The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-26 00:00:00

ing her engagement, or that there is still some
motion of patching up a peace—a dishonourable and
transitory peace—with Russia. Either branch of
the alternative requires the instant attention of
both Houses of Parliament. The country suf-
fered enough last year from their indifference. It
will no longer consent to leave matters in the
hands of Ministers. After the specimen we have
just had of the pcoceedings at the Conference, it
must be completely disgusted with secret diplo-
macy, and determined that henceforward there
must be a moreevigorous and decided action on
the part of the Government, or a complete and
radical change both of men and measures.

" While Rome was burning, NERO fiddled.'
I The Representatives of the British people seem to
consider such apathy not merely justifiable, but
even laudable. Never was there a greater neces-
sity for energy and zeal on the part of the Mem-
bers of either House of Parliament. Never has
there been a more flagrant squandering of the
Ipublic time, or a more profound indifference to
, the exigencies of the country. Exclusive of the
winter session, chiefly consumed in passing an
Act that has been suffered to remain a dead letter,
three months have elapsed since the meeting of
Parliament, and yet nothing, literally nothing,
in the way of legislation, has been accomplished.
There has, on one pretext or another, been a suc-
cession of holidays. Much time was con-
sumed respecting Ministerial arrangements, and
when they were completed, ten days more were
lost in waiting for the re-election of the Premier
and the then Home Secretary ; for although the
Cabinet could get on very well during the absence
of the Colonial Minister at Vienna they could
not venture to meet Parliament until the election
of Mr. SIDNEY HERBERT had been secured. It
was well known that the Right Hon. Gentleman
had no contest to dread, that he would have a
mere " walk over" the course. He was in daily
attendance at Downing-street, to afford his advice
to his colleagues on any doubtful points. But a
week was thrown away in order that he might
take his seat, and his first speech was an ex-
planation of his complicity with GLADSTONE and
GRAHAM in the attempt to upset the Ministerial
Colch. Then came the prolonged vacation at
i Easter, followed by the week of comparative idle-
s, ness, for which the Imperial Visit was a fair
apology.
Be, surely, after all these excuses had been
tendered and accepted, it was time that a little
I diligence should at length be displayed. And
yet we find Tuesday rendered memorable by a
1 " count-out," and that, too, when questions of
1 vital consequence to the national welfare were
I about to be brought forward. We shall not at
present speak of the Bill, by Mr. LOCKE KING, for
better settling the estates of intestates, or that of
Mr. Mums, to enable infants, with the approba-
tion of the Court of Chancery, to make binding
settlements of their real and personal estates on
marriage—altbough both are subjects of consi-
derable importance, which must receive conside-
ration, and were vested in competent hands, who
would be able to bring forward the cases in an
attractive form. But there were two other topics
of paramount interest, under the existing circum-
stances of the country, which nevertheless failed to
keep a House—the public service yielding to the
enjoyments of the table. Captain Scorienn had given
notice that he would move for a Select Committee
" to inquire into the government of the navy, relat-
ing to the lists of officers, patronage, promotion,
and the efficiency of the service is all the grades
belonging to it ; to report and recommend such
changes and modifications, if any, as the Committee
may deem wise, salutary, and just." Sir ERSKINZ
I PERRY was also to call for the appointment of a
)
Select Committee "to consider and inquire how the
Army of India may be made most available for the
War in Europe, and to inquire into the steps ne-
cessary to be taken, if it should be deemed expe-
dient, to constitute the army of the East India
Company a Royal army."
To these matters the public attention has been
especially directed. The just and reasonable com-
plaints respecting the system of promotion in the
army have been met, or rather attempted to be
met, by assertions that it is no worse than that in
operation in the other branch of the service. It
is, of course, desirable that the public should
know if there is any weight to be at-
tached to the "tu-quoque" argument, which some
favoured Guardsmen are so fond of bringing for-
ward ; and, if so, what are the causes of such
flagrant abuses ? Under such circumstances a
gallant officer of great experience, and a general
favourite on on all sides of the House, undertakes the
subject. The public anxiously await the revela-
tions that may reasonably be anticipated, and con-
fidently rely on obtaining considerable information,
if no other benefit. Sed dis aliter vision. The
whipper-in reverses his operations. He whips out
the patient waiters on PROVIDENCE, and they
readily hasten to their soup and fish, leaving
Captain SCOBELL and his motion to be disposed of
by a count-out.

The state of the Indian army was a topic of
equal interest. The country saw with disgust the
mode in which the services of Brigadier MA.YNE
were lost to the nation. A remedy was
anxiously sought for. Sir ERSKINE PERRY,
whose protracted residence in India rendered him
thoroughly competent to the task—undertook
the duty—and his reward was a " count-out."
What will the several constituencies think of
this ? Will they consider the men who lent
themselves to such a trick again worthy of their
confidence? These matters will be remembered
on the hustings, where retributive justice awaits
those who now smile at the transaction as an un-
commonly good joke, but who, at the next gene-
ral election, will, probably, to plagiarise a vulgar,
but significant, expression, " laugh at the wrong
side of their mouths."

NEw PHILHARMONIC SociETT.a—The third concert
was given last night in aid of the Hospital of Consump-
tion at Brompton. The hall was crowded ; there was a
splendid programme, and on the whole a fine perform-
ance.

ROYAL POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTION.—Yesterday, by
the well-timed invitation of Mr. Pepper, the resident
director, the boys of the Royal Military Asylum at
Chelsea visited this institution, and cheerfully returned
the compliment which had been paid to them by perform-
ing a variety of martial airs, much to the delight of the
general company.
ROYAL GALLERY OF ILLUSTRATION.—During the
past week the Diorama of the " Events of the War" has
been visited by the following distinguished personages .
—The Duke of Leeds and party, the Marchioness of
Londonderry and party, the Earl of Lanesborough, the
Countess of Norbury and party, the Countess of Glen-
gall and party, the Countess of Sinnoull and party, Eirl
Home, the Countess of Listowell and party, his High-
ness the Nawaub of Surat and suite, Earl Jermyn and
party, his Excellency the Prussian Ambassador and
family, Madame Musurus and party, the Countess
of Cardigan and party, the Earl of Wicklow, Lord
Douglas and party, the Lord Viscount Chelsea
Party, Lady Hatherton and party, Lady Walls-
court and
Frances
of party, Lady Garvagh and party, Lord
art and party, Lady Duncan and party, Lady
LesleyyStewA.lderley, Lady Frances Higginson and party,
Baccii, ar_tnn and party, General and Lady Charlotte
party, Lad:9:4 G.oldsmid and party, Lady Grant and
• Colonels Browniow k 'arnagY, Perry,
panty;aAnndue r
et e i
n Ften'heYrau
it::::sai 1.12 D party, al lyc,y the
Evans,H o Hon.
Taylor,M rs. Liddell
Lovell,
n warden, Forbes' Cust, I combs (and party), Zan" (and Party)
1 Smyth, Fawcett, T and Torrens •
Richmopd,
.Dun:
' I Ilarneit, Lasyrell, iiijei and llalf Forbes,
Daubigny,
I and Mrs. Ford aid party,; the
1 •Dr. Blickland„ and pailTy)rowl antißirl
° Majors Irving,
Emerson, Mr.
__:v. tr. y ; the Rev.
1 Mrs. Law and part , mil- Ailiid.
Caulficild, ibiriy vanarMrs.Aclair imul „..rt and party,
i _.. i Gym r Y i Messrs.
...,,