The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-26 00:00:00

the most cogent reasons for curtailing the over-
grown proportions of Russia, and exacting the
" material guarantees" for her good faith, re-
specting which the Colonial Secretary was once so
solicitous.

These bold denunciations of Russia would have
been eminently satisfactory but for the unfortu-
nate difference between the " sayings " and
" doings" of the Cabinet. How can Lord JOHN
RUSSELL reconcile his quondam assertion respect-
ing the imperative necessity for "material gua-
rantees," and of " reducing Russia's power to
proportions innocuous to Europe's liberties," with
his later speeches at Vienna, to the effect that
" the best and only admissible conditions of
peace would be those which, being most in harmony
with the honour of Russia, would, at the same
time, be sufficient for the security of Europe, and

for preventing a return of complications such as
that the settlement of whi:th was then in question?"
How can Lord PALMERSTON reconcile his repeated
protests against any interference with the Royal
prerogative in relation to the War with his decla-
ration this morning, that, in whatever hands the
Government is placed, the will of the country must
and shall be obeyed. How can the truckling to
" Germanism," so painfully apparent in all the
past proceedings of our rulers, be rendered con-
sistent with the degraded picture of the German
States, and of their complete subservience
to Russia, so graphically drawn by the ex-
Plenipotentiary ? It is utterly impossible
to do so. Before, then, we can place unlimited
reliance in the pledges extorted from Ministers,
we must see unequivocal indications of a total
alteration in their policy, and that they are as
bold when speaking to the representatives of other
nations as in the Imperial Palace at Westminster.
Let the electors in every constituency throughout
the length and breadth of the land profit by the
vacation, and impress their own wishes on those
whom they have sent to represent them, so as to
place these important matters beyond the possi-
bility of future doubt.

The necessity of reform in the navy has long
been felt and urged by individuals acquainted
with the service. It is now becoming a question
of the day-, one to which Administrative Re-
formers must apply their energies. The curse of
patronage and routine is on the navy, and will

. _
remain there until removed from without. A
management must be bad when clumsiness is the
least fault of it, as is the case with the manage-
ment of the navy. The machinery is clumsy, and
clumsily worked, but there is jobbery and ineffi-
ciency also. The exposures which have taken i
place at the dockyards may be followed by others I
equally discreditable elsewhere. Officers are pro- 1
moted for no merit of their own, but by in-
fluence, without regard to the interest of the
service, and this to the exclusion of others
really deserving. Thus a veteran Lieutenant, fit
to command any vessel, may find himself under
the orders of an Honourable, who learned the
little he knew under him ; or, an able Com-
mander may find himself consigned to inaction
in order that an aristocratic tyro may indulge his
whims at his country's expense. In the building
of vessels of war governmental incompetency
is notorious. It is something of a triumph
for the Admiralty when a vessel will
float and not turn bottom up, but it is really
a great one when no costly alterations are required.
The waste of two millions in the transport service
is fresh in everybody's recollection, and we are
bold to say the more the naval government is
overhauled, the more striking will the necessity
for Reform appear. The sooner this is done the
better, and we trust the motion of which Captail,
SCOBELL has given notice, viz., for a Select Com-
mittee to inquire into the government of the navy,
will meet with general support. The infinite impor-
tance of the navy to the safety and welfare of the
country renders its proper management a subject
of vital interest, from the consideration of which
honourable members should not be deterred by
any consideration whatever.

The announcement made last night in the
House of Commons by Mr. WILSON, in reply to
Mr. HANKEY'S inquiry whether any arrangements
would be made for the purpose of facilitating the
obtaining of passports to Paris during the Exhi-
bition, will be received with considerable satisfac-
tion by the more enterprising of the working-
classes throughout the country. The question, it
appears, had been brought under the notice of the
Foreign-office, and the result is that passports
will be issued to English work-people for one
month without expense—the French Government
on its part offering every reasonable facility for
landing and travelling in France to persons thus
furnished.

VISIT OF THE QUEEN AND PRINCE
ALBERT TO PARIS.

Gratifying as the boon undoubtedly is in a pe-
cuniary point of view, it is not less so in the
removal of difficulties and embarrassments which
it insures. We are emphatically an insular peo-
ple, unacquainted, generally speaking, with the
particulars of continental travel, and our working-
men are likely enough to take offence at some of
them ; and this being far from desirable,
it is quite as well the chances of escapades or an-
noyance on their part will be so greatly reduced.
Our geographical position has its advantages, and
these unquestionably of the highest order ; but it
has also disadvantages, which a freer communication
with the rest of the world, not at home merely,
but also abroad, is required to remove. Preju-
dice is somewhat too rampant among us. We
think a little too well of ourselves, and not well
enough, of other nations, and have been especially
guilty of this fault with respect to France ; for
a fault it is, and a graver one than many are
prepared to admit, for we have lost much by it.
Diplomatically we have lost, and commercially
also. If we can teach the French many things
likely to be of service to them, they can recipro-
cate the boon. If in some respects our operatives
are superior to the French, as in certain depart-
ments of mechanical skill, in other departments,
and in taste or design, the French surpass
them. Each have, in short, much to learn
of the other to their profit. These things being
taken into consideration, and the wisdom of cul-
tivating the friendly feeling now happily existing
between the two countries still further, the bene-
ficial nature of the boon to which we have referred
will be obvious to all, and we trust our work-
people will largely avail themselves of it. They
will have no reason to be ashamed of the figure
cut by their countrymen in the Exhibition, and
they will see much there they have not seen
before.

It is currently reported that the Queen and his Royal
Highness Prince Albert will arrive in Paris on the 16th
or 17th of August, as the guests of the Emperor and
Empress of the French, and to visit the French Exhi-
bition.