The Sun.
London, England, 1854-03-04 00:00:00

LONDON, SATURDAY EVENING, MARCH 4, 1854.

POSTPONEMENT OF THE REFORM BILL

Ministers have decided to postpone the second read-
ing of the Reform Bill from the 13th of March to the
27th of April. As everything concurs to impress us
with the conviction that they are sincerely and reso-
lutely bent upon carrying the measure, we have no hesi-
tation in saying that we believe this postponement to be
wise and well judged. Our conviction that Ministers
are really anxious to carry the bill rests upon various
grounds. In the first place we have confidence in
Lord John Russell ; for, independently of the noble
lord's well-earned reputation for integrity, it is upon
his Reform measure that he has latterly, more than
anything else, reposed his claims to the confidence
and support of the country. Again we have, on the
question of Reform, confidence in Lord Aberdeen. We
have been diametrically opposed to his Lordship's policy
in the Eastern question, and we have not been slow to
express our antagonism. But even in that matter we
must admit that Lord Aberdeen never deceived us ;
never said one thing while he meant another. We
think Lord Aberdeen is sincere, whether we may think
him in the right or in the wrong ; and, having found
him sincere while erring on the Eastern question, we
are bound to give him credit for sincerity when
he is right on the question of Parliamentary Reform,
Lord Aberdeen has been compelled by the gross and
palpable abuses in the representation to become a Re-
former ; and the very tardiness of his conversion—unex-
aggerated as his confession of it is—ought to be received
as a guarantee of its sincerity. Predisposed on these
grounds to place reliance on the professions both of the
Premier and Lord John Russell—of the head of the Mi-
nistry and the Minister more especially charged with the
introduction and promotion of the Reform Bill—we are
further convinced of their sincerity by the reasons they
assign for postponing the measure, and the unexaggerated
phrase in which these reasons are worded. When he
introduced the bill, Lord John Russell intimated that
before proceeding further with it, he felt the necessity of
getting through the financial business of the session, in
order that in the event of war becoming inevitable the
exertions of Government against the enemy should
be free and unhampered. This financial business
cannot possibly be completed by the 13th of March,
the day originally fixed for the second reading of the
Reform Bill ; it therefore becomes necessary to take a
longer day for that step. Even though no treacherous
and insidious opposition to the measure had been
threatened it would have been the duty of Ministers to
postpone the second reading of the bill. But the Vane-
Dering conspiracy must not be left out of account.
Were Ministers to insist upon having the bill read a
second time on the day originally fixed—before the
discussion of the budget was well over—before the mes-
sage from her Majesty respecting the relations of this
country and Russia, which must be presented to the
house before the close of the present month, had been
brought down—the reasons assigned by the mouth-
piece of the malcontent Peelites, and the mouthpiece
of the territorial Whigs, might have appeared plausible
to some weak though well-meaning members of Parlia-
ment. But by the 27th of April there is good
reason to hope that the preliminary preparations
for war will be concluded, and none who really
are friendly to the Reform measure can be then
misled by the Van-Dering fallacies. Sir Edward
Dering, if the vote were to be taken on the second
reading immediately, might be supported by many
whose eyes will be opened to the factious char-
acter of his opposition by the 27th of April. By
postponing the second reading, therefore, Ministers
have actually strengthened their position. We have
hinted that the quiet, matter-of-fact, business-like tone
in which the intended postponement has been intimated,
both by Lord John Russell and Lord Aberdeen, in itself
smacks of sincerity. We may also say that the announce-
ment by Lord John that the Irish and Scotch bills will
be ready before the day now fixed for the second read-
ing of the English bill is—seeing that he has hitherto
declined to specify a time when these bills should be
brought in—is an additional proof that Ministers are
earnestly and steadily maturing their whole scheme of
Reform, with a view to have it made law without delay.
If anything more were needed to show that the pros-
pects of ultimate success for the Ministerial measure of
Reiorm are increased by the postponement, it would be
found in last night's displays of Mr. Disraeli and Lord
Derby. The bitterness of Mr. Disraeli's comment upon
the announcement of Lord John Russell betrayed his
consciousness that in consequence of the postponement
he will have to play a losing game, and Lord Derby's
angry interpellation of Lord Aberdeen betrayed the same
conviction.

To say that we acquiesce in the propriety of the post-
ponement would, therefore, be an inadequate expres-
sion of our opinion. We are glad of it ; for we be-
lieve that, by waiting till the preliminary arrange-
ments in reference to Russia have been got through,
and by at the same time peremptorily fixing a day
for the renewal of the discussion, and showing
that thoy .L busily ..mpletmoutary
Bills for Scotland Ireland, Ministers have increased the
chances of their bill being carried. And it was necessary
for them to take every precaution—to omit nothing that
could strengthen their position, seeing how false and un-
scrupulous is the opposition with which they are threat-
ened. The re-actionary Derby-Disraeli faction see clearly
that the success of the Ministerial measure will effectually
take the sting out of them—render them impotent for fu-
ture mischief—and are therefore waspishly inveterate in
their hostility. The smooth traitors who have post-
ponement in their mouths, while in reality their
object is to burke a measure which endangers their

ill-won seats in the Legislature, are seeking, amid
friendly professions, to tie the hands of Ministers
while the ultra-Tories attack them. And certain
professors of extreme liberal opinions are doing
their little utmost to ridicule and vituperate the Minis-
terial measure, because it will not enable them
to bring a greater number of their tail into the House of
Commons. Thus attacked from so many quarters—by
so many heterogeneous and incompatible assailants dis-
honestly allied—Ministers are right to choose their own
time for fighting.—Daily News.

PREPARATIONS FOR WAR.

The 63d Regiment, now quartered in Dublin, is under
orders for a " particular service," and will either pro-
ceed to Greece or be drafted in companies on board the
Baltic fleet. Recruiting is actively going on to fill up
the ranks, 200 men having volunteered to the regiments
forming the first division of the expeditionary force.
A depot is to be formed in the Isle of Wight for the
regiments proceeding on active service.
Drs. Mitchell, Dumbreck, and Linton, staff-surgeons
of the first-class, have started for Constantinople by the
overland route.
The Master-Generalship of the Ordnance will net be
filled up during Lord Raglan's absence in the East.
The provisional battalion at Chatham has a second
time given volunteers for the regiments forming the
British contingent.
Arrangements have been made at Malta to accommo-
date 5,000 additional troops.
ADDITIONAL TROOPS FOR THE EAST.—It is reported
that the following regiments, in addition to those already
named, have received orders for embarkation to join the
army proceeding to Turkey--_-The 20th, 34th, 38th,
and 97th Foot,. and the 42d and 79th Highlanders.
These, with another brigade to be formed from troops
now stationed at Gibraltar and Malta, consisting of the
30th, 47th, and 55th Regiments, will constitute the
third division of the army, thus making the total force
of infantry 25,000 men. The service companies of regi-
ments proceeding to the Mediterranean, for service in
our garrisons there, are ordered, from the let inst., to
be completed to 700 rank and file. The 63d, from the
Linen Hall, and 21st from Richmond Barracks, are un-
der orders for embarkation to the East. Letters to
that effect were received yesterday. 1,300 recruits
have been already obtained in Ireland since the aug-
mentation of the army has been promulgated.—Dublin
Daily Express.

SOUTHAMPTON, MARCH 3.
We understand that the Lords Commissioners of the
Admiralty have issued circulars to all the large steam-
packet companies, inquiring what steam-vessels can be
placed at the disposal of the Government for the con-
veyance of troops or stores.
The name, tonnage, and horse-power of the vessels.
The port at which the vessels are or, if not in Eng-
land, when and where they may be expected. If in
offering the vessels any derangement of the mail or
other service will take place. Whether any of the ves-
sels are adapted for the conveyance of horses below ;
and, if so, whether the internal fittings will have to be
removed. The expenditure of coal per day in each
vessel. If the ships should proceed to ports in the
Mediterranean, whether the company would undertake
to coal their own vessels, and not to
.draw upon the
Government stores. The probable expense, on rough
estimate, of the employment of each ship for one, two,
or three months.
The only assistance which could be rendered from this
port, without interruption to the mail packet service,
would be the new steam-ships Colombo, Candia, and
Simla, belonging to the Peninsular and Oriental Com-
pany, and the Magdalena, 2,750 tons, and 750-horse
power, and the Medway, 1,800 tons, and 450-horse
power, belonging to the West India Mail Company. The
Magdalena is already chartered by the Government, and
will be a most efficient troop-ship. The Medway might
be got ready for sea within a short time, and would carry
700 or 800 men. The Colombo, a new screw steamer,
of 1,800 tons and 400-horse power, belonging to the
Peninsular and Oriental Company, is expected in a few
days from the Clyde. The Simla, of 2,600 tons burden
and 600-horse power, is getting ready for sea at
Greenock with the greatest despatch, and, it is
hoped, will be in Southampton in about six weeks.
The Candia, of 2,250 tons and 500-horse power,
is now in the Thames, and may be got ready
for service in about two months. All these
vessels would be most powerful and efficient
aids to the steam transport service of the Govern-
ment, and will doubtless be offered. It is not antici-
pated that any of the contract mail companies will pro-
pose the employment of any of their ships, the with-
drawal of which would put a stop to the mail service ;
but will, on the contrary, merely tender such steamers
as can be spared for the present, thus throwing upon the
Government the anus of withdrawing the mail packets
in the event of the exigencies of the public service rep:-
dering it necessary to do so.
poviteut tu..augi j -
PORTSMOttIi, MARCH 3.
Ea.ch day developer more plainly the advance of the
equipment of Sir Charles Napier's fleet, and the con-
tinued fine weather helps to an incalculable extent. The
victualling proceeds almost without intermission ;.so does
the gunnery drill of Admiral Chads. A perpetual can-
nonading from 9 o'clock in the morning until 4 in the
afternoon (allowing: only for the dinner-time), is daily
going on, and attracts great interest ashore.

Aboard of enrvey. nnaia4ing^.l Captain H. Smith,
C. 8., of the Neptune,.
_CaptainLLVu, of t Prim
Regent ; and Captain Crispin, jun., Captain of the Vic-
toria and Albert, with three medical officers, was held
to-day at the Royal Naval Hospital Haslar, Capt. Super-
intendent Courtenay, on about 60 claimants to be in-
valided ; 15 marines and 45 seamen, several being coast-
guardmen newly draughted to serve afloat, were found
unfit for active service on board ship, and were passed
accordingly. The Prince Regent has completed her six
months' provisions and stores for active service already.
She will be paid down to-morrow at Spithead by the
pay staff from the Admiralty, together with the Odin,
Capt. Scott, in the basin, repairing boilers, &c. The
Boscawen, 70, Capt. Glanville, was paid to-day. The
post of Flag-Captain to Sir Charles Napier has been
offered to Capt. Dalrymple Hay, of the flag-ship Vic-
tory, who distinguished himself in action with pirates
in the China seas, when commanding the sloop Colum-
bine. The Prince Regent and Odin are the only ships of
Rear-Admiral Corry's squadron from which paybooks
have as yet been received. We trust the sailing of
the fleet will not be delayed on account of the non-
performance of this clerical duty on board ship. We
believe we are correct in asserting that if neces-
sity requires, the whole of the fleet now at Spithead might
be sent to sea to-morrow night. All the ships were
to-day completed with water before 12 o'clock, and they
will have shipped their provisions by to-morrow at noon.
Thus the victualling department of Clarence-yard have
shown what can be done on an emergency. Rear-
Admiral Corry returns from town to-morrow. Commo-
dore Martin, of the Duke of Wellington, although ap-
pointed to the Nile, 91, haS the option of commanding
that ship or a division of the smaller steam-frigates, with
a broad pendant of the first class in the Leopard, 18.
The Arrogant, 46, having coaled, returned to Spithead
this morning, and the Dauntless, 33, came in for the
like purpose. The Magicienne, 16, has steamed away
to the westward, apparently for Plymouth, on special
service. The steam-vessel Porcupine has been despatched
to look up volunteers on the coast. The Blenheim, 60,
is adjusting her compasses in the harbour, preparatory to
going out to Spithead. The Caesar, 91, new screw ship,
Capt. Robb, has been got out of harbour this day. Her re-
markably speedy equipment reflects the highest credit on all
engaged upon her, the engineer departmentespecially. She
steamed out to Stokes Bay, and made two runs along
the measured mile, after which she ran through the fleet,
and down to the Knati Light, and thence into the har-
bour again. She bad a large party on board. Her
machinery worked most splendidly ; not a rivet or screw
displaced. She was tried ahead and astern, and an-
swered 'perfectly. She realised a mean speed of 10i
knots per hour, and came. into harbour at 4 p.m. to
complete for sea. Whatever ill fortune might have at-
tended her launch, she seems to have shaken it off. The
speed of the Princess Royal on Monday was 10.7, not
4.7, as erroneously printed in the notice of her trial.

PLYMOUTH, FRIDAY EVENING.
Rear Admiral Berkeley, one of the Lords of the Ad-
miralty, arrived here last evening, and Sir Baldwin
Walker, Surveyor of the Navy, this morning. They are
,cove to expedite the fitting of ships.
The Duke of Wellington, 131,Commander H. B. Martin,
under charge of Mr. Thompson, Queen's Harbourmaster,
left the Sound early this morning. On getting between
Millbay-spur and St. Nicholas Island, the weather thick-
ened ; she was skilfully turned in the Narrows, and went
back to the Sound shortly after. The Desperate came
down harbour, and the Duke subsequently went up
Hamoaze with all her powder on board,which was ,dis-
charged in harbour. To-morrow morning she will be
docked at Keyham, and if the defects in her pump gear
or in her valves can be remedied in time, she will be
undocked in the evening. The orders are for her to be
made sound again by Thursday. Admiral Sir Baldwin
Walker inspected her to-day.
Admiral Berkeley issued orders at 6 p.m. on Thursday
to prepare the screw steam-ship Desperate, 8, Captain
W. Chambers, for sea, and at that time her decks were
lumbered, topgallant masts on deck, and sails unbent.
Every man had leave until 4 this morning, but by the
activity of the First-Lieutenant V. Johnson and a wil-
ling crew, topgallant masts were got up, topgallant
yards crossed, and sails bent by half-past 7, and steam
being got up in the meantime she shortly after went
into the Sound. At 11 o'clock she sailed for Carrick-
fergus and Dublin to bring men for the squadron.
The crew of the Royal George, 121, Captain Codring-
ton, were paid their wages to day, and she is ordered to
sail for Spithead to-morrow. The Rhadamanthus ar-
rived yesterday with machinery from Woolwich, and
the Nautilus, today with supernumeraries from Fal-

mouth.
Commodore H. B. Martin will probably remove his
flag to-day from the Duke of Wellington to the Nile.
Commodore Seymour gave up command of the dock-
yard to-day, and it is expected he will hoist his broad
pendant on board the Duke to-morrow.
In consequence of the embarkation of the 93d High-
landers, the dockyard military guard has been reduced
from 55 to 43.
The equipment of the troop-ship Belleisle, 24, as hos-
pital ship for the Baltic, has occupied the especial atten-
tion of Admiral Berkeley this forenoon. He went
through her, accompanied by Sir B. Walker, Commo-
dore Seymour, Captain Singcombe, &c. Doctor Alex-
ander M'Kecknie, junior surgeon of Haslar Hospital,
appointed inspector of hospitals on board the Belleisle,
will have under him two surgeons, three assistant sur-
geons, and one surgeon's clerk. All the lower deck of
the Belleisle will be used as an hospital. The first batta-

lion of the Ist Royals is expected to arrive here by rail
at 3 o'clock on Saturday afternoon, from Newport.

LIVERPOOL, MARCH 3.
Recruiting for the navy progresses rapidly, volunteers
freely offering themselves. Yesterday evening a num-
ber of men, including some from Ireland and the Isle of
Man, were forwarded by the mail train, and will be sent
on board the Governmen ship Crocodile, whence they
will be draughted on board vessels at Portsmouth, Ely-
mouth, and elsewhere, in accordance with Admiralty in-
structions. An order has been received at Liverpool
stating that several vessels of from 650 to 850 tons bur-
den are immediately repired as transports, and that they
would be engaged for three or four months positively,
and might be required for a longer period. Owners of
vessels of this class have sent in tenders, and it is under-
stood that several have been accepted. The 77th regi-
ment, which has arrived at Preston from Glasgow, will
be embarked at this port on board the screw-steamer
Kangaroo, which is expected here by every tide. On
her arrival she -will go into the Sandon Dock, and the
embarkation will take place in the course of a few days.

• PEMBROKE, MARCH 3.
The Ist Regiment of Foot, now doing duty in South
Wales, having received orders to hold themselves in
readiness to join the second division of the'British army
for Turkey, the four companies now at the barracks here
will be relieved by the same number of the 85th Foot,
which corps will to a certain extent replace the let Foot.
The head-quarters of the 85th are at present at Bristol.
Lieutenant-Colonel Crawley, R.E., has assumed the
direction of the engineering-- department in connexion
with the defences now in course of progress for the
better protection of the haven. He succeeded Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Victor, who has proceeded to Constanti-
nople on particular service.
The volunteering for the navy has been very successful
in this neighbourhood, upwards of 65' able-bodied fellows
having been sent round to Plymouth as the last batch,
The fort at the western side of the dockyard has been
mounted with the guns sent for its armament. The
pieces of ordnance will be 24 in number, about half of
which will be 10 and 8-inch guns, which have been
mounted on traversing carriages. This battery was
formerly suppfied with 24-pounders, but last summer
the whole was altered to receive the present armament—
viz., 32's and 68's, which have been mounted by the
small detachment of the Royal Artillery stationed here.