The Sun.
London, England, 1854-04-15 00:00:00

.., ~...,
t
sh, ~„....,....,..,„ ~..,„.... ~
~,,,...,.,,,,, ...„.•

LONDON, SATURDAY, APRIL 15, 1854.

The cordiality of the alliance between France
and England is no longer a matter in any way
questionable. It is a fact no less completely than
happily established. A Fact, if ever there was
a Fact, admitting of no possible misapprehension.
This alliance, too, is one founded upon no perish-
able basis. It is something better than a merely
dynastic compact. It originates in no disgraceful
complicity for evil ends brought about by the
skill of diplomatic intriguers to serve the tempo-
rary purpose of a designing and ambitious admi-
nistration. It is an union of the two States, ef-
fected among every class, section, and party in
each, with a deliberate and earnest co-operation.
If ever there was unanimity, it has been visible in
every step which has marked the rise and develop-
mentof this international friendship. It is a friend-
ship of that propitious charac er that its aim is
mutually honourable to the associated countries—
being, in reality, the vindication of justice, rather
than the pursuit of aggrandisement. It is a friend-
ship of that comprehensive character that it knits
together the interests of the two Courts, of the
two Cabinets, of the two Peoples, of the two Go-
vetnmenti. It is a friendship of that practical
character that it has already blended together
in one common cause the forces of France and
England, both military and maritime—that it has
already despatched large bodies of the soldiers of
both realms to that point on the shores of the
Dardanelles at which Gallipoli is situated, to
the end that marching onwards from that
rendezvous they should, as opposed to the
barbarism of the Russian autocracy, fight side by
side the great battle of civilisation. Further
illustration of the sincerity of this friendship be- ,
tween France and England has been given in the
advance of their united fleets towards the coasts
of Russia, through the channels of the Sound and
of the Boapborus. Is it not better, is it not more
real, this union between the two States under
Queen VICTORIA and the Emperor NAPOLEON,
than that hollow and boasted entente cordials
which only served as a screen to the duplicity of
King Louts PHILIPPE, and which enabled him
the more successfully (for the time) to complete
the heinous atrocity of the Spanish marriages,
and which crumbled into dust simultaneously
with the noise of his own contemptible downfall
in the February Revolution ?
Wonderful indeed have been those astounding
events which have resulted in the establishment
of this cordial understanding between the English
and French Governments. Half a century has
not elapsed since the close of that great war which
was waged by England with such implacable ani-
mosity for fifteen years almost uninterruptedly
against the extraordinary man who, during those
fifteen years, wielded, first of all, for five years,
the fasces of Republican France, and subsequently,
for ten years, the sceptre of Imperial Franco,
ruling supremely, more or less during the whole of
that memorable interval, over the destinies of the
European Conti nen t. Half a century has not elapsed
since the termination of that marvellous epoch, and
lo ! France and England are no longer estranged
from each other by their almost immemorial
jealousies. Instead of that, they are allied,
heartily and thoroughly allied, although their
Sovereigns are—over France NAPOLEON'S nephew,
and over England GEORGE lll.'s granddaughter.
The prediction of the Captive of St. Helena is
being fulfilled—Western Europe, before fifty
years have gone by after the Battle of Waterloo,
is mustering its forces to oppose the advance of
those cossack hordes which along the whole line
cf the Russian frontiers threaten the triumph of
Barbarilm:and the destruction of Civilisation.
The aspiration expressed years afterwards by
the British Foreign Secretary, on yielding to the
desire of the French nation that the remains of
their dead hero should repose, as he himself had
wished, on the banks of the Seine, in the midst
of the people he had loved so well, that notable
aspiration expressed by Lord
a-ALSIRRSTON,
has already been realised the aspiration
that the ancient enmity which had bs
su isted dur- "Deus, ecce! Deus. Cui talia fanti.
ing so many centuries between France and Eng_ Anti (ores, subito non vultus, non color inns,
land should be buried in the tomb of NA Non conate, mansere como; pectus anhelum,
POLBON.
A crowning testimony that it has been Et rabie fera corda haunt ; niajorique videre
so Nec mortals sonatas ; afflata est numine quando
buried, and that out of that buried hatred has Jam propriore del."
sprung up this living, and let U 3 hope perennial Never did the oracle fulminate such threats
the two countries, between the
child ' against its most favoured protegee. It alludes to
indulged
friendship between
i we spoiled, the wife we over-
France and England, betrieen their people and
those naughty the servant we have pampered,"
their rulers—was visible on the historic dust of before •
it can trust itself to speak of
Then, at length, it gives the Champ do Mars on Wednesday, the 12th of ghty boys of Threadneedle-street.
against
samiuisghty heart, and hurls forth its indignation
t the delinquents.
vent to the sorrows of
April, 1854, when 25,000 soldiers of the army
of France were reviewed by the Emperor NAPO-
the Times), "But, certainly (says
LE°N his Majesty having on his right hand a
we never saw
relations more corn-
Prince of the Royal House of England, and on pletely inverted, and claims put forth more arro-
his left a British Commander-in-Chief, one of ;ant and devoid of foundation,
than those which
the heroes of Waterloo, one of the most honoured are now urged against Government by the
Directors and supporters of the Bank of England"
and beloved of the lieutenants of the Duke of
- LLINGTON. It was altogether a spectacle, that —that "most singular of all our institutions"
,
as it is shortly after termed. There, certainly,
such as must have appealed to some of the
must have been some terrible cause for
noblest emotions among all who regarded it with this onslaught. We should not other-
impartiality and intelligence. It must have been / wise have had so emphatic a reference
an occasion productive of no feeble emotions, to the various exclusive privileges enjoyed by the
especially to the Emperor NAPOLEON 111., and I Old Lady, or the suggestion that "the question of
to his guest the Duke of CAMBRIDGE that
, their continuance may come before Parliament next
nest
!session, seeing, that after August, 1855, they may
review of 25,000 of some of the fi
troops of France, infantry, cavalr be abolished on twelve months' rpotice." What means
y, artillery, the interrogatory, "When the Bank and its
Guides, Cuirassiers, Carabineers—passing before friends threaten (Quere—When did they do I

Preliminaries having been arranged—the diffi-
cult and delicate etiquette of precedence having
been considered satisfactorily—let the allies of
Turkey, by sea and by land, go to work at once,
and that in earnest. Delays have already been too
many. Lost time must be made up for. The numbers
of soldiers sent from France and England to Galli-
poli are altogether inadequate for what has by
them to be accomplished. Even those have not
been sent out to the scene of couflict with suffi-
.ient rapidity. Larger bodies of troops must
follow, and greater despatch must be shown in
their wovement in the direction of the Crimea
and of the Principalities. Energy may
then repair betimes the evils produced by
our deplorable procrastination. Vigour in
the end may compensate for weakness in the
beginning. Abortive notes, and hesitating proto-
cols, and Ministerial blundering, and diplomatic '
incapacity may in that case be forgotten in the '
glory of victories won in the cause of Truth and
in the interests of Justice, by the brave fellows
conducted to battle—at sea by the Union Jack of
England, and on land by the Eagles of NAPOLEON.

Many useful reforms have been shelved in con-
' Sequence of the wAr. It seems as if our rulers
conceived that the evils necessarily incidental to
hostilities were not sufficiently onerous by them-
selves, but that they must carry many others,
even more vexatious and annoying in their train.
No grievances, however intolerable, will be re-
dressed -- no burdens mitigated —no reforms
sanctioned—for the "country is at war," and
all our energies must be devoted to its
maintenance, and the public attention
concentrated thereon, to the exclusion of
all other topics, no matter how interesting
or important. If Ministers had resolved upon
making war unpopular—upon making the people
join in the " peace at any price" twaddle of the
Premier, and sacrifice honour, justice, and future
security, to patching up a transitory and pre-
carious truce with the unrelenting opponent of
constitutional freedom and civilisation, they could
not adopt a line of policy better calculated to pro-
duce such a result. The tightness of the money
market must be aggravated by artificial means.
As if the drain of bullion occasioned by the dis-
turbed state of the political horizon would not
alone prevent our merchants and manufacturers
from obtaining the monetary accommodation
which they might require, they must be exposed
to the formidable competition of a financial Mini-
ster, who will not be denied, and who instructs his
organ to threaten the Directors of the National
Bank with the severe retribution they may draw
upon their devoted heads if they dare even to murmur
while obeying his demands. As if casting the
entire expenses of the contest on the present gene-
ration were not a sufficient tax on our national
resources, we must also pay off 8,000,0001. of
the old debt, just at the moment of engaging in
transactions of which it is impossible to calculate
the duration or predict the result. But the
same organ tells us that the sacrifice of

that enormous sum was valuable as " a finan-
cial demonstration" (!), and tells us, in a vein
of banter in which the Leviathan does not fre-
quently indulge, that the pecuniary loss is nothing,
for, "if the war goes on, as it is to be feared it
will, we shall want so many millions to carry it
on, that a balance of eight millions or so will sig-
nify little in the reckoning." We can almost fancy
the sardonic smile that wust have played on the
countenance of the writer when putting forth

these extraordinary arguaients, and we can form
ome estimate of .the motives of those behind
the scenes, by whom the wires are pulled
which set the gigantic puppet in motion, when
they to'erate the publication of such extraordi-
nary opinions. Yet it is quite clear that war is
to he made intolerable, all its burden; being
aggravated to the utmost extent, so that the de-
mand for peace may be universal.
But it would seem as if " the Old Lady" were
running a little restive, and that the Financial
Minister is meeting some strange and unexpected
opposition in that quarter. Ominous warnings
are uttered, significant intimations are ventilated,
The mysterious oracle is aroused, and the Sybi;
of Printing-house Square feels the coming in.
spiration—

so.?) to cut the connection of the Govern-
ment, does it not occur to them that the
Government, on its part, might possibly be at
least equally ready to sever its connection with
the Bank ?" Couple this with the limit for the
establishment of a really national bank which
would undertake the management and payment
of the dividends on the debts, and with it " the
power of creating twenty or thirty millions of
money, and employing it for any purpose which
might be thought proper, and the holding in its
own hands come ten millions of the public debt !"
From these things, it is manifest that there is
something very much out of the common going
on. The old proverb tells us that when certain
classes " fall out, honest men come by their own."
And we certainly augur very favourably for the
cause of monetary reform from this decided split
between the Bank and the Exchequer.

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, APRIL 14.

The Queen and Prince, with the Prince of Wales and
Prince Alfred, rode on horseback yesterday afternoon,
attended by Lord Charles Fitzroy, Lieutenant-Colonel
F. H. Seymour, and the Hon. Mary Bulteel.
The Princess Helena, Princess Louisa, and Prince
Arthur, took a drive in an open carriage.
Her Majesty and his Royal Highness Prince Albert,
the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal, Princess
Alice, and the Duchess of Kent attended Divine service
this morning in the Private Chapel, which was per-
formed by the Hon. and Rev. G. Wellesley.

Viscount Palmerston left town on Thursday for
Brocket-hall, Herts.
Despatches for the Governors of the North American
Provinces were sent last evening from the Colonial-
offices.

COURT OF BANKRUPTCY.-(THIS DAY.

(Before Mr. Commissioner Goulburn.)
IN RE ROBENBIIEG.

This bankrupt was described as late of the Albany,
Piccadilly, Rotherhithe, &c., cask manufacturer, and to-
day was appointed for his last examination. The bank-
rupt, who was a man of scientific attainments, had de-
signed and patented certain improvements in the manu-
facture of casks and barrels, and had taken out patents
for,England, Ireland, and Scotland. He had also been
connected with the Jersey Brandy Company.
The bankruptcy occured so far back as April, 1853,
but the acounts were so intricate that it had been im-
practicable to prepare them until the present time.
The balance sheet, prepared by Messrs. Robinson and
Knowles, Basinghall-street, commencing Dec., 1851,
and ending April, 1853, shows—Debtor to creditors by
3,5211. 19s. 4d.; to ditto holding security, 4,0801. Bs.
3d. ; to Jersey Brandy Company, balance of partner-
ship account, 8671. ; capital, 789/. ; profits, 5,990 ; cre-
ditors' good debts, 361. 16s. 6d. ; property held by
creditors under patents, 3,000/. • interest in the Patent
Cooperage Company, 8,4281. ls. Bd. ; cash, 510/. ;
losses, 1,8071. ; interest, &c., 1,5991. 75. Bd. ; personal,
7971. 13s. 4d.

The bankrupt estimates the value of the patents a
from 20,000/. to 30,000/.

Mr. Knowles put in a certificate, stating that the
bankrupt was prevented by illness from attending, and
an adjournment was granted.

A PLAN TO AUGMENT THE NUMBER

OF OUR, SEAM hN.

The following plan has been suggested to some influ-
ential personages connected with the Government, by
the Rev.. G. H. Stoddart

At this time, when men are wanted to complete the
crews of our ships, an opportunity opens (with advan-
tage to the State and to the public service) to confer a
boon on many individuals.

The class alluded to are those who, after having un-
happily lapsed into crime (not of a flagitious character),
have expiated some portion of the sentence for it, and,
moreover, conducted themselves so as to evince amend-
ment of life.

The masters of our gaols and penitentiaries, and all
superintendents of convicts should be directed to report
to the Secretary of State, all cases under their cogni-
zance where such individuals had passed one-third or
or more of the term of their punishment, and *here it
can be certified (by two or three of the officials in charge
of them) that they have expressed contrition, and mani-
fested obedience of behaviour.

Doubtless, if such cases were commended to her Ma-
jesty, the Queen's gracious pardon might be extended to
them, on the easy condition of their volunteering for the
sea-service, during the unexpired portion of their sen-
tence (a respectable outfit being at the same time granted
as a bounty).
Four great points would be thus gained—
First. The number of our seamen would be augmented.
Secondly. The expenses of our convict establishments
would be diminished.

Thirdly. Room would be provided for the increased
number of convicts, who are not henceforth to be trans-
ported beyond the seas.

- Fourthly and chiefly. A return to an honourable and
useful life would be opened to many a repentant indi-
vidual.

We give our readers the details of this project, being
both pleased with the proposals submitted by the Rev.
Mr. Stoddart, and believing that the suggestions of one
of a family who have done good public service will be
favourably received by the public as well as by the
Government.

THE COURT.—As at present arranged, the Court will
leave Windsor Castle for Buckingham Palace on Mon-
day, the 24th inst. On to-morrow and the succeeding
Sunday the bands of the regiments in garrison (the Royal
Horse Guards Blue, and the 97th Foot) will play on the
eastern terrace, to which the public will be admitted as
usual. The bands will also play on Easter Monday and
Tuesday, when the eastern terrace and parterre will be
thrown open after two o'clock in the afternoon of each
day.
Their Royal Highnesses the Duchess of Cambridge
and the Princess Mary have left town for Kew Cottage.
The Duke of Cambridge, attended by his aide-de-camp,
the Hon. Major James Macdonald, and accompanied
by Lord Raglan, is expected to leave Paris on Monday
for Marseilles, en route to embark for the seat of war in
the East.
The Marquis of Clanricarde, who has gone on a visit
to his Irish estates, returns to Carlton-terrace, from
Portumna Castle, at the close of the month, for the
season.
Goon FRIDAY AT WlNDSOR.—Yesterday, the influx
of visitors from London was very great, vastly exceeding
anything of the kind since the first Good Friday after
the opening of the Great Western Railway. The bulk
of the passsenger were conveyed by the South-Western
line, the trains of which ran the same as en week days
—the Great Western trains running as on Sundays.
After 10 o'clock in the morning, up to two o'clock in
the afternoon, each succeeding train by the South-Wes-
tern disgorged its hundreds at the Datchet-lane station,
and the town, especially in the neighbourhood of the
Castle, was crowded like a fair. Many of the early
visitors attended Morning Service in the Chapel Royal,
where they would be surprised and disappointed at the
total absence of the musical and choral accompaniment,
which is always dispensed with during Passion week.
From two to three o'clock in the afternoon, the Lord
Chamberlain's office was literally besieged for tickets
of admission to view the State apartments, and the
number of persons who passed through that portion of
the Palace must have been very large.
OBSERVANCE OF GOOD FRlDAY.—Yesterday the ces-
sation from business was generally observed throughout
the metropolis. Never on any previous recurrence of
the day is it remembered to have been more strictly
kept, the different pluses of public worship having been
all well attended at the morning sErvice. 11l the after-
noon the railway stations and the river steamboat piers
were thronged with an eager multitude, immense num-
bers leaving for short excursions. The great attraction
of yesterday, however, appeared to be the Crystal
Palace at Sydenham, some hundreds going down the
rail to view the progress of the building. There were a
great many fresh omnibuses put on the Sydenhani-road
yesterday, and they all obtained an abundance of pas-
sengers. The Gravesend, Woolwich, Greenwich, Chel-
sea, and above-bridge steamers were extensively patro-
nised, and, to judge from the numbers carried, their pro-
prietors must have reaped an abundant harvest. At
Hornsey-wood-house there was a grand display of
wrestling by the men cf Cumberland and Westmore-
land, which attracted a great many visitors.
GOOD FRIDAY AT THE POST-OFFICE.—For the first
time, Good Friday was observed yesterday at the Ge-
neral Post-office, in the same manner as hitherto on
Christmas Day only. A notice was issued by the auth-
rites that no deliveries of letters would take place after
noon in the district metropolitan branch, the morning
mails from the country being delivered, and letters for
the country being despatched in the evening in the ordi-
nary manner. The small number of letters posted on
previous anniversaries of the day made the deliveries in
the metropolis almost a matter of form excepting that it
necessitated the attendance of the hard-working class of
men employed in this branch of Post-office duty, and
there is no doubt that the new arrangement will prove
as satisfactory to the public as it ia a great boon to the
letter-carriers, in affording a little relief from their
laborious duties.

THE WIVES AND CHILDREN OF SOLDIERS ON SER.
VICE.—We are informed that the committee of the York-
shire Association in aid of the 'Wives and Families of
Soldiers ordered to the East, having addressed a cir-
cular letter the clergymen and dissenting ministers
throughout the county, a collection will be made in
their several places of worship, after Divine service, on
the 26th inst., in aid of the funds of the association.
TIE COLOURING OF THE SYDENMA.II CRYSTAL PALACE.
—The colouring of the building itself is greatly altered
from that of Hyde-park, about which there was so much
discussion ; the shafts of the columns are painted red,
and the result is, as it seems to us (though perhaps part
may be due to the form of the roof and other features),
that the building appears very much shorter than it is by
the real difference between the two structures. It would
be wrong, however, to discuss this before the trees and
shrubs, with which the red colour seems likely to har-
moilize well, are in their places. Any way, the effect I
of thelinterior is now very fine, ar4d is so in Mr. Jones's
original drawing,—The Builder