The Sun.
London, England, 1866-08-10 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF TUE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

- -0-
POST.—The Lord Mayor is evidently an optimist.
It is scarcely more than a week ago that he said the
very prettiest thing imaginable of the " smooth-
tongued chief" who is now ruling the country, at
the head of a Conservative Ministry. The expan-
sive movement of the civic breast consequent upon
a good dinner may perhaps have•had something to
do with that, and the reticence upon most political
subjects which earned for most of the speeches upon
that occasion the distinction of having nothing in
them, may have further contributed to the flowing
periods and elegant extracts in which the First
Magistrate of the City celebrated the qualities of
Lord Derby. The Lord Mayor has evidently since
that evening been advantageously employing his
time in a favourable review of all the intermediate
classes of society ; and, true to his principles, he
appeared, "accompanied by his mace and sword-
bearers," on the platform at Guildhall, on Wednes-
day night, to proclaim that he also extended his
belief in the virtues of mankind to Mr. Beales and
Mr. Odgers, and his conviction that " good temper,
good judgment, and moderation" were there before
him, " strongly written upon the faces of as good,
as fine, and as intellectual a gathering of working
men as he had ever seen brought together under one
roof." It is painful to us, however, to remark that
even the Lord Mayor was not exempt from that
mania of taking "precautions" which has been made
the subject of such severe comment in the case of
Mr. Walpole. With so touching a belief in the tem-
per, judgment, and moderation of the meeting, it is
surprising that he should have thought it proper to
allow such an invasion of the liberties of the people
as is implied in the protection of drinking-fountains
and statues by boardings and the defence of a plat-
form by barriers. And no doubt those who are
less advanced in optimist opinions than the Lord
Mayor will assert that they detect in his speech,
at the conclusion of the meeting, wherein he
solemnly enshrined among his recollections that of
having presided " in that beautiful hall over one of
the noblest and most glorious meetings which had
ever taken place in the City of London," a tone of
relief that the beautiful hall was as beautiful as ever,
and that a risky affair had been safely got through
without either broken heads or a profanation of Gog
and Magog. So far as this goes we agree cordially
with his lordship, and we recognise with pleasure
the recorded fact that the whole of the proceedings
were conducted with an amount of order and good
temper which do infinite credit not less to its pro-
moters than to those who composed it ; and unless
Mr. Beales and the Reform League are above learn-
ing an obvious lesson from the fact, it will hence-
forth be clear to them that an orderly meeting
within four walls is of far more value as an expres-
sion of opinion and carried with it infinitely more
weight than a mere assemblage of individuals " in
their thousands," under circumstances which pre-
clude all possibility of either speeches or resolutions
being heard and understood. It would no doubt
go rather against the grain to give up monster
demonstrations, with all their excitement, and the
additional spice of a possible brush with the police,
for comparatively tame and common-place public
meetings, where arguments alone can be used, and
where the " brutality of the police " is only put
forth to secure their discussion. But if, as we are
quite prepared to believe, the object is to produce
an effect upon the reasoning faculties of the public,
the two methods of agitation bear no sort of coin-
parison with each other, and we trust that the
ardent Reformers will be content with availing
themselves of the ordinary means of moving the
public mind, even though they are permitted, in
preference to again attempting to make use of
extraordinary means, which are eminently unsatis-
factory in themselves, even although they are
prohibited. In view of these considerations, we
cannot but regret that Mr. Beales devoted the
greater part of what was otherwise a very good
speech to an elaborate defence of the action taken
by himself and the League in connection with the
late Hyde-park disturbances. It is perhaps useless
to remind Mr. Beales that wheu he inveighs against
those who have made an " attack upon one of the
most important and constitutional of the people's
rights— the right of public meeting," he utters the
strongest condemnation of the League itself, which
brought that right into disrepute and disgrace by
obstinately insisting on exercising it improperly,
and- thus giving occasion to all that followed. But,
to speak strictly, it was not a public meeting at all
that was ever contemplated in Hyde-park, and of
this Mr. Beales must be perfectly aware. And the
opinion that " a large peaceful gathering" is in it-
self sufficient to " show convincingly what is really
the state of the national feeling," is utterly worth-
less. Such "gatherings" are, from their very nature,
powerless for discussion. They advance no question
and prove nothing beyond their own existence,
which is of a very doubtful value and tendency.
Mr. George Potter followed in support of the reso-
lution which declared that the working classes " will
be satisfied with nothing less than the speedy in-
troduction of a bill for the amendmentof the repre-
sentation on the basis of residential and registered
manhood suffrage and the ballot ;" and certainly
addressed himself more closely and successfully to
the subject. With the help of many figures he vin-
dicated the title of the working classes to a stake in
the country, and based upon it the assertion that
" the principles of honesty, morality, and justice
should be observed in matters of government and
taxation," which, although true as a proposition, by
no means leads to the ground taken up by the resolu-
tion it was intended to support. Nevertheless, al-
though there are very few who are of opinion that
either honesty, morality, or justice require the in-
stitution of manhood suffrage, there are still fewer
who deny the propriety of an extension of the suf-
frage beyond its present limits. Mr. Potter did nut
overstate the case when he said that the claims of
the unenfranchised have been " recognised by both
Liberal and Conservative Governments," although
that recognition by no means implies a recognition
of universal suffrage ; and the Reform Bill of the
session now expired, which proposed a most liberal
extension of the franchise, if it failed, failed not upon
the merits of that extension, but owing to the un-
happy and ill-judged manner in which it was pre-
sented and conducted in Parliament. Mr. Connolly,
who made an unfortunate and suggestive reference
to Jack Cade, and Mr. Odgers appear chiefly to
have concerned themselves with invective against
the supposed opponents of Reform, and a laudation
of Mr. Gladstone and their " noble selves ;" while
Mr. Mason Jones went so far as to propose the tem-
perate measure. of a petition to her Majesty, request-
ing her to exchange her Ministers for Mr. Jones's
nominees. Apart from such little eccentricities as
these, the meeting appears to have been creditable
to its promoters and their cause, and we trust it will
mark a return on their part to the proper and recog-
nised exercise of the " most important and constitu-
tional right" of public meeting, as distinguished
from demonstrations which have hitherto demon-
strated nothing but the inability of those who get
them up to control them.

DAILY NEWS.—The sudden arrival of the Empress
of Mexico heightens the interest which so many Eng-
lishmen have reason to take in the affairs of that
country. It is natural to suppose that the Emperor
Maximilian would not have permitted the partner of
his throne to make a sudden voyage to Europe in
the ordinary French mail steamer unless the busi-
ness on which she came were extremely urgent.
The Empress Charlotte is no merely ornamental
appendage of a court : she is a woman of courage
and dignity, of capacious understanding and prac-
tical aptitude, formed in all respects to figure with
distinction in the great world. She has had a full
share of the responsibilities as well as the perils at-
tending her husband's remarkable adventure in the
New World ;, and now that that enterprise has
reached its crisis, the public will not- be far wrong
in supposing that the Emperor Maximilian, tired of
the periphrases of diplomacy, has permitted his
other self to visit the distant source and centre of
his power to learn at first hand what further
aid he has to expect from the creator of his throne
and empire. There can be no doubt that this was
the wisest step he could take ; if the truth is to be
got at the Empress will find it. The Emperor of the
French, however, may justly complain if he will,
for it is rather sharp practice to introduce feminine
naivete and persistence into an affair so mysterious
and sacred as diplomacy without a moment's warn-
ing. The Empress left Mexico before the great
events which have recently taken place in Germany.

could be known there. Unless the Emperor Maxi-
milian had better information than was accessible
to the European public two months ago, he must
have been expecting when he parted with the
Empress to hear soon that Marshal Benedek bac!
chastised Prussian insolence in the neighbourhood
of Berlin. The Empress would probably re-
ceive intelligence of the battle of Sadowa,
though scarcely of its vast political consequences,
on her way to Europe. She finds the EmPere!
Napoleon preoccupied with affairs compared wita
which the Mexican enterprise was a holiday diver-
sion. No one in France now thinks of the laurel!
which Marshals Forey and Bazaine have gathered
in the New World, and it is to be feared that the.
Empress will not be able to dazzle Napoleon with
prospects that will withdraw him from the cares
that now crowd upon him in Europe. The EbiPre.°
of Mexico is a sensible woman, and will take in
the situation at a glance. She will be able to judge
for herself what are the chances of her husband re-
ceiving, succour from Europe. The French army
and the French treasury have been the reserve on
which the Emperor of Mexico has freely drawn that
these two years. The Empress will perceive that
this is a crisis in which the Imperial. banker at Paris
must in justice to himself draw together all his re'
sources, close outstanding transactions, taking froM
his debtors whatever they are able to pay, but on
no account parting with more. 'lf the Mexicali
Empire can stand. when the French troops have heen
recalled, and supplies of French money have ceasel
to flow, well; if not, the Empress will hardly finu
it worth while to make another voyage across the
Atlantic. The political, military, and financial eon"
dition of Mexico have been sketched with a roas;
terly hand by the present French Minister 01
Foreign Affairs in more than one despatch since the
beginning of the year, and the facts constitute a
full justification of the resolution announced by the
French Government to withdraw from its interven-
tion in Mexico. But there are certain results of
that intervention which will remain after the filial
settlement of accounts between the two Emperors!
and which greatly concern the British creditor. Al
the beginning of the year Mr. Middleton, Secretary'
of the British Legation in Mexico, sent home all
approximate estimate of the amount of the revenue
and expenditure of the Mexican Empire to be cal-
culated on for the year 1866. We reprint it
REVENUE. Dollars.
Maritime Custom-houses
152:2500g:00g
Internal Custom-houses
Direct taxes upon property in town and country 1,200,000
Ditto upon commercial and industrial estab-
lishments 250,000
Mining duties 650,00,
Stamped paper, post-office, and other miscella-
neous taxes l,OOO
Total 20,800,000
EXPENDITURE.
,000
Imperial House 1,740
Ministry of the Imperial House ao,ooo 0
State
71 290,000
~ Foreign Affairs
the Interior ... 3,700,000
„ „ Justice
„ Public Instruction
0
„ War
Public Works
71 Finance 37400,0v"
Total 25,434,000
Mr. Middleton suggests that the Customs revennet
may produce a million dollars more than the mune, e„
stated above ; but when he expressed that opin!e;
he did not know that the French occupation, wine
had given such an impulse to consumption and
im-
portation, was about to cease. On the other hall":
121:962106:00,,00A00
he points out that the cost of the French contingent
is not included in the estimate. He observes, awl
over, that, " owing tothe little progress being made
in the pacification of the country," the amount set
down for military expenditure will not prove sill
ficient. The charges of the public debt remain to
be added. They are as follows :

PUBLIC DEBT.
Dollars. D ollars.

Interest and sinking-fund on
British Convention
Ditto, ditto, on Padre Moran
Convention
Ditto, ditto, on Spanish Conven-
tion 450,000
Interest and sinking-fund on the
Internal Debt

The Government estimate of In-
terest payable on the Mexican
Stocks in London, including
the Deferred Bonds, and on the

amounts of the Miramar and

Paris Loans, is calculated at 10,280,000
12,830,000.
Unpaid balances on Laguna, Seca, and Guada-
lajara Conductas, estimated at 150,000
265,0%
Sundry recognised claims
Subvention to Vera Cruz Railway Total 14,595,000
The general result is thus stated by Mr. Middle'
ton :
Dollars.
Dollars.
Total revenue
Imperial House and the different
Departments of State 25,434,000
Interest on Public Debt 14,595,000
40,029
Total deficit 19,229,000
Here, then, we find the Mexican Government, ill
the third year of the French expedition, with an
s
annual deficit nearly equal in amount to the gre"
revenue. But. this is not all. Since Mr. Middleton
wrote, the French Government has come to nu
agreement with that of the Emperor Maximilian,
under which the debt owing to France for the e3c"
penses incurred in setting up the Emperor I\-101-
milian's throne is taken at ten millions sterling:
upon which sum interest is to be paid at the rate ole
three per cent. So, then, it comes to this, that th,
French intervention, which' was to have regenerat6 ,1
Mexico, but which, in fact, has merely intensitie;
all the evils previously existing there, has saddle:
Mexico with an additional annual burden of tl/44
millions and a half sterling—a souvenir at"
French occupation which the Mexicans will doubt-
less be careful to preserve.

COUNTRY MARKETS.

0

BIRMINGHAM—TmatsDAY. hot
At this day's market there was a full supply of vr--A,
from the farmers, for which much higher prices were --s7
mended, but the market closed dull at last week's rates
Bat ley 6d. per qr. higher. Oats only taken in retail. Bea
ls. per qr. lower. Peas rather higher.

BURY ST. EDMUND'S—WEDNESDAY.
There was a fair supply of wheat at this market to-0.3
and the trade was firm at the rates of last week. SeVeil
samples of new Talavera were shcwn, the quality Of NY"
was fine and the condition good. ed.
White wheat, 58s to 60s ; old red, 49s to 51s ; neWr
ar-
-44s to 48s ; grinding barley, 35s to 38s; Page's prolific ,
ley, 39s to 40s per qr.
Averages :—Wheat, Ba4l quarters, at 46s 9d ; barley,
qrs., at s Od; oats, qrs, at Os Od.

BRIS T OL—THIIRSDAY. pV11.7
On our market to-day English wheat;was in short Sul
and rather dearer. Foreign held for ls. per qr. ad"u
lld
but with very little doing. Barley in good request, aio
Gd. par qr. dearer ; fine qualities very scarce. 03tTsAsh
limited inquiry, and again the turn lower ; soma new -",;,„0
tawney, per steamer, realised 225. per 3041 b. In
corn a fair business doing at a reduction of Gd. per qr.

MANCHESTER--TIIIIRSDAY.
Our market this morning was fairly attended. Good ff,,e6elir
English was in short supply, and sold freely at ranv
more money ; but other sorts, us well as foreign,were 1;07r
in moderate request, and cannot be quoted dearer. ht.
met a limited demand, ar the currency of this day senn 1g 0
Oats and oatmeal moved slowly, at late rates. 13e"tof
ruled steady. Indian corn was slightly in favour
buyers.

EDINBI7RGH—WEDNESDAY.
Wheat on the top, Os 6d up average, 10 Od 1113_„.
Barley on the top, Os 6d down average,
Oats on the top, Os 6d up. average, Os WO.
Beans on the top, is 6d down average, Os id UP'
Total supply and sales.
Wheat BlB qrs sold 698
Barley lO6 qrs sold 68
Oats 1137 qrs sold 503
Beans llB qrs sold 94
Average prices.
Wheat, 48s id 1 Oats, 30811 d
Barley, 33s 2d 1 Beans 53s ad i . otrs
Town-made flour sells as follows :—White, 415 6u I
as 4d sown'
superfine, 40s Od ; superfine, 38s 6d ; fine, 378 Od.

GLASGOW—WEDNESDAY.
To-day's market was thinly attended. Wheat v?s.illaeilalci
rather dearer, but the business done was small; balVdiait
peas unaltered ; beans and oats the turn cheaper; 4-m
corn 3d. lower per 2801 b.

Births.
comm—On the 7th inst., at Harleston, Norfolk, th°
of Adolpe Comte, Esq., of Paris, of a daughter. yifo
EVFRS—On the 9th inst., at 33, Westbourne-Parict th°
of Gustaf Evers, Esq., of a son.

Marriages. j
CUNNINGTIAME-MACDONELL- On the 7th inst. at
Church, Edinburgh, John Cunningham°, 'Esq., cup" Capt.
gownie, Perthshire, and Throsk, Stirlin shire late vtVof
daughter
12th Lancers, to Melon Rebecca, youngest
the late 2Eneas_Ranaldson Macdonell, gq., of Glengarry

and Clan Rauald. S or-
WILDE—GREENE—On the 9th inst., at Kirby Cane, n.°. to
folk, Colonel Alfred Wilde, C. 8., C. 5.1., and 4-XOlOOl
the Queen, to Ellen Margaret, third daughter
cf
G. T. Greene, C.B.

- Deaths. reS4
ALDRIDGE—On the 7th inst L.
at St. Leonard S - 4:)te of
Horsham, the Rev. Charles b. Aldridge, 31.4.1 cur"-
Putney, aged 27. , Sao.
BRYANT—On the Bth inst., at 4, Northampton-s4ll'
Bryant, Esq., 31.R.C.S.and L.S.A., aged 68.
BRASS—On the 7th inst., Sarah, daughter of the late Win"
Brass, Esq., of Silver-street, London.
____--------.

• - •
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London : Printed and Published by WIL L TAM AN9,1"!1 it,
of No. 112, Strand, Pauter. at Tug Sox ()aloe, l'",
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in the Pre.oinot of; the Savoy, in the Coita
Strand,
hliddlemes.—Friday, A.ugust_lo,l366.

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