The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-10 00:00:00

FE SUN. LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, FEBRUARY 10, 18M.

cited, has not been overlooked by those whose
opinions are of consequence to society, and whose
decisions rule the laws of the land. Sir J. PARING
TON expressed his approval of the measure, and at
the same time very properly denounced the course
adopted in regard to TOWNLEY, who "had been
saved only by a juggle and a trick." This is very
true, and it is satisfactory to think that such strong
language has been used in regard to that ingenious
arrangement on the part of the prisoner's friends,
which has now resulted in so lamentable a failure,
and made matters ten times worse in so far as re-
gards the scandal of the affair. It is to be hoped
that the details of this celebrated case may not pass
away with the summary fashion, or partake nf the
evanescent nature which too often distinguishes
these affairs. If it lives long in the memory of all
who are nearly or remotely connected with crimi-
nals, so much the better, It is always a very de-
plorable occurrence when the general sentiment
of the country is against the execution of
any sentence ordained by the authorities, and this
affair of ToWNLEY'S was most unquestionably un-
popular. Mr. BRIGHT'S remarks did not tend to
throw much light on the subject, far the hon.
member is opposed to capital punishments alto-
gether, and so was hardly a fair judge of the-case.
Few will follow him when he goes so far as to say
that capital punishment is in opposition to the best
and noblest feelings of the people. It may be a
stern necessity which enforces it ; it may be a sad
state of things which calls for its infliction, but
there can be no help for it, and it is only increasing
the sin and misery which abound in the world to
attempt its extinction. Also, it is exaggerating the
case to state that the duty of the Home Secretary
is too responsible for any one to undertake willingly.
The same' may be said of any important transac-
tions of State in which Ministers are engaged, and
the question naturally arises, if every one shirks
the responsibility and puts off the burden what is to
become of society, and how are its interests to be
forwarded? Sir G. GREY is certainly not deserving
of the blame which some imputed to him for not
carrying out the sentence upon ToWNLET. After
what had occurred this would have been a course
alike repugnant to the feelings and subversive of
the principles of justice. Whatever mistakes may
have occurred in the carrying out of the affair as
yet it would not mend matters, but make bad
worse, to act harshly and inconsistently. On the
whole, then, it appears that Sir G. GREY has ex-
tricated himself from a very painful affair and a
very complicated case with as good a grace as
possible, and whatever errors he committed
in his previous arrangements and decisions,
in these latter proposals he has acquitted
himself very creditably. It is satisfactory to reflect
that the laws of the country have been put in a fair
way of adjustment, and that we are not likely to
undergo the mortification of again feeling that jus-
tiee has been perverted from its course, and that a
false system of mercy has prevailed, to the detri-
ment of the best interests of the community, and
he scandal of all right.judving persons.

A proof of the interest taken in the new railway
projects, and of the general sense of their import-
ance, has been already given. The Session has
numbered but a very few nights, and already, amid
the host of topics pressing forward for inquiry, ex-

. _
planation, and debate, the railway system of the
metropolis is upon the tapes. The motion of

Mr. MILNER GIBSON, suggested that the various

proposals should be referred to a joint committee of I
Lords and Commons, " to consider the best method
of dealing with the railway schemes proposed to be
sanctioned within the limits of the metropolis by
11 bills to be introduced in the present session, and to
report their opinion, whether any, and, if any, what

schemes should not be proceeded with during the
present session." This committee is to consist of
ten members, the five already spoken of being
nominated by Mr. GIBSON himself, and the remain-
ing five to be selected from the Lords. The right

hon. gentleman, in introducing his motion, re-
marked upon the magnitude of the interests con-
cerned as an apology for the somewhat unusual
course it was proposed to take on this matter.
There is a very wide-spread feeling that the metro-

politan railways are being carried too far—a feeling
which was very decidedly shown in the course of
Monday evening's discussion—bat the statistics
given by the President of the Board of Trade are
sufficient to startle the most apathetic. These en-

terprising and ambitious schemers have, it seems,
scheduling out one fourth of the whole area of
the city proper for railway purposes. A moderate
appropriation, truly ! The good citizens of London

town ought, we suppose, to be thankful that the
remaining, three-quarters are left unmolested. But
they had better not make too sure of even such

immunity. Other sessions are in prospect, with,
doubtless, other bills to come, which will make

fresh demands and strive for still more comprehen-
sive powers. Of course, such vast innovations in
the wealthiest city of the world could not be carried
on without commensurate expense, and accordingly
the estimated cost of the metropolitan schemes of

the present session amount to the trifling sum of
£34,000,000 or £35,000,000—it is well to allow a
small margin in such matters. But it is worth
while to know what city men themselves think of
these changes, and whether they sufficiently value
the great blessing thus brought to their doors. If
we are to take Mr. CRAWFORD as the ex-
ponent of their views, they are by no means
enraptured with the prospect before them. That
gentleman said that he was himself one of the
700,000 persons who daily went to and from the
city, and that he bad never, within the last few
months, been more than temporarily inconveni-
enced by the pressure of the traffic. This is

rather too favourable a view of the matter, we
apprehend, but there is a good deal of force in
Mr. CRAWFORD'S representation that when the
schemes now actually in progress were completed,
and the stations in Cannon-street, Moorgate-street,
and Liverpool-street were finished there would be
three termini from which persons could reach the
Bank in five minutes. As we all know, the vicinity
of the Bank is the great focus of attraction. In
addition to the stations mentioned as in course of
construction there are our three old friends, the
Fenchurch-street, Shoreditch, and London-bridge
stations, as well as three others now being erected
by that London, Chatham, and Dover line, whose
übiquitous influence, according to our friend
Punch, is to extend from the Great Wall of China
to Windsor Castle. Mr. CRAW FORD very perti-
nently observed that the object professedly sought
by all these schemes was to get into the city to
get business done, bat if the city was turned into
one vast terminus it is not easy to see how its busi-
ness capacities would be improved. It is certainly
well that some chock should be put upon this ex-
cessive innovation, since great sacrifice of property
and personal inconvenience are inevitably entailed
by it. Mr. MILNER GIBSON'S scheme of a joint com-
mittee was not very favourably received, although
eventually agreed to. Lord STANLEY, who was
himself proposed as one of the members of the com-
mittee, in a speech characterised by his usual good
sense end practical experience, pointed out some of
the inconveniences attending such a course. It was,
he said, a very unusual plan and was ,entirely dif-
ferent from the one proposed last year, which Dug-

bested that an arrangement should be made between
the two Houses, so that, if a bill passed through a
committee of the one House, it should not be sub-
mitted to a similar ordeal in the other, except in
special cases. Lord STANLEY also said, with great
force, that, considering the exceptional case of the
metropolitan railways, it would have been better to
have departed from the general principle of leaving
the initiative of such schemes to private enterprise.
" I think," said the noble lord, " it would have been
better if somebody, wlese opinion would have been
listened to with resp?et, had, after carefully ex-
amining the whole question, laid down a plan, put-
ting aside the arrangements of railway companies.
The Government miet then have brought forward
that plan as their own, to be afterwards carried out
on guarantee." plan, with some modifications,
would
c
us a complete and comprehensive scheme, without
ertel Tahvies
the risk of two or three lines competing with each
other close at hand, while other places are left un-
heeded because there is uo opposition. The opinion
of the House seemed to incline in favour of this view,
the more so as it woulZ, of course, be open to Parlia-
ment to criticise and improve upon. Considering
how much the public interests are concerned in this
undertaking, and how comprehensible and durable
is the nature of the work, it is really high time that
some means of harmonising the whole metropolitan
railway system should be devised, and the result
be brought somewhat into accordance with the
national feeling.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

LREUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

THE WAR IN SCHLESWIG.
ADDRESS OF THE RIGSBAG TO THE

ARMY.

COPENHAGEN, FEB. 9, 8.56 a.m.
The enemy's outposts are at Ringeneks, and their
main body north of Flensburg.
The war material left behind at Graasten has
been removed in safety to Sonderburg in the island
of Alsen.

The Rigsdag passed an address to-day to the
army, announcing the energetic prosecution of the
war. The address was proposed by the President
of the Council.

BERLIN, FEB. 10.

The Spenersche Zeitung of to-day, says :—" On
the morning after the engagement at Oversee, the
corps of General von Gablenz and the Prussian
division commanded by General von Mulbe, entered
Flensburg. They found the town already occupied
by the eavalry of Prince Frederick Charles, which
had mArched from Arnis to Flensburg in one day.
General von Gablenz and Mulbe, having allowed
their troops a day's rest, which they urgently re-
quired, advanced towards the intrenchments at
D appel."