The Sun.
London, England, 1852-09-29 00:00:00

int

_ _ -
yam,
LONDON, WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1852

Nothing could be more happily illustrative of the
commercial prosperity and political tranquillity which
are the peculiar characteristics of the present age
than the Speech from the Throne, delivered on the
20th inst., upon the inauguration of the Legislative
Session of the States General by his Majesty the
Ring of HOLLASD. Instead of allusions to war, or
congratulations upon victory, there were references to
the satisfactory appearance of foreign relations. " I
receive," said the KING, in that stereotyped sentence
of the reigning_ Sovereigns of Christendom, " constant
marks of friendship and esteem from foreign Govern-
ments." Instead of an enumeration of territorial
conquests, or a catalogue of prizes won in battle,
there was a statement in regard to the crops—the
bloodless conquests of peace and the guiltless prizes
of agriculture. "The favourable prospects relative
to the harvests
in the colonies," observed his Ma-
JESTY, " have been completely realised.„
Instead of
haughty comments upon the .
'lll)Jugation of neigh-
bouring principalities, there were
felicitations upon
the successful exchanges effected in
merchandise.
" The results of the sales,mad,e duJing the present
year," remarked the Royal orator, have been
parti-
cularly favourable." Throughout the Whole
of the
Address, indeed, there were evidences of that
same
serene and humanizing spirit which has tended
of
late to forward so very materially the onward march
of civilisation. The preservation of order in the
various provinces of the kingdom was intimated in
the passage which averred that " the execution of the
provincial and commercial laws had made considerable
progress in general," insomuch that the KING ad-
mitted that he found reason to exult in the " effica-
cious co-operation of the provincial states and the
commercial administrations." The only allusion
made throughout this interesting Speech from the
Throne to operations, or rather to projects of a
warlike character, was one eminently indicative of
those very peculiarities to which we have already re-
ferred as illustrative of the present age—the peculiari-
ties tending to enforce the maintenance of commercial
prosperity and of political tranquillity. For it relates

to the vindication of the principles of humanity and
to the better stabilitation of the system of mercantile
engagements. "On the invitation of a friendly,
power," said his MAJESTY, in this portion of his Ad-
dress to the States General, " and in following out
the track which was commenced in 1844, I have pro-
mised my good offices in favour of an attempt to
obtain modifications in the system of exclusion
hitherto maintained by the empire of Japan." Re-
collections are hereby agreeably revived of that
generous enterprise upon which the United States of
America—the " friendly power," implied by the King
of HoLLAro—have recently resolved to adventure :
an enterprise rendered inevitable at last by the sys-
tematic cruelties indulged in, almost "time out of
mind," by the barbarous severity tolerated, perhaps
we should more correctly say, directly authorised by
the Japanese Government. From the infamous na-
ture of these cruelties, and from their
lamentably frequent recurrence, it has become,
at length, absolutely necessary for some one
of the more civilized races of the world to in-
terfere with a strong arm and with in-
flexible determination. Upon no power in either
hemisphere has the responsibility of this interposi-
tion mcre immediately devolved than upon the Re-
public of North America—seeing that the mariners of
towards
the United States have been snore repeatedly than
any other navigators sufferers ' from the harshness
displayed by the empire
strangers indiscriminately, (MP
°f4tipo anPthanose
towards such as
have been accidentally driien inhospitableall
shores by stress of weather, or by the calamities of
actual shipwreck. It bahoved the Council of Wash-
ington, therefore, to adopt such measures as were
best: calculated to prevent the repetition of
atrocities
think, so heinous, and, elsewhere we rejoice
t
altogether unparalleled. Therefore it
o
was that the Republican Administration presided
over by MILLARD FILLICORE resolved not long ago to
send a warlike expedition to Japan, capable of ex-
torting promises of future good conduct from the
members of the Japanese Government. For the
purpose of rendering this humane expedition in all
essential respects more effectual, it will be observed,
from the passage we have excerpted from the Royal
Speech delivered to the States General on the 20th
instant by the King of HOLLAND, that the democratic
administrators at Washington have secured the co-
operation of at least one other of the maritime powers
of Christendom. Under these auspices we doubt not
for an instant that the expedition against Japan will
prove eminently successful—as successful, indeed, as
could by possibility be desired by the most devoted
lovers of humanity and by the most earnest well-
wishers to the sacred interests of civilization.

It is satisfactory, moreover, to observe from the
Royal Address inaugurative of the Legislative Session
of the States General that Holland has during the
past year been spared the repetition of those calamities
to which at one time she was unhappily becoming, in
a really fearful manner, habituated. " Our dykes,"
said the KING, " have been wholly exempt from disas-
ters. This has enabled us to carry on the works of
improvement, particularly those on the principal rivers,
with the more energy and success." Another, and a
very noble illustration of the fortunate results of the
leisure consequent upon the continuance of peace
among the European populations—one, moreover,
which was subsequently enforced in its significance
by the gratifying declaration of his LIAIESTY—" I
witness with much interest the growing development
of the spirit of enterprise among our people in agri-
culture, trade, and commerce, as well as in the mul-
tiplication of the modes of conveyance." Further on
the King of HOLLAND had the gratification
of asserting, and with perfect accuracy, " The
measures adopted by my Government tend
to encourage and strengthen this development."
How far the on ward movement has already
extended may be recognised by three remarkable
declarations—firstly, that "the works for uniting
Holland with the neighbouring states by means of
railways and electric telegraph communication are
prepared, and on the point of execution ;" secondly,
that during the past twelve months "navigation and
maritime constructions have been equally prosperous ;"
and thirdly, and in some particulars, of all, the most
important, that " the financial state of the country
affords ample ground for satisfaction." Such are the
principal features in that Speech from the Throne
with which his Majesty the King of HOLLAND re-
cently inaugurated the new session of the Dutch Le-
gislature—a Speech which, as it was singularly in
unison with the generality of those Royal Addresses
which are eminently characteristic of an age of in-
dustrial toil and social tranquillity, so it happily
closed, like the rest, with a touching recognition of
the homage due to the ineffable supremacy of DIVINE
PROVIDENCE. "May our united efforts to accomplish
the task that still awaits us," said the KING, " Jbe
crowned by the blessing of GOD !" We have com-
mented thus in detail upon the Royal Address de-
livered upon the 20th instant to the States General
of Holland, because we have considered it to be sa-
tisfactory, not only as indicative of the prosperity and
happiness enjoyed by that country in particular, but
as peculiarly and very agreeably expressive of the
prosperity and happiness pervading now-a-days the
majority of the rest of the nations of Christendom.

The committee appointed by the Admiralty to in-
quire into the suitableness and capabilities of the
ports of Galway and the Shannon as a Transatlantic
Packet Station, in connexion with a harbour of re-
fuge, have published their report, a copy of which
will be found in another part of this day's impression.
It is an important and apparently well-considered
document, and carries it with the authority
attached to the names of Captains BEECREY,
SMITH, and CAFFIN. It is, however, much
to be regretted that the investigation was
so limited in its nature as to prevent the claims of
Valentia, Berehaven, and even Cork Harbour from
being taken into consideration—claims we cannot
help thinking susperior to those discussed in the
report, and which are not liable to the strong objec-
tions put forward by a majority of the committee to
both Galway and the Shannon,"and which prevented
them from feeling justified' "in recommending
either of these ports as suitable to a service re-
Wring the greatest regularity and dispatch, and
,under the necessity of being run for in all weathers,
uay and night."
Se'far aa it goes, and subject to the drawback
above referred to, the decision is favourable to the
Shannon, and gives
a preference to Foynes rather
than.Tarbert as the position to be selected. We fully
coincide in this
opinion not merely on account of
ay reqotinds m
aired—forsa o
more
en
such
the more moderate outi
the expenditure of a few t h
orlesaspiosinat
matter of comparatively trivial
importance, but chiefly
en account of its advantages
when the
necessary
works should be completed.
. . The pecuniary
part of the question simple. To
render Galway
secure and suitable for a packet station, large and
extensive works would be required.
These works,
decreed essential by the committee, cow.,
not be
constructed under 227,6001., while the more complete
plan could not be carried out under double that Burn:
Looking to every circumstance, the committee hav®
come to the conclusion that at the lowest estimate
230,0001. would be required, and that p 'ode endent of
the extension of the railway from the present
terminus to the pier, which would have to cross the
stream from Lough Corrib, and would therefore require
a heavy outlay. This, however, the company would
probably undertake if the question were thereby to
be decided in favour of Galway, and their line made
the great trunk line for the passenger traffic between
Europe:and America. On the other hand, Tarbert
would require for pier and basin 75,0001., and for
extension of railway—a single line to Limerick, to
join the existing railway there, 137,0001., making a
total of 212,000/,, for which, however, we would have
34 miles of railway additional. Foynes, again,
Would only require the construction of a pier and
small breakwater, costing 13,000/., and twenty.. four
italics of
in rail way, at an expense of 90,000/., making
a. 4103000%
less than half that required for either
of the other ' •
points. It i 3 also better sheltered than
Tarbert, whin'
afford h, however, being more extensive, would
greater accommodation when the projected
works, had been carried into execution. Both Foynes
and Tarbert Would also have the advantage of pos-
sessing a capaciou
8 basin at Limerick, adjoining the
river, sufficiently aide and deep at its entrance to
receive the class of packets required when needing re-
pair. This, of course, ie an element of considerable
importance in the 041,111
[Won, ,Additional bight-