The Sun.
London, England, 1852-08-20 00:00:00

T ri UN;

ther than this, the people have been left only to
conjecture. In several instances it is true
that, notwithstanding the ob3urate silence
of the Cabinet, the more discerning speculators in the
future may count with something like certainty upon
the unfolding of other projects by the present Minis-
try consonant with the spirit of the age and compa-
tible with the wishes of the general community. Yet
still, in all this, however plausible may be the aspect
of likelihood, nothing more in the matter is left to the
country than the most unsatisfactorily vague anticipa-
tions. Besides the reforms already specified as of a
legal, a fiscal, and a sanitary character—the best that
can be said of any other is that such and such
a thing is "probable." Surely this dubious position
of affairs has been quite long enough protracted !
Surely its further continuance at indefinite intervals
is precisely the very thing calculated to give rise to
the most, disastrous consequences ! And what pos-
sible good result we should like to know can be
expected from these perpetual delays either to the
Ministers themselves or to their supporters in the
new Parliament ? So far from the circumstance
referred to being favourable in any way to the
Government, it is, perhapsAof all, the most effectual
means of marring the Ministerial hopes of the mem-
bers of Lord DEBBY'S Administration. If continued
much longer, it must necessarily diminish even their
restricted, popularity. Everybody seems to be per-
fectly aware of this except her MAJESTY'S Ministers
themselves ! After tantalizing the community by a
series of the most agonizing procrastinations, they
have again deferred meeting the newly-elected repree
sentatives until a period in the ensuing autumn when
the year will be too far advanced for any lengthened
or satisfactory explanation.
October must have almost elapsed before the
House of Commons can have assembled in 'West-
minster, to hear from the Right Honourable
the

CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER that

the Cabinet will "positively for the last
time "—like a sort of Ministerial Crummles—
delay the disclosure of their intended policy
until the spring of 1853 has again brought the Im-
perial Legislators together for the dispatch of busi-
ness. The public were heartily tired of
this four or five weeks since. They have

coma at last to regard it as simply in-
tolerable. Will the Earl of DERBY recognise the
truth of this assertion and the peril of this system,
before its continuance has placed the difficulty of the
task entrusted to his Government beyond the
reach of reparation ? Unless some change
be very speedily manifested in this particular by the
leaders of the Administration, the days of the new
Cabinet must be regarded as already numbered.
The public will not consent to witness with in-
difference the dilatory proceedings by which the
present occupants of office appear to be guarding
themselves against the dangers of a legislative en-
counter with their political antagonists. There is
an old story, familiar enough in itself to be
only hinted at to be understood, about the
ostrich hiding its head in the sand by way of secur-
ing its effectual concealment. Has no ostrich wan-
dered into Downing-street? Westminster is
just now is all conscience sufficiently a
wilderness! And, although the luxury of
a " tenpenny nail" cannot possibly be found
very easily in the vicinity of St. Margaret's—abund
ance may be readily discovered in the shape of " tax."
Whatever Ministers may think about the convenience

of delays, they will find rather earlier than
they expect the mistake of these postpone-
ments. England cannot submit much longer
to be committed to these amusing evasions on the part
of her more remarkable statesmen. The Cabinet
certain of best securing her sympathies and com-
manding her confidence would be a Cabinet manfully
outspoken, not one cruelly and pertinaciously taci-
turn. The people of these islands like, if possible,
to know what are really the sentiments by which
their rulers are actuated. They become naturally
suspicious of men who avoid, by every imagi-
nable device, the necessity of expounding their
political doctrines to the community. A Ministry
acting thus without intermission " is safe" to acquire
an unenviably sinister reputation. Will the DERBY
Administration consent to dwindle to that
insignificance ? It commenced its existence
with a bearing eminently chivalrous. Its
distinguished leader spoke as became a STANLEY
in February. Since which time the Earl of DERBY
appears to have lapsed into a silence as profound as that
of the ruined Oracle of Delphos. Until the general
election had been completed there was every reason for
this delay of Ministerial explanations. Now that the full
complement of representatives has been returned to
that remarkable vessel of the State H.M.S. the Lower
House of Parliament, there remains no longer any
sort of excuse for the permanence of this " silent
system" by the Noble Earl at the head of the Govern-
, merit. Let him make a clean breast of it, and receive
—if he can—the national absolution.

The Town Council of Leeds, at their last sitting,
opened a very important question, namely, that of
commercial law consolidation. It bad previously re-
ceived the notice of the Leeds Chamber of Commerce,
by whom, indeed, the co-operation of the Municipal
Council was solicited.
Sir GEORGE GOODMAN (lately Mayor of Lee3s,
and now Alderman and M.P. for the borough),
opened the question by reading communications
addressed to the Mayor by the Earl of HARROWI3Ir
and others, on the subject of the amendment and
consolidation of commercial law, it being important
that the commercial laws of England, Ireland, and
Scotland,' should be made to assimilate. He con-
sidered that by simplifying and consolidating these
laws, and by abrogating the present conflicting
and, in some instances, extremely pernicious
laws, in regard to commercial matters,
great benefit would be conferred on the
community. Other members of the Council agreed
with Sir GEORGE as to the importance of settling
this question, upon which a conference is to be held
in London, with the co-operation of the Earl of HAR-
"WBY (creditably known, when representative of Li-
verpool, for his knowledge of commercial matters),
and many leading merchants, traders, manufacturers,
a7id,jurista• The Town Clerk, in reply to a question,
tneup
that he considered that the Chamber of Com-
merce,e
and the Town Council, was the proper body to
coomotmbornittsa.kenileu
questions of this matter, and inform the public
doman
tbio.enfrn 0 f
the -
t7iminedsuiruldits u p"
with thought
these th e
questionsCou nei ll',s,
Eventually
easeprevailed over official and
1 without a dissentient :--" followingTh
t legal cavil!,. and the
eancdonsciodnersoaltii motion was carried
Chat this. Council will be
happy to concur with the
tohfeCGomovmerenrmceenint
tphree saainragenudpmonentth
and Scotland."
cio law of England, Ireland,
"I do not think," said Mr. Town
Clerk, "that the
Council's time should be taken up with these
ques-
tions."
If it had been a dispute as to the amount of
lace upon the uniform of a police inspector—or the
shall" to " will" in a b 1
"
preference of Ye- aw—or
time to be taken up" with it.
sort, it would be sufficiently i
aßeforni which cannot fail to
mPart-
to the whole of the com-
aßba aneuytot t ffhao isrtnhigle' thatotoghnfrleeyat3t Council'sinvolves
moment
oo_ sense not to
are glad that the Council had th../ g d
menial world, it mint be cuibioned at Leeds! We
act upon the dry dictum of their Town Clerk. They
have unanimously resolved that they will co-operate
with their bead Chamber of Commerce in pressing
upon the consideration of Government the amend-
ment and consolidation of the commercial law of
England, Ireland, and Scotland.
The subject might he vastly extended—for why
should not all the general laws of the United Kiog-
dom be in operation in each part of it ? Why
shouldf the legal procedure in each country be dif-
Why should written evidence
\ lenenots?
evidencea! the civil suits in Scotland, while wbheilreecipuariroelde
divorce
properly received in the English courts of
be the same law? Why should not the laws of marriage and
is
'lair' ? Why all through the United King-
should the bankruptcy system be
on one •
principle in England
same GL, and upon another in
Scotland ? Why, living under one and the
overnmeaty
and speaking the same language,
should not there
community of legal practice and
ordinances in every
art of the United Kingdom ?
We are as much broken
by this discrepancy as if
we were in the Ileptare7
Y,with different systems
under each petty ruler.
In th
"Ws is most tolerable and not
words of DOGRERRY,
nOt to be endured."

LONDON,

No one can know, except the mercantile and com-
mercial clas,es, what a vast extent of mischief arises
from the difference between the commercial laws of
England, Ireland, and Scotland. Pecuniary loss,
great as it often is, may be estimated r.s the
least of the annoyance. Even in the port
of London, the Fellowship Porters have a monopoly
which prevents the unloading and discharging of
ships' cargoes, save by a favoured few. Other ports
have equally absurd and expensive and annoying
practices. But these are minor points. What we
require is the entire amendment and consolidation of
the commercial law of the United Kingdom. The
way of obtaining this does not appear very difficult.
The question must be extensively and publicly agi-
tated. There must he meetings, and speeches, and
resolutions. The Chambers of Commerce should
have unity and industry of action upon it. The
leading points of the question must be diffused
through the press, in the plainest and most unmis-
takable manner. Funds must be supplied to cover
expenses—but the money part is that of which we
have least apprehension. Members of Parlia-
ment must be seen, and solicited, and in-
terested in the matter. The Government, finally,
must be communicated with, and in a manner which
will show them the necessity, on the points of justice
and expediency, of taking up the question with a
view to its being fully and searchingly investigated.
On a public topic like this, when strongly brought
before them, the Government must become
" squeez-
able." If the Chambers of Commerce are unanimous,
and firm in proceeding with their " Agitation" herein,
though " the Council's time should not be taken up"
with this question, Ministers and the Legislature
cannot successfully resist or prevent the reform which
is sought for. It is now a mere question of flagrant
evil, involving numerous losses, and vexations and
annoyances, and when such matters reach a certain
head they cannot longer be endured. It is a matter
of time, but its finale is certain.

THE FRENCH REPUI3LIC.

We have received the Paris papers of yesterday.
M. TRIERS arrived in Paris on Tuesday.
The Moniteur contains a decree from the PREM.
DENT of the Republic, promoting M. ABATUCCI,
Minister of Justice, and M. BILLAULT, President of
the Legislative Corps, to the rank of officers of the
Legion of Honour.
The Moniteur also contains a decree according to
the St. Germaine Company permission to execute a
railway from the St. Germaine terminus at Paris to
Pas3ey and Auteuil, on the same conditions as have
been already granted for the main line.
A letter from Geneva announces that M. DE
REMUBAT, who was in Switzerland when he heard of
the permission accorded him to return to France, at
once set off for his estate in the Haute Garonne. The
same letter announces that M. CLIANIBOLLE w as about
to leave Vevey, where he has been residing, and re-
turn to France with his family.
• The Inter& Public of Caen states that on the occa-
sion of the fete of the 15th the PRINCE PRESIDENT
has pardoned thirty prisoners confined in the prison
at Beaulieu.
The Archbishop of PARIS, who has left Paris on a
journey into Germany, has taken the Strasburg
Railway, and will, it is said, go through Holland, to
Vienna, and return to France through Belgium.
The PRINCE PRESIDENT, on the report of the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, has j list conferred the
cross of chevalier in the Legion of Hcnour on the
Maestro VERDI of Parma, the author of Ernani, the
Foscari, and other operas.
We read in the Emancipation of Brussels —" The
opening of the railway from Paris to Strasburg, has
been, as might reasonably be expected, the subject of
serious comments among political men in Germany.
A Berlin journal, th© iVehr-Zeziung has just pub-
lished an article on the subject, which has, it is
said, caused some sensation among military
men. ' Let it be remembered; says the article
in question, what was the plan of campaign con-
ceived by NAPOLEON in 1800, and afterwards modi-
fied in different points by MOREAU. The left bank of
the Rhine from Strasburg to Bale was to be the basis
of operation of the army of invasion. Strasburg, in
fact, will always remain the principal stronghold,
and the point of support of the left wing of the army.
This place is now only a few hours' distance from
Paris. France may in a few days concentrate an
army behind the Rhine, and all the resources of the
country, troops, money, and provisions, are all near
the seat of operations.' There is nothing new in
these remarks. E France can make use of railways
to attack, Germany can also use them to defend. All
the importance of these discussions is in the idea
which might be attributed, if not to the two nations,
at least to the Governments which preside over the
destinies of France and Germany. So long as it is
known that Germany is ready to repel with energy
any army which should threaten her territory, an in-
vasion by Strasburg is not to be feared. Besides, the
policy of France continues to be satisfactory."
Government securities were more firm at the Bourse
to-day than yesterday. The Four-and-a-Half per Cents.
at
month;lo4 f. 60
thee ~ and
Threeclosedp
eratcleon4t 8
s. cOleo.sefodr
at
te
7enstd.
1,407 f. 50e • Rouen
of the
85c ; Orleans Railway Shares,
870 h; Havre, 365 f.; Great Northern, 657 f. 50c"• Avig.
non, 475 f.; Basle, 302 f. 50e.; Paris and Strasburg,
651 f, 25c.; Paris and Lyons, 7571. 50c • Western of
France, 600 f.; St. Dizier to Gray, 540 f. "

BUSINESS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE
LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, AUG. 19.
Dijon and Besancon, 27/B—Esst Indian, 26%8—Great In-
dian Peninsula, 65/B—Grand Junction of France, 51A—
Madras, 23/8 p.—Namur and Liege, 69/B—Northern of France,
26 %—Orleans and Bordeaux,lB Sambre and Meuse, 7.