The Sun.
London, England, 1868-10-30 00:00:00

~~ y

PRICIe 4d.
STAMPED 53.

111ETROPOL17 AN GOSSIP--Thursday.

Last week it was first publicly announced by your
London correspondent that the condition of the Arch-
bishop of Canterbury and of the Duchess of Sutherland
inspired great uneasiness to their respective friends.
Yesterday's papers announced the death of the second,
and to-day's papers announce the death of the first. The
Duchess was, some thirty years ago, the indirect cause of
a change of Ministry. The Archbishop will be remembered
for having presided over four different sees and two pro-
vinces, but most of all for the Lambeth Conference—an
event for which he received extravagant praise and
incurred extravagant blame. There is little doubt that
he was not the chief mover in it. The idea originated, I
believe, with a far abler Juan, the Bishop of Oxford.
I need not say that the appointment of a new archbishop
is causing the greatest amount of interest in all circles.
I know not wby it is, but the fact is certain, that while
the selection of a judge interests nobody out of legal
circles, the selection of a bishop is a matter in which
laymen as well as clerics take the keenest interest. Mr.
Disraeli is probably the man of all others to lament
that the present vacancy should have arisen
just now. The choice of a bishop has, already
caused him much worry and anxiety ; how much
more will the choice of the Metropolitan of all England ?
Already many of the Low Church clergy have declared
their intention of supporting the Liberal candidate at
Oxford because of the alleged High Church tendencies of
the Premier, and they will now " watch for his falling"
with keener eyes than ever. There will be two chances of
making a fatal mistake, for of course the new archbishop
will be translated from another see. Three names are
mentioned as those of probable nominees. The Bishop of
Oxford is believed to be the Premier's choice, and probably
would not meet with any opposition from the Queen,
who, though broadest of the "broad," has always admired
Dr. Wilberforce. He certainly would be welcomed by
the Prince of Wales. But then there is the Record, and
though we may despise its howl, it does influence a large
number of clergy; i.e., of county and university electors.
Howl it would with tenfold vigour if this appointment
were made, now that the secession of the Bishop's
daughter and son-in-law has just taken place. Moreover,
the translation of this prelate would involve the Premier in a
difficulty even more serious than the present. Who would
be the new Bishop of Oxford? Dean Stanley is known to
have set his heart upon that dignity, and, should it be for
bestowal, the same almost overwhelming pressure would
be exerted in his behalf, only with greater force, which
was urged when the see of Peterborough had to be filled
up. The name which is supposed to be most popular in
the highest circles is the Bishop of London. His wide
experience, his administrative energy, his broad views, all
seem to fit him for the larger sphere. High Churchmen,
however, contemplate this hypothesis with dismay. They
admit his fairness, and the freedom which he has given the
clergy in his diocese ; but their one test is the Colenso
question, and on that point Bishop Tait has wofully dis-
pleased them. The third name on the list is that of the
Bishop of Lincoln. Bishop Jackson would have the merit
of respectable mediocrity, and of some London experience
in the shape of rector of St. James's, Piccadilly. For the
see that would become vacant by translation to the metro-
politan see there would be the usual list of likely candi-
dates. But I cannot help thinking that Mr. Gregory, of
Lambeth, will in some way profit by the impending
changes. Mr. Mowbray would by Mr. Gregory's ap-
pointment lose a vice-chairman of his London committee.
The Daily News was completely out yesterday in an-
nouncing the postponement of the elections. They will
take place in the second and third weeks of November.
No one doubts that there will be a very large majority in
favour of the Liberal party. Even at Oxford the Conser-
vative party themselves expect to lose a seat. It is a
terrible blow for them that the Marquis of Salisbury has
consented to become the chairman of Sir Roundell
Palmer's London committee. Between the Marquis
of Salisbury, a Conservative ex-Cabinet Minister,
and the Marquis of Hamilton (Mr. Mowbray's
London chairman) the difference is immense in
point of intellectual calibre. But the blow does not
derive its force from that, for the Conservative party are
accustomed to see their opponents monopolise the intel-
lect of the university. The real gravity lies in the fact that
the Marquis of Salisbury has definitely broken with his
party, and having himself sacrificed place to his convic-
tions, has determined to support a statesman who
has (prospectively) done the same thing. Nor is
this all. The Marquis (and there are many others
like him) believes that the Church will have a better chance
at the hands of an independent Liberal, who, though he
is prepared for reforms, has given proofs of his devotion
to her, than at the hands of a party which has hoisted the
flag of No Surrender, in order, as the Marquis believes, to
made an unconditional surrender. There is a very
remarkable letter to this effect in the Guardian of thi.
week. It is written by one of Mr. Hardy's supporters
in 1865.

Among the other elections I may mention that consider-
able interest attaches to those going on at Banbury and
Tamworth. In the former place Mr. Samuelson, who has
made himself honourably known in connection with techni-
cal education, and was employed by the Government to
obtain information on this subject on the Continent, is
opposed by a Mr. Mewburn. This gentleman is, I believe,
sent down by one of the religious societies in order to
oppose Mr. Samuelson because his religious opinions
are deemed heterodox. At Tamworth the contest derives
its interest from the fact that Sir Henry Bulwer is trying
for a seat. Sir Henry is probably the most accomplished
diplomatist in Europe, certainly in the British dominions.
His experience is immense. He was sent to Brussels in
1830 to watch the course of the Belgian Revolution ; he
has been Minister at Madrid, at Washington (where he
drew up the famous Bulwer-Clayton treaty), Florence,
' and Constantinople. There is no other man living who has
the intricate Eastern Question so completely at his
fingers' ends. Sir Henry has, moreover, already
had Parliamentary experience. He represented Wilton
before the first Reform Bill, and Coventry and Marylebone
subsequently. Between him and his brother, Lord Lytton
(who was Colonial Minister in the second Derby-Disraeli
Cabinet) there is the most complete affection.
I find that the general belief at the India Office is that
Mr. Bright will very shortly preside over that department
of State, and great is the anxiety which is felt as to what
he will do. The Marquis of Salisbury has, in his speech
at Manchester this week, given Mr. Gladstone a good reason
for placing Mr. Bright in that office. The Marquis urged
that there was no representative of commercial interests
at the India Council. Mr. Bright, who has taken a pro-
minent part in promoting the growth of Indian cotton, and
in constructing railways for the conveyance of that pro-
duce, would certainly supply that deficiency. The selection
for the Indian Secretaryship lies between him and the
Duke of Argyll. Whoever should prove the new man will
find plenty of work to do. I am told by men well
acquainted with Indian matters that enormous waste of
public money goes on in various departments, and espe-
cially in the Indian railways, where the staff of employes
is absurdly large.
The India Office is not the only department of State where
the public money goes. There is attached to the Board
of Trade a medical department, which formerly used to
consist of a very few employes, but quite sufficient for
the work they had to do. Three years ago, when the
cattle plague was at its height, it was found necessary
to take on a large number of clerks in order to
prepare the cattle-plague returns. The plague
has ceased, but not the clerks. There they still are,
receiving the public money for doing nothing. Of course
nobody is specially interested in removing them, while
they are specially interested in not being removed. Only
one may well ask what is the use of a President of the
Board of Trade who does not guard the public against
this waste ? Take another case. A year ago a
large quantity of houses between the Strand and
Lincoln's Inn were pulled down in order to make
way for the New Law Courts. Of course an
enormous amount had to be paid in compensation for
unexpired leases, as well as for the houses and the site.
But though the ground has been cleared for months the
new works have not been commenced, and are not likely
to be for a long time. Even the plans are not yet ready.
Consequently, land which is worth thousands of pounds
the yard is doing nothing, and the taxpayer has to pay
the interest on the money without any return for it. A
similar piece of blundering, on a smaller scale, took place
some years ago when the School of Mines in Jermyn-
street was built. Two years elapsed from the time that
the ground was purchased to the time that the building
was commenced, and in that case the site was worth £BOO

a year.
London clubbists are getting very much dissatisfied.
They say that the prices charged for food at the clubs are
so extortionate that they cannot afford to dine there.
Thus, at the Garrick, which was expressly founded for
literary men—a race not generally overburdened with
cash—it is impossible to have an ordinary dinner under 5..
A member of that club lately gave a dinner to fifteen or
sixteen friends, and when the bill was presented, found
to his dismay that he was charged £45. At another club,
a famous political club in the more aristocratic region of

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Pall-mall, there has just been a grand disturbance. In.
vestigation has shewn that countless stones of meat and
countless thousands of eggs have been charged for which
can in no way be accounted for. At the Athen'mum, the
most select of all clubs—so select that you must wait for
admission fifteen years after your name is put down—the
dinners are said to be cheaper than at any other of the
great joint-stock palaces.
We are likely soon to see the last of Sir Richard Mayne:
It is generally believed that he will resign at the end of
the year, and that Mr. Knox, the presiding magis.
trate at Marlborough-street, will be his successor. There
is great rejoicing among the canine species. Dogs don't
mind knocks, but being muzzled by main force is more
than they can stand.

Archbishop Manning, whose conversion to the Per-
missive Bill has lately been announced, intends to make a
crusade among the publicans who belong to his communion
with a view of inducing them to close their houses on the
Sunday. He will associate with himself gentlemen who
have long taken an interest in the temperance movenu nt,
and without regard to their religious creed.
I referred in a former letter to certain charges which had,
been made against .111 r. Greening, who is standing at
Halifax as the "working men's" candidate. These
charges were made by a former cleric of Mr. Greening's,
and in Connection with the Cobden Mills, at Sabden, in
Lancashire, of.which Mr. Greeninghad been the promoter.
The accusation was that this gentleman bad debited the
company with his own personal expenditure, and had falsified
the accounts in order to conceal the fraud. I suggested
that these charges ought to be investigated and disproved,
or else that Mr. Greening ought to retire from his can-
didature. lam glad to say that they have been investi-
gated. lam still more glad to say that Mr. Greening has
been found entirely innocent of the accusation. Of his
accuser very strong terms are used.
An attempt has recently been made in highly influential
circles to start another Conservative morning journal.
Vigorous preparations were begun, but on laying the pro•
ject before the chiefs of the party it received so little en-
couragement that it has been abandoned. There is still
talk of another daily journal, to be brought out by the
writers on the staff of the Fortnightly .Revie:o7,,wha-incm
will sign their articles. The Rerieth has not been such a
success as to encourage the journal. A halfpenny weekly,
the British Tribune, is announced to appear on Saturday.
It is to be for the benefit of the working classes..
Mr. William Black, a correspondent of the Morning Star
during the A.ustro-Prussian war, has become the editor of
the London Review. The verses in this week's Judy on
the International Railway between England and France
are by Mr. Henry Frith, of the War Office.
There has been a rather stormy scene this week at the
committee of the Leigh Hunt memorial. It was proposed
to inscribe on the memorial lines from Leigh Hunt himself,
from Carlyle, Lord Lytton, and Shelley. But the last
name elicited a vehement protest from Mr. S. C. Hall,
editor of the Art Journal. lie denounced the idea of
having an infidel's writings inscribed upon a tombstone.
even though the lines themselves were entirely unobjec-
tionable. Leigh Hunt's grandson, who was present, stood
up in defence of his grandfather's "dear old friend."
Mr. Kent suggested that Leigh Hunt, after all, did
not want a testimonial, and eventually it was
decided, with the full approval of the chairman, Mr.
Robert Browning, that only the line from Hunt should be
inscribed: "Write me as one that loved his fellow-men."
I am glad to state that the subscriptions exceeded by over
£5O the sum required. Mr. Durham will execute the bust
which it is intended to erect.

Here is a curious literary fact. This week's literary
papers are announcing the publication of writings (for the
first time) by three dead men. They are Dean
Milman's "Annals of St. Paul's ;" Lord Campbell's
" Lives of Lord Lyndhurst and Lord Brougham ;" and
the second part of Mr. Harry Chester's paper on " The
Food of the People," which appears in Macmillan's
Magazine. There is a talk of a new and very long poem
by Tennyson, to be published about Christmas ; but I
believe the Poet Laureate is engaged just now in editing
a new edition, in five volumes, of all his poems. It will,
lam told, be a charming edition. One of the books of the
season will undoubtedly be " Principles at Stake," a
volume of joint essays on ecclesiastical questions of the
day, and a sort of counter-manifesto to " The Church and
the World." The writers are Lord Arthur Hervey, Mr.
B. Shaw, ttev. A. R. Grant, Canon Bernard, Mr. Sumner,
Mr. Arthur Mills, Rev. G. Salmon, D.D., Rev. W. G.
Humphry, Dr. Payne Smith, and Dean Howson. There
will be no fewer than three essays on Ritualism, from the
Low and Broad Church points of view.

NAVAL AND MILI7ARY INTELLIGENCE.

To-night Capt. the Duke of Edinburgh and suite,
including Lieut. Haig, the Hon. Eliot Yorke, and
Mr. George Bainbridge, will go on board the ship
Galatea, at Plymouth. It is expected he will set
sail direct for the Cape on the Ist of November.
In consequence of an injury to his knee, the First
Lord of the Admiralty, instead of holding his levee
on Wednesday in the office of the Admiral-Super-
intendent, had his yacht, the Enchantress, lashed
alongside the jetty at Devonport dockyard. It is
rumoared at Devonport that their lordships will
leave to-day for Portland and Portsmouth. The
Enchantress will then proceed to Dover to convey
the Prince of \Vales to Calais.

The Prussian ship-of-war Medussa, from Kiel, ar-
rived in Plymouth Sound on Wednesday afternoon,
en route for the Mediterranean.

The paddle-wheel steam sloop Buzzard, 6, Staff-
Commander James G. IL Thain, from Queenstown
and Falmouth, with supernumeraries for Plymouth
and the Eastern ports, arrived in the Soand on
Wednesday.

Orders received at Portsmouth dockyard from
the Admiralty direct that the screw (unarmoured,
wooden) frigate Ariadne, 3,214 tons, 800 horse
power, at present on the list of the first class re-
serves at Portsmouth, and rigged, armed, and
part]) stored, in readiness for commission, is to be
prepared immediately for the service of the Prince
and Princess of Wales, no Royal yacht being at the
time available for sea service, the Victoria and
Albert being in hand for repairs, and the Osborne
broken up. The Ariadne is a sister frigate to the
Galatea, now commanded by Capt. the Duke of
Edinburgh. Both are admirable seagoing craft,
sail very fast under canvas, steam their 12 knots
easily in moderate weather at sea, can make over
13 knots if pushed, and they carry a heavy arma-
ment. A very few years since they representei
the first class of ships of war in the British navy.
In being prepared for service of the Prince and
Princess of \Vales the Ariadne's guns will be dis-
mounted and landed from her after decks, and the
space thus gained will be appropriated to the con-
struction of cabins for the accommodation of their
Royal Hignesses and suite.
The Victoria and Albert Royal yacht has been
cleared of her machinery in the steam basin of
Portsmouth dockyard, and to-morrow will be
docked for repairs to her hull. The yacht has done
nearly 14 years' service without being thoroughly
opened up for repairs. The greater portion of her
two layers of outer planking is now rotten, and her
frame is believed to be very defective. ller repair
will thus occupy a considerable time, and th 3 cost
will be proportionately large.
The Ringdove, 3, twin screw (unarmoured,
wooden) gun vessel, 666 tons, 160-horse power, has
been commissioned at Portsmouth by Commander
11. L. Percival. The Ringdove is one of a very use-
ful class of unarmoured gun vessels, possessing a
fair rate of speed under steam, but their armament
appears much too light in comparison with their
tonnage and engine-power. At present they are
armed with only one 6i-ton muzzle-loading rifled
gun, and two 40-pounder rifles. They would easily
carry a couple of 64-pounder rifled Pallisce guns,
in addition.
The old sailing line-of-battle ship Illustrious, last
doing duty as a tender to the Excellent, gunnery
ship at Portsmouth, is being broken up at
dock of Portsmouth yard. She was built at
nNotoh.ers.
Mille in 1803 from designs by Master-ship-
The Superb, sailing line-of-battle
wright Ilenslow after the model of
sthheinoldbtFulatmaet.
Pembroke in 1852 from designs by the late Sir
c thetoral Illustrious for
be broken up
aNitTiplloiarntsiraSyoumtohn,
and is
will also
succeed
that purpose in No. 5 dock.
ordered
A gun which was taken at the capture of Bhurt-
d
pore, in 1827, and ever since kept in charge by the
Royal Artillery at Meerut, has been sent to Eng-
land, and ii now at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich,
As soon as a carriage is prepared it will be removed
to the Royal Artillery Barracks, and placed with
the other trophies, one of which is a large gun cap-
tured at the same place.
The following appointments were made yesterday
at the Admiralty :—Lieut. Charles C. P. Fitzgerald,
Lieut. John lngles, Lieut. James A. T. Bruce,
Eieut. Edward G. Hulton, and Lieut. Robert T. B
Bruce, to the Hercules ; Lieut. J. L. Heane to the
Ringdove ; and Sub-Lieut. Charles Le Strange to
the Galatea.