The Sun.
London, England, 1864-02-06 00:00:00

Ireland. The announcement of a bill to alter the
mode of collecting the land, assessed, and income-
taxes will be received with some curiosity and ex-

pectation—people naturally concluding that any
change, with regard to the Income Tax, would be
for the better. The distribution of Naval Prize

Money, a matter which very urgently demands
reform, and which we have repeatedly brought
before the notice of the public, is also to be looked
to ; while the Home Secretary, startled by the out-
cry produced by his late proceedings with regard
to capital punishments, intends, no later than next
Monday, to move for leave to bring in a bill
relating to Criminal Lunatics, and shortly after,
t o propose some amendment of the Penal Servitude
Acts. Honourable members, however, were not to
be pacified by' fair promises, and quickly notice
after notice, almost all of them in some way reflect-
ing upon the present Administration, warned the
occupants of the Treasury Bench that there were
" breakers ahead." Certainly, to judge from the
activity displayed on the opening night, the mem-
bers of the Lower House are determined to make
amends for the " Do-nothing Session" of

last year. Foreign and domestic affairs alike
court inquiry, and leaving the great chiefs
of the respective parties to attack
the Ministerial position on the great points of
European importance, the less prominent members
hastened to give promise of carrying on P guerilla
warfare on their own account. Mr. FITZGEKALD,
we are glad to see, has given notice that he will,
next Friday, call attention to the circumstances
attending the capture of British ships, two being
captured at Matamoros, and another (the Saxon)
within the limits of nur own colony of Good Hope.
This troublesome motion will be preceded by an-
other, reflecting on our conduct in Japan, while we
are not surprised to find that the state of affairs in
China will call forth two distinct questions—one of
them to be put by Mr. FORSTER, asking for particu-
lars of the outrages at Soochow, and the other by
Mr. LIDDELL, referring to the failure of Captain
OSBORNE'S naval expedition. The question of do-
mestic reform, only one degree less obnoxious to the
Government than criticisms on foreign affairs, is
not likely to be left in abeyance. Mr. LOCKE KING
has already given notice of his annual appeal on
behalf of the extension of the county fran-
chise; Mr. BAINES intimates that he shall
move for leave to bring in a bill for
a similar extension in boroughs, and Mr. DoDSON
will move for a select committee to inquire into
the present system of registration of county voters.
We cannot doubt but that some genuine reformer,
who has the real interests of the cause at heart,
will step forward as champion of the Ballot, and
put professing Liberals to that uncompromising test.
In naval affairs the Government will be called to
account for their inaction at Holyhead; while in
the military department we are glad to find Mr.
FORTESCUE already calling attention to the Alder-
shott court-martial. The Poor Law Board, the
Civil Service, the Criminal Law, the Educational
grants, and the Charity Commissioners are all to
be subjects of criticism, while Mr. M. GIBsoN is
about to move the appoiatment of a Select Com-
mittee to deal with the new Railway Mania. Set-
ting aside, therefore, those great topics of debate,
which are likely to agitate the political world for
some weeks to come, and without regarding the
momentous question of peace or war, now so im-
peratively thrust upon our notice, we may antici-
pate that honourable members will not suffer the
National Assembly this year to pass its time pro-
fitlessly away. Many of the topics announced for
debate and inquiry in these notices of motion have
been prominently brought forward during the
recess, and the public will be glad to see them be-
come the subjects of full and free discussion in its
House of Popular Representatives.

It is some satisfaction to find that if the
sayings of diplomatists and the counsels of

Ministers are of no avail in exercising an influence
on foreign nations, the prospect of the Parlia-
ment assembling has wrought some effect. M.

BIsMARK has foresight enough to be conscious o

the danger of debate, and though he treats his own
Chamber in a sufficiently curt style, and acts with
a marked want of respect, he is prescient enough to
show a different bearing in so far as regards the
English Senate. Thus we find that a despatch was
sent over just before the sitting of the House,
which purported to be the bearer of
friendly intentions, and to guarantee the
security of Denmark from any vital in-
jury being inflicted. Lord PALMERSTON made
great capital of this intelligence, and, amid
the loud cheers of the House, proclaimed its
auspicious advent, and certified as to its happy
augury. This was all very well, so far as it went,
bat when the first excitement had gone by, it was
discovered that the grandeur of this proclamation
was, after all, rather meretricious, and that the
satisfaction experienced on the receipt of the tidings
was but of an evanescent nature. Sir .T. PAKIN
TON, whose discretion and discernment have often
before done good service to the cause of straight-
forwardness, came to the rescue, and requested
that some explanation might be afforded to
the House regarding the document in question.
The result of the inquiry fully justified the sus-
picions entertained by the right hon. baronet as to
the construction put upon the communication by
the noble lord being the correct one. Mr. LAYARD
read the despatch, and a more complex and inex-
plicit message can hardly be imagined. It seems
pretty clear, however, to all who wish to see the
drift of it, that Prussia intends to carry out the
game to the conclusion, but for expediency just
sends this despatch to quiet the fears of the Eng-
lish Cabinet, or perhaps with a prophetic spirit to
enable the Ministers to make " capital" out of it in
the debate and discussion on these affairs. Well
might Mr. WHITESIDE ask Mr. LAYARD to be good
enough to explain the document which he had read, as
it appeared to require great elucidation. He went
on to say that " He could not understand how that
paper assisted the noble viscount at the head of
the Government." Nor anyone else either, except
to afford a handle and make a fair show of pro-
priety. No one can more dexterously turn a cir-
cumstance to his own advantage than the Premier,
but in this instance he has signally failed to prove
his assertion; and he must have acknowledged to
himself that his felicitous document did not bear
the light of day, and would not stand a viva voce
examination. The only gratifying reflection regard-
ing the whole affair is, as has been previously speci-
fied, the assurance conveyed by the transmission of
this despatch that the Berlin Cabinet has some linger-
ing idea of the importance of English opinion at this
critical juncture. So far so good; and it will be
well for the prosperity of all concerned if this feel-
ing predominates more fully in the future, and if
foreign statesmen recognise the necessity of con-
forming more to the wishes, and yielding oftener to
the suggestions of this country. It will be a great
point gained if the principle is fully established
and the precedent fairly laid down thatthteseopinion
of England is to count for something in he
end-
less bickerings and countless dissensions that mar
the peace of Europe and threaten to entangle
all surrounding States in the fracas. Had
Lord PALMERSTON, in the case of this
despatch, followed the course he adopted in