The Sun.
London, England, 1855-07-09 00:00:00

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_ --,
9th July, 1855.

P1(1)1-11'11
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6 ti4g,

LONDON, MONDAY, JULY 9, la _n.6_

The extraordinary "confessions" of Lord JOHN
EussELL on Friday evening have alike astonished
and disgusted the nation. Notwithstanding
TALLEYRAND'S apophthegm, that "language Was
given for the purpose of concealing men's
thoughts," it was scarcely thought possible that a
Minister occupying so important a position in the
Cabinet could so completely disguise his senti-
deceive • Parliament and the
ments, so thoroughly
p cople, by inducing them to suppose that he was
one of the most unflinching advocates of the
War, and determined that it should be waged
l'outrance, until a just and permanent and
honourable peace was conquered from Russia,
while he was at the same time striving, with all
his Power, to induce his colleagues to accept
terms, that, even on his own showing, could
not be deemed satisfactory in any respect, the
lessons •
recerve'l by the Noble Lord during his
brief sojourn in the diplomatic school have not
produced results calculated to increase the respect
or confidence of the
to themselves the title
sitnatesthmoesne. arrogating
Nor, al-
though the ex-Plenipotentiary has merited the
heaviest censure, can these
who tolerated it
serious division in the Cabinet
on such a question
as that of peace or war, er the
terms on which
alone we could consent to the terminal:
tilitie3, be exempted from reproach. hos-
NvZ:f
pelled, at last reluctantly, to believetohpaletettohm-
are not really en accord with the oy
pe
that they have only refused their assent to and
propositions so strongly advocated by their col-
league and recent representative, because they
knew that it would bring such a torrent of indig-
nation on their heads as would lead to their speedy
expulsion from office. We can, after what has oc-
curred, have no confidence in their sincerity or
stability of purpose ; we must regard them
merely as the tools of Germanism, or rather Co-
burgism, and must hesitate at leaving matters to

their uncontrolled management for six months,
the most critical perhaps for Alio United Kingdom
since the accession of the House of BRUNSWICK
to the Throne of these realms !
The circumstances are, indeed, calculated to
excite grave suspicions, and to demand peculiar
caution on the part of the chosen representatives
of the people ; or since they have exhibited such
palpable apathy and indifference—such unequivo-
cal evidence of their complete abdication of their
legitimate functions—of the " PUBLIC PRESS," Who
have, generally speaking, evinced an honourable
and straightforward independence that might
well be copied by Honourable and Right Honour-
able Gentlemen. A simple consideration of past
events will show that, notwithstanding the tardy
revelations of Friday evening, matters are still
enveloped in a cloud of mystery, and that it is
essential that the veil should be removed, the mists
dispelled, and the true state of affairs manifested
to the community.

At the very commencement of the session Lord
JOHN RUSSELL broke up the late Government.
He could not resist the demand for inquiry. He
felt that the conduct of the War had not been
sufficiently energetic or efficient ; that grievous
mistakes had been committed, and that he could
not defend in his place in Parliament that which
he had entirely disapproved as an influential mem-
ber of the Government. Those who regarded a
Minister merely as " a party man" highly disap-
proved of his conduct, which, at a critical period,
struck a heavy blow against his colleagues, from
which it was impossible that they could all re-
cover, while others regarded it as a strong instance
of resolution and high-minded devotion to the
interests of the nation. The natural, we shall
not say the anticipated, result followed. The
ABERDEEN Ministry was overthrown, and, on the
failure of Lord DERBY to form a Government,
Lord JOHN RUSSELL was entrusted with the im-
portant duty by his SOVEREIGN. He also failed—
signally failed. A few hours proved that his
hopes of becoming Premier were utterly futile,
and the task was transferred to the more vigorous
hands of the then popular Lord PALMERSTON.
In the first programme the name of the Noble
Member for the Metropolis was not included.
But a high distinction was awarded, which might
well have satisfied his ambition, and rendered him
well contented with his position. He was
nominated to represent Great Britain at the Con-
ferences, ands? necessarily fully instructed in the
views and opinions of the new Ministry, and more
especially of the Premier, and of the secret con-
troller of the Government—the irresponsible Cabi-
net Minister. The speeches respecting the honour
of Russia, and the necessity of looking to it chiefly,
were not mere voluntary declarations. They were
the matured result of his thorough understanding
of the course he was to pursue, the line he was to
advocate. The exceedingly and too moderate ter ms
required were " arrows plucked from the same
quiver ;" and when they were contumeliously
rejected, when it was clearly shown that Russia
untaught by the past was still bent on carrying
out her aggressive policy, and he was obliged to de-
clare that his instructions were exhausted, he yet
eagerly approved the Austrian suggestion which
Lord PALMERSTON could not swallow, and pro-
mised to advocate with all his power. Would he
have done so ex mero motu, unless fully assured
that they would have been acceptable to those
by whom he was commissioned, and of whose
opinions he was thoroughly cognisant. Certainly
not ! He did not act rashly in the first instance.
But the unexpected firmness of our Imperial Ally
frustrated the hopes of the friends of Germanism.
The refusal of the Emperor to listen to these pro-
posals " before he knew the decision of the EnL-
lish. Government," his decided " rejection of the
proposal of Austria, as not affording a sufficient
ground for peace," and summary dismissal of the
Minister who advocated it, placed the English
Cabinet in a dilemma. They knew not what to
do, and waited for the chapter of accidents to
provide a means of escape. The capture of Sebas-
topol would have afforded a means of escape. The
successes in the Sea of Azoff, and the more vig-
orous conduct of the War, did much, so that
when at length the well-timed motion of the
Right Honourable Member for Bucks compelled
them to speak out, Lord JOHN was enabled to
utter a manly condemnation of the Russian policy,
and to speak in accordance with the national sen-
timent, and his colleagues steadily " followed
suit." We now know how insincere were his
orations—how littte in accordance with his real
views. What greater confidence can we place in
his associates ? They have not yet been found
out. That is all that can be said in their favour,
and it is certainly not sufficient to justify the unli-
mited reliance insisted on in a recent speech at
Trinity House.
But at what time is the last specimen of frank-
ness exhibited ? The very time when the Bel-
gian ULYSSES is spinning his diplomatic w ebbs,
and actually in London to guide the puppets !
When a new motion of Mr. ROEBUCK'S is impend-
ing, that may break up the Ministry, and create a
vacancy in the Premiership ! It is then that the
noble lord, with a candour (1) scarcely less exem-
plary than than that of Messrs. STRAHAN, PAUL,
and Co., comes forward to detail his conduct, and
receive and bid for the support of Peelites, Peace
Society men, Coburgists, and all the pro-Russian
partyin the country ! As to what has produced this
a very few days will—unless we are greatly mis-
taken—tell further tales. All we can now do is
to inculcate the imperative necessity of the ut-
most vigilance, and to call on every true-hearted
Englishman to guard his country with all his
strength against the machinations of Germanism,
Coburgism, and Russellism—the manifestations
whereof are but too painfully apparent.

The Proceedings in Hyde Park yesterday con-
firm beyond dispute the justice of our remarks on
the disastrous affairen
g charged
not
being
thef
orh
precedingt threatened
t eSunday.
The meeting,
columns of the police, was of
quite a peaceable
character ; and though
glass was subsequently
broken in Belgrave-square, the damage is notori-
ously to be attributed not to the multitude, but
to a number of mischievous Young vagabonds with
stones in their pockets, who were
very properly
dispersed by the police. The demonstration, in
fact, which gave these scamps the opportunity is
ascribable to the madness of a member of the
Legislature. Had Mr. G. DUNDAS refrained from
offering his atrocious suggestion there can be no
doubt the day would have passed away in perfect
peace and quietness.
Had another course been adopted—bad the
police been dispersed in all directions, armed and
" eager for the fray," in which the advantages at
the outset were palpably on tl • • ,
their side, and the
brutal provocation of the Sunday before been re.
Peated, we shudder to think on what might have
h
appened. Instead of a good-natured multitude,
full of fun and sentiment, or dosy with sunlight,
waiting Patiently for what never came, and re-
tiring with no elation to speak of but with some
degree of satisfaction to tea and shrimps, we should
have had a collision
the memory of which would
not seen have died away. As it is, a delicate
piece of business may be' isa•
id to be in a fair way

of being settled ; and it may reasonably be anti-
cipated that the next demonstration in the Park
will have reference to some different and infinitely
more satisfactory matter than tho redress of
grievances. The withdrawal of the bill, Sir
GEORIKE GREY'S promise of an inquiry, the tran-
quilising attitude of the police—in a word, a
policy of moderation and conciliation, has had its
effect, and has been shown to be the only policy
adapted for a free people. May our Statesmen
be wise to profit by the lesson.

The abolition of the Sunday Beer Act is an
object to which the most systematic and decided
effort must be applied. There is no mistake
about it, the act is an intolerable nuisance, doing
no good to balance the weekly-recurring exaspe-
ration it occasions among the industrious popula-
tion at the more favoured, but not better classes
of society. The alleged decline in the number of
charges for drunkenness and disorderly conduct at
the police-courts on Mondays by no means proles
a lessened amount of drunkenness ; since, if true,
it would only go to prove a fresh distribution of
the periods when the vice is indulged in ;
while to us it appears quite certain that an injury
is done to public morality, and to the constitu-
tion of society by the Act, to which any conceiv-
able amount of good from it cannot offer the
shadow of a counterpoise. Absurdly restrictive
laws are the virus of political and social pesti-
lence—the stimuli to evasion, distrust, hatred,
and disorganisation.
Not to dwell on the treatment experienced by
the licensed victualler, which is simply disgrace-
ful, what can a well-conducted working man
or small tradesman, who has spent his
day in the country, wandering among in-
structive groves, and gathering in a salubrious
atmosphere, lessons of benevolence and gratitude,
and a frame of mind to receive them with effect
—think on finding himself debarred of his even-
ing's beer on his arrival home at dusk ? Can he
entertain cordial sympathy with a social pact that
is co-existent with such unfairness, or feel reve-
rence or liking for those above him, who so care-
fully deprive him of an opportunity they them-
selves don't want, and a luxury they don't go
without, the Beer Act notwithstanding ? On the
contrary, must lie not execrate the meddling spirit
that, instead of looking at home, where reform is
most needed, wanders so ignorantly and mischiev-
ously abroad—must lie not think little of a social
status, whose occupiers only deem him worthy of
attention as a beggar or a subject of experiment,
and whose philanthropy has the sting of tho
hornet without a particle of the honey of the
bee ? It is impossible he can do otherwise,
and his case is the case of thousands every
Sunday in life ! Can such a state of things be
suffered to continuo ? We trust not.

ROYAL SOCIETY FOR THE PROTECTION

OF LIFE FROM FIRE.

The annual general meeting of this invaluable Society
for the reception of the annual report and the distribu-
tions of rewards to persons instrumental in saving life
from fire, took place this afternoon at the Guildhall, the
Right Hon. the Lord Mayor, Sir F. G. Moon, Bart.,
presiding. It is with infinite pleasure we draw atten-
tion to this society, which affords to densely populated
cities such security to life in case of fire, and hope that
the small sum required by the society from the public to
complete its arrangements for providing every part of
the metropolis with a fire escape, will be provided in
that liberal spirit they have hitherto allowed the society
to increase its operations from 6 stations to 43. The report
which on the whole was very gratifying, regretted the so-
ciety had not been able to establish the number of escapes
thought to be necessary at the last annual meeting ;
yet they had been able to add three more to the num-
ber, making the whole number 43, located at half a
mile distant from each other, and each one attended
during the night by a well-trained conductor, whose
duty it is to attend on every fire in his neighbourhood
on the first alarm. The stations are so arranged that,
with the exception of one or two instances, escapes are
provided within half a mile distance from Edgeware-
road to Shoreditch, and from Camden-town to Lambeth,
affording security of life to the inhabitants in a manner
possessed by no other city in the world. The formation
of twelve more stations, required to complete the ad-
mirable plan laid down by the society, remains its chief
cause of anxiety and care, but a generous and benevo-
lent public, we feel certain will not long permit that
want to remain. During the twelve months ending
March 31, there bad occurred no less than 354 night
fires in the metropolis, which were attended by the
society's fire escapes and conductors, and the lives of 41
persons rescued by them. The fire escapes were re-
ported in an efficient and general good state of repair,
Thetotal receipts for the yeaiamounted to 3,9081.168.5 d.,
and the expenses to 3,6931. Bs. 5d., leaving a balance in
favour of the society of 2151. Bs. The sum required for
the establishment of the twelve additional stations is be-
tween 8001. and 9001. Amongst the contributors to the
oeiety's funds are her Majesty for 101., the Corporation
the City of London 521. 10s., and a reversionary
legacy for nom from the late Mr. Samuel J. Lowe.
Rewards were then distributed to 23 persons, including
others than the society's servants. 51. was given to
Fred. Chapman, fire escape conductor No. 3, for his in-
trepid and extraordinary exertion in rescuing the lives
of three persons at a fire on the premises 131, Drury-
lane, on 17th Dec., 1854.

ILLNESS 01! THE EMPEROR OF RUSSIA.

A private letter from Berlin, from a Russian
source, states positively that the health of the Em-
peror of Russia is in a bad state. It is believed
that he is attacked by consumption, and a good
deal of uneasiness is felt as to its progress.

THE PRINCESS MARCELLINE CZAR-
TORYSKA'S MATINEE MUSICALE.

It is known that this accomplished lady, belonging to
one of the most illustrious families in Poland, has gene-
rously offered to come to this country, to contribute by
her talents to the relief of her fellow-countrymen, exiles
in England. Such an act of benevolence will, we trust,
be appreciated by our nobility, who will, no doubt,
crowd the proposed matinee. The concert, in addition
to the performanoe of her Highness on the pianoforte,
will be supported by many distinguished artistes, now
in London. A remarkable feature in this concert will
be the first appearance in this country of M. Louis Eller,
whose musical talent on the. violin has recently excited
so much admiration in Paris. Among the ladies pa-
tronesses of the matinee, besides the Marchioness of
Breadalbane (who has given the use of her splendid
mansion), are the Duchess of St. Albans, the Dowager
Duchess of Hamilton, the Duchess of Argyll, the
Countess of Shaftesbury, the Countess Fortescue, the
Countess of Harrowby, the Countess of Yarborough, the
Viscountess Palmerston, the Viscountess Ebrington, the
Lady James Stuart, the Lady R. Grosvenor, the Lady
Blantyre, the Lady Stanley of Alderley, the Hon. Mrs.
Monckton Mike; the Lady Hall of Llanover, Mrs.
Townshend, Mrs. Henry Robarte, &c.

His Majesty the King of the Belgians, the Count de
Flanders, the Princess Mary, and suite, honoured Mr.
Burford's Panorama of Sebastopol, in Leicester•square,
with a visit on Friday afternoon.
The King of Portugal, the Duke of Oporto, and the
Duke and Duchess of Brabant are at Rome.
Her Majesty has been graciously pleased to approve of
the resolution passed by the Court of Directors of the
East India Company on the 4th instant, appointing the
Right Hon. Viscount Canning Governor General of
India.

A Cabinet Council was held on Saturday at the
Foreign -office, Downing-street. All the Ministers
were present. The Council sat one hour and a quarter.
We have much pleasure in calling attention to the
report of the Perpetual Investment, Land, and Building
Society, which appears this day in another part of our
paper. So many building societies, mostly commenced
with the best motives, have yet failed to answer all the
natural expectations of their founders and supporters,
that it is gratifying to point attention to one which has
fully realised all that was expected of it. The two
classes of persons who wish to avail themselves of such
societies—namely, those who want to invest and those
woo want to borrow—will see that in the one before us
they have all that they can wish. Investors have re-
ceived good interest for their money,
and the real secu-
rities on which it is invested were placed in the most un-
exceptionable custody before the late disgraceful trans-
actions had created so much alarm,
and were all
fully inspected by the auditors themselves. Borrocare.w
who have had securities on which the Society ought to
rely have not been disappointed when seeking a—loan •
indeed, it will be observed that on one occasion, as the
chairman mentioned. the directors themselves tempo-
ri:rily advanced 5,0001. rather than disappoint an appli-
cant, thereby evincing at the same time their confidence
iu the financial position of their company. We need
add no more, but refer our readers to the report itself,