The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-19 00:00:00

COLLIERY EXPLOSION.

On Monday morning an explosion of fire-damp, which
caused the death of three men, occurrred at the Swan-lane
Colliery, Hindley, belonging to Mr. E. Johnson, of St.
Helens. Saturday being " reckoning-day," the men did
not go down to work on Monday morning, and the
manager sent five or six men down the pit
to make repairs. One man, named Charles Abbott,
was sent to the " up-brow " to the signal-wire, and
shortly after his departure the fatal explosion
happened. Abbott is supposed to have gone into one
of the new levels, where his brother was in the habit of
working, to procure some candles, and it is supposed
that some gas which had accumulated, coming in contact
with his candle, instantly fired. At the time of the acci-
dent the underground manager, Mr. Johnson, a brother
of the proprietor, was standing near the pit-mouth, and felt
an unusual rush of air pass him, and at once proceeded to
discover the cause, accompanied by two other men. On
reaching the up-brow they found it full of sulphur and
"after-damp," but Mr. Johnson, nevertheless, succeeded in
pushing his way up to the man Abbott, whom he seized
by the legs and attempted to drag out. Feeling that the
sulphur was fast overpowering him, he called to the men
who had accompanied him, but receiving no answer, sup-
posed they had returned. When making his way back ho
touched one of the other men with his feet, and found that
he had fallen in the brow, overpowered, and a little further
on he fell over the second, after which he himself became in-
sensible. News had by this time reached the pit bank that
something was wrong below, and a number of men
descended. Proceeding to the scene of the explosion, the
first person they reached was Mr. Johnson, apparently
lifeless. He was at once taken to the surface, and with
difficulty restored. The dead bodies of the other two men,
named Joseph Fishwick and John Reeves, were found a
little further on. When the pit was so far cleared as to
allow of the up-brow being explored, Abbott's body wag
found, very much burnt.

Something similar to the spectre of the
Brocken " has been seen in Weardale, when the sun was
just above the western horizon, beyond the mountain of
Kilhope, on which the fire was raging. A breeze brought the
smoke down the vale of Kilhope, at the end of which it
ascended the skies, presenting a pillar between the sun and
the spectator. Between the pillar and the sun were four
men belabouring the fire on Kilhope with tree branches,
trying to extinguish it. The shadows of these men were
thrown on the pillar of smoke, and appeared as monster
giants, every movement of whom was distinctly observed.

REFORM OF CONVOCATION.—The following peti-
tion to her Majesty on the subject of a reform in Cony°.
cation is being extensively signed in the diocese of
Lichfield :—"To the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty. The
humble petition of the undersigned clergy and laity of the
archdeaconry of Stafford, in the diocese of Lichfield,
sheweth,—That your petitioners observe with regret that
the parochial clergy of the Province of Canterbury arc not
duly represented in the Holy Synod of Convocation of the
said province. That your petitioners earnestly desire that the
number of proctors who represent the parochial clergy in
the Convocation of Canterbury may be increased, and that
licensed priests may vote in the elections of the said
proctors. Your petitioners, therefore, humbly pray that;
your Majesty will be graciously pleased to grant your
royal assent and license, or to take such other measures as
the constitution of the country requires, for providing fors
a larger and freer representation of the parochial clergy in
the Convocation of the Province of Canterbury. And
your petitioners will ever pray." A similar nwypacOdi
beiu ul4o,latv.tradlar dioceses.

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 19, 1868
1868.
- _
.....
active treatment in the earliest stages of diarrhoea ' arty interest in this fashion. At Sheffield opposi- LATEST INTELLLGENCE CORRESPONDENCE PROM Mute
------------ --------------
COMPANY, a
Ro YAL INSURANCE
and cholera, and emphatically declares that many rtion is to be made to Mr. ROEBUCK of a powerful S _____.__.......
ROYAL INSURANCE BUILDINGS, (REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)
Lombard-street, London, and Liverpool,
lives would be saved if medical aid were obtained "kind, as it is alleged ; but there can be little doubt IFROM OCR OWN CORRESPONDENT.? .
EPITOME of ANNUAL REPORT for 1867. - -
& I'AXIS, TUESDAY, August 18.
The "ROYAL" has never had 3.ls.rger body of Constituents at the outset. The deaths of three persons from that the hon. member will retain the seat he has so
than now. sunstroke were recorded in the week, notwithstand- worthily held. Of course prejudice is strong in AUSTRIA. The Opposition papers ate all delighted at the result of
~.
FIRE BRANCH. the Jurp, election, at which the Liberal candidate was vie-
ing the abatement in the heat of the weather. The that place, and many are indignant at the VIENNA, Aug. 19. ,
torious by a majority of something more than two to one.
PREMIUMS in 1867 ......... .. ........ .... ........ : .............. £460,553 The Presse of to-day sa s :-.44 In view of the The
e,. containing.p.y less than a 12,,
(le
inhabitants,
nhm most
tialptso,r important
being a larger revenue than i y preceding
highest day temperature was on Monday, August I determined manner in which Mr. ROEBUCK has y ey remark, not without reason, that the Jura depart-
threatening aspect of affairs in the East the
town, Dol
year. .£292,125went is almost pure! a *cultur 1 t
, that the entire district is thus subject to the most complete
LOSSES by Fire in 1867 . 10, when it was 82.7 deg., and the lowest night spoken out his mind on the subject of Trade Unions;
Minister for Foreign Affairs, acting in concert
NET PROFITS, after paying all losses and ex-
156,373 temperature r,4 0 d 1' 'cl August 14, but a man of spirit and independence would rather
was J.,. eg. on ri ay, 0
with the Cis-Leithan Minister for the defence
penses
LIFE BRANCH.
fettered
-probably
of the country, has laid certain restrictions atitute the entire press of the department, all opposed the
so that the entire range. of temperature in the week not be in Parliament at all than go there
administrative influence. The three papers, which con-
. Liberalelectora lcamnedeitdtantges.
Annual Average of new business in 1865-6-7 .EBOl,OOO
nctootrspretcoeodkedwbaymatnnyg
Do. during previous Quinquennium £688.000 was 30.7 deg. It is something very new to find by conventions and forbidden to denounce tyranny
upon the transit of arms and ammunition to Servia,
tghewaesle
Amount added to Life Reserves in 1867 £128,583
the mean degree of humidity in the air reckoned at amd injustice, whether it proceeded from the lower
Luz' PROPOSALS now effected will participate in the
increased share of Profits recently conceded to Policy- 71, complete saturation being represented by 100,. orders of society as much as from the upper ones. Roumania, and Bosnia, and has ordered that in
from the NI • mes affair-and M. Grdvy, the Liberal,
holders. and the change is very welcome to agiculturistss It is time, indeed, that something decisive was done case of any despatch of considerable uantities of
q scarcely spent ten days in visiting the principal centres of
PERCY M. DOVE, Manager and Actuary.
JOHN B. JOHNSTON, Secretary in London. The warmth of the soil will quickly bring forward to check the spread of this evil, and the new Par department. There _ arms and ammunition to those countries a permit 1 the can be little doubt that the
August, 1868.0 f turnips, &c., which have been liament has an important duty to perform in the of exportation is only to be granted after consent ' Liberal triumph is great.
the second crops The N affair • 1 Imes is to be made the subject of a judicial
COUNTER CLOTHS FOR LICENCE") sown in many places;
VICTUALLERS. favourable the prospects of cattle feed for the winter requirements of capital and labour. The New Free Presse of this morning contains 1 which was dispersed by force, and not without bloodshed,
HE only article really suitable for that purpose,Aadress
will be better than was at one time apprehe,nded. the following paragraph :-" Our letters from are summoned for an inquiry into the legality of their
-IL- Sc. Gd. per dozen, hemmed, ready for use. -
Moldavia confirm the rumour that a new expedition conduct. We shall therefore speedily learn what inter
-
will
03, Fleet-street, and 5, The Pavement, Clapham. There is fortunately no rsasoa for doulat If all the other countries in Europe are compare- pretation the judicial ruthcrities will put upon the solemn
for crossing the Danube into Bulgaria, and for
respecting the most important of all our crops. Tile tively tranquil we may be sure that there is some- declaration of M. Rouher- that private meetings '
1.1 LAS'S CLOTHS SUITABLE FOR LICENCED promoting another outbreak of disturbances in that I come within the scope of the new law, and that the
wheat is estimated at 20 per cent. above the amr- thing wrong with Spain, the particulars of which
vicatiALLEns, 7s. 9d. PER DOZEN. a
WILLIAM HO LDIC II and CO., No. 103, age, which, in spite of the laments of the pro -f es will appear by
and bye. Just now affairs in that province, is being organized under the eyes of the i Government would not attempt to exercise any surveil-
lance in such cases.
V i Fleet-street, foot of Ludgate hill ; and No. 5, sional grumblers, is of itself sufficient to atone for quarter are most unsatisfactory, and nothing tends Roumanian Government. ,
The PiTSSC has earned the honour of promulgating the
he Pavement, Clapham-common. t•-- (-,-
many failures. The cheap loaf to the strugg.iu to reassure one in the various items of intelligence SPAIN. most recent war rumour. The recent interview at
Schwalbach between tht Emperor Alexander and the
ABLE CLOTHS, in every Width and Length, poor of our large towns means the power of keep- that are forwarded. It would seem that the recent
MADRID, Aug. 18. King of Prussia, a text which has already furnished
lexpressly for Lieene,ed Victuallers. Damask Napkins ing their children from want, while the high price changes in policy have produced such a complica-
Tray Cloths, Drills for Bar Aprons and Towellings of 'The official Gazette of to-day announces that the matter for many a weary discourse, is used to striking ad-
foravery description. Patterns gratis and post free.
of bread during the last winter has been the heaviest tion that resignation is the order of the day, and vantage by the Presse. It says that a compact was made
resignation of the Prefect of Seville and the mili-
of their many trials. It is a common say- one name after another is mentioned to swell the between the two monarchs b • ' y which the Emperor Alex-
CARDIGAN JACKETS made expressly for Bar .
ing that when bread is dear everything is list of those who are disaffected, or, at any rate, tart' Governor of Victoria have been accepted. tinder undertook to give the signal for a rupture with
use, Warm and Elastic, from ss. 6d. each, for A Royal decree orders quarantine to be enforced France by proposing a general disarmament, a reconstitu-
_viles' and Gentlemen's use. WILLIAM HOLDICH
, dear, and certainly the experience of the discontented with the aspect
of affairs. It is indeed tion of the Ottoman Empire, and a considerable aggran-
and Co., LICENSED VICTUALLERS' DRAPERS, 105, Fleet- on arrivals from England.
street, City, and No. 5, The Pavement, Clapham-common. past twelvemonth has gone far to confirm expected that a general Ministerial crisis is at hand, disement of Greece. Of course it would be useless to
--.
the assertion. Already there is a change for but delay is occasioned by the absence of the QUEEN NASSAU. inquire who obliged the Freese with this valuable piece of
WILLIAM HOLDICH and C. 0., LICENSED the better, and as the price of wheat falls it must from Madrid, and until she arrives rumours and information. France, and especially the Emperor, ought
VICTUALLERS' DRAPERS, Established 1842, at 105, SCHWALBACH, Aug. 18 (Evening), to be grateful to the patriotic journal for such a timely
proceed more rapidly. There are always persons warning.
4"feet-street City; Southern Branch-No. 5, The Pave- speculations are rife in all directions, and they can- The Grand Duchess Marie Feod
orona(formerly
enent, Clapham-common. Patterns gratis and post free,
whose interest it is to keep up dear prices, and we not be directly verified or denied. After the last An
extraordinary occurrence is reported from the Rue
aith Price Li4t, Princess Dagmar of Denmark) left here at 7'lk o c oc du Cardinal-Fesch. A young servant-girl was entertain-
. are not surprised to find plenty of croakers who are Privy Council had taken place the Minister of War this evening for Wiesbaden, whence her Imperial ing several female friends in her chamber, when, by some
TO LICENCED VICTUALLERS. eager to depreciate our harvest, to assure us that it intimated his intention of resigning his portfolio, If h
g ness will proceed to-morrow to Kissingen. accident, a twenty-franc piece was lost, and could nowhere
ESTABLISHED 1842. is not so plentiful as has been estimated, if we take and this appears to be authentic intelligence. -- be found. Suspicion rested upon the girl, and, in spite of her
WILLIAM HOLDICI,I and CO.,
in the light lands, and to warn us that we have INDIA AND CIILNA MAILS. protestations of innocence, the case against her seemed to
LICENCED VICTUALLERS DRAPERS, No. General PEZUELA is mentioned as the chosen Pre- strengthen. In despair at this accusation, the poor girl
105, Fleet-street, corner of Farringdon-street ; and at No. very probably a consumption of fourteen months sident of the new Cabinet by the n
5, The Pavement, Clapham-common (Southern Branch). !appeared to lose her reason. She seized a glass, into
to allow for instead of the usual twelve. But these General declined the honour, because the QUEEN The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer which she poured three or four spoonfuls of vinegar,
fiIIIEATRE ROYAL, ADELPII I. alarmists appear to forget that we are not depen- would not consent to his request that Bangalore passed Messina at 5.15 p.m. to-day en added the phosphorus of a packet of matches,
L Sole Proprietor and Manager, Mr. B. WEBSTER. dent on the produce of our own soil, light or heavy, MARFORI, the Superintendant of the Palace, route for Marseilles. and swallowed the horrible mixture. After several
Directress, Mrs. Alfred Mellon.
THIS EVENING (Mr. Anson's Benefit), at 7, A ROUGH and that the crops in various parts of the Conti- should be dismissed. It is, indeed, melan- GIBRALTAR, Aug. 18. hours of extreme suffering she was dead. Such an
DIAMOND. Messrs. G. Belmore, Ashley; Mrs.Billington, and accurrence is inconceivable except in France.
Miss Lennox Gray. nent, more especially in America, have surpassed choly to contemplate the position of affairs in The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer The celebrated wine-producing estate, the Chateau
A a quarter to Eight, THE FLYING SCUD. Messrs. G.
all expectation. In the great Western States of Para, with the Bombay (heavy) mails, left at 10 Laffitte, after several attempts, was finally disposed of
Wilmer°, Billington, Ashley, J. G. Taylor, C. H. Stephenson, a country where no one has confidence in the
C. J. Smith; Miss Charlotte Saunders, Miss Louisa Moore, Miss the Union the yield is something enormous, and p.m. yesterday for Southampton, where she may yesterday. The total price is £165,600.
other, and where the highest stations and the most
Maria Harris, and Miss Lennox Grey. A statement which appears in the Gazette de illagdebourg
To conclude with A ROLAND FOR AN OLIVER. Messrs. even the year of fourteen months cannot exhaust responsible posts do not inspire those who fill be expected on the 22d inst. Experienced strong •
is utterly incomprehensible to me. It says that in a
J. W. Anson, G. Belmore, Belford; Miss Polly Marshall, and head winds.
y rains have renewed hopes for the them with any sense of their obligation to the contest between the Prussian and English systems
Miss Fanny Addison.
--
ha cro while otatoes are cheap and plentiful. of ordnance the latter was utterly defeated, and
0Y A L PRINCESS'S THEATRE. y p, p
community. In consequence of the measures INDIA.
Rthat " England must now descend from the place
haveWe then, on the whole, reason for rejoicing
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr. Vining. adopted by the Government against military men BOMBAY, July 23 (via Brindisi). she has occupied for 150 years as the first manufacturer of
THIS EVENING, at 7, POOR PILLICODDY.
in instead of for repining, and should look back to the
After which (at 8 o'clock), Dion Boncicault's new drama, many generals hose tendered their resignations, Affairs on the borders of the Persian Gulf are warlike instruments." I remember only one contest, and
that was between the Armstrong and the famous Krupp
four acts, entitled AFTER DARK. a Tale of London Life. state of things last year if any are inclined to un- and some others with them, so that dissatisfaction again in a disturbed condition in consequence of
J. G. Shore; Miss Tressy Marston, and Mies Rose Leclercq. reasonable discontent. gun. There can be no doubt which weapon gained the
Messrs. Vining, Walter Lacy, Dominick Murray, H. J. Montague,
Entirely new Scenery by Mr. F. Lloyds and assistants. and resentment are the order of the day. In no piratical attacks by the Chief of Bahreit. H.M.S. victory in this competition. The Krupp gun was
To conclude with NO. 1, ROUND THE CORNER.
__ quarter can we discern anything of a cheering na- Vigilant has sailed to enforce redress. " nowhere."
Doors open at half-past 6, commence at 7. Box-office open A case brought before Mr. Baron BRAMWELL at
daily from 10 till 5. ture, for the Finance Minister has found it impossible CALCUTTA, July 23. The weather here continues rainy.
Leeds Assizes deserves in these days of ever-in-
Rto carryout his negotiations to contract a loan under Rain has fallen in the North-western Provinces,
0 YAL STRAND THEATRE. creasing railways some little attention. The
Sole Lessee and Manageress, Mrs Swanborough. the guarantee of the Customs receipts of Mexico be- and the prospects of the harvest have generally THE WEATHER TABLE.-THIS DAY.
`MIS EVENING, at 7.30, SISTERLY SERVICE: Messrs. plaintiff was a young lady named CLAY, 28 years As-
Belford, Harcourt; Miss Sheridan longing to Spain as war indemnity. In point of faith improved, although the cotton crop has suffered. METEOROLOGICAL RETORTS.
After which, THE FIELD 05' THE CLOTH OF GOLD. of age, who belongs to the musical profession. She
Messrs. Thorne, James, and Robson; Mesdames Sheridan, such an affair was not likely to succeed, for there The number of officials applying for leave of -
Goo lall. Hughes, Newton, &c. was obtaining an income of £2OO a year by teach- . Extreme Sea
To conclude gith MARRIAGE AT ANY PRICE. is nothing stable in the constitution of things just absence under the new furlough regulations being Wednesday, 1„a
ing music, when she unfortunately met with a ter- August 19, B. T. ' 1'.51 W. Irt. F. D• WR. !tlo
now in Spain, and the best informed, and most ex- very great, Government been obliged to suspend 6 a.m 'isl,
has L 11 12° '.____ I 9
ROY
AL AMPHITHEATRE AND CIRCUSHOLBORN. , rible accident on the Lancashire and Yorkshire
perienced can put no faith or confidence in the the privilege in the case of civilians. Nairn 3004r. 55 152 N.W. 1 2 E.N.E. o. --- 1
The Sensation of London,-The most brilliant success ever Railway in March, 1867. She was going to Aberdeen
achieved by any artiste. future prosperity of the nation. A rumour was The Englishman reports that Bhootan is again in kitellid.
N.E.E r.OO.
(0) :2 -6
ONRA, every evening, in his Flying Trapeze Act, as performed Huddersfield when a collision took place in
before their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales current to the effect that the Duchess of Morr- a disturbed state. Scarboroug 29-86 r. 57 57 N.N.E. 5 5 N.N.E. C. o'l3 5
amidst the most deafening applause. the Bowling Tunnel, from which she was one Yarmouth - 3
Helder - - - - - - - - PENSIER was dead, but it appears incorrect, having News has been received of the further progress of eassasei;:: - -_-_-_ - - - - - -- -
ONR A.'S Terrific Flights on Two Bars.
0 N RA'S Incredible Somersaults and Pirouettes. of the greatest sufferers. The carriage in which Skudesnaes -
for foundation, however, the fact that the Royal the Bhamo expedition. Captain Haden and his Ardrossan
-3
N.N-.W. -0. 0701 1
ONRA, the most wonderful and perfect performer ever she was seated was broken to pieces and crowbars Greencastle 3007 r. 56 54 N.N.E. 4 4 N.N.W. c.b.
, -
Witnessed. lady's health has been affected by the persecutions exploring party had crossed safely at Momeyn, and Holyhead - -
The incomparable Scenes in the Arena as usual, including M. had to be used to liberate her. The unfortunate Liverp00l - 3
Samwell's wonderful performing Dogs. to which she has been subjected in common with met with a cordial reception from the Pauthag and Valentin 3o'l4r. 57 52 N.N.E. 5 6 N. nob - 4
Open at half-past Seven, commence at Eight. Morning Per- young lady is a confirmed invalid, and had to be I' e Cie ar 3o'sr. 57 56 N.E. 3 4 NE. c. - 2
. formance, Wednesday and Saturday, at Half-past Two. Children her husband and children. Accustomed as we the authorities. Itoche's Pt. 30-03 r. 15 53 ?N.N.E. 6 7 N.N.W. c.b. - 3
under ten, half-price. brought into court on a couch, and in the opinion Penzance
are to adverse news from Spain, it would seem as - Plymouth
of the medical men will never be able to resume her CHINA. Weymouth 29'73r. 60 60 N.E. 3 3 N.E. r.0.10'56 2
Portsmouth 29-74 r. 63 60 E. 2 2 S.S.W. o. 1 - 1
LICENSED VICTUALLERS' GUARDIAN if this time, things were really serious in the Pe- London ~ 29'7lr. 63 62 E. 2 4 N.E. r.o.' o'3B -
, a R. GLENIE, of the Sporting Library, profession. The accident, it will be remembered, HONGKONG,
July 10. O'peGrisNez 29'78r. 59 57 S.S.W. 5 4 N. 3.r0 1 3
ninsula, and the outbreak of the pent-up storm may Brest
NA e 4, Connaught-terrace, Hyde-park, London, W., begs to was one of those lamentable ones which are due to The reporta of the gold fields recently discovered Ilerient .... 29-935. 59 57 W. 7 7 N.N.W. 0. - 4
inform his customers, and the Licensed Victuallers in general, be looked for. The conduct of the Queen is greatly R listed .. 2993 r. 64 59 W. 7 5 N.W. c.r. 1 3
that he has been appointed Agent for the above-named paper in ~,,, -- The at Chefov, in the province of Shantung, are con- Biarritzco,n na ::: : 1- -j- -_-_ 1- = 1 :." ._
-
that•
to his agency for the Sporting Edition of " Tug SUN;' negnoence. engine of the train in which Miss
to be censured, and if it should turn out true that
tee can supply the same on Friftay evening, if required, in town CLAY was broke down in a tunnel, and a train from firmed. A large rush of Chinese, bent upon gold Is, ra ar la elB. . . . - --. = -L 2 -_--_ -= ss S: .7_ .7_-
) : country. she prefers to retain her favourite, MAREoni, to
G. R. G. begs to inform the Trade that be is Agent for the Leeds ran into the tunnel at full speed, because the digging, has taken place in that direction. Strasbourg.. - - - - - - - -- -
icATEST EDITION of "THE SUN," and can supply it earlier satisfying the demands for the public benefit, it Lyons
Toulon - -6-8 N.W. 4 7 N.N-.W F. b. ----- -4
I)::.n.any other man in London or Country the evening of publi signalman had neglected his duty. The plaintiff's One thousand chests of damaged tea, ex ship Heart's Con-
v tion. No connection with any other persons. Baby's, mars, cannot be pretended that she has a shadow of ex- tent (6 a.m.
Nrigllt's, and M-Call's Guides. All the Daily raPera, masa- damages were laid at the not unreasonable amount Maitland, have realised 5,000 teals. local time) 130'3€s. 54 ,53 S.S.W. 1 1 S.S.W. b.
- 2
sines, and Periodicals as soon as published. Agent fur the J vie t case. The breaking up of the Cainarilla would be _
stock Coal Company. Orders by pest attended to. of £2,000, and the verdict given by the The statement that the Governor of Macao had EXPLANATION.
- the greatest benefit to the country, and also a bless-
jury, a special one, was for £1,500. It was im- been dismissed is contradicted. Barometer corrected and reduced to ::2 deg. a sea level. Theletter
Tim LATEST EDITION of " THE SUN " ing to the Queen herself, could she but be brought r., rising; f., falling; a., steady-indicste dhection of motion of the
▪ supplied, as soon as published, Every Evening, by W. possible for the counsel for the defendants to deny The reply given by the Governor of Hong Kong mercury vvittin ing;
4 hours. Thermometer exposed in shade.
ALEXA ,DER (late Brooks), Newspaper Agent, I\o. 4, Old to hear reason: but as matters arc it is to be feared Extreme Foice with its Direction during last 24 hours. Z.-calm.
( 'ttvendish-street, Oxford-street. the facts of the case., so he was driven to the sole to the report of the Chamber of Commerce, against
that there is no chance of so happy a result. It heather: b.-blue thy; c.-elouds, dctv el cd ; i.-Tess 11.-hat;
resource of asserting that the physicians and sur- the granting of gambling licenses, has given much 1.-lightning : m.-rnisty, hazy ; 0.-o, ercart, dull ; r.- rain ; S.- MOW;
Wll O'S GRAIN G E R? LICENSED goons had taken too desponding a view of the case. is disheartening to witness the decadence of so
offence to the mercantile community. t.-thunder. Rain-fall. snow or Lail (melted) during last 24 hours.
VICTUALLERS' TOBACCONIST, SHEPTIEED'S-BUSH. fine a country, possessing so many resources, and Sea disturbance.
REMARKS
The SPORTLNIG EDI CIO N of "THE SON " can be seen at This is easily said in court, but unhappily the coun- ° News from Japan states that Stotsbaschi has
JR t ING ER'S Establishment, as above, every evening by Eight capa.ble of being developed into so much that is A general and nearly uniform increase in atmospherical pressure
clpek. sera opinion is not likely to be so correct as the again been offered the Shiogoonate, but refused is shown this morning on all our coasts. The lowest reading reported
- good, occupying, moreover, a grand place in his- is at Portsmouth
there is five-tenths of an inch tower than
physicians'. The Judge, in the course of the case, the post. that at Valencia, gion of highest pressure. In the N. tempera-
111HE LATES r EDITION of " THE SUN " tory, and rich in recollections, with which her lure has fallen :in other districts it is nearly the same as y sterday.
II supplied as SO3ll aspublished, containing all the LATEST remarked that it was a great pity some arrangement It is reported that he will become Minister of high
High northerly winds blew yesterday in the English and Irish
MEWS end SPORTING- INnLLIGENC lc, by H W HARRIS, ,,,
__, ,
__ 4_,,,:" .b,„1,1 Q,,,,,,,,,
~,, ~_ present prospects can bear no comparison whatever. h
Foreign Affairs. Channels, and at Shields the wind was north-easterly. Northerly

I 11HE LATES r EDITION of " THE SUN "
W supplied as SO3ll as pulklished, containing all the LATEST
NEWS and SPORTING IN'MLLIGENCE, by H W HARRIS,
Newspaper Agent, 4, Blackfriars-road, London, S.

THE LATEST EDITION of "TIIE SUN."
J. tsOLMES begs to inform his friends and the public
generally that he supplies the LATEST EDITION of "THE
S "as soon as published.—No. 10, Hampstead-road, N.W.

11" SUN" NEWSPAPER.-G. R. GLENIE
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THE THIRD EDITION OF ,c THE SUN,"
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A case brought before Mr. Baron BRAMWELL at
Leeds Assizes deserves in these days of ever-in-
creasing railways some little attention. The
plaintiff was a young lady named CLAY, 28 years
of age, who belongs to the musical profession. She
was obtaining an income of £2OO a year by teach-
ing music, when she unfortunately met with a ter-
rible accident on the Lancashire and Yorkshire
Railway in March, 1867. She was going to
Huddersfield when a collision took place in
the Bowling Tunnel, from which she was one
of the greatest sufferers. The carriage in which
she was seated was broken to pieces, and crowbars
had to be used to liberate her. The unfortunate
young lady is a confirmed invalid, and had to be
brought into court on a couch, and in the opinion
of the medical men will never be able to resume her
profession. The accident, it will be remembered,
was one of those lamentable ones which are due to
negligence. The engine of the train in which Miss
CLAY was broke down in a tunnel, and a train from
Leeds ran into the tunnel at full speed, because the
signalman had neglected his duty. The plaintiff's
damages were laid at the not unreasonable amount
of £2,000, and the verdict given by the
jury, a special one, was for £1,500. It was im-
possible for the counsel for the defendants to deny
the facts of the case, so he was driven to the sole
resource of asserting that the physicians and sur-
geons had taken too desponding a view of the case.
This is easily said in court, but unhappily the coun-
sel's opinion is not likely to be so correct as the
physicians'. The Judge, in the course of the case,
remarked that it was a great pity some arrangement
could not be come to which should secure an an-
nuity for Miss CLAY, but Mr. OVEREND
was not authorised to do so. The plain-
tiff's father had been one of the directors,
but was unable to effect a settlement, which, as we
have seen, the jury made for him. Baron BRAM-
WELL on hearing their decision asked whose special
jury it was, and on being told it was the defendants',
he said he had supposed it to be the plaintiff's, but
" railway companies were such mighty grand folks
that they could think of nothing less than a special
jury." Mr. OVEREND upon this remarked that
railways often had to pay dearly for their misfor-
tunes, but the Judge coolly replied that not unfre-
quently they very well deserved to do so.
This rebuff from a Judge of Baron BR.A.mWELL'S
standing and experience was well merited by the
railways. They are, as the learned Judge remarked,
mighty grand folks in the way of defending them-
selves. They employ first-rate counsel, and call
special juries, and incur any expense, but they are
very reluctant to pay for the misfortunes they
bring upon other people. No money can compen-
sate Miss CLAY for the loss of health and strength,
and after seventeen months of pain and suffering
she is still completely helpless. Hers was
surely a case which deserved to be libe-
rally dealt with, since, even pecuniarily, her
loss has been very great. At seven-and-twenty
she had reason to hope for much more than seven
years' active life, when she would have realised
the fifteen hundred pounds awarded her for life-
long disablement. It may be said that the com-
pany have to pay for the fault of one man, but
here again the characteristic stinginess of railways
is at fault. They employ an inferior class of
men, and work them too hard to be able to de-
pend upon their intelligence or their vigilance.
If the signalman had attended to his duty, and
the driver of the other train hail slackened his
speed on entering the tunnel, the terrible acci-
dent at Bowling, like many another, might have
been altogether avoided.

Mr. HunnAnD has addressed the electors of Buck-
ingham, asking re-election for the seat he has held
for the last nine years. lie discusses the nature of
Mr. GLADSTONE'S Suspensory Bill in a calm spirit,
and comes to the conclusion that the house of
Lords did well to decline to endorse a foregone
conclusion, and that they rendered good service by
allowing the country to secure the deliberate dis-
cussion of a great constitutional change; at the
same time he is willing for any necessary change to
take place, and agrees . with many in the opinion
that the Report of the Royal Commission will sup-
ply ample material for investigation. Some interest
will be attached to the South-cast Lancashire elec-
tion, in consequence of its affording an opportunity
to Mr. FREDERICK PEEL to return to public life, from
which he has been some years absent owing to
domestic affliction. Newark affords the prospect
of a steady contest, as three candidates present
themselves, all on the Liberal side. It seems strange
that this should be the case, when many other
opportunities must be found without dividing

Bayard Taylor, the distinguished American
Author, is now in London, and the evening before last
dined with two of our younger poets—Morris and
S winburne.

THE RESULTS OF COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION.-
In these days of competitive examination, when every-
thing and every being is submitted to some formally pre-
scribed test, it may not be amiss to put some of our public
companies into the crucible, and see how much of solid
prosperity results from the process. The hour of danger
affords opportunity of trial, for the man or the institution
that can stand unmoved amid the shock of disaster has
something stable whereon to rest. For the purposes of
illustration and 'analysis, it may not be out of place to
employ the experience of the last three or four years as a
means of testing the claims of insurance companies to a
continuance of public support. Some of them are over-
whelmed by the frequency and extent of their fire claims,
have yielded up the ghost, and are registered on the cate-
gory of failures. Others are living out a very precarious
existence, which may at any moment terminate fatally.
Of a few only can it be said that we know they are safe
and seaworthy ; in other words, supplied with sufficient
ballast iu the shape of resouree, to survive. The Royal
Insurance Company, however, has always accustomed us
to full statements of its profits, losses, and resources, and
at its recent annual meeting the results of another year
were again disclosed. It appears, then, that in 1867 the
company received premiums of fire insurances to the
amount of £460,553, being the largest revenue it has ever
yet enjoyed; and that out of this it realised £56,373 net
profits after paying all claims and expenses. It was thus
enabled not only to declare its usual dividend, but to make
a substantial addition to its reserves. In the life branch,
also, great prosperity has attended the past year, resulting
in the increase of the life funds by £128,583. As the com-
pany's experience in the mortality of its policyholders is
again stated to be most favourable, we presume the as-
sured will still have cause to congratulate themselves on
their expectations of bonuses, particularly as the company
has recently announced a further concession to lite policy-
holders, viz., an increase from two-thirds to three-fourths
of the profits allocated to them.

We are glad to learn that the alarming reparts
published by some of our contemporaries as to the health
of the First Lord of the Admiralty are without foundation.
A few days' residence on the Continent has sufficed to
remove all traces of his late attack, although his medical
advisers recommend a somewhat longer sojourn abroad.
DEATH OF THE EARL OF ABERGAVENNY.— We
regret to announce the death of the Earl of Abergavenny,
which took place at Birling Manor, near Maidstone, on
Monday evening, at 5 o'clock, after an illness of three
weeks, brought on by a severe chill.
SIR THOMAS MARYON WILSON.—It appears
from the report of the committee of the House of Com-
mons on "Open Spaces" that Sir Thomas Maryon Wilson
was paid fur two days' absence from home £2 25., and for
travelling exponses (having been summoned from Maid-
stone) ss.—total £3 75., for giving evidence before the
committee. Five other witnesses wore paid, the total
payment being £l5. 3s.

AMATEUR DRAMATIC AND VOCAL ENTERTAIN-
MENT.—Last evening an entertainment of a very pleasing
character was given by a number of gentlemen amateurs
at Mr. Poole's rooms, Bow-street. The performance com-
menced with an amusing farce, entitled " Quiet Lodgings,"
Mr. W. Potter taking the part of Stranger and Mr. J.
Rickards that of Ilowpenny. The company, which was
numerous, was kept iu a state of hilarity during the whole
of the performance, and evinced their satisfaction at the
conclusion by a complete ovation. A concert followed
upon the playing of a solo on the violin by Mr. W. Glinka,
who, it may be stated, performed admirably. Mr. G.
Crafter opened the concert with a scrio-comic song, and
was followed by Mr. C. Poole, who acquitted himself re-
markably well. An "original song," by Mr. A. Williams,
was followed by an Irish comic song by Mr. J. Richards,
Messrs. Algar and Poole bringing this part of the pro-
gramme to a conclusion by singing a duet which they
themselves had written and arranged. The sailor's horn-
pipe by Mr. J. Hansom was rapturously received, and was
undoubtedly a pleasant termination to a very enjoyable
evening.

It is reportei that he will become Minister of
Foreign Affairs.

FRANCE.
BOURSE, AugustlB.—Three o'clock.—The market
closed as follows :

41 per Cent.
End of month... ItaP.an Loan
3 per Cent
End of month 7O 37/ Mexican Loan ... 22 75
Credit Mobilier
End of month... 275 Spanish Threes
Credit Foncior ...1445 Rome Debt —
End of month... Deferred ...... 32
RAILWAYS. Cash
Orleans • .......................... 895
Northern ....................................... 1160
Lyons and Mediterranean .........
Southern—.
Western
Eastern • 560
Sardinian
Austrian
Lombard
North of Spain 53
Saragossa
Roman

The ironclad turret-ship Monarch, 7, 5,102 tons,
1,100-horse power nominal, fitting in Chathamhar-
bour, alongside the dockyard, has her decks crowded
with workmen, instructions from the Admiralty
directing that every exertion is to be used in has-1
tening her forward in readiness for her experimental
trial cruises at sea. The chief work is just now
concentrated on her turrets, in the completion of
which a large number of mechanics and shipwrights
are employed. Each of the turrets, which arc 26
feet in diameter, with their foundation on the main
deck, has had its teak backing and inner skin plat-
ing fixed ready for the reception of the armour-
plating, which in the more exposed parts will be
10in. and in the other parts Bin. in thickness, The
Monarch combining little of the turret principle in
her construction beyond carrying a portion of her
armament in two turrets, her turret guns will only
be capable of being fired when the bulwarks are
clear, to effect which the bulwarks, within the range
of the guns, are made to fold outwards on hinges ;
while, on the other hand, the fire of the guns will
be interfered with as little as possible by the number
of shrouds to the lower masts being reduced, com-
pensation for the loss of support thus entailed being
at the same time made by increasing the dimensions
of the iron masts. In each turret will be placed
two 25ston guns, the exact models of which, in
wood, are now in the turrets to guide the mechanics
in completing the internal arrangements of each.
Owing to the erection of a forecastle on the upper
deck—which is universally condemned as unneces-
sarily encumbering the forward deck of a turret-
ship —the forward turret guns will be considerably
restricted as to the range in which they can fire, the
extreme angle to which they can b.) trained being
that of 10 degrees with the keel, while they have a
limiting angle of the same amount in their training
aft. On the other hand, the after turret guns can
be fired at an angle of 10 degrees with the keel to-
wards the bow, and to within 6 degrees towards the
stern, the deck fittings preventing a clear fire direct
with the ship's keel. Two guns, each of 6 tons,
will be carried in the bow battery, and one similar
gun in the stern battery, each having a training of
t 3 deg. within and 76 deg. from the line of the ship's
keel. The iron masts, which are the strongest yet
made for a vessel of war, have been fitted on board
during the time the Monarch has been alongside
the sheer-hulk in the harbour. On the main deck
the spaces to be occupied by the cabins for the re-
spective officers are marked out, and the cabin fit-
ments prepared. Another turret-ship, from the
design of Mr. E. J. Reed, C. 8., is being commenced
at Chatham dockyard.

A general and nearly uniform increase in atmospherical pressure
is shewn this morning on all our coasts. The lowest reading reported
is at Portsmouth-29'64in.—and is five-tenths of an inch Tower than
that at Valencia, the region of highest pressure. In the N. tempera-
ture has fallen : in other districts it is nearly the same as yLsterday.
High northerly winds blew yesterday in the English and Irish
Channels, and at Shields the wind was north-easterly. Northerly
winds are still prevalent : fresh on our western coasts, and of force 8
at Penzance. On the west coast of France the breeze is westerly.
Rain has fallen on the E. coast, and in the English Channel—most
at Penzance, where it is now raining. The weather is generally over-
cast.

The North-East Correspondence is responsible for a state-
ment to the effect that the now famous note of Count
Useclom—that in which he sketched the plan of the cam-
'paign to General Marmora—bas Leen the cause of a
serious disagreement between the Kirg of Prussia and his
chief statesman Count Bismarck. It will be remembered
that Count Usedom's note was officially disavowed, the
Prussian Government wishing to get out of the difficulty
by declaring the note to be unauthorised. The
Prussian Premier was altogether opposed to this
course ; hence the disagreement. The North-East Cc»•re-
spondence adds that the party opposed to Count Bismarck
will strenuously endeavour to regain power by the aid of
this occurrence. Personal communications on the subject
of Count Usedom's notehavepassed between the sovereigns
of Austria and Prussia.

The Prussian ( Cross) Gazette says that the replacement of
General von Falkenstein by General Manteuffel is not
due to political motives. General Falkenstein has retired
for purely private reasons.

Baron Beust's speech at Vienna has not been very
warmly received in Hungary. Some of the Hungarian
papers express great dissatisfaction. The Pesti .11TaPlo
declares that the Hungarians will firmly oppose
any attempt at reuniting the western half of the
empire with Germany ; and the Lloyd of Pesti'
adds that there can be now no doubt that Baron
Beust secretly supports a policy of that kind. A
German policy on the part of Austria, says the last-named
journal, moans either an inevitable war with Prussia, or
the acceptance by Austria of the humiliating part of
Prussia's vassal. Hungary will use every means in her
power to resist the tendency of the Austrian Germans
and Baron Beust to 'resume the old struggle between
Austria and Prussia for the leadership of Germany ; still
leas is she disposed to allow herself to become a " banger-on
of Prussia." The Hungarian papers have yet to prove,
however, that these deductions may fairly be drawn from
Baron Beust's speech.

According to the Riforma, General Garibaldi writes
.from Caprera, desiring that no visits should be made to
him in his islet. He further adds that this resolution
implies no intention on his part to renounce political life,
as an English publication recently stated. He simply
wishes to enjoy salutary repose at Caprera, and not to be
distracted from his thoughts and occupations. Garibaldi
has written another letter from Caprera to the president
of an association of veterans in Genoa. The tone of this
communication is very similar to that which the General
recently addressed to Bologna.

. _
:he correspondent of the Standard thinks that impor-
tant political consequences are likely to be the result of
the vote upon the tobacco contract. The Ministry has
gained the day. But the old majority constituted under
Cavour has perhaps received its death-blow. All the
Piedmontese deputies who remained faithful to the
Government when the seat of the capital was changed
from Turin to Florence, have gone over to their brethren
who revolted on that occasion. The Left will thus be
greatly strengthened, and will become a more formidable
antagonist than of yore.

A ukase has been published at Warsaw, stating upon
what condition Poles will be permitted to settle in Russia
and Russians in Poland. Every encouragement is given
to the latter ; they may settle in any part of Poland they
please. The Poles, on the other hand, are forbidden to
settle, under any circumstances, in Lithuania, Ruthenia,
the adjoining Russian governments, Bessarabia, or the
principal towns, and they are only permitted to reside in
the few remaining eligible districts after going through a
number of vexatious formalities. The correspondent of
the Post considers that the object of this measure is to get
as many Russians into the country as possible, in order to
promote " Russification," which goes on slowly at present.
The peasantry are being converted to the Greek faith as
rapidly as possible, but many of them are banished to
§Dslik.for refusipittoabandop their religion,

HER MAJESTY.

PENSION WALLIS, LUCERNE, August 16.

The Queen, accompanied by Princess Louise,
Prince Leopold, and Princess Beatrice, made
excursions in the neighbourhood and on the lake
yesterday.

7HE STATE AND THE CONFESSIONAL.

sins are offences against the law of God. The same
offence may be at once a crime and a sin. Murder
is such an offence ; but we, the priesthood, in
our capacity as priests, are concerned only with
its sinful quality ; just as the secular authori-ties are concerned only with its criminal charac-
ter. If a murderer confesses his murder to a
priest in confession, the priest is bound to punish
him by refusing absolution if he is impenitent. In
the same way, the secular power is entitled to hang
him as a punishment for his crime against itself ;
but it has no right to intrude into the relationship
between the sinner and his God. It cannot step
forward and say that, having determined to hang
a certain person as the consequence of his criminal
act, it insists upon the recognition of the justice of
his condemnation by the Church, without which
the doomed criminal shall not be reconciled to God.
Where the refusal to make a public confession in-
volves a continued injury to an individual, the
case is different, as in the instance of Constance
Kent. Iler confessor, a Protestant Clergyman, was
justified, on Roman priuciple3, in insisting upon
her public confession, because her father was suf-
fering from the imputation that he was the mur-
derer of his own child.

A remarkable article appears in a contemporary
on the above subject, which we give in extenso :
“For some weeks past occasional letters have
appeared in oar columns discussing from various
points of view the reported conduct of the Roman
Catholic priest who acted as spiritual adviser to the
convicted murder.n. Barrett. The special case in
question is, however, only one out of a large num-
ber in which the rights of the temporal power—in
other words, the laws of the land—come into real
or supposed collision with the theories or practices
of the Roman Church. The power of that Church,
moreover, is still so enormous, and its pretensions
to control the personal conduct of its members are
just now being canvassed with so much angry and
bitter feeling, that it is of the first importance that
no mistakes should be made as to the real nature
of its claims, and as to the grounds on which it rests
those claims. Of the blows struck at the weak
places of the Roman system, the vast majority fall
powerless because they are aimed in total ignor-
ance of the real nature of that system itself. Edu-
cated Roman Catholics laugh at them, and point to
them as so many fresh proofs of the ignorance and
perversity of all Protestants ; while the uneducated
mob is excited to frenzy and to the passionate
retaliations which a mob takes to be the only fitting
reply to misrepresentations and personal abuse.
" We doubt whether any of the letters which
have been addressed to us in regard to the wretched
man Barrett, from whatever point of view they
were written, would produce the smallest impres-
sion upon a Roman Catholic who understands the
theory upon which his Church claims to give abso-
lution to a penitent criminal who has forfeited his
life to the just laws of his country. A certain de-
fence of the conduct imputed to Barrett's confessor
has indeed been attempted. But the defence thus
made was little better than a piece of pious and
sentimental special pleading, and would be rejected,
we suspect, by every Roman theologian as utterly
beside the mark. If the practices of the confes-
sional have nothing better to say for themselves
than that it would be cruel to refuse absolution in
such cases as that of Barrett, we may rest assured
that the system would long since have been cast to
the winds.

" Further, the Roman theologian would argue,
the law of the land itself recoguises this very dis-
tinction between moral and legal guilt. Every
accused person is held be justified in pleading
Not guilty,' whether he is innocent or the reverse.
From the opening of a criminal trial till its end, the
judge perpetually reminds the jury that their sole
duty is to convict or condemn the accused accord-
ing to legal rules, and that they are not asked
what is their opinion as to the Christian aspect of
the criminal offence imputed to him. In other
words, they have nothing to do with sins,
but only with crimes. - Nor, when the trial
ends in a conviction, and the conviction leads
to death, are the principles of British jurisprudence
suddenly revolutionized. The man's offence remains
a crime, and only a crime, in the eyes of the law,
to the very last; and it is open to every one to hold
that the evidence on which the accused was con-
demned was legally insufficient, and that the jury
were mistaken. Infallibility in their verdicts was
never claimed for the wisest jurymen. who ever sat
in a box. Why, then, is a condemned criminal
bound to institute a wholly new theory as to his
relationship to the laws simply because it pleases
him to enter into a certain spiritual relationship
with some minister of religion 7 Society has no
more right to insist upon his admission that the
jury decided rightly upon the evidence than it has
to insist upon every man's proclaiming all his un-
discovered crimes in the market-place. The differ-
ence between a condemned criminal and an unde-
tected and untried criminal is simply this, that the
former has been found out. But if Christian mo-
rality requires the condemned criminal to confess
his crimes publicly as the condition of his receiving
pardon from God for his sins, by the same reason-
ing it must require all undetected criminals to con-
fess their secret crimes.before all the world if they
would die in penitence and peace in their own
beds.

It seems to be assumed that the priest who ab-
solved Barrett, without exacting from him a public
confession of his crime as a reparation due to out-
raged society, stated that the man was in a truly
penitent condition of mind, and had died, or would
die, what is technically called an " edifying" death.
Now what does this really mean ? It means
nothing less than this, that the priest
partially revealed the substance of the con-
fession which was made to him, and was thus
guilty of an offence of deep dye against the laws of
his own Church. It must be remembered that the
law of the Roman Church in this matter is of the
most uncompromising stringency. Under no cir-
cumstances whatsoever is a confessor permitted
even to hint at the statements made to him in the
confessional. If Barrett's confessor, either definitely
or by implication, communicated to any human
being his personal belief that the man was in a
penitent frame of mind, he violated the law by
which, as a priest, he is bound ; and by the same
law, as we apprehend, he ought to have been in-
stantly punished for his offence by suspension from
his sacerdotal functions. That the confessor con-
sidered him to be so far penitent as to justify him
in " giving him the communion of the Lord's
Supper " was of !course implied in the visible fact
that he did not withhold from him that spiritual
privilege. But this is a totally different thing from
an express statement by the priest that he was
satisfied as to the man's state of mind in reference
to any one pmrticular sin of which he was held
guilty by the laws of the land. It must be borne
in mind that, according to the Roman Catholic
theory, the priest who attends upon a criminal
in gaol is not. bound to know anything what-
ever of the man's conduct, or of his guilt or
innocence in the matter of the charge which has
consigned him to a prison. If we are to estimate
fairly the relationship between the laws of the land
and this institution of the confessional, it is of the
very first moment that we disembarrass ourselves of
the false but popular notions about priests and peni-
tents and absolutions, no matter from what source
those notions arise. And it cannot be too clearly
pointed out that, by the Roman theory, a convicted
murderer goes into the confessional to a priest as a
perfect stranger. The confessor is not bound to
know anything concerning his antecedents except
what the man chooses himself to reveal.
" No doubt priests frequently may refer to a
penitent's circumstances, and to the offences with
which he is charged ; but they are, as far as
we understand the rules of their Church, under no
obligation to do this, and the penitent has an un-
doubted right to decline to enter upon such a dis-
cussion at all, without prejudice to the receiving of
that absolution to which, on the conclusion of a
satisfactory confession, he is entitled. The priest,
we must remember, is not authorised by his Church
to give or to withhold absolution entirely accord-
ing to his own discretion, or with reference to any-
thing whatsoever he is told by the penitent in
the act of confession itself. On the fulfilment of
those conditions which the Roman Church lays down,
the person who confesses is entitled to absolution,
and no priest would be entitled to withhold it.
'Whether, as a matter of fact, priests do not stretch
their powers for political and other reasons, in
Ireland and elsewhere, is quite another thing. They
will of course venture upon audacities of spiritual
tyranny when they have only timid and ignorant
men and women to deal with, which they would not
dare to attempt with persons at once courageous
and well-informed. It is the legitimate Roman
theory, however, which is the question now under
discussion, and according to that theory we have
no right to assume that Barrett ever said one word
about the crime for which he was hanged to the
priest who gave him absolution.

Granting, on the other hand, that he did thus
enter upon the crime for which he suffered, and
moreover confessed it, and received absolution for
it, the relation between himself and his confessor
remains the same. The confessor can know nothing
about the sin beyond what the penitent tells him.
lie cannot import into the confessional any news
that he may have gathered from the papers or from
common report. He has his own rules to guide him,
taught him at the seminary where he studied, or
from the books of moral theology to which he
defers. The penitent steadfastly asserts that he
knows of no person who has been injured by his
crime in such a rw inner that restitution will be
made by a public acknowledgment of his guilt.
What, then, is the priest to do? The man has
made the.requisite confession that lie committed a
certain act or acts, declaring that he repents of
them for the love of God, and that he will perform
such acts of penance as will constitute the satisfac-
tion due to God for his sins. If under such cir-
cumstances the confessor refused absolution except
on condition of a public confession, his penitent
would be at liberty to appeal to his bishop, and the
bishop would, in turn, b 3 bound to uphold the
penitent against the priest.
" Wliat • that bishop, or any Roman Catholic
theologian of authority, would say to a priest under
such circumstances would be, we fancy, very much
to this effect. You are confounding two things, he
would argue, which are totally distinct in their na-
ture—namely, sins and crimes. We, as Catholic
priests, have nothing to do with crimes, as such,
any more than have any other persons, whether
priests or laymen, Catholic or Protestant. Crimes
are offerceti against the secular law of the land

Such is unquestionably the Roman theory as to
the duties of criminals who suffer death at the hands
of the law. Whether it is a sound theory or not is
another question. Two things, however, are clear.
One is, that according to the Roman theory, a priest
might be bound to give absolution to a man who
had been convicted by a jury on the most conclu-
sive and undeniable evidence of a great crime ; the
second is, that in distinguishing between crimes
and sins, the Roman clergy acknowledge the dif-
ference between their jurisdiction and that of the
law. At the same time it cannot be disputed that
a certain influence is practically exercised by the
confessional, which is in direct conflict with the
first principles of English political and social life.
The subject is, however, too wide to be handled in
a few sentences, and must be reserved for another
article."