The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-27 00:00:00

THE LO.N.OON, TUES DA Y EVENING-, FEBRUARY 27, 18C6.

in a better manner, and at a cheaper rate, to take
their places." This is proceeding to extremities at
an early period of the session ; and well may the
new leader of the House exclaim, " Save me from
my friends," when he is thus greeted by a supposed
supporter of his policy. The incongruity that exists
between :the Chancellor of the Exchequer's words
and actions excites the wrath and indignation of the
hon. member for Brighton, as we learn from the
lines of POPE, by which such inconsistency was
described—
" A very heathen in the carnal part,
Yet still a sad good Christian at her heart."
There was great truth, at all events, in the conclu-
sion come to by Mr. WHITE, namely, that if we are
to have such constantly increasing and extremely
heavy expenditure, we should be spared the homilies
in which the Chancellor of the Exchequer was wont
to indulge at the close of the Session, in which he
had submitted extravagant estimates to the House,
and thus it went abroad that he "was the advocate of
the greatest economy and the enemy of all prodiga-
lity." It is very ackward for a Minister, more
especially a financial one, to meet with such a com-
mentator as the hon. member last informed the
House that he had been going over the right hon.
gentleman's speeches, and he could easily compile
from them a " Financial Reformer's Manual, or
Economical Guide."

Like most extreme politicians, Mr. WiirrE has
run away with the idea that fully half of the
£70,000,000 yearly taxation was borne by the un-
represented classes. The two resolutions which the
hon. member moved and afterwards withdrew con-
tained truth in themselves, but were not of a practi-
cal nature, nor of that class which the House
would be likely to affirm and approve of.
He showed his sense and discretion in not pressing
them to a division, and notwithstanding many exagge-
rations, and some untenable propositions made by
Mr. WHITE, some good may be gained by his elabo-
rate speech ; and the question is one which emi-
nently, under all its attributes, deserves the attention
and consideration of Parliament. There is another
view of the question which may well engage notice,
and that is, Ilow is all the money spent which is
raised in such large sums ? are the interests of the
public properly considered when we take into ac-
count the advantages which the Government possess
in the way of resources?
Mr. GLADSTONE, in his brief speech, contrived
with great dexterity to defend the Administration
from the attacks which had been made upon it. In
the first place, he stated very truly that to convey a
deliberate judgment to the House, it would not do
to quote passages from speeches which were too
warmly coloured to convey views to Parliament.
The right hon. gentleman very fairly admitted
that the chief responsibility of all the estimates
proposed rested with the Crown. Mr. GLADSTONE,
with some reason, differs from the opinion set forth
by Mr. ItinlTE, as to the non-advisability of fight-
ing the battle of retrenchment in Committee of
Supply ; and declared that " the House would never
be thoroughly equipped with regard to its steward-
ship of the public expenditure unless there were in
it a race of men who standing in the position of
independent members, will do us the immeasurable
service of devoting their time, energy, and labour
to the wearying and irksome business of making
themselves acquainted with a vast mass of
detail, and by following from point to point
every item of public expenditure, and bringing to
bear upon it the force of independent judgment and
the light of public opinion." This is very correct,
because it is always far easier to find fault with a
thing than to suggest a remedy. Foremost among
those —who are few and far between in the ranks of
Parliamentary men who have done good service to
the State in the dreary drudgery of economical
survey—stands the name of the late Mr. HUME, to
whose zeal and assiduity the Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer paid a high compliment last night in his
remarks upon the services which private members
might render to the cause of retrenchment. If
we had more to follow such an example
now no doubt we should not find Reform
in this important department of the Administration
a visionary theory, instead of a practical benefit.
If there is one thing more than another which re-
quires time, thought, and patience, it is certainly
the question of the national expenditure, and it
generally happens that those most in earnest about
instituting changes are too eager and impetuous,
and desire all kinds of impossible schemes and im-
taeitreanable changes. As Mr. GLADSTONE reminded
Housemene
mere
e, lastosurdand
single
1,
determination
t iedtreme
imustnjoait o not
inn oott
the
eb
eo
upsaer,ta supposedo
, t
Can
3t
Government,
aeoicvl
in a moment alter that which is the result of
long traditions, of habits, and practice of
policy existing throughout several generations."
Sir-S. NOIITHCOTE, on the part of the Opposition,
declared that they as frequently advocated economy
on their side of the house as those on the Ministerial
Benches could do. While he admitted the necessity
for adopting care, the hon. baronet said that if the
house agreed to the resolutions of the hon. member
for Brighton, and then did nothing, they would be
open to the accusation plausibly brought by that
lion. member against the Chancellor of the Exche-
quer himself.

England when the point relates to Ireland. Pre-
judices make the common law. Nevertheless
powerful voices are often raised in her favour. Let
the English meditate upon the chapter written by
Napoleon the Third about England and no longer
allow the reign of arbitrary power in Ireland. Since
the Habeas Corpus Act has had such good effects in
England, let them not be egotists. If the
Parliament in a fit of unjustifiable terror may
have thought fit to deprive Ireland of the
benefit of it, let not the deprivation be of
long duration. As to our French statesmen, they
may also benefit by reading these lines. Passports
have been abolished, criminal proceedings have been
shortened ; but how many abuses still exist which
have not been touched upon in this sketch of the
Habeas Corpus Act."
This latter sentence brings me to the most im-
portant amendment which is to be proposed to the
Address—" That it is convenient and opportune to
give to the act of 1860 the developments which be-
long to it." In other words, a direct conflict is
provoked by the terms of this amendment between
what in England would be termed the Conservatives
and the Whigs. The amendment has received a
great many signatures, but the Government pos-
sesses the general confidence of the Chamber, and
it " needs no ghost from the grave" to predict that
there is no chance of its success.

The Moniteur states that the volcanic explosion
in the island of Santorin, having caused great
uneasiness to the inhabitants of the Hellenic Archi-
pelago, the Minister of France at Athens had em-
barked on board the Monette for the islands of
Syra and Thera, to assure the Catholics of the
religious establishments there of the solicitude of the
Government of the Emperor, and of his promise to
aid them, in case the further progress of these dan-
gerous explosions should render assistance ne-
cessary.

The steeplechases at La Marche commenced yes-
terday. The weather was very faVourable, and the
attendance numerous. The opening prize of 2,500 f.
for horses which had never won a steeplechase of
the value of B,ooof. was won by R. M. D., a bay
mare, six years old, belonging to Count de la Bigne.
Distance 4,000 metres. Five horses ran. Katinka
was second, Infante third. An objection was made
that R. M. D. did not carry the required weight,
but it was overruled. At Croydon R. M. D. won
the Cup. The Tribune prize (handicap) was won
by M. E. Porte's Alezane mare, Senteur, 5 years
old, carrying 65 kilogrammes. Perle-Fine 2d,
Gabion 3d. In these races all obstacles were easily
overcome by the horses. Distance, 3,000 metres.
The trial prize, 1,500 f., was won by M. Lunel's
Milton. Sixteen horses were entered, nine ran ;
Niger 2d, Droit du Seigneur lid.
Among the many beautiful improvements of Paris
will be the construction of a new street from the
Theatre Francais to the new Opera on the Boule-
vards. Alreadyscme of the most unsightly buildings
of Paris have beeen levelled opposite the Theatre
Frangais, weere is to be a splendid square, which
will be decorated with a statue of Joan of Arc. The
site for this statue has long been a matter of con-
test, but the locality is now decided upon. The
first Emperor intended to have a street direct from
the Tuileries to the Boulevards. The present Em-
peror desires to carry his uncle's views into effect,
and it is probable that the Rue des Pyramides with
this object will be prolonged into the new street in
question.

The Moniteur of this evening states that accounts
from Mexico to the 27th January mention that the
Imperial troops continue to obtain victories over
revolted bands. A financial plan for the establish-
ment . of the Mexican budget has been prepared.
According to this project, the budget will present a
total of about 150 millions of francs.

LA TEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

SPAIN.

MADRID, FEB. 26.

The Epoca, of this evening, announces that the
Minister for Foreign Affairs has made final declara-
tions on behalf of the temporal power of the Holy
See.
The Minister of Marine is seriously ill.

THE PRINCIPALITIES.

VIENNA, FEB. 27.

It is asserted that France, Austria, and Russia
have agreed upon the expediency of assembling in
Conference, as proposed by the Porte, for the settle-
ment of the question of the Principalities. This

Conference would be composed of delegates from
the Powers who signed the Treaty of Paris, and
would sit at Constantinople.
It is also stated that France and Austria concur
in their views upon the affairs of the Lebanon and
the Eastern question generally.

FRANCE.

PARTS, FEB. 27.

The Emperor, the Empress, and the Prince
perial received on Sunday the Commissioners of the
Paris Exhibition.

The Emperor, in announcing the appointment of
the Prince Imperial as Honorary President of the
Commission, said—" My son is at present too
young to take an active part in your deliberations,
but he will at least have an opportunity of learning
in good time to honour labours which secure the
prosperity and splendour of the State."
BOURSE, Feb. 26, Three o'clock.—The market
closed on the following quotations :
ti per Cents 99 40
Do. end month
3 per Cent 5......,., 69 30
Do. end month E9 35
Credit Mobilier
Do. end month
Bank Shares 3690
Credit Fonder 1335
Italian Loan 6l 40
Do. end month 6l 40
RAIL'

Roman —
Ottoman Fives —
Mexican Loan —
Do. Bonds —
Russian —
Austrian
Spanish Threes
Home Debt —
Deferred

'AT&
Cash.

Acct.
Orleans
Northern — ... 1115
Lyons and Mediterranean — ... 886 25
Southern ... 552 50
Western —
.. 570
Eastern — ... 541 25
Sardinian . — ... 141 25
Austrian
Lombard — ... , 398 75
North of Spain — ... 172 50
Saragossa — ... 225
Ditto to Barcelona - -- ... 105
Roman — ... 113 57