, 1882-06-24
MISCELLANEOUS.
(From the Spectator y Nay.J

many Members dislike IVA. Leon say
as Finance Minister, because he rig0r-
ously checks all projects of eXpendl-
lure, and is opposed both to the pur-
chase of the railways, and the rapid
prosecution Of public works greatly
desired by the constituencies. A
proposal therefore, introduced on
Monday, to abolish all wine duties
both national and municipal, and sub
stitute extra duties on spirits, found
so much support that it was carried
by 27S to 1856. The proposal was
absurdIy ilI-considcred, as the wine
duties, yield altogether 100000 a
year, and Nj. Leon Say Immediately
resigned. Nj. de Freycinet felt hal
the whole Cabinet was involved, and
by privately informing Members of
the bad news from Egypt induced
them to consider the consequences
of breaking up the Ministry. They
accordingly on Tuesday passed q
vote of confidence in NJ. Say of
lie most direct character, by a majo-
rity Of 33S to SO, and NJ. Say for the
present remains. 1t is noted, slow
ever, that NJ. Say made three
speeches against the motion Of Mon
day and was still defeated, and it is
believe that he will not long retaiu
W 1t Will be most difficult to
replace him, and NJ. de Freycinet is
reported sick with ~vexatiOn, and not
unwilling to resign.
The st. Gothard Tunnel was opened for
traffic on Wednesday, May "a, a heavy
train, conveying forty-three members of
fif,reat Embassies aud some five hundred
visitors, OF every nationality except the
French, running from Lucerne to Milan,
i'm twelve hours, of which at least three
were spent en- route in teastings and cere-
monials. The actual passage through tie
great tunnel occupied only twenty-five
minutes. The tunnel binds Switzerland
and Italy very closely togethe.; and will,
as i believed, greatly increase German
influence in the peninsula, as it will now
be posi- bic to 60 fromMiIan to Frankfort
without changing carriages. That, at
least, is The French speculation. We
should ourselves say that the tunnel would
be a great convenience to traders, q great
nuisance to travellers who enjoy scenery,
and Of no particular political importance.
Italy does not love France one iota more
because Of the Mott Gents Tunnel, nor
are France and Germany sworn friends
because you can travel at forty miles an
hour from Paris to Metz without changing
carriages. Propiuquity creates hatred
quite as much as friendship, and Ireland
might love US If 1t were i'll the Pacific.
Lord CarnarvOn, in a speech at Hanley,
after strongly censuring tie conduct of
the Ministry in IreIand-they were al ways
he said, TOO Iatc-af.rmed that " great aud
honoured names were Withdrawing from
their allegiance to Mr.. Gladstone. In the
club, the railway carriage, the market
place, the same picture presented itself.
Literature, science, the professions, pro-
pertv, education, intelligence, were all
crying eff from the Government" That
is the kind OF thing said all over London,
but where is the proof of it all 2 The
richest Peers-the RusselIs, Cavendishes,
Grosvenors-activeIy support the Cabinet.
Inthe Commons, even Lord Carnarvon would
hardly deny that the balance of i~ntelIec.
tual weight was on their side. AS to science.
it is at least equally divided. AS to edu-
cation, we venture TO say that if Scotland