The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-29 00:00:00

The Weather.-Sun Office, Feb. 29, 1864.

T HE Wlo2d ETER.
This day at Two o'clock • 44

Barometer-29.69.
Wind—E.; light breeze, and foggy.

J,cD
.
0,32. Snit

LONDON, MONDAY, FEB. 29, 1864.

Bit by bit the Danish papers are coming tardily
dropping in from the Foreign Office. By the time
the whole series shall have made its appearance—
then, bat not sooner, will come the tug of war
'between the Government and the Opposition. As
much as Possible, Ministers are now hiding their
hand from their antagonists. Their "little game"
is being played out,so far as they can contrive thus to
accomplish it, entirely in the dark. Procras-
tination may be simply "the thief of time" to
Dr. YOUNG, but it is far more than that—it
is a distinct policy to osr present Administra-
tors. It affords them the Only chance they can
anywhere have, of getting anything like a result
out of that otherwise tiro-Policy, so happily and
epigrammatically described by the Conserva-
tive Chief, as aningenions combination of meddling.
and muddling. This bare chance of a result of some
kind, being, in point of fact, looked for by minis-
ters out of the pure chapter of accidents. It is for
all the world like Mr. MICAAVBER of immortal
memory—living vaguely, _confusedly, idly—at rare
intervals, lust for a passing moment, as it were,
despondently, but as a rule, for the most part, very
hilariously, upon the delightful hope of something
" turning up!" In one of his innumerable straights,
that celebrated original, that distinct prototype, as it
eprears to ns, of her MAJESTY's present Ministry
is descanting it may be remembered upon another
flattering tale told to him, for the moment, in the
strictest confidence by his perpetual confidant,
HOPE--44 lam at present, my dear COPPERFIELD,"
(loath Mr. MICAWBER, in one of his own not infra.
qtient bursts of confidence, " I am at present, my
dear COPPERFIELD, engaged in the sale of corn
upon commission." For this, read, in the instance
is-.3t now of her Majesty's Ministers, "in the
negotiation of a conference in London about Den-
mark." "It is not an avocation of a remanerative
(lescripti&b,irsy dear COPPERFIELD—in other words,
it aloes notpay—and some ttanporary emoarrassme tate
of Q, peonk.ry [hne read, of a diplomati('J uatare

up!

have been the consequence. I ant, however, delighted
to add that I have now an immediate prospect of
something turning up (I am not at liberty to say
in what direction) which I trust will enable
me to provide permanently both for my-
self and for your friend Mr. THONAS
TRADDLES [read, here, for your friend
Mr. JOHN BULL] in whom I have an unaffected
interest." The application of the similitude is here
distinct and positive. It may appear at a superfi-
cial glance to be merely hinted at thus as a
humorous extravagance. But the resemblance is,
on the contrary, just literally and rigidly a
plain matter-of-fact. The Ministry is a I\IICAWBER
Ministry—living (entirely and for the most part
hilariously) in the midst of all sorts of muddle and
confusicn, upon the bare chance of something turn-

It would almost appear as if a sort of infatuation
prevailed in some quarters with regard to special

cases and special individuals. Whatever is done, or
attempted to be done, to bring them to justice, to

call them to account, or even to make inquiries into
the various circumstances connected with the affair,

all ends in the same result, and the favoured party

escapes all perils, and steers clear of all shoals and
quicksand?. Such a description applies to the case

of Colonel CRAWLEY. The whole proceedings that

have taken place have been of a peculiar character,
and it would appear, from the remarks that have
been made, as if it was not only proven a mistaken
notion that anything was said to the disadvantage
of that officer, but as if it was really reprehensible
so to do. The same partiality, prejudice, or what-

ever the feeling, sentiment, or influence should be
called, seemed to pervade the love of the debate
on Friday evening in the House of Lords. It is
true that there was only one speech which bordered
on exaggeration, and that was the Earl of LONG-

FORD'S. The noble lord seemed to be full of virtuous
indignation at the remarks that had been made, and
the steps taken by all who had been adverse to
Colonel CRAWLEY, and without hesitation he called
the offenders to account. The noble lord seemed to
forget that, allowing the innocence of the Colonel
respecting the charges brought against him, he had
committed acts of great imprudence, and showed a
very hasty temper, and harsh form of government
which are very reprehensible in holding so high a
positicn. :He concluded his remarks by calling
upon the Ministers to pay the expense of the court-
martial. The most inveterate partisans of the
Colonel have not hitherto gone so far as to say
that he is an " innocent man, who has been ex-
posed to very great expense by a public ab-
surdity." Also Lord LONGFORD went out of his
way to cast blame upon the Earl of SHAFTES-
BURY for the remarks which he made upon the
subject last year. The noble earl very properly
replied to the insinuations against him in a few
brief sentences, which completely vindicated the
course h© had taken. The Duke of CAMBRIDGE
thought it necessary to make some explanations
with regard to Sir HUGH ROSE, who, it seems, had
been hurt by the observations of his Royal High-
ness the Commander-in-Chief. It would eeem that
the expression, "error of judgment," gave great
annoyance to Sir H. RosE, and also to Sir W.
MANSFIELD. It really must appear to eeery im-
partial observer that these words are very mild
phraseology in allusion to the affair. Had these
officers treated the Mhow proceedings in a proper

manner there would not have been any need for the
late court-martial at Aldershot, and much annoy-
ance would hava been spared to many parties; as it
is, the reinstatement of Captain SMALES is A direct
proof of how things were mismanaged in India, and
at any rate ail the stir and confusion that have
arisen respecting the transactions at Mhow demon-

strata that some faulty arrangements took place,
and some injudicious systems prevailed. It is not
usual for an outcry to be raised concerning a spot so
far off, unless some very extraordinary and out of
the way occurrence takes place, and it would be a

little more just and consistent for the supporters of
COl. CRAWLEY to remember that to give grounds
for imputations on his conduct is a great mis-
take of an officer as well as a slur on his reputation.
The model of chivalry whom the knights of old
were proud to take as their model was not only
without fear, but without reproach, and it is in-
cumbent on all in high positions to be as careful of
their conduct to their inferiors as to their superiors.
If legally acquitted according to military law, still,
in the opinion of dispassionate critics, Colonel
CRAWLEY has not proved himself to be a considerate
commander, or an officer who exercised tact, con-
ciliation, or magnanimity towards those under his
authority. The idea of the Government paying all
expenses is preposterous, and it would be establish-
ing a sort of prEcedant which would produce very
unsatisfactory results. There is nothing to justify
such a proceeding, and the officers who lay them-
selves open to suspicion by such inconsiderate
conduct as that proved to have taken place with
regard to Sergeant LILLEY'S arrest, deserve to bear
the consequenc:s of their acts, however incon-
venient or expensive they may b 3. Lord CIIELMS
FORD'S speech will doubtless tend to throw light on
the judicial arrangements of courts-martial, and
thus on a future occasion some of the awkward
mistakes and uncertain proceedings which took
place at Aldershott may be avoided. The sooner
all concerned in the matter make up their minds to
re-adjust the whole mechanism of courts-martial,
the better it will be for the interests of the service)
and the satisfaction of all connected with, remotely
or immediately. The complaints made have
been many and frequent, and surely the whole
of the recent proceedings both in India and at home
are an incontrovertible proof of the inefficacy and
insufficiency of these military tribunals. Explain
it away, break it up, or give what term they may
to the case, this affair of Colonel CRAWLEY'S has
been a most unsatisfactory one to all concerned, and
it will be wise as well as humane to prevent the
possibility of the recurrence of such an event in
any shape or form in which it might hereafter take
p lace.

There is probably no question on which the
opinions of all classes of Englishmen are more
unanimous than the slave trade. All creeds, parties,
and ranks unite in regarding it with abhorrence,
and the final extinction of the nefarious traffic
has long been a favourite project among us. The
great and costly sacrifice by means of which
England, at the expense of the pros,perity of many
of her own colonies, secured the freedom of all
.4 j.nvoluntary servants" within her own domi-
nions, is stilt fresh in the memory of this genera.
tien. The efforts which we have made ever since
that fille, the lives of brave men, and the treasure
we have given for the same cause, have given us a
right to icquire somewhat closely into' the pro-
ceedings of other nations with regard to the African
traffic. The enormity is so groat, so inexcusable,
so contrary to every lesson of religion and civili-
satic\A that few States are willing to defend the
practice or openly to confess any participation in
its horrors. Specious pretexts and ingenious
devices ave, however, never wanting when interest
wishes to silence principle, and ac::-..rdingly we
must reckon. some of the European nation(' among
the most formidable opponents of our efforts td i",'llt
' down tho slave' trAe. The complicity of Spaig la 1