The Sun.
London, England, 1866-01-25 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY, JAN. 25, 186 G.

We are not surprised that any one well acquainted
with the recent particulars of the outbreak in
Jamaica should feel astonishment and indignation
at the course taken by some people in this country.
A letter from the Custos Rotulorum of Kingston,
published in yesterday's Standard, serves to show in
a great measure how unfounded are the charges which
have been made against the Governor and the colo-
nial authorities. At any rate it cannot be said by
the most partial or prejudiced person, that this is a
communication from one who does not know what
he is writing about. Unfortunately it is only by
slow degrees and at long intervals that we are able
to gather these details and collect this information
from authentic sources respecting the outbreak in
Jamaica, while the vehement members of the faction
and their supporters have in some degree all the
talk to themselves. No one who has any regard
for fair play would think of passing a
condemnatory judgment before they were in
possession of all the facts of the case, but, unhap-
pily, with one motive and the other there arc suffi-
cient agencies at work to render it expedient in
certain quarters that every possible obstacle should
be put in the way of Governor EYRE and his friends
in this matter of an inquiry. Also, it is sought to
damage them in the opinion of the people of this
country by partial statements and innuendoes of a
suspicious character. No language can be too
strong or too severe in which to condemn this
practice, and all who value justice should bestir
themselves in order that such unworthy tactics
and contemptible deyieets ohould ;lot carry the

demanded, the same has been granted.

parties, then, await the result."

Let all

The report of the proceedings at the trial
of Mr. G. W. GORDON in no way tends
to cast discredit upon those who conducted and
approved of it, and whatever tone these parties may
assume respecting it who hope to make political capital
of it before the opening of Parliament, impartial
judges will recognise the difficulties of the situation
and appreciate the importance of settling the mat-
ter speedily when once the conviction had forced
itself upon the minds of all that GORDON was guilty.
As for the declarations of those who argue that
GORDON ought to have been tried in the usual form
by a judge and a jury, they seem to forget that
this was altogether an exceptional affair, and one
peculiarly adapted to the desperate expedient of
having recourse to martial law. It suits these people,
however, to assume that all was in its usual condi-
tion in the island, and that it was as unwarrantable
and unjustifiable for the colonial authorities to
resort to martial law as if we had done the same
in this country on the occasion of a Chartist
movement, or adopted such a measure in Ireland
on the occasion of the Fenian discoveries the other
day. In order to form a correct opinion, we should
place ourselves as much as possible in the position
of those whom we ate criticising; and accord-
ing to that standard we cannot see how
any one can reasonably declare that the
condemnation of GORDON was hasty and premature.
Everything tended to prove that he was constantly
instigating the black population to rebellion ; and
as for the pretext put forward, that he was ill on
the 11th of October, that goes for nothing, because
it is well known that the movement was premature,
and he might have been equally guilty had he had
no concern in the rising that particular day if he
was planning that a similar outbreak should take
place at Christmas or some other specified time.

Another thing that seems entirely ignored by
those who are so ready to declare that the trial of
GORDON should have been postponed is, that in all
human probability there would have been a despe-
rate attempt made to rescue him. `Vas not the
outbreak brought on suddenly and prematurely in
consequence of the daring venture made by the blacks
to get a prisoner out of the clutches of the police,
and, what was likely Cien, that they would have
followed up their course by saving one of far more
consequence to their cause, and held in far higher
repute among them, than the prisoner at Morant
Bay ? We defy any one to prove that there was
any manifestation of injustice on the part of
those who conducted the trial of GORDON, and
many circumstances conspired to show the
expediency of putting the sentence of the Court into
execution. No doubt by so doing those in authority
exposed themselves to the indignation of some and
became the marks for the attacks of others, but they
by their firmness and promptitude rendered important
services to the whole population of the island,
and also preserved the place from the horrors of
a general outbreak. It seems very strange that
a certain party over here persist in prejuding the
case, and flatly contradict all the statements that
are made by the authorities in Jamaica, running
directly counter to the opinions of those best qua-
lified to judge. What concerns us most directly
at present, however, is the course pursued by the
Government, and we regret to say that their con-
duct is not characterised by that fair play and
straightforwardness which we look for in our
statesmen. How is it, we may ask, that this
report has come forth now, and not till
now ? How long has it been kept back--
and why does it see the light at this particular
juncture? Was it brought ever by Colonel NEL-
SON when ho arrived in this country some weeks
back ? and, if so, why has it not been given to
the public before ? These are questions which
naturally present themselves, and many will
share in the curiosity thus excited. It will never
do for the reputation of the servants of the Crown
who have done their utmost to serve their country
to be at the mercy of any faction, and if the
Government steer their course according to
the dictation of a cabal, and withhold
evidence and bring forward statements to
suit a particular tone or answer a definite purpose,
they will find out to their cost that they have mis-
taken the character of the English people, and gone
too far in their attempts in pleasing all parties in-
stead of seeking out the proper course, and then
steadily keeping to it. It is long since so lament-
able an affair as this Jamaica business has occurred,
but it behoves the best and truest interests of the
community that all should be straightforward in
the affair, that no partiality be shown to any one,
and that the Parliament and people of England
should have every opportunity afforded to them of
judging for themselves.

We have now before us the full text of those two
despatches of Mr. SEWARD relative to the Mexican
question which have been referred to in the tele-
graphic news. The first is dated Dec. 6th, and is
addressed to M. DE MONTIIOLON, in answer to a
communication received from the French Minister
at Washington respecting the EMPEROR'S "views on
Mexican affairs," as Mr. SEWARD politely words it.
The substance of Mr. SEWARD'S reply is much the
same as that of his former despatch to Mr. BIGELOW.
M. .MoNnior.ox had intimated that France would
be willing to retire from Mexico as soon as possible,
but that it would be inconvenient for her to do
so without receiving an assurance of a friendly
or tolerant disposition on the part of the
United States towards the Mexican Imperial
Government. The words in Which Mr. SEWARD
answers this application are sufficiently decisive.
They have, in fact, been deemed sufficiently
important to be repeated verbatim ill the tele-

point desired and win the day against honest pur- gr ams. " I regret," he says, "to be ob-
poses and honourable intentions. Nothing can be li.ged to say that the condition the EMPEROR
more decisive than the tone adopted by the -suggests is one that seems quite impracticable."
1
writer of this letter, and his statements clearly Mr. SEWARD then goes on to explain at some length
show that a great danger menaced the island, the reason of the feeling existing in the States against
and as for the reasons set forth by those who h ave the present position of Mexican affairs, which, he
been the most vehement against the Goveimor says, does not appear to him to be rightly under-
that there was no appearance of a rebelldon, stood by the French Government. It is not merely
they are here summarily disposed of by the the presence of a foreign army in an adjacent
sser tion that in any rising of the blacks they country which creates uneasiness, nor is it even the
are always premature in their movements. This neighbourhood of monarchical institutions. The
was stated by some of the blacks themselves, people of the United States recognise the right of
and a rebel who was sentenced to imprisonment re- sovereign nations to carry on war with each other
marked to another prisoner, that "We black pefJople so long as they do not invade American rights or
neber make tings go straight, we break out too menace American safety. They have no desire
soon, we were to hab come down about some time either to attempt a war of propagandism in
on Christmas." The fact is, that many of those who favour of Republican institutions. They would think
have been the most violent in their remarks are it, he pertinently observes, wrong and unwise to
really ignorant of the habits of the race they exalt attempt to force Republican institutions on the
so highly, and thus proved their incompetency people of France, and they think it equally objection-
to form a fair opinion of the matter. Another abl that European States should forcibly intervene to
reason here given for the numerous executions that replace Republican institutions on the American con-
took place is, that it was impossible to take many tinent by monarchies and empires. This is the point
prisoners for severalreasons, and this, of course, added to which Mr. SEWARD principally addresses himself,
to the number summarily disposed of. Well may the insisting that the presence of the French army is an
writer of this letter declare that he has been "shocked invasion of the rights of a domestic Republigan
and disgusted" at the manner in which the whole Government. The despatch closes with assurances
affair has been prejudged and condemned in many of the earnest desire of the American people to pre- 1
instances. " Such conduct is surely cowardly and serve cordial relations with France, and a hope that
uu-English like, and ought not to be persisted in by France may find it compatible with " her best in-
respectable newspapers, and tolerated by an honest terests and her high honour" to withdraw from
and right-thinking public. An inquiry has been Mexico within a reasonable time.

The despatch to Mr. BIGELOW is more laconic

andless diplomatically cautious. Mr. SEWARD insists
upon two points—First, That the United States
desire to maintain cordial relations with France ;
and, second, that they will find it difficult to do so
unless France withdraws from Mexico. The recog-
nition of MAXIMILIAN'S authority cannot, he
declares, be made by the United States, and he
therefore regrets that no basis has been found for a
satisfactory adjustment of the case. The Emperor
of the FRENCH is astute enough, however, to dis-
cover such a basis if he is inclined to do so ; and
the tenour of his speech to the Chambers seems to
indicate that he has no intention of involving him-
self in a war with America on behalf of the new
empire. The States will very probably allow the
Mexicans to settle their own affairs should France
withdraw her interference ; and both parties will
probably be very glad to get out of a difficulty in
which, after all, neither of them has any direct

concern.

During the last week or ten days the Board of
Trade received from the Receivers of Wrecks round
the coast the sworn depositions of no less than 400
captains and survivors of vessels, which have either
been totally wrecked, or suffered serious damage
during the recent gales. This number represents a
terrible amount of loss and suffering, and unfortu-
nately fully confirms the painful impression made
on the public mind as to the extent and duration
of the gales by the accounts which day by day have
reached us with tidings of peril and disaster.
The loss of the London was so awful a catas-
trophe that, for the time being, it dwarfed
every other calamity, but the same story
in a lesser degree has been going on all round the
coast. Torbay has furnished a list of victims as
well as a record of heroism that would have ren-
dered any gale remarkable, and each of these 400
disasters has a history of its own, involv-
ing the happiness and fortune of many
a wide circle. The gales of this winter
have done more damage on our coasts than has
been known since the spring of 1838, so that their
severity has been of a most exceptional character,
even allowing for the nominal increase of our com-
merce. Some idea of the extent of our marine
interests may be gathered from the fact that as
soon as the weather moderated the windbound
fleet in the Fal began to disperse in different direc-
tions-150 vessels taking their departure for their
several destinations, and 120 remaining. All these
delayed at one port by a few days' storm. It is no
great wonder that the hurricanes of the past month
should leave such a story behind them.
Under the mournful circumstances, which we
have recently chronicled, the question of ships'
lifeboats has naturally risen into considerable pro-
minence, and we are not surprised to find the able
and indefatigable Secretary of the National Lifeboat
Institution coming forward with an interesting com-
munication, which appeared in our impression of yes-
terday. The immense importance of passenger ships
being provided with a sufficient number of properly
I constructed boats to carry every person on board in
case of a total shipwreck must be at once apparent,
and there are countless instances even during the
late storms in which such a provision might have
saved many valuable lives. In the case of the Lon-
don herself, the safety of the one light boat in
which the survivors embarked proves that many
more of the unfortunate passengers and
crew might have been rescued with pro-
per appliances, and in numerous other cases
the results might have been the same. Mr.
LEWIS gives four rules which the Institution recom-
mends should be strictly observed : Ist. That
there should be a sufficient number of boats to carry
every person on board a ship, being always properly
equipped. 2d. That every such boat should have
painted on it the number of persons she was autho-
rised to carry ; and it is further advised that all
boats should carry the same number, so that the
total could be easily calculated, and the confusion
attending a wreck might be materially lessened.
3d. That, at intervals during every long voyage,
the captain should muster all hands, and call over
the officer in charge of each boat, the crew to work
and the passengers to embark in it. 4th. That the
boats of every passenger ship should be carefully
inspected and reported by a Government Inspector
prior to each voyage. This is the more necessary;
as Mr. LEWIS states that, in consequence of there
being no fixed standard, the present system of in-

spection is quite useless.
Mr. LEWIS adds that there are argumeLts to be
brought forward on behalf of each of these recom-
mendations which he has not space to add, but
which we should be glad to hear from him at another
time, since the interests involved in this question
are very wide and important, involving both those
at sea and on shore. It is plain that the present
system is most inefficient, and the few lives that are
saved in any great shipwreck at sea show the
absolute necessity for a change for the better. Our
iron vessels are ill adapted for any such casualties,
as they offer no opportunities for the construction
of rafts, &c. ; and, if they are to go down, they
founder with a rapidity and wholesale determination
which leaves those who cling to the vessel little
chance. The loss of the London, which has filled
so many homes with mourning, has so deeply im-
pressed the public mind that the owners of passen-
ger ships will find it necessary to take some decided
measures to restore confidence, and they cannot
consult a better authority than the National Life-
boat Institution.

AN IRONCLAD IN A STonM.—A Toulon letter
says :—" The ironclad steam ram Taurean took advantage
of the tempest which prevailed a day or two since to make
an experimental trip. She remained out four hours, and
her average speed was ten knots. This somewhat dangerous
trial proves that vessels of the Taurean type can navigate
with all safety in very rough weather at a speed of five or
Six

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN C ORRES P 0 NDENT. )
Pin's, Tuesday Evening.
Perhaps a royal speech never created greater
satisfaction than that pronounced yesterday by the
Emperor. It is, of course, the theme of the Paris
papers to-day. It would be useless to analyse
them, because the Constitutionnel gives a very true
and complete description of the document. It
says :—" There was no important question, within
or without, which was not treated in the Imperial
Speech with that clearness which is the happiest
form of good sense, and which is above all an es-
sentially French feature, and at the same time with
that conciseness to which the real Statesman is par-
tial, and which characterises the profound thinker.
On reading this Speech, in which the Imperial
policy manifests itself so worthily and so appro-
priately in regard to Foreign Powers, and proves
that it is impressed with regard for the fuller wel-
fare as regards all internal questions, one recalls
naturally the two claims which Sovereigns have
upon popular affection and gratitude. The citizen
can say of Napoleon the Third that he is the father
of the country, and the workman that he is the
father of the people."
Even the Chief opposition paper, the Siecle,
which criticises every expression very closely, seems
to approve of all that is said. Its only complaint
is in regard to what it does not say. "We re-
mark," concludes the Siecle, " a few omissions; for
instance, that which concerns the policy of Russia in
regard to Poland, a policy certainly more afflicting
than that of Prussia."
I had not time yesterday to give you an account
of the ceremonial attending the inauguration of the
session, but as the proceedings were more than
usually interesting, I supply a few particulars to-
day. The speech was delivered in the Salle des
Etats at the Louvre. In the seats near the throne
were the Ministers, Marshals, Admirals, Cardinals,
and chief officers of State in full costume, and with
their orders. In front of the throne were the mem-
bers of the Senate, with the President, Count
Walewski, who has succeeded the late Duke de
Morny. There were also deputations from the

courts of law, officers of the army and navy, pre-
fects—in short, all the high dignitaries of the nation.
All the foreign ambassadors and their wives were
present. When the Empress was announced, all
present rose to 'receive her Majesty. She was ac-
companied by the Princess Mathilde, and the Prin-
cesses Lucien, Anna, and Joachim Murat, and the
Princess of Hohenzollern. The Prince of Hohen-
zollern sat behind her Majesty, who was often
greeted with cries of "Vive l'lmperatriee !" The
Empress, who seems to set the example of sim-
plicity in dress, was attired very plainly
in a mauve silk gown, and wore a white lace bon-
net. The entrance of the Emperor was announced
by the firing of cannon. He was dressed in the
uniform of a General, and the young Imperial
Prince entered with him. Their appearance was
the signal for general and reiterated cries of " Vive
l'Empereur !" " Vive le Prince Imperial !" until his
Majesty took his place upon the throne. The young
Prince sat on his right, and Prince Napoleon on his
left. All remarked that the Emperor appeared in
excellent health and spirits. Ile pronounced the
speech in very distinct, audible, and emphatic terms.
When the speech was concluded, the cries of " Vive
I'Empereur !" " Vive le Prince Imperial !" were
renewed. Several new Senators and Deputies took
the oaths in the presence of his Majesty, and M.
Rouher, Minister of State, in the name of the
Emperor, declared the session to be opened.
The .ll7oniteur has the following letter from
Madrid, dated Jan. 20 :—" The military insurrec-
tion is completely terminated. General Prim yester-
day entered Portugal by Encinasola, leaving with
the Spanish Alcalda the arms and horse of his
troops. The Portuguese authorities immediately
placed the refugees in confinement."
The Epoca, a Madrid paper, confirms the report
of the suicide of Don Manuel Pareja, upon which
some doubt was thrown. ne was about 50, and
was born at Peru. His father was a Spanish general.
Admiral Pareja had been in several important naval
expeditions.

-When I gave you the account of the exciting,
unseemly, and violent language used by the
Baron de Meyendorff, the Russian Ambassador
to the Pope at the Vatican, I confessed that
I had some doubt of the accuracy of the state-
ments. The account, however, is completely
confirmed. Indeed it appears that the baron's
conduct was even more offensive than was repre-
sented. The Journal des Debats adds its authority
to the account. That paper gives its opinion that
the language used by the Russian ambassador af-
fords evidence of previous misunderstandings be-
tween his Holiness and the Court of Russia. The
Pope remarked that he did not believe the ambas-
sador intended to insult the Head of the Church,
but said the interview should not be prolonged.
The Debats proceeds to contend that the Pope is
not at all responsible for what the Russian ambas-
sador complained of. His Holiness, although
protesting against the violent measures adopted
against the Roman Catholic religion in Po-
land, had always censured insurrections against
the Russian Government, and particularly
condemned that of 1863. Baron de Meyen-
dorff therefore was both unjust and unwise
when he accused the Pope of " encouraging revo-
lution." The Pope would equally censure revolu-
tion at Warsaw as he would at Rome, Florence, or
Naples. His Holiness, however, was bound to
defend the Roman Catholic religion under all cir-
cumstances.

The Opinion Nationale, remarking upon the posi-
tion of affairs in Spain, says :—" But if Prim be in
Portugal, the revolutionary spirit is still in Spain.
The military conspiracy which has just failed is,
according to all appearance, only the prelude and
indication of a Democratic Revolution."
Three Italian ships, two frigates and a corvette,
recently arrived in the Austrian port of Pola, and
the Austrian commander, after consulting the autho-
rities at Vienna by telegraph, consented to exchange
salutes. The fact is considered as important, because
indicating more amicable feelings between Austria
and Italy.
The Princess Anna Murat, now Duchess de
Mouchy, accompanied her father, in 1864, in a
voyage to the East, and paid a visit to Ismail
Pacha. The Viceroy of Egypt, as a souvenir of this
visit, has just sent to the duchess a magnificent
diadem of brilliants, worth more than £4,000.
Batty, the lion tamer, is sufficiently recovered
from the wounds he received from the lioness to
reappear and repeat the fool-hardy experiment.

PARIS, Wednesday Evening.
The business in the Chambers will be merely
formal for a few days. On taking the chair in the
Senate, the First President, M. Troplong, made a
brief butaffecting
made by
in which he enumerated
the victims ad eby death among the members dur-
ingtheast
year. Some time ago I enumerated
them. " Gentlemen," said M. Troplong, "If I
dared to use the expression of an ancient, I should
say that none of us can flatter himself that he may
not sup to-night among the dead. But we can pray
to God, that, after so many inexorable blows, he
will postpone the fatal event. One hundred and
sixteen of our colleagues have been removed from
us since 1852." (Sensation.) Count Walewski,
the new President of the Corps Legislatif, claimed
the indulgence of the Chamber for any defects, and
said he would always act with strict impartiality,
and expressed his confidence that all, without dis-

tinction of party, would rally round the throne, to
defend if necessary the institutions which, by con-
solidating the grandeur of France, had at the same

time insured its repose and prosperity. Both speeches
excited great sensation and sympathy.
The Emperor's speech, it appears, was received
and printed in London three hours after it was
transmitted from Paris. All the French provincial
papers which arrived in Paris yesterday contained
the document, which comprises 1,784 words. I have
reason to believe that it was entirely composed by.
the Emperor himself.

Batty, the lion tamer, has again been nearly killed
by a lion. There were two lions and a lioness in
the den, and when Batty entered it all the animals
were much =aged, bill; particularly the lioness,

which it appears has recently given birth to two
cubs, and no doubt supposed that Batty was about
to touch them. The lioness was upon the point of
springing upon the lion tamer, when he emerged
backwards from the cage at the desire of the spec-
tators. Many of them left the house, and ladies
were fainting in the passages.
A dressmaker at Limoges has met her death in
rather a curious manner. While taking some soup
one of the needles which she had in her dress fell
into it and she swallowed it. It was so fixed in
the neck that it could not be extracted, but as there
was no pain nothing more was thought of it. A
week afterwards, after a violent effort, the woman
vomited blood, and the needle came out of her
mouth, but it is supposed that it had pierced the
carotid artery, as the hemorrhage was so violent as
to cause death in a few hours.

The dismissal of the Protestant Minister, M. Mar-
tin Paschoud, which I mentioned a day or two ago,
seems to have excited more interest than might have
been supposed. The Presbyterial Council of Paris
have offered M. Paschoud a life pension of 6,000 f.,
but he has appealed to the Government, and the
Minister of Public Worship, M. Baroche, is in com-
munication with the Presbytery upon the subject,
and has requested them to make further explana-
tions.

The French Court will go into mourning for
Prince Oddon, one of the children of King Victor
Emmanuel, for nine days, without waiting for an
official notification of the fact of the Prince's death.
The Prince was born in 1846, and has been in ill-
health since his infancy. He was very learned, and
was very fond of literary and scientific pursuits.
His medical attendants describe his death to in-
tense study.

A melancholy and fatal accident to the young
Marquis de Saffie, has caused regret and conster-
nation in many of the fashionable circles of Paris.
The marquis was riding in the Bois de Boulogne,
when the horse took fright and threw his rider.
He was taken to a surgeon and afterwards to the
hospital, where he soon expired from the fracture
he had received on his skull.

The Corps Legislatif was occupied to-day in the
verification of powers and the election of secre-
taries.

A trotting match for £lOO a side, between the
American horses Shepherd Knapp and Abdaliah
King, was won by Shepherd Knapp, who beat by
100 yards. The match took place in the Bois de
Boulogne. The distance was one mile.