The Sun.
London, England, 1864-05-24 00:00:00

VIE SUN, LONDON, TUESDAY EVENING, MAY 24, 1864

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the East helps us to retain our financial equilibrium.
Although no one probably would be willing to
come forward and deny the value of our commerce,
or the duty of affording it every protection in our
power, the condition of affairs in the Celestial Em-
pire, as in the neighbouring country of Japan, is so
peculiar as to give rise to much doubt and uncers
tainty as to the wisest and most humane policy, as
well as some well-meant or ill-judged opposition to
all interference in the internecine wars of those
parts. Non-intervention, which has become so much
the cry of late years, is by no means a questionable
good. Thanks to the waste of English life and
money lavished for no national purpose in fruitless
continental wars, through many a page of cur
eanier history, statesmen and philosophers are now
too apt to think that because interference is
often unwise, unprofitable, and ill directed,
therefore inaction must be right, wise, and
beneficial. We haviat present a European instance
of the mischief that may be done by a " peace at
any price" policy, and it will be well for Europe it
we see the end of so dastardly and unprincipled a
spectacle. Of old so little was thought of the
rights of aborigines or uncivilised men of any race,
that acts of great injustice and cruelty were often
committed. In these days we are in danger of
falling into the opposite extreme, just as the reaction
from the terrible dungeons of the time of HOWARD
is traceable in the convict luxuries of the present
system. The disturbed condition of the Chinese
Empire, the struggle between the Imperialists and
Taepings, which has now been going on through a
long course of years, have given rise to much
uneasiness in this country for fear that the power
and influence of England should be thrown into the
scale with more regard to national interest than to
principle. The expedition made by Capt. OSBORN
has been, as we all know, a failure owing to the
jealousy of the Cainese officials; the force under
Major GORDON is not English, but a motley assem-
bly of all nations, under the command of an officer
who availed himself of the permission given to
British subjects to enter the service of the Emperor
of CHINA. Both this order and the one authorising
the naval expedition have been revoked, and we
have the word of the Prime Minister himself that
there is no intention of renewing them under these
circumstances. It is not easy to s2O what there is to
censure in the present proceedings of the Govern-
ment. It is manifestly our duty as well as our
interest to protect the treaty ports and their imme
diate vicinity. The opponents of the Government
policy argue as if the insurrection in China were of
our making or of our fomenting, and as if the pre-
sence of Europeans alone was ,the cause of the
disturbed state of the Empire. All readers
of Chinese history are perfectly familiar with
the fact that, in that as in most Eastern empires,
the civil Government has never been strong enough
or active enough to preserve authority and order ;
that tyranny and anarchy not only succeed each
other but divide the empire between them, and that
the very Tartar dynasty which is now resisting the
advance of the Taepings was itself the result of a
foreign invasion and the subjugation of the inhabi-
tants. The removal of the chief seat of Govern-
ment to Pekin was effected in order to have the
capital nearer to those wastes where the Tartar
hordes reign supreme, and it is certainly highly
improbable, and contrary to all the teachings of
reason and experience, that a strcng and civilised
Government, such as we could conscientiously
respect and support, should at present be estab-
lished over China. The national character unfor-
tunately too well sustains the description given of
it by Lord PALMERSTON on Friday night—it is a
mixture of cruelty and perfidy. In this respect the
Imperialists and the Taepings may divide the
laurels between them, and those who denounce in
unmeasured terms the conduct of the one may
readily bs answered by the achievements of the
other. All this gives no reason why we should
interfere in the Chinese civil war by identifying
ourselves with either party. There is certainly no
reason that we should support the Taepings, because
the Chinese empire has always been disorganised
and unmanageable ; there is no cause that we should
lend our arms and our assistance to the Imperialists
who have shown so little recognisance for what we
have already done ; neither can there be any reason
why we should excuse treachery barbarity, and
dishonesty because both sides are bad alike. But
there is every reason why, having by means of war
and diplomacy obtained a fair and honourable treaty,
profitable to both parties, we should protect these
ports which are thrown open to our merchandise
against the internal convulsions of the Empire, and
by so doing, not only consult the interest of our
own commercial classes, but secure to the Chinese
themselves some portion of the blessings of peace
amid the tumult and distress of civil war.
We
could wish, indeed, that our efforts had been re-
stricted to this from the beginning, when we should
have probably obtained more respect from both
sides. Most especially we regret that Major GOR-
DON should have suffered himself to be again drawn
into the struggle without extorting an ample pub-
lic apology from the Fatal. His first resolve was
the right one, and no secondary consideration
should have induced him to put aside his justifiable
indignation. Whether the slaughter of the Wangs
was a military execution cr an unwarrantable mas-
sacre, the fact remains that an Englishman's word
of honour was made use of to entrap them into dan-
ger, that an F.eglishman's
plighted faith was de-
liberately broken by the Imperialists. The imme-
diate withdrawal of the powerful aid of the foreign
contingent would have taught the Chinese a lesson
which they esould not have soon for,,,otteu. Major

GORDON should have remembered that he had not
to act for himself alone, but as the representative of
English truth and honour—
" Ambassador of Britain's Crown
And type of all her race. '
The opportunity has been lost and may never re-
turn, but whatever the conduct of Imperialists or
rebels to us or to each other, we are not called upon
to surrender the rights acquired with so much dif-
ficulty, nor to abandon a source of trade which is
of so much value to both countries, simply because
an internecine war is raging, with whose rise or
progress, excepting as affecting Chinese commerce,
we have no concern.

On Saturday last, there was an annual meeting of
members of the National Conservative Association.
It was well attended, and the report showed that
the success of the past year had been considerable.

The Secretary of the Association attended at the
revision, and was enabled to obtain a majority in

several Courts for the Conservatives, and also the
assistance of the Society was efficiently rendered at
several elections. The Earl of SHREWSBURY was

in the chair, and made a speech on the subject
which was characterised by sound good sense, and
presented some wise suggestions to the notice of the
meeting. Certainly there was great truth in his
assertions about the importance of registry. He
described the neglect of this as " an army going
into the field without rifles or ammunition." It is
evident that the party to whom Sir ROBERT PEEL
addressed the memorable word that the battle of
the Constitution must be fought in the Registration
Courts have not of late been unmindful of their
former leader's exhortation, and though through
long years this advice has been disregarded the
efficacy of the meaning has proved that it was the
well-weighed expression of one who was deeply
versed in the philosophy of politics, and compre-
hended the bearings of a question or the interests of
a community. The great perseverance which has
been displayed by the Conservatives of recent years
may well create a sensation of pride and call forth
expressions of gratulation from the speakers at
these meetings and assemblies, which are as land-
marks by the wayside to tell them how far
they have proceeded on the road. No
cause could have seemed more hopeless,
and no party could have appeared more de-
jected than was theirs' some years back, and the
energy and enthusiasm which they have displayed
in the arduous endeavour to reinstate their condi-
tion have been most considerable, and exemplified
the true English spirit of determination which has
so often triumphed over dangers and shone in diffi-
culties. Sir M. FARQUHAR informed the " meeting
that since the year 1859 they had had an increase
of so many members that they had gained a ma-
jority of twelve, which was twenty-four at a divi-
sion. On reading these suggestive facts, it occurs
to the mind to compare the =duct and manage-
ment of the Liberal party with that of their po-
litical opponents. The result cannot be favourable
or flattering to those who call themselves the re-
generators of their age. There is so much selfish-
ness visible, and hardly any of the science of
politics discernible in their course, that it is not
surprising they cannot show such marked suc-
cess which has distinguished their adversaries
and menaced their own position. Too secure to
take pains and too rapt up in personal ambition to
coalesce for the collective pin of their cause, they
seem to ignore the doctrine that union is strength,
and to put aside the arguments which would enforce
more caution and consideration at elections and
other tests of strength and Uhl of skill. The Libe-
rals may well learn a lesson from the rest of thu
Conservatives, and take a hint from their successful
course of late years. At all events they would
present a more compact phalanx if they were mar-
shalled in array for some df finite object, instead of
contenticg themselves, as at present, with undigni-,
fled demeanour in opposition, and most reprehen-
sible sluggishness in office. The possession of place
and power is not enough to animate a party; it
can neither inspire it with fortitude in adversity,
nor endue it with discretion to withstand the more
critical juncture and trying ordeal of prosperity.

A very distressing case has recently engaged the
attention of the Corps Legislatif, regarding the
death of LESURQUES. This unfortunate man was
executed many years back, on an unjust charge, as it
now turns out, and some praiseworthy individuals
endeavoured to obtan a portion of the confiscated
property for the benefit of the heirs. This attempt
has unhappily been unsuccessful, and all lovers of
justice will deplore the conclusion at which the
Chamber arrived in the discussion of the compli-
cated affair. It would appear as if everything had
conspired against this femily, for some time since
the Government took up the subject of their wrongs,
and a sum of two hundred and fifty-two thousand
francs was to be restored to them, but a forger put
forward claims, and, in consequence, a long lawsuit
took place, and the payment of the sum was
deferred for ten years. The family had to pay the
costs of the trial, so that they gained but little out
of the affair after the money was handed over to
them. The surprising thing is that the Corps
Legislatif has rescinded its vote in favour of re-
storing the patrimony to the heirs of this unfortu-
nate LESURQUES, and the reason given is, that it is
too late to repair the injustice. This is a very
strange doctrine to propeur d, and one that must
astonish those who hear it. How can it ever be too

late to try to do so at all events, and, as it had been
shown by previous speakers on the subject, that
there was great distress in the family, the senti-
ment was not even based on facts. It is

always a matter of regret when an as-
sembly decides against the claims of un-
fortunate and ill•used individuals. It seems
the duty of the representatives of every State to
pzrform so far as practicable the task of remedy-
ing the deficiences of the llst, and a grievous
wrong like this demands the most extreme mea-
sures that can be adopted. A restitution of the
whole property would have been the right thing to
have done at once, and some compensatory addition
might well have been added to the restoration of
improperly seized goods. It is the principle which
is the worst part of the affair, and it would be well

if more attention were paid to the nature of the
criminal law, which some speakers averred re-
quired revision. It is a blot on the annals of law
when an innocent man is condemned to suffer, and
it adds tenfold to the wrong and cruelty when his
survivors cannot receive the right claims to which
they are entitled. Occasions like these are happily
rare now.a.days,
yet the misery is so great, and
the trial so undeserved, that it behoves all in
authority to do their utmost willingly and cheer-
fully to alleviate in some degree for the wrongs
and injuries inflicted on the victim and on his
family.

ARMY MEDICAL DEPARTMENT.—A Parliamen-
tary return, just issued, states that the number of medical
officers who have retired from the army, under the provi-
sions of the Royal warrant of October, 1858, includes 3
inspectors-general, 4 deputy inspectors-general, 4 regi-
mental surgeons•mejor, and 6 staff surgeons•major. In
eddition 14 regimental assistant-surgeons and 13 staff
assistant- surgeons have resigned since the Ist of January,
1862. Among the vacancies now exis+ing in the various
grades of the army medical department, there are 26 regi •
mental surgeons and 64 assistant-surgeons, staff and regi-
mental.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

LREUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

THE CALCUTTA AND CHINA MAILS,

The following telegnais have been received at
Mr. Reuter's office from the Peninsular and Oriental
Steam Navigation Company, May 24 :

MALTA, MAY 23.
The Ripon leaves at 4 p.m. for Southampton,
where she may be expected about June 1.
The Syria will leave at 10 p.m. for Marseilles.

"personal union" because they are currently etr.•
ployed by the Hungarians, Croatians, and Sclavo-
nians, the nationalities which in Austria lay claim

to special rights and privileges.
In one of my former letters it was stated that
Prince Metternich had complained to the Emperor
of the French of the reply given by Prince Napoleon

:o the " Venetian Committee," and that his Ma-

esty, after having expressed regret that hie cousin

had spoken so openly, had said,

"he was also of

opinion that sooner or later Italy would be free
from the Alps to the Adriatic." The whole story

was forgotten, but the General Correspondence

hes recalled it to the memory of the lieges by

declaring that Prince Metternich never complained
to the Emperor of the French of the conduct of
Prince Napolean. "M. Drouyn de Lhuys," says
the Ministerial paper, " voluntarily expressed his

regret at what had happened, and at the same
time observed, that the independent ideas enter-

tained by the prince made any remonstrances on
the part of the Government useless. The General
Correspondence accuses me of having put into the
mouth of the Emperor Napoleon the words above
quoted, and I therefore deem it necessary to state
that they first appeared in the Deutsche Allgemeine
Zettung of the 6th inst., and were immediately re-
produced in the Austrian:papers. The Vienna press
Bureau did not express a doubt of the correctness of
the news contained in the Leipsic newspaper. I,
therefore, on the 10th inst., forwarded it to you.
The Imperial Government is making strenuous
efforts in order to keep the secondary German
States from acceding to the Gallo•Prussian treaty
of commerce, but is doubtful whether it will be
able to attain its aim. There is now in Germany
a very strong bias in favour of free trade, and I
remark that the Austrian Protectionists are be-

ginning to feel that the present system, by means
of which the few thrive at the expense of the many,
cannot long be upheld. The secondary German
States have profited much by their Customs-union
ith Prussia, and it cannot reasonably be expected
that they should turn their backs on an ally of 30
years' standing in order to please a Power which
not only takes delight in mrnopolies, but is out at
elbows in financial matters. The New Frankfort
Gazette, which is good authority in financial mat-
ters, gives the Austrians to understand that M.
von Pleaer has managed matters so very badly that
they will have to pay about 11 per cent. for the
last loan. The Ost-Deutsche Post; which rarely
censures the measures of the members of the Cabi•

net, expresses its conviction that the Minister of
Finances will not be able to get rid of the remain-
ing two-thirds of the lean at 77.10, the price
which was paid for the 20,500,000 of silver florins
which were taken on the 11th inst.

At noon on Thursday, the 12th inst., the work of
destruction ceased at Fredericia, but there is good
reason for believing that the more important parts
of the works had been destroyed before the news of
the suspension of hostilities reached the commander
of the allied forces. The bomb proof casemates are
in ruins, but the walls of the fortress are still stand.
ing. The contributions due are still levied in
Jutland by Field-Marshal Count. Wrangel, and that
in spite of the urgent remonstrances of the neutral
Powers represented in the Conference. A letter re-
ceived by the Trieste Zeitunq from a person on
board the Elizabeth (the ship in which is Rear Ad-
miral Baron Wullerstorff,—explains, though by no
means satisfactorily,how it happened that the Kaiser
and her consorts were so long on their way to the
North Sea. When in the Adriatic the whole crew of
the Kaiser, with the exception of about 100 men,
were sea-sick. " The engineers and stokers,"
says the correspondent, " were also sick and
unable to perform their duty." The vessels
soon lost sight of each other, and when
the ship of the line was off Algiers the
frtgate Elizabeth was at Gibraltar. The armour-
rlated frigate Don Juan and the Kaiser suf-
fered much, and the former was left at Lisbon
to be repair Ed. Up to the 2d of May, on which day
the letter in question was posted at Vigo, the crews
of the Kaiser, Don Juan, and Elizabeth had had no
practice with their guns. " Does the Austrian Go-
vernment," says the indignant correspondent," sup-
pose that in one short month raw recruits can be
transformed into sailors ?"
On the 11 th instant all the soldiers who were
recruited in Russian-Poland in the year 1859, and
had obtained temporary leave of absence, received
orders to join their respective regiments without
the least delay. The reason why the- order was
issued is neither known to the inhabitants of War-
saw nor to the Viennese.
There is no truth in the current report that
Prince Couza is going to Constantinople to make
his peace with the Sultan.

FRANCE.
PARIS, MAY 24.
The Emperor received Baron Von Beust in pr
vale audience on Saturday.

Official despatches from Algeria announce that
General D2ligny obtained a fresh success over the
insurgents on the 16th inst.
The Emperor, the Empress, and the Prince Im-
perial, on Friday evening, visited the Cirque in
the Champs Elysees to witness the performance of
Leotard. The Prince arrived at the commencement
of the representation, and their Majesties about
half an hour after. The young Prince appeared
much pleased.
The last mass in music but one prior to the
departure of their Msjesties was performed yester-
day at the Chapel of the Tuileries, in the presence
of the Emperor, the Empress, and the Prince Im-
perial. A new Svlutaris by Anber was delightfully
sung by Atlas. Marie Doze and Mauduit, and pro-
ducen a deep impression upon the congregation.
_ _ _

The Manie Body of Paris was informed at its
last meeting that the Emperor restored to it the
traditional right of electing it 3 Grand Master.
This announcement was received with enthusiastic
applause, and Marshal Magan, who held his
nomination by Imperial decree, was unanimously
re-elected by the delegates of all the lodges present.
The Japanese Ambassadors went the day before
yesterday to visit the Imperial manufactory at
Sevres, where they were received by M. Regnault,
the director. They admired the beauty of form as
well as the fineness of execution of various articles,
and made several purchases of value. The painting
on the large porcelain slabs which decorate the ex-
hibition room particularly attracted their attention.
M. Regnault conducted the visitors through the
workshops, and had several pieces made before
them by new processes, which excited their interest
the more that the ceramio art has long been an
object of study among the Japanese. The first
Ambassador expressed his admiration at the per-
fection which ti e French manufacture had attained.

BOURSE, May 23.—The market has been withou

animation, but up to the present time prices have
undergone but slight variation. Threes, for the
Account, are now at 66f. 60c. Mobilier have also
receded, to 1,146 f. 25c. Railway shares offered,
and prices on many of the lines are rather lower.
The market closed as follows :-
41 per Cents .. 93 40

Do. end month
3 per Cents
Do. end month 66 70
Credit /dobilier 1150
Do, end month 1147 50
Bank Shares 3355
Credit F °lacier 1240
Roman .. 76 75

Italian Loan. 69 85
Do. end month.... 68 95
(stew ditto ..
Do. end month.... --
Russian
Austrian .. B2 25
• Spanish Threes —
• Home Debt ....•• 49 25
, Deferred
'WAYS.
•

Cash. Account.
Orleans . - 875 .. 875
Northern
Lyons and Mediterranean 875 .. 880
New ditto 872 50 ..
Southern
Western
Eastern
Sardinian
Austrian
Lon bard
North of Spain;
Saragossa 560 .. 560
Ditto to Barcelona

The Saint Petersbourg Journal publishes an
article in which it comments, in a sense favourable
to the maintenance of peace, on the speech of M.
Rouher, Minister of State, in the Legislative Body,
on the subject of Foreign Affairs. The confidence
expressed by the Russian journal is founded on the
fact that no Government can have any intention of
attacking either the honour or the frontiers of
France.