The Sun.
London, England, 1857-11-07 00:00:00

THE LATE GENERAL OAVAIGNAC.

The Siecle offers a warm tribute to the memory
of General Cavaignac, of whom it speaks iu th•
following terms :

" The love and esteem we bear towards our country
do not blind us to the imperfections of the national cha-
racter. If the French are sometimes heroical, if they are ,
nearly always susceptible of magnificent bursts of enthu-
siasm, they do not in general po4sess the sense of duty
which, with civil courage, assures the triumph of opinions.
Doubtless, the French, who sacrifice their lives so easily '
for glory, are capable of other sacrifices, bat not with a
steady purpose. This disposition of the nation is to be
found naturally in the various political, military and civil
careers. If General Cavaignac is particularly distin-
guished from his contemporaries, it is because he ob-
served in all positions, high or low, in public as in pri.
vate life, that regard for duty, that worship of the real,
the just, and the good, to which others bestow only
passing offerings. At Tlemcen, at the blockade of Me.
deah, at the retreat of Milianah, at the head of the army
as at the head of the nation, or when retiring from
power, he was ever the same man, profoundly devoted
to his sense of duty. General Cavaignac knew not the
system which consists on throwing on another a part of
one's responsibility ; he recognised his duty to the full
extent of the term ; he accepted without a murmur in-
, gratitude and calumny ; he was so satisfied that his path
was the correct one that he disdained in reply when he
was accused. Only once he imagined that his honour
required that he should explain his conduct to the as-
sembly, which had given him powers, and there again
the sentiment of duty mado him an intrepid soldier and
an heroical general. He descended from power without
forfeiting his dignity. When in power he had enemies
and was calumniated ; but in his private character he
conquered the esteem of all. He was a poor man when
appointed to the first position in the republic ; he was
even poorer when he returned to private life. Plutarch
alone could describe that dignified poverty which no one
knew or suspected. Under a cold exterior General Ca-
vaignac possesed it warm heart. We know with what
passion he loved and honoured his mother and brother.
. We will mention one circumstance which is
little known. Gen. Cavaignace, appointed to the presi-
dency of the executi►e power; refused obstinately all the
means, even the legal ones, which were offered to him to
perpetuate his rule. Amongst other proposals, an offer
was made to him in August, almost on the morrow of
the days of Jane, to obtain from the assembly the vote
of the article in the constitution which treated on the
presidency, and to proceed at once to the election. He
refused, because he would not submit to the charge of
ambition, because he wished to owe all to the opinion of
the country. . . Let the political existence, or the
military and private life of the general be examined, and
it will be admitted that Cavaignac presents one of the
most complete and noble characters of our national his-
tory. He would have been Washington had the country
willed it—he may sit in the gallery of ancient heroes
between Epaminondas and Phocion."

SPORTING INTELLIGENCE.

WENLOCK RACES.-FRIDAY.

The Wynnstay Nursery Free Handicap of 3 soya each,
1 ft, with 30 added, for twc-yr-olds ; winners of 50

sov;iafter Oct. 27 lolb extra ; three-quarters of a mile.

5 subs.
Sir J. Boswell's Swale, by Malcolm, 7st 131 b (Bullock) 1
Mr. R. Wilson's Captain Wedderburn, 7st 131 b
(Peacock) 2
Mr. Tittenson's English Roso, 7st 121 b (Snowden) 3
Mr. Gordon's c by Dupe, dam by Pantasa, 101 b
(W. White) 4
Mr. Copeland's Trot, 7st 1016 (Frost) 5
. _ _

Betting-5 to 4 agst S wale, 2 to 1 agst Capt. Wed-
derburn, 3to 1 agst Trot. Won by a length, the second
beating the third by a deck.
The Forester Free Handicap of 3 soya each, 1 ft, with
30 added ; winners of 50 soya after Oct. 27 101 b extra;
one mile and a half. 6 subs.
Mr. Fox's Laverne, by Tom Tullock, 4 yrs, Bat 21b,
carried Bet 41h
Mr. Charlton's Grillade, 5 yrs, 7st 21b (Pritchard) 2
Mr. Rowland's Laodamia, 3 yrs, Bst 61b, including
101 b extra (Frost) 3
The following also ran :—Duchess of Sutherland, Re-
demption, and Indian Queen.
Betting.-2 to 1 agat Indian Queen, 3to 1 agst
Laverna, 4 to 1 each agst Grillade, Redemption, and
Laoisaraia. Won by a neck, Laodamia a bad third.
The Gaskell Stakes of 2 soya each, with 25 added ; for
2-yr-olds and upwards ; weight for age ; penalties
and selling allowances ; tho second to save his stake ;
half-a-mile. 4 subs.
Mr. J. Lowe's Lass of Richmond Hill, 2 yrs, bat 111 b
(25 sous)
Mr. Copeland's Trot, 2 yrs, &t 131 b (251.) (Snowden) 2
Mr. W. W. Ward's Stormy Petrel, 3 yrs, 7st 91b (25..)
(Walters) 3
Mr. T. Rowland's Little Dorrit, 4 yrs, Bat 101(251.
(Pool)e) 4
Betting.-6 to 4on Lass of Richmond Hill, 3to 1
agat Trot, 4to 1 agst Stormy Petrel. Won by a length ;
the same between second and third. The winner was
not sold.
The Farmers' Plate of 50 sous, for 4-yr-olds and
upwards ; weight for age, &o.; the second to receive
10 soya out of the plate ; heats, twice round and a
distance.
Mr. Hotchkiss's Tugford, by Polites, 6 yrs, 12st Blb
(0 wner) 1 1
Mr. Pugh's b. by Sir John, dam by Thel Buer
1 (Mr. ustotlne) 2 2

Both heath won easy.
The Selling Plate and the Selling Hurdle Raco did
not fill.

ATTEMPTED MURDER. AND SUICIDE. —For some time
past a man named Featherstone, a farm servant in the
employ of Mr. Passinoro, East Down, near Barnstaple,
had complained of being ill-treated by the female ser-
vants in the house. A few days ago he quitted Mr.
Passmere's service alleging this as his reason. On the
evening of his leaving, two of the women were sitting
at work in the kitchen, when the prisoner came and fired
a blunderbuss, loaded with shot, through the window,
greatly frightening, but not injuring the women. He
escaped pursuit, and went and hung himself in a neigh-
bouring wood, where ho was found by a gentleman who
was rabbit shooting. An inquest was held, and a verdict
of " Temporary insanity returned.