The Sun.
London, England, 1863-02-05 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSD#tY, FEB. 5, 1863.

The Imperial Parliament of these realms, having
been formally opened this afternoon by Royal
Commission, the Speech from the Throne, as but
just now read from the foot of the Throne by the
Lord Chancellor, can be already turned to in an-
other part of our impression, and there examined
at leisure by those who list. From the nineteen
paragraphs of this State document, it will be seen
that our anticipations in regard to it have been
realised in every particular. It announces nostart-
ling programme for the session. It hints at no great
projected innovations. Its chief interest lies,in truth,
in the references therein made, as usual, but this time
with a peculiar significance, to the amicable charac-
ter of our relations with all the other Powers of
the earth, not alone in Europe, but alike in all
quarters of the globe. Coupled with this pre-
eminently satisfactory reminder, comes also
the opportune recognition by the Sovereign,
through the medium of her MAJESTY'S Commis-
sioners, the singularly opportune recognition by
her MAJESTY of the tranquility at this epoch pre-
vailing throughout all parts of her vast dominion.
Grateful indeed is that consideration to every loyal
subject of the Crown at this moment—now, when,
simultaneously, in the old world and in the new, the
most conspicuous and powerful states, whether
repubiican or despotic, are passing through an
ordeal of apparent disruption. The giant democracy
of North America more widely than ever it would
seem rent asunder irreconcilably—North and South
still contending with each other in deadly conflict.
In an exactly opposite direction, both geographi-
cally and politically, the giant autocracy of Russia,
moreover, is known to be engaged, at this very same
juncture, with another of those periodical evidences
of the hatred in which it is held by the various
minor nations around it, who, at different intervals
have been brought under its rule, either by diplo-
matic fraud or by sheer force of arms—the military
despotism of the CzAR being now vigorously occu-
pied, in point of fact, in the suppression of another
vast Polish Insurrection. In proof of which, Cossacks
and Uhlans, regiment after regiment, and bearing
with them a whole battery of artillery, have, it
would seem, accoreing to to-day's telegrams, been
despatched in hot haste to the insurgent districts
by express orders flashed with laconic precision
from the Imperial Cabinet at St. Peters-
burg. Not only, however, is civil war raging
within the dominions of the Republic of North
America, and of the military despotism of Russia,
but elsewhere in all parts of the earth not embraced
within the compass of the British Empire, there are,
if not open revolt and bloodshed, overt or latent
sources of profound disquietude. Turkey is still
struggling with her financial embarrassments—con-
strained while so engaged to keep the unsheathed
sword yet firmly within her grasp, with an
eye perpetually turning askance to one part
or another of her northern frontiers. Prussia ap-
pears to be unavoidably committed to a fierce com-
bat—the fatal issue of which must come sooner or
later—between the SOVEREIGN and the Parliament.
Germany and Scandinavia have still lying between
them, as it were, upon the very:verge of their inevi-
table struggle in the end, that long recognised pro-
vocative to war in the North, that constant plea of
contention, more especially between the Councils of
Berlin and Copenhagen—the Schleswig-Holstein
difficulty. Turning southwards, there is Italy, still,
as an independent State, untranquilised, because
unconsolidated. And this mainly because of an
analogous difficulty that perpetually appears to
preclude the nation from the possibility of
anything like a secure and satisfactory settlement.
The latest phase in regard to which diplomatic
difficulty is seemingly—to put the matter, plain.
terms—that France, Turin, the Papacy itself, have,
for an interval at least, determined, at this latest
mention of the Roman Question, to evade it,
to ignore it, in Parliamentary phrase, to pass
to the Order of the Day. And that Order of the Day,
in reference to the Italian People and the Roman
Peninsula, may, for the time being, be expressed

quite obviously in one word—postponement. r
Anxiety, war, rebellion visible elsewhere—peace,
prosperity, profound tranquility are known to
prevail throughout the length and breadth of our
own dominions. Not only is it thus with regard to ,
the actual situation of the British Empire inter-
nally, but, externally, that Empire is at peace with
the whole world—holds amicable relations even
with those powers whether democratic or auto-
cratic that might have been supposed to have had
a tendency at heart to resent our non-interference
in their behalf under the pressure of an emergency.
No wonder can it be then, that what Mr.
KINGLAKE is fond of calling (if he loves one word
n2ore than another—as he certainly loves this be-
yond any other monosyllable in the language)—a
stress is for once laid upon the eld stereotyped
phrases in reference to our friendly relations with
foreign powers, and the tranquility prevailing
throughout our own empire—phrases possessing,
we repeat, at this particular juncture, so very
peculiar and exceptional a significance.
Although but comparatively fe wlegislative improve-
ments can be hinted at in reference to the modification
of the marriage law in Ireland and Scotland, to the
revision of the criminal code so far as relates to th e
treatment of the more incorrigible class of criminals,
and to the advancement yet further this session of
some progressive and graduated efforts at law re-
form—the chief interest attaching to the Speech from
the Throne but just now delivered by Royal Commis-
sion will be found to relate to matters peculiarly
affecting the domestic relations of the country, the
actual or probable situation of things within
the bounds of the United Kingdom. The loyal
sympathy of her people—awakened so sorrowfully
last year upon the opening of Parliament, by Her
MAJESTY'S reference then in the Royal Speech of
1862, to her recent and most bitter bereavement,
will as infallibly be called forth joyously this year
by Her MAJESTY'S allusion, in the very first para-
graph of the Speech from the Throne of 1863,:t0 the
strongly contrasting theme of the approaching ma r-
riage of his Royal Highness the Herr Apparent.
Never yet has the QUEEN appealed in vain, whether
in joy or in grief, to the sympathy of her happy and
grateful people. Never have her words of appeal
in this way fallen more potently on the popular
ear. And this, probably, because they come to
us, these touching words in to• day's Speech from the
Throne, so to speak, accentuated at once by the joy
and the grief of the Sovereign ! Grief, still as poig-
nant as ever in her MAJESTY'S heart in the cherished
remembrance there of the princely husband, for
ever lost to her affections in this world ! Joy in
the happy future now immediately opening up
before the eldest of his sons, the heir to her
MAJESTY'S Crown and Empire !

If pitying reference has still to be made
to the protracted sufferings of the manufacturing
operatives of Lancashire in the gracious Speech
from the Throne, by the vicarious delivery of which
the session of Parliament has this day been inau-
gurated, there is a solace, coupled at the same
time with that pathetic remembrance, namely, that
reference made to the noble spirit of resignation
and of loyal endurance of their sufferings mani-
fested throughout their terrible ordeal by the
afflicted population. Consolatory, also, is it
to bear in recollection the extraordinary,
but really indisputable fact that in spite of
this sudden interruption of so large a branch
of our manufactures, in spite of the simultaneous
closing against. our trade of the ports of one of the
largest and most important of the nations who are
habitually our customers—our resources are never-
theless abundant of their kind that, notwith-
standing the vast extent of our annual expendi-
ture, a considerable surplus actual,y now remains
on hand to be dealt with by our Chancellor of the Ex-
chequer. A surplus—not, as hitherto, for several
years past an unmistakeable and sometimes a really
embarassing deficit ! A surplus, moreover, suffi-
ciently considerable, as it would appear to hold
before us the happy prospect of an immediate and
notable remission of taxation—probably twopence
in the pound sterling dropped from the detested
Income Tax, and possibly coupled with this the
dropping also of the war taxes upon tea and sugar.
Brighter days open, in fact, before the Roy al Family
and for the Nation with this day's opening of the
British legislature. But—before the Ministry ?
Well, that is quite another matter altogether ! And,
in regard to that matter we shall have to remain in
doubt for yet a little while longer : namely, as we
intimated yesterday, until after his Royal High-
ness's marriage.

As Parliament re-assembles this evening, the
range of debate will take a wider scope than the
Address ; embracing not only topics of domestic
interest at home, but many of national concern
abroad. Of these the American war will engross
much, nor will attention be confined to the two
belligerent parties—North and South; but will ex-
tend to Mexico and the doings of our neighbours
in that disjointed quarter. Nor shall we be sur-
prised to learn, before long, that matters become
more complex than many lookers-on expected.
The French may find that it is much
easier and far safer to plan than execute. Am-
bition may find it difficult to reconcile theory
with practice among the Mexicans—a peo-
ple of unsteady habits, and more apt to
suspect the kind intentions of unwelcome visitors
than to place confidence in professions of friendship,
and the sooner they lake French leave the better.
NAPOLEON, with all his affectation of frankness,
has just volunteered too much. His policy to set
Mexican against Mexican, and so spare his own
men, may please his soldiers, where they will have
to be more careful of their health than solicitous
about obtaining laurels. The EMPEROR seems to
have overlooked one consequence, that the Mexicans
will be forewarned by the knowledge vouchsafed
iu his instructions to General FOREY. And they
will not fail to profit by the lesson so magnani-
mously promulgated for their especial edification.
We wonder if the publication of that letter was acci-
dental or a piece of spontaneous good nature ?
But whatever the motive we suspect that the con-
sequence will yet sorely plague the impolitic scribe.

Nor is it the Mexicans alone that are favoured
with gratuitous information. President LINCOLN,
too, is honoured with an imperial hint, not much to
the liking of one who has set his heart on Empire
far and vide,—not for himself, dear modest man,—
but for his darling Union. What will he now think
of NAPOLEONIC mediation when he learns the kind
intention of his benefactor to curb his further pro-
gress in the march of territorial aggrandisement P
Poor England, so well-abused, despised, and threat-
ened—has never dared to question the grandeur
still expanding—and promising to expand to the
very bounds of creation, for what Eugland has said
to the contrary—not she from deferential cour-
tesy, no doubt, but here—his own beloved
Imperial ally and arbiter steps forward, and puts
his foot down saying " Thus far east thou gone, but
no farther, Mr. LINCOLN! Mexico is mine—and
Texas too, for a cotton plantation—whether the
South like it or not." Poor Mr. LINCOLN ! why
did you quarrel with Mr. DAVIS P—what will he say
to it, think you ? Had you not quarrelled like the
Kilkenny eats, till there is little left of you, would
the mighty Gallic Cock have crowed so defiantly ?
Would he have acted thus, had you remained bro-