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

taw FUN, LONDON, THURSDAY' EVENING, JULY 23, 1868,

an opportunity of hearing the distinguisned leader
of the Opposition to advantage.

The House of Commons spent most of their time,
yesterday, in discussing the Corrupt Practices Bill.
The new clauses which were left out on Saturd iy
were taken up, 'and a good deal of dispute took
p'ace on Mr. FAwcErr's clause for throwing the
expenses of the returning officers on the rates. The
Solicitor-General has placed a notice on the paper
to strike out the clause, and great dissatisfaction
was expressed in EOnle quarters at this being done.
Mr. DISRAELI and the Chancellor of the Exchequer
gave some explanations, and said that the Govern •
ment had been considering the subject very carefully,
and believed the clause would be inoperative on the
subject of the extension of the principle to Scot-
land. A division was taken, and the Lord-Advocate
proposed to withdraw the paragraph which threw
the payment of the rates on the parish. Despite the
efforts of Mr. M'LAREN, who insisted on a divisio❑
being taken, a. majority of twelve decided against
it. Lord MILTON brought up a el ►use to alter
some arrangement, and provide against the objec-
tioushe had previously stated of the whole county pay-
ing for onedivision, but the discussionsupon it were
brought to a close, by the suggestion that the
Solicitor-General's proposal to strike out the whole
clause should be taken first, and this plan was
postponed until that comprehensive scheme had
been settled. The Government had yesterday a
good majority to fall back upon in the contested
points of the new clauses, and the discussion a►to-
gether was of a long character. The further pro-
gress of the bill was put off till a morning sitting
to-day. It is curious to notice how very unsuc-
cessful Mr. MILL and Mr. AYRTON were
in their efforts to improve the bill. In all pro-
bability the sitting of to-day will complete this
measure, or nearly so, at any rate, but it has been
a most hazardous undertaking altogether, and pro-
voked more angry retorts and sharp personal en-
counters than any measure this session, not even
-xcepting the great debates on the Irish Church ;
nd the Opposition have ❑ot given the Government
much cause to rejoice for having undertaken the
troublesome task at the end of the Session.

Among the many troublesome tasks which the
House of Commons has still left to accomplish one
of the most prominent is the Cattle Bill. The
subject is to be reopened at the evening sitting of
to-day, and we hope there will be a little more
-atisfactory progress made than was the case on
last Monday. It augurs ill for the merits of a
cause when its advocates have to resort to tricks,
moeuvres, and delays, when they are anxious to
tvail themselves of every form of the law which can
be twisted to forward their interests and to ad-
vance or retard the hearing of the case
as may best suit their convenience. In the same
way it does not look as if the strenuous opponents
,f the Foreign Cattle Mai ket Bill hal very good or
cogent arguments to bring against the measure,
since they can find no more effectual means of
opposing its progress than by wearying the patience
of its supporters. The groat body of the 'base,
like the majority of the public out of doors, has
accepted the principle of the measure, and
every time the poi: ts at issue are pressed to
a division the opponents are decidedly in
the minority. Yet time after time on Monday
the progress of the committee was arrested, the old
grievances were brought forward, the old arguments
reiterated, the old devices resorted to. The forms
of the House permitted these troublera of the peace
a good deal more latitude when in committee, and
so the evening was frittered away, and the bill left
very much where it was at the beginning of the
sitting. Such conduct will not give much satisfac-
tion out of door, and it is certainly not calculated
o remove the impression that there is a strong in-
tcrested opposition to the bill, which fosters every
prejudice, and urges on the Parliamentary adver-
saries of the bill. to extreme and unwarrantable
courses. The price of meat within the radius of th,
metropolis has long been a serious evil, and if our
public-spirited friends, the butchers, are to have
their way we are not likely to see it diminished.
the Cattle Plague Cominis.sioners, who ought cer-
tainly to know something about the matter, have
distinctly asserted that any port to which foreign
cattle are freely admitted must be always more or
ess infected by the dreaded enemy, and this state-
ment, though startling at first sight, only corro-
oorates the accounts which those best acquainted
with the matter give us of the Steppes of Russia
tad similar districts. Under these circumstances,
while we are debating upon the best course to pur-
sue to relieve trade as much as possible, it seems to
unprejudiced observers that one thing is quite clear,
and that is that we should at once remove all re-
strictions which can with prudence be dispensed
with. Whether or no it would be safe to permit
free traffic in foreign cattle, there is no
reason to doubt that greatly increased
liberty might be allowed to the home trade,
and for a body of gentlemen to object to this wel-
come and seasonable relief on the ground that it is
a retrograderc
is simply absurd. It can
ca
inimical to the principles of Free
elbe
m re policy
Scarcely
trade to relax the restrictions on one branch of
trade than to leave them as they are, and it is in
no sense a matter of policy or Free-trade prin-
ciples, but a practical question of excluding a disas-
trous epidemic. If the corn we imported from one
particular country contained the elements of a dan-
gerous complaint, we should not certainly be sur-
rendering our Free-trade principles if we closed
our ports to it. We hope that the opponents of the
bill will reconsider their line of conduct, and will
allow the rest of the work in the Commons to be

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 'GEM.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

---f-

INDIA AND CHINA MAILS.
MESSINA, July 23.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Pera pa3se.d Messina at 3.15 a.m. to-day, en route
for Marseilles.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS,

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, WEDNESDAY, July 21.

The statement that negotiations have been entered into
'ith a view of establishing a Customs Union between
France, Holland, and Belgium continues to find believers.
Some are even of opinion that the matter will not end
with negotiation, but that a military confederation as
well as a Customs Union is an immediate probability.
The opening of negotiations is quite possible ; but in
their successful termination I cannot bring myself to
believe. France may have offered terms, because she has
everytsing to gain and nothing to lose by the change. The
smaller countries are, however,. pretty nearly in the reverse
position. The only danger to which they are exposed is
the danger of incorporation by France. Are they likely to
annex themselves voluntarily, to guard against the chances
of being annexed by force ?

Apropos to the question of alliances is the much•talked-
of friendship between Austria and Prussia. There is no
doubt that some leading men in both countries are endea-
vouring to bring about at least a rapprochement, if not an
alliance. The New Free Press of Vienna advocates it
strongly. The chance of a treaty between Prussia and
Russia prevented for some time any steps being taken in the
matter, but the question is now freely ventilated. It has
been seen that Russia is occupied with her designs in the
East, and bestows very little attention upon European
politics. She is not at all likely to burden herself with
the responsibility of any alliance. On the other
hand, there are some objections to a better under-
standing between the two German Powers. In
particular, the remembrance of the last alliance is not yet
effaced in Austria. The scheme has, however, its advan-
tages. It would secure Prussia against France, and would
strengthen Austria in the East. Whatever may be the
chance of these late enemies coming to terms, the subject
causes some alarm here.

It is astonishing that political ferment, in any shape,
should be possible this weather. It seems, however, that
the heat has deranged the faculties of divers indivithials.
I hear that last night some seditious placards had been
posted in the faubourgs, and that they had been pulled
down and several arrests made. Of course the report
will be denied, as is the rule in such cases ; but it
may be true or false. The Pays has either swindled
itself, or has made a not very successful attempt
to swindle the public. It publishes a proclama-
tion, signed " The Central Committee of Action," headed
by " Libert6, Egalit6, Fraternit6," and containing above
a column and a half of intolerable rubbish, the purport of
which is that the time for action has arrived. It is gene-
rally believed that this document was concocted by the
men of genius who edit the Pays. After all, however,
that unhappy print may have been hoaxed. It is strange
that a paper which receives Imperial support should not
be kept in better order. To publish or to invent such a
low piece of rant is alike discreditable.

A defaulter was captured in Paris on Monday, after
a curious chase, in which a London policeman figured to
greater advantage than is generally the case with your
metropolitan force. A German youth, employed in a lean-
ing commercial house at London, absconded early in the
present month with a large sum of money, including a
cheque for £4OO. This he quietly signed and then got the
money. Departing for the Continent, he steered his
course so sagely that though he was telegraphed after
everywhere be was found nowhere. While the police were
searching Paris he was at Nantes. His abode was at
length discovered, and one of the ablest of the London
police sent after him. This emissary arrived at Nantes just
in time to find that the desired one had departed, taking
with him a young Alsatian— of the gentler sex. When
the policeman got to Paris again, whither he judged the
fugitives had gone, he commenced a search under difficul-
ties. He did not know a word of French, and had no
clue to the defaulter except a photograph which the
German had left behind him. For two days the detective
beat the pavement of Paris, accompanied by an interpreter.
His diligence was at length rewarded. The German
was arrested with his fair companion in a splendidly-
furnished house. This had been the residence of the girl,
whilst the German, the better to avoid detection, had
installed himself in a first-class hotel.

The Italian correspondent of the Libertg continues his
assertions respecting Garibaldian enrolments in Italy, in
spite of all denials, official or otherwise. He says that
enlistments are daily occurring in Rome, and that large
numbers of young men are placing themselves at the dis-
posal of the Mazzinian " head-centres."

THE WEATHER TABLE.-THIS DAY.

EXPLANATION,

rarotneter corrected and reduced to 1:2 deg. a rea len;

I. Theletter

r.. iisirg ; f., falling ; 1.. steady—indicate dheeth nof motion of the
mercury within last 14 hours. Thermometer exposed in shade,
Extreme Force with its Direction during last 24 hours. Z.—calm
Weatlicr ; b.—blue ; c.—clouds, detached; f.—fog ; h.—hail
; m.—misty, nary ; o.—oTereast, dull; r.--rains.—snow
t.—thunder. Pak-fall, snow or bail (melted) during last 24 hours.
Sea disturbance.