The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-11 00:00:00

Let the simple words of our chief morning contem-
porary—for nothing better could possibly be written
upon the subject than those words we are now about
to quote—Let the simple, manly words of our chief
morning contemporary, answer this just possible last
sneer of the traducers of Lord CARDIGAN. "It is
now placed beyond dispute," says our contemporary,
"by the testimony of many eye-witnesses and
the admission of his most persistent detractor
[l. e., Colonel CALTHORPE] that he DID charge at
the head of his troops up to the Russian battery.
through the battery, and beyond the battery!
When credible persons declared on oath that they
saw him in the rear of the guns, defending himself
against the Cossacks, and that they themselves went
to his rescue, the doubt, if any existed, was at an
end." The fact thus proved is perfectly conclusive.
" Against such evidence," it is well argued, "the
statement of one man that he saw Lord CARDI-
GAN'S horse swerve and apprently turn
round, or of another that he observed him
afterwards riding the wrong way, is simply
worthless." And further on it admirably and
most logically put that—" In deciding this question
with so much confidence, Colonel CALTHORPE
seems to have forgotten, that what A has seen can-
not be disproved, or even shaken, by the fact.
that B, C, and 1.) did not see it. He is now obliged
to admit, through his counsel, that his negh-
tive data hare misled him, that his informants
have been in error, and that Lord CARDIGAN DID
remain till the batteries were passed, in the post of
danger which he had represented him to have
quitted through cowardice!" Honour to the
brave—shame to their traducers. It is perhaps only
in perfect keeping with the whole transaction from
beginning to end, that the man who flings out the
imputation of cowardice against the leader of one
of the most splendidly audacious acts of heroism
upon record, should now, when his asser-
tions are proved to have been erroneous,
decline to make any apology. An apology,
however, from Colonel CALTHORPE, can be very
readily dispensed with by the Earl of CARDIGAN,
now that his character for bravery has been vindi-
cated so conspicuously in the face of day before the
whole mass of his fellow-countrymen.

It is gratifying to notice that nothing occurred
to mar the effect of yesterday's undertaking.
There was something very melancholy in the whole
affair, yet it was not without cheering prospects.
Foremost among the brighter auguries was the fact
that her MAJESTY had come to town expressly to
view the monument, and might on that occasion
be said to have returned to public life, after her
long and sad s elusion. From surveying that touch-
ing record of her lamented Consort, the QUEEN
drove to Marlborough House to visit the Prince
and Princess of WALES. These two visits are not
without their significance. It was as if the com-
pletion of the memorial to Prince ALBERT'S memory
was the signal for the termination of her long ab-
sence from anything approaching to an intercourse
with the busy world of work and pleasure. It will
have been with great grat fication that sll will
have heard of the QUEEN thus reappearing among
us. The sudden and startling change from an active
career of usefulness, and a happy home of domes-
ticity, to the sad stillness of the Valley of the
Shadow of Death, is sufficient to overcome anyone
for a considerable period. When also the loss sus-
tained is such as the bereavement here alluded to,
the want is felt at every new undertaking of an
adviser or assistant. Still, the more deeply trouble
is dwelt upon, the worse it is to endure, and the
longer seclusion is indulged in, the more difficult it
is to come out of it. Tile best promise of the
marriage of the Prince of WALES was that
which foretold the new interest it would give to
his Royal Mother, and it must be the greatest plea-
sure he can feel in the attractions of his bright
career that his entrance on life is bringing back
again to the cares and happiness of existence one
who has been so sadly missed from among us. So
far as regards the memory of the late PRINCE also,
this undertaking has been all that could be wished.
It was a fitting spot to choose for the erection of a
memento to future generations of the fame of one
who did so mum in his comparatively short career
to improve the tastes, to elevate the understanding,
and to enlarge the experience of all classes of the
community. The scene of yesterday was solemn in
its retrospection, telling of him who had been cut
down in the prime of life and the pride of power,
and laid low in the grave, while his incomplete
work remained unfinished as far as regarded mortal
views. But who shall say how far our work is
finished or unfinished as concerns its influence.
The PRINCE CONSORT has rested from his labours
too soon, we sadly think, when we muse over
the palaces where a widowed Queen and orphan
Princes and Princesses mourn his loss, but
it would be difficu:t upon reflection to say what he
has left undone that is of moment. So much had
been planned and executed during his lifetime that
the remaining portion of his career would have
been more probably the filling up of the outlines
he had so boldly sketched with a master hand. In
this state we cannot always see the end of our
toil. One sows that another may reap, and the
harvest scene of rejoicing must often be reserved foi
the world where no blight can enter. As for the
young Prince, who stood by the chief actor in the
scene, he must surely have been impressed with
the thoughts of-the rest, and of the future. With
he completion of this great work before him the

" dead past has buried its dead" as it were. It now
remains for him to "acs in the living present," so
that when the future shall place his name in the
annals of history he may be counted worthy of
those who went before him. His father has left
him a bright example, so far as regards the duties
he had to perform.. The Prince of WALES has ali
t hese to undertake in addition to a more prominent
place even now in the public affairs of the king
dom. It is to be trusted that the chief
individual concerned in this pageant will be
satisfied with the result of the ceremony,
and that the QUEEN will norr return among
her subjects gratified in their tribute to his
honour, whose memory will henceforth be the chief
thought of her life, not, however, to the exclusion of
other ideas. No one can regard her grief as exces-
sive, but it has bright alleviations, and the prayers of
her people will be fulfilled if she can now return
" cheerily to her work again," and find in the de-
votion of her family, and in the attachment of her
subjects, the only earthly consolation that can be
" GOD'S lore h
hers till, as the
sets poeter ahtahsis sidebeautifengai
beautifully expressed it,

A very sensible and much needed measure was
brought before the House of Commons last
o Bill,nightvmi nmeasure a
said
tuabbirydee
Mr. HUNT. The hon, gentle
ent a i Petitions
Is
of moving
second reading oft
ttbhaetEtlhe
the details
would require many amendments, but that u
the House would approve of the general principle.
The rhe purport of the Bill is to prevent any petition
against the return of a member from being with-
irawn without an inquiry into the circumstances
older which such a withdrawat is proposed. Mr.
HUNT explained that he did not wish to force any
petitioner to proceed with a p-tition against his
will, but if the case were bond fide tr.ere could be
no objection to a disclosure of the reasons for with-