
before the time fixed for the marriage
arrived the young lady received news of the death
of a relative who had left her a small legacy, and she
left Paris for Gap, her native town, to receive the
amount. This was in January last. The night
before she left Paris she went to a young girl,whom
she thought her most devoted friend, and begged
her to occupy her room during her absence, and to
watch over and " take care" of Paul, her affianced
husband. " I confide him to you," she said, " for
young men are sometimes giddy ; but, in placing
him under your care, I shall have no uneasiness."
Anais (the good-natured friend) promised to do all
this. During the first month of her absence Miss
B. received letters frequently both from Paul and
from her friend. Anais told her she was " taking
great care" of Paul, and Paul swore eternal fidelity.
The letters soon became less frequent, and then
ceased to arrive at all. A few days ago Miss B.
returned to Paris and knocked at the door of
her room. There was no answer. The door
was broken open, but neither lover nor friend
was there. On the drawers, however, was a
letter with the following :—" My dear friend,—
I beg your pardon. Paul loves me, and I love him.
Three days ago he became my husband. If you be
not too enraged come and pay us a visit at Fon-
tenay-sous-Bois, where we have
fixed our residence.
Your devoted friend, A.NAIS."
Miss B. Imo affected

Orleans
Northern
Lyons and Alediterranean ,
Southern
Western
Eastern
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard
North of Spain
Saragossa
Ditto to Barcelona
Roman

- - ... 555

••• 540

- - ...

- ... 392 50

- - 403 75
- - ... 167 50
- 220

... 107 50

THE CAPE MAIL.
PLYMOUTH, AlAncH 23.
The mail steamship Briton arrived here this
morning with the above mail, 103 passengers, and
a cargo consisting of 360 bales of wool, 100 bales
skins, 750 bales hides, 350 bales cotton, 180 cases
indigo, 160 tons copper oro, and a new importation
consisting of 2 tons of fine grapes, packed in cotton
wadding in tin cases surrounded by layers of ice.
The Briton left the Cape on the 14 ult., St. Helen
22d, and Ascension 26th. She has been delayed
by the unusual lightness of the S.E. trade winds.
She experienced a week's calm at the equator, and
subsequently heavy N.E. gales.
At the Cape the drought had fortunately at length
broken up, and fine rains had fallen throughout
the country districts which had suffered so long.
Farming prospects had consequently materially
improved. The rainfall at Cape Town had been
greater than for many years past. Nearly three
inches fell in a single day. The war between the
Free State and the Basutos exhibited little change.
The Basutos had recently attacked the town of
Bethlehem, but were repulsed with some loss. The
natives in the colony continued peaceable. The
Governor bad modified his demands for the
deposition of the head men among the Tam-
bookies. By this mail plans, specifications, and
working drawings of the three contemplated lines of
railway are forwarded to the agents-general for the
Crown colonies, upon which
.tenders for the con-
struction and working of the lines will be invited.
A committee has been formed to secure a proper
representation of the colony at the Paris Exhibition
of 1867. Copper mining was attracting great at-
tention at the Cape. Very valuable deposits of
that metal, and also of lead, extremely rich in silver
ore, had been discovered, particularly in Namaqua•
land.

Business generally was more promising at Port
Elizabeth. Trade Prospects were amending at
Natal, and commercial matters had improved. Col.
Maclean was recovering his health.
Colonel Bisset, who had been acting as Lieuten-
ant-Governor, had formally annexed a portion of
No-man's-land lying along the coast, and declared
a portion of the colony
as a division of Alfred's-
land.

The sentence of excommunication of Dr. Colenso
had been read in the Cathedral at Pietermaritzburg
on January 7th, and in the evening the dean and
the Rev. Mr. Robertson appeared in the chancel
before this bishop entered, and desired all Christians
to depart. No notice was taken of this, and the
Bishop continued to conduct the services in the
Cathedral, and the attendance had been as usual.
The Bishop had recently baptised a child, but the
Dean would not allow of an entry being made in
the register. The Supreme Court had decided that
the register was private property.
The ship Runnymede, from Wallasoo, Australia,
with copper ore for Swansea, was abandoned off
Plettenberg's Bay, Feb. 12. The crew reached
Port Elizabeth on the following day.
The ship Duke of Argyle, from Glasgow, for Cal-
cutta, put into Table Bay on Jan. 19, having lost
her foremast and bowsprit.

19 persons had been poisoned at Heidelberg
hrough arsenic, baying been mistaken for baking

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.
" The Principalities are an independent State under my
protection ; this might continue."—The Emperor Nicholas
to Sir Hamilton Seymour, February 22, 1853.
SIR,--While the British Parliament is engaged in
revising the Constitution at home, few people re-
member that a Congress, of which Great Britain
forms a part, is sitting in Paris to revise the Con-
stitution or to direct the affairs of a part of the
dominions of the Sultan of Turkey. If this med-
dling with other people's business appears at first
sight as a praiseworthy exertion of a philanthropic
spirit, the carelessness displayed in the operation
negatives the presumption. Every alteration in our
own Constitution, whether wise or the reverse, has at
least to undergo the ordeal of public discussion in
the Legislature, in public meetings, and in private
society. But the mode and limits of our interference
with Wallachia and Moldavia are confided to the
Foreign-office alone. No loyal Conservative Club
protects the prerogative of the Sultan. No Freed-
men's Aid Society guards the rights of the, people,
no historian produces the records of the past, no poet
the hopes of the future. Russia and the other
Powers of Europe simply efface the inhabitants of
the Principalities, and the Parliament and people
of England, having accepted the task of governing
them apart from their Sovereign, leave the country
they have adopted at the mercy of a secret board of
diplomatists.
Since the people of England are unanimous in
wishing to avoid the trouble of governing the Sul-
tan's dominions, would it not be well to consider
whether our abdication of the task might not be
as advantageous to the Principalities as convenient
to ourselves ?
In the apathy that is now felt on this subject it
is difficult to get men to understand what it is that
they are doing, when they allow their rulers to in-
terfere with the government of another country.
But there is one mode by which such a practice
may always be brought home to every man's
business and bosom, namely, by transferring the
circumstances to our own country and asking
how we should approve of such proceedings if ap-
plied
to ourselves.
The inhabitants of the Danubian Principalities
are of a different blood, language, and religion
from the Turks, just as the Irish are from the Eng-
lish. They have not, it is true, been conquered by
Turkey, to whom, in the fifteenth century, they
voluntarily subjected themselves. Nor has their
religion, like that of the Roman Catholics in Ire-
land, ever been persecuted ; on the contrary, it is
the Nlussulman worship, the public exercise of which
is prohibited in Wallachia and Moldavia. Nor
have their commercial relations, like those of
Ireland, been restricted by the Suzerain Power
since, on the contrary, they have been
free from the restrictions of the Turkish Com-
mercial Treaty with England. In short, the griev-
ances of Ireland have, from 1689 till the present
time, presented a far better justification for foreign
interference than anything that has ever taken place
in the Principalities ?
Suppose, then, that the United States were to de-
mand to be the protectors of Ireland, and on our
refusing to admit their pretension, were to invade
that country. Suppose that, having lost our mari-
time strength by the Declaration of Paris, we were
to seek the alliance of Austria, France, Spain, Italy,
and Portugal, and that the allies had defeated the
Americans and compelled them to recross the Atlan-
tic; that on this a general treaty had been signed
by which all the belligerents, including the United
States, undertook to appoint a Congress to regu-
late the affairs of Ireland. That this congress de-
creed that the Irish people should elect their Lord
Lieutenant, and appointed commissioners to see
the thing properly done. That the election not
terminating to their satisfaction, the ambassadors
of the powers in London threatened the English
Government till it consented to annul that
election. That the Congress then accuse the
English Government of " undue influence," and
get it to admit 40s. freeholders to the next
election, by which means a Fenian candidate got in
who was always intriguing with the Government at
Washington. That his own guards should depose
him, and that the Congress should then meet at
Florence to determine all the relations between the
people of Ireland and the two candidates for the
possession of the country, namely, England and the
United States, England having only one vote in
the Congress, and the United States having intimate
relations with the other Powers represented at that
Congress. Every one in England and in Ireland
would consider this proposal as unjust and prepos-
terous. Nobody would suppose for a moment
that Ireland would be benefited ; no one would
call this exchange of many masters for one the libera-
tion of Ireland. It is only when we find a population
belonging to the Ottoman Empire that we thus de-
lude it to its destruction.
The people of England as yet know nothing of
Wallachia and Moldavia, or of what they are doing
in these Principalities; but they do know what they
have done in Greece, and what is the result. They
know that when Greece, having been invited to re-
bellion, had separated herself from the Ottoman
empire, she received three masters instead of one--
England, France, and Russia, instead of the Sultan.
They know that the Greeks have expelled Otho,
and that under the son of Christian IX. of Den-
mark brigandage is rife; and the country does not
prosper.

A similar interference in the Lebanon has produced
even more lamentable results. There, in 1845,
England introduced the Constitution of Chekib
Effendi, which produced in 1860 a civil war and a
French intervention.
In Egypt the interference of the European Powers
caused a civil war. Since, however, the Sultan and
the Pasha have understood each other, insurrection
has ceased. In no part of the Ottoman Empire is
there insurrection of a permanent character, except
where the European Powers interfere. But it is
one Power that moves the others to interference,
and that reaps all the spoil. There are men who
doubt that Russia aims at universal empire, and who
do not believe that she has designs in the United
States or in South America ; but no one can doubt
that she has had designs in Circassia, which she
has now conquered, or in the Amour, of which she
has taken possession, or in the Ottoman Empire,
from which she has taken the Crimea and Bessa-
rabia, and the various dominions of which the Czar
proposed to Sir Hamilton Seymour in 1853 to
divide with England.
In 1854 we went to war with Russia "for the de-
fence of Turkey." The result of the war was that
the Danubian Principalities were virtually taken
from Turkey and given to Russia by the Conven-
tion of the 19th August, 1858, while by the unau-
thorised and still unsanctioned Declaration of Paris
of April 16, 1856, England's power of coercing
Russia is suspended. For the power of seizing Rus-
sian goods in neutral vessels was a noose round
the neck of Russia, of which England held the
end

To act herself against Russia, England must re-
cover the right of search ; but the present case is dif-
ferent. Russia is not strong enough to coerce the Porte
unless England assists her. England may therefore,
by withholding her aid to Russia, enable Turkey to
restore to the Principalities prosperity, and to her-
self independence. Then if we reap no benefit
from the 50,000 men and £100,000,000 of treasure
which we buried in the Crimea, at least we may
neutralise some of the advantages which Russia
gained by our sacrifice.
have thus endeavoured to show that it would be equally

The year 1831 is the date Russia gives to the " Organic
Statute" for the government of the Principalities.
This document Russia is in the habit of quoting when-
ever she wants an authority for her performances. Nobody
has ever been known, however, to have seen a copy of it,
and it has probably no real existence any more than the
celebrated "Regulations for the Navigation of the Black
Sea," under which Russia confiscated the Vixen for visiting
the coast of independent Circassia.
In 1848 Russia got up an insurrection in the Principali-
ties, and demanded a treaty to allow her to garrison the
country in conjunction with Turkey. Turkey appliel to
England for support, and, on Engla.ad's refusal, signed the
Treaty cf Balta Liman.
Turkey, therefore, must have thought herself .weaker
than Russia. But in 1851, the confidential relations be-
tween England and Turkey having been suspended, she
took heart and demanded that the Russian troops should
evacuate the Principalities. The Russian ambassador at
Constantinople, without waiting for instructions from St.
Petersburg (there was no electric telegraph in those days),
immediately complied with the demand.
From 1848 to 1851 the Russians had occupied the Prin-
cipalities in common with the Turks. When the Russians
left, the Turks also retired, and in 1853 the Russians returned
alone. By this time the confidential relations between
Turkey and England had been renewed, and England
showed her friendship to Turkey by persuading her to
submit to the aggression of the weaker Power. But the
Turks threatened to revolt, and compelled the Sultan to
declare war. The Russians had at first crossed the Pruth
with so small an army that nothing but their trust in
English diplomacy could account for their boldness. They
had accumulated a considerable force before Turkey de-
clared war, but it was all in vain. They were beaten in
every important battle, and compelled to recross thePruth.
In order to prevent Turkey from recovering her own, and
to protect the retreat of Russia from a polish insurrection,
the English Government permitted the Austrians to
occupy the Principalities, which they continued to do till
after the end of the war.
At the peace of 1856 the Principalities of Wallachia and
Moldavia were dealt with by Articles 22 to 27 of the Gene-
ral Treaty.
These articles established a collective power in the par-
ties by the Treaty to interfere in the affairs of the Principa-
lities. The final agreement with the Suzerain Power was
to be recorded in a convention, and was to be placed under
the guarantee of all the Powers. If their internal tranquil-
lity was menaced or compromised, the Porte was to come
to an understanding with the other contracting Powers in
regard to the measures to be taken for maintaining or re-
establishing legal order. That is, if Russia raised an in-
surrection, the Porte was not to put it down without 1
Russia's leave.
For two years the Principalities were under a provisional
government and exposed to the intrigues of all Europe
about their constitution. The Principalities had always
been separay6—Russia therefore proposed a union. In the
conference 'Prance supported Russia, and England pretended
to oppose her. At last, on the 19th August, 1858, the
Constitution was completed, agreed to by the Porto, and
consigned to a Convention between all the Po wars who
had signed the Treaty of Paris.
The Constitution was, of course, a document with no
object but that of unsettlement. Russia succeeded in ob-
taining a promise (Article XI.), that in case of a vacancy
in the Hospodarate the administration should rest in the
Ministry, and not in a Caimacan appointed by the Porte.
Thus when, the other day, the Hospodar was compelled co
abdicate, the Ministers were ready to act and to propose to
the Assembly a foreign prince as Hospodar, a flagrant vio-
lation of Article XIII., which requires him to be the son
of a native-born Wallachian or Moldavian father.
There was to be a Hospodar and an assembly for each
province, but there was also to be a Central Commission,
composed of eight from each province, who were to sit per-
manently, whose province was to be the assimilation of the
laws of the two provinces, thus preparing for that amalga-
mation into one, which, at the Conference of Vienna, in 1855,
Russia declared to have been contemplated by the Organic
Statute.

The electors of the Hospodars had now to be appointed.
The English Ambassador took measures to obtain a new
class of voters, and Couza was elected Hospodar of
Moldavia. Wallachia followed suit, and elected
Couza to be Hospodar of Wallachia as well as Of
Moldavia. It was anticipated that the Porte
would resist, and great were the outcries of the
English friends of the "Freedom of the Principalities"
against this expected act of tyranny. But the Porte
neutralised the plot by accepting Couza as Hospodar
of both provinces. This prince reigned for seven years ;
his administration being distinguished by a permanent
ministerial crisis, which almost became an institution ; by
a coup d'etctt in imitation of Louis Napoleon, and by the
confiscation of the property of the convents, which the
Mussulmans had alwa3s respected.
The Constitution provides (Article NIL) for the election
of a Irospodar by the Assembly within three weeks after
any vacancy. The case of a _valid election not taking
place is not provided for. The Convention has, there-
fore, broken down ; that is to say, in the sonso of
its having been intended for a settlement. If, how-
ever, the object of the Convention was to promote
confusion it has succeeded admirably. Its failure neces-
sitates a new convention, which, in its turn, will fail, so
that the confusion will be permanent till Russia shall send
in her troops and take possession.
The Convention, then, is a failure, or a fraud. It can only
bo the latter, if the British Government persist in this un-
workable scheme for governing a Turkish province by a
European Congress. The attempt is a violation of the
law of nations, and the disgraceful failure justifies Turkey
in demanding the formal abrogation of a Convention
which she alone has observed with good faith, and which
has already abrogated itself.
In the meantime, however, tho immediate crisis demands
a solution. If the Powers refuse to interfere the Porte
will have no difficulty with the Principalities. The solu-
tion of the difficulty will bo found in the appointment to
both provinces of John Ghika. Well known as the former
Prince of Samo, he has always been the Turkish candi-
date, and his devotion to his native country has always
been as complete as his allegiance to tho Porte. He fulfils,
then, all the conditions of the Convention of 1858, which
Couza did not.
The Union was only for Couza's reign, and is therefore
now at an end. But whatever mischief there may be in a
permanent law manufactory for the two provinces, there
can be none in their union under one Hospodar. Ghika
being elected, the Porte could, and probably would,
agree to let this union continue. In fine, union was
originally a Russian project, the disunion is equally
one at this moment. Her ultimate object is simply
unsettlement. Those who would probably get in for each
province would be sure to intrigue against each other, and
thus a new field of disturbance would be opened. John
Ghika would not only be the most fitting candidate for the
double Hospodarate ; but, above all, this would effectually
keep out foreign pretenders.
For this all that is necessary is that England should
intimate clearly that she supports the rights of Turkey,
which are identical with those of the Principalities them-
selves. Austria will do the same; and Russia will eva-
cuate the Principalities in a diplomatic sense in 1866, as in
a military sense she evacuated them in 1851.
March 21.
DIPLOMATICUS.

Mr. F. B. Chatterton's benefit at Drury-lane is
fixed for to-morrow (Saturday) evening, under the auspices
of an influential committee of gentlemen. The managerial
career of Mr. Chatterton well deserves this acknowledg-
mont on the part of the public. The performances will
include Sir E. L. Bulwer's play of " Richelieu," the Car-
dinal by Mr. Phelps ; and " Tho Beggar's Opera," with Mr.
Harrison as Captain Macheath.
MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFES' SISTER. —At a meeting of the Common Council yesterday
Mr. Maynard resumed his motion " That this court do
petition both Houses of Parliament in favour of the legali-
sation of marriage with a deceased wife's sister." The
motion was seconded by Mr. E. D. Rogers ; and as an
amendment Mr. Richards moved, and Mr. Ruskin seconded
the previous question. A. long discussion ensued, which
was terminated by a division, when the original motion
was carried by a majority of 27, the numbers being for the
original motion 63, and against it 36 ; and it was ordered
that it be referred to the law and parliamentary committee
to prepare the petitions to parliament accordingly.

Earl De Grey and Ripon and Mr. Stansfeld on
Wednesday received two deputations from Man-
chester, one from the Chamber of Commerce, and
the other from the Cotton Supply Association. The
object of both was to present to the new Secretaries
of State for India memorials setting forth the polioy
which, in the interest of the cotton trade of Man-
chester, it is desired that the Government of India should pursue. The deputation from the Chamber
of Commerce consisted of Mr. Malcolm Ross, pre-
sident ; Messrs. Halliday, H. Ashworth, J. Dor-
rington, Hugh Mason, Hugh Fleming (secretary),
and the following members of Parliament : Messrs.
T. Bazley, T. Barnes, C. Turner, John Peel, E. W.
Watkin, J. B. Smith, J. Platt, B. Whitworth, J
Laird, J. T. Hibbert, J. Chatham, and A. W.
Young, the Hon. A. Egerton, and Colonel Grey
Several of these gentlemen were in the deputation
of the Cotton Supply Association, of which Mr.
Cheetham, M.P., is president, and Mr. M. Ross,
treasurer. The second deputation also included
Mr. Edmund Ashworth, Mr. W. Armitage, and
Mr. J. Watts, secretary.
The interview with the representatives of the
Chamber of Commerce lasted fully an hour, and at
its close Earl De Grey and Ripon was obliged to
retire in order to attend a Cabinet meeting; but
Mr. Stansfeld spent a second hour in conversation
with the representatives of the Cotton Supply
Association.
Earl DE GREY and RIPON expressed his regret
that he was obliged to leave in order to join the
Cabinet. Having so recently accepted office, he
could not, of course, give positive answers in re-
spect to the proposals submitted to him. It would
be a great satisfaction to him if he should have the
long tenure of office which Mr. Malcolm Ross had
kindly wished him ; but that was a matter of great
uncertainty. He was fully impressed with the im-
portance of extending public works. The subject
of a gold currency had been referred to a commis-
sion, and he would consider the matter immediately
the report of the commission was received. Neither
he nor Mr. Stansfeld could be suspected of being
favourable to protective duties. lie would be ex-
tremely glad to obtain the largely increased revenue
promised him from public works, and the receipt of
it would enable him to deal with duties, but the
financial condition of India made it very necessary
to be cautious in such matters. As far as general
principles went, he was with the deputation. He
would be glad to have more definite information of
what was proposed with regard to the reclamation
of waste lands. Facilities had been given for their
acquirement, the regulations had been modified, and
if other practical improvements could be made be
should be glad to receive suggestions. The language
in which the tenure of land had been spoken of was
rather vague, and he would be glad to have the
matter elucidated. It was a difficult one to deal with,
and it was necessary to be cautious in dealing With
what the natives conceived to be their rights, and
also wits their prejudices and feelings. Military
expenditure had been referred to ; but reduction, if
it led to wide-spread uneasiness would not prove to
be economy. He had alieady written to India with
a view to the production of the Indian budget early
in the session ; but of course he could not arrange
the business of the House of Commons. In con-
clusion, he assured the deputation that their repre-
sentations should have his best considerations.
Mr. STANSFELD stated that the Administration of
Bombay had announced their intention to appoint an
•
officer temporarily for the Berar district ; and Earl
De Grey, in expressing his approval of that purpose,
which had probably now been carried out, suggested
the appointment of a cotton commissioner, to attend
rather to the growth of cotton than to matters con-
nected with its preparation for the manufacturer.
Both deputations were highly pleased with the
reception accorded to them.

The Corporation of London and Prince
Alfred.

Yesterday, at a meeting of the Court of Common
Council, held at Guildhall, the Lord Mayor in the
chair.

Mr. Harris, pursuant to notice, moved a resolu-
tion to the effect that his Royal Highness Prince
Alfred be requested to take upon himself the free-
dom of the City of London, to which he is entitled
by patrimony, and that a copy of the freedom be
presented to him in a gold box of the value of 100
guineas. Mr. Harris suggested that this would be
only a graceful act towards the Prince himself at
this interesting time of his life, while it would tend
still mere strongly to attach the corporation to the
Crown and the Crown to them.

The motion was seconded by Mr. Alderman
Gibbons, one of the sheriffs of London, who ex-
pressed the great satisfaction he felt in doing so.
Prince Alfred, he said, had been trained in a pro-
fession for which Englishmen had always the
highest respect. His Royal Highness had been re-
markable for the studious manner in which he had
devoted himself to the study of that profession, and
Iwhether at home or in foreign countries he had
won the esteem and regard of every one with whom
he had been brought into communication.
This motion was carried with every mark of con-
sideration and respect, and, at the instance of Mr.
Lowman Taylor, it was resolved that the Lord
Mayor wait upon his Royal Highness with the re-
solution of the court, and ascertain when it would
best suit his convenience to attend at the Guildhall
and accept the proffered compliment.

THE LATE LORD PALMERSTON.
A report was brought up from the City lands
committee, to whom it had been referred to consi-

der bow the court could best testify its memory of
the late Viscount Palmerston, recommending that

a marble bust of the deceased statesman be placed

n the Council Chamber at a cost of not more
han £250.

THE CATTLE PLAGUE— CH ES TE T?.. --The following
is the number of cases reported to the 17th inst. :—Diod,
38,676; killed, 13,296; under treatment, 4,158; recovered,
7,3oB—total attacked, 63,138. Duriu the week ending
Much 21, 5,726 have been attacked, or 818 per diem, and
dead and killed 4,589, or 655 per diem. The disease has
now appeared in 432 localitiee in the county.