The Sun.
London, England, 1855-05-10 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TITIURSDAY F,VENIN'CI-, MA Y 10, 1855

sion of regret by the other Plenipotentiaries,
probably because it was already clear that
Russia would peremptorily reject the limi-
tation of her fleet "to four ships of
war and four frigates, with a proportionate num-
ber of light vessels and unarmed vessels, exclu-
sively adapted to the transport of troops." The
SULTAN was to restrict his navy within similar
limits, while the other parties were only to be
permitted, after a special firman from the SULTAN,
each to bring into the Euxine a number of vessels
equal to half the naval forces which each of the
Powers bordering the sea should maintain there.

Subsequently, the Russian propositions were
brought forward, which placed no restriction on
the Russian naval force, but merely threw open
the Dardanelles and Bosphorus to the flags of all
nations ; to give, in fact, to Russia the much-
coveted access to the Mediterranean, at all times
and under all circumstances. This was, of course,
unhesitatingly rejected by the Allies, and Lord
JOHN RussELL, having declared that his instruc-
tions were exhausted, departed from Vienna.
Subsequently, on the 26th April, another Con-
ference was held at the express instance of Russia,
when a new but equally untenable proposition
was put forward by the Russian Plenipotentiary.
This was merely to the effect, that the principle of
closing the Straits of the Bosphorus should remain
in force, but that the SULTAN should be allowed,
by way of temporary exception, to open the Straits
of the Dardanelles and of the Bosphorus to
the fleets of Foreign Powers, which he
should think it necessary to summon when-
ever he thought his security menaced. This
was, of course, deemed inadmissible, and here the
matter stands. It is on this latter point, how-
ever, that Austria justifies her continued hesita-
tion, and that M. DROUYN DE n'Huys adopted
such views as led to his resignation of his position
as Minister of France. We trust that the British
Parliament may speak out so boldly and explicitly
on the subject that there can be no possible excuse
for our Cabinet further truckling either to " Mus-
eovitism" or " Germanism," which seem to have
greater importance in their sight than the direct
interests of France and England, the security of
Turkey, or the peace of Europe.

It is probably unknown to the generality that no
less than an earnest sen timent of patriotism impelled
Mr. THACKERAY, some time since, to retire from his
conspicuous position among the collaborateurs
engaged in the periodical fun—pictorial and lite-
rary—productive, by weekly, monthly, and half-
yearly instalments, of our great comic publication.
As the significance of this announcement becomes
adequately appreciated, we can picture to our-
selves the broad grin upon the popular counte-
nance—that expression of hilarity resulting from
reiterated roars of laughter over the pages of our
London Charivari—fading away by almost imper-
ceptible degrees, and the bluff, rubicund visage
of JOHN BULL becoming gradually elongated. It
will be ill news, indeed, to every one fond of the
luxury of a chuckle ever the genuinely ludicrous.
An unwelcome intimation to those (and their
name is legion) who have shaken their sides with
unaffected enjoyment over the lyrics of Policeman
X, over the lamentations of Flunkey Jeames, over
the remote records of Snobbism, and the recent
annals of the Bashi-Bzouks. Nevertheless, the
event alluded to is indisputable—Fitzboodle has
deliberately shaken the dust of the familiar office
from his sboeleather—Punch has positively, if not
permanently, lost his "Fat Contributor." An inci-
dent sincerely to be regretted, depriving, as it
unfortunately does, the blithest, bravest, bitter-
est, yet also one of the most genial and delightful
satirists of our generation of an opportunity
as rare in one sense as, in another, it has
hitherto, happily, been frequent. For the out-
pouring of the overflowings of his abundant fancy
—the distribution of the waifs and strays of his
unstinted good-humour—the diffusion of the jet-
sam and flotsam of his inexhaustible facetiousness!
It is a calamity to the joke-lovers of this joke-lov-
ing community, for which the perversity of the
periodical rather than the petulance of the contri-
butor must be regarded as responsible.
Somewhat as suddenly as Mr. DOYLE withdrew,
in 1850, on account of Mr. Punch's disrelish for
the Catholic Hierarchy—Mr. THACKERAY with-
drew, in 1854, on account of that honest, obsti-
nate old gentleman's ineradicable antipathy for
his Imperial Majesty the Emperor NAPOLEON 111.
Like so many other of our contemporaries, Mr. P.
(who, wherever he bears a grudge, is such a
thorough " good hater" that he would infallibly,
had he existed in the flesh towards the end of the
last century, have been a cherished intimate of
Dr. JOHNSON), Mr. P., we say, like so many other
of our co-literateurs, had from the outset conceived
an obdurate and, as few will be disinclined to
admit nowadays, a wonderfully mistaken pre-
judice against the remarkable man especially placed
by DIVINE PROVIDENCE, for the happiness of the
world, at the supreme head of the French Na-
tionality. It will be remembered by the British
public generally, that from the very commence-
ment, in the midst of the general chorus of abuse
directed against the thrice elect of a great people,
WE never hesitated to protest against the folly
and injustice of all that blundering animosity and
unmerited vituperation. Not so with the rest of
the daily, weekly, monthly, or quarterly organs
of popular opinion. For a considerable time we
stood, in regard to this matter, altogether insu-
lated among the crowd of our contemporaries. We
were even spoken of by the Times--(the journal now
so courtly in its allusions to the august Monarch who
was once so flagrantly pelted through its columns
with the foulest words and the vilest ribaldries in the
ample vocabulary of a Brummagem-Junius, prosti-
tuting by his anonymous signature the honourable
designation of "An Englishman" —we were
branded by the Times, we say, at the period to
which we are here alluding—the circumstance can
scarcely yet be forgotten—as
" The Base Exception."

We ans almost tempted to ask of the Times and
its then rather numerous sympathisers—How is
it now with The sun in this matter ? How is it
now in. regard to us as—The Base Exception ?
Now wien the Emperor NAPOLEON 111. has been
the honoured guest of our beloved SOVEREIGN.
Now wt ken his Imperial MAJESTY has been solemnly
invesbekl by Queen VICTORIA with the insignia of
the Moist Noble Order of the Garter. Now when,
after e njoying, together with his beautiful consort,
the ro3r; d hospitalities at Windsor—flke Emperor
of Fa/L ,ICE has seen welcomed with unexampled
enthusiasm by vast multitudes of our "free
and eel. ightened" population. Now when the
elect, 11 rst of all, of nearly 6,000,000,
afterward 's of kleally 7,000,000, and ultimately
of nearly 8,000,000 of Adult Frenchmen, has
received t he homage of our various municipalities,
together
T pota Corporation :riothi thei conspicuousor o rati
onin the
felicitations of ou r
chief ancient
Guildha 'I of the City of London. Somewhat of
has, change
int , it will be .
particular,
come over
generallyoverthe sp
iardi
tmoi
ft ted,
the
dream o f I english publicists—bringing them over,
one by ( m e, to a remarkable complicity with The
'gun, to 1 a singular coincidence of opinion with

The base Pxception--until Cie one schiary voice
has become-merged in -the sonorous acclamations
of an almost 'unprecedented unanimity.

To promote discussion on the Bill for the local
administraticn of the Metropolis—of which the
all-absorbirg administration of the War and of
our general taxation may make us lose sight—
and to give a fair hearing to opposing views on
the subject, we insert an able and important
letter from Lord EBRINGTON, which is in circula-
tion amongst some of the leaders of his constitu-
ency upon Sir BENJAMIN HaLes Bill. Un-
doubtedly we cannot afford to have large mistakes
and maladministration of increased local burthsns,
as well as maladministration at the same time of
the increased general taxation of the country.
It is estimated that the expense of the staffs of
the thirty-six new local boards which Sir
BENJAMIN HALL proposes to create in the
metropolis, cannot be less than one hun-
dred thousand pounds ? Will not fewer suf-
fice ? One staff ought to be made cheaper and
stronger than seven, and Lord EBRINGTON states
that " the staff expenses in 1846, under the seven
sewer commissions into which the metropolis was
then divided, were more £ban 20 per cent. on the
works executed. The staff expenses in 1854,
under the consolidated commission, were only 11
per cent., and that included systematic mapping
and the under-ground surveying items, quite un-
known in the olden times." Having gained BO
much by consolidation has a case been made out,
so far as sewerage and drainage works are con-
cerned, for going
back and creating 36 new sur-
veyorships, and as many sub-surveyorships and
clerks ? The most important drainage works, the
house drainage, are under the jurisdiction of the
Metropolitan building surveyors, whose emoluments
are some twenty thousand poUnds per annum; indi-
vidual surveyors, who are private practising archi-
tects, getting upwards of one thousand pounds per
annum each for the performance of duties which
three or four persons giving their whole time to
the service could perform much more satisfao-
torily than a dozen private practitioners. Sir
BENJAMIN HALL alleges, and probably truly, that,
they have not performed the most important por-
tions of their duties. Well, should not they be
made to perform them, or the emoluments be
transferred with the duties to the thirty-six new
surveyors ? Why is the Metropolis to be burthened
with both sets of offices ? It is stated by Metro-
politan drivers that you may tell when you leave
a ward under the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan
Road Commission, superintended by the late Sir
CHARLES MADAM, and get upon a road under a
parish or vestry paving board by the jolting you
get. Has consolidation, at all events to start
with, under that well-working commission, beep
thought of ?

The mortal remains of the Countess Rossi (Wine.
S.mtag) hrrived at Dres.:en on the 29th ult., whence
they are to be conveyed into Lusatia, to be deposited in
the convent of Marienstern.
PERU,—From Peru we learn that the steamer Rimac
had been wrecked, and nearly 100 persons on board
perished.
A TROPHY FOR THE QUEEN.-A Russian eagle, a
trophy captured near Balaklava, brought to England by
her Majesty's ship Vengeance, has been sent by Captain
Lord E. Russell to London, as a present to her Majesty.
—Plymouth Mail.
The celebrated horse, Wild Irish Girl, the property of
William Quinn, Esq., of Loloher, Ireland, has been
lately sold to the Marquis of Waterford for 200 guineas.
Her performances at the April meeting on the short grass
prove her to be a "good on."
The Czar-has just conferred new orders and insignia,
enriched with diamonds, upon Prince Gortschakoff 111.
(not the commander-in-chief) and General Khruleff for
their services in the Crimea.
A government school of art has just been established
at Southampton. Its establishment was originated and
chiefly supported by a lady of the neighbourhood. Many
of the pupils are sappers and miners belonging to the
Ordnance survey department in the above-mentioned
town.
The Countess Flahault and se ite, who proceeded with
with Count Walewski en route to Paris, were detained
at Folkestone by the tempestuous weather. The countess
and party proceeded to Dover on Tuesday, and crossed
over to Calais at 2 o'clock in the afternoon, in the mail
steam-packet Empress, with Capt. Smithett.
THu NAVAL Cnui or 1765 —Last evening, the
members of this club celebrated the anniversary of
Duncan's victory at Camperdown (1797), by a ban-
quet' at the Thatched-house Tavern. Capt. Chappell,
R.N., occupied the chair. About 30 officers sat down.
, The members will have another banquet on the occasion
of the anniversary of the Queen's birthday (May 19).
The Oster-Zeitung gives the following detail re- pect-
ing the English army before Sebastopol :--The Light
Division, Lieut.-General Sir G. Brown, numbers 3,800 ;
First Division, Sir C. Campbell, 3,500 ; Second Divi-
sion, Major-General Pennelather, 3.600 ; Third Divi•
sion, Lieut.-General Sir R. England, 3,500 ; Fourth
Division, Sir J. Cimbpell, 3 500. To these must be
added the Naval Brigade, 1,000 ; 600 marinee, and 600
cavalry. The number will soon be increa-,ed to 25,000.
HOUSE DRAlNAGP.—Yesterday Lord Ebrington's bill
was printed, to empower the Commissioners of Sewers
to expend on house drainage a certain Plitt] out of the
moneys borrowed by them on the security of the rates,
and also to give to the Commissioners certain other
powers for the carne purpose. The sum is not to exceed
25,0001., and the approaching hot weather is urged as a
reason why the powers of t!,e 49th section of t!,e Metro-
politan Sewers Act should be forthwith actively exer-
cised for house drainage.
NEW BILL ON INFANTS' MARRlAGES.—Yesterday a
bill in the House of Commons was printed, to enable
infants, with the approbation t-f the Court of Chancery,
to make binding settl.ments of their real and personal
estate on marriage. The bill has been prepared by Mr.
Matins and Mr. Whiteside, the barristers.
ASSAULTS ON WOMEN AND CHlLDREN.—Yesterday
a return to Parliament was issued, showing the number
of men charged at or summoned to the different police-
ellic_•s in Dublin during the past year for assaults en
women and children. The number is 1,222 ; of which
15 were sent for trial, 344 were summarily convicted,
and 863 discharged.

THE NEW BEER BILL.--The petition from the in-
habitants of this town, praying for a repeal of the New
Beer Bill, containing upwards of 25,000 signatures, has
been forwarded to T. E. Headl 433. Esq., M.P., for pre-
sentation to the House of Commons. —Newcastle Guar-
dian.

The birthday of the young Duke of Parma was cele-
brated at the capital of his States on the 29th ult. A
solemn service was performed on the occasion in the
cathedral in the presence of the Duchess Regent, the
Ducal family, the Ministers, and the members of the
Diplomatic Body. In the evening the Duchess and her
son showed themselves to the people on the balcony of
the palace, and were received with enthusia•im.
DESTRUCTION OF A FLOUR MILL AT DEPTFORD.—
Yesterday afternoon, shortly before four o'clock, a fire,
attended with a considerable destruction of property,
broke out in the extensive premises belonging to Mr.
Featberey, termed the Black Horse Flour Mill, situate
at Black Horse Bridge, Deptford. The fire commenced
from some unexplained cau,e in the mill, and owing to
the inflammable nature of the contents the flames spread
with more than usual rapidity, seizing upon the whole
of the valuable stock in trade, and fairly enveloping the
entire building. The total loss at the lowest computa-
tion will exceed 1.0001., and unfortunately the sufferer
was not insured for a single penny. The building be-
longed to Mr. Little, of New-cross, and at present it is
unknown whether it was insured or net.
SOCIETY OF FRIENDS OF FOREIGNERS IN DISTRESS.
Last night the 49th anniversary dinner of this charity
was held at the London Tavern. In the absence of Earl
Granville, who was prevented by his late accident from
presiding, the chair was taken by John Labouchere,
mEsoqn.e,y subscribedtheTrea was 1,
sureroft4h9.
the Society. The amount of
HOSPITAL FOR CONSUMPTION AND DISEASES OF THE
CIIEST.--The anniversary dinner in aid of the above
charity ,took place yestereay, at 'Willis's Rooms, St.
James's-street. In the absence of the Duke of Rich-
mond, who had promised to preside, but who wns pre-
vented by indisposition, the chair was taken by Lord
Ravens worth, supported by about 100 gentlemen, friends
of the charity. A collection was made, which resulted
in an addition to the funds of the hospital of aboutl,sool.
The affray between the military and militia in Cork
was renewed on Monday night, /and several of the riot-
ers suffered considerably. They were, however, finally
secnred by the Vekets, And placed under re-tiaint.

FLAGS OF TRUCE AT SEBASTOPOL. —General Pelisshr
has issued the following general order relatk;e to flags'
of truce :—" The Gentra'•in•Chief has decided that the
communicat►ons with the eneiry should hereafter take
place by sea, and that the fblg-, of truce should meet in
boats, off the harbour. Consequently, the general com-
manding the first corps expressly recommends to the
general, major, and superior officers in the trenches, not
to admit any Russtan flag of truce, either on the right
or centre of the attack of the fitsl corps, or near the
cemetery, where it, was hitherto usual to exchange
mes-
sages and communications. Every infraction of the pre-
sent order will be severely punished. (Signed) PE-
LISSIER, the General Commanding the First Corps.—
Before Sebastopol, April 20.".

A line of electric telegraph is about to he ePtablished
from Wenenborg, province of Scotia, in Sweden, to the
frontier of Norway. It is to run along the western coast
of Sweden.

A
#, -LI „I-, ,
-I- 1 17.4 V

PARIS, THURSDAY, MAY 10, i A.M.

The iVoniteur says that advice from the Cri-

men, dated the 9th of May, at 10 o'c!ock
announce the arrival there of General della Mar-
mora, with 4,000 men of the Piedmontese trcops.