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, our 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 Sht (field 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
CHARLES," saidhe, "is a good Yorkshireman and a
these qualifications
good Whig," The former of
gives him a good right to a hearty welcome
lcopmroeveine
Sheffield ; the latter would, we apprehend,
The liberality
tl ehses popular
Whigs
ha
recommend,sfalleninatotiodni:rseinpucetet.he
w
respon-
sibility of the office held by Sir CHARLES WOODas described in strong language by Mr. DUNN.
"If I was asked," be 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, 1
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 no
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 proceediags 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 sale 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. We hear, too, startling statistics of the
amount contributed to the Exchequer by Madras,
where the old regime is in full force, compared with
the sum furnished by the other Presidencies. An
equally striking contrast is manifested by the re.
sults of Lord CANNING'S regulations for the sale 01
waste lands, and of Sir CHARLES WooD's legisla.

tion on the saute measure. Certainly the present
Secretary's worst enemies cannot accuse him oi

carelessness or precipitation, for his most active
efforts have been in reversal of other people's pro-
gressive steps. India is, doubtless, a very different

country from what she was at the time of the

mutiny, but whether she would not be stilt

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,

n 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

vifzwtl knowledge among
testimony to the advance of political
hd d
he reminded
among the people of this country. But
800 a
be
eimkis the Ministry that these men would
asking themselves whether their sufferings
might not by this
time have been relieved. To this
question Min;st,r,
of
bt return one undeviating answer,
yi:
country
that they should have it put
publicly before the
but
we
are
not
sorry
his
hearers,
man of note. The high
political position f h
isThneorte, aasreMirn.
ROEBUCK reminded
wle e
altogether due to
our " statesmen and le •
gislators.
the people themselves a prudence, kno
virtue, them idg"a that have vindicated for
, and
this
great power which they possess." He acknowledged
that the rulerzi had often shown some deference to
public opinion, and that they had yielded to it
when it was too strong for them. In the art of

knowing when and how to do this lies the great
_ _

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

power, in contrast to JAMES TETE SECOND'S failure,