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

vi udicate the public men of our day from the charge
of always allowing judgment to go by default, and
not troubling themselves to care if the existing
state of things is disturbed or not. So many aspen.
sions are cast on the Conservative party that it is
incumbent upon some of its members to come for-
ward now and then to disprove them, and to show
the animus that calls them forth and suggests their
malicious insinuations. It is the sure sign of the
waning strength of a party when it can stoop to
make use of slander as a weapon against its adver-
saries, and it must be confessed that the Liberal
set and Ministerial clique are over apt to detract
from the fair fame end honest intentions of their
opponents, without paying much regard to truth,
or being overs.crupulous as to just:ce. Besides
these more particular matters, it is a great mistake
for any party to allow one set of politicians to usurp
all the privileges to themselves. It must be some
check on existing powers, and some benefit in the
way of enlightening the minds of their hearers,
when decided and determined speeches are uttered,
such as those of the Duke of BEAUFORT and Mr.
BOLT, and, therefore, they will be perused with
satisfaction by all those who do not wish the affairs
of last session to be passed over in silence. The
Duke very properly explained the state of the case
as regarded the position of the Conservative party
during the trying period of the last session; Many
persons have exclaimed against their proceedings,
and stated that they held back too long, and did
not make any attempt to check Ministers until too
late in the year; but there are two sides to this, as
every other question. As the Duke of BEAUFORT
said, they were prevented from doing anything by
the information that negotiations were going for-
ward, and that they would disturb them by any
premature act on their part. This plea was urged
again and again, and it seemed to be the only con-
stitutional course to acquiesce in the arrangement.
It must now be considered, however, that this
notion of negotiations, and this plea of a Conference,
were nothing but subterfuges, and an adroit ma-
neeavre designed for the purpose of putting people
off their guard, and giving a better colour to the
affair in the eyes of those who looked on with dis-
trust and misgivings, In a Parliamentary view of
the matter, the leaders of the Conservatives were,
doubtless, right in abstaining from pressing fore
ward their inquiries ; but, as things have turned
out, it is almost to be regretted that
they treated their opponents with a considera-
tion they did not deserve, and to which they
were not entitled on public or private grounds.
As the Duke observed, it is very much to be
doubted if, under the same circumstances, they
would have met with similar reticence at the hands
of those who demanded their forbearance. "If
they had been in office the hands of the Whigs
would not have been tied but for the sake of up-
setting their party, they would, without hesitation,
have put embarrassing questions, and made motions
in both Houses of Parliament." It is not easy to
predicate what course will be pursued by such and
such a person or party under the pressure of events,
neither is it less difficult to take a retrospective
glance, and declare what would have been done
under the same circumstances by different persons;
but, it may be mentioned, that the present Liberal
party have not shared any consideration or courtesy
in their conduct when in Opposition. It would
seem as if they cast all the claims of such influences
to the winds in their eager endeavours to regain
their lost Eden of office, and deferred the practice
of honest and honourable principles until a more
convenient opportunity. Their most zealous parti-
sans cannot say that they share in adversity, for a
more ignoble opposition has not been witnessed in
the annals of our history than that which contracted
the DERBY Government snits last accession to power.
It is certain that the bias of political predilections,
and the exaggeration of style often witnessed at
local meetings can not be exercised in too strong
terms, when the conduct of the would-be Reformers
who took office with Earl RUSSELL is criticised.
Unworthily es the noble lord acted on that occa-
sion, however, it has since been proved that he is
more inimical to the interests of his country as a
Foreign Minister than he was in the domestic de-
partment, and it was indeed an evil day for England
when he accepted the office of Foreign Secretary.
The Duke of BEAUFORT, in his off-hand way, de-
scribed the course of his proceedings as "checking
both parties," and the result inseparable from such
a line of action, of course,has been that they treated
him with contempt. His grace truly observed that
the question was virtually settled before the matter
was discussed in Parliament, and by the time the
Conservatives came into power, it would have been
useless to go to war. It is all very fine for the
partisans of Lord PALMEBSTON to declare that the
Opposition never put forth a policy ; that
is an idle subterfuge which cannot de-
ceive many, and most be exposed in time.
Mr. ROLT, in his few remarks, ably summed up the
whole state of the case as regarded the Dane-Ger-
man question. Many will agree with the hon.
member when he said that, having looked through
the papers, he could not imagine anything more
humiliating than the disclosures made in/them.
" Our boasting braggadocio, leaving Denmark at
the last alone, was one of the most humiliating
things this country had suffered." Well might the
Ministers have withheld the production of the
papers till the last moment possible, for they thus
exposed their own truckling conduct, and published
to the world their incompetency to fill their high
position,

The interest which has been excited by Colonel
GORDON'S career in China has been so great, his
ability and success as a military commander have
been so conspicuous, and the results of his services
have been so important to the cause of the Imperi.
alists, that the abrupt termination of that career is
in some sense a matter of regret. Nevertheless the
reversal of the order in council, which permitted a
British cfficer to take part in the Chinese war, is
wise and right in every sense. It is unquestion-
ably no more than the Chinese have merited by
the treachery of the Fatal of Soochow and
by the subsequent encouragement bestowed upon
him by his rulers. If it were once to be imagined
that Englishmen would tolerate perfidy and breach
of faith half our hopes of civilising China would be
gone. It is above all things important in our
dealings with those Eastern nations with whom
falsehood and treachery are mere venial offences or
no offences at all, to preserve intact that code of
national honour which we follow in our dealings
with Europeans. If they field that we rigidly
insist upon the maintenance of an oath or a
pledge, and resent as an injury any deviation from
it, they may learn in time to remodel their own
conduct in public transactions at all events. There
was another reason, too, which might well have
exercised considerable influence on the decision of
the Home Government, ar. d that was the desire to
avoid being entangled in the wars of the Chinese.
The fact of an officer in the British service taking
so active a part in the prosecution of the war, natu-
rally implicated his Government in some degree as
countenancing the proceedings of the Chinese autho-
rities. This was especially the case with Colonel,
then Major GORDON, since he was in direct corn-
municatian with the Commander-in• Chief, and with
the British Envoy, Sir F. BRUCE. The House of

Gammons has shown a strong disinclination to suffer
this country to become involved in any more East-
ern wars, and although they carried their censure
of the proceedings of the Government to an unwar-
rantable length, the open expression of their opi-
nions on the matter would doubtless have weight.
The policy of non-intervention, which is bringing
upon us so much disgrace and discredit by the
manner in which it is being applied to European
affairs, is certainly more applicable in China. Iu
Europe it is undoubtedly sowing a plentiful crop
of future wars, while in China we may
reasonably hope that it will keep us out
of them altogether. The conduct of the Impe-
rialists, too, was not such as to warrant any further
extension of our favours to them. The affair of
Captain OSBORN and Mr. LEY with the steam
flotilla proved that they did not properly recognise
the obligations which they were under to this coml. '
try for even partial assistance. There is no doubt
that had they consented to accept the aid of Captain
OBBORN'S vessels on his own terms, they would
have been largely the gainers, while the great ad-
vantages which the Imperialists have now gained
over their antagonists are mainly due to the services
of Colonel GORDON. It cannot, indeed, be said that
the Chinese are insensible to the value of that
officer's assistance—since they have bestowed upon
him many marks of honour and tokens of their high
appreciation of his skill and courage. Indeed it is
their own fault that Colonel GORDON did not carry
his triumphs still further, and that Nankin is not
now in possession of the Imperial forces. The
delay caused by the Fatai's treachery at Soochow,
upon the surrender of that city, caused the loss of
much valuable time, and stopped the English
leader midway in his career. At the time
the news reached this country, we expressed
our conviction that it was due to Col. GORDON'S
own reputation, no less than to the honour of his
country, that he should lay down hie arms, and
decline any further to serve a leader who had so
greatly insulted him. Such, it appears, was his
own wish and intention, and it was only at the
desire of Sir F. BRUCE that he retained his com-
mission. The Envoy feared that GORDON'S band
would go over to the Taepings and increase the
confusion. Sir F. BRUCE says in his despatch, "It
is indispensable that officers of character should
remain at the head of these semi-disciplined Chinese
corps until tranquillity is sufficiently restored, so as
to allow of their being dissolved without danger.
Otherwise, not only would: the results already
achieved be sacrificed, but the prospect of the
restoration of tranquillity would be indefinitely
postponed. The " magistrates, elders, and popula-
tion" of the pacified districts also joined in en-
treating Colonel GORDON to retain his command,
so as to protect them from a repetition of the hor-
rors inflicted by the Taepings upon their victims.
No blame can, therefore, be attached to that officer
for continuing in his position under these circum-
stances, and it is well that direct instructions from
the Home Government should have solved the dia.
unity for him, and taught the Chinese authorities
that Englishmen cannot overlook a deliberate act
of treachery and breach of faith. Colonel GORDON,
however, has done his work. When he entered the
Chinese service the great cities of Hongchow and
Soochow were in the hands of the Taepings, and
were fast falling into ruin ; the silk districts were
desolated by them, and one important branch of
trade was thus paralysed. The cruelty of the
rebels knew no distinction of age or sex, of resist-
ance or helplessness. Little children with their
throats cut lay in the path of the advancing carps.
Some may question the wisdom or justice of the
Imperial cause, but it is quite plain that unless some
check were put on atrocities like these the material
wealth of China would ba serlously impaired, while
its population—vast as it is—would be decimated
by the wholesale slaughter. Colonel GORDON
leaves the great cities in the hands of the Impe-
rialists; he has left the rebels no possession of im-
portance save the city of Nankin. The terror of
his name has effected what his arms left undone.
Often it was enough for the Taepings to hear that
GORDON was advancing to lay down their arms at
once, and his personal courage has been no less con-
spicuous than his military skill. He has availed
himself of none of the opportunities of personal
advantage which the chances of war threw in his
way, but in the fulfilment of a difficult, arduous,
ar d dangerous duty he has shown himself to be
possessed of those qualities wh'.ch Englishmen
value even above military talerats. Colonel GORDON
has already achieved disainction in his Chinese
campaign, but we cannot question that, should the
opportunity be granted him in the service of his
ownof those
officers
country, he will add another name to the list
of whom England is justly proud.

BRITISH ARCHAOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION.—The
21st annual meeting of this association will com-
mence at Ipswich today (Monday), under the presidency
of Mr G. Tomline, M.P. The proceedings will be inaugu-
rated with a meeting at the town-hall, where the association
will be welcomed by the Mayor and corporation of Ipswich,
and the president will deliver an address. In the course of
the day some at the salient antiquities of the town will be
examined, and to-morrow an excursion will be made with
the same object to Bury St. Edmund's. On Wednesday a
second excursion will be made in the direction of Colchester,
and on the following day there will be an excursion to Par-
ham, Framlington, &o„ whua in the evening the President
will entertain the s:.ssociation at his seat, Orwell-park. On
Friday an exer.rsion will be made to Wood-bridge, Butley
Abbey, Orford Castle, &c., and on Saturday there will be
a final excursion to Long Melford, Livenhara, Hadleigh,
&c. Altogether, a very agreeable week is promised.
Among the gentlemen who act as local Vice. Presidents are
the Marquis of Bristol, Earl Jermyn, M.P., the yen. Lord
Arthur Hervey, Lord Henniker, M.P., Lord Rendelsham,
Sir G. Broke Middleton, Mr C. Austin, Mr J. C. Cobbold,
M.P. Mr H. E. Adair, M.P., Mr G. C. E. Bacon, &C.

THE ALLEGED DESTRUCTION OF THE GREAT
MONTGOLFIER BALLOON. Exaggerated reports
having appeared of the damage suffered by NI. Godard'a
balloon, " The Eagle," pains have been taken to ascertain
the facts, which are these Godard took up with him
in his late ascent one passenger besides his own three as-
sistants and the interpreter. Ho has experienced some
difficulty at other times as well as on this occasion in
securing the balloon, owing to the country people being
alarmed at its unusually large size, and therefore fearing
to catch the trailing ropes, as they willingly do with a bal-
loon of more moderate aiz3. On this occasion the eagle
descended at first as favourably as could be desired near
Walthamstow ; but just at the moment of its descent a
ground breeze suddenly arose, and being coincident with the
usual rebound of the balloon, carried it against the branch
of a tree, which tore the cotton covering, though not very
seriously. 31. Godard, shortly afterwards, when trying to
lift the car, was so unfortunate as to step on a stone which
turned under his foot, and he has thus sprained his ankle,
With this exception none of the party were hurt, all having
alighted in perfect safety, and having succeeded in securing
the balloon, which will be repaired in a day or two. The
accident to 11.1. Godard is, however, unfortunate, as hd is
unable for a day or two to superintend matters personally,
and being obliged to go to Paris at once, no further ascent
of the Eagle can take place hero till his return, He pur-
poses, however, being in Eng and again by the latter end
of the month, when ho intends to make some ascents at
Cremorne, and will also most probably visit the provinces
for the same purpose.
THE COURTESIES OF WAit.—la front of General
Butler's lines I am told that only one shot has been
fired during three weeks. That came from a rebel soldier
of mischievons proclivities, who was punished for violating
the tacit truce. His commanding officer exposed him for
three hours outside their breastworks, within 53 yards of
our lines, compelling him to march to and fro all that time
with a heavy stick of wood on h a shoulder as a penance for
his indiscretion. Our men magnanimously spared the poor
wretch's life.—Letter from Petersburg, in the New York
Times.

AMERICAN BLOCKADE.—NEW YORK, July 24.
The brig Queen Victoria, King, arrived here from Inagua,
saw a steamer, supposed to be a blockade runner, chased
and captured on the 10th of July, lat. 28 N, long. 74 40 W.
The Jesse Blue (United States transport) arrived at New
York, heard heavy firing at sea on the 23d of July altout 15
wiles Off Cape lienlopen.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

[REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.]

GREECE.

ATHENS, AUG. 7.
A new Ministry has been formed, composed as
follows ;
Admiral Canaria .... President of the Council
and Minister of Ma.

rine.
M. Comonndouros Minister:of the Interior.
M. Sotiropoulos . Minister of Finance.
M. Carnalis

M. Andrus Landes... }....Minister of Justice and
ad interim Minister
of Public Worship.
M. Theodoros Deleyannie..Minister for Foreign
Affairs.

THE BOMBAY AND MAURITIUS MAILS,

SOUTHAMPTON, AUG. 8.

The Peninsular and Oriental Company's steamer
Manilla, with the heavy portion of the above
mails, has arrived here. She brings 47 passengers,
£l5O in specie, and 104 packages of sundries.

On the 29th ultimo the Manilia spoke the
steamer Penn, 13 days from London on the 4th inst.,
passed the brig Albion, of Liverpool, and the
steamer Laconia, and on the 6th exchanged colours
with the steamer Poonsh.

Her Majesty's ships Marlborough, Meanee;
Magicienne, and Chanticleer, were cruising off
Malta, and the " Hibernia, Royal Oak, Boxer,
Growler, Revenge, Phoebe, Weser, and the Pelican
were in the harbour,

Her Majesty's ships Procris and Ittdpole were
at Gibraltar.

GIBRALTAR, AUG. 3.

The steamers Italia, from London, and the Cs.pe,
from Liverpool, arrived here on the 30th ir,4t, ; and
the Demetrius, from Liverpool; ALneron, from
Cardiff; and the Lady Franklin, and Beaver from
Glasgow, on the 31st.
Exchange or, London, 90 days, 501 tot- ; Paris,
5.29 to 30; Marseilles, 5.31; Genoa, 5.20 to 31.
Madrid, 8 days' sight, par Cadiz, Ito dis.
Freights unaltered.

FRANCE.
PARIS, AUG. 8.

The Emperor left Vichy at B'clock yesterday
morning, and arrived at 11 at Monflucon, where he
met with an enthusiastic reception.

His Majesty, after visiting the Principal manu-
factories, continued his journey, arriving at Saint
Clued at 9 p.m.
Mgr. Cerbet, Bishop of Perpignan, is dead.

BOURSE, August 6.—The market has been heavy
owing to a further decline in Consols, but prices
show no material change. Threes, for the Account,
are unvaried at 66f. 30c, Mobilier, after having
been done at 1,000 f., is now. at 995 f. Railway
Market inanimate. Tae market became rather

mere animated towards
follows
4R per Cents .. 94 75
Do. end month....
3 per Cents
110. end month 66 35
Credit Mobilier..., 997 50
Do. end month 997 50
Bank Shares 3400
Credit F oncier 1230
Roman

.he close, and left off as

Italian Loan 6B 20
Do. end month 6B 25
Ditto Threes ..
New Mexican .... 5',%1
Russian
Austrian
Spanish Threes..., 50 25
Rome Debt . . 4B 50
Deferred

RAIL Wilt%

OrleP:aB
Northern
Lyons and Mediterranean

Cash. Account.
885 ~. 882 50
980 .. 985
905 ~. 915

New ditto
Southern 637 50 .. 640
Western
Eastern

Sardinian ..

Austrian
Low bard

North of tpain
Saragos,a ..
Ditto to Barcelona

ITALY.

A Turin letter has the following :
" The month now commencing appears likely to
be a dull time in politics. The Ministry has decided
on postponing the consideration of the grave ques-
tioe of the elections until September. It appears
probable that the present Parliament will meet or ce
more for a few weeks, for the purpose of voting
urgent laws and Effacing, if possible, the impression
produced by the closing sittings of the late session.
Should the Ministry again obtain the support of the
Chambers, it could appeal to the country with more
authority. The alliance, or understanding, of the
Northern Powers has not yet manifested itself in a
manner directly hostile to Italy; the attitude of the
Powers, so far as regards this country, being
strictly defensive, it would appear that the new
kingdom is not the immediate object of the league,
the existence of which is universally believed there,
though nobody seems to be at all alarmed. Mean-
while, the clerical party make a great noise about
it, and express their joy and hopes without the least
reserve. Their principal organ, the " Unita Cattolica"
makes the league the constant theme of its articles,
which, as usual, are written with great talent. But
all the talent in the world could never counterba-
lance the anti-national character of those hopes
whose roots are beyond the Mincio, nor the anti-
patriotic feeling displayed in the scarcely indirect
appeal to bayonets, which certainly are not those
of Italy, The excessively hot and dry weather
which has prevailed here for nearly two months
makes people very willing
to indulge in the Jar
niente. The sun is this year Overwhelmingly
bright; while not a storm, or a cloud, or a breath
of air, ever comes to cool the burning atmosphere."
Another letter from Turin says :—" M. Minghetti
and the Minister of Marine have both returned to
Turin. A Council of Ministers sat on Sunday last, at
which Gen. Lamarmora and Gen. Cialdini were pre-
sent. The former had come from Genoa with the
President of the Council, and the second had been
called from Bologna, the centre of his command,
whither he returned the same evening, M. Peruzzi
starting for Florence. The simultaneous presence
at Turin of these two generals, and their participa-
tion in a CJuncil of Ministers, are circumstances
which have excited public curiosity, and given rise
to various surmises. I will merely remind your
readers that Generals Lamarmora and Cialdini are
those whose military commands skirt the Pontifical
frontier. Gen. Cialdini's division lies north of Rome,
and Lamarmora's south of the Eternal city. The ter-
ritory still under the sway of the Pontifical Governs
ment is enclosed between those two divisions, and
perhaps the simultaneous arrival of those generals
at Turin is connected with the respective positions
of their corps."
The Cologne Gazette confirms the intelligence
that the ex-King of Naples is about to leave Rome.
He hesitates, that journal asserts, between Venice
indisposition Siaplsobsuitrigon of ashis
the
exfut Queen is one of the principalre residence. The continued
causes of the determination taken by Francis 11. to
remove from Rome.

ert Wes celebrated
wfaimthilyt.heFeurosmtomanareyahrloynheouursr
HiPanhinsescsErArLinFeßeEADlfiElle rn2eoslth birthday of his Royal
at Windsor on Satardayitloo;ati
paid to members of the
in the morning, and at intervals throughout the day, joyous
peals were sent forth from the towers of the Chapel Royal of
St, George and St. John's Church. At 1 o'clock a Royal
salute of 21. guns was fired in the Long Walk from the
Corporation Ordnanco by the town bombardier, and a
Royal salute was also fired from the Adelaide frigate on
Virginia Water, which. was answered at Fort Belvedere.
Their Royal Highnesses the Prince and Princess of Wales
are expected to ar.ive at Marlborough-house this (Monday)
afternoon, and on Tuesday their royal highnesses leave for
Scotland, where it is expected they will reside for about six
weeks.

PRINCE JEROME NAPOLEON AT GREENOCK.—
Early on Friday morning the French screw steam corvette
Jerome Napoleon, of 900 tons, arrived at the tail of the
Bank, from Havre, having Prince Jerome Napoleon on
board. Prince Jerome and a party of gentlemen came ashore
during the day, and put up at the Tontine Hotel, but re-
turned to the ship in the evening. It is expected they will
take their departure twa the Clyde immediately.