The Sun.
London, England, 1865-05-20 00:00:00

tern. Lord PALMERSTON had better take
warning by the experience of the past.
Once before, in deference to a foreign
Power, he attempted to go directly in opposition to
the English feeling. An adverse majority of a
hundred or so soon taught him his mistake. The
English people do not desire war with or for
America. If forced upon them they will not shrink
from it, but they are certainly inclined to treat the
Americans with all due courtesy and forbearance.
But they are not blind. They cannot help com-
paring Lord RUSSELL'S circular with Lord PALMER-
STON'S reply ; they feel that when such an affront is
put upon justice and humanity as to put the price
of a felon on the head of an able, high-minded, and
enlightended statesman, that if their voice is not
raised against it they will share the disgrace: The
nation spoke out strongly and unanimously to the
people of the Northern States on the murder of
their President. Lord PALMERSTON may rest as-
sured there will be a no less vigorous and sponta-
neous expression 'of feeling respecting the treatment
of JEFFERSON DAVIS.

His Royal Highness the Prince of WALES yester-
day afternoon opened the International Reformatory
Exhibition. His Royal Highness has always shown
great willingness to preside on these occca,sions, and
to inaugurate exhibitions, pc., that tend to pro-
mote the culture and further the interests of the
community. A brilliant assemblage appeared to
welcome the Prince and to do honour to the affair,
and the ceremony may be said to have been com-
pleted in the most satisfactory manner. The Earl
of SHAFTESBURY, as President of the Refuge Union,
read an eloquent address to the Prince, in which
was set forth the objects of the Exhibition. A
more interesting theme could scarcely be found to
descant upon than the proofs thus afforded
of the happy influence that is wrought by
the efforts of those who have undertaken the task
of setting these Refuges and Reformatories into
action; As the noble President stated yesterday,
the prOducts were not put forward as a brilliant
display, but " vividly 'represented the vast and
potent effort of Christian 'energy to shelter and
cheer the friendless and young, to reclaim the
fallen, and to help, instruct, and elevate the weak,
ignorant, and poor." It is well known that it is
only lately that such efforts have been made and
approved of by the generality. Industrial training
is one of the surest preventives to vice ; and, no
doubt, had these attempts been made at an earlier
period, the present generation would be both wiser
and happier. The Prince of WALES made an ap-
propriate reply, in which he stated that he very
gladly took part in the proceedings, and cordially
concurred with the objects in view, to give " moral
and religious training" to those who had claims on
the consideration of society. The presence of
foreigners was also alluded to by the Prince as a
satisfactory event, and as " promoting the growth
of those Christian and kind feelings towards each
other which we ought to pray should animate the
whole of the nations of the world." From almost
every part of Europe, and from Africa and America,
representatives came to take part in the affair, and
express their sympathy in the common cause. The
presence of the Prince of Wales was doubly
appropriate, because he is the patron of
the Society, which is the centre of three
hundred British Institutions, and, therefore,
it fitting that he should have appeared.
More than a hundred schools have contributed
works to this collection, and altogether the opening
of this Exhibition may be ranked as a complete
success. It is not deficient in interest to any of
those which have taken place of late ; and it pos-
sesses an additional attraction, inasmuch as it bears
promise for the future that these young beings who
have been providentially snatched from the haunts
of vice and the temptations of idleness may grow up
in the favour of GOD and man to be useful members
of society, and thus afford the best and wisest proof
that the labours of their friends have not been
thrown away.

Mr. DENMAN last night moved that the annual
duty payable upon certificates taken out by attor-
neys, solicitors, and proctors in England and Ire-
land, and by writers to the signet, solicitors, agents,
attorneys, and procurators in Scotland, should be
abolished. The hon. member explaindd that it was
a war tax imposed by Mr. PITT as far back as 1785,
and he declared that it was unjust, anomalous, and
arbitrary. These were rather strong terms to em-
ploy for the occasion ; and although the motion
was right in the abstract, it certainly does not
assume the importance that the hon. member at-
taches to it. There are many taxes far more
heavy to bear which press .upon classes far
less able to endure them. Attorneys are very
well able to take care of themselves ; and if
the Exchequer can spare ninety thousand pounds
we can point out several other things of more con-
sequence, and several taxes which could be remitted
with great advantage. Mr. GLADSTONE spoke very
fairly on the subject, and stated truly that the pro-
per time to have brought this question under the
notice of the House was when the resolutions of the
Budget were introduced. The right hon. gentleman,
confuting the arguments of Mr. DENMAN, declared
his conviction that this annual duty paid by attor-
neys was not heavier than that paid by pawnbrokers
and auctioneers. The tax on hawkers may also be
abolished, and with more justice, for, as Mr. GLAD-
STONE said, they are a class not one in a hundred
of whom is worth a hundred pounds a year. An
" invidious selection" of one class cannot but offend
and irritate others, and to choose the most wealthy
or powerful profession would certainly be anomalous
and unjust. It must be admitted that Mr. GLAD-
STONE spoke with more reason than he often does
when he resists the abolition of any taxes, when he
said that at the present time it was inexpedient to
make this change, and he hoped that the House,
" warned by past experience, would refuse to
entangle itself with one of those abstract declara-
tions which were worthless for the present, and
which would only be embarrassing for the future."
The House, however, did not take this advice, and
a majority of three decided in favour of the resolu-
tion. It is always an unwise proceeding to enter
into agreements as regards future taxation, and
there can be no good done by this move of Mr. DEN-
MAN'S to pledge the House to an abstract resolu-
tion without any definite object or immediate
likelihood of its taking effect. Doubtless the majo-
rity of last night would not have been gained if the
elections were not so near, and it had not been
deemed advisable to propitiate constituents in cer-
tain quarters. It is to be regretted that a sort of
precedent has been established for dealing with
what should be general subjects in a particular
manner, and it cannot be said that any cogent
reason was given for the repeal of this duty; and at
the worst it must be borne in mind that any
grievances which this particular class may have to
complain of does not deserve mention in comparison
with the hardships endured by many who are not
possessed of the power to make known their wrongs,
and cannot find advocates to bring forward their
cause from want of interest and influence.

MR. VINCENT WALLACE'S RELAPSE.—We deeply
regret to state that Mr. Vincent Wallace, who was in a
very fair way towards convalescence, has had a relapse of
the singular malady which so long baffled medical skill,
and that he now lies seriously ill at Rtuigi-Pasy.---The
Orchestra.