The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-29 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING; FEBRUARY 29, 1868.

The resignation of Lord Derby and the pro-
motion of Mr. Disraeli to the Premiership has
necessitated very few changes in the Cabinet,
but it is not unlikely to lead to a freer de-
velopment of Mr. Disraeli's policy. However
severely he may have been criticized for what
his opponents term his spirit of tergiversation,
the present Prime Minister of England has
never been disloyal to his late chief or to his
party. He has a wonderful capacity of expan-
sion, and a fertility of resource which are not
the least qualities in a statesman. We do not
intend to enter now into a discussion of the
motives which led him to introduce and pass
a Reform Bill which certainly trumped Mr.
Bright's proposals, and took the wind out of
Mr. Gladstone's sails. Seeinc, that the de-
mand for Parliamentary Reform, whether
Conservatives liked it or not, could not
have been successfully resisted, may it not
have been an act of wisdom and of far-seeing
statesmanship on the part of Mr. Disraeli to
have projected such a Reform Bill as would
admit not only the seven pound house holders
—the greatest supporters of democratic Libe-
ralism in the country—but the class just
beneath them, who, as a rule, are more open
than any other to Conservative influences as
legitimately exercised by the great employers '
of labour ? But to leave the past, what pro-
mise does a Ministry under the guidance of
Disraeli hold out for the future ? How will
Catholic interests be affected ? The Irish
Church and land questions and national edu-
cation in England are matters of the deepest
moment, and their satisfactory settlement will
tax the resources to the utmost, even of so
bold and fertile a brain as that of the Prime
Minister. We cannot help believing that Mr.
Disraeli, with a view to gain a hold on the new
Parliament, will invent a lever equal in power
to that of his Reform Bill to remove that long-
standing and much-abused abuse, the Irish
Establishment. There is a freedom in the use
even of what seem at first sight radical reme-
dies by a Conservative Government, and espe-
cially under such a leader as the present,
which is more, likely to benefit so long-mis-
governed a country as Ireland, than the in-
effectual proposals of a sweeping character,
which Earl Russell invariably excogitates in
the cold shade of Opposition, and as invari-
ably leaves unexecuted in the sunshine of
office.
The question of education in England, by
its sifting and dividing process, will lead in
the course of the coming struggle to a clearer
demarcation of parties than has existed for a
loner time. The fight between rationalism and
Christian ethics has now to be fought out in
the political field, and no issue could be fraught
with more momentous consequences than the
success of the secular party over the upholders
of denominational education. What side will
Mr. Disraeli's Government take in this ques-
tion ? It is to be feared that Lord Stanley in-
clines to a compromise, but a compromise
such as must necessarily jeopardize the prin-
ciple which has hitherto guided education in
England would be to forfeit the confidence of
the staunchest supporters of a Conservative
Ministry. At such a moment when the policy
of a new Ministry is being shaped—when we
areoti its
sr
noansei thesubstitution
tn
ietenl
uavatneti
Ireland, would
ilaiavonuesepeal
atdrwldliasiauatts.
ebcycPetil
earssai Parliament—no liament—no means
should be left untried to unite in common ac-
d
n
s-
tion all the friends of Christian Education. On
this matter, at least, Catholics and Anglicans,
Englishmen and Irishmen, can work together
fora common purpose. Public opinion ought
to be thoroughly aroused on this subject, for
Mr. Disraeli is not a man to overlook the in-
dications of a genuine movement. Such test-
questions as these will try the metal of our
patient, bold, and aspiring Premier.
To appease Ireland by a just, and, by what
seems almost impossible to attain, a satisfactory
land-measure, by the disestablishment' of the
Irish Church, by the endowment—a measure
already too long postponed—of
elooaoaeisfnllianm%mo,
ptiouoliaheorinfsngekliyl the,EhEtliNnivnlpenl
ailgapl
ahli
sc:aoaoohCennnpel
adaavodolmvtu.:hornsaolouatyndvulic
hgl
University of Dublin, by the preservation
d
e
te
te
paljustlysiol;ieeol eebaimllrhioreemnysnrte,t esioltudullvcetrocl flespf airlssi.fisuDirdl pai greatideas.
mounte-
bank or a consummate master in the art of
Statecraft.---Westminster Gazette.

ooth to say, it enfranchises women as well as
negroes, and makes them alike competent as jurors.
March 15 is appointed as the day for voting on the
Constitution in the State, and the election of
officers under the new Constitution to be continued
for five days. The Florida Convention, having
adopted its Constitution, has divided into a ma-
jority and a minority, and there do not seem to be
any hopes of a reunion. The Ministry nominated
Colonel Billings, Governor, and William B. Saun-
ders, Lieut.-Governor, and the majority voted to
expel these candidates. The quarrel arose from a
desire to appropriate the spoils of office, and it has
been carried to such a pitch that a coliision is fin-
minent, and the troops have been called out to pre-
serve the peace.. By the Java, however, we learn
that General Meade has re-organized the Conven-
tion. The Louisiana Convention has increased the
original vote for the pay of each member 30 per
cent., and having thus disposed of the public funds
it lingers, on doing nothing but swell the plunder to
as large a sum as possible, It recommends the re-
appointment of General Sheridan, if llancock
should be removed. The Georgia Convention has
ejected the Boston negro lawyer, A. 11. Bradley.
The Virginia Convention has decided to elect the
Secretary of State, treasurer, and auditor by the Le-
gislature. The South Carolina Convention has asked
Congress to vote the State a loan of $1,000,000 in
aid of the poor, and that of North Carolina has de-
feated a resolution to prohibit marriage between
blacks and whites.
The President lately gave an audience to com-
mittees appointed by the meetings in New York to
consider the naturalization question. They asked
—l. That where American citizens had been im-
prisoned by Great Britain for periods varying from
two to twenty months, and then discharged under
promise to quit Ireland at once, the American Go-
vernment should make a demand for exemplary
damages. 2. That where American citizens had
been tried and convicted by ordinary and not mixed
juries, a demand should be made either for their
release or for another trial by a mixed jury, half
British and half foreigners, and that in such trials
this Government should furnish them with compe-
tent counsel. 3. The committees protested against
General Banks' Bill pending in the House, as being
too lenient, and as devised so as to defeat the very
purpose it professes to have in view. 4. That the
word " adopted " before the word " citizen " be
stricken from all public documents, so as to place
native-born and naturalized citizens on complete
equality. In reply, Mr. Johnson stated that the
attention of the Government was directed to the
subject, and he informed them that a special com-
mission, consisting of Messrs. Charles O'Connor
and James T. Brady, leading lawyers of New York,
and other gentlemen, would be sent to England to
confer with English authorities, to examine into
the laws and facts, and to report the result. The
Times says that they will meet with every assistance
from the English Bench and Bar, and probably be
surprised to discover how little prejudice they have
to encounter, and how lightly we estimate the fig-
-ment of perpetual allegiance which we are called
upon to surrender.
The Times correspondent wrote from Berlin,
February 24, that Mr. Bancroft, the American
Envoy, had just exacted a concession from the
Prussian Government which will be highly accept-
able to many adopted citizens among his country-
men. "In accordance with a treaty signed two
days ago, North German subjects emigrating to
America at any time of their lives, the period of
military service excepted, will, after an absence of
five years, be free to return, exempt from further
duties of the kind. A man, therefore, may leave
at the age of nineteen, though a few months longer
residence in the country would subject him to the
conscription laws ; but if he has once enterel the
army, he will be obliged to remain twelve years
longer, though he may be on furlough three-quar-
ters or eleven-twelfths of the time. Considering
the Government which concedes them, and the
ordinarily inexorable service they refer to, these
stipulations are unusually liberal. Not, however,
to make them act as an incentive to mere temporary
expatriation, it is provided that emigrants who have
gone away before fulfilling their military duty shall
lose the privilege of American citizenship two years
after returning to their former home. This, be-
sides enabling young men to emigrate just on the
verge of manhood, when they could not legally
have got away under the old legislation, will ob-
viate the recurrence of such distressing incidents as
the arrest and forcible enlistment of some Ameri-
can tourist who fondly fancied he had ceased to be
a German twenty years ago. But for the intimate
relations Washington
long Cabinets,
a n d
which now seem to be
closer than ever, the endless quarrels arising out of
cases of this kind would have long resulted in a
serious difference."
The President, on the 13th of February, nomi-
nated Lieutenant-General Sherman to be General
by Brevet, which promotes him to a rank similar to
that of Grant, if it be confirmed by the Senate. In the
excited temper of the public mind, when rumours of
all kinds are afloat, this promotion has been laid
hold of to give colouring to extravagant statements.
It is said that General Grant is to be tried by
Court-Martial for insubordination—that troops are
to be massed in Washington—a new military dis-
trict has in truth been created, composed of the de-
partments of the East, the Lakes,. and Washington,
with headquarters at the seat of Government, and
Sherman in command. Speculators in gold are
deeply interested in the manufacture of rumours
sufficiently probable to influence the quotations.
Just now they are as active as during the period
of the War, and affairs are taking so gloomy a turn
that they do not lack material. General Sherman
avoids rather than seeks the distinction the Presi-
dent desires to impose, and we believe he has even
exerted his influence in the Senate to procure the
rejection of the nomination, and it is now said he
has declined the promotion.
Dr. C. G. Page and James D. Linney arrived at
California on the 2d of January to test, practically,
Foot's invention for using petroleum for generat-
ing steam. At the same time a trial will be made
of the invention of Mr. White, of San Francisco,
which, as we reported some months ago, was suc-
cessfully tried on a stationary boiler at Santa Cruz.
The Mining and Scientific Press promises full reports
of the proposed trials of the rival inventions. James
D. Linney was the constructing and operating en-
gineer of Foot's patent in the experiments made in
the Atlantic cities. Secretary Welles, in his annual
Report, alluded to the fact that $5,000 had been ex-
pended in the trials for substituting petroleum for
coal in the Navy, but the conclusion arrived at was
not favourable to petroleum as a fuel.
We presume when Grant is riled, he lets off the
steam by fast driving, for he has again been fined
for this misdemeanour. Two ladies, the one in the
city of London, the other in the city of Mexico,
have also been fined for the same offence. Miss Rose
Phillips, of hill-street,
Knightsbridge, was sum-
moned to Marlborough-street for furious riding
in Rotten-row. She was galloping her horse as fast
as the whip could make it go, and she paid no at-
tention to the constables who endeavoured to stop
her or the danger to others. She was fined 40s. and
costs. The other case was that of the wife of
Juarez, who was arrested in Mexico and fined for
furious driving. Juarez, it is said, thanked the
policemen who thus ckecked the fast pace at which
his wife was going.
The Freedmen's Bureau ceased to be in opera-
tion on the 15th inst. in the States of Maryland,
Kentucky, and Tennessee, in accordance with an
order issued by General Grant, when Secretary of
War. The law provides that it should continue in the
other Southern States until the lstJuly, 1838 ; and
nearly all the military officers and many prominent
and loyal citizens have petitioned for the con-
tinuance of the Bureau till then in these three
States. Secretary Stanton has not moved in the
matter nor has Congress, and in default of such
action the Bureau has ceased.
The Mechanics' State Council of California has
issued an address to the working men of the United
States, advising them to keep away from California,
and informing them that the average rate of wages
on the Pacific sea-board was less than on the At-
lantic. They give the following tariff, neglecting,
however,
to state that the rate is ill sold :—For

„hi p-wrights, $2 81c. ; ship-joiners, $2 75c. ;
can lkers, $2 50c. ; house carpenters, $2 25c. ;
it iters, $225c. ; bricklayers, $2 75c. ; plasterers, $2
50c. ; stonecutters, ,$3 ; blacksmiths, $3 25c. ;
t toile, "-makers, $2 50e. ; plumbers, $2 75c. ; gas-
fi.`,ters, $2 75c. ; machinists, $2 75c. ; wood-turners
$ a ; scroll sawyers, $2 50c. ; stevedores, $2 50c. ;
r 'ggers, $2: 50c. ; lathers, $2; pattern makers, $2
5, Dc. ; moulders, $2 50c. per day. On the 12th of
V lebrasary the Californian Legislature re-enacted the
eight-flours' law, after an experience of a year's
workin g. It is stated that its operation has been
to thre w many working men out of employment.
The Alabama Constitution has failed through
the wt site men having registered in large numbers,
especi, ally in Northern Alabama, to increase the list
of vote ors, and then refrained from voting, so that
the rat jority required by the Reconstruction Act of
the reg istered voters might not be obtained. They
have fully succeeded in this manoeuvre, the defi-
cienc y being 15,000 in the total vote. Under
70,0( )0 vote;s have been polled, the proportion being
150 negroes to one white man. Of the •72,746
white, pe., sons who registered,about one in a hundred
vote& Not only did they refrain from giving their
votes, :but, in some instances, they brought a strong
pressure to bear upon the negroes in their employ-
went. Senator Sherman, of Ohio, has introduced
a bill declaring Alabama Reconstructed and entitled
to representation in Congress. If this be done,
Alabama will be admitted to the Union, practically,
without conditions, which in effect will throw the
Reconstruction Act overboard. The fact that the
whites could thus defeat the Congressional plan,
aided by all the blacks, is a convincing proof of
their overwhelming power in the South, and the
vanity of Congressional legislation to nullify it.
The Reconstruction Act provided for but one Con-
vention and one election, and these have been held,
so that the measure cannot act further in this direc-
tion on Alabama. To reconstruct that State it
would be necessary to pass a new law.
Mr. Thaddeus Stevens called the Reconstruction
Committee together on the 13th February to con-
sider further evidence on the question of Impeach-
ment. A resolution was submitted, that Andrew
Johnson be impeached for high crimes and mis-
demeanours, and that the Senate be demanded to
• take order for the appearance of said Andrew
Johnson to answer to the impeachment. On the
question being submitted, John A. Bingham, of
Ohio, moved that the resolutions be laid upon the
table, which was carried against the strenuous op-
position of Mr. Stevens by 6 to 3, the ayes being
, Messrs. Bingham, Beaman, Brooks, Beck, Hurl-
burd, and Paine ; the nays, Messrs. Stevens,
Boutwell, and Farnsworth. Mr. Stevens, although
still very weak, being carried to and from his place
in the House, exerted himself energetically to secure
the impeachment of the President. He considered
the order given by the President to the General
commanding the army to disobey the instructions
of the Secretary of War was a clear violation of the
Tenure-of-Office Law. Whatever might be the
question of veracity between Grant and Johnson,
, they both agreed on that point, the only one
material for the purpose of impeachment. It is
clear from the action of the Committee, con-
sisting as it did of seven Republicans and two
Democrats,that the impeachment afterwards decided
upon has been forced most reluctantly on the Re-
publican party.
The Times was moved ou Wednesday into a re-
, ply to the general attack made upon it for writing
Lord Derby's obituary before Lord Derby's death.
• That obstinate nobleman, always grand in oppo-
sition, at once rallied to the confusion of the Times,
, who, however, escaped from the yelping curs
at its heels under cover of the Earl's resignation.
It was only of his coming resignation, not of his
dissolution, that the Times had written—a statement
which really required all the well-known assurance
of the Thunderer to make. The Evening Stan-
dard gets a rap over the knuckles. After ob-
serving that it had been ” the most spirited in its
, contradictions, yesterday it was happy to state in
one column that the ' noble Premier's' health con-
tinues satisfactory, though as yet he is still confined
to his room, while a parallel passage in an adjoin-
ing column announces his resignation of office." It
was the political, care" of the Premier that had
closed, and it was that obituary the Times had wz it-
ten. This is not a bad piece of shaking.
A scene strange to English eyes was enacted in
the House of Representatives on the 10th Feb.
The House, on the motion of Mr. Poland on the
preceding Friday, had ordered that the members
on that day should draw for seats for the Fortieth
Congress. Mr. Poland had a seat far in the rear,
and the chances were that he would gain, while
he could not lose. Mr. Dawes moved that Messrs.
Stevens, Washburne, and Thomas, as the oldest
members, be permitted to retain their seats. To
this Mr. Eldridge said he would not object, pro-
vided Mr. Poland was permitted to retain his seat
also. The hall became a scene of such confusion
that the Speaker threatened to call the members
by name unless order was preserved, on which the
Representatives retired beyond the outer row of
sea's, and the drawing commenced. Mr. Eggles-
ton shouted, " Shake the box well." A page was
blindfolded and commenced drawing the names.
As luck would have it the first that turned up was
that of Mr. Poland, of Vermont, the mover—a re-
sult that gave rise to much merriment. The fun was
mainly caused by the freaks of fortune which placed
wide barriers between the closest companions, and
seated bitter enemies cheek by jowl. Mr. Farn-
worth, of Illinois, who had been au active agent in
supporting Mr. Poland's motion, got the worst
place, and he was escorted by Mr. Spalding, amid
shouts of laughter, tc his out-of-the-way seat on
the Democratic side of the House.
It is authoritatively stated and confirmed by the
Cable that the President has offered the English
mission to General George B. M'Clellan, who
is now in Europe, but it is improbable that
the Senate will confirm the appointment. Nor,
indeed, is it likely that the distinguished officer
would accept the post, as he may be wanted
to run for the Presidency on the Democratic
ticket. There is little chance, therefore, that
the General will represent' the United States at
the Court of St. James's, whatever may be Mr.
Johnson's desire to get him out of the way. In-
deed, it is now said that S. S. Cox is not likely to
be confirmed as Minister to Austria, although the
Foreign Affairs Committee of the Senate reported
favourably on the nomination, as Senator Wade is
making a personal fight against him in return for
the defeat in Ohio.
The stipulations of the Treaty concluded between
Prussia and the United States are in the main be-
lieved to be as follows :—" The North German
Confederate Governments will consider North Ger-
mans naturalized in America as American citizens
after five years' residence in that country; with the
exception of criminals and deserters from their flag.
If a German, naturalized in America, returns to his
native country without intending to go back to
America, he will be regarded as having abandoned
his American naturalization rights. This clause
also applies to naturalized Germans who may re-
side for more than two years in North Germany
after returning from America. All clauses of the
Treaty equally apply to American citizens naturalized
in Germany. The Extradition Treaty of 1852, re-
specting criminals, is extended to the whole of
North Germany. The duration of the Treaty is
fixed at 10 years, and the ratifications are to be ex-
changed within six weeks.
Mr. Charles Mackay, in a pamphlet on the con-
venience, utility, and necessity of street-tramways
for London, alludes to the advantage they would
have in the English metropolis over the Empire
City, where there is no law against over-crowding,
and where the whole inner passage between the op-
posite seats is blocked up by standing passengers,
who hold on by straps fixed in the roof for the pur-
pose of stea lying them. Mr. Mackay will be
glad to hear that Mr. Bergh, the president of
the New York Association for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals, prosecutes all drivers of horse
cars, even when four horses are attached, if more
than the lawful number of passengers are allowed to
enter the cars.
The United States, when the circumstances are
at all similar, reproduce the same features as the
United Kingdom. When the Senate was trying to
abolish the' State Departments' corps of spies, Mr.

Sumner pathetically appealed to the Chamber not
to do away with the ancient and time-honoured
abuse, which had been in force since the days of
Washington. He did not call it au abuse, he called
it the custom of their ancestors. Secretary Weal -
loch on the 12th February received two letters con-
taining $65 and $5O conscience-money. If the
English Chancellor of the Exchequer had received
these sums, he would have passed them to the public
credit, acknowledged their receipt in the Times,
and thrown the envelope into the waste-paper
basket. But the American Secretary cast on the
envelope an eye of curiosity. He found the post
i mark to be Palmer, Massachusetts, and he recorded
this fact, perhaps with the view of sending there a
Commissioner of Lunacy. If he could only esta-
blish a conscience in the collectors of the Internal
Revenue the taxpayers of the United States would
at once feel a lightening of their load.
A movement is on foot to call a General Convention
of the producing interests in the Western States to
meet at Cincinnati, and take measures ag dust the
present prohibitory tariff system. The West
strongly favours inflation and the payment of the
national debt in paper. The programme of such a
Convention, as is likely to meet in Cincinnati,
would be the very reverse of the Commercial Con-
vention which sat in Boston from the 4th to the Bth
inst., which favours the protection of home labour,
the duties to be so laid when the tariff is revised as
to place the heaviest on manufactured articles in
which labour forms the chief expense, and the
collection of import dues not at the port of
entry, but at the place of consumption, so as to do
away with bonding, warehousing, &c. It declares
that national honour and good faith alike require
the redemption of the 5-20 Bonds in specie, and
that the expansion of the currency should cease.
It affirms that the business interests of the country
require a speedy resumption of specie payments,
and recommends the contraction of the currency at
the rate of $3,000,000 a month, commencing Jan.
1, 1869. It would limit the National Bank cur-
rency to $300,000,000 until specie payments are
resumed, and the Convention closed its labours
with three loud cheers for the national honour. The
West and the East sail in different boats, which
may yet bring them into collision.
Last Monday, in the House of Commons, Mr.
Ewart moved for leave to bring in a bill to intro-
duce into England the metric system of weights and
measures. He proposed to leave the time blank,
but thought that five years might be a sufficient
interval before the bill came into operation. Mr.
Cave said he should not offer any opposition on the
part of the Government to the introduction of the
bill, but wished to remind the hon. gentleman that
one of the points contained in the measure would
be brought under the consideration of the Royal
Commission now sitting. The bill was brought in,
and afterwards read a first time.
The Consular and Diplomatic Appropriation
Bill, as reported on the 12th Feb., appropriates the
salary for a Minister to Portugal, provides Com-
missioners and Consul-General to Hayti and Li-
beria instead of Ministers, makes no appropriation
for Ministers to Greece and Rome, reduces the State
Department Contingent Fund from $65,000 to
$30,000, and omits the salary of the Second-As-
sistant Secretary of State. The bill contains a
provision that no consul-generals, consuls, consular
agents, or commercial agents, shall be paid except
those specified in the Act, and that all laws and
parts of laws providing for the payment of any other
consular officers than these in this Act specified
are thereby repealed ; and that all moneys received
for fees at any vice-consulate, or consular agency
of the United States, beyond the sum of $l,OOO, in
any one year, shall be accounted for and paid into
the Treasury in the same manner as other moneys
received by the consular offices. No money is
sanctioned for the examiner of claims, superinten-
dent of statistics, despatches by the Atlantic cable,
boundary commissioner of Washington territory,
nor rent for the State Department building. Sena-
tor Patterson's bill has passed the Senate, and it
provides that no more of these officials shall be
appointed either by the President or by the depart-
ments, and that the offices shall cease on the expi-
ration of thirty days from the passage of the Act.
It will make a sweep of a large number of Govern-
ment officials, special and general agents, and the
President is barred the power of future appoint-
meat, except with the advice and consent of the
i Senate, a report being made to Congress at the
lbegiuning of each Session of the number of agents
then in the service. The Act is thought to be an
effectual measure of retrenchment without injury
to the public service. The newspaper correspon-
dent, W. W. Warden, whose business it was to look
through journals and select articles to read to Mr.
Johnson, has also been struck off, as well as a
pardon clerk.
News from Hongkong of the 15th January states
that a Japanese vessel had arrived with intelligence
that the ports of Hiogo and Osaca had been opened
on the first day of the year. Twelve British, six
American, and one French war vessels were pre-
sent. Much adverse discussion continues in China
regarding Mr. Burlin.ghaine's appointment as Envoy
from the Chinese Government to the various Euro-
gpean Courts and the United States. An earthquake
had occurred in Formosa which lasted 32 minutes.
Much damage was done. The Pacific steamer
Great Republic arrived at Hongkong on the 13th

January.
The New York Chamber of Commerce has ap
pointed a Committee to report on the propriety of
opposing the bill now in Congress to assimilate the
coinage of the United States to the French 5-franc
piece, harmonizing it with many of the European
continental nations. The difficulty with them ap-
pears to be the loss that must accrue to the public,
as well as the private creditors of the country, who
will lose by such conversion 31 per cent., the re-
duction in the value of the dollar. If Sherman's
Consolidation Loan Bill is to pass a clause might be
introduced to correct the discrepancy, and on that
1 all other monetary transactions could be regulated.
The difficulties of harmonizing the English currency
with the French is far greater. Indeed, the United
States are in the most favourable position for mak-
ing a change so desirable—an opportunity which, if
inow lost, may never occur again. The Hon. Samuel
Ruggles, Commissioner to the Paris Convention,
has published a long and able report on Interna-
tional Coinage. As we announced in our last issue,
her Majesty has appointed a Royal Commission to
report on this subject.
The State of Pennsylvania has not been happy
in its Treasurer, Mr. W. H. Kemble, unless it wished
to prove how much injury any man may effect if he
is only given the chance. Messrs. August Belmont
and Co., acting for the Ro-thschilds, applied to Mr.
Kemble for permission for his clients to continue
to hold certain overdue Pennsylvania stocks, in-
stead of receiving the principal in the depreciated
currency, but if compelled thus to accept payment
to do so under protest. To this letter, January 28,
a reply was immediately despatched, refusing to
allow the Messrs. Rothschild to retain the old loan,
and draw interest on it—they had not, said Mr. K.,
the slightest objection to the protest, and the com-
plaints appeared to them " ridiculous." Consider-
ing that it was the injurer who thus addressed the
injured, there was sufficient curtness and rudeness
in this, but not enough to satisfy a Kemble. Taking
a leaf out of the letter of Thaddeus Stevens, on
Repudiation, about the sweet communion of Jew
and Gentile—ho endeavours in the same breath to
plunder and to stigmatize--to add insult to injury.
These are the Treasurer's words—" I have no
doubt Messrs. August Belmont and Co. had many
liabilities out when the Legal-Tender Act was passed,
which became due after gold had risen to a pre-
mium of 80. I have not yet heard of their conscience
compelling them to pay in gold instead of the Legal-
Tender. We are willing to give you the pound of
I flesh, but not one drop of Christian blood." But he
had caught a Tartar. August Beimont's reply is
a forcible suppression of insolence. Briefly re-
viewing the correspondence, he proceeds as briefly
to state the circumstances. He shows that the
Messrs. Rothschild were acting for widows and
orphans who would be reduced to beggary by the
course taken by Pennsylvania. In this they evinced
a fresh proof of their honourable appreciation of
the obligations assumed by them as trustees of the
innocent holders of the most disastrous loan ever
negotiated by their house ; a negotiation based