The Sun.
London, England, 1861-01-16 00:00:00

FRANCE.

BOURSE, Jan. 15.—The market at the commence-
ment of business showed an upward tendency, but
a telegraph from London announcing a slight de-
cline in Consols, prices again receded to about those
of yesterday. For the Account, Threes are now at
67f 15c; Mobilier, 657 f 50c; Orleans, 1,362 f 50c;
Northern, 951 f 25c; Mediterranean, 896 f 25c;
Austrian, 465 f; Lombard, 463 f. 75c. The follow-
ing were the last quotations :-
41 per per Cents ... 96 50 Credit Fancier 935
Do. end month.... 96 50 Belgian 4
3 per Cents
Do. end month 67 05 Roman
Bank Shares 2875 —; Austrian
Credit Mobilier.... 645 —; Spanish Threes 4B
Do. Account 642 50 Home Debt

RAILWAYS.
Cash. Account.
Orleans,. 1360 .. 1355
Northern
New ditto
Lyons and Mediterranean 893 75 .. 893 75
Geneva..
Southern 502 60 502 50
Western
Eastern
Sardinian .
Austrian
Lombard ....mtg 460 460

SIR FRANCIS B 4RING ON PARLIzI-

iIIENT.dR,Y REFORM.

The following address has been issued by the
Right Hon. Sir Francis Baring to the electors of
the borough of Portsmouth :
" The meeting of Parliament is near at hand,
and I am anxious to communicate with you on the
present state of the reform question. I have adopted
this mode as the most direct and the most conve-
nient. With many others in 1859 I entertained a
sanguine expectation that an effective measure of
reform would have passed last session. We all
know how entirely these expectations have been
disappointed. The failure has not been occasioned
by any combined or violent opposition. Far from
it. Public men concur in a remarkable degree as
to the expediency of a considerable alteration of
the franchise. In 1848 Lord J. Russell admitted
the necessity of a change. The late Sir Robert
Peel, it is known, concurred in that view. The ad-
ministrations of Lord John Russell, of Lord Aber-
deen, of Lord Derby, of Lord Palmerston, have, in.
turn, proposed bills, differing, indeed, the one from
the other, but all calculated to effect a large increase
in thenumber of electors. I do not recollect a single
leading member of the House of Commons who has
recorded his dissent from this view. But though
there was no active opposition, there appeared in
the majority of the house the greatest disinclina-
tion to face the question—a determination to post •
pone any decision—and doubts and hesitation which
even party ties could not overcome. This, I know,
is attributed to the fear of the dissolution which
would follow the passing of a Reform Bill. In all
human affairs there will be an admixture of per-
sonal considerations. I am not a disciple of the
school which attributes every action of public men
to mean and selfish motives. But were these feel-
ings confined to the House of Commons ? It is
difficult to estimate correctly public opinion, but, as
far as my opportunities enable me to judge, I
believe the opinion out of doors' is not very
different from that within.' There exists, I should
say, no hostility to all reform—no unwillingness to
relax the provisions of the Reform Bill of Lord
Grey, but among large classes a strong disinclina-
tion to any sudden and great change—serious alarm
at the effect of any sweeping measure. I recognise
no general approbation of any of the plans proposed
either by Government or others ; and I believe the
withdrawal of the bill last session was as accept-
able to the general public as it was to the majority
of the House of Commons. The public mind, I
speak it with regret, is not prepared for any exten-
sive measure. I shall gladly find that lam mis-
taken in this opinion ; for no man is more persuaded
that the change must ultimately take place—no
man is more convinced of the risk of leaving the
settlement to a time of struggle and excitement.
But we have to deal with the circumstances as they
are. The Government have the best means of
ascertaining what prospect there is of carrying a
Reform Bill next session. I am, as you will sup-
pose, utterly ignorant of their intentions. If
they expect to succeed and bring forward a
measure I shall give it, as before, a general sup-
port. But my hopes of its passing are not san-
guine. The result of 1861 will, I fear, be
similar to that of 1860. If there is no fair
prospect of success I hope no proposal will be
made. A repetition of what passed last
year will neither be creditable to the legis-
lature, beneficial to the general interests of
the country, nor favourable to the cause of
reform itself. Is it necessary, then, that all action
and improvement should cease ? Are we to wait
until pressure in a moment of excitement shall
force the question on the decision of the house ? I
think not, and shall be prepared to support such
partial extensions of the suffrage as may not be
inconsistent with a fair representation of the diffe-
rent interests, not as a settlement, but as steps in
the right road, apparently slower, but less likely to
create alarm. I may be told that this is bit by bit
reform,' and probably those who are most anxious
for great change will be most hostile to such a
course. But a nickname is not an argument, and
we must not be led astray by the precedent of 1830.
At that time a large measure was absolutely neces-
say, and its boldness contributed to its safety. It
was wise, too, when the measure was passed, to
refuse for a time to re-open the question by partial
alterations. But great changes are not in them-
selves good, and, looking back, I think the refusal
to amend was enforced too long. It would have
been more fortunate if Parliament had earlier con-
sented to extend the franchise, and had done it
gradually. It were good that men, in their inno-
vations, would follow the example of time itself,
which, indeed, innovateth greatly, but quietly, and
by degrees scarcely to be perceived.' I will trouble
you no further. Had I seen among the numerous
speeches delivered since the close of the session any
which took a view in which I agreed, I should
gladly have been silent ; but as this has not been
the case, I must ask you to bear with this explana-
tion, for you have a right to know my opinions, and
I am as anxious as ever to retain your confidence."

THE BRUTAL MURDER AT DUNDRY.

Yesterday Mr. Bruges Fry, the coronerfor North
Somerset, resumed his inquest at Dundry on the
body of Sarah Waterman, an aged woman, who met
her death by violence in a lonely cottage at Dundry
on the 9th inst., when her husband was murderously
assaulted. _ _ _ _

, At the late inquest evidence was tendered to show
that the murder was committed by two brothers
named Charles and Matthew Wedmore, and various
articles which had been stolen from the cottage
were traced to their possession. At the present
hearing some new and interesting evidence was
tendered. No doubt the fellows' object in commit-
ting the crime was to possess themselves of the
savings of the unfortunate old pair, and whichwere
supposed to be considerable. The only booty, how-
ever, was ss. or 6s. in money and some trifling
articles.
Yesterday Mr. Thomas Waterman said—l am a
farmer at Glastonbury. Deceased was my aunt.
On hearing of the murder I came to Dundry, and
received from my uncle, Geo. Waterman, a parcel
containing, as he informed me, nearly 100 sove•
reigns, which I will see invested for him.
Mr. Shorland, the surgeon, gave the result of his
post mortem examination.
Mr. T. Waterman was recalled, and said the
money was found under a stone, and not under
lock. George Waterman's Peninsular medal, with
three bars, was found in a small book in a drawer.
John Keevil was called to trace the movements
of the prisoner Charles previous to the commission
of the crime. He said on the Ist of January
Charles Wedmore came to him dressed as a soldier
belonging to the Marine Artillery, and said " I
am a stranger about here, and I have missed my
way, and seeing a light here I thought I would
make my way to it • do you know any one about
here by the name of George Waterman, and an-
other by the name of Wedmore ? Witness said
" I know them very well, for Wedmore works
occasionally as a gardener for my master, the Rev.
Mr. Boutflower." The prisoner was then in liquor,
but witness took him to old Waterman's cottage.
The witness knocked at the door, which was fas-
tened, and the deceased from within asked," Who's
there ?" and witness replied, " It is John, the old
policeman." The old people knew him well, as he
had often called upon them. The old lady said, " I
know your voice, or I should not open the door."
Charles Wedmore and witness then went in, and
the latter said, " Mrs. Waterman, here's a soldier
come to see you." She replied, " I don't know him."
Then the witness said, "I believe he is a relation of
yours." She gave them cider and bread and cheese,
and subsequently told prisoner that his uncle,
George Waterman, was not at home, but that pri-
soner must come again and spend a day with them
before he returned to his regiment, which he said
was lying at Portsmouth. Witness next brought
prisoner's brother to him. In conversation witness
told the prisoner Charles that his brother -William
had bought a house of his uncle some time previously.
It appeared that the prisoners obtained admit-
tance to Waterman's cottage by using the same
sentence that Keevil used on the occasion above
alluded to.
Other witnesses having deposed that on the night
of the murder both prisoners were seen at an inn
within 250 yards of the cottage, and that the shirts
worn by the prisoners a day after the murder were
stained with blood,
The Coroner carefully summed up all the evi-
dence, and
The Jury immediately returned an unanimous
verdict of " Wilful murder against Matthew and
Charles Wedmore," and the coroner made out his
warrant accordingly;
Matthew Wedmore is a lumper on the Bristol
Quay.

THE ITALIAN NAVT.—Letters from Naples state
that a fusion of the Sardinian and Neapolitan marine ser-
vice has at length begun to take place. The frigate Gari-
baldi, hitherto entirely officered and manned by Neapoli-
tans, has received on board 100 Sardinian marines, under
the command of Signor Luigi, an officer in the North
Italian service, and is to proceed to Mola di Gaeta to join
the rest of the fleet there.

- -
THE RECENT MURDERS IN IRELAND.—lnquests
have been commenced on the recent murders in Sligo and
Monaghan. In the former case three persons, against whom
there are understood to be very slight grounds of suspicion,
have been arrested in addition to the man Phibbs. The
evidence, as far as we have received it, has not as yet seri-
ously inculpated the latter. Three persons have been
arrested for the murder of the brothers Shaw in Monaghan,
and, meancholy to relate, two of them are very near rela-
tions of the murdered men—one being their brother, and
'the other their nephew.