The Sun.
London, England, 1855-04-03 00:00:00

MR. ALLCROFTS CONeffla.

_atathbiasnqsueaestonosf
ecousnetoenart,
Mr. Allcroft gave a concert, or, as he called it, cca,
grand musical festival," at the Lyceum Theatre. It
Last night, according to his
was, as usual, a "monster"
vocal—and instrumental music, more 0 abundant than
recherche. The programme contained some sixty pieces;
the performers were the '
and among most eminent names
now in London, with a host of others, some of whom
we never heard of before. The pieces were in general
of a popular and familiar kind, capable of being per-
formed without any trouble
calcu-
lated to please a of preparation, and
miscellaneouscalm-
audience. The f great a.
vourite, as usual on such occasions, was Mr. Sims
Reeves, whose
pretty :Jane " _ballads, "The Pilgrim of Love," "My
en-
thusiasm. 1_ &c., were received with obstreperous Next to
him, Madame Anna Thillon bad the
warmest receptionparticularly'
ballad, so long a
standingreception,dish
in her "pussy-cat "
at Jullien's concerts.
Madame Clara
Novello, among other things, sang a new
MS. song, " The Viva • ''
ndiere by Mr. Frank Mori, a
very pretty thing, which she gave with great spirit
and effect. Miss Rebecca Isaacs—always a favourite—
sang several ballads delightfully • but "Let the bright
Seraphim" is out of her way. Anew duet, "Come, let
us away," by Mr. Edward Loder, an elegant composi-
tion, was gracefully sung by the Misses Brougham, two
very agreeable and rising young singers. Ilerr Formes
sang the air, "Pour fair son souvenir," from the Etoile
du Nord, in a manner which showed that he will give
it great effect when he comes to sing it on the boards of
the Royal Italian Opera ; but, like all the music of this
opera, it is essentially dramatic, and not fitted for a con-
cert. A number of instrumental solos were performed
by Ernst, Richardson, Lazarus, Mdlle. Louise Chris-
tine, Case, Distin, and others, all of a showy and popu-
lar character. It is almost unnecessary to add—for it
is always the case at these concerts of Mr. Alleroft's—
that every part of the theatre was crowded ; and very
deservedly, for there are no concerts at which so great
a variety of good music can be heard on such easy
terms.

THE WEATHER.—Sun Orms, April. 3.
TcIXEMOMETEE, IN TB SFADE.
45 - highest since noon yesterday.
37—lowest this morning and during the night.
50—this day, at Door.
BAROMETER, 29• CO—fallen half an inch since yesterday.
WIND, S.E.—Light breeze, with showery weather.

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•?4
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1

1111,

LONDON, TUESDAY, APRIL 3, 1855.

~---

Lord Joint RUSSELL has not hitherto been
very fortunate in his diplomatic efforts. Grave
suspicions are already entertailed that he has not
displayed the inflexible resolution which the im-
portant duties confided to his charge so impera-
tively demand. It is true that he uttered "prave
orts" at home on many occasions, that he spoke
of an honourable peace as the only one that could
possibly prove a permanent one, and excited san-
guine hopes that in his hands "the interests and
reputation of Great Britain would be vigilantly
guarded against every danger. But at this very
time the "doings" of Lord ABERDEEN were alto-
gether in opposition to his "sayings," and it is
now clearly established that when his language
was boldest and most uncompromising, the Mi-
nistry, of which be was a very influential and
important member, the leader, indeed, in the
representative branch of the Legislature, had no
real expectation of being compelled to take an
active part in the War ; or, in fact, to do more
than make an armed demonstration in favour of
our deeply aggrieved Ally.
While considering this deficiency of his practices
when compared with his professions, it has not
been forgotten that he exhibited on a memorable
occasion a truckling to " Germanism

an

amount of subservience calculated to excite serious
apprehensions of another grievous mistake now
that power is again placed in his hands. That
subservience then led to the sacrifice of his most
influential colleague. It was evidenced by the
announcement of Lord PALMERSTON'S dismissal at
Vienna before it was known in England, and was
clearly made in deference to thg wishes of foreign
potentates, who should have had no voice in the
affairs of the United Kingdom. The intrigue
was unquestionably powerfully avenged—it led to
the overthrow of the RUSSELL Cabinet, the con-
fusion of the party of which he was the recognised
leader, and the eventual substitution of the noble-
man so summarily dismissed as Premier in the
place of him by whom he was so unceremoniously
discarded. It is impossible, however, to place
implicit reliance on the man whose backsliding
was then so painfully notorious, or to feel satisfied
that similar influences to those in operation,; in
December, 1851, may not now prove effectual.

ilk)! Miters combio to canoe the pre

doubts en';ertained as to the resolution of Lord ,
JOHN RUSSELL. We shalt not now further allude
g
to the rumours respecting his yielding athe Con-
ferences, although to that yielding the hasty
journey of the French Minister to London, and
his rapid departure for Vienna, has generally been
attributed. Nor shall we again speak of the very
unfortunate and ill-timed promenade on the
°built at Vienna arm-in-arm with the Russian
Plenipotentiary. We may look further back, and
inquire how it was that NICHOLAS felt so perfectly
easy on the subject of the course to be adopted
by the German, cowers respecting the division of
the " sick man's" assets. We have incontrover-
tible evidence in his conversations with Sir
HAMILTON SEY.x°l3u that he felt perfectly satisfied
that from Austria, Prussia, or the
minor states of
Germany, he had nothing to fear, and surely
up to this period nothing has occurred to show
that this sanguine reliance on German assistance
was not fully warranted.

It is unnecessary to speak of prussia. Her
wishes are now so notorious, her proceedings
so
palpable, that no argument is required to
prove
her confederacy with the Colossus of the North.
But could Austria afford stronger testimony of her
pro-Russian tendencies in any way short of
throwing off the mask and openly coalescing with
Russia ? What has she done to induce us to sup-
pose that she is really with us ? As we have re-
cently pointed out, she has not permitted a single
sword to be drawn, or a shot to be fired in anger,
by any of her !Soldiers ; while by her interference
in the Principalities she enabled the whole
of the Bessarabtau• army to be transferred

to the Crimea, in order, as it was fondly
anticipated, to bring the siege of Sebastopol to a
summary conclusion, by a vigorous and decisive
blow. And she now again interferes to insure
the retention by Russia of Sebastopol, without
any diminution of its strength, so that it may re-
main a standing menace to Constantinople, to
Isia, and to Europe.

We have seen the result. Nor is it difficult to
trace out the causes by which such striking effects
have been produced. The rivalry of Austria and
Prussia for predominance in the German Confede-
ration is well known. Anything that could
strengthen the influence of either party would be
anxiously sought after. Now NICHOLAS could
command the votes of many minor poten-
tates. Not only were there the numerous
matrimonial alliances by which he added family
ties to his territorial power—not only were there
the lucrative commands which he bestowed on
junior branches of these reigning houses—who
were apparently as anxious to provide for their
poor relations as our own aristocracy—but he
could hold out hopes of enabling them to exchange
their ducal for regal crowns—of erecting their
petty principalities into independent kingdoms.
Such inducements were not to be slighted, and by
means thereof the CZAR could play oft Austria
against Prussia, and vice versa—at one time
throwing his weight into one balance, and again
into the other. When, for example, he could
tray.sform a Grand Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha
into a King of Thuringia, he might have hoped
to neutralise the opposition of the friends and
connexions of that important house, and amongst
them one closely connected by marriage with the
Emperor of AUSTRIA.
The fact that King LEOPOLD has remained
neutral, while Sardinia has boldly assumed arms,
is very significant. Not only is King LEoroua
the uncle of our most gracious QUEEN and the
PRINCE CONSORT, but he is actually the pensioner
,f England, drawing a considerable sum annually
Cr,an the national Exchequer. The heir apparent
is his Crown is married to an Austrian Grand
Duchess, and therefore, if Austria were in earnest,
he would have taken some step in advance. His
• xtraordinary quiescence, under the peculiar cir-
cumstances, proves that there is something in the
back ground that should be brought to light,
and which requires unflinching resolution on the
part of the English representative at Vienna. We
cannot conclude this part of the subject without
alluding to the fact referred to in our im-
pression of yesterday—that Prince RaDzivir,, now
a Russian General in the Crimea, was only last
summer allowed to inspect our defences, and pry
into our military arrangements. He was enabled
to act this disgraceful part through a Ministerial
introduction, and we earnestly hope that the
causes which led to that introduction may be
strictly investigated. It is no time for needless
delicacy ; nor can the British Parliament be again
iatisfied with vague generalities or pompous plati-
tudes about the courtesy due to distinguished
foreigners, who turn out to be paid spies in the
service of our enemy, and whose conduct would
richly merit. an ignominious termination in front
of the Old Bailey.

Looking to all matters we can only regret that
Parliament has adjourned for so long a period, so
that immediate explanations cannot be obtained.
We must, however, warn all parties not to rely
too much on the patience of the British people.
Any betrayal of the national interests, any sacri•
flee of the national honour, will be fearfully
avenged on any to whom complicity may be traced,
no matter what their rank or position in the
United Kingdom.

It must not be imagined by those whose atten-
tion in regard to public affairs during the past
twelve months may have been chiefly absorbed in
the consideration of the important events trans-
piring in the East, that, elsewhere, the world has
beer in a state of Arcadian tranquillity. There
has been bloodshed during this momentous inter-
val, we would venture to remind thorn, in other
quarters of the earth besides those comprised
within the boundaries of Crim Tartary. There
have been other cities beleagured besides Sebas-
topol. There have been other projects abroad of
daring and lawless spoliation, besides those in-
dulged in by the late Autocrat of all the Russias
in reference to Constantinople. It would perhaps
be as well, now and then, to lay aside for a few
minutes those charts of the Black Sea and the
Baltic, those maps of the Crimea and the Dobrud-
scha, those plans of the Allied Camps off Kamiesh
and Balaklava, with every minute detail of which
we have long since become so strangely familiarised
—and to observe what has been going on mean-
while, almost wholly unnoticed by the generality
of those at home, in other parts both of the
Eastern and Western hemisphere. The European
War still in progress is, of course, among all these
contemporaneous occurrences the one of para-
mount import, and cannot fail still to engross the
principal share of the national regard and obser-
vation. Nevertheless, NI e cannot but deem
it advisable, even in the midst of this
eventful struggle, occasionally to direct the
notice of the more reflective to other incidents
jr which appear to us fraught with interest some-
times, it may be, to our fellow-creatures in gene-
ral—sometimes, indeed, to our fellow-countryrnen
in particular : incidents pregnant with good or
evil to the universal cause of progressive civilisa-
tion.

The English politician must, as a matter of
course, continue to devour the latest intelligence
from the / pill 1 kai
, more eagerly
--Whatever ,aily appetite—than the fresh
eggs and the hot rolls served up betimes with the
damp copy of his morning newspaper. He must
continue, doubtless equally as a matter of course,
to satisfy his social cravings for the news of the
day after dinner with no less zest than that al-
ready betrayed by him during breakfast : consum-
ing to this end, with what Mr. TEACKERA.Y calls
the " domestic muffin," whatever seasonable frag-
ments of information may be laid upon the tea-
board in the Columns of his evening journal—
fragments no less important, just now, than the
diurnal revelations of horror, made by witness
after witness of indisputable credibility, before Mr.
ROEBUCK'S Committee of Inquiry into the state
of the British Army before Sebastopol. Between
whiles, moreover, during his mid-day ramble
through the streets of London, the more
enthusiastic observer of passing occurrences
may persist in turning at pleasure into the pie..

turc-room in Waterloo-place, or into the model-
room in Leicester-square, just to freshen up his
rernombra,nce, possibly, of incidents and localities
already rendered famous in this great contest with
Russia by the heroic valour, or the no less heroic
pwaitiaietnchea,so,fd luiiringsoompatriots. This is precisely
sftate of many months past, been the
things day after day, with the heads of
'iiCs in
eimosnaotrince7tehdyain one household in the metro-
' PZ:I
etitonawohfil
eli,oltnee a lvifeerywghriecaht will
x-
tent, even beyond the limits of London and West-
minster. It is
awhichs we would by no means
interrupt, expreFsivelve believe it to be of a
generous patriotism—of OD,e vr-ocinetive
of
an ac-

tive and practical good-fellowship. To the in-
fluence of feelings like these, which we believe to
be thereby indicated, are beyond all question
attributable the noble and affecting munificence
spontaneously displayed by all ranks and classes
of the community, in the transmission of ail to
the afflicted three thousand miles away from home.
Through the Sick and Wounded Fund, for example,
despatched to Scutari and there distributed with
such 'humane discretion by the Times' almoner as
the nut unworthy custodian of those fruits of the
popular generosity. Or, again, through that
more imposing, though not in any respect more
beneficent, fund, called, for the sake of distinction,
the National or Patriotic Fund, the grand total
of which has already exceeded the enormous sum
of 1,000,000/. sterling. An interest and a muni-
ficence such as those which we have hero particu-
larised—an untiring interest in, and.an inexhaus-
tible munificence towards, those of our fellow-
countrymen whose individual fortunes are in any
way involved in the larger fortunes of the War be-
tween the Allied Armies and the Armies of the
Russian Autocrat—we ourselves have been among
the fint to appreciate. It is for others to say
whether or not, indeed, we have afforded both of
these evidences of patriotism something more than
idle appreciation : whether, in fact, we have
not, to the uttermost of our abilities and
to the fullest of our energies, striven to keep
alive that interest, to multiply and extend
those tokens of munificence. Enough for us
now, if we presume in this particular to
maintain a l'outrance that our meaning cannot be
in any way mistaken—that our motives cannot
be serieugy impugned when we express our
anxiety to direct the observation of our reader at
intervals from an exclusive attention to the events
transpiring in the East, when we remind him that
There are other seats of war than the Crimea, and
other beleaguered cities besides Sebastopol.

E is from our conviction of the enormous im-
portance of several of the nearly entirely overlooked
occurrences to which we are here making reference
—occurrences immediately contemporaneous with
the war waged by England, and France, and Turkey
against the liussi in autocracy—that we propose
to specify one by one more in detail some of the
more remarkable among those incidents in the
onward march of civilisation. It will be suffi-
cient for our purpose if, at the present moment,
we make only cursory mention of events such as
the probable revival of the Kafir war—as the
casual evidence of disaffection among our colonists
in Australia--as the increase of squalor and
wretchedness in America, consequent upon the
" Irish Exodus," in a wild search after food and
employment—zs the brigand-like conspiracy for
the seizure of Cuba, adventured upon by certain
diplomatists, representing the policy and morality
of Transatlantic Republicanism : stich events, in
fine, as the continued spread of the Chinese
Revolution—in other words, the continued diffu-
sion among the most populous people upon the
surface of the earth of a mongrel civilisation and
a spurious Christianity.