The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-08 00:00:00

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS.

TIMES.---The public read the speeches in Parlia-
ment with more or less pleasure and instruction.
They admire the dexterity with which Mr. Dis-
raeli commends everything done by Government in
the Danish affair, yet finds reason :or an adverse
vote in something else of their doing which has
spoilt their Danish policy. They admire Gladstone's
thunder, Roebuck's biting satire, and foreman's
splendid impartiality. We, in the exercise of our
vocation, comment on theee speeches ; we treat them
as manifestoes in the great war ef opinion. No tiriubt
they have a certain amount of European fame. Gar
French neighbours at leastcan understand thern,ent;
are disposed to do them justice. But all this time
it is perfectly well known that the real business in
hand is done in a very different manner. Long.
headed politicians, with much knowledge of elm-
racier and ef the ways of mortal men, are going
about counting heeds, computing in teresie,and doing
tittle sums in addition and eubtrection of immense
signific ince. They do this because they know, as
every body knows, that votes are decided out of doors,
and that the division to-night would be much the
same had every speaker spoken in an unkne
tongue which there was nobody to interpret. Frain
day to day, from hour to hour, various figures have i
gone about as the predestinated event of this debate.
Twenty, five and twenty, a dozen or fifteen, a mere
shave, a downright minority have been rumoured in
turn,the differences of estimate being referable to the
health or the engagements of members rather than
their opinions. We believe that the most consum-
mate eloquence would no more affect the division
than it would turn cats into dogs, or dogs into cats.
As matters now stand, and unless something very
unexpected intervenes, not to change minds, but to
prevent bodies making an appearance, we expect a
very modest majority indeed, but still a majority.
England is expected to yield a majority of 32 for
Ministers, Scotland a majority of 23, amounting to
a majority of 55 for the whole island. Ireland,
however, is booked for a majority of 51 against
Ministers, leaving a net majority of 5. The calcu-
lation which gives these differences suppoees 320
to vote on one side and 316 on the other—a very
large muster, and one which cannot he reckoned
upon with anything like certainty, even if we had
the promise of every member under his sign manual.
The first reflection that must present itself to every-
body is that the real question is an Irish one.
If Ministers are beaten, they will be beaten by Ire-
land, and what is more, Great Britain will be beaten
by Ireland. This is not the first time that one ques-
tion has been tried under the form of another, for it
is a very old remark that nearly every question is
tried in this country under a false issue. The Irish
members tacitly admit the little interest they feel in
the matter actually under discussion, for till Mr.
Cogan broke their silence last night they had wholly
abstained from the debate. That gentleman's re-
ferences to Danish affairs are but slight and casual.
He follows the lead of Mr. Disraeli, in throwing
such blame as there is on the Foreign Secretary*
and is even more emphatic in his admiration of the
Premier. In effect, hoa ever, he makes this a
general question of confidence, that ordeal which
a Government may escape from ono debate to an-
other, from one session to another, but which must
come at last, perhaps when least expected, not to
say least deserved.
DAILY NEWS.—The British soldier, even after
Mr. Cobden's proclamation, of the millennium, re-
mains an object of groat interest. Utility and
scarceness combine to make him a valuable creature,
although the India office still refuses to protect his
life in our Eastern Empire by the arrangements
which sanitary science prescribes, and although in
New Zealand the services of a whole division are
dedicated to the inglorious occupation of seizing
the land of savages for civilised settlers. Although
of the commonest material, he costs a great deal in
the finished state, and just Eis he has arrived at
perfection his obiigation to service expires, and we
have to tempt him anew. The dificatties we ex-
perience in keeping up our army in a state of
efficiency will probably increase rather than diminish
for the next few years, until we have mastered all
the elements of what is obviously a state of transie
tion, and placed the maintenance of our military
force on a basis more in accordance with the
changed and still changing economic and social
conditions of the classes from which our regiments
are recruited. In the meantime, with our present
lights, we can see ways of making the soldier's life
more attractive within the actual limits of his duty
and pay. The weary monotony of that life in time
of peace, arising from want of occupation, has long
been recognised as a source of temptation to courses
destructive of his health and efficiency, and there-
__ secei ante to toe COUllify wined see serves.
Experience proves that whatever calls into play
the better qualities of a man re.ises him in the
process above the influences which lead to vice.
A few years ago an attempt was made to turn this
knowledge to account in the army. General
Craufurd, who visited the camp of Chalons in
the summer of 1861, observed that the French
soldiers were very handy, able to shift for them-
selves, and be useful to their company, through the
knowledge which most of them possessed of some
trade. He recorded his observations in a report
addressed to the War-office, and suggested that it
was worthy of inquiry whether something in the
same direction might not be done for the advan-
tage of the British soldier. The late Sir G. Lewis
looked very favourably on the suggestion, and a
committee of officers was appointed to investigate
the subject. Tne General and other officers com-
manding districts in England were written to, and
asked to assemble boards of qualified officers, and
take their opinion. An overwhelming majority of
the officers stated that it would be of immense ad-
ventage to the service if means were afforded by
which the soldier could learn and pursue a trade,
under proper regulations. The Chatham board of
officers, whose return may be taken as a specimen
of the reports generally, declared their conviction
that " the benefit to the soldier from the proposed
system would be invaluable. It would-in no way
diminish his efficiency—it would increase his use-
fulness on service, and in quarters occupy his time
so as to keep him a great deal out of the way of
vice and add to his contentment. It would also
make the army more popular, and attract a better
class of men into it." But although this was the
opinion of the best officers of the army, the scheme
fell through, his Royal Highness the Commander-
in-Chief having unfortunately acquired the convic-
tion that men would not stay in the army if they
were taught how they might get a living oat of it.
We hope that what is doing now at Aldershott
may be taken as a proof that better counsels
are prevailing at the Horse Guards. Aldershot has
produced an Industrial Exhibition. Under the
guidance and encouragement of officers who show
they are worthy to command, the soldiers at the
camp have furnished the products of their skill and
industry, which are now displayed in the Alderehot
Club-house, forming a most interesting collection.
Every regiment in camp—horse, foot, artillery, and
eosineers—has sent something for exhibition, and
not oOly the men but their wives and children, and
the wives of the ricers, have contributed articles.
Besides armnurers' and smiths' work, harness,
accoutrements, aned
.military engineering instru-
ments, there are speCtnens of carving, carpentering,
cabinet work, which show the men to be equal to
the demands either of military or civil life. The
remarkable feature of the exhibition is the evidence
it offers of the correctness of the opinion of those
officers who reported three years ago in favour of
encouraging the soldier to pursue some industrial
occupation in his leisure time. We may take it for
certain that the men who have furnished the stalls
at this exhibition are not the worst but the best
men in their several corps ; and we have in this
display of their work an indication of the way in
which a good soldier is led by choice, when left to
his own good sense, to spend his spare time. It may
be said that the testimony of the men themselves is
now added to that of the officers who supported in
favour of General Crawfurd's recommendation. We
may hope that this exhibition will break down the
last remaining prejudice that has operated to pre-
vent the establishment of workshops for soldiers,
which have been found of so much advantage in
India.

Bank of England Return.•--Last Evening.

An Account, pursuant to the Act 7th and Bth Victoria,
cap. 32, for tho week ending un Wednesday, the 6th day
of July, 1864:

ISSUE nrrAIITMENT.
;50t430 burned .......X27,893,1;10 Government Debt £11,015.1c0
Other Securities .. 3.034•9°(/
Gold Coin tic Bullion 13,248,5t0
Silver Bullion .•••
0,7,895,810

127,893,810

,EPARTIVENT.
OVerfirtlent Se'
G
rities (including
Dead WeightAn-
nuity') ------ ----- 411,122125
other secnrit.es •
oNglde° and Silver (5,501881,253
Coln

£41,3.9,623
MILLER. Chief Cashier