The Sun.
London, England, 1865-06-13 00:00:00

terised the opponents in the Commons. There
was nothing new in the arguments which the Duke
of RUTLAND employed ; they were but a recapi-
tulation of old grievances, as to causing dissen-
sions between employer and employed, and creat-
ing distinctions between town and country that
would be mischievous. A majority of sixty-two
decided against the motion that the bill be referred
to a Select Committee. We may conclude, there-
fore, that the measure has escaped the shoals and

quicksands which have so impeded its progress,
and threatened its safety. It is quite a mistake
to suppose that a bill of this sort can finally dis-
pose of difficult and long-standing points of dis-
cussion. It is a step in the right direction, but no
more; and hereafter all legislators will have ample
opportunities afforded them of rectifying any evils
that experience may find to exist in the working
of the Poor Law in its several departments. At
a future time the question of the inequalities of
rating may be very properly dealt with, and
there can be no doubt that Parliament will not
refuse to consider the subject with the attention
and discretion that it may demand and deserve.

Yesterday was a grand day for the Merchant
Taylors' School. The annual election took place
of scholars to St. John's College, Oxford. In the
evening a grand banquet took place at the Hall in
Threadneedle-street. Lord STANLEY proposed pros-
perity to the Colonial Empire in a very interesting
speech. The noble lord had in this theme one most
congenial to his tastes, and was enable to dwell on
the impressive character of our connection with
those disant spots. He truly said that the audience
to whom he spoke did not require him to expatiate
upon the great advantages which our colonies
afforded to us. Wealth, influence, and power alike
are concerned in their preservation. Yet the noble
lord declared that he thought more of the benefits
that accrued to our people at home in a social man-
ner from having this outlet afforded to them for
the surplus population. This is very true, and
should not be forgotten when the interesting theme
of our colonies comes under consideration. Lord
STANLEY, in his reflective manner, forcibly put the
case before the assembly last night, when he said,
" Given the conditions of English life, a very limited
territorial area, a perpetually increasing population ;
given, also, the exuberant energy which belongs to
our race, shut up that people within the area which
is assigned to them, with no outlet, and it is just like
lighting a fire under a steam-boiler and screwing
a safety-valve." It is difficult indeed to realise what
England would be without her colonies. They are
her great resource and her puissant allies in form-
ing the mind and manners of many of her popula-
tion, and, besides, increase her strength tenfold
among the nations of the world. Lord STAN-
LEY'S excellent speech was all the more appro-
priate, because there have been some who advo-
cated the renunciation of these inestimable pos-
sessions, and have persisted in forcing their
unwelcome opinions upon those who denounced
and despised them. The noble lord spoke from his
own experience. He said he had seen a good
deal of the colonies, and he never saw them with-
out marvelling at the amount of human energy
and power they displayed. Yet this might, if the
colonists were shut up in this country, have been
provocative of evil rather than of good. Lord
STANLEY also remarked that, by Act of Parlia-
ment, we could never regulate our relations with
our colonies ; they must be settled by circum-
stances. This interesting and instructive oration
was concluded by the noble lord's adverting to
the gentlemen who had come over from Canada,
and proposed the health of the members of the
Canadian Delegation. Without entering upon the
disputed points of the matter, the noble lord remarked,
that if in consequence of our diplomatic differences the
colonies were drawn into quarrels they had nothing
to do with, we were bound to not disclaim all re-
sponsibility for their defence. This is very true,
and speaks the sentiments of the country despite
the prejudices of the peace party, and the assertions
of some sapient individuals. Altogether this speech
was quite a success, and afforded great satisfaction