The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-12 00:00:00

THE SITN, LONDON', TUESDAY EVENING, AUGUST 12, 1862.

and GARIBALDI have laid their heads together. Is
it asked to what purpose ? Can any one seriously
believe that it is simply to the end that the life-
long and dearly-cherished aspiration of those two
men, the Conspirator and the Conqueror, the Libera-
tor and the would-be Liberator—can any one in
reason suppose (remembering what has been the
career of MAZZINI, and what the career of GARI-
BALDI !) that Captain PEN and Captain SWORD
have met together at this momentous juncture
simply to throw up as altogether hopeless (even for
the time being) the darling desire, the passionate
aspiration of their lives. MAZZINI, it is true, is
reported to have returned to Malta immediately
upon the close of his interview with GARIBALDI.
It is like him. But—even with regard to a man
like MAZZlNl—there is an obviously possible appli-
cability here of that astute policy reculler pour
mieux saute?. ! And, with regard to GARIBALDI—
whiIe no doubt there is still a talk of his whole
enterprise having come to an end and of his armed
followers having been actually dispersed—it is yet
manifest that he himself yet remained in Sicily, and
with him in those Sicilian woodlands not less than
about 3,000 devoted adherents. Again—we can
but wait. Certain that, whatever else occurs,
tothe
h eltalylebs
of
t
u o
RATAZZI and his colleague will meet with their
deserved retribution. Hopeful still, through good
and evil report,
that
i t theo u t bestdetriment
interests
maybe
portion advanced—without
vtahl le ced—
heroich fame of GARIBALDI.

Lord PALMERSTON, the proper hero of the Shef-
field banquet, hardly received from us the notice he
deserved, occupied as we were with the important
avowals of Mr. ROEBUCK. Yet, if we mistake not,
his visit to Sheffield was really a political move of
no little consequence. But a week before he had
received a severe drubbing from both sides of the
House, which he bore with his usual good nature,
and confidence in the popularity of his policy as a
whole. His assailants also made a great mistake
in filling their speeches with accusations merely.
Surely, he had some good points which must have
something to do with his popularity as a Minister.
Still, the object of the two schoolmasters seemed
likely to be in a measure obtained. They dismissed
their veteran pupil to his holidays with the reputa-
tion of having had a severe birching from two of
the upper masters just before school broke up.
What does the scholar do, but use the first day
of the holidays to wipe all out of memory as com-
pletely as if it never occurred. The Sheffield fete
is Lord PALMERSTON'S answer to both Mr.
COBDEN and Mr. DISRAELI. There he could
and did beat them both completely. "He is said
to be popular," observed Mr. COBDEN ; Sheffield,
by thousands of all classes, replied, Yes, he is in-
deed popular ; popular in the technical sense of the
term, for they were all the people, the very plebs,
who cheered for PALMERSTON till the tall chimneys
vibrated with the sound. He does not care about
the working man, insinuated the orator, who be-
stows green coats with plated buttons on prize
peasants at agricultural shows—and the working
men of Sheffield reply by pushing aside the muni-
cipal magnates on the railway platform, who good
temperedly submit, while the horny hands are
thrust forth to get hold of Lord PALMERSTON'S,
who does not loose them till they can carry away
the story that they never had a. heartier shake of 1
the hands before. And then, as to the grave charge
of his costly pugnacity, the Mayor of the town, in
proposing his health, represented himself as one of
those who " would never begrudge the voting of
any sums, however large, which are necessary to
place the commercial interests of the country on a
safe footing, and to maintain the honour and inde-
pendence of our shores." What was this but a sly
glance at Messrs. COBDEN and DISRAELI, and say-
ing, in other words, PALMERSTON, with income-
tax, and seventy millions if you like, but PALMER-

STON anyhow.
To be sure, Mr. MAYOR had something to do
with receiving irom, as well as payiug tu, tLc iu•
come-tax. We do not mean to insinuate that Mr.
MAYOR does not earn well every penny he receives
back. Sheffield is, however, one of the places
which get their share of the advantage of the new
necessity of building ironsides. The very next
morning, we find Lord PALMERSTON and the com-
pany visiting his worship's "Atlas Steel and Spring
Works ;" and a part of the works in progress was
rolling immense plates of iron for the sides of future
Warriors; not less than a hundred tons a week were
being manufactured at this very time, and arrange-
ments were in progress to quadruple that number.
In this factory were employed two thousand hands;
how many will it soon employ ? Casting of cannon
diversified the solid entertainment, and of course,
the premier left an armour plate and gun factory

pleasing and pleased. Those two thousand work-
- -

men would, to a man, give their votes for PALMER-
ston, if they had them ; and it is clear they would
not need the protection of the ballot, to save them
from the consequences of any unpleasant difference
on that point, from their employer.
As to the banquet, who ever knew Lord PALMER-
STON fail on such an occasion ? He had, of course,
a pleasant speech for everybody. The Premier
whom the Tories, we are told, prefer in the house of
Commons, as more serviceable to them than their
own leader, had a hearty good word for the two
Radical members and the Radical electors, compli-
menting both in one breath, describing their two
members as themselves sufficient proofs of the
"sound judgment and discrimination of the people
of Sheffield." The electors were men who have
chosen "two of the most honourable, the most dis-

tinguished, and most patriotic members of the
House of Commons—two members eminently
British and English in their feelings and in their
conduct." His lordship declared himself prouder of
the applause of a constituency which had chosen
such men. The masters," who had made princely
fortunes," the " sturdy and honest working
classes the strength and stamina of their country,"

"specimens of the stubborn, manly honourable
Englishman," "the admiration of all who came
among us"—all classes came in for their share
of praise from the Premier-Laureate; and,
not least of all, we may be sure the
ladies would have ample evidence that seventy-
eight summers make no difference in the years of
a genuine Cupid. The steel and iron and armour-
plates of Sheffield, and the Armstrong guns
themselves, were appropriately enough pressed into
the service of doing honour to the impossibility of
resisting the charms of the ladies of Sheffield.

Perhaps the two schoolmasters of the previous
week would exclaim that all this was mere " bosh,"
though we think Mr. COBDEN'S natural good
humour must have shown itself in smiles had he
" been there to see ;" and Mr. DISRAELI himself
vaoruildhave had difficulty in maintaining the in-
Variableness of his physiognomy. But, unluckily
for Lo rd PALMERSTON'S political foes, the English
public, give votes to such " bosh" as this. They
instinctively discern
the temperament beneath it
all, and they like it,
little they
vote for it. They do
not mind paying a
a,lord,
d
more to have a man, who,
at the distance of
has a perfect fellow-
feeling with them in the
.entiment most plea-
sant
gain position
hire mightif
illse
itA
too werenLo
it
could
a
lrd.
,G,rti
Ag phtstolgotoNho eEdm,
sf .e l l o
w Whatj.,
,abilities
If be and Mr, -t-

butl:augh, joke, and be one, for the occasion, in
merriment with everybody, hew different would be
their acceptance with the country and with. the
House of Commons too. The high merits of Mr.
COBDEN and and Mr. GLADSTONE are, doubtless,
thoroughly appreciated by all intelligent English-
men ; yet they will like a merry Premier, who
saddles them with £70,000,000 a-year, just as they
would like the •' Merry Monarch," who was always
in debt, and that for anything but the defences of
his Country. COBDEN and GLADSTONE are right,
they say, but we like the merry old lord, and keep
him we must, let him cost us what he may.
Mr. DISRAELI, then, has, as we believe, lost all
at Sheffield. The ovation there, so promptly ex-
temporised—so promptly accepted—so heartily
and cheerily gone through by the Premier, will
give its colour to the recess of the noble lord. The
lectures will be forgotten—the enthusiasm of the
populace and their masters, and the heartiness with
which it was met will be remembered. Every-
where the Premier will be applauded; and he
has only not to let his head get turned,
as it once was with the hundred majority, and all
the arts of the members for Bucks will be unable
to throw him from the saddle. Very uneasy Mr.
DISRAELI always is in Opposition, but he cannot
muster his own party to upset a man so useful
to them as Lord PALMERSTON, and at the same
time so acceptable to the people.
We ought not, however, while noticing the
non-political causes of Lord PALMERSTON'S gene-
ral acceptance to omit, that his Foreign policy
is assuredly as gratifying to the people generally,
as that of Mr. DISRAELI is odious. The English
public will never endure a man whose best bid
for office is antagonism to the Unity of Italy,
and attachment to the temporal Rule of the
POPE. They regard Lord PALMERSTON as the
exponent of their sympathies with Roman and
Italian rights, and resent the transparent cunning
of bidding for the support of Irish Priests by
sacrificing the liberties of the Catholics of Rome,
and for that of the Radicals by proffers of
economy which he and his certainly did not prac-
tise while they were in office. Mr. DISRAELI
must comfort himself, for the holidays, with
bestowing green-coat honours on prize peasants.

It is earnestly to be hoped that England and
Canada may, without any unnecessary delay in the
way of idle discussion, come to some satisfactory
understanding as to what has latterly been threat-
ening to foster between them something very much
like an estrangement. How best to insure the
safety of Canada from invasion " That is the
Question !" And it is a question surely that admits
of being answered, without very much difficulty,
and to the satisfaction alike of the Canadian Govern-
ment and of the Imperial Government at home.
The latter does not, of course, look to the Canadians
themselves, numbering in all merely from 2,000,000
to 3,000,000, to fortify every weak point on a
boundary line extending along a distance of some
600 miles altogether. Neither does it expect the
Canadians unassisted to secure themselves from the
possibility of any sudden danger in the shape of
invasion from a race of Anglo-American democrats,
numbering not, like the Canadians, from 2,000,000
to 3,000,000, but, at a very moderate computation,
from 20,000,000 to 30,000,000! It would be as absurd
for the imperial government here at home to look
to the Canadian government for the accomplish-
ment of all these marvels, or rather let us call them
plainly so at once, all these impossibilities—as it
would be absurd for Canada to look to England to
do alone in this matter what Canada and England
ought in reason to do together. The defence
of the southern frontier-line of Canada
ought to be looked to by the local and Imperial
Government together. In,carrying out that abso-
lutely essential enterprise, there ought to be a ra-
tional reciprocation of efforts and of responsibilities.
To apply the phrase not irreverently, when
dwindled down from the infinite to the finite—as
Christian philosophers have said, Aide toi et Dieu
t'aidera, so might England now echo a kindred
thought to the Canadians. If only Canada will but
acquit herself of the manifest duty devolving upon
her, she will find no lack of reasonable assist-
ance from England in carrying out the design
for the completion of the great work of defence
already partially accomplished by Nature) along
her southern boundary. Mr. COBDEN, we will
admit, appeared to us very considez ably to have
exaggerated, the other day, the extent to which
annually, for a season along those frontiers—

" Winter barricades the realms of frost I"
Still, to an extraordinary extent, during four or
five months the work of defence is thus already, for
the most part, naturally accomplished. All that
England and Canada, together, will have to see to,
between them, for the completion of the work, will
apply almost wholly to the remaining part of
each twelvemonth. Annually there will come
therefore that welcome relaxation of the har-
monized efforts we are all looking now to see com-
menced in veritable earnest Let the Canadians,
to this good end, just to begin with, take a hint
from our Rifle Volunteers!

The Earl and Countess Russell, family, and
suite, arrived at Kingstown, per the Ulster, at 6 o'clock on
Saturday evening, and proceeded to Breslin's Marine Hotel,
Bray, where they purpose sojourning for some weeks. The
noble earl received despatches on Sunday morning from the
Foreign-office.

The Marquis and Marchioness of Waterford have
left town for Germany.
The Earl and Countess of Yarborough have left
town for their seat, Brocklesby Park, Ulceby, Lincolnshire.
The Right Hon. Sir G. C. Lewis, M. 1),, and
Lady Theresa Lewis and Miss Lister leave town to-day for
Harpton Court, Radnorshire.

The Right Hon. W. Cowper, M.P., and Mrs.
Cowper leave town on Thursday for Walmer Castle, on a
visit to Viscount and Viscountess Palmerston.

Mr. Sanford, United States Minister to Brussels,
has arrived at the Clarendon Hotel from New York.

Mr. Gladstone has aceepted an invitation to
visit Newcastle and attend a banquet provided by the in•
habitants. He has named, as the most convenient day for
his visit, the 7th of October next.

A TIME OF TAXATION.—The 2d of August hav-
ing been fixed as the intended commencement of the new
era of taxation in the Federal States, the papers have been
filling whole pages with the Tariff and Tax Acts—laws
which they declare will give the Federal Government 4g an
income that will be abundant for all its wants." The tariff
comprises about a thousand items, imposing a penalty for
buying anything in the cheapest market—an ad valorem
penalty of 35, 40, 50 per cent., or a specific penalty ranging
from a few cents to some thousands, " The Internal Tax
Act," says the Tribune, will tax almost every article in use.
Besides such ordinary taxation as income-tax (3 per cent.,
rising to 5 per cent, on incomes above 10,000 do's), stamp
duties, and legacy duties, the list includes manufacturers of
every kind, and, in fact, all sorts of things that can be eaten,
drunk, worn, used, or employed —advertisements, bowling
alleys, cattle slaughtered, coals, jewellery, telegraphic de-
spatches, umbrellas, licences to act as doctors, photogra-
phers, jugglers, lawyers, Bcc., or to keep shows or
"theatres," 3 per cent. on the gross passenger receipts of
railways and toll bridges, 1 per cent. on the gross receipts
of insurance companies, 3 per eent. on the gross receipts of
steamboats, a dollar on a passage ticket to a foreign port if
the fare exceeds 30 dols. Newspapers "are not to be re-
garded as manufacture, or subjected to a rate of duty."
GROWLING AND GRUMBLING.—" Growling" is
supposed to be the sign of a good officer. " Grumbling" is
taken for granted on the part of a British soldier as a
necessary of his existence. These camel-like propensities
are so strong that the press is sometimes resorted to as a
safety-valve. But we really cannot feel for the new griev-
ance in the abstract, What's in a feather, Why should
paymasters be grieved to the heart because they are not
permitted to put feathers in their cocked hats? The mili-
tary storekeepers wear feathers. Why should not the pay-
masters? What a happy race paymasters must be if they
have only such things to grumble about!—Army and
Mtvy Ggzett9t

NEW ADELPHI.

MISS AVONIA JONES.

In this age of hard reality, an ideal actress is a
wonder that startles the public with its novelty as
much as it attracts them with its power. She re-
scusitates a faith which, whilst it at once subdaes
their sympathies, has to struggle with associations
that direct them to an adverse shrine. They are
like the Greeks that we read of in the travels of
Anarcharsis, who, after a long sojourn in sensuous
Egypt, landed in Crete, and suddenly found them-
selves in the presence of a statue of Athene. Nor
can this surprise when we remember that the entire
tendency of modern taste is to contract the imagi-
nation. Our realism, which is so devoted to a
purely material development, acquires its force by
limitation—by concentrating the mind on the
merely special and external to the exclusion of the
life beneath, of which they form but the mere
sheathing. Our industrial science would have no
energy for the great task it is engaged upon but
by forcing us into a momentary forgetfulness of
the end for which its task is given. Thus it is the
outward life of our time that we are drawn to as the
all important—that we analyse respect and magnify
—under every prompting of our immediate progress
and thus it is that art, succumbing to an influence,
which it is its duty and purpose to oppose, sinks
into the mere handmaid and minister of the senses
—not the soul. Our fiction sinks into mere manner
painting—and our painting into mere photograph-
ing. The whole tendency of such a system is to
propose finish instead of force—is to put form in
the place of spirit—and a mere definite exactness
in that of a true imagination. Nevertheless, the
soul that may be hidden is not extinguished by such
a system. That which is enduring in the heart of
man is not exploded by its casual needs or its ac-
cidental passions. The life that beats in it now is
the same that beat in it—whether in classic or bar-
baric times—and must continue unchanged to ani-
mate it—up to the last hour of its history. When-
ever this life then is addressed, however slightly,
it responds with a throb as genuine as can
possibly evoke it. Whether it be a picture,
poem, or piece of acting that speaks to the
human soul, the human soul proclaims their
affinity in no uncertain sound or movement. The
heaviest cloud that slumbers in the heavens has 'nut
to be touched by the electric current and it gives
forth a sudden light, as deep, and brilliant as it
receives.

It was on these grounds we were sincerely pleased
during the autumn of the past year with the debut
of Miss Avonia Jones on the boards of Drury-lane.
We could not but feel that she was an actress of
true ideal power, who could speak at once to the
deepest recesses and finest sympathies of our com-
mon nature, by means of a passion profound and ab-
solute, whioh acted at once on the imagination. We
were not insensible to the physical advantages
which nature had added to her mental—the noble
voice, the expressive face, and the delicately
rounded person which was so capable of respond-
ing to all the promptings of her sense of dignity
and grace. Nor at the same time were we blind to
the few defects which, owing to an insufficient
amount of art, were capable of abating to a certain
extent the due impression of her powers. We could
not but regret a little excess in the modulation of
her superb voice which aimed at a rythmical
effect that was scarcely consonant with passion,
and of an occasional delay at her great moments
—her:wonderful leaps into intensity, which gave a
fatal air of preparation to many of her best im-
pulses. These defects, however, admitted—and
the more readily because so removable, we could
not but feel that this young lady was gifted to
speak with a force and truth such as our stage had
not heard for many years, and which, in a period
like the present, so intensely sensuous and exter-
nal, was not more striking for its rarity than wel-
come for its testimony to the strength of our higher
feelings.

All these impressions we are happy to say Miss
Avonia Jones amply confirmed on her appearance
at the Adelphi Theatre last evening, and in
the character she first assumed, the " Medea" of
Legouve, adapted in three acts, from the play
originally written for Rachel, but made most
familiar to our public by the wonderful efforts
of Ristori. Miss Avonia Jones repeated it with no
abatement of that extraordinary force with which
she paints the appalling destiny of the being
who feels that love can even justify her crimes,
acid w huSe hate and fury are the expression rather
of her desolation than her wrongs,—the wife and
mother who sees in her_ children but the reflected
possession of her husband, and who, in daring all
for his possession, loses all in his own falsehood.
If all this was still expressed as the pervading
spirit of the performance, it lost none of its previous
force in the great occasions which conveyed it ;
as in the well-known image of the panther, and if
the less vehement the not less startling declaration,
when she reminds her lover that their crimes had
become their bond of union. On all of these occasions
the imagination which sbe so grandly appealed
to, yielded even at the Adelphi theatre, as warm a
response as at Drury Lane, and perhaps furnished
by that fact a still higher testimony to her power. In
the teeth of all the traditions and associations of the
house she went direct to the heart of the audience,
and the audience as vigorously responded. We have
never witnessed a more genuine or instantaneous
success. Loudly applauded in all her best passages,
she was called for most unanimously at the close of
every act.
The remainder of the performance must be judged
with the allowance that a semi-classic play is not
the usual work of this theatre—and, consequently,
one in which its actors have had the most expe-
rience. Mr. Steuart, as the Creon, had at least
dignity and good intention, Mr. Billington looked
Jason to the life, and Mr. Sefton spoke the Orpheus
with commendable taste and feeling. Miss Simms
also was a graceful and interesting Creusa, The
house was well attended.