The Sun.
London, England, 1868-04-28 00:00:00

lord to abandon it. In Ireland, as in other
parts of the world, " the value of a thing ,is
just as much as it will bring," and that value
may be readily ascertained there, as elsewhere,
with precision and facility, by the simple ex-
pedient of public auction. The letting of farms
by auction is, or was, established by law in
other parts of the Empire for the benefit of
heirs of entail. A similar practice estab-
lished in the " sister country" might work
well for the protection of industry and of
landlords. If this scheme fall short of adjudg-
ing the last penny of the cost of agricultural
improvements, it possesses, at least, the merit
that it may be made to steer a course suffi-
ciently exact for practical purposes, and may
be worked with equal facility and fairness
with the proceedings of the Encumbered
Estates Courts, a branch of which, by a simple
process of arithmetic, at the conclusion of a
public hiring of a farm, would settle, at once,
the sum payable to an outgoing tenant who
had enhanced the value of his farm. Thus, if
the augmentation of rent amounted to fifteen
pounds sterling, that is, if a farm formerly
rented at one hundred pounds pay, under a
new tenure, one hundred and fifteen pounds
sterling per annum, then, two-thirds, or ten
pounds sterling would appertain to the outgoing
tenant, and reckoned at an average value of land
—thirty years' purchase, for example—would
adjudge him a sum of three hundred pounds
sterling, in return for skill and capital and
time expended in raising the value of his farm
from one hundred to one hundred and fifteen
pounds sterling per annum. A tenant who,
from slovenliness, or a worse motive, causes a
farm to deteriorate in value, ought to be
mulcted by the same rule, and in the same
proportion in which he would have been re-
warded had he practised judicious industry
instead of bad farming, in the tillage of the
soil. Landlords ought to have, also, the option,
and at the same time, the burden, of showing
to the satisfaction of the Court, under special
circumstances, that the proportion fixed by
our imaginary Act of Parliament was too
much of a reward or too little of a fine, as the
case might be. It is upon some such principle
that we have lately arranged with Zemindars
in the East their position under a very impor-
tant measure regarding, the tenure of land in
India, and -no valid reason occurs to us why
Celts or Saxons should be content with less
just or less statesmanlike consideration at the
hands of their Legislature than that which
has been bestowed by it upon their fellow-
subjects in another hemisphere. To the as-
sumption that the Irish are a Catholic people
might be added the assertion that they have
the most absolute right to be, without incur-
ring pain or penalty from any quarter, Catholic
if they see fit to be so. It follows—but to
spare our readers the infliction of a chapter of
dialectics let us come at once to—therefore, let
this Catholic people be provided with sufficient
assistance in supplying their children with an
education such as their .conscience can ap-
prove, with a charter for the university which
they have exerted 'themselves so strenuously,
under difficulties, to organize for the cultiva-
tion of the higher branches of study. These
measures, seemingly wise and just in them-
selves, might have the farther advantage of
being looked upon as an indication of a willing-
ness to make what reparation is possible for
th 6 miseries of a dismal period, not so ancient
as to have left no traces of degrading ignorance
and destitution enforced by law. For ourselves
we have been unable to discover a satisfactory
reason why the wishes of the many should not
be consulted by the few in the matter of edu-
cation, just as much as the wishes of the many
are considered with proportion of professions
for their welfare in the .greatest practicable
extension of the political franchise. Some of
the elite of " the great Liberal party " appear,
indeed,, to have more favour for their own pet
theories than for the multitude ; and the more
loudly they boast that, in the matter of educa-
tion, their light surpasses that of their neigh-
bour's, the more -vigorously do they strive to
restore the exploded system of the few, com-
pelling the galled backs, of the man!' to bear
the burden of intellectual wares of irritating
quality, labelled "Liberality and Progress."
Peremptory dictation from an executive, or
from any set of men, however select or enlight-
ened they may vote themselves to be, is an
occasion of suspicion to the spirit of liberty,
and men influenced by this generous spirit
training, whether
when they mean
determinationhwieththernegativ eor will resist such interferencew
pi no
stithievem, mental t at lh
their
that their descendants shall be free men as
they are themselves. The physical improve-
ment, however, of the bodily framework by
the utmost development of its muscular and
bony structures, is another affair entirely—
belonging clearly to the category of those ma-
terial arrangements by means whereof the per-
son of each individual is protected by law
from bodily injury from his fellows, or recom-
pensed with a solatium for damage perpetrated
upon him. A wise Government ought not to
rest satisfied with protection from wilful dete-
rioration of the bodies of its citizens; it ought,
at the same time, to use the material resources
at its command in promoting the most advan-
tageous development of their bodily powers.
A feasible method of effecting this very desir-
able object would be the adoption, to a certain
externetg,
regarding th
the
erecommendationten of a witty par-
soncommandments. Every
member of the community ought to be com-
pelled by Apt of Parliament to learn how to
walk in the manner assigned to human beings
by the Almighty, and to acquire some degree
of hardiness in the use of his arms ; at least,
every male (without exception) of sound con-
stitution, and seventeen or eighteen years of
age, ought to pass one continuous year of
his life under the daily instruction of the drill
sergeant. The numerous advantages and faci-
lities presented by some such scheme need not
be detailed ; obviously, they might be rendered
incalculably more beneficial to the community,
and less tyrannical, than any possible amount
of good to be accomplished by " Conscience
Clauses" or any other form of unjustifiable in-
termeddling with matters of " book-learning"
with which the meddlers themselves tell us
they have no concern. It may not, perhaps,
be superfluous to observe that these suggestions
are not the result of mere visionary theories.
On the contrary, they are chiefly derived from
old and well tried routine among civilized
nations, who by just laws, wisely administered,
have banished from between landlords and
tenants agrarian grumblings, which are so rife
among ourselves. Englishmen do not always
conceal that they think themselves superior to
the rest of men ; but, if the opinions of those
others could reach these islands, we should
probably find ourselves to be objects of the
wondering pity and contempt of people whom
we foolishly pretend to enlighten and instruct,
although they have, without difficulty, effected
a statesmanlike settlement of problems which
the English legislature has repeatedly proved
itself incompetent or unwilling even to attempt
to solve.
In conclusion " Delenda est Carthago "
which may be fully rendered—Erase the
Church Established by Law in Ireland, hav-
ing due regard, at the same time, to vested
rights.—Westmiuster Gazette.

A case is pending in the Court of Queen's Bench
at the instance of Alexander Phillips, a native of Jamaica,
against ex-Governor Eyre for assault, false imprisonment,
beating and torturing, in October and November, 18(35.
The deposition of Mr. George Phillips, form..rly practising
as a barrister in Jamaica, and now on his way to Sierra
Leone as Queen's Advocate-General, was taken by Mr.
C. Hance, on an order from Mr. Justice Willes. The
plaintiff lays his damages at .f 10,009.
(ADVERTISEMENT.]—Holloway's Ointment and Pills.—
Safely and Securely.—When the severities of winter have
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confinement indoors, want of appetite, and disturtod sleep
the entire system has been weakened and the spirits have
been broken down, Holloway's remedies are equal to the
occasion. The ointment, rubbed over the regions of the
stomach and liver, aided by the internal administration of
his pills, will rectify the digestion, regulate the bile, and
purify the blood, three sanitary actions which will speedily
confer renewed vigour,, brace up. the failinF nerves, con-
firm the fluid muscles, and restore to the ailing eheeifel-
uses —that great chorin of existence.

COURT DRESS OF UNI7.ED STATES

MINISTERS.

Mr. Sumner, perhaps annoyed by a remark of
the New York Nation on his resolution regarding
the dress of the United States Ministers at Foreign
Courts, forwarded to the editor Executive Docu-
ment No. 31, presented to the 36th Congress in
1860 by Mr. Buchanan, containing " the instruc-
tions and correspondence relative to the uniform
or costume of persons in the diplomatic or consular
service." After carefully studying that important
document, the editor observes that the question
suggested itself whether he had ever seen so much
rubbish in print before in a paper laying claim to
a serious character—a question he decided in the
negative. From what we gather, the following is
briefly the history of the United States' Diplomatic
Costume. Nothing has transpired to show that
there was any Regulation on the subject prior to
the year 1817. At that time the dress is thus de-
scribed—" A blue coat, lined with white silk ;
straight standing cape embroidered with gold,
single-bre isted, straight or rouud button hole,
slightly embroidered. Buttons plain, or if they can
be had with the artillerists' eagle stamped upon them,
i.e., an eagle flying with a wreath in its mouth,
grasping lightning in one of its talons. Cuffs em-
broidered in the manner of the cape, white cassi-
mere breeches, gold knee-buckles, white silk stock-
ings, and gold or gilt shoe-buckles. A three-cor-
nered chapcau-deibras, not so large as those used by
the French nor so. small as those of the English,
a black cockade, to which lately an eagle has been
attached, sword, &c., corresponding." This Presi-
dent Jackson considered too gorgeous, and strongly
recommended the following as cheaper and better
" adapted to the simplicity of our institutions :"
"A black coat, with a gold star on each side of the
collar, near its termination ; the under clothes to be
blackor white, at the option of the wearer; a three-
cornered chapeau-de-bras, with a black cockade
and gold eagle ; and a steel mounted sword, with
white scabbard." After this recommendation it is
probable that some Ministers wore one, and dome
the other costume, when. Mr. Marcy, in 1853, issued
a circular, recommending American diplomatists to
appear at Court in the " simple dress of an Ameri-
can citizen." What that was Mr. Marcy did not
describe, but as it was known to embrace a wide
variety, from shirt sleeves and corderoys up to even-
ing costume, it left to the taste of Ministers consi-
derable latitude. Mr. Sanford, who was then act-
ing for the Minister at Paris, saw the Circular in
the newspapers, and approving the suggestion, in-
formed M. ,Drouyn de Lhuys that he intended
to appear at Court in the new guise, who re-
plied, " That it would not affect seriously the
relations of the two countries." At Brussels
and at Turin no difficulty was experienced,
but at Berlin Mr. Vroom had "to pro-
cure a plain and simple dress," as well as
Mr. Shroeder at Stockholm. Mr. Belmont boldly
faced the position at the Hague, the Queen
Dowager being the point of danger, but he carried
the day. Things were in this state when in 1854
Mr. Mason arrived in Paris. He got " a coat em-
broidered with gilt tinsel, a sword and cocked hat,
the invention," said Mr. Sanford, "of a Dutch
tailor in Paris, borrowed chiefly from the livery of
a subordinate attache of legation of oneof the petty
powers of the Continent." So annoyed was Air:
Sanford, the charge d'affaires, at his chief's falling
away from Republican simplicity that he resigned his
office and retired in dudgeon. It was, however, in
London, and by Mr. Buchanan that the most seri-
ous difficulties were experienced. After several
consultations with Sir Edward Cust, the Master of
the Ceremonies, a compromise was effected. Sir
Edward opposed his presenting himself in the
clothes he wore in the street, but Mr. Buchanan
determined neither to wear gold lace nor embroidery.
Mr. Buchanan's perplexities are best described in
his own words—" It was then suggested to me,
from a quarter which I do not feel at liberty to
mention, that I might assume the civil dress worn
by General Washington ; but after examining
Stewart's portrait at the house of a friend, I came
to the conclusion that it would not be proper for
me to adopt this costume. I observed : • Fashions
bad so changed since the days of Washington that
if I were to put on his dress and appear in it before
the chief magistrate of my own country at one of
his receptions, I should reader myself a subject of
ridicule for life. Besides, it would be considered pre-
sumption in me to affect the style of dress of the
father of his country. It was in this unsettled
state of the question, • and before I had adopted
any style of dress, that Parliament was opened."
On this passage the Nation thus comments :—" Of
this idea we can only say that we think Mr.
Buchanan was a little too hasty in rejecting it. It
is not yet too late for some of our diplomatists
abroad to take it up; and if any prominent one will
do so, and will present himself at any public cere-
monial iu Europe, dreaded out in imitation of " the
Father of his Country, we think we can safely
promise that there are plenty of his fellow-citizens
who will not allow either distance or expense to
prevent them from being there to see. There are
some sights which no man laying claim to cultiva-
tion or knowledge of the world can afford to miss,
and this would certainly be one of them." In 1860
Mr. Faulkner was appointed to Paris, and Mr.
Sanford being then at Derby, Connecticut, think-
ing the opportunity good, addressed a letter on
diplomatic apparel to Mr. Cass, urging that the
minister might receive positive instructions on the
subject. He wrote :—" Some of our Ministers
abroad conform to the instructions of June 1, 1853 -;
)some of them consult their individual notions as to
the kind of dress most becoming themselves per-
sonally. One, to my knowledge, has the constel-
lation of our confederacy embroidered in thirty-odd
emblematic stars on the collar of his coat ; another
adopted the uniform of the United States army ;
another that of a municipal councillor' of Paris,
viz., a black velvet dress with rich silk einbroLlery.
One functionary had all his buttons. fashioned after
the national shield, with spread-eagle attachment ;
and I hear of another proposing to have a gorgeous
suit manufactured out of the star-spangled banner.
Now, sir, imagine the spectacle of these American
representatives of diverse fancies and tastes assem-
bled together! Nothing save a fancy ball at
Musard's, or a burlesque first-of-April parade of
eccentric tatterdemalions would equal it. Is
it just to this country, its institutions,
and people, that they be thus represented."
It is beyond question that instead of simplicity in
raiment, the Americans, more especially the ladies;
are noted in Europe for gorgeous apparel. None
follow more closely the fashions, nor dress more
extravagantly, and in face of this well-known cha-
racteristic, simplicity in the costume of their Minis-
ter at Court would appear nothing less than affec7l
tation. As the Nation well observes—" Europeans
are not fools, and a protest on behalf of Republican
simplicity against monarchical glare, offered by a
Minister's dressing like a waiter when he is fol-
lowed to Court by a swarm of his countrymen and
countrymen bespangled with diamonds, laden with
every sort of finer:3y money can procure, and famous
all over the Continent for the recklessness of their
extravagance, simply affords the Court circles and
the general public materials for a great laugh both
at the Minister and his principles." If N. Sargent,
who writes, f rom Washington, April 6, be correct, the
Republican simplicity mania in diplomatic costume is
founded on a quick-sand. That foundation was Dr.
Franklin's appearance at the Court of Versailles
before the King in the dress of a private citizen,
which turns out to have arisen from his Court dress
not arriving in time, and not from his own desire
thus to represent Republican simplicity. In June,
1824, says N. Sargent, " I bee nine acquainted with
Colonel Lee, brother of General Lee, late Com-
mander-in-Chief of the rebel armies, and son of
General Lee, of Alexandria, known in the revolu-
tion as Light-Horse Harry. In the course of a
loug walk which I took with Col. Lee and Colonel
Gilbert C. Russell, of Alabama, Col. Lee spoke of•
Washington and many Revolutionary characters,
of whom he told us interesting personal aneelotes.
Among others of whom he spoke was Dr. Franklin.
lie said that Dr. Franklin had been given a vast
deal of credit which did not belong to him in refer-
ence to his appearing at Court in citizen's dress.
He said that was an accident, and was never de-
, signed i stud' that Dr, Franklin, who was very