The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-02 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 2, 1854.

A TKINSON and COMPANY, DRAPERS,
'SILICIIpRCEB,S; LACEMEN, &C•; 69, 70, 74'72, 73, 74,
and 75, Westminster-bridge-road, Lambeth, London.—Shawls, Furs,
Mantle. 9, Family Mourning, &c.

hoarding consequent upon the Treasury system of
the United,States gone on until at, length a total
of 5,000,0901. sterling has been as much withdrawn
from 'uSefal circulation as if it were at' the bottom
of the sea, but, an analogous course, to a "greater
extent; has been pursued in India: At the same
time, the state of China has led to the export of
several st Jcling to the East to purchase
goods for which,amid the prevalent apprehensions,
no other than metallic payments have been avail-
able, while we have alSo seen another million un-
expectedly shipped to Amsterdam or St. Peters-
burg. Yet, although these, which might have been
sufficient of themselves to create considerable con-
fusion, have_ been nierely subordinate events in a
year of which the outbreak of war, and the occur-
rence of a harvest that has sent food almost to.
famine prices have been the principal features,
they have not prevented the continuous manifesta-
tion of firmness in the prices of property of every
description—a firmness which, as regards the stock
market, would have been still snore palpable but
for the fact. that hi the previous year, as, well as at
the cOmmenceinent athis, the supply of securi-
ties was augmented by a large nu-tuber of foreign
undertakings, principally of a healthy character,
the outlay for which has since been in active pro-
eresS.
The altered circumstances, distinguishing the
prospects. of 1854 are-1. The apparent certainty
that the drain of capital to Australia, whether in
tlui-shape of eoin, 'or, of produce and labour paid for
hy.coin, will be far more tit iterbalanced by
lsh-reteilitesttffrtrtftrenTh y ; Wit "thftffitre-
of specie to the East will likewise experience a turn
from the effect of the quantity already sent ; and,
3, that with the present rate of money no new
outlay in distant schemes is likely to take
place. With regard to the corn question, and the
probability of an exportation of gold to pay for
what is yet required to make up our deficiency, it
must be borne in mind, so long as the wants of
the Continent are greater than our own, we can
look only to America for the necessary quantity,
or, failing an adequate supply from that quarter,
to the influence of high prices in leading to a
lessened consumption. In the case of large im-
portations from America, experience has shown
that the burden of payment is likely to be lightened
by a proportionate increase in the demand for our
manufactured goods, while in the opposite event
of extreme prices from our being confined' to our
own resources, the result; although fraught with
vast individual distress, is merely a transference of
money from the pockets of the masses to those of
the agriculturists. Seeing, therefore, that, although
the food question will undoubtedly be a most
anxious one between this' time and next harvest,
aspects are conceivable under which its monetary
influence may, perhaps, be favourably modified,
there is reason to believe that the general state of
affairs, viewed simply in their orciinary light, may
be contemplated, not merely with a fair degree of
confidence, but even with au anticipation of their'
realising the desires of the most sanguine.
That . the influences of the gold discoveries no
longer admit of blindness or dispute is now be-
coming universally acknowledged, and the feeling
is also general that they must increase in rapidity.,
The only ways in which their inevitable conse-
quences, can be demonstrated is by theoretical
reasoning, and the practical evidence of an exten-
sive and continuous rise in prices. The first pro-
cess was long ago performed, and the second is
visible to every one, although some, preferring to
attribute it entirely to co-incident causes, which
have unquestionably been in operation, may yet
• refuse to accept, it as conclusive. eanwhile,
whatever may have resulted thus far from the in-
creased production, it is plain that the movement
is likely henceforth to be accelerated. The absorp-
tion of large amounts traversing the ocean in the
shape of coin while equal sums are coming the
other way.will no longer be witnessed; the hoarded
totals in the United States and India must, sooner
or later, be set free ; the delay in the deprecia-
tion -of • gold consequent upon its taking the
place of silver must be lessened by the reegnt
determination of the Bank of France to retain
all that remains to them of the latter metal ;
and, finally, the eager attention devoted to all
scientific methods for preventing waste and
for extracting gold profitably from ore which,
under other circumstances, wOuld have yielded no
return, must not merely prevent a . falling off in
the supply, but most likely, year by year, enable
it to be brought from new and unlooked-for sources.
There is no probability, therefore, that the stir
which has commenced in all the relations of. pro-
perty, or in the diffusion of enterprise, is likely to
subside. Each year, moreover, we open upon new
prospects iu an increasing .ratio, and among those
which now present then:wives as calculated to de-
velope fresh fields for adventure and for an extension
of traffic are the navigation, just consummated, of
1,200 miles'of the river Murray and the expedition
that is commencing to explore the Amazon..
But all these considerations, although positive in
themselves.. uuder 'natural circumstances, .become
vague at the present moment, until they are con-
fronted by the question. as, to how they will be
affected by war. Setting that contingency aside,
everything is, as was the case at the same period
of last year, sufficiently clear to' warrant the state-
ment that thel condition of the country is sound to
its core, and that there never was a time when
men might carry on .their.occupations with a greater
certainty of reward. To the chaotic' elements of
famine, war, or other convulsions, however, the de-
ductions of economical science must still, except as
regards some few general conclusions, be subor-
dinate.; jet, even at the, present hour, enough
seems discernible -to. • avert. any unworthy fears.
The Power by' which 'the signal for anarchy has
been unfurled is not one that can seriously impede
our commerce in any sea, and, even if this were
not the case, the maritime capabilities of the United
sUffiCient to carry it on wherever
se be disturbed. Its consumption
itSo mightftaotuersgwooiltdlhsdelri be
otherwise
been less than that of some of the
ti while, on the other hand, the shut-
tpient tgeesutSetfaitsProduce will soon stimulate an in-
creased trade in the substitutes offered by its rivals.
The great point, therefore, as respects material con-
siderations, is the expense to be incurred in arma-
the prospects are far different
ments, and on this
from any former occasion. The plan of subsidisingother nations will never again be reverted to, and
it must be remembered that the conflict which may
necessitate loans for the home Government, will
effectually preclude any new ones being granted to
other Powers, For the last 20 years there have
been few exceptions when the annual sums lent to
foreign nations have been less than 10,000,0001. or
15,000,0001. sterling, and under no reasonable sup-
position can the amount required for the most
active operations exceed the outflow that will
thus be checked. If circumstances had been
different, Austria, staggering
as she is in the
last stage of insolvency,
and Russia, unable to
make even a railroad without an appeal for English
capital, would certainly have appeared in our mar-
ket for an aggregate of many millions, to say
nothing of 'those amounts' needed by the Italian.
and other States, whether for purposes of revenue
or 'internal improvement With' these drains cut
off on the one hand, and the influx of Australian
wealth on the other, there, is ground to hope that,
if a prosperous harvest should be realised, we may
pass even through a war With a similar absence of
commercial disturbance to.that with which we have
this year passed through an unprecedented com-
bination of adverse crops and political perplexities.
At the same time, whatever may be the worth of
these considerations, a- higher cause of trust re-
mains. Never in the records of the conduct of
mankind has an instance of greater forbearance,
united with conscious power, been exhibited than
by England in the trial now forced upon her, and
those who apprehend that this course is destined
ultimately to lead to regret, or that the present
epoch of the world is one that can be permanently
violated by a raid of barbarians determined to carry
fire and swords before them, and ignorant of the
existence' of public law, must have profited little.
from all they have ever seen of the career of mad-
men or criminals; and be destitute of faith in the
inexorable decrees that render
such beings merely
blind instruments of the very progress they are
endeavouring'to defy.-7",es City Article.

_ . .
WEDNESDAY EVENING CONCERTS,
v EXETER HALL—January 4th, 1859,
GEMS FROM CLASSIC AUTHORS.
After which,
POPULAR EVGLISH COMFOSERS:
Madame Amedei, Miss Thirlwall. ISA Clara S. t.iasSe, Miss Har-
riet Cbipp, the Misses Brougham, kr. Augustus 13raliam, Mr. Hill,
Mr. Lawler. Solorst.4.-Lerradd Pianoforte : Miss Rosina Bentlek.
Harp Mdlle. Louise Christine. Horn : Mr: Catelipple. •
BAND—SEVENTY PI,RFORMERS.
C,,nductor, HERR MEYER LUTZ. .
Stalls, 4s. ; Reseired Seats. 2s. Gd. Area, Gallery, and Platforms,
Is. Tickets to be had at the H 41

In the face of short harvests and Russian incen-
diarism, the commercial; year just ended has been
the most satisfactory one in history. At its com-
mencement it was hailed. as presenting prospects
beyond those of tiny former time ; . but it has shown
in its-course; that a degree ot vigour and soundness
then prevailed far beyond anything that couldha,ve
been estimated, since, if only a portion of the dis-
;turbing events that havQ since transpired could
leave been foreseen, there are few who would not
ha:Ve predicted, ruin in many quarters, and anxiety
and inconvenience in all. 'lnstead of this, the
whole year has been one of steady progress among
every class, and in each department of industry,
'and the oldest persons cen,versant with mercantile
pursuits cannot remember a period marked by so.
complete.au ,absence either of direct failures or of
private distrust.
On the Ist of January there was nothing to indi-
cate
the probable occurrence of distractions to the
ordinary course of enterprise. A. gradual and mode-
rate diminution in the Bank bullion had been ob-
servable since July, when it had touched thehighest
point ever reached, but the ceaseless shipments of
gold coin to Australia,_ and the non-arrival of large
remittances from that country, furnished a satisfac-
tory explanation. An increase in.the rate of discount
from 2 per cent., at which it has stood for nine
months, - was then adopted, and from the end of
January to the beginning of June both the money
and stock markets remained with little further
variation. At that time, however, forebodings re-
garding the harvest, and increasing suspicions of the
designs of Russia, coupled with an eager absorption
of capital in shipments to Australia and a heavy
export of silver to the East, consequent upon the
Chinese rebellion, caused a demand for accommo-
dation and a degree of political anxiety that pro-
moted a rapid augmentation in the discount charge
at the• Baiak, until, at the commencement of Octo-
ber, it stood at 5 per cent.; while Consols, in a
moment of panic, descended to 901. In the midst
'of all this the general trade of the country remained
entirely firm ; and, although since that date the
conflict in the East, which was then only probable,
has actually commenced, and each day's experience
of the results of the harvest, not only in England,
but in most parts of Europe, has shown it to have
been one of the most deplorable ever known ; al-
though, also, the shipments of specie to China have
merely moderated, and the necessities or fears of
the Emperor of Russia have caused him suddenly
to withdraw nearly a million sterling from our
markets, a decided reaction has been maintained, un-
til the unprecedented position of the funds, with war
and scarcity against t Lem, has called forth more re-
mark than any other circumstance of the time.
And while the progress of commercial transac-
tions has thus been everywhere satisfactory, the
advances made in financial legislation have been, on .
the whole, greater than in any former year. The
total repeal or reduction of the imposts on nearly
300 articles of food or comfort was one of the
earliest measures of the Parliamentary session, and
when to this is added the abolition of the Excise
on soap and of the tax on advertisements, the
reduction and simplification of the assessed taxes,
and the introduction of the penny receipt
stamp, together with the application of the
legacy duty to real estate, an amount of fiscal
improvement is summed up such as is rarely ac-
complished with similar expedition. These, how-
ever, are far from completing the catalogue of what
the year has done for commercial freedom. The
measure for establishing
.‘a reduced and uniform
rag of postage to the- British pogessiow in all parts
of the world, the working out of a reform of the
Customs, the arrangements for bringing the charge
for the collection of the revenue under the control
of Parliament, and the Mercantile Marine and
Pilotage Bills—including the removal of the pro-
hibition against the employment of foreign 'seamen
in merchant ships—have all been movements-of a
character such •as are only obtained as the results
of long previous efforts on the part of.enlightened.
Labourers. Equal to them also in ultimate impor-
tance will be two other steps, the arrangements
for which have already commenced—namely, the
compilation of agricultural statistics and the estab-
lishment of a decimal currency.
At the same time, the year has been unusually.
remarkable in its results on our commercial rela-
tions with other countries. The two most impor-
tant nations with whom we are in intercourse have
just announced a decided tendency to free trade.
The reduction of the iron and Coal duties in France
is a measure' the probable consequences of which
have scarcely yet been sufficiently estimated, while
the simplification and lowering of the -United
States' tariff, about to be proposed to Congress,
must also prove of great advantage. Probably,
however, the change in our foreign traffic destined
to be the most singular of all has been. rapidly in
course of preparation in. China. .
The most cheering feature in the entire retro-
sped remains to be noticed in the universal manner
in which the benefits enjoyed have been diffused.
On all former occasions of great prosperity there
have been sectional drawbacks to show that the
improvement was more or less owing to temporary
circumstances affecting different trades, or con-
nected with a peculiar state of the money market,
instead of to any great and all-pervading change in
the conditions of general enterprise. The causes
now in operation have, as was anticipated, proved
themselves beyond all narrow and local influences,
and it is a singular illustration of this fact, that
during the past year the sole exceptions to the uni-
versal well-doing have been found either among
those who have refused to recognise the • sound
basis on which it rested, or--those who in gaining
much have felt dissatisfied at not gaining more.
Thus the only cases ofjfinabilo meet engage-
ments have been a few, otiolodeare amount among
the speculators for a faR: on the Stock Exchange,
while on the part of tl operative classes no distress
has been witnessed, but from their own determina-
tion to decline work unless upon better terms than
those already reached.
Turning to our prospects for 1854, as far as all
the ordinary elements of such a question are con-
cerned, they are again full of encouragement. In-
trinsically as favourable as those that prevailed
on the Ist of January last, they are stronger in pro-
portion to all the advantages attained-by the inter-
vening progress of civilisatipn. The same continua-
tion of the rapid development of the gold discoveries
seems certain, aided by the receipt of heavy re-
turns for many months of active trade since brought
Within the limits of the strictest prudence.. A year
ago it was plain that the great problem of the
day was as to the channels of investment into
which the gold accumulations would flow, and the
same point .is still the most important one before
us. It -was then seen that extravagant expendi-
ture, the construction of great undertakings, or a
recourse to investments in other countries, were
the only three modes in which the growth of colo-
nial wealth could find an outlet, and that, whether
one or all of these should be witnessed, the effect
must bo alike rapid on this country, and through
it upon the world. Thus far the first mode—
namely, that of unlimited expenditure upon im-
ported articles of indulgence—has been seen in
operation, but the commencement of vast works of
public utility is obviously approaching, and these
will probably be carried to an extent to avert the
necessity of the third alternative, of seeking secu-
rities 'of distant origin. In each case, however, the
final result will be the same. If imported goods
are.consumed, the demand must increase the price,
and that increase of price must find its way into the
pockets of the producer and his men. The forma- '
—On
ton of public works can lead only to a different or
THE LION KING AND THE tRAZILIA.N TIGER
an additional class of importations, coupled with g Saturday evening Mr. Driesba.eb, the Lion Kin 'while
an extended immigration, owing to the employment exhibiting his feats in a den which g'
contained several
offered still further raising the value of labour here wad animals at the Broadway Menagerie, was attacked
and causing the Austraijan importer to have to pay by one of them (a large Brazilian tiger), which sprang
yet higher prices for his goods of all kinds. Hence, upon him, knocked him down, and fastened his teeth in
throughout the whole process, the gold in due pro- his breast. A lioness sprang to the assistance of her
portion comes to this side, and the -profits thus master, but unfortunately struck him a powerful blow
created must find investment. A portion will be oe. the chest, which 'she intended for the tiger, and thus
employed, as hitherto, in still further extending made matters worse. One of the keepers then opened
trade, but the destination of the main sum must be the door of the cage and dragged Mr. Driesbach out.
towards new or existing securities of all kinds. The He
was immediately attendedbad
been i
by
a physician, who found
operation of this inevitable tendency has already
that only flesh wounds nfhcted, and those pot
daner.ous eharactr. The audiece were hhl ex-
been witnessed in the extent to which during the (44 he timee the scene wasn enacting. ig
Thy is is
d
past 12 months it has counteracted the effect of c 49 durg ing t
the first time in two months that the tiger has been ex-
the singular combination of circumstances that ilip 1. •
ted, and it is probable that the glare of the gas lights
must otherwise, as far as the stock markets of rendered him confused and excited. He was always
this and other countries are concerned, have pro- looked upon by Mr. Driesbach as one of his pet animals,
thiCed serious inconveniences. Not only has the an 4 as extremely tame and docile.—New York Paper.

WATCHMAN ! WHAT OF THE NIGHT.

(Froiii. the Weekly Dispatch.y
We own our succession of apostleship from Grub-
street. We Are content to wear the " sign and
badge of out profession." We are public writers—
if it please you, write for bread. So have the test
and noblest of our craft... We are not ashamed of
its traditions. So does the jurisconsult who pleads
for justice, so the surgeon who soothes the pillow
of pain, or rescues a mother from the 'valley of the
shadow of death to importunate children, to the
agonised husband. So does the physician of the
soul, from Paul, whose " hands ministered to his
necessities," as a tent-maker, down to Charles
James London, who hucksters for his fines and
haggles for the renewal of its leases. But our call-
. .

inghas its dignity.. One may live to writ rather
than write to live. We have something more to do
than.merely to. spin columns that will sell. God
help us if we were to look upon our mission but as
the shoemaker does upon his Wellingtons ! Heaven
save the nation whose instructors hire their brains

but as a Whitechapel,truck or a Hampistead-heath
donkey !, We are enjoined to " buy the truth and
sell it not"—but. to tell it. The Year-closes—from
this high rostrum of ours we have been:calling to our
fellow-mew—it' is 'time we took, stock of our:
progress. We refuse any longer to measure
our advance by exports and imports, pr our
prOsperity by the sunAus of revenue. • True
civihsation Cannot he gauged even by the triumphs
-of litoraktrereirther-autrievernantrof scitincers—lttr
the workhouses empty—the workshops full ? We
are glad of it. Are peasants well fed, and artizans
well paid ? Verily,' they have their reward. Do
farMers flourish, dp lords pay their debts punc-
tually, is trade substantial, and credit sound ?
" Long l.fte they so, and long live you to think
so !" But all these are but means to an end, and
there may be something else that thwarts it. After
all, the spinning of cotton is not the summit of
human bliss. The electric telegraph and the loco-
motive engine leave the inner springs of happiness
just where they found them. Men were as joyous
round a blazing billet,'as now beside an Arnott
stove or a sea-coal fire. We are in a blaze of gas,
and Milton wrote " Paradise Lost" without even a

rushlight ! Nay, to come nearer to the point, per-
haps the true philosophy of life was not less ration-
ally pursued when the Barons signed Magna Charta
with their Mark,' than now when their successors
talk science in the new House of Lords, and the
dustman reads Shakspettre for a shilling, to a

serenade of the musical glasses. We dare
say our brethren of the broad-sheet have made
our readers more knowing ; but have we made
them really more wise ? We have enlarged the
sphere of their intelligence—have we taught them to
make a better use of it ? Men " run to and fro'

that knowledge may abound ;" but where is " the
goodness should attend it ?" Lancashire strikes

and riots—wife-beating—great increase in the con- The appearance of a proclamation regulating the
sumption of intoxicating drinks and opium or proportions according to which prize-money for the
laudanum—a solemn asseveration of grand juries future is to be distributed among our seamen pos-
of the wide prevalence of murder for mere burial sesses a certain kind of melancholy interest from
fees by parents, children, spouses—and a steady the political circumstances of the time. We are,
increase of committals 'for crime—these are the however, anxious 'to divest the publication of this
signs of the time, but not signs of progress—or, if document of any idea of bravado or bad taste.
of any, then of progress towards the devil. As for The subject has been under the consideration of
religion, •it oscillates between Father Newman the authorities at the Admiralty for a long time
Popery and Martineau Atheism, with occasional past, and would have appeared just in the same
divergence to Henry of Exeter's Protestant Nunne- form and at the same date even if the Emperor of
ries, Francis Close's Spirit Rappings, the visions of the Russias had not recently made abnegation of
Swedenborg, the virtue of the Agapenione, the all claims to political sagacity, or to the respect of
genteel_ credulity of Henry Drummond and the Europe, by his ill-omened and unadvised occupa-
Plymouth brethren, and the free-and-easy theology tion of the Danubian Principalities. The idea of
of Prophet Young, father of the faithful at Salt naval glory and prize-money does not reconcile us
Lake, in more senses than one ! The only real test —we freely confess it—to the prospect of another
of the civilisation of any age or country is its rela- great European struggle. According to all human
tive proficiency in moral attainment. It needs no calculation, Great Britain is strong enough to cope,
revelation to tell us that " righteousness exalteth upon her own element, with all that floats upon
a nation." Cash payments are not the sole nexus the sea ; but when we observe that of the two
of the social compact. Achievements in the useful other great naval Powers one stands with us and
aits—acquisitions of territory or other natural ad- the other is neutral, it would be simple hypocrisy
vantages—increase of production—relative decrease to doubt the event of those maritime operations
of cost—less, debt—more revenue—these are only which may shortly be undertaken. If the neces-
means to an end—they only remove impediments sity of action be forced upon us, we entreat of all
to happiness, they do not constitute it. It is as valorous gentlemen who have been eager to, hurry
true now as ever, that " the kingdom of heaven is their country into war to feel well assured that
within you." It is in vain that you have the most those who were the last in giving their assent to
skilful county constabulary. Unless the constable the renewal of butchery and carnage are not likely
be in a, man's o-ven conscience, he will be a rogue to be the-first to hang up their arms until the peace
and vagabond, for all your silent system and prison of the world shall be established upon a secure
discipline. To know whether we have made any foundation. We doubt not—unless the Emperor
real progress, we must be able to answer these of Russia even at the twelfth hour should recon-
questions :—ls the thione safer ?—is property more sider his position-4hat the annihilation of his navy
secure ?—is society more bound together, and more and foreign commerce will be among the first con-
mutually friendly ?—is there no jealousy or strife tingencies of the war. The destruction of Sebas-
of classes ?—have the frauds of trade decreased ? topol and Cronstadt, aid the capture of the Baltic
is public principle higher ?—is the tone and spirit and Black Sea fleets, would certainly seem to offer
of our public men and press more lofty and pure ? no greater difficulties than the practical solution of
is duty, or are dollars, uppermost in the thoughts ? any ordinary mechanical problem. It is sad enough
—do we laugh at earnestness, or scout sentiment to think how large an expenditure of human life the
as cant ?—or, in simplicity and sincerity, have we necessary operations may occasion, but that they
our conversation in the world, in all godliness and will he carried out, if necessity arise, ere many
honesty, without partiality and without hypocrisy ? months have elapsed by the countrymen of Blake
Unless we can satisfactorily answer these questions, and Nelson, in union with the gallant navy of
all our press, and pulpit, and platform, and model France, we doubt not for one instant of time.
lodging-houses, baths, sewers, mechanic -reading- Under these circumstances the Queen's recent pro-
rooms—yea, our town missions, Bible societies, clamation possesses, as we have said, a certain
blatant . clerical balderdash, and Scientific " ma- melancholy interest for us, and by the members of
terial interest " quackery, are less than nothing, the naval profession it will be regarded as a docu-
and vanity. A clean skin is better than a ment which may soon very vitally concern them.
dirty one ; but it is wonderful how many nice This proclamation, then, does not merely affect
people have nasty ideas. King Bomba embroiders prize-money, but regulates the distribution of " the
petticoats for the Virgin, and sends Christians to whole net proceeds arising from prizes captured
"the dungeon or the galleys, because it is his fancy. from the enemy, and from all other captures and
Austria lashes, shoots, and hangs her way through seizures ;" and also, "of all net proceeds of prizes,
Italy, without respect for age or sex.. • The Gospel rewards, allowances, salvage awards, and of all
develops itself . even now at Ancona or Vienna, in bounties and grants whatsoever distributable to the
the perpetration of enormities on the wretched Royal navy in the manner of prize-money." The
Jews that make humanity shudder. That bias- proclamation, in addition to these cases, also con-
pheming monster who, in Russia, mocks heaven by templates that of the destruction of piratical ships,
'adjuring it to witness his cruel lies and awful hypo- which, indeed, had been regulated by a proclania-
crisy, does it in the name of Christ ; and the little tion issued some four years ago, but now annulled.
voluptuary who, in Spain, puts every modest wo- It will be sufficient for the ordinary reader if we
man to the blush, is called " Her most Christian say, that the great difference between. the former
Majesty." Christian meekness, sincerity, and system and that which is established by the present
generosity have taken up their rest at Constanti- regulations consists in the fact that now the money
nople ; and it would appear that it is to China we is to go, as of right, among the persons actually as-
are to look for the resurrection *of genuine Evange- sistin 0- at the capture or salvage. In former times
lism. Nothing in. the history of the world can the flag officer of the station came in for the lion's
compare to it in significancy and importance. It share, even although he might have nothing to do
is the crowning event of the year. Eastern ques- with the immediate operations. The present pro-
tions, and even Geelong quarries of gold, sink into clamation would appear mainly pointed at this
insignificance before 'it. Three hundred millions anomaly. No flag-officer is for the future to
of souls, a third of earth's human inhabitants, share in the distribution of any head-money or
whilome prostrate before golden apes and grinning bounty-money unless actually on board some
devils, all of a sudden start to their feet, inspired of our ships of war, and unless actually present
iconoclasts, and stretch forth their tawny -" at the actual taking, sinking, burning, or
hands in adoring fervour before the one otherwise destroying any ship or ships of war, pri-
only living and true God. Stout pf heart, earnest vateer or privateers, belonging to the enemy."
of conscience, fighting for a principle, having The same provision is enacted in corresponding
the greatest of all to fight for, rebels only terms for the case of the destruction of piratical
to devildom, messengers, executioners of Jehovah, vessels. The flag-officer, moreover, to be entitled
vexed of long ages, with stupid idolatries—they to salvage-money, must have been actually on board
hair() grouped their devious way from Tartar cala- the ship which seeks the award, and have personally
bash praying to Mumbo Jumbo, into the light of aided and assisted in the transaction. An expreas
the day of the glory of God ! Of Mariolatries, and provision is made to.m.eet the case of Port Admirals.
saints,
.graven images, genufleetive Popish mum- No flag-officer commanding in any port is to have
meries they will have none. They are Protestants any share of the prize-money earned by ships of war
as well as monotheists. Papistry is seen ringing -which may have sailed by order of the Admiralty
its bells, dressing its images, elevating its host. Off from the port in which he may hold command.
with its head, so much for Papistry ! Is it not Under other circumstances than those contemplated
wonderful ?' Still more providential is it that these in the above regulations, a flag-officer, where there
heroes haye not taken their faith at second hand is but one, isrto be entitled to 1.-20th part of the
from creeds, catechisms, missionaries. They have entire capture. When the flag has been thus pro-
taken the Bible, and interpreted its spirit for them- vided for, all other maritime persons present on
i
selves. Here is what they getout of it :—" God, the occasions' contemplated by the proclamatio _
whose name is Jehovah, is Creator of Heaven, are divided into ten.classes ; the members of each
earth, men, and all things—a spirit omnipotent, class are to share rateably according to the scheme
omniscient, omnipresent, working all in all—the set forth. These minor matters,
however, can Ns_
agent in every beneficial phenomenon, sustaining sess but little interest for any but professional
_
and nourishing his universal family." They have readeri, and to their consideration we leave them.
swept from their almanacs all about lucky and un- The one grand principle runs through this
lucky days. " Years, months, and days, emceed proclamation is one which cannot at to meet with
each other, according to the arrangement of our the unqualified'approval of the public. It is but
Heavenly Father. They are all lucky—all good. right that those who incur the danger should have
in the service
How shbuld there be diStiriction among them of good the reward. If a man risks his life
and bad? Why should one day be to be chosen -of his country, or even fromw.thhicehpurr love of glob,
above another? Let a man reverence, with a true in the abstract, it certainly does seem illogical,
heart, the Great God, the Supreme Lord, our not to say unjust, that an old gentleman who was
Heavenly Father, then will he enjoy the watchful 500 miles off at the time the battle or action was
care of Heaven, and he may liope,fer success in his fought, and who really had nothing more to do
undertakings whensoever.they may be commenced." with it than millions of others " who sit at home
"Speak of the world according to its divisions, and at ease," should receive from him a large propor-
we have all the separate nations ; speak of it as a tion of the rewards due to his courage and skill. If
whole, and it is one family. The Great God is the we are once more to enter upon conflicts such
universal father of all under heaven. China is as those with which the commencement of this
under his government and care ; foreign nations century was afflicted or adorned, at least let the
are the same. There are many' men under heaven laurels go to the ...right head, and the money-
-but all are brothers. There are many women bags to the right pocket. To the Euxine and
tinder heaven, but all are sisters. Why should we the Baltic the Emperor of Russia is confined,
continue the selfish practice of setting a boundary and at one spot or other of those narrow
here and a limit there ? Why indulge the wish to waters he must make up his mind to see his fleets
devour and consume one another ?" They denounce taken from him, and the nascent maritime power
lewdness, not merely of act, but of thought, of of his name crushed for the next half century, or
opium smoking, wine drinking, and sensual indul- possibly for ever. It is difficult to contemplate as
gence. A vivid and intelligent faith in the immor- a probable contingency the continuance of any
tality of the soul is the cardinal point of their reli- maritime warfare on a larger scale than is involved
gion. Most wonderful of all, they have found in the police service of a couple of large lakes.
out that " The Great Supreme God is God. It The two narrow entrances to the Baltic and the
is enough that the lords of this world be called Euxine are easily enough guarded. It is well as-
kings. It cannot be permitted to them to infringe at 1 certained that the populations of Sweden, Nor-
all on the divine appellation. Jesus, the Saviour of way, and Denmark are actuated by a spirit of the
the world, was the heir-son of God, and yet he is ' deepest hostility to their encroaching neighbour.
only called Lord. Now, in Heaven above, or The united flags of France and England have long
in earth beneath, who among man is greater since floated in the Euxine Straits. Coupling these