The Sun.
London, England, 1865-04-04 00:00:00

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LONDON, TUESDAY, APRIL 4, 1865.

The House of Commons had last night a sad yet
a grateful task to fulfil in offering a tribute to the
memory of Mr. COBDEN. Lord PAL3IERSTON was
very felicitous in his expressions, and displayed much
of that genial feeling and cordial sentiment so ap-
propriate to such an occasion. The noble lord has
seen many of his competitors depart Nfore him to

the silent land, and no survivor could possibly enter
more fully into the merits of the departed. In his
remarks last night Lord PALMERSTON commented
upon the loss which the country had sustained. As
he truly put it, Mr. COBDEN " occupied a prominent
position both as a member of the House and as a
member of the British nation." It is thus that his
death is certainly felt by all classes of the com-
munity and all shades of politicians. It is not until
a great man has departed from among us that we
can rightly estimate his importance or enter
into his merits, and thus it is with RICHARD
COBDEN. Doubtless his most intimate friends
and wannest admirers would hardly have
accorded him the - high place which his
death has showed that he possessed in public
esteem and regard. Lord PALMERSTON remarked
upon the " honesty of purpose" which characterised
the departed, and in this expression also he received
the approving testimony of the House. Many
could not agree with with Mr. COBDEN'S extreme
views and particular tendencies, but all differences
are now forgotten, as Lord PAL3IERSTON admirably
explained it, when we think of the great and im-
portant services he rendered to our common
country. Mr. COBDEN, more than many distin-
guished men of the day, has impressed his character
upon his generation, and associated himself with
those important changes which will mark the pre-
sent epoch and make it conspicuous to future
times. Lord PAL3IERSTON spoke the simple truth
when, in summing up the epitome of his career,
he said that Mr. COBDEN had carried into
" practical application" the theories of many
distinguished minds, and aided their reception by
masterly efforts, and, above all, by his " forcible
and Demosthenic eloquence." There were several
who were also instrumental in carrying these prin-
ciples into effect, among whom the late Sir ROBERT
PEEL is prominent, but it is greatly to be ques-
tioned if in this generation our country would have
witnessed the triumph of free-trade principles had
RICHARD COBDEN not come forward. It must be
borne in mind that he worked in the night, and
when the day at last dawned, others pressed round
to help him ; but there was a long struggle to go
through before sutcess was reached. Having put
his hand to the plough, he did not look back, how-
ever, but rather glanced forward to the distant but
desired goal. Lord PAL3IERSTON alluded to the
honours which he offered to Mr. COBDEN after he
had been instrumental in framing the Treaty of
Commerce with France. A baronetcy and
the rank of a Privy Councillor did not, how-
ever, hold out any inducements to the
mind of the great Reformer, and he preferred to go
on in his unaided and independent course. Still it
is to the credit of the Minister who paid this com-
pliment to so distinguished a patriot. Finally,
the noble lord concluded amid the loud cheers of the
House, by declaring that Mr. COBDEN was "emble-
matical of our Constitution, since he rose to emi-
nence by his own exertions and the vigour of his
mind, and that while his name was for ever en-
graved on the most interesting pages of history,
not one in the House but would feel they had lost
one of its proudest ornaments, and the country had
been deprived of one of her most useful servants."
Mr; DISRAELI followed the noble lord in offering a
tribute of respect to the memory of the departed,
whom he lamented as having gone from among
them in " the ripeness of his manhood, and the
full vigour of his intellect." The right hon. gentle-
man never appears to greater advantage than when
he is alluding to the merits or mourning the
loss of apolitical opponent. He takes a compre-
hensive view of the case, and soars far beyond the
petty limits of party feeling and the narrow bounds
of conventional prejudice. Mr. Dis4AELI Ms truly
said in one of his works " a great man is one who
affects the mind of his generation," and judging
by that standard, Mr. COBDEN is assuredly grea

for none of the political celebrities havo done more,
if so much, to influence and impress their country-

men. Mr. DISRAELI was enabled to pass a correc

opinion on the parliamentary career of the departed,
for he was in the house when Mr. COBDEN entered
it, and thus had had ample opportunities to follow
and mark his energetic efforts. The right hon.
gentleman made a rapid summary of the
chief characteristics of Mr. COBDEN'S style, and
laid great stress on his unrivalled powers as a
logician, and also his gifts as a debater. His
moderation he also adverted to which indeed was a
distinguishing traib in his character. The friends
and adniirers of Mr. COBDEN must be pleased with
the earnest eloquence of Mr. DISRAELI'S speech to
his memory. He said that Mr. COBDEN had re-
ceived the consideration of the two leading countries
of the world. The right hon. gentleman alluded
to the many losses which the present Parliament

has sustained in the deaths of so many eminen

members, but, as he truly mentioned, they have the
consolation of knowing that their memory remains
and their " opinions will be quoted, their authority
appealed to, and their judgments attested." This
interesting speech was fittingly concluded by
the declaration that Mr. COBDEN was one
of those who are independent of dissolu-

tions, the caprice of constituencies, and
even of the course of time. " I believe," said

the right hon. gentleman, " that when the verdict o:

posterity is recorded, on his life and conduct, i

will be said of him that, looking to all he said and

did, he was, without doubt, the greatest political
character the pure middle class of this country has

yet produced, an ornament to the House of Com

mons and an honour to England." Mr. BRIGHT'S

few words were most significant ones, but the lion

gentleman's deep emotion could hardly allow him

to address the House. He said that he must take a

future opportunity of testifying to the merits of his

friend,put that "after 20 years of most intimate and

brotherly friendship, he little knew how much he

loved him until he found that he had lost him.

With such a sorrow as that experienced at the seve

rance of such a tie all must sympathise, and Mr.
BRIGHT has the happiness of feeling that his friend

was appreciated, and his memory is honoured where

ever his name is mentioned. It may be said of him
his mourners are two hosts, his friends and foes ;

and, furthermore, two countries unite to do him

homage. The French papers speak admiringly and
regretfully of the departed, and one of them appears
in mourning. Surely Mr. COBDEN could not have

desired a better offering to his memory than that

which has been paid to him by all classes, and will-

ingly accorded by those among whom he held so
prominent a place during his distinguished career.
It may truly be said that the House of Commons

last night mourned him as a departed friend, and
that by common consent he received tho'se tokens of

respect which, more than rank and title, are the best
trophies of the success of the living and the best
tribute to the memory of the dead.

The public schools of England have always been
one of our national boasts. Endowed with a libe-
rality that does honour to our ancestors and re-
markable for the number of distinguished men
which they have produced, our public schools have
always been regarded with honest pride by the
body of the public, while those who have passed
their own youthful days under their shadow natu-
rally look upon them with a kindly interest. As a
great part of our legislators and leading men in

every profession have been brought up under the
auspices of one or other of our public schools; it is
not surprising that any interference with their
management, any trenching on their privileges
should be regarded with some jealousy, indepen-
dently of the close scrutiny with which every
attempt at innovation or reform is generally
watched. It is not surprising, therefore, that the
Public Schools Commission Bill, which was last
night under discussion in the House of Lords,
should meet with considerable opposition. At the
same time, it must be admitted that the question is
one which demands grave deliberation. There is
much to be said on both sides. The Government
supporters urge the advantages to be derived by the
infusion of a new spirit into the direction of the
schools, and by the addition of distinguished men to
their governing bodies. Their opponents, on the
other hand, declare that such additions will leave
room for the appointment of Government nominees,
will neutralise the efforts of the Head-Master, who
is the most interested in the wellbeing of the school,
and complain that while hampering the manage-
ment of the school, the bill provides no particular
reform in the mode of instruction. If scientific
men who have attained distinction in any especial
study are to form part of this directing body, they
will, it is said, desire to bring their own favourite
science into too great prominence. There are
counter arguments brought forward against these,
and it may be said with reference to the interference
with the rights of the head master, that if a wise
and benevolent despotism has its advantages, con-
stitutional government is safer in the long run.
Dr. ARNOLD or Dr. VAUGHAN might be wiser than
their councillors, but every head master of a public
school is not an ARNOLD or a VAUGHAN ; and if
the general results of our public education have
been creditable and satisfactory, it must be candidly
admitted that there are many points in which the
system needs reform. Perhaps no system, so ancient
could fail to have some imperfections, however
admirable in the main, even as our political consti-
tution, excellent as it undoubtedly is, has needed
from time to time additions or removals. It is very
necessary, however, to proceed cautiously in any
movement of the kind, the more so as in strict
legality the wishes of the founders deserve to be
borne in mind. Some of the objectors consider that
the present bill will only result in leaving things as
they are, while others dread excessive interference.
There can be no doubt that it is a question of very
great difficulty ; and after the most careful legisla-
tion the good conduct and efficiency of a school
must depend to a great measure on the individual
character of the head master. If the new measure
so limits the power and interferes with the position
of the master as to disgust really eminent and
capable men with the post, it will be a very great
evil, and one which no body of governors will be
able to counteract. Under all circumstances, Lord
DERBY'S suggestion of a select committee seems to
have been the wisest ; and although it was indig-
nantly rejected by the mover of the bill, it is pro-
bable that such may be its ultimate destination if
the question is to be fairly and impartially settled

The distribution of prizes to the successful corn-
' petitors in an exhibition is usually rather a matter
c\f course, but the ceremony which took place last
Saturday at the Lambeth Baths was somewhat
exceptional in its character. The exhibition which
it concerned was in some measure peculiar, belong-
ing to that new order of industrial exhibitions
which reflects so much credit on our artisans and
mechanics. The fact of Lord PALMERSTON, the
enerable statesman who occupies the foremost
plce among the subjects of the QUEEN, coming to
iiresent to these working men the tokens of success
was also very significant. It showed the progress
of that sympathy between classes, that kindly
interest which those at the top of the ladder
take in those beginning the ascent, which
are among the most gratifying features of our time.
Lord PALMERSTON, himself a working man during
his whole life, and still a working man at a period
when most men cease from their labours, was a
most fitting president for such an occasion, and his
straightforward words of encouragement to those
he addressed must have impressed them the more,
from the well-known character and position of the
speaker. He bade them remember that the highest
posts in the land were open to honest industry ; but
while they might not reach the Cabinet or the
Woolsack, he would have them also remember
that such application and ingenuity as they had
displayed would benefit themselves and their coun-
try in any grade. Such are the true sentiments
which should govern those exhibitions—not the
petty desire to eclipse one's fellows, but the honest
endeavour to produce something really good, and
to cultivate and refine the taste. The ridiculous
individuals who tried to distinguish themselves, by
an ebullition of bad temper and a display of bad
mannerswere no specimens of the English work-
ing classes, and the audience expressed their opinions
pretty clearly. The address of Lord PALMERSTON
was worthy of himself and of his hearers, and his
presence on the occasion will add to his popularity
in Lambeth.

THE CORPORATION OF THE CITY OF LONDON
AND THE POLICE FORCE.—The Police Committee of
the Corporation of the City of London, after careful consi-
deration of the claims of the several grades of officers con-
nected with the City Police Force, have agreed to recom-
mend for the sanction of the Court of Common Council a
new scale of wages, embracing the whole of the classes of
constables, sergeants, and inspectors. We are in possession
of the several progressive amounts, and the actual detail in
relation to each class ; but until the report is ratified we
can merely state that the constables are hereafter to bo
divided into three classes; no one appointed to the lowest
to receive less than 21s. per week; the highest of the three
classes to have 275. 6d. ; the sergeants, a corresponding ad-
vance ; and the maximum, orinspectors' class, to reach 10s.
beyond their present amount of *weekly wages. It is
understood that upon a special day, at an early date, the
report will be brought up for the final decision of the
Court.

CURIOUS AND COSTLY HISTORY OP THE CAMEL.

—One of the first publications of Messrs. Day and
Son, under their new management as a limited company,
is " The Camel ; its Anatomy, Proportions, and Paces,"
by Elijah Walton, in large folio. The work was under-
taken by the author " to afford to artists, who lore to illus-
trate the fascinating scenes and incidents of Eastern travel,
the means of representing the noblest animal of the East
with truth and accuracy." Tho means taken by the author
to produce a really valuable book are most extraordinary.
Ile first purchased as camel, engaging two Bedouins to assist
him. The following series of studios was then proceeded
with :-1. A number of smoothed spaces having been made
on the sand, the camel was driven over them at all the
different paces, the spaces between the footprints were
accurately measured, and drawings of the footprints in each
case carefully made to scale. 2. The author next executed
a number of drawings of the camel in all its different atti-
tudes, comprising front, back, and side views. 3. The
animal was then killed, and drawings made of the muscles
and the tendons, '.and, finally, the bones ; these cora-
pletely illustrating its anatomical structure. Contrs:ry to
custom, the council of the Royal Society subscrilv,ad for a
copy previous to its publication.

SIR JOHN DEAN PAUL, BART.—The Hertford-
shire Express says that the late banker, Si r John Dean
Paul, Bart., is now residing at Gustard 'Wood, Wheat-
hampstead, about eight miles from St. Albans, and has
commenced the business of a wine and spirit merchant.
On Tuesday his tender was accepted by 1 he St. Albans
board of guardians for the supply of spirit to the union
workhouse.

KNARESBOROUGH.—A member of the legal pro-
fession and of a family long resident in the toll -n is under-
stood to be privately canvassing the electors ,Arith a view
to offer himself as a candidate in the Liberal inter •est at the
forthcoming election. The preponderating strength, how-
ever, of the Conservative party, renders this attecmpt upon
the:independence of the borough and the seat of the prmextt
members, Mr. Wood and Mr. Collins, hopbletas.