The Sun.
London, England, 1854-06-13 00:00:00

THE. EASTERN QUESTION.

A weekly contemporary, whose sources of information on
foreign matters, appear to be of a very exclusive and trust-
worthy character, has for some weeks past atilrrned, in the
most explicit terms, that the noble lord at the head of the
Government has entered into an engagement with the Courts
of Vienna and Berlin to conclude an armistice with Russia,
preparatory to the establishment of a peace—based on the
state of matters which existed before--the moment that' the
Czar consents to evacuate the Principalities.'
The Press not only communicates this intelligence, but
pledges its character for the accuracy of it. And one of our
morning contemporaries not only transfers the article into hie
columns, but indorses its truth, on the authority of sources
of information peculiar to himself. Our weekly contempo-
rary, moreover, challenges the noble lord whose name it im-
plicated, to contradict his statements, if he can. That chg.
lenge has been before the public for ten days; _it was repeated
on Saturday last ; and yet it has not been accepted; The
statement has not been contradicted. The truth of the elle.
gation has not been denied.
The matter is one of too grave a character to be permitted
to rest where it is. Why does not some of the noble lord's
peers put the question to him, whether there be any truth in
the statement Why does note the Marquis of• Clanricarde
put such questions as may elicit information as to the 'real
state of the case ? The public are vitally interested in the
question. It deeply affects the national honour, as 'well as
the material interests of the country. The future well-being,
and even the peace of Europe, depend upon it, and therefore
the matter should not be suffered to remain in a state of un-
certainty.

The assertion is not made in vague language. The charge
is made in the most specific terms. Our weekly contemporary
distinctly affirms, that the secret negotiations which had been
going on for some time between Austria and Prussia, with
the view of terminating the Turkish war in such a manner ea
would save the honour and spare the susceptibilities of the
Czar, have been brought to a favourable conclusion ; and
that they mean, with the concurrence of Nicholas, to propose
an armistice to the belligerents, as a preliminary to a general
Conference of the European Powers, which is to arrange the
terms of a permanent peace. The concessions which Russia
is willing to make, if concessions they can be called, are, that
Austria shall have a joint control over the navigation of the
mouths of the Danube,—that ships of war be permitted to
pass the Dardanelles—and that the treaty of Kaivardji be-
tween Russia and Turkey be subjected to the constraction
which the Conference may think fit to put on its provisions.
All this Russia was ready to acquiesce in as far back an
October last, before the united squadrons had entered either
the Black Sea or the Baltic. The whole affair, therefore is a
Muscovite dodge. The movement has been wade at the insti.
gation of the Czar. And it must be admitted to be a very in-
genious expedient, for if the Western Powers should agree to
the proposals made by Austria and Prussia, Nicholas will be
able to retire from the war, without any feeling of mortifica-
tion. He would be able to say that he had from the first ex-
pressed his willingness to accede to terms of peace on such
conditions. If, on the other hand, France and England per-
emptorily refuse to accede to any such .terms, AFstria and
Prussia, acting on the suggestions of the Czar, will have a
new and more plausible pretext than before for remaining
neutral in the war between Russia and Turkey, and in that
way play the game of the Autocrat.
But the matter which more immediately concerns us to
know is this—Can it be true that the head of the English Go-
vernment has become a consenting party to this new device
on the part of the Courts of Vienna and Berlin, acting under
the inspiration of the Court of St. Petersburg 'I That is what
our weekly contemporary affirms, and in the truth of which a
daily contemporary expresses his entire belief. The country
has a right to know whether the charge be well founded or
groundless. It is one of much too grave a character to have
hanging over the head of a public man, without being denied.
if it has no foundation in fact.

And the noble lord himself, who cannot pretend ignorance
of it- -for he reads both the journals in whose columns it has
appeared—ought to feel that he is bound alike in duty to him.
self and to the country, to meet the allegation with a direct
denial, if it is destitute of foundation. His continued silence
will be construed into a tacit admission of its truth; and should
it unfortunately prove to be true, it will be one of the most
serious charges that ever have been established against a
nister of England in modern times. It will justify the terms,
" England's Betrayal," applied to it by our weekly contem-
porary. It is a sacrifice to the Czar of the honour and the
interests of this country. It is, besides, a betrayal of the
interests of all Europe.
And to complete the gravity of the affair, it will, if true,
be found that the noble lord, in becoming a party to such a
course of action, has done so without the knowledge or con-
currence of his colleagues in the Cabinet; for we cannot al-
low ourselves for a moment to believe, that the question had
ever been brought before a Cabinet Council, much less re-
ceived its sanction. If this be so, there is not a man in the
Administration who does not owe it to himself to ascertain
whether the charge be true or not. The colleagues of the
Premier ought to remember that if the country sees so grave
an accusation in general circulation, and no contradiction
offered to it, the conclusion at which it will naturally arrive
is, not only that the charge is true as regards the noble lord,
but that they are severally implicated in it—for the country
cannot be expected to suppose that he would have taken so
important a step as virtually to concede everything to Russia,
without their knowledge and concurrence.

It is, therefore, on all accounts, desirable in the highest
degree, that the real state of matters should be ascertained.
The public have a right to know what are the actual facts of
the case ; and were that public faithfully represented in the
House of Commons, questions would have been put before
now to the leader of the house, with the view of getting at
the real position of affairs. The country, unhappily, is Dot
properly represented in the Commons.
But bad as matters are in this respect, surely some one
may be found in the house who will elicit the desired infor-
mation. What has come of Mr. Layard I He used to display
independence, as well as information, on all matters bearing
on the Eastern question. But he, also, has been mute of late.
His voice is no longer heard. He not only has ceased to put
troublesome questions to Ministers, but he has ceased to
open his lips at all. Mr. Hume, Mr. Roebuck, and Mr.'
Thomas Duucombe, used also to display great independence
in the way of putting questions to the Treasury benches,
which more timid members had not the courage to ask. But
the prevailing complaint in the Commons—a loss of indepen-
dence and of patriotism in matters of this nature—has seized
them also. It is a very sad and unsatisfactory reflection that
such should be the state of matters. We have, indeed, fallen
on degenerate days. A thoroughly independent and intelli-
gent man would, in the present position of matters, raise
himself in a few weeks to the highest pinnacle of Parruunen-
tary popularity. —Morning Advertiser.
PARLIAMENTARY DIVISION.

HOUSE OF COMMONS—JUNE 12.
SUPPLY—GRANT TO GOVERNMENT PRISONS.
Motion made and question proposed, " That a sum not ex-,
ceeding 371,9331. be granted to her Majesty, to defray the
charge of Government Prisons and Convict Establishments
at Home, to the 31st day of March, 1855 :"—Wherenpou
motion made, and question put, " That a sum, not exceed-
ing 371,3831., be granted to her Majesty, to defray the
charge of Government Prisons and Convict Establishments
at Home, to the 31st day of March, 1855." The committee
divided—Ayes 158, Noes 136._

AYES—ISB.
Adderley, C. Fergus. J. Morris, D.
Alexander, J. Ferguson, J. Mowbray, J.
Anderson, Sir J. Floyer, J. Mullin" 3.
a rchdall, M. Forbes, W. Mandy, W.
Bailey, Sir J. Fox, W. Murrough, J.
Bailey, C. Frewen C. Noel, G.
Baldock, E. Galway Viscount North, Lt.-Col. J.
Bankes, At. Hon. G. George, Ossulston, Lord
Barnes, T. Gilpin, Col, H. Parke, C.
Barrow, W. Goddard, A. Paget, Lord G.
Itateson, Capt. T. Or, enall, Gilbert Pakington, Sir J.
Beckett, W. Grogan, Edward Palk, L.
Bell, J. Gwyn, Howe Pollatt, A.
Nennet, Capt. P. Iladneld, George Percy, J.
Benthick, G. Hardinge, lion. C. Fortai, M.
Beresford, Rt. lin. W. Hastie, Archd. Itepton, G.
Berkeley, Hon. C. Henley, J. Robertson, P.
Bernard, Fiat. Hilyard, It. C. Holt. P.
Blair, Lieut -Col. J. H. liorsfall, T. Rushoat, Capt. G.
Booker, T. W. Hudson, G. Sanders, G.
Brocklehurst. J. Hume, W. Sawle. C.
Brooke, Sir A, B. Jones, D. Scobell, Capt. G.
Buck, L. W. Keating, H. :initial, Sir W.
Burrell, Sir C. M. Kendall, N. Smith, W.
Burroughes, Li. S. Kerrison, Sir E. Smith, Abel
Butt, G. NI. Kershaw, J. Smollett, A.
Campbell. Sir A. I. King, J. Stafford, A.
Cecil, Lord Kinn:Ord, A. Stanhope. J.
Challis, T. Knatchball, W. Stirling, W.
Chambers, M. Knightley, It. Taylor, Lt..-Col. 2'.
Chambers, T. Knox, LL-Col. B. W. Thesiger, Sir. F.
Cheetham, John Laing, S. Tolleinache, J.
Chelsea, Viscount Langton, W. FL P. G. Tomnne* G.
Child, Smith Langton, U. G. Tudway, IL
Cobb)ld, J. C. Lascelles, E. Vallee, J.
Collier, R. P. Lee, W. Vane, Lord A.
Craufurd, E. H.J. Lennox, Lord A. F. Vyvyan, Sir It:
Cro:sley, F. Liddell, ii. G. Walcott, Rear-A.4,
Dalkei‘h, Earl Lockhart, W. Walpole. 5,
Dalrymple, Visconnt Loveden, P. West, F.
Davie, Sir 11 It. F. Lowther. Capt. 11. Whiteside, J.
Davies, D. A. S. Mackie, J. Whitmore, H.
Deedes W. 3lacG'regor Jas. Wickham, 11,
Disraeli, Rt. Hon. B. MacGregor, J.
rlet:
Viscount.
cJo.unt
Wortley,i"' A.
S. S.
Duncan, G. Malins, R. NVigram, Loftus T.
Dod, J. W.
W
3MfacTndaegvgial Woadd, B.
Dunda4, G.
Dunlop, A. Mall, E.
Du Pre, C. Miles, W. Wyndham. Lt.-(}ea.
Wynn. Capt. H.
Ellice, E. Milligan, IL
Evelyn, W. Mills, T. Wynne, W.
Ewart, W. 141 ic hell , Dr. W.
Ferrer. J. Montgomery, Sir G.
Fellowes, E. Moody, C.

TELLTAS.
Spooner, R.
Newdegate, C.

Graham,Greene,
cSalpr t
.J.
NOES-136.
A'Coart, C.
Balm, Rt. Hon. M. Caold, W.
Atherton, NV.
Ball, J.John
Oregson, Samuel
Bass, IC Orenfell, Charles
Beamisb, P. Greville, Colonel F.
Bethel!, Sir R. Grosvenor, Ld. R.
Biggs, W. Hankey, T.
Bland, L. H. Hantner Sir John
Bonham• Carter, J. Henchy,, D.
Bowyer, G Heneage, Geo. H.
Boyle, Lt -Col. Herbert, H.
Bramston, T. W. Herbert, S.
Brockman, E. D. Ile rvey, Lord A.
Brotherton, J. Heywood. J.
Bruce, Lord E. Higgins, G. 0.
Bruce, 11. A. Howard, H^n. C.
Buckley, Gen. Howard, Lord E.
Cardwell. E. Hughes, W.
Cavendish G. C. Ingham, li.
Cayley, E. S. Johnstone. Sir J.
Cocks, T. S. Keating, IL
Cogan, W. H. F. Keogh, W.
Colvile. C. It. Kirk, W.
Corbally, M. E. Lacon, Sir E.
Cowper, W.
Layard, A. H.
Dashwood, Sir G.. 11. Locke, J.
Denison, J. E. Lowe, R.
Dent, J. D. Lucas, F.
Drumianrig, Pis. MacMahon, P.
Duff, G. Maguire, J. F.
Duff, J. Marjoribanks, D.
Dunne, Lt.-Col F. Massey, W.
Eicho, I on! Moffatt, G.
Esmondo, J. Alolesworth, Sir W.
Fitzzendd.Lt.-o.Sir J Monck, ViFcount
Fitz Gerald, J. Monsell, W.
Fitzgerald, W. Mulgrave, Earl of
Fitzroy, Hon. H. More, Col. W.
Forster J. Oakes, J.
Forteseue, C. O'Brien, Sir T.
Fox, It. O'Connell, IL
French F. O'Connell, J.
Beach, C O'Fiaherty, A.
Gladstone, W. Osborne, R.
Glyn, G. Paget, Lord A.
GOOdallia, Sir G. Palmer, Roundel'

Palmerston, VinoUnt
Pechell, Sir G.
Peel, F.
Perry, Sir E.
Philipps, J.
Phillimore,
Philllmore, R. J.
Phinn, T.
Pilkington, J.
Pinney, R'•
rollard.Urciuhart W.
Portman, W.
Price W.
Ricardo, 0.
Rice, E.
Sadleft*, James
Sadlair, John
Scholefield, W.
Scully, F.
Scully. V
Seymer, A.•
Seymour. W.
Shafto, R.
Shee, Serjt. W.
Sheridan, R.
Smith, J. A.
Stratt, E.
Sutton, J.
Swift, B.
Talbot, C.
Tancred,
Thickuesse, B.
Thornely, T
Thornhill, W.
Walmsley, Sir J.
Whitbread, S.
Wilkinson, W.
Williams, W.
Wilson, J.
Winningtort, Sir T.
Wood, Sir C.
Young. Sir J.

TELLS'S.

Hayter. W.
Berkeley, G.