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

LONDON, TUESDA JULY 7, In 7

The Elections at Paris for the 3d, 4th, and 7th
districts have terminated, and in every instance
unfavourably to the Government candidates.
Those results may be regarded as emphatic protests
against the unconstitutional interference with the
freedom of elections, and the attempt to suppress
discussion, and prevent the unqualified expression
of opinion in political matters. It is true that
the number of opposition deputies returned con-
ptitute but a small proportion of the Chamber,
and that the Government has what in this coun-
try would be deemed an overwhelming majority.
But the persons chosen, the places for which they
were selected, and the circumstances connected
with the contests, bear a very significant aspect,
and give ample ground for serious consideration
to the EMPEROR and his advisers.
It is no trivial matter to find General CAVAIGNAC
who at one period was virtually dictator of France,
who claimed the suffrages of the French people
for the post of President against Lours NAPOLEON
himself, and who is the recognised leader of the
old republican party, returned by so influential a
constituency, and despite the energetic efforts to
oust him from the position to which he aspired.
It will be remembered that although the General
headed the poll a fortnight since, it was considered
a void election from his not having obtained the
ahsolute majority required by the electoral laws of
France. The total number of registered electors
in the third circumscription is 34,863. At the
former struggle he received 10,345 votes, and
M. THIBAUT, the Government candidate,
10,108. Ou the present General CAVAIGNAC
had 10,950, and M. THIBAUT only 9,952 votes !
And this, as we have stated, notwithstanding the
most gigantic efforts on the part of officials, who
brought almost every possible influence into
operation against the man who had been the great
rival and competitor of the EMPEROR himself.
In the fourth district the registered voters are
35,385 ; of whom 9,632 supported M. VARIN,
the Government candidate, while only 6,741 gave
their suffrages in favour of M. OLLIVIER, the chief
candidate of the Opposition. That same M.
OLLIVIER has now polled 11,005, while M. VARIN
only received 10,006 ! the former having ob-
tained 4,234 additional supporters, the latter only
363 more than on the previous occasion. Nor
were the events in the 7th district less striking.
The number of electors there were 36,249, of whom
10,609 voted for M. LA.NQUETIN, the Government
Candidate, and 6,825 for M. DARIMON, of La
Fresse. The tables have, however, been com-
pletely turned, and M. DARIMON has been elected
by 12,078 against 11,038 ! This divides the
representatives of the metropolis equally between
the Government and the Opposition, there being
five on each side—au ominous number when the
influence which Paris is known to exercise over
the provinces is taken into consideration !

It would be well for Louis NAPOLEON to profit
by this painful but salutary lesson, which may
be regarded as the first serious defeat sustained
during his career. He should make up his mind
to co-operate with a real, independent Parliament,
exercising its legitimate influence, and not to con-
trol a body of political cyphers, only seeking to
register his decrees. He should be prepared to
tolerate free discussion in the Chamber and in
the public j ,urnals, and thus, by affording the
People legitimate means of giving expression to
their views and opinions, prevent the dangerous
excesses to which they may resort whenever a
favourable opportunity may arise.
In this country a strong opposition in Parlia-
ment, and a free Press, are juhtly regarded as the
safeguards of the throne. They would prove the
same in France, if the experiment was fairly
tried. Here we are contented with a change of
Ministry. The Sovereign submits to the voice
of public opinion, clearly and intelligibly ex-
pressed. And her popularity is never for a mo-
ment diminished by any Ministerial crisis. There
the same causes might produce a change of
dynasty and a complete revolution in all the
national institutions. It requires but little argu-
ment to show which course is safest and best, not
only for the cause of order and tranquillity, but
also for that of the ruler and of his family.

The melancholy annual tale of The Civil List
Pensions ! 1,2001. a-year for the encouragement
of Art, Science, and Literature—and of this dole
but an indifferent proportion, after all, given to
any one at all connected with Art, or SciencP, or
Literature. We have illustrated this remarkable
fact again and again before now—yet we will do
so even here once more from the catalogue but
just now published. It is a catalogue. of all the
pensions granted between the 20th day of June,
1856, and the 20th day of June, 1857. A cata-
logue presenting to view an attenuated list of no
less tha❑ seventeen recipients. Here, again, is
the old initial blunder reiterated ! A paltry total
rendered yet more paltry in its application by
being so frivolously divided and subdivided !
Naturally, enough in consequence of this excessive
subdivision, we find the aggregate of 1,2001.,
when distributed into seventeen instalments, frit-
tered down in some instances to very mean driblets
indeed !—to 70/. !—to 50/. l—evtn to 301.—..
actually, in two instances, to 25/. ! This last-
mentioned "amount" (if we may venture to
give it so very grand-sounding a designation)
being absolutely one that for wages would
be pooh-poohed by a respectable butler, and
taken, as a matter-of-course, by a Court
Scullion 1 However, there is the unmis-
takeable, undeniable " fact"—that, in consequence
of this most absurd system of dividing 1,200/.
among no less than seventeen separate individuals
(in reality, we find one petty instalment of 50/.
divided between two sisters !) we fritter away the
whole of this restricted fund in a manner the most
ungraceful and the most unsatisfactory. Tna' is
a very egregoua blunder to begin with. But
there are others, also, in regard to the distribution
of this Fund still more indefensible. It might,
perhaps, just within the limits of possibility, re-
main a matter of doubt, if submitted to the con-
sideration of a conscientious jury, whether the
minimum pension on the list ought to be restricted
to 80/. or 100/., and the maximum, to 2501.
or 300/. But it could not, by any chance what-
ever, remain a question for two seconds in the
judgment of any twelve right-minded Englishmen

in all the land, whether a Fund of 1,200/. per '
annum, set aside for the encouragement of Art,
Science, and Literature, ought or ought not to be
restricted to recipients connected directly, or indi-
rectly, with Art, or Science, or Literature. Yet
how has it been during the year past with reference
to the 1,2001. nominally devoted to this express
purpose of encouraging the cultivation of
Alt, Science, and Literature ? Why, that
out of that 1,2001.--positively not less
than 550/. [just 50/. short of one entire
moiety !] have been bestowed in the re-.
ward of Military, or Naval, or Judicial services
1001. to the relict of a gentleman formerly dis-
charging the duties of a Commissary Judge at
Havannah. T a-o pensions of 501. to the relicts
of deserving ' unfortunates connected with the
maritime department. Two other pensions of 501.
immediately connected with war and its casualties.
A pension of 1001. to the daughter of the late
gallant Sir GEORGE CATHCART, killed at the battle
of Inkermann. And a pension of 1501.—(the only
pension attaining that, after all, not very extrava-
gant amount !)—to the bereaved mother of
the late heroic Captain THOMPSON who died of
wounds received during the glorious defence of
Kars, from the besieging army of MOI7RATIEFF
Glorious pensions, admirable pensions, noble pen-
sions these last mentioned. Pensions against
which not a whisper would be heard from us, but
that they are coolly abstracted at the Treasury from
the already inadequate sum of 1,2001. per
annum set apart not for the encouragement of
War, not for the recompense of Valour in the
Field but for the recompense of toil in the Study,
in the Atelier, in the Laboratory, for the acknow-
ledgment of good services done in the peaceful
walks of Art, and Science, and Literature.

It is but a matter of simple justice that the
witnesses to be examined before the Committee
on the Bank Charter should not be taken only
from bankers and traders in money, whose inte-
rest it is to maintain a high rate of discount. The
manufacturing and agricultural interests should
be properly represented, and persons who have
closely studied the subject, should be invited to
develope their ideas in accordance with a recent
suggestion of the Times. It would, no doubt be
a valuable thing to have "the whole arguments
of the various schools comprised in one
book," although it might prove rather
a bulky one. With such a compendium every
thinking man would be enabled to digest the
various systems, and to arrive at a definite and
unprejudiced conclusion totally irrespective of the
report of the Committee.

We can easily understand the motives of the
" Mercator" party in desiring a strict and search.
ing investigation, although they previously depre-
cated such a course. With the present state of
public. feeling, with the extravagant rate
of interest still maintained at a minimum
charge of C per cent, by the Bank —it
may be dangerous to have the subject pub-
licly ventilated, until some favourable change has
taken place. At present the subject is shelved,
the proceedings of the Committee are strictly pri-
vate, and there is, therefore, an adequate excuse
for preventing any discussion in Parliament ; but
were the report once published, and any
effort to legislate thereon made during the
present session, there would be a serious
agitation commenced on the all-important
topic, and a pressure from without occasioned
which might prove as irresistible as that respecting
the continuance of the War 9d., or rather the
War 11d., in the Income Tax We, therefore,
clearly perceive the object of the Fabian policy,
but would still, for the sake of the development
of truth, prefer that it should be partially suc-
cessful. It is impossible to hope that any large
and comprehensive measure can be passed
at the present advanced period of the
Session. The " Old Lady" must retain her
present monopoly for another year, unless
Ministers, yielding to the general desire of the
industrial population, should take upon themselves
the responsibility of giving the requisite notice
for the termination of the Charter before the Ist
of August. This, indeed, would be an important
movement, which would allow Parliament to deal
with the subject next session without the delay of
another year. It would be but a prudent pre-
caution, which could do no harm, and might do
a great deal of good. We fear, however, that so
decided a course cannot be anticipated so long
as Sir G. C. LEWIS remains at the head of the
financial department. A significant hint, however,
from either House might have a very beneficial
effect in stimulating them to do that, which the
best interests of the nation so imperatively de-
mand, and which could have no evil consequences,
even if the old law were to be re-enacted, without
change or modification, for a further period of ten
years from the Ist of August, 1858.

VIYIT OF PRINCE NAPOLEON.

BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.

Plymouth, Tuesday.
His Imperial Majesty's steam yacht La Reims Hor-
tense, arrived here last night from Havre, having on
board his Imperial Highness Prinoe Napoleon and suite.
His Highness proposes to visit the tin mines of
Corn wail.
The yacht sailed at midnight from Falmouth.