The Sun.
London, England, 1863-03-30 00:00:00

THE SUN, LON DOIA, MONDAY E V ENING, MA,RCFI 30, 1863,

notice the very unsatisfactory state of affairs as re-

garde the military committee of the Chamber of
Deputies. This committee has accepted amend-
ments which threaten to alter and almost to
re-organise the bill proposed by Government.
Some important points still remain for discussion,
and it does not seem at all probable from what is
reported that any satisfactory solution of the diffi-
culty will be come to, or that on any point the
representatives and the Ministers will agree. The
Government indeed professes to be highly indignant
with the suggestions regarding the strength of
the army, which they assert in their memo•
randum is the exclusive privilege of the King
to settle. This is how these enlightened
statesmen express themselves on this point :—" Tho
formation and organisation of the army forms one
of the most substantial parts of the executive
power, imparted, according to the constitution,
solely to the Crown. According to the numerous
traditions of Prussia, as also according to the con-
stitution of our country, the KING himself is the
sole commander-in-chief of our military forces in
times of peace as well as in times of war, and there
is in Prussia no power that would be entitled to
co-operate directly in the formation and organisa-
tion of our army,"
The committee, however, have proved the con-
trary, and shown that the Sovereign's command of
the army is not affected by their regulating its
strength. It is evident, however, that the Govern-
ment, with the fatuity that ordinarily- distinguishes
it of late, has resolved to stand upon this point.
'l-hey expect the Chamber to grant their exorbitant
demand without being allowed to judge for them-
selves of its necessity or desirability. President
GRABOW, in the name of the Chamber of Deputies,
delivered an address to the KING on his birthday.
The KING, in returnirg thanks, expressed a desire
that a better understanding might shortly be come
to between himself and the deputies. This wish,
though doubtless sincere, is not likely to be fulfilled
till some decisive change has occurred in the
Ministry. On this very birthday a marked change
was observable in the demonstrations of rejoicing to
those which took place on previous occasions.
Two years ago a flood of light seemed to pervade
the city, but this latter day hardly any illuminations
appeared. It is a lamentable thing that a Sovereign
from whom so much was once expected should have
fallen so short of his promised excellence and proved
himself and his Government to be decided stumbling
blocks in the way of all improvements, even show-
ing at times a decided tendency to take a retro-
gressive course. Things are not likely to remain
in this passive state ,much longer, and if some
change is not made for the better, we shall soon
witness more serious altercations and important
movements than either KING or Minister may
expect. Then, when it is too late, they will regret
their obstinate conduct and fatal persistency in
error, timely concessions may do much, but there
comes a time when they are put aside, and, then,
only down-right ohanges and entire innovations
will serve or satisfy those whose patience has been
exhausted in the long struggle, and who are at last
resolved to assert their just rights unfettered by the
obsolete dogmas of absolutism.

The Prince and Princess of Wales in
Norfolk

KING'S LYNN, March 28.

Their Royal Righnesaes the Prince and Princess of Wale,

left Windsor on Saturday for the Princa's estate at San-
dringham, Norfolk. Tkeir Royal Highnesses travelled by
the North London line to Stratford, from which place they
went by the Great Eastern Railway to King's Lynn, and
thence to Wolferton, the station on the Lynn and Hunstan-

on Railway, distant about two miles from Sandringham..
hall. The royal train consisted of five carriages, including
a royal saloon carriage. The train was under the charge of
Mr. Robertson general superintendent on the Great Eastern
Railway, and Mr. Sprowle,district superintendent. Several
directors of the company accompanied the royal train,
among them being the chairman, Mr. H. Love,Mr.Lightly
Simpson, &c. The train stopped only at Cambridge, where
immense preparations had been made to welcome the Prince
and Princess. The royal train was due at 232 p.m., but it
was ten minutes later when, amid the most deafening shouts
of welcome and acclamation, it gradually drew into the
station, and stopped opposite where the mayor and corpo-
ration were assembled. Both their Royal Highnesses,who
were the only occupants of the carriage, graciously and
gracefully acknowledged the salutations of welcome that
greeted them from their future subjects on all hands.
So soon as comparative quiet prevailed the mayor approached
the royal carriage, and handed to the Prince an address,
which the Prince received most courteously; then, after
the mayor and corporation had made their obeisances, they
retired and made way for the platform ticketholders. Order
was to some extent broken; the Princess was, of course, the
cynosure of all eyes, and the verdict of the inhabitants of
Cambridge must be added to the only one yet expressed,
that, so far as youth, beauty, and grace are concerned, these
elements all meet in the Princess, combined with condescen-
sion and dignity befitting her royal station. The train drew
out of the station on its way to Sandringham amid the same
cheers for its royal occupants that greeted its entry. It
reached Ely at 3 30, and Lynn at 4 10, arriving at its des-
tination at Wolferton. about 4 30. Great preparations had
been made at Lynn, Wolferton, and Sandringham, to give
their Royal Highnesses a suitable reception. The Lynn
station el as decorated throughout with evergreens, flags,
&c. The platform was widened for the mayor and corpo-
ration, from whom the Prince had promised to receive a
congratulatory address, adopted at a meeting of the Lynn
Town Council on the previous Monday ; and a gallery was
erected and covered with red cloth to accommodate a num-
ber of ladies, who were admitted to the station by ticket.
Long before the time at which the royal train was expected
crowds of people had assembled round the station anxious
to witness the brief ceremony which was to take place
there. Every spot which seemed favourable for the purpose
was occupied. Gates, walls, trees, all had their occupants.
Although it was market-day in Lynn the entire afternoon
was given up to pleasure. The town was decorated with
flags, and the bells of St. Margaret's rang out merry peals.
he holders of tickets took their places on the raised gallery
early, and the rifle corps, under the command of Captain
Cress well, were in their places in good time as a guard of
honour. As the royal train came into the station the assem-
bled crowd set up a hearty cheer, and upon its stopping at
the platform the mayor (Mr. Jarvis) advanced and pre-
sented the corporation address, which the Prince graciously
received, the rifle corps presented arms, the band played a
few bars of the National Anthem, the ladies waved their
handkerchiefs, the gentlemen and the populace cheered, and
then the train started off again for Wolferton, the proceed.
ings at the Lynn station not occupying more than a few
minutes. Along the remainder of the journey numbers of
persons had assembled, and flags waved on all sides. The
train, as stated, reached Wolferton at about half-past 4, and
it was at this spot, and on the road to Sandringham, that
the greatest number of persons had congregated. Wolfer-
ton station stands at the foot of a range of sand hills, which
a tract of marsh land separates from the estuary of the
Wash. The large, open tract of heath, partially cultivated,
afforded ample space for all the loyal and the curious. Wol-
ferton station had been decorated with very great taste,
under the direction of Mr. Blue, of the Great Eastern
Company. In front of the platform the Norfolk Mounted
Rifles, under the command of Captain Hay Gurney, were
drawn up as a guard of honour, and the ground was kept by
some of the county police. The public were not admitted to
the station-yard, the platform of which was laid with crimson
cloth. As the royal train drew up cheers broke out on all
sides. The Prince and Princess alighted, and at once entered
an open carriage drawn by a pair of horses and left the station
yard, outside of which the tenantry of the estate, mounted
and wearing favours, hod met to escort the Prince to San-
dringham. The Prince and Princess of Wales, and Lady
Morton, occupieclone carriage, a second contained the Hon.
Mrs. Bruce, General Knollys, Lieut.-Col. Keppel and Mr.
Fisher, private secretary to the Prince. The tenantry were
headed by the mayor of Lynn (who had joined the royal
trair, and who is steward of the Sandringham manor) and
Mr. Joshua Freeman, the principal tenant upon the estate.
The nature of the country afforded every one an excellent
opportunity of seeing their Royal Highnesses. The road
trom the station runs into the high road from Lynn to
the coast villages, and after a short distance a turn is
made to the right into the road which leads directly to
Sandringham, and up to the gates of the Hall. From this
point, distant about a mile from the Hall, there was a com-
plete line of English and Danish ensigns, with poles twined
with evergreens, and becoming more and more profuse as
the Hall was neared. At the iron gates, which open into
the avenue of fine limes leading up to the Hall doors, the
crowd was most dense, being made up of all sorts and con-
ditions of men, in all kinds and descriptions of vehicles,
numbers on horseback and hundreds on foot. Excellent
order was kept by men of the A division, under the direc-
tion of Mr. Walker, and by county police, under Superin•
tendent Ruse. Just beyond the gates a very handsome
Royal standard was hoisted. As the procession came on the
tenantry formed on each side of the gateway, the mounted
rifles being drawn up opposite the gate, at a sufficient dis-
tance to leave way for the carriages. The cheering here as
the royal carriage neared the gate was loud and general,
and was repeatedly acknowledged. Jut outside the gates
the carriage stopped, and the Rev. G. Moxon, rector of
Sandringham, the Rev. Mr, Dickenson, rector of Wolferton,
and the Rev. R. B. Scholefield, rector of West Newton,
went up to the carriage, where Mr. Meson presented an
address, which the Prince received very graciously, and
said a few words in acknowledgment of the kind wishes it
contain d. The carriage then went slowly up the avenue,
where, on each side, were ranged 200 children of the
schools on the estate, holding flags and baskets of primroses,
violets, daffodils, or Lent lilies, which grow profusely at
Sandringham. ,;

We have frequently called attention to the
valuable services of the Royal National Lifeboat
Institution, which has been the fortunate
means of saving many thousand lives, and
of enabling great numbers of vessels to
outlive the storms of our weatherbeaten coast.
The annual report of the committee is now before
us, and bears ample testimony to the energy and
.pirit with which the affairs of the society are con-
ducted, and to the activity and courage of the brave
men it employs. During the past year no fewer
than 14 new lifeboats have been placed on the coast;
some to replace cld end worn-out boats, others to
occupy new stations. Of these 14 we are happy to
add that eight are the gifts of private individuals,
and it is a singular and interesting fact that ladies are
very frequently the donors of these boats. The
lifeboat at Thorpe, in Suffolk, was presented to the
Society by the town of Ipswich, an example which
we should be glad to see followed by other seaports.
We should imagine that few of our coast towns
were without a sufficient number of public spirited
individuals to readily subscribe the neces-
sary amount, and thus at a small individual ex-
pense, the Society's operations would be greatly
enlarged. There are now altogether 124 lifeboats
on the coasts of the United Kingdom. When we
reflect on the extent of our coast line, its rugged
tnd dangerous character in many parts, and the
frequency and severity of the gales that
sweep round it, we shall not consider even
that number sufficient. The number of
shipwrecks on the British coast amounts
in an average of some years, to 1,000, the loss of
iife being about 800. Owing to the unusual seve-
rity of lest year's gales, the vessels wrecked reached
the startling number of 1,490, while the lives lost
Amounted to 644. If we add to these the 415 per-
sons saved by the life-boats of the Institution, we
shall increase the loss of life by just two-thirds.
The practical benefits resulting from the exertions
of the Society must, therefore, be apparent to the
most casual observer. It must, too, be remem-
bered that, although the numbers saved by
ships, and ships' boats far exceed those rescued
by life-boats, yet that the services of the lat-
ter are rendered at times of imminent danger
and very frequently on occasions when no other
craft could be launched with safety, and few un-
trained men, however willing, would be qualified
or the perilous undertaking. As a sample of the
difficulty and labour of the exploits we cite the fol-
lowing interesting passage from the report :

u The large American ship Annie E. Hooper, bound
from Baltimore to Liverpool, arrived at the entrance of the
River Mersey in taw of a steam tug at an early hour on
the 20th October. A gale was blowing furiously at the
time, and the sea ran fearfully high, and the captain
and pilot deemed it prudent to put out to sea again
The vessel was put about, and an endeavour was made to
work free of the land ; but this unfortunately failed, the ves-
sel became unmanageable, and, drifted by wind and tide,
went ashore on the Horse Bank, near Southport. The sea
broke fearfully over the bank, and the surf and spray shut
from view for a time the actual position of the unfortunate
ship, Eventually, the signals of distress were observed
both from Southport and Lytham, when the life-boats of
the National Life-boat Institution at those places immedi-
ately put off to the vessel's assistance, As showing the
dreadful state of the weather, it may be mentioned that
though the Horse Bank is only four miles from Southport,
yet it took that boat four hours and a half before she reached
the ship. Endeavours were at once made to rescue the crew,
and after gieat exertions the whole of those on board the
v,ssel, 18 in number, including a pilot, were saved by the
two lifeboats. On hearing of this noble service, through
the American Minister, the PRESIDENT of the United
States presented to the National Lifeboat Institution £lOO,
and £3l to the crows of the two lifeboats. On the Liver-
pool pilot relating to his co-pilots the service of the Lytham

lifeboat in saving him and 13 of the ship's crow, they spon-
taneously subscribed amongst themselves £l4 and pre-
sented that amount to the crew of the lifeboat."

The gratitude thus warmly shown by the Liver-
pool pilots does honour to their craft, and is one
among many interesting evidences of the deep
sense of the services rendered by the brave crews
of the lifeboats expressed by those they had saved.
Tributes of acknowledgment aro not wanting also
from foreign countries. Tho PRESIDENT of the
Unitnd States has sent a contribution of £lOO, " in

testimony of settee of the important labours of LATEST INTELLIGENCE,
the Institution to A.'nt
rican shipwrecked seamen."
The Maritime Company
of Finland has likewise I
sent £5O, as an expression of their gratitude for the
rescue of many of their nation, while Hong Kong
and Shanghai have also given substantial testimony
of their sense of its merits. Since the esta-
blishment of this Institution in 1824, it has
been the fortunate means of saving nearly 13,000
lives, having expended on lifeboat stations more
than £67,000, and having given rewards for saving
life to the amount of £16,478. The enlarged sphere
of its actions, owing to the increased number of its
stations, will pobably add to these figures at a rapid
rate. During the terrible gales of last January no
less than 62 persons were rescued by its means. It
has also been indirectly of great public service, by
calling attention to the terrible waste of life and
property that goes on yearly round our coasts ;
by turning men's minds to the question
whether such sacrifices are inevitable. This
is not the occasion to refer to that wilful and
wicked carelessness, which is the cause of so many
wrecks, by sending ill-equipped and ill-manned
vessels round the coast. It is not the crews of such
vessels who are the culprits, but they are the suf-
ferers. But with all the reformation that can be
hoped for in this direction, with all the benefits to
be derived from our improved meteorological know-
ledge, wrecks and disasters on a coast like our
own must be of continual recurrence. It is the
unquestionable duty as well as interest of a great
maritime nation to provide by every means in its
power for the assistance and rescue of those im-
perilled on its shores. In accordance with the spirit
of the country the task has hitherto been left to
private hands, and so ably and efficiently has it
been fulfilled that the most captious can hardly
find ground for complaint. The committee express
their readiness to continue their responsible and
arduous undertaking, relying with corfidence on
the support of the public, We are sorry to find,
however, that in common with so many other bene-
volent institutions this society has suffered in its
receipts from the Lancashire distress. As this
drawback is,we may hope, of a temporary nature,
thereislittl reason to doubt that the labours of the
committee will meet their due reward in the
renewal and extension of the popular support. It
is mentioned as an interesting fact, that his Royal
Highness the Prince of WALES has recently become
a Vice-Patron of the Institution, an offi3e formerly
held by his lamented father, and, as its services
extend to every class, it has thus full right to its
double title of the Royal National Lifeboat Institu
tion.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)
PRUSSIA.
BERLIN, MARCH 29.
In the Chamber of Deputies Herr Sybel laid
upon the table of the House the following questions
addressed to the Ministry :
" 1. What expenses were caused by the concen.
tration of troops upon the Polish frontier ?
" 2. By what funds were those expenses covered ?
"3. Why, up to the presen time, has no com•
munication upon the subject been made to the
Chamber ?"

HUNGARY.
PESTH, MARCH 29, Evening.

Five newspapers published in this city have been
confiscated for having published a speech of Baron
EoLvas and the reply by M. Deak, containing an
attack upon the existing constitution.

Seals have been placed upon the printing offices
of the papers.

BELGIUM,

BRUSSELS, MARCH 30.

His Majesty the King of the Belgians, the state
of whose health has latterly given rise to grave un-
easiness, is in a much more satisfactory condition.
His Majesty yesterday gave audience to the
Baron de Savigny, the new Minister of Prussia
to the Belgian Court.

THE POLISH INSURRECTION.
CRACOW, MARCH 29 (Evening).
The bands of insurgents under the command of
Mielencki and Kochanowski have had several suc-
cessful engagements with the Russian troops, and
are increasing their exertions.
CRACOW, MARCH 28.
A body of 1,000 insurgents, which was re-organised
in the mountains of Swientykrzysz, has appeared in
the vicinity of Kielce.
The Russian troops are now marching towards
Kielce.

EVENING.

The fresh bodies of insurgents which had collected
in the palatinate of Sandonair have joined the corps
of General Czachowski in the mountains of St.
Croix. The Russians are evacuating the palatinate
adjoining Cracow, and are being concentrated in
the palatinate of Lublin, where the insurrection is
increasing.

MARCH 29.

Numerous fresh bodies of insurgents have assem-
bled, under the command of Colonels Dowgiello
and Czahowski, on the mountains of Krzyr.
Lelewei's force hes gained a victory over the
Russians south of Zlmosc.