The Sun.
London, England, 1868-02-14 00:00:00

TEIE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 14. 1868.

ROYAL OLYMPIC THEATRE.
New Management.
Sole Lessee, Mr. B. Webster; Manager, Mr. H. Wigan.
TIIIS EVENING, 17IEN AND CHICKENS: Messrs. Ashley,
Stephenson, and G. Vincent; Mesdames L. Moore and Stirling.
After which, A FOND PARENT; or, One Too Many for Him.
islessrs. Ashley and C. Mathews; Mesdames Gault/cid and E.
Farren.
To be followed by IF I HAD A THOUSAND A YEAR.
To conclude with BETTY MARTIN Mr. Geo. Vincent and
Miss E. Farren

Commence at Seven.

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LONDON, FRIDAY, FEB. 14, ibGe,..

We are glad to find that the first night c 1 the
Parliamentary labours of 1868 has not been all( med
to pass over without some reference to a very
necessary undertaking. The removal of Da• int's
Rock, which has done its share of mischief, is a
matter that has been pcstpcned too long. 1 artly
from that spirit of procrastination which Ul many
influences public departments in such CVA s, and
partly from a dispute as to the relativ e share
of the burden to be borne b- i the
Government, the local authorities, and t' ae ships
entering the harbour, the question has be put off
from day to day, and the rock might Nrery likely
have remained where it NlictS for years to come but
for recent circumstances. The total loss; of a tine
steamer, whose wreck adds to the perils of the old
hidden enemy, attracted a good deal of attention
some time since, and Mr. MAGUIRE, who has in-
terested himself very much in the matter, had
evidently hopes that some definite arrangement
might be come to between the rival powers.
However, the temporary excitement passed by,
more pressing subjects claimed attention, wars and
Reform Bills occupied the Ministry and the Parlia-
ment, and Daunt's Rock remained where it was,
with the additional improvement of the City of
New York on the top of it. SYDNEY SM:(TH, who
was as shrewd a man of the world as 'ne was a
ready wit, once confessed he had no hope
of a much-needed reform till a Bishop had
been sacrificed for want of it, and in the same way
it required the imminent peril of one of the Royal
ships to get the necessary measures determined on
against Daunt's Rock. Thousands of merchant
ships, bearing precious freights, pass it by, and
their danger is little thought of, though a sea fog,
or a stormy night, or an unskilful pilot, render the
risk very serious. II owever, when one of her
MAJESTY'S ships had a narrow escape of adding
another to the list of its victims everybody was
roused to action, and we ought, therefore, to thank
the Fenians for one good deed done, accidentally,
and certainly unintentionally, by them. It was in
hot pursuit of a supposed Fenian privateer that her
MAJESTY'S ship Research ran against the sunken
foe, and the Government thereupon became
suddenly aware of the fact that it would
be better to incur a certain outlay than
to run an indefinite risk. Very certainly
the loss of such a ship as the Research would seri-
ously affect the Admiralty estimates ; and no Eng-
lish Minister could be indifferent to the probable
loss of valuable life which would attend such a dis-
aster. It was announced a short time since that the
Government intended to take some steps in the
matter, and last evening Mr. MAGUIRE gave notice
that on Monday he would ask whether anything
was to be done ; and whether, if so, it was proposed
to remove it by blasting, or whether it was intended
to place a lighthouse on the rock. The former
course would be by far the most judicious, and we
should hope that it was the one upon which the
Government have decided. The expense, in a mat-
ter of permanent benefit to the shipping of such an
important port, is altogether secondary to the effi-
ciency with which the work is done ; and even in
hat view of the case the erection of a light-

house is no slight expense. There can
be no possible good in retaining so dangerous a
rock at the very mouth of so valuable a harbour,
and our scientific skill is now so great that there
could be no question about the possibility of getting
rid of so troublesome a customer altogether. We
have no lack of explosive agents of the great.s.st
force, or of mining engineers to apply them. Let
us then carry out this long-delayed improvement
in a liberal and public-spirited manner, not doing
the work grudgingly or leaving it half done. The
cost of the proceeding can be but very trifling when
compared to the risks run of loss of life, loss of
freight, loss of vessel. It is a disgrace to all parties
that it should have been left so long in statu quo,
but as the Government have given a definite pro-
mise, and the member for Cork intends to keep
them up to the mark, we may confidently hope that
the days of Daunt's Rock are numbered.

Lord STANLEY could not have been surprised that
immediately upon the re-assembling of Parliament
the relations between this country and the United
States should form the subject of inquiry. Ru-
mours have recently been set afloat to the effect
that the PRESIDENT intended to make the Alabama
claims the pretext of effecting a reconciliation with
Congress, and securing his own re-election. From
these reports there arose some apprehension that
more might be going on in diplomatic circles than
the public were aware of, and that, consequently,
our relations with the United States might be in a
precarious position. Mr. WATKIN, last evening,
seeing the Foreign Secretary in his place, asked
whether the House might expect any further papers
respecting the Alabama claims. Lord STANLEY
replied that the Government had only received one
despatch on the subject, which had not been
laid on the table, but that it had already, ap-
peared in all the papers. So far, then, there is
actually nothing to learn, and we may set down all
the recent reports to any motive but the truth. The
American Government must be perfectly well aware
that Lord STANLEY cannot possibly make the con-
cessions demanded of him by Mr. SEWARD. In
fact, those demands were so exorbitant that
they almost bore the appearance of having
been purposely framed in a manner to
which no European statesman could agree,
and therefore might serve for the time
being, at least, to put an end to the discussion. If
we ask permission from Washington before we re-
cognise any fresh authority, or treat with any
foreign Power, we shall have enough to do ; and
Mr. SEWARD can hardly forget, though he does not
find it convenient to acknowledge it, that a
blocikade is of itself a recognition of belli-
gerents. The English Minister was duly
notified that the ports of the Confederacy
were blockaded by the Northern fleet, a proceeding
not very customary in the case of a mere local re-
bellion, such as the secession of the ten . States
now appears to Mr, SEWARD'S retrospective gaze.
His view of the past seems about as faithful as
his vision of the future, and the Minister who
confidently foretold the crushing out of the re-
bellion " in ninety days" may well be indignant
that a European Power should have persisted
actingin
Alabama cul pa
int li
s faareet,vearnyd
ennnovtenu
ipeonnt
tfinc
ittieoenp. i
nill thee
background and ventilate o • ccastonally, but English
and American statesmen both know better than to
exchange words for blows about them. They afford
an excellent opportunity for what our transatlantic
friends and counsins call " tall talk," and Mr. SE-
WARD'S talk is very tall indeed sometimes. In this
respect he was better matched against Earl RUSSELL
(han against Lord STANLEY, whose despatches are
apt to be very much to the purpose, and whose

correspondence is therefore nearly as perplexing to
the majority of foreign diplomatists as was the con-
versation of that inconvenient ambassador who
puzzled every one by always speaking the
:truth ! The Americans must be fully satisfied
with the high value which Lord STANLEY sets upon
the maintenance of a cordial understanding between
the two couutries, and he is none the less likely to
maintain it because he can respect the rights of
others without yielding his own.

Nothing could be more tame than the manner in
which Parliament resumed its labours last night,
for there was a total absence of the excitement
which generally prevails on such occasions ; at any
rate there was no attempt to disturb the course of
business by the introduction of party spirit, and
the debate proceeded in a satisfactory style. The
Chancellor of the Exchequer had a rather invidious
task to perform, but he acquitted himself of it with
success, and the House appeared inclined to follow
him with intelligence. The right hon. gentleman
brought in a bill to amend the laws relating to
electoral petitions, and providing more effectually
for the prevention of corrupt practices at Parlia-
mentary elections. Having entered into some ex-
planations on the subject, he showed that the pre-
sent system of election committees did not answer.
They were very expensive, and as their decision
is uncertain no direct check has been put
upon the growing practice of " corrupt compromise."
Hitherto, as Mr. DISRAELI observed, the principle
admitted has been that the House has assumed to
itself the right of deciding upon election returns,
but we have now come to the time when public
opinion has declared that some other tribunal must
be resorted to if we would arrive at a more satis-
factory result. Last year this subject was mooted
in connection with the Reform Bill, and the
Speaker it was resolved should be requested to
" construct a panel of gentlemen of the long robe,"
and then when a petition was presented three mem-
bers of the panel should investigate its merits. This
transfer of jurisdiction was very generally approved
of by the Ilouse, but it was deemed advisable to
refer the bill to a select committee. The committee
approved of the change, but decided that the
jurisliction should be transferred to the Court of
Queen's Bench. Some resolutions were passed on
the subject of those guilty of bribery, and it was
decided that any member or candidate who was
personally convicted of bribery should be disquali-
fied for seven years, and that if he repeated the
offence he should be disqualified for life. The
Government had come to the wise resolution, that
it is their duty to bring in a bill which was in strict
conformity with the recommendations of the com-
mittee, but they found an obstacle in the way of
so doing, which was that the Judges did not ap-
prove of the proposal. Their decision has been
received with " mortification" and disappointment,
but no one can blame the Government for giving

way to it.
The Chancellor of the Exchequer asked the House
to give its candid consideration to the proposal then
made, which was to the effect that a new Parliamen-
tary Election's Court, to consist of three members, the
Judges to have a salary of two thousand pounds a
" appeals from the decisions of
ryeevairsing a:d hbatrraistters should also be referred to
that Court." On the whole, we believe that the
Government has done the wisest thing that they
could do under the circumstances of the case, and
the House evidently felt so from the manner in
which the proposition was received. Mr. GLAD-
STONE'S remarks on the subject were much to the
purpose,distinzuisahnedd tfhoe r r
itisghfatirhosn. g
piritenatnledmcaann'ds spidoepeicnhiow as
n's.
He considered that the Government had actei
well in the decision they had come to, and he also
adduced two very valid arguments to show why
the present system of election committees was not
desirable. One was that the committee were
forced to look at the matter as between
the two candidates, and not on the gene-
ral subject, and the other that it was
impossible to have the advantages of a " local in-
quiry" by the present system. Mr. GLADSTONE'S
own impression seems to be, however, that the
matter should be referred to the superior Judges, a
view which Mr. LowE also took, declaring that they
had no more right than any other public servant to
refuse to perform the duties which Parliament im-
posed upon them. The Chancellor of the Exchequer
told the House that the Judges declared there were
" constitutional and personal objections" to the
propositions made to them, and at that moment to
undertake them would be at variance with their
duties to their SOVEREIGN and country, and incon-
sistent with their " oath of office." It is to be re-
gretted that these objections should be held sufficient
to deter them from undertaking the proposed work,
a'id we fully expect that the disappointment and
regret of the House will be shared by the country,
for the scheme as proposed by the committee and
sanctioned by the Government seems one certain
to commend itself to universal approval, and must
have secured the approbation of all interested in this
important matter.

Mr. BRIGHT seemed unwilling that the House
should lose one of its old and important privileges ;
and this was rather a curious idea for the hon.
member to take, since he is no adherent to old
forms and ancient usages ; but all seem glad to get
a change for change's sake. He considered that
they had better let things alone and " not make the
proposed transfer, because in some five or
ten years the small constituencies would
be altered, and then the experience of the large
constituencies in respect of mere electoral machi-
nery would bring a large majority of the House,
and the country to accept before long the principle
of the Ballot." This is,no doubt, very sensible
reasoning in itself, but then it is not desirable to
wait in the present unsatisfactory state, and the
more inconvenient and unpleasant the commission
of bribery is made, the more likely people will be
to accept the Ballot, or, at any rate, to waive some
of their objections to it. 'We do not agree with
Mr. BRIGHT that the proposed transfer is an " ex-
traordinary,unpleasant,and desperate remedy ;" and
surely if a thing is wrong, and the means
hitherto taken to prevent that wrong are found
to be unavailing, the best thing to do
is to adopt new measures of prevention and cure.
We see no chance of the present House agreeing to
the Ballot, but if it fulfil half the promises it made
last night it will do something very effective to put
a stop to bribery, and that is a decided step in the
right direction. This is not the time to stick too
closely to ancient privileges, and bow to established
forms and usages, when their maintenance inter-
feres with the public good and the general progress
of the day. Parliament will do wisely to look
closely into this matter ; and since both the
Government and Opposition seem to agree as
to the necessity that exists for a change,
we may confidently hope and expect that
before long a wise decision will be come to.
Bribery has long been a disgrace to us, and the
sooner a decided stop is put to it the better; but all
the talking in the world will prove of no avail
unless some very strong measures are taken which
will convince the reckless and unprincipled among
us that the matter has become too serious to be
trifled with any lager.

LATEST INTELL LGEN CE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

-0. -

THE ABYSSINIAN EXPEDITION.
• ANNESLEY BAY, Feb. 2.
The Egyptian troops are pushing forward with-
out the concurrence of the British authorities.

It is reported that King Theodorus is at Magdala,
and that all the captives are with him.
Menelek has been defeated, and has retired to
Ankobar.

Sir Robert Napier is about to advance from
Senafe to Antalo. The rumour that an engage-
ment had taken place there is unconfirmed.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM PAPIS.

( FROM QUM OWN CORRESPONDENT.I

PARIS, THURSDAY, Feb. IS.

An immense effect was produced in the Corps Ldgis-
latif yesterday by some words of the First Napoleon. They
were quoted by M. Dumoulin. They were used when
Napoleon was bracing himself for the last struggle. The
words are certainly remarkable : " Public discussions, free
elections, 'responsible Ministers—l wish all that—but the
liberty of the press aboveall. To strangle it is absurd. I
foresee a difficult struggle, a long war; I must have the
support of the nation, but in return she will demand
liberty. The situation is altered. I wish nothing better
than to be 'enlightened. I am getting old. A
man at 45 is not what he was at 30. The rest of
a constitutional King would suit me—and would be
still more desirable for my son." To-day, if you
would believe the gossips and some of the papers,
Napoleon 111. has determined to inaugurate a responsible
Ministry. The Libcrte reproduces the rumour under la
plus grancie resc-re. It observes, however, that there are
around the Emperor persons whose liberality is not ques-
tioned, and even in the Chambers itself, among the least
liberal section of the majority, persons who regard Minis-
terial responsibility as the indispensable complement of
the law on the press. Ideas march quickly in France ;
this idea has begun its course, and no man will succeed in
proving to us that the constitutional regime is not the
right one—the ideal. What we ask, says the Liberte, op-
portunely, is, that tie tactics of combinations ala Moreau
be abandoned for the strokes of genius et la Buonaparte.
For some time Parisians have been on the look-out for
an article in the Constitutionnel denouncing Russia, the
old enemy. The expected article has come out in the
Patric. After confessing that there may have been some
exaggeration about the movements in the Principalities,
the Patric soundly lectures Russia for periodically stirring
up strife on the Danube. "LThe eternal enemy of Turkey
exhausting before attacking her, by fanning the flames of
hostile passions." The officious journal absolves Roumania
and Servia from any complicity in the intrigues of Russia.
A jury of honour has been sitting for some time investi-
gating charges against a portion of the Paris press brought
by M. de Kerveguen. This gentleman alleged that the jour-
nals in question had been bought by Prussian gold to sup,.
port her in the late struggle. The verdict is not yet pro:
uounced, but it is known that the charges have vanished
on investigation.

The Union publishes a letter of the Pope acknowledging
and commending the efforts of the Bishop of Orleans in
opposition to the Minister of Education. M. Dump, the
Minister, has cpened courses of scientific instruction to be
given by the professors of the colleges to the young women
of France. Mgr. Dupanlc.up has opposed this stoutly, on
the ground that the religion, modesty, and domestic
usefulness of the young women of France will be endan.
gered by the movement. His Holiness endorses this objec•
tion. The letter referred to states that the plan of M.
Duruy is one put forward by cynically bold writers to
pervert youth in order to destroy at length both religion
and authority. This plan, he says, is carried out by the
most persevering efforts to corrupt education, falsify
history, and to excite evil passions, and by all the
other manoeuvres of a shameless impiety. The scientific
knowledge in question is denounced as calculated to fill
the heads of the young ladies with vanity and pride; and
heaven knows they have enough already.
Letters from Vienna speak of the excitement that has
been produced in high circles by the marriage of the Arch-
duke Henri with an actress, Mdlle. Hoffmann, daughter
of a judge at Hisems. The young lady quitted the stage
two years ago, and all efforts have failed to induce her to
return to it. The Archduke succeeded in persuading her
to meet him at Botzen, and there the marriage came off.
How his own family were reconciled to it—C'est ce qu'on ne
sait pas. The young lady is 26 and the Grand-Duke 38.
The Emperor of the French is fully alive to the necessity
of providing cheaper houses for the working classes than
are at present to be found in Paris. M. Thiers used to say
that Paris was too big to visit, but too little to live in.
Many of the ouvrier class find it so, no doubt. They can be
accommodated only by special efforts. The Emperor has
had forty-two houses in the Avenue Daumesail erected at
his own expense for the working classes. They are model
dwellings. The Society for Promoting Cheap Dwellings
have just put up a series on the Emperor's plan.

I learn from'the Siecle that you are about to have an
aeronautical or aerostatic exhibition in London. It
is stated that the Aerostatic and Meteorological Society
of France has been requested to furnish the Aerostatic
Society of Great Britain with any new projects they may
have for accomplishing the navigation of the air. De-
signs and models are to be accompanied with explanatory
notices. Meetings of the French society are called
specially to consider t.ie proposals of those who desire to
make use of the opportunity offered at London to illus-
trate their researches. A ballooning exhibition will be a
novelty. It is.to be held in June next.

Continental markets are beginning to shesv activity. 1
notice the large amount of business now done in cotton at
Havre. The sales on Saturday and Monday amounted to
20,000 bales. Liverpool must look to her laurels. From
Avignon we learn that on account of the failure of the
new crop of madder the price is rising daily, and the
trade ha--c in view the disappearance of this valuable dye
from the markets.

The rage for borrowing has distinguished the Second
Empire. It appears from La Finance that in the first
fifteen years, exclusive of State loans, the French depart-
ments contracted 374 loans, amounting to 154,132,854 f.,
and in the same time the towns borrowed 409,473,372 f.
When to these is added the loans contracted by the city of
Paris and those of smaller communes, authorised by simple
decrees, we have a total of 2,016,415,226 f. If to these be
added the State loans, the total will amount to
5,690,000,000 f., or about £227,000,000 sterling. There was
some justice in the severe parody of the Emperor's motto,
" L'Empire c'est l'emprunt "—the Empire is a loan.

The Opposition in the Italian Chambers have not relin-
quished the idea of overturning the Government. They
are prepared, it is said, with a plan for the immediate re-
moval of the forced paper currency, and this would ensure
them strong financial support. According to indications
the overthrow of the existing moderate Ministry would be
a public misfortune.

The Times Florence c ,rrespond. states that in the
event of the Italian Government extending the income
tax to the coupons of the Rente, foreign holders may be
assured that their right of exemption will be recognised
and respected.
Fresh advances continue to be made on the Continent
towards monetary uniformity. His now proposed that
Sweden shall adopt, under the ancient name of Carolus, a
gold coin equivalent to 25f., subdivided into francs and
centimes, so as to be uniform with the French, Swiss, and
Italian systems.

The question of emigration is occupying the attention of
those who are anxious to relieve the distress in Poplar. A
lecture has been delivered on the subject by a Mr. Lynn.
In the opinion of this gentleman Canada is now the best
place to which working men can emigrate. Labour is well
remunerated, and land can be had for about 4s. per acre.
Taxation is light, and living is comparatively cheap.
The trade of Mexico appears to be improving. Among
the increasing exports of the country cotton is attracting
importance. Some fresh gold mines have also been dis-
covered at Oajaco.

The Lancet states that during the visit of the Princess
of Wales to Sandringham, which extended to three
mox ths, great progress was made by her Royal Highness
towards recovery. The Princess is now able to walk with-
out the aid of a stick, and an ordinary observer would fail
to perceive any remaining lameness.
The accounts as to the health of the Premier are contra-
dictory. The Daily News regrets to state that although
Lord Derby is comparatively free from the gi,ut,
his mandy has entailed so much weakness as tc
totally preclude his moving for some days to come.
The Telegraph announces that the latest reports of
the Prime Minister's illness are far more favourable, and
that, although it is not thought expedient for him to re.
sume his attendance in Parliament, his health has so fas
improved that no further anxiety on this score need be
entertained. The Lancet is happy to learn, on the best
authority, that the noble earl has made progress towards
convalescence with average rapidity, and that the recent
attack, though severe, has left no special sources of anxiety
in its train, Lord Derby is still at Knowsley, under the
care of his ordinary medical attendant, and though Dr.
Garrod's services were invoked at an early period of the
attack, it has not been found necessary to summon him
again to the distinguished invalid.

The Irish question promises to command early atten-
tion. So far, only a young member has taken it up—
Lord Arthur Clinton, third son of the late Duke of
Newcastle. His lordship was a prominent Adullamite,
and he is barely 28 years of age. On going into elnamittee
of supply he will move no fewer than six resolutions. The
first recognises the continued existence of disaffection and
discontent in Ireland ; the second suggests that " the laws
and institutions of the country should be framed in
accordance with the wants and wishes of the Irish people
themselves ;" the third condemns the present " educational
and ecclesiastical arrangements ;" the fourth is equally ex-
plicit as to the present system of land tenure ; the fifth
assumes that while the existing grievances continue,
the cause of Irish discontent and disaffection must
remain ; and the sixth, while recognising the fact that
the effectual redress of these evils must involve extensive
changes in the laws, the institutions, and the social system
of the island, expresses a conviction "that it is essential
to the contentment of Ireland and the honour and welfare
of the whole United Kingdom that these changes should
be made." These resolutions are to be moved on Friday