The Sun.
London, England, 1864-11-14 00:00:00

EARL RUSSELL AT ABERDEEN,

[A. summary of the following appeared in our impression
of Saturday :-1

ABERDEEN, Nov. 11.
Yesterday the Right Hon. Lord Russell arrived
in Aberdeen for the purpose of being formally ins
stalled as Lord Rector of Aberdeen University, to
which cffice he was elected in December, 1863—the
tenure of office being for three years. His lordship
was accompanied by his daughter, Lady Georginia

Russell.
The formal installation took place in the Hall of
Marischal College-buildings at 12 o'clock. At 1
o'clock the Lord Rector delivered his inaugural
address in the Music-hall, in presence of an audience
of 2,000 persons, including students, graduates of
the University, and others, a fair portion of them
being ladies. On entering the hall, accompanied by
Principal Campbell and the members of the Senatus,
his lordship was loudly cheered. After prayer by
the Principal, _ _

" he would rob his own father," but few sorts of
robbery are more common by the medium of a cre-
ditor backed by a jury with fellow feeling that makes
them wondrous kind to claimants. The jury may
be looked upon in the light of the accomplice after
the fact. And for how much have they to answer.
How many a case of ruin had its commencement in
the habits of extravagance encouraged by credit
recklessly given with a view to the parents' liabi-
lity. In the case before us the mother, who has to
pay for her infant's silk racing-jackets, caps, and
breeches, is described as in easy circumstances—but
how uneasy may her circumstances become before
her hopeful son comes of age, after this edifying
lesson that there is nothing for which he can obtain
credit for which his mother will not be held liable,
as for necessaries. But as tradesmen thus prey
upon parents, they aro preyed upon in turn by
sharpers, the biters getting bitten, and small the
pity. A rule for a new trial has been obtained for
the Oxford case, and we hope the Bench will take
the opportunity of drawing the broad distinction
between necessaries and extravagant superfluities,
and of reprehending the spirit of fellowship that
must have prompted a preposterous verdict against
common sense, and the jurors' oath.
THE "LONDON REVIEW" ON THE THEFT Or THE
FLORIDA.—" Honest" Abels Government has contrived so
to distinguish itself that we have long ceased to be surprised
at any rascality it commits. Therefore, if wo aro told that
it carries fire and sword into unoffending homesteads, if its
generals and captains plunder women and old men, and
burn their roofs over their heads, if it lays waste fertile
regions for no stragetic purpose, but solely to inflict suffer-
ing, if it commit atrocities which put to shame the compa-
ratively feeble crimes of the late King Bomba of Naples,
we say only that it acts in harmony with its nature, and
pursues to a logical conclusion the vulgar tyranny on which
it is based, and from which it derives its inspiration. When
it stole the Southern ,Commissioners from the deck of an
unarmed British steamship, it made a manifestation of its
lawlessness. When, in the fear of drawing upon itself the
hostility of England, it gave them up, it made a manifes-
tion of its cowardice. When, while giving them up, it
said that if its interests required it would have violated the
law of nations and kept them, it confessed that it would
bite if it dared. This was the first notable sample of the
morality of " Honest" Abe's Government which imme-
diately concerned us. We have had since then other
samples, and we know for a truth that the Wash-
ington Government is to be ranked amongst the
"dangerous class of the civilised world, not to be judged
by any code of law or honour. That it has stolen the
Florida is, therefore, a fact which not all surprises us. Its
captains have tciled after the Confederate vessel long and in
vain. That it has stolen her while under the protection of a
Power which could be easily defied, is the explanation of
the theft. It would not have been committed if the Florida
had lain under the protection of a British or a French in-
stead of a Brazilian battery. On a large scale, the transac-
tion is similar to one which we sometimes see amongst our
dangerous classes at home. The gentleman in difficulties
who posts himself upon a country road with a view to sti-
mulate the charity of the passers-by, whines before the
able-bodied passenger, but growls and exhibits his bludgeon
to the uprotected female. With similar courage did the
captain of the Federal Wachusetts steal the Florida out of
the harbour of Bahia. The Florida arrived at Bahia on
Oct. 4. She put in for a supply of stores and coals, and to
make some repairs in her machinery. Soon after she an-
chored in the outer harbour a boat came alongside of her and
demanded the name of the vessel. The answer was honestly
given—" The Confederate States' steamer Florida." That
was true. A person in the boat replied, " This boat is from
her Britannic Majesty's steamer Curlew." That was un-
true. Neither the Curlew nor any of the Queen's ships was
at the port at the time. But Federal chicanery had gained
a point. It had at last discovered the Florida. It gained
another great point when the American consul, Mr Wilson,
gave his word of honour to the governor of the province
that the Wachusetts would not violate the laws of neutrality
within the Brazilian waters. The Federal word of honour
had, it appears in this instance, two advantages. It assured
th:e governor, and was not binding on the Wachusetts.
Upon this,and after pledging himself that he too would re-
spect the neutrality of the Brazilian waters, Capt, Morris
obtained from the governor permission to move the Florida
from the outer to the inner roads, so as to be out of danger,
and to facilitate coaling operations. By way of emphasising
this permission an admiral of the Brazilian navy, who was
present at the interview between the Governor and Captain
Morris when the latter made this request, said to him, " Oh
yes; move her in, and come inside of me, and you will be
out of all danger." So the Florida was removed to the berth
appointed her, where there were two Brazilian ships of war
between her and the Federal Wachusetts, close under the
guns of a steamer of war and a Brazilian fort. It was then
found that the repairs to her machinery could not be com-
pleted under four days. Capt. Morris hearing this sent part
of his crew ashore. On the morning of the Pith the Federal
consul, who had pledged his honour to respect the neutra-
lity of the Brazilian waters, sent Capt. Morris a messenger
with an offer to urge the Brazilian Government to complete
the repairs of the Florida, if Captain Mcrris would accept a
challenge to come out and fight the Wachusetts. This chal-
lenge was declined, and in the afternoon the first batch of
liberty men having returned to the Florida, the starboard
watch was released, and Capt. Morris and some of his offi-
cers went ashore at the same time, not doubting the Federal
word of honour. On the following morning, about 3 15 a.m.,
while it was dark, theWachusetts left her anchorage, steered
for the Florida, and struck her on the starboard quarter, cut-
ting her rail down to the deck, carrying away her mizenmast,
and at the same time pouring a volley of musketry and a
charge of canister from forecastle pivot gun upon the Flo-
rida's decks. Then she backed off and demanded a sur.
render, which was refused. More firing from the Wachu-
setts, returned by the officers and crew of the Florida ; but
the struggle was unequal and vain, and the lieutenant in
command surrendered conditionally, When he did so,
many of his crew jumped overboard, and more than half
were shot in the water by men in the forecastle of the Wa-
chusetts, and in her boats. Thus master of the position,
the Wachusetts towed the Florida out of harbour—stole
her as a garotter plunders the man whom he has knocked
on the head or half-strangled, So much for Federal
" honour." We are not in the least surprised. We have
watched the brutal contest waged on the part of the North
by mercenaries against men who aro fighting for the in-
alienable right of freemen, the choice of their own Govern-
ment, and have looked for some redeeming trait, for a token
of that chivalry which soldiers and seamen even in an unjus
cause will show if only for the honour of their cloth. But
in the abyss of depravity into which the Northern States
have sunk we have looked for such a token in vain. The
spirit of the filibuster and the border ruffian has obiterated
from the armies and navies of the North the
commonest virtues of humanity. " Honest" Abe and his
officers, on sea and on land, illustrate the " good old plan."
They take what they can get, no matter how they get it,
and they keep it as long as they can, or dare. If the Florida
had lain within British waters, their neutrality would have
been respected, not out of deference to law, but to fear,
She lay in a Brazilian harbour, and the Federals stole her,
because they had nothing to restrain them ; not the dread
of the Brazilian Government, which is weak; nor law and
honour, because they respect neither.
THE "SATURDAY REVIEW" ON MR. CLAY AND THE
CLASSICS.—The defiant recklessness with which a the•
roughly vulgar person of a certain stamp will avow his vul-
garity and pride himself upon it, is often so amusing as to
compensate for the infliction of his company. His rude
imitation of geniality and good-fellowship, as he pretends
to dispense with social ceremonies which he knows to be
usual, but whose precise details he also knows himself to be
quite incompetent to carry out, is so exceedingly funny that
his guests may pardon him for the awkwardness and con-
fusion whieh probably ensues. He tells them, in loud tones,
that they must not come to his house for kickshaws and
fancy wines. Honest fish and joint, with sound port, are
his fare, and if people are not content with that, why they
can stay away. If Thackeray's Philip had had a spark of
humour in him, the Sunday dinners at Mugford's must,
have been a source of the keenest enjoyment to him. To be
ill- tempered with such people, or to call ,them names, is
simply ungrateful. Seen in a proper light, the vehemence,
not unmingled with nervousness, with which they declaim
against fine manners, their readiness to catch at any hint
as to the ways of grand houses and the uncomfortable blus-
ter which destroys their meritorious efforts to lookjovial and
hospitable, aro as exquisitely amusing as an equally good
comedy on the stage. The exhibition of himself which Mr
Clay has recently been making before his constituents at
Hull is an entertainment of the same kind, though in a
rather different line. Mr Clay does not sneer at the ameni
ties of the 'dinner table, but he denounces the study of
Latin and Greek with exactly the sort of uneasy rashness
and nervous defiance displayed by hospitable ruffians like
Mugford. It would be just as foolish, in one case as in the
other, to be seriously angry with our entertainer. Most
members of the House of Commons, when compelled by the
approach of an election to talk at the educational institu-
tions of their borough, choose some pretty safe and easy
subject, which, if not likely to contribute largely to useful
knowledge, is at all events easily crammed from a Cycle-
paella or the back numbers of the Quarterlies, and is
not open to much criticism. But Mr Clay scorns such de-
vices, and, like B Atom, he resolved to " rehearse more ob-
scenely and courageously." His theme was the too exclu-
sive use of the Greek and Latin classics in English educa-
tion. In itself the subject is sufficiently well-worn, but the
member for Hull is not the less amusing on that account.
Mr Clay's nice appreciation of the spirit of the ancient
authors who, as he thinks, have done so much harm to
modern education, may bo inferred from a parallel which
he draws between the greatest orators of ancient and of
modern times. " I confess, ho says, " though lam no fol.
Icwereof Mr Spurgeon, that there is something about him,
in the rapid and natural movements of his thoughts, and
the practical fervour of his address, which reminds me of
Demosthenes." There was a spirited drawing in Punch,
during the Exhibition of 1862, representing two squab-
faced "servant-galls," in poor Leech's best style, gazing
With fervent admiration on the tinted Venus, and one of
them exclaiming to her companion, "Ow like our Hem-
mar I" Mr Clay, as ho appears when reminded of Demos-
thenes, strikingly reminds us of Mr Leech's picture. It
would be impertinent to wonder how long ago Mr Clay
formed an opinion about the oratorical excellences of Demos •

sliPiv
thenes, just as it would be to doubt . about the 'lg It'
for connoisseurship of the friend cf
bound, in lack of evidence to the crisp ary, to sal° iio
the easy familiarity with the Dere.ot hen stile`
tot,
merely assumed, and to admit that our 9Nv reellAsdo
"lemnfar. '10,)
of the Greek orator must be quite errata ous. And 0
Spurgeon is really like Demosthenes, we call, more IlloP ,
sympathise with Mr Clay's objections to cle,sBiimito
erg 0,
being set up in the public schools for gol.
Lord Brougham, in his well-known Jetta t°,
eejco+
Macaulay on the best training for Macaulay's so
the constant study of the Greek orators. Vl° 00'
torian, it is to be feared, did not take this advie° a,)
to heart, or else he might perhaps have aohiev64,l'
higher reputation than that which he really flail' 8 olv
even rivalled the fame and glory of the DenlesthBile
Elephant and Castle. „ fal
'
TIIE " LAW TIMES " ON N. BEILIIYEII.—n T-i,o tot i,
England, in the cordial reception it has g ive
le4
ryer, has welcomed the Bar of France, of wia,o3eol3:'
most distinguished member. It was nc,l the states 011
Legitimist, the politician, whom we met ia thel 00
the Middle Temple to honour, but the el° cluelat t'llmore tO
ilo,
advocate—the man who has maintained for
years, through difficulties and even dangers vibicieall 0;
country we cannot conceive, amid revolutions 11/11
us, defiant alike of the power of kings and enVeref,:3 :10 :
of 1
more terrible despotism of democracy, the rig;7l 0'
speech, which is the advocate's privilege, li'l3votiP.
liberty can never quits perish,without which it caoiiii
It has been the proud fortune of M. Berryer to lsoci'
exercise this right on behalf of men of all Parties
:id,
opinions ; himself maintaining the while unsWerm. ,cli
gianee to a fallen dynasty, to whose fortunes he '',
the more closely the more hopeless they b3ce stheceS,,
IBut his personal sympathies or antipathies Were "e,to.',
a moment permitted to affect his duties as all acicc-iliS
great legal knowledge, his unrivalled eloqueueet a iqo
berant zeal for the cause of his client, were eXcrte. liks
for Montalembert, his ally, and for Louis Na13°1e:,,13'00,1
It is for this that the old hall rang again an l" ;Ott
Tuesday, with the cheers of the British Bar, eg'f.oooP'
our rough but cordial British fashion, our broth;adreirt'lll
forensic career of the greatest man among our „.ea 0 ,
bar of France. Listening to his speeches, delly`oo;,/1
circumstances not favourable to an orator, Nve ' ieo'
catch a glimpse of the power that has captivated P-0
m ra at
ell
and controlled senates. Of necessity, roo
and subdued ; so was M. Berryer ; but manifestly en pli
trolling his emotions, and repressing an inclinati°' scDir
the impulses of excited feeling. We could ialag,iiii3ejolf,
torrent of words, what utterance, what action he cc)--ho fr,
did occasion call for them. As it was, his spni,ol'
marked by the characteristics that have made P•1"-foit'
His voice is full, and clear, and eaely toned, "; P
every feeling. His language is the very cheiceis': fo!'
makes most excellent use of those delicate sllaue-i,f
expression of thought, in which his native tcageeeiV,
out 'a rival. He has measured precisely the 031),,i,
the perfect, though not powerful, instrument be 014
and he puts it to the best uses in the utteraacevon
polished and tolling turns of thought that iralArt:od
vellous grace and spirit into the conversation al3' 00
positions of our accomplished neighbours. 06, of'
singularly subdued, assimilating much to our °:.-1;t1111,
this respect unlike that of his countrymen, vibc)',"hel)lit'd
the platform, in the Senate, in the pulpit, or at ""„ OR
dulge in gesticulations which, to our severer Psi,
extravagant. But such action as he emploYs iellier9 ‘7i,
that wo are accustomed to see among the 01:171temoticter';
own country, with whom it is the rarest of
plishments of the orator. M. Berry" has not a 1:1150
like most of us. He uses both his arms, viberets: 'f°'
lishman rarely employs more than one ; alld .4- elflt7
rents are various, and always graceful' virbere;s( rtil,'s
English orators are, with rare exceptions, 110" (100;
graceful, and angular. In person M. 13eraervg
somewhat stout, with a projecting brow, and ,cnr
e, ,
o
sive eye, and with nothing in his aspect that l'i iliv'
Frenchman. In features he bears a striking re
to the late Baron Platt.
-.mon.