The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-12 00:00:00

THE SITN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 12, 1868.

MISCELLANEOUS NEWS.

From the Anglo-American Tinges.)
PARIS, Feb. 6.
It is still early February, but the winter and its
wrath appear to have passed away in Paris, and the
balmy breath of spring called to the face of Nature
her most brilliant and vivid hues ; the days have
lengthened considerably, and on the evening of
Sunday last the Boulevards were thronged with
promenaders, whom the soft evening breeze and
bright moonlight had tempted from their domiciles.
Nevertheless, the swallows have not yet arrived,
nor have their winter representatives the pfifferari,
who at the approach of winter cover France like
locusts, yet disappeared, whilst the stranger and
foreigner in Paris knows not what to think in
meeting at every street crossing small groups of
both sexes, frequently not exceeding six years of
age, or seeing them lying coiled up in corners,
shivering under the sharp sleet or thick falling
snow, clasping with their tiny blue hands a little
fiddle as diminutive as themselves. Vainly have
the French police attempted to contend with these
beggars, for the braves sergens de ville are soft-
hearted as regards women and children, and the
sight of a little cherub face (for these children are
exceedingly beautiful), pinched and shivering be-
neath a temperature more inclement than that of
their own beautiful Savoy, pictures to him in strong

contrast his own cheerful fireside, with children of

the same age sitting around it ; and it is against the
patron who farms the earnings of these mendicants
that his indignation is directed, and who, by the
bye, takes good care to keep out of his way. Yet
even he is not so bad as would at first appear, for it
seems to be a national custom in Savoy amongst

the lower class of peasantry, to avail themselves o
this method of of sending their children into the
world, to inure them to its difficulties and priva-
tions, and to commence life and education in a very
similar way to that boasted of by Mr. Weller wheh
his father turned him out into the streets " werry
young to shift for himself." The children, too,
are remarkable for their honesty as well as for na-
tural acuteness, an instance of which was strikingly
afforded last week in the case of an infant of some
eight years, who, plying his vocation one evening,
near the entrance of one of the principal theatres,
happened to pick up the bracelet of a countess,
noted in the fashionable world, which she had
dropped upon entering her carriage. The little
man ran after the carriage for some time, guided by
its lights, as fast as his infantile limbs would carry
him, until, perfectly exhausted, he sunk on a door
step just in time to see it disappear beneath the
Porte cochere of its owner's aristoer ttic mansion. It
was in vain for him to attempt to procure admission
at that hour, and the child, having nothing better
to do, coiled himself up to sleep in the street, with
the bracelet—a most valuable specimen of gold and
emerald—tightly clutched in his grasp. It was not
long before he was joined by a policeman, who at
first thought he had stolen the jewel, but the child's
story was so susceptible of corroboration, that his
innocence and good motive were at once apparent,
and, as a reward for his integrity, he has since been
taken into the countess's household and remains
under her protection. In another instance, two of
these small heroes, armed with a harp and violin,
entered the establishment of a marchand de vins,
and commenced to amuse the company present ;
but, alas ! the marchand was inexorable, and gave
them an immediate conge. The children were in
a fix ; their hour for return to the establishment of
the patron was rapidly approaching, and the har-
vest of sous ruefully small. What was to be done?
"Faint heart never won fair lady ;" and the little
wanderers boldly re-entered the establishment,
and demanded deux cerises (two small glasses of
preserved cherries). Mine host looked rather sternly
at them, but they were within their right, as the
French say. No sooner had he turned his back
than they struck up their interrupted concert amidst
the laughter and under the protection of the com-
pany, to whose goodwill and pleasure mine host
(not unwillingly, be it said) was compelled to sub-
mit. A splendid ball was given at the Tuileries
last night, and while the receptions of General Dix
and Lord Lyons continue to attract the leading
celebrities of the fashionable world at Paris, con-
cDteaor:wes:ria,nnd gl;si,nsgoAiirbresee.fsoGrheoawymesen a,sal,smoszi
detsa.tk; eana pd
heapl aaceobfailtvleaAtrlirdes.
de
po
fcroirernedsshnadveen etc.%
t,
last se
enedi thateed i
ninducing
ugl‘ir. American
J.
re
Iniisidu
141.1 wards Hiner, whose rising reputation as a
pianiste is daily extending through this mighty city,
to
attended,
tt
bct
theueonnt
dc eebrdyt
Salle,
iil
insel gtli
aei
bvtu
yeet
nwo Eht
most rcoahur
only
yf i
bnl
tytht
he eedßpie
sull
tiaeti cendegoe
uof t
Mail,meh
de r2mi
and
asuut
dwinh-
so
e
sical amateurs in Paris. Mr. Hamer will be
assisted by distinguished artistes, but the prin-
cipal attraction will be his own magnificent
execution. lam not what is technically termed a
musical man, and the endorsing of "full • evenina a
costume" on a sharp February night,
appears at first
sight somewhat trying.
Reflecting, however, on
the duty I owe my readers
in making known Ame-
rican native talent, as well as upon my double-
milled overcoat, I shall den eavour to avail myself
of an opportunity of recalling the pleasant reminis-
cences of Haner's playing in connection with
the Universal Exposition. The
Legislature of
France is at this moment
deeply engaged
in considering the proposed Government mea-
sure relative to the law of the Press, and speeches
of the most brilliant character have been delivered
on both sides of the House,
especially one of great
power by his Excellency M. Pinaud, Minister
of the Interior. Neither my space nor inclination
permit me to express any decided opinion upon a
measure which, as referring exclusively to France,
I consider that only
comment on. But I must mention that Article 1—
the most important in the bill—auth • orising any one
to establish a newspaper in France
without permis-
sion of the authorities, has been carried
mous majority of 217 to 7. HerlmperialM tth
ajes y e
Empress, with her usual thoughtful charity, has be-
stowed4o pensionsof 100 francs h eac , upon 40 blind
eternesof the institution of the QuinzeVingts, whilst
the soup kitchens of the Prince Imperial are in full
operation. I observe that iu addition to the gold
and other medals conferred upon our friend Mr.
Walter A. Wood, of Hoosick Falls, Reunselaer
county, his Majesty has honoured this distin-
guished agricultural implement maker with the
decoration of the Legion. Who will say that
America does not come well out of the Interna-
tional Exhibition ? The fineness of the weather
has tempted a large number of persons to visit the
Champ de Mars, and though at a distance one
would imagine no changi3 has taken place, as the
immense iron cupola of the Palace still continues
to raise its head ; nevertheless, on reaching the
Pont d'Jena, you soon perceive that the interior is
little else than a mass of rubbish. The French
Phare, or Lighthouse, is half dismounted, the
Church three parts demolished, the ground every-
where strewed with planks and stones, whilst in
almost every direction the earth has resumed its
natural level, and it is very evident that the
Champ de Mars of 1867 will speedily return to the
condition of the Champ de Mars of three years back.
The sale of the materials commenced on Monday
last, at one o'clock, and will be continued every
successive week on the same day and hour. Public
improvements continue to be " legion" in Paris.
Advantage has been taken of the winter to thin out
and beautify the trees in the gardens of the Champs
Elysees, whilst a new and extensive pottery for the
fabrication of the celebrated Sevres china has been
erected in the Park of St. Cloud. His Majesty the
Emperor is constantly to be seen driving through
Paris in his phaeton, during every interval of leisure,
in the most unostentatious manner, noting the
various alterations which he proposes to carry out.
" The Empire is Peace," once said his Majesty.
Truly he himself may be said to personify Progress.
at , - --

NAPLES, Jan. 31, 1868

ones.

A sad disaster has befallen our city. A portion
of the cliff of Pizzofalcone, which forms a pro-
minent part in the scenery of Naples, dividing the
city in two parts, suddenly fell down, crushing the
houses at the corner of Santa Lucia opposite the
Castello dell Avo. The number of victims is not
yet and will not be known for some time. Art

omnibus and an artillery waggon were buried
under the mass of rubbish, at least sixty feet
high. An American traveller, Mr. T. W. Nunns,
of New York, had a very narrow escape, and

lies in hospital with internal injuries. A number of
persons are believed to be buried in some vaulted
stores in the lower part of the houses, but the still
overhanging cliff is in such a dangerous position
that it has not been considered prudent to set a
large number of men at work. Prudence, how-
ever, does not appear to be quite the right thing
in such a case, and severe strictures are made on the
authorities, whether rightly or wrongly only pro-
fessional persons can judge. Vesuvius continues
most complaisant for travellers ; of the many erup-
tions we have seen, none has lasted so long, been so
interesting, and, we are glad to add, has done so
little damage.

Admiral Farragut and officers of the United
States steam frigate the Franklin left Nice yes•
terday morning at dawn. The noble ship sailed
out of the beautiful little port of Villa Franca, and
their departure is felt as a loss. On their arrival,
two or three weeks ago, a splendid ball was given
to them by the Americans at Nice. Invitations
were most liberally bestowed, and to so great a
number of English as to have much added to the
cordiality existing between these two nations,
so largely represented here. The sumptuous
saloons of the new casino were thronged. A cloud-
less sky, calm atmosphere, a necessity for sun-
shades, agreeable society, balls, concerts, theatres,
clubs, are among the attractions of Nice.
There are two clubs to which strangers are ad-
mitted. At one, the Massena, gambling is carried
on, and opportunities afforded of losing as much as
one pleases inthe shortest space of time. " Ecarte,"
and an Italian or Spanish game, " Bacara," are
chiefly adoptea as means for this recreation. It
goes on all night. Thus, unfortunately, many
who have come in quest of health, to enjoy the
bright sun and the genial air, see less of the for-
mer, and breathe more foul air than if they had
remained far away.

Hotels are full, and two weeks ago not a single
room was vacant in some half-a-dozen of the chief

Many pleasant excursions can be made from Nice.
A steamer runs daily in about an hour to Monaco,
which is the Homburg and Baden Baden of the
South, in so far as roulette and rouge et noir have
there their licensed votaries.

Mention must not be forgotten of two excellent
operatic companies at Nice—French and Italian.
The latter performs at the Theatre Imperial.
Among its eminent artistes, is a Mademoiselle
Schalchi, who has just appeared for the first time
on the stage, and is only 17 years of age. Her
voice is one of the richest and most perfect con-
traltos, and admirably trained. It is clear and
faultless in every shade of intonation, extremely
flexible, and poured forth without strain or effort.

Congress has passed, and President Johnson has
signed, the bill repealing the Internal Cotton Tax
immediately, and the import duty on foreign cotton
from the first of next November; and the Presi-
sident has also signed the bill authorizing the sale
of the surplus ironclads. The Anti-Contraction
Bill bas been agreed to by both Houses of Con-
gress. The word which the Cable brings is " sus-
pending," not " repealing," Mr. M'Culloch's autho-
rity to contract the currency ; and this, however,
small, is still a concession to the party the Secretary
represents.
The most important New York telegram this
week is the confirmation of the report that Charles
Francis Adams has resigned. He was appointed
Minister to St. James's on the outbreak of the civil
war, and the seven years he has held the post em-
braced a most critical period. The qualities he pos-
sessed for his diplomatic duties rendered him an
admirable selection. He carried into the aristo-
cratic circle where his work lay the personal stamp
of high culture and the prestige of a descent which
few he met could equal. To the shrewdness and
intelligeite characteristic of his countrymen, he
added those advantages of birth and breeding so
appreciated by the highest classes of English society.
The proudest British Duke could not sneer at a
name associated with the birth of the United
States, and an ancestry that included two dis-
tinguished Presidents. Both nations seemed bent
on a misunderstanding, and determined to exas-
perate each other to the point of a collision
.The rowdyism
target, and the very
owf h
America
c made
on
England the s
tasge
class in England with whom Mr. Adams came in
contact—shamefully ignorant of the Great Republic
—falsified its every act, and gave far more reason,
by the venom of its attacks, for irritation in Ame-
rica process, of which Great
Britain
object. The difficulties that met
than
wa thes mud-throwing
Mr. Adams may be easily imagined, for he was
little aided either by Mr. Seward or Lord Russell,
and both nations owe him a deep debt of gratitude.
If worth and intelligence really ruled in America,
Charles Francis Adams might step from Portland-
place into the White House ; and so high does his
name stand amongst his countrymen, that, if no-
minated for the Presidency, he would be strongly
backed, and it is not unlikely that this may be prac-
tically tested.
The bill prohibiting the Supreme Court from
trying appeals which raise the constitutionality of the
R wtadopted by the committee
by aon
votestrt of n
6 A
toc t,
3. was
Mr. Hurlburd, though a
ecto
Republican, voted against it, as he believed, if
passed, it would largely increase the Democratic
majority in his State of New Yolk. The bill re-
garding naturalized citizens was adopted by the
Committee on Foreign Affairs, after an angry dis-
cussion, and an examination of testimony, petitions,
and resolutions of public meeting. Col. O'Neill
tendered evidence regarding the imprisonment
of Irish Americans in England. We give both
both bills elsewhere.
The Mexican Congress has refused even to count
the votes on the Juarez Convocatoria, by which he
hoped to amend the Constitution, so that the veto
power should be given to the President. Although a
majority of the people voted for the amendment, Con-
gress deeming it a usurpation has thrown it aside
with contempt. Diaz closely contests with Tejada
the Supreme Judgeship. Several members of the
Court that condemned the Emperor and his Gene-
rals have narrowly escaped assassination, and Col.
Sanahez, the President, who was murdered, has
been avenged by the execution some say of 40 of the
assassins. In the State of San Luis Potosi twenty
robbers were shot in one day, and fifteen in Morelia
—the diligence was robbed on the 20th Dec., two
hundred yards from the garita of Mexico City.
The Revolution in Durengo was suppressed after
three days' hard fighting. Also that at Jalapa and
Colima, where one general and two colonels have been
killed. At Mazatlan and at Guadaljara the difficulties
are increasing, as well as at Yucatan, where 400 filli-
busters have landed from Havannah, and 20,000 mus-
kets. Yucatan has been declared in a state of siege,
and Sisal was closely blockaded. Since the departure
of the English consulate in the Jason, and the re-
moval of the archives, diplomatic intercourse has
ceased with European nations. A bill for the erec
tion of a penitentiary has passed Congress, and a
poll-tax has been substituted for toll upon the
roads. The Jason arrived from Vera Cruz at New
York on thol9th January. The Imperialist Con-
sul in New York has circulated a report showing
how the New York Herald undertook to support
the Empire for a consideration. Letters are said
to have been brought to light which expose the ar-
rangement. But such reports are always in circu-
lation against the leading journals of every country.
The steamship Island City has been fitted up with
Foote's apparatus for generating steam by petro-
leum. She will leave Boston with a large supply
of the liquid fuel in iron tanks, and will visit New
York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, and other American
ports, when the great experiment will be tried of
crossing the ocean. This fuel has also been intro-
duced in some large establishments, and notably
by Messrs. Chickering and Sons in their pianoforte
manufactory.
General Napier is pushing on the British expe-
dition in Abyssinia. He has been entertained by
an Egyptian Pasha on board his frigate, and was
about to pay a flying visit to Senafe. The weather
was delightful up there—a cold east wind cutting
keenly, the plain whitened in the Moulin by hoar-

frost, and the tents wet with the heavy dew.
King Theodore, it is believed, had not been
informed of the arrival of the expedition, as
his people were; afraid to tell him. The pri-
soners had been heard from December 23, and
were all well. Lieutenant Prideaux, whose letter
is published in the Pall Mall, says Theodore
is not favou rably disposed towards the Europeans
with him, and has chained the son of the late Mr.
I Bell, who saved the King's life and lost his own.
The peasants flee before him, so he has been deprived
of much of his amusement in burning people; but
he has varied the entertainment by impaling men
with sharp tent pegs, and driving his gun-carriage
over them. The writer thinks that Count Du
Boisson should be sent out as comic correspondent
to the Force.

Mr. Chanler, a Democratic Representative from
New York, must have been refreshing himself at
the bar before entering the House on the 22d
January. His conduct on any other construction
is inexplicable, and deserves the severe censure of
all Americans who desire to uphold the dignity of
the Great Rnpublic. Those who read our reports
of Congress will know to what we allude.
A most extraordinary story is told by " Brick"
Pomeroy, editor of the La Crosse (Wisconsin), De-
mocrat. He was acquainted witha Mr. Powell,
who, in 1862, married Miss Ellen Burnham, of
Broadhead, Wisconsin, the daughter of highly re-
spectable parents. She was attractive and accom-
plished, but at the age of 21, two years after her
marriage, an extraordinary change occurred. Mrs.
Powell's voice grew hoarse, light whiskers ap-
peared, and she developed into a man I Under
such circumstances a separation was unavoid-
able, and the changeling assuming male attire,
took the name of Edgar Burnham, and ob-
tained the post of clerk in Chicago. Edgar
fell in love with the niece of Senator Mor-
gan, of New York, whom he failed to obtaiu. But
he did marry Miss Gerta Everett, a young lady of
Broadhead, formerly his pupil, when as a woman
he taught music. Soon after the pair removed
to Waterloo, rowa, where they now reside.
A letter to the Springfield Republican certi-
fies to the truth of the story as we have given
it, though Mr. Pomeroy had added a baby by the
first marriage, a circumstance which rendered the
tale in the highest degree improbable. The writer
of the letter states that a surgical operation was per-

formed, and the supposed woman became a man.
Mr. Pomeroy says that truth is stranger than fiction,
the former girl being now a man—the former wife
now a husband. We give these circumstances for
Miss Braddon's benefit. Why should we not have
sensational changes of nature as well as sensational
effects of vice? Imagine the horror of the devoted
husband as day by day he perceived the wife of
his bosom changing her sex. Let any dramatic
writer dwell on this for a few hours, and he will
see what a frenzy may with ease be produced.
On January 22 one of the most influential meet-
ings ever held in America assembled at Worcester
(Massachusetts). A thousand New England manu-
facturers were there gathered to memorialize Con-
gress on the industrial state of the country. The
meeting was called to endorse the proceedings of
the National Convention held at Cleveland, Dec.
18, 1867, and it was resolved :
" That as the sole purpose of this Convention is to ob-
tain from Congress the immediate removal of all taxes
upon manufactures and productions, except luxuries, and
to change the mode of assessment and collection of the
revenue, and the appointment and removal of revenue
officers, we wilt strictly confine the. action of this Conven-
tion to such purposes."
F. H. Walker, of Worcester, succeeded in inducing
the Convention to pass a resolution remonstrating
against the publication of income returns in the
newspapers. Of the delegation to Washington,
four represent woollen manufactories, six cotton,
seven paper, one machine card clothing, two calico
printing, fifteen shoes and leather, three watches,
six furniture, nine iron and its products, and two
cutlery.
That idiotic proceeding of the Cork police—the
arrest of Mr. Train, has been received in America
with incredulity. Those who believed it scarcely
knew whether to be angry or to be amused. Many
newspapers openly announced their conviction that
he must have bribed the myrmidons of the law to
commit the act. The original despatch from Mr.
Train to the New York World was sufficiently in-
coherent to throw great doubt on the intelligence,
and considering that the victim had £lOO,OOO in
anticipation, he might have expended something
more upon the telegram :

" Queonstown, 18th, 9.43 a.tn.

. .
"Editor World. s
"Arrested. Scotia. Laid pay claims, release American
citizens, or war.
"G. F. TRAIN."

This the editor interpreted as follows :
"(Special Telegram to the "World.")
" Queenstown, Jan. 18, 9.4s.—Have just been arrested
by the British Government. Was seized on the Scotia
immediately upon arrival out. Have told the Derby Cabi-
net that the American ultimatum is—Payment of Alabama
claims and release of American citizens, or war.
" GEORGE FRANCIS TRAIN."
The legality of the arrest has been much discussed,
and Koszta's case cited as an example. '].'he Nation
contends that there is neither in the law of nations
nor in the municipal law of England any reason
why Mr. -.Crain should not be arrested in a British
port, if he was fool enough to go there. It points
out that Koszta's arrest is not applicable. It
shows that, after denouncing the Government, Mr.
Train went to the portion of the United Kingdom
in which arbitrary arrest was legal, and the same
law was applied to him as to the natives. It adds
that it became the duty of 'the American Minister
to insist on his trial or liberation ; but in the mere
arrest itself, there was absolutely nothing to get up
a fuss about. We have transferred to our columns
an article from the Round Table, which gives, in a
humorous way, American opinion on this incident.
The Washington correspondent of a Boston
paper asserted that in the ordinary course of busi-
ness the M'Ardle case, testing the constitutionality
of the reconstruction laws, could not be heard by
the Supreme Court in less than two years. Wil-
liam H. M'Ardle's attorneys filed a motion that
the case be advanced on the Supreme Court docket
to give it precedence of the civil suits pending.
The petitioner was represented by Jeremiah S.
Black and ex-Governor Sharkey, of Mississippi ;
the military authorities by Senator Trumbull, of
and Judge Hughes, of Washington, as the
opinions pronounced by the Attorney-General on
the unconstitutionality of the Reconstruction Laws
incapacitated him from taking any part. The
motion was heard January 17, when the petitioner's
counsel urged that it had always been the custom
of the Supreme Court to hear first those cases in-
volving personal action in which liberty was
restrained, because the administration of crimi-
nal justice was
.of the greatest importance
to the people, for if a man were guilty he should be
punished at once, and if he had suffered a wrong he
should as quickly be relieved. Further, there were
many in the South similarly placed as the petitioner,
and there existed grave doubts as to the constitu-
tionality of the Reconstruction laws, which were
strong reasons for granting the motion that the
case should be heard on an early day. Against
this, the military authorities argued that there was
no necessity for haste ; that it was not a principal
cause ; that the prisoner was not restrained, being
admitted to hail in the sum of $2,000, and would
not therefore suffer if the case were postponed for
a year. Passing on to the argument used by those
who favour the Congressional measures for Recon-
struction, the advocates asserted, that the Supreme
Court did not sit to decide political questions, or to
go outside its legitimate functions to bring consti-
tutional subjects within its grasp. The fact that it
involved a constitutional question was also a reason
why it should be calmly and deliberately, not has-
tily, considered. The speeches of the petitioner's
counsel showed that such questions could not be
brought forward without stirring up passion. On
Tuesday, Jan. 21, the Court gave its decision to
advance the case, naming for the day of trial the
first Monday of March. The struggle on this point
will be fierce, as the Democrats are determined to
test the constitutionality of the Reconstruction
laws, and feel confident of obtaining the decision
which they desire, either in M'Ardle's, or in
some other case ; while Congress is equally de-
termined to checkmate that party at all risks.

The Reconstruction Committee have even agreed
to report a bill to deprive the Supreme Court
of jurisdiction over cases arising from the execu-
tion of the Reconstruction Act.

The Democratic party openly accuse General
Grant of duplicity towards the President in the
Stanton affair. lie is said to have promised either
to retain the office or to tender his resignation
in time for Mr. Johnson to appoint a successor.
On the 14th of January, after Mr. Stanton
took possession of the War Office, the General
was present at a Council of the Cabinet, when the
President asked him why he had not redeemed his
promise. Grant became confused, and deprecat-
ingly urged that late on Monday, after examining
the Civil Tenure Act, he saw he would become
liable to a fine of $lO,OOO and two years' imprison-
ment. The President observed, " You knew this
before, and cannot have forgotten my assurance
that I would assume all the penalties ;" but the
General very properly replied, that one man could
not assume the penalties which another incurred by
a breach of the 14w. The National lntelligencer
next day published the agreement said to have been
entered into between the General and the President;
but it was contradicted by the friends of the former.
At a subsequent meeting of tile Cabinet, Mr. John-
son asked the secretaries to state what took place
on the 14th. Messrs. M'Culloch, Browning, Welles,
and Randall, certified to the correctness of the
Intelligencer's report.
Last week we gave a sketch of the new line pro-
posed for the Kansas Pacific Railroad, branaing
from Pond Creek, through New Mexico, Arizona,
and California. We regret to learn that the peti-
tions in the Missouri Legislature for a memorial to
Congress in aid of this project are opposed by the
interests in the south-western portion of the State,
on the ground that it will hinder the development
of railroads in that section.

News was received at Hong Kong, Jan. 15, that
the ports of Hiogo and Osaka, in Japan, had been
opened to foreign trade without difficulty.

NEW YORK MARKETS.
:From the Correspondent of tke Anglo-American Times.)
NEW YORK, Jan. 25, 1868.