The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-15 00:00:00

their fate. Those unable or unwilling to protect I
themselves cannot feel surprised at the natural
consequences of their pusillanimity, or at the
severity of the destiny which they have provoked.
It would be different if the parties whose ser-
vices we were desirous of obtaining had any per-
sonal interest in the quarrel—if they had a long 1
protracted course of injury and oppression to
avenge. Had the proposition been for a Polish,
a Hungarian, or an Italian Legion or Legions,
many powerful arguments might be put forward
to sustain it. The Poles, more especially, are
deeply concerned, and thousands of brave and
devoted patriots would seek to be led against the
tyrant by whom they had been enslaved. These
men have shown themselves to be the most effi-
cient soldiers, and a motive exists sufficient to ani-
mate the coldest hearts, the most phlegmatic tem-
peraments. Besides, should a campaign in Poland

to deemed advisable—and there are many reasons
to recommend it—a Polish Legion, composed
of men speaking the language of the country, and
capable of exciting their brethren to resist the
common foe, would be peculiarly valuable. They
might change the aspect of the entire campaign,
and turn the chances of war. Should the Duke.
of NEWCASTLE propose the enlistment of a Polish
Legion or Legions, we should receive it favourably,
and maturely weigh all its advantages and disad-
vantages ; for even it would have some objection-
able points—any foreign garrison being obnoxious
to English feeling, more particularly should a
collision occur between the military and people.
It cannot be denied that such a thing is possible ;
and let even Lord ABERDEEN himself consider the
consequences if there should unfortunately be
bloodshed on such an occasion.

As at present advised, we cannot approve of
this new phase of " Germanism." We cannot
consent to the occupation of England by foreign
mercenaries. When we see that we can no longer
obtain a fair supply of English, Scotch, or
Trish to fight our battles, then we shall listen to

the demand for Swiss or German troops. We
know that there is no lack of candidates for com-
missions. Are we to behold the rising generation
panting for the opportunity of distinction, and to
cast them aside, telling them that the more trust-
worthy youths of Germany. must have the prefer-
ence. Are we to set aside the stalwart JOHN
BULL—the patient and unmoveable SAWNEY—that
will stand to his colours under any trial ; or the
ardent Paddy, ready "to fight for love " at a
moment's notice, in order to get Swiss or Ger,
mans 7—men against whom we do not wish to
breathe the slightest disparagement ; nor do we
do so, in saying that they do not, and cannot,
make better soldiers than the inhabitants of any
part of the United Xingdom.
All we ask, then, is calm and mature conside-
ration. The question is one which cannot be
hurried through Parliament without discussion,
as if it were a matter of course, against which no
reasonable objection could be offered. The people
should be allowed full opportunity of speaking by
their journalists before the coup d'etat shall take
effect.

Some very important Financial Returns have
just been ordered by the House of Commons, on
the motion of Mr. DISE-tELI. They will, when ob-
tained,, enlighten the public in many important
particulars respecting the policy of the present
Chancellor of the Exchequer as to deficiency bills,
or rather bills in anticipation of the revenue.
We have always expressed our decided opposition
to the practical annihilation of the Exchequer
balances, by the application of more than eight
millions sterling to the claims of clissextients
under Mr. GLADSTONE'S conversion abortion. It
was productive of the most injurious consequences
to the tax-paying community, but more particu-
larly to those engaged in commercial or manufac-
turing pursuits. The country had not merely to
meet the in3reaseci expenditure occasioned by the
carrying on of hostilities against a first-rate
Power, but it was also called on to do so after
having applied an enormous sum in liquidation
of a debt raised by our forefathers during
the past century. However valuable this
might be as " a financial demonstration," it is
obvious that it must press with peculiar severity on
those who, perhaps for the first time during the
national history, have to meet the claims of the
past, the present, and the future, to liquidate
liabilities incurred a century ago, to provide for
the ordinary demands for the interest of the
public debt, and the maintenance of the national
establishments, and to prevent any possible
charge against posterity I It is needless to ex-
plain the difficulty of a position that will be but
too clearly understood by all the recipients of in-
come between 1001. and 1501. per annum, the class
of whom Mr. J. L. PHELPS has claimed to be the re-
presentative, and many others, who, although placed
in a higher class, and subjected to fourteenpenoe
in place of tenpence in the pound, yet feel very
acutely the pressure of the burden to which they
are subjected.

But it is those engaged in mercantile or manu-
facturing pursuits that suffer most. It is not
merely that they have to pay additional direct
taxation, and that all the necessaries and comforts
of existence have increased in price, but they find

a new and formidable rival competing with them
in the money market, whose wants must be sup-
plied before their own are even taken into consi-
deration, and whose appearance as a borrower has
at the same time increased the interest of money,
and rendered it more difficult of attainment ;
affording an excuse to the Directors of the quasi
National Bank to use the extraordinary powers
with which they aro entrusted for their own
peculiar advantage rather thin the benefit of the
community at large.

These various Returns will throw great light
upon matters at present not sufficiently under-
stood or appreciated by the people. They will
furnish formidable weapons to one well skilled in
their use, and render all Mr. GLADSTOI•IE'S
tact and skill as a debater indispensable to
his defence in the new arena. The wide
field for discussion thus opened cannot be suf-
fered to remain idle or unproductive. Should
there not be so energetic a labourer as Mr. DIS-
RAELI, many others will be ready to offer their
services, and to assail Ministers on what, notwith-
standing their boasts respecting "the smartest
chap " among them, is unquestionably their
weak point. To use a nautical expression,
the fiscal, financial, and monetary policy
of the Government must be completely
"overhauled," and these important Returns will
provide the means of doing so—will, in fact,
supply the lever for setting the Parliamentary
machine in motion, from the action whereof such
important results may be anticipated.

We rejoice to find that the tales which have
been circulated, to the prejudice of the officers
and men of the ill-fated Prince, and to which
we yielded no credence, have been shown to
be without adequate foundation. On Tuesday,
we stated that " the intensity of the storm would,
in the present in.stance, sufficiently ' account for
the serious damage sustained by the shipping on
I the dreadful 14th November." We had more
particularly alluded. to the Prince in that