The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-20 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 1855.

THE KING OF SARDINIA is earning Lombardy !
Cannot Austria—blind though she is to all the
dictates of ordinary prudence, besotted though
her rulers are by their faith in their irresponsible
authority, despicable though her SOVEREIGN is
rendering her by his counsels of timidity and
vacillation—cannot Austria comprehend at least
this one indubitable fact, that, thanks to her
odious pusillanimity throughout the present war-
like struggle and the recent diplomatic negotia-
tions, the fairest cf her provinces is inevitably
slipping from her grasp, that she is rapidly losing
her hold upon her beautiful Italian possessions ?
Excepting possibly at Vienna, the truth of this is
already everywhere recognised. It must be under
stood and appreciated by every rational observer,
as an event which has become, by this time, a grand
and glorious necessity. In the next division of
Europe, the magnanimous and chi .ralrous conduct
of VICTOR EMANUEL will not be forgotten. In
that day of reckoning it must perforce be then
remembered how he, at any rate, among all the
sovereigns of the continent, adopted a frank and
manful policy from the very outset, throwing
down his gage of battle in the lists before the for-
tunes of the War had become in any decisive
manner apparent—taking his place among
the defenders of Turkey by the side of
France and E❑gland, despatching th 3 flower of
his army to the scene of contest, as one among
the foes of the lawless schemes and barbaric
despotism of Russia, as one among the more
energetic champions of the cause of justice, and
of the sacred rights of civilisation. The chivalry
and magnanimity thus revealed in the time of
trial by the KING of Sardinia, will be reme n-
bered when the hour has arrived for the
close of the great conflict, when the period of
pacification having been at le❑gth attained
by the belligerents, the consequent revi-
sion of the Map of Europe shall be for-
mally adventured upon by their plenipoten-
tiaries. Then will be recalled to mind the das-
tardly shuffling of Austria and, in contrast with
that, the kingly good faith, the royal daring, the
knightly decision of the ruler of Sardinia ! Then
adieu for ever more to German sway over Northern
Italy ! Then hail to the advent of a happier
epoch for the Roman Peninsula—when Italy
shall be again for the Italians, and the son
of CHARLES ALBERT, in spite of the genius
of old RADETZKY, in spite of the disas-
ters of that fatal day of Novara, in spite
of the broken sword and the broken heart of the
last of the warrior-princes of Piedmont, shall
wield his sceptre in undisputed sway over the fair
and fertile plains of Lombardy.
Yes—we repeat it--King VICTOR EMANUEL,
by the noble course he is now pursuing, in aiding
France and England to the utmost of his power
in their opposition to the common enemyof Europe,
is earning Lombardy for Sardinia. While Austria by
her meanness and her prevarications contrives more
and more effectually to render inevitable the fate
by which in the fulness of time the richest and
loveliest of her foreign provinces must be ravished
from her possession.

It cannot be expected, of course, that while the
struggle is still actually pending between Russia
and her antagonist; that the nature of the ulti-
mate terms of pacification can be blurted out by
the diplomatic oracles of the Allied Govern-
ments. Some, however, of the more remarkable
among the absolutely necessary conditions of peace
may already be not merely conjectured, but
clearly and distinctly enough foreseen, by those
who are prepared to look with any reasonable de-
gree of sagacity towards the future. It is per-
fectly obvious that the War with Russia must,
before its close, result in a variety of extraordi-
complications—complic complications—.complica-
tions and momentous
so extraordinary, that
tions so momentous and
it would be idle to dream of peace being
again established in Europe before the victors
shall have entered upon the more than herculean
task of its territorial readjustment. England and
Prance have long sine:: proclaimed that they have
for their nselves no selfish schemes of spoliation or
ambitic ins projects of aggrandisement. But it
would 'be monstrous to suppose that when
they
shall ha Ire brought the contest to a
triumphant

issue they will then seek no indemnity
whatever for the blood and treasures they
have squandered. For that blood and for those
treasures they will have to be indemnified by
Russia, as far at least as such indemnification can
be regarded as within the limits of possibility.
They will have to compensate themselves as best
they may—extorting tribute from the vanquished,
and retaining within their grasp " material
guarantees," meanwhile, until the debt
thus incurred shall to the last rouble and the last
kopeken have been entirely liquidated. That as
a condition of Peace, in the only result of the
present War that can be for one moment looked
forward to by the Allies, namely, the event of their
complete success over their Russian foes, is alto-
gether, we take it, inevitable and unavoidable.
England and France cannot consent to Peace,
when Peace shall at length become again attain-
able, without being thus compensated for their
sufferings and expenditure, without receiving some
such sufficient indemnification. Turkey, in like man-
ner, must be placed in greater security than she can be
said to have been in before the War commenced.
A security, attainable not by the mere diminution
of the Russian fleet in the Euxine, not by the mere
removal of certain barriers from the Bosphorus
and the Dardanelles, not by the mere establish-
ment of a quintuple protection over the Danubian
Principalities—but by means of a somewhat more
ample and substantial character than these :
by the restoration to her of certain ancient
provinces previously torn from her dominions
by the strong arm of the conquering CZAR
—provinces, for example, such as the Crimea
itself, or, in Asia, Abassia and Irneritia,
or, in Europe, Podolia and Bessarabia.
Besides all which, firmer, ampler, mightier bar-
riers than these will have to be built up in the
next great day of European pacification, against
the possibility of any after incursions from beyond
the boundaries of Russia Proper of the barbarous
hordesmarshalled under the banners of that savage
Autocracy. Barriers such as those which would be
raised by the re-establishment of Poland—by the
revival of Hungarian Independence—by the reor-
ganisation and consolidation of the various Scla-
vonic nationalities. Then, while Russia will have
to be restrained, while Turkey will have to be
defended and strengthened, while England
and France will have to be largely
indemnified—Austria and Prussia will have to
expiate their prevarications and pusillanimities,
while Sardinia will have to receive at once reward
and compensation. It is in anticipation of events
like these—events that must come by necessity
sooner or later—that can only be retarded for a
while, that cannot by any precaution be warded off
permanently—that we may imagine to ourselves
not without much reason the possibility of Prussia
being compelled some day to do penance for her
sins against Europe by yielding up to imperial
France those Rhenish provinces which are,
in truth, the natural boundary of the do-
I minions of NAPOLEON, or of Austria being driven
diplomatically into sackcloth and ashes by a pre-
concerted signal given to Poland, and Hungary,
and Bohemia, and Lombardy, to effect by one
grand outburst of popular wrath and civic enthu-
siasm their permanent and collective emancipa-
tion.

Although Mr. LAYARD'S motion was rejected
by so large a majority on Monday evening the
important topic which he introduced with so
much tact and ability achieved a remarkable suc-
cess—one unparalleled by any previous question
of a similar description brought forward in Par-
liament for the first time, and so lately taken up
by any considerable portion of the community.
It is true that the daring assailant did not take
the citadel of corruption at the primary on-
slaught. But why ? Simply because of the sub-
mission of the garrison, who only sought fair
terms of capitulation and to be permitted to re-
ceive all the honours of war. The Government
only averted a defeat by a candid confession of
their previous short-comings, and a deliberate
pledge that they themselves would initiate the
much-required ameliorations. Through their chief
they cried " peccavimus," and promised to be
" better boys" for the future. The House accepted
the tardy repentance, and spared the rod in the
hope of decided amendment. We trust that the
undertaking thus given may be fully and fairly
carried out, and that there may be no future ne-
cessity for again demanding the judgment of the
representative branch of the Legislature on those
who next session may have "a breach of faith"
included in the political indictment, unless they
prove themselves zealous and energetic in their
efforts to give practical effect to their under-
takings.

As on many previous occasions, Lord PALMER-
STON proved himself an admirable tactician, well
skilled in every description of legislative strategy.
There was the well-got-up appearance of "injured
innocence," and of the natural indignation which
arises in every generous mind at being made the
subject of unwarranted accusations. And yet
almost immediately afterwards, with prepossessing
candour, he " owned the soft impeachment," and
made confession that most, if not all, of the
charges were substantially correct. He would,
however, make ample amends, and would, " in all
sincerity," accept the little bill which he authorised
the House to draw on the Executive.

Let us, then, for a moment consider what it is
to which the Premier has thus unequivocally com-
mitted himself. He allowed the representative
branch of the Legislature to unanimously " recom-
mend to the earliest attention of her MAJESTY'S
Ministers the necessity of a careful revision of
our various official establishments, with a view to
simplify and facilitate the transaction of public
business ; and by instituting judicious tests of
merit, as well as by removing obstructions to its fair
promotion and legitimate rewards, to secure to the
service of the State the largest available proportion
of the energy and intelligence for which the people
of this country are distinguished 1" What more
does the most strenuous Administrative Re-
former require ? What else does Mr. 'ATARI)
himself demand than "to secure to the ser-
vice of the State the largest available pro-
portion of the energy and intelligence of the
country ?" Dropping the censure for past
misconduct, although that misconduct is virtually
admitted, everything required is conceded, and
to " make assurance doubly sure," the Premier
himself laid down the terms of the solemn obliga-
tion contracted in the face of Parliament and of
the nation, using on behalf of Government these
remarkable and unequivocal expressions : "In
accepting the amendment of the Honourable
Baronet, we accept it as a pledge on our part
that we will direct our serious attention to a con-
tinued revision of the different offices connected
with the civil service of the State, and that
any improvement we can make, any Ad-
ministrative Reform which we may think
practicable with advantage to the public
service, and with justice to the persons con-
cerned, it will be our pride and our pleasure
to make." What more in the shape of promise
could be wished for. It is true that it would
have been well if the declarations were a little
more specific and less vague ; but if the pledge ,

thus earnestly given be fairly redeemed the

country will have nothing to complain of, and
AUSTIN LATARD will be entitled to its thanks and
gratitude for the new light which he has caused to
shine on the Ministerial mind.

But although the prospects of Adminis-
trative Reform are thus auspicious, the
earnest men who have undertaken the onus
of the conflict should not only not relax,
but should redouble, their previous exertions.
They have already achieved a brilliant and deci-
sive triumph, but it will require indefatigable
labour to turn the preliminary victory to good
account. As yet we have only " words." We
require " deeds ;" and any exhibition of hike-
warmness or apathy would materially retard, if
it did not altogether prevent, the full realisation
of the national hopes. They may rest assured
that every position will be defended to the utter-
most—that those who have been accustomed to
look to the civil service as the means of obtaining
provisions for their younger sons, and husbands for
their daughters, will not readily relinquish
the grasp on the public purse which they have so
long and so steadfastly retained. Every device
will be resorted to, every stratagem practised, to
prevent the full consummation of the public
wishes. The vigour of the first assault took
them by surprise ; but if any diminution thereof
be perceptible—if they think that the enthu-
siasm heretofore displayed should in any degree
have cooled, they will take every possible advan-
tage of the change to procrastinate or defeat the
accomplishment of the national wish. Let Ad-
ministrative Reformers persevere, and hold that
nothing has been done while anything remains to
be achieved.

Convinced that the question of Parliamentary
Reform must acquire an increasing and, before
long, an unrivalled prominence, if Administrative
Reformers proceed, as there is no question they
will, with their labour, and prepared as we are to
hail that result with no little pleasure, we cannot
but welcome the appearance of anything calculated
to hasten it, and to point out the precise nature
and extent of any portion of the reform needed.

It is therefore with much satisfaction we call
attention to a broad sheet, just published, of
tables, diagrams, and remarks, by Mr. ACLAND,
the well-known Anti-Corn•law Lecturer and civic
reformer, representing the inequalities of our re-
presentative system—the removal, or rather con-
siderable mitigation, of which we deem essential
to a useful Parliamentary Reform Bill. The
mitigation, we say, because, while a manhood
suffrage and electoral districts would much sim-
plify matters, we are very far from believing that
in the present defective state of education among
the masses, and with such glaring inequalities as
are presented in our social state, it would
be prudent, wise, or just to adopt them, and
considerable mitigation, beettuse nothing shore of
it will meet the exigency of the case. The reader
has only to take up Mr. ACLAND'S broad sheet
and glance at the pyramidal diagrams one within
another, from that representing the West Riding
of Yorkshire down to the almost imperceptible
one Standing for the borough of Thetford, to feel
assured of that. The disparity of size and parity
of representatatives, not representation, are so
glaring as to be ridiculous. Bathos, in fact, has
rarely been more successfully suggested. Having
examined the diagrams we are mistaken if a
stronger desire than before is not quickened in the
reader's mind to peruse the tables, and well will
they reward the trouble. The painstaking habits
and accuracy, the statistical voracity and capacity
of the energetic tabulist are notorious, and sub-
stantially undisputed. Hence the tables being
regarded with confidence will have their due effect,
and every revelation they make will, we feel
assured, facilitate others by demonstrating
the necessity of having the evil probed to the
core. So startling, and yet unimpeachable are the
facts and figures, that we conceive it almost im-
possible for the most inveterate Tory to be con-
fronted with them without admitting the neces-
sity of a change. But we must content ourselves
at present with calling attention to this valuable
production, the result evidently of much labour
and consideration, and defer the task of dip-
ping into its contents for matter to comment on
to a future but-not distant occasion.

" SAUCE FOR THE GOOSE IS SAUCE FOR THE GANDER."
—By means of an illustration bearing this title our'face•
tious friend Punch discharges one of his light, but telling,
shafts against the latest fashionable hypocrisy—the Sab-
batarianism of the day. A policeman is represented
grimly accosting an aristocratic flunkey, who carries a
walking-stick and a large bagfull of Prayer-books in the
wake of his mistress, who is seen proceeding to her car-
riage, as follows :—" I say, this won't do ; you mustn't
follow your occupation on Sunday."
_ _

The evidence against Messrs. Davidson and Gordon
was completed at the Guildhall yesterday, and they
were committed for trial. There was again a large at-
tendance of the mercantile interest.

Sir Hugh Munro, of Foulis, Bart., has bequeathed
his estate of Milton, in Ross-shire, to found a free school
in Perth, for the education of the children of tradesmen
beloncing to the town.
COPENHAGEN, June 18.—The King, this afternoon,
left the Royal residence of Strodshorg, to return to
Copenhagen. The horse on which his Majesty was rid-
ing stumbled, and the King fell, but no serious conse-
quences are anticipated from the accident. His Majesty
got into a carriage, and returned to Strodsborg."
THE GERMAN LEGION.— HELIGOLAND, June 12.
Three vessels have arrived from England, bringing the
expected ready-made materials for the second encamp-
ment of huts for the German Legion, as well as 200
casks of salt beef, as many of pork, and a great quantity
of blankets, uniforms, cooking utensils, and other
articles for the comfort and use of the men. More
vessels :Ire expected to arrive in the course of the week.
The offie;ers as yet wear the uniforms of their former
corps, amongst which those of the late Schleswig-
Holstein army are the most numerous. The 5,000
knapsack% lately arrived here from Hamburg, and
bought b3r the British Government for the Foreign
Legion, w ere formerly used by the Schleswig Holstein
army, and sold by auction by the Danish authorities.
They were bought by a speculator for 2d. a-piece, and
he has now sold them at ss. each, thereby realising a
very pretty sum of money.
Boyee V. WISEMAN—LIBEL—In this case a rule
had been obtained to set aside the verdict for the
plaintiff o n the ground of the rejection of evidence of-
fered by the defendant, and also for excessive damages.
The case has been tried on two previous occasions ;
the last ti me before Mr. Baron Platt at Kingston.
Mr. Baron Parke, in whose views Mr. Baron Alderson
and Mr. I ;aron Martin concurred, was of opinion that
the evider ice had been improperly rejected, under the
peculiar c; .rcumstances of the case, and therefore that
the rule a ught to be made absolute for a new trial. Mr.
Baron PI stt was sorry that by any mistake on his part
the plains .iff should have been prevented from going to
the jury upon the merits of the case, and therefore that
he shoulx 1 be obliged to carry the matter before a third
jury. B owever, he was bound to believe that he was
wrong, as the majority of the Court entertained a con-
trary o Oxiion. Rule absolute accordingly.
THE ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.—A letter, dated Turin,
June L l states that the Chevalier Bonelli proposes a
plan ft): establishing a submarine:telegraph as far as
Constantinople by taking Cagliari as the point of depar-
ture. Tb e chevalier believes he hasdiscovered the means
of diminr shing the weight and expense of subaqueous
cables. _'he wire would 'run from Cagliari to Malta,
thence to Candia. Here it would branch off in one di-
rection to Alexandria in Egypt, and in the other to Gal-
lipoli. T he expense would not amount to three millions
of francs . The plan has been submitted to the Go.
vernment sof England and France. The Moniteur pub-
lishes a : notice that private telegraphic despatches are
now rec ived
far for
the
eLn
faol go l
own
n( Gg i rpo
Inade)and
ces
in different
R oann e (
foreignL o i e),
and also
count! :—Bothnia, in Austria ; Pforzheim, Grand
Duch of 13
--Flarzbourg and Wolfenbuttel,
y•
Grand
e Due:tll:yH
and aodoleflannl3dru; nAswnickkia;mCaunldemwhooulgrags,t,Dpevreunsstiear,
l‘, p p ;
iSanns-eßr Sardinia,Th
etele ;
graapnhdicAolffiexcinesaeizn asnd K
wedenrag ,
the same
notice declares, do not transmit any despatches on Sun-
days : ind fete days, except those of the Government.
The line of telegraph uniting Austria with Russia upon
the front ier of Gallicia, and Poland, was opened on last
Friday. Despatches may be sent in German and in
French. The telegraphic stations established at this
moment in Russia, are—Varsovia, Moscow, St. Peters-
burg, It iga, Kiew, Odessa, Dunabourg, Dowsk, Kon-
wola, H slsingfors, Cronstadt, Gatechina, Revel, Nerve,
Bologoic Krementschug, Nicolaiew, and Wyborg.