The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-17 00:00:00

SONNET'S SILKS a LYON.—Every Article of an d acknowledge the merits of those who have wol
t
commerce takes its title either from s•c,ccess, or at least deserved it, by thehairpaiarndnuionu;
_LIP the
ntor
the nr
manufacturer, and the more perfect the productio inven
greater is the credit which attaches to the originator
ane truggles against difficulties, thir
zeal w
devices, and their spirit in sustaining their
BONNET'S SILKS are said to be incapable of identifleca:
Lion in England; but the fallacy of such an air*,
bated by i
s
x
pos.: d by the very trade mark of the firm, as ex
tl jai&
Messrs. JAY, of Regent-street. This is, however, very different to the per
The following interwoven mark may be seen
_at end tinacity
which some display in taking advantage o.
ofeach piece :—" 3lanutacture de C. J. Bonnet et Cie., a Lyon
et a Injurieux." Wear guaranteed. the fortuitous chances they possess to work out their

own ends and gain their own objects. The positiox
which Ministers hold should make them moderate
instead of urging them on to extremes. In the
pursuance of their purpose to condemn the Alex.
andra, they have exhibited far more of that bitter
animosity which once reigned among political par,
ties, or of that extreme line of action that private
dissensions often inculcate, than of the calm dig,
nity, the msjestic repose, and the marked reticence
that should ever distinguish the rulers of a great
country and the arbiters of the destiny of a mighty
people. To rush from Court to Court, to employ
all the exredients which the law affords to the
subtle assailant, to delay, to injure, and perhaps to
crush, are most unworthy of the men who affect to
represent the interests and protect the rights of
their countrymen against the nations of the world.
What a spectacle it mast afford to foreign lands,
and in what condition must the cavilling stranger
hold our free institutions, when he finds they are
powerless to prevent the greatest injuries being
inflicted upon the subjects of the realm. It is only
the fortunate possession of means of defence that
has enabled the attacked party to wage a war
against their formidable and unscrupulous oppo-
nents. True, the conflict has hitherto been carried
on successfully, but only at the expense of an enor-
mous outlay, and the question naturaLy arises
what would have been the consequence if the de-
fendants had not been so well qualified to meet
their enemies in the gate. Ruin would inevitably
have ensued, and while the civilised world
may no w ring with their triumph if
they 03023 out victorious from their trial
before the first legal tribunal, they might other-
wise have been crushed in a corner, and their
fate commented on by a few independent mem-
bers perhaps, and then they would have sunk
into that obscurity which eng,ulphs so many of
the injured ones who in this world find no court
of appeal to redress the wrongs which Might
with Wealth inflicts on Right, whose heritage is
poverty. This question is surrounded by legal
technicalities, it has mocked the counsel of the
wise, and puzzled the brains of the most astute.
The first in the land have devoted to its solution
their intellect, their intelligence, and their skilled
research. Yet there seems a moral view to take
of this great question, apart from its legal one,
and above and beyond it in point of value and im-
portance. How far is the Government justified
in this cruel arid relentless persecution, and is it
right that a precedent should be thus established
for so crushing a course of action, and so over-
whelming a proceeding. According to the dic-
tum thus laid down Ministers may say to their
friends on the other side of the world, and in any
part of the earth, "We dare not become your
open allies, but we can covertly assist you. We
have means and appliances which will do more
for you than armed hosts or embattled fleets can
effect. The spirit of the country would be too
strong for these to be used for your aid, but
other means more effectual can be tried. With
the weapons of offence hidden under the deco-
rous drapery of the law, the authorities of the
land have certainly contrived to wage a civil con-
test fqr their friends. That the subtle device may
prove a failure is the earnest wish of all indepen-
dent men, and that the attempt to prove too much
may recoil on themselves, will be an example of
poetic justice that will be a bright and refreshing
landmark in the dry details and dusty precincts of
the law and its surroundings. Whether they suc-
ceed or not in fixing a stigma on the firm of British
merchants who have offended their prejudices, can-
not alter the fact that the Ministers have taken a
most unfair advantage of their opportunity to work
out ends which they, as Englishmen, should blush
to gain. What would it avail them if the Govern-
ment of Washington smile upon them, if their
efforts to gain that approval has called forth the
indignation of their own people. In such a cause
their best friends and sincerest wellwishers can only
hope for their failure, since a success which under-
mines their inflaenoe at home, and abroad arouses
feelings of jealous distrust and angry recrimina-
tion, can never be a victory worth gaining. Their
triumph may go forth across the broad waters of
the Atlantic, and elicit sentiments of gratified
delight from their friends and allies in the Federal
States ; but if at home a general feeling of dissatis-
faction prevails, and a universal opinion gains
ground that the policy which dictated their tactics
was an un-English one, the Government which
succeeded before a legal, may fail to plead its cause
before a national, tribunal. They may not have
the opportunity of exclaiming with PYRRHUS,
"one more such victory and we are undone," for
the key-note of their doom and destruction may
already have been sounded, and, like the knights
of old, who, if they fell, were too encumbered with
the weight of their armour to rise, they may find
that the very means which they adopted to render
success more certain and comprehensive have but
proved the culminating point of disaster, and the
crowning act ensuring a dire and inevitable defeat.

THE NATIONAL SHAKESPEARE
MEMORIAL BUST.
By FELIX M. MILLER, Professor of Sculpture, Govern-
ment School cf Art, published under the special sanction of
the National Shakespeare
HOWEL and Strat
JAMES, ford-on-AvonCO Tercente-
nary Committees, by L, and .
Copies will be issued, in the order of registration, to sub-
scribers only, and are executed in—
Wedgwood Ceramic Statuary, 12 in. high, price One Guinea.
French Terra Cotta 15 ~ One Guinea.
Bronze 8 , „ Three Guineas
- -

Stibscribers' names received by the agents in Lo,,don and
chief provincial towns (where copies of the _Bust may be seen),
or by the publishers,
HOWELL, JAMES, and Co., Goldsmiths, &c.,
By aorintment to the Queen and i-r,nce anti Princess of
NI ales, 5,7, and 0, REGENT-STREET, LONDON.
_ .

Photographs and prospectuses forwardef post free on ap
plicatiOn.

ROYAL ENGLISH OPERA,
COVENT-GARDEN.
Under the Management of Miss Louisa Pyne and
Mr. W. Harrison.
THIS EVENING, SHE STOOPS TO CONQUER: Miss
Louisa Pyne, Miss Hiles ; Messrs. H. Cord, G. Perron, and
W. Harrison.
To conclude with FANCHETTE.
Doors open at half-past Six—L'ommence at Seven.

THEATRE ROYAL DB U R Y-L AN E.
Managers, Messrs. Edmond Falconer and
F. B. Chatterton.

T 1115.-1 EVENING, the Performances will commence with
THE FOUR. MOWBRAYS. Master Percy Roselle.
After winch, MANFRED. Manfred, Mr. Phelps.
To conclucie with a new farce, THE ALABAMA. Mr. G.
Belmore and Niss Lydia Thompson.
Prices as usual. Box Office open from 10 till 5 daily.

THEATRE ROYAL HAYMARKET.-
Sole Lessee and Manager, Mr, Buckstone.
THIS EVENING, THE LITTLE DAISY.
After which, BUNKUM INULLER. Mr. Sothern.
To be followed by OUR AffERICAN COUSIN: Messrs.
Sothern, Buckstone, Chippenl; le. Rogers, Clark, Gordon,
Braid, dcc. ; Mesdames Angel, Lindley, Hill, Harris, Snowden,
dm_

And AN 'UNLUCKY MORTAL: Mr. W. Farren and
Miss M. Harris.

Commence at 7.

ROYAL PRINCESS'S THEATRE.--.
Sole Lena and Manager, Mr. Geo. 'Vining.
THIS EVENING, PAUL'S RETURN.
After which, THE COMEDY OF ERRORS. The Two
Dromios, by the Brother 3 Webb.
And JACK'S ARRIVAL FROM CANTON.

ROYAL LYCEUM THEATRE.
Under the Sole Management of Mr. Fechter.
Last Three Nights before Easter.
BEL DEAIONIO (a Triumphant Success) will be repeated
Every Evening during the Week.
THIS EVENING, the performance will commence with a
New and Original Farce, entitled THE LOST CHILD:
Messrs. H. Widdicombe, Shore, Garden, F. Charles Collett,
Moreland; Misses Percy, Pauline Le)lereq, Wood, Mrs. Lee,
and Miss E. Lavenn.

Ater which, at Eight o'clock, the 113th Night of BEL
DEMONIO, a Love Story, in Twelve Tableaux, taken from
Stendhal's "Italian Chronicle;," by Mr. John Brougham.
Messrs. Jordan, Charles, Brougham, Emery, F. _Morton,
Raymond, Moreland, Smith, Clifford, Collett, Sims ; Miss
Kate Terry, Miss E. Lavenu, Mrs. Lee, alms Elsworthy.

The Public are entreated to take notice that No Charge is
rftade to the occupants of Boxes, Box-places, or Stalls, either
to: play bills or for the safe keeping of hat 4 and cloaks, and
teat the attendants in all parts of the house are forbidden to
receive any gratuities whatever.
Box-office open daily from 11 to 5. Commence at 7.

R eFmEo Ct
withH rE
onR in
Saturday consequence
rda n
night,
a nof
hyt
thhe a e
advice ei e t
of
his physicians, will be UNABLE to APPEA it until Easter
Monday, March 2S, when he will resume his character of
Angelo, in "Bel Demonio."

NSW THE ATRE-RO YAL, ADELPUL.
8010 Proprietor and Itianager. Mr. B. Webster.

THIS EVENING, THE PRETTY HORSEBR,EAKE
Mr. J. L. Toole and Hiss Woolgar.
Eizlit, LEAH . Miss Bate nan, supported by Messrs,
A. Stirlinz, R. Phillips, Billngton, Stuart, Stophenson,
kburne; Miss H. Simms, and Sirs. Bfflington.
To °lnclude with. 9th time, TtlE AREA. BELLE : sTessrs.
J. L. Toole, P. Bedford, Homer, Miss Woolgar, and Mrs. H.
Lewis.

Among the many societies which have for their
object the succour and relief of our fellow-creatures
there is none perhaps which is is its way more
practically useful then the association possessing
the high-sounding title of the Royal National Life-
boat Institution. It comes indeed rather under the
head of an official organisation than a charitable
assembly, since the claims which it urges upon us
are those of a duty undoubtedly incumbent on the
inhabitants of a maritime nation. The public inte-
rests are so largely concerned in the welfare of our
trade and commerce, independently of any indivi-
dual or personal connection with the vast numbers
who annually pass to and fro amid our stormy
waters, that every one of us is in some measure
bound to contribute to the safety of those in peril
of shipwreck or other nautical disaster. That Eng-
lish men and women generally fully appreciate
these cla;ms upon them is proved by the public
support so freely and constantly afforded to the
National Lifeboat Institution. The sea and the
sailor are always popular subjects amaagst us,
the honest "Jack Tar" is one of oar national
boasts, and no tale 3 of peril or adventure secure
more interested hearers than the thrilling narra-
tives of " the dangers of the seas." Deeds of
heroism and self-devotion are often done by some,
unknown sailor or fisherman which may rank far
above the more conspicuous. achievements of
slaughter and destruction, which Fame carefully
chronicles. There is still unhappily too much room
for such feats of valour or skill ; too much room
even with their accomplishment for the long list of
widows and orphans. Daring the year just passed
no less than 1,602 casualties took place on the
shores and in the seas of the British Isles, and al-
though from the immense extent of our commerce
and the dangers of oar coast these may be held to
include a large proportion of the wrecks of the
habitable globe, still the aggregate of suffering
and distress represented by this number is
something appalling in these days of ad-