The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-05 00:00:00

TUE SUN, LONDON, WEDNESDAY EVENING, APRIL 5, 1854,

emancipation of the Christians in Turkey by
treaty, he will be willing to evacuate the Prin-
cipalities simultaneously with the evacuation of
the Euxine by the combined fleets."
Such a proposition shows too clearly his reli-
ance on the good offices of " the estimable gen-
tleman." And it is well that he should be unde-
ceived ere it is too late, and convinced that he
must not only abandon the unjust pretensions
which he has advanced, but make ample retribu-
tion for the damages occasioned by his iniquitous
conduct. A thorough understanding is of the
most vital consequence at the present moment; and
the CZAR can never be completely undeceived so
long as the man who is either his dupe or his tool
remains at the head of the English Government,
and by his servile twaddling can be supposed to
influence the decisions of more energetic Ministers !
Nor is it with respect to Russia only that the
influence of Lord ABERDEEN is prejudicial to the
best interests of England and of Europe. If a
more vigorous and decided policy prevailed, the
German Powers would not be allowed to maintain
the suspicious neutrality, that is far more inju-
rious than the most decided opposition. The
rulers of Austria and Prussia would be distinctly
and unequivocally told that those " who are not
with us are against us"—that we cannot allow
them to bring their forces into such positions as
would enable them to inflict the most serious in-
jury upon the interests which we are endea-
vouring to support. If Austria is per-
mitted to concentrate a formidable body of
troops upon the frontiers of Turkey—squadrons
that may at any moment deal deadly blows
against the Turkish power—it is manifest that
preparations must be made to meet any casualty
—preparations that would require almost as great
an exertion as the acknowledged and open hosti-
lity of the German Emperor. A clear and
straightforward declaration should therefore be
insisted on—a declaration that left no possibility
of misconception, no loophole for escape. The
internal condition of Austria prevents the possi-
bility of her rendering much assistance to Russia
if Galicia, and Hungary, and Lombardy avail
themselves of the favourable opportunity for
achieving their independence. Some years since
she would have been unable to maintain her ground
but for the Cossack auxiliaries. Such aid can-
not now be afforded. While NICHOLA s has ample
occupation for all his military resources, we can,
therefore, insure a much safer description of neu-
trality by compelling Austria to speak out, and if
her intentions be not honourable, forcing her to
" doff the lion's hide,
And hang a calf-skin on those recreant limbs."

But is it ABERDEEN that will adopt this de-
cided course ? Can we hope for such straightfor-
ward and vigorous proceedings from " the pupil of
METTERNICH ?" or can we suppose that Austria
will discover her real intentions while he is Prime
Minister of England ? Certainly not ! His pre-
sence -in the English Cabinet is more detri-
mental to the Turkish cause, to the inde-
pendence of the Ottoman Empire, than any-
thing that could be imagined. It led to the
aggression. It caused the contumacious rejection
of every proposition heretofore made, and the
malign influence will prove fatal if not speedily
averted.

__ •
We have seen enough of the strange inactivity
in the Black Sea. The protegee of ABERDEEN must
be stimulated to prompt and decisive action. In
the Baltic we doubt not but that " gallant old
CHARLIE" will go to the extreme limit of his in-
structions, and really create a diversion in favour
of the Sultan by carrying the war into the enemy's
country. But why is there not a land force co-
operating with the combined fleets ? France has
troops ready to do the work—to wash out the
disasters of 1812 in the glories of 1854. Eng-
land has transports sufficient to bear the French
as well as the English troops to what ought to be
made " the seat of war." Not merely Reval, and
Helsingfors, and Cronstadt should be attacked,
but also St. Petersburg itself. We should teach
them the painful but salutary lesson, that
" 'Tis not the roundure of their old-faced walls
Can hide them from our messengers of war."

But we cannot hope for such vigour while ABER-
DEEN presides over " the Joint-Stock Administra-
tion," and gravely assures the Parliament and the
people of England that " the EMPEROR was always
well-founded in his apprehensions as to the dissolu-
tion of the Turkish Empire," and that " he sees
nothing in the Memorandum but what is wise !
what is moderate ! ! and what is judicious ! I !

And so, after all, there is no foundation for the
charge against the Messrs. STURGEON I These
injured gentlemen, who have been held up to
public execration as criminals of the deepest dye,
have been exonerated from the imputation of de-
liberate fraud. The hay in which the dead
lamb was packed up was not furnished by them,

but by others—and yet we are not told who are

the criminals. The dreadful accusation agains

those whom we are happy to be enabled once

more to designate as respectable gentlemen, was

not hastily or lightly put forward. It was a mis-
take for which not any extenuating circumstance

could be alleged. For Messrs. STURGEON and
SON were not originally charged—one, who had

really no connection, good or bad, with the transac-
tionwas first implicated. Mr. STURGES was given up
as the miscreant, who had, for the sake of filthy
lucre, imperilled the honour and interests of his
country—nay, more, endangered directly, as well
as indirectly, the lives of our gallant soldiers and
seamen, and the safety of the vessels in which
they were proceeding to their destination. Every
one felt that " hanging was too good" for such a
wretch, and deplored the defective state of the
law that did not authorise the infliction of exem-

plary punishment on the offender. Each person
held up his hands and re-echoed the prayer—
" Oh ! Heaven, that such companions thou'dst unfold,
And put in every honest hand a whip
To lash the rascal naked through the world,
Even from the East to the West."
The delusion was partly dispelled when the
accused declared in the plainest and most intel-
gible language that he had not only never been
guilty of such atrocious fraud, but that he had
never at any time supplied forage, good, bad, or
indifferent, to the victimlling department. The
charge was astounding. It might have been
ruinous to a person of inferior position and

lower standing than Mr. STURGES. But the
direct traverse, the simple issue taken, arrested
the tide of suspicion, and induced the public to
suspend their judgment, and await further ex-
planations.
These explanations were not long withheld.
Ministers discovered the serious mistake into
which they had been led ; and were quite pre-
pared, on receipt of the very temperate and gentle-
manlike letter of Mr. STURGES, to exonerate him
completely from the fearful imputation. But,
when doing so, they professed not to withdraw the
accusation altogether, not to state that an infamous
fraud had not been committed, but that it had
bper:o n
Professing, trattheednb,y others, and not by Mr. STURGES.
right horse," to poin"tto out
whom the storm theplace
rtehael
culpritssaddle
against
of
public indignation should be
directed, they declared, distinctly and unequivo-
cally, that Messrs. TuomAs STURGEON and SoNs,
of " Grays, Essex," were the parties con-
nected in the nefarious transaction—that the
matter wa3 placed in the hands of the Crown So-
licitor, in order to exercise the due vindication of
the law, and the punishment of the criminals.the
It was stated, too, that the publication of
names was not the only penalty that would be
sustained. The Lord Chief Justice, very properly,
declared that the law was not so defective as had
been supposed, but that there were ample means
of punishing the parties.
Now, however, a new statement is put forward
—put forward after an interval of a fortnight,
during which the matter has been suffered to re-
main uncontradicted. Put forward, not voluntarily
or as a gratuitous apology for the charge preferred
after three days' consideration and with full time and
opportunity to elicit the true facts of the case,
but when a friend of the accused had given notice
of a motion on the matter to insist on a stringent
and searching investigation. During that dreadful
interval Messrs. STURGEON bad petitioned the
House, offering explanations of their proceedings.
They were not, however, Allowed even 0 eta()

their defence. A " want of form" in referring
to matters ventilated in the House was taken ad-
vantage of, to refuse even " a hearing," or to
allow those victims of " official negligence,* or
" official calumny," even to declare their innocence.
Not a single word fell from the Treasury benches
to say that there was a possibility of mistake, or
to whisper a doubt as to the accuracy and infalli-
bility of the accusers. The slightest hint would
have carried balm to their wounded spirits. But
that consolation was withheld, and the very silence
apparently proves that there was nothing to be
atoned for. Now it turns out that there "is no
charge of deliberate fraud"--the " dead lamb" is
transferred to another but an unknown quarter—
" the saddle placed on a dark horse"—although we
are assured that it was found in the very best hay sent
in. What weight, then, can be attached to the other
charges now preferred ? They are really unde-
serving of notice. It is fortunate for the parties
concerned that the plea of privilege could be
brought forward to an action for defamation. We
can easily conceive the obloquy that would be in-
curred by any journal that fell into, and so long
persisted in, such an error. Not only its con-
ductors, but every person in any way concerned,
even printers and publishers, who knew nothing
of the contents, would be not only civilly but
criminally responsible ; and no sympathy
would be excited for their " well-merited punish-
ment." What will happen to the privileged
calumniators ? and what recompence will be
' offered to Messrs. STURGEON for the charge ? It
ought to be ample, and to be defrayed out of the
salaries of those by whom it was originally put
forward. We gladly make Messrs. STURGEON and
SONS this unsolicited amende for the credence which
we gave to the circumstantial, but what now ap-
pears to be the unjustifiable, accusation.

MONEY MARKET

AND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.
The sales of cotton at Liverpool yesterday
were estimated at 5,000 bales, including 500 Ame-
rican taken for export. The market closed steadily
at previous rates. The sales comprised 4,200
American, 50 Bahia, at bid. ; 50 Egyptian, at
6d. to Bd. ; and 400 Surat, at 2id. to 4kd. per lb.
Railway. Shares were dull at rather lower prices.
A very large amount of duties is being paid upon
tea, the reduced impost coming into operation to-
morrow. One firm has 30,0001. to pay on this
account to the Customs authorities, and owing to
the very small quantity of tea cleared recently,
and the low stocks held by the dealers, there will
be large sums accruing to the revenue. A petition
has been presented to the Customs, praying that
the officers may attend at the warehouses as early
as six o'clock to-morrow (Thursday) morning, in
order to facilitate the deliveries.

The probability of a great falling off in the supply
of labour in Australia had begun to excite earnest
attention at the date of the last advices, and it was
already a matter of general complaint that the
ships were arriving with scarcely any passengers on
board. The causes are touched upon in the Mel-
bourne Argus, and the following remarks, we be-
lieve, give a fair representation of the condition
and the prospects of new comers :
" The labour question—which every person was
willing to believe would be finally settled by the gold
discovery—is again becoming just as pressing as before
those discoveries were made. That the representations
of failure we have referred to have been somewhat over-
done, will, we think, be granted by every new corner who
has got over his colonial novitiate of 3 or 4 months. It is
in the very nature of colonial life that all the exasperat-
ing difficulties of it should confront a newly arrived im-
migrant at the very outset ; and this inseparable condi-
tion has been aggravated by the peculiar state of things
to which the gold discovery has given rise. But let a
man struggle onward for a while—let him only be con-
tent to endure and to work bravely for a year or two,
and how different an aspect does his career wear
then ! The difficulties which at first appeared
insurmountable have vanished, and he sees before him
a comparatively short and easy road to independence.
We appeal to any industrious colonist of only 12 months'
standing if that be not a correct statement of " colonial
experience." But if it be so, how unjust both to the
individual and to the colony is it, for a person newly
arrived to send home an account of every temporary
trial and inconvenience he has experienced, as a correct
representation of colonial life throughout. As reason-
ably might an invalid, who has just set out on a voyage
which is to be long and agreeable, and also the means of
restoring him to health, insist upon describing the first
few days of nausea and bad weather as a fair specimen
of the entire voyage. It would be well if new corners
would defer sending home their impressions of the colony,
until they had had time to verify or correct them. Seri-
ous injury has been done by these premature complaints,
both to the colony on the one hand, and on the other,
to many persons who have been deterred by them from
emigrating, and to whom emigration would have been a
real benefit."

The communication received by the Committee
of Spanish American Bondholders from the Mi-
nister of Finance in New Grenada, is more apolo-
getic than we like to see where honest intentions
exist ; but still we hope that, as that functionary
has given, apparently, some attention to the
matter, he will show that he really appreciates the
honour of his country and the rights of the English
creditors.f
There was yesterday afternoon a downward ten-
dency in the rates for foreign bills of exchange,
and this will probably keep up specie remittances.
Nearly all the gold received from Australia this
week has been purchased for the Continent. The
silver received by the Solent steamer is not yet
delivered.
The English Stock Market continues firm, but
there is only a limited business doing, in the ab-
sence of any important news from the seat of war.
Consols have been 801 to for transfer and time.
Exchequer Bills have been marked par to 3s. pre-
mium, and India Bonds 6s. to 12s. premium. The
feeling in the market is decidedly better, and the
gold received lately from Australia proves accept-
able, in affording a means of remittance to the Con-
tinent. From the engagements entered intobetween
the Ottoman Government and En gland for supplying
our troops, the former will be empowered to draw
largely upon the English treasury at short and
stated intervals, consequently we must expect
specie to be constantly in demand for that quarter.
Foreign Stocks are dull, but well maintained.
Spanish Deferred have been at 161 to 17. Peruvian
Three per Cents. have been marked 38 without the
dividend. Russian Five per Cents. are at 90.
Dutch Two-and-a-Half per Cents. have been very
firm at 541. Sardinian Stock is worth 73k.
The market for Railway Shares has been very
firm, with moderate transactions. The English
lines dealt in are the Caledonian, London and
North-Western, North British, and the York and
Berwick. French Shares are a little dearer, but
with scarcely any business doing.
The Mining shares have been at about the pre-
vious rates, with bargains in one or two of the
Gold Companies.
The shares of the Joint-stock Banks have been
at full prices, and also the Land Companies'.

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK
(Front the Official List.)
Business done.
3 per Cent, Consols Anrnities B6B A
India Bonds, £lOOO ...... . ...........
Ditto, under £lOOO l2 6 d
Consols for Account 18th April B6A
Exchequer Bills, 2d.
£1000
2500 2 3 p par
Small 2 3 p par

PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cent. 9l x d
Peruvian 3 per Cent.
Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. .£ St 9O
Ditto 4?) per Cent 79
Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent 731
Spanish. New Deferred, 3 per Cent. l7 16/
Dividends on the above payable in London.
Dutch Exchange, 21 per Cent. 12 Gull 541
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates . ..
HALF•PAST TWO.

Consols B6
86
Ditto April Account

LATEST FOREIGN NEWS.

THE WAR IN THE EASL

Trustworthy accounts from St. Petersburg state
that the war is very unpopular amongst the mer-
cantile classes, and that, in consequence of this
feeling, an order had been issued forbidding the
assembling in the streets of groups consisting of
more than two persons.
According to reliable information from Berlin,
the Czar's message to the King of Prussia contains
no tangible concession to Europe. It is chiefly a
justification of Russia, and concludes with an in-
timation that the Western Powers may obtain
for him from Turkey redress of the wrongs of
which ho complains, if they wish him to make

a peace.
Letters from Warsaw of the 24th ult. state that
a very depressed state of feeling prevails there,
notwithstanding the carnival with its attendant
pleasures has been ushered in as usual. All trade
is at a stand still ; Prussia's conduct excites amaze-
ment. The old Russian party views this power
with great mistrust, and it seems in their eyes as
something perfectly astounding that Prussia should
remain even neutral—that she should not instantly
join the Emperor.