The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-04 00:00:00

COREESPO.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PArvis, MONDAY, Feb. 3.

It is necessary to remind some Englishmen that though
a tight hand represses, not to say restrains, French
journalists, they do continue to criticise the Government
with a freedom and often a bitterness that are remarkable.
One might almost say that to defame the powers that be
was meat and drink to the Opposition editors. They
return to the task with unflagging energy and untamed
severity after each new fine and fresh imprisonment. The
same thing is true of the speaking out in the Chamber.
The more public speaking and political demonstration
are repressed out of doors, the more the deputies in-
dulge in acrimonious attacks on the existing regime.
But then it must be in the Palais Bourbon; the orator may
not call a public meeting and say the same things, nor dare
he commit them to paper. This is not the place to discuss
how much restraint is necessary in France, where, accord-
ing to Alison, a free Government is impossible. One may
be permitted, however, to doubt whether the Government
does not bestow an extraordinary importance on the mem-
bers of the Opposition, simply by the fear of them which
it betrays. The present Emperor was elected by all but
a few hundred thousand votes. At the end of 1863 the
Opposition had risen to two millions. The majority argue
that a freer press will swell the number. They forget that
the effect of a half-bound press may be greater than one
fully emancipated.

In the course of this debate the political character of
French tribunals has been frequently in question. The•
Opposition claimed to have press offences tried before
juries, and not by the magistrates alone. That amend-
mend would have satisfied them perfectly. M. Picard_
drew a picture of press trial. He said : " I wish to intro-
duce you into the narrow enclosure where a political offence
of the press is under judgment. It is said the audience is
public. Let us see. The true public, the press reporter, is
ty. eluded. You enter a hall filled by means of tickets given
in advance, and occupied by a number of guards. How'
many of these may be placed there? The law does,
not say. You might fill the halt with them—
an audience more likely to intimidate than to reassure.
(Laughter.) There are the judges—there our colleagues
have appeared, accused of having met ins.-greater number
than one-and-twenty ; there the right of association and
die right of public meeting were decided. Writers of all
classes succeed them. All enter there with a certain feel,-
ing of dread, but without emotion : they know their fate
beforehand." (Uproar.) The last sentence contains the
sting, but it would probably be true with juries. It is
difficult to find a judge who will acquit ; it would be
almost impossible to find a jury who would convict.

rho Pays reports an interview of the representatives of
,he provincial official press with the Emperor. These
delegates of the departmental press, we are told, respect-
fully supplicated the Emperor to withdraw the press law.
His Majesty replied that the attitude and language of the
press for the last year had destroyed much of the hope that,
he had built upon the new law. Nevertheless, it was now
committed to the public councils of the nation, and they,
would treat it agreeably to their' sense of duty and
of patriotism. The papers are all occupied in discussing
the crisis brought about by the Arcadian Club. The
Siecle says it is a crisis for the Government rather than the
press. Probably the Siecle might prefer the present regime.
According to its own statement, it pays to the exchequer,
by the tax on its circulation, over a million francs per
annum, which would require a daily issue of about 46,000.
The first article, which is to be made the point of attack by
the ultras of the Right, would allow any person to start a
newspaper without the preliminary authorisation, and
therefore might increase the competition which exists.
The Democratic Liberals have suffered a check at Lille.
The Government candidate has been returned by a ma-
jority of 20,000 to 9,000. The Temps admits that its hopes
were deluded "by administrative pressure and electoral
manoeuvres of all kinds." The Courrier Francais will no
doubt withdraw its declaration that " France waits for
the electors of Lille to set an example which all the con-
stituencies will follow in 1869."
Public opinion in Paris is incessantly occupied with
Russian designs real and imputed. At present M.
Bismarck is quite forgotten, and the Czar is the single
element of exterior politics to cause alarm. First, we are
told that the agitation in the Danubian Prcivinces is in-
creasing ; next, that an extraordinary deputation is on its
way to St. Petersburg from Bucharest ; then, that the
Pan-Sclavist ferment is working everywhere ; that the
Russians are concentrating their forces and material of
war at Samarcand, and at the same moment buying horses
in Gallicia and vessels of war in the United States, and
increasing their forces on the Polish frontiers. Lastly,
the Liberte has got an item of intelligence which if
true is considered still more alarming. According to
this, Russia has addressed a note to the English Cabinet,
declaring categorically that if the Western Powers do not
come to some agreement to protect the Christians in the
East, Russia has determined a faire seule lee cleinarehe,s on
her own responsibility. The Liberte asks if this news be
true. It would be easy to answer that it is not very
likely that Russia will proceed to any extremities yet
CRoolulAvEN, Feb. 4, 6.30 a.m. awhile.

Our news from South America is to the effect that

Brazil is negotiating for a conclusion of the Paraguayan
war, having no more forces to send to the scene of the
conflict. The Etat'lard censures the Argentine President,
General Mitre, for persisting in the war for merely per-
sonal ends. It is certain, however, that Lopez did not
unite the three Powers against him without having given
them some very colourable pretexts.
Paris has felt the storm very severely. There have been
accidents in the city and also on the Seine. The Patrie an-
nounces that the French Government has prevailed on

PARIS, Feb. 4.

Holland, Belgium, Sweden, Baden, Wurtemberg, Den-
mark, And several other States to adopt the system (~!
semaphores.
The Echo du Commerce has been debating the question of
corn supplies. The Echo believes that large amounts of
corn will be sent from America when the canals re-open.
Before they can be received France must receive by Havre
or Dunkirk two or three million hectolitres of wheat. A
hectolitre is 2'75 bushels. Bargains for delivery in March
and April have, been made at slight reductions, but there
`does not seem to be much prospect of amelioration till
next harvest.

A correspondent of the Sdcle describes the emigration
which is taking place from Italy to South America. He
states that the Italian colonies in La Plata, Brazil, and
Peru are increasing every day. Whole villages have been
depopulated in Lombardy by these voluntary expatria-
tions. It is not the population of the South, of Rome, or
of Sicily that are leaving the country, but Lombards and
Piedmontese, especially those who live near the shores of
the Mediterranean and the Adriatic. Poverty is the
moving cause, brought about by the excessive subdivision
and dearness of land. A large amount of suffering exists
throughout the peninsula, but this correspondent denies
that there is any risk of reaction, still less of a coup
d'etat.
The Constitettionnel gives some interest:ng statistics re-
lating to the colonies of France. Their total population
now am( unts to 2,192,275. The most populous is Mar-
;lniq e , 159,109. The most valuable commercially is
Cochin-Cbina, and then follow, in order, Rdunion, Mar-
tinique, Guadaloupe, Senegal, and the establishments in

The Luxemburghers have been demonstrating against
their Grand Duke. The King of Holland debited his
subjects of the duchy with 6,720,252 florins of the national
debt of Holland. Under the influence of strong remon-
strances, he has lowered this claim to 212,440 florins.
They refuse to bear this even mitigated burden. The
poverty of the people makes them apparently insensible
to the great benefits of independence guaranteed to them
by the late Congress.
A telegram from Constantinople states that the Cretans
are giving in their submission in considerable numbers
and that the Grand-Vizier will leave the island shortly.

The marriage of Miss Hoare, only child of Srr
Henry and Lady Hoare, of Stourhead, Wilts, and Mr.
William T. N. Angerstein, will take place on Saturday,
the 22nd of the present month.

The internal fittings of the Athenreum in Cork,
where Mr. G. F. Train delivered his recent orations, were
seriously damaged. Many of the seat 3 were deprived of
their backs ; the doors in some instances were carried off
the hinges, the glass in the windows was smashed, the gm
pipes wrenched from their positions and broken, and the
great organ was so tampered with by the unruly mobs
that assembled to hear him th-tt it is seriously injured.
It is stated to be Mr. Train's intention to repair all the
damage.

A SOLDIER "DEMII,,IED OUT " FOR FENIANISM.
—On Monday morning the rare ceremony of " drumming
out " a soldier was performed at Walmer Barracks, the
culprit being John Quin, late a private of the Ist
Battalion 7th Royal Fusiliers, who was tried by court-
martial at Dover, on the 3rd ult., for making use of
treasonable and traitorous language towards her Majesty
the Queen, and also avowing himself a Fenian. The
qjth depot battalion having assembled on parade, were
formed in square and the prisoner placed in the centre.
The sentence of the court was then read by Captain and
Adjutant Godfrey, after which the pri3oner's facings,
numbers, buttons, good-conduct badge, &c., were cut off
by two drummers, and his tunic! turned inside out. The
men were then formed in two hues, facing inwards, and
the culprit marched down the centre, followed by drummers
and pipers playing the " Rogue's March" to the barrack
gate, when he was handcuffed, and at once removed to the
military prison at Canterbury, to undergo his sentence of
two years' imprisonment. Previous to being drummed
out the prisoner was branded on the left brew. with the
Utters "B.

Sir Roundell Palmer has, as we anticipated ten days

ago, declined the Lord Justiceship of Appeal in Chancery.
Indeed, had the hon. and learned gentleman accepted it,
ho would have exposed himself to some little criti-
cism. A mild Conservative from 1847 to 1857, he
remained out of the House of Commons four years, and
when Lord Palmerston, in 1861, wanted a leading equity
man as Solicitor-General, he offered the post to Sir
Roundell Palmer, and it was accepted. First a Conserva-
tive, then a law officer of the Crown under a Liberal
Government, and afterwards a Lord Justice of Appeal by
the grace of a Conservative Premier, would have been
rather too much even for the present times of startling
changes. So Sir Roundell Palmer prefers to wait until
the next Liberal Ministry comes into power, when there
is no doubt that he will fill the post of Lord Chancellor.
He is but 55 years of age, and is therefore young enough,
taking the ordinary ro-1 of lawyers' lives, for the Chancel-
lorship. Lord Campbell was 79 before he got there ; the
present Lord Chancellor was 64, and Lord Westbury was
61. Sir Roundell Palmer, with an unrivalled position at
the equity bar, wh-ze he must be making his £12,000 or
1;15,009 a year, can well afford to wait for the return of the
Liberals to power.

The question with the Premier is as to whom he shall
ve the important position vacated by Sir John Rolt.

is c::traOrdinary and unprecedented run of luck in the

way of legal patronage has exhausted his list of competent
men. Even were the Solicitor-General a man of sufficient
weight to take the office, Lord Derby would not care to
spare him from Parliament now that the session is about
to open, and just as the hon. and learned gentleman is pre-
pared with his Bankruptcy Bill and his measure for the
working by the Government of the entire telegraphic sys-
tem of the country. So the rumour runs in Westminster
Hall that the Prime Minister is about to follow the course
which was generally taken by Lord Cran worth whcnhe nomi-
nated puisne judges; that is to say, make the appointment
apart from all political considerations. It is said that the Lord
Justiceship has been offered to Mr. Mellish, one of the
most eminent counsel in practice at the bar. The learned
gentleman's abilities qualify him for the discharge of his
high duties if his health permitted him to undertake them.
He has, however, long been a martyr to gout, and but for
this circumstance he would have long ago sought a seat in
Parliament. It appears to be doubtful whether the
tempting offer will be accepted.

Should Lord Derby have to fall back upon Sir Charles
Selwyn, there will, of course, be a vacancy in the repre-
sentation of Cambridge University. The Liberal portion.
of that constituency are ready with a requisition to the
Marquis of Hartington, inviting him to stand as the Low
and Broad Church candidate against Mr. Beresford Hope,
whose High Church principles are generally known. It
is, however, scarcely to be expected that the noble mar-
quis will abandon the seat, of which he feels himself so,
secure, in North Lancashire.

At length Mr. Doniton has made up his mind to run the
gauntlet of another contest for Lambeth. He has issued,
an address, announcing that at the next election he
will again solicit the suffrages of the electors. The
document states at great length the hon. member's views
upon affairs. Mr. Doulton says, that having a very
lively ,collection of the reception he had from some,
ill-disposed persons unconnected with the borough, on
the last occasion of his publicly meeting them, and having
received several intimations that those demonstrations
would be repeated, he was unwilling to expose his friends
to further personal annoyance, or himself to the unseemly
treatment he then experienced, and he has therefore pre•

'erred to address them by a written communication.

The death is announced of Mr. Francis Bernard
Beamish, who from 1837 to 1841, and again from 1853 to
1865, sat in Parliament for the city of Cork in the Liberal
interest. Mr. Beamish died on the Ist inst., at his resi-
dence, Beaumont Lodge, Totnes, in the 66th year of his
age.

The death is also announced, at No. 3, Chesham-place, of
Sir Norton Joseph Knatchbull, in his 60th year. The de-
ceased baronet will be remembered as having fought two
very close contests in East Kent with Sir E. C. Dering.
Early in 1862, on the death of Mr. Deedes, Sir Norton
was started as his successor in the Conservative
interest, while Sir Edward Dering, who had re-
presented the division from 1852 to 1857, was
selected as the Liberal champion. Lord Palmerston's:
Government attached so much importance to the winning'
of the seat, that Mr. Knatchbull-Hugessen, the English
Lord of the Treasury, went through East Kent canvassing
and addressing meetings on behalf of Sir E. Dering, and
this although the Conservative candidate was his own
brother. The contest was a very tough one, and of 5,462
votes recorded, the Liberal was returned by a majority'
of 88. At the general election of 1865 Sir Norton
Knatchbull again endeavoured to displace his antagonist,
but although each polled several hundred more than in.
1862, Sir Edward Dering was victorious by 276. Sir
Edward did not shew his gratitude to those who had worked
so hard to secure his seat. In several important divisions
he voted against the Liberal Government, and as in 18541

he had joined those who entreated Lord John Russell to
withdraw his Reform Bill because it was a time of war,
so in 1866 he voted against the Representation
of the People Bill of the same Minister because
it was a time of peace. The Liberal com-
mittee sat in judgment upon his last offence, and
though Earl Russell entreated that " Dering should be
received back into the fold," no decision was arrived at.
By the removal of Sir Norton Knatchbull, he is relieved
of some little anxiety as to a contest for East Kent at the
next election.

A deputation of London cab proprietors has just waited
upon the Chancellor of the Exchequer, asking him to con-
sider the reduction of the tax upon hackney coaches. It
was stated that no class was so heavily taxed as eab pro-
prietors, who had to pay £l9 ss. per annum for every £5O
worth of property. It was shewn that although the capital
invested in stage carriages was more than four times the
amount invested in cabs, the proprietors of the latter
description:of vehicle had to pay over £33,000 per annum
more than omnibus owners. While the price of fodder,
too, had gone up, the cab fares remained the same ; and,
railways—especially in the metropolis—had to a great
extent taken away the cabman's living. The Chancellor
of the Exchequer said he had a great objection to taxes
upon locomotion in any way, and he thought the tax in
London created many disadvantages which did not exist
in foreign cities. He promised that the whole matter
should me; ve the careful consideration of the Government.
Further than this Mr. Disraeli could not very well have
gone in the face of decreasing revenue and the increasing
expenditure with which we are threatened.

.Ir. Webster, Q.C., in a paper read at the Social
Science Association, on Monday, stated that the cost of
crime in this country was at least between seven and eight
millions a year. Estimating the number of criminals at
113,500, and supposing each to abstract on an average
£4O a year from the industrious classes, we have to debit
crime with £4,500,000, and this does not include any
expenses of our police force, or of prosecutions, gaols,
and judicial establishments. Referring to the d.strcss in
the East-end of London, Mr. Websteilurged that many
were forced into dishonest courses by the circumstances
against which they had to contend, while others were lying
and emasculating their industrial energy by performing
some ridiculously useless task in order to get a bare
subsistence. The learned gentleman argued that useful
Government works should be taken up, and a provision
made of " work and wages." He suggested that a society
should be formed, which should be provided with money
by a Government grant, and that it should provide
employment, by reclaiming forests, &c., which could
afterwards be sold at auction or otherwise, and would thug
pay for any money laid out.

The United Executive Committee for the relief of tl4
distress in the East-end of the metropolis has held a meeting
at the Guildhall, under the presidency of the Lord
Mayor, and passed a resolution to the effect that it
was not expedient to give relief where the guardians
also were dispensing money. The question about co-ope-
ration between the committee and the East London Mis-
sion having come before the meeting, the Rev. Septimus
Hansard expressed his disapproval of any worrying of the
East London Committee to compel them to join the Cen-
tral Executive. Let the mission, he said, go on, and ho
was sure they would see the wisdom of the principle on
which the United Committee proposed to act.
DEATHS DY LIGHTNING.—In the fourteen years,.
1852 65, 242 deaths were registered in England and AValea,
from lightning, of which 199 were males, and 43 were
females. The numbers in each year fluctuated con-
siderably, and indicated the periodical disturbances of the
electric tension of the atmosphere. Thus, in each of the,
seven years 1852-58, the deaths were 45, 10, 17, 17, 14, 18,
and 20 respectively. In the seven years 1859-65, they
vere 17, 12, 26, 3,6, and 19.

THE CHARGES AGAINST " COLONEL "
The Morning Post is given to understand that the Crown
in in possession of evidence of a character to lead to the
belief that the recent attempt to destroy the House of
D.,tention at Clerkenwell was instigated by "
Burke, one of the prisoners now in Warwick Gaol await•
ing his trial for treason-felony. The probability, there•
fore, is, that the Crown will include him in any indict.
ment which may be framed against the Desmonds, Barrett.
Ann Justice, and others now in custody for wilful murder
arising out of the catastrophe. In connection with this
subject it may also be added that Mullany, the last ari.
prover, has been admitted as a witness for the Crown 10
consequence of a document having been traced to hirj
containing references to a certain very high personagef
and which document it is not considered desirable shoule,
be given in evidence at the trial, either against Maas*
•
himself or any of
,the other prieonem jakigge
citvi‘ hion:slotioied.

ten days
Chancery.
:cepted it,
ttle

1857, he

years, and
ing equity
>st to Sir

Conserva-
a Liberal
Appeal by
have been
f startling
wait until
vhen there
)hancellor.

ig enough,
e Chancel-
there ; the
3tbury was
)osition at
£12,000 or

turn of the

,m he shall

rohn Rolt.
uck in the
competent
f sufficient

not care to
na is about

man is pre-
are for the
raphic sys-
'estminster
the course

enhe nomi-
)pointment
at the Lord
, one of the
'he learned
arge of his
take them.
Ind but for
ht a seat in
'tether the

Sir Charles
t the repre-

;ral portion.
tion to the
is the Low
;ford Hope,
nown. It
noble mar.
himself so,

I to run the
has issued.
;lection he
tors. The
fiber's views

wing a very
from some

orough, on
and having
konstrations
his friends
e unseemly
:refore pre-
ktion.

s Bernard
)m 1853 to
the Liberal
at his resi-
year of his

un-place, of
r. The de-
fought two
C. Dering.
Sir Norton
,onservative
o had re-
-1857, was
3almerston's:
the winning'
the English
t canvassing
Dering, and
ras his own
rnd of 5,462
r a majority'
Sir Norton
antagonist,
Lore than in
y 276. Sir
)had worked
ant division
td as in 1854{
n Russell to
,ime of war,
presentation
ter because

beral corn-
)ff enee, and
ag should be
s arrived at.
se is relieved
Kent at the

s just waited
him to con-
poaches. It

as cab pro-
For every £5O
h the capital
ur times the
A the latter
0 per annum
:e of fodder,
Le same ; and,
i to a great
e Chancellor
ction to taxes
A the tax in
did not exist
vhole matter

Government.
xy well hay
he increasing

I the Social
t the cost of
yen and eight

criminals at

i an average
have to debit
include any
stions, gaols,
he d.strcss in.
ed that many
circumstances
ers were lying
ry performing
,0 get a bare
d that useful
d a provision
that a society
.1 with money
could provide
which could
nd would thus

relief of tI4
held a meeting
of the Lord
effect that it
the guardians
about co-ope-
t London Mis-
Rev. Septimus
-orrying of tha
join the Oen-
, go on, awl ha

he principle oit
ct.

Liacen years,‘
md and Watei
, and 43 were
[uctuated con-
rbances of the
in each of the,
17, 17, 14, 18._
1959-G5, th4•y

"
hat the Crown
to lead to the
• the House of
by " Colonel'
ick Gaol await.
bability, there•
in any indict.
nonds, Barrett.
r wilful !nudes
2ction with this
ny, the last at"
r the Crown in
traced to hiJ
sigh personag Of
lesirable shon!
4ainst 111u110
414 i).3-.954!