The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-24 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, JANUARY 24, 1868.

nothing, except that Senator DOOLITTLE is pre-
paring the report of the Minority of the Mili-
tary Committee, sustaining Mr. JOHNSON in the
suspension of STANTON. Minorities have little
chance of being heard as American politics are at
present constituted, and Mr. MILL must try his
eloquence in the New World if he wishes to see his
favourite theory universally accepted.

A lecture upon "Abyssinia and the Abyssinians,"
by so good an authority as Dr. BEKE, has just added
considerably to the popular information on this in-
teresting subject. The war may be, as Lord STAN-
LEY styled it, " a little one," still the lives and for-
tunes of so many of our countrymen are engaged,
and the story of the captives is so painful, that very
great anxiety and interest are felt concerning King
'1 heodore and his dominions. The lecture which
Dr. BEKE delivered on Tuesday evening3took a hope-
ful view of the people and their capacities. It was
difficult, he said, to place a limit upon the capabili-
ties of Abyssinia under a more favourable state of
things, the first grand step towards which is to
induce the feeling of fresh wants in the minds of its
inhabitants. Dr. BEKE very justly observed that
whatever the duration of the campaign one result
is certain : the presence of so many Europeans in
Abyssinia will show that the difficulty of pene-
trating the country is purely imaginary, and that
when reached it is deserving of the serious conside-
ration of the British merchant and manufacturer
not less than of the Christian philanthropist. Iron
and coal are known to exist there in considerable
quantities. Copper has been recently discovered,
and sulphur and salt are extensively worked along
the eastern edge of the table land. As Dr. BEKE
observed, in enumerating these natural advantages,
the possession of iron and coal alone are sufficient
to form the basis of national prosperity. But the
natural wealth of Abyssinia is not confined to mi-
nerals. Cereals of all kinds are cultivated by the
natives, who are skilful agriculturists; and Dr.
BEKE boldly asserts his belief that Abyssinia is not
only capable of supporting a large population, but
might become the granary of less favoured regions.
At present much is wasted from want of knowledge
and for lack of markets. The varied character of
the country enables it to produce on its hills and in
valleys everything that is the growth of tropical or
temperate climates. Like India, the hilly regions
are so different in temperature from the plains or
valleys that productions of a varied character can
be grown. The climate, as we are all now aware,
has been unjustly decried, and Dr. BEKE cites, as
evidence in its favour, an argument which
has already occurred to many. The Euro-
pean captives have, in spite of all their
trials and anxieties, preserved their health during
four years of captivity, a sufficient proof that the
climate is not-unfavourable to Europeans. In fact,
the greatest obstacle to the civilisation of the coun-
try is THEODORE himself, notwithstanding his early
efforts as a national reformer. Under his savage
and inconsistent dominion no people could
flourish ; and very certainly the Europeans
whom he is so anxious to secure are not
likely to settle there. The Abyssinians themselves
are more Asiatic than African, both in their ap-
pearance and in their degree of civilisation which
they have attained—a fact which renders the future
progress of their country, when the barriers
that now enclose it are removed, more
hopeful and more certain. The lecturer
gave an interesting and valuable account of
the chief races, the hereditary rulers, the
antecedents of the KING himself, formerly the mili-
tary adventurer KASSA, and the laws and religions
of the people. Those who were not fortunate
enough to hear the address of Dr. BEKE will do
well to read it attentively, and they will form a
good general idea of the country, its people, and its
rulers.

We may reasonably hope that the misfortunes of
Consul CAMERON and his companions may lead even-
tually to a favourable change. There is every proba-
bility that Sir R. NAPIER may seize an opportunity
to push on to Magdala, secure the captives, and
achieve the work in hand without delay ; but when
the war is over we may easily believe that its
effects will not cease. Abyssinia will no longer be
to us an unknown world, and the glimpse which
its people will have had of civilized life will open
to their view new worlds of thought and action
of which they have never hitherto had any per-
ception.

Great pains are being taken in Paris to prove
that there is no warlike meaning in the Government,
and it is confidently believed that a manifesto will
shortly appear, setting forth that the EMPEROR'S
ViCWS on this question are of a pacific tendency.
This report deserves the greater credence on account
of an oflici tl statement having been already distri-
buted to the members of the Senate on the subject
of the bill for the Reorganisation of the Army. In
this it is affirmed that the " real cause" for this
measure was not the fear of war, but rather the
experience that had been derived from the cam-
paigns of the Crimea and Italy. As for the recent
war in Germany having to do with its preparation
that furnished the desire more than the cause for it.
Had it not been for some such striking warning as
that appended the public might not readily have
agreed to the passing of the bill. Those who are
responsible for the honour and security of the coun-
try arc, it is added, the most fully impressed with
the importance of the step and the most impressed
with its necessity. At any rate we may conclude
that, from one indication and another, there is no
present possibility of war on the Continent ; but
the peculiar state of things that exists just now cer-
tainly justifies the EMPEROR and his Government
for taking such decided steps in the work of reor-
ganizing the army, for who can tell how soon they
may be called upon to put their utmost strength
and to direct all their resources.

Mr. LO E, being dissatisfied with the turn which
political affairs have taken, is devoting himself with
more and more interest to a topic out of reach of
party controversy. Even with regard to education,
however, Mr. LowE must take a peculiar and ex-
ceptional view of this question. He is never happy
while thinking as other. men think, or talking as
other men talk, and, not content as ordinary mortals
are with advocating education, he would have the
form and manner of that education undergo a com-
plete change. He complains, not without rea-
son, that while the middle class have had the
greater share of political power during the last
generation they have done nothing for themselves
in the way of education; It had allowed the en-
dowments intended for its benefit' to pass into the
hands of another class, and it has, according to
Mr. LOWE'S belief, allowed political power to pass
from it in a similar way. About this latter pro-
position less bitter anti-Reformers may entertain
considerable doubt, but most persons will agree that
the middle class being above the primary schools
assisted by the State, is not prepared to send their
children to the universities or great public
fchools is in a dilemma respecting education.
Mr. Low E, indeed, holds University education no
loss, and affirms that the study of Latin and Greek
is nothing more than a " mere mechanical exercise
for the memory." Almost in the same breath,

however, he recommends the study of the great
English writers, and advises the student to learn
German thoroughly for the sake of the literature.
Pow is it, then, that he does not think a familiarity
with the ancient tongues desirable on the same
ground? Are not HOMER and ESCHYLUS, VIRGIL
and HORACE, worth reading, in a literary point
of view, as well as CHAUCER and SPENSER,
GOETHE and SCHILLER ? English composition is
no doubt an admirable study, but if history and
the classics, logic and algebra, are to be eliminated
from the- schoolboy's programme, we apprehend,
when he puts his knowledge into practice his com-
position will be somewhat poor ! Mr. LowE is
himself a brilliant example of theory and practice
contradicting each other, and the classical education
he so much despises will stand his eloquence iu good
stead all the days of his life.

LATEST INTELL LUNGE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

OVERLAND MAILS.

CALCUTTA AND CHINA (HEAVY) MAILS.

MALTA, Jan. 23.

The Bangalore leaves at 5 a.m. to-day. She
may be expected at Southampton about the Ist
February.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

Mom OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARTS, THURSDAY, Jan. 23.

Another Imperial interview is on the tapir. On dit that
the Emperor will shortly meet King William of Prussia in
one of the towns on the banks of the Rhine.

The Prusso-Danish negotiations have again come to the
surface. The State archives of Schleswig, lost during the
war, have just been discovered. Prussia has demanded
that bhey should be restored to the duchy. Hitherto
Denmark has refused compliance. With regard to the
whole question between the two Cabinets, the France states
that Denmark insists on having the line of demarcation
south of the town of Flensburg, and she persists further in
refusing Prussia any guarantee which would enable her
to interfere in the internal affairs of the people north of
that line. It seems to be thought that a settlement of
this question will soon be obtained, and that Denmark
will have her way.
In financial circles the Hungarian Loan attracts atten-
tion. People now admit that, reconciled to Austria, the
kingdom is more powerful and her progress more assured
than they could have been with a separate nationality.
The resources of Hungary are enormous, and the only
second thou; t with regard to the new loan was, that her
financial stability might be rendered precarious by the
military enterprises of the empire. Reflection, however,
will shew that Hungary is now a sort of guarantee that
Austria will enter into no rash wars. The contract
between the two parts of the empire expressly
stipulates that every demand for men and for
money for the common army must be separately
discussed and agreed to by the representatives of Austria
and of Hungary. Austria, without Hungary, would be
powerless in a military point of view, and, except to resist
an invasion of Russia or to hold the Czar in check in the
East, Hungary has no interest in any military adventures.
The dream of avenging Sadowa has never entered the mind
of the Hungarian statesmen. They know that peace is
essential to their national existence, and that a war with
the North German Confederation would be an attempt at
suicide. For 18C8 the share of Hungary in the common
expenses of the empire will be 62,000,000 f. ; her own ad-
' ministration will cost a hundred millions more, and tne
interestof her share of the national debt seventy-eight mil.
lions. The total expenditure is, therefore, estimated at
233,000,000 f. ; in 1865 the revenue was 246,636,000 f. Very
few new countries begin to borrow under more hopeful
circumstances.

International postal reform is likely to make progress
soon. Prussia is about to open negotiations with Norway,
S witz_xland, Belgium, Italy, and France for the reduction
of the rates between these countries and Germany.

The Due des Cars has been followed by another devo'
adherent of the House of bourbon. The Prince de Caf.ni,
one time ambassador of the ex-King of Naples at London
and Berlin, hast just died in Paris.
The Emperor, Empress, and Prince Imperial attended
on Tuesday the commemoration masses celebrated at the
Tuileries for the repose of the soul of Louis the XVI.
Jan. 21 is the anniversary of the unhappy monarch's
execution. The execution of the Queen took place on the
16th October ; but the two events are united in one cele-
bration.
The Archbishop of Valladolid is mentioned among the
prelates likely to be made a cardinal at the approaching
ceremony at Rome.
A correspondent, writing from Rome, gives the following
as the names of those who will be honoured with the
cardinal's hat :—Prince Lucien Bonaparte, Boroineo
Arese, the Apostolic Nuncios at Madrid and Lisbon,
Monaco, the secretary of the Saint Office ; the Archbishop
Gonella, of Viterbo, and the Archbishop of Valladolid, or
the Caplicliii preacher of the Sacri Patazzi.
The address to the Holy Father which is being signed
in Spain has received already, it is said, two million signa-
tures. _ _ _

M. Berryer delivered a telling address in defence of the
Union, one of the prosecuted journals. He maintained
that there was no law• to compel the newspapers to publish
the official report of the debates, and that without doing
so they were fully entitled to summarise them for the pur-
pose of discussion. The prosecution was the result of
political caprice. Jules Favre will assist Emile Durier in
the defence of the Sidle.

The Liberte explains by a joke the nomination of M.
Dumas, a chemist, to the functions of reporter on the army
organisation law in the Senate. Why give such an appoint-
ment to a chemist? Because the law on the army is an
amalgam very difficult to analyse.
A very curious exposition is projected for August 18G3.
There is in Paris a Sociad d'lnsectologie Agricole. Its
learned members study insects from an agricultural point
of view, the means of propagating those that are useful,
and of destroying those that are injurious. To excite au
interest in their labours, they propose to hold an exhibi-
tion in the Palace of Industry, Champs Elys6es, of useful
insects, such as the silkworm, the bee, the cochineal
t.)getlier with their produCts, and of destructive insects;
with examples of their devastations.
A daring robbery is reported from Spain. A rich landed

proprietor, named Don Marcos Martin, resides near a
called Fuentelsaz. About midnight on Sunday week
a hand of twenty armed men attacked his house. A slight
resistance was offered, the result of which was that a son-
in-law of Martin's was killed. Otherwise the robbers
were enabled to sack the house, and to depart with their
booty in peace. The neighbours rendered no assistance,
alleging that the authorities took away their arms in the
late " state of siege," and had not yet returned them.
Eleven men have since been arrested on a charge of pa,rti-
pating in this outrage.

A, Viennese journal states that Austria, in informing her
agents abroad of the inauguration of parliamentary
government, has pronounced emphatically in favour of
peace and the observance of a strict neutrality upon
European questions.

Some extracts from the letter of a Prussian clergyman,
sent to the Times by the Rev. W. L. Blackley, North
Waltham Rectory, give an appalling picture of the famine
in East Prussia. The want is so great that even large
landholders, instead of having corn to export, find their
own supp!y only sufficient for their wants till February.
" The smaller ones," says this correspondent, " myself
among the number, have harvested but five bushels of
potatoes from land which ordinarily yields eighty; and as
to other crops, we have actually and literally obtained
nothing whatever." The extreme cold also adds to the
misery of the people. In rooms crusted all over with ice,
without fuel or warm clothing, they lie shivering in bed,
vainly trying to sleep away their hunger. The want of
fuel hinders some from cooking the few handfuls of flour
they have been able to beg. Mr. Blackley offers to for-
ward subscriptions to his correspondent, who is the pastor
of Schhnau.

Dr. Beke has been lecturing at Richmond, on Abyssinia
and the Abyssinians. He spoke for nearly two hours,
illustrating his lecture by pictures and maps. He de-
scribed the geographical features of the country, and com-
bated the assertions made with regard to the difficulty of
travelling among the mountains. There are three passes
into Central Abyssinia---the lower, the middle, and the
upper roads ; the latter is by far the preferable pass, and
has been taken by our troops. With regard to climate,
although in the neighbourhood of Massowah the tempera-
ture is high, the doctor assured his hearers that the
maximum at Shoa was only 69 deg. Fahrenheit, and the
average was only 55. deg. His opinion was, that the
climate of Abyssinia was more congenial and healthy than
that of many other countries. Dr. Beke stated that the
cause of the internal wars now raging was that Theodore
had attempted to substitute a military organisation for the
existing system. He also touched upon the religion and
latter history of the country, and expressed his pleasure at
finding that the difficulty of piercing into Abyssinia had
been shewn to be purely imaginary.
According to the Manchester Guardian, Sir John Rolt
has actually resigned the high office of Lord Justice of
Appeal in Chancery. The Lord Chancellor and Lord
Cairns have reiterated their entreaties that he would hold
on, if it were only for a few weeks longer. The physicians
in attendance on the learned judge are, however,
peremptory, and declare that his only chance of pro-
longed life lies in relief from all sense of responsibility, actual
or contingent. The difficulty is great in filling up this
high and important post. In 1866 Sir Fitzroy Kelly had
his choice of the Lord Justiceship of Appeal or the Chief
Barony of the Exchequer. He preferred the latter, which
is higher in rank, and is £l,OOO a year more in pay,
although much more arduous in point of work.
Sir Fitzroy now declines to forego that preference, being
still active and vigorous in the exercise of his powers. He
is now in the 72nd year of his age. Mr. Solicitor-General
Selwyn is a rich man by inheritance, and not altogether
unambitious, so that a vice-chancellorship would be be-
neath his acceptance even if Lord Derby cared to promote
either of the three learned knights now sitting in Lincoln's
Inn. As the Lords Justices of Appeal have to sit upon
appeals from the Vice. Chancellors and the Master of the
Rolls, many eminent lawyers declare that Sir Charles
Selwyn is not yet sufficiently strong for a seat on the
supreme bench in equity.
Education is for the time the question of the day. The
Speaker of the House of Commons, at an address at East
Retford, was very earnest in contending that the subject
ought to receive immediate attention. The day for useless
controversy had passed, and the period for action had
arrived. He recommended that "there should be a sus-
pension of hostilities, and that all parties should confer
together for the purpose of ascertaining whether they could
not arrive at a better understanding on such an important
question—an understanding which would lead to very ad-
vantageous results for all."