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

(From. the Daily News of this day.)

The second night of the adjourned-
debate on the result of
the negotiations at Vienna was, if possible, more dull and
disappointing than the first. Mr. Cobden made merry, in his
somewhat peculiar style of mirth, with the alleged inconsist-
encies of his old f.iend and ally,, Sir William Molesworth.
The house laughed, and nobody was much the worse or the
wiser. Upon the whole, it would be wrong to say that the
speech of Mr. Cobden was not successful. It was obviously
intended for the opposition, whose attention throughout and
occasional applause it won. The design, hardly palpable at
the outset, grew clear as the advocate of peace at any price
developed his views ; and towards the close all disguise
was laid aside, and the Derbyites found themselves
zealously cheering the once hated and feared tribune
of democratic interests, now become an apologist for the
superior moderation of aristocratic opinion on the subject of
the war. To their Conservative sympathies and apprehen-
sions Mr. Cobden did not scruple to address more than one
appeal; and,his example was followed, later iu the 'evening,
by a more accomplished practitioner in the art of political
versatility.

We omit the numerous minor speeches which' occupied
some tedious hours in unimpressive and uninstructivc chop-
ping of well-worn phrases, and come at once to that of Sir
James Graham. Much, in a certain sense, was expected

.roan him on the occasion—perhaps most by those who knew
him least. His friends--or at least, those about him whom
his habitual oscillations and fluctuations keep in a perpetual
fret and fear—having heard him accept the taunting chal-
lenge of Lord Palmerston before the holidays, knew well that
long before the recess was over Sir James would be seized
with the shivering fit; and that nothing was so unlikely as
that he would resume the tone of denunciation and reproach
of his former, colleagues in which he had taken leave of them
ten day's before. The result in every respect verified such
anticipations. Nothing could be lower than the quicksilver
last night in this remarkable political barometer. The man-
ner and the matter of the lengthy statement of the right hon.
baronet were in perfect keeping—for under every change of
part and scene, Sir James never ceases to be an artful, and,
in many points, an admirable actor. But manner and matter
were both in the deprecatory style of the sick Cardinal. He
had a clean breast to make of it ; his past sins and short-
comings were all present before him ; interest in the future he
could have none ; but a solemn admonition it was his duty to
pronounce to the nation and the Legislature. Words to this
effect our readers will not find, indeed, in the sinuous windings
of his speech, which reads like something between an histori-
cal lecture and a court chaplain's sermon on the wickedness
of unwarrantable war. But all this and a good deal more
questionable is in substance to be found in the strange and
dismal harangue.
Both the advocates for the resumption of negotiations east
aside all reserve and delicacy regarding France. By both
Ministers were called on to break the seals of diplomatic con-
fidence, and to declare whether they had not over-ruled the
Cabinet of the Tuileries on the question of the limitation of
Russia's naval forces in the Black Sea; and Sir James did
not hesitate to endorse the rumour that the retirement of M.
Drouyn do l'Huys was attributable to no other cause.
At the conclusion of his harangue the member for Carlisle
addressed himself particularly to the philo-Austrian views
enunciated on the preceding night by Sir B. Lytton, in all of
which it is unnecessary to say that he cordially concurred.
The policy of the Court of Vienna ought, according to these
new confederates, to be the touchstone whereon the edge of
our national honour and courage should be set. The impro-
bability of our ever getting active aid from Germany is rather
noticed in a tone of triumph than of regret ; and the sagacity
and wisdom of thus forfeiting all the boasted pledges and
promises of the last twelve months is eulogised without reser-
vation. " The paramount policy of England and of Austria,"
said Sir James Graham, "is the same, and that policy is
Peace." Why was not this language held while the orator
was a member of the cabinet that began the war, and which,
up to the latest hour of :ts existence, assured the country
that Austria was committed to an alliance with France and
England against Russia, in the eventualities which have now
occurred I

(From the Times of this day. )
The formal dissolution of the Vienna Conference, which
took place on Monday afternoon, is the most definite com-
mentary we have received upon the situation of Europe and
the prospects of the war. It terminates that state of sus-
pense which was sometimes mistaken at home for a want of
resolution, and abroad for a want of resolution, and abroad
for a want of poWer. It consigns the protocols of the past
spring to that limbo in which the diplomatic relics of this
long controversy may be preserved. It teaches us to rely
o a our own resources for the success we hope to obtain, and
it brings to a decisive test the falterers and waverers in this
contest. We need hardly add that the people of this country
infinitely prefer a clear stage and a direct trial of strength to
the perplexity of negotiations, in which it was not unreason-
ably apprehended that we might be overreached by crafty
antagonists and uncertain allies ; and the best answer to those
who affect to regret that peace was not obtained on these re-
stricted and precarious terms is to be found in our present
military and naval position at the theatre of war. The first
year of these hostilities found the Russian Government in pos-
session of au enormous and highly efficient army •end of vast
warbke stores, accumulated with incessant labour and ex-
pense during a long peace. The first year of these hostilities
found the Allied Powers with their armies and fleets on a
ponce establishment, and with no extraordinary preparations
of any kind for carrying on war-at a great distau e from tla:r
own dominions. Every succeeding month of the war has
reduced the resources of the enemy and increased our own.
The army now in the Crimea, the squadrons hovering on
its coasts and penetrating to the recesses of the Sea of Azoff,
the fleet already in the Baltic, anchored within a few miles
of Cronstadt, are all far more powerful and inured to war
than the forces which began to operate by land and by sea
last year ; and, if the contest is unhappily prolonged, we
have no doubt that we shall a.•quire a far higher degree of
efficierey than we have yet attained.

The Russians appear disposed to acknowledge the fact that
the turn of affairs is not in their favour, and that they have
little to hope from active resistance, for since the allied forces
arrived at Kertch they have been everywhere precede 1 by the
self-imposed sacrifices of the enemy. The troops retired from
Kertch and Yenikale ; steamers and stores of war were set on
fire ; and, by the latest intelligence, Soudjak-Kaleh, on the
Circassian coast, has been evacuated, the works burnt, and
no'less than
.60 guns and 6 mortars spiked and abandoned.
Anapa now remains the only Russian fortress of any import-
ance on the shores of the Black Sea to the south of the Sea of
Azoff, and, if it be worth while to attack it, it must speedily
fall into the possession of the Allies. As far as Circassia is
concerned, we have no'reason to extend our operations to that
country. The natives of that mountainous regioji are eager
enough to assert and brave enough to defend its indepen-
dence ; but Russia has already lost there the fruits of twenty
years of warfare, all her fortified posts, and the principal
line of communication with her Transcaucasian provinces.
Hence the Russian' army in Georgia has been paralysed, and
no operations have been attempted against Kars, which Col.
Williams has now succeeded in putting into a respectable
state of defence.

Lord Raglan cannot be accused of having neglected or un-
derrated the importance of the expedition to the Sea of
Azoff. On the contrary, he had obtained information which
satisfied him that the Russian army in the Crimea, and even
the garrison of Sebastopol, were mainly victualled from the
eastern coast of the peninsula, and hence the extreme anxiety
with which, in conjunction with Sir E. Lyons, he urged on
the Kertch expedition. Indeed such was his earnest desire
to effect this object at all hazards, that when General Can-
robert ordered the French ships to return Lord Raglan autho-
rised Sir George Brown to proceed with the British squadron,
and to complete the enterprise, if he thought that the force
under his orders was sufficient for that purpose. It is clear,
however, that until a very recent period the Government at
home had very imperfect notions of the nature of this opera-
tion. On the 14th of May—barely three weeks ago—Sir
James Graham was examined before the Sebastopol Commit-
tee, and he stated at the close of his examination that, in his
belief, the principal supplies, if not of men, certainly of am-
munition and provisions, had entered the Crimea, not by Pere-
kop or by the other known road, but by the Sea of Azoff.
Upon this statement the Ex-First Lord of the Admiralty was
naturally asked whether any attempt had been made to
blockade the Sea of Azoff; to which he replied that it was
impossible to'carry on any naval operations there without pass-
ing the Strait of Kertch. He added, that " vessels of light
draught had been provided t ) pass it, but that there are
batteries which command the passage; and that the passage
is blocked up by sunken vessels, as it is at Sebastopol." It
certainly could not be foreseen that the Russians would
abandon so important a position without firing a shot, and
the commanders who planned the expedition were quite
right in making preparations sufficient to overcome
a much more powerful resistance ; but it is a remark-
able instance of the imperfect information possessed
veryra
nitvecde n te
c.mnp
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to
it
fora
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tbhya t 8 rh
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cations by the Sea of Azoff could not be intercepted. Had
the straits of Yenikalo been blockaded from the beginning,
the cruisers would probably have picked up some informa-
tion as to the real state of the defences of that passage ; and
a skilful reconnaissance of the eastern shores of the Crimea
during the course of last summer might have contributed
most important information to the undertaking. in which th
allied forces were then about to engage.

At the present moment, it is not clear from the telegraphic
intelligence which has been made public in which direction
Sir George Brown may have moved with his army. A
Turkish garrison was left at Yenikale to command the straits,
but as this point is far removed from any chance of attack
by land, it would have been useless to detain the main body
of the army there. The Russians withdrew from Kertch to a
village in the interior of the Kertch peninsula, about 10 miles
on the high road to Kaffa ; and, as Sir George Brown's corps
was sent out completely equipped for the field, inc uding
means of transport, it is probable that ho has either followed
the retreating division of the Russians, or advanced towards
Arabat on the land side, that being the nearest point to
Simpheropol at which stores have been landed. The country
is more favourable for military operations than the southern
or the western coasts of the Crimea, for it is neither so moun-
tainous as the one nor so dry and unproductive as the other.
Moreover, the close proximity to the sea on both sideg is an
immense additional facility to the movements of an army
acting in conjunction with a flotilla, With 20,000 men of
picked troops, Sir George Brown may be able to operate a
formidable diversion on that side on which the Russians have
hitherto been least exposed to .attack, and we are sanguine
enough to anticipate important advantages from the opera-
tions in which he is engaged.

Perseverance, transport, is still under the sheers, in Sheer-
ness basin, with the Margaret alongside, discharging 300 tons
of Welsh coal into her. Her crew have not yet arrived. Her
masts are newly-painted, and rigging, we may say, all ataunt.
Her two launches are alongside ready to be hoisted in. These
are
will be firstready for sea, when -rate boats and built diagonally. In a few days she
ooUthamPttni, report says she will be off to

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'4f
E AGE OP CHIVALRY IS GONE',

-a •
Last night it pleased Mr. Cobden to attempt the facetious-
tWoardniseedharbygethiedssarcasms
experience of Mr. Layard, he did not venture
Mae of calumniating womeangai. aTshtemsaenintelideNchicohsoelasthehszadafear
taste for flogging females, and his admirers amongst us imitate
him as far as the usages of Euglsh law will allow. Mr. Cob-
den supposed a case—only supposed it; how "possibly the
wife of some Cabinet Minister drew from her husband, and
divulged to the wife of the editor of some leading journal, the
fact that there were two parties in the Cabinet—a war and a
peace party—and that the peace party, who were the weaker,
required to be flogged into submission." If Mr. Cobden
meant this not very original parable to be understood as hav-
ing no foundation in fact, it was as pointless as irrelevant—a
mere repetition of vulgar, hackneyed sneers at all women, as
weak and meddling gossips. If he meant it to be understood
as having some foundation in fact, he insinuated what he did
not, and could not, know to be true—which, as we take it, is
next door to a man's asserting what he knows to be untrue.
This is nut the first offence of the kind of which these peace-
at any-price men have been guilty. Rather more than half a'
year ago they placarded the walls of our manufacturing towns
with an anonymous attack upon a distinguished authoress,
whose only offence was that she was suspected not to believe
in their dogmas. What have the wives of Ministers and edi-
I tors de re that they are to be offered up as victims to the un-
manly and vulgar ribaldry of Mr. Cobden and his associates i
I Are they to be placed beyond the pale of the protection of
I that chivalry which is conventionally assumed to regulate
the conduct of gentlemen towards females in this country I
1 The coarse, pot-houss jest of Mr. Cobden was received in the
House of Commons with approving laughter. Burke was not
far wrong when he said the ago of chivalry was gone. If
women can no longer rely upon their " natural protectors"
to shield them from vulgar impertinence, it were well if they
took their cause into their own hands, and goaded these
things of a third sex, destitute of the feelings of men, with
their crotchet needles—since they have no longer distaflig
wherewith to belabour the creatures.—Daily News.

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