The Sun.
London, England, 1852-04-23 00:00:00

LONDoN FRIDAY APRIL 23, 1852.

Against the motion which is coming on this even-
ing for the second reading of the Militia Bill, it is
expected that there will be extraordinery opposition.
Not merely is it understood that Lord Joust RUSSELL
wi:l oppose the measure suggesttd by the Home SE-
CRETARY, but there are likewise confident expecta-
tions that the satee antagonistic view will be taken
by other members of the Wm Administration.
Already have bean inscribed on the books of the House
of Commons three distinct notices of amendment, to
be' respectively proposed by the representatives of
Westminster, Richmond, and Manchester. Ptarbaps,
of all these projected Amendments, the most brief is
the most comprehensive, that Of Mr. MILNER GII:
SON, suggestive "That this House is of opinion that it
is not expedient to proceed with the Militia Bill in the
present Parliament." Toe amendment next in bre-
vity, if not also in importance, is the one proposed by
Mr. RICH, " That the I- ff.-ctive support of our regular
army will be best maintai:zed, and at the least inter-
ference with the industrial pursuits of the population,
by measures adapted to increase the numbers and
Oficiency.of our prps,nt reserve force, or battalions
of I)tu'ituler9." While the most elaborate, and con-
se`l"nnY the least caleulat. d to prove eff-ctual as an
obstruction to the measure in!roduced by her MA-
JESTY'S Goveyb,e
this by n" that intended to be advocated
"That though nr, junSi- EVANS, maintaining
dation of h
,xistingrneil.iste amendment and consoli-
sable, in order to gmth'lll44 laws may be indispen-
proniptly resorting to th p
lGovernment the Flyer of
scription in ciae of a force of that de-
sudden or unfore-
seen hostile attem 0 against be Y r
Atni
efficiently
dominions
will be most economically and e
zai
and
and with least interrupt ion to the lit,n4tlY provided for,
.o
pursuits
uteera;
of the people, by regular troops and
thetit therefore befomes $ duty on the
TAtt of the

Government to afford every honourable acceptance, I
encouragement, and assists[ tee in respect to the patriotic .
offers for the formation of the latter corps." Front the
wording of these three amendments, it will be mini-
fast that the most rational suggestion, the only rational
suggestion according to our opinion, has not been
whispered about by those opponents of the Militia
Bill who are still impressed with the necessity of
making some large improvement in our system of
national defences. As we have intimated, however,
the gist of the whole question may be regarded as
comprehended within the compass of the pithy and
suggestive motion framed by the Right Hun. Gentle.
man the Member for Manchester. His argument,
possibly, in adopting this particular course of opposi.
Lion, may be that by thus summarily ridding the
country of the chance of an enactment so unpopular
as the Millis Bill intr ,duced by Mr. Wautors, he
would not merely be satisfying the' anxiety
felt by many lest this measure should actually
become an enactment, but would be indefiuiely post-
poning the consideration of our position as an island
presentirl innumerable opportunities for invasion
until ,•uch rim,- as a realty judicious scheme was sub.
iniqed to the L-gi-lature by some more regularly
etahilittAt d Governnvnt.

A standing navy we have long asserted to be the
mast rational means of defending England against
military invasions trom the continent. rhis, never-
theless, is not precisely the moment for the
enforcement of the views entertained by us in
this particular. What remains to be decided jut'
new is, not so much whether the fx,ension, or at any
rare the re-organization of our maritime force is de-
sirable, bu: whether Mr. WALPOLE'S Militia Bill is
to be read a second time to night, and subs,quentls
forwarded as expeditiously as passible through the
various subsegirent stages required to be passed by an
Act of Parliament. Almost every one is agreed
tnat the na►ional defences are in their present state
altogether inathquate. The necessity for some speedy
and comprehensive change, in the way of being pre-
pared against any continental assault, has for a con-
-i time past teen universally acknowledged.
The Duke of WELLINGTON was about the first to as-
sert the peril of our situAtion—and not very many,
we feel assured, will he disposed to emulate the
Member for the West Riling of York-
Aire in ri ticuiing the sendwents entertained
:won this suhject by the brave old veteran. Sr
iIIANCIS HEAD entered soon afterwards into a de-
tailed ,xposition of the propriety of those words of
wariiii,g which the COM➢[ANDER-IN CHIEF had
solemnly addressed to the nation through his
memorable letter to Sir JOHN BURGOYNE. Little
reason,inde.d, remains fbr any deliberie it argument
upon a matter now totally removed beyond the need
of serious dAmonstrations.

Demonstrations, however, of another kind, have
been deemed advisable, and these comoiquently
have taken place of late in various q carters of the
United Kingdom. There have b en, for example,
enthusiastic meetings in Edinburgh and Liverpool,
in Bt h and Birmingham, in Scarborough
and Wolverhampton, besides others in equally
scattered parts of the country, for the purpose
of protesting against the intended enactment
for the re-organ;zltion of the militia. Whe-
ther th:-! Biit in question be carried forward
in &lance of this out .of-door opposition is
a point the turning upon which will have to he
decided by the magnitude and energy of this evening's
is-door opposition. As we have all along main-
tained—the advisability of introducing very
considerable improvements into the Fystem of
the national militia is no less obvious than the pro-
priety of ex.ending, in regard to the Royal
Navy • and the Marine Artillery, the more im-
portant among our national defences. But
against a m,-asure as arbitrary and ex-
travagant as that propounded by the present
Hoists SFCILETA.RY, it is only reasonable that the
pirit of the w hole country should be rou,ed
ith indignation. Moderate changes let us
have in the militia, by all means, but not
chaurA so preposttrously unnecess4ry; and with
these moderate changes let us also have a standing
navy, and England may then laugh to scorn the pro-
1-cts of invasion co juted up by adventurers iu the
French army or iu the French marine—projects
hatched by the temerity of a JOINVILLA or the am-
bition of a CH kNGARNIER.

Mr. MILNER GIBSON has entitled bimself to the

.wirk d toilts awl gratitude of the coromuni'y f
tr:e cotisurnmate witl which he capoed the jai-
;wlicy and kju%tice of the several t•.x,-,s oo know.
'['he Right Hon. Gentlem i brought
!orward su ov,,rp,tweriog case in fAvour of the
abuli-
`ion of these iniquitous imposts. A most graciaus re-
:gong), too, was accorded to his ststement, which
.1-eitictly and un quiv wally priived the state of
feeling among men ut all parties on these interestiog
questions; but there was a circumstance of even sill
greater importance perceptible during the discussion.

Die CHANCELLOR of the EXCHEQUER, by his oh-
si-TV,lii“ll-, showed that he faille-elf was fully sensible
,f the evils of the existing system, and that, if hip
tongue were sealed tor the present, by the cfEial
-tiquette which forbids a partial revelation re-pelting
fiscal matters un it the whole Budget be brought
!newarr4, his feelings and wishes are strongly in fa-
veur or the removal of these obnoxious charges.
The difference between the Financial Minister of
England and Y. is iremediete predecessor coul i nut have
eeeo exhibi ed in a stronger light. Mr. DIRABLI,
n place of relying on the obsolete fallacies in
which Sir CHARLES WOOD rej iced, and
largely availed himself of, declared at the very
oommeecernent of his speech, not only for himself
hut also for his colleagues, that they " had no fear or
apprehension with respect to the influence of the
press." They did not participate in the "sinister
i'eelings" by which others were actuated. They re-
verie(' the propositions merely in a financial point of
vie et, a Intireing the groat hardship of the case, and
willing to take into their best consideration any pm-
riceble mode of relief This candid and fair coefee-
sion considerably clears the ground for future occa-
same. It gets rid of the principal argument relied
on by the stickle-1.4 fir ancient abuses, end allows each
of these qu-stions to rest on its true foundation. We
-hall hencetorward hear no more twud fle respecting
the licentiousness of the press, or the necessity of re•
pres,ion—of something, in fact, approaching to a
censorship. The subj-et must rest on a very differ.
-nt basis, and there can n or remain but little doubt
,es to the ultimate result.
On one of the points, indeed, the Right Honourab'e
Gentl-man, although giving no pledge, so clearly and
rent quivecally intimated his views, that we may almost
already congratulate the country on the speedy repeal
ot the advertisement duties. The amount realiz.id
by the Exchequer from the last-mentiored unequal
and oppressive charge does not exceed 160,0001. per
annum. Its repeal may, therefore, easily be accom-
plished without tie necessity of procuring a substi.
ripe, while the larger proceeds of the other charges
require much greater care and consideration.
Tne simulranroue announcement that the financial
stetement would be definitively brought forward on this
day
week entitled the Right Honourable Gentleman
to the indulgence which he claimed, viz., that
until serer that general exposition he should
not be hampered by a vote OH a particular
subject,
which shou!d be dealt with not merely on
its iudi.idual merits, but in reference to the
general fiscal question. Men of all parties re-
cognised the justice of the demand, and a
feeling of g.-rvral gratification was apparent.
It was Mr. WAILLEY that pro d
Pos.- the adjournment
of the debate, which was seconded by Mr. COBDEN,
and unanimpu,ly adopted. All were pleased—find,
for the time being. at least, satisfied. Whether they
will remain so, after Friday, the 30th inst., is another
question ; but it is something to know that on that day
we shall be enlightened on every fiscal point. We shall
know what is to be done and what must be left un-
done; whet relief will he gr-nted and what must be
left to a future time, and also the comparative chances
of the different remedial measures which have
each and all their respective admirers and advocates.]
It would scarcely be fair to anticipate or to deprive
the Right Hon. Gentleman of the merit of intro-
ducing cT however, without
e Inraordieary, powers
adrurcoignagtiboigs ownto oßourd.egievt:i y
of vaticinetior, venture to assert that the
advertisement duty will be ai.oge.her repealed, and
that some hope, at least, will be_held out as to the mo-
dification or abolition of the paper duties and

stamps on journals. We also believe that there
will be a considerable alteration in Schedule

D., that the income-tax will be meerially
modifi- d. Mr. DBRAELE has not as yet been suffi-
ciently exposed to what, judging from the conduct of
some of his predecessors, we can only term the " de-
moralising" influences of his office, to dis-
regard every feeling of justice and honour.
He will not lend the sanction of his name
to gross and palpable " confiscation," for inequitable
imposts deserve no other title, merely because they
produce so many thousands or even so many mil-
lions per annum. The entire state of the finances
will be ably reviewed, and although he
may not be able to go to the full
extent of his wishes, or of what the exi-
gencies of the case demand, we shall at least
then have some indications to enable us to judge of
the general ti -cal and commercial policy of the
party, now ;hat they have nen quivocally abandoned
every idea of a bread tax. We await that state-
tnent anxiously, prepart d to mske every allowance for
the difficulties of the position in which the Right
Hotieursb!e Gentleman is placed. But it must in.
clule a repeal of the advertisement duti«,s and a mo-
dification of Schedule D. With those, and no effort to
impose ad.litional Customs duties, and the indications
of a sound policy, the nation may ha well contented.
The people will then see that they did not sustain
any great lass in the expulsion of the Whigs,
and that those who deprecated a factious opposi-
tion to the existing Gavernan- nt were not betray.

ing the popular interest. Oce thing, at least,
is certain. The Whigs wil! be greatly improved by
their temporary s4ces4ior, and the community wilt
rec,ive benefits which they could never have obtained
but tor the change.

THE FRENCH ItEPUBLIC.

We hAve received the Pad. j )urnals of yesterday.
The Pitt SIDENT of th- It-public left Paris on
We-dnevriay evrolitg, for 0, leans, by a special train.
Thy intenion of the PRINCE is to visit the S
where it is proposed ro construct a canal. lie was
accompanied by the Ministers of the Interior, Justice,
and Pilb:ic Works.

The Mini tel. of Sate on Wednesday tran4mittEd
to the S• nate the 'pew Copper Coindwe Bill, which has
just be. n aitopr,d by the L,gi,lative B.:dy.
Ali the directors of the theitri_•:s of Paris were on
Wednesday moruirg summoned to the hotel of the
Minister us the Interior. The Minister called them
tng.-tber in order to mak known to them the inten-
buns of the Government with regard to the tenden-
cies of the dramatic li!,enture of the present day,
which are much to be regretted. In a few coact-e
words, the Minister exolnitied his views of the object
of the arage, and its it fluence on pubic morals ; and
he announced to the directors his firm resolution not
to allow the repreaentation of any piece of a nature
to excite the psisions and pervert the public mind.
he Patrie publishes the following commuuicattd

note
" A great number of persons imagine and report that
the Empire is to be proclaimed on the occa,ion
.of a
fête. To attribute to the G,,vernment the desire of a
pretext for chviging the estabtisht d order of things, is
to form a very fal:,o idea of the manner in which it un-
rstands its duties. necessity should ever lead to
such a reso'utiou, it would or ly be accomplished on the
initiative of the constitut,d powers, and with the consent
of the whole people. As to the acclamations uf the
army, they are, it is tr ue. for the chief of the state a
vale ,tile pry of of the seniiments with which it is mil-
mated, hut they cannot produce any political retiulr.
Thus, at the cerem• ny on the 10th May next, the
60,000 men assembled in the Champ de Mari would in
vain iialute the Presi rent by the name of Emperor, as
that act would not anvance the re-establishment of the
Empire one bour"
And the Moniteur has the following ofnei..l contra-
diction of the report, conceived in nearly the same

terms :--
" Many imsgine the empire is to be proclaimed at is
Sneh are string,-ly mistaken in attribwitt to the ti )-
vtrn,tent the desire of a pretext, to change the establimhed
order of thin ,:s. Such a change, i
itirlei rendered
irve:
of n etchtes steia:
could only tie accJinpli,hed on the
stituted powers with the assent of the whole people. The
sixty thous l'irl soldiers to be assembled in the Cnnixos
de Mar*, on 111.437 10. would vainly salute the President
as Rnorror, the empire would not be brought one hour
near. t" -

This appears to be conclusive as fsr ms the 10th of
Mav is in question, but what the 15-h of Augus',
the day appinted for the ceremony of the distri-
bution of the eagles, will bring torth, offers a field fx
conjecture. That day, as the anniversary of the birth
of the EMPIROR. has siready been declared, with the
Ist of J ,nuar,, to be the two great fête days of thm
year, upon which the decorations of the Legion of
honour are henceforth alone to he bestowed. The
S-na'e and Corps Legixlatif are well disposed to
lake !he initiativ. indicaied ia-her than repelled in
the note couni.unicattd to the Patrie. May %VP
venture to blieve that by the 15 n ut Augu-t, the
birth•day of the EMPbROB, th., army and National
Guards will, in receiving the eagles, be prepared to
aral firm the prod &mation of the Empire ?
Moniteur publishes a decree settling the rank
of the great bunks of the S'a'e. The S-nate is first,
the Legislative Corps second, and the Council of State
third

The Public has been instructed to offer the follow-
lowing i-x,,lanation of the curious circumstance con-
nected with the Ru4sim Imperial Aliusuack, which
we lat_ly mentioned
:
" For some da) s pus,- rumours have prevailed at Paris
that expl4nati ni have been asked trim a diplomatic
pi4rson4ge rdstivo to an almanack published in a foreign
country (Russia), and which continued to include
am..ng,t toe numtn-r of reigning families the house of
B.airb.,n. These rotni,urs have no serious foundation.
The almanack in question is published with the autho-
risation of the Government mentioned, but not by order
of th4t Government. I; appears that the editors of that
book merely o pied the almsnack of Goths, which
giv,s annually an histotical account of the house of
B bon. Tnis publication, conAqaently, has no official
chptaeter."

Vises Admiral HALGtrs has just died in Paris in
his 84th year. He commenced hia naval career in
1784.

the Bourse was du!l exc .pt for Railway Shares, which
were rwre firm. Toe Foor-,1,1d-a-Hal: per Cents.
open, d at 1001. 90c., and cicgei at the bacie price for
the end of the month; the 1 hr•-e per C.-nts. clo,ed
et 70 . 9 1%; Orleans ilt.iicesy Shares. 1,217 f. 500. ;
itmen, 813'.. 75 %; 300 f.; Great N,rtnern, 625%;
Argo n, 273 r. 75c.; Vietz et, 595•; 83,1 e, 256, 250.;
Bordeaux, 620''.; liens S;ra-berg, 580'.; ruurs aLd
Nantes. 370 e.; Paris and 1,3 0n,,, 6 tBt. 75c.

BUSIN EMS DONE IN FOREIGN RAILWAYS AT THE

LONDON STOCK EXCHANGE, APRIL 2.1.

Cha, leroi and Envielinea, 13 —East Indian. 21%—Grand
Junction 01 France, 41/4—Nortto•rn of France. 244—Orleans
and Bordeaux, WA—Paris and Rouen, 31,h—tiouen and
Havre, 123 i ex uiv.-loure and Ziante,, 11 Y4-IVestern of
France, 7