The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-02 00:00:00

NIENT.

The snow which fell so heavily in the metropolis and
throughout the country during Wednesday, until 10
o'clock the same night has caused far greater inconve-
nience than was at first anticipated, not merely in Lon-
don, but in many provincial towns—so much so as to
prevent the bags containing the Post-office letters from
eight towns reaching their destination in St. Martin's-le-
Grand at nearly seven o'clock last evening; although five
of the mails were due at half-past four in the morning.
The frost continued throughout the night of Wednes-
day with great intensity, tke thermometer being-as low
as 28 deg., but in some exposed situations along the
Great Northern Railway it was one or two degrees
lower. 'rids caused tke snow which had fallen upon the
lines, and that which had been drifted by the strong
winds from the high lands into the cuttings, to assume
a solidity that has rarely been witnessed of late years,
aid which could not in many places be cleared by the
ploughs in frost of the Locomotives, and in some easel
the snow had accumulated to such a depth on the rails
that when the trains attempted, eren with the aid of
pilot engines, to cut through the snow it came in- con-
tact with the furnaces and extinguished the fires, thereby
bringing the trains to a stand-still. This was the esee,
on the South-Western Railway, for •u the Wednesday
morning down mail train reaching Bishopstoke station,
or very near it, the snow completely put the fire in the
furnace out. The train in consequence was delayed
some time. The down express train from London was
upwards of an hour late before it arrived at the ter-
minus.
The officials of the South-Western Railway, upon learn-
ing the state of their lines, at ones' made the most vigo-
rous attempts to clear the rails of the obstructions, and
in those places where tke snow had drifted men were
placed at about 10 or 12 to the mile, and the accumu-
lated deposit was piled up on the sides of the line, and
where
.it was practicable pilot engines were used in
ploughing up the snow, and the rails were afterwards
sanded to enable the wheels of the engines and carriages
to bite when they were required to stop.
The Windsor and Richmond line has sustained very
little inconvenience by the snow, the trains, generally
speaking, arriving within a few minutes of the time they
were due. They snow was yesterday entirely removed ,
from the metals, and the trains can now travel without
any inconvenience.
The cross-country roads leading to many parts of the
railways are several feet deep in snow.
The Kentish roads are, if possible, in a still worse
condition, for, owing to the hilly state of the country the
valleys beneath the hills are several feet deep with snow,
which has been drifted there by the high easterly wind
of Wednesday. In some places it is quite impossible
for either man or beast to pass along without previously
cutting au opening.
The two French mails, one due at the General Post-
office at 5 o'clock a.ui., and the other at 8 o'clock, were
delayed by the weather several hours, as neither reached
the Post-office till half-past 4 o'elook in the afternoon,
when they arrived together. -
The Great Northern, Eastern Counties, the North.
Western, and the Great Western Railways were some
feet under snow, but, owing to the exertions made by
the respective companies, they were enabled to continue
their traffic, but although many of the trains were some
time behind the advertised hours of arriving, they were
with pilot engines forced through the obstructions, and
the mails were brought in from the towns along these
railways, and very near their proper times.
The various Royal parks, in spite of the inclemency
of, the weather and the. lippery state of the banks
alongside' the frozen waters, were visited by many thou-
sand persons, and a great many ventured upon the ice,
but although ' some trifling accidr its took place, they
were of such a character as not t merit a lengthened

report.
The different thoroughfares of.the metropolis were in
such a Btat.3 that extra horses were .obliged to be em-
ployed to draw omnibuses and other vehicles, and the
proprietor.; in some instances had printed papers posted
on their conveyances to the effect that, owing to the in-
clemency of the weather, the fares would for the present
be doubled.

HARMONIC UNION.

Haydn's oratorio, The Creation, was performed by the
members of the Harmonic Union on Wednesday even-
ing, in the Hanover-squire Rooms, being the society's
first concert during the present season. Previous to the
performance a paper was distributed in the room, stating
that late on the preceding evening Mr. Gye, the lessee
of the Royal Italian Opera, had forbidden the principals
of the orchestra to fulfil their engagement, and craving
the indulgence of the audience for the _substitutes found
at so short a notice. Many advantageous changes, as
we informed our readers in a former article, have been
made since last year in the organisation and management
of the society, not the least of which is the appointment
of Herr, Molique as the permanent conductor. The
general execution of the oratorio on Wednesday night,
although far from being perfect, was a considerable im-
provement ,upon the performances of the two past sea-
sons. The chorus, which has been reduced in number,
has acquired during the recess a degree of smartness
and decision which, remembering the clumsy and vacil-
lating efforts on some former occasions, is quite remark-
able. We may instance as a proof the chorus accom-
panying the tenor solo "Affrighted fled," and the fugues
"Awake the harp," and "Achieved is the glorious
work." The introduction, " The Spirit of God," and
the chortie, " Proclaim in your extended course," the
,latter part of which is the most poetical passage in the
oratorio, were both well sung. The orchestra was ne-
cessarily unsteady throughout, and particularly so in the
trio "Most beautiful appear." Miss Stabbacb, Mr.
Lockey, and Mr. Weiss were the principal solo singers.
The latter gentleman sang the part of Raphael, the music
of which well suits his voice, admirably. The duet in
the third part, "Graceful consort," Bung by Miss Stab-
bach and Mr. Weiss, deserves also special ismcoenda-
tion. ,The next performance, we understand, to be
Rossini's Stabat Mater and Mendelssohn's Lobzesang.

PRESERVATION OF LIFE FROM SHlPWRECK.—Yester-
day a meeting of the general committee of the Royal
National Life Boat (19;ze Shipwreck) Institution, was
I
F.R.S.,in the chair. The business
rlrehl do
nal.at s thehasponcliaenty: s offices, John-street, Adelphi ; Mr.
was confined to the presentation of prizes.

DAY.)

HOUSE OF LORDS—(YESTE
In the vicinity of the House of Lords ;there was the
greatest excitement. In the lebbies-cronitis of persons
were assembled, all, from the expression of their coun-
tenances, waiting the assembling of their 4ordships with
great anxiety. In the interior of the house the gallery
appropriated to the members of the Hous4 of Commons
was filled to overflowing. The side galleries were also
filled, and among the distinguished persons " present
we observed an Eastern prince, ,who,wore a magnificent
costume. The vicinity of the throne was also crowded
with spectators.
At five o'clock the. LORD CHANCELLOR took his seat
on the woolsack.
In a few minutes after the Earl'of Derby entered and
took his usual seat, Lord Colchester, And the Earl of
Ellenborough sitting on either side of the noble earl.
On the episcopal bench we observed the Bishop of
Oxford and the Bishop of London.
REFORM ,IN THE ECCLESIASTICAL COURTS.
Lord .BROUGIILAM presented a Petition from
Charlotte Jones, praying for a reform in:the Ecclesiasti-
cal Courts.- . • ,
The Lord CHANCELLOR said he had great pleasure
in informing the noble and learned lord that a measure
meeting the grievance complained of wits. about to be
brought under their lordships' consideration.
THE MINISTERIAL CRISIS.

The Earl of ABERDEEN rose and spoke as follows --
My.lords, after "the-, vote of the House of Commons on
Monday night, your lordships will readily imagine that
her Majesty's Ministers at once resolved to place their re-
signation in her Majesty's hands. I theisifore was com-
missional by the whole of-the members of the Government
to take their resignations, for the purpose of laying them
before her Majesty, who was graciously pleased to accept
oa
them. Nfe therefore now only hold our offices until our
'successors shall be appointed.- My lords, I wish to say
night, and in think-
inthgati,tiinnospopomesidng the voteegree of
unconstitutionalMndy in itself and liable
to many objections otherwise, it is not my desire, nor that
of any of my colleagues, to prevent any inquiry into our
conduct. An impartial inquiry, I believe, would fully
establish that no indifference has existed to the wants of
'our army in the Crimea, or any absence of exertion and
preparation for the supply of those wants and the effici-
ency of the condition of our troops. This, therefore, I be-
lieve, will be the result of any impartial inquiry into that
subject; and especially I must consider my noble friend
near me (the Duke of Newcastle)to have met with great
tnjustiee. It is my conviction that his conduct, the more
it is inquired into, will be found marked by a degree of
assiduity and labour, attention and interest to the duties
of his office which has never been exceeded by any one who
had filled that department. lam not at all surprised at
th‘'.i feeling which generally prevails throughout the country.
(Hear.) The public, although they may, not res.son acchrately,
feel vitally and feel strongly. They see that misfortunes
have occurred which it was beyond the power of the com-
manders employed to prevent ; and they very naturally
turn to the Government as an object of censure, as offering
a mark for their disapprobation. I make no complaint of
this. I think it perfectly natural ; and I submit to the
natural consequence. But,, my lords, when I speak of the
sufferings and privations whim our troops have endured
in the Crimea, I must say that the representations which
have been made have been very greatly exaggerated. Ido
not underrate individual suffering—far from it ; for I
know that it has existed •in the army to a degree that has
been most painful and distressing. What I mean is as to
the inference that is to be drawn with respect to our mili-
tary position. This,-I think, has been grossly exaggerated.
My lords, I see no cause whatever for discouragement or
dismay in looking at that position. On the contrary, I sea
every reason to indulge sanguine hopes of ultimate suc-
cess. In the first place, the condition of our own forces
has been recently improved. Stores, priavisions, all ap-:
pliances have boon recently increased, and have very much
tended to improve the actual condition of our forces. My
lords, the Emperor of the French has recently addressed
the lenisiative body of that country, and has told Europe
that his army consists of 581,000 men. Since that time,
he has ordered an additional evy of 141,000. With such
a force as this, animated by the determined zeal with which
he has espoused the cause in which we are both engaged, I
say that that is a-force which, if employed in any degree
in the same proportion that we have devoted our own
army to the service; must entitle us to look with great
confidence to the success of such an enterprise. My lords, '
we have recently concluded a treaty with the King of
Sardinia, by which is planed at our disposal, for immediate
embarkation to the Crimea, a force of 15,000 admirable
troops, to bo placed under the command of Lord Raglan.
That Is a most admirable and important .addition to out
forces. In addition to this, my lords, we have concluded a
treaty with Austria ; and our engs.gemente with that state
are now brought to that point from which the most impor-
tant advantages may be confidently expected. My lords,
we have come to an understanding with.the Austrian Go-
vernment on the Lomas of peace to be proposed to the Em-
peror of Russia. Her Majesty: has agreed to adopt those
propoealm, and the itussian Minister has accepted, or pro-
fessed to accept, thoso conditions, so proposed, so under-
stoo3, by the. Allied powers. Austria has also engaged
that, if these terms be.-not accepted, and do not -cad t, the
conclusion of a peace, she will be prepared to join her
military efforts with-our own. Now, my lords, you see
hero is the alternative of a peace which will secure all the
objects for which we are coeteniling, or which will ensure
the assistance of that groat military power whose army is
now raised to the amount of 500,000 men. With these
prospebts, my lords, it is irtipossible for me to entertain
apprehensions—unworthy apptehensions—(hear, hear)—
from these casualties to which all armies are liable. This,
my lords, is oar military prospect. I shall not at this time
detain your lordships by any view of the state in which
the country is placed- at the present moment, in respect
of its domestic affairs. I might revert, undoubtedly,
to what has been accomplished in the course of the
last few years,' embracing various measures of much
importance—especially I might advert to that solid system
of finance established by the wisdom and supported by the
unrivalled eloquence of my right hoe. friend the Chancel-
lor of the Exchequer, by which the prosperity of thissoun-
try, notwithstanding the state of war, has been maintained
undiminished, and all its transactions, commercial and do-
mystic, have been carried en without interruption. I might
also refer to the condition of her Majesty's navy. I might
not only advert to the condition of that navy, but to the
administration by which it has been brought to the condi-
tion in which it is at this moment. lam not aware that a
single objection has been, or can be, brought against the
administration of the navy. m-
y lords, I havcsalready in-
stanced examples of the success of our foreign policy in the
advantageoaa treaty which we have concluded with Sardi-
nia, giving an immediate accession of such a valuable force,
and the important treaty with Austria. That is enough
to show your lordships the proof of our exertions, and the
successful result of the negotiations of my noble friend
near me,_ the Secretary of State for the Foreign Depart-
ment. (Hear.) The treaty with Austria especially has been
throughout conducted with a degree of ability, and cau-
tion, and prudence, which, in my experience, extensive as
it is, has been unequalled. And here I think it right to
say that ive.have full reason to place the most entire con-
fidence in the consistency,
and good faith of the Austrian
Government. From the first, without disguising their ar-
dent desire to preserve peace, they have never proposed to
do that by the sacrifice of any of those great European in-
terests in the maintenance of which we are all engaged.
And therefore; I think, having proceeded with such good
faith, with such caution as they have done throughout the
whole of this transaction, I feel that we have a right to
rely upon their firmness, and their adherence to the com-
I
mon cause for the future. My lords, I have maid that
will not refer to any measures of the late Government,
however important they may have been—but I may men-
tion that, oven last -year, which was not so fruitful in le-
gislative measures as the year preceding, nevertheless many
most admirable measures were passed, which were quite
sufficient to maintain the character the Goveernment had
already attained. It is enough that they will be duly esti-
mated in futur Government.lrds (Hears want of the coun-
try is a strong, () How that is to bo ac-
quired is notfor 'me to say. Rumour has assigned, very con-
fidently, to the noble earl opposite (Derby) the honour of
having been soctuested by her Majesty to undertake the for-
mation of an Adiniui6"Liou. Seeing him in 1117. -I:1:x,-; will
not anticipate the statement which be no doubt will
make. I will only say that the necessity exists; and Tam
confident that her Majesty may rely on the patriotism of
those who may be called upon.
(near.) I can only say
for myself, and I believe for my colleagues near me, that
anyladministration that is called into existence, and which
shall present itself for the approbation of Parliamentwould
receive that support which in the present crisis is so ur-
gently required by the great interests that are at stake.
For myself, I can only add that the accession to power of
the noble earl opposite, or any other man, will not interfere
with any views of mine. Ido trust, whatever the govern-
ment may be, that they will carry on this war with vigour,
with effect, and with a view only to the legitimate end of
all wars—a speedy termination, and a safe and honourable
peace. (Hear.) My lords, I trust that, by keeping steadily
in view the real objects of the war—not being diverted by
a wild and imaginary vigour, or animated by merely vin-
dictive feelings--(hear)--such a Government, as soon as
those real objects of the war heist Veen attained, will listen
to the dictates of humanity and of true policy, and Will
lose no time in realising the advantages of peace as soon as
they can honourably come to that conclusion. My lords,'
I do not know that I have any reason to detain you further.
I have merelyrisen to announce the fact, which your lord-
ships will have already anticipated, that we only hold office
till our successors are appointed. (Hear.)
The Duke of NEWCA.STLE—
I can assure your lord-
ships I wish that I could, on this occasion, follow the usual
course of ministers who tender their resignation, and con-
tent myself with tho explanations that have been given by
my noble friend late at the had of the Government. There
are two reassess why I wish,e for however short a time, to
trouble your lordships, while I depart from this usual prac-
tice. In the first place, my lords, it would have been my
duty, under any circumstances, had I been present, what-
ever might have been the result of the division in the House
of Commons, to have made a statement in my own behalf.
But there is another reason why, in answering the speech
of my noble friend (Earl Grey) the last time the house met,
with reference to the construction of the war department,
I stated to your lordships that on this occasion I should
wash '
to make a personal statement. That is in conse-
quence of another statement, which was made in the other
house, by the noble lord, late the President of the Council,
wbith I cannot but feel has so materially affected my po-
sition as a public man, that I feel it incumbent swim me,
however inconvenient, and however personally incapable
I may be, to make SOWO explanations to your lordships.