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

fj)

PARIS.-THE GRAND HOTEL
oncinea. Place de Kouvelle Opera,
Boulevard des Ca
appostte the nu • de la. l'atx, and near the Thea'res
ilas been °Pencil
.since, duly, IS6 . It contains' 7C;O bed-
remits. prices Irons 41r. to tr. ; 1) drawae-rooms, from Mr.
; a magni.ce",lit salon,
is
of
dining m re than.
nTpi,aepreersisanadrpeuv
pe sons, and where there 'a a table Wltote at six o'cleCk
e)inners and brealdas!s are served, ala carte in e
room:, a well fi+ in the a paitm.ejgr,es.
room with the best En'‘'..lth ;.1:0
blica-
lions, a mus e-roorn and a drswing d•oorn Toroeae us.e of tra-
vell rs without any additional Ciarge. The also baths
billiird-rooms, smoking- divans. post-office; ca,bs,carriages,
and omnibuses going to tne railway stations. The servants
speak ail languai;ss. This superb hotel, po The
all that
mod-rn luxury and comfort can combine, and situated in the
most fashionable part of Paris, is recommended to the atten-
tion of travellers
In tependently of their Two Hotels, the Compani6 Immo-
biliere has eytablished an eat ensive Private Fun shed House
on the Boulevard des Capucines, opposite the ROTUNDA ot
the GRAND HOTEL. whe e Families can reside a 4 In i.he r
i
own rivate residences, and where they may rely upon find-
ing...the utmost comfort.

OLDRID GE'S BALM of COLUMBIA
stands unrivalled as a toilet requisite. It has been
established 40 years, and is the best and only certain remedy
ever discovered for preserving, strengthening, beautifyln
or re.toring the Bair, Whiskers, or Moustaches, and pre-
venting 'them turnin, gray or fa ling of—Sold in bottles,
3s. Gd , , and i.B. by U. and A. OLDRIDGE, 22, Vc ening-
ton-str9et, Strand, W.C.; and all chemists and perfumers
For Children's and Ladies' lia-r it is most efficacious and
unrivalled.

LONDON, TUESDAY, MAY 24, 1864.

The protection of our commercial interests is a
question whose importance is scarcely likely to
be underrated by any intelligent and reflective
person in this country. The wealth, the social
comfort, and indirectly the political power of
England are all so intimately connected with her
manufactures and commerce, that instead of being
a were matter of trade and barter, anything that
affects their interests rises at once into a national
concern. Long ago the First NAPOLEON styled us
contemptuously " a nation of shopkeepers," but a
good many Continental despots would gladly ex-
change a little of their dignity for our revenue, and
the immense importance of trade and commerce is
becoming every day more and more widely recog-
nised. Happily for this country our commercial
relations are so various, and so widely spread, that
they maintain a tolerably even balance amid the
most startling convulsions, and the most sudden
changes. Our western supplies may be abruptly
cut cif, and a mighty manufacture temporarily
paralysed; but our daily increasing commerce with
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 uncer-
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 our
ear.ier 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 have at present a European instance
of the mischief that may be done by a " peace at
any price" policy, and it will be well for Earope 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 Chinese 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 see 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 it 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 be 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
er
ealways
is
no
reason that we should support the Taepings, because
aaubseeentndaitsworegsahnninseidd
the empire ;
t has
and
unmanageable
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 bed 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 thus;
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 G
jR-
DON should have suffered himself to be again drewn
into the struggle without extorting an ample pub-
lic apology from the Fatal. Ills 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 Englishman'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 would not have soon for,otten. Major

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
I 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
I 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 scemed 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 bap 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 conduct 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 gain 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. trial of skill. The Llbe-
ro.'s may well learn a lesson from the net of the
Conservatives, and t;-.l:e a hint: from their successful

coune of late years. At all events they would
present a more compact phalanx if they were mar•
shelled in array for some &finite object, instead of
contenting themselves, as at present, with undigni-
fied demeanour in oppcsition, 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 tha compli-
cated affrir. It would appear as if everything had
conspired against this family, 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 propound, 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
parform so far as practicable the task of remedy-
ing the deficiences of the list, 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
theafuu tltlhyo authority
yl a
tisoloevaitios:Btdhe
eisnierr vsuoed
utmost
that
aeo st
degreewiiltl
nbef
go rlhyotvahenead
call in
wrongs
gr.
s
and injuries inflicted on the victim and on his

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-major, and 6 staff surgeons. major. In
addition 14 regimental assistant-surgeons and 13 staff
assistant• surgeons have resigned sinco the Ist of January,
1862. Among the vacancies now existing in the various
grades of the army medical department, there are 2G regi •
mental surgeons and 64 assistant-surgeons, staff and regi-
mental.