The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-06 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, JANUARY 6, 1868.

It seems as if some people were resolved not to
have the last word about the New Year's reception,
and what with the rumours on one side and the
contradictions on the other, a good deal of time is
taken up, and a vast amount of trouble expended.
The Constitutionnel now declares that the speeches
of the EMPEROIt are made the object of " perfidious
comment," and gives a flat denial to those who
have affirmed that a bidden meaning may be found
in the speeches of the EMPEROR and the Count
DER GOLTZ, and in their assurances of frindship.
The same journal is also anxious to do away
with the impression created by some respecting
the remarks of the EMPEROR on the occasion of the
reception of the Legislative Body. There was
not, it declares, the slightest allusion to the bill
relative to the organisation of the army " in the
few words pronounced by the head of the State."
This assertion accords ill with the reports of some
of the particular stress laid upon these observations
in the descriptions of some. It is said that the
most " candid congratulations were exchanged
between the Emperor NAPOLEON and the
other Sovereigns of Europe, and that the
King of ITALY has addressed a most friendly
despatch to the EMPEROR. In short, it
is evident that we are to have peace, but all
would feel a little more faith in its con-
tinuance, if we were not commanded, as it were, to
believe it in so authoritative a style. Like all
other things of importance, it is better if we can
arrive gradually at a conviction instead of having
those interested in the nature of the deductioLs
drawn already at home to force the intelligence

upon all hearers. Au interesting ceremony took

place at the Tuileries yesterday, and presented a
pleasing constrast to the stormy news of political
strife, and the more anxious matters that are
avowed. The distribution of prizes to the success-

ful competitors at the great International Exhibi-
tion was celebrated in the presence of the Diplo-
matic Body, the Ministers, and other dignitaries.
The EMPEROR'S remarks upon the occasion were very
interesting. In the first place, they had to discri-
minate between the best, which is always a difficult
thing to do. The first prizes were given to the Em-
perors of RUSSIA and AUSTRIA, for their improve-
ments in horse-breeding, and to the French EMPEROR
for his establishments relating to agriculture. In
his speech upon the subject the EMPEROR alluded to
the importance of the cultivation of the land, and
declared that those who laboured assiduously in this
respect would always have support and encourage-
ment. The Prussian Ambassador had a special
audience with the King of ITALY yesterday morn-
ing in order to present his credentials as Ambassador
of the North German Confederation. In assuring
His MAJESTY of the sentiments of goodwill enter-
tained by the Prussian Sovereign, Count VON
USEDOM declared that he cherished the hope that
the same friendly feeling would be kept up
between Italy and the Confederation as had
always existed with Prussia and Italy. The new
Cabinet that has just been formed promises well
so far, and we hope that General MENABREA will
be able to hold his ground under its auspices. His
policy seems so much what is wanted that any
alteration just now would be an untoward circum-
stance. The peace of Europe depends in a great
measure upon the skilful management of Italian
affairs, and the other Powers will not put confi-
dence in a Cabinet that veers round to suit every
change of opinion, or one that is conducted in
so unwise a manner as that presided over
by Signor RATTAZZI. It seems as if there
was never to be a cessation of troubles at this time,
and the last accounts from Naples inform us of the
eruption of Mount Vesuvius, which has assumed
alarming proportions, and caused the greatest con-
sternation in the villages on the slopes of Vesuvius.
Yesterday evening it was still augmenting, and
curiously enough the torrent of lava follows the
same direction as in the eruptions which took
place some years ago. It is sad to contemplate the
loss and suffering that will be entailed upon the vil-
lagers by this calamity.

It may now be considered that the Emperor of
AUSTRIA is indeed a constitutional Sovereign by
this time, and the best wishes of all free countries
will be with him in his venture that success may
attend his praiseworthy efforts, and that he may
meet with all the consideration which he deserves
for his energy and enterprise. The creation of

the Hungarian Ministry affords one confidence,
andiseems indeed the earnest of better things for
that country, and also the sign of prosperity for
Austria itself. Of course it cannot be denied that
difficulties will attend the fulfilment of this plan, but
the object in view is well worth the effort, and
no great change of any kind can be carried out
without overcoming some obstacle or other, and
certainly the state of dissatisfaction which prevailed
in Hungary for some years past rendered it impera-

ye to inaugurate a reform. The sad losses entailed
upon the Austrian empire induced FRANCIS JOESPH
to turn his attention seriously to the affairs of Hun-
gary, and the consequences have
_been that he has
contrived to do a great deal to benefit that
community, besides augmenting the strength and
nfluence of his own Government, by resting
is basis on influence rather than on coer-
The new Ministry for the Cis-Leithan
countries is another happy omen, and so far as can
be told as yet it seems have been formed in a very
proper manner. The Emperor of AUSTRIA has
thus begun the year full of hope and promise, and
now he is differently situated to what he was last
year, and his people also have far greater cause for
thankfulness and rejoicing than they had at the be-
ginning of 1867. This shows in an unmistakeable
manner how much may be accomplished by courage
and confidence, and what good results can follow
upon zeal and goodwill. In some respects, indeed,
be position of Austria is better than it was before
he war, for the strength that has been acquired is
worth far more than the superiority which is only
upheld and maintained by force.

cion.

We have nearly had to thank the Fenians for a
very expensive and annoying casualty, although
they were innocent of any direct intention to bring
t about. filer MAJESTY'S ship Research in pur-
,ttit of a barque, which she took for a Fenian pri-
vateer, struck on the famous I)aunt's Pock
though, happily, she escaped without serious da-
m tae. The vessel which occasioned the chase is
called the Alaska, and it is evidmt that the sus-
pieioks of the commander of the Research were not

al'-.c(gett el-- unreasonable, since her captain, when
she w a 3 at last overtaken, states that he had
already been overhauled three times by others of her
131A,rusi ships between Cape Clear and Kinsale.
'The Al aka is an American built barque, and her
unusual ' cut and the great speed at which she was
going sE em to bave excited general suspicion. The
' Governs lent despatch vessel, Helicon, had already
sent a al armed crew alongside to examine her papers.
These proved. satisfactory, and the Alaska was
allowed'. to proc ;eed. The next day she came in sight
of the Resew ch, who ordered her to heave to, and
as she did nal; do so the Research put on full speed
to overtake :her. Captain LESTER, of the Alaska,
explains his inattention to the signal of
the Resoarch, by a fear that if he stopped
the way of the ship, she would, being
close to the laud, in a fresh easterly breeze,
hay e drifted on shore. The circumstance, however,
wa3 sufficient to increase the sus' icions of those on
board the Research, especially as the Alaska un-
fortunately bears a strong resemblance to the de-
scription given ( A the Fenian privateer alleged to
have been seen on the coast. It is very probable
that the Alaska may have been the vessel alluded
to, since there is no actual evidence of the existence
of any privateer. As the Alaska, however, swiftly
made her course inside Daunt's Rock, in order to
get into the harbour by the shortest route, the Re-
search steered after her more to the westward, so
that if the supposed privateer attempted to make
her way out of the harbour again she could not in-
tercept her. This, as the event proved, was a
hazardous experiment, since the barque, whose
pilot was familiar with the channel, passed safely
on, but the Research, following her more to the east-
ward, ran right over the rock, striking the wreck of
the City of New York, which was lost there a few
years since. The shock felt on board was only
slight, but it was soon discovered that the Research
was making water in large quantities. She kept
bravely on her route, however, with the aid of the
steam pumps, though the Alaska was not overtaken
until in the harbour. The amount of damage done
to the Research is believed not to be very
great, and she will immediately be put under re-
pairs. It was a fortunate escape, and so the Ad-
miralty will no doubt esteem it.

Two points press themselves upon our notice in
this story. One is that had the Alaska been actu-
ally a privateer she could evidently have defied the
efforts of the war vessel to catch her. 'The Ame-
rican-built barques have certainly the secret of
swiftness, and it would be well if our Admiralty
officials could discover it. The more important consi-
deration is, however, how long is Daunt's Rock to be
allowed to lie in wait for our vessels ? The wreck of
the City of New York still lies there, adding to
its dangers, while it points the moral to the unwary.
Some years ago Mr. MAGUIRE bestirred himself
vigorously in the cause, bat he found the diffi-
culties of divided authority and dislike of expense
too great for his energies, and he relinquished the
task in despair. What is everybody's business is
nobody's business, and although the damage done
by this amphibious enemy may include a wide
circle, all the authorities, national and local, are
glad to shift the responsibility off their own
shoulders. The loss of a fine vessel like the
Research would affect the British taxpayer ; the
wreck of other ships would fall heavily on
companies, private owners, and merchants. Yet
there the rock remains year after year while costly
undertakings of far less practical value are pur-
sued unhesitatingly. Surely it would be possible
by a little exertion to arrive at a definite arrange-
ment. If the Government bore part of the expense,
the corporation of the city of Cork another part,
and a part contributed by the ships entering
iteptrei
srneegsasritevhhee
harbour in the form of a trifling levy, the work
twould y
.b doneelve h
ope withoutth
ew natrhr
oe burden
escape
of oppressive
to
will stimulate all parties to action. We have seen
enough of the mischief which nitro-glycerine and
its fellows may do—let us now see them put to a
little better purpose.

The Circular of the Right Rev. Dr. Mo
RIARTY,
Bishop of Kerry, deserves the careful attention of
every Irishman. Its good sense, its patriotism, and
right feeling, do honour to the Bishop, while they
dispose, in the most uuswerable manner, of the high--
flown pretensions of those interested agitators who
endeavour to canonise murder. The subject of
Dr. AI ORIARTY'S address to
,the clergy of his dio-
cese was the pressing demand of some of the laity
for the celebration of requiem masses for the Fenians
executed at Manchester. Dr. IVlourAttry plainly
shows that, however right and charitable, according
to the forms of the Catholic religion, it is to pray
for the culprits, any such public service as these
persons demand would be entirely out of place.
Many circumstances, he admits, rendered the Man-
chester offenders greater objects of compassion than
ordinary murderers. The crime for which they suf-
fered was not perpetrated through hatred or re-
venge, or for sordid gain, and wo may even chari-
tably suppose that they wished to effect their object
without shedding blood. They met their doom,
too, in a becoming manner. But the special services
asked for are not as evidence of sympathy or com-
passion, but of commiseraon. " Those among us,"
says the bishop, " who planned funeral processions
or who asked funeral services,must have believed that
the conduct of the executed was praiseworthy, and
that they sacrificed their lives in a just and noble
cause." Dr. DIORIARTY asks whether.they are prepared
to counsel the repetition of such acts ? "Is it lawful
to fire shots in a crowded street with danger to the
lives of unoffendiug persons ? Are we expected to
canonise the men who fired the gunpowder at
Clerkenwell?" And going further, he reverses the
story and asks if a band of Orangemen strove to
rescue one of their fellows from custody, and in so
doing shot an unarmed Catholic, what would be
thought of their receiving a popular ovation ? He
reminds them of O'CoNNELL's maxim, that the man
who commits a crime drives a nail in the coffin of
his country, and boldly withstands the pressure put
upon him and his clergy by intemperate and reck-
less agitators. Such language as this cannot fail to
influence the intelligent and reflective, and must,
we may hope, produce the best effects. Its lesson
of toleration and honest dealing may be learned
with advantage by all parties. Had the battles of
Ireland been always fought in such a spirit both
sides would have been the gainers.

There are some subjects which seem never ex-
hausted, and that of Prussia is certainly one. What
with her internal schemes and external alliances,
there is always something new to consider. The
last event of importance connected with the Berlin
Government was the introduction of llerr von
GOLTZ to the Emperor NAPOLEON, and so far as that
went we may augur for the continuance of peace,
at least for the present. This is satisfactory for
many reasons, because the unfortunate state of
aff drs would render the losses and hardships in-
flicted by war of far greater consequence than
usual, and pillages, under any circumstances, it
would be better to let alone until the oppressive
and arbitrary policy of Prussia shall exhibit
i'self more fully than time has yet permitted
it to do. It is curious to notice the views taken by-
some of the Germans themselves respecting the

L state of things just now. The Provinzial Corres-
, pondenz of the other day published an elaborate
article, in which it reviews the position of Germany
at the close of the year; in this it takes a favourable
view of things in general, and declares that the com-
pletion of the North German Constitution is a work
of great national benefit, and that its further deve-
lopment may safely be left to time. Pursuing the
theme still further, it declares that the Federal
army is as fit to take the field as the Prussian
army. " All the great Powers have recognised the
Confederation," exclaims this writer, as if they
could have done otherwise in a matter that did not
interfere with their own interests, however much they
may have dfsapproved of the manner in which the
affair was carried out. We arrive at last at the
real meaning of all this tirade, which is that Prus -
sia is now virtually at the head of all Germany, and
will soon be actually so. The various obstacles which
in the sight of some still bar the way to the accom-,
plishment of this grand design are here entirely
ignored, or at least made very light of.
The separation of the North and South
is, it is said, iu fact, overcome by the alliances,
military and commercial, that have been made
recently, and the German people feel themselves
more " united and powerful" than they have ever
done before. Germany in all directions can throw
the weight of her great national strength into the
scale. One might really imagine from all this that
some direct attack had been made upon the whole
of Germany collectively, instead of the truth being
that the other Powers had left it pretty much to its
own devices, and that it had contrived to make
quarrels and dissensions in itself. The great dis- '
pute of 1866 was brought about by the extreme
cupidity of Prussia, audit is quite out of character
for her apologists to consider the triumph effected
by force of arms, and an undue advantage being
taken of circumstances as a moral victory or a na.;-
tional success achieved by reason rather than violence;
at any rate it is likely that Prussia will be permitted
to have her own way a little longer, but whether that
chance will result in the perfecting of her ultimate •
designs is quite another thing. As yet the vaunted
unity and boasted strength of the new regime has
not been tried, and therefore the sequel of the story
must be left to time ; but meanwhile there is no valid
assurance given of the truth of the flattering pro- '
mises here held out.

The interest excited by Fenianistn throughout the
country has not yet abated, although there is,
happily, less risk of mischief than heretofore, owing
to the vigilance now exercised in all directions.
The special constables continue to present them-
selves for enrolment in every direction with a
promptitude and heartiness which reflect honour on
themselves, and speak well for the prospects of the
country. Many of the associations and companies,
such as the order of Foresters, &c., are enrolling
members, and the employe's of most of our large
firms have also come cheerfully forward to declare
their readiness to assist in preserving the public
peace. The Volunteers have, too, in many cases
found a valuable addition to the force which already
has assumed the proportions of an army. All through
the provinces the same story is told. In Hull already
3,000 special constables are enrolled, and the fact
was referred to as matter of congratulation by the
Recorder, SAMUEL WARREN, Q.C., in his address
to the grand jury. These special constables, more-
over, are prepared to find their office no sinecure,
and have willingly undertaken night duty to relieve
or assist the polic3 whenever required.
Meanwhile the evidence respecting the Clerken-
well outrage continues to increase in interest. It
is a noticeable fact that, according to the facts
elicited on Saturday, if the prisoners haelbeen exer-
cising in the usual place on the day of the explosion
many of them woull have suffered severely from
its effects. The chief warder, in giving his evidence,
said that the usual time for exercise was from 3.15
p.m. to 4.15 p.m., and in the ordinary course of
things about one hundred prisoners and officers
would have been in the yard at the time of the ex-
plosion. In his opinion scarcely twenty of them
would have escaped unhurt from the falling bricks
and stones. A police-constable came to the warder
shortly before three and told him that he had seen
a man and the woman JusTicE loitering outside
the walls. The warder very sensibly advised
their arrest on a charge of loitering for an unlawful
purpose, but the constable said he could not do so.
It is very much to be regretted that, being thus
forewarned, the police were not more on the look
out about the walls. It would not have required
th e muchus
taals acutenesshtooubreot of
mhaa dve
would have been made at
e guessed that whatever at-
tempt
exercise.
Since it was thought
necessary for half the prison officers to be on guard
armed all night, a little 'more vigilance outside
would have been surely not out of place. To be
wise too late is a very common failing, but the
tardiness does not always cost so dear a price.