The Sun.
London, England, 1864-08-08 00:00:00

gtic, At sum

LONDON, MONDAY, AUGUST 8, 1864.

The extraordinary Trial which was brought a
Paris on Saturday to so extraordinary a conclusion
may at length be very reasonably commented upon,
even here in England, now that it has been brought,
as a trial, to any conclusion at all. Different, often
diametrically opposite, though the institutions of
the two countries unquestionably are, it becomes a
matter of duty among the publicists of each, respec-
tively, to comment upon the bearing of those insti-
tutions, upon their bearing not only directly on the
social condition of things in the land to which
they (the institutions referred to) belong, but indi-
rectly also upon, if not the social condition, at any
rate the guidance or development of public
opinion among the neighbouring population.
Any disquisition upon the YELVERTON case, for
example, would be perfectly en regle, if indulged in
by anyone among our Parisian contemporaries.
Comment upon that extraordinary trial might,
not only very allowably but very judiciously,
be penned to almost any extent by any individual,
among the band of French journalists. Any•
thing that seriously affects the social or political
order of things in France, in the same way, upon the
same principle identically, comes legitimately within
reach, not only of the scrutiny, but of the searching
criticism as well, of the journalism of England. Of
the working of the institutions of France, we may be
permitted to take our view, here in England, quite
as reasonably as Frenchmen themselves. And vice
verse might be said of the latter in regard to their
capacity and right to judge of the working of ours
—that is, of the working of our institutions.
Having premised:all which, let us say at once, in re-
ference to this remarkable trial which has but
just now come to so very remarkable a conclu-
sion among our Parisian neighbours, that it
strikes us, in itself and in its result, as at once
painful and ludicrous. The charge directed against
the accused in this trial is, we would maintain,
little less than ludicrous in itself, amounting as it
does to something nearly equivalent to a formal
declaration in a court of law, that t wo•and-two
make not four as people have hitherto supposed,
but sense half-a-dozen or thereabouts. Thirteen
persons, in point of fact, have been for-
mally, deliberately, and authoritatively charged
with the high crime and misdemeanour
of forming an illegal association of Twenty.
It seems ridiculous, on cur part, seriously to assert
as much—yet such, to all intents and purposes, was
absolutely the bearing of the accusations brought
against MM. GARNIER PAGES, CARNOT, and DREO,
with their ten associates. For, seriously to put the
matter at issue in the plainest possible terms, such
was literally, such was no more and no less than
the drift of the whole charge directed against them.
Thirteen were no thirteen, but a score. Two and
two, in others, as before intimated, were pronounced
to be no longer four, but some elastic half-dozen or
thereabouts. Not only has this, and this precisely,
been the accusation directed against M. GARNIER
PAGES and his dozen colleagues or associates, but
thie, and precisely thie, was the decision eventually
arrived at, as the result of this astounding trial at
Paris on Ssturlay. The astonishing consequences
being that the accused have been sentenced to be
mulcted in 5,000 francs each, together with costa,
for having constituted themselves, to the number of
thirteen, an electoral meeting of twenty—this
prepesterons sentence having been pronounced in de-
fiance of all the rules of arithmetic, to say nothing
of the le ws and equity in any country upon
the surface of the globe—and Pronounced, 1,4 it be
borne in mind, not philosophers
by the one-eyed
of the Flying Island, but by the sixth Chamber
of the Correctional Tribunal of the Seine!

The Duke of BEAUFORT has not minced matters
in his remarks about the position of affairs and the
state of parties. It is really a relief occasionally to
meet with an address of this sort, for it seems to

vindicate the public men of cur day from the charge
of always allowing judgment to go by default, and
not troubling themselves to care if the existing
state of things is disturbed or not. So many aspen'
sions are cast on the Conservative party that it is
incumbent upon some of its members to come for-
ward now and then to disprove them, and to show
the animus that calls them forth and suggests their
malicious insinuations. It is the sure sign of the
waning strength of a party when it can stoop to
make use of slander as a weapon against its adver-
saries, and it must be confessed that the Liberal
get and Ministerial clique are over apt to detract
from the fair fame and honest intentions of their
opponents, without paying much regard to truth,
or being overs-cruputous as to justice. Besides
these more particular matters, it is a great mistake
for any party to allow one set of politicians to usurp
all the privileges to themselves. It must be some
cheek on existing po eaers, and some benefit in the
way of enlightening the minds of their hearers,
when decided and determined speeches are uttered,
such as those of the Duke of BEAUFORT and Mr.
ROLT, and, therefore, they will be perused with
satisfaction by all those who do not wish the affairs
of last session to be passed over in silence. The
Duke very properly explained the state of the case
as regarded the position of the Conservative party
during the trying period of the last session. Many
persons have exclaimed against their proceedings,
and stated that they held back too long, and did
not make any attempt to check Ministers until too
late in the year; but there are two sides to this, as
every other question. As the Duke of BEAUFORT
said, they were prevented from doing anything by
the information that negotiations were going for-
ward, and that they would disturb them by any
premature act on their part. This plea was urged
again and again, and it seethed to be the only con-
stitutional course to acquiesce in the arrangement.
It must now be considered, however, that this
notion of negotiations, and this plea of a Conference,
were nothing but subterfuges, and an adroit ma-
nccavre designed for the purpose of putting people
off their guard, and giving a better colour to the
affair in the eyes of those who looked on with dis-
trust and misgivings, In a Parliamentary view of
the matter, the leaders of the Conservatives were,
doubtless, right in abstaining from pressing for•
ward their inquiries ; but, as things have turned
out, it is almost to be regretted that
they treated their opponents with a considera-
tion they did not deserve, and to which they
were not entitled on public or private grounds.
As the Duke observed, it is very much to be
doubted if, under the same circumstances, they
would have met with similar reticence at the hands
of those who demanded their forbearance. "If
they had been in office the hands of the Whigs
would not have been tied but for the sake of up-
setting their party, they would, without hesitation,
have put embarrassing questions, and made motions
in both Houses of Parliament." It is not easy to
predicate what course will be pursued by such and
such a person or party under the pressure of events,
neither is it less difficult to take a retrospective
glance, and declare what would have been done
under the same circumstances by different persons ;
but, it may be mentioned, that the present Liberal
party have not shared any consideration or courtesy
in their conduct when in Opposition. It would
seem as if they cast all the claims of such influences
to the winds in their eager endeavours to regain
their lost Eden of office, and deferred the practice
of honest and honourable principles until a more
convenient opportunity. Their most zealous parti-
sans cannot say that they share in adversity, for a
more ignoble opposition has not been witnessed in
the annals of our history than that which contracted
the DEBBY Government on its last accession to power.
It is certain that the bias of political predilections)
and the exaggeration of style often witnessed at
local meetings can not be exercised in too strong
terms, when the conduct of the would-be Reformers
who took office with Earl RUSSELL is criticised.
Unworthily es the noble lord acted on that occa-
sion, however, it has since been proved that ho is
more inimical to the interests of his country as a
Foreign Minister than he was in the domestic de-
partment, and it was indeed an evil day for England
when he accepted the office of Foreign Secretary.
The Duke of BEAUFORT, in his off-hand way, de-
scribed the course of his proceedings as "checking
both parties," and the result inseparable from such
a line of action, of course,has been that they treated
him with contempt. His grace truly observed that
the question vies virtual:y settled before the matter
was discussed in Parliament, and by the time the
Conservatives came into power, it would have been
useless to go t) war. It is all very fine for the
partisans of Lord PALMERSTON to declare that the
Opposition never put forth a policy ; that
is an idle subterfuge which cannot de-
ceive many, and most be exposed in time.
Mr. ROLT, in his few remarks, ably summed up the
whole state of the case as regarded the Dana-Ger-
man question. Many will agree with the hon.
member when he said that, having looked through
the papers, he could not imagine anything more
humiliating than the disclosures made in them.
" Our boasting braggadocio, leaving Denmark at
the last alone, was one of the mast humiliating
things this country had suffered." Well might the
Ministers have withheld the production of the
papers till the last moment possible, for they thus
exposed their own truckling conduct, and published
to the world their incompetency to fill their high
position,

The interest which has been excited by Colonel
GORDON'S career in China has been so great, his
ability and success as a military commander have
been so conspicuous, and the results of his services
have been so important to the cause of the Imperi.
alists, that the abrupt termination of that career is
in some sense a matter of regret. Nevertheless the
reversal of the order in council, which permitted a
British officer to take part in the Chinese war, is
wise and right in every sense. It is unquestion.
ably no more than the Chineee have merited by
the treachery of the Futai of Soochow and
by the subsequent encouragement bestowed upon
him by his rulers. If it were once to be imagined
that Englishmen would tolerate perfidy and breach
of faith half our hopes of civilising China would be
gone. It is above all things important in our
dealings with those Eastern nations with whom
falsehood and treachery are mere venial offences or
no offences at all, to preserve intact that code of
national honour which we follow in our dealings
with Europeans. If they find that we rigidly
insist upon the maintenance of an oath or a
pledge, and resent as an injury any deviation from
it, they may learn in time to remodel their own
conduct in public transactions at all events. There
was another reason, too, which might well have
exercised considerable influence on the decision of
the Home Government, and that was the desire to
avoid being entangled in the wars of the Chinese.
The fact of an officer in the British service taking
so active a part in the prosecution of the war, natu-
rally implicated his Government in some degree as
countenancing the proceedings oF the Chinese autho-
rities. This was especially the case with Colonel,
then Major GORDON, since he was in direct corn-
munication with the Commander.in-Chief, and with
tne British Envoy, Sir F. BACCE, The House of

Commons has shown a strong disinclination to suffer
this country to become involved in any more East-
ern wars, and although they carried their censure
of the proceedings of the Government to an unwar-
rantable length, the open expression of their opi-
nions on the matter would doubtless have weight.
The policy of non-intervention, which is bringing
upon us so much disgrace and discredit by the
manner in which it is being applied to European
affairs, is certainly more applicable in China. In
Europe it is undoubtedly sowing a plentiful crop
of future wars, while in China we may
reasonably hope that it will keep us out
of them altogether. The conduct of the Impe-
rialists, too, was not such as to warrant any further
extension of our favours to them. The affair of
Captain OSBORN and Mr. LEY with the steam
flotilla proved that they did not properly recognise
the obligations which they were under to this count
try for even partial assistance. There is no doubt
that had they consented to accept the aid of Captain
OSBORN'S vessels on his own terms, they would
have been largely the gainers, while the great ad-
vantages which the Imperialists have now gained
over their antagonists are mainly due to the services
of Colonel GORDON. It cannot, indeed, be said that
the Chinese are insensible to the value of that
officer's assistance—since they have bestowed upon
him many marks of honour and tokens of their high
appreciation of his skill and courage. Indeed it is
their own fault that Colonel GORDON did not carry
his triumphs still further, and that Nankin is not
now in possession of the Imperial forces. The
delay caused by the Futai's treachery at Soochow,
upon the surrender of that city, caused the loss of
much valuable time, and stopped the English
leader midway in his career. At the time
the news reached this country, we expressed
our conviction that it was due to Col. GORDON'S
own reputation, no less than to the honour of his
country, that he should lay down his arms, and
decline any further to serve a leader who had so
greatly insulted him. Such, it appears, was his
own wish and intention, and it was only at the
desire of Sir F. BRUCE that he retained his com-
mission. The Envoy feared that GORDON'S band
would go over to the Taepings and increase the
confusion. Sir F. BRUCE says in his despatch, "it
is indispensable that officers of character should
remain at the head of these semi-disciplined Chinese
corps until tranquillity is sufficiently restored, so sus
to allow of their being dissolved without danger.
Otherwise, not only would; the results already
achieved be sacrificed, but the prospect of the
netoration of tranquillity would be indefinitely
postponed. The " magistrates, elders, and popula-
tion" of the pacified districts also joined in en-.
treating Colonel GORDON to retain his command,
so as to protect them from a repetition of the hor-
rors inflicted by the Taepings upon their victims.
No blame can, therefore, be attached to that officer
for continuing in his position under these circum-
stances, and it is well that direct instructions from
the Home Government should have solved the diffie
(laity for him, and taught the Chinese authorities
that Englishmen cannot overlook a deliberate act
of treachery and breach of faith. Colonel GORDON,
however, has done his work. When he entered the
Chinese service the great cities of Hongchow and
Soochow were in the hands of the Taepings, and
were fast falling into ruin ; the silk districts were
desolated by them, and one important branch of
trade was thus paralysed. The cruelty of the
rebels knew no distinction of age or sex, of resist-
ance or helplessness. Little children with their
throats cut lay in the path of the advancing corps.
Some may question the wisdom or justice of the
Imperial cause, but it is quite plain that unless some
check were put on atrocities like these the material
wealth of China would be eer:ously impaired, while
its population—vast as it is—would be decimated
by the wholesale slaughter. Colonel GORDON
leaves the great cities in the hands of the Impe-
rialists; he has left the rebels no possession of im-
portance save the city of Nankin. The terror of
his name has effected what his arms left undone.
Often it was enough for the Taepings to hear that
GORDON was advancing to lay down their arms at
once, and his personal courage has been no less con-
spicuous than his military skill. Ho has availed
himself of none of the opportunities of personal
advantage which the chances of war threw in his
way, but in the fulfilment of a difficult, arduous,
aed dangerous duty he has shown himself to be
possessed of those qualities which Englishmen
value even above military talents. Colonel GORDON
has already achieved distinction in his Chinese
campaign, but we oannot question that, should the
opportunity be granted him in the service of his
own country, he will add another name to lite list
of those officers of whom England is jues4 proud.

BRITISH ARCH NOLOGICAL AASOCIATION.—The
21st annual meeting
of this resociation will com-
mence at Ipswich to-day (Nlonc,,ay),
under the presidency
of Mr G. Tomline, M.P. Tlee proceedings will be inaugu,_
rated with a meeting at the, town-hall, where the association
will be welcomed by tire Mayor and corporation of Ipswich,
and the president wilA deliver an address. In the course of
the day some of salient antiquities of the town will be
examined, and '„o-morrow an excursion will be made with
the same object to Bury St. Edmund's, On We;inesday a
second excearsion will be made in the direction ef Colchester,
and on ries following day there will be an 'excursion to Par-
ham, Framlington, &c., when in the evening
the President
psi? i entertain the association at his seat, Orwell-park. On
-Priday an excursion will be wee., to -wood-bridge, Butley
Abbey, Orford Castle, &c., end on Saturday there will be
a final excursion to Lor,g Melford, Ltvenham, Hadleigh,
&c. Altogether, a very agreeable week is promised.
Among the gentleenen who act as local Vice. Presidents are
the Marquis of Bristol, Earl Jermyn, M.P., the N en. Lord
Arthur Hereey, Lord 'Henniker, M.P., Lord Rendelsham,
Sir G. Bsoke Middleton, Mr C. Austin, Mr J. C. Cobbold,
M.P.! Mr 11. E. Adair, M.P., Mr G. C. E. Bacon, &e.
TIIE ALLEGED DESTRUCTION OF THE GREAT
MONTGOLFIEIt BALLOON. Exaggerated reports
having appeared of the damage suffered by M. Godard's
balloon, " The Eagle," pains have been taken to ascertain
the facts, which are these :—M. Godard took up with him
' in his late ascent ono passenger besides his own three as-
sistants e.nd the interpreter. Ho has experienced some
difficteity at other times as well as on this occasion in
Revering the balloon, owing to the country people being
a'Aarmed at its unusually large size, and therefore fearing
to catch tho trailing ropes, as they willingly do with a bal-
loon of more moderate siz). On this occasion the eagle
descended at first as favourably as could be desired near
Walthamstow ; but just at the moment of its descent a
ground breeze suddenly arose, and being coincident with the
usual rebound of the balloon, carried it against the branch
of a tree, which tore the cotton covering, though not very
seriously. M. Godard, shortly afterwards, when trying to
lift the car, was so unfortunate as to step on a stone which
turned under his foot, and he has thus sprained his ankle,
With this exception none of the party wet° hurt, all having
alighted in perfect safety, and having succeeded in securing
the balloon, which will be repaired in a day or two. , Tho
accident to M. Godard is, however, unfortunate, as ho
unable for a day or two to superintend matters personally,
end being obliged to go to Paris at once, no further ascent
of the Eagle can take place here till his return. Ho pure
poses, however, being in England again by the latter end
of the month, when he intends to make some ascents at
Cremorne, and will also most probably visit the provinces
for the same purpose.
TIIE COURTESIES OF WAR.—Ia front of General
Ilutler's lines I am told that only one shot has been
fired doting three weeks. That came from a rebel soldier
of mischievous proclivities, who was punished for violating
the tacit truce. His commanding officer exposed him for
three hours outside their breastworks, within 53 yards of
our lines, compelling him to march to and fro all that time
with a heavy stick of wood on h a shoulder as a penance for
his indiscretion. Our men magnanimously spared the poor
wretch's life,--Lotter from Petersburg, in the New fork
Times.

AMERICAN BLOCKADE.—NEW YORK, July 24.
The brig Queen Victoria, I ing, arrived hero from Inagua,
saw a steamer, supposed to be a blockade runner, chased
and captured on the 10th of July, lat. 28 N, long. 71 40 W.
The Jesse Blue (United States transport) arrived at New
York, heard heavy firing at eva on the 23d of July about 15
wiled eft Cape Heulopen.