The Sun.
London, England, 1868-09-14 00:00:00

TH E SUN, LONT)►ON, MONDAY* - EVENlNG;igrirrnltt tt 14, 1868-. L

battle by the aid of ne77 weapons, and what is the
position of England ? How many converted con-
verted breech-loaders do you you think we have
in our our army ?" We all guessed, and he said.
" You are all wrong, the number is twelve." Who
can deny that the Government under such circum-
stances were bound to go boldly into the matter,
and is it fair that the expenses they incurred in
remedying the errors of their predecessors should
be made the subject against them when their
countrymen are about to pronounce judgment on
them for the policy they have pursued.
Tha next day Sir STAFFORD NORTIICOTE spoke
again to a different audience, and touched upon
other points connected with public affairs. The
Reform policy of the Government had been made
the subject of criticism in various quarters, and he
took the opportunity of defending it and explaining
the grounds upon which they acted. He did not
take upon himself to pronounce the plan submitted
to be most perfect, but it was the best they could
offer under the circumstances of the case. Na-
tional education is a subject of grew, import-
ance, and its settlement in some shape or
other cannot much longer be postponed.
L'he Government are not to blame for the delay, for
they had prepared a measure, but time prevented
them from pushing it forward, and they were so
anxious in the matter that they did not wait to lose
the Session of the expiring Parliament. A good
deal depends upon experience in deciding upon the
details of a question of this sort, but Sir S. NORTH-
COTE very justly deprecated the plan now in vogue
of throwing everything on the rates. This ten-
dency he thought ought to be " jealously watched,"
and the public will agree with him.

Telegrams from the seat of war in South Ame-
rica report favourably of the progress of the Allies ;
but we must not forget that all such information is
received through interested channels. Thus the
news which we publish this day was received from
Lisbon by the Argentine Legation, and Lisbon, we
can hardly fail to remember, is of close affinity to
Brazil. The telegrams report that the garrison
which had fled to the Chaco surrendered on the sth

of August with 12 guns, seven standards, and many
The squadron commanded the river
as far up as Matto Grosso, and the ironclads
were bombarding the camp of I,orEz at Tebicuary.
The whole army, it is added, was marching
on Tebicuary. Thus it is evident, even from these
partial accounts, that LOPEZ is strongly entrenched
at Tebicuary, acid the invaders are, in fac,, not
actually aware of the extent of his resources. The
Paraguayans have already shown their skill and
strength in fortifications, as the long resistance of
Ilumaita testifies, and even at the last the fort was
evacuated by the defenders, not captured by the
besiegers. The struggle, despite the congratula-
tions of the Brazilians, is not yet over, and the
Allies will do more wisely to offer terms than to
persist in pushing matters to extremity.

arms.

CORRESPONDEINE PROM PARIS,

T (FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, SUNDAY, September 18,

The proposed interview between the Emperor and the
Queen of Spain has again made its appearance as a topic.
This revival has been caused by the direct contradictions
of the French and Spanish papers. The. Ifloticiero of
Madrid says that preparations for an interview are being
made at San Sebastian. The Constitutionnel, on the
other hand, formally contradicts in toto the report If an
interview.

As to the state of Spain itself, some details of importance
have just come to hand. It is said that several sergeants
of artillery stationed at Madrid, having been suspected by
the secret police, have been arrested. Several officers in
garrison at Tarragona and Badajos have been dismissed
from their commands, on account of suspected com-
plicity with revolutionary chiefs. Madrid appears
to be well-nigh in a state of siege, for strong
detachments of the civil guard patrol Madrid
night and; day. Another circumstance, almost
incredible, is related by the Correspondencia. The military
governor of Lerida has published an ordinance, by which
it is stipulated that all architects and builders who con-
struct any wall or any other edifice whatever, without
giving notice to the commandant of the place, shall suffer
one month's imprisonment. The same rule is to apply to
repairs.
A title of a high grade, to be conferred upon Marshal
Niel for his successful reorganisation of the French army,
is amongst the on dits of the day.
A cafe in the Rue du Faubourg Saint Martin has
assumed the title of " Cafe de is. Lanterne Rochefort." It
is staking its existence for a name.
Holland is following in the wake of the reaction against
the punishment of death. An abolition measure is being
prepared for the next session.
Nothing, I believe, has yet been decided respecting the
Mexican bondholders. It is remarkable that, after the
law of indemnity has been passed for two months, the
Government is unable to decide to what extent the
unhappy victims shall be reimbursed.
The accounts from the manufacturing districts are very
bad. At Mulhouse, Lille, Saint-Etienne, and Roubaix
there is nothing doing. In the great commercial ports a
similar stagnation prevails. The centralisation of capital
and the loss of confidence, which has not yet been re-
covered, are answerable for this state of affairs. The
small capitalists persist in lending their money on security,
whilst the industry which formerly flourished is lan-
auishing around them.

THE WEATHER TABLE.-THIS DAY.

Monday,
Sept. 14,
3 a.m.

N . E.
E. S. E.
E. S. E.
E. S. E.
E.N.E.
E. S. E.
N.E.
E. N. E.
K N.E.

N.E.

N.E.
N.E.
N.E.

S.S.E.
E. S E.
E. N. L•.
N. E.
S. S. E.

N.E.

L.Y.L.

N .E.

MR. GLADSTONE'S BEPLY TO BI
TRADUCERS.

A statement having been made charging Mr. Gladstone
with having "made a bargain with the Roman Catholics
o give them a million of money out of the disendowed
rich Church," the Literal candidate for Burnley re-
enly wrote to the right hon. gentleman asking if
here was any foundation for the accusation, and he has
calved the following reply : —"lnce Blundell Hall, 7th
September, 1868.—My dear sir, the stories to which
'ou refer about engagements of mine to the heads
,f the Roman Catholic Church, or intercourse with
Some respecting the Irish Church question, are
die falsehoods. Permit me respectfully to suggest
hat when statements of this kind are circulated,
he proper course may be to inquire on what authority
:hey rest. This course will at once dispose of them.
When there is some kind of evidence in support of
such rumours it is not unfair to ask the person who is
he subject of them to contradict them. Contradiction,
when there is no such evidence, ought not to be called
tor. I have myself to blame, for having, at an early
period of this controversy, with a view to satisfy
'he public mind, contradicted, perhaps too readily, a
variety of ingenious rumour; for which there was no
more excuse or apology in any part, or in any ostensible
appearance, than there is for the statement you men-
ticn. You will not understand me to flue' fault with
your inquiry ; and perhaps, if you will give publicity
to this letter, which I lose no time in writing, it may
have the effect of checking, in some degree, the manufacture
of these absurd fabrications, which are put to do duty in
the absence of argument against us.—l remain, my dear sir,
yours very faithfully, W. E. GLADSTONE.—R. B. Shaw,
Esq."