The Sun.
London, England, 1855-06-27 00:00:00

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their riPrescioP; which Only served for aggrsystioo.
This was, indeed, a trial of our form of government
against the most powerful despotism ever 'wielded by,
genius, and
,what was the issue? We will say no mo
of it than ''of' the anniversary just passed in gra
silence. • Enough, that constitutional government :';;ltiAirlie.;:.,
out of the ordeal in a condition to strengthen itself,
to remove causes of disaffection, so that, when w
again forced upon ,us, it Suds us united as we never `i-ii<7.,i):n*,.fr
..nas te:l7Z-
before in the long history of the country. V-
It is to no purpose to compare despotism and freedom. .
Despotism and freedom have both their strong and their lkla
weak places, by which they must respectively abide, for
neither can borrow from the other. England cannot pro-
fit by secrecy, nor Russia by publicity. It is not, like the
foolish fowl, by hiding our heads in a hole, that we can
escape the enemy. Discussion is the life of constitutional
government, and to forego it would not be to acquire
any strength that belongs to despotism, but to destroy
the essential of our polity. A man does not make hime
self the match for the tiger by emulating its dumbness,
its claws, or teeth, but by opposing to its brute force • •
and ferocity his peculiar resources in intelligence izia
mechanical aids to human strength.
If we Could see the working of despotic Government
we should probably find in it full as much as, if not more
errorand miscarriage than in our own, but there is no ex-
posure of it, and, as the law maxim has it, things not ap-
pearing are as things not existing ; but with us it is by
the light of publicity tbat faults are corrected. But for
the revelations of the press the Ministry would have
beetsdeceived as to the state of things in the Crimea
when they were at the worst, as Lord Aberdeen has •
frankly avowed ; and would this`assimilation to the dark-
ness of Russian despotism have been for the advantage
of the country, and would it have tended to the right -
conduct of its affairs ? The army would long ere this
havewor k ceased
ts
ends toex iisn its w
t. Constitutional
way,
stitutional goveroment must
as despotism does on
the other hand. The Czar will not tell his subjects to
take pattern by us, to pry into negotiations, and to raise
their voices against what may be discovered amiss in
the administration of his affairs in order that the faults
may be remedied. " Make your choice," says Bayle in
a homely illustration, "of
a square or of a round table,
but do not quarrel with the one because it has not the
properties and coveniences of the other."
' There are other chcumstances in war which will exact •
of patriotism, forbearance, and reserve ; and if Prince
Albert—
mhad. confined has appeal to sparing the Go-
vernment unnecessary and impolitic bae
and to affording it all support in well-directedleghnsrsr:cssosrumencesenenlst:
and endeavours, we certainly should have joined heartily
in the laudations which his Royal ji
speech has called forth from most of our contemporaries ;
but the Prince's. words, as reported, go beyond 'this, -
and if they do not actually tend to. conclusiOne, tend yet
to countenance conclusions adverse -to our free form of
Government in a state of war; do not b4eve that
this was the intention of the P'rince, for, this simple rea-
son, that it is not in keeping with any of the opinions
he ha-v- ever- held, which have indeed always been
marked by an opposite tendency. That we ham not
noticed the matter in any carping or inimical spirit
should be beyond a question in the minds of our
readers, . who know how ready we have ever been to
acknowledge the excellent sense and spirit of the Prince
Consort, and to appreciate his many important services.
Nor have we been amongst the least forward in discoun-
tenancing and rebuking unjust impugnments of his
Royal Highness's conduct. And it is in perfect con-
sistency with our desire that the Prince's deservedly
high character should be upheld, that we question the
authenticity of
.a report ascribing to his Royal Highness
words not of the well-guarded • discretion which has
generally distinguished his public addresses, inasmuch,
at least, as they are susceptible of an interpretation
which will greatly delight the enemies of Constitutional
Government abroad, ay, and also some yearners for
despotism at home.

D AGUERREOTYPES FOR THE QUEEN.

PORTSMOUTH, JUNE 26.—As an instance of the deep
interest' her Majesty takes in every branch of the ser-
vices tha t are now so nobly distinguishing themselves in
the prose .3t war, and in the individuals of which those
services we composed, it may be mentioned that an artist
has been (Own from London to-day taking for her Ma-
jesty, in the dockyard, daguerreotype sketches of groups
of some of the naval and military corps stationed here.
The first group was formed of Colour-Serjeant Andw.
Holdaway, Colour-Serjeant Jas. Johnson. and Private
John. Titcombe, of the 3d battalion of Rifles.
The second group comprised Serf.eant Henry Edsell,
Corporal Wm. Chase, Private Benjanrin Bush, Private
Charles Fletcher, And Pi ivato Timothy Lyons. These
belong to the RoyaY. Marines, and served with distinc.
tion in the Crimea.

The third group (Imposed the gallant and tough-
looking blue jackets; John Stirling, boatxwain of the
Sampson ; Charles MY:ooks, coxswain ; and Edward
Pengelly, A.B. _

All these men were dressed in their respective aini-
forms, and were pi.,:ked and flue-looking fellows,. Usey
had all been in the Crimea, and had medals for their ser-
vices there, as well As for services in China, Cape of
Good Hope, and other parts of the globe. The Marines
and Marine Artilleryme,x were grouped together by the
side of a gun, and the Lque jackets, dressed in whi,`o
trousers, blue jackets, anc. black glazed caps, were sta- •
tioned against a capstan wi,`ll a white ensign flying from
a flag-staff, whilst an anchem, coil of rope, lead lines,
and other.nauticalimplementv, werejudiciously included
in the sketch. We believe it as her Majesty's intention
to have paintings made from tlieso sketches, as also from
those of other corps in the navy alld army. _

BEALTH OF LONDON DIZRINeir THE WARM

(From the Report of the Registrar-General.)

In the week that ended last Saturday 1,075 deaths
were registered in the metropolitan districts. Of these
548 were deaths of males, 527 of females. In the 10
corresponding weeks of the years 1845-54 the average
number was 923, which, to be compared with last week's
return, must be raised in proportion to increase of popu-
lation. The average rate of mortality would have pro-
duced 1,015 deaths last last week ; the actual number
was in excess of the estimated number by 60.
Of the 17 classes which compose the table of fatal
diseases the zymotic shows the greatest number of
deaths referred to it. Next is the tubercular class ; and
third, in its sums of mortaility, is the class of diseases of
the respiratory organs. The three classes number re-
spectively 247, 221, and 138 ; the first beginning, at
this period of the year, to increase, Ix hilst the last de-
clines. Scarlatina, which seems to prevail more than
any other disease of the zymotic class, was fatal in 54
cases last week. Seven deaths were caused by this
complaint in Marylebone, 3 in the sub-district of St.
John, Paddington, 2 in that of Regent's-park. Small►
pox was fate in 28 cases, of which 6 occurred to persons
who were 20 years old or more. Diarrheas, which
averaaed 15 in the previous six weeks, rose last week to
25. No cholera appears in the return. Of the total
number of 1,075 deaths registered, 522 were among
persons under 20 years of age, 34 among those who had
attained the age of 80 or upwaids.

Last week the births of 882 boys and 869 girls, in all
1,751 children, were registered in London. In the ten
corresponding weeks of the years 1845-54, the average
number was 1,383.

At the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, the mean
height of the barometer in the week was 30.031 in. ; and
the mean daily reading was above 30 in. on every day
after Monday ; it was highest on Wednesday, and on
that day the mean was 30.253 in. The mean tempera-
ture of the week was 52.9 deg., which ih 7 deg. below
the average of the'same week in 38 years. The mean
temperature is below the average on every day, and on
the first four days the extent of this depression was from
1 deg. to 11 deg. The highest temperature of the week
occurred on Friday, and was 74 deg. ; the lowest on
Thursday, when it was 39.9 deg. Ice was formed on th•
morning of Thursday. The mean dew-point temperature
was 44.1 deg., and the difference between this and the
I mean air temperature was 8.8 deg. The highest tempe-
rature in the sun occurred on Friday, and was 101.5
deg. The temperature of the water in the Thames was
59.3. On Monday the wind blew from the south-west ;
and on the following days it was in the north or north-
eest. Some rain fell in the beginning of the week, but
the whole amount did not exceed 8-100ths of an inch.

MORTALITY IN THE METROPOLIS.
NUMBER OF DEATHS FROM ALL CAUSES REGISTERED

IN THE WEEK ENDING SATURDAY, JUNE 23.

Zymotic Diseases
Diseases of Uncertain Seat
Tubercular Diseases
Diseases of the Brain, Nerves and Senses
Diseases of the Heart and Blood-vessels 42
Diseases of the Lungs and other Organs of
Respiration ..,.... l3B
Diseases of the Stomach, Liver, and other Organs
of Digestion
Diseases of the Kidneys, &c.
Childbirth, Diseases of the Uterus, &c.
Diseases of the Joints, Bones, and Muscles
Diseases of the Skin, &c. 4
Malformations 5
Premature Birth and Debility 29
Atrophy 34
Old- Age
31
Sudden
17
Violence, Privation, Cold, and Intemperance......., 53
Causes not specified
it

DEATHS FROM ALL CAHSES ..................... 1,075
Population Deaths in corm- Deaths
Enumerated. sponding Week In the
1851. of 1814. Reek.
West Districts
North Districts 490,396 ...... 217 ...... 200
Central Districts 393
,256
195
East Districts 485,522
South Districts ...... 616,635 314
1,163

Totals ......... 2,362,236
Males
Females •

1,075
548
527

.... 882
.... 869

1,751