The Sun.
London, England, 1852-12-22 00:00:00

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUN.

Lieut.-General Lord F. Fitzclarence, commander-in-
chief at Bombay, has presented to the 36th Regiment, of
which he is colonel, a very handsome flag-staff for their
new colours, set in silver gilt, ornamented with oak leaves,
and with a crystal in front, containing fragments of the
old colours of the regiment,-set in the form of a union-
jack, with the following inscription beneath :—" These
relics of the old colours of the 36th Regiment, which were
borne through and witness of so many glorious actions
under the immortal Wellington, are presented by Lie-at.-
General Lord F. Fitzclarence, colonel of the regiment."
LORD DERBY AND THE IRISH LORD CHANCELLOR.-- In the absence of any positive intelligence respecting
Ministerial arrangements there are abundance of rumours
about impending changes, including those connected with
the executive and the law in Ireland ; but it is needless to
refer to those speculations, as the real facts are likely to
transpire in a day or two. It is stated very confidently
that Mr. Blackbmme, the Lord Chancellor, has received a
communication from Lord Derby, announcing his own re-
signation, as an event that would necessarily lead to the
surrender of the Irish seals by that right honourable gen-
tleman, but stating it as his decided opinion that circum-
stances will arise to require his return to office before the
end of April next.
DEPARTURE OF THE LORD-LIEUTENANT.—It is stated
that preparations are in progress at the Castle for the de-
parture of the Lord-Lieutenant. His Excellency and the
Countess of Eglinton will hold an undress morning recep-
tion at the Castle previous to their leaving.
CHRISTMAS BENEFACTIONS TO CLERGYMEN.—At this
season of the year a considerable sum of money is annually
distributed among poor curates and other clergymen of the
Established Church by the governors of the ancient corpo.
ration of the Sons of the Clergy, and on Saturday last, the
18th inst., they held their usual meeting for the purpose at
the Corporation-house, No. 2, Bloomsbury-place. After a
very lengthened discussion in reference to the necessity of
taking steps to increase the efficiency and resources, and to
make more generally known the character and needs of the
charity, more especially in consequence of the very large
number of small benefices which have of late years been
created, the governors proceeded to the immediate object
of the meeting, when the cases of 85 poor clergymen wee e
submitted, and sums of 101. to 201. were given to 78.
SIGNS OF CHRISTMAS-DAY.—Yesterday evening, for
the first time this season, the metropolis began to assume
its unmistakeable Christmas appearance. In all the great
thoroughfares the butchers and poulterers' shops displayed
to admiring crowds and watering mouths the solid devour-
ables of an Englishman's table, in the shape of gigantic
quarters of beef, Patagonian legs and shoulders of mutton,
with enormous sides of pork, some of them feet in thick-
ness, apparently solid, and strong enough to do duty as
bulwarks on board of line-of-battle ships, and bulwarks
they are to a man-o'-war's-man, no doubt, in a different
sense.

LONDON COLONIAL TRAINING INSTITUTION. The
object of this institution is to afford to a limited number
of adult male criminals the means of recovering the posi-
tion they have lost in society, by providing them with a
shelter and suitable instruction, and after the lapse of a
certain period, by giving them a free passage to one of the
British colonies. A meeting was held yesterday at the
institution in Great Smith-street, Westminster, previous
to the departure of 12 of the inmates. Mr. Carter Wood,
treasurer of the charity, presided, and there were several
ladies and gentlemen present. The proceedings commenced
with prayer and the singing of a hymn, after which the
chairman, addressing the emigrants, congratulated them
on the prospects that were before them, and gave them
some good advice for the regulation of their conduct on
the passage and in the colony. He also alluded to the
pleasing testimony borne by Mr. Nash, the governor of the
institution, to the exemplary conduct observed by the
emigrants during the 12 months they had been under his
care. The meeting was afterwards addressed by Mr.
Payne and other gentlemen, and Mr. Nash read some
letters from former inmates who had emigrated, and who
were now in prosperous cicumstances. An J illustrated
copy of "Bunyan's Pilgrimr Progrzss," the gift of the
the Earl of Shaftesbm7, w's pre rented to each of the
emigrants, who rose beforeashey separated and severally
expressed their gratitude for t.l-40 benefits which they had
received in the institution, • .

Sat,--I concur most completely with your admirable
rem irks of Monday regarding Lord Palmerston, and
the country will concur with them.
The people of England begin to understand Lord Pal-
merston ; and to understand is to appreciate " the first
statesman of the age." They begin uneasily to inquire,
what influence it is, hanging over one who has served
his country so long and so ably which causes him to be
passed over in a crisis like the present, whilst men of
half his talent and a tythe of his influence are considered
indispensable ? They are puzzled when they ask people,
better informed themselves, why Lord Palmerston does
not rally round him the many men of talent that
respect him, and form an Administration so eminontly
national that it would be a disgrace to oppose it ?
Surely there is no truth in the insinuation expressed
exultingly in the Daily News the other day, an insinua-
tion which all must regard as the foulest calumny—
that Lord Palmerston, notwithstanding his eminent
services for more than a quarter of a century is out of
favour in a high quarter. It is true that the policy
of our patriotic Foreign Secretary was not always
consistent with the fancied interests of a few paltry
German principalities; that he had the discernment to
detect, and the courage to oppose, the encroaching spirit
of Russia ; that he was ever prepared to defend the
Englishman from wrong and outrage in whatever part
of the world he might be ; but it is equally true that his
policy was always consistent with the interests and the
dignity of this mighty country—to use his own eloquent
words, shortly after his ungracious dismissal, he "left the
name of England ranking high amongst the nations of
the world."
The enemies of Lord Palmerston artfully appeal to
the timid part of the community who, with a righteous
horror of war, would act precisely in the way to bring
it upon them with crashing effect. In the great battle
of politics, where powerful nations have different in-
terests to defend, different aspirations to gratify, it is
not by quailing^ and aubniigsion that a conflict is avoided,
but by showing that you are ready to Boat. It was by
preserving an unbending front, by keeping a steady eye
that Lord Palmerston kept at bay the grasping spirit of
Russia, the vindictive spirit of Austria, and the mighty
power of France. He was ready at all times, if neces-
sary, to place the alternative before us of a just war
to protect the interests of England abroad, or an ignoble
peace, purchased at the expense of the independence and
the honour of the nation. He did not understand a
policy which, by affecting ignorance or indifference,
would for peace and quietness allow the legitimate in-
fluence of this great empire to be filched from her.
I could write more upon this subject, to show that
Lord Palmerston is not only deservedly popular for what
he has already done, but that Europe, although appa-
rently quiet, is really so unsettled, that a large body of
people feel that he is necessary to them—that they re-
quire a man of his unrivalled ability and experience to
detect the designs of foreign countries, and to arrest them
before they are in a position to carry them out ; but I
forbear to do so, having already occupied much of your
valuable space. Of this lam certain, that the popula-
rity of Lord Palmerston is a great fact,—that no Govern-
ment could be permanent with him in Opposition,—and
that he is too patriotic, after having served his country
so well, to leave it in the hour of need, and that he will
not accept the Vice-Royalty of Ireland.—Yours, &c.,
Cambridge-street, Hyde-park-square. C. W. S.