The Sun.
London, England, 1864-10-20 00:00:00

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LONDON, THURSDAY, OCT. 20, 1864.

Lord STANLEY'S speeches are always worth per-
u>ing, and he generally contrives to state some fact
that is connected with public questions that imparts
a significance to them, while he is never led away
by the excitement or enthusiasm of his subject to
indulge in that exaggeration to which many
speakers are prone, and which often detracts
seriously from the effat of their oration. The noble
lord had not a very promising array of eircum-
btances to set before his hearers, nor a very
fl wrishing condition of the political world to des-
cant upon, but he went straight to his work, and
succeeded in presenting them with a candid view
of his own opinions, and also with some very
striking criticisms upon the most notable public
events of the day. Three years have passed since
Lord STANLEY last addressed the e'ectors of Lynn,
BO that he had ample scope for his observations to
range over, and plenty of subject matter to occupy
his attention. He said that there had been no
particular eagerneva wiri •
ng that time regarding
any home sTlestian, and that there was great be-
wilderment in the minds of many regarding the
state
of things. This
quiescence as to agitation
the noble lord had very vijaely attributed to two
success that has attended
curses in particular—the
practical ab?olutism in France, and
the crisis that
has taken place in the great Republic of America.
There is no doubt that both these c-
ircumstances
and especially the latter one, have
Operated
powerfully in quelling the excitement which
was pretty generally felt a few dears
back regarding Reform in Parliament and

some other analogous measures. Mr. BRIGHT
made a great handle of the glorious Republic
beyond the great Atlantic, and some were credulous
enough to listen to his excited harangues and go
away convinced of their feasibility to a greater or
less degree. Experience has shown that this mighty
fabric of freedom did not rest upon a solid basis,
and that the essence of liberty was wanting—the
spirit of toleration. Lord STANLEY laid great stress
upon the fact that continued interference with the
existing elements of a State was not wise—just as
a man should not always be watching his health
if he wished to preserve it. With regard to foreign
matters the noble lord remarked that almost " per-
fect unanimity" prevailed respecting the question
raised in the July debate, namely, whether the
Government had not mismanaged the affairs of
Denmark ? From thence he deduces that a new
era will begin in our diplomatic arrangements. If
it prove so, and the absurd system of interfering
with the affairs of other nations, adopting at the
same time the language of menace, it will ba a good
thing gained, and a great advantage will have
accrued from one of the most unsatisfying debates
that ever took place in Parliament. The noble
lord counsels strict neutrality and non-intervention
with foreign States. In this he goes rather too
much to the extreme ; but his plan would be a
far more dignified and consistent one than
the course pursued by our present Cabinet. He
stated very accurately that it seemed impossible for
the North, with consistency, to insist upon the
subjugation of another community utterly dis•
affected to its own rule. As to Italy, the noble
lord thinks that the moderation of the people will
meet with its reward in the improved state of their

affairs which is likely to ensue from the pending

arrangements. The scheme of the German Conk-
deration has broken down, and the noble lord
augurs from that, that we shall, ere long, see
" great changes" in that quarter. The smaller
States will, therefore, be doubtless amalgamated,
and Lord STANLEY trusts that this country will
not interfere to prevent their being practically
annexed to Austria and Prussia. According
to present appearances there does not seem
much chance of anything being done to thwart
the views or interfere with the schemes of Prussia,
which would be very different if that kingdom
was threatened with a dismemberment similar to
that of Denmark, or if a small portion of territory
were proposed to be taken from her instead of added
to her possessions. This game may be carried too
far, but just now the Cabinet of Berlin seem to have
obtained carte" blanche so far as our action is con-
cerned. Lord STANLEY remarked that the Eaet did
not particularly press in importance just now. He
thinks that the Turks have had their day, and that
day is over, and he truly declared that by persist-
ing in upholding that decaying rule we are
doing ourselves injury, and offending other
nations which are just rising into power.
When he came to financial questions the noble lord
was able to speak in an encouraging tone, since, as
as he said, we are more in the position of a Go•
vernment living within their income. The admirers
of Mr. GLADSTONE will not be pleased at the
remark of Lord STANLEY as to the practice of over-
rating legislation upon this point, and underrating
the
.natural progress of this country. There is,
however, much truth in this passage—" Thirty
millions of the most hard-working people in the
world, and in a country• where the leading idea
of ninety -nine men out of a hundred is to in-
crease their fortune and improve their posi-
tion, enjoying the advantage of a general
peace in Europe, and with colonies in-
creasing and Extending every year, such a
population can hardly help growing richer under
any system of finance that is not absolutely bad."
The noble lord considers that Canada is our vul-
nerable point, and wisely counsels that we should
call upon the Canadians to adopt more active meat
sures towards their own defence, and make our
assistance to them condi:ional upon that being
performed. The noble lord spoke strongly on the
subject of the tax on fire insurances, saying, with
his usual judgment, that it was a tax upon pru-
dence. With regard to the extension of the fran

chile, Lord STANLEY was not over sanguine just at
present. He clearly pointed out the difficulties
that were in the way, and the many powerful
prejudices that had to be combated. He
said that "it is not now the upper, it is the middle

class, the owners of the greater part of the property
of the country, and by far the most powerful class
in it, that exercises political supremacy at the pre.

sent day." This is very true, and effectively explains
the complicated nature of the opposition which
would meet any very sweeping change that might

ba preferred by ardent and zealous reformers and
political agitators who rush to extremes. Lord
STANLEY concluded by saying, that the greatest

moderation now prevailed among the generality o:

politicians, and if there was an extreme " Tory

party" he nad never seen it. He declared, however,
his conviction that " whoever administers

affairs it is opinion that governs, opinion is
the stream, and politicians, with all respect to them,

are the straws which float upon it." These are

siriking sentiments from one in the noble lord's
position, and it is a sure test of the advance of real

reform in every class, and the spread of enlighten.

ment in all directions, that the son of one of our

noblest houses should stand up before his consti-
tuents and declare that public opinion is the guide
of the State. It is the truth, however, although it
may not suit one extreme of opinionists more than

another, and will displease those who think there is

nothing in heaven and earth than is met with in

heir philosophy.

The intelligence which we receive from India
shows that Sir JOHN LAWRENCE is steadily engaged
in prosecuting those reforms of the internal govern-
ment which are so necessary for the advancement of
the country. He has been lately occupied with the
difficult and delicate task of the extension of the
permanent settlement to thelsrortheWest Provinces
Sir JOHN LAWRENCE is happily well acquainted
with the character and habits of the people in those
parts, and is consequently well fitted to deal with
the matter. He has introduced several clauses into
his minute, with especial reference to those land-
owners whose estates are in an unfavourable condi-
tion, and to those who from other reasons may pre-
fer a thirty years' settlement to a permanent one.
In reference to this class the minute says, that
"although the proprietors have no legal title to de-
mand a thirty years' settlement, yet the course of
administration has led the people to expect it," and
therefore his Excellency would not make the per-
manent settlement compulsory. Every regard has
been had to the equitable adjustment of the assess-
ment, the difference in the races who hold the land
being taken into consideration, as well as the
quality of the land itself. Where estates are being
steadily improved the Government is willing to
allow the proprietors a permanent assessment at a
very small addition to the rates, while again the
landowner of a less flourishing district may agree to
the assessment with the condition that the rate shall
rise progressively for fifteen years. Every csiT
has thus been taken to deal fairly and equitably
with the people, and to give every possible en-
couragement to the cultivation and improvement of
the lend. The proprietor is Cowed to chooAe bo-
a

tween an• immediate assessment at the maximum
rate, when, whatever the increased value of his land,
he will never have to increase his payments; or a
progressive increase for 15 years; or, again, a settle-
ment on the ordinary principles for 30 years. No
one, therefore, can complain of hardship; and it
shows the prudence and moderation of Sir JOHN
LAWRENCE'S proceedings to make the charge
optional. There are always opponents to every
new scheme, however beneficial, and it is therefore
wise not to provoke hostility. So long as the pros
prietors are free to exercise their own choice, the
most inveterate grumblers can hardly complain,
while the great body of the planters and land-
owners, both European and Indian, will un-
doubtedly appreciate the advantages thus put
within their reach. Another measure of consider-
able importance has been introduced by Mr. MAINE
for the improvement of the legal administration of
the country. The abolition of the grand juries in
the Presidency towns will have many advantages.
The chief of which will be the much greater facili-
ties which will be given for the prosecution of
European offenders. By the law hitherto ex-
isting no European could be prosecuted else.
where than in the Presidency towns, and
the consequence, very naturally, was that a great
many offenders escaped unpunished, since the ex-
pense, inconvenience, and loss of time entailed by
a journey of several hundred miles in a country
like India was sufficient to deter prosecution.
This state of things was a virtual encouragement
to crime; and it is no great wonder that a good
many complaints should have been addressed to
the Government on the subject. It is therefore
proposed that the Judges of the High Court
should go on circuit in the English fashion, and
that the chief Europeans in the Mofussil district
should be raised to the bench—a change which
will, if fairly carried out, fully meet the neces-
sities of the case. These movements indicate the
progress of reform, and show that the government
of the country is being put on a better and
securer footing. However rapid may be the ex-
tension of trade, and the development of the in.
ternal resources of the country, however great
may be the external improvements, the prosperity
of India, if it is to retain a sound basis, must
rest upon the just administration of equitable
laws. The legislation for the different races may
be a task of delicacy and caution, bat if under.
taken in the right spirit, it is by no means im•
possible to meet the requirements of this complex
society. We trust, however, that the Home Go-
vernment will not, by unnecessary interference,
encumber the path of those who, by experience
and observation, are the best qualified to judge
of the wants of the people.

Lcndoners can scarcely help watching with
interest the progress of the great undertaking which
is to give a new face to old Father 1 hames, and its
satisfactory inauguration has given general plea-
sure. The first contract has been successfully
completed, and yesterday another step was made.
A good many members of the Board of Works, and
other gentlemen immediately interested in the
matter, assembled on the Thames Bank, at the bot•
tom of Arundel-street, for the purpose of seeing
Mr. BAZALGETTE, the chief engineer, lay the first
stone of the second division of the work. The
second contract extends from the eastern aide
of Waterloo-bridge to the lower end of
the Temple-gardens, a length of 1,970 feet.
In its centre will stand the Temple
Steamboat-pier, which is to be 470 feet long, and to
consist of granite:. masonry of a superior character.
Mr, RITSON, the contractor for this put of the work,
has already had to encounter some difficulties. He
could not obtain any ground on which to perform
his preliminary work, so that he was compelled to
form land on the foreshore for his workshops,
storehouses, &c. This was an unnecessary appen.
dage to an undertaking already of sufficient mag-
nitude, especially when we consider the character
of the stores which he had to deposit on his artifi-
cialland. However, perseverance wins the day in
most cases, and happily the Thames Embankment
has proved no exception to the rule, Mr. RITSON
constructs a rampart of chalk and. stone to
prevent his softer stones from being washed away,
and then bringing the changea in the East to help
the changes in the West, he obtained a sufficient
quantity of brick rubbish and clay from the build-
ings and excavations in the city to give a firm
footing. It has been decided on several grounds to
employ the coffer dam in this division instead of
the iron caissons. Hitherto, in spite of obstacles,
the work has proceeded vigorously, and there is
every reason to hope that it will be brought to a
successful termination. When this desirable ulti.
matnm is reached it will give great advantages to
the metropolis, adding a stimulus to its trade,
though that is hardly necessary, and facilitating its
enormous and increasing trt.Ble. We wish the
contractors and engineers success in their arduous
undertaking, and hope the stone will be laid with
as much satisfaction as the first.