The Sun.
London, England, 1863-06-03 00:00:00

Premier as to the public enjoyment derived from
the parks, while the advantages conferred by the
public museums are seldom questioned. Still a due
regard to economy should be had, and there is pro-
bably room for a good deal of retrenchment in
detail. It is difficult for members to do this; much
must be left to the discretion and public spirit of
the Minister. At least if such large sums are to be
annually demanded, let us have public buildings
and offices worthy of the name, and not hear of the
inconsistency of England paying rent for her public
offices, while sums that would certainly startle
many a continental state are yearly obtained from
Parliament in the Committee of Supply.

On Monday night Lord PALMERSTON moved the
second reading of the " African Slave Treaty Bill."
The noble lord, in introducing the subject, observed
that it was only just to the United States to draw
the attention of the House to this bill. He then
explained that for many years the African Slave
Trade was protected by the United States flag.
Last year, however, the Government of the United
States, in the most handsome manner, agreed to a
treaty by which that protection was no longer to be
afforded. Lord PALMERSTON truly said that he
thought it due to their liberality that he should
point out this fact to the attention of hon.
members. The chief point worthy of notice was
the supplementary article extending to the neigh-
bourhood of Madagascar the right of search.
The noble lord concluded by observing that
last year this measure was passed as a
matter of form, but he now considered that it was
only doing justice to the American Government,
who behaved in the most honourable and liberal
' manner in regard to this matter, which was of
great interest to this country, that the second read-
ing of the bill should be marked by some attention
being paid to it. This speech was highly credit-
able to the noble lord, and he showed great dis-
cernment in appreciating the conduct of the United
States, whose Government deserved the high en-
comiums he passed on it. It is satisfactory
to note something worthy of approval in their
arrangements, and the Anglo-Saxon race in different
hemispheres can find no nobler meeting ground
than the association for putting down the traffic of
slavery. Mr. CAVE made a speech of some length
on this subject. He said that it was satisfactory
that so large an addition had been made to
this treaty. The hon. member did not seem much
impressed with what Lord PALMERSTON had
stated, for he said that he would not pay compli-
ments to " the American Government for having
thus done simply what was just and right," but he
acknowledged that they had now entered upon a
more satisfactory course. He wished to call
attention to the 6th clause, under which the crew
were to be sent home for trial, and he further
added that the recent execution of a slave eaptain
in New York proved it to be no mere form. In
pursuance of this topic, he observed that a
Spaniard, who had made many successful slaving
voyages, and whom he casually met in the Gulf of
Mexico, said to him, " We don't care much about
capture, that is simply a matter for insurance;
but if you wish to stop the slave trade, which
(he did the English the honour to say)
I don't believe, hang the captain, or one
of the crew if you can't identify the cap-
tain, and you will stop the trade in
six months; we cannot insure against hanging."
This was certainly exemplifying the case and
illustrating the fact, and if such a happy result is
likely to ensue from the process, it is to be re-
gretted that the plan was not tried earlier and the
practise made more general. Mr. CAVE mentioned
an important circumstance, which was, that in con-
sequence of this treaty certain proprietors had
resolved that their slaves in Cuba should not be
worked so extremely hard, because they were aware
that if supply was stopped, slaves would be worth
too much to be worked to death in eight years,
which was the period that the test management
gave. After referring to some difficulties that had
occurred with French vessels, the hon. member
wound up his remarks by stating that if some wise
precautions were adopted "it might be hoped that
this was indeed the beginning of the end, and that
this abominable traffic might become a matter
of history, even :n the days of those whom
he was addressing. After a short discussion,
the bill was read a second time, Sir G.
GREY explaining that the bill merely confirmed
the treaty which had been laid on the table of the
House. So far this brief debate was most satisfac-
tory, since it proved that some decisive steps had
been taken in the right direction. While the
American Government can lay claim to approba-
tion, that of Spain can only provoke censure. It
is guilty of the wrongs perpetrated at Cuba,
and hence a great stumbling block is cast in
the way of progress. Had the Spanish Govern.
ment been sincere from the outset there would
have been no occtsion for so much anxiety,
and the late stringent arrangements would
have been rendered unnecessary by their care and
caution. As it is there is great matter for rejoic-
ing that the bill has been happily disposed of,
that one step has been taken in the right direction
by the United States. That it may speedily be fol-
lowed by others of a similar nature will be the ear-
nest prayer and heartfelt wish of all who are inte
rested in the question. It is incumbent on all
Governments to band together and make a strong
defence against the encroachments of this iniquitous
traffic, and the smallest success is of great moment
in so important and influential a cause. It is of
no use to sit at home at ease and inveigh against
tt
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practice
isdtihsegrim disgraceful
caenfceulu unlessbvur e
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that
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Treaty Bill is a worthy auxiliary in this noble
work of suppression, and should be appreciated
accordingly.

Elsewhere in our paper of this evening will be
found a remarkable letter recently forwarded to us
from France by the Viscomte de LUPE. In giving
it there, exactly as it comes to us in the very words
of the writer, we have been careful to append to it
a literal translation from the original, so that the
precise purport of it should not run the hazard of
remaining caviare to even a section of the readers
under whose glance our impression of this evening
shall pass. While respecting, as we do very ear.
generous indignation vita which the
Vneisactioym, thet
e do LUFE repels the merest hint
of an accusation against his brother-in-
law, the Chevalier CARACCIOLO, now a prisoner
in the fortress of Alexandria, we cannot but cherish
w'tn:kivfea khcioclmhh
met holfen'
a belief that he is under a misapprehension in sup-
posing that that gallant but unfortunate officer
was actually the person alluded to in the passage to
cor-
respondent's
d ie
ct remark,
rreference
el:
our mornin
; was penned hastily
g contemporaries recently alluded to the
i 61m'ellrl illientf ea
Correspondentcmalefactor
lE refers
f— theth e
chiefpassage of
Comte D a ISTEN as manacled by the same chain
eti 13:t t he
unhappyrit ee
gentleman moment to the brave
Er, or galleyslave. The
we should prefer to believe,
moment of irritation, with-
whom the Count DE
...elicit that it might
m i nd a t theto
CHRISTEN ,
nine still is, leashed by those iron links