The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-25 00:00:00

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENIN G. DECEMBER 25, 1854

participate.
It is tot, however, the mere creature comforts
that promote, or, we should rather say, occasion
the general happiness. Any amount of good
cheer could never produce the tranquillity of dis-
position, the gentleness of feeling that generally
prevails. Past memories, present enjoyment, and
future hopes, combine, we think, of the absent of
the dead—not when the first bitterness of grief is
blunted, sorrowfully, but rather hopefully. The
great event we are commemorating justifies
I these hopes, and enables us to indulge in the
fond anticipation that the separation from those
we love is not eternal, and that as we may look
forward to the return of those far from their
homes, we may also humbly contemplate a re-
union with those whom we can never again look
on in this world—and while dwelling with
" mournful joy" on what has been removed, we
may feel the deepest gratitude to the " Giver of
all Good" for the blessings that remain, and those
which may yet be accorded.
Such associations should lead to important re-
sults—every person, whatever may be his capacity,
should determine to spare no exertion collectively
or individually to render assistance where it is
required, to treat with kindness and considera-
tion those over whom he has any power. How-
ever lowly his position or scanty his means, he
may yet do something. " The widow's mite" was a
more acceptable offering than the treasure be-
stowed in a spirit of pride and ostentation, which
sought its reward in the admiration of the spec-
tators. If every one strive to do his best accord-
ing to his power, an aggregate of godd would be
aciaomplisheci that would surprise the world.
Each man would feel astonished at the results of
his own acts, at the amount of happiness
we might confer on those over whom we had some
control, or whose destinies we might influence in
some degree. According to the fable, the mouse
was enabled to rescue the lion from the hunter's
snare, and if it is not often that such a chance
arises there is still something that may be at-
tempted for some one, which will be " twice
blessed," gratifying the recipients, and giving
still greater pleasure to the donor, which certain
will not lessen his appetite for his Christmas
dinner.

This may be regarded as " preaching." It is
not the less appropriate. We seek to influence,
not merely individuals, but the nation, as wt
demand from each person what he or she has
accomplished, or may determine to accomplish,
for the general happiness—what wrongful deed
he has committed, for which he may even yet
make reparation—what act of beneficence he has
left unfulfilled. We may still more urgently call
upon the Legislature to remove, with all conve-
nient speed, the unseemly blots still remaining on
the national escutcheon—to pay greater attention
to the wants of the poor—to see that the most
humble individual is protected from any undue
encroachment on his rights and privileges, and
that he may, so far as practicable, be enabled t 6
acquire the comforts suitable to his position, that
his welfare and happiness may be' promoted to the
utmost degree.
' We have in some respects entered on the right
path, but our progress hitherto has been very
tardy. Let not this golden opportunity, then,
pass away without a resolute determination to
make amends, and to produce the great end and
object of all legislation—the production of " the.
greatest good for the greatest number.
for once attend to the interests of the " million '
rather than of the " favoured few," who have
hitherto been the chief, if not the sole, objects of
the Legislative solicitude.

Let us

The event of Friday night's debate was, not the
division and the second small majority accorded to
the Cabinet by reluctant supporters, but the
speeches of the great League twins in favour of
'peace. Mr. BRIGHT'S we have had before in his
letter ; indeed on Friday he was chiefly occupied
in defending the statements of Mr. COBDEN from
the misrepresentations of Lord Jorix RUSSELL.
Both speeches will, of course, be translated by the
CZAR for the benefit of his subjects ; and the Eu-
ropean reputation of Mr. COBDEN will no doubt
be employed for very different purposes to that
at which he aimed. We entirely acquit the
Honourable Member of any unworthy motives,
but we are much mistaken if he will not materi-
ally aid the Czar and all the despots of Germany in
their efforts to prolong the base policy of that
combination of little and great States adjacent to
Russia which has been so fatal to our troops, and
which has prevented the War being closed in a
single campaign. Had Austria and Prussia, with
their subordinates, declared to the CZAR that they
were ready to join the Allies at once if he did not
keep on his own side of the Pruth, they would
have given him an honourable reason for doing
it. He would have declared himself outvoted by
Europe, and have remained quiet. And at the
present moment it is not the " good offices" of all
Germany which will obtain a safe peae3—her
arms alone will do it. Mr. COBDEN says that
nineteen out of twenty of the German people wish
us success, but, will not join us in fighting for
it. We give them credit for less selfishness,
and more honour and wisdom. They must
know that their present position is most degrading
and contemptible, and must know also that the
universal arming of Germany against the patron

saint of despotism would quickly bring him to his
senses—above all, that it would materially aid them
in obtaining those free institutions to which they
all aspire, but of which, while supported by the
CZAR, their perjured tyrants have so long de-
frauded them. But far NICHOLAS, 1848 would
have left Germany in a very different political
condition ; and. her people must be aware that
such a favourable opportunity for throwing off the
paralysing Russian nightmare, as co-operation
with the Western Allies, may be long ere it occurs

again.
Perhaps the most marked of Mr. COBDEN'S falla-
cies was his appeal to the wishes of Prussia and
Austria as the parties most interested in weaken-
ing the undue power of Russia. If they, being
so near, would be content siith•the four points in
a Russian sense, why not we ? for the first pres-
sure of over-grown Russia must be on them. Yet
Nlr. COBDEN has himself described nineteen-twen-
tieths of the people as wishing success to the
Allies. It is quite plain that what will content
the tyrants of Germany will not content her
people. The arbiters to whom Mr. COBDEN would
refer the terms of peace quite understand their
game. They wish for a CZAR strong enough to
intimidate their subjects, though not so strong as
to presume to talk of Austria as he did to Sir H.
SEYMOUR. We should have little fear ourselves
of appealing to the peoples immediately conter-
minous with Russia, or to the German people
generally ; but to bring forward the wishes of
their Governments as a reasonable criterion of fair
arrangements is a totally different thing.
What could Mr. COBDEN mean also by talking of
the freedom of Danubian trade underßussia ? Have '
not writers of his own party shown at length, that,
over and above the blocking up of its mouth, she
imposed such inexcusable quarantine regulations
and expenses, and that in favour of Odessa, that
ships were detained for months before they could
get rid of their cargoes, or were required to pay
ruinous fees to Russian officials here or at Ga-
latz ? At the latter place, Russia having, more-
over, no more right to interfere than we have ;
the river itself also being throughout its entire
length, except the small portion at its mouth
seized by the CZAR, not a Russian river. Indeed
Mr. COBDEN'S whole speech is full of the suppressio
rtri, we may add of the suggestio falsi, though we
incline to attribute this practical partisanship less
to design than to an exclusive attention to his
own view of the whole question.
Mr. COBDEN laboured hard to prove that the
Turks were a hopeless race, and that it was useless
as a security for the future to destroy Sebastopol.
We fear the Russians are about as hopeless as the
Turks morally ; and, except in their capacity of
becoming ready imps to do the behests of the
arch-enemy, they are no better politically. The
regeneration of Turkey is as hopeful as that of
Russia ; and to talk of the Christianity of the
latter is, we really think, a profane insult to
Christianity itself. Its doctrines and benign pre-
cepts may be known to the CZAR, but they are
utterly unknown to his practice, except as he can
use it, which he does abundantly, as a purely
political engine. To his people the precepts of
our holy faith cannot be said to have any influ-
ence at all. As to Sebastopol, if we have not
now had demonstration enough that it has been
constructed for the subjugation of the Black Sea,
the Archipelago, the Levant, indeed of all the
East, we should deserve to find it ten times
stronger than it is. For any consideration of
national honour, or a secure future, however,
Nir. COBDEN seems to have but slight concern.
To get off most easily for the present is his only
object. For the suffering of our men we feel as
deeply as he or his eloquent comrade Mr. 33nronr
but we believe that nothing would plunge all now
in the Crimea into deeper distress than a summons
from the walls of Sebastopol with their work un-
done. In their denunciations of Ministerial in-
capacity and neglect we must concur, and only
wish that they may produce their effect in the
proper quarters.
S-

Although the additional consumption of tea, when
the duty was only is. per lb., might make up for
the reduction, the change would not follow on a
reduction to ls. 6d. only. We had a striking
illustration of this in the experiment made in
postage of letters before the uniform penny charge
was introduced. Those who dread ed a loss to the
revenue, from the adoption of ROWLAND HILL'S
judicious proposition, tried an intermediate four-
penny rate, which led to a considerable loss. The
sum demanded was still too high to induce the
poorer classes to correspond with distant rela-
tives. Fortunately, however, the) plan was fully
developed, and the loss sustained in the abor-
tive experiment was fully recovered. So it
will be with tea—at ls. 6d. duty, we shall
only, witness the loss. The ameliorating influences
have not and will not become perceptible, but give
the project fair play ; let Mr. Dr 3RAELI—for he it
was who introduced it, although Mr. GLADSTONE
afterwards adopted it—obtain a reasonable trial.
Let us sce whether we shall not obtain a better
revenue at is. than at ls. 6d. There is, fortu-
nately, time enough to consider these matters.
If the voice of public opinion be clearly and dis-
tinctly expressed, Mr. GLADSTONE may be induced
to abstain from an experiment which may prove
no less detrimental than some of those by which
he has signalised his presidency at the Exchequer,
and which have by no means advanced his charm-
,er as a Financial Minister.

LATEST NEWS.

the four points. Count Buol gave the required
explanations. It is said that on the 14th conferences
were held between Count Buol and the ambassadors
of the Western Powers, in order to come to an un-
derstanding about the measures to be taken in vir-
tue of the treaty of December, in case the Czar
should not yield to the demands of Austria and the
Western Powers."

freight of fruit, consisting principally of oranges
and lemons.
The Madrid experienced fresh winds on her
homeward voyage, with a tremendous sea, espe-
cially from Vigo to Southampton. She has 123
passengers in the aggregate.
When the Madrid left Gibraltar the French war-
steamer Newtown and American screw-steamer
Jacinto were lying in the Tagus ; as also the Eng-
lish screw-steamers De3ta and Norman.
At Lisbon.—H.M.S. Meander.
The French war-ship Prince Jerome left Cadiz
on the 15th, but her destination was not known.
Some anxiety existed at Lisbon on account of
the continual rise in the staff of life—bread. It
was thought that Government would prevent fur-
ther exportation of corn.

GIBRALTAR.

By the arrival yesterday afternoon of the Penin
sular and Oriental Company's steamer Madrid a
Southampton we have dates from Gibraltar to the
14th inst. The 39th Regiment embarked on board
the steam-ship Cambria ou the 9th inst., for the
Crimea, amid loud and rapturous cheering from
the spectators, who lined the ramparts. This regi-
ment is the third that had taken its departure for
the East from Gibraltar within a week, the 17gli
and 19th Regiments having respectively embarked
by the Niagara and Tamar. The Tamar had ar-
I rived out at Gibraltar in four days from Southamp
ton. The subscriptions in aid of the patriotic func
atiGibraltar now amount to $4,179. The s.s. Tiber,
six days from Palermo, touched at Gibraltar on
the 9th inst., en route to LiTerpool. The Penin-
sular and Oriental Co.'s steamer Euxine, 51 days
from Southampton, with the outward bound India
mails, roached Gibraltar on the 10th, and proceeded
for Malta and Alexandria. 11. M 's steam-sloop
Curlew left Gibraltar on the 9th inst. for the east-
ward. The steamer Euphrates, 7i days from Li-
verpool, arrived on the 11th inst., and left for
Corfu. The screw steamer Metropolitan, 5 days
from Southampton, with wooden houses and stores
for the Crimea, touched at Gibraltar on the 12th
nst. The U. S. steam frigate San Jacinto arrived
at Gibraltar on the 12th inst. The screw steamer
Baalbec, 4 days 22 hours from Liverpool, bound to
Constantinople, arrived on the 12th inst. The screw
steam-ship New York passed the Straits with troops
on the 12th inst. The British steam transport
Charity, and a French line-of-battle ship, towed
by a frigate, passed through the Straits on the 12th
to the eastward. The screw transport Norman, 9
days from Southampton and 6 from Toulon, with
wooden huts for the Crimea, reached Gibraltar on
the 12th inst. The sailing transport Clifton, 106,
with Government stores, arrived on the 12th. The
screw steamer Delta, 6 days from Malta, arrived at
Gibraltar on the 14th inst., bound to Tangier and
Liverpool. The French steam-sloop Sentinelle left
Gibraltar-bay on the 14th inst.

COURT CIRCITLAR.

W IND SOR,

The dinner party yesterday included her Royal High-
ness the Duchess of Kent, the Archbishop of Canter-
bury, the Earl and Countess of Ellesmere and Lady
Blanche Egerton, Major• General the Hon. Charles and
Mrs. Grey, Sir James Clark, and Mrs. Codrington.
The band of the Royal Horse Guards played during
dinner, and her Majesty's private band afterwards.
The Queen, with the Princess Royal and Princess
Alice, walked in the Home Park this morning.
The Prince of Wales and Prince Alfred rode on
horseback to-day.
All the visiting company left the Castle this forenoon.
There was no addition to the Royal dinner party
to-day

SUNDAY, DNc. 24.
The Queen and Prince, the four elder Royal children,
and the Duchess of Kent, the ladies and gentlemen of
the Court, and the domestic household, attended Divine
service this morning in the private chapel of the Castle.
The Hon. and Very Rev. the Dean of Windsor read
the Prayers.
The Bishop of New Zealand read tho Communion
Service and preached the sernicn.
His Royal Highness Prince Albert, attended by Major-
General the Hon. Charles Grey and Captain the Hon.
D. de Roe, left Windsor by a special train yesterday for
Sandhurst, and inspected the site for the Wellington
College, about to be erected near that place. The Prince
returned to the Castle in the afternoon.

Despatches from Lord Raglan, in the Crimea, were
brought by a messenger to the Foreign-office on Satur-
day morning.
Sir Charles Wood left the town after the Cabinet
Council on Saturday afternoon for Lis seat, Hickleton-
hall, Doncaster.

MINISTERIAL MOVEMENTS.

After the Cabinet Council which separated on Satur-
day evening summonses were ssued for a Cabinet
Council on Wednesday next.
The Marquis of Lansdowne left Lansdowne-house
yesterday (Sunday) morning for Bowood-park, Wilts,
for the Christmas holydays.
The Lord Chancellor, accompanlis I by Lady Cran-
worth, after the breaking up of the 'abinet Council on
Saturday evening, left town to pass a few days at his
lordship's seat near Bexley, Kent.
The Right 'Ron. Sidney Herbert, M.P., and Mrs.
Herbert left town on Saturday evening for Wilton-
house, near Salisbury. The right hon. gentleman comes
to town on Wednesday morning.
The Right Hon. Sir George Grey, the Secretary for
the Colonial Department, left town, by mail train, on
Satuidly night for Falloden, near Hawick.
Viscount Palmerston has vacated his house in
Carlton-gardens, and removed to the mansion he has
taken of Mr. Beaumont, M.P., in Piccadilly. Lady
Jocelyn and her youthful family are staying with the
noble Viscount and Viscountess.
Tile Duke of Argyll has taken possession of Bedford-
lodge, Campden-hill, formerly the residence of the
Dowager Duchess of Bedford. The Duchess and family
arrived there on Saturday, from visiting the Duke and
Duchess of Sutherland at Trentham. The noble Duke
and Duchess purpose passing the holidays in town.
Lord John Russell, the Lord-President of the Coun-
cil, left London on Saturday, after the Council, to join
her ladyship and family at the Duke of Bedford's seat
in Bedfordshire.
The Right Hon. the Chancellor of the Exchequer and
Mrs. Gladstone left the right hon. gentleman's official
residence in Downing-street on Saturday evening for
Hawarden Castle, Flintshire, on a visit to Sir Stephen
Glynne, Bart. The right hon. gentleman will be in
town on Wednesday.
The Right Hon. Sir C. Wood, Bart., left Chesham-
place on Saturday evening for Hickleton-hall, York-
shire, to pass the Christmas with Lady Mary Wood
and family.
The Duke of Newcastle, the Right' Hon. Sir James
Graham, and the Earl of Aberdeen are in town, public
business demanding their constant attention to their re-
spective departments in the State.
The Earl of Clarendon left town by the last train on
Saturday night for the Grove, near Watford, Herts.
The noble Earl will come to town to-morrow.
Earl Granville has left town for a few days, but will
come to London to attend the meeting of the Cabinet
Ministers on Wednesday.
The Chevalier Buhsen, says the Gazette de l'Academie
of St. Petersburg, continues to reside in retirement at
Heidelberg, and has just sent to Berlin an historical
work, the fruit of his regained leisure.
GENERAL SIR DE LACY EVANR.—This gallant officer
is hourly expected to arrive from Dover at his residence
in Bryanstone-square from. Paris. We are happy to
learn that the gallant General's health has improved
since he left Malta.