The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-21 00:00:00

LONDON, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 21, 1854.

Were we not told the other day, and that
rather confidently, that there was a probability of
.he war with Russia being very speedily ter-
minated, and terminated too, it was said, altoge-
ther satisfactorily ? It was so intimated by some
of the more authoritative of our Ministerial con-
temporaries. It cannot be forgotten. Hints
were thrown out that the retreat of the Russian
forces from Lesser Wallachia to the Dobrudscha
was only preparatory to the entire evacuation of
the Principalities. It was insinuated that the
plea for this retrograde movement on the part of
the armies of the CZAR would be the coincidence
of the demands recently transmitted from Vienna
to St. Petersburg, with those already submitted
to the AUTOCRAT by the French and English
Governments. By some of the more credulous or
designing newsmongers, it was pretended to be
inferred that the whole of this imaginary
project was the result of an artful con-
spiracy between the CZAR and the secretly
subservient councils of Schoenbrunn and Char-
lottenburg. A. pretended agreement with the
maritime Powers was to result in the withdrawal,
in obedience to the demands to that effect coming
from Austria and Prussia, of the Muscovite forces
back once more across the Pruth into the Russian
province of Bessarabia. A compliance with. the
terms of the requisition sent in from the -Vienna 1
Cabinet to the Imperial Councils at St. Peters-
burg would, it was said, lead again to the estrange-
ment of the Prusso-Austrian and Anglo-French
Governments. No reason, we were told, would
then remain for the continuance of the contest.
It was even declared that the German Powers
would, under that new conjuncture of circum-
stances, be prepared to aid the Russian AUTOCRAT
in repelling any attempt that might then be made
by France and England to avenge Turkey, to ex-
tort pecuniary compensation from the aggressor
for the expenses incurred by reason of the war,
and it might be even to obtain from him
"material guarantees" for the future tranquillity
of Christendom. All these possible evils to Rus-
sia were to have been averted—whispered one or
two among the more notable of our Ministerial con-
temporaries—by the retirement of the Russian
army beyond the Pruth, the Emperor NICHOLAS
having at length deemed it advisable to consent
to the evacuation of the Principalities. I-
Well, a few days have elapsed, and how are
matters now situated We hear no more about
this promised withdrawal of the Muscovite forces
into Bessarabia. We learn, on the contrary,
through the latest advises received from St.
Petersburg, that any such retrogressive movement
of the troops under PASKIEWITCH and
uORTZCHA-
KOFF was considered in that capital an an
event
altogether improbable. Instead of that, it now
appears that the Russian Commander-in-Chief has
received from his Imperial master express injunc-
tions to attempt the capture, at all hazard, of the
beleaguered fortifications of Silistria !
Meanwhile, looking nearer home than St.
Petersburg for indications of the probable future,
looking for authority upon that point more ad-
missible than the hints of a party journalist, or
the innuendo of a Ministerial newspaper—what do
we discover ? Why, we find a member of the
Cabinet as important as the Noble Lord at once
Leader of, the House of Commons and President
of the Cour.cil, asserting manfully, from the plat-
form of the Guildhall of the City of London, that
the only•peace that can now be aimed at must be
a peace which is durable, and solid, and honour-
able. Scarcely has this declaration been heard

from the lips of Lord JOHN RUSSELL, when an-
other, kindred to it in candour and magnani-
mity, is hearkened to in the House of Lords
from an Administrator as authoritative upon
the momentous subject referred to as the Secre-
tary of State for the Foreign Department. The
Earl of CLARENDON at length scruples not to avow
that any insignificant result of the present war
with Russia—would be a virtual triumph for
Russia, would be only postponing the evil (which
must sooner or later be dealt with) to some less
favourable opportunity, and, beyond all that,
would be actually unbecoming the dignity of both
the French and English Governments.
Is there much probability, considering the facts
we have just enumerated, is there much probability
we ask, of any such speedy termination of the war
with Russia, as was promised, or rather, we should
say, threatened the other day by our Ministerial
contemporaries ? At the very time when those
threats of a disgraceful compromise with Russia
being imminent were first heard, we ventured
at once to laugh them to scorn as impossible
and ridiculous. A few days have elapsed, as
before observed, and lo ! they have " melted into
thin air ;" and instead of the retirement of thb
• Russian army beyond the Pruth, we learn that
there is no prospect whatever of any intention on
the part of the CZAR to prepare for the mere con-
tingency of the evacuation of the Principalities !
It is tri that another Minister of the
Crown—not Lord CLARENDON, nor again Lord
JOHN RUSSELL—declares within a week after the
President of the Council has spoken, as we have
already remarked—declares upon the very night,
and in the course of the very discussion upon
which the Foreign Secretary gave utterance to
language characterised by such patriotic ardour,
such nobility of sentiment, and such statesmanlike
determination—declares within that very week,
and upon that very night, that he conceives " we
shall not do amiss" if we bring the present war with
Russia to a close with some such result as that
which terminated a former war between Russia
and Turkey, with the Treaty of Adrianople ! But
who is that Minister ? Not, we have said, Lord
CLARENDON. Not Lord JOHN RUSSELL. Not
Lord PALMERSTON. Not the Duke of NEWCASTLE.
Not Sir JAMES GRAHAM. Only the First Lord of
the Treasury --only the Dissenting Minister—
only the Under-Secretary of M. GuizoT—only
the " dear," the " good," the " excellent,"
of the Royal MAcAIRE with the pyramidal peruke
and the cotton umbrella. Men shrug their
shoulders when they hear this sagacious personage
babbling about the peace of Europe not being en-
dangered by Russian aggression, or about the secur-
ing tranquillity for 25 years to come being a result
"not amiss" under the circumstances. They re-
member that in him they behold only the dupe of
that old gentleman who landed in the spring of
1848 on the coast of England, with his whiskers
shaved off, and himself huddled in an old pea-
jacket, and his name , SMITH ! They can-
not forget that it is only the " forty years' friend"
of that very reputable person who declared he
only wanted ten minutes' conversation with Lord
ABERDEEN to arrange matters satisfactorily, who
knowingly penned untruths in au Imperial Pro-
clamation, and who celebrated by blasphemous
thanksgivings addressed to HEAVEN, that terrible
butchery of the Turks at Sinope, which had
been . effected through the flagrant violation
of his " parole de gentleman !" Remember-
ing these things, intelligent Englishmen listen
with a shrug of the shoulders to avowals such as
those we have just particularised—marvelling at
the freaks of fortune observable at times even in
the distribution of the offices of Government.

The Hon. and Learned Gentleman the Member
for Bath deserves the thanks and gratitude of
every Parent struggling to bestow a University
education on some promising child. If his admi-

rable suggestion be carried into practical operation,
a crying reproach will be removed from one of
the ancient seats of learning. Families will no

Ilonger tremble at the dangers to which a son or
brother is exposed ; and young men themselves
will not bo crippled in their means, and impove-
rished during their entire lives, in consequence
of the reckless extravagance of their early years.
The temptation of complaisant and bowing trades-
men forcing their wares on inexperienced fresh-
men will no longer exist, when the prices can no
longer be enforced by legal process, and when, if
credit bo given, payment must exclusively depend
on the honour of the juvenile debtors.
The painful disclosures that have from time to

time been elicited in the Insolvept Court prove
beyond the possibility of doubt the fearful extent
of the evil, and the imperative necessity of
affording some degree of protection to the alumni
from the dangers by which they are surrounded.
A few wealthy young men, possessed of more
money than wit, and altogether exempted from
the necessity of acquiring their own maintenance,
indulge in expensive luxuries, and neglect the
studies which form the ostensible objects of
their sojourn. To the owners of several
thousands per annum the outlay of a few
thousands more or less is a matter of per-
fect indifference ; the payment cannot occasion
a. moment's anxiety. Nor will they have to un-
dergo any privations or inconvenience on account
of these claims. Like Mrs. HARDcASTLE 3they
may think that it can't require much learning to
spend 3,0001. per annum. Therefore, tutors are
neglected, and if they trouble themselves at all,
it is merely to save themselves from " plucking."
Unfortunately, however, the examples they set
are followed by many others who have no such
plausible excuses to offer. The son of a cler-
gyman, barrister, or doctor, who has to make
his own fortune by his own exertions, en-
deavours to vie with the great men of his col-
lege, accepting invitations to wine parties, and
he thinks himself bound to return the compli-
ment, and speedily finds the allowance which his
friends can scarcely afford is totally inadequate to
supply his exigencies. He speedily gives up every
effort to obtain honours and distinction, and
thinks the term reading-man one of the most ob-
noxious
that could be applied.
The " allowance" merely serves as pocket money.
Everything, whether necessary or otherwise, is
obtained on credit. When, therefore, the time
approaches for taking his degree, he is found over-
whelmed with debts, and with all his prospects
in life blighted. He must either yield to his
fate, or see his entire family straitened in their
circumstances from the sacrifices necessary for his
extrication.

This is no fancy sketch, nor is it a matter of
rare occurrence. Not a year elapses that there
are not many victims. And any measure of Uni-
versity reform would be defective which did not
at least attempt to provide a suitable remedy.
Mr. PHINN has, in the present instance, stepped
forward to supply the omission, and from the
manner in which his admirable suggestions were
received by the Solicitor-General, we may hope
for the speedy abatement of the intolerable
nuisance.

Mr. p ,
inzrx s proposition went to the extent
not only of barring the recovery of every debt
incurred by anyt. person under 21 years of age,
while in Statt
Pupellari, in the University of
Oxford, but also
as a.o vacating every deed, bond, or
obligation given
security for such debt.
There would no longer b
a mock inquiry as to
what should be considered
as
"necessaries."
Nor would we,,findj urieson
their: oaths
declaring that masonic
wild and
ornaments "gold-
" '
champagne," or even " high-flavoured
headed hunting whips",ducks
cigars,"
were " nece,saries" for raw boys of 18 r
19 years of age. We confess that we cannot see
that the threatened increase of charges already
eufficiently exorbitant; or even the total with-

drawal of credit, would be any very serious cala-
mity. It might be a task of no ordinary diffi-
culty to increase some of the bills ; while the great-
est blessing that could happen to the students would
be the prohibition of any dealing for wines, cigars,
sporting prints, and a variety of other articles,
except for ready money. We cannot agree with Mr.
CARDWELL in supposing that the withdrawal
of all credit, even for essentials, would have the
effect of closing the doors of the University against
deserving young men, who might not otherwise
' have sufficient means to go through the curriculum
of study. We do not believe that any young
man, however great his talents, could undertake
a more perilous experiment than that of acquiring
a University education without the
.means of de-
fraying the indispensable outlay. If he has not
adequate funds, or friends to afford assist-
ance, he should be contented with a less
ambitious career ; nor should he, even
with a worthy and honourable object in
view, enter with the intention of habitually
incurring liabilities without any reasonable ex-
pectation of payment.

The only reasonable argument was, that the
provision should be made universal, without
being limited to the students of Oxford University.
By all means let it be so. But inasmuch as the
grievance is of more formidable dimensions there
than elsewhere, and as a general measure could
not be introduced in a bill for University Reform,
let us take what we can get in the first instance,
and wait for the generalisation of the useful en-
actment to the first convenient opportunity.