The Sun.
London, England, 1864-01-12 00:00:00

LONDON, TUESDAY, JAN. 12, 1864.

M. TRIERS has spoken out like a man. The his-
torian—the most eloquent and admirable of the
historians of the BONAPARTES—is no mere pane-
gyrist. Tie can extol a great man or a great
action when occasion offers with a fervour of eulo-

gium amounting to enthusiasm ; bat even in his
impaseioned tributes to the great NAPOLEON, M.
THLERS did not forget his own liberal convictions.
Still less now, when instead of holding the pen
of the biographer he stands in his place as a
popular representative, is M. THIERS led away by
the glamnpr of a great name and a great position.
lie spoke yesterday in the Corps Legislatif on the
debate on the Address like a worthy Tribune of
the People. In a tone of respectful but earnest
remonstrance he urged that the time had come for
the enjoyment of a fuller degree of constitutional
libferty in France. More especially he insisted
upon the necessity of restoring liberty to the na-
tional representation, and, above all, he demanded
the renewal of ministerial responsibility—
that
mainstay of constitutional rights, without which,
indeed, free parliamentary action is impossible. M,
maintained—End, in so doing, he was
only expressing the feelings long entertained
by all who admire or appreciate the wisdom and
discretion so frequently evinced by NAPOLEON
111.—that the EMPEROR might himself be,
corae the initiator of freedom. If he have the
cotr:age, the wise courage, to venture upon such h
course, he will by that unprecedented coup de main
fore fy his own position and increase his own pope..
Jarity, to the delight of his friends and the confu-
s:eel of his foes. Ia Fuchi a else he rauy say, as the
gre:tt NAPOLEON said of his memorable code, "I will

go dawn to posterity with the Corns►itution in my

The modern ULYSSES, in his 1-ogacity,
endeavoured to defend Paris by a cordon of lortifi•
cations. -When the a:ailment of daoger Caine the
inutility of these precautions became glaringly
apparent. With a truer wisdom NAPoLEON may
fortify his throne, not by distinguishing it with
the evanescent splendours of external magnificence,

but by adding depth and breadth to its foundations.
Sprung from the People, owing all to the People,
us both the First and Third NAPOLEON have ever
been wise enough proudly to acknowledge, the
BONAPARTES ought so to act that the
popular element should not and would not be
uncongenial to the Imperial Constitution, In

the old fable, ANTEUS, while fighting
for his life, acquired new strength and vigour every
time he touched his mother-earth. In his own
vicissitudes NAPOLEON 111. has experienced a

similar result. At each successive appeal to the
people he found his power augmented and his
strength of position increased. So now would he
find it, if he took the bold resolve, not of appealing to
the people, but of recognising the rights of that
people who have been so ready to recognise him.
If he would frankly, loyally, of his own free will,
without coercion or constraint, give a wider basis to
the popular representation, and a freer utterance
to the Parliamentary debates, he would acquire a
far greater accession of power and of world-wide
applause than attended upon him on his return from
the victorious fields of Magenta and Solferino.

The Volunteers are now an established institu-

tion, and recognised by all, and warmly welcomed
whenever mention is made of them in a public
assembly or at a social meeting. This is as it
should be; but still it is of paramount importance
that due attention should be paid to the require-
ments of the force, so that efficiency should be
kept up. This cannot be done without strenuous
exertion and constant watchfulness. On these
grounds, then, it is most gratifying to note the
brilliant gathering that took place on Saturday
evening at Westminster Hall. Rank, fashion, and
beauty united to grace the assemblage, and add
honour to the occaeion. The distribution of prizes
in a public form is always a desirable thing—it
stimulates the exertions and gives a fitting crown
to past toils. In all countries and in all ages such
awards of merit, and trophies of renown, have
exercised a peculiar spell and exerted an irresistible
fascination. The poet has immortalised the de-
lights of such honours, and celebrated the attrac-
tions of public recognition of gallant exploits and
glorious services in these well known lines

The festal blazes, the triumphal show,
The ravished standard, and the captive foe,
The senate's thanks, the gazette's pompons-tale,
With force resistless o'er the brave prevail—
For such the rapid Greeks o'er Asia whirled,
For such the steady Romans shook the world.
Earl GROSVENOR has distinguished himself at all
times for the zeal and energy with which he has
conducted the affairs of his corps, and it must be
especially gratifying to him to exhibit the profs
ciency of those under his command, while the suc-
cessful candidates cannot but rejoice at the happy
issue of their arduoub toils, and the honour paid
to them by the presence of a distinguished circle
to witness their receipt of prizes at the
hands of Lady CONSTANCE GROSVENOR.
The prizss were of great value, and the donors of
them are most deserving of the recognition made
by Earl GROSVENOR in his brief but appropriate
address, for the sums thus expended are not use-
lessly lavished, but are invested in a good cause, and
tend to elevate the standard of efficiency to which
all more or less aspire, and to gain which end no
efforts should be spared. His lordship's speech was
not a mere complimentary form of address, bat it
was an exposition of the state of the regiment. The

number of marks has increased, and satisfactory
proof is given as to the improvement in the shoot-
ing. Among others who gained honourable men-
tion the 13th Company of the QUEEN'S Westmin-

sters were most conspicuous, they having, to use
the words of their commander, " worA and held ten
times against all corners the Inland Revenue Chal-
lenge Cup of the Civil Service Rifle Volunteers."
It is important that these achievements should be

cited, as they afford landmarks of progress, and en-
courage the doubting, confirm the wavering, and
present a wholesome reproof to the careless or over-
sufficient. After Earl GROSVENOR had concluded
his very telling speech, and Lady CONSTANCE had
distributed the prizes, Colonel M‘MuRDO came for-
ward and delivered a most instructive and interest-
ing address. His remarks were most appropriate,
and effectively set forth the nature of Volunteer
service generally, and the advantages that might
thereby be gained to the community. He said
very truly that it was idle to expect a Volunteer
force to compete in excellence with regular troops
in enduring the hardships of a campaign. There is
no cause to be disheartened at this announcement,
because it was not for campaign work that
Volunteers were designed, and they have
other, and equally important and honourable
duties to perform. Colonel I‘I'Mt;RDO spoke with
the authority of his position as Inspector-General
of V Aunteers, when he declared it as his opinion
that the " efficiency of the rifle volunteer force has
in fact vastly increased." This is cheering intelli-
gence, and it is to be trusted that it will have its
due effect in affording that agreeable stimulus
which is necessary for the successful termination of
all results, and which all volunteer efforts pre-
eminently demand. The communication that in-
creased strictness was now the rule with all the
officers in command of corps, also testified most sa-
tisfactorily es to the present working and future
prospects of the Volunteer establishment. If, un-
happily, the bleat of war should sound in our ear,
and call forth the sans of England to do their duty
in the eventful struggle, there is no cause to dread
that this generation will be unmindful of past times
of enterprise, and prove unworthy of the sires before
them. It is now some years since, in the midst of
discouragement, this enterprise was begun, and
more peaceful times have seen it securely fixed sad
highly honoured as a national institution. And
honour is due to those who originated the scheme
of the Volunteers, and just praise should be awarded
to all whose efforts have enabled it to attain its
present degree of brilliant success, May the earnest
efforts of the members of the forces, and the stead-
fast support of the nation, be never found wanting
to carry it on to a triumphant goal, and render it a
rock of defence to the country in the hour of peril,
and an unfailing shield of defence against all
enemies, near or far; and if war should intervene to
dispel the smiles of peace—when our armaments
are preparing and our fleets weigh anchor—
" A virtuous populace may rise the while,
And stand a wall of fire around their mach loved isle 1"

The correspondence respecting the European-
Chinese Navy has just been published, and will be
read with some interest and curiosity. Whatever
maybe the result of the affair there will be few En-
glishmen who will not acknowledge that Captain
OSBORN acted with commendable spirit and reso-
lution in refusing to undertake the command of the
force on the terms proposel by the Chinese, and in
refraining from surrendering possession of the ves-
sels until ho had consulted the English Ambassador
is to the propriety of doing so. According to the
information contained in this correspondence,
Prince KUNG, the Regent, on the 24th October,
1862, addressed a letter of instructions to Mr, LAY,
the Inspector-General on this subject, in which the
Prince states that the acting Inspector had assured
him that in order to render the Imperial navy
efficient" it was necesssary that foreign vessels and
foreign guns should be procured." After giving
further directions and investing Mr. LAY with the
sole responsibility of the disbursement of the funds
appointed
for
the purpose—the Regent remarks
that China being in urgent need of th vessels and
guns, which should both be of first rate quality,
therefore no time should be lost in completing
them to Shanghai. Upon these shi; s proceeding

to their destination an agreement was entered into
between Captain SIIERARD OSBORN, R.N., the
officer in charge of them, and Mr. LAY, the Inspec-
tor-General. The principal clauses of this agree-
ment stipulated that Captain OSBORN should take
command of the force for four years; that he
should be the sole European naval commander-in-
chief, and have authority over all vessels of Euro-
pean construction, or Chinese vessels manned by
British seamen ; that he should obey all orders of
the EMPEROR transmitted through Mr. LAY, but
through no other party—and Mr. LAY, on his
part, undertook to refuse to be the medium of im-
proper or unreasonable orders. These stipulations
were especially necessary to guard against the
barbarity which the Chinese carry into their war-
fare, as we have too good reason to know. As
Captain OSBORN remarked in his remonstrance,
" My force, powerful as it will be for good or
evil, might be directed against the interests of com-
merce or of common humanity. Brutal butchery
might be perpetrated, and I should be powerless to
prevent it. The European-Chinese force, instead
of being a blessing, would become a curse to the
Chinese people, and to the best interests of Europe
in this empire." Prince KUNG, however, declined
to ratify this agreement, and in his letter of instruc-
tions to Captain OSBORN, dated July, 1863, he styles
him Assistant Commander-in-Chief, and tells him
that he is to co-operate with the Chinese Com-
mander-in-Chief, and to consider himself under the
orders of the Governors-General, of Two KEANG,
and of KEANG-800, and to take their instructions
as to the disposal of his force from time to time.
Captain OSBORN upon this distinctly declined to
accept the office of commander, pointing out that
the position he would be placed in would be
entirely opposed to the understanding on which
the British Government had allowed him, and the
men under his command, to enter the service of the
Emperor of CILINA, and also that, fettered by such
conditions, any naval operations he might under-
take would be practically useless. Such may be the
Chinese system, he says contemptuously, adding
that if such be the case, their unfitness for military
or naval operations is sufficiently explained. The
Regent still refusing to ratify the agreement upon
which Captain OSBORN very properly insisted, that
officer intimated to him that he should proceed to
disband the force under his command. He further
proceeded to communicate with Sir F. BRUCE,
requesting his instructions as to the disposal of the
ships, and pointing out to him that there might be
some danger in entrusting such formidable vessels
to the rowdies and pirates who throng the port of
Shanghai. Sir FREDERICK BRACE was fully sen •
Bible of the mischief that might ensue from such a
course, and immediately intimated to the Regent
that her MAJESTY'S Government would not have
agreed to the organisation of so powerful a force
had they not understood that it was to be placed
under the control of an officer in whom they could
rely, and that, consequently,he should refuse permis-
sion for the transfer of the ships until he had
received further instructions. Captain OSBORN
consequently applied for information respecting the
funds for the maintenance of the force, to which the
Ambassador very shortly replied that the Imperial
Government had, as we know, abandoned the
scheme of the flotilla, and that Captain OSBORN
must, therefore, take charge of the officers and men
and ships, with a view to proceeding the former to
England, and to disposing of the latter to the best
possible advantage. The Regent further desired
Captain OSBORN to accept 10,000 taels as a remu-
neration for his labour, a compensation which that
officer will probably consider very inadequate after
the anxiety and exertion he has undergone, the
disappointment to his natural ambition, and the
unsatisfactory termination to the whole affair. We
have cause to feel grateful to him for having by his
firmness and prudence kept out of an awkward
position, which would very likely have ended in
bringing discredit upon our nation, and in idea-
-1 tifying us with acts totally opposed to our princi-
ples and feelings. It is gratifying to find that Sir
FREDERICK BRUCE expressed warm approbation of
the course pursued by Captain OSBORN, and that
the captains and commanders of the force under his
charge unanimously declared their approval of his
conduct, and heir conviction that he had preserved
them from an essentially false position. All that
reme.ins to be done now is to settle the necessary
expenses, and we cannot but hope that, if the matter
is brought courteously but firmly under the notice
of the Regent by our Ambassador, who should
express at the same time surprise and displeasure
at the slight put upon England by the recent trans-
action, Prince KUNG will be too prudent and
politic to wish giving further offence to a formidable
Power. At all events, this course should be pur-
sued without delay, and we must await the result
of it before anticipating the necessity of further
proceedings. •