The Sun.
London, England, 1855-02-15 00:00:00

ASTLEY'S ROYAL AMPIIITIMATRE.

Lessee and Manager, Mr. Win. Cooke.
THIS EVENING,
101st Representation of the BATTLE of the ALMA, an announce-
Meet which casts into the shade every notice of any contemporaneous
production.
After which, the cia3sie SCENES in the ARENA, invented and
itheeted by .tr. William Cooke.
L z
oer etude with the Grand Equestrian Comic Pantomime of GUL
and the LILLIPUTIANS ; or, Harlequin and Britannia.
itox-oftl es open from Eleven till Four. Stage Manager, Mr. W.
Acting manger,
nlr W, H. Cooke, Equestrian Director
31r. W. Cooke, Jun. *

•

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Mein WATYS AT W14D014 131.1D0E1.
Two DAT —Morning 19 -.131r-aftet I`2 Kvening 53 raia•sfi, 12
To-Mosio-ri—Morninz 19 min.aftor 1' Evening 47 min.sft. 1

WEATUEII.—Sum Orstro, Feb. 15.

TAMEZICMETZII, ICI THE SZADE.
36 - highest since noon yesterday.
'29 --lowest this morning and daring the night.
• 34 —this day, at noon.
13ABO3fETKR, 29'85.
WIND, N.E.—Rather fresh breeze, with fine sunshiny
weather.

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LONDON, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 1855.

By no means the least important of the many
important topics to which Lord JOHN RUSSELL
must direct his attention as British Plenipoten-
tiary will be the position assumed by Prussia,
and the demands which FREDERICK WILLIAM
has thought proper to put forward. We have
seen quite sufficient of the truckling and time-
serving policy of that nation, arrogating to itself
the title of one of the "Great Powers," to under-
stand the objects by which it is actuated—the
strings by which the puppet is put in motion.
The " Angel of Peace" has a maudlin tender-
ness for the husband of his dear sister. He
cannot make up his mind to any decisive course
that may possibly humiliate the pride or dimi-
nish the power of so close a connexion of one who
has enjoyed, and still possesses, extraordinary in-
fluence in his councils.

He will not act against the CZAR—he dare not
act against the Western Powers. He desires to
snub Austria, to lessen its influence in the Ger-
manic Confederation, and, grotesquely caricaturing
the " leviathan" to reap profit for himself out of
the general disturbance.l

The course by which he seeks to attain the
point to which he aspires is no less devious than
his views are unjustifiable. He seeks to maintain
perfect neutrality where neutrality is all but im-
possible, and where, were it practicable, it must
reduce the neutral to a state of complete insignifi-
cance. It would, in fact, be an unqualified abdi-
cation of the claim to a leading, or even an influ-
ential, position among the Powers of Europe.
Such distinction cannot be achieved or retained
without exertion and danger. Those who have
borne the brunt of the encounter—who have sus-
tained the onslaught of a powerful foe, and spared
neither blood nor treasure during the contest, will
not sanction the presence of an interloper, merely
seeking for plunder after the triumph has been
accomplished. The " Bat," in the old fable,
was alike shunned by birds and beasts, because it
endeavoured to secure immunity for itself, and to
await a decisive victory, before it compromised
itself by serving under either standard. The
natural consequence followed. It obtained the
contempt of both sides, and the victors exhibited
more consideration for a bold, although a fallen,
foe than for the despicable neutral, who refused
to take any side until the result was no longer
doubtful.
But "Clicquot " is not willing to observe
a fair and honest neutrality. He wants to
carry on a sort of JONATHAN-WILD traffic,
reaping profit from both sides, and filling
his own purse at the expense of the more
generous combatants. Should he do anything to
abridge tie War, he would cut off a fertile source
of great aggrandisement. He would no longer
be the indispensable agent between Russian pro-
ducers and British consumers, or vice versa. If
peace were restored, the occupltion of Prus-
sian factors would be gone. There would
no longer be handsome -commissions , for
neutral merchants, or duties for Prussian 81Litbea-*
houses, on goods that would than be transmitted
directly between the two countries. It is "an ill
wind that blows nobody good," and Prussia may
up to this time hug herself on her practical ex-
emption from all the evils and large participation
in the advantages of the War. FREDERICK WIL-
LIAM may justly appropriate to himself the exela-
-1 mation of the sordid gold-seeker of Horace,—
" Populus me sibilat, at mihi plaudo
.Ipse domi, simui ac nummos contemplor in arcs."

He may be vituperated by all who choose a nobler
part, who look to honour rather than emolument ;
but he will indulge in earnest self-gratulation
when he ponders on his overflowing coffers, and
ascertains the s. d. results of his self-abasement
and humiliation.
But even his neutrality—his profitable and
despicable neutrality—might be overlooked, but
there is unfortunately something behind the
scene that cannot be disregarded. Have those
professions of neutrality been honestly and fairly
carried out ? Has he indeed endeavoured to hold
aloof from both parties Has he been contented to
act the part of the pedlar contented with his gains,
and not forgetting his character, tohelp either of the
parties ? We fear not !--that the garb of neu-
trality cannot be maintained, but that it will turn
out, if a thorough investgation should take place,
that he has been abusing his opportunities, and
been the decided partisan, if not the spy, of
Russia.

These three points are of vast importance, but
there is another that must not be lost sight of.
They refer to the past. The future pretensions of
Prussia must be guarded against. She seeks to
be a judge in a cause in which she has already
given palpable proofs of bias and partiality.
She wishes to occupy the judgment-seat where
her prejudices are notorious, and her only desk
will be to confuse, not to aid, those on whom she
seeks to force her unsought-for counsel. The
decision on this very important question will be
one requiring the utmost energy and re-
solution. We have already pointed out
how largely the future reputation and
position of Lord JOHN RUSSELL must depend on
his conduct during the present crisis. He may
altogether retrieve his character, or sacrifice it
of redemption. If he de-
beyond the possibility
sire to resume his place in the esteem and affec-
tions of his countrymen he must exonerate him-
self from the taint of " Germanism," and prove
himself to be a really English Minister. The
attitude assumed towards Prussia will be one
of the earliest and most decisive tests of his in-
dependence, ability, and integrity.

Are the Peelites or the House of Commons to
be masters ? In other words, is the grand inquest
to_
will
proceeded with or not ? A very short time
win. decide that question, but years will not wipe
unparalleled it
a double off the ignominy .
Parliament
aLiaucY: which must attach to the present
now hesitate in its course.
By an
majority. it has ,affirmed the
necessity of
condition of our army
; fiest, " into the
thane departments
toAminister
secondly, " into the conduct of Sebastopol ;"
of the Government whose duty t.bt.
to the wants of the army.',
Cabinet chose to regard] the proposed. inquiry
a vote of no-confidence. It was so thus far, ythuat
it implied a very strong conviction that things in
the Crimea were in a " horrible and heartrend.
ins" condition, and that the causes must
to know
either
be unknown to Ministers who ought
them, or if known that they had not capacity