The Sun.
London, England, 1868-08-06 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, THURSDAY EVENING, AUGUST 6, 186 8.

which he should be called upon to decide.
are ch anged, indeed, since then, and we are now on
the evt e of a great struggle, partly occasioned by
the chat tges of the new Reform Bill, and partly also
by the n ew dispute which the right hon. gentleman
has brot%ght into the affairs of political life. It is
Da to be expected that the Ministry should figure
vtry faT-ourably in this discourse, and therefore
there is no need to be surprised at the tone adopted
by tht' right hon. gentleman. He has it all his
owt -wry on an occasion like that referred to, and
can . accordingly vent his indignation and express
his ;sarcasms with no fear of a reprisal and no ap-
prelim lsion of a reply which may spoil all his best
point!. and mar the effect produced by his oratory.
Nos ,withstanding the length of his speech, Mr.
IDSTONE said that he had not time to enter upon
all that this Parliament had done, though its dura-
tiott had not been a long one. The fir6t charge
preerred against the Ministers was that they had
ppe.gt too much and added some millions to the
expenditure of the country. This was manifestly
unfair, because it is well known that the
late Government did not leave the de-
fences of the country in a proper state, and
Mr. GLADSTONE ought to be the last to have
complained of the pressure of taxation, because he
has never shown any willingness to remit those
taxes which press
_heavily upon the community
if he wished to accomplish any of his particular
purposes. Very little was said by Mr. GLADSTONE of
the Reform Bill, for all his aims and energies were
directed to the Irish question ; and first of all, he
questioned the accuracy of the statement of the
Premier at the Mansion House the other day, when
he said that the state of Ireland just now af-
forded great satisfaction. The manner in which
this was commented on was really absurd,
and he even went so far as to call it " infatuation"
to describe the state of the country as coming
under that denomination. It is always easy to
pervert anything, and hence Mr. GLADSTONE de-
clares that it is foolish to talk of its being satisfac-
tory to have the Habeas Corpus Act suspended ;
whereas every one must know that Mr. DISRAELI
meant that it was fortunate the provisions of the
Suspension Act were not obliged to be put in force.
It is really too bad for Mr. GLADSTONE, as a states
man, to declare that the laws and institutions of
Ireland are such that he cannot be responsible
for maintaining them ; and when he talks of the
" loathsome process of suspending the Habeas Cor-
pus Act," we may well remind him that it was the
Government of which he was a conspicuous mem-
ber that began the practice, and then he had not
discovered the necessity for the Irish Church being
disposed of in order 0 put down Fenianistn. The
best satire on the style of this speech is to say that
it reminds us of the speeches of Mr. BRIGHT. We
were hardly prepared for the leader of the
Opposition so far forgetting himself as to be in
in some sense the apologist of Fenianism,
for really there is ri% other conclusion to be drawn
from the words he employs. Set the laws right,
he says, then trust to Providence for the result.
We may remark on this that Providence helps those
who help themselves; and it was not because of the
fault of the laws that disaffection arose in Ireland,
for many of the chief offenders lived outside the
pale of the law, and set the mildest restrictions at
defiance. As for Mr. GLADSTONE'S argument, it
amounts to this, if, when all his present plans are
accomplished, there should still be discontent, make
another concession, say Repeal of the Union. He can
hardly carry out Mr. BRIGIIT'S Utopia of floating
the Emerald Isle to its kindred land of the West.
It is much to be regretted that a politician of Mr.
GLADSTONE'S eminence cannot keep to plain facts,
and not distort things to make a great effect. The
peace of Ireland is really too serious a subject for
it to be made the tool and handle of candidates at
a general election ; an I it is unfortunate that
through the tactics of the Opposition it has so fallen
out.

Times

Mr. GLADSTONE treats with contempt the declara-
tion of some that they wish to reform the abuses of
the Irish Church, and as goof as says that either
they do not m. 4t.330111.p115u
As for the commission which was appointed at the
instance of Lord RUSSELL, that is quite a nonentity;
their plans are futile. But Mr. GLADSTONE blames
them, and he is very sorry for them. He did not
know what better they could do. Why did he not
say this earlier, before the Conservatives had taken
Reform out of his hands. The brilliancy of Mr.
G L ADSTONE'S eloquence must make any speech of
his entertaining to peruse, but we wish that this the
opening- of the election speeches, as it were,
bad been characterised by a more dignified tone,
and was more like the utterances of a great states-
man who ranks the success of his cause beyond
personal or party aggrandisement, rather than the
haphazard remarks of one intent on gaining an
immediate point; and he wound up with the ex-
citement of the conflict that he cannot resist da-
maging his opponents, be the consequences what
they may. This is not the spirit in which to heal
the differences or to soften the asperities of the
Irish, and the sooner this is recognised the better,
for the welfare of the country is of more conse-
quence than the triumph of any party.

Among the many travellers whom fortune or

inclination is bringing over to our shores a very
distinguished individual has arrived almost unno-

ticed. On Tuesday last JEFFERSON DAVIS, ex-

President of the Confelerate States of America,

landed in Liverpool by the Allan steamer Austrian,

and was warmly welcomed by the few who were
aware of his coming. Some of the more prominent

sympathisers with the Southern cause went on

board to meet him, and were received with charac-
teristic courtesy. Afterwards he was conducted to
the Adelphi Hotel, where be intends to remain
for a day or two. As scon as his arrival be-
came known a considerable crowd assembled
who cheered Mr. Davis loudly, thus paying tribute
to courage in adversity and fortitude under most
startling vicissitudes. Two or three years back
JEFFEnsoN DAVIS was at the head of a great Con-
federation, the nominal ruler of States whose terri-
tory would divide into a dozen European kingdoms.
He was the commander-in-chief of a formidable
army, whose generals represented the first military
talent in the world, and whose successes might riva
the most famous achievements of history. It was
more than possible that he might see his efforts
crowned with triumph, and close his days
the honoured and respected chief of a great and
populous Repub:ic. A turn of fortune's wheel, and
the statesman at the head of his Cabinet, the mili-
tary superior of men like LEE and JACKSON, was a
prisoner in the hands of relentless foes, whose
hatred was the more bitter from the kindred race.
The public feeling was against him, and the passions
of the furious war had not died out. His enemies
did not scruple to circulate malicious falsehoods
respecting him, and an attempt was made to fasten
upon the high-minded gentlemen, whose chief fault
as a ruler was his leniency and magnanimity, the
stigma of collusion with the assassins of ABRAHAM
LINCOLN. Had another man than President
JOHNSON been at the head of affairs the result might
L have been different. nt. As it is, America has been spared

a shame which her people would have felt deeply
when the first passion of the hour was over, and
JEFFERSON DAVIS stands among us in health and
vigour, notwithstanding the terrible experience
through which he has passed. He will find
by his reception at Liverpool that the
respect and friendship of a great country
does not depend upon success. In the North itself
he has been received with kindness and courtesy by
men who honour his private character, while they
differ from his public policy. In England he will
meet with the sympathy and respect which is due
to a man whose greatness does not depend on the
accidents of fortune or position, but on those in-
herent qualities which are above all adventitious
aids. Men like JEFFERSON DAVIS awl General
LEE may say to the fickle goddeis in the noble
words of the Laureate—

"Turn, Fortune, turn thy wheel, and smile or frown.
With that wild wheel we go not up nor down,
For man is man, and master of his fate."

LATEST INTELLIGENCE,

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

FRANCE.

PARIS, Aug. 6.
Queen Victoria arrived here this morning at 7.15,
and alighted at the English Embassy,

DEPARTURE OF THE DUKE OF
EDINBURGH.

DOVER, Thursday Morning.
The Duke of Edinburgh arrived here last night at
11.40 by South Eastern train. His royal highness
travelled strictly incognito, attended only by the
Hon. Elliot Yorke, and was received and escorted
to the Admiralty-pier by Colonel Hamilton, R.E.,
Colonel Cox, Assistant Adjutant-General, Colonel
Eton, the Mayor of Dover (Mr. J. G. Churchward),
and embarked in a special steamer (the Samphire)
for Calais, en route for Paris.

A small crowd was collected, which cheered as
,he steamer left.

OVERLAND MAILS.

MALTA, Aug. 5.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Poonah leaves at 1 a.m. to-morrow for Southampton,
where she may be expected early on the 15th inst.
The Bangalore, from Southampton on July 25,
arrived on the 2d inst., at 4 p.m., and left at noon
on the 3d for Alexandria.

BREST, August 6.

The Transatlantic Company's steamer Europe,
from New York, arrived here to-day, at 7 a.m.
She brings 144 passengers, and $627,221 in specie.

BOURSE, August s.—Three o'clock.—The market
closed as follows :-
41 per Cent.
End of month... Itsl'an Loan
3 per Cent
End of month 7O 55 Mexican Loan ... 22 50
Credit Mobilier
End of month... 258 75 Spanish Threes 35 50
Credit Foncier ...1420 Rome Debt —

End of month:. : I Deferred .—
RAILWAYS. Cash
Orleans , .. 882
Northern 1153
Lyons and Mediterranean
Southern..... 565
Western
Eastern • • 558
Sardinian
Austrian 547
Lombard 402
North of Spain 55
Saragossa
Roman 4'2

FIRE AT 7 HE LONDON BRIDGE RAILWAY
STA2ION-7HIS DAY.

This morning, shortly after three o'clock, a fire,
which for a short time illuminated the south side of
the River Thames, broke out in the London,
Brighton, and South Coast Railway station at
London Bridge, and at one time threatened the
most disastrous consequences. It appears that
at the time of the outbreak there were only
about three persons on duty at the station, and
their attention was suddenly attracted to the
vaults under the platform by seeing an immense
volume of smoke pouring up and enveloping the
interior of the station. The vaults and a shed build-
ing over were used as oil stores and' lamp rooms,
and judging from the rapidity of the fire there
must nave 'neeu a 11:011:51UC•...Wo
other combustible matter in the place, for in less
time than the company's fire-engine could be
wheeled over the platform the smoke changed
to huge sheets of flame, and, lapping over by
the force of the wind, fired three first-
class and one second-class carriage. The engine
was at once got ready for work, but there were not
sufficient persons on the spot to man it, and nothing
could be done until the arrival of the London
Salvage Corps from Southwark Bridge-road and
Watling-street. Mr. Superiutendent Swanton, and
Mr. Cooper, the foreman, at once ordered the men
to get the company's engine to work, but the
flames had then obtained too firm a hold to suc-
cumb to the power of one engine, and the necessary
intelligence having been dispatched to the stations
of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade several engines
and a powerful body of firemen arrived. A large
land steam engine by Shand, Mason, and Co. was
at once set to work from an abundant supply of
water furnished by the Southwark Company, which
was yery fortunate, for an immense wooden tank on
the station which supplied the company's engine took
fire several times, and the hose had to be directed
upon it to save it from destruction, and by that
means the weight of water was obliged to be with-
drawn from the principal seat of the conflagration
in the arches. By great perseverance, however, on
the part of the firemen and the London Salvage
Corps the fire was eventually arrested iu its pro-
gress, and no further loss to property occurred.

The English squadron, under the command of
Lord Clarence Paget, is making a sort of triumphal
progress from port to port of the Adriatic. The
reception it had recently at Venice will, it is thought,
be equalled by the welcome that awaits the squa-
dron at Trieste. The arrival of the fleet at this
port is expected by the 6th or the 7th instant, and
it is said that Admiral Tegethoff has received orders
to prepare for its reception.
A contract has been signed by M. Rouher, on the
part of Government, and by M. Plon, the Emperor s
editor, and M. Norbert Billari, the former editor
of the Moniteur, for an official paper, to be entitled
henceforth Journal Officicl de l'Empire Francais,
which, instead of costing Governineut £16,000,000
per annum, will bring in a net profit of £8,000,000
a year.
M. de Keratry has once more applied to the
Minister of State for permission to publish several
documents in his possession bearing on the late
Mexican campaign, and most especially a series of
private letters exchanged between the Emperor
Napoleon and Maximilian. M. de Keratry awaits
M. Rouher's answer before he initiates the public
into these important papers. . .

The Empress will be present at the distribution
of prizes which takes place at the Lycee Bonaparte
next Monday. The Prince Imperial belongs to this
college, inasmuch as his education is directed by
one of its professors. It is reported that he is likely
to carry off the prize for mathematics. The Lye6e
Bonaparte, formerly College Royal de Bourbon,
has its principal entrance in the Rue du Havre,
near the station of the Varsailles Railway. The
buildings in which it is established were erected in
1781 for a convent of Capucins.

The approaching marriage of Princesss Margaret
of Orleans and Prince Theodore of Bavaria, brother
of the Empress of Austria, is announced.
The Rev. Arthur Baker, rector of Addington,
Bucks, who elicited from .Mr. Disraeli some time
since an explanation of his views on Ritualism, is
just dead. He died, the Church News tells us, as a
devout "Catholic, surrounded by his relations and
fortified with the sacraments of the Church.