The Sun.
London, England, 1868-07-23 00:00:00

over.

Among the several schemes proposed early in the
session, and finally abandoned when the approach
of autumn finds an accumulation of work undone,
must be included the Sala of Liquors on Sunday
Bill. It is not, however, press of time NI hich has
neutralized the efforts of the temperance societies,
but the deliberate conviction of the special commit-
tee, who, after careful consideration and examina-
tion into facts, decline to recommend the passing
of the bill. They grant that in many large towns,
especially in the north of England, there is a strong
feeling in favour of farther restricting the sale of
intoxicating liquors on Sunday, but they are of
opinion that the existing law is working well, and
that drunkenness is steadily decreasing, and they
believe, no doubt with reason, that any further re-
striction would be very inconvenient and occasion
much angry feeling, without really benefiting those
who are inclined to excess, while there is good
ground for believing it would be often evaded. The
example of Scotland has often been quoted as a proof
of the satisfactory working of a restrictive act of
the kind &sired ; but the instalce, as the Committee
show, is by no means conclusive, since the
habits of the Sc..o.ch and English it, this respect are
very different, although, as a whole, our northern
neighbours have no reason to reproach us. Of course
there can be but one wish in the matter, that the
greatest amount of temperance should be obtained
with the least interference with the social freedom
of the people, but we may very much question
whether 6tringeut regulations like those iought after

can ever really attain the desired end. We must
look to other means—to the education and elevation
of the masses, to the increase of innocent and at-
tractive recreation, to the slow but sure influence of
public opinion, and the example of the classes above
them, to make our people more temperate. Already
much has been done, and we are in the right way.
Depend upon it, we must look to moral, and not to
legal, means of effecting a widespread reform.

LATEST INTELL LGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

INDIA AND CHINA MAILS.

111EssiNA, July 23.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Pera passed Messina at 3.15 a.m. to-day, en route
for Marseilles.

FRANCE.

ROUEN, July 23.

9. range of warehouses in which a quantity of
spirits was stored caught fire here last night. The
flames spread to the Post-office. The amount of
damage is estimated at upwards of one million
francs.

PARIS, July 23.

The case of M. do Soubeyran against the Inter-
national (a French newspaper published in London)
was heard yesterday. M. de Soubeyran sued the
International on account of two articles which had
appeared in that journal. In the first case M.
David, the proprietor, was found guilty of having
published a libel, and was sentenced to three
months' imprisonment and a fine of 2,000 f. In the
second case judgment was passed upon him for one
month's imprisonment and a fine of I,ooof.
BOURSE, July 22.—Three o'clock.—The market
closed as follows :

4} per Cent.
End of month... Italfan Loan -
3 per Cent
End of month 7O 20 Mexican Loan ... 23
Credit Mobilier
End of month... 272 50 Spanish Threes
Credit Fonder ...1432 Home Debt —
End of month... Deferred ....
RAILIVAIS. Cash
Orleans
Ig orthern
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern.... 575
Western
Eastern ............ . 556
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard 405
North of Spain
Saragossa
Roman

POLICE INTELLIGENCE.-THIS DAY.

WESTMINSTER.

PICKING UP " FLATS."—Charles Templeman,
about fifty years of age, one of a gang of " Mags-
men," was placed at the bar charged with plunder-
ing a gentleman's coachman of a coat and some
money.

David Greenwood, the prosecutor, said that in
iNovember, 1866, he was picked up" by a man
named Wentworth and the prisoner at Knights-
bridge, and robbed. Wentworth first accosted him,
and he went with him into a public-house, where
prisoner came in and said he was a countryman
wishing to see the curiosities of the metropolis. A
game of bagatelle was proposed, and prosecutor
was induced to stake 12s 6d. on the bagatelle
board. He had no sooner done so than Wentworth
touched him on the arm and called him out. He returned
to the room, and in a minute afterwards found prisoner
had absconded with his money and greatcoat, which he
had taken off.

--- —...
Mr. Arnold—What became of Wentworth?
Prosecutor—He was charged here, and you committed
him for six months for it.

Mr. Arnold How did the prisoner get into custody ?
William Gunter, 316 B—He was in charge at Marl-
borou2,l-streot for a similar thing yesterday, and 1 brought
him from there, his friends having compromised it.
Prisoner denied the charge. He said prosecutor lent
him the coat because he was cold, and when he found he
had got it on he was going to return it, but prosecutor was
gone.
Prisoner was remanded.