The Sun.
London, England, 1863-04-07 00:00:00

phial and his physician, now with his slipper and
his diacolon plaister. Our hearts are not stone.
We have sensibilities of feeling that cannot
idly be trifled with thus. It is as if the
Elder PITT were again hurling his ora-
torical thunderbolts with an arm swathed in
flannel, his bandaged foot on a leg-rest, his counten-
ance expressive of past and almost of present suffer-
ing. In Mr. GLADSTONE'S instance we should not
be tempted to allude to the circumstance here com-
mented upon, but for the coincidence of time coupled
with the announcement in the very mention of the
accident by the great Government organ (not " Jupi-
ter junior," as the Saturday Review facetiously dubs
one of its contemporaries but Jupiter Opt. Max.)—lt
is expressly intimated that it is a casualty in no way
of a serious character. In other words, it is a trivial
circumstance in itself. But, if so, why make any
mention of it at all ? Why ?—Why, the Budget
night is coming on ! And there lies the coincidence.

There can be but one opinion on the affair of

Count WIELOPOLSKI. It must be a source of great
annoyance to the Poles themselves that a country-

man of theirs should so comport himself. The letter

o Prince NAPOLEON is a mixture of absurdity and

affectation. He begins by stating that he considers
that in the speech in the Senate Prince NAPOLEON

expressed himself concerning his father in an out-
rageous manner; as a son he now demands from his

Royal Highness, in consequence of that unpardon-
able offence, the satisfaction which a man of honour

never refuses.

After this preamble the Count seeks by insult to
provoke that accord to his request, which he evi-

dently doubts his power to obtain by quieter
language. He says, however, alter your antece-

dente, I have not much chance of your granting my

demand. There are some whose courage soon fails
them, and such individuals when called upon to give
an account for their remarks, take refuge in a
cowardly style by asserting the inviolability of
their privileged condition. Perhaps your Royal
Highness will take refuge behind the chiefs of the
assassins in their haunts at Warsaw. Surely
this is most unworthy language to come from a son
of Poland. If he could not, or would not, lend his
aid to the cause of liberty, at least he should be
precluded by every sentiment of honour and every
impulse of right feeling from writing or talking in
this manner. The next passage in this epistle is
still more extravagant, wherein he refers to the con-
duct of his father, of whom he had better have bad
the decency to be silent, he also endeavours to fix
the odium of any failure that may occur
in the efforts of that nobleman in carry •
ing out the good cause inaugurated by
ALEXANDER 11. whom he calls with excellent good
taste our king, on Prince NAPOLEON. He says that
it will be due to the soi disant friends, of the cause
such as the Prince and his revolutionary com-
panions. This is about as unreasonable as possible.
How can persons holding such diverse opinions be
engaged in a joint cause, and what affinity appears
even to exist between Prince NAPOLEON,
the insurgents, and such a set as
the Count WIELOPOLSKI, his father, and

heir friends. The Count concludes this absurd

letter by announcing his intention to wait fill the
2d of April for the reply of the Prince, and the
nomination of his second. What a pity that he did
not name a day earlier, and select the Ist of the
month for the answer to such a composition. It is
quite irritating to the mind to notice such triviali-
ties made so much of at a time when vital interests
are at stake, and the existence of a nation is trem-
bling in the balance. There is no class of men who
are so repugnant to the general feelings of huma-
nity as the renegade. In ancient times the man
who lifted his hand against his country was always

etigmati3ed, and the various changes that time has
wrought in the constitution of States and the cus-
toms of nationalities has not effected any alteration
in this particular. Still do men love to applaud
the patriot, whether he is hailed as a conquering
hero, or buried in a martyr's grave, and
still do they blush to own as a fellow-
creature the traitor who seeks to destroy the soil
that gave him birth, and join with the hordes of
the despot in trampling down the ranks of his
struggling countrymen. If the Marquis WIELO-
- have any friends who are truer to his in-
terests than he has been to the sacred
claims of his country, they would advise him
to keep himself as retired as possible from
public observation, and not to court censure
by intruding his affairs on the notice of those who,
if they desired to be of service to him, could only
leave him without notice or mention. Reticence
of speech, and moderation in action, are some of
the most useful acquirements that mortals can at-
tain, but very rarely are they practised. If ever
they were needed at one time more than another,
it surely must be in a case analogous:to the pre-
sent, when the civilised nations of the world are
anxiously awaiting the issue of a struggle which
engages their best wishes, and will not
tamely brook the intrusion of the unfounded
claims that may be urged by the degenerate
sons of a country that is now yielding up her bravest
and best who are pouring out their lifeblood at the
sacrificial altar of liberty, happy if their lives can
purchase freedom for their beloved land, and con-
tent even to die in the sacred cause ; that hereafter
their example may encourage others with like
ardour and lead them on to a happier result, and—
" So may their death hour leave a track
Of glory permanent and bright,
To which the brave of after times
The suffering brave shall long look back."

SCISSORS.—There is an old story of a newly-
married couple, who after the due performance of
the ceremony which made them man and wife, went to spend
the rest of the day on the water. Their conversation un-
luckily turned upon an acquaintance who had cut something
—it is immaterial what—whether a bit of string or a friend's
throat. The bridegroorti asserted that the operation was
performed with a knife. The bride contradicted her hus-
band, and maintained it was done with a pair of scissors.
The argument continued, until at length the bridegroom
lest his temper, and struck his wife such a blow
presently
rose above the surface, spurting out in a loud voice
ce
" Scissors;" again he hit her, and again she went u
—then emerging, ejaculated " Sciss-ah I" He repeated
d i
thef process, and a third time she bobbed, but unable to
e had
speak thelast word, she extended two of her fingers, open-
ing and
useful
article
7whose agency, in the sectatory operation
under
As she did this, she sank
once more beneath the
waves, which closed for ever over
her head.

THE INGENUOUS AND REVERENTIAL MR. KING -
LAKE.—" Eotben "is indeed a delightful book ! I
fell asleep over it last night, and dreamt that, mounted on
an ostrich, I was careering over the boundless sands of
Arabia with the author by my side What a fascinating
being he must be I—simple, earnest, full of reverential feel-
ing and mild enthusiasm I he has taken complete posses-
sion of my imagination. I know by instinct what his per.
sonal appearance must be : dark,—with the rich bronze of
travel on his manly cheek,—wild masses of raven hair,
and flashing eyes of jet I Something Manfredy and
Corsairish in expression, perhaps, but mellowed and
softened, no doubt, by the gentle influences of a
more ornate civilization. I wonder—dues he still wander
on those distant shores ? or, like the honey-bee laden with
exotic sweets, has he returned to garnish his perfumed
memories in his native land—and another volume ? If in
England—where ? I gather from the book that he is still
unmarried—if so--.why ? Ah, Frolic Fancy I whither
wouldst thou stray? The answer from Sir Merlin just ar-
rived 1 "The author of ' Eothen 'is not dark, and ho is
married."—Lispings from Low Latituies,
THE STALEYBRIDGE RIOTERS.—CHESTER, Satur-
lay,—Up to two o'clock to-day 19 rioters have been tried,
of whom 16 were found guilty, and sentenced to periods of
from one to four mouths' imprisonment.