The Sun.
London, England, 1866-03-27 00:00:00

, .
not openly advise, but we do say that he is very
culpable in mentioning such a thing at all.
As for-those who desire thatl/4the whole subject be
treltedto -gether,luid not iii instalments, Mr. BRIGHT
thinks that " a more dirty conspiracy has not been
seen in the House of
_Commons during many
certaigene
rations." -
This is elegant phraseology nly ;
but we wonder what denunciation ought to have
been applied to the little arrangement made be-
tween Mr. BRIGHT, Earl RUSSELL, and a few
other celebrities at Willis's Rooms in 1859. That,
we suppose, was a national undertaking, inspired
by patriotic motives, and a not political movement
instigated by love of place or desire of power, or,
still more, through unwillingness that others
should effect what they could not do. 7 One thing
is suspicious in Mr. BRIGHT'S letter, that he talkK
of the present Parliament in the most disparaginc,
terms. Before the session he used to declare that
it boasted a Liberal majority of 60 or 70, and would
work well and do wonders. Experience has made
him a wiser and a sadder man, however, and we learn
that " it is to a large extent the offspring of landed
power in the counties, and of tumult and corruption
in the boroughs; and it would be strange if such
a Parliament were in favour of freedom, and an
honest representation of the people." Mr. BRIGHT
is fond of quotations, and we wonder he has never
adopted those lines of BYRON—

" Where may the wearied eye repose,
When gazing on the great,
Where neither guilty glory glows,
Nor despicable hate."
When he gets a very little way up the social scale,
virtue, wisdom, and consideration vanish away al-
together, and appear like angel visits, very few and
far between.

The occasion of the birthday of the King of '
PRUSSIA has been made the most of, as usual, and
compliments on one side, and absurd protestations
on the other, have been the order of the day. The
KING was as arbitrary as ever in his remarks, and
allowed no shadow of a chance of improvement to
appear for the future. He will abide by his policy,
he declares, " whatever difficulties" he may have to
contend against ; but he adds a hope that peace may
be maintained, and that the solidity of the two
leading Conservative Governments of the Confede-
racy would survive the differences that had arisen of
late. There is not much to depend upon in this,
because it is quite evident that the KING will not
give way in the least, or change his plans
one iota, whatever the result may be. In Holstein
the Austrian Commander offered his congratulations
to the Prussian officers at Altona, and made use of
similar expressions. The people of Holstein ignored
the whole affair, which is not to be wondered at
when we consider what they have seen of Prussian
rule in Schleswig. Since these occurrences some
things have seemed to indicate that after all peace
may not prevail: In Berlin yesterday the KING gave
long audiences to the Minister of War, General
Von RooN, and to the Barn MOLTKE, the Chief of
the General Staff. Besides these significant meet-
ings, Count BISMARCK subsequently had in-
terviews with the Adjutant-General, and the
Chief of the Military Cabinet. What this
means it is difficult to decide, but it may in all
probability signify an unpropitious state of affairs.
At any rate we may safely affirm that neither the
KING nor his Minister is at all secure as to the pro-
spect of peace, but wishes to be ready for the
emergency of war. It looks unpromising at any
rate, and we shall not at all be surprised if war
supervenes, and if the former allies become ene-
mies, and furnish an instance of the instability of
engagements that rest more on fraud and treachery
than on justice and honour. Many circumstances have
recently occurred which may well justify or at least
excuse, the Prussians in declaring war to be
inevitable. It is said in military circles that
inquiries are being made in Bohemia, in order to
ascertain the "strategical capabilities" of the place,
which would afterwards be of service to the Aus-
trians. The General at Prague has allowed per-
formances in his palace, which are singularly inap-
propriate at this especial juncture—the Austrian
military ascendancy in the Thirty Years' War re-
presented by SCHILLER. No wonder that both in
military and diplomatic quarters in Prussia this has
given offence, but whether or not these mutual dif-
ferences will be adjusted depends more, we suspect,
upon the convenience of the Governments than
upon any desire to maintain a distinct prin-
\ ciple and to follow a definite line of action.

The arrival of the Asia from Boston and Halifax
on the 17th informs us that the Fenians are still
actively at work. A mass meeting had been held
at Boston under the auspices of SWEENEy and
ROBERTS, at which $lO,OOO were subscribed. It is
currently reported that the Fenians are making
large purchases of uniforms, arms, and ammunition,
for which, it is said, they have depots in several
American towns. Two Fenian companies have been
mustered into the service of the Irish Republic
at Louisville, by Major Mangan, Adjutant-
General of Kentucky, and were paraded through
the city. It is not surprising that after such de-
monstrations Sir FREDERICK BRUCE felt it to be
his duty to urge the American Government to
make some open protest against the Fenian move-
ment. Mr. SEWARD replied that it was certainly
of a dangerous if not of a criminal nature, but
that so long as the leaders kept within the law the
Government would not interfere. If they contra-
vened the law, the Government would issue a pro-
clamation on the subject. We have heard a great
deal about the uncertainty and weakness of our
neutrality laws, but acchorcling to this the American
must be little more than empty form. If open in-
citement to attack upon a friendly power, armed
and organised troops, and the purchase of military
stores do not constitute a breach of interina-.
tional law, it is difficult to understand' what
that law can be. Certainly no such
proceedings would be tolerated in this country, if
directed against America or any other friendly
Powers. 'But the Washington Cabinet are not
really so supine as might appear. Two hun-
dred Federal troops have arrived at Buffalo,
and more are expected, and the Canadian
Government has received information that the
American Government had sent them to prevent an
an attack from that quarter. The same authorities
also learned from the Mayor of Detroit the proba-
bility of a Fenian attack. There seems, in fact, to
be very little doubt that some active demonstration
is intended. The news of the suppression of the
Habeas Corpus Act in Ireland has created the
greatest excitement throughout the Irish-American
Population. The leaders of Fenianism profess,
ianl :: oil,to be thankful for it, as evidence of the
England and the effect produced
by their movements. One of the last numbers of
athnen
lurnicsehmPent---,, h
emrai tgehst iot
fs
Habeasisf ac satisfactionr
pbn
sy
has the
eopie
been suspended in Ireland. Laus Deo." But the
fact is really damaging to their cause, inasmuch as
nothing
the Fenians naturally begin to ask w
done to prevent the arrest and imprisonment-y
of
their i is
fellow-patriots.

'They know to their cost that it is not from want
of funds on the part of their leaders, for the sub-
scriptions have not only been large, but constant.
The Americans themselves, however ready to ez.

sympathy or to cheer and ridicule the
yee:u
thf
enthusiasts alternately, are indeed too
Fenian
shrew d to invest their money in such a hopeless
'whet ne; but the Fenians themselves, and it must be
remea rnbered that their numbers are by no means
insig iiicant, have been paying steadily for a long
time. It is quite clear, then, that the Fenian
leaders are by no means without the sinews of war,
and the peculiar circumstances of the time, the large
numbe r of disbanded soldiers, both Irish and Ame-
rican., who wish for nothing better than a return to
the .excitement and opportunities of war, give an
impc,rtance to the whole affair, which, of itself, it
vronld not deserve.

The Canadians themselves are by no means dis-
posed to underrate the importance of the occasion,
and the Canadian Government have shown great
promptitude and decision in dealing with the
matter. There is nothing approaching to a
panic, for the Canadians express the greatest
confidence in their capacity to repel the
invading heroes wiih very little trouble. Both
14'enians and Americans will be taught a useful
lesson if they should actually venture across the
frontier, but the Canadians are wise enough to
remember the old axiom, " Forewarned forearmed,"
and have been making vigorous preparations. They
are erecting earthworks along the frontier at all
vulnerable points. The Governor-General has
issued a general order calling out the volunteers,
an act "rendered necessary in the performance of
the duty devolving upon the Government of pro-
viding for the protection of the lives and property of
the Canadians against the threatened piratical
attacks of lawless men, who use the territory of a
neighbouring Power openly to organise enterprises
against the sovereign rights of the QUEEN and the
seeuxity of her subjects." The people have responded
cordially to this appeal, and have come forward in
great numbers. Sir FREDERICK BRUCE, we are glad
to find, has ordered the British W.est Indian squadron
to sail for Halifax with all the available troops in
the West Indies, so that the Fenians will be likely
to receive a more serious reception than they look
for. We hope that in any case the Fenian move-
ment will receive a decided check, and that the mis-
chievous schemers, who have so long trifled with the
interests and aspirations of the people, may be
taught that in deluding others they have injured
themselves.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

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

The critical relations between Austria and Prus-
sia is still the great topic of the day in Paris. The
Prussian papers lay great stress upon the speech of
the King of Prussia on the 22d inst., the anniver-
sary of his birthday, to the Generals who offered
their congratulations to his Majesty upon the occa-
sion. His Majesty, Frederic Guillaume Louis, is
getting an old man, having been born on the 22d of
March, 1797. I have not seen a copy of the ad-
dress presented to the King upon the occasion, but
his Majesty, according to the report of one of the
Paris journals, is said to have spoken of the policy
of Austria in a very bitter, angry, and menacing
tone, and to have expressed his determination to
support the views of Prussia in regard to the
Duchies at whatever cost and sacrifice.

The Government has appointed a commission,
under the presidency of M. Cornudet, Councillor of
State, to inquire into the many complaints made by
the agriculturists of France in regard to the heavy
duties upon salt and the vexations and annoyances
connected with the levy of that duty. The Govern-
ment, I hear, is disposed to reduce the duty, which
at present is very onerous.
The authorities continue their efforts to promote
and improve the breeding of horses, and to encou-
rage horse racing by all possible means. General
Fleury, Grand Ecuyer, has just framed various re-
gulations to be adopted upon the subject both in
Paris and in the provinces. Commissioners ap-
pointed by the Grand Ecuyer are empowered to t4ke
such steps as they may deem proper in promotion
of the object. '
The following is the result of the steeple-
chases at La Marche yesterday. Prix de Prin-
temps, 2,500 f. for all horses. Betty, bay mare,
belonging to Baron Finot (Welsh) 1, It. M. D., 2.
Prix de Montretout, amount of prize 3,800 f., 200 f.
for the second. Gentlemen riders, 1,000 f., added
to a Sweepstakes of 25f., for all horses which had
never won a prize. Bilboquet, belonging to Prince
Achille (Riddell), 1 ; Cesar, 2. • Amount of prize,
1,325 f. Prix a Reclamer, for all horses, I,ooof.
Six ran. Baron Finot's Farintosh, 1 ; Mireille
(Page), 2. Amount of prize, 1,250 f. No claim
was made for the winner.

The Journal des Debats, speaking of the Queen
Amelie, widow of Louis Philppe, says :—" The
death, so unexpected, of the Queen Amelie is con-
sidered as sad news by everybody, and, we think,
we do not say too much when we add that the an-
nouncement has produced a profound and universal
feeling of regret."

A singular wager has just been gained by a
foreign Prince at Paris. The bet made by the
Prince was that he would cause himself to be arrested
without committing any crime, offence, or contra-
vention of police regulations, and without giving
any provocation to anybody, police officer, or any
agent of authority. The day before yesterday the
Prince went to the most splendid cafe on the Bou-
levards. He was dressed in a ragged smock frock,
torn trousers, and wore a shocking bad hat. He
called for a cup of coffee. The waiters looked sur-
prised, but mildly explained to the Prince that it
was not a coffee shop where articles were very
cheap, but that everything there was very dear.
The Prince, however, insisted upon being
served, took out a roll of bank-notes, and
said he had money to pay. Upon a sign
from the master of the café, the waiter
went out and brought back a police-officer, think-
ing that the notes were stolen. The officer told the
Prince to follow him to the Commissary of Police
to state how he became possessed of so much money.
On the way the Prince met a friend, who explained
who he was, and he was immediately set at liberty.
The gentleman who made the bet admitted that he
had lost and paid the amount, which, it is said, was
a considerable sum.
A curious custom exists in Paris, which has been
twice observed within the last few months. When
a man and woman have been married fifty years,
the marriage ceremony is performed for a second
time with all the formalities of the first. The usual
signatures are given to the marriage contract, friends
attend, and there is a joyous wedding party. The
last instances of such a ceremony took place a day
or two ago at the Chapel of St. Vincent de Paul, in
the Rue Morceau. The bride and bridegroom, who
were a second time made man and wife, were Louis
Antoine Constant, aged 70, and Rose-Pelagie Bulot,
aged 74. The previous instance to which I allude
occurred at the Church of Auteuil, near Paris, and
I was present at this second wedding myself. The
husband is no less a personage than a well-known
actor, and among the wedding guests were grown-
up sons and daughters of the gentleman, who, ac-
cording to Sir Peter Teazle, was a second time
made ,‘ the happiest of men." The origin of the
custom I know not, but it is one of that rare de-
scription more honoured in the observance than the
breach. At all events, so it seemed, for merriment,
gaiety, and cordial union were the order of the day
on the occasion in question.
Her Majesty, who is the patroness of all that is
good, useful, and charitable, on the occasion of the
birthday of the Imperial Prince, sent the magni-
ficent sum of 70,000 f. to be divided among the
75 maternal charities of Paris. The central com-
mittee of the various charitable asylums have been
received by her Majesty at the Tuileries, when M.
Darboy, the Archbishop of Paris, presented a report
explaining the present condition of those many use-
ful asylums, and made an appropriate speech,
which her Majesty listened to with great interest
and attention.

Alebg.m. Delpecli and Iteynal, veterinary surgeons)

who were charged by tie Government to proceed to
Belgium and .Germany to inquire into the pig
disease, have sent in their report. They state that
the disease of trichinas: is on the decline in Ger-
many, and repeat the Onion before given, that the
chief danger to be drerded from the consumption
of pork is from eating itin a raw state. As to France
they say "No case of richinose, occurring upon the
soil with certainty in this country, has been
proved." I repeat, however, that some diseased
pork has come under the inspection of the local
authorities, although,. of course, according to the
opinion of these veterinary surgeons the disease was
not engendered in France.

What is called a " murder for love" has taken
place in the forest of Villers Cotterets, in
the department of tha Aisne. A young man of
23, named Joachim 'Ternisian, had for some time
paid his addresses to Berthe Lamouveux, aged 19.
The parents of the girl had postponed the marriage
upon various pretences, but the lover growing despe-
rate, from " hope deferred," armed himself with a
pistol and dagger, and watching the girl on her
way home through the forest, he stabbed her to the
heart, and she fell dead at his feet. He then fired
the pistol into his mouth, and both were found dead
in the forest, near each other.
A Brittany paper announces an odd inducement
to young girls about to marry. Two young men
having been drawn for soldiers, wish to find two
young girls, each possessing 2,500 f., to buy them
off. When discharged from the army these-young
men will marry their liberators, and offer them " a
happy home, provided they are handsome and have
good characters."

ELECTION INTELLIGENCE.

---0-

WIGAN.

The nomination of-e„andidates for the borough cf
Wigan, to supply the vacancy occasioned by the
retirement of Major-Gen. -Lindsay, took place at
11 o'clock yesterday. The proceedings were for-
mally opened at the Moot-hall, and the Mayor (Mr.
Knowles) and the candidates and their principal
supporters then adjourned to the Town-hall, the
balcony in front of which supplied the place of
hustings. In front of the balcony had assembled
about 10,000 persons. The candidates were Mr.
John Lancaster, in the Reform interest, and Mr.
N. Eckersley, cotton spinner, in the Conservative
interest. Mr. Eckersley was introduced to the elec-
tors in an address from Lord Lindsay, who inti-
mated that his brother, in the event of his return
from Canada, might again offer himself for the seat.
The MAYOR, after intimating his intention to dis-
charge his duty faithfully and fearlessly, said, be-
fore the candidates were introduced, it was intended
to propose a vote of thanks to their late member.

Mr. DARLINGTON (Conservative) proposed, and
Mr. BEVAN (Reformer), moved a vote of thanks to
Major-Gen. Lindsay for his services as representa-
tive of the borough in Parliament, which was re-
ceived with cheers, and adopted unanimously.

Lord LINDSAY thanked the electors in the name
of his brother, who, he said, was at his post of duty
in distant Canada ready to defend that colony
against a threatened invasion from the United
States; and he (Lord Lindsay) had received a letter
that morning informing him that a militia force was
to be raised there of 10,000 men. He was sure it
would give his brother pleasure to see his trusted
friend and ally, Mr. Eckersley, coming forward on
this occasion to offer himself for the vacancy occa-
sioned by his retirement, and his own hope was that
he might be successful—(applause and murmurs)—
for although no one could entertain a higher esteem
than he did for Mr. Lancaster, yet he thought his
return would be unsatisfactory to the Conservatives,
who would be disappointed if their party in the
borough had not its representative in Parliament at
a crisis like the present. (Cheers.)
Mr. FITZADAM proposed and Mr. DAGLISH
seconded the nomination of Mr. Eckersley.

Mr. REECE BEVAN proposed and Mr. CROSS
seconded the nomination of Mr. Lancaster.

Mr. ECKERSLEY then came forward, amidst loud
cheering, to address the electors. He said he fully
sympathised with the vote of thanks given to their
late representative, and he was quite sure that when
General Lindsay, who was in a distant land pre-
pared to defend his country, received intelligence of
what had taken place, it would be a source of
gratification and consolation to him. The electors
were now called upon to elect a member to fill the
place he had vacated, and he (Mr. Eckersley) ap-
peared before them unfettered, a free and inde-
pendent candidate, to represent that borough in
Parliament. He thanked them for the manner in
which he had been received on that occasion, and for
the uniform kindness he had experienced from men
of every shade of politics and religion during his
canvass. The political opinions of their late member
were fully shared in by myself. It had been said
that he belonged to the retrograde party ; but if the
person who said so had given the matter any thought
he would have seen the absurdity of such a state-
ment. There could be nothing like retrogression in
this country ; they might as well try to make water
run up a hill. If it was meant to say that he was
opposed to the Reform Bill, he would accept the
statement ; that measure should receive his most
strenuous opposition. It would give a preponder-
ance of influence at elections to one class of persons,
and
itlfutei
rh.
eten
would
hafoving i
siledt ogsb
fictitious
' vtehaotnhs k clause
eevgofgreatest
eerast. would never extend
whom
o(rHaceili(Hear,
3:wf was
re
at
hirn.e:
me intended,
alteration in the mode of representation ought to
be carefully considered in all its bearings, and any
measure having those requirements a Reform Bill
ought to provide should have his cordial considera-
tion. His opinion as to the foreign policy of this
country was that the Government should be firm,
courteous, and decisive, never meddling with the
affairs of other countries unless they were prepared
to act ; and he thought our colonial policy should
be characterised by a course of proceeding that
would be calculated to extend the commerce and
promote the best interests both of the mother coun-
try and her colonies. He concluded by saying that
up to this time he had never professed to be a poli-
tician, and he would not longer occupy their time
on that occasion. (Cheers.)
Mr. LANCASTER said, entertaining the sentiments
he did on political questions, and feeling the im-
portance of testing the importance of the electors
of the borough on the present occasion, he had been
induced to come forward on behalf of the party who
styled themselves the party of progress. Mr.
Eckersley said he had come forward on behalf of
the Conservative party, but he (Mr. Lancaster)
should say it was the old Tory_ party. Now, he
would ask, what had that party done for the coun-
try during the last forty years ? Was it that party
who gave the electors the right to vote which they
were invited now to exercise ? (Cries of "No !")
The party who gave that right was the party he
(Mr. Lancaster) claimed to represent—the party
who gave increased liberty to, the press, freedom of
conscience, freedom of trade, and, in fact, had in-
creased the liberty of the people so as to enable
them to help themselves in many ways they could
not have done formerly. (Cheers.) It had been
said that there was no difference in politics between
the two candidates on this occasion, but he felt that
there was a very considerable divergence, and he
must put the electors on their guard that, if they
had been induced to make promises on the face of that
statement, they had been misled by false pretences.
The party ho represented had not only made pro-
gress, but such satisfactory progress that he was
induced to ask them to try the same policy further.
The present Government had brought in a bill to
extend that principle by extending the franchise, and
he was a supporter of that bill. (Cheers.) He (Mr.
Lancaster) was willing to support the policy Mr.
Gladstone had so ably laid down, and if the present
Government could not carry a Reform Bill and the
Conservatives would bring in a better he would sup-
port that. (Cheers and laughter.) If they returned
him to Parliament he would do his best to serve their
interests and those of the country at large, and he
should look forward with much interest to what they
said at the close of the poll on the morrow. (Cheers.)
The Mayor then called for a show of hands, which
he declared to be in favour of Mr. Eckersley. A poll
was demanded on behalf of Mr. Lancaster and is
fixed for to-day (Tuesday). The proceedings occu-
pied about au hour and Famed over very quietly.