The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-12 00:00:00

TWE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 12, 1808.

nised autd dl.smembered, the population of the South
degraded), and disaffected ; gold is at 142, and
the del' it is steadily increasing. The old
guarani ees of civil liberties are being over-
turned and thrust aside, free discussion in
the :Legislature has become a thing of the
past, and the old, cherished Constitution of the
Sta tees has become a shadow. In face of such a
position of affairs, since GRANT has proved himself
unl vorthy of confidence, the moderate men of all
par ties might do worse than re-elect theyREsIDENT,
who. has proved himself, whatever his failings, to be
firm, constitutional, and disinterested.

Yirnen the brief autumn Session terminated, per-
hay.ss some were sanguine enough to expect that, by
th e time Parliament reassembled, Fenianism would
be pretty well done for, if not extinguished ; but, if
so, their expectations have been deceived. The last
news from Ireland is anything but satisfactory.
11:tie rioting in Cork has been so serious that the
Riot, Act has been read, and we learn, by ac-
counts from Cork, that the attacks on the police
have continued for a long time; indeed for nine
hours the mob assailed them with stones, and the
constabulary were obliged to charge them with drawn
swords and fixed bayonets, altogether forming a
scene of the greatest confusion. Many of the
rioters were wounded, and one died in the hospital
yesterday morning. It shows the pertinacity of
the conspirators, that, notwithstanding all that was
done by the authorities, they attacked the house of
a gentleman in the night, and three men demanded
arms, and obtained a gun. It is surprising that
this state of things should continue after the
lapse of so much time, but the most strin-
gent measures will evidently have to be
enforced in order that the disaffection may be
put down effectually. All that leniency and
moderation could do were tried last year, and
we are very glad that they were, although it is now
plainly shown that a contrary course would have
been the wisest and the safest to adopt. Still it
cannot now be said that the Executive resorted to
violent measures of repression without having given
more merciful legislation a fair chance ; and the
foolhardihood and chief iniquity of Fenianistn are
thereby most freely exposed to all but the wilfully
perverted and prejudiced on the subject. At any
rate, we must all feel now that it will not do to
tamper with the matter any longer, and it would
be much better for certain politicians to think more
how to put down Feuianism than to inquire too
particularly into its causes. One thing should be par-
ticularly understood before Parliament renews its
discussion ; and that is, that there should be no com-
promise in the matter. It is beneath the dignity
of this country to dwell upon the cause of this
conspiracy until it has been put down at once and
for ever. In this Mr. BRIGHT and others are
much to blame, and a great responsibility
rests upon them. In point of fact, the session
which commences to-morrow will, not be a fitting
one in which to treat of the affairs of Ireland.
All that justice demands, and all that reason can
sanction, should be done to put a period to any acts
that press hardly upon the community, or that may
be felt to be annoying ; but legislation on the topic
is out of the question, unless this vile conspiracy is
ranked among the things that were. Still less can
it be thought of when the insidious evil has made
its way among us, and interfered with the peace of
our population. It does not require much thought

to come to this decision, we should im•igine.
The wrongs of Ireland are very much exaggerated
at all times ; but, come what may, we are not to be
threatened into compliance with demands that put
otherwise are just ones. We would impress upon
all public men who speak on this topic to cast poli-
tical prejudices aside, and to look at the question
on the broad grounds of principle. Is it right to
allow the spirit of discontent to gain ground among
us, and then to stop to argue or daily with it ? And
if suoli a course be wrong and impolitic, by all means
let us put a stop to the evil that is known to exist
before we begin to talk of other improvements.

The accounts which we receive of the reception
given to the Duke of EDINBURGH by our colonists
in the Southern Seas are full of interest and grati-
fication. No doubt his Royal Highness himself
found the exuberance of colonial loyalty somewhat
physically fatiguing, however much he might be
flattered by the cordiality and splendour of his
welcome. The Australians were indefatigable in
their exertions ; their enthusiasm knew no ebb, and
the excitement which prevailed when the Galatea
was first expected remained unabated up to the
departure of the last mail. Even the Chinese,
unimpressible as they are supposed to be,
joined in the general welcome, and presented an
address, couched in all the flowery language of the
East, declaring that the sweet rain fell in the
rniNcE's track, the earth yielded her golden trea-
sures to him, and the sight of his countenance was
like the sun bursting forth from clouds. Our Eng-
lish sailor Prince must have been not a little amused
at these hyperbolic compliments, though the good-
will which they expressed was no doubt very agree-
able to him. Melbourne has exerted itself be-
yond all other cities in giving the PRINCE a
truly Itnperial reception, and has fully sustained
the golden reputation of the colony. We have
already heard of the magnificence of the trowel
with which the Duke laid the first stone of the new
Melbourne Town Hall. The little instrument
was so dazzling that the PRINCE handled it with
evident care, to the amusement of the rough
lookers-on. A banquet to 500 guests, in the style
of Guildhall, succeeded, and a grand public ball
and regatta, a farmers' show, besides endless lesser
entertainments, have kept the Royal visitor ac-
tively engaged during his whole stay. tie will cer-
tainly bring back with him a pleasing impression
of Australasian loyalty, liberality, and hospitality.

COGERS' HALL.—I had up to this night been
guilty of grave injustice to this venerable society. To my
darkened understanding "Cogor" had been "Codger," and
I had taken a grave and complimentary title for a stroke
of facetious and corrupt slang. " What ? Origin
of the name Codger, Old Codger, sir!"
said the landlord, aghast, during our preliminary
visit of inquiry. "Call it Coger' (making Lis mouth like
a cart-wheel)—call it Cogor,' if you please, for it comes
from cogitate, and signifies ' Thoughtful Men.' The Cogers,
sir, have always been calm and deliberative politicians. The
great John Wilkes was a Coger, sir"(this in a convincing tone,
as if further testimony to calmness would be absurd); " and
there's first-rate speeches here—young barristers from
the Temple, and a great many literary men, writers
in the newspapers, and gentlemen who take an interest
in public affairs. You've perhaps hoard of Ser
geant Thrust—a Coger, sir, in his youth ;so was the
late Lord Macgregor and the present Judge 0 wlett ;
and though the speaking varies, of course, you may
allus count upon hearing some that's first-class, and if
you wouldn't mind rementhering that it's Cogor, not
Codger, and means 'Thoughtful Men,' I'm sure the gen-
tlemen would be happy to see you, and perhaps to hoar
you speak. There is no charge fur admission,
and visitors may coma in without being introduced.
It's juot a public room with a society meeting in it,
and every ono present is pornait,ted to take part in the
evening's discussion ; but if a member wishes to speak, of
course he takes precedence over a stranger. The niches,
as you call cm, sir, aro alcoves for the Grand and
Vice-Grand to sit in ; and these two Graads are,
with the secretary, elected every 14th June, be-
tween ten and eleven at night, by show of hands among
the members. This has been the way, sir, over since 1750,
when Mr. Daniel 31,tson founded the society, and it has
prospered wonderfully and done a deal of good. Those
pntraits are of gentlemen who used to speak here. That
dingy one with the dim eyes was a great speaker."—
Dickens's "AU the Year Round."

LATEST INTELL WINCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.
ALEXANDRIA, Feb. 9.

Advices received here from Annesley Bay to the
29th ult. announce that Sir Robert Napier had ar-
rived at Senafe.

The Punjaubees landed yesterday.

It was reported that a skirmish had taken place
between Abyssinian freebooters and a British recon-
noitring party in the direction of Antalo.

IT ALY.

FLORENCE, Feb. 11, Evening.

The Report of the Committee on the Budget of
Count Cambray Digny proposes an increase of
the amount demanded by the Minister, from
649,040,264 lire to 736,228,344 lire. This differ-
ence arises principally from the expenses attending
the conversion of the eccle6iastical property. The
Committee also propose a reduction of 1,109,818

lire in the administrative expenses, and an increase
of 1,250,090 lire for supplementary circulation of
Treasury bonds. The value of the remaining eccle-
siastical property is estimated at 1,027,000,000 lire.
The Committee propose the institution of an Agri-
cultural Credit Establishment, based on the mutual
principle, and the abolition of pensions, substituting
for them a system of private assurance banks. It
is stated that Count Di Passeranno has been ap-
pointed Prefect of Turin.

COiZEiFONDENOE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUP. OWN COP,P,ESPONDENT.)

PARIS, TUESDAY, Feb. 11.
The Government has caused the expose des motifs of the
Army Law to be distributed among the members of the
Corps L4gislatif. As you are aware, 100,000 men of the
class of 1867 are called up to replenish the forces of land
and sea. 'The document in question contains one curious
paragraph, confessedly inserted "to dissipate the ground-
less anxieties and the imaginary fears" which the law has
created. I fear it will not remove the ugly fact that these
100,000 young men would, under the old law, have been
free at the end of seven years, but under the new will be
compelled to serve nine. M. Girardin insists that com-
pulsory servitude in an army is. essentially white slavery.
The Press debates continue. The Paris papers discuss
little else. 'The point now in suspense is how low the
Government will consent to reduce the tax on the Journals.
For the press offences it is rumoured that a special tribunal
will be formed, with seven judges chosen by lot. At
present this is rumour only. M. Derryer was prevented
speaking on this subject by asu I,n indisposition.
Apropos of the imprisonmel Peyrat, the Mare
de la Loire writes :—" The
..,;.hies of independent
journalism will attend the chief editor of the Arenir Na-

tioaal in the prison whither he goes to study the liberties
by which we are overwhelmed." You do differently in
England ; but I see that some of your magistrates have
sent a man to prison for a month for picking up a dead
pheasant. A month for picking up a dead pheasant over-
looked by a shooting party in England : a month for an
adjective in Franco. So the world wags. Vandalism on
one side of the Channel, and feudalism on the other.
A translation has just been published in the Paris
journals of the celebrated decree of Maximilian, dated
2nd of October, 18G5, against guerillas, and under which
Salazar and Ortega were executed. Whatever may have
been the circumstances in these particular instances,
the reasons set forth for the proclamation are of a kind to
justify it. It began by declaring that the Emperor had
spared no means to consolidate the public peace, and had
made the utmost efforts of clemency to induce his oppo-
nents to give up a useless contest. It then proceeded to
slew that those still in arms had not the slightest pretext
for so continuing, since Juarez had left the kingdom.
Their only action must be vandalism, and it would place
the judges under the necessity to act with rigour ; and so
on. This will be enough to show that the unfortunate
Emperor at that time really believed that the time had
come when rigour was a lawful necessity to reduce the
empire to peace.

The political gossips profess to know that there are
grounds of disagreement between M. de Bismarck and
King William. The latter is more Conservative than his
Minister, and appears to think that the Count is moving
too fast, conceding too much. Hence the retirement for a
while. That Bismarck actually tendered his resignation
is rumoured, but not credited. It is said that the Count
feels it necessary to emulate Beust in Austria.
The Belgian Chamber of Deputies is still discussing the
army ore anisation bill. A large number of the usual sup.
porters of the Ministry contend stoutly for voluntary in-
stead of compulsory enlistments. The Left and a good
part of the Right would have an army of volunteers like

that of Switzerland. The Minister of War, General
Renard, contends that a volunteer army is dearer than a
permanent one. In 1830, said he, the Belgian Volunteers
made war in the streets and secured national independence,
but in 1831 they were no match for Le Dutch in the open
field, and the country was saved only by the intervention
of the French. The Ministers are by no means confident,
and it seems likely that concessions will be made to publig,
opinion. There is really no reason for the Belgian frog'
to try to blow itself out to the dimensions of a French ox.
The papers publish President Johnson's speech on the
reception of the Prussian Minister, M. de Geroltz. The
point of it was that universal instruction in Germany had
been the basis of national unity and aggrandisement.
Napoleon 111. makes the greatness of the nation depend
on the number of men under arms : the President on thy,'
number educated. Which is right ?

The shares of the Isthmus of Suez Company spew an
improvement. The advance of the works shewn in the
monthly reports strengthen the belief in the ultimate

AUSTRALIA.

The following items of Australian intelligence are from
she Melbourne Argus of December 27 :

The Duke of Edinburgh's visit to the goldfields is
accountable for the past month having been one of less
than ordinary activity in the mines. Some good
yields have nevertheless been chronicled. It appears that
luartz-reefing operations have extended as far north as
he Murrumbidgee, and that a very valuable reef is at
present being worked in that locality. A new reef, said
lo present very promising indications, has also been dis-
overed near Beechworth. A new rush has broken out
it Bulgandra, forty miles from Albury, where some
very pretty quartz specimens have been found ; and it is
dated that the fresh ground also affords shallow alluvial
;inking. A magnificent nugget, weighing about 1300 z.,
was recently sold at Maryboroug,h ; but the lucky finders
withheld all particulars concerning it. In the Castlemaine
listrict the finding of a nugget, almost of pure gold,
weighing 770 z., has also to be recorded. The newly-
liscevered Duke of Edinburgh Reef, at M`lvor, has been
turning out splendid stone. Some of the reefs in Bow-
man's Forest, Ovens district, also promise and turn out
3xecedingly rich. There is in this neighbourhood a perfect
amphitheatre of some miles of auriferous q'iartzose ranges,
which have scarcely yet been tested.
The recently discovered auriferous ground in Queens-
Land, though it has not yet realised the sanguine expecta-
tions formed concerning it, appears to be turning out
moderately well, and doubtless more favourable accounts
;till will come to hand ere long.

An attempt, which it is hoped will result in success, is
tieing made to open up a direct trade from Melbourne to
Japan. This is the commencement of a trade which may
possibly grow to very large dimensions, and prove of the
utmost value, not only to the shipping interest of the port
)f Melbourne, but to the principal producing and manu-
facturing industries of the colony.
Breadstuffs have risen very mucliwithin the last month,
partly on account of the favourable prices obtained for
Australian what and flour in England, but principally
because of the partial failure of the crops in South
Australia and this colony. England must not calculate
m receiving so much wheat and flour from Australia during
the next twelvemonth as she did in the year about to ex-
pire ; but if prices keep up, we may still be able to send a
few thousand tons.

A very highly complimentary address has been presentee
oy the married ladies of Queensland to Lady Bowen on
the occasion of her approaching departure for New Zea-
land, Sir George Bowen having been appointed to the
;ovemorship of that colony. Sir George and Lady Bowen
have been resident in Queensland for eight years, andhar
been active in all good works.
Professor Halford has been continuing his experiments
on snake bites, to investigate the cellular formations in
the blood which he has discovered to result from them,
and to test the efficacy of Shires' antidote. He has
published a list of his experiments on seventeen dogs
which were bitten by tiger snakes. Of these, twelve were
at the expiration of a minute treated with the antidote,
and the others were left without any. The net result
that of those so treated only two recovered, while one
recovered of the seven to which the antidote was not
applied—is not very reassuring as to the efficacy of the
composition.

The miners out on strike in the Ashton-under-Lyne dis-
„rid have had a meeting' in consequence of the announce-
ment that the coal proprietors of the district would re-
duce the wages of the miners twopence in the shilling,
work the men ten hours daily, and refuse employment to
union men. It was resolved to accept the reduction ; but
the meeting firmly resolved not to concede the other points
mentioned.

Colonel Wilson Patten, M.P., Chancellor of the Duchy
of Lancaster, in addressing a meeting at Warrington,
insisted upon primary education as a desideratum which
could not be dispensed with. Going on to notice the
Abyssinian war, he said he thought the Chancellor of the
Exchequer would find the finances of the country a little
behindhand, and would have to ask the House of Commons
to take into its earnest consideration the best means of
restoring equilibrium in the national finances.
There is a whisper abroad to the effect that Ministers
intend to lay the Army and Navy Estimates on thelable
:orthwith, and that the Budget will be fixed for an early
'lay, in order that when the indispensable business of the
session is disposed of, and parties get quarrelling over the
Scetch and Irish Reform Bills, Government may be able
to close the session without their being passed, and thus
have an excuse for deferring the general election for
another year. The Opposition will scarcely be willing to
accede to this, for they are beginning to tire of being over-
borne by a minority.
.11Ir. Samuel Plimsoll has just completed in the Times a
series of letters on- the iron trade. To him it is clear that
the Belgian ironmasters get, on a very moderate calcula-
tion, rather more than double the work out of a ton of raw
fuel, coal, or slack than we do in the blast furnace. The
acme results are true also of the subsidiary processes of
roasting, heating the blast, and making steam. His point
is, that by our present process of blasting we not only waste
Jur material, but spoil the atmosphere as well. Mr. Plim-
-501l is so convinced of the evils of this system that he offers
£5OO, in a series of prizes, to the puddlers who shall most
vickly, and with the least consnmption of material, " get
a ton of bloom under the hammer from the pig."

Mr. C. Minton Campbell, the Conservative candidate
for Stoke, has issued his address. He states that he comes
forward as a local man, and that his " politics are Con-
servative, with a great desire to promote improvements in
the working of our institutions," and adds : " I shall alvea,ys
io all in my power to aid in the removal of all proved
abuses, and to redress grievances affecting the great
body of the people. I am not prepared to give any
pledges as to particular measures, but should I be returned
as your member, my earnest attention and support shall
be given to every measure which I may deem likely to
improve the social condition of the working classes, and to
confer the greatest amount of benefit upon the country at
large." There is undoubtedly a strong Liberal element in
the Staffordshire Potteries, but the Conservatives believe
that Mr. Campbell, as a gentleman well known and highly
respected, stands a good chance of filling the seat of Mr.
Beresford Hope.
- - -

The Timm in its Money Article raises the cry that by the
restrictions of the Inland Revenue the manufacture of
transparent soap is being driven from the country. In the
preparation of this article a considerable quantity of rec-
tified spirits must be used, but as the duty on such spirits.
is very high, and as the soap cannot be made without it,
no operations whatever can be undertaken, since it is im-
possible to compete with the continental maker, who has
his spirits free of duty. To remedy the difficulty it ha&
been proposed to prepare the soap in a free manufactory
until it is in the stage necessary for the introduction of the
spirits, and then remove it into a bonded warehouse,
where, under the supervision of the revenue
pificers, the spirits could be added and the
manufacture completed. Several applications have
been made to the Government departments which might
act in the matter, but as yet without effect. Supposing
these representations to be correct, it would appear that a
valuable branch of business is to be driven from the country
;imply because the revenue officers are unable or unwilling
to devise such measures as may be deemed necessary to
enable those interested in it to carry it on.
" C. T. M.," of Morley's II otel, writes in answer to the
peries made by the correspondents of the newspapers.
There has been, says the writer, no insanity whatever in
Mr. Speke's family. The only money in his possession was
about 215. With respect to the house of his sister in
Queen-square, it is, in "C. T. M.'s" opinion, most im-
probable that, knowing his sister was in Gloucestershire,
he should have gone to the house ; and as to the sug-
gestion that he might have gone into the garden adjacent
to Birdcage-walk, the gate is always locked night and
day during the absence of the family, and evidently has
not been opened for a considerable time. Inquiries
have already been made at the house by the police,
and the replies are perfectly satisfactory. With
regard to the suggestion that Mr. Speke has been
found, it is stated that his family " are entirely without

further information than what has already been made

public, and this sad and wearing suspense is pressing with
great severity upon his parents, who have already lost two
sons by violent deaths—one in India, and the other more
recently, as is well known." The question is again asked,
however, whether there is any cause for the disappearance,
such as " disappointment in love ;" and whether Mr
Speke was missed some timo ago, and turned up some
weeks after in Paris.

The law of aliens furnishes a peg on which " Historicus"
hangs a letter of more than three columns long in the
Times. He presents a summary of the doctrines laid down
by the best authorities as to the rights and duties of
nations towards one another according to the recognised
system of international law. The print to which be calls
particular attention is that of criminal jurisdiction over
%liens. He presses this questich on the serious considera-
tion of our statesmen. Mr. Harec.urt believes that, sub-
ject to proper limitations and conditions, the real solution
will be found in the concurrent admission and establish-
ment of three principles-1. A general right of expatria-
tion. 2. A universal criminal jurisdiction over all persons
within a State, whether subjects or aliens, alike, for
offences, wheresoever committed, against that State, and,
perhaps, against its subjects. 3. A liberal and extended
practice of extradition. The obstacles to the settlement
of these questions exist, in the writer's opinion, not so
much in any difficulties of law or considerations of policy,
but rather in the combined influence of pride and ignorance
operating upon popular prejudice. It is the true and
wholesome business of public discussion to enlighten that
ignorance and to mitigate that ;Irk", •

-
Z6sk
tint firniiiar

HER MAJESTY.

OSBORNE, Feb. 11.

The Queen drove out yesterday afternoon, ac-
companied by Princess Louise and Princess Bea-

trice.

Her Majesty went out this morning, accompanied
by Princess Christian,

Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess
of Wales,with Prince Albert Victor, Prince George,
and the Princess Louise, arrived at Marlborough
House yesterday from Sandringham.
The. Duchess of Inverness entertained a select
party at dinner yesterday evening at Kensington Palace.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde
arrived at their residence in Stratton-street, on Monday
evening, from Portumna Castle, Galway.

The Earl and Countess of Cawdor and Lady
Mauriel Campbell have arrived at their residence in South
Audley-street, from Stackpole Court, Pembrokeshire,