The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-07 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, FEB. 7, 1868.

Count BISMARCK has been exerting his eloquence
in vain before a degenerate assembly, who turned
a deaf ear to his wit and wisdom. In yesterday's
sitting of the Chamber of Deputies, the debate on
the Government Bill, for establishing a special fund
for the province of Hanover, was resumed. Some
objections having been made, M. Bism_kucK spoke
very decidedly upon the subject, and declared that
the Government had not in any way abandoned
their Conservative principles ; and, assuming a
threatening aspect, he said that if this party did not
support the Ministry a coalition Ministry would
be the result of their desertion, and at any
rate no conflict with the Chamber would deter
the Government from carrying out their own
Whether he overreached himself by his
cunning, or overacted his part of terrorism or not,
it is difficult to say, but upon an amendment being
put by Deputy KARDORFF, to the purport that five
hundred thalers should be specially assigned out of
the revenue to the Provincial Administration of
Hanover, and that such amount should henceforth
be placed upon the ordinary Budget, it was carried
against the Government by a small majority. This
is a decided rebuff to the Ministers, more especially
after the elaborate speech of Count BISMARCK, and
his evident interest in the matter. It is just as well
that it should have been so, for too much license
should not be given to the present Powers in Ber-
lin if anything like justice at home or abroad is
expected or desired. If they deserve defeat upon
one thing more than another it is in the matter of
Hanover, for their conduct respecting that province
was most dastardly, and they certainly forgot all
considerations of propriety and suggestions of
honour in their dealings with it. A summary
mode of proceeding and a harsh arbitrary policy
may gain their end for the nonce, but a day of
retribution will surely come, and then the proud
oppressor and the ruthless judge will find no
sympathy and meet with no pity. It seems some-
thing gained that the Cabinet presided over by
Count BIS3IARCK should have received this check,
and the mortification they feel, therefore, is quite
their due.

views.

The intelligence which reaches us from Abyssinia
reports that in that favoured country treachery is
the order of the day. There is a general disaffec-
tion, and a complication of plots, counterplots,
manoeuvres, and intrigues, but little definite or
united action. THEODORE'S two principal op-
ponents, MENILEK, King of Shoa, and the
WAAGSHUM GOBAZYE, have retreated from his
vicinity. Of the WAAGSHLTM nothing has been
heard, but MENILEK has departed from the gates
of Magdala under the plea of seeking a fresh sup-
ply of provisions. He had hoped apparently that
those in charge of the fortress would surrender it
to him. However, after a council of war, it was
determined not to do so, and thereupon MENILEK
took himself and his army off. This was a great
disappointment to the captives, who naturally
enough preferred to be in any hands rather
than in King THEODORE'S, and who had
cherished some hopes that MENILEK might
effect their rescue. In the camp, however, it is not
thought that the news is unfavourable, since
THEODORE may be more likely to come to terms if
his rebellious vassals have nothing to do with the
matter. This may be the case, but considering his
unscrupulous character we apprehend the general
feeling will be one of regret that the captives are
not out of his reach. It seems that the terror which
THEODORE inspires is confined to his own person,
and thus, though his enemies are very unwilling to
meet him face to face, they have no reluctance in
attacking his followers, killing stragglers, and
withholding supplies. There seems little reason
to doubt that if a European column were
boldly to dash up to Magdala the spell of
this superstitious fear would be broken,
and the work of the expedition very quickly and
effectually done. The awe in which the natives
hold their tyrant may be counteracted by their still
greater awe of our powers. The obedience of the
trained elephants has excited much surprise, and a
still greater marvel to them has been the sight of
water condensed from the sea. An Abyssinian the
other day declared to a British officer his conviction
. that we must be greater than the Afrits of old,
since " they could move mountains and fiy through
the air, but they could never drink from the sea—
they could never change salt water into fresh !"

We have not, however, according to the narra-
tives of those on the spot, much to boast of in
our management of the water, since the supply
is very insufficient, and the animals suffer and
die from lack of it. The unfortunate mules and
ponies have been much neglected owing to the
recklessness and indolence of their drivers, and the
lack of intelligent supervision. There are but a
dozen European officers to look after 1,200 men and
2,000 animals, besides writing out endless reports,
keeping the accounts, and other miscellaneous

duties. The natural conseiaence is that, though
terribly overworked, they find it impossible to
struggle through half the duties allotted to them;
and the regulations as to inspecting animals' backs,.
and keeping each individual soldier and inspector
up to his duty, are quite beyond attention. The
men and animals suffer, and the poor beasts die by
the hundreds, besides filling the hospitals, whence

again there comes a complaint of the lack of vete-
rinary surgeons. It would have been much better
to have sent a smaller force of baggage animals,
and to have sent with them a sufficient staff of
European inspectors to see they were properly cared
for. It is a waste of animal life, and of public
' money, to import thousands of beasts, and then let
them die for want of common care and enough
water. When wo are told that hundreds of animals
have had to go to work in the morning or lie down
at night without a drop of water, in such a climate,
we need not wonder that they are decimated by disease.
However, matters, we may hope, are mending by
degrees, and we must not forget that the expedi-
tion has had some serious difficulties to contend
against. Sir ROBERT NAPIER, who has inspected
the arrangements at Aunesley Bay, has ex-
pressed himself highly satisfied with them.
The works carried out at Zoulla have received his
' especial commendation. Great progress has, he
inl converting lir: ing
creditable a de e
underr desert
very
first view utterly devoid of resources into a very
convenient port and ilepot by the construction of
an excellent stone pier, stone sheds, anal other
says,'ll sb,euelhicmhaNdveoul‘d‘
favourable circurnstance3." Another achievement is
the opening of the railway line, thoughasyct
only fora
short distance. The first locomotive which puffed
and shrieked along these African sands, as may be
supposed, filled the natives with amazement. A
group of them rushed after it, in evident expectation,
says an eye-witness, that its snorts and puffs were
• only preliminary to its rearing, plunging, or =do,.

vouring to throw its; drivers. It was hoped that
the road to Koomaylee would be finished by about
this time, and the tel has been carried some
distance into the interior. Now that Sir ROBERT
NAPIER is on the spot, it is probable that we shall
soon hear of something definite being accomplished,
and there is little fear that, when once matters are
in working order, the amount of opposition which
we shall encounter will be very formidable.

Mr. BraGirr is indeed very busy just now, and
his latest remarks have been made in answer to a
deputation of Licensed Victuallers, who sought to
know his views upon the bill of Mr. ABEL SMITH,
for further restricting the hours during which
public-houses can be opened on Sundays. Mr.
BRIGHT began by sympathising with them, because
he said they were continually subjected to attacks,
and he had had great experience of that sort of
thing, be..!ause some twenty years ago bills were
constantly being brought into Parliament for the
purpose of " worrying the manufacturers." The
truth has conic out here at any rate, and the great
aversion which Mr. BRIGHT and his friends
felt towards those remedial schemes which
have done so much to improve the po-
sition of the operatives. Mr. BRIGHT looks
upon the whole of this matter as a great
nuisance. It is a great grievance for members of
Parliament to be constantly plagued with deputa-
tions, and it is a great grievance for the deputa-
tions to have constantly to appeal before Parlia-
ment.

"The licensed victualler is a sort of
irrepressible evil, which members of Parliament
have constantly to settle with in one way or the
other." Mr. BRIGHT takes the unpopular view of
the question, and seems to think that public-houses
should be closed on Sundays altogether ; but as
that is as yet impracticable, it would be better to
move gradually onwards. We think that he is
entirely mistaken in his idea that the public insists
every year more strongly upon something being
done. lle mistakes the clamour of a clique
for the general expression of feeling on
the subject ; but if any proposition like
that of Mr. ABEL SMITH emanated from the
Government, or received their sanction when in-
troduced by a private member, there would soon
be a manifestation that would not be mistaken.
As for the arguments here put forward by Mr.
BRIGHT, such as his not being allowed to open his
place of business on a Sunday, and a photographer
not being permitted to do so, they are not applic-
able to the case in point. It makes no difference
to the convenience or domestic arrangements of the
working classps that these places should be closed,
but if we came to shutting up the public-houses
altogether, or even greatly to restrict their hours
of opening, we immediately or directly interfere
with :the habits and customs of the lower orders
in a manner that is unwarrantable, and that
cannot but produce evil consequences. He
had sufficient proof of the inadvisability
of that sort of thing when Lord ROBERT
GROSVENOR'S Bill was before the House of Com-
mons, and when class was set against class, and
feelings stimulated that took a long time to subside,
and even then left a bitterness behind. Mr. BRIGHT
says that he " grieves beyond expression that
nobody has arisen in the trade to lead the trade
itself, and the families engaged in the trade, out of
the sort of captivity in which they are by the prac-
tice of opening their houses on Sunday ;" but then
he overlooks the fact that they cannot always con-
sult their own wishes on the subject. No doubt
cab-drivers, and omnibus conductors, and so on
would rejoice at an exemption from labour one day
out of the seven ; but it is impossible for them
to ;have it, as society is constituted, without
aptgreatlyoluvbi.always
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schemes, which are at OD ce discernible as provocativestesiss
to attack and redolent of strife. Mr. BRIGHT ex-
pects that "the day will come when from among the
licensed victuallers themselves there will arise men
who will.help the public in some degree to abate
the evil which the universal mind of the universal
public feel to exist in the continued opening of
public-houses on a Sunday." He, however, de-
clined
to give a specific reply as to what he would
d
regard to this questionthe present state of
opinion.oin in
He took credit to himself for having
been very " candid," and for having given very good
advice on the subject, but perhaps his hearers did
not share his opinions.

Yesterday at the meeting of the Common Counc
a question of considerable public interest was
raised. The Special Gas Committee presented
their report, and asked for power to petition
against the Metropolitan Gas Companies Amal-
gamation Bill. This bill provides for the
amalgamation of the companies subject to the
Metropolitan Gas Act of 1860, and for the ap-
pointment of commissioners with extensive powers
for fixing the illuminating powers and the price of
gas, as well as for the appointment of metropolitan
gas referees and examiners. The bill provides that
the maxinrim price shall be sixpence per thousand
cubic feet less than the minimum price of gas fixed
by the Act, and that the illuminating power after
this year should be two candles more than that
fixed by it. It will thus be seen that
the pressure brought t') bear upon the Companies
has not been without its effect, and that they are
apprehensive of a change. It is no wonder that
the gas committee with in the public interests to
oppose the measure, which will give the companies
a new lease of power. The monopoly is already
most injurious, and the amalgamation of the com-
panies will only increase the evil by consolidating
their forces.'lle concession as to price and illuminat-
ing power sounds very plausible, but when the price
charged for gas in London is compared with that
charged in our great provincial towns the favour
vanishes into thin air. There is certainly no reason
why the metropolitan consumers should pay more
for less light than the inhabitants of Liverpool or
Bristol, and we are glad to find the Corporation
are actively bestirring themselves in the matter.

CRYSTAL PALACE.—An excitingscene took place
yesterday afternoon immediately opposite the Palace, a
stag, pursued by Mr. Heathcote's hounds, being taken at
the Gipsy-hill end of the Crystal Palace tunnel. Th 3
meet was at Cheam, the field at the start numbering 100;
but this number at the finish was reduced by one half.
The run lasted two hours and five minutes. A more de-
lightful spring day was scarcely ever seen at the Crystal
Palace. The admissions on payment were 2,153; by sea-
son tickets, 1,850—total visitors, 4,003.
•-• •

-- • ,
RAILWAY COLLISION.—On Wednesday a collision
took place on the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway, near
Horbury-bridge, by which much damage was done to the
rolling stock, and several persons wore seriously injured
During the forenoon a goods engine had got off tho metals
near Horbury Junction, and the traffic was being worked
on a single line. A mail train, from Manchester to Nor-
manton, passes the place about half-past I'2 o'clock, and
just about this time a coal train was moving slowly along,
when the passenger train made its appearance at a rapid
speed. The drivers and stokers of both trains at once per-
ceived that a collision could not be prevented, and there-
fore, after shutting off the steam and applying the breaks,
they jumped off their engines just before the collision oc-
curred. Both the engines and tenders and several car-
riages and trucks were much damaged, whilst Mr. J. How-
gate, auctioneer, of Wakefield, was dreadfully injured
about the head and face. About ten other persons also
received bruises and contusions, and were much shaken,
but it is not expected that they will prove very serious.