The Sun.
London, England, 1868-03-21 00:00:00

THE SIJN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 21, 1868.

forward as a plea for his extreme eagerness to force
the House to a decision upon a point, which he only
felt himself enlightened upon at the close of the
debate last Monday. Had he for years when in
office been seeking to effect this change, he might
consistently advocate its cause on the benches of
the Opposition ; but it is far otherwise. Besides,
this year is not a suitable time for the decision to
be come to, and the next Parliament is pre-
eminently the fitting sphere for the discussion to
take place in. Why, then, seek to obstruct public
business, already in so backward a state, and waste
precious time in idle resolutions, which can do no
good, and answer no earthly end so far as influ-
encing the next Parliament is concerned ?

It is idle to seek to fathom the intentions of
Mr. GLADSTONE, or to elucidate the meaning of his
mysterious course, when he takes these ideas into
his head. Words failed him when he wanted to
give notice yesterday, but he can speak by the hour
in the heat of debate, and explain satisfactorily or
otherwise, as the case may be, what weighty
reasons influenced him, and what a solemn
duty impelled kim to act as he is
doing. We must leave the right hon. gentleman to
his own devices, but we would warn those whom he
seeks to influence not to be misled, and to view
things as he would wish them to do. It is very
inconsistent, to say the least of it, to reopen the
discussion on Ireland when so long a time has been
already spent upon the subject. To do so must
either mean something or not, if it is to end in mere
expressions of opinion only to take up the time of
the House with the matter, and if it does mean
anything it can only bear one interpretation,
which is not a satisfactory one. Considering
the state of affairs just now it is not a very suitable
time to seek to bring about a change of Govern-
ment. The Reform question has only just been
settled, as it were, and the state of public business
demands the imperative attention of the House,
which it cannot possibly receive if Mr. GLADSTONE
persists in his attempt to bring about a " crisis."
One thing he may be sure of, and that is the public
will not look with a favourable eye upon this
ill-timed endeavour to gain office with no
definite reason for so doing. The future is
sure to furnish plenty of appointments
for him if he only have patience to wait ; but be
this as it may, the duty of the independent Liberals
is plain, and that is to prevent the consummation
taking place, which is so earnestly desired in some
quarters. The settlement of the Irish Church is
far more likely to be brought about in a satisfac-
tory manner if it is not made the battle-ground
of party, and therefore that line of argument can-
not with propriety be taken up. It seems a good
sign of the feeling of the Liberals in general that
the delay has arisen, which was made evident to
the House yesterday, and it is to be hoped that
their good sense and public spirit will guide them
in the same direction that it did last year ; for by
preventing Mr. GLADSTONE from fulfilling his pur-
pose they will render him the best service, while they
maintain the honour of their party inviolate, and
free themselves from the reproach that they sacrifice
public interests for the purpose of gratifying party
spirit, which it is an unwarrantable thing to do.

The intelligence which Sir STAFFORD NORTH-
COTE has received from Abyssinia is encouraging.
Sir ROBERT NAPIER telegraphs, on the 16th of
withFebru
rarry,
incethKatAsosnmt,hewidta
hy previouslyaboutlo,owhef
ohlalodwmerest.
KASSAI was extremely friendly, and his friendship,
if he is as good as his word, is something more than
verbal, for he has promised to arrange for the
supply of the necessaries to our army. Sir R.
NAPIER, when he telegraphed, was about to ar-
range the matter with the Prince's brothers. The
conversation with KassAr lasted many hours, and
" an intercourse," says the English leader, " was
most gratifying and friendly." Prince KASSAI
accompanied Sir R. NAPIER to a parade of the
English troops, and then escorted him to the
PRINCE'S tent, where he was entertained till night.
So far, then, as we can yet learn, this long-looked-
for interview has passed off most satisfactorily. It
is not always safe, indeed, to place too much reliance
on the professions of new allies, or the courtesies of
untried friendship ; and should the English arms meet
with a series of reverses, it is possible that the good-
will and kindness of Prince KASSAI might assume
another aspect. But there is much less reason to
apprehend any military disaster than to fear that
the difficulty of procuring supplies will hamper the
progress of the army and retard the execution of
desirable movements, retarded by the necessity of
waiting for provisions. Sir R. NAPIER speaks of
this question of provisioning as an " important
matter," and in truth it is the one on which the
success of an expeditionary force in a semi-bar-
barous country mainly depends. The progress of
our troops has hitherto been very slow, and of
course the longer the delay the greater the con-
sumption of supplies. Indeed it would seem
that KASSAI'S assistance produced immediate effect,
since a second telegram, dated March 2, reports
that Sir ROBERT NAPIER had arrived at Antalo with
a small force, and that the advance column was to
move on to Ashangi the next day, March 3. The
correspondence which reaches us from various
sources all speak of the want of provisions as
interposing a serious obstacle to the plans of the
General ; and thus if that obstacle were removed,
and a regular supply to be relied upon, it is not
wonderful that Sir R. NAPIER should immediately
organise an advance movement. Happily for the f u-
ture there will be a less unwieldy train to consume the
scanty stores, for Sir R. NAPIER has given an order
which might, with great advantage, have been made
some months earlier. He has ordered the return
of nearly all the Indian followers to Zoulla, and
thence to Bombay, thus getting rid of the costly
and useless train, numbering several thousands, who
have been hitherto consuming stores without any
corresponding advantage. An expeditionary force,
in an ill-supplied country, with a reasonably good
climate, is not exactly the place for that class of
useful attendants, one of whom requires to feed
the horse, and the other to give him water. The
Indian forces naturally expect to keep up the
costly and luxurious habits of Anglo-Indian
life, and since much uncertainty prevailed with
regard to the climate of Abyssinia, the whole train
of idle servitors, who were supposed to be requisite
in a tropical country, formed part of what should
have been a compact and well-organised expedition,
in which no man was superfluous. Indian super-
numeraries, moreover, are anything but able as-
sistants in work which is not strictly in their own
department, and their helplessness and caste pre-
judice often prove serious hindrances. Of course
the new regulations have excited a good deal of
discontent in seine quarters, but the vast
advantage in a military point of view must
reconcile officers and men to some temporary
inconvenience. Henceforward not only the amount
of supplies required will be less, but the progress
made will be far more rapid than heretofore.
Letters from the prisoners dated at the end of
January have been received. They say that
THEODORE is engaged in trying to get his ordnance
and stores into Magdala, where he apparently
means to entrench himself. The Abyssinians think

that he will fight the invaders ; but it is yet to be
seen whether his courage is equal to his neces-

cities•

Mr. FORSTER last evening, in the House of Com-
mons, introduced a subject of more theoretical than
practical importance. All men, as Sir ROUNDELL
PALMER afterwards observed, are subject to the
laws of the country in which they live, and the
question of an emigrant's allegiance to the sovereign
of his own country is not very often likely to arise.
At the same time, in case of war and enlistment,there
might be some awkward situations, while in other
respects it is desirable that a clear understanding
should be come to as to an emigrant's rights, duties, and
obligations with regard to his own and his adopted
country. It is only ourselves and the United States
who insist upon the principle of perpetual alle-
giance, a doctrine which, as Lord STANLEY with
his usual calm good sense observes, is indefensible
in theory and inapplicable in practice. The best
jurists and most prudent statesmen of both nations
agree in condemning it, and it is high time that
the whole subject were fully and fairly investigated,
and the law distinotly enunciated. Lord STANLEY
in this, as in every other case, declared
his readiness to meet the United States half
way, and as in this instance there is no complica-
tion of national pride or prejudice there is reason-
able hope for a speedy settlement. Unluckily,
though the political difficulties are small, the legal
difficulties are great, and we all know that the
plainer a matter to common sense the more difficult
and tedious it is to deal with at law. However, we
may hope much from Lord STANLEY'S clear under-
standing and decision of character, and the affair is
luckily one which does -not press for immediate
settlement.

LATEST INTELL LGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.

Sir Stafford Northcote has received the following
telegrams from Sir Robert Napier :

CAMP AIUtANRIEM, Feb. 16.

Prince Kassai met me yesterday with about ten
thousand followers. His demeanour was extremely
friendly. We conversed together for many hours,
and our intercourse was most gratifying and satis-
factory. The Prince accompanied me in the after-
noon to a parade of my troops, after which himself
and his army escorted me to the Prince's own tent,
where the Prince entertained me till night. He has
promised to arrange for the supply of necessaries to
our army. lam about to arrange this important
matter with the Prince's brothers, and shall march
to-day towards Antalo.

ANTALO, March 2.

I arrived here to-day with the wings of four
regiments and four horsed guns of G Battery,
14th Brigade, Royal Artillery. The advance
column moves towards Ashanji to-morrow, the 3d
March.

PRUSSIA.

BERLIN, March 21.

The Cesarewitch arrived here this morning, and
will be present at the review
of a portion of the
garrison of this city, which takes place to-day.

INDIA, CHINA, AND AUSTRALIAN MAILS.

MARSEILLES, March 21.

The Nyanza arrived at 6 a.m. to-day. Mails
leave at 11.30. Letters in London on Monday

morning.

AMERICA.
ARRIVAL OF THE AUSTRALASIAN.
Via Queenstown.

The Royal Mail steamer Australasian from New
York on the 11th instant arrived at Queenstown at
1 a.m. to-day. She landed 77 sacks and 2 passen-
gers, and proceeded for Liverpool at 1.15 a.m.
All well. _ _

NEW YORK, March 10, Noon.

The Sergeant-at-Arms of the Senate has served
the summons on President Johnson to appear be-
fore the Senate Court. The President replied that
the matter should have his attention.

General Vickers, the newly elected Senator from
Maryland, has been admitted to a seat.
Mr. Wilson has introduced a bill in the Senate
to authorise the issue of 50 years bonds, bearing 6
per cent. interest for 20 years and 5 per cent. after-
wards, the principal and interest to be payable in
coin. The amounts of the issue to be equal to the
entire interest-bearing debt, excepting the 10-40
and per cent bonds. The bill further authorizes the
increase of the currency to $500,000,000. The
House of Representatives has referred to the Com-
mittee of Ways and Means a resolution in favour of
the gradual substitution of currency for bonds.
General Hancock has asked to be released of the
command of the fifth district.

The Georgia Convention has nominated General
Grant for the Presidency.

The South Carolina Convention has passed a
resolution requiring all persons voting for the new
Constitution to vote also for the candidates nomi-
nated for the Convention.

The Governor of California has refused to
transmit to Congress a resolution of the Californian
Senate in favour of the impeachment of the Presi-
dent, upon the ground that it might influence the
trial.

FRANCE.
BOURSE, March 20—Three o'clock.—The market
closed as follows :

4i per Cent.
End of month... ItaPan Lou'
3 per Cent
End of month 69 10 Mexican Loan ... 16 50

Credit Mobilier ... 265 Do. Bonds 137 50
End of month... 260 Spanish Threes 3B 25
Credit Foncier ...1480 Home Debt 35
End of month... Deferred 34
RAILWAYS. Account
__ _

Orleans .._____
898
Northern llBlf
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern.... 5621
Western
Eastern
• .
Sardinian
Austrian 5581
--1

Lombard 378:
North of Spain

oi Spa
Saragossa
Roman 5O

In the course of Thursday the Mayor of Roch-
dale issued a " proclamation for the preservation of peace."
There had been a general apprehension in the town that a
riot would take place at night, and that the Irish might
retaliate. A troop of Hussars from Manchester arrived
during the evening, and was billeted throughout the
town. Murphy lectured in his camp. At the close of
his address ho advised his hearers to go to their homes
peaceably. There was no disturbance up to half-past
ten o'clock, at which hour the excitement was on the
wane

LIVERPOOL PAUPERIS3L—At the meeting of the
Liverpool Health Committee, on Thursday, during a dis-
cussion on the evils of cellar dwellings, Mr. Robinson
stated that, in the parish, there were at present 20,000
persons receiving relief, while the number of persons in
the workhouse was 5,000 ; so that taking the population
of the parish at 280,000, these figures showed that 1 in
every 11 of the population was a pauper.
PRESENTS TO SUIT EVERT PURPOSE, TASTE, AND
POCKET AT PARKINS AND GOTTO'S.—Photographic Albums
a choice of 3,000 ; despatch boxes, writing cases, dressing
oases, travelling bags, envelope cases, blotting books, ink
stands, desks, book slides, Work boxes, tea caddies, hand
bags and reticules, card cases, purses, stationery cabinets,
scent bottles, albums for postage stamps, crests, &c.; cigar
cases, card baskets, pocket books, electro-gilt and elegantly
mounted articles. Bibles, Prayer-books, and Church Ser•
vices, in every type. Parkins and Gotto, 25, Oxford%
street. Thousands of the above articles, all perfectly nor
eilci folk 92 QV stvim kroxici lalet—fiuma

CORRESPONDENCE PROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS. FRIDAY, March 20.

Great activity prevails at Cherbourg. The employes at
the different workshops work until eight at night, and on
Sundays.

As education is just now a very prominent subject in
England, your readers may like to have some particulars
taken from an official report respecting secondary education
in France. The number of Lycees (the highest class of
schools) has increased from 35 in 1809 to 81. Fifteen de:
partments out of the 89 are without any, but they have
well-organised communal colleges. The average number
of deaths among the pupils in the Lycdes is only one in
tios. The number of scholars receiving the highest kind
of instruction has increased from 21,049 in 1855 to 36,112
in 1867. One remarkable circumstance shewn by this re-
port is the large increase of schools conducted by the
clergy. One hundred and sixty-eight lay schools have
disappeared since 1871, while the Jesuits have increased
their schools from 11 to 14, and other religions orders have
increased theirs by 21. The number of schools directed by
the parochial clergy has increased by 9, and the number
of pupils is more than doubled since 1854. It would
really seem as if before long secondary education would
pass almost entirely into the hands of the clergy. The
cost of secondary education is about £2,580,000 per annum,
of which less than £120,000 is provided by the State, no
less a sum than £2,360,000 by the parents, about £BO,OOO
only by the communes, and less than £7,000 by the
departments.

We have just passed the Washerwomen's Fete, Which
always takes place at Mid-Lent. They keep it by
making excursions, chiefly on the river, to the environs of
Paris, and the steamboats are full of them. Every lavoir
has its king and queen. There are about 120 lavoirs in
Paris, so that there is no lack of royal persons. They are
chosen by ballot on the Thursday preceding Mid.
Lent, and care is always taken to select the richest
blanchissevsc and her husband, for, instead of having a civil
list, they have to disburse money in entertaining. On
the morning of the festival the laundresses present
themselves before the queen, bearing bouquets and
cakes. They receive wine to wrlh down the
cakes, and this is provided at the cost of the king.
The ex-sovereigns bawl over the insignia of royalty
bunches of ribbons—to their successors. The festival is a
great day for courting, and many are the matches then
made, which are confirmed bymarriage at Easter. The pro-
prietors of the washing establishments are men, and the
chief of them employ as many as twenty or thirty per-
sons. A washerman and his wife can, without help, ears
from 130 f. to 140 f. (about five guineas) a week, and their
net profit would be about 25 per cent. Three years ago a
laundress, having drawn a prize of £2,000 in the lottery,.
gave a grand dinner to 100 of her comrades. They drank
prodigiously, and the bill was no less than £l6O.

By the courtesy of the proprietors of Le Petit Journal,
I have had an opportunity of seeing the new printing
machines of M. Marinoni at work upon that paper. This
machine is remarkably simple in construction and effective
in operation. The type is stereotyped and cast circular,
so that the matter which occupies one side of the printed
sheets entirely encircles the cylinder on which it is placed.
In operation two of these cylinders are used, and both
sides of the paper are printed as the sheet passes through
the machine. The sheets are supplied by six layers-on, and
they follow each other so as to make a continuous stream of
paper. As the printed sheets come out at the bottom of
the machine they are divided by an ingenious arrange-
ment of oscillating rollers— one sheet is rapidly taken to
the right and the next to the left. These two streams
of paper are again divided, and the sheets are thus brought
to four flyers, where they are laid in the usual manner.
The machine prints 9,000 sheets per hour, and as each
sheet contains four copies of the Journal, it follows that
the papers are produced by each machine at the rate
of 36,000 copies per hour. Four machines were at work,
and I can bear witness to the correctness of the statement
that the circulation of the paper amounts to 280,000 daily.
I may add, that my visit was quite unexpected, and there-
fore no appearances could have been put on for the
occasion. The price of this machine is only one-third the
cost of a Hoe, and it does an equal amount of
work with a smaller number of attendants and a
less expenditure of power. All thafis now wanted to perfect
the printing of newspapers is an arrangement for dealing
with a continuous band of paper. Instead of cutting the
paper into sheets at the mill and incurring a large expense
in supplying each sheet separately to the printing machine,
the paper should not be cut until after it is printed. I arc
told that a machine which accomplishes this is now ai
work at the office of the London Times. If the proprietor
of that journal bring this machine to a satisfactory
working they will add another instance to the many it
which their enterprise has conferred a large public
benefit.

In spite of the new press law, the Paris journals con-
tinue to publish their gossip about well-known persons.
One, for instance, mentions that the notorious Cora Pearl,
of the demi-monde, is going to be married to a Russian
prince, whose name is scarcely disguised. Another men-
tions that a duel with swords has just taken place between
Baron de L-, formerly Governor of Martinique, and
the captain of the vessel L-, and that after several
passes the Baron gave his adversary a dig in the chest,
with which both yarties were satisfied, especially th
captain.

A few days ago, says the Petite Presse, there arrived at
Bayonne an Englishman who had not set foot in his
country for thirty years. His passport was the same that
he had when he left London in 1837, with additions whict
made it 13ft. Gin. long, and it had cost him £4BO for the
various visas which he had obtained. When asked w 1 1.
he carried this huge scroll about with him, he said : "
rascally tenants will not be able to say that they have
paid me their rents, because I can prove that I have bee.
out of England all this time."

The Morning Post, which used to be strongly Bonapar<
tist, has lately shewn other tendencies. Its Paris corre
spondent augurs very unfavourably from the Imperia
pamphlet. He says that ever since the famous letter of
January 19, 1867, promising to crown the edifice, the
Emperor has shewn great indecision. For a whole year
his promises remained a dead letter, and all the world
knows that the Press Bill and the Meetings Bill, the work
of the present session, add nothing to the already pre=
scribed liberty of expressing or printing of political
opinion. There are no signs of Ministerial responsibility,
and lately the journals have been prosecuted for comment.
ing on the debates in the Chambers. The policy of Im-
perialism is now that of large armaments, an increase of
expenditure in all the Ministerial departments, and a
return to large deficits in the national budgets. All this
does not look like an approach to such constitutional
reforms as would circumscribe the will of the Crown and
curb a warlike and extravagant policy, inaugurated
when the Emperor modified his Cabinet and got rid of
M. Fould and M. Drouyn de Lhuys. His Imperial
Highness Prince Napoleon, and those who counselled the
Emperor to return to Ministerial responsibility and press
freedom—those, in fact, who inspired the liberal promises
of the Emperor's Speech from the Throne—are no longer
influential. His Majesty's doubts have ended in a poli-
tical standstill, if not a retrograde movement. It is, there-
fore, difficult to imagine that the pamphlet above referred
to can have any object beyond that of reviving in the
minds of the people the confidence they have placed in the
reigning dynasty, and inviting the nation to continue the
same.

Two Italian papers confirm the statement respecting the
speedy departure of French troops from Rome. This
event has now been affirmed and denied so often that it is
impossible for outsiders to know the truth.
It is believed that General Menabrea is about to make
terms with the Piedmontese Opposition. This will greatly
strengthen the Ministry, and enable it to carry those
financial measures upon which the very existence of the
country now depends. The total deficit is estimated to be
nearly 34i millions sterling.

Judging from correspondence which appears in the
Church Times, the forthcoming Volunteer Review is to be
made an occasion for a display of Ritual on Easter Sunday
(the day preceding the review). The Rev. G. Nugee, vicar
of Wymering, describes the various services which he will
have, and which, in addition to the ordinary early " Low"
and:noonday " High" celebrations, will include an outdoor
service in the Wymering rectory grounds, to which Volun-
teers are especially invited. At two other churches in the
neighbourhood (Holy Trinity, Portsea, and St. Michael's,
Swanmoie), the attractions of " vestments, lights, and
incense," and the " Sarum use " are offered ; and at one
church Volunteers are offered the further advantage of
seeing incense and cope used at the " Magnificat " and the
" Benedictus." Finally, Volunteers who are choristers
are requested to bring their surplices as well as their
uniforms. It is not stated which is to be worn upper-
most.

The Army and Navy Gazette is enabled to state that the
Easter Monday Volunteer Review promises to be one of the
most interesting and important in a strategical point of
view which has ever been held. The selection of
Portsmouth is due to Lord Ranelagh's exertions and
advice, although the fact has not yet been stated.

It is gratifying to find that the health of Lord
Auckland, Bishop of Bath and Wells, is steadily im-
proving. Although his medical attendant still remains
in daily attendance upon him, his lordship has so far re.
cDvered as to be able to take carriage exercise, and has
been out two or three times during the week. It is
rumoilred that the right rev. prelate proposes going to the
seaside at Weston-super-Mare, the air o_f which place is
fonnct set beneficial to convalescents.