The Sun.
London, England, 1863-07-02 00:00:00

N, LO.

—it is not the heat of the engagement which
tries the mettle of the troops, but it is the long-
protracted inaction—it is the lying exposed to
fire with the enemy in your front, and not being
permitted to make an attack—the waiting for
the moment when victory may be achieved, and
which might be lost if too early anticipated.
That is the trial of the temper and forbearance
and of the real courage of the soldier. That, too,
is the trial of the temper, the forbearance, and the
real patriotism of a political party. My Lord
Mayor, such is the course which has been pursued
by the Conservative party- of this country for the
I,st four years." This observation of the noble
earl is most correct, and those who have struggled
in the great battle of life will recognise its truth
and attest its validity. Also,Lord DERBY remarked
that any other patty might have fallen off in num-
bers during this vexatious period of suspense; but,
on the contrary, there were now in the House of
Commons a larger number of Conservative members
than he could claim the assistance of when he was
First Minister of the Crown. Lord DERBY
then commented on the state of things in
the Liberal party, and said that they were
willing to leave their favourite places in abey-

ante just now, or if they did advance then, they
had the pleasure " of seeing their projects when
brought forward either faintly supported or actually
wet-blanketted, or in some cases even laughed out
of the House of Commons by their very leaders
themselves." Lord DERBY then went at some
length into the general state of affairs and finally

declared his conviction that it was better fcr tht

Conservatives to be in a strong opposition, than in
a weak Government. In one case they were in a
feeble state trusting to precarious forbearance,"
in the other they were able to control the actions of
the Minister and preventing any injury to the
public service by their determined front and bold
bearing. His lordship then commented on the
barren crop of legislation which the present session
afforded, but reminded them of the words of a de-
parted statesman, "Register, register, register," this
was the month to follow that advice. Lord DERBY
then said that the four members of the city were
professedly opposed to monopoly, but that they
were effecting a scandalous one by monopolising all
the seats of the City to their own party. He con-
cluded his brilliant address by declaring his con-
viction that the great party who trusted him bad
adopted a wise course, and that at some future period

they would reap their reward; if slow it would be
sure, and better than hastily grasping at a prize
wbich would assuredly have been snatched from them.
Mr. DISRAELI made an amuzing speech, which was
on the House of Commons. The hon. gentleman's
sarcasms on its want of performances and paucity
of good works were very entertaining. He thus
characterised its late proceedings :—" I believe I
mby say, on the part of that House, that at present
its health is very good. It is not as full of vigour
naturally as it was some years ago, when in this
hall I was called upon by the chief magistrate of
the city to return thanks for it. Then it was full
of youth, of hope, and of promises. Its youth is
exhausted ; its hopes have been defeated; and its
promises have not been fulfilled. This I acknow-
ledge, but I trust it has obtained that which indi-

viduals under the same circumstances in life often
acquire in the sunset of their days; I trust it ha,
cquired the character of respectability. At pre-
sent, considering its course during the current ses-
sion, the moderate exertions which it has made,
and the early hours which it has kept, I hope it may
arrive at a green old age." Mr. DISRAELI is in-
imitable in his quiet satire, and certainly he could
not have a better theme than the course pursued
by this famous Parliament, which was to have
effected such wonders, and whose only at-
tainment has been to do nothing, or as
little as possible, with regard to a sense of
propriety. Mr. DISRAELI adverted to the excite-
ment in the City lately with regard to proposed
changes, and declared that, whether in or out of
office, they would always uphold the importance of
maintaining the rights of ancient corporations,
which, " among many other causes, have greatly
contributed to the formation of the English charac-
ter." The Conservatives have bad a brilliant season,
this year they have assembled at numeroua meetings,
sppear quite satisfied with their progress. It is a
curious fact that there have been no Liberal re
unions; that party seems to think that silence is
the safest course, which
perhaps it is under existing

circumstances.

The recent terrible naval disasters have brought
prominently before us the perils of the seas, and the
appeal of the National Lifeboat Institution for
assistance is not likely to be overlooked. The annual
report of this society is now before us, recounting
the achievements of the past year, and giving a full

list of all subscribers, testators, and donors. We
have already given part of these statistics, which
prove that the managing committee have not dimi
nisned in energy, the men engaged in noble daring,
,}r the public in their appreciation of the services
rendered. The number of lives saved during 1861
,Ind the first five months of the present year is 886.
460 of these being rescued by the lifeboats of the
institution, and 426 by shore hosts anci other means,
tor which Lhe institution has granted rewards. The
committee are especially anxious hat this part of
the system should be more widely known and more

I generally understood. It does not restrict its
efforts to the equipment and maintenance of life-
' boat stations on the more exposed and dangerous
I parts of the coast. Its primary object being to save
life, it gives reward and encouragement to any per-
son who has succeeded by other means in rescuing
those in danger. A notice to this effect has been
extensively circulated in our seaport towns and
fishing villages, and apparently to some purpose in
stimulating exertion or in discovering merit, for we
find a considerable number of rewards thus given.
This shows an earnestness and sincerity of purpose,
and an absence of that narrowness of feeling which
too often interferes with similar benevolent schemes.
The object of reformers and theorists is too fre-
quently not that the work shad be done, no matte,
by whom, but that it shall be dons in their own
peculiar fashion. The bestowal of rewards on per-
sons totally unconnected with the society shows us
the real anxiety of the committee to attain the
benevolent end they propose to the public,
and will greatly benefit the cause net so
mach by the money given, but by the public
recognition of merit
who win it. There are many
the enterprising men
—an honour well deserved by
are within hail, and where all
where no lifeboats
where wrecks may occur, and
n the shore boats and the
chance of rescue depends o
places, naturallY,
volunteers who man them'
ssary to bring out the
There are occasions
on which it is not found nece

gocs to sea on occasions
lifeboat, which generally
when no shore boat could venture. This arrange-
ment extends the sphere of
the society's influence
and will give it a greater interest in the eyes of our
seafaring meu. The recent catastrophes have given
rise to some suggestions which might, if adopted,
weln the July
part of the journal of the Institution,
go far to prevent their recurrence.
find a
paper on the regulations for preventing collisions
at sea which deserves attentiou. The frequency of
these articles is really startling. The average