The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-21 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

fins DAY.—Morning, sh. 16m.—Afternoon, sh. 30w,
To-monnow.-Morning, sh. 50m.—Afternoon, 6h. 9m.

tfig 1

2 Aut

LONDON, TUESDAY, JULY 21, 1863.

" A barking dog is often more useful than a
sleeping lion," remarks WASHINGTON IRTING, in a
letter given by his biographer in the second volume
of his Life. And the phrase now recurs to us with a
Whimsical appropriateness, immediately after the
wonderful noise made by Tear'em, with a view to
the rousing up at last of the drowsy old constitu-
tional lion, as personified by Lord PALMERSTON.
The usefulness of the barking dog, however, in this
instance, as compared with the sleeping lion, re-
mains, we grieve to think, rather dubious, to say
the least of it. The advantage accruing to any
question whatever, it matters comparatively little
whether it be one intrinsically of large or small
importance—the advantage accruing to any ques•
tion from the mere discussion of it, that discussion
being raised upon some motion which is eventually
withdrawn, must always be regarded as problema-
tical. We have no faith in the good coming to any
cause in the wide world from the mere ventilation of it.
A motion ushered in, as Mr. ROEBUCK'S was, for
example, with so very sonorous a flourish of trum-
pets, only, after all, to be quietly dropped, comes
before the world as the gpt est possible illustratioE
of " mere sound and fury, signifying nothing!" It
has all the effect of an anti-climax. The result
arrived at under these kind of circum-
stances, is assuredly, if there ever be one,
a "most tame and impotent conclusion."
A withdrawn motion, whether in Lords or Com-
mons, might, like the epigrammatist's infant expiring
at its birth, dictate its epitaph quite as aptly—

" 'Tis strange, so soon that I am done for,
I wonder what I was begun for 1"

It was fortunate, last night, all things considered,
that Lord CAMPBELL decided upon not bringing
forward his query in regard to the Confederates.
Lord CAMPBELL, acting thus in the exercise of a
wise discretion, we presume upon one of those
judicious afterthoughts, the obvious excel-
lency of which has given rise to its being
said, very ungrammatically, that second thoughts
are best—meaning better ! However this may be,
the reventilation in the Lords of the whole complex
question in regard to the American war, supposing
it to have been necessitated by Lord CAMPBELL'S
persistence in his original intention, could not pos-
sibly have occurred at a moment more signally in-
opportune. Remembering the actual situation of
things just now out there in the seat of war, to
north of Washington, it could hardly have been
otherwise than distinctly inopportune. It would
have been peculiarly and especially so, however,
upon the very morrow of Mr. ROEBUCK'S rather
Ignominious hushing up in the House of Com-
mons. Ostentatiously introduced, but in the end
most meekly withlrawn, motions upon matters of
vital importance in themselves, appear, neverthe-
less, just now to be singularly in the fashion. If
remarkable for nothing else, the present Session of
Parliament will, at the very least, be remarkable
enough in that particular. The most brilliant, and
the most effective speeches of the year have inau-
gurated debates that have led to these
feeble results Of immense displays, or, at
any rate, semblanees
of power, whether
in argument or in rhetoric.
Now, the hon. mem-
ber for Liskeard has been the Hero of the occasion.
Now, the right hon. member for Stroud has,
by
the delivery of an oration remarkable, even from
of its oratorical excellence
him, for the brilliancy
and for the scarcely resistable cogency of its rea-
soning, has afforded the House first, and the Country
afterwards, the opportunity of witnessing,-
in the
very manner of his conducting an important motion
up to its withdrawal, a sort of parliamentary illus-
tration—in the way of sheer antithesis--of the
closing couplet of a sonnet as defined by KEATS :•••••
rising loudly
Up to its climax, and then dying proudly,"

It came certainly most ludicrously last night, the
effect of this sadden dying out of this abrupt
thunder, raised by another sham Jupiter Tonans,
among the Parliamentary Independents, this new
SAL3IONEUS of the back benches, or from below the

gangway, driving across the brazen bridge of a
resolution, the mere promise comprised in
which seems to be made, like chiidrens' toys,
or lik3 piecrusts, just simply to be broken.
It comes all the more ludicrously from the circum-
stance of its arriving simultaneously with the appa-
rition, before the world at large, of that notable reply
of Prince GORTSCHAKOFF, Which, if it be, as it
certainly is, most unsatisfactory as a reve-
lation of the policy of the CZAR, is, at any
rate, bold, consistent, and perfectly comprehensible.
All which the Foreign Policy of England most cer-
tainly is not! The which, who shall deny P
Whether we look at this present moment, or through

tte sombre vista of the last three or four years, to
the manifestation of that Foreign Policy of Eng-
land, as it relates to Italy, to Poland, or to
America!

As might have been expected, Mr. HORSMAN'S
motion last night on the subject of Poland proved
unkvailing, and was finally withdrawn. Perhaps,
all things considered, it was the wisest course that
tine right hon. gentleman could have done under the
circumstances. His motive was a good one, and,
doubtless, had all he suggested been practicable, it
would have been a wise one, but the obstacles that
would have inevitably interposed themselves would
militate against the alterations and changes be
proposed ever being carried out effectually or effec-
tively. He moved " That the arrangements made
with regard to Poland by the Treaty of Vienna have
failed to secure the good government of Poland or
the peace of Europe, and any further attempt to
replace Poland under the conditions of that treaty
must cause calamities to Poland and embarrassment
and danger to Europe." He made an impressive
speech on the occasion, which, indeed, was
owilaistytoinhav
have
been expected from his well-known
de-
bate and comm and of language. In the course of
it he said one very true thing, "Poland had been
diplomatised to death." He censured the whole
course of the late representations to Russia, and
wound up by asking if the course which had been
taken was English policy or Ministerial temerity.
The Ministers endeavoured to retrieve matters by
reviving the " exploded hypocrisy of 1815." Mr.
HORSMAN argued that it would be a
mockery to talk of rescuing a country and
give her back again into the hands of her oppressors.
The only way to repair the wrongs of Poland was
to welcome her into the brotherhood of nations, He
concluded by saying that he trusted to the noble
lord at the head of the Government to correct the
" feeble utterances" and to repudiate the " ignoble
sentiments" of others. One rather incongruous
statement made by Mr. HORSMAN was, that by
adopting his counsel of entire independence for
Poland, its restoration could be effected without
having recourse to war. This was shown by Lord
PALMERSTON to be untrue. The noble lord, in a
comparatively brief address, spoke very much to
the point, and showed the great difficulties in the
way of interference with the existing state of
things, and the utter impracticability of the propo-
sals of Mr. HORSMAN. He said he hoped the
House would not coincide with the motion of his
right hon. friend ; for he believed it to be a ",most
lame and impotent conclusion." He also observed
that to give up the Treaty of Vienna would be
losing our only hold on the Russians, and thus
nullifying all our arguments. He could not under-
stand how we should be benefitting the Poles by
adopting such a course. The noble lord explained
that now we had a right to say to Russia, " You
have not kept to the terms of the Treaty;" but if we
declare that the treaty is annulled the Russians will
immediate reply—" We accept your admission, and
hold Poland no longer by treaty but by conquest.
It is ours by right of the sword, touch it who
choose. We have the same right to hold it, without
any condition whatever, an we have to hold any
part of the great empire which belongs to the _Rus-
sian Crown." The noble lord truly went on to say
that this, so far from being an advantage to the
Poles, would be only tying them all, bound hand
and foot, to General MOURAVIEFF, or any one else
Russia might choose to place over them. At the
same time, Lord PALMERSTON showed that it was
impossible to remain quiescent, and to do nothing
after the Polish insurrection had broken out. "The
opinion of the House and of the country—the
opinion also of Europe—called loudly for some re-
presentation to be made to Russia." The noble
lord then touched on the other points to which re-
ference had been made, and forcibly declared that
he was convinced that good would be the result of
the endeavours recently made by the Government
of this country in conjunction with those of other
nations. It Russia would agree to an armistice,whicb
she had not done as yet, he felt convinced that dur-
ing the suspension of hostilities much might be ar-
ranged that would bring satisfactory results. The
eoble lord's speech was highly satisfactory on the
whole, and augurs well for the future policy
to be pursued towards Poland. It by no
means follows that because we cannot go to
war for Poland no mediation can be successful
in her cause, and that diplomacy may not effect &nee
amelioration in the state of that distracted land.
Mr. HENNESSY made some remarks on the ques-
tion, and said that Austria was in a difficult position,
but that a strong feeling pervaded all ranks in
favour of Poland, and that the EMPEROR himself
participated in it. The Emperor of the FRENCH
would gain an immense moral advantage by esta-
blishing the independence of Poland. The hon.
gentleman declared that the assertion of Prince
GORTSCHAKOFF that the war was stimulated by
foreign influence was false. It has been sometimes
said these discussions are of no use, and indeed are
provocative of evil, but to right-minded persons it
must appear that they can do no harm, and may
accomplish much good. It would be derogatory to
the dignity of England to hold entirely aloof and
permit such atrocities to take place without com-
ment of any kind. At the same time what is said
in the debates may be of great service to the cause.
The intelligent among the Russian people will per-
ceive that all agree as to the infamy and iniquity
of the policy that now reigns at St. Petersburg.
Apposing politicians are in unison as to this point,
and
rg
interests meet together to condemn
shewdhivoelesing
style and spirit of the Russian system.
Who can say that some good effect may not be pro-
duced by these reiterated and indignant remon-
strances. At all events the Ministers have done
well as might have been expected in
tthheeidridffiuctuy as
lt circumstances in which they have been
placed.

tthe W
datyhewparsizeinterest,iin-
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f The National Rifle and indeed importance. not wonw without haotu
doubt that the
and there can be no
Asso-
ciation has grown into an institution of some con-
sequence,stimulus and encouragement which
it gives to the
practice of rifle shooting is likely to
be of great
practical benefit. When the enthusiasm died away
Which called forth the Volunteers in such vast
numbers, and led men of independent position and
sedentary habits to submit to all the attendant in-
conveniences of drill and routine, it was feared by
many that the energies of the members would flag,
and chat the great Volunteer movement would
collapse and be no more heard of. Such, however,
is far from the case. Thanks to these rifle meetings,
the grand annual reviews, the patronage so readily
accorded by royalty, and the hearty support of the
public, the Volunteers still muster in full force, and
the amateur army, as we may call it, is more firmly
established than ever. It is placed on a regular
footing, which gives it a recognised position
; it
has efficient officers and laws and regulations
of its own duly sanctioned by Parliament,
and we may now rank it among the esta-
blished institutions of the country. This result
was certainly not foreseen by those Wise people who
ridiculed the project; and foretold the gradual de-
cadence of the Volunteers in time of peace, or their
ignominious flight from the enemy in time of war.
If the latter catastrophe ever takes place, it will cer-

tainly be owing to lack of courage, and not to want
of skill, as the Wimbledon meeting abundantly
proved. Neither is there cause to fear that the
movement will die out with its projectors. The
general formation of Volunteer corps among the
boys of our great public schools is an excellent
means of perpetuating it, and the recent success of
the Etonians will stimulate the energies of all
youthful heroes who saw the victorious eight march
off in triumph yesterday with the Ashburton shield.
We believe that the plan of forming juvenile corps
has been adopted in many large assemblies of boys
and youths, and we should be glad to see it still
further extended. No Volunteer would enter more
heartily into the movement, and few of maturer
years would probably find so much satisfaction in
the attendant excitement and responsibility.
It would give a safety valve to that spirit
of restless adventure which is so often
the perplexity and terror of teachers and
governors, and would be conducive to health
snhwandeaehdvsi
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aencdcretdayni
obediencevl l
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ioosdt
orders.
no
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rodnte
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doubt
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quaint but clever paper, published in one of our
periodicals some time since by a well-known author,
the writer was supposed to find himself in an under-
ground country, where many of the follies of upper
earth received curious illustration. At a certain
age each person was deprived of all those members
and faculties which he had not used, and accord-
ingly men were continually met without eyes, or
arms, or legs. A lawyer, who explained to the
visitor the reason of this incompleteness, was him-
self reduced to a head and a right arm, those being
the only parts of his body be had habitually called
into action. If such a test could have been applied
to the denizens of this metropolis a few years since we
fear a good many would have been brought to the
same level—the fact of a due exercise of the body
being necessary to keep the mind in health being
constantly overlooked. The inauguration of the
Volunteer movement has, however, brought about a
better state of things, and even the residents of our
Inns of Court might safely pass the ordeal if they
were members of the " Devil's Own." With re-
gard to the value of the practice in other
ways we have sufficient evidence in the list of the
winners yesterday, whose skill has been turned to
good account in many parts of the world. The
presence of the Commander-in-Chief was a proof
of the good feeling existing on the part of the
army towards their rivals, and the large concourse
assembled testified to the public interest in these
national sports.

RUMOURED DEATH OF LORD CLYDE,

We are happy to state that the report, which
appeared in a contemporary, of the death of Field.
Marshal Lord Clyde, is premature, though his lord-
ship, by the last account from Chatham, still re-
mained in a very critical condition.

CANTERBURY HALL.