The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-01 00:00:00

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THE EMPEROIVATAPOLEON'S SPERM
.IfIE ' . . . .
(Frifit e. Pays.J
The Emperor's speech has characterised the general
situation and the co-operation which the Government
expects from the nation with that manly simplicity which
is the mark of truth, and that tranquil confiderice in the
public feeling which is the sign of a popular power.
France will find in this noble and firm language the echo
of the unanimous opinion of the couniry, and the expres-
sion of its glory, of its dignity, and of its moat legitimate
interests. Europe will perceive in it the voice of that
elevated policy which is disengaged from all personal
ambition, which devotes itself generously to :the inde-
pendence of nations and the equilibrium of modern
States. The enemy will read in it the energetic resolu-
tion of not laying down the sword until the object
in view shall have been completely attained, and the
future guaranteed against new disorders. The very
reserve of the expression and the moderation of the
form add a new force to the fundamental idea. One
can comprehend, from this language, exempt from
passion, but at the same time so firm and inexorable,
that the Government of the Emperor will not yield for
a single moment in the great work which it has un-
dertaken, and for the success of which it has seen the
great European powers successively group around it.
The means of action will never be wanting to tho .Ge-
vernment of the Emperor when it asks for them from
national patriotism. Should peaed not he soon re-estab-
11,fied, should the obstinacy of the Czar prolong the
duration of the war, France will not give way before
ri,y sacrifice to carry out the policy of the West.
Our country is still that powerful nation which for
25 years was able to sustain a victorious struggle
against the most terrible of coalitions. Franco can-
nactiot forget that at a period when s!ie was torn by
factions ome, when her credit was gone, and when
she was menaced abroad by the forces of all Europe,
she was able to oppose to the enemy 14 armies, and or-
ganise everywhere the victory. And efter twenty years
'llAm:wand formidable, and as
of combats she was still as
triumphant as at the beginning. We are at present,
thank God I in more favourable conditions, Europe
is no longer with Russia against us, but is with us
against Russia. Our strength is increased tenfold
by the co-operation of England, our former rival, and
now our loyal friend ; and soon we shall have, we
true, the aid of Austria, whom the treaty of December
2d strongly unites to our cause, and of all Germany, ,
whom all her interests are drawing within the orbit of
the western policy. Our economical interests have not
as yet been in any way affected by the opening of hosti-
lities, and the field of credit, closed to Russia, opens
for us, as wide as it is productive, on all the markets of
Europe. The aid which the Government asks for at this
moment froth France, and which France will give with
enthusiasm, is besides reduced to the vote of a new
national loan. The army is simply kept up at its pre-
sent amount. Whilst the Car does not cease ordering
extraordinary levies, the contingent of this year will not
exceed amongst us that of preceding years ; and in order
to render still less onerous the exigencies of the conscrip-
tion, a bill on military enlistment is about to be brought
before the Legislative Body. It is consequently to
subsidies that will be restricted at present the sacri-
fices imposed on the patriotism of the nation. These
subsidies can only be asked for from taxes or loan.
The Government of the Emperor has not hesitated to
adopt this latter system. It would not be just to cause
the present to support alone the charges of a war, the
results of which are to profit above all future genera-
tions. Is not a loan the most natural system in that
point of view ? It must not be forgotten that the mite
and all kinds of securities have become exceedingly dis-
tributed amongst all classes ; that the number of per-
sons inscribed on the grand-book of the public debt has
beim tripled since 1843 ; and that the mass of persons
operating at present in the public funds is immense.
When the loan of 250 millions was announced, upwards
of 400 millions were subscribed in a few days, and it
was found necessary to reduce the general amount by
upwards of 40 per cent. At present that the Govern-
ment asks for 500 millions, the sum will be granted with
the same enthusiasm as the bill has been voted by the
Legislative Body. Every subscription will be a new
manifestation against Russia ; every franc paid to the
Treasury will be an additional arm in the hands of the
Allied Powers to conquer and reduce to impotence the
ambition which, from St. Petersburg, periodically
agitates and comprises the interests of Conservative
Europe, and will be at the same time a new testimony
1 of the confidence of the country in the Government. We
cannot doubt that the 500 millions will be at once sub-
scribed, for what is such a sum for the whole of France I
Let it also be remembered that the subscribers to the
first national &loan not only acted patriotically, but
advantageously for themselves. Whatever may be the
special conditions of the new loan, we are quite con-
vinced that private persons will find it their interest to
take part in it. The future will show if new sacrifices
are to be still necessary for the definitive triumph of
the cause of European right and for the honour of the
national flag. But France, proud of the rank which
the straightforward policy of the Emperor assigns her
among nations, and confiding in the firmness and wis-
dom of the Head of the State, will be always ready to
respond to his appeal, and to place at the disposal of the
Government the immense resources iffier possession."
f ' ,

COMBINED EXPEDITION AGAINST THE
WEST COAST PIRATES.

We are glad to find that Admiral Stirling is now
making amends, as far as possible, for the six weeks
spent by hits at Japan, and that he seems determined
to proceed systernat!cally and energetically to work in
accomplishing the destruction of the piratical fleets along
the Chinese coast. Never were active proceedings more
urgently required, seeing that besides those on the west
coast, a formidable fleet is known to rendezvous at
Chusan, and a second is said to be outside the Fut-tow-
moon, for the purpose of waylaying the northern junks
on their passage to this port and Canton. The cargo
and passage boats which used to ply daily betwixt
(Ling Kong, Macao, and Canton, n-iw only venture
out four or five in company, and once a week. Two
pirate fleets, as mentioned above, have been already
destroyed, though unfortunately the crews in both
instances effected their escape on shore ; and we
understand it is his excellency's intention to proceed
to the west coast immediately with her Majesty's ship
Winchester, Sparta, Encounter, Barracouta, and Styx,
and the Peninsular and Oriental Company's river
steamers Canton and Sir Charles Forbes, which have
been chartered for that purpose ; and will, it is under-
stood, be joined by the United states steamer Queen,
and the Portuguese frigate, Dom Joao 1., and lorcha
Amazona. In this expedition we think it probable Sir
James's first visit will ho to Ileang-shan, which is closely
blockaded by a very large fleet (or rather several fleets
under different leaders) of west coast junks, whose sole
object, it they can accomplish it, is the plunder of the
wealthy capital of the district in which Macao is situated,
while in the meantime they demand from the husband-
men in the surrounding country one-half the rice crop
as black-mail.

Hitherto nothing effectual has been attempted towards
the suppression of these miscreants, and it is even said
that acts of piracy have been committed so olose to the
shipping at Wharnpon, that they might have been wit-
nersscd from the deck of the United States ship Mace.
donia, stationed there. Surely the " non-interference "
principle acted upon by foreigners in the internal dis-
putes of China cannot possibly be construed by our
American friends to have reference to sea or river
pirates, who prey indiscriminately upon foreigners and
natives, imperialists and rebels, though it is now doubted
by few that the Triad leaders are in direct communica-
tion with them ; indeed the pirates at Kulan who plus.
dered the CalElera, were all observed to wear the Triad
sash. Some time ago, 13,000 chests of tea were cap.
tured on the river, and one silk dealer was lately robbed
of $lO,OOO worth of raw silk, which, we are told, was
subsequently offered for sale to foreigners at $B,OOO.
The following comprises the list of piracies reported to
the police during the past fortnight :
On the 16th of October, a fishing boat was seized near
Lintin, and kept till the 26th, when she was released,
the pirates having pillaged her of every article of value,
and detained three of her crew.
On the 22d, a passage-boat was boarded off Cheong-
sa-wan, and her cargo carried off, consisting of salt fish,
saltpetre, opium, &c.
A fishing-boat was captured, while sailing off Lintin,
plundered of everything of value and then released ; but
three of her crew were also detained.
On the 25th, a cargo-boat was plundered near the
C a -mctp;isutyheoon b y
27th,
a sixfi un ke .
be.
at was seized while sailing
off Shek-pai-wan.
On the 29th, a fishing-boat was plundered of Chung-
chow.

A cargo-boat was plundered near tb. Cap-sty-Boon.
On tho 30th, a stone-boat was taken about two miles
south-west of Green Island.

A fishing-boat was seized near Chung-ohow. The
informant escaped with eight men, two women, and
two children, in a sanspai ; but one man and one woman
were carried off.

On the Ist November a fishing-boat was sttaeked
and taken by four pirate junks in the Cap-suy-Moon.
One of the fishermen was wounded, and ths boat pin'.
dered.

On the 2d twe fishing-boats were plundered off Chek•
chu.

On the 4th a salt-boat was seized in the Fat-tong-
moon by three junks. The informant and ten others
of her crew escaped in a Sampan.
A fishing-boat was taken off Chek•chu by a fleet of
ten junks.

On the sth a fishing-boat was carried off from
Chek•chu by two pirate junks.—Chiral Mail.

MIDLAND GREAT WRSTRRN RAILWAY (IS=LAND).---
An extraordinary meeting of the shareholders of this
them a bill proposed to be
company was held in Dublin on Thursday, for the pur-
pose of hating submitted to t •
introduced next session for cashing a branch line from
c moved
coivi melds tab:
swhladrech.
Longford to Strokestown, and one from Athenry to
swtolilletliitlagointettrcaii)sroceed with the pro-
Tuarn. Mr. Ennis, chairman of the company, presided,
having regard. to the solemn
anti
madell having
ion directors i rexplained
te): that
question,ile,cdtdseirntot.he effe,
pledges given by the directors of the company, it is ex-
pedient that the bill for the branch between Athenry
and Timm be proceeded with." After considerable dis-
cussion, however, the following amendment was carried,
with but two dissentients, viz. :—" Resolved--That in
consequence of the present circumstances of the country
and the prospects of the money market, it is not prudent
to proceed further with the extensions to Strokostewn
and to Tuam ; but that a line of railway into the county
of Mayo ought to be undertaken by this company so 110011
as the cuunties of Roscommon and Mayo shall. agree an
to the best course for such line, and the state of the
money market shall render it practicable.