The Sun.
London, England, 1864-04-11 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, APRIL 11, 1864.

its powers of resistance with a gun throwing a shot
of a thousand pounds weight, which is in a short
time to be cast in Prussia for the Imperial Govern-
ment. In the calibre of its ordnance Russia seems
making a great effort to keep ahead of the rest of
Europe, and is most liberal in its orders for the
largest guns in any country which will undertake
to manufacture for it. But in the calibre of its
ordnance Europe is now as it ever has been far be-
hind America. At Pittsburg,;in Pennsylvania, a
50.t0n ern has just been successfully cast for the
United States' Government. This monster piece of
ordnance, which is stated to be perfect in its cast-
ing, is to throw a solid 20 inch shot weighing
1,6001 b.

After the rolling of the bars on Saturday the visi-
tors were conducted over the whole of the extensive
smithries, machine shops, and shipbuilding depart-
ments of the company's works. The Northumberland,
iron-clad frigate, the fine model of which formed so
prominent a feature in the late Exhibition, attracted
considerable attention, and especially her enormous
sternpost —one forging of more than 60 tons weight.
An ironclad cupola ram, in course of construction
for the Italian Government, was noticed on account
of the intense ugliness of its outline and the for-
midable offensive qualities of its projecting beak.
The immense iron columns for the new Blackfriars-
bridge, and the cylinders used by the engineers of
the London, Chatham, and Dover Railway in build-
ing up the piers of the bridge, were also shown to
the visitors. Some of the iron plates rolled at the
Millwall Works, classed A 1, and which have been
fired at in some of the experiments, showed, by the
deep indentations on their surface, how perfect had
been their manufacture and how great their powers
of resistance.

Kr, Glaisher's Eighteenth Balloon Ascent
from Woolwich Arsenal, April 6,

TO THE EDITOR OF THE SUIT.

when we were first seen below the clouds we were
coming as from Hastings.
Had we mounted five miles high withont the pre•
cautionary dip we might, and probably would, have
found ourselves over the middle of the Channel
without the power of re-ascending or keeping the
balloon from the water. In case this had happened
we had prepared ourselves with Stewart's life belts,
admitting of quick inflation and admirably adapted
for their purpose. Mr. Coxwell, on learning the
place of descent, did not consider under the circum-
stances that it was prudent to re-ascend, and he
resolved to empty the balloon at Sevenoaks.
The results of this ascent are remarkable. They
establish the prevalence of totally opposite currents
of air within two miles of the earth, as also tempe-
ratures of the air actually warmer than on the earth
at heights exceeding B,oooft, where usually the
temperature is from 30 deg. to 40 deg. lower than
on the earth, constituting the results of this ascent
as differing from all others, and as one by no means
unimportant in the series.
The exact place of descent was Wilderness-park,
on the property of Marquis Camden, who was pre-
sent, and to whom our best thanks are due for kind
assistance. The descent was Mo gentle that not an
instrument was injured.
Blackheath, April 10.

JAMES GLAISFIER.

Great Robbery of Gold Bars—£3ooo Reward

SPIRIT OF THE PUBLIC JOURNALS,

THE EXAMINER ON THE DUKE OF NEW-
CASTLE.—There is but one feeling of regret at the
retirement of the Duke of Newcastle, who has won
a high place in public respect by sheer force of
character and conduct. Few men, indeed, have
gone through so trying an ordeal as the Duke of
Newcastle went through unscathed and with
honour. He was hardly judged for the faults in
the management of the Crimean campaign, and
was blamed for what were really defects of a sys-
tem. He had the mortification of being act aside
as incapable—a sore mortification indeed to a man
with a due share of the pride of intellect. But
during the time that he took his seat in the House
of Lords as one who had been tried and found want-
ing, never did he manifest any resentment for the
hard measure he had received, never did he evince
any pique, or seize on any of the mauy opportuni-
ties that offered of recrimination, He was too
high-minded and just a man to be swayed a hair's-
breadth in his public conduct by any personal con •
sideration. He acted as if he had never been ag-
grieved, never had had a slight put upon him,
never had felt the smart of an unmerited mortifi-
cation. He bore fortune's buffets as one in suffer-
iug all that suffered nothing, like the man Henalet
wore in his heart of hearts. We hardly know of
another instance of a man in similar circumstances,
/eh put himself so completely beside himself, if we
may express it, as regarded past grievances, look-
ing to nothing but present duty. How excellently
he acquitted himself of his charge in America we
need not call to mind, nor how efficiently and eon-
scientiously he discharged the duties of his office.
Nor need we say how affectionately he is regarded
in private life, where his frank, unpretending man-
ners and cordiality made themselves must pleas-
ingly felt. Heartily do we trust that the duke's
retirement will only be temporary, and that re-
stored health will soon give back his services to
the country.
THE LONDON REVIEW ON HER MAJESTY'S LATE
PRONUNCIAMENTO.—An article appeared the other
day in tha Times which it would be affectation to
regard otherwise than as a direct expression of the
sentiments of the highest personage in the realm.
The mode which her Majesty has adopted in com-
municating with her people is undoubtedly unpre-
cedented; nor can we conceal from ourselves that
it is one which might be fraught with serious incon-
venience. But under the peculiar circumstances of
the present case, we are not disposed to press any
objections which we may entertain to so direct an
appeal from the throne to the nation. Her Ma-
jesty may well feel that the criticisms to which her
personal conduct has been subjected require 3 more
personal reply than can be afforded through the me-
dium of her constitutional advisers. We are therefore
more disposed to accept with gratitude the gracious
assurances of the Queen, than to cavil at the chan-
nel through which she has seen fit to convey them.
We have no doubt that the people will do full jus-
tice to the spirit which animates what we must
describe as the Royal message, and that they will
readily respond to the demand which it makes upon
their forbearance. With great good feeling her
Majesty expresses her hearty appreciation of her
subjects' desire to see her. And although not
directly, she impliedly contradicts the assertion that
she has laid out for herself any scheme of seclusion,
by the assurance that " whenever any real object le
to be attained by her appearing on public oectisiens,
any national interest to be promoted, or auythirg
to be encouraged which is for the good of her people,
her Majesty will not shrink, as she has not shrunk,
from any personal sacrifice or exertion, however
painful. At the same time she reminds us of that
which ought to have been lost sight of, that she
has now to perform—alone and unassisted—other
and higher duties than those of "mere representa-
tion ;" and she remonstrates gently, but firmly,
against being asked to expend on state ceremonies
the health and strength which she requires for the
discharge of " other duties which cannot be ne-
glected without serious injury to the public inte-
rests." She promises. however, that she will do
what she can to meet " the loyal wishes of her
subjects, to afford that support and countenance
to society, and to give that encouragement to
trade which is desired of her." We stiould enter
with infinite reluctance upon any discussion of
assurances graciously voucnsafed by the Queen
to the solicitude of her subjects. But we are
relieved from the performance of so embarrassing a
duty, by a conviction that it is quite sufficient to
express our perfect confidence that her Majesty
will not have thrown herself in vain upon " the

... _
kindness and good feeling of her people," and
that she will not find on their part any desire to
exact from her more than she finds herself able to
perform.
__

THE SPECTATOR ON THE COMING CONFERENCE,
—The chances of an acceptable peace as the result
of the Danish conference grow less as the meeting
draws near. The great Powers are all in one way
or another expressing their " views," and the effect
of the expression is to show that the hope of agree-
ment among them all is of the faintest kind. Earl
Russell, in his despatch of March 9, not only avows
that the idea of Great Britain is to maintain the
Treaty
of 182 through a " personal union'' between
Denmark ,end the Duchies, but bids the Danes re-
member that although "he does not pretend to
dictate," they
Dm?, if they are as obstinate as Eng-
lishmen would be, obtain worse terms than that.
The German Powers nee
ent to that view, but de-
mand in addition that the united Duchy of Schies-
wig-Holstein shall possess an equal vote with Den-
mark upon all matters affecting tiee whole monarchy,
in other words, that Germany shall govern the
policy of Duchies, peninsula, and isiends all toge-
ther. M. Drouyia de Lhuys, on the other hand, in
a despatch dated 20th March, announces his mas-
ter's opinion that " it is impossible not to recognise
the obstacles to the precise and exact execution of
the Treaty of 1852," and that it is needful to ap•
peal to the political "higher law," the law which
condones all breaches of faith among nations and
between nations and their rulers—universal suffrage.
Finally, Russia don't publish despatches, but asks
amidst the cannon for a Danish princess as wife for
the future Czar, strong evidence that the idea of the
Romanoffe is not to dethrone King Christian alto-
gether ;Denmark, in fact, wants to keep Schleswig
as a dependeneY• Germany wants to seize Schles-
wig and make Denmark a dependency ; England
wants to take Schleswig from both and give it to
King Christian ; France wants the whole question
referred to a majority or the most ignorant of all
the parties concerned andßuseia wants any arrange-
ment which will most effectually enable her to
menace the independence of Sweden. All these con-
flicting interests, and ideas, and purposes are to be
thrown into a vat together, and Esrl Russell hopes
by diplomatic chemistry to obtain some solid and
useful oatturn. He may, but we venture to affirm
that it will only be by precipitating a resi-
duum the stench of which will not be
pleasing either to him or to the world.
It is not hard to perceeve which of the helf dozen
p;,,:ns suggested will be rho one adopted more or less
reluctantlyby the Conference. It is that peereesed
by the oni; Sovereign who can if he pleases at one.'
arrest the man: h of the German armies, who wields
the force of Sweden and Italy as well as that of
France, and who has a pressing motive for wishing
that contracts should be only respected when both
pat es are willing to keep them. The Elect of
Thcemtior is consistent when he demands that the
classes whose vote released him from his oath should
release Europe from its obligations, no other power
save Denmark is likely to hold out long, and as for
Denmark, vice victis is the secret thought of most
of one's dearest friends. France cordially endorses
a principle ander which she can annex Belgium and
could only lose Algeria; England obviously will
accept any propose! which ensures even temporary
peace, would,
we eete,'v believe, submit the whole
the can-
matter to the arbitration cef Pekin, if only
non could then be compelled o cease firing ; Ger-
many feels secure that the &hie:wagers will vote
whieLN is one day to
Russia only
for the "superior nationality,"
be united, and free, and respected ; and
asks that she may be the protectress of the divided,
powerless, and contemptible morsels of Scandielavis•
The Danes, of course, must give way, for doctove do
not ask the consent of the animals whose vivisection
is " profitable to science," and they may even in
their despair consent, for at least the plan rids
them of the chance of " personal union" which is
for them the most ruinous of all the devices Earl
Russell and the professors have as yet
schemed out, and leaves them though power-
less and ruined by exactions freemen still.
There may be peace, bat at what a cost to Europe
and the world! The system of public law which,
however imperfect in itself, has enabled one quer•
ter of the world to keep up a continuous political
advance will have been overthrown. Any power has
hence forward only to pour immigrants into a neigh-
bouring province, then excite them to rebellion, and
then declare that treaties cannot be carried out, and
the only appeal will be the will of the ignorant
masses of the people. France may seize Belgium,
Russia all provinces inhabited by Sc ays, Italy Dal-
matia and half the Tyrol, and Greece the fairest
sections of the Ottoman dominions, with no other
consequences than ratification by vote. No small
Power has any longer a right to exist, and the
smallest segment of a people, so that it have but
some speciality of race, acquires a moral right to
upset that worthless compact among nations which
diplomatists were wont to respect aslEuropean order.
If the Germans in Schleswig can justify the con-
quest of Danes by Germans, why should not the
Frisians in Schleswig vote their section over to
Russia, or Dalmatia declare herself Italian, or the
Czechs of Bohemia assert that their true kinship is
with the Poles, or the people of Cornwall announce:
that they intend henceforw4ra to 'co govcrued caly

by descendants of Llewellyn 1
auld deal with revolt
that strong governments w ' It will not do to assert
without calling in the rest
if the war ld, for Den
mark is only too eager to accei it that ye iry principle'
that doctrine of non-intervent inn wEieh only five
years was reckoned almost apt
zliticali evangel. Leta
but the Germans retire, and witl t absolute freedom,
freedom so complete that Dar, ies were denounced
within the capital itself withon 't the police trying
to interfere, there will be as i'ittle disorder in
Schleswig as there now is in Walz
arrangements, and politics have no other basis,
rest henceforward on the simple right of
tar y power, diplomaoy beco system for ev
and
Is. All territorial
citing fractional populations to discontent,
treaties are degraded into docn
not to overstate the case, are " incapt tble of precise
'petits which,
and exact execution," and may be set aside by any
aggregate, however canal], of ploughmen's votes.
That is the pleasing result of a d iplomacy which
terferes nominally to protect tb.e ancient allies of
the British people, and OW
conditions we forced ea
those allies, but is really gn, ided by a determination
that England shall not wait a yes r to reduce the
duties on sugar. If that is result which th:
people of this country at heart
nothing more'to be said, but in that case let us at
least reap the benefit of our quioscenc e, and cease
.0,
spend thirty millions a year in order
may have one organised " Power" that thew orl?
ap,nrove, there 1,
when the hour comes to strike a stroke t, the ringnb
Thirty millions a year on armaments, Etna we ea—ci
venture to say that Prussia shall not try ber neW,
! That
at rang enougtn
artillery upon the defenceless town of an alb.
where
is what the Prussians are doing, not in Asia, n
though the moral guilt is the same violent sc:e7
is no breach of the tacit contract among nati°l,l4
but here in the Europe which with unconscimo
irony we call civilised. There is not the sznallet
military reason for destroying Sonderborg,
lies as much out of the way of the enemy as Kentw,
Town out of the road of a foe attacking Hampatev•
from the north. The people in it have not only dove
nothing to injure Germany, but German)"
INI6I
actually bombarding them out of the fullness
her national love, killing women and children lu
order that the men may Le free of the Dance
who are fighting for them all. The single reason
is to try the force of the new artillery, to ascertain
accurately whether shots frrom a certain elevil:
will destroy in a sufficient manner. When a"
Asiatic prince buys a sword he sometimes
tries its temper by hacking up a fat slave, and
Englishmen ecarcaly believe while they avenges
the atrocity. The Prussians are killing victivi
by the hundred in order that the survivors may 1/
able to vote that they love the Prussians best, a"
even that bizarrerze of murder stirs us up only ts,
shrill womanish abuse. The Germans, we dab'
not, will be shelling Sonderborg while Europe jg,
debating how Sonderborg can most freely vote Boo'
cordialiy German.