The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-12 00:00:00

might embarrass the Cabinet, but added that he
did not consider the information he wished to ob-

tain would produce any prejudicial effect. After
dwelling on the disastrous and dangerous state of
things in Russia and Poland, and commenting on
what he termed the wanton and gratuitous inter-
♦ention on the part of Prussia, the noble lord went
on to speak of the mysterious Convention which has
been such a bugbear to European diplomatists for
the last few months. _ _

If Prussia, said Lord CARNARVON, chose to abolish
her Parliaments, put down her press, and convert
a constitutional monarchy into a military despotism,
he hEd no right to interfere with her proceedings,
But when her policy extended beyond her own
frontier, all Europe became affected by it, and it

was our duty to speak out. There can be no pos-

sible doubt that the convention exists. Count
BISMARK has himself admitted it, the Russian
Minister has acknowledged the fact to our Ambas-
sador at St. Petersburg, while it has also been
owned by the Prussian Minister in this country.
Curiously enough, however, while the Russians
show no unwillingness to submit the treaty to in-
spection, they refuse the request to produce it on
the ground that objections to such a course are
raised by Prussia. This reticence goes far to con-
tradict Count Bismatx's assertion that it is a dead
letter. Its explanation is probably to be found in
the existence of the secret article to which reference
it seems is made in the convention itself. Perhaps

the Prussian Minister anticipates that England
would push her inconvenient curiosity still further
wnen she saw such a mysterious allusion in the
document itself. Certainly the conduct of the
Prussian King and his Ministers—the course of
policy pursued by.them at home and abroad—does

not allow us to trust much to their secre

diplomacy. Prussia is one of the last
Powers who could meddle secretly in the
affairs of her neighbours without produc-
ing uneasiness, and in this case, when her
sympathies are known to be on the side of unscru•
pulous oppression and ruthless violence, the exist-
ence of a clause in the convention which she dares
not with all her effrontery bring to light, is not
likely to satisfy her own people or to reassure other
European Powers as to her intentions. Full powers
already existed to enable Russia to demand the
extradition of offenders whether political or crimi-
nal. Surely this was as much as Russia had a right
to ask or Prussia to grant. As Lord CARNARTON
observed in the absence of anything like political
necessity or domestic pressure, the existence of such
a convention can only be attributed to the jealous
fear of anything like constitutional life springing
up in Poland. The possibility that out of the ter-
rible struggle now going on some truer principles
of government, some more liberal constitution may
emerge for that unhappy conntry, is, as the noble
lord truly observed, the phantom that has scared
the Prussian rulers. Conscience makes cowards of
us all, and the shortest diplomatic memory goes
back to a time when the pretentious kingdom was
comprised within limits very unlike its present
boundaries, while the means by which its rapid ex-
tension were attained were not such ae to make its
rulers feel secure in the prospect of revolu
tionary struggles. Still that the course pur-
sued by the Prussian Government is disastrous
to herself, who can doubt. In such a policy, as Lord
CARNARVON remarked, she goes back by genera-
tions, and surrenders the prize for which she has
struggled so long—the leadership of Germany.
" More than this," said the noble lord, "I
think it will be admitted that such a policy
is not only unworthy, unnecessary, and un-
wise, but that it is eminently unsafe. Are
Prussian statesmen positively so blind, are their
eyes so judicially darkened that they cannot see tht
excessive danger of the course they are now pur-
suing, and are not aware of that•which any chile
can discern—how nicely balanced and how critical
affairs now are in Europe ? Is it possible for then,
to fancy that they can act while others hereafter
will sit still, and that the mischievous precedent of
intervention will not be exercised some day by some
other Power. In one word, to put it in the
strongest form, do they think that their western
frontier is so secure that they can venture to trifle
with their own fortunes and the peace of Europe ?
It would be well if Prussian statesmen had solved
these questions clearly and distinctly in their own
minds before they ventured upon this dangerous

course."

Earl RUSSELL'S reply, though affording no in-
formation, was at least satisfactory in its denun-
ciation of the conduct of Prussia. With regard to
the Convention, he admitted that there had been
every kind of contradiction and obscurity ; and the
noble earl did not appear to put much faith in
Count BISMARK's assertion that the treaty was
now a dead letter. It is by no means satisfactory
that our Ministers should be unable to obtain fuller
information when the French Ambassador has, it
seems, been favoured with a view of the document.
Earl RUSSELL has expressed himself decidedly on the
question. If so, his opinion will be endorsed by the
sentiments expressed last night in the Upper House
—sentiments which will certainly meet with public
approval, both as regards the dishonourable pro-
ceedings respecting the Convention, and, to quote
the words of Lord BROUGHAM, " the conduct of the
Prussian Government to its own subjects, its own
Parliament, and its own constitution."

The banquet at Merchant Taylors' Hall last nigh
was a most interesting one. It was the Prince of
WALES' first visit to the City to a banquet, and he
was surrounded by a brilliant and distinguished
circle. Additional attraction was imparted to the
occasion by the circumstance of the PRINCE taking
up the honorary freedom of the company. In pro-
posing the health of his Royal Highness, the
MASTER said—" This is an eventful day for the
Merchant Taylors' Company ; the heir apparent to
the throne of this realm has honoured this loyal and
ancient corporation by becoming one of its honorary
members. I propose the health of the Prince of
WALES, citizen and Merchant Taylor, and his Royal
consort" It is in identifying himself like this with
the customs and ceremonies of so many important
and influential members of society that the PRINCE
is now showing such sense and discernment. He is
not confining his presence to the " gilded saloons"
of the aristocracy, but dividing his favours by
mixing as far as possible with various circles, and
thus uniting divers interests by the same attracting
influence. The PRINCE spoke briefly on two occa-
sions—first when the ceremony took place of enroll-
ing him among the Company, and after wards at the
banquet when his health was proposed. On the
first occasion he said that he was proud to belong
btoentaaCompany which nobly worked for the
of the human race, and he esteemed
honour to have his name enrolled
ita an benefit of
the freemen of the Merchant Taylors'
Company. At the banquet the Master proposed
members
the health of the honorary
of the
company, associating the toast more
par-
ticularly with the name of the Earl of DEP:
He said that the representatives of the old
English houses of STANLEY, CECIL, and PERCY
were among their honorary members. Lord DERBY
who was_very warmly received, observLd " that of
course politics must not be referred to on that
occasion, partly from the mixed character of the
aeiembly, and partly frog the Feb hoe of their