The Sun.
London, England, 1864-03-08 00:00:00

THERMOMETER.

This day at Two o'clock 5O
Barometer-28.98.
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Wind—Variable; moderate breeze, and cloudy.

ti /t

''l°ll3oN, TUESDAY, MAItCII 8, 1864.

It almost invariably so happens, when a great
Parliamentary battle is coming off, that there quietly
appears some day a Perfectly unobtrusive little
result
paragraph among the notices of motion, upon the
of which the fate of an Administration is de-
pendent. An outsider almost always claims the
paternity
An out-
paternity of this same little
pa
cider, as a matter of course—
nearly, one might say,
as a matter of necessity—upon the side of the Oppo-
sition. Not the occupant of the front b
one of the ex-Ministers of the Crown , aspiringeach' again
to hold his own against all comers in Downing-
street, Not one of the leading debaters. Gene.
rally, however, some man of a thoroughly in-
dependent way of thinkin
to be crotchett g, one rather given
y than otherwise, at any rate
ur.accustomcd to run in the rigid grooves
'of the old track kept to by the vast majority of his
own Party—a man who can not only think am]
speak for himself, but act for himself even upon
occasion. At this somewhat critical juncture in
Party History, when the contest for power so long
impending has become at length very imminent,
one is apt to turn with jealous regard to our
examination from day to day and from week to
wr-ek of the various little notices of motion, out of
the discussion of which a certain momentous Divi-
Sion might arise, one of those Divisions upon the
announcement Of the issue of which the going out at.tl
the coming in of a Government would depend. Last
evening, in the House of Commons, precisely one of
these indications of a coming tempest was recog-
nisable, as it appears to us, just dimly emerging
above the political horizou—a portent, gs the

phrase is, no bigger than a man's hand—but one
that, like so many a storm-cloud, may pcssibly,
beforo we have become well aware of the change,
completely overshadow us, Yesterday, then,
almost immediately after the meeting of the
House, as tho first among the notices of motion
appeared the following :

"DENMARK.
"Lord RODKRT CECIL—I be to give notice that
on Friday next I intend to call attention to some of the
papers recently laid on the table of the house with reference
to the Danish question, and to move tor certain papers and
parts of despatches omitted therefrom-

Apparently a trivial motion—that is to a superfi-
cial observer. A mere intimation of an intention
to move for certain papers and parts of despatches
omitted from the Danish correspondence already
laid upon the table of the House. A small matter,
surely, some one think ; yet one upon which the
whole question, as to the Foreign policy of the
Government as at present constituted, is really
dependent. Unless something or other in the
chapter of accidents should arise to lead to an
additional postponement of a discussion that must,
sooner or later, be commenced in genuine
earnest—out of that no►ice of motion by the
noble lord, the member for Stamford, the whole
matter of debate ought to come. A new turn in
the diplomatic negotiations still dawdling and
maundering on—an unlooked-for despatch from the
seat of war in the north of Europe—the mere
proximity just now of the Easter holidays threaten-
ing either to shorten inconveniently any discussion
now adventured upon, or to interrupt the debate
by the unseemly hiatus of the recess—anyone out of
a variety of such circumstances or of such considera-
tions may, it is quite true, pluck the sting out of that
notice of motion yesterday brought under the ob-
servation of the House by Lord ROBERT CECIL,
second son of the second Marquis of SALISBURY,
M.P. for the borough of Stamford, and possibly—
it might perhaps be said, but that he has his
crotchets, and don't in the least like leading
strings, probably—•uember without a seat in the
Cabinet of the next Cmservative Administration.
For such as it is, there is the motion. And out of that
motio❑ there might readily enough come the Debate
and the Division. Whether these will come from
it, is another question altogether. There, at any
rate, is the opportunity. if Ministers, for example,

upon the plea of the urgent necessity yet awhile
for some reticence upor. diplomatic matters, in re-
gard to a subject of European import still actually,
if not actively, in negotiation—if Ministers, we
say, upon this plea, a plea that unquestionably
does admit, to a very considerable extent, of
justification, were distinctly to oppose the
motion, while the Opposition, perhaps, as distinctly
determined to support it—out wou d cime the whole
long pent-up tornado, the whole furious hurricane
of debate from opposite directions ! Then, indeed,
would come the Tug of War and, in the end—after
the discussion had fairly exhausted itself—then
would come the supreme turning point upon whose
extreme edge would rest, in momentary oscil-
lation, the balance of the Division. Would ?
Will !—if Ministers, that is to say, do not con-
trive to evade the difficulty by again blinking it
through the dodging device of a yet further and
further postponerilent. Lord ROBERT CECIL'S
motion is down for Friday evening. Unless it is
shirked by Ministers or set aside by some unexpected
casualty, something ought to come of it. It ought at
least to open up for the House of Commons the
long delayed opportunity by which an end might
at length be put to this obscuring and
muddling np of the whole policy, both home
and foreign, but more particularly of the foreign
policy, by the pseudo-Liberal Government. A. Go-
vernment that—itshould now beremembered—came
in upon one dodge, and may yet (consistent with

itaelf to the last) endeavour to evade destruction by
another. A Government that rose to power
upon Lord JOHN RussELL's Resolutions, and that
threatens now to sink from it because Earl RUSSELL
has no resolution whatever.

There are few questions more irritating than the
manner in which the prize-money is distributed to
the army and navy, Lord CHELMSFORD very pro•
perly called attention to the Kertch and Yenikale
prize-money, which certainly bids fair to be long
cited as a specimen of unfair proceeding even
amidst so much that is faulty and unsatisfactory.
There seems a fate about this Kertch distribution.
For some reason or another the Government have
sat their faces from the beginning against this
well-merited claim, and inch by inch they have
fought every step of the way in the struggles that
have been made to recover for the captors their
well-earned, hard fought-for possession. For some
time objections were raised against the recognition
of the claim ; and as Lord CHELMSFORD explained
last night, great wrong was done in rot permitting
the injured parties to vindicate their cause in the
Admiralty Court. Some absurd legal technicality
was put forward, and thus the only chance of re-
dress was shut out from them. However, in this
instance, as in many similar ones, the voice of pub-
lic opinion, and the debates in both Houses of the
Legislature, obtained that justice which a recusant
Government refused to grant the soldiers of the
country. The sum granted was thus voted, " for
the officers and men employed in the expedition to
Kertch and Yenikale." Here another anomaly
took place, and the Admiralty hastened to undo as
much as possible what good had been effected. They
had permission to decide upon any doubtful ques-
tion as to the distribution, whereupon they founded
the right and arrogated to themselves the power to
settle the whole of the distribution. As might be
expected in consequence of this, more injustice was
perpetrated, and many deserving individuals de-
prived of their just remuneration. Lord CIIELMS.
FORD was at great pains to explain the exact nature
of the injuries inflicted, and the losses sustained, in
consequence of the interference of the Admiralty.
Lord LYONS, instead of receiving two-thirds, only
got half, and thus lost £437, while the remaining
moiety was divided away. Sir IL STEWART, who
should have received one-third, and three other
admirals—Who were never in the expedition at all
—for Admiral BOXER was at Balaclava, Admiral
STOPF ORD at Malta, and Sir FREDERIC GREY at
Constantinople. Was ever anything more prepos-
terous or inimical to the bast interests of the ser-
vice? This was a parliamentary grant accorded
to the men who took part in a special expedition,
and the Board of Admiralty took upon themselves
the task of distribution as if it had bt en an ordinary
affair of prize money. Such grost, injustice and
extre
nao inconsistency ought not to pass over with-
out notice, and the country
CIIELM D for thus SFOR ak u the case, and
making it clear to the ting p,
uonrins ebted to Lord
chief eircum,tancee in by stating the
ambiguities and ora •
that the question Plain terms evoid of legal
lial oaystifl li
catior e proposed
h()laid be decid ed by an im-
partial tribunal. The
Duke of SOMERSET of
course declared that all had be 3n done in a
right and fitting manner 'but descquently he
agreed to consult the law offl
cers of the Crown.
This is, at all events, something gl 'hied, and it is
hoped that the result of the
i nv' ,stigtions and
inquiries now about to be set ce ►
"foot wiall be that
the just claims of the captors et'
be taken into
consideration, and the proper ren eel aeration awarded
to them. Nothing can be more eVmental to the

public service than the mode of procedure adopted
in these cases of prize money, There is always
some mismanagement prevailing with regard to
them, and eternally the voice of complaint issues
from the ranks of those who have fought hard, and
deserve better treatment from their country, than
to have their requital, due to the spoils of many a
bloody day, begrudged by the unwilling and cap-
tious officials who mismanage afftirs at home. If
the Government keep the claimants so long out of
their prize money, they ought to give interest for
it according to all the rules and regulations of
monetary transactions. The secret is that the di':
tribution is purposely delayed until the latest
possible period, in hopes that some may die off, and
the relations be too timid or ignorant to assert their
rights. If this dilatory course is persisted in much
longer, the effect will be that parties engaged in
these expeditions will cease to preserve property
at all ; soldiers and sailors will be tempted to
plunder, and thus possess themselves by private
means of the booty which honour, truth, and justice
cannot obtain for them in a public form. Amid all
the abuses and corruptions of the service this evil
arrangement of prize-money stands forth most
prominent. It is a disastrous state of affairs, which
militates against the spirit of confidence that should
prevail among all employed in the service of the
country, and more especially those who are engaged
in the active branches of it. It is high time that
Parliament took up this question in all its details,
and settled definitively the rules and regulations
to be observed in apportioning the various sums of
prize-money, and also should fix a period within
which they must be handed over to their recipients.
I❑ the event of the non-fulfilment of this under-
taking, the claimants should have the power of ap-
pealing against the authorities, without having to
wait for their sanction to do so. Until some such
stringent measures be adopted, it is idle to expect
that any satisfactory solution will be arrived at, or
justice rendered to those who so specially require it.

The due recognition of the claims of those who
fight for their country by sea and land has at all
times engaged the attention of those who rightly
appreciate the necessity of the case. It is not to be
tolerated that in these days a country like England
should be unmindful of the services or indifferent to
the claims of those who sacrifice themselves for the
interests of the community.

As might have been anticipated, the report of the
joint committee was accepted without a dissentient
voice last evening in the lioue of Lords. Lord
GRANVILLE, in his brief address on the subject,
very clearly and succinctly summed up the prin-
cipal features of the report, and the grounds upon
which the committee based their opinions. Of the
twenty-seven bills which threatened to invade the
metropolis no less than one-third are set aside,
leaving, however, eighteen still upon the list. But
though even the lesser number appears somewhat
formidable, supposing them all to obtain the sanc-
tion of the Lower House, there is no longer cause
for anxiety and alarm on the subject. The schemes
still suffered to go forward are of a comparatively
harmless nature, many of them being merely exten-
sions of lines already i❑ active existence, and others
having the principal part of their operations in
those suburban districts, where there is more room
and thinner population, and consequently altera-
tions and demolitions create less disturbance and do

ES9 mischief. On the other hand the rejected
schemes were all fnr traversing the busy cent►es of
London life. They were to make the vast highway
from Oxford-•street to the City, and from Pimlico
eastwards, the subjects of an extensive experiment,
to concentrate their forces amid the bustle and
business of Charing-cross, and to bring Father
Thames himself into subjection by flinging over
him no less than four bridges. The committee,
according to Lord GRANVILLE, divided the railways
into three classes, the first being the schemes which
are only improvements of existing undertakings ;
the second those which contribute to the formation
of the Inner Circuit, recommended last year; and
the third, including those plans which should not
be pursued at all, at least this year. With regard
to the rejection of those schemes which would have
formed part of the Outer Circuit, Lord GRANVILLE
observed that the committee were still of opinion
that such a circuit was desirable; but, from the
evidence brought before them during their investi-
gation, they are inclined to think that such an
object can be obtained more easily and less objec-
tionably than by their means. By connecting the
existing railways on the eastern side of the metro•
polis with one another the circle will be virtually
complete, without additional lines, and this end
would be easily attained by using the long unem-
ployed Thames Tunnel as a means of communication
between the Great Eastern and Blackwell lines on
the Middlesex side, and the South-Eastern on the
Surrey side of the Thames, We should hope that
these Companies might come to some 'satisfac-
tory arrangement among themselves, by
which such a plan could be carried into
effect without delay, thus obviating the necessity
of adding to the ❑umber of metropolitan railways—
addition no more advantageous to them than to the
public. To the two lines suffered to proceed in their
endeavours to cut through the metropolis, there will
be little opposition. They are both northward; and
while the one deals with an open and quiet neigh-
bourhood, the other promises to atone for disturb-
ing a busy part of Londo❑ by providing a new street
in a locality where a good and direct thoroughfare
is very much needed. It will be some compensation
for the inevitable interference with the Hampstead
and Tottenham-Court Roads if, by it, we gain
clean, respectable highroad through St. Giles's. A
new road from Oxford-street to Charing-Cross
in the direction of St. Martin's-lane will
be a boon which may make the residents north-
east of Oxford-circus forgive a good deal of annoy-
ance, and the company have done well in combining
the two proposals. This scheme was one among
many for uniting the Northern lines with Charing
cross station, so that by its means a good deal will
he ;done for uniting the traffic north and south.
What more requires to be done for this purpose can
be easily done another year. At all events it
is better and wiser to leave the matter
in abeyance until the practical working of
the new schemes has bee❑ fully and fairly
tried, and experience comes in to assist the judg-
ment. In projects of this nature so many conflict-
ing interests have to be weighed, and so many rival
claims considered, that caution and prudence are
the most necessary constituents of any extensive
alteration. Oa the whose, the repty.-t of the com-
mittee is highly satisfactory, and though subsequent
inquiry and criticism may sec cause to modify some
of the details, ouo great object of its appointment is
attained—the public uneasiness has been allayed, at
the game time that a due regard has been had to
the interests of railway communication.

It is now definitely arranged that the Easter
Monday Volunteer Review will take place on
Farley-heath. Colonel 11.1.111urdo wer t down to Guildford
yesterday morning, accompanied by Lord Truro and Colonel
Buxton, and examined the ground for several hours; and
we believe expressed himself highly satisfied with the capa-
bilities of the heath itself for a review, and with the pro-
posed arrangements of the two railway companies. There
is every reason to expect that abundant provision will be
made for On refreshment of the volunteers and of the rpec-
tatere.