The Sun.
London, England, 1866-02-15 00:00:00

Alleged Libel on Mr. Sothern.

Just as the hour approached for the closing of the
Marylebone Police-court yesterday, Mr. Montague
Williams, accompanied by Mr. Sothcrn and his so-
licitor, Mr. J. Turnley, 38, Cannon-street, city,
entered and craved Mr. Mansfield's attention for a
few moments.

Mr. Williams said he had to make an application
for a warrant against a person of the name of Robt.
Cooper, who is the printer and publisher of a paper
called the Spiritual Times, for a scandalous libel in-
serted in the impression of 27th January of this year.
If his worship looked at the imprint of the paper he
would see that it said " printed and published by the
proprietor, Robert Cooper, at the Spiritual Lyceum,
14, Newman-street, Oxford-street, in the county of
Middlesex, Saturday, Jan. 27,11866." This complaint
of Mr. Sothern is that what has been published
against his character and reputation in this paper is
one of the basest libels that could possibly be. his
not only traducing Mr. Sothern in the opinion of
private individuals at home to whom he was dear,
but the party against whom he applies has attempted
to traduce him in Glasgow even, and other places
equally remote. He (Cooper) goes on to state from
his " Lyceum," whatever sort of place that may be,
that Mr. Sothern, whilst females have been in a
comatose state, has taken advantage of them. He
would not make any further observation before read-
ing the article complained of, whichwas as follows:
" Mr. Sothern, the actor, celebrated as the origi-
nal personator of Lord Dundreary, and who is now
living in London upon the handsome competence
accumulated by his hit' in the Dundreary role, has
published a letter ridiculing spiritualism' as a gross
imposition, and relates his own experience in this
city (New York), where, under the nom de plume of
Stuart, he sustained a leading part in a ' miracle
circle.' We remember Mr. Sothern when, as Mr.
Stuart, lie played the walking gentleman' at
Barnum's Museum, and was considered hardly worth
his meagre salary of $l5 a-week. We also remem-
ber the same Mr. Stuart when, as a small actor at
some other place of amusement here, ho professed
to be a mesmeriser. He created quite a sensation
by admitting the truth of an accusation brought
against him by a certain new actress, that he had
grievously wronged her after placing her in a state
of mesmeric influence."

What could be a more base calumny against any
person than this, whatever his position. He would
now read another portion of the same article :
" We were well acquainted with him at the time
of the spiritual circle,' at which he was the opera-
tor,' and to which young Mr. Wolf—son of IN olf,
of the Museum Orchestra—and now husband of
Josephine Orton, led the heroine of Arrah pia Pogue
at Niblo's ; but the ballet girl at the Museum was
the writing medium. Andrews, the actor, was the
outside medium in the same ' circle,' and used to
paint some very clever landscapes, which he con-
sidered were produced under the immediate influence
of the spirits of Raphael, Guido, Michael, and so on.
Mr. Wolf was an uncommonly skilful impostor, said
readily producel a variety of chirography as the
foe similes of the handwriting of departed people.
Mr. Sothern was the least gifted of the entire com-
pany of simulators."

ILI applyiug An-111iN waz,ani, Lc yr 1/I.hctl 1, thaw
his worship's particular attention to what he vas
about to read next :

" Ile was a good-looking, gay, vivacious, fast'
young man, whose pretty wife continually won the
sympathy of those who were witnesses of her hus-
band's licentiousness. Mr. Sothern, therefore,
boasts entirely too much of his ' fame as a medium,'
for in justice to spiritualism (in which we admit we
have no faith), we must confess that he never was a
'medium' of any importance . . . but there
are too many persons in New York cognisant of the
facts to let his self-complacency go undiscredited."

The learned counsel continued—There was also
another periodical which had made an unwarrant-
able attack upon his client, but of which he would
say no more about, as it was out of his worship's
district. The accusations against his client were of
a very grave character, more especially considering
his reputation and his position in society. He
wished for an opportunity to be placed in the box to
meet his calumniator. So seriously did this matter
affect him that it almost unfitted him for his pro-
fessional business. It was also a talk at the club-
houses as to whether he would move to vindicate
his character. The learned counsel concluded by
asking for the warrant.
The warrant was granted.

THE FASHION OF WEARING RINGS ON THE
FINGERS is certainly maonrae
octohnevr epnlaiceenst
far
riaanw
away in
at
adopted in the East Indies
which we read of their being worn in the nose, lips, cheek;
and chin. When Peter Alvarez had his first audiene3 of
the King of Callen t, he found that monarch adorned with
jewels
on every available part of his person. Tho barba-
rity of a ring in the lip cannot bo sufficiently stigmatised
by a lady who wears one in her ear. The lady who affects
the lip-ring considers the pierced ear a sign of slavery, as
it was known to be by the Hebrews long ago. Travellers
in India have realised the nursery tradition of the lady
with " rings on her fingers and bells on her toes ;" and we
know that the tinkling feet of the Jewish women incurred
the reprobation of the prophet Ezekiel. All nations seem
to agree in this love of personal ostentation. The entrails
of the earth are torn to extract gems for a lady's finger.
How many hands, says Pliny, are worn down that one
little joint may be ornamented. "If the infernal regions
really existed, certainly these burrows of avarice and
luxury would have penetrated into thorn."—Once a Week.
THE Loss OF TIIE EXCELSIOR.—On Tuesday
evening the steamer Helen AUGregor, Captain
Knowles, arrived at Hull from Hamburg, after a very heavy
passage. Captain Knowles reported that the telegrams
which had been received at Hamburg of the loss of the
Excelsior stated that the captain, his wife, one passenger,
and 15 of the crew had been saved by the Quieter lifeboat.
They had boon six days in the rigging without food, and
the sea making a clear breach over them. They were in a
very exhausted condition when rescued, and they were
placed under the doctor's hands. The owners—Messrs.
Lofthouse, Glover, and Company—also received a telegram
beenfrotmA:vNa
vzoeitrd7d,le
stnhz,
emwrtzi cehah. i
nstated
dthat
eo
passengers
al ys s lo :
goefrstlib
eeinergelwosth.ad
)—Consumption, and all nervous, bilious,
stomach, and liver complaints, in every stage, are only ag-
gravated and accelerated by drugs of every description, but
pertec.ly curable by Du Barry's health restoring Revalenta
Arabica Food, as proved by thousands of cases which hal,
been considered hopeless ; suet as indigestion (dyspepsia).
I cough, asthma, consumption, habitual cmstipatlon, diarr-
hoea, all gastric derangements, heernorrholds, liver com-
plaints, flatulency, nervousness, biliousness' fevers, sore.e
throats, diphtheria, catarrhs, colds, influenza, noises n "
head and ears, rheumatism, gout, impurities. eTtPitifanl°:
1 hysteria. neuralgia, irritability, teeeplessness, acia Is
y• cramps,Y'
dr°Pcs 'or at sea,
pitaton, heartburn, h. adache, debility,
spasms, nausea end sickness even in pregnancy Ythe chest,
sinking fits, bron.litis, scrofula, tightness
James Roberts,
&c. We quote a few.—Cure, No. 4a,270.
pains in the pit of the stomach and b
ity years' diseased
timber merchant, of Fernley Surrey, of thirty
and
partial
lungs, spit tin of blood, livt r derangewten
Jacobs, of extreme
deaf-
ness.—Cure, No. 47,121. Miss Elizabeth
w spirits, and nervous
nervousness, indigcst on, gatherings, eis- the shoulthrs,
Lord-Lieu-
tenant of Waterford, of many years'cin dysPePvia, nervousness,
Fifty years' indescribable agonytfrienny,
spasms, sickness, ana
asthma, cough, const patidi, flaNuo.
51,610. Tte Rev. James I'.
1 ancies.—Cure, No. 1,771. Lord Stuat.°ddyeellpeeeplacisa.,
_N0.4032.
vomiting—Maria Jolly.-
Norfolk,Care of
indigestion and torpidity
Cam; bell, leakenharn,
sisfed
all medical treatment --
In
i • Gib lls • 121 b, 22s •
9d • 21b, 4s 6 , , , , 211 b,
In tins, ]lb, 2s ,
and Co., No. 77, Regent-street, London;
408.-1-tarry Du Barryis
8, King William-street ; likewise
of the liver,
also Phillips, lea ckaterer,, ;
t 4, Chcapside ; 49, liishopsgate.
at 61, Cracechurch
;580, and 298, Oxford-street ; 330, Strand ;
which red re
et • 103, Tottcrth tm-court-road ; 96,
Il •
54, Islington, N. ; at vey, Notting-hill; Close
Upper street,
65, "Lob-street ; and Stubbs, Queen's-terrace, St.
Brothers, ~
London; and all respectable gtOCCIE3 and che-
stret
jetpipie'rithninak;e63,r_affn ,
John's-Wood,
mists.—Beware of spurious imitations. -

THE LATEST EDITION of "THE SUN."
J. HOLMES begs to inform his friends, and the public
enerally. that he supplies the LATEST EDITION of
TIIE SUN " as soou as published —No. 16, Hampstead-
oad, N. W.

QPORTING.—JOHN ROBERTS supplies the
LA.reST EDITION of "TUN bUfl" as soon as pub-
Bath-strcet, City-road, E.C.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

THIS DAY.—Mornin, 2n. lm.--Afternoon,2h. 25m.
TJ-Monitow.-Morning, 2h. 45m.—Afternoon, 3h. 3m.

"te I%l*
eivgLti

LONDON, THURSDAY, FEB. 15, 1866.

It is satisfactory that the Government Bill on the
Cattle Plague has progressed so far in so compara-
tively short
a Period Notwithstanding some op-
position, the bill in:,
to-day
a second time yesterday
afternoon, and
committee will begin its
labours. doubt fYaultes can be found with this
labours.
measure as with every other, if people are deter-
m rns ined to do so, but this see m$
one of those proposals
which should not be regarded in too n captious a
may go
we are to wait
g
spirit or too criticising a terrooerija
v till the
until every one is satisfied, we
end of the session, and legislation will ha%
effected
nothing for the interests of the community in this
pressing and overwhelming calamity. Mr, „ .a..P.IGIIT'
as usual, gave the House the benefit of his opinion,
which, of course, was adverse to anything in the
shape of liberality. it would seem as if no distress
or trouble that may affect the interests of the
agricultural classes can ever have power to eradi-
cate from the mind of the lion. member for Bir-
mingham his deep-rooted prejudices and extend
his narrow and most contracted notions. 'We pro-
test against this class style of legislation being
advocated within the walls of Parliament, and in
this instance of the cattle plague it is as absurd as
it is unseemly. 110w7 in the name of common
sense, can an evil of this sort go on increasing,
as
it
is
unfortunately doing, without affecting very

seriously all classes of the community in a direct
or in an indirect manner. It is contrary to all the
sound principles of political economy that any
class of the people should be left to sink

under the burden of a peculiar and appalling
nature. It is difficult to decide whether Mr.
BRIGHT'S remarks are more to be respected for
their argumentative power, or their moral tendency.
He declares that " nothing can be more monstrous
than that the public should be called upon to make
up to individuals the loss which may arise from acci-
dent, or, as it may be termed in this case, the
dispensation of PROVIDENCE."
Again, what right has Mr. BRIGHT to assume
that if the House sanction the principle of com-

pensation no efforts will be made by the farmers

to check the progress of the disease. The want
of compensation during all these months has had
no beneficial effect in stopping its course, and it is
quite idle to go on arguing after this fashion. The
Chancellor of the Exchequer had next to look to his
laurels, for Mr. BRIGHT threatens to become a
formidable antagonist to him. There was a deep

meaning in the ironical manner in which

he called the right hon. gentleman to account last
night for his dereliction of duty in this respect. Ho
could not have been more severe or impertinent had
they entered into a compact on the question. "This
is introducing a principle," said he, " which I did not
expect the Chancellor of the Exchequer would sanc-
tion, but I suppose he consented to it on the ground
that it will scarcely affect his new Budget." Mr.
BRIGHT'S concluding remarks were most intempe-
rate. He went out of his way to insult the country
gentlemen, he charged the farmers with being
quite ready to commit fraud, or something very like
it, and wound up his observations by declaring
that this scourge must be regarded, like all other
scourges, as incurable, and must have its course,
and no human power could check it. According to
this idea nothing would be done in times of cholera
and epidemics, and it really is surprising to find any
one so perverted and prejudiced as the hon. member
for Birmingham in this mattter.

Mr. MILL also objected to. the proposal for com-
pensation, and spoke upon it, but in a more mode-
rate style than Mr. BRIGHT, but he gave it as his
opinion, which was certainly a very strange one,
that he did not think, in the end, the agricultural
interest would be losers by this calamity. Mr.
LOWE'S speech was very much to the point, and he
described Mr. BRIGHT'S views very correctly, and
created great amusement by declaring, that " so
inveterate has become his habit of setting one class
against another, that he does not content himself
with the human race, but extends it to those animals
which have either come up to the level of the human
race, or to whose level the human race has come
down, and has actually got up a schism between
the humble cur and the aristocratic foxhound ?" Mr.
LOWE also said very truly that Mr. BRIGHT had
adopted a very mischievous course in talking of
this bill as a scheme got up by the rich mem-
bers of the House to indemnify themselves and
their tenants at the expense of their poorer neigh-
bours. Thus, he said, " grievances are got up,
misrepresent wholly the facts, assume motives and
objects which do not exist, pick out the extreme of
one class as the only persons benefited, and the
other extreme class as the persons only injured, and
you have a receipt for converting all the best and
wisest institutions of the country into intolerable
grievances." This is an admirable definition of the
style in which Mr. BRIGHT and his friends go on,
and the loud cheers with which it was received
showed that, however much the hon. member for
Birmingham may succeed in his addresses at public
meetings in creating a sensation, he will not im-
press the House by his intemperate language and

intolerant spirit.
Viscount CRANBOURNE was of great service in
clearing away the mists that tended to obscure the
main question from notice ; and he showed how
futile were the objections made against compensa-
tion. The farmer will not slaughter his cattle him-
self, but the local officers of the inspector will do
so, and they will have no interest in indiscriminate
sacrifice, because they will have to pay for all that
are killed. Very true were the remarks made by
the noble lord on the manner in which this
subject was treated by other speakers as merely a
class interest. He said that when the " interests
of Ireland called for the granting of national aid
the House very justly came to their aid ; when the
cotton interests required public assistance the house
very properly enabled the cotton population to
seek their relief in great part from the succour
-which the House gave, and from the parishes to
which the distressed artisans belonged, and no one
complained of injustice in these instances." In
this question, however, it is not even necessary
to employ these arguments, conclusive as they are,
because it is a question which affects the whole
country. Very true were the remarks made by the
noble lord as to the necessity that existed for
prompt measures. Ile said that the " rinderpest
had no respect for deep-rooted feelings, and must be
dealt with as an army in the field ; it should be
opposed by such means as you would use to resist
the conflagration of a great city, or the advance of
a French marshal at the head of a hundred thou-
sand men."

Mr. GRENVILLE, who represents one of the
largest agricultural constituencies in the kingdom,
was in favour of the Government measure, which
certainly is important testimony in its favour.
Mr. HUNT considers that, for a time, all movement
of cattle should be stopped by road and rail, and
intends to take the sense of the House upon the
proposition.

The position of affairs in New Zealand is not
very satisfactory. The continuance of the native
war must certainly be as annoying to the colonists
as it is costly and obstructive to their material pro-
gress. Tranquillity is, however, being gradually
restored, and there appears to be a confident hope
or expectation that the war will not last for many
months longer. The new Ministry, under Air.
STAFFORD, have not pursued any very different
course from that followed by Mr. WELD and his
Cabinet. They appear inclined to support the
principle of self-defence, seeing that the 70th
Regiment is preparing for departure, and some
of the other troops are to be distributed with
a view to facilitate the removal of a good
many more. These measures are evidently dictated
more by the wish of dispensing with the military
assistance of the mother country than by any con-
viction that the necessity for troops is at an end,
seeing that no reduction has been effected in the
colonial forces; and, indeed, a further enrolment of
both Europeans and natives has been ordered.
The question of self-defence is, however, a diffi-
cult one, for it entails the invidious task of taxa-
tion. If the Imperial forces are to be at once dis-
pensed with, there must inevitably be some means
devised for raising the funds necessary for carrying
on the war. Even supposing peace is restored in a
few months time, as all must hope it may be, there
will still be a necessity for raising money, although
the necessity may be only a temporary one.
The chief local question in the colony arises from
this very matter, for some parties have taken up
the idea of separation, not, as might be supposed,
from the mother country, but from each other,

The Southern colony is unwilling to share the
burden of maintaining the native war, and
its politicians argue that if the expenditure
of the last few years is to be taken as a sample of
what is to come, all the revenues of all the provinces
will be absorbed in this native imbroglio. How the
Middle Island is to support an expense which is too
great for the whole colony is not asked by these
politicians, but there does not seem much proba-
bility of the question ever coming to a serious issue.
New Zealand is certainly neither populous enough
nor wealthy enough to attempt such a thing as
separation with any prospect of success. The
position which it holds is a very different
one from that of Australia, and although
several different colonies having separate
Governments have been erected on that vast conti-
nent, New Zealand has no reason for imitating her
larger, richer, and more powerful neighbour. Some
of the schemes for amending the colonial constitu-
tion are almost amusing, especially a project, seri-
ously propounded, of erecting each of the nine
provinces into a separate and independent
State under a Federal Government, after the Ameri-
can fashion. Such an experiment would seem like
the Lilliputians imitating the Brobdignagians.
There are three other modes in contemplation ; but,
as Mr. CARDWELL has throughout discouraged the
notion, it is not likely that we shall hear much
more of it. If by any means this harassing and
encumbering war could be got rid of the colony
might make rapid progress, since it has every na-
tural advantage, and if the tide of emigration once
set in that way its population would rapidly in-
crease, and its resources be proportionately de-
veloped.

The Spanish Government is beginning to discover
that it has got into a difficulty by its unwarrant-
able conduct towards Chili, and the Spanish com-
mander in the Pacific has already made that dis-
covery. The old story about catching a Tartar
seems likely to receive a modern illustration in the
share of the blockading squadron, which is in a fair
way of being blockaded itself. The new comman-
der has found it advisable to suspend the blockade
of two ports, Talcalinano and Coquimbo, concen-
trating his forces at Valparaiso and Caldera.
Even under these circumstances he is in a diffi-
cult position. His crews are in a bad condition,
end, it is said, there are even symptoms of disaffec-
tion and insubordination among them. They are,
in fact, suffering from a very practical difficulty—
the lack of provisions, since the new Government
of Peru, which is hostile to Spain, has refused to
permit the vessels laden with supplies for the fleet to
leave Callao. It is said in Madrid that money and
provisions in abundance are on their way to Chili ;
but the fact seems to be that the blockade willhave
to be raised from sheer want of the necessaries of
life. If; however, the Spanish fleet should manage
to hold or.t, it will have to encounter the
combined fleets of Chili and Peru, which
is likely to prove a formidable opponent. In
any case Spain will not meet with much sym-
pathy for her discomfiture. She has richly deserved
the humiliation and expense of failure, and it is only
to be hoped that she will profit by the lesson, and
learn to respect the independence of weaker States.
The patriotic determination of Chili to maintain the
war to the list extremity, rather than abandon her
independence, will, we trust, be rewarded by a
speedy removal of the obstruction to her commerce
and a res'ooration of peace and prosperity.

Sir G. GREY on Monday night obtained leave to
bring in a bill for the purpose of amending the oaths
administered to members of Parliament. The object
of the bill was very clearly stated by the right hon.
?jai-wiet ill his ?icier discourse. At present there are
two distinct oaths taken by the members—one for
Protestants and the other for Catholics. The oath
of allegiance is common to all members to take,
and, as Sir G. GREY truly observed, it is only right
and fitting that all her MAJESTY'S subjects should
take it. The second part of the oath which is taken
by Protestants relates to the abjuration of the
claims of the Pretender and his descendants. As
all these are now dead, it seems, indeed, quite idle
to retain the form any longer. The late Lord
LYNDHURST declared that every man of common
sense must consider that the oath should be repealed,
since the utility was at an end. So far as Pro-
testants are concerned the oath of allegiance is
quite sufficient for them, since they never can con-
sider that any foreign prince or potentate has a right
to jurisdiction in the realm.

As regards the Roman Catholics, it is considered
that, with great propriety, much may be altered in
the present form of their oaths. Sir G. GREY said
that it was idle to insist upon their declaring
that no Prince or Potentate abroad had jurisdic-
tion, " civil or ecclesiastical, within this realm,
because there was no doubt that the Pope did
exercise a spiritual authority over the consciences
of those belonging to the Roman Catholic Church."
A general oath to be taken by all members alike is
what is now proposed ; and if the House accede to
the proposition no doubt it will be productive of
advantages. It is always a pity to insist upon ta
retention of old forms and customs which are fast
growing obsolete through the chances and changes
of events, if they have not already done so ; and
anything that excites indignant and irritated feel-
ings should be avoided, especially when it relates
to religious subjects. 'The subject was so much
discussed last year that it is not likely that the
bill will be opposed very strongly this session, and
it seems to be framed in a moderate and judicious
manner.

GREAT FIRE IN OXFORD-STREET.--VISIT OF THE
PRINCE OF WALES, &C.—Last evening, about half-
past seven o'clock, a tremendous fire broke out in the well-
known premises belonging to Messrs. Laurie and Marner,
carriage-builders, Oxford-street. This building was several
floors in height, and besides the upper ones, used as fac-
tories, painting, varnishing, and polishing compartments,
the other floors were used as show-rooms. In the course
of a few minutes after the alarm was given, the engines of
the Metropolitan Brigade, under Capt. Shaw's direction,
attended from several stations. Fortunately the turncocks
belonging to the Grand Junction Water Company quickly
arrived, and plugs were drawn both in Hanovor-square
and Oxford-street, and the water flew up almost as high
as the first-floor of the houses, both back and front; when
at that moment his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,
his grace the Duke of Sutherland, the Hen. Capt. Howard,
and other notables arrived, and viewed with apparent
astonishment the alacrity displayed by the firemen in get-
ting tho hose from the different land steamers and manual
engines properly connected, so as to enable them to get
the water to bear upon the burning pile. By that time,
however, the flames had taken the complete possession
of not only the back workshops, but they had likewise en-
veloped the upper floors of the front premises. Many thou-
sand persons assembled, and it was deemed necessary to
send to Scotland-yard for all the police that could be spared,
and forthwith Captain Harris, assistant-commissioner, and
Superintendents Hannant and Searle of the C and E divi-
sions attended. The first thing these officers did was to
instruct the constables under them to barricade the road-
ways and to keep a clear space for the working of the en-
gines. This was a work of no little difficulty, but it was
eventually accomplished, and not fewer than 17 land and
manual-power engines were in full operation, throwing
some thousand tons weight of water upon the flames, but
at midnight the fire was not entirely extinguished. The
total loss by this disastrous event must amount to some
thousands of pounds sterling, but as to the origin of the
disaster not the least information could be obtained, and
during the intense excitement which prevailed it was
\est-end
floors foryears,possible to ascertain in what offices the property was in-
sured. Such an extensive fire has not been witnessed at
the V
but itis only right to state that
the
lower
of the mainbuildings have ericaped, with
the Mepti9u 94 damage done by water.