The Sun.
London, England, 1863-05-27 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1863.

Mr. ROEBUCK has a great deal of wit, pluck,
earnestness, and fiery animation, but he is utterly
without that quality giving equilibrium to the
judgment, a quality among all qualities perhaps the
most essential to a Statesman—discretion. Re
always—as a rule, that is—for there have been, of
course, occasionally but very rarely noticeable in
his career exceptions proving it to be a rule—he
always, as a rule, hits the right nail on the head.
But he hardly ever contrives to hit it precisely at
the right time. When he does—when he manages
thus, in homely phrase, not only to hit the right
nail on the head, but exactly at the very instant
when it ought to be hit, when the public opinion
into which he is desirous of driving it, is in a con-
dition so admirably adapted to yield to the blow
that the argument symbolised by the little prover-
bial scrap of ironmongery is fairly driven home—
then it is that Mr. ROEBUCK appears at his very
best. Then it is that he vindicates his right
to the title of a Great Tribune of the English Peo-
ple. It was so in the very midst of the earlier
disasters of the Crimean War. And the part there-
upon taken, in the very nick of time, by Mr. ROE-
BUCK was such that we do not believe it will be
very easily forgotten. On the contrary, we are
satisfied that the record of it A ill be henceforth in-
corporated with our national history—that it will
always constitute the most memorable incident in
the public life of this eminent Member of Parlia-
ment.

Elsewhere in our impression of this evening will
be found one of the raciest speeches delivered for a
ieng while past, even by Mr. ROEBUCK ; but a
epeecn altogether as inopportune as any speech
could well contrive to ')e. It is, as the very head-
ing of it shows it to be, an argument strongly in
favour of an immediate recognition of the
South by England—a proposition as prema-
ture, as precipitate, as ill-advised, as the
two generous efforts of a diplomatic character
adventured upon some little time back by the
Emperor of the FRENCH, with an over-sanguine
expectation each time on the part of his Imperial
Majesty that these efforts would prove successful.
It is not the first time, of course, that Mr. ROE-
BUCK has argued the momentous question referred
to precisely to the same purpose which lent energy
to his strong Saxon speech on Tuesday evening
down at Sheffield. Very recently he has spoken
quite as plainly, and precisely to the same effect,
within the walls of the House of Commons. So
that the purport of his remarks yesterday can
be conjectured, if only we remember the drift
of his argument upon that earlier occasion, when
his remarks were addressed with all solemnity
not to an open air meeting, as they were
yesterday, but to Mr. SPEAKER himself, sitting
there awfully bewigged and berobed in his Chair of
State down at Westminster. Whatever his audi-
ence, howbeit, Mr. ROEBUCK—as is no less the case
with such very different men, indeed, as Mr.
OsBuRNE
and Mr. HORDIAN—has somehow or
another an inveterate habit of speaking his mind
right out. 4, Come what may"—his thoughts
he will utter—in the Rouse, or out of the House, it
matters not—even as we have already said, in other
wards, in season and out of season. It is this I
probably that, whether his hearers are likely to j
agree with him or not, they are always---uo matter
who or what they may be—right glad to listen to
him at any moment, upon any subject, and from
any (what the Yankees call) platform. " The
Mayor," said Mr. ROEBUCK last evening in his
eeeordium, " has asked me to attend this meeting,
for he told me that you would be glad to hear my
Whereupon—" Hear, hear,"
opinions." cry the
" Those opinions," continued Mr.
many-headed.
ROEBUCK, " shall be frankly stated to you. It is
my habit always to speak out. If you don't
like 'em, I can't help it ! " Whereat there was
immediately—of course there was—" Laughter."
A tier a little more preliminary talk—most of it,
though purely preliminary, very much to the pur-
pose, nevertheless—the hon. and warned member for
Sheffield bluntly observed to his constituents in
regard to the question he was about to discuss in
their hearing—" So far as I am concerned, I can tell
you that it is to me an entirely English question.
'What I have to consider is, what is for the inte-
rest o 2 England. What is for her interest I believe
to be for the interest of the world. We hold such
a position that every step taken by England as a 1

country reverberates throughout the whole world,
and influences the happiness of mankind." By a
captious, cynical Federal hearers of the sentiment,
or rather, it should be said perhaps, the earnest
conviction, last articulated, the words thus uttered
by Mr. ROEBUCK would probably be denounced as
" pretty tall ta)king." While, at the same time,
these words are, in themselves, really and truly
merely the manful articulation of a notorious fact.
"No!" cried a dissentient, however,followed byshouts
of "Turn him on':," and confusion. "Well," ex-
claimed Mr.RoEnucK, thereupon, good-humouredly,
" this gentleman is so vehement a friend of peace
that he won't keep it." And so, with another
burst of laughter, the momentary interruption •wss
swept aside.

e refer thus to this little incidental circum-
stance by which Mr. ROEBUCK prepared the
way, with a careless ease, for the promul-
gation of the argument he was bent
upon enforcing (as the sequel plainly enough
demonstrated), with all the fervour and eloquence
(and they are nct trifling) at his comraand—be-
cause they have about them a very characteristic

signficance. They tend, or at any rate lead the
way, by almost imperceptible gradations, to the
evidencing, on the part of Mr. ROEBUCK of a quiet,

almost at times amiable, predetermination:to cram
his own opinions and convictions down your throat
at the very moment when he is ostensibly giving
you your own free choice as to whether you will
swallow them at all or not. Another habit he has,
quite as inveterate in its way as the one we have
already alluded to, namely, that of his ontspeaking
at all times and upon all occasions. It is the habit
he has of just—jumping to conclusions. Yes-
terday was an exact case in point. His whole
argument in favour of Recognition was bask')
upon the shadowy foundation indicated in the

following declarations, Speaking of the South-
erners—" They have fought," cries Mr. ROEBUCK,
"to the death. They have conquered the North.
And NOW I ask myself if the time has come when
surrounding nations shall do what we ought to do
NOW—acknowledge the South as an independent
nation." "Great cheering," says the reporter, " and
cries of Never !'" loudly vociferated by the dis-
sentients. Nor can we wonder at it—for beaten
though the North has been again and yet again,
and never more signally than of late, in this very
month of May, it is not yet Conquered ! So
that it is scarcely necessary to add that the
requisite NOW has decidedly not yet ar-
rived. Come, the time will—we are as fully
persuaded of that as Mr. ROEBUCK can possibly be
—when the South must be recognized. But that
time is not the present time. Neither the English
Government nor the French Government can hasten

its advent even by a day. All those Governments
can do, is to bide their time and to watch eagerly,
as patiently as may be, solicitously always, for the
coming, sooner or later, of the golden opportunity.

At the Banquet of the Royal Geographical So-
ciety there were several interesting speeches. Sir
RODERICK MußcrusoN, the President of the Society,
was in the chair, and he rendered his remarks par-

titularly impressive by introducing the various in-
cidental circumstances that bore upon his subject
and enhanced its attraction. Thus in proposing the
health of her MAJESTY, the Chairman said that
they had particular reason as geographers for drink-
ing this toast, " for the QUEEN, their patron, had,
with the aid of her august and lamented Consort,
so educated the Princes, her sons, to admire their
science, that they had already performed such voy-
ages as qualified them to be honorary members of
the Geographical Society." This was not flattery,
but the simple statement of facts. He alluded more
particularly to this when he proposed the Prince of
WALES. He said that his Royal Highness had
well won his spurs as Vice Patron of their Society,
having travelled in many parts and visited several
countries. Peculiar interest was imparted to the
meeting from the fact that the Danish Minister was
present. His Excellency, in returning thanks, spoke
with great fluency, and expressed himself to great
advantage. In alluding to the reciprocal feelings
that animated the two countries, he said in reference

to the sentiments of his countrymen—Not only
did they admire the wealth, greatness, and power
of the British nation, but they particularly ad.
mired the political system under which
they lived, by means of which they had
accomplished what no other nation had ever done,
uniting monarchy with the freest institutions in
the world. " But," said his Excellency, with great
perspicacity, "let me remind you that if a great
deal of this is owing to the character of the British

nation, something is also owing to the geogra•

phical position of our country. I say that one
essential element which has favoured the develop-
ment of Great Britain has been its insular charac-
ter. You never had any difficulty about your fron-

tier. I only regret that my country is peninsular,
not insular." There is much truth in this remark,
and well might the Danish Minister have uttered
the last sentence concerning the position of his own
country. Mr. WALPOLE returned thanks for the
House of Commons. The President, in proposing
the toast, referred to the grant of five hundred
pounds per annum made to the society by the
House. This was done at the instigation of Mr.
JOSEPH HUME. Lord ABERDEEN was the Premier,
he himself was President, and, as the three were
Scotchmen, it was called a Scotch job. " But,"
said the Chairman, " there never was a job perpe-
trated which did more honour to the British Parlia-
ment, and there never was an annual vote of £5OO
which had done more service to British science and
the British public." Mr. WALPOLE alluded to this
connection, which, he said, from the amount of the
grant, was rather a shabby one. But he added there
was another connection to which the President had not
alluded, which made him feel that the society was
not indebted to the House so much as the House
was indebted to it. The various important ques-
tions that came annually before Parliament com-
pelled members to feel how much they owed to
geographical science, which imparted to them
ability to deal successfully with their arduous sub-
jects. To the House of Commons, aptly remayked
Mr. WALPOLE, belongs the task assigned by Dr.
JOHNSON to observation, which

" With extended view,
Surveys mankind from China to Peru."

They were in the middle of a debate on
China now which awaited the lapse of
the holidays for its termination ; they had
also a debate impending connected with
Southern America; they had also questions con-
stantly recurring with regard to India, Turkey,
Poland, Russia, Denmark, Greece, and Italy—and
how could they deal with them properly, but by
ascertaining their geography correctly. Need we
add, crossing the Atlantic, they had to concern
themselves with North America ? " And in associa-
tion with this, could we forget that lamentable news
had to-day reached this country, that ono of the
noblest descendants of the English race—' STONE-
WALL' JACKSON—was now no more." The right
hon. gentleman, in referring to the settlement of
the American difficulty, said that geographical con-
siderations would have much to do with the
arrangement. Mr. WALPOLE'S eloquent dis-
course was deservedly applauded. This

noble Institution is entitled to the support of all
intelligent classes, and it is, therefore, most gratify-
ing to find a numerous and brilliant assemblage at
its festival meeting. No country is called upon
to encourage an Association like the present so
much as England, for no other land has sent forth
her sons to the uttermost ends of the world to ex
plore with so much zeal, and to carry civilisation to
the dark regions of the earth, heedless of danger,
and regardless of difficulty. Mrs. HEMANS has
made special allusion to this fact in ono of her
beautiful poems :
" Go, stranger, track the deep,
Free, free the white sail spread ;
Wave may not foam, nor wild wind sweep,
Where rest not England's dead."

The administration of criminal law is a point
upon which Englishmen have for many years justly
prided themselves. The system of trial by jury,
the ready admission of evidence, the open courts, the
general sagacity and temperance of the judges and
magistrates, and the inclination to give the accused
the benefit of any doubt, combine to render our
criminal courts among the most satisfactory of our
institutions, But there are some particulars in which
improvements might be made with regard to punish-
ment of crime. Justice is occasionally so slow
that she is not sure ; so careful not to accuse the
wrong party that she not unfrequently suffers the
culprit to elude her vigilance. The system pursued
with respect to coroner's inquests, which are of
themselves excellent, has recently called forth some
animadversions. It has been complained that,
owing to the frequent delays and the punctilious
observance of forms and ceremonies, the murderer
or manslayer has plenty of time to decamp before
the warrant for his apprehension is issued. The
recent case of murder in St. Giles's furnishes an un-
fortunate example of the difficulty there is in tracing
a criminal after some time has been allowed to
elapse. It is certainly not to be expected that a
man conscious of guilt will wait quietly at hand
until the investigations, and postponements, and re-
assemblings have gone their wonted round, and the
search for him has commenced. No doubt these
investigations are productive of great good, and
afford considerable protection to the public by the
check they put upon crime and the manner in which
they often bring to light nefarious deeds which had
been thought to escape detection. The only ques-
tion is, how to increase their efficiency still further,
and how best to secure the end at which coroners
and jurors alike aim—the speedy administration of
justice, That this end is defeated by allowing the
criminal time to escape is unquestionable; at the
same time there are no doubt difficulties in the way
of arresting persons on suspicion. Still the vigilance
of our police, and the skill of our authorities, should
surely be able to devise some solution of the pro-
blem. One great point gained would be the speedy
assembling of the inquest and the immediate settle-
ment of the question as to whether or no death
were the result of violence. In a case of absolute
murder, like that in St. Giles's, there need surely
be no hesitation. The crime of a poisoner may
offer some impediments to a speedy decision, but in
that instance the suspicion must necasarily be con-
fined to a limited number of persons. The inquest
should be held with the briefest possible delay after
the death of its subject, and the jury should strive
to arrive at a definite conclusion as to whether it
was by fair or foul means at their first sitting.
Then, although the crime might not be brought
home to the offender at the first sitting, the police
might at least receive a hint to keep an eye on the
suspected parties. The number of murderers who
have of late years escaped unpunished is certainly
a reproach to our present system, and calls loudly
for some change for the better. The preliminary
inquiry may probably be necessary, but then it

should ba conducted with all possible despatch, BO as
to afford an efficient assistance to justice and not a
stumbling block in her way. As the case at pre-
sent stands, a criminal way safely reckon on the
adherence to the old routine and its leisurely
fashion, and a greater degree of promptness in tie
capture and conviction of offenders is in every
way desirable. Although really a much severer
punishment than a speedy sentence would be,
delay does not strike the same terror into the mind
of the offender and his associates. Were the cri-
minal class to feel that in all human probability
arrest, conviction, and punishment would follow in
close sequence upon the commission of a crime,
murder and manslaughter would be less frequent.
As it is, thanks to the humanitarian tendencies of
the age, punishment itself is losing half its terrors.
Capital punishment is rarely inflicted, being often
respited when its infliction has been decreed by the
presiding magistrate. Imprisonment with hard
labour, though irksome, is scarcely sufficiently
alarming to stand as a safeguard between the pas-
sions of an infuriated ruffian and the peace of society,
and perhaps serves even less to counteract that de-
sire for gain which leads to the commission of a
whole hest of malpractices. Another important
addition to the efficiency of our criminal laws
would be the appointment of a public prosecutor.
This office has long been called for, its want has
been keenly felt ; yet, although our public men are
generally ready enough to fill up vacant posts, and
to make opportunities for honours and rewards, for
some unexplained reason, they have never supplied
the vacancy. The crimes that escape detection,
that pass unheeded or unpunished, because it is no
one's business to take them up, would probably
startle the boldest among us, if they could
be brought suddenly to light. Who shall
say how many cases of poisoning and for-
gery are hushed up and passed over in the
course of the year even in our just and sagacious
England ? In too many cases, like the celebrated
couplet on treason, the crime lifts the offender into
a position of wealth or influence where men do not
care to meddle with him, and who would be
Quixotic enough to institute an inquiry into the
manner of Mr. SMITH'S death or the wording of his
gain will, if no particular tmhaeymsaelslvoesberessturoltnegd
from the proceeding? Thereto
suspicions without tangible proof, and
it is no one's
concern to collect and search for
dence. In Scotland the want
is supplied, and the
existence of a public prosecutor
proves in every
way conducive to the public benefit. Let us hope
that the omission may speedily be supplied among
us, and that the action of English crimi •
nal law
may soon be as sure and speedy as it is • •
ordinarily
inkt and merciful.

ENCLOSURE OF TOOTING CoMMON.—An investi-
gation was opened yesterday by Mr. Wetherall, one
of the Enclosure Commissioners, on the subject of the pro-
posed enclosure of Tooting• common, several of the com-
moners disputing the right of the lord of the manor, Mr.
Thompson, to enclose it. Mr. Thompson, and a number of
persons claiming rights of common, were represented.
The inquiry will be confined to obtaining answers to certain
formal questions; the question of right will be for ultimate
decision elsewhere. Considerable interest has been created
in the neighbourhood on the subject.
tSot Stands sw haveellfibeen
forjudgingßuildingmertieicted down the whole length of
Princess of Wales,raiesior the nave,
Mary of Cambricige, entries made up to yesterday, bid fair
Royal Highnesses the Prince and
day,
to honour the show with
their presence during the Royal Highness the Princess