The Sun.
London, England, 1864-07-29 00:00:00

THE SUN; LONDON, FBIDA? EVENING, JULY 29, 1864.

among our group of ex-Chancellors—as he is also one
of the most remarkable men of genius living—the
ex Chancellor Lord BROUGHAM ! And—coincident
in opinion with Lord BROUGHAM in this matter—
speaking from the elevation appertaining to
the actual occupant of the Woolsack—the greatest
among all living Lawyers—Lord -WESTBURY,
now the Lord High Chancellor ! These are the
two men whose judgments confirm the pre•
vious decisions pronounced in the lower
Courts in favour of the Respondent ! If the Peti-
tioner is backed by the favourable decision of Lord
WENSLEYDALE, of Lord KINGSDOWN, and of Lord
CHELMSFORD (reversing the judgments pronounced
pronounced against him by the lower Courts, here
in Scotland, there in Ireland)—the Respondent is
backed by the equally positive opinion in her favour
(confirmatory of those previous judgments) by Lord
WESTBURY and by Lord BROUGHAM ! Altogether
the result arrived at, is about as unsatisfactory and
as bewildering of its kind, in regard to the
YELYERTON Case, es the decision arrived at the
close of the diepute in the old fable as to the precise
definition of the colour of the chameleon.

absent from the country before a Court at any given

The withdrawal of the Mutual Surrender of Cri.
minals (Prussia) Bill will be received with genera

satiafaction. It was not, indeed, probable that the
measure could ever have become law in the face of

so formidable an opposition as it excited, but Sir
GEORGE GREY has done wisely in refraining from

pressaig the matter, and in acknowledging that in
this matter the popular representatives fairly repro-

rented the feeling of the public. It is not surprising

,hat the House of Commons should look with some

suspicion on the terms of any treaty about to be

concluded between this country and Prussia. The
members of our Government have shown themselves

collectively and individually to stand in such

wholesome awe of the terrible M. BISMARIC, to be

so easily influenced by his wishes, so readily pacified
by his, explanations, so confiding in the general
high-mindedness and generosity of the King, Ca-
binet, and people of Berlin, that plain Eoglish
folks, whose views and principles will not adapt
themselves so promptly to foreign fashion, may

naturally be unwilling to leave too much to their

discretion. In the case which has lately been

brought tinder the notice of Parliament there is
especial reason for watchfulness. There is perhaps

none of the ruling principles of our political
code more generally received and more
readily acquiesced in by men of all shades of opi-

nion than that which affords unquestioning shelter

and unhesitating protection to the exile flying from
political or social persecution in his own country.

Englishmen pride themselves on the welcome which
they give to the unfortunate whether or no they

sympathise in the views or the actions which have
prodaced their misfortunes. Prince and peasant,
Orleanist and Bonapartist, slave-driver and slave,
are alike safe from the vengeance or the prejudice
of their countrymen so soon as they reach our shores;
and in the solitary exception to the national hospi-
tality which occurred in the case of Marshal HAT.
NAU, it must be remembered that he was no fugitive
driven from his country, but a favoured noble tak-
ing his ease while Hungarian homes were desolated
by his means. However much foreign Govern•
ments may dislike or distrust this our traditional
practice they may all feel thankful that they have
such an asylum in reserve, while Continental Sove-
reigns may learn a profitable lesson from the recol-
' lection that the past and the present ruler of no less
a country than France have at different periods of

their lives teen glad to avail themselves of an

English shelter. But with all our fervour of feel- '
ing on this point we do not carry our views to
such an absurd extreme as to wish to harbour
criminals. If our colonists are unwilling to receive
English malefactors, under legal restraints and
with proper guardianship, we are certainly not in-
clined to have the villains of all nations let loose
upon us. We have criminals enough of our own if
we may judge from the disastrous record of the last
few weeks, and the sagacity or activity of our police
force is scarcely competent to keep pace with them.
It is by no means desirable that every law-breaker
of foreign states shall flee to England as a refuge
from offended justice. Neither can we be anxious
that our own offenders shall be able to secure im-
munity from punishment by escaping our shores.
With the immense traffic that is continually going
on it would be a serious thing if every felon who
could contrive to get beyond the immediate reach
of English jurisdiction were able to feel secure. It
would be felt on all hands to be a direful blow to
public security and public order if such a villain as
MULLER were able to elude chastisement because
he had crossed the Atlantic. A treaty of extradi-
tion then secures mutual interests and public rights.
The code of moral and social offences is happily much
the same throughout Christendom, and those offences
which are most fatal to life and happiness are, by
common consent, regarded with equal abhorrence,
and liable to much the same degree of punishment,
in most parts of Europe and America. But it is
very necessary to preserve a strict line of demarca-
tion between political and other offences, nor is

there any unfairness in our insisting upon mak.
ing the distinction clearly and unreservedly
If we refuse to surrender political offenders to
their offended Governments, we also refrain from
making any similar demand upon them. Chartists
and democrats who have succeeded in stirring up
agitation in the United Kingdom have escaped
across the seas unpursued, and we are not likely to
trouble France or America with any appeals for
the surrender of a refractory citizen, or unpopular
statesman, or indiscreet man of letters. Our Go-
vernments have hitherto been careful to frame their
extradition treaties with especial regard to this
point, with one solitary exception, of which the
public were probably unaware until the recent dis-
cussion had disclosed the fact, that in the
terms of the treaty concluded with Denmark
two years ago, no such provision was made. If
such be the case, the Treaty needs an. immediate
revision and alteration, but one such instance can
be no excuse for committing a still more serious
error. As the general law stands, an English
magistrate must be satisfied that there is evidence
against the accused party of having committed an
offence which is punishable by English law. This
is the great protection for all political offenders,
and our readers will readily recall a notable in-
stance of the action of this clause, when the sur-
render of the fugitive slave ANDERSON was refused
by the Canadian Judge, on the ground that the
offence with which he was charged was not recog-
nisable by English law. But notwithstanding the
general feeling on this matter, and the experience
of so many years, the Government has omitted any
such provision in the terms of the Convention
which it proposes to conclude with Prussia. It
binds us to surrender any person who has been
convicted, on receiving an authenticated copy of
his conviction. So that in place of receiving evi-
dence of the actual guilt of the accused, we are
merely to be told that the Prussian Government
holds him guilty. Considering how very
widely the notions of Berlin differ from
tha English sentiments, such a security is
by no means sufficient. There is perhaps
no country in Europe in which Englishmen are just
now so little inclined to trust ; and when we re-
member bow easy it is to cite a person known to be

time, and to pass judgment in default, we shall
certainly not be inclined to depart so far from our
old traditionary policy. If such a treaty is to be
ccncluded with Austria we shall probably soon hear
of a requisition to surrender KOSSUTH and GARI-,
BALDI if ever they come in cur way. A civil ex-
tradition in the case of the Italian hero has just
been forced upon us, it only remains to follow it up
with a less courteous notice to quit. It is certainly
an anachronism in our legal administration if felons
of any class or country can claim sanctuary under
our laws; but while seeking to remedy each a state
of things, our legislators will do well to remember
that we are now governed by the same Minister
who introduced the Alen Bill, and that no con-
siderations of right, reason, or justice are now suf-
fered to weigh in the balance against the prejudices
or requirements of Prussia.

PARLIAM ENT.

MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,

PROROGATION LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

HER MAJESTY'S SPEECH.

We are commanded by her Majesty to release
you from further attendance in Parliament, and, at
the same time, to convey to you her Majesty's
acknowledgments for the zeal and assiduity with
which you have applied yourselves to the discharge
of your duties during the session of Parliament now
brought to a close.

Her Majesty commands us to inform you that she
greatly regrets that the endeavours which she
made in concert with the Emperor of the French,
the Emperor of Russia, the King of Sweden, to
bring about a reconciliation between the German
Powers and the King of Denmark, were not suc-
cessful, and that the hostilities which had been
suspended during the negotiations were again
resumed. Her Majesty trusts, however, that the
negotiations which have opened between the
gerents may restore peac9 to the North of Europe.
Her Majesty having addressed herself to the
Powers who were contracting parties to the treaty
by which the lonian Republic was placed under the
protectorate of Great Britain, and having obtained

heir cement to the annexation of that Republic to

LREITTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

DENMAR
THE DEBATE ON THE ADDRESS.

the K ingdom of Greece, and the States of the lonian
Republic having agreed thereto, the Republic of
the Seven Islands has been fen mally united to the
Kingdom of Greece, and her Majesty trusts that the
union so made will condnce to the welfare end
prosperity of all the subjects of his Majesty the
King of the Hellenes.

Her Majesty's relations with the Emperor of
China continue to be friendly, and the commeroe
of her subjects with the Chinese Empire is

increasing.
Her Majesty has been engaged, in concert with
the Emperor of Austria, the Emperor of the
French, the King of Prussia, and the Emperor of
Russia, in an endeavour to bring to effect au amicable
arrangement of differences which had arisen be.
tween the Hospodar of Moldo•Wallachia and his
Suzerain the Sultan. Her Majesty has the satis-
faction to inform you that this endeavour has been
successful.

Her Majesty deeply laments that the civil war
in North America has not been brought to a close.
Her Majesty will continue to observe a strict neu-
trality between the belligerents, and would rejoice
at .a friendly reconciliation between the contending
parties.

COPENHAGEN, JULY 27.

RUMOURED ARMISTICE.

GENTLEMEN OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS,
Her Majesty commands us to convey to you her
warm acknowledgments for the liberal supplies
which you have granted for the service of the pre-
sent year, and towards the permanent defence of
her Majesty's dockyards and arsenals.
MY LORDS AND GENTLEMEN,
Her Majesty has observed with satisfaction that
the distress which the civil war in North America
has created in some of the manufacturing districts
has to a great extent abated, and her Majesty
trusts that iccreased supplies of the raw material
of industry may be extracted from countries by
which it has hitherto been scantily furnished.
The revolt of certain tribes in New Zealand has
not yet been quelled, but it is satisfactory to her
Majesty to know that a large portion of the native
population of those islands have taken no part in

this revolt:
It has been a source of much gratification to her
Majesty to observe the rapid development of the
resources of her East Indian possessions, and the
general contentment of the people inhabiting those

extensive regions.
Her Majesty has given her cordial assent to
many measures of public usefulness, the result of
your labours during the session now brought to a
close.

The Act for extending to women and children
employed in various trades the regulations applica-
ble to factories in general, will tend materially to
preserve the health and improve the education of
those on whose behalf it was framed.
The Act for authorising the grant of Government
Annuities will encourage habits of prudence among
the working classes, and will afford them the means
of securely investing the results of their industry.
The Act for authorising a further advance for
public works in some of the manufacturing dis-
tricts will contribute to alleviate the distress in
these districts, and will afford the means of com-
pleting many works of marked importance for the
health of the population.
The Act for giving increased facilities for the
construction of railways will diminish the ex-
penses attendant upon the extension of those im-
portant channels of communication.
It has afforded to her Majesty the most heartfelt
satisfaction to observe the general well-being and
contentment which prevail throughout her domi-
nions,
and to remark the progressive increase and
development of the national resources, and to find
that, after sufficiently providing for the public ser-
vice, you have been able to make a material diminu-
tion in the taxation of the country.
On returning to your respective counties you
will still have important duties to perform essen-
tially connected with the linking together of the
several classes of the community, and her Majesty
fervently prays that the blessing of Almighty God
may attend your exertions, and guide them to the
object of her Majesty'u constant solicitude, the
welfare and happiness of her people,

COPENHAGEN, JULY 28, 1.54 P.m.

DROUGHT IN THE MIDLAND COUNTIES.—Very
general complaints are made in the counties of Notts,
Dcrby, Lincoln, and Leicester of the continued want of rain.
The Trent is lower than has been known for several years,
and the pasture lands are as bare, almost, as the high roads.
Allusion was made to the subject in numerous pulpits on
Sunday last. The wheat crop looks well, but there is a
danger of the ears ripening too fast.
MURDER AMONG THE PROFESSORS.—The Cologne
Gazette speaks of a strange crime which has just
been committed in the town of Notherg, near Aix-la-Cha-
pelle. Prof. Kluxen had left his house when another pro-
fessor, M. Lang, rushed on him, and exclaiming, " We must
both die," fired a pistol at his face, wounding him most dan-
gerously, Then taking another pistol from his pocket M.
Lang blew out his own brains. Both had played at cards
together the night before, and parted on the most friendly
terms. Prof. Klexen lies in a desperate state.

TOLL- GATE AMENITIES.—" Sorry ! Lor' bless you,
sir, I shall be jolly glad when 12 o'clock comes,
and it's all over. You wouldn't believe the life the 'busmen
and the cabbies have been a leading me for a week past ; ah,
for a month a'tuost. To-day it has been dreadful. And you
may be as good at chaff as you like, but you can't have an
answer ready for every one. Me and my boys have been
making up things to say all the morning, and we've given
it to a few of them pretty hot, though, of course, some of
them had the best of us. There's a surly old fellow as gene-
rally goes round the crescent and evades the gate when he
can, but the other day ho was obliged to come through.
Ah I' he says, 'there will be no gates after Friday.' Oh,
yes, there will,' I says; they're going to leave one on your,
account.' 'Which gate is that ?' he says, Why, Newgate
I says. You should have seen how ho whipped into his
horse and made off double quick. Then, there's a saucy,
cheeky sort of a chap as drives a Hansom says to me,
Hullo, Johu he says, ' what are you going to do when
the gate's down? start a baked tatur can, or go into the
catch-'em-alive-oh line ?" neither,' I says, but I
don't mind telling you what I intend to be up to. I'm
going to do something to get put into the House of Cor-
rection, end when I come out with a ticket-of-leave I'll be
. fully qualified to drive a cab,":—....V the Year Boca.

At the sitting of the "Folkething" yesterday,
the amendment of MM. Jagd and Liebe that " the
Folkething should pass to the order of the day to
avoid occasioning embarrassment to the Govern-

meat" was rejected.
The address was adopted by 60 votes to 21 ; seven
members, among whom was Bishop Mound, ab-
stained from voting.

The Berlingslce Tinende of to-day states that the
news published by Faedrelandet announcing the
conclusion of a nine months' armistice between the
great German Powers of Denmark is premature.