The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-22 00:00:00

LOYDON, TUESDAY, SEPT. 22, 1863.

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It is instructive to note the opinions expressed by
our Parisian contemporaries in regard to the last
Russian reply, penned, with many a rhetorical
flourish, by Prince GOETSCIIAKOFF. The tone of
that rep'.y we can all of us, both in France and
England., very readily appreciate. It is one (we
cannot but acknowledge this, bad as his cause is)
eminently well befitting the great Minister of a
mighty Autocrat. It expresses an indignant re-
vulsion from the rebukes and the reproaches
addressed to the Cabinet of St. Petersburg
from without, such as none amongst all the
administrators in the world will better sympathise
with, th an those connected with the Cabinets of St.
James's and the Tuileries. In this particular the
replies addressed by Prince GORTSCHAKOFF to
Franco and England are in a manner all but
identical. To Earl RUSSELL no less firmly than
to M. DROUYS DE L'HuYs does the Foreign Minis-
ter of the Autocrat intimate that he cannot, in the
name of his imperial master, accept in silence and
submission remonstrances such as, if so accepted,
could not by any possibility but derogate from
the dignity at once of the CZAR and of his Govern-
ment. What is said in the one instance is said in
the other. Differently, so far as relates to the mere
expressions in which the views of Prince GORTS•
CHAKOFF e.re indicated, but differently only thus
superficially. What is remarked, therefore, in re-
ference to the one note of reply from Russia is ap-
plicable, therefore, in a great measure, to the
other. And
it is for this reason that

we "114 our attention with a twofold interest
to dificover the sentiments with which our French
contemporaries regard the documents lately received
from St. Petersburg by the EMPEROR'S Foreign
:NI inister M. DuotivN DE L'Huvs.
To begin with the Journal des Deba's .—" We can not
be suspected," we find
that organ remarking, " of
partiality towards the Cabinet of St. Petersburg,
and our readers will do us the honour of being well
convinced that, for many reasons,
a document cannot the conclusions
of such be ours. IVe should,
the writer adds,
however,"" transgress our
is to see and, _
first rule, which represent dings
as they are, if we did not freely acknow-
ledgeskill with. which this State paper
is drawn np. Prince GORTscnisicopt has
made
, the last two months.
some progress curing -us. He
no longer indulges in legal quibbles and unmeaning
tirades against that incorript ehenst.b le monster
which certain journals, however much they may
otherwise differ, agree in designating as ' Revolu-
tion' with a capital R. He speaks and reasons like
a real statesman. He seeks end finds the few argu-
ments, more or less decisive, btu still worthy of dis-
cussion, which Russia can bring forward in favour
of the right of possession. Firmly, and with a
spirit which does not offend us in foreigners, h`-'cause
we should never think of speaking otherwise our-
selves, he says that which must find an echo in the
hcart of the Russian nation, and he says nothirg
more So much for the Dgbats. According to the
opinion expressed by Le Pays, the country, that is
France, of course, knows, now that the Rus-
sian Replies have been duly published that those
documents are not of a nature to justify the anxiety
with which they were expected. Enforcing the
necessity, or advisability let us call it, of maintain_
Austrian Alliance intact,
ing the Anglo-Franco-
La France says, rather significantly (the italics
beinc, its own), " We are tAree ; we will not be re-
duced to one ." The pride of _Le Sl'ecle appears to
be the most of all poignantly wounded by the
"grand" air with which Prince GORTSCHAKOFF

sits down to pen his replies to the, three European
remonstrances. Of the rer,l,l to France that
journal does not hesitate to remark than, through-
out,
French G
theCabinoevteronf St.men .
1) etersburg does not treat
the
with more consideration
than its other diploma' cic correspondents met with. e
Le Siecle, an unusual degree
It even shows, add'
of arrogance in taking up only one point of
the despatch of the French Minister of Foreign
Affairs. As to Le Nation, it frankly avows of
the despatej, that, " far from lessening the
Painful feelings which these negotiations (about
Polandli produ3e, it has only increased it." Sar-
castkally, almost wittily, Le Temps observes, in
reference to Prince GORTSCHAKOFF, that—" Proudly
taking his stand, if we may so say, at the entrance
of the blind alley into which the three Powers have
so complacently entered, he lectures them with
haughtiness and occasional bitterness!" Speaking
of the direct antagonism now arrived at by
the diametrical opposition of the views main-
tained on the one part by the three Powers,
and on the other part by Russia, L' Opinion Na-
tionale declares it to be "a difference that is radical,
that is absolute, that admits of no intermediate
course whatever." Almost with "'bated breath"
speaks Le Constitutionnel, at th;s momentary pause
in the negotiations, or rather in the correspondence ;
the closing remark of M. PAULIN LIMAYRAC being
—hitherto "we have followed out our opinion or
argument in moderation, and in this line of conduct
we will persevere!" La Patric is dumb in regard
to the despatch of Prince GORTSCHAKOFF : as dumb
even as Le Moniteur. While L' Union speaks out
harshly enough in expressing its opinion as to the
course pursued throughout by the press of London in
regard to these affairs of Poland. It declares of the
London press that in this matter it has taken a very
rascally part ir deed, a joue un fort vilain role : hard
words, sound and fury, signifying nothing !
Everything considered, it cannot but be confessed
by us all with a qualm, very much like chagrin,
that neither M. DROUYN DE L'lnes nor Earl
RUSSELL can be said to have taken much by their
correspondence with the astute Foreign Minister of
the Russian Autocrat.

Wise men have discovered many points of re-
semblance between the ancient Greeks and the in-
habitants of Great Britain, and one of the most
striking is certainly the love for the sea
and seamanship, common to both nations. An
Englishman takes a pride in his snips, and
looks with a friendly eye on th© sailor. Jack
Tar is always a favourite with all ranks, and
not even the oppressive and unjust pressgang of the
last century could entirely destroy his popularity.
What we lost by that tyrannous system was amply
compensated by NELSON'S victories ; and whether
in peace or war there have never been lacking Eng-
lishmen willing to quit terra firma for "a life on
the ocean wave." As an insular people the special
sympathy and inclination for the sea possessed by
the English is not perhaps surprising, but whether
for business or pleasure, for adventure or commerce,
peace or war, old NEPTUNE usually plays a promi-
nent part in an Englishman's life. Our gracious
SOVEREIGN represents the tastes of her people in this
as in many other respects, and proves her right to
her title as Empress of the Seas by her frequent
excursions and voyages. In spite of the terrible
abuses of Admiralty administration, the sums asked
for naval expenses are usually voted willingly
enough, and the importance of maintaining the
efficiency of our Channel Fleet is very generally
appreciated by all classes. Still we hear a great
deal about it, but very few of us have the chance of
seeing what we pay for. We have reviews and
military displays of all sorts, and a visit to Alder-
shott is no difficulty, but the fleet is another thing.
The soldiers, like the poor, are always at hand, and
whoever has a desire to see them can readily gratify
his curiosity; but the sailors, like the Flying
Dutchman,are never still, and are quite out of reach
of the inspection of an ordinary landsman.
" Their march is o'er the mountain wave,
Their home is on the deep."
And, consequently, a visit of inspection is not en
easy matter. SinceMATIOMET cannot go to the moun-
tain, however, the mountain has come to MAHOMET,
and the Admiralty, with great good sense, have
given orders that the Fleet shall visit in turn the
Principal ports of the United Kingdom. They
have been received everywhere with an enthusiasm
and cordiality that has been most gratifying.
Everywhere the population of the different parts
has thronged to inspect the vessels—exciting, in-
deed, the virtuous wrath of the Puritans of Leith
by their eagerness to do so; and there can be little
doubt that this well-timed cruise has done much
service in kindling the enthusiasm of the people,
and in keeping up the general interest in the well-
being of our seamen and our ships. The sister
kingdom, Which has already been visited by the
squadron, and is to be the object of their next
voyage, was especially gratified at the compliment,
and the recent visit to Liverpool probably excited
the same reflection in the minds of many as it did
in that of the gallant Admiral. At a public ban-
quet
given by the Mayor to the chief dignitaries of
the Fleet, Admiral DACRES observed that when he
entered the port of Liverpool it was with unfeigned
pleasure, not because he was the first admiral who
had done so, but " when he saw the thousands
and tens of thousands of the people of this
large maritime population, all sailors or connected
with the sea, and the women waving their hand-
kerchiefs and cheering as the fleet entered--he
thought it was a great mistake that they had not
come there before." Admiral DACRES added that
he thought there had never been a better thing
done than the sending the fleet to this port, that
the inhabitants of the large and populous city of
Liverpool might know what the ships and their
crews were like. Indeed, when we consider the
wealth, importance, and position of Liverpool, and
especially its maritime interests and connection, it
seems very strange that such a visit has not been
paid before. The people, however, should not lack
of cordiality on account of its tardiness, and the
Mayor paid his testimony to the unanimity and
readiness of the feeling. " The whole line of our
docks and stages,' said he, in describing the
entrance of the fleet, " was thronged with the
inhabitants of the town, and I do not myself
remember an eccasion which has called forth such
aofthe
universal expression of feeling." The notabilities
grandentertained principal
banquet
Hall, fol-
lowed by a fancy ball, whose extent and brilliency
appear to have dazzled the locality. The Earl of
DERBY has invited them to his
old ancestral seat,
a inexcursions on shore,
progress. One of
thane
ed rs tt hiehrtefreesetti;vnigt ieosf
their
however, was the visit paid to the Birkenhead and
Mersey Docks. At the former place they made
au excursion over the Great Float, which extends
more than half a mile inland, and inspected the
large graving docks now in course of construction.
One of these is the largest of its kind in the world,
being 700 feet long and 100 broad, while at its
entrance is a low-water basin, which covers seven
acres of land, and is 35 feet deep. Of the works at
Birkenhead the officers of the fleet expressed the