The Sun.
London, England, 1868-06-20 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, JUNE 20, 1868.

rejoice if precedent can be waived for once and an
exception made in favour of their merits ; but if it
be found impossible to do so, or at least inexpedient,
it can but conduce to the satisfaction of Sir ROBERT
NAPIER and his followers to know that they have
been deemed worthy of the privilege by many high

authorities.
The Marquis of SALISBURY put a question, pur-
suant to notice, respecting the new Law Courts.
The purport of these observations was to set forth
the claims of Mr. BARRY before those of Mr. STREET,
while Mr. BARRY'S was considered the best one for
the plan of the interior. The LORD CHANCELLOR,
as President over the Committee for the building of
the new Law Courts, answered the noble Marquis,
and said that he was very glad that the subject had
been brought forward, because a good deal of mis-
apprehension existel out of doors i❑ respect to it.

The fact was that the Government hal not either
rejected or accepted any design, and the Commis-
sioners settled that there should not be unlimited
competition among the architects, but that six or
eight should be chosen for the purpose of comp2ti-

tion, and at last the number was raised to eleven.
The Judges of Design were appointed by the Trea-
sury, and were five in number. By the terms of
the arrangement, the plans submitted became the
property of the Commission, whether accepted or not,
and each competitor received a certain sum as some
compensation for the time and pains bestowed upon
their labours. In consequence of this it will be
seen that the judges were not bound to give any
one competitor the credit of having his particular
design selected. The object was rather to test
the relative merits of the different plans, without
pledging the Government to select a particular
design and erect the Courts according to that de-
sign. It was conceived that it might very well be
that various useful hints might be taken from the
different designs, and the judges were to decide
which of their authors showed the greatest skill and
capacity for the superintendence of the erection of
the new Law Courts. The judges were not, however,
able to say which of the competing architects was
the m )st successful, and then seat in their award to
the Treasury, with the intimation that putting
their designs together that of Mr. STREET was best
for the " external elevation," and that of Mr.
BARRY for the intern.. arrangements. Further
communications only resulted in the judges adher-
ing to their previous opinion on the matter. At
last it was settled by the Attorney-General that the
award was invalid.

The Government had then to decide, and they
appear to have done so in a wise manner after much
&liberation. It must be borne in mind at the same
time that another judgment respecting the National
Gallery hal declared that Mr. BARRY'S plan was
of the greatest architectural merit. It was than
settled that Mr. BARRY should have the superin--
tendence of the erection of the National Gallery,
and Mr. STREET that of the law Courts. On
the whole, it may be said that the matter
has been arranged as well as possible ;
and one thing is certain, that every one could not
be satisfied. It was not likely that Mr. BARRY
would be contented with the erection of two public
buildings, and, in some respects, the Government
had increased advantages in getting out of the
dilemma into which the decision of the judges had
placed them. It may be added, that there ie al-

ways more awkwardness created when the case
is reduced to two competitors than when there
are more. Some conversation ensued, after the
Lord Chancellor's explanation, which amounted to
little. In the course of the evening the Duke of
ARGYLL took a very long time in dwelling on a
recommendation which was before the House, in
respect to the rights of the Crown on the
subject of the foreshores and the bed of
the sea. The chief point was that this
memorandum had been presented to Parliament

without a signature. The Dake of RICHMOND,
however, explained that he took the responsibility
of it upon hinass:lf, and as for it being on the table
of the House that arose from the suggestion of a
private member of Parliament, the doJument being
drawn up for the guidance of those in the office pf
the Board of Trade. It cannot be said that there
was much in this, but the noble duke contrived to
make a great deal of the matter nevertheless. It
would seem as if the members of the Government

in the House of Lards were now to take their turn,
and to be called to account for all that offends the
taste and militates against the prejudices of their

opponents.

Among all the excitements of the present Session
tho political achievements of 1866-67 have been
almost forgotten, and accordingly we find the chief

speakers at the Lewes Conservative Association
very busy i❑ going over the records of that eventful
period. There are many reasons for anxiety and
perplexity now, but last year the horizon was a
good deal darker. Mr. BROWNRIGG, who seconded
a resolution at Thursday's meeting iu favour of the
present Government, went over the story of the
last two years. Little, he said, was done during
the Session of 1866, except grumbling. There

were not wanting signs of the coming storm.
During the recess—the autumn and winter of the
year—the country spoke out more plainly. Monster
meetings were held, processions organised, revolu-
tionary speeches made, and fierce invectives hurled
against Ministers. At that time, as Mr.
BROWNRIGG reminded his hearers, the effects of the
severe commercial panic were still sensibly felt, the
corn market was rising, the cattle plague on the
increase, the Fenian conspiracy become more
troublesome, and our relations with America such
rs gave rise to some uneasiness. Under all these
dis Advantages, and in face of all these obstacles,
the Ministry of Lord DERBY set themselves to deal
with the most perplexing political problem of the
day ; and, what is more, they did deal with it suc-
cessfully. It was won in the teeth of a most fac-

tious opposition according to Mr. BROWNRIGG ; but
at any rate no one can deny that the difficulties in

the way were very considerable, and many theorists
had tried their hands at reforming Parlia-
ment, and there were countless critios ready
to censure and denounce any plan but their own.
There were the vested interests of boroughs that
feared disfranchisement, and members who dreaded
losing their seats. There were the loud profes-
sors of Reform principles, who objected to the
loss of their hustings and public meeeing " plat-
form." There were the agitators, who, from inte-
rest or love of excitement, had been busy stirring
up the people, and who disliked to find their occu-
pation gone. The pretended friends of Reform
were altogether a formidable faction, and if we add
to them the large party who, though really desirous
of achieving the end, were averse to its being sJt-
sled by a Conservative Administration, we shall find
that they constitute a powerful host. Oa the other
hind, the Reformers de facto had to, contend
again,t a large section of their own followers,
who objected to any considerable change in the
constituencies to a large reduction of t' 2e franchise,
or to any other of those steps which it was impera-
tively necessary for any one who moant to settle
the question of Representative Reform, even tem-
porarily, to take. There are not wautim g now, as
Mr. BROWNRIGG observed, those who object to
many portions of the Reform Bill, and qui .stion its

wisdom, but it is fair to ask them what would have
been the state of the public mind if the settlement
of the question had been again postponed, and the
people had felt themselves unfairly dealt with. No
change of the kind can be really judged until it is
put to the practical test of experience, and we are
likely before long to see the Reform Bill
of 1867 submitted to this ordeal. It is an encou;
raging proof of the increasing interest which our
working men are taking in the politics of the day to
find them, as we are now doing, present in good
numbers at most of these provincial gatherings•
By joining with the classes above them in these
general assemblies they will lose that violent and
arbitrary tone which they are apt to catch from
their more Democratic leaders, and will gain in poli-
tical weight while they gain in experience.

The Radicals in Washington being disappointed
in their efforts to obtain the command of the White
House, and to retain their waning influence through-
out the State Legislatures, have turned their atten-
tion to a new quarter. The Board of Aldermen at
Washington has become the scene of their struggles
for ascendancy, and it is amusing to find the excite-
ment hitherto shown about the Presidential con-
test or the reconstruction of the Southern States
now prevailing on a purely municipal question.
Several members of the board of aldermen at
Washington have denied the legality of each other's
elections. As might be expected the Radical re-
gistrar refused to recognise the claims of the Demo-
cratic disputants, while he declared the Radical
candidates to be duly elected. It is this system
which the Radicals carry into everything. No
position which carries with it any degree of
influence or authority is beneath their notice, none
too high for their ambition ; and, we may add, no
means are too desperate for them to attain their
objects. By continuing generally to secure minor
official places, such as that of registrars and clerks
to public offices, the Radicals aro able to take
advantage of any technical obstacles which can '
be put in the way against their opponents. It
will be remembered that great difficulties
have been put in the way of the Democratic mem-
bers in Congress by the officials, and very often
their plans have been completely frustrated by the
collusion between the Radical members and the
temporary authority. Out of doors, however, it is
not so easy to carry everything their own way.
Great excitement, we are told, existed in the capi-
tal respecting this affair of the Aldermen,
and it was feared that a riot would take
place. On the 10th the Radical Alderman took
forcible possession of the Councilmen's Chamber,
so that we shall soon see the anarchy which has
long existed in political circles prevailing over the
social affairs of the city. The division between
Radical and Democrat is so wile at the present
moment that it overrides every other considera-
tion, and the near approach of the Presidential
contest intensifies every party feeling. Oue
of the Republican Senators who had courage to
vote against his party has not suffered for his in-
dependence, but his was one of the few seats con-
fidently regarded as secure. Senator SPRAGUE, son-
in-law of Mr. Justice CHASE, has been re-elected
for Rhode Island ; and we hope that the:rest of the
Senators, whose independent integrity turned the
scale, will be equally fortunate.

LATEST INTELL MEN GE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE DANUBIAN PRINCIPALITIES.
BUCHAREST, June 19.

Russia has paid the first instalment of the debt of
two million piastres accepted by the Government in
lieu of the building materials of the fortresses of
"'small and Kilia, amounting to 280,000 francs,
placing the same at the disposal of the Minister of
War.

The second instalment will be placed during the
current year at the disposal of the Minister of
Finance in Roumanian silver coin.

PORTUGAL.

LISBON, June 19 (Evening.)

Mr. Laing has left for London, having come to a
settlement with Count Avila on the South Eastern
Railway question. It is said.to be on the basis of
the old contract of 1864.

HUNGARY.

PESTII, June 19 (Evening).

Prince Napoleon is still here. To-morrow he
starts early for Balaton-Fured, and returns in the

evening.
M. llowath's pamphlet against Kossuth has sold
rapidly, and has reached a second edition.

THE BOMBAY MAIL.

SUEZ, June 19.

The China, from Bombay 2d inst., arrived at
3 p.m. to-day.

GIBRALTAR, June 18.

The Travancore, from Southampton 13th inst.,
arrived to-day at 1 a.m., and left at 9 a.in. for
Alexandria. All well.

FRANCE.

PARIS, June 20.

The illoniteur of this morning says :—" By an
order of the Government of Hayd, dated the 10th
of May, thellaytian ports and towns of Saint Marc,
Miragoane, and Jacmel are declared in a state of
blockade."

An extraordinary general meeting of the share-
holders of the Credit Mobilier Company has been
convened for the 30th July.
BOURSE, June 19.—Three o'clock.—The market
closed as follows :

41 per Cent.
End of month —•
3 per Cent
End of month 7O 22
Credit Mobilier

Bank Shares 3160
Ital'an Loan
End of month —
Mexican Loan 22
Do. Bonds
Spanish Threes
Home Debt —

End of month... 311 25
Credit Foncier —1530
End of month...

Deferred ......•.• -
Cash
Orleans
Northern 1215
94
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern....
563
Western
Eastern • • 5O
Sardinian
563
Austrian
381
Lombard 65
North of Spain BO
Saragossa
Roman fir .......••

RAILWA'

GOiIiiiiSPONDENGE FROlit PARIS,

'CFROH OUI 'OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, FRIDAY, June 'l9,
With the thermometer at 90° (Fahrenheit) in the shade,
it Is really too hot for things to happen. We can but sit
about on the shady side of the Champs Elysdes, eating ices,
at least those of us who have not yet been so fortunate as
to get away, We have, however, had one incident
that caused some excitement, even in spite .of
the roasting weather. At the Champs Elys6es
concert, one finning this week, the Princess Metternich,
wife of the Austrian Ambassador, and the Marquise de
Pourtal4s, who are the ringleaders of the courtes-robes
heretics, made their appearance in costumes so extrava-
gantly outrageous that the laughter which these granges
dames excited fairly drove them away. The Princess had
upon her head a black Japanese hat, with a profusion
of flowers in it, and with jet fastenings, and an enor-
mous lace cravat, and a mountain of a chignon.
While there was so much superfluous clothing at one
extremity, there was a deficiency at the other. The
dresses of both ladies were ludicrously short, and revealed
boots that would have outrivalled a Magyar's. The
Princess's dress was of muslin, with innumerable flounces,
looped up with lilac festoons. The Marchioness's was a
blue skirt, with a brilliant yellow tunic, yellower than a
field of buttercups. You may fancy the commotion this
apparition caused among people with whom dress is one of
the most serious concerns of life.
New journals are springing up like mushrooms on all
sides, and some of them will certainly have an existence
of only mushroom duration. A most amusing revelation
has just been made of the shifts to which some new
journals resort in order to get up a circulation. Some
months ago a paper called La _Rue was started ; but " the
Street " would not go off in the streets at all,
until one day it contained an account of a duel
which was reported to have occurred between
one of its contributors, Stamir, a Pole, and an ex-Zouave
in the Papal army. As the reported duel arose out of the
Garibaldian invasion it attracted some attention, and for
a short time La Rue was in dethand. Recently, Stamir has
had a quarrel with the editor Valles, and he has now
made known to the world that the whole story was a
fiction. It appears that when M. Valles found his paper
would not go off he said to Stamir "My dear friend,
you are always a friend of Valles when he wants you to
serve him. Canards do not succeed. I have, however,
found out a way to force it into sale." " What is your
combination ?" said Stau•ir. " Why, you must fight a
duel." " With whom am Ito have the honour of crossing
swords ?" " With nobody." " liow ! a duel and no ad-
versary !" Stamir replied, looked fixedly at his chief editor.
"You must fight, though you have no adversary." " I
thought Valles was mad (adds Stamir), but I was mis-
taken, for I found he was never more in his senses. Sure
of my silence, he chose me for his accomplice, and out of
my devotedness to him I fell into the snare. To aid this
poor confrere was for me a duty ; to hesitate for a
moment would be to drive to despair the wretched man.
I allowed myself to be convinced. The article appeared ;
Valles took a part in the composition ; notes written by
Valles were sent round to the other papers, and at last La
Rue had a sale ! lie was right ; the mystification produced
its effect. The day that the pretended duel came off
Valles was waiting fir me in the office. Il aye just fought
my duel,' I cried out on entering, as had been previously
arranged between us. `lndeed !' he replied; 'let me have
paper. Send the news to the other journals. Give me the
name of yi or adversary, and then of his seconds and
yours.' I dictated to him the same names which he him-
self had invented the day before. The same evening two
papers, the F. faro and the Lilicrte, spoke of the famous
duel, and the day folluwing the other journals commentel
upon it, giving particulars of the combat, according to the
instructions of Valles. Viscount de Cecconia had, they
said, been very seriously wounded by me in the duel. The
noise made by my victory was great, but not sufficiently so
for Valles, as a few days afterwards he had the stupidity
to fabricate a letter which he caused to be brought to me
one evening by a commissionaire, and in which the
death of my adversary was announced." Sad to say, though
the device succeeded for a time, it was only for a very short
time, and La Rue has long since been extinct.

There are fresh rumours of Ministerial changes to-day.
It is said that M. Rouher, grateful for the assistance which
he has received from M. Emile 011ivier, in the discussion
with the redoubtable Protectionist, M. Pouyer-Quertier,
wishes to introduce the former into the Cabinet, and
that General Fleury also will join it. I do not suppose
that there is much truth in these reports. But it is cer-
tain that the Emperor is very angry at the attacks of M.
Pouyer Quertier, and that the Government will put forth
all its efforts to prevent his re-election at Rouen, though
probably in vain.

Busson-Billaut's report on the Budget contains some
important information, and one satisfactory item is that
Marshal. Niel explained to the Budget Commission that
his warlike armaments were of a peaceful character.
Berlin latcrs tell us that arrangements have been made
Lo fill the vacancy caused by Bismarck's temporary retire-
ment. He will be replaced at the Ministry of Foreign
Affairs by Herr Thile, hitherto secretary to that depar
:neut.

At the presidency of the Council he will be
succeeded by Baron Von der Heydt, Minister of Finance,
and, when this Minister takes his holiday, by General
Von noon. Herr Von Friessen, the Saxon Minister,
ill act as President of the Federal Council. All matters
according to the Federal Constitution, involve minis-
t.eilai responsibility, and to that extent the responsibility
of the Federal Chancellor, Bismarck will reserve for his
wn signature.
The arrangements for the marriage of the Crown
Prince of Dolma' k are completed. The Princess-Louise
of Sweden will bring her husband a dowry of 25,000,000
fix dollars (E 1,400,000). At present the Salle law prevails
:n Sweden, and therefore the Princess (the only child of
Xing Charles) cannot succeed him. It is hoped, however,
that the law may be set aside, and some such arrangement
made, perhaps as whenyour Queen Mary 11. and her husband
:le Prince of Orange reigned jointly. The King of Sweden
13 just about to go to Jutland to witness the manoeuvres of
he Danish flea. There seems to be a strong desire to
,trengthen the Scandinavian union ; and it is in cense.
,nence of this desire that the Crown Prince consents to a
marriage which is not the one that his affections would
ave dictated.

The special correspondent of the Telegraph at Vienna
professes to have received private information which he ir
at present precluded from making public, confirming the
that the murder of Prince Michael Obrenovich
was an act instigated by political ambition, whetted on
the grindstone of some vendetta. The faction, however, that
.:Peculated in the outbreak did not elicit that response on
which they counted, and it is the opinion of the writer that
the specu7a,tors in the Kara-Georgevich restoration are vir-
tually out of the field. As their chance diminishes so does
that of yc.urg Milan Obrenovich gain ground. Already a
large part of the army has declared
.in his favour, the
town of Belgrade is ranged under his banner, and declara-
tions of adhesion to his cause are pouring in from the
communes of the interior. Should he be elected, his nomi-
nation will be confirmed by the guaranteeing Powers ; and
the Princess Julia Obrenovich, relict of the murdered
Prince, will Le named a member of the Regency by which
Servia, will be governed until he shall attain his
majority. Whether the Principality enjoy peace or be
convulsed with civil war during that regency would depend
upon the constitution of the ruling authority. If Marino-
vich and Milivoi should, by the will of the nation, be asso-
ciated with Julia de Hunyady during the minority of
Milan, things would prol.ably go smoothly enough ; but if
„hey should be kept out of the-regency Europe must look out
for squalls. The Telegraph correspondent adds, that the
candidature of Prince Carol is now out of the question, as
the confirmation of the Skuptschina's election by the Great
Powers will only he accorded to a nominee native of
Servia. That the patriot Garaschianin should enter the
lists against Milan for the Hospodariat is deemed im-
probable. He will in all likelihood throw his influence
into the scale on the lad's behalf.

It will be remembered that about two months ago a
inet;on was carried in the North German Parliament
declaring that the officers who had the management of the
debt of the Lund should be held personally responsible to
the Parliament for its application. This irritated Count
Bismarck to such a degree that he at once gave up the
loan of twenty millions of thalers already voted for the
navy, ordered great retrenchment in every branch of the
naval service, and postponed sine die the construction of addi-
tional ships, as also of coast defences. The clever Minister
knew with whom he had to deal, and this measure of his
as now had the effect which he foresaw. If there is one
thing on which the North Germans are agreed, it is in
creating a German fleet, with the harbours and naval
eitablishments necessary for its maintenance. There-
.`ore, as soon as the Parliament met again after its
brief prorogation, an agreement was privately accepted by
parties, and it is now pretty well decided that the
loan shall be raised, and that its application is to be under
the responsibility of the Prussian Government. We
learn, further, that in consequence of recent experiments
Ate Prussian Government has decided to build no iron
ships, but to have wooden ships strongly defended.

The Owl appears to have been misinformed when
-dated that the Lord Chief Baron would, as vacation judge
at chambers, have the nomination of the additional revis•
iog barristers contemplated by the new registratior.
measure, and that although the bill had not yet become
law, there were some 230 applicants in the field. The
Law Journal declares that if 230 barristers have arplied
to the Lord Chief Baron their labour is vain, inasinuel
as Mr. Ju ILumen wi.ll. and" IVA 'ittcatiVi)

MR. BARRY AND MR. STREET.

The Express hears that the decision respecting the new
law courts is not to pass unchallenged. Mr. E. M. Barry's
protest will, it is rumoured, be followed by an appli-
cation to have the whole matter referred to a Select
committee of the house. A tabular abstract has been
prepared of the points of excellence awarded to each com-
petitor by the professional judges of the designs (Messrs.
Shaw and Pownall), which, if it can be taken as correct,
places the relative merits of the several architects in
somewhat striking juxtaposition. In this return Mr.
Parry's merits are represented by the figures 41, Mr.
Scott's by 25, and every ono else, far behindhand in the race.
Mr. Lockwood has 9 points in his favour, Mr. Waterhouse
6, Mr. Borges 5, and Mr. Street, against whose appoint-
ment by the Government Mr. Barry protests, 8. The par-
ticulars by whieh these result are arrived at are spe-
cifically given in each case, "General Subjects,"
"Law Courts," "Judges' Chamber," and "other suites of
offices," all having their special works. Under the heading
"Law Courts," Mr. Barry is represented as having 17 marks
and Mr. Street one, while "other suites of offices"
gives Mr. Barry 11 and Mr. Street 2 separate units.
Wo cannot pretend to go into these figures,
or to vouch for them in any way ; nor is this necessary, as
the public is evidently doomed to long professional disquisi-
tions on the subject. The point raised is, sofar as we understand
it, that according to the terms of the contract entered into
between the Government and the competing architects, Mr.
Barry is entitled to the prize, and that the award to his
friend end rival, Mr. Street, is a distinct breach of
covenant. The aggrieved candidate is, moreover, caret al
to express his confidence in Mr. Street's ability to
design and erect a building worthy of the nation, and takes
his stand solely upon what he conceives to be his right.
Altogether it seems as if the House of Commons would be
called upon to arbitrate in a matter it is eminently unqua-
lified to decide.

THE WEATHER TABLE.-THIS DAY.