The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-29 00:00:00

LONDON, FRIDAY, MAY 29, 1863.

If no other advantage can be supposed to have
accrued from it, we do earnestly trust that, through
the discussion and division of last night in the
House of Commons, we have heard the very last of
that unlucky affair about Mr. CHURCHWARD. It
gives almost ridiculous promise of being remem-
bered, in regard to this session, as the one bone of
contention struggled over, snarled, and bit across,
by those more ardent among the political Dogs of
War, who may be described, we trust it will not be
thought so very irreverently, as always game for a
party contest, about anything or anybody that acci •
dent may suggest as a subject for dispute. As for the
merits of the matter in dispute, we don't care in the
least to enter into them. For once and for all let us
hope now that it is done with, that we have heard the
very last about it, that it is une a(faire finie. When
mud is flying about among the combatants, who
would have the smallest inclination in point of fact
to interfere between them, or even, we will say, to
take any lively interest in the right or wrong
attaching respectively to the belligerents. That
mud, figuratively speaking, has been scattering and
spattering about hither and thither among the dis-
putants who can gainsay ? The obvious assump-
tion of the Government people in regard to the re-
newal of Mr. CHURCHWARD'S now repudiated con-
tract, dated 1859, his contract with the powers that
were, the inns then, the outs now—the
one obvious assumption of the new Govern-
ment in reference to the course they have
followed out with a view to the repudiation of that
contract has been from first to last that the whole
subject matter in dispute rose out of—there is really
not another word for it in the whole vast vocabulary
of the English language—a Job! And what now
is the reply put forth by the morning organ of the
defendants—that is to say, of the Opposition ?
-Why, " not to put too fine a point upon it," it is,
it literal vapidity, nothing more and nothing less
than a response, in the strictest sense of the phrase,
of the to quoque order. In the memorable quarrel
between the old lady's butler and the
old lady's under- butler, in " Oliver Twist,"
the asperities bandied to and fro between those
usually placable, not to say meek and mild spoken
disputants reach their climax, it may be remem-
bered in the enunciation of the euphuistic but
somewhat ungrammatical accusation, " You are a
lie, GILES !"—" You are a falsehood, BRITTLES !"
And so an end of it. It is pretty much the same
now in this at once, we cannot but think, somewhat
trumped up, and certainly when it comes to be
looked into, exceedingly trumpery subject-matter
in dispute between the Government and the Oppo-
sition. " A Job," cries the former; while the latter
can find nothing more telling in the way of accusa-
tion with which to retaliate than the parrot-like
echo, "A Job." The journal already referred to
can really and seriously find nothing better than
this to say in the way of a retort. It may be said
to do this negatively rather than affirmatively. But
whether negatively or affirmatively it does I it.
Speaking this morning of the course taken (success-
fully it should be added) in regard to this CHURCH-
'WARD transaction by the Government, our morning
contempora...... who is reputed to represent in some
manner at least the feelings and opinions of the
Opposition, condescends to remark " This we sup-
pose, is not to be called a job, because nobody puts
money in his pocket by 's
• So," adds the writer
with an irony slightly vitriolic but rather
watery nevertheless,
" we can only say that
some uglier name than job is -
required for our
new political morality." A weapon so obtuse
—however vigorous it may be intended to
prove iri the force of its home-thrust, is, after all,
as innocuous as a prod with a button-headed foil.
Intended wounds there have been administered, in
this struggle, upon both sides in abundance.
Actual wounds there are none. One or two even-
in the tussle. Twice there
ings have been wasted
has been a division—the result upon each of these
occasions having proved to be in favour of the Go-
vernment. Referring again to the morning organ
of the party just nowdefeated in this struggle, we
find the summing up of last night's discussion anent
Mr. CHURCHWARD and his now finally repudiated
cr)ntract, to be couched in language no less irate
than the following :—" As for the debate of last
night there is little to be said. It was in fact all
one way. Mr. WALPOLE vigorously denounced
this novel, indirect, skulking way of striking at a
political adversary, and, with a forecast which pos-
terity will do justice to, [as if posterity would care
two Straws about it l] warned the House against

the inconvenience of the precedent that was about
to be set. Mr. GLADSTONE put forth the stereo-
typed official defence ; and Mr. GLADSTONE gave
the house the strongest possible proof that in his
own eyes at least his arguments were worthless.
Those who have paid any attention to Mr. GLAD-
STONE'S style of oratory are familiar with the fact
that, whenever he has a bad case in hand he gets
angry. And [adds the denouncer, somewhat in the
very style he has taken upon himself to denounce],
most thoroughly angry, ill-tempered, and even
coarse, was Mr. GLADSTONE last night. To those
who know him there could be no clearer confession
that his heart did not go with his words. For
other defence there was none. Member after member
rose to denounce the unprincipled conduct of the
Government, but of the 200 gentlemen who had
made up their minds to vote for the job [our old
friend again !) there was no one who could be got
to speak for it. [What follows in our extract we
would have whispered sotto voce !] They felt they
had a piece of dirty work before them which they
coald not feish too soon or say too little about."
The rhetorical mud, already spoken of, is surely here
flying about rather angrily and copiously. The
best thing to be done at such a moment is to step
out of the way of it.

for his motto, "Nothing extenuate, nor set down
aught in malice," and the result was certainly satis
factory, so far as it went, since he contrived to in-
sinuate remarks, make suggestions, and give hints
that, less skilfully introduced and less humorously
commented on, would infallibly have excited angry
feelings, and marred the " fair form of festal days"
by discontentment and complaint. There is a potent
influence in manner; it is not what is said so often
as how it is said that creates disturbance and causes
confusion. He who possesses a happy style of
speech and can discuss pleasantly upon awkward
topics, is a great social reformer, for he can teach
while he seems only joking, and points a moral
while ho adorns a tale. IV ith this faculty the
member for Liskeard is largely endowed, and he
gave a striking instance of his powers on Tuesday
at the East Cornwall Agricultural Society.

It is unfortunate that questions affecting our
Indian Empire do not excite more general interest
among us. It was remarked by Lord STANLEY,
during a recent debate, that although the house was
discussing two most important questions—the Re-
demption of the Land Tax and the Sale of Waste
Lands—the thinness of the benches showed the
general indifference of the members. Much of the
misgovernment which has retarded India in her
progress is no doubt owing to this, for matters are
left almost entirely in the hands of a few persons,
whose minds are often biassed by long residence
abroad or time-worn prejudice. This was especially
the case during the reign of the Company, and mat-
ters have little mended of late years. The voices
of several able and enlightened men have been
heard, and their influence has been beneficially
exercised, still that it will take years to atone
for our previous neglect and to develops
fully the resources of India, no one can doubt.
The obnoxious land-tax has been one of the ob-

Mr. BERNAL OSBORNE is one of the most amus-
ing speakers in the House. Whether his views on
any particular subject are correct or not, and whe-
ther his remarks are to the point or otherwise, of
one thing we may rest assured, he is certain to be
very entertaining. On Tuesday, at Liskeard, Mr.
OSBORNE tried a new plan, for he certainly did not
flatter at all, nor even praise to a considerable extent.
He commenced by saying that he was in the habit of
residing for a great portion of the year in a coun-
try which was famous for bulls, but of a different
description from those he saw that day, not so
fat or so round. Of course this produced great
laughter. Mr. OSBORNE then proceeded to point
out some oversights or errors that he had noticed,
which was a very invidious task, although he per-
formed it in such a ludicrous style that no one
was likely to take offence. At the same time, it
is to be questioned if much advantage was de-
rived from it, since all were too much occupied
in hilarity to take much heed of the hints thrown
out. He said, in the first place, that there had
been a very scanty attendance of stock that day,
which had somewhat disappointed him, " for it was
more like a parish bull than the bulls of East Corn-
wall." After saying that he considered the speci-
mens of North Devons occupied the same place
among cattle as the thoroughbreds did among
horses, he created great amusement by stating that
he did not wish to throw in the apple of discord,
but that he hardly thought in one case the umpires
had done justice, in only awarding the second
prize to the bull of Mr. SELBY; but, perhaps, added
the speaker, " I may be a little selfish in this, as I
lost a shilling in betting that he would get the first
prize." Next Mr. OSBORNE commented on their
practice of not washing their sheep before shearing,
which he said had rather a slovenly and dirty ap-
pearance, and he was sure they did not play a
winning game by not washing them. This was
true enough, and it is to be hoped that
those concerned will take the hint and
improve their management in this particular.
Here Mr. OSBORNE introduced another of his droll
remarks. " Ireland," said .he, "is not particularly
famous for cleanliness, but Ireland is famous for
mixed parcels of wool, and which fetch higher rates
in the market. The grain is bad, but we will hold
competition with any other nation for wool in con-
sequence of the great carefulness and cleanliness
which are bestowed upon it." Mr. OSBORNE was
not pleased with the pigs ; he thought they ran too
much into fineness; concluding his strictures by
noting that if an Irishman knew anything in the
world it was bow to &reed, iF not to eat, a pig.
When he came to the horses, however, this agricul-
tural analysist could not keep within bounds. He
was disgusted with them. " Such things I never
saw in my life, and the judges must have been put
to their wit's end—not to find out which was
the best, bat which was the worst." When
he came to more serious subjects, Mr.
OSBORNE was not much better pleased, for he
went on to remark, "We have been talking about
tenant farmers and tenant right. I think we have
omitted at this meeting to speak of the condition of
the labourer,
That bold peasantry, their country's pride,
Which, once destroyed, can never be supplied.'"
He then proceeded to state the grievance, which
was that they put down the same amount—Xl—in
the list of premiums for " brood mares" and " agri-
cultural labourers." " I think," said he, " that if a
man gets a large family, and keeps off the parish,
you ought to give him the best prize as you give
the best bull." After mentioning that there had
been great discussion as to the desirability and non-
desirability of giving. these prizes, and that he
coincided in their utility, Mr. OSBORNE truly ob.-
served that they ought to give a labourer in these
difficult circumstances, who was to bring up a
family without going to the parish, and to have
a good character, a large sum of money ; he
trusted that there would be a larger
sum given at the next meeting. This was
very wise counsel, and nothing could be
in worse taste than to confound men and beasts
after this fashion. Besides the inconsistency was
preposterous, if they could not afford more for the
labourer they should not have given so much for
the lesser prizes, and thus have adjusted matters a
little more suitably. Mr. OSBORNE concluded by
expressing a wish that some one would leave him
some property in Cornwall, that then he might take
the chair, and sympathise with them in the High-
way and Parochial Assessment Acts. Finally, he
said, " I have gone through my list of complaints,
and I hope I have not hurt the feelings of the um-
pires, bulls, sheep, or any other animal here." Cer-
tainly no one was likely to take offence at such off-
hand criticism; but ludicrous as were these
introductions into the speech of the hon. member,
there was ground for reflection in many of his stric-
tures, which, it is to be hoped, the hearers will
take to profit. These meetings are very desirable
things ; they seem to bring into immediate
contact various and distinct classes of so-
ciety ; they unite opposite interests, and
serve as a nucleus round which may gather some
who without such opportunities would never meet
as equals- Some wise critics have decried and
declaimed against all similar entertainments as waste
of time, waste of money, and an absurd display of
small talk. But the world is not carried on by the
discussion of nothing bet great questions, nor by
ex e attention to large concerns. It is the
mixture of the important with the comparatively
on of human affairs. In its way this custom of the
members meeting the agrieulturists is a very ex-
cellent one; it brings to the mind of our legislators
those local feelings which are apt to be neglected i
the whirl of the centre of business, and it also cetlis FREEDOM.I
t tOyFenTjoHyE CITY.—A correspondent writes
eery well-informed citizen will obligingly Probably some
to es :—" Everybody has heard of the freedom of
the City, but few know what it really is, forth the claims of the country which are
likely to be forgotten in the pressure of the concerns rant Portion of mankind on the subject in order that they
of cities and boroughs. This meeting at Liskeard cheenYwb2_aillwwhat mysterious rights andeplirliivgibletgcnes ththee ifgrneeel
went off very well on the whole, and the
ceremonial always know
not
judgingof.;wfhoric,hth eir felblyowth-ceregartaunrdeesuwr iotfhtohuet
party assembled could not complain of gloom. aobserved when the gift is bestowed, the
happy recipientys
Mr. OSBORNE appeared to have adopted social scale. are, t° appearance, elevated in the

stacles in the way of improvement. The obligation
of paying the land revenues on a fixed day on pain
of forfeiture produced a sense of insecurity in pos-
session which had a most injurious effect, especially
on Europeans. The Quarterly Review, in a very
able article on " The Resources of India," says on

this subject—" At present the landholder, whether
native or European, as a rule, takes no interest
whatever in agricultural improvement; he spends
neither trouble nor money on the soil ; he extracts
from his villagers, or, still worse, from middlemen,
who themselves deal with the ryot, the actual cul-
tivator, as much as he can ; but he seldom considers
it his interest to make improvements at his own
cost for the sake of prospective gain." It is easy
to see how ruinous such a system must be in its
effects upon any country, but most especially in
India, where, in every department, the reformer
and improver is so greatly needed. The common
necessaries of trade, agriculture, and manufacture
are wanting—irrigation, roads, and canals, and
able trustworthy agents. The various modes of
cultivation which modern agricultural science has
brought to light yet remain to be tried, but who
will expend time, money, and labour on land that
may be another man's property next year ? Yet
that able and original administrator Sir CHARLES
WOOD thinks the actual money received from the
land tax a sufficient compensation for the clog it
puts on the wheels of progress. Another great
want is the assistance and superintendence of Euro-
peans. The article we have already quoted gives
some very striking statistics respecting the indigo
trade. This, as we all know, has for centuries
been one of the regular products of India, yet no
sooner was it introduced into the West Indies and
Central America than the Western supply drove the
Bengal indigo out of the market. Some eighty
years ago, the companies thought proper to endea-
vour to resuscitate the old trade, and 10 years after,
under the management of competent Europeans,
Bengalese indigo was reckoned superior to any
other. The Hindustani, always anxious for profit,
have done their best to be equally successful, yet,
notwithstanding all the advantage& which they
possess, their indigo is worth 30 or 40 per cent. less
than that produced under the management of Euro-
peans. This fact speaks for itself, while silk and
other manufactures afford still further evidence. The
great extent to which a regular system of adultera-
tion is carried on by the natives may have
some influence on these results, but much more
is owing to the vast difference of Euro-
pean skill, science, and resource. There is no
question that there is room in India for a class of
active, enterprising, intelligent Englishmen whose
advent would be no less beneficial to the country
than advantageous to. themselves. The difficulties
which have always been put in the way of indepen-
dent Englishmen settling in India, have contributed
much to the slow progress of the country, and
although much of this blame lies at the door of the
old East India Company, we fear our present
Secretary of State can by no means be exonerated.
The mineral resources of the Empire offer tempt-
ing prizes to the bold capitalist, but treasures as
great lie dormant in the untilled soil. Like the
old French fable, the indolent or incapable na-

tives are ignorant of the wealth beneath their
feet. Who can read of the rapid effects
produced by the scanty attempts hitherto
made at irrigation, or improved cultivation
of the land, without seeing that we have been
hitherto playing the part of the idle husbandman ?
Mr. DICKINSON, in a recent pamphlet, which we
have referred to on a former occasion, comments
strongly on the effects produced by the Ganges
Canal. No one, he says, could have witnessed the
wretchedness of the people and crops on one side of
the Kis tnah district, where they can with difficulty
obtain a scanty supply of impure water, and
then have passed to the Godavery side, and com-
pared this state of things to the splendid crops, the
pure and abundant water, and the comfort of
the people, without recognising what a price-
less blessing has been conferred by this canal.
As a means of transit, too, it is invaluable. It is
well known that the late COl. BAIRD SMITH in his
report on Indian journeys, declares that the opening
of a railway line in 1861 saved thousands of lives
during the famine in that year. At one time while
wheat at Allahabad was selling at the rate of 2s.
csfohoruolwidBslbbteS.hhe,
had
detrfroairbditiseh tweasanancmte of only 120 miles 2401b5.
munication throughout teho afmtmovneaeasylis empire,oTfhini steafrannedat iatcl isrnn ae.
disgrace to England that after the country has been
more than a eentury under her rule, the need should
still be so great. How this neglect has been avenged
in the cotton famine we have all felt. An earlier
attention to the capabilities of our Indian empire, a
freer and more enlightened administration, the cul-
tivation of the waste landa and the encouragement
of English enterprise would have saved Lancashire
from months of pauperism. It is little less than a
national misfortune that the affairs of India are not
committed to the hands of the most able instead of
the most influentially connected, statesmen.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE.

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

AMERICA.
(Per the City of Washington.)
NEW YORK, MAY 16, MORNING.

The Federal debt is estimated at present at
984,000,000 dols., of which 400,000,000 dols. is in
legal tender currency.
The New York World denounces Gen. Hooker's
address to his army as false and untruthful.
The City of Washington takes out 76 cabin and
103 steerage passengers ; also 435,495 dais. and
£4,810 in specie,

MEXICO.
THE SIEGE OF PUEBLA.

Letters from Orizaba, dated 25th April last,
bring news from Puebla to the 20th. No fight had
taken place before that town, by the French were
pressing the siege rigorously, and had sustained no
repulse. On the contrary, on the 19th, they had
obtained success at the Carmen Convent, routing
the Mexicans with great loss at the point of the
bayonet.

The works of the siege had greatly advanced
and the fall of the city was expected.

THE POLISH INSURRECTION.
CRACOW, MAY 29, 12 10 P.M.
Intelligence to the 26th inst. states that the in-
surgents have gained a victory at Kalisz, in the
palatinate of Lask. The Russians suffered consider-
able loss.

An engagement has taken place in Slawuta, in
Volhynia.
In the government of Mohilew the insurgents
have occupied Gorki.
Count Alexander Branicki has been banished to
Saratow.

In consequence of orders of the National Govern.
ment the documents relating to the trial of Dzia.
lynski have been abstracted by the Nationa:
police.

GREECE.
COPENHAGEN, MAY 29.

The Fadrelandet contains the following :
" It is said that the question of the acceptance of
the Greek throne, which in Tuesday's sitting of the
Council of Ministers still encountered difficulties
upon the part of Prince Christian, was decided
yesterday. Prince William accepts the Crown of
Greece for himself, and his successors.'

RUSSIA.
ST. PETERSBURG, MAY 29.
An imperial decree published to-day orders the
Bank of Russia to effect another successive diminu-
tion in the price of gold, so that at the close of the
present year it may be at par.
The Journal de St Petersbourg of today declares
the rumours of an attempted insurrection at Smo.
lenski, and its environs, to be entirely unfounded.

THE BRAZILS.
(By Telegraph from Lisbon.)
BUENOS, AYRES, APRIL 28.
The suppression of the troubles in the interior is
progressing satisfactorily.
The invasion attempted by General Flores has
entirely failed.