The Sun.
London, England, 1865-12-30 00:00:00

HIGH WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

This DAY.—Morning, h. m.—Afternoon, 12h. 22m.
To-Monnow.-Morning, 12h. 50m.—Afternoon,
.Ih. 20m.

4-4"4OSP"'"%
'

LONDON, SATURDAY, DEC. 30, 1865.

The year which is just passing away has been in
many respects an eventful and also a sorrowful one,
and the retrospect of its annals is not a pleasing
task. If we begin by taking a glance at foreign
affairs, there is little or nothing of a cheering aspect
to contemplate. The great struggle which for some
time waged • between the States of North America
has been brought to a termination, and one which
can afford no satisfaction to those who have care-
fully studied the course of events. It is true, that
In some respects matters have not been so disastrous
as some feared after the disastrous collapse of the
Confederates, and that slavery is at an end, but this
great change has not been brought about in a man-
ner likely to prove beneficial to those immediately
concerned. All who appreciate courage and con-
stancy regretted the unfortunate result of the
strenuous efforts made by the Confederates, and
lamented the mistakes which they made. A want
of unity characterised the proceedings of the
Southerners for so►ne time before the final crash
came, and the hesitation of DAVIS was another mis-
fortune, since its effect was to throw him into the
power of his enemies. The assassination of LIN-
COLN was an event which filled the civilised world
with horror, and the dastardly attempt made by a
particular section to palm the crime on the Sou-
thern PRESIDENT and his allies met with de-
served reprobation, and soon shared the fate it
deserved by dropping out of notice. The
new PRESIDENT has appeared to great advan-
tage lately, and agreeably surprised many who
feared for the consequences when he so unexpectedly
acceded to power. By his judicious bearing he
has toned down many of the asperities unhappily so
rife among his supporters, and by his consistent firm-
ness he has assured to the Southerners some expec-
tation of finally emerging from their fiery ordeal
under better auspices than at one time seemed
possible. Amid much to deplore that was discredit-
able not only to the rules of war among civilised

nations, but dishonourable to human nature itself
in the course pursued by the Federals during the
prosecution of the war, it is so far satisfactory and
encouraging to find that theman highest in authority
in the United States has determination enough to
follow the policy he thinks right undeterred by the
selfish objections raised by some, and the noisy
vituperation of others. The great Republic of the
Western World has signally failed in impressing
mankind with the excellence or endurance of its
principles, and if it would retrieve in some degree
the character that has suffered so considerably, it
must be by the exercise of moderation. Well may
the words of the Prophet be applied to the tur-
bulent and distracted politicians beyond the
Atlantic—" In returning and rest shall ye be saved
in quietness, and confidence shall be your strength."
The changed position of the leading men in the
United States since we last took a summary of the
passing year may well furnish a lesson as to the
mutability of human greatness, and the transitory
nature of ambitious dreams. President LiNcoLw,
who had been moving heaven and earth to be re-
elected, had just succeeded in his efforts ; but for
what a brief space he enjoyed the proud position he
so dearly cherished ! JEFFERSON DAVIS, then at
the head of a powerful community, has been for the
greater part of this year languishing in a prison,
while those who led the armies of the Confederacy
to the field, and carried destruction to the Federal
vessels at sea, have been scattered far and wide.
For ever memorable in the history of the world must
be this episode of the civil war in the United States
of America ; and it has also been notable in proving
to us all here that Republicanism is a sorry foun-
dation to rest upon. How many times and oft
have the ardent admirers of Democracy laboured to
impress upon their hearers the vast superiority of
American institutions over our own, and how com-
plete a refutation to their impassioned orations has
been furnished by the circumstances of the recent
struggle. We have witnessed a want of faith in
all established institutions, a mercenary grasping
for power when vital interests were at stake, and
an almost universal disregard for those principles
which should be held superior to advantage or
success. The upholders of the Union have shown
us they can fight, and can persevere in their
determination to conquer at all hazards and all
risks, but they have shown us far more con-
spicuously that they rank the consummation of
their particular views far beyond the claims of
justice or respect for truth. They have much to
learn before they can emulate those whom they
despise across the Atlantic. So far as this country
has been concerned Earl RUSSELL'S policy re-
specting America has been most unsatisfactory.
It inflicted serious injuries upon a large
portion of our population, it caused serious
losses to our merchants, and it has several times
nearly caused a rupture between the Government of
Washington and our own. Had he adopted a
bolder attitude at the outeet, and refused to recog-
nise the blockade, the consequences would have
been very different to the world in general, and in
all probability the next generation would be spared
the renewal of the contest, which cannot be called
really terminated.

In Europe there is nothing reassuring to point
to, and the course pursued by the German Powers
has been even worse than we anticipated last
year. The Prussians have set the rules of common
sense at defiance in their frantic efforts to grasp
their prize. After going to war to dispute the
claims of the King of DENMARK, and forcing him to
relinquish his possessions, they now declare upon
the highest legal authority that he was the rightful
owner of the Duchies, and that he has renounced
his claims in favour of the German Sovereigns.
The Duchies themselves and the lesser States have
met with a fitting retribution in the utter con-
tempt and indifference with which they have been
treated by those whom they suffered to delude
them at the outset of the affair. Here, again, we
may meet with an illustration of the harm occa-
sioned by our disastrous foreign policy. Had our
Foreign Office acted with discrimination and firm-
ness last year, this year would not have witnessed
the disgraceful issue of the Schleswig-Holstein
affair. The Emperor of AUSTRIA is in the midst of
an arduous investigation respecting the settlement
of the constitution, but unfortunately we cannot
place much reliance upon his promises, and at any
time he may alter his present tone for
one more arbitrary and exclusive. The Emperor
NAPOLEON has got into difficulties respecting
Mexico, and as yet we have no intimation of the
course he will pursue ; but we may confidently
expect that his excellent judgment will not allow
him to compromise his hitherto almost undis-
turbed success or permit the interests of
France to suffer. A serious loss has been
sustained in the councils of Europe by
the recent death of the King of the BELGIANS.
King LEOPOLD has long been most instrumental in
checking, the encroachments of absolutism on the
one hand, and moderating the extremes of revolu-
tionary tactics on the other. He was a great paci-
ficator ; and before the close of the year upon which
we are now about to enter we may have great
cause to deplore his loss.
Here in England the great Reaper has been very
busy among the ranks of distinguished men. In
art, literature, and politics some have been snatched
away whose places can never be filled again
so well or so worthily. The most notable
among oar losses was he who but lately was in-
terred in Westminster Abbey, amid a nation's regret
and homage. Lord PALMERSTON was a man who
could ill be spared at any time from the councils of
State, but he has left us at last when perhaps he
was as much needed as ever. There is no one so
well qualified as he was among our public men to
counsel the SOVEREIGN, direct the Cabinet, lead the
House, and inspire confidence among the com-
munity. Ile had long experience, and he possessed
a great knowledge of the English people. His
successors are manifestly wanting in this latter
respect. By the strict rules of party Lord RUSSELL
is a better statesmen, and Mr. GLADSTONE hasmore
greater orator, but
abilities and unquestionably a
neither_separately nor combined will they replace
Lord PALMERSTON in the direction of affairs or the
management of Parliamentary business, They are
too exclusive, and rely too much upon their own
convictions. The late PREMIER had tact enough
to recognise the claims of others, and never unduly
asserted his own right to interfere. The only in-
stance in which the new Government has displayed
any unusual signs of energy has been in the unfor-
tunate Jamaica business, and it has been, in-
deed, a most inauspicious commencement. It
is significant also, inasmuch as it shows
that there is a tendency to lean to the views of a
particular party, and to make the claims of justice
subservient to the bidding for political support. Mr.
COBDEN has also passed away during this year, and
in his peculiar position he was like Lord PALMER-
; STON, without an equal. The distinguished Car-
' dinal WISEMAN, the President of the Royal
Academy, the author of " Sam Slick," DAVID
ROBERTS, Sir JOSEPH PAXTON, Sir CHAS. CROMPTON,
Lord WILLOUGHBYD'ERESBY (the Hereditary Grand
Chamberlain), and the fourth Duke of NORTHUM-
BERLAND, are all numbered on the scroll of the de-
, parted. The material prosperity of the country has