The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-24 00:00:00

FOREIGN NOTES,

SPAIN.

General Cialdini has arrived at Madrid "on private
business." His wife is a Spanish lady, and he is the
guardian of the late General Fanti's children, who also
married a Spanish subject. There is every reason why
the interests of his wards and nephews should require his
presence in Spain ; but, unfortunately, General Cialdini
is aide-de-camp and intimate friend to King Victor,
is an officer of the highest rank in the Italian army, and
is on the best of terms with all the revolutionary generals.
The story of his mission, though plausible, is believed by
few. He has visited Madrid, it is asserted, to establish a
final understanding with the Provisional Government
respecting the candidature of an Italian prince—the Duke
of Aosta, the Duke of Genoa, or Prince Carignano. There
is no doubt, says the Times correspondent, that General
Cialdini would be the best possible envoy for such a nego-
tiation, and it is likewise notoriou3 that King Victor, his
own regal troubles notwithstanding, greatly desires the
Spanish throne for his second son. But the task of
securing a candidate who will please the Spanish people
has become much more difficult than formerly. It is no
longer possible to smuggle a king into Spain. The
Spaniards are not quite sure that they want a king at all,
and they certainly will not have one who does not answer
to their beau ideal of a monarch. At present the Duke
of Montpensier is the ridicule of all parties, and the
Republican leader, Castelar, dealt the Duke of Aosta
a mortal blow when he declared that the last time he saw
this model candidate he was entertaining a select company
with sleight-of-hand tricks. The difficulty is all but in-
superable, for every prince that can be mentioned is
opposed by the Republicans and by the partisans of every
other candidate. It is not, surprising, however, that the
King of Italy should desire his son to succeed Queen
Isabella, or that his wishes should be echoed by many of
the Spaniards. The alliance would make the two countries
a most formidable Power in Europe.

IMPROVED PROSPECTS FOR THE OCEAN POSTAGE
SYSTEM.

We recently commented on the new postal con-
vention effected between this country and America,
urging in the course of our remarks that the
advocates for an " ocean penny postage" had no
cause for despair. The subject seems likely to be
taken up in serious earnest, and the anticipations we
formed of the new arrangements with America
speedily leading to greater concessions, really appear
to have a very fair chance of being realised. This
expectation we found on the fact that Mr. Hadfield,
M.P., and Mr. Bailey, M.P., have initiated a
memorial to the American Minister, requesting him
to lend his aid in advocating among his countrymen
the adoption of the ocean penny postage. Mr.Reverdy
Johnson has received the memorial with expressions of
the greatest pleasure, and has promised to lend all
the aid in his power towards forwarding this desired
object in America. The memorial adds nothing new
in the way of facts or reasoning in favour of trying
the system of cheap oceanic postage, but it urges all
the old arguments with great force. It must, how-
ever, be observed that it is something new for the
subject to be so earnestly taken up by the members
of our legislative body. The memorial, it should be
added, is signed by about fifty members of the Com-
mons, and there can be no doubt but what it would
have been signed by all the members, without ex-
ception, had there only been time to apply to them
for their signatures.
MR. MILL ON THE • TREATMENT OF CRIMINALS.
Mr. Mill has given his opinion on the best manner
in which professional criminals may be dealt with by.
the police. He lays great stress on the importance
of making efforts to " root out " the receivers of
stolen goods. Without receivers these professional
thieves could not exist, and casual cases might easily
be dealt with. The law in respect to the detection of
these receivers is at fault. Mr. Mill is of opinion that
it would be beneficial to change the practice
which; prevails of not putting questions to the
prisoner, and in doing this to avoid the evils of the
French system, where the judge, instead of the
counsel, interrogates. To place those who have com-
pleted the term of their sentence under police
surveillance would not, he thinks, be wise, and the
ends of justice would be better answered by other
means. One point which Mr. Mill insists upon is,
that no one in the police force should be allowed to
receive money from private individuals. This rule,
rigorously enforced, would, he thinls, effect
a great deal. He objects to the plan of
employing policemen for private purposes,
because they must neglect their general work
if they are paid extra for particular services.
Perquisites exercise a most pernicious influence, and
Mr. Mill believes that they have acted in an inju-
rious manner on the moral character of the police
force. The best men, at the least, fear the prevalence
of this system, and these are apt to get discontented,
and leave the force when opportunity offers. A
complete change of system must take place in order
to remedy existing evils and to remove the abuses
which prevail in some quarters.
HUMANITY IN BATTLE.
A recent conference in Geneva has amplified the
code drawn up in 1864 for the protection of the sick
and wounded in battle. Eight articles have been
adopted with regard to naval battles, all tending to
the same humane and desirable result of lessening
the horrors of war. The principal points are as
follows :—The hospital ships having on board sick
and wounded are to be neutral so long as they carry
no unnecessary military force or war material. The
small craft which after an engagement receive the
wounded and drowning are included in this article.
The staff of the chaplain and the hospital depart-
ment .belonging to a captured vessel are
also neutral. Such officers shall continue their
functions on board the captured vessel, hut shall be
at liberty to *return to their own country when no
longer needed. Wounded or sick non-commissioned
officers shall be returned to their own country at the
first opportunity, on condition that they do not
carry arms again during the war. Hospital ships
fitted out by benevolent societies shall be considered
as neutral, and protected by the belligerents. They
will aid the wounded and shipwrecked of both
belligerents without distinction, but, must not
impede in any way the movements of the
combatants. Persons received on board these vessels
cannot be claimed by either of the belligerents,
but they will have to guarantee not to bear arms
bagasaeindneutral ships are thus
of sanctuary, with the
exception that their good offices are reserved for the
dounrintghethoeldwa principle, These
shipwrecked and wounded.
THE CLAIMS OF NEEDLEWO3IF.N.
Miss Barlee, the hon. secretary of the Metropo-
litan Institution for Needlewomen has addressed a
letter to the Tinzes, in which she advocates the claims
of needlewomen at this charitable season, and
prefaces her requests with the intimation that the
changes in the War Office have transferred the
greater part of the labour of the society to soldiers'
wives in garrison towns. A. great deal of work has
been done by this society since the year 1860, and as
much as £60,000 has been earned by the workers,
but now they are unprovided with employ-
ment. Miss Barlee observes that the union
is open to these unfortunate persons ; but
as a large portion of them have seen better
days, and they would rather suffer want than seek such
support, one object of this appeal is to provide an
asylum for some of the most respectable and infirm
among these self-dependent women. In urging this
upon the public, Miss Barlee declares that she has for
nearly ten years endeavoured to fight the needle-
women's battle against oppressive hire ; and now,
under the failure of contract work, she can but
direct public attention to the condition of the
workers, in the hope that something may be lione to
ameliorate their position. In conclusion, she states
that the Charity Fund has always been quite inde-
pendent of their trade operations, and is devoted to
the assistance of distress, without any deductions
being made from it.

(From Fan.)

TIC. SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 24, 1868.

tne Pon snotuct De regarded as " treating," and all
votes so obtained should be void. The agents for the 'will speedily be settled tinder the writ of error. it is
clear - that in the meantime the Telegraph will prove
petitioners against the election of Mr. Smith for itself hostile to Madame Rachel, as it did throughout
Westminster have published a statement of the
pornt condition of the law, with the view, the two trials. We have no sympathy with this
r
woman, but we cannot see that she deserves writing
evidently, of inducing witnesses to come for- down more than the baby-farmers whom the Tele-
ward. They quote first that part of the graph daily puffs in its advertising columns.
old statute which prescribes the penalties imposed -- ----
on briber and bribed, and they add Section 23 of tila CEUTA V. GIBRALTAR.
Lae Act, which entitles every person wno gives inn "R. A.," writing from Woolwich, does not ap-
and satisfactory evidence before the judge to receive a I prove of Admiral Grey's proposal to exchange
certificate of indemnity. Another section, which Gibraltar for Ceuta.. Spain has no less right to
allows all reasonable expenses to such persons, is Ceuta than we have to Gibraltar; if we gave up the
also given in this notice, for the encouragement of second we ought to give up the first. The climate
reluctant witnesses. " , and the water supply of Ceuta are bad. It would be
THE RESIGNATION OF MAJOR-GENERAL TnAVERS. very difficult to erect a pier there, or to defend the
holds
gainst attack. On the other hand, "R. A."
Major-General Travers, C. 8., has tendered his
impregnable.
. that a very small expense would make Gibraltar
resignation as Inspector-General of Marines, and in ac-
cepting the resignation the Lords of the Admiralty have
notified their intention not to appoint a successor. THE WEATHER.
This event has caused great excitement in the The Registrar-General's returns for last week
service. The voluntary resignation of the highest she Wan extraordinarily low barometer and an extra-
prize in the profession to which General Travers ordinarily high thermometer. The mean height of the
belongs is believed to be an unprecedented act ; first was only 29.47 in., the mean of the second was
and it is supposed that he has taken this step in 47.5, or no less than 7.5 deg. z. Bove the average of the
order not to identify himself with the intended last fifty years. There was nearly an inch of rain
reduction of the Marines. Already the first step (luring the week, and the excess:ve wet of the pretent
has been taken towards this reduction, 18 sergeants month has brought the rainfall of the year nearly
and 350 gunners of the Royal Marine Artillery up to the average, in spite of the long drought in the
having been ordered for discharge at Portsmouth. summer.
As a specimen of the obstacles which Mr. Childers
will have to encounter in reducing the estimates, the
Times publishes
.from day to clay angry criticisms
from its military and naval correspondents upon the
measure in question.
IRISH VAGARIES.
The irisn people are still " amusmg " themselves.
Threatening letters are sent hither and thither, to
the no little consternation of the receivers. Here is
an announcement in a local paper. "We regret to
learn that Mr. Alexander Craig, of Pegsborough,
Tipperary, has of late received, through the post-
office,several threatening letters of a very violent and
atrocious character, the evident purport of which is
to compel that gentleman to leave the country. Two
policemen are now stationed constantly at his resi-
dence." Fancy having to live with two policemen at
one's doors perpetually. If this be the result of
elections, Ireland would hardly petition for short
Parliaments.

Oxford-street tradesmen are in a state of high indigna-
tion because Mr. Hawkesley, the engineer, has proposed
to make an underground railway from the Marble
Arch to the City. They say that the construction of
the work will render their thoroughfare impas-
sable, though Mr. Hawkesley promises that they
shall know nothing about it ; and they urge that
it will have the effect of taking West-end residents into
the City, where they will be able to do their shopping
more cheaply. Here we see exactly the same selfish spirit
manifested, though in a different way, which made land-
owners twenty years ago the great obstructors of rail-
ways. Each class thinks that the pubic advantage is to
be sacrificed to their individual profit, and that they have a
vested interest in difficult locomotion. The late Duke
of Buckingham gave a grand dinner and burnt a large
bonfire to celebrate the rejection of the Great Western
Railway Bill. Mr. Snelgrove, of the firm of Marshall and
Snelgrove, is leading the opposition to the Oxford-street
Railway. Human nature is the same in all classes and at
all times. Meanwhile it is satisfactory to know that the
system of underground communication is extending
rapidly. The new section which will connect Padding-
ton with Westminster Bridge will be opened on Christmas
Day, and on New Year's Day the South Western Railway
will be accessible from the north side of the Thames, so that
passengers by that line will no longer be compelled to hire
a cab and pay a 2d. toll at Waterloo Bridge.
In literary circles the event which excites most curiosity
is the transference of the copyright of Mr. Tenriyson's
works from Mr. Moxon to Messrs. Strahan. Messrs.
Strahan are comparatively new men, of boundless energy
' and courage, who have always done business on
the principle of giving large sums to first-rate
! authors. It is under these circumstances that
they are able to announce as contributors to
Good Words during the coming year Mr. Gladstone,
the Duke of Argyll, the Bishop of Oxford, the Archbishop
of Canterbury, Dean Alford, George Macdonald, Pro-
fessor Kingsley, Miss Edwards, and Mr. Helps. That
they should have succeeded in alluring the Laureate from
the old-established house in Dover-street to the new house
in Ludgate-hill is an event which offers boundless
speculation as to the terms by which they have tempted
Mr. Tennyson. I should add that there is really
no Mr. Moxon. The second of that name, son of the
founder of the business, died in middle life about eight
years ago. His widow survives, and the business is carried
on by Mr. Bertrand Payne. Another of the Piccadilly
houses, Mr. Murray's, must look after its clients. Dean
Stanley is becoming a frequent contributor to Macmillan's
Magazine, and the forthcoming number will have an
article from him on the late Dean Milman. Mr. Glad-
' stone, in spite of political differences, adheres to Albemarle-
; street, and his " Chapter of Autobiography " has reached
its 9th thousand.
We are evidently to have a " green " Christmas. I
wish my readers a merry one—better still, a happy one.

THE COMIC PAPERS.
(From Punch.)
PLIES ITT AmßEn.—Yellow Cabs.
FASHIONS.—The ladies are still wearing " diadem "
bonnets. They have long only worn crowns?
No APPARENT CONNECTION.—Mrs. Malaprop, whose
bead is still running on politics, cannot make out why the
new Ministers are obliged to go and be elected again be-
cause of a statue of Queen Anne !
POT AND KETTLE.—Friend : Well, Stuffins, what did
you think of the cattle show ?"—Mr. Stuffing: Pretty
fair. But the way they feed up those poor beasts I call a
disgrace to humanity !"
THE EASTERN BORE.—It is said that " when Greek
meets Greek, then comes the tug of war." Never mind
that ; but, for the peace of Europe, let us hope that when
Greek meets Turk the case will prove otherwise.
WHAT'S IN A NalfE?"— Waiter (to nervous invalid) :
" There's the old church, sir, close by, but some visitors
goes to St. Wobbleoe's, sir. There the clergyman preaches
distempery ! " (Cleary not the place for him, the old gen-
tleman thinks, with a shudder.)
THE RETORT COURTEOUS. —The French Bar gave a
dinner to the English at the Grand Hotel. M. GI-6,7y pro-
posed " The health of the foreign barristers." Mr. Hud-
dleston, Q.C., responded to the toast. Bravo! If the
French Bar gave the English Gr6vy, the English Bar gave
the French Sauce in reply.
TOAST OF TOLERATION.—The season for dinners of a
specially festive character being now at hand, people who
shall have dined may be expected to be uncommonly
facetious. Very likely if the right honourable gentleman
the President of the Board of Trade should happen to be
present at a Christmas feast of which the founder is a
buffoon, that buffoon will venture to be so absurd as to
propose the toast of "Ministers of all Denominations,"
coupled with the name of Mr. Bright.
MASTER OF THE SITUATION (?) !—(Scene—Mr. Tether-
short's sanctum. Enter Mrs. T. and her Cook.) Cook
(with her usual promptitude—she never kept anybody
waiting) : " Oh, if you please, sir, I wish to complain of
missis ! which she come a dictaterin' and a hinterferin' in
your kitching in a way as I'm sure you wouldn't approve
on, &c., &c., &c." ! ! [T. confesses he felt (for the first
and last time) a delicious sensation of being apparently
master in his own house. She was an admirable cook,
and altogether a most excell— But, however, she had
, to go !J

TRAP Doons.—The doors of too many limited liability
companies.
HARD MEASURE.—Jenkyns, who is really musical, and
unfortunately lives next door to a young ladies' school,
declares it is too bad : as soon as he gets rid of the daily
scales he gets the nightly waits.