The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-24 00:00:00

CORRESPONDENCE F.IWIII

(11CM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, SUNDAY, Feb. !P.

The sittings in the French Chambers are getting more
and more stormy. The impetuosity of the Opposition
seems to grow with its numbers. M. Thiers spoke in
resuming the debate on the Press Law—the law against
the press, as it is Called—and was called to order by Baron
David for questioning the decision of the Sixth Tribunal.
The judges were above criticism. The hon. deputy, how-
ever, contended for the right to criticise anybody. Granier
de Cassagnac argued that the press had liberty enough ;
that the press wits free to discuss what took place
in the Chambers ; but he maintained that they were
in the habit of publishing summaries that were frivolous
and false. 011ivier followed in a most vigorous strain,
and then the storm rose rapidly. He quoted an article
from the Pays, written by Paul de Cassagnac, ridiculing
the deputes arocats (the lawyer deputies) in excessively
strong language ; and then, turning to Granier de Gas-
sagnac, he asked if he, the director of a journal indulging
in such invectives against the Opposition, was the man
to upbraid other journalists and to prate about social order.
Cassagriac replied that the article rcferre.d to the lawyers
in their professional capacity. Thereupon Jules raw°
ejaculated, "It is not true !" Though called to order for
this, Favre repeated that "it was not correct," and the
President restored order only by regretting that the dis-
cussion should " degenerate to personalities." It was
some time, however, before the debate escaped from per-
sonalities, and then M. Rouher tried to explain to the
Chamber what the press were allowed to do with respect
to the debates. I hope they were enlightened. The
discussion was resumed next day, and the amendment to
allow the press freedom to quote and summarise the
debates in discussing them was rejected by 155 to 66 votes.
In some of their comparisons with England the Opposi-
tion orators overdo it. M. Thiers said in the last debate
that since 1688, the period in which the Parliament of
England has been supreme, there had been no error of
policy. Some one asked, " What of Ireland?" and he
might welL On the other hand, the apologists of the
Government are not guiltless of misrepresentation. The
Constitutionnef refers to the condemnation of the editors
of the Irishman and the Weekly News to twelve and six
months' imprisonment respectively, as "an example of
severity which writers may expect from English justice
who depart from the respect due to the law." The Arenir
National, however, replies, that the Constitutionnel omits
some facts necessary to explain the proceeding. One is,
that it is twenty years since there was a political press
trial in Ireland ; another, that the trial took place
before a jury ; and a third, that the whole trial is pub-
lished to the world.

M. Vermorel, the editor of the Courrier Francois, has
been sentenced to a month's imprisonment and 1,500 f.
fine, and M. Lepage, the manager, to I,ooof. fine, for
publishing false news and defamation of the police.

We are in "the days of February." It is twenty years
since the Parisians began reforming, by ringing the
rarseillaise, crying " Vive la R6formc ! a has Guizot,"
end by breaking the windows of the Foreign Minister—
the reform ending in the abdication of Louis Philippe, on
the 24th, and his flight to England. Then came the
Republic, and then the Empire, with a firm and stable
Government, but not with liberty even yet.
The French papers reproduce at length the reports of
English correspondents in Abyssinia. The Liberty oh-
szrves that the English have began like the tortoise and
will finish like the hare.

A usually well-informed Florence correspondent believes
in the existence of a secret compact between Italy and
France, amounting almost to an offensive and defensive
alliance. It refers to possible future events in which
Prussia might find herself opposed by her late ally. From
this, and from indications in the Emperor's policy, notably
the hurried army preparations, Napoleon may still, it
would seem, have before him the policy of preventing too
close an alliance between South Germany and the Northern
Confederation.

The Zustawa, a Servian paper, states that there are
2,000 armed men on the banks of the Danube ready for
an insurrection and waiting for a favourable moment to
enter the Balkan with the cry " Liberty or death !" The
secret committee which directs the movement have pur•
chased eight field pieces, and they are, it is said, receiving
money from all parts of Servia. It is clear that the
troubles of the Sultan will not end with the pacification of
Crete.

Suppose the object of the Abyssinian expedition accom-
plished, writes.a correspondent of the Times, are we, after
all the trouble and expense incurred, to vacate, without
some attempt at compensation, the position thus attained
in a fine, healthy, and fertile country—to give it up to
Egyptian rapacity and oppression, or to French occupa-
tion, or perhaps to both ? Against annexation there are
many arguments. We have already more territory
than w© know how to rule well. but before
we withdraw our army we have duties to per-
form. These the writer enumerates. First, we ought
to endeavour to tranquillise this unhappy coun-
try, so long a prey to foreign enemies and internecine
wars ; next, to endeavour by legitimate means to obtain
some compensation for the " taxpayers ;" and
thirdly, to avail ourselves of the finest opportunity ever
recorded in history to put a stop to the slave trade, to
extend discovery and exploration into the remotest regions
of Central Africa. Assisted by legitimate commerce, this
would be the means of extending civilisation and Chris-
tianity over that benighted portion of the globe, and tend
far more effectually than our squadrons on the western
coast to put a stop to the slave trade. To do this it is
proposed to establish the rightful successor to Menelek on
the throne on condition of his defrtying the expenses of
the expedition, and maintaining at his own cost a subsi-
diary force of British troops on the same plan as was done
in India in the case of the Nizam. With a regular
Goveniment the customs would yield a considerable
revenue ; and, according to Sir Samuel Baker, if the
slave trade were suppressed, Central Africa could easily
be opened up. The Times calls this " the inevitable
suggestion."

The Herald is happy to state that Lord Derby is pro-
gressing satisfactorily, and may be considered convalescent.
To this gratifying announcement the Telegraph adds that
the chances for the Premier's improved health are
positively better than they were before the last attack, the
new treatment having been very successful. The question
is, whether the same progress will continue without the
special impulse of medicaments, and on that point the
doctors are decidedly hopeful.
With respect to the Premiership, many remarkable
stories are afloat. It is asserted that after Lord Derby's
violent attack of sickness on Monday last, he yielded
to the solicitations of his co•nitess and his medical
advisers, and forwarded his resignation to her Majesty.
Exercising the privilege enjoyed by the First Minister, he
is said to have recommended the Duke of Richmond as
his successor. The Duke was accordingly telegraphed for,
and went to Osborne. He was offered the Premiership by
the Queen, but most respectfully declined the proffered
honour. The Chancellor of the Exchequer concurred in
the selection of the Duke, upon the ground that it is neces-
sary that the Premier should have a seat in the Upper
House, in order to disarm the fears and prejudices of Tory
grandees. Upon the Duke of Richmond declining the
proffered honour, her Majesty is stated to have written
to Lord Derby, entreating him to retain office for the pre-
sent. The noble earl has intimated his obedience to the
Queen's request.
The concluded contest at Cambridge University is con-
strued by the Times into a defeat of the Government,
whose reforming policy Mr. Beresford Hope last year so
persistently opposed. To the Telegraph the fight shews
how very much the Evangelical party has declined in
power amongst the clerical graduates, who compose the
vast majority of the academic constituency. A score of
years ago the mere suspicion of Tractarian proclivities
would have been sufficient to ruin any chances that a can-
didate for Cambridge might possess.

The cry for more education is spreading to Scotland. A
large meeting has just been held at Glasgow, presided over
by the Lord Provost, to discuss the best means of pro.
moting the establishment of a system of national educa-
tion in Scotland. The first resolution, moved by Mr.
William Graham, M.P., declared that any measure, tc
be effectual, must, while taking advantage of existing
schools, provide more schools and teachers. The second
expressed the opinion that no bill be considered satisfac-
tory which did not contain compulsory clauses. Mr.
Robert Dalglish, M.P., moved the third resolution, to the
effect that any system of national education must be
unsectarian, and that non-attendance at religious
teaching must involve no disqualification for any privilege
,of the school. The resolution by no means passed un-
challenged. The Rev. Mr. Gault proposed an amendment
in favour of "scriptural education," which included, of
course, the teaching of the Shorter Catechism, with a
species of Conscience Clause. A very boisterous dis.
cussion took place, and on the motion and the amendment
being put to the meeting the Lord Provost declared the
show cf hands to be pretty equally divided, but, if any
thing, in fav,ur of the motion. Other resolutions were
passed declaratory of the soundness of the principl*
if local rates and management, and appointing a corn
inittee to communicate to the Lord-Advocate the reso
iutions passed, and to watch the debates in Parliament.
Lest the Chatham and Dover Railway shareholders
should not experience every species of railway misfortune;
the directors have commenced proceedings in Chancery
which, according to "A Barrister," in the Times, "pro
mise to be as tedious and costly as any the Court of Chan
eery ever witnessed." Unless the shareholders at the ap
proaching general meeting insist on a reference tt.
arbitration, there seems to be every prospect of tip
improved position of the company being lost in law ex.
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