The Sun.
London, England, 1852-01-20 00:00:00

" Co-operative" works, nn-
whether in th© shape of

accurate measurement. The estimate tends to illus-
trate very remarkably a problem, to many persons
somewhat bewildering, that of the great circle-sail-
ing, so inestimable in the development of navigation.
Beyond this, it affects in a peculiar manner a ques-
tion of such vast importance, as to demand from us
most serious and vigilant consideration. It need
scarcely be added, we conceive, that the question here
implied is that of maintaining a resolute opposition
to the secretly aggressive policy of the Russian
AUTOCRAT. Without a continuance of this system
of obstruction to the Czai, England is unquestion-
ably liable to witness the advance of that very formi-
dable power farther onwards in a southerly and wes-
terly direction, until it may ultimately intercept the
line of ordinary communication between this country
and its Asiatic dominions. Considering the extraor-
dinary value of preserving this particular route unin-
terrupted by any such enormous interposition, it
assuredly behoves us as a nation to watch with un-
sleeping caution the progress of events, and to ob-
serve with dispassionate but scrutinising attention the
tendency of our diplomatic negotiations. Under any
situation of affairs this course would, without doubt,
have been advisable. Under present circumstances it
becomes absolutely and imperatively requisite. Lord
PALMERSTON, the most truly patriotic and thoroughly
English of our administrators, having been
succeeded by a Minister strongly imbued with
predilections for northern absolutism, it be-
comes the bounden duty of all really interested
in the welfare of the State to throw aside their apathy
and to turn to the examination of matters thus inti-
mately connected with the stability of the colossal
but scattered empire of Great Britain. Unless some
scrutiny of this kind be attempted the people of Eng-
land are so situated as to be in peril of being suddenly
awakened to the knowledge of an irreparably lost

opportunity. Of the possibility of this surprise we
are more fully satisfied than we are even of that
other danger which comes nearer home to ourselves
as a community, the danger arising from the inde-
fensible position of the island—of the reality and
magnitude of which danger, moreover, the multitude
has been assured not merely by Sir FRANCIS HEAD,
but by one also not likely to be an alarmist without
much reason, no less illustrious a
personage than
Field-Marshal his Grace the Duke of WELLINGTON.
Repeatedly as we have taken occasion, in reference
to discussions in the House of Commons, to dissent
from the singular and, in some ' respects, even
eccentric view taken by Mr. URQUHART of the
foreign policy of Lord PALMERSTON, it is but justice
to avow that the Honourable Gentleman has recently
given to the world an exceedingly important docu-
ment*_ as the result of his long-continued and perse-
vering investigations. Without finding it possible
to coincide upon this matter with the Member for
Stafford, after the perusal of his
pamphlet, any more
than we could prior to the date of its publication, we
must acknowledge that the brochure, in which he has
in a manner systematized his previously confused and
entangled accusations, contains an invaluable store of
facts relating to the subject upon which we have
here already spoken, facts, moreover, which prove
beyond a question the writer's intimacy with the
theme of his observations, as well as his commendable
industry in carrying out the enterprise of its de-
velopment. The precise tendency of this re-
markable pamphlet is, as its title-page reveals with
sufficient clearness, to show that through secret di-
plomacy the Danube has been closed, that exportation
from Turkey has been arrested, and that these things,
moreover, have effectually prevented the re-opening
of the isthmus of Suez as long and vainly antici-
pated. The text selected by Mr. URQUHART is sig-
nificantly enough that sentence from VOLTAIRE—
" PETER bad long meditated the project off the
occupation of the Caspian, thus to draw the com-
merce of Asia and a part of India within
his dominions." This project the great Mus-
covite appears to have left as a legacy to his
successors, and this project during the past hale
century they have more peculiarly striven to realise.
Against it the dictates of common sense tell us that
England ought to struggle to her very uttermost as
against the most likely source of her own. dismember-
ment and ulterior destruction. It is in reference to
the available means of organizing the opposition of
our diplomacy to this end, to the end that the
dream of PETER the GREAT might the most readily
and securely become dissipated, that our views clash
with the very peculiar ones entertained by Mr. UR-
QUHART. Unlike him, we look with confidence to
the firm but conciliatory policy of a statesman like
Lord PALMERSTON, as to the most certain method of
diverting the intended encroachments, and of over-
coming the insidious advances of the
Russian AUTOCRAT. We behold in the late
Foreign Secretary an administrator, of all
statesman, distinguished as being essentially and pe-
culiarly an Englishman. We behold in him one who
of theneverconesaeintt,eodf
theto truckleeouth,e
rto o f thehe
west,Courts
butof
o hthee
north,,
on has
the
contrary, who has everywhere vindicated the
dignity
and inviolability of the rights accompanying
a citizen of our empire in all parts of the habitable
globe—taking as his watchcry against tyranny, the
proud words Civis Britannicus sum, and as the
guarantee of the vigour of the home Government, the
lofty and already historical name of PALMERSTON.
Dissenting, however, as we do entirely from Mr.
URQUHART in his estimate of the policy pursued by
the late Chief Secretary in the Foreign Department,
we agree with him, nevertheless, most cordially in
his masterly argument, showing the projects (to our
interests most injurious) which have long actuated,
and are still actuating, the Russian EMPEROR and his
Governiaent. Subsequently we shall take occasion
to enter more particularly into the details of the
extraordinary revelations made by Mr. URQUHART
in regard to this " Mystery of the Danube," but
meanwhile we would earnestly refer to the
pamphlet itself the attention of all interested in the
welfare of the British Empire and in the integrity of
the English system of administration.

No person of ordinary humanity can pass through
Lambeth, in the neighbourhood of any of the great
engineering establishments recently closed, without
being impressed with feelings of a very painful cha-
racter. He will perceive stout, active, intelligent,
and respectable looking men, manifestly operatives of
a superior description, lounging about in idleness,
gathered in groups together, chatting, smoking,
and resorting to various methods of " killing
time." He will find men who should be the
creators and producers of national wealth, but
who have now become unprofitable consumers. Could
he look a little further, and inspect their homes—

. .
behold the gradual removal of various little comforts
that had been accumulated in happier hours, and
know the unaccustomed privations to which their
families are for the first time obliged to submit, his
regrets would be increased, and he would cordially
sympathise with the sufferers in their affliction.
The representation by our facetious contemporary
Punch, of " the eflects of a strike," tells an " ower
true tale" of the condition of the skilful mechanic wbo
has been some weeks out of employment. Whatever
may be the fate of the employers, they at least will
have ample cause to lament the internecine warfare
that has been carried on for the last ten days. Nor
will the capitalists have much greater cause of re-
joicing. They may reduce their workmen to penury,
but they must themselves submit to pecuniary losses
of a very.ser.o , . ;us and, to some of their number, a very
ruinous amount. They may possibly find that the
hearts of men are formed of tougher materials than
they " wot" of, and that the resistance may be carried
to an extent far beyond their calculations. In three
or six months the capitalist may not be sipping his
wine with an air of such intense enjoyment. He
may find his " occupation gone"—the trade vanished
to other lands, or possibly to other capitalists, who do
not belong to the " Central Association." There
is no doubt that many men will be found willing
to step into the gap that has been created,
to offer themselves to fill up existing vacancies.
'We do not say that these parties will succeed.
There must be many obstacles and impediments in
the first instance, which long practical experience has
enabled the members of the Central Association to
overcome. But let not the latter be too certain that
the results of the proceedings of their new rivals--

16 The Mystery of the Danube, showing how,
through Secret Diplomacy, that River has been closed,
Exportation from Turkey arrested, and the re-opening
of the Isthmus of Suez prevented." By David Urquhart.
Bvo. pp. 149. London Bradbury and Evans. 1851.

practised parties entering in to the line for the first
time, or of smaller employers extending
their businese—must necessarily be unfavourable.
The absence of capital or experience may be compen-
sated by the zeal, energy, and activity of the men, who
feel that their very existence is at stake, and will
spare no exertion to promote the interests of those
who aid them during the present emergency.
But why, we ask once more, may not these matters
be amicably and satisfactorily arranged ? Why may
not hostilities be suspended before irreparable injuries
are sustained, which must equally damage all the
belligerents ? The points in dispute are not
nayon either side srugh4
not be readily un-
derstood,
and complicated
a alight
h concessionthat t
—we do say " would' —he sufficient to arrange these
unhappy and deplorable differences. But, unfortu-
nately, the central committee of employers have as-
sumed a position very different from any which they,
had occupied at any former period. They have de-
termined on gaining an unconditional victory
at any cost or any sacrifice ; they will
submit to no arbitration,
judgment ; everything must be
listendecidedo r
abide t o no
theirbremonstrances, n
own
way
or they will continue
"on the strike." There must, in fact, be an
aland slavish submission before they
will co
nnt to reopen
their establishments !
Now, we confess that we never looked upon the case
unconditional
of the employers in an unfavourable light until we
read the official manifesto put forward from the offices
in Bucklersbury, and ;
flAgnet.A "SIDNEY SMITE,
Secretary of the Central Association." It is, to
use contemporary, " bold,
confident,the language
aggressive, unforgiving, and
unconciliatory. It is not the " calm and digni-
fied remonstrance" which should proceed from parties
auaaugiht oyf, a morning
conscious of the strength of their own position,
consequences of useless and unavailing attacks. They
and desirous of saving others from the formidable
strenuously insist upon
their right " to do as they
like with their w
never seen prominent]
. pat forward on any occasion
own''—a principle which we have
1
since its adoption by the late Duke of NEWCAbTLE,
without knowing
thdecidedly in the wrong. They steadfastly—some
'
may call it by that those resorting to it were
a harsher designation refuse
all interference ;
will not abide the
judgment of any
tribunal, however exalted, of
any arbitrators, however distinguished. " All they
want is to be let alone. With less they will not be
satisfied. Unless they accomplish that they will not
re-open their establishments." They thus con-
stitute themselves the sole judges in their
own cause, repudiating the disinterested and un.
prejudiced counsels that may be offered.
We should not have opposed the employers under
other circumstances, at least until their case had been
fully and clearly heard, and
found to be wanting.
We confess that our sympathies were with them,
rather than with their adversaries ; but we cannot
forget that the men have offered to submit to arbitra-
tion, and
that they have refused to accept
this amicable solution of their differences. This is
appealed to public opinion,
prima facie evidence that they are in the
wrong. They have now
and they cannot complain if that opinion should be
unfavourable, so long as they exhibit a similar per-
versity. Let the olive-branch be once extended--
let the employers show a disposition to deal
fairly with their workmen, and they will do more to
show the impropriety and uselessness of trades' unions
than can be effected by the use of the most stringent
language. In all kindliness and friendship,
then, we earnestly implore the combatants,
masters and men, to listen to reason, and be willing,
if necessary, to strain a point in order to restore the
mutual friendship that has been shaken, but, we
,rust, not utterly destroyed.

THE FRENCH REPUBLIC.

We have received the Paris journals of yesterday.
The Constitutionnel announces that in the course
of the present week the list of the new Senators will
be published in the Itioniteur.
The Patric states that a grand fete will take place
in Paris on the solemn proclamation of the Constitu-
tion and the opening of the Senate and the Legislative

Corps.
The wires of the electric telegraphs are now a
concentrated in the Pavilion Flora at the Tuilleries,
which will henceforth be the official residence of the
PRESIDENT, and where he intends to give a grand
ball on the 25th February.
A rumour was current in Paris yesterday that the
National Guard of Batignolles and of the Banlieu bad
manifested great dissatisfaction at the order to deliver
uo their arms, and the
i occurrence of some disturb-
ance was thought not improbable.
Lord BROUGHAM has arrived in Paris.
We read in the STcle :—" The decree of the 10th
continued to be caned out. Out of 26 representa-
tives who were confined at Sainte Pelagie, 19 have
already left, after having received passports for
foreign countries. These 19 are—MM. Latarde (re-
leased on the 16th), Besse, Burgard, Pascal, Duprat,
Renaud, Racouchot, Benoit, Faure (du
Rhone),an
La
rAa
nn toe y Thouret (released on the 17th), Charles
Colfavru, Valentin, Bonnet, Gatnboni
Perdiguier, Nadaud, Labonlaye, Cholat, and
Belin (released on Saturday). M. Renaud left
the same evening for Belgium ; and M. Pascal
Duprat, and M. Antony Thouret, for Germany.
There are still at St. Pelagie MM. Dufraisse, Greppo,
and Richardet, under sentence of transportion to
LGlity
Lafon,implicated in the disturbances of the
are
not in the decree. ,
The political prisoners ordered for transportation
to Cayenne, and who were first embarked at Havre,
o;anCah;alx, Delbetx, and Madet whose names
have left Brest; but, instead of going at once to thei▪ r
destination, they are to remain at the little Isle des
Saintes, near Martinique, until preparations can be
made at Cayenne to receive them. M. MEsTuo, Di-
rector of the Colonies of the Ministry of Marine, went
to see them j ust before their departure, and ascertained
that the medical service had been properly prepared,
and all their wants supplied.
The Journal des Debuts has the following
All the es-representatives whom the decree of the
President of the Republic banishes front France have
not yet left Paris, a little e time having been accorded
them to settle their affairs. Some are alienatingtheir
property, and others releasing it, whilst others again are
endeavouring to create for themselves a position in an-
other country. These gsnttemen arc to be conducted
to the frontier by police agents dressed in coloured
clothes."
MM. JoiGNEAux,
--'BQUIROS, Saint FERROEL, and
LATRADE, ex-representatives of the people, left Paris,
on Saturday. The first three went to Brussels,
and M. LATRADE
proceeded to Spain, where he in-
tends to reside with a brother established in that
country.
A latter from
Brussels of the 16th, says :
" M.M. Duvergier do Hauranne, Croton, J. do Las-
:eyrie, Chambolle, and do Remusat arrived here last
evening from Paris. M. Madier de Montjau is also here.
M. Baze, who had been taken to Aix-la• Chapelle, is here
since the e day before yesterday. It is said that General
Lamoriciere will quit Cologne for this city as soon as a
violent fit of gout will permit him to leave his bed."
The Marchioness D'OSIdOND, a Legitimatist lady, one
of
the notabilities of the Faubourg St. Germain, has,
it is said, received a note from the Minister of the
Interior, requesting her to name at which of her
chateaux in the country she will be pleased to reside
for the future, as her residence in Paris can be no
longer permitted in consequence of her suffering
politics to be discussed in her salons on Friday even-
ing last. It should be stated that the Marchioness's
guests on Friday consisted exclusively of ladies.
At Bourdeaux the Chef d'Escadron PEYxoNNI has
been found guilty by court-martial of joining in the
movement in opposition to the coup of the 2d De-
cember,. and has been sentenced to transportation.
The judgment went on to decree that he should be
degraded from his rank of an officer of the Legion
of 1 10nour, and that his decoration should be torn
off. in open court. In pronouncing this latter part
of the sentence, however, the zeal of the Court ex-
ceeded its competency. M. FAYE, the counsel for M.
PEYR°3NI, observed, that his client had re-
tired from the army, and the rules of the
service did not permit a court-martial to strip a
man not actually in service of his decoration. The
President felt compelled to admit this objection.
During the trial an unparalleled outrage was coca- I
rnitted upon M. FAYE, whose house was searched
un. der pretext of M. VERGNE, a municipal counci▪ llor
of Marmande, having been secreted there. This pro-
ceeding has shocked public opinion the more from
M. FAYE never having belonged to the Republi▪
can
Party. The trial of M. PEYRODINI has produced an
immense effect upon pub
lic opinion, in discrediting
the statements of the Government organs as to the
nature of the insurrection in some of the southern de-
partments, and in clearing the characters of the men
who headed the movement of resistance. Such has
been the influence of the publication o f the proceed-
ing of this court-martial, that no morejudicial debates
will be allowed to take place ; but a vast numb:r of
prisoners will be banished or transported without trial.
The Government is, it appears, apprehensive of a
descent of the Prince DE JopyiLLE on the coasts of
France,