The Sun.
London, England, 1866-10-17 00:00:00

TEE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, OCTOBER 17, 1866

political purposes is so inexcusable and so detri-
mental to his reputation. Mr. BRIGHT'S last idea is
that if the Clerk of the House of Commons stood at
Temple-bar and stopped 658 well-dressed men we
should have a better Parliament than the one which
now exists. We acknowledge that this assertion will
stagger some timid and good men," but that does
not matter much, we presume.

It is really a relief to be able to expose one of
Mr. BRIGHT'S many mistakes and exaggerations,
and hence we may state that he is glaringly unjust
and one-sided in his declaration about the ignorance
of the agricultural districts as compared with the
manufacturing towns. Anything to have a hit at a
place where rank is met with, or where the sinis-
ter influence of aristocracy prevails. A friend of
his has told him of the ignorance that exists within
six miles of Windsor. A family of eleven has been
met with of which none could read, and seven were
in his employ who had scarcely any knowledge
of reading or writing. We feel convinced that Mr.
BRIGHT quoted this instance for the sake of the
comment he made upon it.; it -was like the postscript
to a lady's letter, the chief part of it. Bear in
mind that ail this exists within six miles of the
Royal Castle of Windsor; "it exists in a neighbour-
hood where lords, and squires, and established
clergymen swarm." Now we would call Mr.
BRIGHT'S attention to some details connected with
the ignorance that prevails in a city which is so
fortunate as not to be within six miles of royalty,
and manufactories and the like " swarm" in place
of these objectionable individuals designated as
" lords, squires, and established clergymen." In the
statement lately made by the Manchester and
Salford Education Aid Society, which was alluded
to by Mr. AUSTIN BRUCE, in his able speech as
President of the Educational Department of the
Social Science Congress, we find the following
statistics. A large number of children are neither
"at school nor at work. Of 11,086 children, be-
tween three and twelve, there are 762 at work, 4,337
at school, and 5,789 neither at school nor at work."
Surely this does not speak so very favourably for
the intellectual character of the cities. These details
are not referring to the worst parts of Manchester,
and therefore the force of the comparison is enhanced.
We think that this is one reason for Mr.
BRIGHT taking so false a view and forming so
inaccurate an estimate of our constitution that
he cannot, or will not, require the advantages of
variety. This country would not be what it is if all
were manufacturers or if all were landowners. If
rank and title were abolished there would remain
the aristocracy of wealth, which is the most exten-
sive in the world, and so on with all the other
landmarks of society which he would sweep away.
As Mr. BRIGHT repeats his charges against people
so often, it seems to follow as a matter of course
that we must run the risk of repetition by again de-
claring that all the reforms that have been made in
Parliament are not due to the Manchester School,
nor have been carried in the face of its direct and
uncompromising opposition. Mr. BRIGHT seeks to
disarm the criticism that will be made upon his
speech by remarking that he knows some good
things have been done by the last Parliament, be-
cause he has been concerned in the doing of some
of them. We suppose that a beneficent fate placed
him in that uncongenial place, like Hope in Pan-
dora's box, that the world might not utterly de-
spair ; but we would have the hardihood to say that
in all the measures that have afforded relief to the
oppressed Mr. BRIGHT has never been concerned,
and he was aided in his opposition by those for
whom he claims the exclusive credit of rendering
service to the country, "that force in Parliament
which is sent there by the great and free borough
constituencies of the kingdom."
" Goodand evil" abound in all classes, and one
may counteract the train of the other, and enhance
its merits if a just estimate be taken, but Mr.
BRIGHT, in his sweeping charges, and by his indis-
criminate abuse confounds all alike, and spoils what
effect he might otherwise produce by his considerable
abilities and unusual command of language. Here for
instance, let us take an illustration of his, which
very ably defines his usual style of oratory :—" I
maintain that the House of Commons, representing
as it now does counties and boroughs such as I have
described, does not represent the intelligence and
the justice of the nation, but the prejudices, the
privileges, and the selfishness of a class." " A class,"
be it remembered ; why not at least say classes ?
And we should like to know when Mr. BRIGHT has
met any class of men perfectly free from selfish-
ness and prejudice, and not addicted to the mainte-
nance of their privileges when they can maintain them.
Mr. BRIGHT'S Reform seems to aim at the extinction
of that class ho so abhors, and hence he really
points to no feasible method for those to adopt
who follow the line-upon-line theory. Mr. BRIGHT
thinks that the late Government would have dis-
solved Parliament after their defeat, only they
feared to offend their friends by putting them to
the expense of a new general election. " Thus you
have a proof, that whereas general corruption and
putridity' are the destruction of most bodies they
affect, the corruption of the present Parliament
was, and is, the cause of its present existence."

LONDON, TVEDNESDAI, OCT. 17, 1866.

If the intelligent foreigner who was at one time
so often referred to as the theme of suppositious

comment were now to arrive among us, and inquire
into the cause of this excitement of Mr. BRIGHT'S
creation, he might well be surprised to hear that
there has been nothing to demand it, and that no
public exigency has called it forth. Very little
difference is to be found in the meaning of these
speeches, whose name is "legion," that Mr. BRIGHT
keeps on addressing to numerous meetings from
what there was in those of seven or eight
years ago, but the matter has somewhat
altered. Always vehement, Mr. BRIGHT has now
become violent ; and ever exaggerated, he is posi-
tively unguarded to the last degree in his present
discourses. In the address he delivered last night
at Glasgow we may search in vain for any expres-
sion of faith or confidence in things that exist, or
in persons who hold positions of influence; on the
contrary, old things are to pass away, and all
things are to become new. There is much to be
done, however, before we arrive at the realisation of
Mr. BRIGHT'S Utopian dreams, and much to be said
also if we are to judge by the numerous speeches he
deems it necessary to make. The pertinacity with
which Mr. BRIGHT continues in all his speeches to
decry and abuse the upper classes is the worst fea-
ture in his addresses and that most calculated to do
injury; but, besides this, he is not a true-hearted
Englishman ; he is not proud of his country, and
seems to appreciate nothing in its laws or customs
but the license they give him to rail at everybody
and everything not exactly in accordance with his

It is the fault of Mr. BRIGHT and his friends, and
others, that the question of Reform was not settled
by Parliament before the last two dissolutions took
place, and the matter laid at rest for this generation ;
but if it is at all consistent with himself, no measure
that any public man dare introduce can meet his
approval, or at all remedy the evils he dwells upon
at these meetings. Ills speeches are not those of a
politician, but of an agitator, of one who sees
nothing but what is bad in ail that has hitherto
commanded the admiration of the world, and been
cherished by patriotic breasts from one generation
to another.

wishes.

The Parliament seems to have fallen under the
banu of his censure last night, and again we must
declare our opinion that Mr. BRIGHT discourses
upon this subject with a total lack of that respect
which is due, and in a tone and manner that are
quite inadequate. Who and what is he that he
should thus
sit in judgment upon an assembly that
represcn the
earning, tne genius, and the spirit of
the country ? Perhaps a little feeling may have
been engendered
in his mind by the conviction that
he is not in 148 right clement there. He cannot im-
press an educated assembly by distorting facts, and
confuting things to suit
his purpose; and he was
told pretty plainly
last Session that he could not
bully the House
of Commons. Really, if
we are to take Air. Baton-es observations
au pied de la lettre, we might fairly presume that
the present House has incurred the
Penalty of ex-
tinction, and that, like the doomed cities of old, it
should faint out of sight of men. may Bay at
once that we consider Mr. BRIGHT'S defence of
himself as a perfect failure, and that the tone he
adopted would be impertinent did it not deserve a
severer designation. lie declares that it was a per-
fectly just description which Mr. BEALES gave of
ourrepresentation when he said that it was "steeped
in corruption;"and goes on to say that if it existed in
any other country we should be the first to find fault
with if; he may well say " if," for even his assertion
does not say it does. It is because all must know
that Mr. BRIGHT is fully aware of the immense
superiority of our constitution over that of other
lands that his persistency in distorting facts to suit

There are undoubtedly two sides to every ques-
tion, and it is quite possible, as we have daily evi-
dence to convince us, for well-informed, intelligent,
and high-principled men to differ in toto respecting
given facts. Such appears to be the case in regard
to a matter of no less importance than the proposed
Confederation of the Provinces of British North
America. We in this country have generally looked
upon the stheme with favour, and have attributed
the opposition it encountered in the colonies as
founded rather upon prejudice than upon reason.
The malcontents have now, however, secured a
very able advocate*—one who has the reputation
to command attention and the ability to set forth
all the merits of his cause in very strong colours.
Mr. lIowE, we regret to find, is altogether opposed
to the Confederation scheme, looking upon it as an
unjustifiable attempt, on the part of Canada, to
ier i s t
o n
control her sister provinces. Whatever may be the
design or ambition of some politicians in Canada,
there
ci;:eason or necessity why such should be
thee consequence of union. The very term " Con-
federation"
Statesi f
m
otr
implies an Equality, a combination of
one
supposed c o
another, but the nntoondoemndin'eerTohveerSwoinses
Cantons are no
Swiss Confederation represent a
band of equal States.
In
the same way, if the
British Americans will look
nearer home, they will
find in their great and powerful neighbour a con-
federation of equal States. Ohio
does not dictate

* "Confederation Considered in Relation to the Interests
of tke Empire." By the Hon. Jos)pli Howe. sta,wa

to Texas, nor does Louisiana control Florida ; but
so firmly convinced are the majority of the advan-
tages of combination that they refused to break up
the Union even into two large powerful divisions.
In the case of British America the States, though
thriving and blest with great natural advantages,
are as yet poor and thinly peopled. They are five
in number, and though adopting the same
form of Constitution, they possess the dis-
advantages of divided Governments. We have
every reason to hope for a maintenance of friendly
relations with America, but wise politicians will
always take possibilities into consideration, and in
the event of a war between this country and the
United States, it is evident that the Confederated
Provinces of British America would offer a much
more formidable point to the enemy than the five
separate States. There would be unity of purpose
and unity of action. A prudent disposal of the
forces and of the common funds would, it is manifest,
add very materially to the defensive power of the
colonies. There is no reason why Nova Scotia or
New Brunswick should merge their identity in that
of Canada because they have a central government.
They have strongly marked peculiarities of their'
own ; they have distinctive trades and occupations,
and are not likely to send delegates to Ottawa or
anywhere else who would fail to assert their inte-
rests. There must always be !I great deal of inter-
nal legislation left to the separate legislature of
each colony. Mr. HOWE says, after referring to the
extensive fishing trade of Nova Scotia and New-
foundland, " Here are colonies within seven days'
steaming of these shores, floating the flag of
England over a noble mercantile marine, and
training 60,000 seamen and fishermen to defend it,
and yet the House of Commons is to be asked to
allow some gentlemen in Ottawa to draw these
people away from the ocean, which, for their own
and the general security of the empire, they are
required to protect, that their hearts may be broken
and their lives wasted on interminable frontiers
incapable of defence." But what reason is there to
suppose that any one Canadian or otherwise would
wish these men to abandon their own profitable
employment on which the commerce of the mari-
time provinces so greatly depends ? It would un-
doubtedly be the height of folly were they to do so,
and we have yet to learn that Canada intends to
attempt garrisoning her thousand miles of frontier.
As for Mr. HOWE'S ridicule of the new territory
and his disgust for the Canadian project of pur-
chasing the territory of Hudson's Bay, we think
he is somewhat unjust. " Fancy," he exclaims,
" a country in Europe as large as England, France,
and Prussia, with only eight people to the square
mile, and a debt of $25 per head, wanting to purchase
another country as large as Russia, and then gauge,
if you can, the measure of scorn and ridicule with
which the proposition would be received." We
cannot fairly compare the New World with the
Old ; even the mighty States themselves, with
a population reckoned by tens of millons, if we
divided that actual population by the number of
square miles in their territory, would look strange
to European eyes. Such a test would not give a
fair idea of their strength or power. Mr. HOWE,
although objecting to Canada's interference with
the Hudson's Bay Company, very greatly disap-
proves of its remaining in its present condition, and
strongly advocates Lord LYTTON'S plan of erecting
it into a separate colony, with a Governor and
Council, responsible to the Colonial Office, and not
to the Company. It is certainly quite time that this
magnificent territory were turned to some account,
and not sacrificedto the interests of a trading specu-
lation. The spirit of enterprise which so strongly
marks the presence of Englishmen in other parts of
the globe seems paralysed here, and the advancing
wave of colonisation is stayed. If some legislative
improvements were effected, and if the Confedera-
tion of the Provinces could be brought about on
terms satisfactory to all parties, there would be
more confidence felt in investing capital, and the
tide of emigration might flow northwards instead of
to the States.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

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

The Moniteur, in its bulletin, states that various
despatches from Athens, of a date anterior to 12th of
October, announce that important combats had
taken place unfavourable to the Turks in the island
of Candia. According to the news brought to
Constantinople by Djetnil Pacha, Aide-de-Camp of
the Sultan, however, who left the island on the 12th,
no engagement had taken place up to that period.
The Turkish troops had commenced their offensive
movement, and occupied an important position in
advance of Aproconio, the principal focus of the in-
surrection. An attack upon this point was expected
on the 14th. The insurgents were beginning to be
discouraged and apprehensive in regard to the result
of their movement.

The despatches from Cassel state that all the
officers and soldiers of the late electoral army had
taken the oath of fidelity to the Ring of Prussia.
A letter from Cairo states that in Egypt, as in
France, many disasters had been produced by the
inundations. The Nile had risen to an unprece-
dented extent, but the Egyptian Government had
beforehand adopted great precautions. In spite of
these, however, it was feared that great loss of life
and property would ensue. In Upper Egypt ter-
rible disasters and destruction of property had
already been made known.

Some alarming but stupid reports have been cir-
culated in Paris as to the interruption of the pacific
negotiations between Prussia and Saxony. Some of
the Paris editors drew upon their imagination and
announced fresh conflicts. Authentic accounts from
Berlin state that the negotiations proceed satisfac-
torily, and that the conclusion of peace was consi-
dered as a matter of certainty.

Letters from Italy announce that the Royal gon-
dola, in preparation for the King on the occasion of
the rejoicings on the conclusion of peace, has been
prepared at a great expense of money and taste. It
will be rowed by 18 men. At the helm is the lion
of St. Marc holding the crown of Savoy ; at the
stern there is a personification of Venice crowning
Italy. The deck is splendidly decorated. It is
ornamented with a magnificent throne of velvet,
embroidered with gold. The throne is supported by
a Genius. The Royal flag is hoisted in the centre
of the vessel.

I mentioned that the Lombardy crown of iron
was about to be restored to Italy as the symbol of
the restoration of the power of Victor Emmanuel.
This restoration has taken place with great cere-
mony. This crown, although called the iron crown,
is iu reality of massive gold. Ancient French writers
say that Theodelinde, the widow of Atharis, King
of the Lombards, made a present of this crown
to her second husband, Agilulphe, Duke of
Turin, which was used at his coronation.
The crown is of massive gold, but inside there is a
thin circle of iron, formed, it is said by ancient
French theological writers, of the nails used at the
crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This band of iron was
the cause of its being called the iron crown. It is
this crown which Charlemagne received in 774 from
the hands of Pope Adrian the First. It was used at
Boulogne in 1530 for the coronation of Charles the
Fifth. Napoleon the First wore this crown in May,
1805. Francis the First and Ferdinand the First
Emperors of Austria were successively crowned
with it as Sovereigns of Lombardy. In 1859,
at the approach of the Franco-Italian army,
the Austrians carried away this crown, which was
taken to the Imperial Treasury at Vienna, and
guarded with every possible precaution. One of
the Paris papers has a happy aspiration upon the
subject. It expressed a hope that this crown of iron
may inaugurate for Italy a new age of gold.

The fields around Paris were covered with white
frost this morning. It has been bright and fine
to-day, but very cold.
About a year ago, the French Government, in its
desire to extend free trade and promote industry
generally, relieved bakers from various restrictions
which pressed upon them and made the trade really
free—that is to say, they mako their own charge
for bread according to quality, but they must
not cheat in weight. The tribunal of Beau-
vais has just inflicted deserved punishment upon a
baker who sells what is called in London fancy
bread. It decided that a baker may charge what
he likes for a " 104" but, if he. sells bread pro-
fessedly weighing a pound, the pound of bread, like
Shylock's pound of flesh, is intended to be a real
pound. The complainant proved that the bread for
which he paid was deficient several ounces in weight,
and the President of the Court said that a baker
under the free-trade system might charge his own
price for a pound of bread, but he must give a
pound. The defendant having committed a fraud
in this respect he should fine him 50 francs. He
was also condemned to pay the expenses of the pro-
secution, and the charge of two advertisements in
the papers of the district announcing to his cus-
tomers the pleasing intelligence that he was in the
habit of selling to them bread deficient in weight.
The late Sir Robert Peel once held up a sovereign
while explaining the principles of free-trade, and
asked, " What is a pound ?" The President of the
Beauvais Tribunal defines a pound as consisting in
French measure of 500 grammes ; and of this piece
of useful knowledge the baker seemed to be igno-
rant. Now he will know better.

Mr.-Hown objects to the domination of one State
over the others, and says that America herself
could not have survived it. But whatever may
be the facts as to Canadian ambition or local
jealousy, no one in this country contemplate) such
a consequence of Confederation. " Union is
strength," not to one, but to all. It does not
signify the subordination of all interests to one con-
trol, but the representation and combination of all.
If the Quebec scheme is believed by the Nova
Scotians and New Brunswickers to be partial and
unjust, it will surely be posiible for them to point
out its inequalities, and to suggest some statesman-
like improvements. Whatever objections might be
raised by their neighbours, such a statement would
certainly receive a fair hearing from the people of
this country, and from the Imperial Legislature.
We trust that a spirit of conciliation and fair play
may prevail over local jealousies and petty ambi-
tion, and that the several populations will endea-
vour to reconcile their differences and to unite
heartily in striving for the good of what is, after all,
their common country.

Yesterday the neighbourhood of the good city of
Aberdeen was the scene of a very interesting cere-
monial. The opening of the new waterworks, which
are to supply the rapidly increasing population of
the district with an ample supply of pure water, was
an incident of considerable importance, and the pre-
sence of Her MAJESTY gave the proceedings an in-
terest and attraction which few public ceremonials
have possessed since the death of the PRINCE CON-
SORT. Her MAJESTY was punctual to the time ap-
pointed, setting in this respect, as in many others,
an excellent example to her feminine subjects, and
the weather was in accordance with her special good
fortune in that respect. The day was an eventful
one for the whole district, and some thousands of
spectators assembled at Invercaunie, the locality of
the waterworks, at a very early hour. The
public bodies and associations of Aberdeen
were present in due state, and the Volunteers
added to the brilliancy of the spectacle. A suit-
able prayer having been read, the Lord Provost,
who has been very instrumental in carrying out
the undertaking, read an address to the QUEEN, to
which her MAJESTY briefly replied in person, being
the first time that she has spoken in public since ber
bereavement. "I have felt," said the QUEEN,
" that at a time when the attention of the country
has been so anxiously directed to the public health,
it was right that I should make au exertion to tes-
tify my sense of the importance of a work so well
calculated as this to promote the health and comfort
of your ancient city." It is hoped thatthe moral thus
pointed by her MAJESTY will not be lost upon the
municipal authorities of other cities, but that
some efforts worthy of the importance of the
cause may be made to secure for all our town
and city populations the blessings of pure water.
The rapid growth of our great towns ne-
cessitates careful attention to this matter. The
Lord Provost reminded her MAJESTY that it was
the third time during the present century that an
increased supply of water had become ne-
cessary for Aberdeen. " In 1806 the daily sup-
ply was 60,000 gallons, since increased to
1,000,000, and the citizens will long delight
to connect your MAJESTY'S name with the

The Queen of Denmark and their Royal High-
nesses the Prince and Princess of Wales, attended by the
Hon. Mrs. Cole, Countess Reventlow, Major Grey, &c.,
honoured the Olympic Theatre with their presence last
evening to witness the performance of Mr. Tom Taylor's
drama " The Whiteboy."

His Excellency the Prussian Ambassador and
the Countess Bernstorff and family are expected to leave
Brighton for the Prussian Embassy next week.
The Earl of Bective, M.P., and Lady Madeline
Taylour have left the Lodge, Virginia, Ireland, for Un-
derley Hall, Westmoreland.

The Countess Dowager Fortescue and Miss Geale
have left town for Powderham Castle, Exeter.

THE LIFE OF JOSIAH WEDGWOOD. By Eliza
Meteyard. Vol. 2, with above 200 illustrations, completing
the work.—Hurst and Blackett.—" We have to congratu-
late the authoress on the publication of her second volume
of the life of Wedgwood. We can award her the praise
due to the most painstaking and conscientious application.
She has devoted her whole mind and energy to her subject,
and has achieved a work not loss creditable to herself than
it is indispensable to all who wish to know anything about
English ceramic art and its great inventor. The two
volumes before us are in themselves marvels of decorative
and typographical skill. More beautifully printed pages,
more creamy paper, and more dainty woodcuts have sel-
dom met our eyes. It is seldom that an author is so well
seconded by his coadjutors as Miss Meteyard has been by
her publishers, printer, and the staff of draughtsmen and
engravers who have contributed the numerous illustrations
which adorn this sumptuous book."— Saturday Review.
GOOD FEELING BETWEEN RIVAL BISHOPS.—The
Right Rev. Dr. Power, Roman Catholic Bishop of Killaloe,
is engaged at present building a suitable residence in that
town, and tLe greatest possible facility has been afforded
by the Lord Bishop in not only granting a site for its
erection at a nominal sum, but he has also given ground
to beautify it in every possible way. This is highly com-
mendable of the Lord Bishop, whose every act since his
appointment to the bishopric .of Killaloe is that of tolera-
tion, kindness, and affection to the people of all classes.
Limerick Southern Chronicle.

REFORM MEETING AT CARLISLE.--A crowded
meeting was held in Carlisle on Monday night to promote
Parliamentary Reform. Sir Wilfrid Lawson presided.
The largest ball in the city, capable of containing about
1,000, was crowded in every part. Resolutions wore
passed, approving of manhood suffrage and vote by ballot,
expressing warm thanks and pledging support to the pre-
sident, council, and executive of the Reform League, and
tendering thanks to the leading Liberals in Parliament
who vindicated the character and protected the rights of
the people, and further expressing confidence in the
honesty and ability of Mr. Bright, champion of the people's
cause. Mr. Beales, Sir Wilfrid Lawson, Mr. Mark Price
(Manchester), and several working men, were the speakers.

supply of 6,000,000 gallons of pure water from the LATEST INTELLIGE WE
Dee." v .
The undertaking has been carried out in a manner (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)
worthy of its importance, and reflects credit on the
energy and perseverance of those who conducted it.
We have no doubt that their fellow-townsmen will
appreciate their labours, and the new Aberdeen
Waterworks will probably exercise an important
effect on the health and wellbeing of the population
of the neighbourhood.

ITALY.
VERONA, Oct. 16 (Evening.)

The Italian troops, under the command of Gene-
ral Medici, entered this city to-day, and met with
an enthusiastic reception from the inhabitants,
who raised cheers for the King of Italy and the
Army.

THE EMPRESS OF MEXICO.
TRIESTE, Oct. 16, Evening.

Intelligence received here from "Miramar states
that no change has taken place in the health of the
Empress Charlotte. Her Majesty, however, takes
partial nourishment and sleeps well.

The Count of Flanders and the Archduke Carl
Ludwig have left Miramar.

BUCHAREST, Oct. 16 (Evening.)
Prince Charles leaves on Thursday for Constan-

tinople.

AMERICA.
SOUTHAMPTON, Oct. 17.

The Hamburg and American Company's
steamer Allemannia sails at noon to-day for New
York with the mails, 190 cabin and a large number
of steerage passengers, and a full cargo, includ-
ing precious stones and jewellery from Havre,
value 131,425 francs.

The North German Lloyd's steamer Deutschland
sails at noon to-day on her first voyage to New
York, with a full complement of cabin and steerage
passengers, and a largo cargo, including French
jewellery from Havre, value 95,000 francs.

THE BOMBAY MAIL.

ALEXANDRIA, Oct. 14.

The Ripon and Pera left at noon to-day.
The former may be expected at Marseilles on the
20th and the latter at Southampton about the 27th