The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-04 00:00:00

The Weather—Sun Office, May 4, 1864.

THERMOMETER.

This day at Two o'clock

Barometer-30.02.
Wind—S.E. ; moderate breeze, with rain.

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.
THIS DAT.-111oraing, 12h. 23m.—Afternoon, 12h. 50m.
To-moititow.-Morning, lh. 15m.—Afternooa, lh. 40m.

• s 1.7 -
.C4e-160Vit' SUM

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 4, 1864.

The long and somewhat angry discussion which
took place on Monday evening on the vote for the
Admiralty deck at Malta.; proves that public atten-
tion has been drawn to the matter, and that suffi-
cient confidence is not placed in the management
of our naval affairs to remove the uneasiness excited
by Captain TALBOT'S statements, It will be remem-
bered that the dock in question is something more
than a mere experiment in bricks and mortar, it is
no trifling item whose wont resalt would be the
unnecessary expenditure of a few thousands. It is
a matter of grave and substantial importance, which
may hereafter from the changes of time and circum-
stances even affect cur welfare and losition as a
nation. The value of a first class deck in the
Mediterranean is at once apparent to all seafaring
men, and it is only marvellous that our authorities,
even allowing for proverbial official supineness,
should not long ago have supplied the want. It is
absolutely preposterous that the first naval power
should have no proper
dock accommodation in so
important a locality, When our French neighbours,
more energetic or less prejudiced,
have no less than
three docks in 'the Mediterranean capable of receiv-
ing the largest ships. One
Would suppose that
England must be deficient in ships, money, or
eigincering skill for such a matter to be long
treated with indifference. As was said by Sir J.
PAKINGTON, who, as is usual with -
him naval
matters, took the side of practical common sense in
the discussion, we have no dock in a good • •
/maim
at Malta, and we ought to have constructed one
years age. Now that the Government have made
up their minds to do something, of course they meet
set about it is the wrong way. The dock is to be
constructed in a comparatively awkward and unfa-
vourable position against the judgment of good autho-
rities, when all the while a site in every respect
vastly superior might have been hid fir the chocsing.
Lord CLAr.ENcE PAGET entered into a lengthened
explanation of the engagements entered into with
the Maltese Government, and with a curious mix-
ture of virtuous indignation and pathetic appeals to
the opposition sense of honour he deprecated the
idea of " a breach of faith." On a careful exami-
nation it appears, Lowever, that the alternative is
not quite so formidable. The Maltese Government
have not declared any objection to the dock being

cons' eructed in the French Creek instead of in the
Mars n, and it does not seem that the suggestion of
a chaxige in the plans has been made to them. It
is curious to observe how the defenders of the Marsa
dock change their line of argument as the discussion
goes on. When first Captain TALBOT brought the
matter forward the French Creek was spoken of in
slighting terms, its distance from the dockyard was
declared to be much the same, and it was contended
that the natural advantages of the Mersa were
nearly as great.,„ Now it is admitted that there was
any sort of comparison between the merits of the
two sites, but that the whole matter rests on the
question of possible or not possible. " All the local
authorities," says Mr. WHITBREAD, would object
to the Frer ch Creek, but he does not cite the name
of one of those formidable opponents. Oa the other
hand, it seems that the only four independent
members of the Malta Council have gone se far as
to address the Duke of SOMERSET on the subject,
stating that they were not at all opposed to the
construction of a dock in the French 'Creek, and
endorsing their statement with the opinion of the
Chamber of Commerce at Malta, which was to the
same effect. From this we may naturally infer
that there is no strong feeling on the part of the
general population in the matter, and we have yet
to learn that any attempt has been made to smooth
matters with the authorities. The difficulty appears
to be that it was stipulated that the merchant
shipping should remain in undisturbed possession
of French Creek until all the works intended to be
performed at the Marsa are completed. This does
not seem to be an insuperable obstacle, but in truth
the Maltese Government form a very convenient
excuse, seeing that they did not stipulate that the
basin at the Mersa should be deepened 30 feet instead
of 12 feet, so as to make it available for men-of-war
as well as merchant vessels. One of the worst
points in the Government case, however, is the
manner in which they have treated the opinion of
men of eminent position and long extended expe-
rience. Admirals CODRINGTON and Sir W.
MARTIN, both of whom, from their position, are
intimately acquainted with the requirements of the
dock and the island, have expressed themselves very
strongly against the Admiralty plan, bringing for-
ward many objections, all of which, as Lord C.
PAGET quietly admitted, had force. They disap-
proved of the distance of the Mersa from the dock-
yard—nearly two miles, instead of 800 yards, like
its rival—and declared that it would be very diffi-
cult to get large ships through the merchant
vessels moored there. Lord C. PAGET, as we have
said, changed the grounds of his defence, and
endeavoured to pacify his opponents by hinting
that at some future time the Government would
assuredly avail itself of the superior advantages of
the French Creek. Sir JOHN PAKINGTON detected
one of the inconsistencies with inconvenient quick.
ness,:and propounded the embarrassing query why,
if no change could be made without so serious a
breach of faith, the Government should have sent
out gentlemen to Malta to examine into the matter.
It is almost amusing to find the verbal report of the
two Lords of the Admiralty gravely outweighing
the repeated evidence of experienced men like
Admirals CODRINGTON and MARTIN. The public
will be very much of Captain 'TALBOT'S opinion that
the minds of the Admiralty Lords were made up
before they started. Something, however, has been
gained by the opposition to the matter. Lord C.
PAGET has promised the House that the dock
itself shall not be commenced without Parliament
being again consulted, and the vote of last Monday,
so reluctantly agreed to on the part of Captain
TALBOT and his friends, is only to be devoted to
the deepening of the basin. The First Lord of the
Admiralty also proposes to refer the question of the
dock to a select committee, when we may hope to
see Captain TALBOT'S augury realised, and that,
however the committee may be constituted, the
result of their labours will be to produce an effectual
alteration in the scheme for the Malta dock.

Attention may be given to an appeal to the
people of Europe which has recently been drawn
up for the National Association at Copenhagen,.*
It has bee❑ translated into English, and wall de-
serves that some notice should be taken of its
contents. They are the expression of strong con-
viction, and earnest feelings on the part of a
nation that has indeed cause to declare its opinions.
The indifference that has been displayed by some,
and the unworthy part that has been taken by
others in these unhappy disputes, certainly call for
a fall explanation of all particulars, and a decided
protest against the tyrannical conduct and aggres-
sive policy that has been displayed. Some pas-
sages in particular of this little pamphlet call for
especial notice, and seem more particularly to point
out the real issues of the question, such as appertain
to actual events, and not such as figure in the pro-
blematical reports of diplomatists, and the one-sided
accounts of interested parties. For instance, the
enormity of the case is thus forcily described in
these terse words: " The fact is that two millions
of men are engaged in a life-and-death struggle
with sixty millions." Certainly this is putting the
chief feature of the affair before us in a prominent
form, and with strong colouring. The moral de-
duced from this telling circumstance is that so much
faith under difficulties, zeal under discouragement,
and spirit before hosts of enemies could never be
displayed by a people that were strengthened by
the " consciousness of right." Justifiable
indignation is expressed at the manner in
which Prussia and Austria carry on the conflict,
and the treatment which they exercise to the
countries they are now occupying: 'lbis is a heavy
charge against these arrogant and aggressive States,
who seem to think themselves privileged to do as
they please, and aro euffieientiy short-sighted as
not to perceive that their cruel and unjust mode of
attack is injuring their opponents less than it
damages their own reputation. It is no disgrace
to a small nation to succumb before a largo one. If
courage and constancy animate the defenders they
have done their utmost, and all must honour their
motives and hallow their memory—

"In man's regret they live and woman's tears,"

Bat language is powerless to express the scorn and
contumely that belongs to those who violate the
principles of fair play, transgress the laws of
nations, and carry on war with the vindictiveness
of barbarous tribes in savage lands, rather than as
becomes the soldiers of civilisation fighting beneath
the banners of Christendom. It is shown how the
fair promises first made by the besieging armies
were broken, the engagements unfulfilled, and the
tactics entirely changed. They who were for not
disturbing
any civil functions at first, speedily
c`-langel their determination, and proceeded to en-
force their dictatorial (hafts in the most barefaced
manner and with the moat unblushing effrontery.
All officials were dismissed that were not German
in their sympathies
aside. In all ; the Danish language was put
places where the mixed tongues of
Germany and Denmark were in use, it was impera•
tively commanded that German solely should be
substituted. In fact, as it is put here,
S.hleswig was thenceforward to be trans-
formed into a German
prov:tire. Such
trickery and subterfuge may be very well in

* "Appeal to the People of Europe," issued by the
National Association, at Copenhagen, Bentley, New
BnrliDgtou-street.