The Sun.
London, England, 1862-04-17 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, TrIMISDAY EVENING, APRIL 17, 1862.

this great meeting as free citizens, men of substance and
intelligence, to be listened to and cared for."
So much for the darker and stormier part of Lord
CAN NING' s administration. _ _

As to the calmer and happier portion of the noble
Viscount's career as Governor-General, thus—
" with a lengthened sweetness long drawn out"—
spoke the same Oriental panegyrist :
"Whether," he said, "you look to the restoration of
the confiscated estates in Oudh, to the ancient settlement
of that province, the suppression of that most infamous
practice of infanticide, or the abolition of the ban which
was laid upon the princes and magnates of this land, in
the exercise of their right of adoption, according to their
own religious views—whether you look to the administra-
tion of justice, the two universal codes—civil and criminal—
giving a security of life and property to the rich and poor
alike; the encouragement given to the cause of educa-
tion, or the impetus given to the development of the re-
sources of this country by the influx of European capi-
tal and enterprise on sound and just principles ; or
whether you look to measures adopted for equalising
the expenditure and income of this vast empire a ith
those for the redemption of the revenue and the sale of
waste lands, you only see and invariably find that the ad-
vancement of India's interest has been foremost in the
, thoughts of his lordship,"

So thinks India. And England should re-
member it. She should accord a welcome
to Lord CANNING upon his arrival here in
London consonant in its enthusiasm and
spontaneity to the Farewell with which he was
greeted by the natives of India upon his taking his
departure from among them at Calcutta. Viscount
CANNING, we hesitate not to assert—if only in me-
mory of the suppression of the Sepoy Rebellion and
of the annexation of India to the Crown, has earned
not only his pension but, with it, an Earldom.

Mr. COBDEN was unable, through the indisposi.

ion to which he is liable, and which we all regret,

o make his speech on a subject so eminently one

of his own, as that of Mr. HORSFALL'S motion. He
is a reasoner and adviser on commercial questions,
to whom, whether we agree with h:m or differ from

him, we always listen with pleasure. We may re-

Bard him :as counsel for commerce, and be pretty
sure that when he has spoken we have heard the

best which can be said on its behalf. Failing to
deliver his speech, he has favoured us with a letter,
which we doubt not many of our readers perused
with interest yesterday. It is addressed appro-

priately to the President of the Manchester Cham-
ber of Commerce. He has had, of course, the ad-
vantage of having the debate before him.
Mr. COBDEN goes the whole length in the inte-
rest of commerce, with little Concern for the inte-
rests of war. After sketching the course of negotia-

tions since the Treaty of Paris with America, he
mentions the exemption of commercial property at
sea from seizure in time of war, as now a subordi-
nate question. He regards the arguments on that
point as so conclusive that it is scarcely necessary
to recal them. The fact that as in time of war our
property afloat exceeds £100,000,000, and that this
is more than double the amount possessed by any
other Power, makes, he thinks, our interest quite
clear. One argument, on which a Cabinet Minis-

ter laid some stress, that the danger of their pro-
perty would make merchants clamorous for peace,
and so tend to prevent war, he regards as a joke.
He cleverly retorts, that if shipowners were a ma-
jority in the Cabinet, and in both Houses of Par-
liament, the argument might hold. But if direct
danger to property be a means of preserving peace,
he suggests that the possessors of another kind of
property should rather be liable to the risks of war.
As our landlords have the decision of peace and
war in their hands, he hints that it would be fair
that they, rather than commercial men, should give

security for peace.
But commercial blockades are what Mr. COBDEN
now proposes to abolish. He would restrict
blockades to naval arsenals, and to towns besieged
by land with which a fleet was co-operating.
Purely commercial ports he would leave open in
time of war as much as in time of peace, with the
single exception of arms and munitions of war.
Here he and Lord RUSSELL join issue. His
Lordship holds that the power of blockading
commercial ports is essential to our naval supre-
macy. Mr. COBDEN holds that the power is one,
the exercise of which would inflict more injury
on ourselves than on the nation against which

we employed it.
His argument is, to say the least, ingenious.
We, he observes, import more food and raw ma-
terials
of manufacture than any nation upon
earth. A populous and manufacturing island
must doubtless always do this. Other nations
import what are, comparatively or really, but
luxuries, with which they can better dispense
a while. Blockading American ports would de-
prive us either of food, or of cotton, or of both,
according to the state of our harvests and those
of other nations. We now submit to see Lanca-
shire half starved, because we refused, when Ame-
rica pressed it on us, to abolish commercial
blockades. We are thus answerable directly for
the blockade of the Southern commercial ports,
and the question arises, whether we are not pay-
ing too much for this mode of maintaining naval
supremacy. So truly is the question a practical
one that our rulers have themselves been often
compelled to answer it in -the negative. We
long refrained from blockading Russian ports in
the Crimean war. We admitted Russian pro-
duce, declining to notice its origin, to an im-
mense extent through Prussia ; and in 1813 we
found ourselves obliged to admit American cotton,
in spite of our being at war with her.
It cannot, then, be denied that our theory and
practice have been remarkably in conflict. And the
worst is, that had we given up the theory as well as
the practice, we should not at this moment find our
commerce with America so completely crippled,
and our manufacturing operatives almost starved,
because two parts of a foreign nation see fit to
quarrel. Nor should we generally. as a neutral, be
debarred from commerce with nations at war ,
because the one was able to blockade the ports of
the other, ,As to the question—of what use would
would a navy be if it could not be used for block-
ades P he replies—for an island with a commerce
like ours, the chief use of a navy should be, not to
close our communications but to keep them open.
We must confess that Mr. COBDEN'S proposals
seem to have a touch of commercial waggery about
them. There seems something so ineffably ludi-
crous in the idea of two Governments going to
war—say those of England and America—but
their subjects all jolly, good commercial friends
with each other, that be might well have enlisted
CRUIKSHANK or PUNCH to furnish pictorial illus-
trations of his argument. We might have
in one cartoon England bombarding Fort
Monroe, or Norfolk Navy-yard ; with Ame-
rica returning the compliment at Portsmouth,
and in an opposite one, the merchants of Liverpool
and New York meetiug each other in their respec-
tive Exchanges—or even enjoying their champagne
together at a public dinner, with the flags and
music of each countries as accompaniments. If to
make war ridiculous be the first step to its abolition,
Mr. COBDEN'S plan would certainly be perfect. A
duel between two Governments, while their sub-
jects were all trafficking at pleasure with each
other, would, as he well knows, be too great an
absurdity to endure long. Perhaps, this is his
secret thought.
We do not see what means he would adopt' to
prevent neutrals from supplying both belligerents
with the munitions of war. If the ports of each

were freely accessible, and the ship with contra-
band on board could not be seized at sea, of course,
the power which wanted her cargo would not con-
fiscate it. For the rest, we must leave his arguments
to the decision of public opinion. Undoubtedly
the right of blockade, if our power at sea be already
greater than that of other countries, does enable us
to use it in a way which makes them sensible that
" Brittania rules the waves." Mr. COBDEN replies,
true, but we make ourselves sensible also that we rule
them at a fearful sacrifice to ourselves. The whole
question is—do we think the sacrifice too great ?
If not, let us retain the right, and submit without
murmuring to the sacrifice. But if it be too great,
then we must show our supremacy in the direct
mode only—the mode of beating all that dares to

resist us.

The Duchess of Sotomayor has arrived at Man•

rigy's Hotel flora Blackburn.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Donegal]. will
leave Grosvenor-square early next week for Brighton.
The Earl and Countess of Craven are entertain-
ing a select party at Ashdowne Park. Amongst the com-
pany are Sir Robert Brownrigg, Sir Frederick Johnstone,
Hon. Frederick Craven, Mr. George Johnstone, Mr. Percy
Doyle, the Misses Oswald, &c.

The Earl and Countess Amherst will entertain a
select party at their seat, Knowle Park, during the recess.

The Countess Fitzwilliam gave birth to a son al
Wentworth Woodhouse on Sunday last.

The Countess of Fife's evening party, announced
for Saturday next, is unavoidably postponed.

Lord and Lady Harry Vane have left Grosve.
nor-place for their seat at Battle, for the holidays.

Lord and Lady Harriet Ashley leave town on
Monday for Brighton, for the Easter recess.
The Lieutenant-Governor of the Isle of Man,
accompanied by Mrs. Pigott and his daughters, left town
on Friday last for Government House, Douglas. His ex-
cellency had been detained in England some weeks from
indisposition. '

THE HEALTH OF MR. WAKLEY.—Mr. Wakley,
the coroner, has written from Madeira to state that he hopes

in a few weeks to be sufficiently restored to health to return

to Middlesex and resume his official duties.
FOREIGN POLICE FOR THE INTERNATIONAL
EXHIBITION.--Yesterday morning the first of the Parisian
detectives to be employed at the opening of the International
Exhibition arrived in the metropolis, and they will be fol-

lowei by some of the most experienced officers of the
Berlin, Brussels, and Vienna police, to assist the metropo-
litan force in the detection of offenders and the protection
of the public from plunder—numerous of the most expert
thieves having already made their way to the metropolis

from the chief Continental cities in expectation of reaping

a plentiful harvest at this great gathering of the people of

all nations.

THE ST. PAUL'S SPECIAL SERVICES.—The series
of special services under the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral
is to be brought to a close next Sunday night, on which
occasion the sermon will be preached by the Right Rev. Dr.
W. Thomson, the recently appointed Bishop of Glacester
and Bristol. It appears that each service costs at least £2O,
that there are no capitular revenues out of which to defray
the expenses, and that the public have not responded to re-
cent appeals in so generous a manner as to induce the Dean
and Chapter to continue these popular and exceedingly
attractive services for any longer term.
Two of the railway companies, viz., the London
and North Western and Great Western, have consented to
modify the arrangements which they had previously made
for the conveyance of visitors to London during the first
week in May. The London and North Western Railway
Company have made arrangements for extending return
tickets by the ordinary trains between all stations north of
Rugby from the 30th of April to the 3d of May inclusive,
and also for running excursion trains with tickets available
from the 30th April to the sth of May. On the Great
Western Railway the directors have agreed to make the
return tickets to London on the 30th of April available for
the return journey up to the 3d of May,
THE WEATHER.—The weather, which had been
cold and dry, with a cutting north-east wind, fir above a
week on the Northumberlani coast, got round to the south
on Monday, and there was a eonsiderable improvement in
the temperature, though the change of wind brought rain,
which continued falling on Monday night. The North Sea
was extremely rough and stormy on Sunday, and it broke
with tremendous force on the North Tyne pier and across
the bar of the Tyne, but it did no harm, except detain ves-
sels in the harbour. In consequence of the condition of
the weather last week, and the winds preventing light ves-
sels from getting down, there was a scarcity of tonnage is
the Tyne for the London market on Monday, and freights
ran up to 6s 6d and 6s 9d per ton. Nottingham, Tuesday .
—The weather since Friday has been extremely severe,
The nights have been frosty, with a keen north-west
wind. It is impossible to say at present what damage has
been done to the fruit-trees. A heavy fall of snow fell on
Saturday evening, with a very keen frost at night. The
spring-sown corn will feel the effects of the frost and cold.
To-day the the temperature is rather milder.
ROYAL BOTANIC SOClETY.—Yesterday a flower-
show at the exhibition-ground of this society, in their gar-
dens in the Regent's-park, was numerously attended. The
weather was most favourable, and a large number of choice
plants were exhibited. First prizes were awarded for six
azalias, to Mr. J. Brass, gardener to Sir F. H. Goldsmidt,
M.P., St. John's-lodge; for six azalias, to Mr. C. Turner,
nurseryman, Slough, Bucks ; for 12 auriculas, to Rev. H.
H. Dombrain, Deal, Kent ; for 12 auriculas, to Mr. C.
Turner, nurseryman, Slough, Bucks ; for six variegated
plants, to Mr. A. Lakeman, gardener to Mr. J. Campbell,
Grove-house, Hendon; and for six variegated plants, nur-
serymen to Mr. B. S. Williams, nurseryman, Holloway;
small bronze medal, to Mr. J. James, for 24 cut pansies ;
ditto to Mr. Wm. Bragg, for two boxes of pansies ; first
class certificate of merit to Messrs. F. and A. Smith, for
primulu simensis var.; ditto to Mr. C. Turner, for Rose
Catherine Guilot ; ditto for Cineraria Artist.
A SPECIFIC AGAINST SMALL-PDX.—Yaceination
is now so generally practised in Europe that the want of a
new specific for the small-pox is hardly felt; still the fol-
lowing remedy, stated by Mr. H. Chalmers Miles, army
surgeon at Halifax, to be need by the North American
Indians, may be valuable on the actual breaking out of
the disease. This remedy consists of an infusion of the
root of Saracenia purpurea, a plant nearly allied to the
family of Papaveracete, and is administered as follows :
When a person is threatened with small-pox, the
eruption not having yet appeared, a large glassful
of the infusion -is taken, the effect of which is
to hasten the eruption, making it appear in the course of
four or five hours. A second is then administered, and a
third after the lapse of another period of from four to six
hours, when the pustules sink down, having lost all vitality.
If the patient is already labouring under small-pox before
taking the remedy, one or two dozes of the latter will be
sufficient to efface the pustules and allay the fever. In the
course of two dr three days all the morbid phenomena dis-
appear, but the patient is nevertheless kept in his tent until
the ninth day. Ths eruption leaves no trace behind. The
Indians not only use this as a remedy, when the disease has
broken out, but also as a prophylactic ; they always keep a
weak solution of the plant ready, and drink some from time
to time. The Epidemiological Society of London has ro-
questmd Mr. Chalmers Miles to send over a quantity of
saracenia, that it may be tried in England. It is not easy
to explain how it comes that the Indians, possessing this
plant, and aware of its virtues, should have been so fright-
fully decimated by small-pox as historians describe; and
we are therefore led to the conclusion either that the virtues
of this plant have been greatly exaggerated, or that small-
pox cannot have committed among the Indians the exten-
sive ravages we read of. It Is not the least remarkable fact
in this matter that this new remedy has been so long kept
from our knowledge, notwithstanding the long intercourse
between Indians and Europeans.—Galignani.
THE ROYAL HUMANE SOCIETY.—A meeting of
the governors of this society was held yesterday at the
offices, Trafalgar-square, Mr. T. E. Baker, the treasurer, in
the chair. Mr. Young, the secretary, submitted the follow-
ing cases, in which persons had risked their own lives in
rescuing ethers from drowning, to the committee, who re-
commended Lieut. A. B. Brooke, R.N., of her Majesty's
ship Lapwing, for saving the master and crew of the barque
Grosse Farstein Catherine, which was wrecked in the bay
of Gibraltar on the 29th of Dec. last, for the award of the
society's silver medal. The bronze medal of the society was
given to John Schofield, for saving John Lippetb, who
accidentally fell into the sea at Neyland, South Wales, on
the 6th February ; to Samuel B. Jackson, for saving J.
Harris, who fell into the Loue,hborough.Canal, at Leicester,
on the 4th ult. ; to Lieut. Pearse, of the 76th Regiment, for
saving Charles Tassard, who fell into the harbour at Bou-
logne on the 10th ult.; to David Buckler, for saving Wm.
Millwcod, a little boy, who fell into the river Anker, at
Nuneaton, on the 28th ult. ; to Antonius de Rycker, mari-
r, er, fo: saving a man, name unknown, who fell into the
harbour at Dover on the 7th February; and to Thomas
Twiss, clerk, for saving George Reeve, who fell into the
Soho Pool, at Birmingham, on the 3d inst. Thanks on
parchment were voted to Wm. Bennett, steward of the
steamer Cornubia, for saving Jams Campbell, who acci-
dentaly fell into the docks at Leith on the 16th ult. ; to
Police•constables James King and Alex. Keely, fur saving
Daniel Dickson, who fell into the river Bann, at Bain-
bridge, county et Down, on the 24th ult. ; and a pecuniary
rewarc to Wm. Watts, pierman, for saving
Wm. Allen,
clerk, who attempted suicide by jumping into the river
Thames, 'Waterloo bridge, on the 26th ult. The secretary
read a letter from Mr. W. Rees, of Toronto, Canada West,
stating that a Humane Society was about to be founded in
that province, and reque,ting information as to the means
employed for saving life by the Royal Humane Society.
Mr. J. A. Hallett was then elected auditor in the place of
Mr. Woolsey, and, some further business having been dis-
posed of, the Court adjourned.

LATEST NEWS.

TURIN, APRIL 17.

A Committee elected by the inhabitants of Foggia,
and presided over by the Prefect, has resolved upon
sending an address to Lord Palmerston, thanking
him for the words which he spoke in the House of
Commons during the recent discussion on Italian
affairs, and praying his Lordship, in the interest of
Italy, to continue in the same sentiments.

General Fanti has been entrusted with the com-
mand of the military department of Tuscany.

MOSTAR, APRIL 16.

After entering Ragnani, Dervisch Pasha de-
spatched a strong party conveying provisions to

'iksich.

Upon its return the escort was attacked by a
number of Montenegrins and insurgents.
The attack, however, was repulsed by the four
battalions of Sami Pasha after an obstinate fight
and considerable loss on both sides.

RAGUSA, APRIL 15.
The Montenegrins have released 600 Albanian
prisoners, but have retained the chiefs.
Five thousand Bashi-Bazouks are marching upon
Vassevich and Albania.

Dervisch Pasha is in the neighbourhood o:
Niksich, which is blockaded by the insurgents.

THE BOMBAY MAIL.

The Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation
Company have received the following telegram :
" MARSEILLES, THURSDAY MORNING.
" The Valetta, with the above mail, arrived at
Marseilles at 6 a.m. this day.
" The mail was to leave for London at 10 a.m."

BOMBAY, MARCH 27 (via Trieste).
Lord Elgin was installed as Viceroy on the 12th
of March.

Lord Canning left Calcutta on the 18th March.
Mogul Bey was hanged in front of the palace of
Delhi on the 14th inst.

A widespread Mahratta conspiracy has been dis-
covered and suppressed at Hyderabad, in the Dec-
can, by Sarur Jung and the Resident. Bala Rao,
Nana Sahib's nephew, and the chief conspirator,
has escaped. No Mussulman was implicated in
the plot.
Sir J. P. Grant has demanded a public with-
drawal of the censures passed upon him by Lord
Canning.