The Sun.
London, England, 1868-01-10 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 1868.

The arrival of the Austrian war frigate Novara,
off Corfu, brings us to almost the last scene in one
of the most melancholy tragedies of modern times.
So rapid have been the changes, so remarkable and
unexpected the succession of events, that in more
than one European kingdom we have seen a whole
drama played out, and the positions of adventurer
and monarch exchanged with almost stage rapidity.
But seldom have so few years told the story, and
seldom have popular sympathies been more

strongly evoked than in regard to the short.
lived but memorable Mexican Empire.
The cause itself was not one to enlist
very ardent supporters. Englishmen, though not
adherents to the MONRO doctrine of the Americans,
nor by any means admirers of Republican theories
in general, were suspicious as to the origin of the
empire, and doubtful from the first of its chances of
existence. Mexico was regarded, and not without
reason,as almost hopeless of regeneration by a
foreign ruler, and the difficulties arising from the
close vicinity of a dangerous neighbour, from the
thorough disorganisation by the country itself, and
from the unreliable and treacherous character of its
people, were rightly estimated by experienced poli-
ticians. In a political aspect, then, the collapse of
the Mexican Empire was no unlooked-for catas-
trophe; and had it occurred under different circum-
stances it might have excited little regret in this
country. But it was impossible not to sympathise
with the sudden collapse of a promising career, and
the disappointment of bright though misplaced
hopes. MAXIMILIAN has by nature all the capa-
cities of a ruler, and had fortune been less unkind
in the share of power allotted to him, there is no
doubt that he might have been the loved and
honoured sovereign of a free and contented
people. His opinions were liberal, and his
policy constitutional. Despite the traditions
of his house he was no despot nor bigot, and his
ideal of a prosperous Government was one worthy
of an enlightened and capable statesman. But,
unhappily, the tide of fortune was against him.
Alike in Italy and Mexico he ruled an alien and
an unwilling people, whom no merits in the indi-
vidual could reconcile to the dynasty. A stranger
to the country, he was placed at a great disad-
vantage with regard to the administration of their
affairs, and whatever course he had pursued there
is little doubt the final result would have been
little affected. MAXIMILIAN was, ne doubt, misled
as to the wishes of the Mexicans, and as to his
own chance of success, and the prospects of a
Crown and an empire of his own were too tempt-
ing to his natural ambition. The course of events
during the last few months of his lifetime was watched
with unflagging interest by Englishmen, who fore-
saw the collapse of the empire before the treachery
of LOPEZ expedited the catastrophe. MAXIMILIAN
closed his short and troubled reign in a manner
worthy of himself, and the sorrow which was ex-
pressed over his untimely end was darkened by no
shade of reproach or dishonour.
The melancholy interest of his story was greatly
heightened by that of his devoted consort. Many
among ourselves can remember the time when a
young and beautiful princess she was a fre-
quent guest at the Court of Queen VIC-
ToRIA, and the promise of a happy, or at least
4.
a prosperous career, seemed certain of re-
alisation. On her marriage with the Austrian
Archduke few would have guessed what fate lay
hidden behind the pomp and the jewels, yet the
troubles of the beloved and honoured bride have
proved greater than she could bear. It is perhaps
a mournful consolation to her relatives that she
cannot now learn the full extent of her misfortunes;
but the hopes which lured the Archduke and Arch-
duchess across the Atlantic have indeed been delu-
sive and transitory. They have ended with the
one on the scaffold, with the other in the loss of hu-
manity's most precious gift ; and the frigate
Novara, while bringing the last remains of the
lamented Prince, preaches a powerful and salutary
lesson on the dangers of misplaced ambition and
the uncertainty of the most brilliant prospects.

A Soiree has been held at Halifax, in the hall of
the Mechanics' Institute, which afforded Mr
HUGHES and Mr. STAicsFELD an opportunity for
discussing the theme of education, concerning which
there is always something new to be said, no matter
how often it is brought forward. This Institute
has been established now for forty years, and is in
a flourishing condition, having classes for males and
females and a capital library, containing periodicals
and newspapers. Mr. HUGHES having presented
the certificates to the successful candi-
dates, remarked that Mechanics' Institutes were
now one of the remarkable features of our
country, and nowhere had more been effected in
this direction than in the county of York. Before
referring to the subject immediately before him,
Mr. HUGHES made an interesting allusion to the
secular institution in London with which he was
connected, the Working Men's College, in Great
Ormond-street. Its object is to present to shop-
men and the agricultural class an opportunity for
acquiring an excellent education. They have for
lecturers some of the best that can be found iu the
Universities. It is curious to notice the only time that
can bo devoted by the students in these institutions
is from seven to ten o'clock, when they contrive to
throw a vast amount of energy into their work, not-
withstanding their labours during the previous part
of the day. This proves in an unmistakable manner
that they have goodwill in the cause of self-im-
provement, which is the surest way to get on, and
more than compensates for any adventitious advan-
tages of circumstance. This shows that hand
work does not interfere with head work, as some
have supposed it does, and that is something to
learn in these days when the question of education
is being so thoroughly sifted. This is also re-
assuring in respect to the half-time system, and
indeed it has been shown before now that those
children who are employed half their time in work
and half in lessons make as good a figure as those
who are all their time at school. Those who rightly
estimate this sort of thing will appreciate and
acknowledge the importance of these investiga-
tions, and the good that accrues socially from these
institutions cannot be overrated.
As Mr. BRIGHT forcibly put it, it is only lately
that the question of education has been recognised
"nationally" among us. The long-headed and far-
seeing of their generation have from time to time
during many years past been talking of the
work that must be done, but only very recently
has the vast significance of the subject been im-
pressed upon the community in general. The ad-
mission to political power of a large portion of the
people has forced the idle, indifferent, and selfish
to turn their thoughts in this direction, and now the
greatest anxiety is manifested that education should
be more diffused than it is. Mr. CAVE'S remark
has obtained. just prominence when be said that it
was desirable that our future masters shoull be
taught their letters. The right hon. gentleman took
another view of the question, but the weaning of Lis
words cannot be denied. it is high time that we
should awake out of the sleep of negligence, the
night of ignorance, into the broad daylight of intel-
ligence and progress. It has passed through the
usual ordeal of our public questions of interest and
importance, but the subject of education now
stands full, prominent, if not pre-eminent, among
all domestic matters, and must have earnest atten-
tion directed towards it. All classes of politicians,
all the different sects, agree in this, that the task
cannot any longer be deferred, and the next
thing to do is to settle how it can best be
performed. It is certainly deplorable that in any
part of England there should be auy district in
which 25 per cent. of the population cannot write
their own names. Mr. Lluciuzs does not think