The Sun.
London, England, 1868-05-15 00:00:00

Q011,1013E0,

OM PARIS.

(FROM OUR OWN CORRESPONDENT.)

PARIS, THURSDAY, May 14.
The Opinion Nationale publishes startling news to-dap,
It gives a telegram just received from its Italian correspon.
dent, according to which the French occupation of Roms
is about to be renewed. Large quantities of war mat:grid
are being constantly disembarked, and the Papal Pro-
Minister of War has received orders to prepare certain
barracks for the French troops. This news, taken in con-

nection with the statement that the Pope is forming a
military camp at Frischiera and fortified barracks at Cer-
toza, has caused some excitement.
The rumour has been revived to-day that we may
shortly expect to have the disarmament question raised.
I cannot find any foundation for it. On the contrary, I
learn that the manufacture of arms still goes on with the
same rapidity as before, and that there is a conflict waging
between the Commissioners on the Budget and the
Government ; the first wanting to reduce the prpposed loan
by about 9 per cent. (21,600,060), and the sscOnd refusing
to do so. However, there is no doubt that to-day peace is
in the ascendant, and we are congratulating ourselves that
it is scarcely possible for war to break out under three
months--and time is always on the side of peace.
In reference to this matter I may mention that some
uneasiness has been caused at Vienna by the frequent
references to our armaments which have been made in Baron
von Beust's organ, the Neue Freie Presse. This journal
has just been pointing out that the whole of our infantry
have been armed with the Chassepot, and that this
weapon gives fifteen shots a minute, with excellent
practice, at 1,000 yards. The organisation of 200,000
of the National Mobile Guard has been nearly completed,
and in the eastern departments this force is actually doing
duty. Within the last year - 115,000 horses have I cen
purchased by our War Department. There are COO breech-
loading guns at Lille alone, and at Metz much activity
prevails in repairing the fortifications. Such are the
statements which come to us from Vienna. The frequent
references to these matters in the Austrian Premier's
journal has led some persons to suppose that he ia really
not so pacific as is generally thought. The St. Petersburg
papers also refer to our armaments incessantly, and
declare that France is on the look-out for an opportunity
of attacking Russia, and that Austria will be drawn into
the quarrel by France.
Prince Napoleon has not yet taken his departure for the
Lower Danube, and it is not known when he will do so.
It is rumoured that he will pay a visit to the Suez
Canal.

The Pinard•ltouher quarrel still gives rise to mucn
gossip. Marshal Niel, who has no love for the Minister of
State, is said to have been at the bottom of the affair.
But the Minister for the Interior came out badly. The
Emperor is reported to have told Pinard that he (Pinard)
wished to be independent, and that the end of it would
be, he would find himself isolated. It has been
noticed that the Duc de Persigny has had a long interview
with the Emperor, and some persons believe that this hero
of the coup d'etat, whom your Mr. Kinglake has gibbeted
so unmercifully, is about to return to the Home Office. I
doubt it very much. The duke made such a mess of the
elections in 1863 that he was compelled to resign. It is
not at all likely, therefore, that he will be reinstated just
as another general election is imminent.
M. Horn's pamphlet, " Le Bilan de l'Empire," which so
unmercifully exposed the extravagance of the Second
Empire, has brought forth a rejoinder, " Les Finances de
'Empire. It is written by M. Vitu, one of the editors of
the Etcndard, and he has received a letter from the
Emperor, thanking him for it. The pamphlet has not yet
been circulated, but it is likely to be published bodily in
the Monitcur.

I hear that M. Baroche, the Minister of Justice, is
about to address a circular to all the Procureurs-G6msra,ux,
recommending them to exercise moderation and prudence
in the execution of the new Press Law.
The first part of M. Thiers's speech was a failure, ana
as it only reproduced the statements and arguments of the
other Protectionist speakers I need not trouble you with
any long account of it. Incidentally he stumbled upon
the truth when he said that France was differently
situated from Switzerland, because, Switzerland had
neither a conscription nor taxes. His main arguments
were, that England had much larger resources and much
larger markets than France, and could therefore raise her
produce at a much cheaper rate, and that France had
hitherto devoted her attention chiefly to the manufacture
of articles of luxury, and could not, therefore, suddenly
compete with England on equal terms in the manufacture
of articles of utility. In one part of his speech he
became somewhat personal. Addressing M. Rouher, he
said : " You have the pretension to seize for yourself the
power of deciding what shall be the economical system of
the country; of determining it in two or three days in
that Palace of the Tuileries which contains a power the
most august, but which is not the nation." This called np
thePreidiZent and M. Rouher, who rebuked the speaker;
but he reritated his words in a slightly varied form,
saying : " Yes ; all that is at the Tuileries is august ; but
there is something still more so, and that is the nation
itself." M. Thiers spoke till alwut six, and then went to
the bureau at 3 a.m. to day, anti stayed correcting his
proofs for the -14.'unitcm. until 7 a.m. Not bad, this, for a
I man of 71. . _

To-day the Hall was as crowded as it was yesterday.
M. Forcade de la Roquette, Minister of Agriculture and
Commerce, replied to M. Thiers. He began by referring
to the crisis which, quite independently of any system of
legislation, had had a depressing effect upon the manu-
facturing industry of France as upon that of other
countries. He maintained that the traditions of France

in matters of political economy were not those of
restriction, but of progressive commercial liberty.
Even in the 17th and 18th centuries much attention
was paid to the development of commerce : the tariffs
were moderate, and agriculture was not thought to need
any special protection. If the duties were heavy upon a
tow articles of foreign production, this was with a view of
establishing certain special manufactures. It was only in
1814, at the Restoration, that certain powerful interests
coalesced, and succeeded in establishing and adopting
those high tariffs which had since been persisted in until
1855. But under the Restoration the opposition had never
ceased to protest against the commercial policy of the
Government, and had denounced the creation of large
landed proprietors with wealthy manufacturers' interests,
which was all-powerful under that regime. The commer-
cial policy of the Second Empire was in perfect accordance
with the best traditions of France. It was not free trade.
It did not suddenly withdraw all protection, but it gradu-
ally lessened, as the need of it diminished, that protection.
This policy did not date from the treaty with England in
1860, it dated from the Customs Laws voted by the Cham-
bers in 1855. What had been the result ? So far from
suffering, French industry had since that date developed
more than during the twenty-one years previous. How
could such an increase be explained, if not by the sound-
ness of the commercial policy adopted by the Emperor?
M. Pouyer-Quertier was to reply to the Minister.
The civil marriage between Prince Achille Murat ana
the Princess Mingrelia took place to-day at the Tuileries,
in the presence of the Emperor, the Empress, the Prince
imperial, the Princess Clotilde, the Princess Matbilde,
and a large number of distinguished persons. As it has
been arranged that the children shall be brought up in the
Greek faith, the Pope has refused to give his blessing, and
the religious service will take place in the Greek Church.
I am glad to say that the reports of the crops are now
very much more favourable. The price of cereals has
fallen in the Paris market.

The Prussian Government has given notice that if
within a certain period the Hanoverian soldiers now in
France do not return to their own country they will be
considered guilty of high treason.

According to the Biirsenhalle, a Hamburg paper, the
Emperor Napoleon has asked the King of Prussia what
are his intentions with regard to his summer tour, as the
Emperor and the Empress would like to meet their
Majesties at some watering-place.
The Prase, which, as " Journal de l'Empire," is scarcely
likely to exaggerate at the expense of the Government,
gives a very gloomy account of Algeria. The recent
murder of a Christian youth by Arabs bas caused im-
mense excitement, and 10,000 persons attended his funeral.
The police are powerless to protect the colonists, and they
are all buying arms in self-defence, so that the price of
revolvers has doubled. The population is still rapidly
diminishing through famine. The only bright spot is, that
this year's harvest, which is now ripe, is excellent.
The English holders of Austrian securities have bad an
interview with Count Apponyi, the Austrian Minister in
this country, to represent to him the serious wrong that
would be, done to them by carrying out the proposed mea-
sure of levying income tax upon them. Such a step is
without precedent, and it would, no doubt, have the effect
of excluding all Austrian securities from the London
Stock Exchange, in the same way as Spanish and Greek
securities are now excluded. The memorial presented to
Count Apponyi was signed by 48 of the most influential
firms in this country, including the Rothschilds and the
Barings.

The Spanish Cortes have discovered that the Govern-
ment has no power to confer a home guarantee upon the
recently-projected Spanish Colonial Loan for £2,335,000 ;
consequently, the agents for the loan in this country,
Messrs. Bischoflsheim and Goldschmidt, have informed
subscribers that their money will be returned to them
forthwith, with interest at the Bank rate of 2 per cent.
The agents deposited £llO,OOO caution money, but it is
supposed that even the Spanish Government will not hesi-
tate to repay this amount at once.

A CURIOUS FEAST.

A singular feast, being, in fact, a feast of radishes, oaten
!ale, and butter, with strong ale, has been given at
3evens Hall, Westmoreland, the seat of the Hon. Mary
[toward. This is quite a customary affair. In the olden
ime it was the duty of the Kendal corporation to open
;he Milnthorpe fair by reading the King's charter, and
or this purpose that body used to proceed to the old
,ost town in state, the mayor and his municipal col-
eagues in cocked hat, robes, and bearing the silver mace
and other insignia of office. Having opened the fair, the
:orporation then accepted an invitation to Sevens, and
?roceeding thither were received by the master of the
lan, and by him entertained at a feast composed of the
?rinaitive viands above described. Afterwards the guests
valked round the grounds, and thence returned to Kendal.
)f course, this was merely a complimentary recognition
)f the Kendal dignitaries, and as such it has been re-
orded ever since. Now, however, the feast has become
nore general; for, in addition to the existing corporation,
as many of the male portion of the public as like to be pre-
vent are admitted, and ample provision is made accord-
M,gly. About 150 persons, some of them the leading gentle-
men of the county, were present. Two large tables were
laid ontan the gardens, and upon these were pyramids of
)aten cake and patties of butter, together with a whole
;nip of radishes and sundry cans of strong ale. There
was the greatest liberality manifested, and the guests ate
and drank with evident zest. One important feature of
the feast is the compulsory form entitled " drinking the
;unstable." This is an ordeal through which all strangers
are required to pass, and for that reason is not
generally admired by the neophytes themselves, though
greatly appreciated by the older visitors. There is a
!orfeit, too. A large glass of unique form, like a tankard
m a pedestal, is filled with some dark-brown liquor
;abed "morocco," being strong ale made from burnt malt,
and this is given to the " colt," who is required to stand
upon one leg and drink the toast, " Luck to Sevens aslong
as the Kent flows." If he fails to swallow the draught
before putting down his foot the man forfeits a shilling. Of
course, much is made of this feature, and the contortions
and evident desire of " colts" to keep their legs is provoca-
tive of immense laughter ; indeed, in it is composed the
whole fun of the proceedings. After the feast there were
various athletic sports peculiar to the north, the whole
coming to a conclusion at sundown.

6-7i*‘;,..PAAM•
Crini ((Iran

HER MAJESTY.

WINDSOR CASTLE, May 14.
Her Majesty and suite arrived here at five
o'clock last evening from Buckingham Palace.
The Queen, accompanied by Princess Beatrice,
drove out this morning.
Princess Louise also drove out.

THE GREAT HANDEL FESIIVAL AT
THE CRYSTAL PALACE.

The musical arrangements for this great celebra-
tion are all but completed. The great rehearsal of
the London portion of the amateur choir will take
place at Exeter Hall (Friday) evening. The steady
increase of competent choraliAs has led to a great
extension of the Metropolitan Choir, which now
numbers upwards of 2,000 members, all of whom
have been carefully tested as to their vocal ability
by the various superintendents.

At this rehearsal all the members of the choir
will be placed in numbered seats, so that they may
be easily identified and communicated with by their
respective superintendents. The choir, thus dis-
posed, will occupy not only the permanent orchestra
of Exeter Hall, but additional platforms raised for
the occasion, as well as the whole floor of this spa-
cious area. The only space left for the few visitors
invited_ will be in the great west gallery.
The effect produced by the two thousand voices
to-night will doubtless be grand in the extreme.
The choruses to he rehearse,' will be those which
are to be performed ou the second or " Selection"
day of the Handel Festival. These are chiefly from
" Solomon," " Saul," and " Judas Maccabaeus ;"
but in addition to these, some choruses will
be introduced which perhaps it is not too much
to say have never been heard on any considerable
sc:

ale since Handel's own performance of them.
Among these may be mentioned, " He saw the
lovely youth," from " Theodora." The chorus
has been frequently cited as one of Handel's best
efforts. Another chorus, as little known, and
quite as beautiful, " Now, Love, the everlasting
boy," from " Semele ;" and " The many rend the
skies," from " Alexander's Feast," will be intro-
duced in the rehearsal.

A complete programme of the festival, with the
names of the eminent artists engaged, and the
number of vocal and instrumental performers,
will be published this week ; and this wili be

followed by a detailed statement of the arrange-
ments made by the various railway companies which
_ . _

intend to run excursion trains to the Crystal Palace

for this great event. These arrangements are not
yet fully matured, but it may be stated that very
liberal arrangements will be made by all the prin-
cipal railway companies.
For the grand rehearsal day, Friday, June 12th,
excursion trains will be run from places more than
100 miles from London, on Thursday, June 11, re-
turning either on Saturday, June 13th, or Satur-
day, June 20th ; and from places within about 100
miles from London on Friday, June 12th, returning
the same day.
In addition to the trips on Thursday, June 111
day trips will be run from Yorkshire stations, in-
cluding Sheffield, Nottingham, Lincoln, Newark,
and intermediate stations, on Friday, June 12th,
and Monday, June 15th. The Great Northern
trips will run on Friday, June 12th, and those of
the Midland Company on Monday, June 15th.
Tickets issued for these day trips to the Crystal
Palace will include admission thereto. The ordi-
nary excursion fare to London will be charged,
plus four shillings first class, and three shillings
and sixpence covered carriages, which additional
amounts will include conveyance over the lines
south of London leading to the Palace, and admis-
sion to the Palace on Friday, June 12.
To enable the public to attend on the days of the
festival, Monday, June 15; Wednesday, June 17'
and Friday, June 19, ordinary return tickets will be
issued from stations more than thirty miles fronl
London, available from Saturday, June 13, to Sa'
turday, June 20 inclusive.
Holders of these tickets will be admitted to
either of the railway entrances to the Palace ea
either day, on presentation of their railway ticket
and payment of two shillings and sixpence.
The North-Eastern Railway Company will run
an excursion train from stations north of York-11P
on Thursday, June 11th ; down, on Thursday'
June 18th.
Full announcements of the excursion trains will
appear in the June time-books of each companY• be
The Festival Committee have caused uctice to.
given that reserved seat tickets for the grand re:'
hearsal, at the Crystal Palace on the 12th Junf
should be at once secured. From the attraction u,
the rehearsal day, which will comprise selection:
from the "Messiah," Israel in Egypt," and the otb.
b
'pieces to be performed at the' Festival, and cable
o
will also embrace solos sung by the great arils'
engaged for this occasion, the number of pet's-
who will be brought to Sydenham by the excurs;°ll
trains, and the influx of season ticket holders, WI
undoubtedly be very large.

THE PROPOSED INTERNATIONAL
UNIVERSITY BOAT-RACE.
ta
The correspondence between the president of the Oxfo 6
Club and the president of the University of Canabridgo
(U.S.) ;Boat Club has ended in the American gentleioebi,
giving in to the Oxonians as regards a coxswain, as p,
following communications just received by Mr. 10:11
president of the Oxford University Boat Club, I
show :
Cambridge, U.S., April 30, 186,i
Gentlemen,—On behalf of the Harvard University el.;
we hereby challenge the Oxford University crow to r°t"be
three-mile straight away race at Lynn, in Norfolk, 00 of
Ouse, some time between the 16th of August and het oti
September, 1869, subject to the conditions whic 1
yourselves proposed tor a race this year, viz.:— noo
1. The race to be rowed over a fair course of three '-
without turning.
2. Each boat to contain eight rowers and a covogsliir;e4
3. The exact date and time to be eventually ,
upon by the captains of the respective crews.
S. V. R. THAYER. A. P. Lonl74°' 5,
W. H. bucuoxs G. W. HoLoO°
To Messrs. F. Willan, President; W. W. Wood, Se
and
R. G. Marsden, Treasurer ;C. R. Tottenham, '
Carter, Committee of the 0.U.8.C. 063'
April 29, vo
Gentlemen—We ask you to excuse the liberty ''re rod'
taken in naming the time and place of the yoll
The course we know to be acceptable to you, sin gto
proposed it for a race this year ; and we are nu vii:rfoe'
row on the Thames, where so:tnuch depends on P"ypd
knowledge of the currents and bends of the river; 00
where there are so many small boats to obstrticid,
course. We have named the earliest time at ""rll.l, ooc
would be possible for us to prepare for a rao loor
summer vac& ion. A change in the time of oh!. 069
tion will enable us to row two weeks earlier 10a tlit
e
than we could have done this year. We, 50:o0 fa
challenge at this early period, because the au°r igas
your method of steering will necessitate such ch''-bot
our boat and system of rowing that we think it 0-0
that we should have a year to prepare for the racecieciii4
will, therefore, oblige us by sending a speedy and
answer.
(Signed as Friday'
There will be a meeting of the 0. U. B. C. on
at which the subject will bo discussed.

• 0 c'f
By the death of Lord Broughamihe Peliisl°Dicis
an ex-Lord Chancellor (viz., .£3 000 p aneuni:„lll)°,l3
his lordship enjoyed fur many ' years, edrobeen.4 It °;;,1
Chelmsford, as the last retiring Lord Chancellel• 0 '
be remembered that Lord Chelmsford vacated the
sack on the coming into office of Mr. Disraeli. „...13e0
TIIE UNITED LAND COMPANY (Ll3lllOl. a 10,
demand for shares in this new ur.dertaOliri 0),
been already s;) great that the directors fixed tbe undertake Or°
, be
of Jtme the 6th for the receipt of applications I°` t iti',,,,
issue of slwrss, as will be seen from enr 6dstile,, tg vt,l
( olumns. The success of the company i 3 Datlo3.-:e ti'"o
ascribed to its co-operation with the long-ei'iss f'ail
prosperous Conservative Land Society, Loll t„t ' fela;
that the executive committee and officials, with P--13:y'oi
tions to the company, are nearly an the safe I's trh:os° 10
originally commenced operations in the 11- viot6
states in the gross, and the sale of thou
i°e
detail, in 1852.
Tue prices of Ilorniman's Teas are greatly ''G of eg-
well-known superiority has attracted Pb °
are oieet
imitations; therefore nodes all Genuine Packets
„O
' Ilorniinan e• C 0.," LUIldOll. 300 Confectioners O'C''
in LiJndoa and 2,20 Chemists in the Country