The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-10 00:00:00

VIE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MARCH 10, 1868.

put confidence in the " loyalty and good feeling of
the working classes of this country." It may truly
be said if half of the evils which are now predicted
were likely to come to pass, we should not now be so
undisturbed, for the mischievous spirit which is
said to be so rife could never be confined within due
limits, and would not wait for a new Reform Bill to
take effect without showing itself in its true colours
and real meaning. Such fears are, however, quite
chimerical, and those who best know the people
of this country are the first to disregard them, for
they recognise their injustice, and fully comprehend
the exaggerated motives which give rise to them.
The House came to a wise conclusion last night in
agreeing to the second reading of the Scotch Re-
form Bill ; and any changes that may be deemed
necessary upon further consideration can easily be
introduced in committee.

It would seem by the latest telegrams received
from Aden that King THEODORE is still advancing
towards Magdala. Letters received at Aden, dated
January 17, stated that he was then within one
day's march of Magdala. MENELEK, it is again
rumoured, was advancing on the place, so that it is
possible a collision may take place between the re-
spective forces of the two kings. THEODORE has
been assuming a more amiable character, and has
sent a friendly message to Mr. RASSAM, with an
assurance that he was only keeping him until he
should meet his countrymen. This would seem to
indicate a reluctance on the part of TIIEODORE
to provoke the English still further, but unfor-
tunately his words are not to be relied
upon, and next week we may have a very
different report. As yet the invasion of his
territories has failed to irritate him, as some feared
it might do, and the prisoners, so far as we can

judge, as safer than before the arrival of the Euro-
pean troops. THEODORE is not so ignorant nor so
savage as to be unaware of the danger which he
would incur in taking the lives of his unfortunate
captives while the formidable troops who have been
sent out for their rescue are actually on Abyssinian
soil. Letters from Senafe to the 21st February
state that Sir ROBERT NAPIER was then two marches
beyond Attegerat, so that some progress is being
made. Attegerat itself seems to have sadly dis-
appointed the expectations of the troops, who had
expected to find a town of some importance, with
plentiful supplies. The place itself contains only
twenty or thirty houses, though it boasts of a build-

ing called a church, and there are scattered villages
round about, which altogether make up a large
population. Neverthless, Attegerat, such as it is,
isonraeins of a
of the principal
int inicowwnhsh th
Abyssinia,epublic chamber
dmhbaers
the
ko
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oi ef nocled,
aosr lagrl
al
no
df
reception State, has
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au
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courty the
of
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saltA,
a l
tA, weekly
ga mkteee ias
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lheld
ei
tns Attegerat t o ,
be
had, as well as sheep, cattle, and goats. The soil
in the neighbouring valleys is rich and fertile, and
there is certainly no natural reason why in Abyssinia
supplies should be short and scanty. The people
are not ignorant of agriculture, and could probably
do much more to develope the resources of the
country were it not for their fear of provoking the
cupidity of their richer and more powerful neigh-
bours. Besides this, they are constitutionally lazy,
and will not do anything that costs them trouble
so long as they can possibly avoid it.
Every one in the force is anxious to be at Mag-
dala, but whither all cannot proceed at once, and Sir
R. NAPIER has an invidious task in choosing who
shall be fortunate enough to accompany him. In
England, however, every one will be glad to hear
that Sir R. NA.PIEIt is actually en route, and that
matters are proceeding a little faster. No doubt
whatever other results the expedition may have we
shall gain from it much valuable information re-
specting the interior of the African continent,
which, by a singular coincidence of enterprising ex-
ploration in one direction, with military necessity
in another, is being opened up to our inquiries in
a manner never hitherto known. The Abyssi-
nians will have to thank the miscon-
duct of their KING towards his European
captives for procuring them some good roads. We
cannot take the roads away with us, and they will
remain memorials of the skill and energy of our
Sappers and Miners. We are glad to find that the
Government has determined upon ascertaining the
truth of the rumours concerning the existence of
English captives in Eastern Africa. The fate of
the crew of the St. Abbs, more especially, which
vessel drifted on the coast thirteen years ago, is full
of uncertainty. There seems good reason to believe
that some at least of the survivors may still
exist as captives in the Somali country, from
whence fragments of wood and other traces of
the wreck have come down from time to
time. -Mr. ANGELO, the.well-known African tra-
veller, who is intimately acquainted with this part
of Eastern Africa, has volunteered his services to
ascertain the real truth, and he is confident of a
good reception from the chieftains of a tribe which
he represents as more humane than most of the
natives. The Government have wisely accepted his
offer, feeling that the matter is one which calls for
inquiry, and have decided on sending him as a paid
agent, though they are doubtful about incurring the
responsibility of giving him an official title. We
hope that Mr. ANGELO'S efforts will be crowned
with success, and that he will not only be able to
terminate the painful suspense to the relatives of the
missing men, but to restore them home to their
country.

The Central Executive Committee for the relief
of exceptional distress at the East End has had a
difficult and invidious task. Their proceedings
have been greatly hampered by the misconduct of
some workmen, who refused good work on account
of the influence of Trades Union regulations. Pub-

lie sympathy was alienated by the suspicion that
much of the distress was due to wilful perversity
rather than to uncontrollable misfortune, although,
in truth, the burden falls heaviest on those who are
beneath the notice of Trades Unions, such as brick-
layers, dock labourers, and the lower orders of
artisans. At the last meeting of the Exe-
cutive Committee they had barely £lOO in
hand, but since then they have received a
gift of £5OO from a generous donor, whose name is
withheld ; £2OO from Miss BuRDErr Courrs, and
about £l5O from other quarters. Still there is no
doubt that the subscriptions of the general public
have altogether fallen off, and perhaps this is not
be wondered at. March is very different from
December, and this year happily the welcome spring
has come to our doors, with all her sunshine and
flowers, betimes. Last year Winter could hardly
be said to have fairly taken leave of us till
May. Every time we thought we were quit
of him he re-appeared, bringing dicom-
fiture to all, and actual suffering to the
poor. It may fairly be presumed, however, that
in weather like this people can begin to help
themselves, and the committee are probably doing
wisely in suspending their operations by degrees.
A sudden stoppage of all relief would be harsh, but
by degrees their hands may be stayed. Before
another winter let us hope some means will be found
to break the spell of Trades Unionism, and induce
men to take what work they can get in hard times
and hard seasons rather than suffer their children
to want, or drive their fellow labourers to depend
on charity.

CORRESPONDENCE PROISI PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, MONDAY, March 9.

Bad as I represented the Kerveguen-Cassagnac affair
to be, it is even worse than I described it. Not only is
the despatch referring to the six papers a forgery, and a
very clumsy one, since it referred to journals which were
not in existence at the time that the despatch purported to
have been written, but there is reason to think that many
other of these La Varenne papers have been forged or falsi-
fied. For instance, S. Nigra, the Italian Minister here,
writes to deny that he ever wrote, or caused to be written,
a letter bearing his name, and purporting to remit I,ooof.
This the Pays endeavours to evade by suggesting that another
S. Nigra was meant. But there is a worse case than this.
The Pays published a letter from S. Crispi, in which he
said : " I have not received a single line from the corre-
spondent you have appointed for our official journal of
Sicily" (journal officiel de Sicile). These words the slan-
derer has converted into " our official journal the Siecle"
(noire journal officiel le Siecle). Worse than all, it
now appears that M. de Kerv4guen, having • dis-
covered that some of his proofs were forgeries
and that others were no proofs at all, wrote to M.
Cassagnac, of the Pays, and told him so on February 29,
and warned him that the accusations against the newts,
the Avenir National, the Liberti, and the Revue des Deux
Mondes ought not to have been made. In spite of this
warning, Cassagnac continued to repeat the accusations
until March 7. Whereupon M. Emile de Girardin, pro-
prietor of the Liberte, thus addresses his confrere of the
Pays :—" Editor in Chief of the Pays, if it be true that
you received this letter from your accomplice on the 29th
February, how do you explain that you persisted from
that date until the 7th of March in accusing the _Mats,
the Avenir National, the Liberte, and the Revue des
Deux Mondes Reply. There is only one word to charac-
terise such an act ; and that is —` Infamy."
The journals, having thus completely triumphed, are de-
termined to follow up their victory and crush their slan-
derer to the ground. The editors of the four above-men-
tioned periodicals have written to M. de Kerveguen, and
challenged him to produce the documents from behind
which he launches his calumnies, They add : " Failing
this, we shall, after three days, on Thursday next, place
4n the hands of the President of the Legislative Body
a demand for an authorisation to prosecute you
before the Correctional Police, without prejudice to our
right to proceed against you by civil action in case the
majority to which you belong shall refuse permission." I
presume that they are barred by their promise from pro-
ceeding against Cassagnac, although it is fairly open to
question if a promise not to prosecute if proofs were pro-
duced would prevent a prosecution for slander now that
no proofs have been forthcoming. Of one thing the jour-
nalists are determined—they will not be clamoured down
in the Corps Legislatif. It may be well to ask, by the
way, what the Government intends to do with that unscru-
pulous organ which proclaims itself the Journal de
l'Enapire.

The Government have sustained a severe defeat on the
Press Law. The twelfth clause provided " that in case
of repetition of a press offence, the person guilty shall be
liable to be deprived of his rights as an elector for a
period of not more than five years." This was most
strongly opposed. M. Carnot declared that it was an
attack upon the privilege of the Chambers ; that if the
clause were adopted, no citizen who has printed and
repeated an opinion disagreeable to the public prose-
cutor would be entitled either to vote or to sit in
this assembly. He would be placed in the same cate-
gory with bankrupts, usurers, thieves, and swindlers,
M. Pinard, the Minister of the Interior, tried to get out
of the difficulty by declaring that the " great principle of
parliamentary involability " was a sufficient safeguard.
M. Picard replied that it might be sufficient during the
session, but it was not during the recess. After some fur-
ther discussion of an animated kind, the article was
rejected by 134 votes t 3 72.
It is rumoured that when the Press Bill is passed the
.t4mperor will grant an amnesty for all press offences com-
mitted heretofore. This would be graceful ;it is scarcely
probable.

The bill relating to the new loan of £17,600,000 was de-
posited with the Corps Legislatif to-day.
It is rumoured that Prince Napoleon intends to make a
very extensive tour, and will visit Vienna, the Danubian
Provinces, and even Constantinople ; but it is supposed
that he will return to Paris for a while before undertaking
this long journey.
The reigning Duke of Brunswick has, it is said, left the
whole of his private fortune (which is very large) and also
the sovereignty of his duchy, to the ex-King of Hanover.
The Prussian Government will, it is believed, resist the
execution of the latter bequest by force of arms, if
necessary.

The Morning Herald announces that Mr. Angelo, the
distinguished African traveller, is about to go to the
Somali country, in order to learn the fate of the crew of
the St. Abbs, which drifted on to that coast thirteen years
ago. It is not yet decided if he shall be accredited by the
Government, as Ministers naturally hesitate about encoun-
tering fresh responsibilities, such as those which have
necessitated the Abyssinian campaign. But be will be the
paid agent of the Government, and is willing in all else to
go upon his own risk. He represents the natives in that
part of Africa as very humane— a widely different account
from that which Mr. Speke has given in his work, "What
led to the Discovery of the Source of the Nile." It was
among the Somalis that be nearly lost his life.

The letters from Abyssinia give the Times no reason to
be sanguine over the prospects of the expedition. It is
not considered likely that the army will leave Antalo
before the end of March. On the most favourable assump-
tions, and taking it for granted that the transport service
is efficient, at least a month will be occupied in marching
the 200 miles from Antalo to Magdala, where we will sup-
pose the main body of the expedition to arrive about the
Ist of May. Giving a week to the capture of the city and
the release of the prisoners, we should have then to return
400 miles to our starting-point at Senaf6, a journey which
would occupy seven weeks. But it might be that the Pass
would be stopped by the heavy rains, and in that case it
would be necessary to wait on the high land till they were
over. If so, the first re-embarkation would hardly be
effected before September. This is believed to be the
earliest period that anyone should venture to fix for the
termination of the campaign.

The unfortunate Cretans are in a sad plight. If their
east state is not worse than the first, they have at least
but escaped out of the fire into the frying-pan. Seventy
thousand women, children, and old men are at Syra, and
in the neighbourhood of Athens, destitute and starving.
The Greek Government has requested the representatives
of the various foreign Powers to ask for aid. Mr. Erskine,
the British Minister, has absolutely refused to do so—a
decision which, to say the least, is uncourteous. The Pope
has sent £l2O.

The Independance Beige mentions a rumour to the effect
that the British Government has expressed itself favour-
ably towards the maintenance of the Pope's temporal
power, and that in consequence of this and of the friendly
attitude assumed by Prussia towards the Holy See,
France, not liking to be outdone by Protestant Powers,
will, in her negotiations with Italy, speak more decisively
than ever upon the Roman question.
Here is a fact for Mr. Lecky and M. Michelet. A
poor old woman, 80 years of age, was seated by the fire with
her family in a Spanish village, when four armed men
entered and accused her of witchcraft. Two of them car-
ried her off to another house, two remained behind to
prevent the family from effecting a rescue. One of the
first couple demanded of the supposed witch that she
should restore the health of his father, which she had de-
stroyed by her scrceries. She replied that she knew
nothing about it. Her captors then set upon her with
sticks, broke her legs, and inflicted such severe injuries
that she died a few hours later. Lady Herbert should
include this story in her next " Impressions of Spain."
The new treaty of commerce between Austria and the
Zollverein has been signed. Equal commercial rights will
now be enjoyed by the inhabitants of the two countries.
It is reported that Count Apponyi, who has for twelve
years represented Austria in this country, has asked to be
relieved of his duties, and will be succeeded by Count
Karolyi, who has been Ambassador at Berlin.

One or two of the morning papers rather severely handle
the metropolitan police for their laxity in not having pre-
vented the Clerkenwell outrage—a laxity which Mr.
Hardy did not attempt to palliate in the House on Monday
night. The Telegraph tells the police that their military
sagacity was at fault, and that but for the unhappy error
of judgment which led to the absence of efficient precau-
tions the fatal explosion would not have taken place.
Any general who neglects to act upon momentous, precise,
and trustworthy information, justly deserves censure,
and the police, in this case, are in an exactly similar pre•
d icament.

The navy estimates were issued this morning. They
shew a total of R 11,177,290, and this is a net increase of
£201,037 over the sum voted last year. 'This is caused by
the great cost of naval stores, and the augmented expendi-
ture in wages, victuals, and clothing to the seamen and
,narines. There is a decrease in the cost of dock-
yards and new works, but it is not sufficient to counter-
balance the items previously mentioned.
The public subscriptions towards the relief of the funds
in the East-end have suddenly fallen off, and at the last
meeting of the committee, except two donations of £5O0—
.me from Miss Burdett Coutts and the other anonymous
—only £l5O had been received from the general public.
This being so, the advisability of winding-up was con-
sidered. After some discussion, an adjournment for t
fortnight was agreed upon,

LATEST INTELL MENU.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.

SUEZ, March 2 (via Malta).
No Egyptian troops have yet returned from
Massowah.

A reinforcement consisting of 200 black troops
left this place a few days ago, and over 200 more
leave in three or four days.

AMERICA.

QUEENSTOWN, March 10.

The Inman Royal Mail steamer City of Wash-
ington, from Halifax, February 28, arrived here at
3.30 a.m. to-day. After landing mails and passen-
gers she proceeded for Liverpool. All well.
The City of Washington, which arrived here this
morning, brings $12,440 in specie. She left this
port at 6 am. under canvas, in consequence of her
machinery being injured.

HUNGARY.
PESTLE, March 9.
The Hungarian Diet was opened to-day with the
usual ceremonies.

PRUSSIA AND AUSTRIA.

BERLIN, March 9, Evening.

The Customs and Commercial Treaty with Aus-
tria was signed to•day, at 4 o'clock, at the office
of the Chancery of the North German Confedera-
tion.

CONSTANTINOPLE, March 9.
The following further appointments have been
made :
Valid Mollah, as Minister of Religious Dona-
tions.

Djevdet Pasha, as President of the High Cour
of Justice.

Edhem Pasha, Soubhi Bey, Fend Effendi, and
Medjib Mollah, to be members of the Council of
State.

Sabri Pasha to be Governor of the Vilayet of the
Danube, and Rassim Pasha to be Governor of
Epirus.

BOMBAY MAILS.
GIBRALTAR, March 9.

The Ceylon left at 11 a.m. to-day--all well. She
may be expected at Southampton about the 14th
inst.

FALMOUTH, March 10.

The City of Limerick, from the Brazils and River
Plate, arrived here this morning. She brings
£45,000 in specie.

SOUTHAMPTON, March 10.

The steamer New York, sailing hence to-day
with the English, French, and German mails for
New York, takes out £50,000 in English gold

IRELAND.

DUBLIN, Monday Evening.

The Commission was opened in Cork this morn-
ing by Mr. Justice O'Hagan, who, in his charge to
the Grand Jury, commented upon the heavy
calendar, and contrasted the social disorder and the
spirit of insubordination and insurrectionary vio-
lence which prevailed in the county with the favour-
able state of other parts of Ireland.
The Grand Jury found true bills against Mackay
for wilful murder and against Manning and Walsh
for aiding and abetting.

LAW INTELLIGE NCE—This Day.

COURT OF DIVORCE.
(Before the Right Hon. Sir J. P. Wilde.)
WOOD V. WOOD AND STANGER.-IMPORTANT
DECISION.

In giving judgment in this case, as to the issuing
an attachment, the Judge Ordinary said that the
question here raised was whether the bankruptcy of
the co-respondent in the suit had or had not the
effect of discharging him from the suit. A decree
nisi was granted in February, 1867, and on the sth
November, 1867, it was made absolute. The Court
condemned the co-respondent in costs, and made an
order that he should pay them into the Registry of
the Court. On the 14th November an order
was also issued that the £3,000 damages should
be paid in December. On the 3d December
the co-respondent was on his own petition adjudi-
cated a bankrupt. It appeared that as the co-
respondent had been ordered to pay both damages
and costs into court that a petition was filed pray-
ing that an attachment might issue as the debts
were not provable ones. It is beyond argument
that the petitioner is a creditor, and that is proved
by the case of Phillips v. Poland. It was urged,
however, that the petitioner was not a creditor
on the 3d Dec. as to costs, and never at any time a
creditor as to the damages. He (the learned Judge)
was of opinion that the petitioner was entitled both
as regarded the damages and costs to the position
of a creditor. It was true that the court had or-
dered the co-respondent to pay into court, but he
did not consider that there was any occasion to
pursue a process of contempt. The direct bearing
in this part of the case proved that it was a prov-
able debt, and the case of Newton v. Newton in-
stanced this. On these grounds, and from the
words of the section, he should consider both da-
mages and costs as probable debts, and the rule
for attachment should be discharged without costs.

PENSION TO LADY BREWSTER.—Sir James Y.
Simpson has received the following letter from the Prime
Minister:—" 10, Downing-street, Whitehall, March 5,
1868. Dear Sir James—l have muoh gratification in in-
forming you that her Majesty has been graciously pleased
to grant a pension of .£2OO per annum to the widow of
Sir David Brewster, in recognition of his eminent ser-
vices to science. I have the honour to remain, dear Sir
James, yours faithfully, B. DISRAELI. Sir James Simpson,
M.D."

TUE ARMY.—We have reason to believe that
the proposed scheme of army administrative reeorm which
has been for some time under consideration will shortly
be experimentally tried in action. It is understood that
the scene of the first trial will be Ireland, where recent
military experience has practically proved the necessity
of a change of system, and where Lord. Strathnairn, the
president of the committee on this subject, will bo en-
abled to superintend the experiment and overcome any
difficulties that may arise in person.—Pall-mall Gazette.

THE LATE GENERAL JOHN MACGREGOR.—Gen.
John Alexander Paul Macgregor, who died on the
sth inst., at 7, Sussex-place, Hyde Park-gardens, aged
88, entered the Bengal Army in 1795, was promoted to
lieutenant, 1797 ; captain, 1805 ; major, 1814; lieutenant-
colonel, 1818, and colonel, 1829. This officer served in
the campaign of 1799 in Mysore against Tippoo Sultan.
He was present at the battle of Malvelly, 1799, also at the
siege and capture of Seringapatam. He next served with
a detachment of volunteers under Lieutenant-Colonel Gar-
diner in the Northern Circars, and was present at the cap-
ture of Palavaram, 1800. Ho next served at the battles of
Delhi and Dag& under Lord Lake, 1803-1804, and had one
horse killed and another wounded under him in the last-
named battle, being then adjutant of his regiment. He
was present at the siege of Fort Sossing, and at a repulse
of a sortie headed by the Governor, and was present at the
sieges of Agra and Bhurtpore, 1801. Ho served as adju-
tant of the 2d Battalion of Bengal Volunteers, and of the
Ist Battalion 2d Native Infantry. He held for some time
the appointment of major of brigade, and was for nearly
four years aide-de-camp to Gilbert, first Earl of Minto,
when Governor-General of India, and for many years he
held the high and important office of Military Auditor-
General of the Bengal army, in which office he gave the
highest satisfaction to the Government of India.
KING'S LYNN DOCKS.—The foundation stone of
these dock; to which the inhabitants are looking forward
as a means to restore their once-important trade, was laid
yesterday afternoon by Mrs. Jarvis, the wife of the chair-
man of the company.
The newspapers are teeming with references to econo-
my in tea by co-operation. Horninan and Co. have for 30
years co- operated through Agents to supply tea on more
advantageous terms than by the ordinary channel; their tea
reaches the consumer in the same pure state as it leaves the
grower, as it is secured in packets.

POLICE INTELLIGENCE—This Day.

BOW-STREET.

A stout and strong-looking Irish girl, named
Mary Dempsey, was placed before Mr. Flower,
charged with assaulting Mrs. Donovan.
The complainant said she was standing at her
own door, in Conduit-court, when the prisoner
came up to her and gave her a great whack in her
face, and then began to give it her right and left.
She also pulled a handful of hair out of her head,
and, in fact, killed her—(laughter)—or nearly so.
Prisoner—Och, Mrs. Donovan, how can you say
that ? Why, you hit me first. I didn't do any-
thing to you. Your worship, it's an old spite ;
don't believe a word she says. She's always aquar-
relling and always kicking up a row. lam afeared
she will do me some harm some day because she says
I gave her son 12 months.
Donovan—You're worship, it is all false. She's a
bad un. Why, I've a witness who saw the row.
(Laughter.)

Mr. Flower—Oh, have you? Let me hear your
witness's evidence.

The barman at a public-house then stepped into
the box, and gave a very complicated account of the
conflict between the two Irish amazons.

Mrs. Macarthy—l've lived in the parish five-
and-thirty years, and I never stood in a court be-
fore, your worship. I saw the old woman hit the
prisoner, that's true, your honour, as I hope to be
saved. (Laughter.)
Complainant —Why, you wasn't there at all.

Mrs. Macarthy—Oh, only hear that now—
(laughter)—wasn't there I Oh, the old sinner.
(Laughter.) Why, 1 saw it all.
Prisoner—Oh, curse upon you —(laughter)—l've
got me mother, your worship, who saw it. Here,
mother, come up. (Laughter.)
Mrs. Dempsey—l was going to the garden with
a basket of wood on my head, when I sees that
ould woman killing my daughter. (Laughter.)
Oh ! the vixen. (Laughter.) She called me bad
names, your worship, she did, the ould cat. (Laugh-
ter.) I can take my oath she hit my gal.
(Laugh ter.) _ _

Mrs. Donovan—lt's all false, me lord. They
are a bad lot ; ask the policeman, he knows her.
(Laughter.)

Mr. Flower (to the officer)—Do you know these
people ?
Police-constable—Yes, your worship, there's six
o' one and half a dozen o' the other. (Loud
laughter.)
Here the witnesses for the prisoner and the com-
plainant broke forth in the choicest Hibernian
language, and began to contradict each other in the
most direct manner.

Mr. Flower—l shall bind you both over to keep
the peace towards one another, and I will send to
prison the first one that is brought here for annoy-
ing the other. Prisoner, mind what I say; you
are discharged.

Prisoner—Long life to yer Honour. Come along
mother. (Loud laughter.)
After another valuable discussion the parties left

the court.