The Sun.
London, England, 1853-11-29 00:00:00

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EmyEtton of 'Russia. and the Turks over again.
We hope that honest; Reformers will yet find
some OMER PACHA.

There is one singular course we have noticed
in some of the leading Coalition journals. It is a
clever playing fast and loose with two of the fun-
damental Reform questions. When the Ballot is
talked of, they assume that universal, or house- '
hold, or municipal suffrage is never to be granted,
and they shake their heads, and, as if they pre-
sided in a Court of Equity, tell you how unfair it
would be to allow one-sixth of the adults to vote
fot the other five-sixths without the responsibility
of their votes being known to the non-electors ;
the ballot might be all very well with universal
suffrage—but—that--why, thank HEAVEN, there
is no danger of a second Deluge, and they point
to the varying hues of the Cabinet (we would not
be profane) as ab.w of political promise. On the
other hand, when universal suffrage is whispered,
we are favoured with diatribes on the venality of

poor electors, on their absolute dependence on
farmers, landlords, and cotton-lords ; they may
be purchased by the hundred for five shillings
a piece, or half that sum, and those who cannot
be purchased may be coerced. Notice to quit
a cottage, or paying off on Saturday night, will
effectually cure insubordination. All this is as
earnestly pleaded as if any asserter of popular
rights ever thought of giving the working man a
vote without guaranteeing its freedom by the
ballot. These sages choose to separate what Re-
formers have always joined together, and then
reproach the divorced with barrenness. They
succeed, no doubt, in 'further confusing many
confused minds, and strengthening the fears of
some who are timid enough already ; but it ought
not to require much perspicacity to see through
the juggle, and all experienced Reformers recognise
it at once.

We do not deny, however, that we would give
the whole of any Coalition Reform Bill without
the ballot for• the ballot alone. While fully alive.
to the immense disadvantage of beginning to work
it with a number of small constituencies, like elec-
toral bad debts, still pressing on us ; while de-
sirous in preference to have very large constitu-
encies returning several members, we yet stand
by our creed, that Independent Voting is the
proper starting point. What, indeed, can any
honest legislator mean when he proposes to give
an individual a vote ? Not surely to give him
one which a creditor,' a landlord, a master, or a
customer can filch from him. Against these poli-
tical thieves the legislator is bound to protect the
voter he enfranchises. The man who will part
with his birthright for a mess of pottage, it may
be impossible in every instance to protect against
himself, though secret voting would do it more
than all other little Acts of Parliament put toge-
ther ; but the man from whom his neighbour
would take it by force—by the force of a screw
on his fears—ought to be protected by the me-
chanism through which the votes are given.
It is suggested that the borough franchise should
be extended to the counties. Good theoretically.
We recently showed, however, that it would be
an immense extension of dependent voting. Give
the ballot first, and it would immediately enfran-
chise more than a hundred thousand CBANDOS
clause voters. Give it with the borough franchise
to the counties (including all the small' towns and
disfranchised nomination boroughs) and we should
have a vast extension, indeed, of a real franchise.

The Ballot alone would create more independent
votes out of the present suffrage than any mea-
sure without it ; while any extension without the
Ballot would be probably, three-fourths of it at
least, but a sham.

IMPERIAL PARLIAMENT.

HOUSE OF LORDS-(THIS DAY.)

Parliament was this day further prorogued by Royal
Commission until Tuesday, the 3d of January nest.
To-day, the Lord Chancellor and the other Peers
named in the Royal Commission having taken their seats
on the woolsack, the Yeoman Usher of the Black Rod
was directed to summon the Commons to the bar.

The Royal Commission was then read by the Clerk at
the table.
The LORD CHANCELLOR then declared the Par-
liament to stand prorogued until the 3d of January
next.

The proclamation did not contain the significant
words, " then to meet for the dispatch of business."

COURT CIRCULAR.

OSBORNE, Nov. 28.

Divine service was performed yesterday morning at
Osborne, by the Hon. and Rev. G. Wellesley, before
her Majesty, Prince Albert, the Prince of Wales, the
Princess Royal, and Princess Alice.

Lord de Tabley, Lord in Waiting to the Queen, and
Colonel Wylde, Groom in Waiting to Prince Albert,
left Southampton this afternoon for Lisbon, with letters
of condolence from her Majesty and his Royal Highness
to the King Regent of Portugal, on the occasion of the
death of the late Queen.

Despatches froth the GoVernors of Australia and N,w
Zealand were received on Sunday at the Colonial-office.
The Judicial Committee of ber Majesty's most Hon.
Privy Council sat yesterday in the Council Chamber,
for the consideration of petitions in cases from different
colonies, and of motions in several patent cases. The
Lords present were the Lords Justices Turner and
Knight Bruce, the Judge of the High Court of Admi-
ralty, Sir J. Patteson, and Sir E. Ryan.

Shakespeare's Hamlet has just been performed, with
immense applause, for the first time, at Stockholm.
The translation adopted is that of Professor Hagberg.
Mr. Joseph Robertson, the present editor of the Edin-
burgh Courant, has been appointed to an office in the
Register House as Searcher of Records for Literary
Purposes.—Scotsman.

THE BOURBON "Fustorr."—The French Minister of
Foreign Affairs has sent a circular to all the representa-
tives of France in foreign countries, directing a close
watch on the proceedings of the Princes of both branches
of the House of Bourbon.
DEPARTURES FOR AUSTRALIA.—The departures from
the port of London for the Australian colonies during
the past week show a decrease. They have consisted
altogether of 11 vessels—five to Port Philip, with an
aggregate burden of 1,866 tons; two to Adelaide, with
an aggregate burden of 1,059 tons ; two to New Zea-
land, with an aggregate burden of 946 tons ; one to
Sydney, of 698 tons ; and one to Hobart Town, of 577
tons. Their total capacity was consequently 5,146 tons.
The rates of freight have been supported with steadiness.
THE INDIAN QUEEN.—This vessel has arrived from
Melbourne, whence she sailed the 28th of August, with
38,990 ounces of gold, valued at about 156,0001. The
letters and papers are nearly a week later than those
brought by the Argo steamer.
THE AMERICAN CLIPPER NIGHTINGALE.—This vessel
has arrived from Shanghai with a full cargo of tea and
silk, having made the passage in 112 days.
QUEEN OF • THE SOUTH.—Advices received from the
Cape of Good Hope, via St. Helena, state that the Queen
of the. South (s.s.), had put into Saldanha Bay for fuel
and water, having been 46 days out.
STRAND THEATRE.— -The small but efficient operatic
company of Mr. Allcroft, under the direction of the
popular favourite, Miss Rebecca Isaacs, deserves every
possible encouragement. The vocal and instrumental
music is of a very high character, and the executants
persons of superior .qualifications. The performances
during the week consist of Love in a Village, with the
whole of the original music ; The Pet of the Public,
which is oue of the most successful new pieces ever pro-
duced here ; the old but always welcome melodrama of
The Miller arid his Men, with all the music, by Sir H.
Bishop ; the original operetta The Maid of Normandy,
and an operatic drama entitled The Female Massaroni,
or the Fair Brigands. We would counsel all who wish
to enjoy a good evening's entertainment to look in at
the Strand. The house has recently been tastefully re-
decorated, and everything has been done in the interior
arrangements to consult the convenience of the
wau-
dience.

ACCIDENT TO THE AUSTRALIAN STEAMER, GOLDEN
AGE—Yesterday morning, about 9.30 a.m., he steam-
ship Golden Age, recently arrived in Liverpool from the
United States, left the Huskisson Dock to proceed on
her voyage to Australia, having on board about 139
passengers, 10,000 letters and 5,000 newspapers. About
half past 10 o'clock, while in charge of a pilot, and when
the tide was running down the river with great force, an
attempt was made to turn her ahead of a ship lying in
the stream, and where, unfortunately, there was not
space sufficient for doing so. The Golden Age was thus
run stem on to the new sea wall at Seacombe, but, the
collision being foreseen, the accident was not so serious
as might have been expected. Beyond the starting of
the cutwater and the grasure of some of the planks, the
vessel sustained no injury, and she was immediately
taken to the moorings in the Sloyne, whre she now
lies. The detention consequent upon this untoward
accident is not expected to occupy above two days at
the utmost. Fortunately, none of the passengers or
crew sustained any injuries.