The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-12 00:00:00

To commence at 7.

NEW THEATRE-ROYAL, ADELPHI.--
~.W.: rroorl..Lua ►IA .51113111,:g f. 31.. O.
THIS EVENING, TILE NISEI IGEIt. Mess s. C. II
Stephenson and Eburne; Miss K. Kelly.
Att r which, at 8. GE1t.4.1.1. INE. Miss Bateman, sup-
ported by Me-ars. Bateman ha first appearance,, Jordan.
Swiebeurne. Eiilington,
U. Phillips, Ash RI, t.-,tuart, S te,. hen-
son, Eburne; Miss Deny!! and Mrs. Lewis, &c.
To conclude with THE STEEPLECHASE; or, In the
Pigskin. Mesa's. J. L. Tools, Paul Bedford ; Miss K. Kelly

ing decrees which give little hope of a resto-
ration of public tranquillity. The Americans have
always been intolerant of opposition, and it was
never safe to oppose the passions of the crowd too
strongly. During the progress of the war this cha-
racteristic was so strongly marked that the few
journals that at first ventured to support the cause
of secession were compelled to succumb to the popu-
lar dictation. One of the most violent defamers of
the South was originally an advocate of Southern
rights, and there are probably a good many sup-
porters of the Federal cause who in their hearts are
willing at least to admit the right of the South to a
separate Government, even though they may not
be willing to concede them the exercise of that
right. It is quite a new doctrine that the
grand old state rights are visionary and
extinct, that the central Government is to be the
one irresponsible head, and that the Governors and
Senates of the different States are to exercise no more
political influence on the destinies of the country
than the Lord-Lieutenant of an English shire.
Americans should weigh well the results of the
course upon which they are now entering, for in
grasping at the shell they will lose the pearl. In
claiming rights which are not constitutionally theirs
they will forfeit those real and substantial blessings
which their forefathers so hardly gained for them.
The indictment of President DAVIS is not an insig-
nificant event ; it includes much both in the past
and in the future, and it impossible for reasonable
Americans to deny thatthey are virtually contradict-
ing their own acts. With this "so-called" rebel
and the " false traitors" who assisted him, the
Northern Government held communications as with
a recognised belligerent. Prisoners of war were ex-
changed, armistices and treaties made, and finally
terms of peace concluded. Nay, the PRESIDENT of
the United States himself did not disdain to accom-
pany his chief Minister to hold parley with com-
missioners appointed by JEFFERSON DAVIS. If
scession and warfare were treasonable, where is the
differencebetween LEE, BRECKENRIDGE, and DAMS
Excepting perhaps that the one showedmore energy
and perseverance than the others. It is not too
late for the Federal Government to pause in their
rash and headlong course, and if there is anything
like popular representation left we trust the people
will summon them to do so.

On Saturday evening there was a grand banquet
at the Fishmongers' Hall, which was honoured by
the presence of the Prince of WALES. His Royal
Highness made a very interesting speech on the
occasion, and the entertainment was most satisfac-
tory on the whole. The Prime Warder, in propos-
ing the health of the Prince, observed that it was
not flattery, but a fact, that the " esteem and affec-
tion with which his Royal Highness was regarded by
her MAJESTY'S subjects were owing no less to his
amiable manners, his kindly disposition, and the
condescension which he invariably displayed in his
intercourse with all classes of the community than
to his exalted position." This is true, for the
Prince has on all occasions shown himself most
anxious to conform to the wishes and meet the
requests of all classes ; and by, his ab-
sence from pretentiousness and affectation, he
has everywhere acquired golden opinions. The
Prince, in responding, adverted to the satisfaction
which he felt in being present there as a member, a
freeman of the Corporation. An additional interest
was imparted to the proceedings from the fact of
the Fishmongers' Company being the first of the
ancient guilds of the city which presented
its freedom to the Prince after his attain-
ing his majority. The Prince alluded in a feeling
manner to the loss of Mr. CUBITT, who had been
the Prime Warden when his Royal Highness took
up the freedom of the company. The Duke of
CAMBRIDGE'S remarks on the army were charac-
terised by an appropriate vigour, and his Royal
Highness paid a deserved compliment to its merits
and services. He said that the army was scat-
tered over the world, and that in times of peace
they had real and onerous duties to perform.
When we consider the vicissitudes of climate, the
monotony of colonial existence, and the various
hardships they have to encounter, it is impossible to
over estimate or to exaggerate the importance and
interest of their services. As the Commander-in-Chief
the Duke of CAMBRIDGE was the right person to descant
upon the improvements that have taken place of
late in the army, not only as regarded the efficiency
of the service, but its moral and social condition
also. Lord C. PAGET'S speech was very entertain-
ing, and his lordship was enabled to impart an
interesting piece of information, which met with
general approbation. The Emperor of the French
has just sent an invitation to the Government to
send our armour-plated fleet round thewcoast of
France, while the French armour-plated fleet will
come round the coast of England. This is, as the
noble lord styled it, a " courteous and friendly
offer," and it is satisfactory to know that it has
been responded to. It will be a fine sight, as was
mentioned there, for any lady or gentleman to go to
Plymouth to see both fleets together. Such an
event as this cannot fail to increase the goodwill
existing between the two nations, and will besides
cause emulation and incite improvement. Lord
ELCHO, of course, was quite at home with " The
Volunteers," for whom he returned thanks. His
lordship observed that we may now regard the
"Volunteer force as one of the permanent
institutions of the country, and if :we hear less of
it than formerly, it is because it has arrived at a
hum-drum jog trot, which is a token of its flourish-
ing condition. Lord ELCHO contrived to do a
stroke of business while making this little speech,
for he observed that the contest for the prizes at
Wimbledon vas near at hand, and he thought that
perhaps the Prime Warden and the Company of
Fishmongers might wish to associate their names
with those of the Prince of WALES and the Duke
of CAMBRIDGE as the donors of a prize at their
annual contest. The noble lord concluded by
hoping that his cool suggestion might not be
considered inappropriate on that very hot evening,
and that in 2865 " when the National Rifle Asso-
ciation entertained the Prince of Wales of that day,
they might be able to point to a sideboard of plate
equally rich and magnificent as the age before
them."

The Chancellor of the Exchequer made one of his
felicitous discourses, in which he alluded to many
interesting questions of the day. He began by
alluding to his own misfortune in having been
blocked up on his way there by a stoppage on Lon-
don-bridge, and from that circumstance he was led
to infer that all desired to belong to the party of
progress. The right hon. gentleman created amuse-
ment by stating that the present Government had
reached what might be called the " natural term of
the life of an Administration." Septennial Parlia-
ments were the law, and although septen •
vial administrations were not rendered im-
perative, it is rarely that any Government ever
approaches that time. The years that have passed
since the present Cabinet came to power have been,
as the right hon. gentleman said, of " tha deepest
interest to mankind." It is important to dwell
upon the fact that we have great cause for thank-
fulness in having been spared from the struggles
that have convulsed others to a terrific degree. Mr.
GLA.WTONE concluded his impressive discourse in