The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-31 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 31, 1868.

to which the operatives of the cotton manufacturing
districts were peculiarly liable. Such a memorial of
the liberality which the whole world has extended to
them i n the period of their distress would be very ap-
propriv,te and dully appreciated. The importance
of convalescent hospitals is becoming more and
more widely recognised, and all who are acquainted
with the home life of the poor know how often the
half-cured patient, so soon as he can rise from his
sick bed, is forced to resume his old work with
lessened strength under the very conditions which
produce the disease. A few weeks of rest, change
of air, good food, and quiet, would often make the
difference up between restored health and vigour,
and a shattered constitution, and a life of depression
and suffering. The details of the scheme have as
yet to be discussed and arranged, but in the adop-
tion of the general principle the committee have
acted with fairness and discrimination.

The French Chamber has enough to do, in all
conscience, just now, with one thing or another,
and no sooner is the Army Bill disposed of than
the very awkward subject of the Bill on the
Press must be taken up. In yesterday's sitting
the discussion, therefore, was resumed, M. Limns
making a long harangue. He admitted that there
were many subjects which ought not to be dis-
cussed in the papers, as for instance the " bases
of society and matters of private life." In con-
stitutional countries, of course, the Sovereign
is shielded from comment becoming personal by
the Ministers taking the responsibiliiy upon them-
selves. Beyond these limits, however, he declared
that thorn ohnilla bc, ^van iirtnn t
those matters that related to the acts of public
authorities. This is a very just definition, and
we only wish that we could see it entertained by
the powers that be in France. If so, a very supe-
rior state of things would be the order of the day,
and an impetus would be given to the spirit of the
country that could not fail to be most beneficial in
all respects. M. TRIERS did himself great honour
by the decided tone he took in this important mat-
ter, and at any rate it is a satisfaction to meet with
it, as it affords an incontestable proof that some of
the right feeling survives in the country—that some
can protest against the innovations that are so con-
stantly made. As M. TRIERS said, it is difficult to
"define exactly" the offences of the Press. This bill
offers some advantages, but still it must be borne
in mind that the Government will still have the
control of the liberty of the Press in their own hands.
M. 'TRIERS concluded his impressive address by de-
claring that they should upon all considerations
grant full liberty to the Press, and not to lose so
" decisive an opportunity for effecting that object."
The Minister of the Interior, as might be ex-
pected, endeavoured to do away with the impres-
sion produced by the excellent speech of M. TRIERS,
but after all his arguments amounted to very little,
and were a sort of rechauffe of all the restrictive
dogmas that have always found favour with arbi-
trary rulers. The power of the Press, said M.
PINARD, is " acclimatized" in France ; its influ-
ence is good and evil at the same time, and then
followed what may be called the gist of his remarks,
—" Its present tendency is towards violence, and a
defence is therefore necessary, which must
be placed under the guardianship of the
law, and not of individuals." What does
does all this mean but that at any given
moment the Government will intervene, and put all
sorts of hindrances in the way of free discussion,
as they have hitherto been in the habit of doing.
lt does not avail to reassure us that M. PINARD
informed the Chamber that the bill was not strin-
gent i. ita /,..-14-ipA. hut only vigilant in the 4( 00,1r00
of procedure" which it laid down. There is no in-
clination on the part of the Government to make
andany when
dhveann ct
he
isin i
is the h
fee
lri
yig lriet
adl
iisreedc t
ei onne in this respect
aef
mer feels
ro idle
lls
naturally
anelxllyy:
pinedeitginmapnrtevaenmdendtiswaphpenoiyneteadr.aftlert
vsee
still
to t
Isle
in
t vh
see
gouled. s tFoiry ft
ereenu eywe ea dr
s,
Ina nuds t t ea
have
ea maeff
egradme
de
many an opportunity that willing minds would
have been delighted to take advantage of ; but, alas,
the golden chance has been thrown away, and the
historian can only record that the reign of absolut -
ism has had its triumph. It is no exaggeration to
say that if thythat
ltahecseee
anamar btoiiont
nation
willrth e rneas
reallytt ri
oi cnt
si oponrf so
Esbpueerro
upon the Press of France it is impossible to
unfortunate that a
should not prevail in truer,aEurope.
renewed
er take
It
iienstlos:brei ceg
drth
et tef hdu
policy
countryw aanndd
among a people so worthy of occupying a high and
influential a position ; but as it is all that can be
hoped
vforisthat eaete angeev,ernotthaet
aspectpresent discerni-
ble, ofmayaffairs,
and g promise of brighter days f the
or future.
e speedily

Fenianism, though losing some of its hold on
public attention, continues to occupy a good share
of the proceedings of our law courts. The evi-
dence of MULLANY, at Bow-street, has thrown
fresh and unexpected light on the dark story of
the Clerkenwell conspiracy, and has given most
important assistance to justice. No doubt whatever
other information is wanted will be sooner or later
forthcoming, and before the close of the trial the
public will be in possession of many additional
facts. Meanwhile, in the sister country, trials of
another order are the topic of the day. Yesterday
the arguments upon the question of removing, by
writ of certiorari the trial of the publisher of the
Irishman newspaper to the Court of Queen's Bench
were brought to a close. The object of the motion
was to obtain for the accused the advantage
of a special jury with the Lord Chief-Justice as
Judge. As it at present stands the trial will come
before the Dublin Commission Court, which is
analogous to the London Central Criminal Court.
The arguments on both sides were heard. The ac-
cused's counsel contended that the case ought to be
sent before a jury of the highest intelligence ; and
the Attorney-General, on the other hand, objected
to the postponement of the trial. The four
Judges were divided in opinion, Mr. Justice FITZ-
CIERALD and Mr. Justice O'BRIEN holding that the
case was a special one, which ought to be tried by
a jury of more than ordinary intelligence, and Mr.
Justice GEORGE and the Lord Chief Justice
thinking that no sufficient grounds bad been
shown, and that the certiorari should be re-
fused. The Court being divided the application
fell through, and the judgment was no
rule in the motion. The Judges being all Irish
there can at least be no accusation of national
bias or prejudice ; and Mr. PIGOTT, like the others
accused, may rely on a fair hearing, and ample
opportunity for defence wherever he may be tried.

Yesterday a meeting of the ratepayers of St.
Pancras took place at the Vestry-hall, Camden-
town. This meeting, which was greatly crowded,
was held for the purpose of protesting against the
course pursued by the Metropolitan Board of Works
in having, at a meeting held with closed doors,
" resolved to borrow £350,000 over and above the
sum authorised by Parliament." Mr. HARVEY
LEWIS, M.P., very truly remarked that if the High
Court of Parliament could make their proceedings
public, when it was known that what they did
affected other nations as well as the people of this
country, " it was idle and futile to say that the
borrowing of a sum of X 350,000 by such a body as

the Metropolitan Board should be conducted in
secret." It is a most unpopular proceeding on their
part, and more especially now whet the rates al-
ready press so heavily on the community, and are
still inadequate for the purposes for which they are
applied. Two resolutions were carried, to the
effect that the meeting strongly protested against
the question of raising a large sum of money, the
repayment of which will have to be levied on the
ratepayers of the metropolis, being discussed at a
meeting of the Board held with closed doors, and
the same resolution affirmed that, as the Metropo-
litan Board of Works was intrusted with the tran-
saction of public business which affected the metro-
polis, and also as it exercised most extensive powers
of taxation on the public, " This meeting is of
opinion that the Board ought not, on any
occasion, to discuss matters of importance
with doors closed to the public and the press."
The general feeling of the meeting was strongly
against the course taken by the Board, and repeated
groans and hisses testified to the disapproval felt.
Mr. Ross, one of the speakers, declared that they
must go to Parliament and get the constitution of
the Board altered, and really it would be the best
thing to do, if its arrangements are not more satis-
factory. It is quite inconsistent with the mode of
procedure in other matters of public business, and
quite unsuited to the feelings of Englishmen that
meetings should be held with closed doors, the re-
sults of which are afterwards made only too public
by the ratepayers being called upon to make good
the engagements then and there entered into.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FTIOM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.),
PARIS, THURSDAY, Jan. 30.

Those ofhtfonr readers who may have the opportunity of
reading the debate in the Corps Ldgislatif on the Ceme-
teries will find in it a remarkable illustration of the
strength of sentiment with which the Parisians regard
" God's Acre," as the Germans call it. The speech of M
Jules Simon especially brought this out. He disdained to
regard the number of the tombs to be interfered with ; it
was a question of principle, not of numbers ; nor would
he stay to consider whether they were the sepulchres of
the rich or of the poor. " When one comes to the field of the
last repose all distinctions are effaced—would to heaven
they were effaced sooner." You may be assured that the
effect of the debate was considerable when M. Hauss-
mann was within one vote of defeat.
The debate on the Press Law has excited immense in-
terest. The Chamber was surrounded by distinguished
writers and members of the Academy. M. Pelletan was
the first speaker—of course he spoke in the interest of
freedom. The next of consequence was Jules Simon,
" the partisan of absolute liberty," as he avowed himself.
" The longer I live," he said, in conclusion, " the more I
fear lest the liberty of science should disappear with the
liberty of the press. My consolation is, that your obstacles
will fall to pieces. And well it is so ; for had it been other-
wise, had your efforts succeeded better, we should have
been to-day in the thirteenth century. You must leave
thought alone. Do not offend your country and humanity
by restraining thought and hampering genius." M.
Latour-Dumoulin took the opposite view, and assured Simon
and Pelletan that if they became Ministers they would see
the necessity of security (cautionnement).
There has been a meeting of the editors of the ten
prosecuted journals at the office of the Sikle. Girardin
was also present. To-morrow or Saturday they will seek
an interview, at the house of M. Marie, with the members
of the Opposition in the Chambers, with a view to intro-
ducing more liberal provisions into the new law.
A statement was made in the Senate during the Army
Bill discussion which Englishmen ought to know and
ponder. Admiral Count Bonet v ruarmez stateu i,u4u
France maintained her 400,000 men and 85,000 horses
during the Crimean war for £15,046,000 ; England, for
only 145,000 men and 14,000 horses, had to pay £13,440,000.
The difference, however, is not all, though I suspect it is
in great part, due to superior economy. Something must
he allowed for voluntary recruiting. Your soldiers would
not take 4d. a day.
A few days ago the Emperor and Empress visited the
iaboratory of M. Deville for the purpose of witnessing
some experiments instituted at the Emperor's request to
test the heat-giving power of some of the new oils exhi.
bited in the Exhibition. M. Deville had succeeded in
making an apparatus to shew the calorific properties of
these mineral oils. Their Majesties shewed a considerable
interest in the experiments of M. Lamy on the metal
thallium. They expressed their anxiety to give every en-
couragement to science within their power.

It is observed in diplomatic circles that Prince Metter-
nich is now always first at the Imperial balls, and that his
intimacy with the Emperor is of the closest.
Duelling has not ceased in Paris. There are rumours
that the old quarrel between the Marquis de Galifet and
Prince Achille Murat has led to another meeting, and
that the prince was seriously wounded. Another report
is that Prince Murat is off for Naples.

The Government candidate at Lille has declined the re-
sponsibility of the ridiculous calumny that M. G6ry
Legrand was being assisted by the money of English
manufacturers—as if they had not better ways of spending
it. M. des Rotours says, hoyvever, "it was only natural to
suppose English manufacturers would support your claims
rather than mine, because your economic principles agree
better with their interests." Meanwhile, beer is flowing
freely into the cabarets of Lille. Elle coule a pleins bords.
A correspondent of the Libertg says such distressing
(ajligeantes) scenes were never before witnessed in the
town. Oh/ suffrage universel que ne ccnnmet—on pas en ton
none / says Girardin. Whose money paid for the beer?
The ardent appeal made by the Archbishop of Algier
on behalf of the widows and orphans who have been left
destitute by the famine, has produced its effect. Up to
the present time 100,000 francs have been received. The
Archbishop is, it is said, assured of an annual interest of
15,000 francs (representing a capital of 300,000 francs),
which will be placed to the account of the orphans.

The assurance of some newspaper correspondents in pre-
dicting war is curious. The Herald's correspondents are
especially gifted in this kind of prevision. One of them,
writing from Rome, says, as coolly as if he were talking of
a State ceremony—" War is not expected to break out
before July, as Italy has not received her arms from
America yet." It is very good of war to wait till Italy
gets her arms from America.
Professor Arminius Vamb6ry, of Pesth, writes to the
Times with reference to the alleged mustering of Chinese
fcrces to attack the Russians in Central Asia. The Pro-
fessor states if the Chinese are gathering troops, it is to
attack the Mussulmans of Central Asia, who revolted three
years ago from Chinese rule. Yakub Pasha solicited the.
aid of the Viceroy of India, promising in exchange free
trade across the Karakorum Pass, but he was refused. It
is not unlikely he may have made the same offer to the
Russians, who will certainly not refuse it. In this way
only is there a question of strife between Russia ant'
China.

The peculations of Russian officials are notorious. Tnv
matter has just been under investigation, and it has tt_
suited in a report implicating ninety-eight persons in
wholesale robberies of the State. An official name 4
Werderoffskoj is convicted of having formed a regular de.
partment of the administration, every one of the
being sworn to assist the conspirators. The
system of frauds has been going on for nine years. Th
robberies of salt alone are estimated at 782,000 silve
roubles. The most remarkable part of the business is, that
the merchants of Nijni-Novgorod have addressed a peti
tion to the Minister of Finance, begging him to stop the
proceedings against Werderoffskoj, and offering to replace
out of their own pockets the money of which the public
treasury has been defrauded.
The Zlinisterial crisis in Turkey ended in the reinstate.
ment of Fuad Pasha. The Sultan declared that he had
been misled by intrigues ; he made a frank declaration of
confidence in the Minister, and Fuad will retain his palace
and his place. The way in which this crisis was brought
about ;spews that there is a new spirit breaking through
old forms in Turkey. In former times a Minister would
not have dared to insist on reparation, nor a Sultan have
condescended to acknowledge he had been in error. Pro-
gress is slow because the people are recovering from four
centuries of servitude. The transformation is difficult, not
because of resistance, but of vis inertia. The upper classes
are improving, but neither Mussulman nor Christian
respond from below. One step in the general advance has,
however, been made. It is no longer a matter of course
that a governor should fill his pockets in the shortest pos-
sible time ; that office should be another name for robbery,
the pay an insignificant accessory, and the " pickings" th'
thing really worth having.

A geological survey has recently been made by Captain
Hutton, F.G.S., of the Lower Waikato district of New
Zealand. He reports that there is no probability of a
paying goldfield to any extent being found, but there are
other deposits of great value. Among these is a coal bed,
estimated to contain 140,000,000 tons of serviceable coal,
which could be worked at a very slight cost. There is also
a considerable quantity of limestone. Permanent peace,
with the natives is all that is needed to ensure the dec
velopment of these resources.
The latest news from St. Domingo give a sad picture oi
the state of that republic. President Cabral was shut uP,
in the town of St. Domingo, and the revolutionists were
masters of the whole of the remaining territory.
The Bishop of London, in acknowledging the receipt of
Dr. Eden's circular, writes to his " dear Primus " in `a.
strain which will scarcely be acceptable to the Archbishoi.
of Canterbury. That most rev. prelate is subjected
to a process which in the ordinary walks of lift;
is termed "a gentle letting down." Knowing well thi.
ecclesiastical condition of Scotland, Dr. Tait says he i
very anxious that no steps should be taken likely to create
divisions in that Church, or to represent it as in any way
separating itself from the Established Church of
gland,Englnd,
or putting itself in opposition to English law. As
Archbishop's seeing no objection to the consecration, his
Grace, in the view of the Bishop of London, " no doubt
naturally looks not so much to the interests of the Scottish
Episcopal Church, with which he must necessarily be b 4
imperfectly acquainted, as to his individual view of Bishop
op
Colenso's deposition." Such a private expression
opinion was very different from a formal and public request
that the Scottish Primus would facilitate the proposed
consecration. Without such formal approval it would be,
"unfair to his Grace to take so serious a step, and in any
way to make it rest on his Grace's single private autho-
rity, unsupported by any public document express,
inn his official decision, or the decision of any meeting
of his suffragans, in Convocation or elsewhere."
The british Medical Journal, in its weekly report on the
preventible diseases of the working classes, calls attention
once more to the loss of life occasioned by inhalation of,
foul air in certain trades. For instance, amongst men
employed in grinding metals the " lung-rot "is common ;
and might be avoided if proper mechanical means were
taken to purify the air. Engineers, too, cutters, grinders,
and stonem.mons die early. Youths in these employments
do not live out their apprenticeship on account of preven-
tible lung disease. In the millstone-making trade espe-
cially consumption is rife. Skilled foremen are hardly to
be Ruud amongst them ; for, by the time they reach this
grade, their health is so seriously compromised that they
rarely live long ti) enjoy it. • -