The Sun.
London, England, 1868-12-09 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, DECEMBER 9,186 g.

be raised to the Upper House, there will
be little gained in respect of eloquence. Under these
circumstances it is difficult to understand why Mr.
GLADSTONE. should have thought it necessary to
bestow so many principal posts on peers. Perhaps
he is influenced by the consideration that his Irish
Church measure, while passing easily enough through
the Lower House, will be strenuously opposed in the
Upper, and that therefore it is necessary to propi-
tiate as many great heads of Houses as possible, with
the view of preventing the formation of a Cave of
Adullam among the Peers. This considera-
tion has weight, for even though it be
said that they must give way in the long
run, no wise statesman will pit them against the
Commons, nor neglect any reasonable opportunity of
reconciling the two Houses, so as to prevent a colli-
sion. At the same time it is to be hoped that
Mr. GLADSTONE will not be compelled to make any
more propitiatory sacrifices to the house of Lords.
Mr. DISRAELI was partial to dukes, yet even he chose
the bulk of his chief ministers from the Lower House.
The Home, Foreign, War, and India Secretaries and
the First Lord of the Admiralty were all commoners,
whereas two of these in Mr. GLADSTONE'S Adminis-
tration will be peers. Mr. GLADSTONE is not one of
the " old Whig lot," and he must be careful lest he
should lead the nation to think that he is.

LORD STANLEY'S declaration at King's Lynn with
regard to the Eastern Question was not exactly a
prophecy. It was merely an announcement of what
in the nature of things was certain and inevitable.
For some time past the conspiracies against the
integrity of Turkey have been so open and so
unceasingly active that the date of a rupture was
simply a question of the long-suffering of the PoRTE.
The intrigues in Roumania in the north, and the assist-
ance given by the Greeks to the Cretans in the south,
were on behalf of a similar, though not precisely the
same object. The Roumanians hope by the dis-
memberment of Turkey to lay the founda-
tion of a great State amongst the heterogeneous
tribes of the Danubian provinces—a State whichwould
certainly embrace a large portion of Turkey, and
which might probably include a small fraction of
Austria. The Greeks dream of a Ilellenic Empire,
the sway of which would be paramount over the
islands of the Levant, and would extend far beyond
the present boundaries of Greece on the Ottoman
frontier. How far these two great schemes, which
form the substance of what is known as the Eastern
Question, are supported or discouraged by the greater
Powers, it is impossible to learn precisely. There can
be no doubt that the intrigues of the stronger Euro-
pean States, and especially of Russia, have brought
about the hopeless embroglio which the Eastern
Question now presents. But to what extent and
with what object those intrigues are carried on
is just the problem whose insolubility gives to
the Eastern Question its character of hopeless
complexity. It is "most probable that Russia aids
both R►ournania and Greece with the object of fur-
thering Muscovite designs, and it is equally likely that
this aid is acceptedby the smaller States inthe hope that
they only will profit by it—that Russiawill be swindled
when the time comes for dividing the spoil. But what-
ever may be the cause, the effect is unequivocal. The
Roumanians and the Greeks are openly labouring,
in a manner which has had no parallel
since the partition of Poland for the dismember-
ment and destruction of the Ottoman Empire.
The conduct of both Governments has long been-a
scandal to Europe. In England there are abundant
symptoms that the old enthusiasm for the mainte-
nance of the Ottoman power has materially cooled
down ; but it is impossible to regard these deliberate
violations of international law, these persistent
attempts to destroy a peaceful State, without the
strongest feeling of disapproval. For the last two or
three years the Greek Government has been the sole
support of an insurrection in one of the island
provinces of Turkey. The merits of the original
rising—the presumed wrongs of the Cretans and the
injuries wrought by the Turks—are not the points
at issue. The just complaint which the Porte brings
against the Government at Athens is that Greece, a
neutral State, has systematically encouraged a civil
war in Turkey, and has been the mainstay of an
insurrection, which otherwise would long ago have
been repressed. The rising in Camila has been
virtually a war between Turkey and Greece. The
Government of the latter State has not only per-
mitted the enlistment of volunteers for Crete,
but it has openly encouraged it. It has shipped
off fighting-men to the islands, and it has brought
back the women, children, and old men. It has
tolerated, if not provided, a blockade runner, which
has long set at defiance the incompetent navy of the
Porte, and has furnished the Cretans with arms,
ammunition, and money. There can be no doubt
that the rising would have been suppressed but for
Greek aid ; and thus it is clear that, whatever com-
plaint the Cretans may have against the Turks, the
Turks are not the less in the right against the Greeks.
The end has come at last, and would have come long
ago but for the interference of the Powers. The
Porte would have settled the question by an open fight
with Greece, had not the mysterious logic of Euro-
pean diplomacy decreed that the fighting had better go
on with Crete as the medium. The policy of the
Government at Athens was clearly illegal, and if the
Powers had some time ago done what they are doing
now, much misery to the Cretans and much
disquietude to Europe might have been spared.
There can now be but one issue to the combined
intervention of England, France, and Austria. If the
question is settled by mediation the States which have
supported the ultimatum of Turkey can be satisfied
only by full concession on the part of Greeee. If the
two bankrupt nations go to war, the moral support
of the interfering Powers must remain on the side
of Turkey. A peaceful settlement of this difficulty
cannot be other than advantageous to Europe. It
will for a time retard Muscovite progress southwards,
and it will put an end to a policy which weekly increases
the misery of the miserable States of the East. The
ambition of Greece is productive of great temporary
injury; whilst it is impossible to see how or when
it may be expected to end in any permanent
I benefit.

DEATH OF THE KING OF SIAM AND
SUCCESSION 70 7HE THRONE.

We have received the following from an official
source :

His Majesty Pradat Somdet Phra Chom Klow,
the late King of Siam, was attacked with fever
on the 27th of August last. The medical faculty
prescribed for his Majesty, and hopes were en-
tertained of his recovery, when hemorrhage
ensued.
Notwithstanding all medical treatment his Ma-
jesty became worse. On the Ist of October, at
9 p.m., his Majesty breathed his last, aged fully
sixty-four years, having reigned seventeen years
six months and a half. The officers whose duties
are to attend to the Royal dead then clothed
his Majesty's remains in regal robes, and de-
posited them in a golden urn, which was con-
veyed in a procession to the Grand Palace, and
placed in state to the wing of the Palace called
Dootcha Sit Maha Prasat, according to the custom
annually adopted with regard to the remains of the
former Kings of Siam.
The Princes, relatives of his late Majesty, the
Ministers, and the officers of Government, both
high and low, then met and consulted together,
and unanimously agreed to the accession of
Prince Chau Fa Chula Longkorn, th 3 eldest son
of his late Majesty, to the throne of the king-
dom of Siam ; and that of Prince George
Kromatnun Bawarawichai Chan, the eldest son
of his late Majesty Prabat Somdet Pra Pin
Klow, the second King to the throne of the
second King of Siam, as successors of the two late
Kings.
All the officers and people of Siam having unani-
mously consented to these lineal successions, there
were consequently neither discussions nor disputes
of any kind. Merchants and traders follow up
their avocations iu peace and prosperity as here-
tofore.
Bangkok, Oct. 8.

LATEST INTELL IGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE .NEW GOVERSMENT.

-

Y ery few appointments now remain to be filled up, and
those are almost all of the second rank. Another day or
two will suffice to complete the settling down. The
triumph of the British Constitution will then be perfect,
and, as the Times says, the answer of the con-
stituencies to the appeal of Mr. Disraeli will be
carried into the innermost recesses of the palace.
By far the most important vacancy is the Lord-
Lieutenancy of Ireland. For this Lord Halifax is most
mentioned, the Post observing that the office has certainly
been offered him. The appointment would not be regarded
with general satisfaction ; several journals urge objections
of some weight against Lord Halifax as Viceroy, but, at
the same time, an efficient and vigorous rule is anticipated
from him. At present be is the candidate most
spoken of. Lord Dufferin has the strong sym-
pathy of the Times, and Earl Spencer commands
the confidence of the Advertiser. The latter says : "Earl
Spencer's appointment, it is admitted on all hands,
would give universal satisfaction ; but he hesitates to
accept so responsible a trust as the government of Ire-
land, pending changes of such grave importance as the
Irish policy propounded by Mr. Gladstone must involve.
We believe we are correct in stating that he had
an interview of some duration on Tuesday with
the Premier Elect, and many deeply interested in the
welfare of the sister country are still hopeful that an
Althorp may be induced to preside at the Irish Court."
The Star speaks of Mr. Forster as the future Minister of
Education and a Privy Councillor, though he will not be in
the Cabinet. The Daily News and the Telegraph,
which both complain of the preponderance of
the Whig element in the new Ministry, think he ought to
have a place in the chief council of the nation. The Post
says Mr. Hugessen will probably return to the Treasury,
and it is certain that Mr. Monsell, Mr. Gregory, Mr.
Baxter, and other prominent members of the Liberal
party will be invited to take office. Mr. Otway will
become Vice-President of the Board of Trade; and,
as the Under-Secretaryship for War will be held
by a peer, Captain Vivian, will become a Lord of
the Treasury. The same paper adds : " Amongst
those who have declined office are Earl Russell, Sir
George Grey, and the Right Hon. W. Cowper, in each
case with every assurance of earnest support. It is hoped
that some important position may yet be found for Mr.
Charles Villiers. There is much regret also expressed that
it has not been possible to offer to Mr. Stansfeld and Mr.
Forster seats in the Cabinet, but as Vice-President of the
Council and Secretary of the Treasury they will have
important work before them, and will add powerfully to
the strength of the debating power of the Government."
The Star says the most likely appointment to the Lord
Justiceship of Appeal is that of Vice-Chancellor Giffard.
For the Duchy of Lancaster—which, it was thought, Sir
George Grey would have—Mr. Villiers, Mr. Ayrton, and
Mr. Monsell are each mentioned. It is stated that Mr.
Cadogan, M.P. for Cricklade, is likely to vacate his seat
in order to make way for Mr. Bruce.
The following is a list of the appointments already
made :

THE CABINET.
First Lord of the Treasury ... Mr. GLADSTONE.
Chancellor of the Exchequer... Mr. LOWE.
Secretary for Foreign Affairs... Earl of CLARENDON.
Secretary for the C010nie5...... Earl GRANVILLE.
Secretary for War
Secretary for India The Duke of ARGYLL.
Secretary for the Home De- } Mr. BRUCE.
partment
t Mr. CHICHESTER FOR-
Secretary for Ireland
First Lord of the Admiralty Mr. CHILDERS.
Lord Chancellor
Lord President of the Council Lord DEGnEvandThrox.
Lord Privy Seal
President of the Board of i fir. }
BRIGHT.
} TON The Marquis of HART-
Postmaster-General
Poor-law Board

Commissioner of Works and
Buildings
Joint Secretaries of the Trea- I Mr. GEORGE GLYN.
sury 1 Mr. STANSFELD.
.bord Chancellor of Ireland
The Attorney-General
Solicitor-General Mr. COLERIDGE.
Lord-Advocate for Scotland Mr. MONCREIFF.
Lord Steward
ROUGH.
Lord Chamberlain

The Advertiser thinks that a difficulty is likely to arise on
the meeting of Parliament. The Queen's preliminary
Speech will be delivered by Royal Commission on Monday
or Tuesday next, after the large majority of the members
of the new Parliament have taken the oaths and their seats;
and that ceremony over, Mr. Glyn, in the absence from
the House of Commons of the new Ministers who have
vacated their seats by the acceptance of office, will
move the immediate issue of new writs. In all probability
this question may lead to considerable discussion and nice
interpretation of a recent statute on the subject, as a high
legal authority—one who will have to take part in the trial
of English election petitions—has, we understand, given it
as his opinion that no new writs can be issued until after
the expiration of twenty-one days from the time when the
returns of the representatives about to seek re-election have
been lodged, not, as has been generally supposed, with the
Clerk of the Crown, but with the Clerk of Parliament, or,
in other words, on the opening day of the session. If this
interpretation of the Act prove correct, and is not in some
way or other remedied by a vote of the House, none of the
elections can take place before the first week in the new
year; and the anomaly will exist of her Majesty's Ministers
holding councils for nearly a month without any member
of the Cabinet standing identified in a representative
capacity with the popular branch of the Leeislature.

THE ALBERT MEMORIAL CHAPEL,

VINDSOR CASTLE.

On Monaay ner Majesty, with their Royal Highnesses
the Crown Princess of Prussia and Princess Louise, visited
the Albert Memorial Chapel, adjoining St. George's
Cathedral, Windsor Castle, for the purpose of inspecting
the grand marble tableaux executed by Baron Triquete,
and contributed by Princesses Victoria, Alice, and Alex-
andra. Her Majesty walked from the private portion of
the palace down the hill to the deanery, where the Queen
was received by the Hon. and Very Rev. Gerald
Wellesley, dean of Windsor, and then proceeded to the
chapel. The Crown Princess of Prussia and Princess
Louise arrived at the same time. Baron Triquete was in
attendance, and had the honour of exhibiting the beauti-
ful works of art which now adorn the walls of the chapel
and the pictures contributed by the other princesses and
princes. These have already been described. That given
by her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales has only
just reached the Castle. Its subject is "Education."
The text is : " And lie sent Levites and priests, and they
taught in Judah throughout all the cities" (11. Chron.
xvii). The King of Judah, with crown and sceptre and
regal robes, is shewn looking on while two priests are
teaching a number of children from the scrolls, on which
are inscribed Hebrew characters. This tableau is about
lift. 4in., by Oft. Gin., including the border, and, in
addition to the white marble bas-relief portrait of the
Princess of Wales, it has around it a number of white
marble medallions, the subjects of which all have reference
to the idea embodied in the tableau itself. The
texts upon these gems of the sculptor's art—' They had
the Book of the Law of the Lord with them," " Thou
shalt read that law," " And taught the people,"
" Write thou these words "—will slim to what they refer.
Next the offering of the Princess Alexandra is a beautiful
bas-relief, in white marble, of Jephthah's daughter. The
touching history of the virgin daughter of the Gileadite
is told in the single figure of this fine piece of sculp-
ture. The drooping posture of the damsel, bowed in
submission to the fate assigned her by her father's vow, as
she removes the chaplet of flowers from her head, well
expresses " resignation," which, indeed, is the motto
attached to the sculpture, while the text upon the altar
beside the figure—" My father, do to me according to
that which bath proceeded out of thy mouth " (Judges xi.,
36)—is most appropriate. The illustrious party having
well examined the tableaux on the walls, Baron Triquete
bad the honour of exhibiting to her Majesty and the
princesses the design for the memorial tomb which is to be
erected in the chapel to perpetuate the memory of the
Prince Consort. The baron's design consists of an oblong
tomb, surrounded by emblematic figures of Faith, Hope,
Charity, &c. Upon the slab at the top of the tomb lies
the recumbent figure of Prince Albert. It is clothed in
a magnificent suit of mediaeval armour, richly chased.
This, again, is half covered by a mautle. Two cherubs
hold a cushion, upon which reposes the prince's head,
while a greyhound lies at his mailed feet. The tomb is to
be of white marble, and will stand upon a marble floor
after the present paving of common stone has been re-
moved. Originally the side windows of this chapel (once
known as the " Wolsey Chapel") were filled with ordinary
glass ; now they have been made the medium for illcs-
trating the history of the prince's family, from a very early
period, upon stained glass. The series terminates with por-
trait figures of her Majesty, the Prince Consort, and
the Duchess of Kent. The windows at the east end
are filled with scriptural subjects, while Dr. Salviati has
covered the west interior wall with the portraits of the
kings and queens of England, and the other eminent per-
sons who have from time to time been connected with the
history of Windsor Castle, executed in Venetian glass
mosaic work. The ceiling of the Albert Memorial Chapel
is perhaps the richest in the world, and is a mass of mag-
nificent mosaics, alp by Dr. Salviati. It is probable that
at some future time her Majesty will allow (under restric-
tions and when completed) this beautiful building to be
Rheum to the public.