The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-10 00:00:00

ABANDONMENT OF THE REFORM BILL.

(Prom the Times.)
This day the Government is to give its answer
with regard to the future progress of the Reform
Bill—an answer naturally looked for with the
utmost impatience and anxiety by allwho regard
the national honour and safety, who wish for the
stability of our Government, and the eventual
promotion even of reform itself. We will not,
under the circumstances in which we stand, per-
mit ourselves for a single moment to doubt of the
answer, nor believe that a body of statesmen whom
the country has deemed deserving of its confidence
and adequate to the care of its destinies will ex-
pose us gratuitously to the perils of divided coun-
sels and the evils of political agitation. Heavy
has been the responsibility cast upon Ministers by
the events of the last year. They have have had
to choose between the danger of plunging the
country into war prematurely, and before the pub-
lic sentiment was ripe for the change, and the
accusation of having been slow and reluctant
to vindicate our national honour. They have
'ound themselves step by step, and in spite
of their wishes, their principles, and their re-
solutions, brought by circumstances into conflict
with the most powerful empire in the world,
and placed in a situation where to advance is
dangerous, and to retreat impossible. But, heavy
• as this responsibility is, it is as nothing com-
pared with that which would be assumed by those
who should at the present moment insist upon
forcing a Reform Bill on the country. Whatever
be the risks and penalties of war, they are forced
upon us from without by the wild and inflated am-
bition of. a despot ; but whatever evil may arise
from the agitation of a Reform Bill would be purely
self sought arid spontaneous. We cannot avoid a
war without immediate dishonour and probable
future loss. The accounts of every day show that
Russia has assumed a position in the European
State system from which she must be forced to
descend, if the independence of that great confede-
racy is to be preserved. Self-defence' acting in a
spirit of enlightened foresight, prompts us to meet
on the banks of the Danube a danger which may
else have to be arrested on those of the Oder, the
Elbe, the Weser, or the Rhine. But no pressing,
danger, no inevitable evil, long foreseen and gra-
dually advancing, calls upon us to meet halfway
and precipitate the solution of a reform in our
electoral system. Some reforms war not only
authorises but necessitates, but those are matters
relating to the war itself, and bearing on its suc-
cessful prosecution. Thus, in Turkey, it has been
found requisite, even in the midst of the present
tremendous struggle, to carry out alterations so
sweeping and so vast as to be more properly charac-
terised by the name of revolution than of reform.
The admission of Christian evidence in courts
of justice and the resumption of the property of
the mosques are vast changes, but they have been
rendered absolutely indispensable by the necessity
of conciliating the Christian races, and of providing
the Government withresources unprofitably devoted
for the encouragement of lazy and fanatical super-
stition. To supply the State with adequate re-
sources and to conciliate the support of a wavering
population are objects for which much may wisely
be dared. These things ought long ago to have
been done, and it is owing to stupid pride and ob-
stinate bigotry that they have been delayed until
the hour of danger. How different is the case of
the changes proposed by the Reform Bill! More
than twenty years ago, in a time of profound peace,
the nation set itself to review its institutions, and,
listening to the voice of truth and reason, accom-
plished a peaceful and bloodless revolution, which
has remedied all the prominent abuses which were
then complained of, and left the Parliament and
Government so much a-head of the people that the
one has been meditating theoretical changes which
the other scarcely seems to appreciate. We have
trimmed our ship in calm weather, and have no
occasion to resort to the hazardous experiment of
changing her ballast in a tempest. A second
specimen of that reform which may properly be
effected even during the state of war is that of the
departments themselves by which war is to be ear-
ned on. Unlike the Reform of Parliament, this
question has been grossly neglected during those
days of peace when it might and ought to have
been settled without difficulty and without dan-
ger. War has come upon us and found us with a
triple administration of that which ought to ba
single, and a divided responsibility where it should
above all things be combined. The evils of the
system are too gross and palpable to be denied.
They are pressed upon us by all history and all ex-
perience, and the only answer that can be given is
that war is not the time for great changes, and
that, bad as the existing division of office may be,
it is better to bear with its known and acknow-
ledged evils than risk the untried and incalculable
dangers which wait upon innovations made at the
very moment of action. Is it not surprising that
from a Ministry which employs this argument with
so much earnestness on Friday we should be wait-
ing in anxiety and suspense to hear on Monday
whether they are not about to force upon an un-
willing country, not changes in the organisation
of official departmnts, but in the Legislature it-
self,--not questions relating to the details of busi-
ness, but to the constitution of the highest power
in the land ? It would seem incredible that a re-
form in the War-office or in the Ordnance should
be rejected because we are at war, at the same
time that an alteration in the body to which
these and all other departments are responsible is
contemplated, and a transfer of political power
from one portion of the community to another is
proposed. We should have thought that those
who recoiled from entering on the question of re-
resentation might yet have entertained the ques-
tion of providing a Minister at War, but certainly
never that the converse could have held good, and
that men would have recoiled from establishing a
new Minister, as too violent a change for a time in
which they see no objection to establish a new Par
aament.

We cannot say that we sacrifice to the war so
good a Reform Bill as that of this session without
regret ; but there are undoubtedly many other
sacrifices we are called upon to make for the same
abject which we feel much more deeply. The ma-
terials for a Reform Bill will always remain, and
that which is unavoidably postponed for this year
may be resumed on a future occasion and under
happier auspices. A salutary change is delayed,
but not endangered—deferred, but not lost ; but
who shall give us back the commerce we are sacri-
ficing, the treasure we are lavishing ; and, dearer
and sadder than all, the lives we are staking on the
cast of this deadly game ? Our surplus must be
converted into a deficit, our financial improvements
into retrogression, the process of gradually lighten- '
ing taxation, to which we have become so familiar,
must be reversed, and the best blood and the best
energies of the country devoted to destroy those
resources of our enemy which our Commerce and
our capital have so long been employed in fostering
and creating. These are sad reflections, and, amid
so many irreparable losses, may teach us to bear
with patience an evil so easily repaired as the post-
ponement of a Reform in Parliament.

GREAT FIRE IN WESTMINSTER.—Last night, about a
quarter to eight o'clock, a fire, attended with a large
destruction of property, broke out in the extensive range
of premises in the occupancy of Mr. Williams, japanner,
in Marlioraugh-placv, Whistler's-ground, Great Peter-
street, WeetTniacter. The building was ner...:.; long, and adjoined, on one side, the gas-meter works of
Mr. Thomas Edge, whilst the extreme end of the fabric
stretched as far in the other direction as the Chartered
Gas Works in the Horseferry-road. Some dozen houses
also flanked the premises in Marlborough-place and
Whistler's-ground, so that at one time the neighbour-
hood was placed in jeopardy, as it was feared that
the fire would extend to the neighbouring gasometers,
which were fully charged. The moment the dis-
covery i was made, intelligence was sent to Pigott, the
pn charge of the liorseferry-road Brigade
engine, who promptly attended, and forthwith
sent for additional aid. As quickly as possible several
other engines of the Brigade, and of the West of Eng-
land office, attended, when it was found that the entire
and breadth of the first-named premises were
length
enveloped in flame. Before the engines came the
mains of the Chelsea Company yielded an abundant
Supply of from which the engines, under the
direction of w
nf Messrs. St.aples, Connorton, and Tozer,
first thing sought to be accomplished waswent
to work. ilhhee
further
to cut off
extension of the conflagration in
t
the direction of.liessrs. Edges and the gasworks. For-
tunately Mr.
Carter, the superintendent of the latter,
was present, and he aye such orders that the two esta-
blishments were saved, but the damage done to Mr.
William's premises tntist amounttoina
thec onsNivdeesratbnlfe sum.
Fortunately the owner was insured
ter is known.
Eng-
land office. As to the origin of the
e.firnothingy
FIRE IN TILE ROYAL EXCIIA..vG
)
morning, between the hours of ninealidtcn
discovery
o'clock, the
ofthe
inhabitants of Cornhill were alarmed
barryi the p
and Co., sta-
tioners fire in the premises of Messrs. B
tioners and bookbinders, No. 12, Royall Exchange, a
part of the main building opposite the Exchange-build-
ings. By the vigilance of a policeman, and the activity
of the firemen, the flames were discovered and subdued
within an hour, but the damage done by fire and water
was not small.

Mr. R. W. GREY.—Before offering himself for elec-
tion at Liskeard, Mr. R. W. Grey resigned his appoint-
ment of Private Secretary to Lord Palmerston, it being
contrary to law for a member of the House of Commons
to hold such an office, or at least, to receive the salary
attached. Lord Palmerston has appointed Mr. Charles
Cavendish Clifford (son of Sir Augustus Clifford, Bart.,
"Usher of the Black Rod), to the vacancy. Mr. Grey,
however, will continue his services without emolument,
in the same way as he formerly did to Lord John Rus-
sell, when sitting for Tynemouth, and as is no ti
for the Chancellor of the Exchequer by the Ha-,n. F.
Lawleyl member for Pontefract.

ARRIVAL OF THE ARABIA.
LIVERPOOL, SATURDAY.
By the royal mail steamer Arabia, Judkins com-
mander, we have advices from New York to the
28th, and from Boston to the 29th ultimo. She
has brought $196,048 in specie on freight.
The royal mail steamer Africa arrived at New
York from this port on the 27th ultimo.
President Pierce's opinion on the Nebraska Bill
had partially leaked out. In a conversation with
Mr. Clemens, according to a letter published by
that gentleman, the President said :
"That Douglas's bill was a proposition in favour of
freedom ; and added that if it should pass, although we
might absorb the whole of Mexico, not another slave
State would ever come into the Union. He expressed
great surprise at the opposition it met with from the
north, and equal surprise that the south should be wil-
ing to take it."
A Washington correspondent gives the result of
the visit of a deputation from the London Society
of Friends to the President :
"A deputation of Friends, bearing credentials from
the London yearly meeting of the religious society of
Friends of the united kingdom of Great Britain and Ire-
land, have left, after having been for some time
in this city. In pursuance of the object of their
mission here, they sought and obtained audience, not
only with the President, but likewise with the several
heads of departments, pressing upon the attention of
those executive authorities, at their several interviews,
the solicitude entertained by their respectable society
towards the subject of involuntary servitude, as the
same now exists in many of the States of this Union.
They were received with all the consideration due to the
elevated moral character of their society. The deputation
must have departed, if there is power in satisfying reason,
convinced that they had left behind them, in the com-
fortless abode of the Irish labourer and in the workshops
of the English manufacturer, suffering, privation, degra-
dation, and terrible poverty, not to be found among the
well-fed and well-treated coloured population of the
South, and more entitled to their benevolent regard."
The Washington correspondent of the Herald
asserts that Mr. Sanders, late Consul of the United
States in London, had sold 200,000 muskets to
certain revolutionary capitalists in London, in
preparation for the explosion of democracy on the
continent as soon as France and England shMl
have been actively engaged with Russia.
The same correspondent says :--
"I understand, also, that the British Government got
some inkling of George Sanders's movements with the
revolutionists, and contrived through the intrigues of
Crampton and Marcy to aid his defeat as Consul to Lon-
don before the United States Senate."
He also says
:--
"I have been led to believe that the Russian agents
in London had furnished some of the means for the pur-
chase of these muskets, to put into the- hands of the
revolutionary portions of the continent ; but there can
be no doubt of their possessing plenty of ammunition in
London, and that vast financial transactions have already
taken place for the purchase of ammunition which is also
about to be supplied in a circuitous way, from the same
source in this country."
Another correspondent of the same journal con-
tradicts the above, as follows:
" The statement that George Sanders has effected a
sale of George Law's muskets is not true. A partial
disposition has been effected, but not through the aid of
Mr. Sanders, nor in the direction indicated in the foolish
story which has been telegraphed here."
Some very absurd rumours were current in New
York respecting the Irish. The New York Daily
Times says :
"Sundry exciting rumours are current in regard to
movementsv of the Irish in the United States, with refer-
ence to the war just began between England and Russia.
It is reported that a very extensive organisation is in
progress here among the Irish—that companies have been
formed, and that military exercises are constantly prac-
tised, with the intention to stir up and aid a rebellion in
Canada, whenever the condition of affairs in the East
shall seem most propitious for such a movement. We
have received detailed information of the extent of the
organisation, the numbers con cerned, and even the names
of the active agents in the arrangement; but under pre-
sent circumstances we refrain from making it public. It
is said that a similar scheme is on foot in Ireland, and
that a very large number of men have been enlisted for
the project."
The Nebraska Bill was still under discussion in
the House of Representatives.
The miscellaneous advices report the death of
Major Hobbie, Assistant Postmaster-General. In
Indiana very destructive:floods had been experienced.
At Birmingham upwards of 200 families had
been rendered houseless by a fire. Thinly attended
" indignation meetings" had been held in New York
at which resolutions against Cuba were passed. A
steam boat named the Jacob D. Early had been
wrecked on the voyage from New Orleans to the
Wabash River and 40 lives lost. During the three
months ending March, 52 accidents occurred on
railroads in the United States, by which 35 persons
were killed and 141 wounded ; by steam-boat ca.
tastrophes 375 were killed and 67 injured.
Sir Charles Grey, ex-Governor of Jamaica, had
arrived at Charleston.
A letter from Auburn states
"On the 26th the fugitive slave George Washington
was liberated from prison, and no arrest was attempted.
Some 200 or 300 people were present, and a party of
blacks took possession of the fugitive 'and marched off
with him, it is supposed, en route for Canada."
The rejection by the Senate of the appointment
of Mr. Sanders as United States' Consul to London,
on account, it is understood, of his democratic
writings in the United States' press, had elicited
an address from M. Kossuth to the German popu-
lation of the States. He looks upon the rejection
of Mr. Sanders as a blow aimed at real republic-
anism, and, therefore, exhorts his countrymen, by
means of public meetings and other modes of ope-
rating on the public sentiment, to compel the Pre-
sident to renominate, and the Senate to confirm,
Sandars in that office, notwithstanding the rejec-
tion of him, as had been stated, by an almost
unanimous vote.
John Mitchell had issued an address to his
countrymen, in which he rehearses the wrongs
which Ireland has suffered from the British Go-
vernment, and reminds his country that " Eng.
land's difficulty has always been Ireland's oppor-
tunity." He tells them that the success of Eng-
land in the present war will tend to rivet still more
firmly the chains upon Ireland, and that every
Irishman who enlists in the British army takes side
with the foes of his country and aids in her en-
slavement.
By telegraph from New Orleans we learn that
Santa Anna left the capital on the 12th ult. to take
the field in person against General Alvarez, who
had proclaimed against the Mexican Government,
and who is said to be surrounded in his moun-
tainous retreat, destitute of money and provisions,
and nearly deserted by his adherents.
Advices from Havannah report that in the case
of the United States steam-ship Black Warrior the
Court agreed to condemn her cargo, and impose a
fine of 50,000 dols. on the vessel, which it was ex-
pected would be sold to pay it ; but before the
Court pronounced the decree the Captain-General
advised with his mercantile friends, and ordered a
commission of five to consider the subject. The
commission, under his instructions, decreed that
the vessel and cargo be returned to her captain on
the payment of 6,000 dols. Captain Bullock re-
ceived her under protest, and ordered a survey.
The sugar market was dull. Freights to Europe
were at 5/. ss. to 6/. 6s.
The steam-shin Northern Light had arrived at
New York with advices from San Francisco to the
Ist ult., and 615,379 dols. 30c. in specie on freight.
The John L. Stephens sailed at the same time with
897,393 dols. 30c. in specie on freight. There was
a severe monetary pressure in San Francisco. The
weather had not at any time since the discovery of
gold been so favourable for mining as during the
month of February, and there probably was never
comparatively so large an amount of gold dug.
Some new discoveries of gold had been made in
Los Angeles.
From the Sandwich Islands we learn that during
1853 there were 175,396 gallons of sperm oil,
3,787,348 gallons of whale oil, and 2,020,264 lbs.
of whalebone, transhipped at the islands.
From Lower California we learn that President
Walker's filibustering arrangements were at an
end. He had spiked and buried his guns, and
started for San Thomas with 140 men and one field-
piece. Five of his party were severely wounded,
and four sick were left behind, who probably would
have been murdered but that they were taken
aboard the Columbus and brought to San Diego.
It was reported that IVlelendrez with a force of 300
men would attack Walker on his march.
The Jamaica advices, which are to the 11th ult.,
are without interest.
Newßy telegraph via Boston we learn that in the
York market on the 28th stocks were de-
pressed, but moderately active. Money was in
abundance and in good demand at previous rates.

lAnnivAL OF THE
splendid ship
ET
zum3o_______.......RouG
The
Ellenborough, 1,031 tons, Captainolif.Tltoornhill, belonging
to Messrs. Watson and Tyrrell,
Penzance, Cornwall, on Friday afternoon, from
having left there the let of January, and ric:ams
at no other port on the voyage. She brings arrived off
Sydney,touh
home 5%01
ounces of gold dust, 30 passengers, and a full carg2o f
wool, tallow, and gum. The Ellenborough came home
by way of Cape Born, which she rounded on the 31st
January. She sighted several icebergs, some of them
within half a mile of the ship's course. Spoke the City
of Kandy, British ship, off Pernambuco, bound to Rio,
on the sth of March ' • and on the same day the British
ship Rolling Wave, bound to Calcutta. On January
30th the Shamrock barque, and about the eth of Febru-
ary the barque Augustus Snida, both bound to Cork,
with guano from Callao. Spoke on Thursday last the
Minerva steamer, having troops on board for the seat of
war—all well.