The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-11 00:00:00

VIE SUN, LONDON, FRIDAY EVENING, SEPTEMBER 11, 1862.

past with the future, he must watch with interest
the vast moral, religious, and political changes
which have taken place in Scotland, as in England,
since the days of the Test Act and the Reform Bill.
There is room undoubtedly for some self-compla-
cency in the mind of any man who took part in
those great movements which have made us what
we are ; but we cannot help thinking that Earl
RUSSELL appropriates more than his due. I
have been happy," he says, in acknowledging
the compliments paid to his political career,
`vi
victory
have been happy h
to
ry of
tho
those eloquent
to contributean and
dis t
ihougmo
ibslhye
dt o
menthe
who were foremost in the cause of Catholic emanci-
ofoorrnthleawpse.oplleNtihthe greregaatrdbattotlethoef
napthacetairosuenisawlihnoorwwthhoiecnh I had a more immediate part in
Apreetpsa;rg—
iinnframthiengreappeai plan for
the Corporation and
forthereformofouri'est
muni-
cipal corporations—l have been studious to build
upon the ancient foundations, to adapt new mea-
sures to existing laws, and to put them in harmony
with the institutions of a country justly proud of
its liberty." Such a character might have been true
of Lord Joint RUSSELL ten or twelve years ago,
but it is not altogether recognisable in the Earl
RUSSELL of the present day. Religious toleration
is happily no longer a matter of discussion—but
what of political reform ? The adaptation of "new
measures to existing laws" is somewhat at a stand-
still. It is difficult to avoid remembering on such
an occasion that the present Liberal Administra-
tion has left this cardinal point of liberalism un-
touched; that at first loud professions filled the
place of practice, but after a time even these died
out and left an absolute blank. Even Earl
RUSSELL does not trouble himself any longer
with talking about his love of reform, and his
desire to see the great work happily accomplished.
He has now taken up another line, and plumes
himself upon the recollections of the past. The
popularity of Lord PALMERSTON may be, as his
noble colleague asserts, just and universal, but it
was certainly not enhanced by the circumstances
under which he came into office, The change of
administration by a dexterous political move was
made under false colours. The urgent need of a
Reform Bill, wholesale, comprehensive, and con-
clusive in all its clauses was professedly the great
question of the day. The Tory measure, which
though faulty and limited in its scope, was still
capably of adaptation to the national requirements,
was dismissed with sovereign contempt. How could
such fervent Reformers give a moment's tolera-
tiou to a partial and temporary measure. The
victory was won, the helm of State changed hands,
and all men watched to see the great results of the
Liberal accession to office. But, watch they might.
Session after Session has gone by, measure after
measure has been proposed, debated, or carried, but
the New Reform Bill remains among the things of
the future. It is not to be reckoned among the
achievements of that Cabinet of which Earl Rus-
SELL is so conspicuous a member. The " strict
ihipartiality " which Earl RUSSELL prides himself
on having observed, during the American struggle,
is also open to criticism. Whether the end of the
chapter will prove that England has acted a
part worthy of her, may reasonably be questioned ;
but at least it is unfair to talk of rigid impartiality
in a case where non-recognition of one of the com-
batants was virtually affording substantial assist-
ance to the other. It is fortunate that our Foreign
Secretary still plumes himself upon the re-
flection that " British law and British justice "
are safeguards and securities—a fact which British
merchants and shipowners had begun to doubt.
Whether they have afforded much protection to the
owners of the Peterhof-I and the cargo we may
leave those gentlemen to answer, but, with a
damaged trade and crippled commerce, having
offended both belligerents and left other neutrals to
step forward and take the lead Nhich our position
gave us, we need not boast too much about the
happy conjunction of "peace and honour." Earl
RUSSELL when he kept out of the range of politics
was happier in his address. His suggestion as to
the occasional employment of the new park as a
playground for the scLoals of the town, was accom-
panied by some just and sensible remarks on tine
importance of duly interspersing study with re-
crcation—a fact too often overlooked by the
instructors of youth. The bow never unbent is an
old comparison, but the lesson it teaches is not yet
fully learnt, and the startling assertion made by
the inspectors that the children who were at school
halt time learned as much as those at whole time, is
full of suggestions to the directors of academies and
institutions for the children of the wealthier
classes. It sounds well to give a list of the studies
pursued each day, to count long hours devoted to
close application ; but who knows how much is lost
under that apparent gain ? The importance of
such questions is becoming slowly recognised, but
it will be some time yet before it is fully appre-
ciated ; and " the youngest Burgess of Dundee"
did good service when be bespoke for the youthful
students of the city the use of the People's Park."
The Steam-Rams in the Mersey.

Some doubt has been cast upon the statement
which we made a few days ago with reference to
the steam-rams Et l'ilonastir and El Tousson, in
course of construction at Mr. Laird's yard. We
can only repeat our certainty of its accuracy. The
G„vernment have given notice to the builder that
the ships will not be allowed to leave the Mersey,
and if it is four d that their construction is con-
trary to the terms of the Foreign Enlistment Act,
they will be se.zed as violatir.g its provisions.-
21forning Post.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

THE BANK OF FRANCE.
PARIS, SEPT. 11.
The Moniteur of this morning contains the usual
monthly return of the Bank of France, which
shows the following results, as compared with the
August account :

Cash in hand

Bank-notes
Treasury balance

Francs.
• 13 millions.
▪ 61

million.

nishes them. According to Article Bof the present
project, there must in such a case be a majority
of two-thirds, that is to say, of 12 instead of 9 out
of 17 votes. It is, moreover, well-known at Vienna
that the idea of obtaining from the Confederation a
guarantee for the non-German province was never
thought of in the Austrian reform project. The
experience of the past proves that, in case of danger,
Austria must rely on herself rather than on the as-
sistance of the German States. if a last proof were
necessary that the Reform project brought forward at
Frankfort little favours the policy of international
centralisation, it would be found in the fact, that the
Hungarians, who are the adversaries of such cen-
tralisation, have applauded the project which, if
carried into execution, would necessitate changes i❑
the centralising constitution of the 26th Feb., and
favour the idea of the dualism which is the dream
of the Magyar party."