The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-28 00:00:00

lIIGII WATER AT LONDON BRIDGE.

THIS DAY.—Morning, sh. 20m.—Afternoon, sh. 40m
-11 oßnow.-Morning, 6h. Om.—Afternoon, 6h. 20m

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LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 28, 1865.

At the dinner to the judges last night, at Green-
wich, Mr. ROEBUCK made one of his amusing
speeches in returning thanks for the House of Com-
mons. The hon. and learned member always speaks
to the purpose, no matter what his subject is, and
of course on so congenial a topic as that of the
House of Commons he was able to distinguish him-
self and deliver some striking truths. His speech
was very well received, and appeared to afford great
satisfaction to those who had the good fortune to
hear it. He began by remarking that many persons
were very fond of criticising that assembly, and
some of his learned friends especially exercised a
" great deal of small wit," particularly when they did
not happen to be members of the house themselves.
This is very true, and there is quite enough of this
feeling apparent to justify Mr. ROEBUCK'S com-
ment thereon, that it was like the old Fable of the
Fox and the Grapes. That assembly, however,
" rules the land," as was emphatically declared by the
hon. member for Sheffield, and the more the subject
is considered the more will its force be recognised.
It is the House of Commons that really governs the
country, and in all the important changes that take
place it directs and influences the other governing
powers. Of course, as Mr. ROEBUCK observed,
England had attained her present proud position
through the qualities of her people, no less than by
the instrumentality of the house, but not the less
could it be said that the house represents the
people, and the sentiments of the nation
were fittingly expressed by the representative
assembly. It is there put into " legislative form,"
and works for the general welfare. It is true that
lately there has been some decadence in the rightful
influence of the representative assembly of. Eng-
land, but such mischances that are due to the mis-
management of Ministers are merely temporary, and
do not permanently or materially alter the position
of affairs. There is no cause to gainsay this im-
pressive passage in Mr. ROEBUCK'S speech :—" The
power of England sounds over the world, and the
House of Commons, aptly representing as it does
the English people, is deserving of the respect and
admiration of mankind." Afterwards the hon. and
learned member gave some very wise and good ad-
vice to those who will shortly be engaged in elec-
tioneering campaigns. It will be well if these
words of truth sink deeply into the minds of those
concerned, and if the real issues of the attainment
of a seat in Parliament are more considered, and if
so much importance is not attached to the mere
secondary and trifling consequences. " Think of
what you promise," exclaims Mr. ROEBUCK, and in
right earnest may he so express himself, for the ex-
pectations held out and the visionary schemes in-
dulged in by embryo M.P.'s are something extraor-
dinary, and might well provoke amusement if such
serious results did not proceed from them. This
caution of taking heed to their ways in the matter
of change is greatly needed in these days when
the advocacy of sweeping changes and levelling
doctrines is so sedulously practised in' some quar-
ters. " The English House of Commons, as it is,
has worked out the happiness of England and of
the world, and it behoves them to be very careful
how they touch that ark of our protection." Those
who promise in the tempting time of elections what
they neither can nor will perform are very cul-
pable, and their devices will not avail to secure
them a position which is at all enviable. The more

the dignity and decorum of the House is considered
by those who come forward as candidates, the
better for their own reputation and the welfare of
their fellow-citizens. It is unworthy of English-
men to descend to tactics of such an objectionable
nature as those which often characterise the pro-
ceedings of candidates at elections. Mr. ROEBUCK
deserves the thanks of the community for thus
coming forward at this critical juncture, and pro-
claiming in his powerful language what it is most
essential that all should dwell upon. The great
powers of eloquence which he possesses can be em-
ployed in no nobler cause than in upholding the
claims of the House of Commons to our regard,
our reverence, and our devotion ; and the keen
satire, the quick observation, and the apt descrip-
tions of the hon. and learned member can have no
better theme than the faulty measure in which some
of those entrusted with high privileges sometimes
make use of them.

The annual meeting of the Cotton Supply Asso-
ciation took place yesterday, under very different
auspices from those which attended it some three or
four years ago. The Association was in existence
before the commencement of the cotton famine or of
the war which occasioned it, since the meeting of
yesterday was the eighth annual assembly. The
gentlemen who formed it were no doubt induced to
make some efforts to encourage the growth of cot-
ton by the threatening aspect of American
political affairs, and the crisis at which they
soon arrived must have speeily convinced them
of the wisdom of their object. The folly
and improvidence of depending for the sup-
I ply of one of our chief branches of manufacture
on one foreign nation exclusively was certainly un-
like English enterprise and forethought, and great
as the mistake was it was amply punished. It is
only to be hoped that a lesson of prudence has been
taught to our manufacturers by the sad experience
of the past. But it is too probable that when matters
return to their former courses the old false security
will be felt, and the same monopoly of the cotton
supply obtained to one or two quarters, unless some
continuous efforts are made by those who really
understand the danger. The revival of the cotton
trade is, of course, one of the first considerations with
American statesmen. The Secretary to the Treasury
has, it is said, advised all who want cotton to buy
it without asking too inquisitive questions as to its
origin or former belongings, and in this he is acting
wisely, since, in the troubled state of the country
and the general depression of trade, cotton is the
great resource and the lever by which it is hoped
to restore the country to its former commercial
prosperity. Still American politics are unhappily
likely to be in an unsettled condition for years to
come, and our own relations with that country are
not altogether so secure that we should be willing
to be too much at their mercy. It will not
be the way to moderate American assumption, or
to assert our own dignity, to suffer the United
States to believe that they can hold over us in ter-
rorem another cotton famine. We have, indeed,
one great resource against such a calamity, but
official obstinacy, ignorance, and prejudice prevent
us from availing ourselves of it. India has numerous
capacities for cotton growing, but it is in vain that
the Cotton Association appeals to the Indian Council
to encourage the growth. In the report read at
the meeting yesterday allusion was made to the dis-
appointment felt that so little had been done to
render India a permanent and satisfactory source of
supply, and it was added the committee had recently
made another effort to induce the Council to give some
stimulus to the industry in that country. "S", long
as Sir CHARLES WOOD is at the head of affairs,
however, there is little hope of substantial amend-

ment, though it might naturally appear that the

fact of so fine a cotton trade existing in
our own dominions would be a source of re-
joicings, and the object of anxious care.
As a proof of the quality of the cotton
which India is capable of producing it was men-
tioned that a consignment of Indian cotton from
Madras recently sold at 14d. per lb., the value of
middling Arkansas at that time being 15d., so that
India can produce cotton of a quality which will
bear comparison with American. If the efforts had
been made in India which have been made in Egypt
and other places our Indian cotton trade might now
be on an altogether :different footing. The Cotton
Supply Association, foreseeing the change which
was made in the cotton market by the
close of the American war, are directing
their efforts to the encouragement of a better
quality of cotton rather than to the production of

mere quantity. In anticipation of the period when

American competition will have to be encountered,
they are everywhere stimulating the distribution of
the best kinds of seed. The number of bales supplied
is no longer the primary object, but thequality of the
staple is now the great end to be considered. The
committee has very wisely resolved not to relax its
efforts, but to endeavour to sustain and guide the

exertions of those countries which it has encouraged
to enter upon the cultivation. In some quarters
their efforts have been met with the greatest cor-

diality, and the Turkish Government has shown
the utmost eagerness to avail itself of the opportu-
nity presented. The committee having in view, as
we have said, the permanent elevation of the quality
of the crops, have been urging the extensive use of
New Orleans seed, wherever soil and climate favoured
it, and of this seed Turkey alone would gladly have
taken 300 tons. It has been shown that this kind
of seed suffered less from storms and inundations
than any other kind, and consequently it is more
profitableto the grower. As a proof of the extended
exertions of the society, it was mentioned that
during the last year they had received 200 samples
of cotton, which came from all parts of the world,
suitable to the cultivation. The great services
which have been rendered by the association in
distributing seed and machinery have been very
instrumental in stimulating enterprise in many of
those places which now promise to become perma-
nent sources of supply. It is a pity that our
Indian Government will .not take a hint from the
example of those industrious and enterprising
gentlemen.

Personal reflections are always to be deprecated
at elections, and no greater mistake can be made
than to descend to the use of such paltry weapons
of warfare. It lowers the whole tone and character
of the proceedings, and is altogether a most repre-
hensible practice. Mr. HOLROYD, last night, de-
livered a most telling oration a+. Northampton, in
which he indignantly denounced the course pur-
sued by his opponent, Lord HERVEY, in seeking to
injure him in the eyes of the electors. It must be
admitted that Mr. HOLROYD had decidedly the best
of the argument, and evidently expressed opi-
nions which obtained the concurrence of those
present. He spoke very fairly on the political topics
on which he touched, but the most exciting portion
of his address was that which appertained to mere
personal affairs. Lord HENLEY sought to depreciate
Mr. lIOLROYD, because he had been at one time
time connected with the London, Chatham, and
Dover Railway Company. For some years he was
the secretary, and he says that he was " mainly
conducive to the success of that great national
undertaking." Certainly there is nothing in such an
occupation which renders any one unfitted for a neat