The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-19 00:00:00

FARES.

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 19, 1! 68.

three at least among his ministerial colleagues.
Those Ministers are now replaced—the Marquis
de LAVALETTE becoming the new Minister for
Foreign Affairs, M. FORCADE DE LA ROQUETTE the
new Minister of the It terior, and M. GRESSIER the
new Minister of Agriculture. And it is especially
noticeable in regard to the newly-installed Foreign
Minister of France, that the Marquis DE LAVALETTE
has, iu the course of his diplomatic career, been both
at Constantinople and at Rome in the capacity
of his Imperial MAJESTY'S Ambassador. He is, con-
sequently, well "up" by right of those antecedents
of his in the two great problems of the time—
the Roman Question and the Eastern Question.
And in taking office under the Minister of State.
M. ROT:HER—the Marquis DE LAVALETTE, the
sometime Ambassador of Rome, now Minister of
Foreign Affairs at Paris, must, for example, have long
since sufficiently well realised, we may be quite sure
of that, the significance of the former Statesman's one
word—his historical word—jamais! A word reiterated
by him as he stood there leaning over the ledge of the
"Tribune," a word startling and"eclatant"like the dis-
charge of a double-barrelled Chassepot—were such an
arm of precision capable of being fabricated—that
mot, as it may in truth be called, affording a key to
the whole policy of Catholic France in regard to the
Roman Question. With M. ROUIIER still at the
head of affairs in the EMPEROR'S Government,
with the Marquis do LAVALETTE, formerly his
imperial MAJESTY'S Ambassador in Rome, now in-
stalled in office at Paris, as Minister of Foreign
Affairs, in succession to the Marquis DE MOUSTIER,
whO has boen promoted to the rank of Senator—no
wonder the impression is that there is no intention
whatever on the part of the EMPEROR to withdraw
the French troops still occupying Papal terrritory in
the Roman outport of Civita Vecchia. The impression
indeed is that that force, instead of being diminished
even, will be increased, or at any rate will be strengthened
by the forwarding to Civita Vecchia of fresh supplies,
some of which fresh supplies indeed are stated to have
even now already arrived there. However this may
be, whatever may or may not be the distinct inten-
tions upon this matter of vital importance not merely
to Italy but directly or indirectly to all Christendom,
it is certain that Catholic France that the Emperor
NAPOLEON 111. individually will have a larger in-
terest than ever for maintaining matters there in
statu quo in the December of next year—when there
will be assembled together in the Eternal City,
from all quarters of the globe, the Patriarchs and
the Archbishops, the Bishops and the mitred
Abbots, the hierarchical Episcopacy and the
Episcopacy scattered abroad in partibus in-
fidelierum, summoned together there by the
voice of Pit's the Nix-rn to take part in the
Nineteenth &cemenical Council. The Nineteenth !
Summoned together during the later half of the Nine-
teenth century—as though it were due, so to speak, to
continue thus the cycle of tEcumeaical Councils pro-
portionately in number with the lapse of the centu-
ries since the foundation of Christianity. During that
solemn conclave Ira Rome, which is fixed for the
December of 1869, according to the arrangements
made by the SOVEREIGN PONTIFF, France, and NAPO-
LEON 111. will not unnaturally be desirous that no
untoward incident should arise to complicate not

simply the affairs of Italy, not simply the relations
between France and Italy, but the Peace of all
Europe, the tranquillity of the whole of Christen-
dom. Everything considered, the Ministerial changes
which have just taken place in Paris are in the inte-
rests of Order, are in the interests of Peace, and are
therefore propitious.

WHAT the Moniteur calls the " joint action and
conformity " of the Six Powers—ltaly is a power
now—has not availed to keep in order the little
State of 2,000 square miles. The official papers of
Paris, after having unaccountably kept back all news
from the East, now announce that a definite rupture
has taken place. There is reason to hope that
diplomacy may yet prevent serious hostilities,
but hitherto negotiation has failed, and Turkey,
regardless of the representations of its neighbours,
has finally committed itself by an act of war.
The Greek vessel Enosis has been assailed by a

. -
Turkish squadron, shots have been exchanged, and
- •

he obnoxious blockade-runner has been driven to

harbour.

Both States, acting apparently upon the

conviction that a serious war must ensue, are pre-

paring for the strife. Turkey has thrown off the
lethargy which formerly justified the conclusion that

the sick mart was at the last extremity. Its prepara-

tions, which are by no means of very recent date,
are energetic and upon a considerable scale. It
has been arranged that the well-known General,
Ommt PASHA, shall march to the Greek frontier
with an army of 60,000 men, ready to invade the
hostile territory. Before the rupture took place six-
teen battalions had already been assembled at
Salonica, an important seaport at no great distance
from the Greek frontier. HOBART PASHA, formerly
a captain in the English navy, and an adept
in the art of blockade-running, has been

appointed to prevent the illegal traffic for which he
has himself become so famous. A powerful fleet
has been placed at his disposal ; the sqaadron with
which he has already disposed of the Enosis is now
being reinforced by four frigates, and soon the bulk
of the Ottoman navy will be cruising in Greek
waters. Against these formidable preparations the
Government at Athens has nothing to oppose except
the obstinacy in wrongdoing of which it has made
such a liberal, such a suspicious display. The
strength of the two States is so disproportionate,
that if left completely to themselves the destruc-
tion of the smaller must be the inevitable result.
The wreck of the great military Power which over-
threw the Greek Empire, and for centuries ruled
supreme in Eastern Europe, is still formidable. The
Porte is penniless, and its affairs are mal-
administered ; its navy exhibits very little of the science
of the age, and its troops are inferior in organisation
and arming to those of the greater European
nations. But the Ottoman Empire must easily over-
power Greece. As to finances, it is a question which
of the two shall first appear in the Gazette ; but
Greece has no army or navy to speak of. As an
independent State it would never have come into
existence but for the destruction of the Turkish fleet
at Navarino, and it has done nothing for the last
forty years to justify the expectations which were
formed of it. Its military power, like its industrial
prosperity, stands very much where it did.
The commencement of a conflict so dispropor-
tionate is not reassuring. What the Powers have
done to secure peace, or why they have at least
failed to prevent the two parties coming to blows, are
equallyaielny informedigmatica th
l. Theeworld
oorlfidicitahlatpadpieprlsomoafeyPlavrasis
h
hard at work, that all the six Powers were of one
mind, that the idea of Greece presuming to
fight in face of such opposition was con-
temptible. Whilst, however, these official assu-
rances were so cheerful, the actual facts became
day by day more disquieting. Greece was
condemned by the public opinion of all Europe ; no
political question of late years has called forth such
unanimity of sentiment. But she did not scruple to
reject: the ultimatum of the Porte, offensively
declining to concede some of the demands,
though all of them, and particulaily the very
stipulations which were refused, were supported
by the Powers. In the face of these facts °it is
difficult to avoid raising the questionwhether Greece
is acting alone in this matter. The chances are
indeed wholly against the hypothesis that the little
State which is now troubling Europe can at present
receive support from any quarter of it. Austria is
all but the open enemy of Greece : the Western
Powers display no decided bias. Prussia has just
been the foremost agent in reducing the Roumanians

to order, and it is wholly improbable that the German •
Power would create in one quarter a disturbance
similar to that which she suppressed in another. The
supposition that Prussia desires to embarrass Austria
in thisway is set aside by the reflection that if this object
was to have been sought by an outbreak in the East,
an outbreak in Roumania itself would have been
most troublesome. There remains only Russia. The
Power which is of all others the warmest friend to
Greece, has, however, in this question acted with a
straightforwardness which there is no reason to
doubt. Russia is this time in accord with the
rest of Europe. We are told that she has joined
in urging Greece to repent ; and if she encourages
the perverse kingdom in its evil courses, it must be
with great secrecy, and, therefore, with diminished
vigour.
The situation is so adverse to a combination to
break up the Ottoman Empire, that the question
could hardly be raised were it not that the conduct
of King GEORGE in hazarding all upon this cast of
the die is so inexplicable. When the supposition of
foreign aid is rejected, there remain no data to ex-
plain the motives which have induced the brother
of the Princess of WALES and his Ministers
to provoke a war with Turkey. The enthusiasm
of the Greek people seems great ; but if
the Government is not a free agent in a matter
of this moment the tenure of King GEORGE'S throne
is worth very little. Meanwhile the course of Eng-
land is open to very little doubt. Our policy in
the East has become negative of late years ; we
are not anxious to keep the Turks in Constanti-
nople, and the ownership of that important capital
is now a matter of little interest to England, pro-
vided always that Russia does not get it. On the
other hand, whilst the interests of justice demand
the moral support of Turkey, Europe cannot well
put up with the destruction of Greece. Our Nava-
rino experiment was a failure; but, after all, Greece
is a Christian country, and represents in great mea-
sure the Christian interests of the East. The
further advance of the Turk into Europe is not
desirable, and hardly possible. Turkey ought not to
fall a prey to its neighbours, but it iss even
more undesirable that the reverse issue should
confront us. If the Greeks receive a sound lesson
from the greater State, the general opinion must be
that she richly deserved it ; but the extinction of our
Protectorate is not to be thought of. klthough the
conduct of Greece deserves punishment, the country
must be preserved from ruin.

WE have often had occasion to censure the severity
of the unpaid magistrates in dealing with petty
offences. Sometimes they run into the opposite
extreme. That they will send an infant to gaol for
stealing a stick or a few berries we all know too well ;
but it is not often that they outrage society by
apportioning a penalty reprehensibly below that
which the gravity of the offence demands. Such
an instance is before us now. A mill
operative, of Blackburn, was on Thursday charged
with committing a criminal outrage upon his
own daughter, a girl of 14 years old. The details
were so atrocious that the court had to be cleared.
The prisoner did not deny the charge, but pleaded
that he was drunk when he committed the act. It
is stated that this was not the first time he had per-
petrated it. Nevertheless, the Blackburn magistrates
sentenced the man to six months' imprisonment—
something less than he would have got for stealing a
hare. This disgraceful sentence suggests seve-
ral considerations. In the first place, what
right had the magistrates to deal summa-
rily with a charge of this kind ? Are they
aware that rape is still, according to the statute-
book, punishable with death ? True, the penalty is
never enforced, but it is one of the highest crimeswhich
the law has to deal with, and it ought most unques-
tionably to be reserved for a more august tribunal
than a bench of J.P.'s. One of her Majesty's
judges should have dealt with this case at the assizes,
when, if the prisoner had been found guilty by a
proper . jury, he would have received a sentence pro-
portioned to his offence. But this is not the first
time that the Blackburn magistrates have thus made
light of an atrocious offence. Some months ago
we had to comment upon the low value which they
set upon female honour, and the leniency with which
they treated offenders against it. If gentlemen
holding the Queen's commission of the peace think
that rape and incest are no worse than poaching,
what wonder if factory operatives, who hold that
there is no harm in the latter, think that there is very
little in the former offences ?

LATEST INTELL WINCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRA3iS.)

SPAIN.

MADRID, Dec 18 (Evening.)

The telegrams received from the provinces are
♦ery satisfactory. The muncipal elactions have
commenced, and the principal members are sup-
porters to the Monarchical party.
_

The Minister of Finance has again declared that
the payment of all obligations of the State are
guaranteed, and that the interest of the public
debt about to falldue will be promptly paid.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs has stated that
he regards peace with Chili as an accomplished fact.

MADRID, Dec. 18

The elections to the Constituent Cortes by uni-
versal suffrage are being held to-day. Every-
where throughout Spain the elections have passed
off with great tranquillity, and the majority of
the members belong to the Liberal-monarchical
party. .

A Carlist conspiracy has been discovered in
Leon. Seditious placards were affixed to the
walls, but public order has not be disturbed.

FRANCE.

PAM% December 19

A decree dated the 17th December orders that
the re-exportation of woven stuffs imported tem-
porarily free of duty, for the purpose of being dyed
or printed, shall take place within four months.
The Moniteur in its bulletin of to-day contradicts
a rumour about an encounter followed by a hostile
engagement between the Enosis and a Turkish
vessel of war. The Greek blockade runner replied
to the signals of the Turkish ship with a cannon
shot and then took refuge in Syra Harbour. How-
ever, thanks to the good will of the French naval
commander, Forlin, Hobart Pacha was prevailed
upon to acced to the former's proposal to raise the
blockade and desist from further pursuit proyided
that the Hellenic frigate Hellas should convey the
Enosis to the Piraeus, there to await a prompt in-
vestigation of her conduct.

BOMBAY MAIL.

MARSEILLES, Dec. 19,

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Delta arrived at 8.30 this morning. The mails
leave for London by the 11.30 a.m train.

AMERICA.

NEW YORK, Dec. 18

According to Mr. Adam Moffat's report the re-
ceipts of cotton at American ports for the week are
32,000 bales. Total receipts from September
Ist to date, 890,000 bales. Shipments to Eng-
land, 32,000 bales. Shipments to France, 10,000
bales. Shipments to the Continent 9,000 bales. The
total export to date 430,000 bales ; stock 290,000
bales. Market steady. Middling upland, 9 15-16,
cost and freight per steamer.

We understand that Lord De Tabley will under-
take the office of Controller of the Household, and that the
Earl of Carysfort, Lord Camoys, and Lord Methuen will
be, Lords in Waiting ; Lord Torrington also remains in his
old position at latr Majesty's court•

211. R. MILL AND THE WESTMINSTER

ELECTION.

M. rsquiros has an article in the Revue des Deux
Mondes on the English elections, and publishes a letter
from Mr. Mill, inivhich that gentleman mentions the causes
of his defeat. He ascribes that event to three circumstances:
1. The greater skill of his opponents, which was only to
be expected, since the operations of a business man in his
own interests are likely to be better arranged than those of
a committee of amateurs. 2. The large amount of money
at the disposal of the Conservatives, while the Liberals
were compelled to maintain the most rigid economy.
3. The hostility of the vestrymen and other local nota-
bilities who were displeased by his attempt to reform the
municipal government of the metropolis. Mr. Mill adds
that he has little cause to lament his defeat, seeing the
success of the Liberal party generally. Moreover, it is
more to his taste to exercise his influence as a writer than
as a member of Parliament.

RETIREMENT OF THE LORD CIIA.AUELLOR

OF IRELAND.

At the conclusion of business in the Chancery Court,
Dublin, on Thursday, the Attorney-General (the Right
Hon. J. T. Ball), who was also the senior Queen's
Counsel in court, rose and addressed his lordship
as follows :--" My lord, we are informed that it is not
your intention to sit again in court. I therefore, on
behalf of my brethren of the bar, and at their
request, take this opportunity to acknowledge the
courtesy and kindness which we have all, on every
occasion, experienced from your lordship. We desire
also to express our respect and admiration for the un-
wearied attention and great learning and capacity
that have characterised the discharge of the duties of your
high office. Your elevation to that office, after a life of pre-
eminent professional distinction, the bar saw with the
greatest gratification, and your retirement, consequent upon
the political changes that have occurred, they now follow
with the warmest wishes for your happiness and welfare."
The Lord Chancellor, who appeared much affected, replied :
" Gentlemen, I cannot without emotion bid yot farewell.
From the earliest—l may say from the day upon which I
was admitted a member of the bar—to the present hour,
I have received nothing but kindness from the profession.
When a junior I received encouragement and assistance
from the eminent men who then led and adorned the bar.
When I myself rose to be a leader I found from the indus-
try and reading of my younger brethren such assistance as
made my labours easy. Since I attained my present office
I have experienced the same assistance. All this kindness
I have always felt, I feel still. Gentlemen, farewell, fare-
well." The bar then all rose from their seats, and his lord-
ship retired.

A copy of the petition agaiest Mr. Malcolm,
for Boston, has been posted t ) his Jamaica address. Notice
of the petition has also been given to one of his relatives.
Sir William Snagg has been appointed Chief
Justice of British Guiana ; Mr. S. S. Bell, Chief Justice
of the Supreme Court of the Cape of Good Hope ; and
Mr. C. T. Smith, a puisne judge in the same court.
We understand that Lord de Tabley will under-
take the office of Controller of the Household, and that
the Earl of Carysfort, Lord Camoys, and Lord Methuen
will be Lords in Waiting ; Lord Torrington also remains

in his old position at her Majesty's Court.
The Leicester Journal of Friday states that a
petition has been presented against the return of Lord
Jobn Manners and Mr. Clowes for North Leicestershire.
The petition makes the usual allegations. It does not
appear that it claims the seat for Mr. Frewen, but the
Leicester paper has no hesitation in crediting that gentle-
man with its authorship. Mr. Frewen petitioned un-
successfuly against Lord John Manners and Mr. Hartopp
in 1859.

•
THE ATTEMPT TO BLOW UP THE DUNFERMLINE
POWDER MAGAZINE.—The authorities have been and still
are exerting themselves, and using all the efforts they
possibly can, to find out the miscreants who attempted to
blow up the powder magazine one night last week, but
unfortunately as yet without success. We understand
that several parties have been examined with regard to the
affair. There is a strong feeling in the town that some-
thing should be done to render the powder magazine more
secure.—Edinburgh Daily Review.

MARRIAGE WITH A DECEASED WIFE'S SISTER.
—A petition in favour of legislative action on this ques-
tion in England is being circulated among the members of
the Local House of Assembly here. The petition is sent
out by the secretary of an association formed in England
to assist in annulling the enactments that make it illegal
there. The petition yesterday had the signatures of fifty-
six out of the seventy members of the Legislature,

whose approval had up to that time been asked for, and

.. _
of nearly all the members of the City Council.— Toronto

Globe, Dcc. 2.

The Rev. John James, D.D., canon of Peter-
borough, died on the 15th instant in the 86th year of his
age. lie studied at St. John's College, Oxford, was ordained
deacon in 1806, and priest in the year following. lie Le-

came canon of Peterborough Cathedral in 1829, and rector

of Pcakirk with ;,Glinton in 1850. He was formerly vicar
of St.. John tho Baptist, Peterborough. His works were—
" James on the Collects," "Christian Watchfulness," "Com-
mentary on Sunday Lessons," "Practical Commentary on
the Ordination Services," and "The Christian Disciple.'

The canonry is worth £3OO with residence, and the rectory

£635 and house.

THE VACANT LORD JUSTICESITIP. —We understand

that Lord Hatherley, on behalf of the new Government,
has addressed a letter to Lord Cairns, pressing him strongly
to accept the vacant Lord Justiceship of Appeal in
Chancery, and representing that such an arrangement need
not in the slightest degree interfere with Lord Cairns's
presumable hostility, in the House of Lords, to the policy
of the Government. We are, of course, unable to offer
the slightest conjecture as to the event. It would, of
course, be very desirable to have Lord Cairns again upon
the bench in the equity courts. In the event of his declin-
ing to return to the Lord Justices' court, the vacant seat
would probably be filled by Vice-Chancellor Giffard.—
Solicitor's Journal.

WILLS AND BEQUESTS.—The will of Lady Dar-
ling, relict of General Sir Ralph Darling, G.C.H., has
just been proved in the London Court ; also that of Mr.
Richard Sommers Gard, formerly M.P. for Exeter,
deputy-lieutenant for Devon, and high sheriff in 1852,
which was sworn under £90,000 ; and that of Mr. William
Gerald Walmesley, under £70,000. The will of the Rev.
Sir Nicholas Chinnery, M.A., was proved in Ireland,
under £120,000 personalty. Sir Nicholas had bequeathed
the whole of his property to his daughter and only child,
who perished with him in the dreadful railway accident at
Abergele, and stipulated that should her children not live
to attain vested interests in the property, the same should
be divided among certain religious societies.—lllustrated
London News.

A case of great moment to hotel keepers was '
hoard in the Liverpool police court on Thursday. The
landlady of the Royal Hotel, Moorfields, had sub-let
the tap-room, and by locking a door disestab-
lished open communication between the two de-
partments of the building. The occupier of the tap
meanwhile carried on business under cover of the
license granted to the hotel. The excise authorities con-
sidered this an infringement of the law, as the tap
business had been completely separated from that of
the hotel and required a separate license. They there-
fore summoned the occupier of the tap for selling without
a license ; and as it was shown that the defendant acted in
all respects as an ordinary publican, even ordering spirits
in his own name and on his own account,
.the magistrates
(who gave the case very close attention) imposed the miti-
gated penalty of .£1.2 10s.
THE SPIRIT TRADE.-TllO value of spirits im-
ported into the United Kingdom last year was £2,259,081.
-viz., brandy, £1,376,360 ; Geneva, £27,387 ; rum,
£692,366 ; spirits not sweetened, unenumerated, £94,830 ;
sweetened and perfumed of all kinds, £68,138. In 1863 the
total quantity imported amounted in value to £1,828,826,
shewing an increase in the five years of £430,255. Of the
value of rum imported last year, £334,535 was received from
the British West India Islands ; £255,072 from British
Guiana ; £63,470 from Cuba, and £20,659 from the
Mauritius. Of the value of brandy imported, £1,365,612
was received from France. Of the value of Geneva,
£26,102 was received from Holland. Of the value of spirits
not sweetened and nnenumerated, £76,438 was received
from Hamburg. Of the value of £27,898 received for per-
fumed spirits, including Cologne water, £14,365 was im-
ported from Holland and £8,967 from France. Of the value
of £40,240 received for spirits unenumerated, including
shrub, £16,021 was imported from Hamburg, £7,406 from
Holland, and £6,726 from France. The gross amount of
duty received last year on the total imports of spirits was
£4,297,352- viz., on rum, £2,192,620 ; brandy, £1,659,694;
Geneva, £66,895 ; perfumed spirits, £12,231 ; and on spirits
unenumera,ted, £365,912. The value of spirits imported
in each of the years 1863 and 1867 respectively was-
from France, £1,095,885 and £1,365,612 ; Holland,
£18,216 and £26,102 ; British West India Islands, £251,999
and £331,535 ; British Guiana, £257,507 and £255,072 ;
Mauritius, £21,004 and £20,659 ; Cuba and Porto Rico,
£28,198 and £65,846 ; unsweetened spirits, Hanse Towns,
£27,074 and £76,818 ; sweetened spirits, £15,951 and
£16,349. The exports of British spirits from the United
Kingdom last year amounted in value to £162,452, against
£454,328 in 1863. The exports of spirits of foreign and
colonial produce in 1363 and 1867 respectively amounted
t9_Rt570,015 wad gi14,10,