The Sun.
London, England, 1862-01-29 00:00:00

LORD CASTLEREAGII AND SIR C. STEWART.

Descended from the same line of ancestors, born of the
same father, and inheriting the same religious and political
principles, the second and third Lords Londonderry were
vet essentially different from each other. Both had the
fa.*rn:l character, the moral and physical courage, the iron
will, which in civil and military life are essential to great
achievements, and both directed their dispositions in their
several professitns to the support of the ancient constitu •
tion, the upholding of the old ideas, in Church and State.
Both united with these qualities the kindliness of disr osi-
tion and warmth of heart which rendered them the idols of
their families, the objects of affection and esteem to a large
circle of relations and friends. Both had that high-bred
and chivalrous courtesy of manner, which softens so much
the asperities of national and political conflict, and which is
never acquired in such perfection as by those who, like
Marlborough or Sir Charles Stewart, unite military com-
mand with important diplomatic appointments. Both were
for a considerable part of their lives misapprehended by
their contemporaries, and rendered the objects of impas-
sioned party and political invective, which has been extin-
guished by the more impartial judgment of subsequent
times. So far their characters and destiny in life were simi-
lar, it might almost be said identical ; but in other respects
they differed widely from each other.
Lord Castlereagh's courage was more of the passive kind
—his character appeared chiefly in his power of resistance.
This arose, in a great degree, from his political situation,
and the public duties to which, as a Cabinet Minister, he
was called. With the exception of the affair of the Irish
Union, in which he was the right hand of Government, and
engaged in the active prosecution of a great, and, as it has
turned out, most salutary political change, he was all his
life stationed on the defensive. He was the warder on the
tower, to descry the enemy when yet afar off, and arrange
and head the garrison which was intrusted with the defence.
Whether in resisting the encroachments of France at the
Congress of Chatillon ; or throwing the weight of England,
with dicisive effect, into the scale, to push up the allied
forces before the battle of Leon; or in withstanding the
flood of democracy which, fed by public suffering, so vio-
lently surged up after the peace of 1815, he was always
charged with the duty of resistance, His life was one con-
tinued battle with the democratic principle, whether ap-
pearing in its early stages of public discontent and seditious
meetings, or in its last form of a terrific and conquering
military despotism, threatening destruction to every inde-
pendent Power, and prepared to stifle separate discontent
in the stillness of universal dominion.

Sir Charles Stewart's mind was in some respects of a dif-
ferent cast, and .his destiny in life was peculiarly fitted to
call forth its most brilliant qualities. A soldier by profes-
sion, and incessantly engaged, from early youth till the
termination of the war, in military duties and dangers, he
was called upon not to resist, but to attack ; not to defend
his own position, but to press forward and assault that of
the enemy. His mental disposition and chivalrous turn of
mind qualified him in a peculiar manner for the discharge
of these duties. Brave, active, and enterprising, he was
equally fitted to lead a headlong charge of horse, and to
combine the military movements which were essential to
the success of a profit campaign. We know not whether to
admire him most when, on the banks of the Esla, at the
head of his own regiment of huzzars, he routed the cavalry
of the Imperial Guard, and made their commander Lefebvre
Desnouettes prisoner ; when, in single combat, he disarmed
the French colonel of cuirassiers on the field of Fuentes
d'Onoro ; when he bled alongside of the Russian Guards
on the plain of Culm ; or when he overcame the scruples
and conquered the irresolution of Bernadotte, and brought
up the Army of tho North with decisive effect on the field
of Leipsic. We recognise the same energetic character and
determined will, when, after the peace of Paris, he turned
his sword into a ploughshare. It was the same man who
had headed the onslaught on the French squadrons, who
twice over reared the princely halls of Wynyard, bridled
the Northern Ocean amidst the rocks of Seaham, and mid-
way between the mountain and the main, aloft in -air,
reared up the enchanted castle of Ciarroß.

There is little question that the work before us will
attract considerable attention, and partisans will
probably depreciate it, on account of the opinions
professed, It does not possess the merit of impar-
tiality, for throughout it aims at a vindication of
Lord Castlereagh's character and policy. It furnishes,
however, an interesting record of an English states-
man whose career has not hitherto been popularly
known, or, perhaps, rightly appreciated ; of one
who filled a prominent part on the stage of life
while he was yet among the players, and who
should not therefore be suffered to remain without
a fitting chronicle. It is well, too, to possess a last-
ing memorial of so true and noble a nature as his
frank, soldier brother, whose name will long be
held in grateful remembrance by the neighbour-
hood of Seaham. Sir Archibald has discharged his
duties as historian and friend with his accustomed
ability. We should suggest, however, a more care-
ful revision of the work, for the elision of occa-
sional inaccuracies. The arrangement of the volumes
with regard to notes, index, and contents, is in
every way adapted to the convenience of the reader,
and well suited to a work which will probably re-
tain its place among standard books of reference.

TILE NEW ROAD ACROSS BYDE.PARK.

A final decision has been come to as to the road
across the park. The Chief Commissioner of Public
Works went over the ground, and finally decided
upon the plan fora sunk road through Kensington-
gardens. The road on the north will commence in
and parallel with
emerging on Kensington-
the Bayswater -road, and run across Kensington-
gardens west of the Serpentine,
north entrance to the Horti-
culturald therefore close upon the Ex-
hgt hioberi Kensington-
gore
yen‘ oppositevG ba rr
itself.odaetdhnl
est
length
ace, ,
is
to
of a mile, and it is carried across ats t three-quarters
a uniform
level
of 12 feet below the surface. It passes beneath the
carriage drive and Rotten-row by means of two
short tunnels. The total width of the roadway is
to be 40 feet, of which about eight will be devoted
to a footway on one side. Both sides of the cutting
will be formed of gently sloping banks of turf, and
none of the grown timber will be interfered with.
The cost of the whole road is estimated at only
£35,000, the Commissioners of Public Works un-
dertaking to pave and light it. The tolls are to be
the same as at Kensington-gate-3d. for one horse,
6d. for two, and a halfpenny for each foot passen-
ger along the pathway. The road is to be open day
and night. Every holder of a £lOO debenture will
receive an ivory, or ticket, which will pass himself
and his cab or carriage toll-free. Application will
be made to Parliament upan its meeting for the
powers,ne-
cessary and the act is not to come into
operation till £30,000 out of the £35,000
,have beer.
subscribed for. We believe the plan of the new
road is that proposed by Mr. Page.

THE YELVERTON MARRIAGE CASE.—In the Court
of Common Pleas, Dublin, on Monday, in the case of
" Thelwall v. Yelverton," Mr. Whiteside, Q.C., moved
on the part of the plaintiff, Mr. John Thelwall, that he
might be at liberty to mark judgment, and issue execution
thereon, notwithstanding the bill of exceptions taken by
Major Yelverton, the defendant, and for the cost of the ap.
saidpbest thing to do was to set the cause down for
first d
of next term, and they would be all anxious
licati,:y the n After some discussion, the Lord Chief Justice
.
I.make an arrangement so as to dispose them.