The Sun.
London, England, 1852-03-04 00:00:00

THE SUN,

HEAD to the women of EoKI e.d. We have over-
looked in no way the imptrtanca'of the communica-
tion in which his Grace the CoMMANDER•IN-CHIEP
opened his mind upon this vitally interesting subj.ct,
through the medium of Sir Joan BURGOYNE, to the
citiz-ns of the BriLish empire. It is not, however, at
this moment that we would so much recall to the
popular remembrance the suggestions of Sir CHARLES
NAPIER, the warnings of Sir FRANCIS HEAD, or the
advice of the Duke of WELLINGTON; our remarks,
on the contrary, having reference to two propositions,
which have only, within the last few days, been sub-
mitted to the notice of the population, the one by a
naval, the other by a military officer of considerable
intelligence. In a pamphlet,* of a somewhat: re-
markable character, upon which,
,later on, we may
more largely expatiate, Captain RYDER BURTON has
undertaken to reveal, in regard to the maritime
department, the more extraordinary mysteries of its
mal-adminstration. In another pamphlet,t a pamphlet
having a wider scope, and affecting rather strangely
the interests of both services, Major CARMICHAEL
SMITH has boldly proposed to the nation the creation
of a new Ministerial post by the appointment of a
Secretary of State for our Defence and War
Establishments. The arguments with which this
suggestion is advocated are sufficiently valuable of
their kind to merit more than a merely cursory
examination. They evidence on the part of the
writer a patriotic anxiety to witness the re-
vival of our pristine security before the
introduction of steam, as applied to yes-
sels of war, had entirely altered our in-
sular seclusion from attack. They reveal, more-
over, in his mind a full and honourable appreciation
of the exigencies of our position under existing cir-
cumstances. There is something very tempting, it
must be allowed, in the advantages held out by the
propounder of the scheme here referred to, as the in-
evitable result of the appointment of this Secretary
of State for our defences and war establishments.
"To him," says Mejor CARMICHAEL SMITH, "it
would then be that the country would have
to, look for an answer to all alarmists, and
to all proposals for rifle or other volun-
teer corps, and it would be for him to
reassure the country on ' any momentary panic."
Those alone would be benefits, one might think, ade-
quate to compensate for the expense [an expense
which must prove in the end the truest economy] of
such an appointment. At present, whenever the po-
pular mind becomes agitated by the horrors of anti-
cipated invasion, we know not whom to apply to for
information calculated to allay the general solicitude.
There is the Home Secretary in regard to the mili-
tia. There is the Master of the Ordnance in regard
to the artillery. There are the First Lord of the
Admiralty and the rest of the Lords Commissioners
in reference to the maritime forces. There are the
Commander-in-Chief and the rest of the authorities
at the Horse Guards in reference to our military ar-
maments. Between two stools we come to the
ground [and we quote the proverb with all admiration
for the correct ju,,iginent of Sir BULWER LITTON,
and with ail deference to the fastidious taste of Lord
CHESTERFIELD]—between so many, we are in danger
of being like the ruck on the Derby-day—nowhere.
With a Secretary of State for War and Defence
it would be very different. From him the country
might on any emergency obtain all the most desira-
ble intelligence as to the efficiency and sufficiency of
our forces, and as to the general security from inva-
sion of the United Kingdom. What the precise
powers of such a Minister might be it were difficult
on the instant to enumerate altogether, but several
of the most important have been mentioned by Major
CARMICHAEL SMITH towards the close of his brief but
admirable pamphlet. He says, "under his directions
should be the working of all our naval and military
system. He should have the power of summoning
to his aid any person to obtain the information he
might consider necessary; a summons from the Se-
cretary of State for the defence of the kingdom, it
should be imperative for all to obey ; he, of course,
being responsible for the use of this power, and
liable to punishment for its abuse. Without too
minutely interfering with the ordinary details of the
several departments, be should possess the means of
making a full inquiry at any time as to its efficiency,
and as to its mode of conducting business; and he
would of course be the proper person to expose anv
errors in our system and bring forward the remedies."
Aided by an Administration such as this the Go-
vernment might readily, we conceive, develope the
defensive resources of the empire, and by so doing
entirely and immediately dissipate the fears excited
by the alarmists. That the country has one distin-
guished administrator—captain, at once, and states-
man—who could forthwith assume the responsibili •
ties of this new department of the Government, it
needs not to be reminded—any more than after this
allusion it is requisite to say that this captain and
statesman is no other than his Grace the Duke of
WELLINGTON.

* " The Mysteries of the Mal-Administration of the
British Navy Revealed; or a Reply to Thoughts on
the National Defences, &c.'" By Captain J. Ryder Bur-
ton, R. N., K.EI. Bvo. pp. 52. Landon: Hatchard. 1852.
Nlemorandual on the Necessity of a Secretary of
State for our Defence and War Establishments, as a,
first step to Reform in Naval and Military Expenditure.'
B' Major R. Carmichael Smyth." 8 ro. pp. 20. London:
Ridgway. 1852.

What is the line of policy that should be adopted
towards the new Government by Reformers of all
classes, and more especially by Free-traders? The
question is one of deep and vital importance to the
national prosperity, and the answer should not be
returned hastily, or without that mature and calm
consideration which it so eminently merits. We
must not in such a case permit our prejudices to in-
fluence the decision, or to tact recklessly and unwar-
rantably, because we may fancy that the party would
be desirous of bringing back the obsolete principles of
monopoly under the name of Protection, and re-
enacting a bread-tax, it' a suitable opportunity were
afforded.

The first points to be ascertained—the first and most
essential elements in the calculation will be—lat.,
What chance is there of a majority being returned to
the new Parliament in favour of the re-imposition of a
corn-law ? and, secondly, If such a prospect should
unfortunately exist, would it be improved or dete-
riorated by precipitating a dissolution of P Arliament,
and-enforcing an " immediate app-al to the country ?"
If the great cause of free trade could possibly
suffer by any postponement, then we say that
every means should be resorted to in order to
prevent so great a calamity. But it, on
the other hand, as we firmly believe, the
urgent demand for an immediate solution of the
problem would increase rather than diminish, or pos-
sibly create, a peril;where none might otherwise arise,
itteensay openly and advisedly, and well aware of
'Construction that may be placed by interested
par ties upon
our objects and motives—that a more
ungenerous._
a more factious—a more injudicious-
4nd in every
respect
ecrouennEtlue
possibly be adopted_th
mischievous course could not
that which has been recom-
mended by Mr.
Gentleman
toan
ithe
desirous Free - traders
o f
England.
The TIM ourable
under
that so ion unhappily
renew-
ing the internecine conflicts that
class againstg class,
Englishmen
disturbed the country—_of
alined
will Array noitngpermit the question
opposing banners.
:evcooiudnintrgy. ahllassoMinistry, so maul in abey-
ance, or suffer the
party treasures, to apply
un-
necessary themselves to
" those great measures which the
long been expecting—
measures of legal . reform for
improving and simplify f ing the administration of law
and justice, and measures of social reform for im-
proving the condition end comforts of the people"—
referred to by the PREMIER in his explanatory
statement of the Ministerial policy and intentions.
Entertaining no doubt of the national feeling in
favour of free trade, and knowing that if the exist-
ence of the Government should be staked on that
issue, they
must be defeated, he endeavours to
drive them into a corner, to compel them to take up
the weapons that they have relinquished, and to enter
on a war of ea.termination with a stronger opponent.
With this vievi he declares that they are "committed
by every pledge that can bind the honour of public
men to attemp t to re-impose
a duty on corn ;" and
by such unaccountable and unfounded assertions to
taunt and stimulate them into adopting steps which
they would otherwise carefully avoid.
Twelve months since the PREMIER, then Lord
STANLEY, distinctly and unequivocally declared to the
[ effect that unlees the country
exhibited a clear and

LONDON,

unmistakeable deterininalion favour of the e-
sition of a corn-law, that he would consider the ques-
tion finally dispos‘d of. His speech on Friday night
was to the same purport. These pledges—for they
were solemn pledges, rendered to the people of Eng-
land in the face of the assembled Parliament—afforded
the most convincing evidence that the Noble Lord,
who has never been accused of dissimulation,
did not for a moment contemplate the adoption of a
line of policy so sinister and disgraceful as that indi-
cated by the Hon. Member for the West Riding.
His most influential colleague, too, the CHANCELLOR
of the EXCHEQUER, had advised the party to
seek relief of a totally different character
from that which would be afforded by duties on corn.
It is true, that they both expressed their feelings in
favour of protective duties, if the sanction of
the people could be obtained ',thereto ; but
they at the same time strenuously advised
the withdrawal of the demand. There were
- even symptoms of insubordination manifested in the
party at the salutary, although unwelcome recom-
mendations ; and if any competent leaders could have
been substituted, it is by no means improbable that
Lord DERBY and Mr. DISRAELI would have been dis-
placed from the position they had previously!occnpied ;
and yet these are the men who are to be compelled,
by bitter taunts, to resume the weapons they had
abandoned, and to insist on measures which they de-
clared to be impracticable, not today or yesterday,
but months, aye, years ago.
_

Should the- Whigs he replaced in office through
the exertions of Mr. COBDEN, and those who from
ancient recollections may feel disposed to adopt his
views, farewell to any enlarged or comprehensive
measure of reform. it is true that we may get the
diluted and emasculated measure which they are
pleased to denominate the "New Reform Bill," but
the great points of a more equitable distribution of
electoral power, a change in the duration of Parlia-
ments, and " the ballot," will be materially retarded,
if not totally lost, and one of the grossest Whig jobs
ever attempted, will be perpetrated. The Common-law
Procedure; Bill may possibly be carried ; but there
will be no prospect of a real and searching measure of
Chancery reform, such as we may anticipate under
the auspices of Lord ST. LEONARDS. The income-
tax, with all its unjust, inquisitorial, and oppressive
enactments will be perpetuated without modification
or amendment. Sir CHARLES WOOD will again be
permitted to mismanage the national Exchequer, and
Earl GREY to goad our colonies on to revolt. The
happy family will be secured in the possession of
place and power, and rendered more indifferent than
ever to the earnest remonstrances and welt-founded
complaints of the people. The Whigs, however, are
wonderfully improved by a temporary sojourn on the
Opposition benches. Their vision becomes purified after
a course of opposition, and they become enlightened
as to the propriety and absolute necessity of mea-
sures which they ignore with the most profound con-
tempt when in power. In office they are more con-
servative than the Tories themselves, but out
of it they become really liberal. And
yet Mr. COBDEN would prevent this much re-
quired and most desirable change by precipitating
the crisis; he would also occasion all the mischiefs
that must arise from a general election
at this period of the year. We do not
think that the Reformers or Free-traders of England
will adopt this policy, but rather believe that they
will hear the propositions which the present Ministry
are prepared to submit, in order that they may be
contrasted with those which may be reasonably hoped
for from their competitors.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
The result of 47 of the departmental elections has
been received. In every one of them, without a
single exception, the Government candidates have
been returned.

As M. PERRET, in the Fifth Arrondissement, is
found, contrary to the first impression, to have ob-
tained the legal number of votes, there is only one
return, that of the fourth, found to be invalidated,
and a new ballot will here take place the 15th of
March.

At Lisle there will have to be a new election,
none of the candidates having obtained the legal ma-
jority. There voted 19,000 in the following order :
M. RICHEBE (Government candidate) 7,944
M. L EGRAND (Republican) 5,423
M. BERNARD (Monarchist) .. 4,977
At Douai the Government candidate had been re-
turned.

-------
The Moniteur publishes a great number of de-
crees, altering the mode of electing the judges of
the Code de Commerce, appointing officers of the
National Guard, and making changes in the ma-
gistracy.
The Assemblie Nationale regrets the refusal that
has been offered by Louis NAPOLEON to Prince
SCRWARzENDERG'S proposal for a joint occupation,
France entering Geneva and the Vaud, while the
Austrians should enter Tesino. It would appear,
however, that the French Government has given
ear to a proposal for a commercial blockade of the
country ; but as such a. plan could not be carried
into effect without the aid of Piedmont Austrian
diplomacy has been brought to bear on the Court of
Turin, but is so sternly resisted by the British
representative that it is likely to fail. The pretext
for this persecution of Switzerland is the old story of
the non-expulsion of political refugees, but the real
motive is a desire to please the Jesuits, who want to
regain their ascendancy in those cantons from which
they had been driven in 1847.
The Journal des Debats blames in gentle terms the
decree which renders judges liable to removal by the
Court of Cessation, as calculated to affect their inde-
pendence and lower the consideration of the magis-
tracy. It also blames the transfer to supplementary
judges of magisterial functions hitherto exercised by
the regular judges, for the reason that the former are
generally young men whose position is merely titular,
and by way of stage to advancement. The following
is the article of the Debats on this matter, so impor-
tant with respect to the administration of justic,, :
" There are now two exceptions to the appoin:ment of
judges for life—the first, in cases of serious and perma-
nent infirmities; and the second, in the event of a ma-
gistrate being subjected to a condemnation. The law
of June 16, 1824, prescribes the retirement of magis-
trates affected with serious and permanent infirmities;
but the natural interest which attaches itselt to the
position of magistrates whom age may have ren-
dered incapable of fulfilling their functions, joined
to the exigencies of the proceeoiegs established
for the proof of such infirmities, have never al-
lowed that enactment of the law to be carried
seriously and efficaciously into execution. Grave abuses
have consequently taken, which it is the object of the
present decree to pa' an end to. The second restriction
will be perhaps considered as more rigorous and of more
doubtful utility; it confers on the Court of Cessation the
right of declaring the discharge of a magistrate from
his functions when he shall have incurred as a measure
of discipline the punishment of a temporary suspension,
and when the Minister of Justice may have denounced
him to the Supreme Court. We fled in the official
journal another decree, which establishes another very
serious innovation. It must be well known that accord-
lug to the existing laws the functions of examining
magistrate can only be confided to titular judges. The
present decree enacts that, for the future, the functions
of an examining magistrate may be conferred even on
the supplementary judges. Tnis provision doubtless has
the advantage of giving the Government a choice among
a great number of magistrates; but, on the other hand,
every one knows that the supplementary judges, as they
are now organized, are generally very young magis-
trates, for whom these functions are but a kind of novi-
ciate. Is there not, therefore, a real danger in confiding
such important functions as those of an examining
magistrate to magistrates who, by their age and their
position, cannot offer all the necessary guarantees of
experience, intelligence, and maturity?"
The Prince PRESIDENT of the Republic, in October
and November last, conferred recompenses on civil
functionaries and others in Algeria, who distinguished
themselves by their devotedness during the visitation
of the cholera at Oran. By decrees dated the 12th
December last, and inserted in the Moniteur of this
day, it appears that the Prince also granted six
crosses of the Legion of Honour, 28 medals of honour,
and 28 " honourable mentions" to officers and men
of the hospital service who distinguished themselves
on the same occasion.
Public securities continued :to rise at the Bourse.
The Five 104. 80c., full to 104 f.
6f605a:c6.t.
re2oesene.d.poei
subsequentlyatiCi
rwee Cents.
month;t 52.703 itt)..071e50d05.
Bordeaux, 476 f 25. j. ; Paris' and
the T
ha
rnede
perclosed
Caet lt
50.4d1.10960ecd.
66f• 85c.; Orleans Railway Shares, 1, tsof.; Rouen,
Northern, 6081.
500.; Ba,le, 230; . ;
Me.; Avignon, 239, •Vi n 537 f.
Tours and N
Nantes, 315, ; Amiens to Boulogne, 3121.
50c.; Paris and Li *
BUSINESS DONE Lyons 5871. 50e. • 5971. 50c •
LONDON
E MAR H 3.
Boulogne and Amiens, 121 , -
), 2
45......zje10,..1 CentralN
(Orleans
—Orleans an
GS:rekastbuNrugr,
Prance
eand Liege,
01A.—Northern of France, 20_
31/s--Namur and Vierzon
and Bordeaux, 9%
Parrs and Lyons, 9
Paris-Faris and
AYS AT THE
Strasbourg, IP4 ex d.— itouea and Rouen, 26'4
Toure
and Nantes, 354—West Flanders, 111;. Havre, 10%—