The Sun.
London, England, 1865-09-02 00:00:00

secure the establishment of our rights and the pre

nervation of our freedom.

These blessings are

secured, but it is of consequence that our commu-
nity be not too much engrossed by the material
interests of their trade and calling to the neglect

and detriment of more important matters, although
they may not possess a declared nor an official value.

Candidates are also to blame for exhibiting such
selfishness in their proceedings, and much can be
studied that may with advantage be avoided in the

practices prevalent at a general election. Mr.
HERBERT, in an eloquent passage-, explained his

The change which a few months may sometimes
bring over the general aspect of affairs has been
strikingly evidenced this year amongst ourselves,
amd Mr. BUXTON, in addressing his constituents of
East Surrey the other evening, was able to point
to the alteration in the general confidence and
prosperity at the time of the general election. Un-
happily for the next Liberal candidate for a borough,
he will not be able to bring forward the state of
the harvest, of trade, or of the public health as the
result of Whig Government. He will have to hand
them over to his opponents, and declare that they are
due to the factious opposition which Lord PALMER-
STON'S Government has encountered. Mr. BUXTON,
in his catalogue of our present causes for anxiety,
especially dwelt upon the feeling of exasperation
existing on the other side of the Atlantic, and the
too great probability that a slight provocation might
hurry us into a war. His theory is that the best
means to avoid such a disaster is to remove every
temptation out of the way of America, and he con-
siders that the fact of a few British troops being
stationed in Canada is a great temptation to aggres-
sion. He, therefore, is in favour of a gradual
severance of the connection between us, though he
is shrewd enough to object to the proposal that Canada
should be neutralised—i.e., that in case of war both
parties should agree not to set foul upon her territory.
It does not require much foresight to guess that this
treaty would not be very long respected at Wash-
ington, but that, as Mr. BUXTON observes, it would
give the Americans the advantage of the first start.
But does Mr. BUXTON really believe that the sever-
ance he proposes would protect Canada or pacify
America ? It is not by disarming ourselves and
crying " Miserere" that the old feud between France
and England has so completely died out ; and very
certainly brother JONATHAN has not shown himself
so magnanimous that we should expect him to show
more consideration to feebleness than to strength.
If we are to resign all possessions that may tempt
the aggression or cupidity of other nations we shall
have enough to do, and every possession we have in
the West may be at once handed over to the Federal
Government, without satisfying their demands. Such a
course would be as unworthy of Englishmen as it would
be politically suicidal. These gentlemen who talk
so lightly of resigning our dependencies forget that
the growth of England's wealth and greatness is
commensurate with the rise of her colonies, and
that, commercially as well as politically, they
are an immense source of strength. But Canada

seems, is untenable. How came it, then, that we re

tain its government after two wars with America?
Our Government have acted frankly and liberally
towards the Canadians, and their conduct has been
far more in accordance with the wishes and interests
of the people than Mr. BUXTON'S proposed course
would be. Let us hope that by a firm and cm-

sistent colonial government they may make some
amends for their weak and blundering foreign policy.

Alhambra Palace.

' Mr. F. Strange maintains with great spirit the
management of the Alhambra Palace ; for, from
the commencement of his lesseeship down to the
present time, he has kept up a rapid succession of
novelties of the greatest attraction. The latest pro-
duction is a new Russian ballet, entitled " Les
Platineus ; or, Les Plaisirs d'Hiver," in which we
have the well-remembered skating scene from
" The Prophete," with a well-arranged pas de
Cosaque, a very pretty mazurka, and a dance called
" Des Dames de Moscow," all of which are executed
with a brilliancy and finish quite equal to the
far-famed ballet of the Italian Opera-houses.
The grand finale of the ballet is really very beauti-
ful, and as the snow flakes descended on the stage,
which is lit up by emerald coloured fire, the audience
became quite elated, and gave vent to their admira-
tion in loud applause. The capacious stage of the
Alhambra Palace affords ample space for the evolu-
tions of the skaters, and the effect produced by the
wintry aspect is most grateful to the visitors, espe-
cially as during portions of the evening the tempe-
rature of the " auditorum" is far above summer heat.
It has been said that at this particular season
" London is out of town," but a visit to the
Alhambra will cause great doubts to arise on the
subject, which rather will lead the visitor to imagine
that, taking the crowded state of the building into
consideration, it is rather the height of the season,
as not a vacant seat is to be had by those who
arrived a short time after the opening of the doors.

HUNGRY SHARKS.---A singular encounter with
sharks was made not long since by the French brig
Beaujen, Captain Leroy, on her way to Para and Havre.
The vessel hadreached a point about 49 deg. north latitude.
and 10 deg. west longitude, and was nearly entering the
Channel, when an unusual agitation was observed in the
sea, caused, it was found, by a shoal of those voracious
monsters. The captain succeeded in harpooning no less
than 17 of them, and hauling them on board the ship.
Their stomachs were in general found empty, which ac-
counted for their ferocity. Had they appeared only a few
leagues more eastward, there would have been a general
panic amongst the bathers at watering places on the Eng-
lish and French coasts.
WEATIIF
.11BOUND SWALLOWS.--A communication
from Toulon states that so violent a sirocco is now blowing
over that town that thousands of swallows are weather-
bound there, waiting for tho south winds to ceaso to cross
the Mediterranean.
CRYSTAL PALACE.— ONE SHILLING DAY, Friday,
Sept. I.—Admissions on payment, 3,609 ; ditto by season
tickets, 960—total visitors, 4,569. An additional station on
the high level line at Lordship-lane (near to Forest-hill)
was opened for public traffic yesterday.

RECLAMATION OF LAND.—Peewit Island, near
Harwich, has been purchased by Mr. R. Walker, of Ter-
rington, who intends to reclaim it from the sta. It con-
tskirts 1,200 acres.

meaning with regard to principle being the para-
mount object in the minds of right-minded and far-
seeing statesmen. He said that our institutions
really meant nothing in themselves, but it was the
temper and spirit in which they were maintained.
He had seen in his travels a Venetian palace, which
had once belonged to a noble family in the old days
of the city's greatness, but it was now used as a
barrack for the Austrian 'troops. " The walls were
the same as when all that art; trade, and enterprise
could tring together assembled there; they were the
same as once were racy with the laughter of wit
and the merriment of beauty ; they were the same
as once assembled within them all that was great
and noble ; and now they afforded a shelter to those
mercenary troops who held at the bayonet's point
that captive city in subjection." Such may typify
our institutions, if the old spirit does not animate
us and the old feelings prevail. It was truly ob-
served in this speech that we are as a nation at a
trying point of our history ; we have to guard
instead of to gain, to preserve in lieu of taking
possession. The pages of history, indeed, offer us
many warnings of the danger of relaxing in
energy ; but in the bustle and excitement of daily
life around us we are too apt to forget the
lesson. The hon. gentleman concluded his brilliant
discourse by declaring that the country could not
really enjoy prosperity unless these great truths
were recognised and appreciated. " Woe to that
man, and woe to that nation which does not place
high ideals before itself." This is precisely the kind
of backing which the public mind at present requires,
and the more widely these sentiments, or those
similar to them, are disseminated the better. We
shall then, as a people, be better prepared to endure
the most trying ordeal that humanity can pass
through—a cause of great prosperity—And to hand
down to posterity those benefits and blessings which
our forefathers won for us in many a hard fight,
and that we still should preserve for generations
unborn.

LATEST INTELLIGENCE,

(REUTER'S TELEGRAMS.)

DEPARTURE OF THE FRENCH FLEET.
PORTSMOUTH, SEPT. 2, 11 A.M.
The French Fleet has just left Spithead under

steam.

SPAIN.
MADRID, SEPT. 2.
It is considered probable that General Serrano
will be the Government candidate for the Presi-
dency of the Senate on the assembling of the new
Cortes.

PORTUGAL.

LISBON, SEPT

A new Cabinet has been formed, composed as

follows:--

Viscomt de Castro, President of the Council and
Minister for Foreign Affairs.
Senhor Rodriguez Sampaio, Minister of the In-
terior.

Senhor Pegurto de Siena, Minister of Justice.
Senhor Fontes, Minister of Finance.
Count Torreo Novar, Minister of War.
Senhor Tavareo de Almeida, Minister of Marine.
Senhor Serpo Pimentel, Minister of Public
Works.

The Emperor of the French is said to have
ofiered the King the use of the Palace of Compiegne
during his stay in France.