The Sun.
London, England, 1854-11-28 00:00:00

its assuming a nobler character than they would '
have impressed upon it.
Quite against their will, the struggle has now
materially changed its object. It is no longer
whether Russia shall occupy Moldavia and Wal-
lachia, but whether she shall be permitted to
make her entire frontier, from Sweaborg to War-
saw, and thence to Sebastopol, one bristling fort-
ress against all the rest of Europe. To this
contest we are now committed, and fought out it
must be. Appalling, indeed, is the general
position of Europe. Along one side stretches her
great enemy, greater already by a series of free
European States which he has absorbed and en-
slaved ; on the other side, the two mightiest of
civilised States consecrated to her defence ; but
midway between the aggressor and the vindica-
tors is a vast ignoble population of hated monarchs
and their oppressed subjects—the monarchs lean-
ing to their brother despot, the subjects praying
for the success of the Allies. What a mingling
of elements whose co-working and collision defies
calculation! HEAVEN alone can foresee the issue.
Barbarian serfs on the one side willingly
dying by thousands for their deified CZAR, j
intelligent freemen on the other, as willingly
bleeding for the liberty they adore. While hover-
ing around and between both, are the vast armies
of Prussia and Austria, armies enfeebled by their
consciously guilty office of being tyrant's tools at
home; the armies perhaps not unwilling to aid
the great despot, but the peoples ready, if they
do, to hurl their own despots from their thrones.
One short rule, that honesty is the best policy,
has received already abundant illustration. Had
Austria and Prussiaacted on it the war and blood-
shed mighthavebeen spared. The CZAR could with
decency have yielded to all Europe. He would have
been glad to do it. Had Austria been honest in
the Principalities, Sebastopol would have fallen
ere now, and the contest been much nearer its
conclusion. Had the Allies, too, nob tampered
with that coward, yet despotic, Court, especially
had they proclaimed a welcome to every Polish
officer and soldier who would join to form a regi-
ment against Russia, instead of shunning offence
to Austria, this alone would have paralysed half
the battalions of Russia. It is not too late now.
Let it be known, from the Baltic to the Black
Sea, that every Pole who can mike his way to the
Allied Army shall form part of a sacred band in

this war for liberty. This will be an honesty which
will soon verify its worth. Let our own Govern-
ment also go honestly into the war. Let it spare
no expense requisite to send every spare soldier,
every spare war steamer, the best winter equip-
ments, and the best military implements, forthwith
to the East.

It is not merely formal matters which are to be
brought under the consideration of Parliament at
its winter session. Something more must be done
than taking power to send militia men, with their
own consent, to garrison certain ports in the
Mediterranean, from which the usual defenders
have been withdrawn to take part in the sangui-
nary game under the walls of Sebastopol. There
is a matter of great moment to be brought for-
ward, a subject of deep and vital importance to
the welfare and prosperity of the country. The
entire financial policy of the Joint-Stock Adminis-
tration must be revised and materially modified.
We must adopt a bolder course than the peddling
system adopted by Mr. GLADSTONE, and so pro-
fusely bespattered with praise by the ABERDEEN
organs. It now appears that the Right Hon.
Gentleman has failed—disgracefully failed. in all
his financial predictions, and. that his later blun-
ders have been even more glaring and less ex-
cuseable than the earlier ones which attracted
greater attention, and which produced fixed and
certain losses, the amount whereof could be
readily ascertained. We are, however, required
to consider these failures almost as virtues,
because they were occasioned "by the best mo-
tives." This, however, appears by no means
a suitable excuse for a person who persever-
ingly thrusts himself forward into a position
for which he is by no means qualified. We all
have heard of the place, not to be mentioned to
ears polite, which is said to be "paved with good
intentions." "He meant no harm," is not con-
sidered an adequate excuse for a drivelling school-
boy, and it cannot be accepted as a suitable vin-
dication of the character of a minister of finance
in this great country. But it now seems to be
argued that Lord ABERDEEN'S insane twaddle, re-
specting the blessings of Peace, is to be regarded
as a fit substitute for the vigour and energy that
' ought to have been displayed by the head of her
MAJESTY'S Government, or Mr. GLADSTONE'S
humiliating failures are to be excused, because
" he has done his utmost to confine the expense to
the income," or that his plans have had imperfect
success because of his sanguine hopes of peace.
It would not be considered very flattering to a
general to say that he suffered his army to bo
sacrificed because he did not think the enemy
would take advantage of his weak point, or strike
the blot he had left open. The strongest censure
that could be inflicted on a general or minister,
would be that tone of contemptuous pity which
declared that the poor fellow had certainly com-
mitted a great mistake, but that he did it with the
best intentions.

Nor did Mr. GLADSTONE fall into this grievous
error without full and' ample warning. He re-
ceived, from divers quarters, earnest exhortations
to follow a more vigorous and decided course, and
to make the preparations which would certainly
be required, while he could do so on easy and
beneficial terms. But the Right Honourable
Gentleman seemed to think that the national credit
was to be maintained only by over-loading the
present tax-payers, and casting everything
on the existing generation. He commenced by
denuding the Exchequer of its balances, by ap-
plying eight millions sterling in payment of an
old debt, with which he was not at all required to
intermeddle. There, too, he had " the best in-
tentions." He wished to convert a portion of
the public debt into a stook bearing a lower rate
of interest. The object was unquestionably laud-
able, and, if successful, would have reflected the
highest credit on the Financial Minister. But,
unfortunately, with headlong impetuosity, he
rushed on, disregarding ominous signs that could
not have been neglected by an experienced or
prudent financier. The result was a loss of some
8 or 10 per cent.—stock being redeemed at par
which would scarcely bring 91 in the market.
But, in place of submitting to the first loss with a
good grace, the Right Hon. Gentleman plunged
deeper into the mire. Ile suddenly discovered
the inutility of large balances in the Exchequer,
and conceived the bright notion that the pecuni-
ary affairs of the nation could be carried on by
means of large cash advances on deficiency bills
by the Bank of England, thus jeopardising the
Payment of the dividends, and with it the national
credit, while he at the same time greatly impaired
thiaetraadcceom andm commerceatior and
of
the the power of the Bank to render the usual pecu-
nry od monceotuanrytryf.aciTlihtiiseswatso
a more serious error than
to far more untoward results. It was leas excusable
too, for the former had a great public object ; the
latter merely the private ono of •
saving Mr. CLAD.

STONE'S vanity from the acknowledgment of his
mistake. The former could have been got rid of
by writing off 800,0001. or 1,000,0001. as the
liquidated damage sustained by the failure of the
costly experiment ; the latter by leading to the
application of the monetary screw, and through
the undue restrictions imposed by the iniquitous
Act of 1844, led to losses amounting to many
millions sterling, and the general depreciation of
every description of property, real and personal.
Nor was the Right Hon. Gentleman more feli-
citous in other portions of his financial policy.
When he brought forward his budget on the 6th
of March, he endeavoured to show that all the
extra expenditure which would be required would
be covered by the sums then demanded ; that,
in fact, three millions sterling would meet
everything. It is now said that " the Chan-
cellor of the Exchequer did not profess to
provide for the expenses of the War till next
February ;" and it was previously asserted
that in the March Budget he had only made " a
temporary provision for the expenses incurred by
the Government in meeting the expenses of the
Expedition then under orders for the East." But,
unfortunately, his own words remain on record to
convict the parties putting forward these plausible
excuses of, to say the least of it, gross inaccuracy.
He asked the Representatives of the British
People to consent to the doubling of the Income
Tax for six months, by which he anticipated ob-
taining no less than three millions sterling, and
which he boasted of as exhibiting, or to use his
own words, " looking like an intention to carry
on the War with vigour ;" adding—" I wish the
committee to understand it is our belief that the
funds for which we now ask will not auftide to
carry on the active operations of war beyond
twelve months !"
There was "no mistake" in this. There " could
be no mistake," and Mr. DISRAELI was resolved
that there " should be no mistake." The Ex-
Chancellor of the Exchequer poured forth a
withering denunciation of "the vast and deceptive
machinery" brought into operation to obtain such a
sum as 3, 000,000/. Within eight weeks, however, the
House was required to pass a supplementary budget,
asking for six millions extra, rendering the duplica.
tient of the Income Tax permanent, and putting in-
creased duties on Malt, Spirits, and Sugar ! But
this was not all : just before the prorogation, the
House was required to pass a supplementary vote
of 3,000,0001., as a credit to Ministers, to ren-
, der them independent of Parliament until its
ordinary time of assembling. And now behold

the result. It is to consider the shattered
finances of the country that the Representatives
of the People are mainly required to assemble I
We are rejoiced at anything that must re-
move the " CZAR'S friend of forty years' standing"
from his dictatorship. We believe that the Bri-
tish Parliament will display a spirit worthy of the
British people ; that it will make ample provision,
not merely for the necessary expenses of the War,
but for carrying it on with such vigour and
energy, such as will teach the AUTOCRAT the
danger he is incurring, and induce him to become
an humble suitor for the peace which he despised
while he believed that England was striving to
carry on a " little war " entirely at the expense
of the present generation.

ASSEMBLING. OF PARLIAMENT.

[FROM A SUPPLEMENT TO FRIDAY'S GAZETTE.]

BY THE QUEEN.—A PROCLAMATION.
VICTORIA., R.—Whereas our Parliament stands
prorogued to Thursday, the fourteenth day of
December next ; and whereas, for divers weighty
mid urgent reasons, it seems to Us expedient that
Our said Parliament shall assemble and be holden
sooner than the said day, We do, by and with the
advice of Our Privy Council, hereby proclaim
and give notice of Our Royal intention and
pleasure that Our said Parliament, notwithstanding
the same now stands prorogued, as hereinbefore
mentioned to the said fourteenth of December next,
shall assemble and be holden for the despatch
of divers urgent and important affairs, on Tuesday,
the twelfth day of December next ; and the Lords
Spiritual and Temporal, and the Knights, Citizens, and
Burgesses, and the Commissioners for Shires and
Burghs of the House of Commons, are hereby required
and commanded to give their attendance accordingly, at
Westminster, on the said twelfth day of December, one
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Given at our Court at Windsor, this twenty-seventh
day of November, in the year ene thousand eight
hundred and fifty-four, and in the eighteenth year
of our reign,

GOD SAVE THE QUEEN.

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, Nov. 27.

Her Majesty held a Privy Council at three o'clock
this afternoon. Present—Prince Albert, Lord Cran-
worth, the Lord Chancellor ; the Duke of Argyll, Lord
Privy Seal ; the Earl of Aberdeen, First Lord of the
Treasury ; Sir George Grey, Secretary of State for the
Colonies ; Sir James Graham, First Lord of the Ad-
miralty ; Earl Granville, Chancellor of the Duchy of
Lancaster ; the Duke of Wellington, Master of the
Horse ; and Lord Ernest Bruce, Vice-Chamberlain
(officiating for the Lord Chamberlain).
At tha Council, a proclamation was ordered to be
issued summoning Parliament to meet on the 12th of
December for the despatch of business.
Mr. C. Greville was the Clerk of the Council in
waiting.
The Queen gave audience to the Earl of Aberdeen, Sir
James Graham, and Sir George Grey.
Her Majesty was attended by the Earl of Listowel and
Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Stovin, the Lord and
Groom in Waiting.
The Duke of Argyll and Sir George Grey remained at
the Castle, haying been invited.
The Queen, with the Prince of Wales, walked in the
Home Park this morning.
Prince Albert went out shooting.
The Earl of Aberdeen, the Lord Chancellor, the Duke
of Argyll, Sir James Graham, Sir George Grey, Earl
Granville, Lord Ernest Bruce, and Mr. C. Greville
travelled from London to attend the Privy Council by
special train on the Great Western Railway.
After the Council the Earl of Aberdeen, Sir James
Graham, the Lord Chancellor, Earl Granville, Lord E.
Bruce, and Mr. C. Greville left the Castle at half-past
four o'clock and returned to town by a special train.

The Marquis of Lansdowne has left town for the
Grange, on a visit to Lord Ashburton.
Despatches from the Governor of Canada were re-
ceived yesterday at the Colonial-office.
The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council sat yes-
terday in the Council Chamber Present the Lord
Justices Knight Bruce and Turner, the Chancellor of the
Duchy of Cornwall, the Judge of the Admiralty Court,
and Sir J. Patteson. An appeal from the Isle of Man,
" Birnie v. Caystile," was commenced.

Lord and Lady Palmerston, accompanied by their
Excellencies Lord and Lady Cowley, dined en Friday
with M. de Morny.
The Duke of Buccleuch'e second son, Lord Walter
Montagu Scott, is on the eve of returning from India to
England, having exchanged into the 15th Hussars, now
on home service.
Frances Marchioness of Londonderry has left Holder-
nesse House for Wynyard Park. Lord Adolphus Vane
Tempest, M.P., arrived at Constantinople, on the 16th
instant, with his detachment of the Scots Fusilier Guards,
in the Queen of the South, en route for the seat of war.
The Earl and Countess Vane are new staying at their
seat. Machynlleth, Wales.
The Marchioness of Hastings and family have returned
from visiting the Earl of Enniskillen and the Marquis
of Ely, to Carton, the seat of the Duke if Leinster.
The Earl of Powis arrived in town, on Saturday', from
Powis Castle, near Welshpool. The Countess and the
Ladies Herbert are staying at Powis Castle.
Lord and Lady Foley have arrived in Grosvenor-
square, from visiting the Duke and Duchess of Norfolk,
at Arundel Castle.
LIEUT.-GENERAL BROWN. —A letter received from
that gallant officer states that he is gradually improving
—that he feels his wound to be but slight, and that he
believed he should be able to resume duty immediately.
BERLIN, Nov. 15.—Lord Dunkellin, having been li-
berated by the Emperor of Russia, is expected to arrive
here this evening, on his way to England.
The departures from the port of London for the Aus-
tralian colonies during the past week have comprised
eight vessels— two to Sydney, with an aggregate bur-
den of 1,721 tons ; two to Adelaide, with an aggregate
burden of 1,085 tons ; two to Pert-Philip, with an ag-
gregate burden of 618 tons ; one to Hobart Town, of
735 tons ; and one to Launceston, of 445 tons. Their
total capacity was consequently 4,604 tons, The rat
of freight exhibit no recovery,