The Sun.
London, England, 1854-12-23 00:00:00

bill. Everything was risked to render the
surprise complete. Could there be stronger
or more unequivocal evidence of their own opinions
respecting the measure, and their conviction that
it would, on due consideration, be decisively re-
rejected by the Parliament ? By their own acts
are they condemned• It requires nothing more
to convince any unprejudiced and dispassionate
man that they knew that they were acting wrong,
and forcing an obnoxious measure on the country
which could not be carried if fair means only were
resorted to.

The good "CLICQUoT" has completely jockeyed
the English Government. " The Angel of Peace"
has contrived to lay the foundation of " a war

navy," at the expense of those against whom it

may chiefly be required. He has, indeed, ex-

hibited that peculiar species of talent, or rather

CUMliity, in the transaction that would strongly

excite the admiration of a gang of horse chaunteis,
or " Lunation cute Yankees." He has managed
to exchange two gun-boats, now comparatively
worthless, for a frigate, not an " old one," as in-
timated by the First Lord of the Admiralty, but

one in excellent order and condition, ready for
service at a very short notice. _

It appeared that the good KING saw the weak-
ness of the English fleet in a branch urgently
required for service in the Baltic. He
knew that we were without gun-boats, and

conceived the notion of obtaining an ex

orbitant price for those which he had on
baud, paid, too, in a manner that would ren-
der it far more beneficial to himself.. He wanted

frigates, and he thought that he could obtain
them from England on peculiarly easy terms.

But how was he to do so without exciting the

wrath of his Autocratic brother-in-law ? "Hie

labor, hoc opus est" He could not relinquish the
pleasure of doing the Britons, but he could not
injure NICHOLAS. Under such circumstances
the plan required a high degree of diplomacy,
and truly it was required. The only point was
that it was a pity to waste so much address with
the rather obtuse personages whom they warn
bent on humbugging.

The mode adopted was as follows. In May las
just at the time that the painful deficiency of the
Baltic Fleet in vessels of light draught became but too
perceptible, the Prussian Government proposed to
exchange two gun-boats, built in this country, the
Nix and Salamander, for two old corvettes, or
" donkey frigates," as they have sometimes been
termed. The representatives of England greedily
nibbed at the bait. They were quite willing to
make the Exchange, but, as Prussia well knew,
had not the peculiar class of vessels which she
required. The builder *f the Prussian gun-boats
was specially sent to report on their value.
Without imputing the slightest impropriety to
Mr. SCOTT RUSSELL, for whom we entertain an un-
feigned respect, it must be admitted that he would
naturally take rather a prejudiced view of
the subject. Propositions were then made to
vary the terms by giving the Thetis frigate in ex-
change for the gun-boats, at which the Prussians
eagerly grasped, as she was at least four times the
value, and was just "the thing" for the new port
of Jande. Titus was, however, wasted, and it
was not until September that the Prussian Go-
vernment signified its acceptance of the offer
long previously made. But by that time the
gun-boats were no longer wanting for the
Baltic at least during the then season. The
13rititax antlwrities had no longer any deeire to
complete the transaction, and, lu turn, procras-
tinated. But, as they got coy, Prussia became
more pressing—as they sJught to slip out, so did
' Prussia determine to hold them fast. They
urged that the bargain was not concluded.
Prussia responded that the English Government
was pledged to the exchange, and they submitted !
They allowed themselves to be shorn by those whe
would only laugh at them for their exceeding
rerdcmtcy in return ; and thus the Thetis, worth
50,0001., will be handed over to Prussia, while
we receive the Nix and Salamander, worth
12,0001., in exchange.
But the pecuniary loss is the most trivial and
least objectionable part of the transaction. It is
not the .£. s. d. out of which we have been
" chiselled" that we regret : it is that au Eng-
lish vessel of war, one that for some time
sailed under the British flag, should be
handed over to a power with whom
we may, ere many months have elapsed, be at
war ; and that her chief use should be to harass
and annoy British commerce. This is indeed de-
plorable—this indeed may well excite the disgust
and indignation of the people of Great Btitain !
Last year, when on the verge of war with Russia,
we allowed two of her frigates to refit in our
clockyards. This year we give a frigate, nearly
new, recently refitted at a heavy expense, and in
excellent condition and fit for immediate work, to
another Power, with whom our relations are, to
say the least of it, in a very unsettled and un-
satisfactory condition.

AUSTRALIA VIA PANAMA-SHORTEST
ROUTE TO ATIMALIA.

A deputation of the directors of the Australian Dii ect
Steam Navigation Company, vid Panama, was yesterday
received by Viscount Canning, Postmaster-General, the
object being to bring under his Lordship's notice, with
other matter, the important fact, that a committee of the
Sydney Chamber of Commerce—nominated on the 13th
of July last, to report on the comparative advantages of
the various routes for postal communication between
England and Australia—have declared a decided prefer.
ence of that via Panama, as being the line most likely to
secure punctuality and speed, together with other pre-
ponderating advantages.