The Sun.
London, England, 1855-11-26 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1855.

The Ministerial arrangements consequent upon
the appointment. of Lord CANNING to the Gover-
nor-Generalship of India, and the death of the
lamented Sir WILLIAM MOLESWORTH, have at
length been completed. The strength of the
PALMERSTON Government is now exactly known,
and therefore its prospects of resisting the com-
bined assaults of the members of the Peace-at-
any-Price Party, whether designated as Aber-
de en i t es, Cobdenites, or, mirabtie dicta, Con-
may be fairly estimated.
servati yes,

There are, altogether, two translations, one
promotion, and two new appointments. The
translations, of course, may be regarded as mere
matter of detail, not greatly enhancing the col-
lective strength of the Ministry. The Dake
of
AnoyLL, who had for some time enjoyed the
pleasing sinecure of the Privy Seal, is placed at
the head of the Post-office. We know not
what the Administrative Reformers may say
on the point, or whether they may consider
that the Noble Duke has had the requisite train-
ing to qualify him for the control of the postal
arrangements of this conanaercial country. For
our own parts, we confess that we should greatly
prefer having a tried and efficient public servant
like Mr. ROWLIND HILL at the head of the de-
partment, whether as Postmaster-General or
Secretary would be a matter of profound. indif-
ference, BRNO that it would be satisfactory to see
a highly-deserving official receive the rewards
which he had richly merited. He would, so far
as the great establishment at St. Martin's-le-
Grand, was concerned, be unquestionably " the
right man in the right l
P ace. But it seems to
be considered indispensable that the Postmaster-
General should have a Beat in either House of
Parliament, and that ho should have a voice in
other matters independent of postal arrangements,
and perhaps in some degree to make the latter
dovetail with political exigences. If thou Row.
LAND HILL be necessarily excluded by the absence
of these incidents, we believe that the Duke
of ARGYLL may be a very fair appoint-
He is an energetic and very intel-
ligent young nobleman, and
his we should hail
nomination with satisfaction if perfectly
acquainted with his views respecting the War.
Unfortnultely ho has no constituency to enlighten
us on this all-important point. " The Maccallum-
more" requires no election to qualify him for a
voice in the National Councils. We must, there-
fore, patiently bide our time until he may think
proper to explain himself
to. the Peers and the
country on the great question of the day.
The other translation, that of Lord HARROWBT,
is
of still less consequence. As Chancellor of the
Duchy he had but little to do. As Lord
Privy Seal there will be still fewer demands on
his time ; and, inasmuch as his vote in the

Cabinet will have exactly the same weight as
heretofore, the appointment cannot be regarded
as of much consequence in any way for or
against the Ministry.

Lord STANLEY of ALDERLEY has worked his
way forward in the ordinary course. As Presi-
dent of the Board of Trade he ought to have had
a seat in the Cabinet, and his present elevation
seems only the repairing of a former omission.
He was for some time Under Secretary for
Foreign Affairs, and it seems more than pro-
bable that Lords PALMERSTON and CLARENDON
must be perfectly satisfied respecting the
soundness of his opinions on the Eastern question
before they assented to his nomination to the
vacant position.
Mr. LABOUCHERE has always proved himself a
man of indefatigable industry and high adminis-
trative ability. He had long worked with the
Whig party, and it was considered strange that a
place had not been earlier found for a man of
very superior qualifications and strong claims.
We believe that he will make an excel-
lent Colonial Minister, for he has invari-
ably discharged the duties of every office
with which he has been entrusted with ability,
fidelity, and zeal. We are not, however, quite
satisfied on the War question. It has been
rumoured that he would be contented to let Russia
off too easily, by accepting a peace on insufficient
grounds. We trust, however, that the assertion
may be without adequate foundation. If satisfied
on this point we should be so on all others, and
well pleased with the promotion of Mr. LABOU-
CHERE to the important office of Principal Secre-
tary of State for the Colonial Department.
We can speak of Mr. BAINES' appointment to
the Duchy of Lancaster with unalloyed gratifica-
tion. He is indeed one of the people, who has
fairly won his way to the high position which
ho now occupies by straightforward industry and
ability. In every position which he has hitherto
occupied, in public as in private life, Mr. BAINES
has won goldenopinions from men of all classes and
stations in society. Whatever he attempted he
did well, evincing unequivocal proofs of unwavering
independexce, and a conscientious determination
to discharge his duty to the best of his ability and
judgment. We rejoice that he has at length a
seat in the Cabinet, which he had long since justly
earned, and where he will be enabled to give effect
to his clearly-expressed conviction, that "the War,
absolutely forced upon us by the aggressive policy
of Russia, must be prosecuted with decision and
energy until we can obtain—and for the purpose
of obtaining—that honourable and secure peace
which the country is on every account entitled to
expect."

If we at all comprehend the meaning of the
word national, it is strangely misemployed when
used in relation to the British Museum and the
public, as distinguished from the private picture
galleries, &c., of the metropolis. Instead of these
valuable institutions being accessible to all classes
for their common edification and instruction they
are practically closed to the industrious masses
who most need them, being in effect nothing more
than institutions for the benefit of such of the
upper and middle classes as may have leisure
and inclination to visit them. The working man
and the laborious assistant, or apprentice behind
the counter, what opportunity have they to con-
template the wonders of nature and treasures of
art abounding in these institutions, however
desirous they may be of doing so ? Expending
their energies from morning till night in their
several vocations they find all access barred to
them on their release from toil, and the majority
may go to their graves without knowing more re-
specting these schools of instruction than that
they exist, unless out of the few lucky holidays
that fall to their lot they sacrifice one at the cost
of natural feeling. Yet we prate about the neces-
sity for the elevation of the tastes of these classes,
and would be credited with an anxious desire for
their welfare. Can anything be more absurd ?
The injustice and inhumanity of suffering this
state of things to continue, are, however, quite
equal to the absurdity. Why should such gross
partiality be manifested ? Why should poverty
have added to its many pangs the most offensive
of all an apparent contempt for its redeeming good
—the possession of an active intelligence ? Why
should it have to mourn over the compelled sterility
of its noblest powers, while others, with no better
natural endowments, and inferior claims have such
splendid opportunities for self-cultivation held out
to them ? For the life of us we are unable to fur-
nish a valid reason. All that we can say is, be-
cause a number of church and chapel-goers suffer
themselves to be afflicted with Pharisaical scruples,
and choose to have respected the letter of the
abrogated Jewish law in relation to the Sabbath,
ignorant or indifferent whether they violate or not
its spirit and the merciful genius of Christianity.
Federated themselves in the pursuit of what they
deem right they must insist on violence being
done to the conscientious opinions of others, and
with abundant means of enjoyment and instruc-
tion themselves, must shut out some of the best from
their neighbours on the only day on which they
are available. Thus Sunday after Sunday, morn-
ing and evening, and often at mid-day also, they
are to be seen (after having indulged their incli-
nations during the week) repairing in all the dig-
nity of rich apparel and scrupulous selfishness to
their elegant and commodious places of worship,
leaving their less-favoured brethren behind them
to gather what consolation and instruction they
may—in the streets, their unventilated and over-
or the pot-house. "Go to
crowded dwellings,
chapel as we do or not, and we would rather you
did, though we haven't room for you; grumble or
not grumble ! instruct youiselves or not as you
please ; at all events you shall not •
improve your
understandings, as you call it, by visiting the
National Institutions. We have the power in
our own hands, and wo feel it to bo our duty to
Such, in effect, is their reply
prevent you". to
the entreaties of those on whom our common
Master would have showered His kindliest sympa_
thies. Monstrous enough, all this, to be sure,
but what unbiassed individual can deny its truth ?

The time has certainly arrived when all liberal-
minded men should sternly demand of these
Pharisees—" Who gave ye to be masters over
GOD'S heritage ?" Wken the most prompt and
determined steps should be taken to put down so
great an iniquity, and remove so formidable an ob-
eatlflrli
oetry ion to the spread of the Gospel no less than to
the
theirmareh of civilisation among us. It may be
well for them slavishly to follow the bent
sectarian prejudices, so far as themselves
are concerned, but it surely ought not to be tole-
rated that they
the shoulders should impose their yoke on
of others to whom it is gall and
oppression. When did the masses subscribe to
the ignorant interpretation of their divines? Why,
because they are virtuous of a Sunday, should the
intelligent masses be deprived of moral and intel-
lectual " cakes and ale " altogether ? There is
not a man among them able to satisfy a thinking
mind that any violation of the Divine law is in-
volved in the opening of these institutions ; and
if experience and observation are to go for ally-
thing, to predicate truly aught but good from
their being visited by the nausea on their only

day of recreation. If it were insisted that they
should be open during morning service there
might be reasonable ground for objection ; but
since that is by no means wanted the course is
clear, and nothing but activity and perseverance
is needed to put the industrious classes into pos-
session of their much-prized right. A great
National Sunday League is being established with
that object, and we earnestly trust that its pro-
moters will be supported, not only in the attempt
to have thrown open the above institutions, but
also similar ones throughout the country, includ-
ing in the category, and very fairly too, the Crys-
tal Palace. In a word, the Sunday Question will
before long become the great social question of
the day, and we are of opinion cannot be decided
too speedily, and that on its only legitimate
grounds, for the immediate interests and the
future welfare of the country.

General Canrobert's Mission to Sweden.

The Paris correspondent of the Times (second
edition), in his letter dated yesterday, says :

With reference to the mission of General Canrobert
to Sweden, I mentioned in my letter of Thursday
that it was affirmed that the General had realised all
the hopes excited by that mission ; that, according to
some persons, the result had even surpassed all pre-
vious expectations ; and I repeated the statements cur-
rent among political persons as to the particular advan-
tages which were to follow from it. I learn that the
nature of that mission, as conveyed in these state-
ments, is contradicted by one of your contempo-
raries, with the additional declaration that the ob-
ject of the mission was merely the presentation
to King Oscar of the Grand Cross of the Legion
of Honour, and " the cultivation of those good
relations which subsist between the two nations."
I now affirm, andon authority which, if I were free to
name, few would hesitate to accept as one of the best,
if not the best, that the General's mission was not solely
the presentation of theriband and the star of the Legion of
Honour; that it was with a view to an arrangement with
the King of Sweden; that he has succeeded to the complete
satisfaction of his own Government, and has concluded
" a most satisfactory arrangement with reference to the
eventualities of the war." I confine myself for the pre-
sent to this declaration emanating from an authentic
source, and it is probable the moment has not yet ar-
rived, for reasons that will be easily understood, for
the official announcement of the advantages to be de-
rived to France and England from the satisfactory ar-
rangement in question.
I repeat that of the main fact of the complete success of
Gen. Canrobert there is no doubt whatever. That " com-
plete success" can hardly refer to an attempt to force
his Swedish Majesty to accept the Cross of the Legicn
of Honour, or to conquering any repugnance of his
own to admit .the Scandinavian order of chivalry.
The Paris correspondents of the Independance Beige and
the Emancipation also re-affirm their previous state-
ments on this point. The former says,—
"I may add to what I stated in my letter of yesterday
respecting the mission of General Canrobert to Stock-
holm that the General did not quit that capital before
the signature was affixed. The documents which have
been thus signed in the names of France and Sweden
me not yet positively known, but it is believed that they
will soon he so. Be this as it may, the incontestible
fact of the signatures given proves the mission
of General Canrobert, far from having disappointed the
hopes which were attached to it, has had complete
success. I repeat that it was not possible that the ex-
traordinary embassy of the illustrious General, con-
ducted with so much solemnity, could have any objeA
but a serious and important one. You may therefore be
certain that the hopes which had been founded on that
mission could hardly be exaggerated, and there is every
reason to be greatly satisfied at seeing them so completely
realised."

The Paris letter of the Emancipation, says—
"As to the Scandinavian Powers, their co-operation
is a fact placed beyond a doubt, and which cannot but
be of immense importance, when we consider that
Sweden alone can put on foot an army of 60,000 good
soldierF, and furnish 200 gun-boats."

I have to add that it is probable the particulars
of the satisfactory arrangement with Sweden will
be made known before long.

HIS ROYAL HIGHNESS THE DUKE OF CAMBRIDGE.—
It was generally reported at the military clubs on Satur-
day evening that his Royal Highness the Duke of Cam-
bridge is likely very shortly to succeed Field-Marshal
Viscount Hardinge as General Commanding-in-Chief at
the Hone Guards. His Royal Highness was engaged
for some hours on Saturday at the Horse Guards ' • and
übsequently had a long interview with Viscount Pal-
merston at the noble Premier's residence in Piccadilly ;
and also with the Earl of Clarendon, at his lordship's
house in Grosvenor-crescent. In the evening the Royal
duke left St. James's Palace for Windsor Castle on a
visit to her Majesty.
THE GOVERNOR-GENEDAL OF INDlA.—Viscount Can-
ning, the newly-appointed Governor-General of India,
will leave London to-day for Paris en route to Marseilles,
accompanied by Lady Canning. His Excellency and suite
will embark on board her Majesty's ship Caradoc, at Mar-
seilles, on the Ist prox., for Alexandria, and, it is ex-
pected, will relieve the Marquis of Dalhousie as Gover-
no --General early in January.
GENERAL SIAIPSON.—GeneraI Simpson arrived at
Marseilles in the Telegraph on Saturday night, and left
immediately for Paris and London.

Several changes have taken place in the composition
of the Cabinet. The Duke of Argyll, as has been al-
ready stated, has succeeded Lord Canning as Postmas-
ter-General ; and Lord Harrowby, vacating the Vice-
Chancellor6hip of the Duke of Argyll's sinecure place as
Lord Privy Seal. Mr. Baines, who retired from the
Presidency of the Poor-Law Board at the end of the labt
session, becomes Chancellor of the Duchy, with a seat
in the Cabinet; and Lord Stanley of Alderley, the Presi-
dent of the Board of Trade, has also been appointed• Da
member of the Cabinet.

The Duke and Duchess of Bedford have a distin-
guished party assembled at Woburn Abbey. The Right
Hon. Sir Charles and Lady Mary Wood joined the
circle on Saturday last.
The Duke and Duchess of Northumberland have ar-
rived at Aluwick Castle from Stanwick Park, his Grace's
seat in Yorkshire. The noble duke and duchess will
shortly receive a succession of guests at the castle.
The Marquis and Marchioness of Salisbury are re-
ceiving a distinguished circle at Hatfield House. The
Ye.omanry Cava!ry races took place last week in Hat-
field Palk ; the Earl of Verulam, and many of the nobi-
lity and gentry of the county were present.
The Marquis of Bristol has arrived at St. James's-
square from Ickworth Park, near Bury St. Edmund's,
and will shortly repair to Brighton for the winter.
The Earl of Cardigan returned to town on Saturday.
from visiting the Earl and Countess of Hardwicke, at
Wimpole Hall, Cambridgeshire.
Lord Adolphus Fitzclarence and Lord Frederick Gor-
don Hallyburton have returned to town from visiting
Viscount Enfield at Wrotham Park.
Lord Raglan has left town on a tour of visits.
The Right Hon. W. E. Gladstone, M.P., arrived in
town on Saturday last from Hawarden Castle, the seat
of Sir Stephen Glynne, in Flintshire.
The remains of the late lamented General Sir John
Brown. K.C.H., who expired on the 16th inst., at No.
113, Pall-Mall, were on Saturday last removed to Beck-
enham, Kent, for interment.

The remains of the late General Markham were re-
moved, late on Saturday evening, from Conduit-street,
where the gallant officer breathed his last, to the station
of the Great Northern Railway, at King's-cross, whence
they were despatched to York. General Markham was
not the son, bat the grandson, of the late Archbishop
(Llarkham) of York, formerly well known as preceptor
to George I.

We are glad to learn that Viscount Balgonie, whose
severe illness last week caused the postponement of a
grand entertainment proposed to have been given to ce-
lebrate the gallant officer's return from the Crimea, is
now progressing favourably towards recovery, at Mel-
ville House, N.B.
Lieut.-General Wyndham, M.P., has left Cockermouth
Castle, where he has been entertaining a numerous party
of friends, for his seat at Westward.

Colonel Howard Vyse has joined the distinguished
company at present on a visit with the Duke of Norfolk,
at Arundel Castle. Lord Foley hunts with Col. Vyse,
and his grace's preserves are placed at the mercy of the
rest of the gentlemen visitors, and they bag a consider-
able number daily.
We understand that Lieut.-Colonel C. J. Lewes, of
the 3d Bengal European Regiment, and Lieut. J. H. A.
Campbell, of the Bombay Invalid Establishment, are
about to retire from the company's service.—Overland
[fail.

It is said that Colonel Sibthorp, M.P., is in a dan-
gerous condition. It was rumoured in Lincoln
o n Wed-
nesday that the hon. gentleman was dead ; but, in reply
to a telegraphic message,
ment was sent.
THE NEW POLISH CORPS.—it is rumoured that the
a contradiction of the state-
heal-quarters of the corps to be formed of the Poles in
England and elsewhere, are to be at Chatham.
Mr. Frederick Peel, -Under Secretary of the War
Department, has resigned, and we understand that it is
not the intention of the Government to appoint a suc-
ce:=sor.— United Service Gazette.
APPROACHING MARRIAGE or SIR ROBERT PEEL.—
We understand that the preliminaries cf a matrimonial
alliance have been arranged between Sir Robert Peel,
m.p,, one of the Lords of the Admiralty, and the Hon.
Miss Hay, youngest daughter of the Marquis of Tweed-
dale, and sister of the Duchess of Wellington and the
late Marchioness of Dalhousie,

THE BURDON POISONING CASE.—We are informed
that Mr. Stephen Temple, Q.C., is retained on the part
of the prosecution against Mr. Joseph Snaith Wooler
on the charge of poisoning his wife. Serjeant Wilkins
and Mr. Overend, Q.C., are retained for the defence.--
Newcastle Guardian.
MEETING OF PARLIAMENT,--We have reason to be-
lieve that her Majesty will summon Parliament to meet
for the despatch of business on the 18th of January next.
—Press.
TRIRCJTE TO SIR COLIN CAMPBELL.--GLASGOW, Nov.
23.—A meeting of influential persons was held in Glas-
gow this afternoon, Sheriff Sir Archibald Aliso❑ in the
chair, for the purpose of making arrangements to pay a
tribute of respect to Major-General Sir Colin Campbell,
who is a native of the cloy.