The Sun.
London, England, 1863-09-07 00:00:00

yet may be the watchword, it is true. But to talk
now—under these circumstances—of anything like
this rumoured alliance between France and Prussia
and Russia is—again we say it—a thing incredible.

The autumnal season generally atones for the ab-
sence of political excitement by the number of its
provincial gatherings; and although we cannot this
year complain of dulness with the affairs of
America, Mexico, Germany, Poland, and Denmark
pending in the balance, cur Parliamentary cele-
brities are unwilling to let slip their usual oppor •
tunity for "starring it" in the provinces. Accord-
ingly we find the annual celebration of the Cutlers'
Feast calling to She ffield several of the habitues of
St. Stephen's, prominent among them being, of
course the member for the town, outspoken Mr.
ROEBUCK. A Cabinet Minister, too, formed one of
the company, and the honour was duly appreciated
by theYorkshiremen, who on this auspicious occasion
broke through their ordinary regulation of avoiding
party questions, and drank the health of " Her
MAJESTY'S Ministers" for the first time at one of
these banquets. The compliment was pointed by
Mr. DUNN, who, in proposing the
toast, took occa-
sion• to dilate on the merits of their visitor. " Sir
good Whig," The former o
CHARLES," said he, " is a goodf Ythorekee qualificationsshiremananda
welcome
prprove
ein
a
Sheffield ; the latter would, w
gives him a good right to aehear
ty
apprehend, '
less popular recommendation, since the liberality of
the Whigs has fallen into disrepute. The the Whigs has fallen in
respon-
sibility of the office held by Sir CHARLES WOOD
was described in strong language by Mr. DUNN.
" If I was asked," he said, " to point out an office in
which the wealth, the power, the good feeling, the
morality—nay, more, the Christianity of this
country could be exercised with most effect, I
should point to the office of Secretary of State for
India." After summarising the great events which
have recently happened in that country, end
dilating upon the difficulties attending legislation
among the remains of an ancient and superficial
civilisation, the speaker added that he knew of nc
public office which afforded a statesman greater
opportunities of distinction. Five years ago, who,
he asked, would have ventured to anticipate that
India would be now in its present hopeful condi-
tion—" self-supporting, paying its way, making
its roads, its railways, and its laws, and offering
to the natives a share in the administration ?" It
is indeed a matter for rejoicing, and in some mea-
sure for surprise—none the less that the right hon.
baronet the member for Halifax has held the reins
of authority for so considerable a period. It is
naturally not surprising to find Sir CHARLES
WOOD very unwilling to accept all the praises
offered to him, and with comfortable self-
complacency attributing all the beneficial changes
that have taken place in India to his own
excellent government. With modest satisfaction
he contemplates his own doings, and disclaims any
wish to overrate his merits. " I do not wish to
take more credit than is my due, but since I have
been in the office which I now hold the Govern-
ment of the country has been re-cast, and natives
admitted to the council, the judicature has been
revised, the penal code has been improved, penal
proceedings and civil proceedings facilitated, the
army and navy have been re-cast, and also the
civil service, the tenure of land has been fixed, and
indeed, I hardly know any point in the legislation
of the country in which administrative improve-
ment was required in which it has not been ac-
complished, whether rightly or wrongly is not for
me to say." These supplementary words evidently
indicate Sir CHAS. WOOD's quiet conviction that
all the changes he mentioned are due to his own
agency. On one or two points, however, his
memory is somewhat defective, and needs prompt-
ing. The transfer of the Government of India
from the Company to the Crown, was accomplished
under the auspices of his predecessor, Lord STAN-
LEY, and with that laborious and difficult task, Sir
CHAS. WOOD had very little to do. The framing
of the Constitution, as it now stands, was com-
pleted by the same able legislator who himself in-
augurated the new system. The amalgamation
of the Indian troops with the royal army is very
little for anyone to boast of, seeing that through
a petty and short-sighted saving, many of HAVE-
LOCK'S veterans were disgusted with the service.
Sir CHAS. WOOD, if blameless in military matters,
may claim the questionable distinction of opposing
an able successful financier in his calculations,
and of reversing Lord CANNING'S wise and en-
lightened measure for the sa'e of waste lands.
With regard to the assistance he has afforded
to the tardy development of the vast na-
tional resources of India, we may refer him
to Sir ARTHUR COTTON for a character. That
enterprising engineer is not quite so well satisfied
with the administration of the India-office as is the
member for Halifax. He tells us strange tales of
great national undertakings stopping short for want
of funds, of confused accounts, of the proceeds
already forthcoming from the half-finished works
at the Godavery going to swell the creditor side of
the general expenditure, while the works them-
selves are left incomplete on the plea of want of
funds. Vn tr
, too, startling statistics of the
amount
ted to the Exchequer by Madras,
contributed
hzr,
where the old regime is in full force, compared with
the sum furnished by the other Presidencies.
equally striking contrast is manifested by the An
-
sults of Lord CANNING'S regulations for the sale of
waste lands, and of Sir CHARLES WOOD's legisla-
tion on the same measure. Certainly the present
Secretary's worst enemies cannot accuse him of
carelessness or precipitation, for his most active
efforts have been in reversal of other people's pro-
gressive steps.. India is, doubtless, a very differen

country from what she was at the time of the
mutiny, but whether she would not be still

better had her ruler been a man of a dif-

ferent stamp, may, perhaps, be questioned. Sir
CHARLES WOOD did not escape from the banquet

without a word of warning, addressed, however, less
to himself than to his colleagues. Mr. ROEBUCK,

in a short but animated speech, took occasion to
comment on the state of things in the North, and

paid a tribute the justice of which all must acknow-

Ledge, to the wonderful patience, moderation, and

fortitude with which the Lancashire men have
borne their trial. He observed that their conduct
Wag
testimonyknowledge anion
to the advance of political
best
among the people of this country. But
soon
he reminded the
be asking
themselves whether
that
might not by this time
question Ministers
but we are not sorry that they should have it put
publicly before them b
political position of
these
country is not, as Mr.
ROEBUCK reminded his hearers men would
whether their sufferings
returnme have been relieved. To this
one undeviating answer,
tyhi a man of note. The high
s
, altogether. due to
our " statesmen and legislator. There are in
the people themselves a prudence, knowledge and
,
virtue, that have vindicated for themselves
this
great power which they possess." Ho acknowledged
that the rulers had often shown some deference? '
public opinion, and that they had yielded to it
when it was too strong for them. In the art of

knowing wheti and how to do this lies the great

success of an English ruler. ...A_TACAULAY attributes
much of ELIZABETH'S popular exercise of despotic

power, in contract to JAMES TILE SECONDS failure,