The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-02 00:00:00

suN, LONuON, THURSDAN EVENING; JANUARY 2, 1868

reach the moat necessitous cases. By entrusting
their alms to the superintendents of such institu-
tions as tb at of Providence-row Night Refuge they
will be al le to overcome this difficulty, secure that
the smallk's t donation will produce some results if
it be applie 3 in providing simple food and homely
shelter to t: he friendless and homeless wanderers by
night in the great wilderness of Londoa.

The anniversary dinner of the ancient order of
Druids at 0:ilord has afforded Mr. CARDWELL and
Mr. NEATE, an opportunity of displaying their elo-
quence on various subjects. Mr. CARDWELL, in
touching ripon Reform, confessed that he should
have prefe. rred to have the change effected more
gradually, but that the present settlement of the
question I lad rendered the past year for ever me-
morable ill the history of our legislation. The
right hon. gentleman wisely refrained from reviving
the most irritating points of the controversy,
and contented himself with dwelling upon its
general aspect. He made some amusing allusion to
the charge that some hon. members of Parliament
had undergone during last session, and added that
when " BENEDICT avowed that he would die a
bachelor, he never supposed he should live till he
was married, and so when they avowed their oppo-
sition to all measures of organic reform, they never
expected to be rejoicing in the consummation of the
wisest measure of Reform that has ever been pro-
posed to the British Parliament." In adverting to
the future schemes and plans that are awaiting the
notice of the Legislature, Mr. CARDWELL referred
to the Reform Bill that would be necessary for
Scotland, which country has certainly a right to see
the number of its members increased. The diffi-
culty is how to do so, and the right hon. gentle-
man seemed to incline to the plan of withdrawing
members from some small villages, but this proposal
is certain to give rise to dissatisfaction and awake
jealousy, doubt, and suspicion, which are at any
time better avoided in the discussion of a public
question, and in the present case are
particularly objectionable. It would be much better
to add to the number of members, for, after all,
there is no special gain in any particular figure ;
and amid so many comprehensive changes why not
have an alteration which may do good service to
the cause of progress, and tend to satisfy the just
claims and realise the ardent aspirations of an influ-
ential and enlightened portion of the community ?
Mr. CARDWELL himself said that we should carry
forward the spirit of reform in the old manner in
which it was done in 1832, and surely he is not
following out his own precepts by stopping at trifles
after this fashion.

Respecting Fenianism Mr. CARDWELL declared
that it coald have no other effect than to increase
the general determination to be loyal to the Sove-
reign and to support the authorities in the main-
tenance of the laws and the preservation of the
peace of the country. At the same time he said
very justly that this wicked conspiracy should not
interfere with the way in which we look upon Irish
questions. Of English questions, Mr. CARD-
WELL gives the precedence to that of education,
and justly so, since that of Reform is settled:
It is not likely, however, that the compulsory sys-
tem will ever be popular in this country, and other
means must be taken to insure success in this most
important and interesting work. ➢ir. NE ATE'S ob-
servations were chiefly confined to educational
topics ; and, with reference to Oxford, he said that
the middle-classes had hitherto been much neglected,
and that they required to have the benefit of a
" University education" extended to them. He
wished to see University education " ex-
tended not merely laterally, but down-
wards, so as to make it a bond of unity
between the different classes of the community."
The speeches of the members for the city of Oxford
are very favourable specimens, for they advocate
the cause of progress, and are careful not to go to
dangerous extremes in the views they take of
public matters.

The Emperor of AUSTRIA has addressed a series
of autograph letters to the new Minister, Prince
AUERSPEG, who is appointed President of the Coun-
cil, and the EMPEROR tenders him his thanks for
the very efficient services he has rendered to the
State while President of the Upper House of the
Reichsrath, and Dr. GISKRAN, who is made Minister
of the Interior, is also presented with some token
of regard for the ability lie has displayed as Presi-
dent of the Lower House. The utmost cordiality
and good-will seem to prevail among the EMPE-
ROR and the chief men of his State, which is a most
fortunate thing at this juncture, and seems to pro-
mise favourably for the future. The administra-
tion of affairs in Austria just now is a very
arduous undertaking, and all who value the peace
and desire the progress of the country will re-
joice to see matters going on smoothly, and an
entente cordiale existing, so far as pcssible, under
the conflicting claims and per' lend politics of the
day. The whole history of the Vienna Govern-
ment since the recent collision with Prussia is
indeed a marvel, and it shows what perseverance in
the right direction can accomplish if people only
set to work in the right direction. FRANCIS JOSEPH
has earned for himself an enduring reputation in
the history of his age for the zeal and assiduity
which he has displayed in a most trying season, and
his example may long serve as an encouragement
to other kings and statesmen in a time of perplexity
when they are inclined to despair, and not trust to
the chance of the future.

The New Year sets before us a less welcome
sight than usual in the Quarterly Revenue Returns.
There is, indeed, nothing to surprise us in the fact
that the tables, instead of the usual increase, ex-
hibit this time a decrease on the quarter of £806,955.
Every one has been complaining of the depression
of trade and the scarcity of ready money, and it
needs no profound political insight to be aware that
the indifferent harvest and the Fenian agitation
are sufficient of themselves to affect the Revenue,
even without the still enduring consequences of
the great panic of 1866. Happily all these causes
are temporary. Fenianism is certainly an ephemeral
evil, and now that the whole strength and spirit of
the community is thoroughly aroused against it,
will, we may hope, be soon effectually disposed of.
'The harvest, however important for the time being,
is only a question of months, while the effects of
the commercial panic of Black Friday can scarcely
endure much longer. Little by little public con-
fidence will be restored and credit revive. When
the more immediate causes of depression have
passed away and the tide turns, the renewed
elasticity of the public revenue will soon
make itself felt. The sharp lesson of the
last two years will not, we may hope, be
altogether forgotten by our speculators and our
investors, and more especially we hope that the
shareholders of large companies and the directors of
costly enterprises will keep for the future a more
vigilant look out. The principal items of decrease
in the current quarter are the Excise and the Pro-
perty Tax. The Excise is an unfailing barometer
of the prosperity or poverty of the working classes,
while the Property Tax reflects with equal ac-
curacy the condition of those above them.
The Customs, on the other hand, show an

increase of £138,000, and the Post-office of £40,000,
so that in some very important respects there is no
reason to complain. The New Year which now
opens may bring us better things, and the most
direct way to gain them is to look with cheerful-
ness and courage to the future instead of bemoan-
ing the disappointments of the past.

CORRESPONDENCE PROM PARIS.

(011011 0178 OWN CORRISPONDENT.)

PARIS. Wen.aissnar, jan. Y.
The receptions at the Tuileries are over, but the
Imperial utterances have not yet been divulged.
count von der Goltz, the newly-accredited representa-
tive of the North German Confederation, did not leave
Paris, as report stated that he intended to do, in order to
avoid an interview with the Emperor. That interview
took place yesterday, and the assurances of the friendship
of the King of Prussia, conveyed through the Ambassador,
were very cordially received and reciprocated by the Ern-
pet or. I have it on good authority that Count von
der Goltz delayed leaving Paris for Berlin, whither
he has gone to consult his physician, on purpose to attend
at the Tuileries.
A. most curious suit is under the consideration of our
Crown lawyers. The action is brought by a cab-driver
and his wife to obtain that support which children
are bound to provide in this country for impoverished
parents, from their daughter and son-in-law, the Marquis
and Marquise d'Orvault. The fortune which these latter
possess was not derived from the Marquis d'Orvault, but
belonged to the cab-driver's daughter. Catherine Schu-
macher until recently might have been classed as belong-
ing to the demi-monde of Paris. In 1866 she was 36 years
of age, and possessed a fortune of 1,000,000 f. in securities,
besides furniture, jewellery, &c., valued at 325,000 f.
At that time Jacques Marie Armand, Count de
Guerry, de Beauregard, de Maubreuil, Marquis d'Orvault,
was aged 83, his only means of existence being a pension
2,700 f. from his family. He, however, loved luxury, and
in order to obtain it gave his name in exchange, and made
the Cabman's daughter the lawful wife of the represen-
tative of one of the oldest families in France. The mar-
quis, at the same time, adopted legally the illegitimate
son of Catherine Schumacher, conferring his name on
the boy. The man Schumacher does not appear to have
shown much affection for his deughter, as when she was
only 15 years old, and possessing great personal attrac-
tions, he turned her into the streets to get her living as she
could. At the trial it was stated that, notwithstanding
this abandonment, she had always treated her parents with
great kindness ; had placed them in comfortable lodgings ;
and assisted them with money. She had besides
obtained for a brother• a good situetion in a public
company. The counsel for Madame d'Orvult also
said that the present suit was inspired by a feeling of
annoyance at her marriage and legal adoption of her son,
who thus became heir to her fortune. From that time
Madame d'Orvault became subject to continued acts of
extortion and menaces. As recently as September last
the brother forced an entry into her drawing-room, and on
her refusing to give him a sum of money which he had de-
manded, he fired at her four shots from a revolver, by
which she was slightly hurt. The case now stands over
for some days, to allow the law officers of the Crown to
express an opinion on it. The marquis, I should state, is
a turncoat in politics, has been convicted and punished
for a highway robbery on the Queen of Westphalia, and
for an assault on Talleyrand, by whom he had been em-
ployed in secret service at the funeral of Louis XVIII.
It is not often that one has to recount a theatrical dis-
surbance of a character so grave as that which has occurred
at the theatre of the Porte St. Martin. At this house a
piece has been put on the stage, entitled " 1867; ou Si to
if es pas content, demandes autre chose." As Mdlle.
Silly the night before last was performing her role,
which consists of an imitation of the intonations and ges-
tures of Mdlle. Schneider in " The Grande Duchesse," and
the audience, amused with the imitation—which is indis-
putably good—were loudly applauding, a whistle was
heard from the first row of the gallery. The noise
was continued until the audience, almost driven mad,
simultaneously sprang to their feet. A police agent was
then seen approaching a young man, respectably dressed,
who was pointed out as the offender. Nothing of what
was said could be heard, but it was easy to guess by their
gestures that the one was requesting the other to leave,
and that the other energetically refused to do so. Cries
of " Turn him out !" " No, no !" were raised, and the
usual jokes under such circumstances were bandied about.
The police agent withdrew, and tranquillity was about to
be restored, when two gendarmes advanced to the dis-
turber, and put their hands upon his shoulder. He
resisted manfully, held firmly to the woodwork in front,
and, although his cravat was torn off, still kept his place.
At last, amidst indignant cries of protest from the whole
house, the agents carried the man bodily off, though he was
still making the most violent opposition. The exclama-
tions and noises then became quite furious, and shouts of
" Rendez-le !" " Qu'il revienne !" continued to be heard
for several minutes. The stage manager came forward,
but the audience refused to hear him. The curtain was
let fall, but the spectators continged their cries for the
liberation of the man, declaring that he had a right to
hiss or whistle if he pleased, since he had paid his money
to applaud or the contrary, as he thought fit. The ladies
iii the boxes had by this time been seized with the general
emotion, and stood up in the boxes waving their handker-
chiefs. At last shouts were heard, "La voilh !" "La
voil4 !" and in a moment M. Langlois, who, I am told, is
a clerk in a commercial establishment, resumed his seat
in the gallery amidst applause, which was re-echoed from
every corner of the house.
I see it announced in the Presse, and I have no reason
to doubt the statement, that Mdlle. Patti will shortly be
married to the Marquis de Caux.