The Sun.
London, England, 1855-01-30 00:00:00

This was as unwise as it was truckling. Ha,d
the independent members stood boldly forward, a
we implored them to do—had they resolutely grap-
pled with the difficulty, England we :aid have been
spared the shame and loss, the streious damage, and in-
delibledisgrace that have occurred. " Peeliena''
would still have sutiived, and its professors might
have looked fcrward to holding important and in-
fine.a.asa offices at no very distant day. Now it is
completely extinguished. Lord ABERDEEN has
dragged many talented men—some of whom were
worthy of a better fate—into " the slough of
despond," in which he is involved, and from which
no influence behind the Throne can possibly extri-
cate him. He was, in fact, permitted to hold on tall
the popular indignation had reached an alarming
height, and Honourable Gentlemen found that
they could no longer face their constituents if they
submitted to the 'incubus, if they suffered them-
selves to be regarded as tainted with Germanism.
It was not the withdrawal of the Noble President
-of the Council that sealed the fate of the ricketty
concern. He had lingered with it too long. He
had done all that man could do to infuse greater
vigottr and vitality into the effete body. But
in vain. Lord ABERDEEN would yield nothing,
assent to nothing. He opposed a dull perversity
to every suggestion, and still supposed that
he could go on in the same jog-trot manner, re-
ceiving intelligence of the most deplorable calami-
ties with the same bland imperturbability, and
atone for the slaughter, or, still worse, the deaths
from sickness, want, and over-fatigue of our troops,
by assurances of his confidence in the pacific inten-
tions and wonderful moderation of his friend
NICHOLAS. Mr. ROEBUCK'S motion merely preci-
pitated the crisis which must speedily have oc-
curred. It was the touchstone that brought out
the sterling gold of Lord JOHN RUSSELL'S charac-
ter from the baser metal with which it was alloyed.
Never, perhaps, in a vote thatpracticallyresolved
itself into a question of confidence was there so de-
cisive, so overwhelming a majority. In a House
consisting of 453 Members, or rather, including
tellers, of 457, there was a majority of 157
against the Government. Only 148 gentlemen,
including place-holders and expectant!, could be
found to support a Ministry that once numbered
so many followers, and which was known to bask
in the sunshine of Court favour. The blow was
too tremendous to permit any hope to remain of a
reconstruction or modification of the Cabinet, of any
arrangement, in fact, that would-keep Lord ABER-
DEEN, or, we may add, the Peelite section, in
office. They have been weighed in the balance and
found wanting, and great indeed has been the fall.
We shall not follow the example of many of our
contemporaries by speculating as to the party
whom her MAJESTY may honour with her com-
mands to undertake the formation of a now Minis-
try. It is her constitutional prerogative to avail
herself of the assistance of any one of her subjects
whose powers may best enable him to undertake
the task of extricating his SOVEREIGN from the dif-
ficulty and embarrassment in which she is placed.
We only trust that there may be no undue inter-
ference from any quarter—interference ivhich may
revive the old struggles between Court and Coun-
try, and which would be better suited for the meri-
dian of some petty German despotism than of the
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland.

A great desideratum, long indicated in these
columns, is about to be supplied 1 Justice is at
length about to be done to the meritorious soldier.
A badge of honour is to be instituted, which shall
be open to all ranks in the Army, to which the
deserving private may aspire as well as the Gene-
ral or Field-officer, and which will not be despised
by the latter, however, profusely decorated or
covered with badges of distinction. Twenty years
since this course was earnestly advocated by the
hero of Meanee and Hyderabad—one who
understood the feelings of his men as well as
any commander that ever lived. Sir Cuwints
NA.PIER, clearly and unanswerably pointed out the
supericrity of a well-devised system of rewards to
the degrading and inhuman punishments so strenu-
ously insisted on by pipoclayed martinets—men
who never faced an adversary in the field, or smelt
gunpowder fired
in auger,, but who declaimed on
the necessity of "the cat,'' and the impossibility of
assenting to the abolition of corporal punish-
ment. It will easily be conceived that love
may be a much more powerful stimulant
than. fear. We see it in school-boys,
who. despising the chance of a flagellation,
will not vez a kind friend, or endanger an honour
which may reasonably be hoped fora The private
soldier is not that demoralised and brutalised being
that his detractors represent, nor would he remain
insensible to such influences. The heart long de-
pressed by the hopelessness of his position would
speedily throb with a desire to earn a decoration
that would be treasured by his children and
family as the memorial of his services and deserts.
It would be still more highly-prized if bestowed by
the unanimous approval of his fellowe,oldiers—of
his own peers, as we are gratified to perceive to be
the intention.

We believe it was Sir NEIL DOUGLAS, who,
when in command of the 79th Highlanders, insti-

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY.—CLOSING PRICES.
(Front the Oficial List.)
Brines, clone
itank Stock 2104 12
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 914
3 per Cont. Consols Annuities
New 3 per Cent. Annuities 912 if
Long Annuities, Expire 5th Jan., 180 4 5-16 I 7-16
India Bonds, £1000 14
Ditto, under £1000 11
Consols for Account, 8th February 912
Exchequer Bills, 24d.
21000 4 7
£500 ... 4 7
Small 47
Exchequer Bonds 1858, 34 per Cent. —
Ditto 1859, ,, 992

PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS THIS DAY.
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent 100
Cuba 7 per Ct. (Matanzas &Sabanilla Bonds) 93
Equador Bonds 4
'.:exican 3 per Cent. 21
Peruvian Bonds, 46 per Cent. 70i 1
rortnguese Bons, .5 per Cent., Con. 1811 —
Ditto 4 per Cent 41i
Russian Bonds, 4i per Cent 891
Bardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent.... 86
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent
Ditto New Deferred, 3 per Cent 174
Turkish Bonds, 6 per cent 764 i
Ditto for the Account 76i
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Dutch Exchange, 2. per Cent. 12 Gni1 62k
THREE O'CLOCE.

Consols 91*
Ditto, February Account

MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS THIS DAY.

The following is from a contemporary :—
A Cabinet Council was held at the Foreign-office this
day.

The Earl of Aberdeen left town, after the Cabinet
Council, for Windsor.

The Chancellor of the Exchequer, Sir W. Molesworth,
and Mr. S. Herbert, had interviews this morning with
the Earl of Aberdeen at Argyll House.
Mr. Sidney Herbert had an interview this morning
with the Duke of Newcastle, at the War-office, prior to
which the right hon. gentleman had a lengthened con-
sultation with Lord Palmerston, at his residence in Carl-
ton-gardens.

Trio Marquis of Lansdowne received Sir G. Grey at
his residence in Berkeley-square this morning, and had
a lengthened consultation with the right hon. gentleman.
Just before Sir G. Grey left, the Earl of Granville was
admitted to an' interview, and remained with the noble
marquis some time after Sir G. Grey's departure. It
was very generally anticipated through town that the
Marquis , of Lansdowne would be sent for by her
Majesty. _

I.ord. Palmerston received no political visitors this
morning, with the exception of Mr. Sidney Herbert, as
before stated. His lordship having read the papers
transmitted to him, proceeded about 12 o'clock to the
Horn -office, for the transaction of business.

Lord J. Russell had no political visitors this mcrning,
and did not leave his house.

Sir J. Graham is still confined to his bed through in-
disposition, and is consequently unable to take any
active part in the settlement of the present ministerial
difficulties.

It is expected that there will be a meeting of Conser-
vative peers this afternoon, at Lord Derby's residence in
St, James's-squaro.

THE TIIEATRES.

DRIJRY-LANE.—Last night Douglas Jerrold's two act
drama, The Wedding Gown, was played with much success
—the part of Beeswing being capitally represented by Mr.
A. Younge, a gentleman we have always great pleasure in
complimenting, as he is a sterling actor. Mr. Warlow,
a new candidate for public favour, made his bow to a
London audience in the part of Junket, and ho bids fair
to become a favourite. Miss Marriott and Miss Auden, as
Augusta and Margaret, each acquitted themselves excel-
lently. The glorious pantomime of Jack and Jill conti-
nues its triumphant career, which, by the by, is continually
frefur the first
sheenedbya timedit a prettyional scenes
and
puns. Last night we
badSpanish dance, neatly exe-
clited by Jenny Wren, a " doll" of four years old.
We have no doubt that the bars announcement of another
morning performance to-morrow will be hailed with plea-
sure by our juvenile friends, and that the lessee will be
honoured as usual with a crowded audience. The house
last night was fully and fashionably attended.
HANMARKET.—Last night Miss Cushman made her first
appearance this season at this theatre as Romeo. • Miss
Cushman's performance of this part is now so well known
and appreciated by the public, that we need only say she
acquitted herself with her usual ability and success. A
Miss Swanborough made her first appearance last
night as Juliet. In addition to being highly favoured
by nature she possesses great ability, and we beg to compli-
ment the talented lessee on this addition to his company.
The ot4,er parts in the tragedy were all well played. At
the fall of the curtain Miss Cushman andMiss Swan-
borough received the honour of a call. It is with unfeigned
pleasure that we see this theatre so fully attended, for no
lessee has done more to deserve the favour of the public
than Mr. Backstone.

•
The rates of exchange at the various continental cities
continue t') present an appearance of considerable firm_
trees.

Rear-Admiral Martin, Superintendent of Portsmouth
Dockyard, is publicly reported
fleet,la and Rear-Admiral
to be the intended Com-
man :kr-in- Chief of the Baltic
Michael 0.eymour second in coamd.
Tile dividend declared yesterday at the
Electric Telegraph Company, Mr. J. Lzeetiug of the
in the chair, was at the rate of 6 per cent,, andsear" M.P.
the re-
port -
port was received aq satisfactory.
Lord and Lady Poltir.noro have their arrived_a t
house,
in Grosvenor-square, from Devonshire.
Tlia _Noble Lord aairiberlain's liberal gift of 3,000
bottles of Scotch whisky and tiro tons of potted meats,
for the Highland brigade serving in the Crimea, the
79th and 921 Highlander=, have been just shipped for
Ba!aklava direct.
The Marquis of Camden has so far recovered from
his illness as to be able to leave his bed-room
The next public sales of colonial wool aro fixed to
commence on the 15th of February. The quantity ar-
rived. is about 29,000 bales, and any further supplies
will be added that may be received meanwhile.

The Wanderer of Vienna, of the 25th, says :—
" It is said that the two plenipotentiaries desig-
nated by France and England will soon arrive in
our capital and that the former will be represented
by ivi.Thouvenel, the latter by Sir H. Seymour. The
choice of these two personages will not only indicate
distrust towards Russia, but confidence towards
Austria. It only remains to the Western Powers
to specify precisely what they mean to demand."

A. letter from Berlin, in the Post Ampt Gazette,
says :—" The special mission with which General
de Wedell is charged by the King of Prussia to
Paris has for object to point out in a precise man-
nor, the public right of Prussia to take part in all
Conferences of the great powers as called for by
the place she occupies in the European concert."

The Franden Blatt says fireships are preparing in
Sebastopol, which are to be employed against the
blockading squadron. The submarine telegraph
from Balaklava to Varna is to be laid down in the
beginning of February.

The Spanish Government has received informa-
tion that the Infant Don Juan and General Cabrera
are at present in London, but preparing to pro-
ceed to Paris. It is known officially that Count
Montemolin has not quitted Naples.