The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-08 00:00:00

THE SITN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, MAY 8, 1868.

discussed without much good being effected ; and,
in fact, gas is so much a matter of necessity to the
Londoner that he is content to pay for it, however
exorbitant the demand, in the same way that he
pays a rent three times as high as his country
neighbour. By some extraordinary oversight, or
apathy on the part of the public, the gas companies
were allowed to obtain a wholesale monopoly by
the Gas Act of 1860, and since then there has not
only been the inevitable difficulty attending any re-
form to be got over, but the added obstacle of a
compact and united body of vested interests who
have nine points of the law in their favour. In May
sunshine we can all afford to regard the gas ques-
tion with some indifference, but when the long
nights of winter and the inevitable November fogs
return the questions of how much or how little
light, and of the price per 1,000 cubic feet, will re-
sume their old imprtance. The illuminating power
of the gas now generally supplied to the metropolis
is not, we are told, equal to that of many provin-
cial towns, while the price is unquestionably higher.
This is the more unfair, as the gas companies can
obtain a much higher price, and readi©r sale for
their coke in London than in the country. We hope,
therefore, that those who have interested themselves
in the matter will not abandon their efforts, since
the gas companies, although prepared to mak e
certain concessions, are evidently not inclined
to come down to the standard which com-
petent authorities declare would give them ample
remuneration.

Yesterday the Select Committee of the House of
Commons, on the gas bills affecting the metropolis,
met again, when great interest was shown in the
proceedings, and the large room was crowded. Mr.
DAvisoN stated that the Chartered Gas Company
were prepared to accept the terms requires by the
Committee in their six resolutions of last Session.
The Chartered Gas Company are preparing to erect
works at Barking, which will take eighteen months
to complete, and which
.will give them a consider-
able accession of manufacturing power. At pre-
sent, thanks to the arrangement between
the companies, the Chartered Gas Company
can only supply a certain limited district. The two
other companies which supply the city asked for
some modifications on certain points. They ask,
instead of starting with gas at 3s. 9d. at the com-
mencement of 1870, as proposed by the Chartered
Gas, that the determination of the price shall be left
in the hands of the revising commissioners, to guard
against the risk of starting with too low a price and
going back to a higher. Further, they ask for a 5
per cent. reserve fund to meet accidents, and for
the continuance of the power to pay back
dividends. This is not very promising, and
augurs ill for the grand reforms we heard
of some time since. However, the committee,
without absolutely giving a decision, are determined
not to allow the public to obtain less favourable
terms than those which they recommended last
year; and, accordingly, after the arguments by the
several counsel had been heard, including those by
Mr. O'MALLEY, the counsel for the Corporation,
they retired for a brief deliberation. On their re-
turn they stated their belief that some terms might
be come to between the Corporation and the Char-
tered Gas Company, and therefore they were willing
to give them time to consider their terms. The other
companies, if they desired to come in at all, must do
so in accordance with the resolution, which provided
that the terms of supply must be not less favour-
able than those recommended by the committee of
last year. As for the reserve or insurance fund
they regard it as an open question, to be considered
hereafter. After some little discussion the com-
mittee adjourned, leaving the principal agents time
to decide upon their various points of difference.
The gas companies already in existence could of
organisation
they haver tlyle.
Unfortunately, they have
ei r
course supply the gas if they would cheaper
than any new company,
a
t own
plant, and material, and
way, allowedand ead
tt
to
have
too much
h bee n
m atters
dictate their own terms so completely to the con-
Lumer, that it will, we fear, be difficult to bring
them down to a fair and reasonable estimate. The
Chartered Gas Company seems to be the most in-
clined to meet the reformers half-way, and the
counsel for the Corporation intimated that if that
company would leave the whole question in the
hands of the committee, the Corporation would do
the same. Under the proposed system of a revision
or arbitration commission and a Government in-
spector there will be a much greater chezk on the
companies under the new system than there has
bees heretofore, and we hope that due vigilance
will be exercised to keep the quality of the gas up
to the standard, and the price down to a reasonable
rate.

LATEST INTELL CGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAM.)

--..--

THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.
Head-quarters, British Army, Talanta,
April 21.
Magdala and its furtifications have been entirely
destroyed. The British. expeditionary force com-
menced its return march to the coast on the 18th
inst. All well.

AMERICA.
(By the Atlantic Cable.)
WASHINGTON, May 7.

The Senate Court agreed to-day to adjourn until
Monday, and to take the final vote on the impeach-
ment of the President on Tuesday next.

speech. lie urged the Senate to remember the
courage and loyalty of Mr. John son during tLe
rebellion.

Mr. Thaddeus Stevens argued that Mr. Johnson
was serving out the unexpired term of President
Lincoln's appointment, and was guilty of misprision
and perjury in not executing the laws of Congress.
It was unnecessary to prove the intention of Mr.
Johnson to violate the Teuure-of-Olfice law ; the
proof of actual violation of the law was sufficient.
This offspring of assassination had violated the laws
and defied Congress. The Senators, who voted for the
Tenure Law and the reinstatement of Mr. Stanton,
could not stultify themselves by acquitting Mr
Johnson.

Mr. Williams delivered a long argument, based
upon grounds similar to those advanced by Mr'
Boutwell.

Mr. Evarts, for the defence, then commenced hi
argument. He claimed that the Senate was a Court
governed by laws, otherwise it was an altar of sacri-
fice to partisan hatred. lie exhorted Senators to
cast aside partisan feeling, and to remember the
sanctity of their oaths.

Mr. Sumner proposed an amendment to the rules,
providing that a majority shall determine the final
judgment after two-thirds shall have decided the
question of conviction or acquittal.

Bills to admit Louisiana, Arkansas, North and
South Carolina, have been introduced in the House
of Representatives.
It has been officially announced that the new
Constitution has been adopted by North Carolina
and Louisiana.

A resolution has been introduced in the house
asking the President to take measures to protect
American fishermen in Canadian waters.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)
PARIS, THURSDAY, MaY!:l7.
A good deal of uneasiness is felt to-day about the
Tunisian quarrel. Of course the Bey of Tunis is a very
contemptible opponent, and a couple of frigateswould soon
bring him to his senses, and these, it is rumoured, have
actually been despatched. But there is a rumour to the
effect that the Bey is not alone, and that he is supported
by England and Italy, or by one of them. I think I can
answer for the first. Lord Stanley, who, so our papers
tell us, has just told the unfortunate Mexican bondholders
in England that he can do nothing for their, is not likely
to do much for the holders of Tunisian bonds, of whom
probably there are not 100 on your side of the Channel.
As to Italy, she will scarcely seriously oppose France in the
matter. Nevertheless, the possibility of a fresh dispute
between those two Powers is not pleasant. Perhaps it
will turn out that neither England nor Italy has anything
to do with:the matter. In the meanwhile, the semi-official
journals can give us nothing but contradictory rumours,
and the 21/oniteur is altogether silent.

The Etendard gives its rival semi-official contemporary

the Constitutionnel an advertisement gratis, by announcing
that there is some talk of an article in the last-mentioned
paper which would be " a very studied reply to the objec-
tions which the propositions of the Gov ernment with respect
to the war budget excite in certain minds." This announce-
ment seems to confirm the rumour which is current to-day
to the effect that the Emperor will not refer to foreign
politics in his speech at Orleans on Sunday. In that case
it would seem as if Marshal Niel had completely triumphed
over M. Rouher.

Prince Metternich's visit to Vienna is giving rise to
endless conjectures. I see that the Paris correspondent
of the Independance Beige fills a whole column with re-
peating the various theories that this event has excited.
As they are very different, it is needless to say that
my colleague mentions them " under all reserves."
There is no doubt that the Austrian Ambassador
has gone to his brother's wedding ; it is also
possible that it may have been thought desirable by
Baron von Beust to have an interview with the Prince,
and to tell him verbally that there is absolutely no possi-
bility of Austria joining France in a war against Prussia.
The Paris shopkeepers hope that the Prince is gone to
arrange for the visit of the Emperor and Empress of
Austria to this city; but I fear they will prove mistaken.
To-day there seems no chance of a return visit to that
which our Emperor and Empress made at Salzburg last
year.

The debate in the Senate on the new Press Law has ex-
cited so little interest that I have not thought it worth
my while to continue the summary which I gave of the
first day's speeches. Really your debates almost attract
more attention than our own, and there is a good deal of
speculation as to the result of your mystery-man's leger-
demain. I must, however, just refer to the Viscount
La Garroniere's speech. This senator, as your readers
will remember, has in former times done the Empe-
ror good service by writing pamphlets. Yesterday
he made a long speech in favour of the Press Law. His
arguments were somewhat contradictory : he first at-
tempted to prove that the press did not possess its former
power, and then that it was of great importance that it should
be free, in order that the Emperor might in these days of
excessive armaments have the moral support of his sub-
jects. He said that the Empire was neither revolution nor
reaction ; it was a fusion of all the social elements, and
that therefore its mission was progress in instruction, in
politics, in industry, in economic reforms ; progress
everywhere. He was so interrupted in the course of his
speech by the senators, who wanted to make out that he
wished to deprive them of their right of reconsidering
the bill, that he threatened to sit down, and the President
was compelled to make constant appeals in his behalf. I
find that there were more than two dozen of these inter-
ruptions, and the President's appeals for silence were so
little heeded that he had at last to ask the speaker to take
no notice of them. M. Troplong is not strong enough
for his post.
That much-talked-of event, the Prince Imperial's first
communion, came off this morning at 9.30 in the Chapel
of the Tuileries. At the desire of the Empress there was
no pomp, and only the members of the Imperial Family
and of the household were present. Baskets of flowers
were placed on both sides of the altar, and vases of flowers
upon the altar itself. The Imperial tribune and the
galleries were covered with crimson velvet embroi-
dered with gold. In the middle of the quasi-
quire was placed a prie-dieu chair of crimson velvet,
and before it and beneath a great gold chandelier
was the young communicant's taper, bearing his arms
and the legend in Gothic characters " 7 Mai 1868." On
the right and the left of the Prince's chair were stools for
his governor and his spiritual director. The female mem-
bers of the Imperial Family sat on chairs to the right of the
Emperor, and to the left of the Empress were Ma rshal
Fleury and other great functionaries. The Prince wore a
white waistcoat and trousers and black coat, and bore on his
arm the White armlet which communicants generally wear.
The Emperor was in a frock coat, the Empress in a pearl grey
' dress. The Archbishop of Paris officiated. At the offer-
tory he invited the Prince to kiss the pastoral ring, and,
this done, his Imperial Highness returned to his place.
After a Benedictus, by Auber, had been sung, the Prince
approached the altar and knelt. Prince Joachim Murat
and General Frossard held the napkin on the right, and
Mgr. Adras and the Abbd Mullois on the left, and the
Archbishop then gave the wafer to the neophyte. He
• then retired and knelt upon his prie-dieu chair. The
cry
short, but touching address. This
Archbishop made a v
afternoon, at vespers, takes place the renewal of the
baptismal and confirmation vows. To-morrow a young
son of Dr. Conneau, the Prince's most intimate friend,
makes his first, communion.
There was a terrible tragedy this morning at one of the
hotels. A valet had for some time persecuted with his
addresses a female fellow-servant. She at last, in order to
get rid of his importunity, told her master. The master
warned the valet that if he persisted in his unwelcome suit
he would be dismissed. Thereupon the valet drew a pistol,
shot his master through the head, and then himself
through the heart. Death was in both cases instan-
taneous.

The threatened crisis in the Zollverein Parliament is
adjourned. The address to the King of Prussia in behalf
of the unification of Germany has been lost, but only by
36 votes-150 voting for it, and 186 voting, not against it,
but simply for passing to the order of the day. Those
who opposed the address did so not because they dis-
approved the principle set forth in it, but because they
thought it inexpedient to raise such an important political
question in an assembly convened for fiscal purposes. It
was remarked by one of the speakers who opposed the
address, that in the event of danger from without, South
Germany would be found fighting by the side of North
Germany, but the former could not abandon the position
in which it bad been placed by the treaties of 1866.

It is impossible to overrate the importance of this debate.
It shews that Germ-any, with the exception of Austria, is
already thoroughly homogeneous, and though there may
still be a score or two of reigning sovereigns, virtually it is
but one country, and Prussia is at its head. This matter
becomes more important when we learn that Prussia is
endeavouringto bring about friendly relations with Austria,
and has already addressed that country with respect to the
Danish question, in the hope that the sth article of the
Treaty of Prague may not stand in the way of a rapproche-
ment. It is therefore quite possible that before long we
may see Austria readmitted into the German Confedera-
tion, or at least permitted to send representatives to the
Customs Parliament. This growing unification is most
satisfactory, inasmuch as it must convince Napoleon of
the hopelessness of making war against Prussia. Not
only will he have no!allies in such an undertaking, but the
allies that he counted upon will fight against him. If war
is impossible it will be for the French people to insist that
the war expenditure shall cease.

The Paris correspondent of the Morning Herald says
there are three questions on which France and Prussia are
at issue : the Schleswig business, the question of the
Rhine fortresses, and the question of the Customs Parlia-
ment. The pretension of the French semi-inspired prints
to dictate to that assembly what it shall and what it shall
not discuss can have only one effect in Germany, and
Count Bismarck has really nothing to do but let matters
take their course. His German friends and French ene-
mies are doing their best to complete the work which he
so successfully commenced two years ago.

The Ex-King. of Hanover will rue the day V.at be ever
meddled with journalism. The Situation cost him an
enormous sum, though its circulation was under 100 a
day. Oneof the editorsof that defunct journal isnowabout
to cite his ex-Majesty before the Paris law courts, on the
ground that he (the plaintiff) has not been sufficiently re-
munerated for his services.

The Morning Post's Paris correspondent says that public
opionion in that city is taking a decided shape in favour of
peace ; not an armed peace, but a peace based on true
peace principles, peace interests, and peace economy. The
newspapers are daily advocating disarming ; the com-
mittee on the Budget in the French Chambers is contend-
ing against the demands made by the Ministers of War
and Marine ; the people of the provinces, especially the
agricultural districts, continue to protest against the
military demands of the Army Bill, although they have of
course no means of resisting its accomplished provisions.
The public mind is impressed with the perils of large arma-
ments, which, so far from ensuring peace, as the Imperial
Government would have Frenchmen believe, are now con-
sidered as a permanent danger as well as a ruinous demand
on the wealth of the nation.