The Sun.
London, England, 1864-06-14 00:00:00

OYAL ITALIAN OPERA,
Covent-garden.

There will in this week be five opera nights, viz.. Moinday,
'Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, and eatarday.

not necessary in the present day to dilate
upon the merits of the English navy. They are
too universally admitted, and too cordially recog.
nised, to req-aire any such enforcement. Never-
theless, although the English navy is our boasted
g. bulwark," our "wooden wall" of invincible
stcnrity, and although the Sailor is especially the
darling of the English people, our naval officers have
to endure many hardships beyond these which are
the ineTiteble results of their condi;:en. Among.

pat, and they will, doubtless, rise from the perusal many such, hardships which one would imagine only
of these eloquent and impressive pages with their require to be pointed out to be amended, there is a
doubts resolved into certainty, and their hesitation peculiar provision in the Pension List which renders
merged in conviction as to the necessity of prompt valueless the claims of the widows of any naval
and immediate action, not only for the preservation officers who may have married after reaching the
of the interests of a brave and struggling people, age of sixty. If, at first sight, such an enactment
who have looked to us in vain for the help we were appears in any way reasonable, not a word can
bound to impart, but also for the maintenance of assuredly be urged in its favour when we call to
our good repute, our self-respect among ourselves, mind the peculiar circumstances which surround
and our fair fame before the nations of the world, the domestic life of the naval officer, and cast a
Great stress is laid on the importance of fulfilling shadow over his home and affections. During the
the terms of the Treaty of 1852; and it is very truly years of his active service he is compelled to
I stated that we have no right to deny the claims separate himself for very long intervals from family
thus enforced upon us, or to disavow the necessity sod friends. The Soldier's wife may follow her
of holding to that engagement, because difficulties husband across the seas; but the privilege of that
have interposed themselves and rendered the case dear companionship is not permitted to the Sailor.
complicated. Truth and honour do not recognise It is only natural, then, to suppose that in the
such things as capable of sanctioning broken faith instance of the Sailor, above all others, late mar-
or exculpating false promises and faintheartedness riages might be countenanced by law. After years
in the performance of duty. Nothing can be put of estrangement from all home associations, the
in a simpler or more straightforward manner than Sailor may. more than all others, be excused if late
this argument. "We have had twelve years to in life he seeks, in connection with some congenial
find out the flaws of this Treaty, and to rescind it, helpmate, to form "a comfortable couple," after the
if need were, in peace and honour; and now when fashion of TIM LINEINWATER and Miss LACREETY.
the time has come to keep it, to keep it with trouble If he do so, who, remembering the antecedents of
and cost, We are suddenly to discover that the pro. his chequered career, shall venture to blame him
test of Schleswig and Holstein frees us from our for thus late in life endeavouring to surround him-
engagement. Truly this would be a most conve- self with the endearments and ties of a home ? The
nient discovery, but it is a new idea of a nation's Legislature does so by placing his widow upon a dd.
honour." This is the only true and fitting way to ferent footing from the widows of younger men.
look at the question, if we would carry out the His widow, the widow of a naval officer who has
principles of political justice and conform to the married after sixty, having no claim—no legal claim
suggestions of honour and rectitude. It is one of upon the consideration of that country to whose
the greatest shams that have ever been palmed service her husband has devoted the best years of
upon the people of this country, this'notion that has his life, and perhaps sacrificed the aspirations
gained ground in high planes and been taken up by of his youthful affectious. Such a clause in the
some of the most influential of ourstatesmen, that there pension-list is not worthy of the generous, devoted
really exists no claim for us to go to war for the people who are ever ready to contribute with no
preservation of the rights of others, which rights stinting hand to every worthy claimant; and who
are intimately associated with our own integrity so worthy of such endowment as the widows of
and good faith. Convenience will not do to choose those who have spent their lives in the service of
as the ruling motive of our actions, and if we stoop their country! The clause we fully believe requires
to resort to the doctrine of shuffling expediency in only to be duly considered in order to be immee
cases where bold and decisive action is wanted, we diately cancelled.
shall indeed fall from our high estate to draw ups-
us the scorn and contempt of the world. Some
very proper warnings are given in this treatise on
the folly of pursuing this timid course that is de-
nounced, end the great danger to which it leads.
" Great nations," it is said, " do not live and grow
a greater age by peace and national prosperity."
For examples, we are shown Imperial Rome, which
fell headlong into ruin when she ceased from action,
and gave herself up to the pursuits of luxury. If
this is put down to " despotism," it is urged that
" democracy" has not been very successful on the
other side of the Atlantic. The decision arrived at
is, that the only sure and safe method for a state to
pursue is to make the principle of duty its guiding
influence and ruling motive. By this means we
should not rush into war hastily, nor cling to peace
in an ignominious fashion, but calmly and consis.
tently follow in the right path which may lead
through difficulties and danger, but never can con-
duct to dishonour. It is of no avail for us to
be preaching morality to others if lookers-on
perceive that we take care not to put our precepts
into practice when they would result in our loss or
disadvantage. Great stresa is here laid on the
marked difference that exists in the estimate put
upon the words uttered by the English or French
in periods of emergency. When the French EM-
PEROR makes a remark on foreign affairs of any
importance, the Funds of Europe fall in conse-
quence, but little heed is given to our Ministers
impressive utterances or striking statements. Now
this is hardly a creditable position for a nation like
ours to assume, and it is indeed a solemn warning
to all those who persist in advocating the doctrines
of expediency, to the detriment of all-important
and primary censiderations. The bold principle is
here laid down, and should be followed in our
dealings with foreign nations, that we are to wage
war or not as honour commands, and not to listen
to the plea of the undertaking being too much for
us. If the time comes when a State " does not
because it dares not interfere, it has ceased to be
a great Power." Such words ought to be written
in indelible characters before the eyes of our vacile
latiug statesmen, and exemplify the doom they are
bringing on their country through their mean and
unworthy actions. We cannot have a right to in-
terfere, end yet have a right to stand still ; either
it must be our duty to do so, or else we ought not
to take action. "If war be not our duty, it is a
crime, to which no nation on earth can plead a
right," is very properly enunciated here, and evil
will betide that nation that does not advocate such
doctrines in her councils, and maintain their °beer.
Vance by all in authority under her rule. The
writer then proceeds to examine into the question
as to whether Denmark has been sufficiently
wronged to justify interference. On this point
there can be no doubt in the minds of those who
have regarded the question at all attentively. An
epitome is given of the leading events of the case,
and the conclusion is, of course, that injuries have
been inflicted upon that nation. Next, the subject
is discussed as to whether there exists any pledge
which calls upon England to interfere. In support
of this many authorities are quoted, and cogent
reasons adduced, to prove the necessity of adhering
to the original intentions that actuated those who
ware parties to the Treaty at the outset, and the
words of Earl RUSSELL himself are given, which
show that the most obligatory inducements exist
for binding us to the fulfilment of the pledges
given at the time of the signing of the treaty
Ito which so many nations were parties, and
which involve so many interests to others,
besides concerning the welfare of Denmark in its
most vital concerns. It is said here that the
Emperor of the FRENCH got the armistice; we took
the credit, but he did it.
flue sounding phrases,
any thing:eone,and ter
empty and delusive utterances,
no one took the trouble to notice
them. Tee none
which were
but em
eluding remarks on Engleed,B 0 ,
a nour ate eery well
worthy of notice, and it wesc4 &
} a bright day for
mu
us if more attention was paid to
WO true meaning
of the term. " Her hono--,r is no v
• glory
am
and warlike acht,fement, still l tin
ess •
In ships and
stores and, prosperous trade, her honour i 6
to Wee
standard of Europe, and to maintain the prin.
ciple of duty, and to act as Got's servant among
the nations in upholding truth and righteousness."
The Sooner we address ourselves to the considera-
tion of these first principles of right, the better it
will be for the credit of our national name, and the
influence we gain over the other nations of the
world. No mistake is so grievous as to listen to
timorous suggestions of peace when there should be
no peace, and to entertain low motives of expediency
when we are called upon to vindicate our character
frem reproach, and to render that service to others
which is the proudest privilege of power
It is ,t -

While the principles which govern our chief
educational institutions are forming part of the
public discussions, and are being closely criticised
and examined by men of all parties, preparatory
apparently to some legislative change, it is interest-
ing to turn to a large public school holding its
annual festival, and assembling peers and prelates
and other dignitaries of the State to do it honour.
The Merchant Taylors' Company is indeed some-
thing than a mere school, being one of the very first
of oar mercantile bodies, and possessing all those
claims to respect and pre-eminence which four cen-
turies of active and eventful life can give to any
institution. The celebration of Saturday was held,
however, exclusively in honour of the school which
is connected with it. The exciting days of exami-
nation were over, but the more gratifying and
gracious ceremony of awarding the prizes so hardly
won was among the first of the day's performances,
accompanied as usual by the delivery of orations,
the acting of scenes from the dramas of various na-
tions, and the comments of the head-master on the
individual achievements and general conduct of the
boys under his care. With the results of the
teaohiog the Merchant Taylors have no reason to
be dissatisfied, since out of the eight monitors four
have obtained open scholarships this year, and the
school can already boast of having ten scholars at
Oxford, and six at Cambridge, all doing creditably,
according to the testimony of Dr. HESSEY. Al-
though these statistics and the general ceremony of
prizeegiving and recitation might be chiefly inte-
resting to the youths concerned in it and to their
immediate connections, still a scene of the kind
possesses its attractions for the grown-up man, busy
I in the great routine of political, professional, or
commercial life. Moralists may speculate on the
possible destinies of the heroes of the day, preachers
may sermonise on the vanity of human hopes and
expectations, and foretel the probable disappoint.
ments that await ambition; scholars may compare
the result of a test like the present with those that
attended their own school days; but as a general
rule the prevailing feeling is one of genial sympathy
for the eager youths, of hearty good wishes for their
future success, and of kindly yet touching rememe
brance that the grave spectators themselves once
formed part of a group as buoyant, as eager, as
ambitious. The testimony borne by the head-master
to the general good conduct of the boys under his
charge was highly gratifying, and proves that the
system of discipline adopted in our great schools is
not, as some would contend, altogether a failure.
At the banquet, as we have said, many of the cele-
brities of the day were assembled. Law was power-
fully represented by Lord CHELMSFORD and WENS-
LEYDALE and several of the judges; politics by
Lord STANLEY and Mr. WALPOLE; the Church of
England by the Bishop of OXFORD; science by
Professor OWEN ; art by &nest:tee and LANDSEER;
the Universities by the two senior fellows of St.
John's, Oxford, and Dr. WYNTER, whose name has
lately been needlessly dragged into a newspaper
correspondence ; while a goodly show of Earls
and IVlarquisses proved that the Upper House
was not unmindful Of the welfare of the Merchant
Taylors. The usual complimentary toasts called
forth the usual courtly responses, and, perhaps, the
only noticeable speech of the evening was Lord
STANLEY'S reply to the toast of the House of Com-
mons.. In that brief address the noble lord took
occasion to maintain the general character of the
Douse, which ho was then representing as
a deliberative assembly) possessing in a high
degree the eontialehoe of the country. For
himself he declared that, during the years
in which he had beau associated with its
members, and had taken part in its deliberations,
the stronger had become his respect for its opinions
and his faith in the general soundness of its deci-
sions. This is probably the case with any one who
mikes With a great public body drawn from various
classes, and representing various shades of feeling
and opinion on religious, political, and social mat-
ters. Where the number is large enough, and the
individuals sufficiently varied to represent fairly
the great body of the English people, we shall
always find a sense of right, a rote of fair play, a
hatred of oppression, regulated and guided by the
sound common sense which is one of the predomi-
nating characteristics of our countrymen. But, as
these qualities are confined to no one class alone,
and are no more typical of the peer than of the
peasant, there can be no reason to fear any
change, or even cobsiderable modification of
questionsm them,
ore fairlyi n a new
oof national
np
aret
isoenn
at
el
dH
interesttohuese of
nation
atoo
nr
aCm
importance,
to m Commons which
large. s
Ontahlel
unanimity of Englishmen of all ranks has always
rbeeaesno none
o dofouthbetir great safeguards,tbatmattersofm or more
diverse
etrhseer e is
nature,no
foreign politics, changes in domestic administration,
discussion
asconsideration, they as tem-
perate questions of law, finance, and social welfare, would
receive as
calmp
impartial
ia
l a us
and careful
da
even do
now in a
House representing not the privileged
pe andclasses alone, but all ranks of English householders.
The days are gone by when mob orators and demo-
cratic leaders would have been selected by the
poorer householders. We may depend upon it that
no Blass of constituents will exercise their newly.
Acquired right more prudently,more oonecientiousl7,