The Sun.
London, England, 1854-01-09 00:00:00

LONDON, MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 1854.

Jacta est alia—at last—after so many weary
months of deliberation. The combined fleets
have entered the Black Sea—according to intelli-
gence dated the 30th of December, from Constan-
tinople. Exactly the date, it will be remarked, of
that notable circular from the hand of M. DROUYN
DE L'HUYS, which appeared in the Monitewr of
Friday, and which has not unreasonably been re-
garded as tantamount to a declaration of war
against the Russian AUTOCRAT by the French
Government. It is consequently more than ever
improbable that the haughty temperament of the
CZAR will permit him to accede to the proposals
recently transmitted for his acceptance to St.
Petersburg. Flushed with victory ; excited to
more than common fury by the inflammatory re-
membrance of the Sinope massacre ; irritated
against the Western Powers, but especially against
England, by the knowledge that lie has been tempted
on, from one act of audacity to another, by the
weakness and double-dealing of Aberdeenism; con-
fident in the strength of his position ; pledged to
advance along the course upon which he has long
since formally adventured ; pledged to this on-
ward movement in the presence of his own people,
and in the face of 'observant Christendom—the
Emperor NICHOLAS cannot now concede to the
requirements of his antagonist, for by so con-
ceding he would only accept now without a strug-
gle what at the worst he would be compelled to
accept, after a disastrous campaign, namely, and
in the fullest sense of the words, " a heavy blow,
and a great discouragement." Therefore, the result
of all this must be—war—war, fierce, inveterate,
and implacable. A war that might have been
warded off by a timely show of vigour on the part
of the allies of Turkey—but one which has been
magnified, and intensified, and rendered altogether
inevitable by their elaborate pusillanimity and
their drivelling negotiations. A war of a deadly
and ferocious character must at length commence
in earnest, and this war the fruit of Aberdeenism !
It will now have to be seen how soon after the
receipt of this important announcement of the en-
trance of the combined fleets into the Black Sea,
MM. DE Baurrow and DE KISSELLEFF will take
their departure from • London and Paris, on their
return to their imperial master at St. Peters-

burgh. It will, moreover, have speedily to be
discovered what part will henceforth be assumed
by Austria in this extraordinary alteration of cir-
cumstances. No considerable time can now elapse
before the world shall learn whether or no the
Vienna Cabinet will amaze the family of nations
by that " enormous ingratitude" threatened long
since by Prince SCHWARTZENBURGH. In the fami-
liar terms of a great statesman, three courses lie
open to the House of Hapsburgh at this critical
juncture in the affairs of Europe—to side with
Russia, or to side with the allies of Turkey, or to
adopt a system of neutrality. A similar problem
has to be solved by Prussia--the Berlin Cabinet
looking, however, with rather more solicitude to
the west than to the north—to Paris and London
than to St. Petersburgh. Will FRANCIS JOSEPH
and FREDERICK WELL-um—that is just now "the
question" uppermost in the public mind under the
emergency—adopt the line of policy so sagaciously
assumed of late by.the Councils of Stockholm and
of Copenhagen ? Will there be anything con-
tagious in the influence of this Swedish and
Danish neutrality ? It is an inquiry fraught, of
course, with peculiar interest, all things consi-
dered. But, happily, it cannot be regarded as one
in any way vitally affecting the fortunes of war be-
tween Russia aided by Persia (save the mark !)
and Turkey, backed by the maritime armaments
of France and England. Brought at length into
actual collision, the opposing forces must there-
fore speedily, though far from bloodlessly, bring
matters to a definitive conclusion. Not that
we place any sort of value upon, or that we
have ever regarded as otherwise than simply ri-
diculous, Mr. COBDEN'S braggadocio about crump-
ling up Russia like a piece of waste paper—say,
fob example, like the Vienna Note ! No—power-
ful Russia undoubtedly is, from the vastness of
her territorial bulk, and from the numerical
strength of her barbarian population—formidable
she unquestionably must be, wielded as her strength
is by the strong arm of an irresponsible despot
—dangerous she obviously must be, directed as
her Autocratic Councils are by no regard for
morality or high principle. But—energetically
opposed by France and England,• by the greatest
military and the greatest maritime power. of Chris-
tendom—her mighty energies might be" rendered
altogether innocuous even to those neighbouring
provinces which have been hitherto threatened
with absorption into her vast dominions. In this
we have every confidence—but it is a confidence,
humanly speaking, based upon the proviso that
the antagonism opposed to the CZAR by the Courts
of St. James's and the Tuileries be one, in its
character, complete and thorough. That such a
course will even now be adopted, yet a while, we
have, honestly, but little anticipation. We can-
not but bear in mind that if France is guided at
this moment by the chivalric energy of NA-
POLEON England has her councils presided
over by the weak and timorous. ABERDEEN.
That is a remembrance that brings palsy
to our hopes, and compels us to regard
with suspicion rather than pleasure the
announcement of the advance of the combined
Fleets through the Bosphorus. Standing upon
the verge of a mighty war, we bear in mind with
a bitter sense of anxiety that a notorious sympa,
thiser with Russia presides at this crisis in Eng
land at the head of a Germanised Government.

citor-General for Ireland, which latter post
he continued to hold under the GRENVILLE Ad-
ministration. During that interval, his powers,
which were totally unknown by the English,
had been almost forgotten by the Irish members.
When at last he was returned for Midhurst he
was received with coldness and indifference. He,
however, speedily created a sensation, which
placed him on a pinnacle from which he was
never subsequently displaced. Mr. Commissioner
PHILLIPS, in his admirable work " Curran and his
Contemporaries," thus truthfully and eloquently
describes the event :—" Although obnoxious to
GnArrAN's admonition to FLOOD, that ' an oak of
the forest was too old and too great to be trans-
planted at fifty,' he ventured, after seven years'
hesitation, into the English House. of Com-
mons. His name was scaicely known there.
But on his very first speech he was at
once and unanimously recognised as an orator of
the highest class. He burst abruptly upon Par-
liament in all the effulgence of his genius. The
almost unexpected appearance of so brilliant a
luminary above the political horizon immediately
attracted every eye, and fixed the public atten-
tion. It stood alone and incomparable, neither
to the two great luminaries which had just sat,
nor to the lesser lights which still shone, did it in
any portion of its phases bear resemblance. There
was nothing of PITT'S majestic diction—nothing
of the fierce vehemence of Fox—the sparkling
fancy of CANNING was not there—nor SHERIDAN'S
adorned declamation nor WINDHAM'S Attic
graces. He stood alone, isolated and original."
Such a man could not escape the shafts of envy
and malignity. He was the butt of many missiles,
but none touched him so severely as that in re-
ference to the unfortunate ROBERT EMMETT, on
whose prosecution he was retained, speaking to
evidence on the occasion. That the charge was
utterly untenable appeared on the trial that oc-
curred in respect thereof. Mr. PHILLIPS speaks
of the charge as " totally unfounded," and
MOORE, in his Diary, also exonerates the distin-
guished advocate from transgressing in any degree
the strict line of his duty. It was, however, per-
sisted in with malignant perseverance, but will,
we trust, be buried in the tomb, with the object
of the calumny.

We have already alluded so fully to the various
events in life of this truly great man, that we
may be excused from following ,him through the
course of his eventful career. We cannot, how-
ever, refrain from giving Mr. PHILLIPS' description
of him while still a practitioner at the bar.
" But stop !—who is that square-built, solitary
ascetic-looking person, pacing to and fro, his hands
crossed behind his back, so apparently absorbed
in self—the observed of all, and yet the com-
panion of none ? It is easy enough to designate
the man, but difficult adequately to delineate his
character. Perhaps there never was a person
less to be estimated by appearances. He is pre-
cisely the reverse of what heseems.' Externally
cold, yet ardent, in his nature ; in manner re-
pulsive, yet warm, sincere, and steadfast in
his friendships ; severe in aspect, yet in
reality social and companionable. That is
PLUNKETT, a man of the foremost rank,
a wit, a jurist, a statesman, an orator, a logi-
cian—the Irish GYLIPPUS, as CURRANT called him,
in whom are concentrated all the energies and all
the talents of his country. Eminent at the bar,
it is in Parliament we. see his faculties in their
fullest development ; yet in the Irish House of
Commons his chief displays were on a single ques-
tion, that of the Union, and' in the British Par-
liament that of the Roman Catholic question.
His style was peculiar, and almost quite divested
of the characteristics generally to be found in
that of his countrymen. Strong, cogent reason-
ing, plain but deep sense, earnest feeling and
imagery, seldom introduced except to press the
reasoning or to illustrate it, were the distinguishing
features of his eloquence. He byno means rejected
ornament, but he used it sparingly ; and though
it produced its effect, 41t was not directly, but
rather collaterally and incidentally. He always
seemed to speak for a purpose, never for mere
display; and his wit, like his splendour, appeared
to be struck out by the collision of the moment.
In this, indeed, his art was superlative 1" With
this truthful and beautiful quotation we take our
leave of the great Advocate, Statesman, and
Judge, merely adding of him what GEORGE the
Third 'emphatically declared of his earliest friend
and college companion, Archbishop MA GEE, "He
was, indeed, a man of- other times, when there
were giants in the lAnd !"

A shining light has been extinguished—the
tast surviving member of the native Parliament of
Ireland. One of the brightest.of that brilliant
galaxy of genius that illuminated the Irish Fir-
mament towards the close of the 18th and the
beginning of the 19th century has fallen. WIL-
LIAM CONYNGHAM, Lord PLUNKETT, full of years
and full of honour, has been removed to another
and a better world, and left none superior behind
him. It is true that the mighty dear] had long
retired from public life. For more than twelve
lyears he had resolutely abstained from politics,
enjoying to the full extent the otium cum digni-
tate, which he had so richly merited during his
protracted, laborious, and eminently successful
career; and even previous to his secession, he•
had long passed the term allotted to human exist-
ence, much less to human labour. He had at-
tained a ripe old age—seventy-seven years—be-
fore he resigned the seat which he had so nobly
achieved on the Irish Woolsack, under circum-
stances that caused no little annoyance to the
illustrious veteran, and caused the deepest indig-
nation among men of all classes in society, and
every shade of political opinion in Ireland.
From that time' he spent his life tranquilly
and happily at his country seat. From his
advanced age, it may easily be anticipated that his
activity of intellect had not continued to the last.
He felt that he had to deplore the ingratitude of
those with whom he had long co-operated, and to
whom he had rendered the most important and
efficient services ; and though he brooded long and
deeply over the unmerited wrong, the wan ton
insult he had sustained, there Were moments when
his imagination was excited and the sparkling
brilliancy of his conversation showed the splendour
of the gems that once filled the casquet. From
his years and his infirmities he could no longer
render services to the community ; but he was not
the less to be regretted. As a splendid relic of
the olden time, he afforded a salutary example
of the advantages of the British Constitu-
tion, which offered to every man of genius
and energy a prospect of attaining a position so
dignified, enjoying not merely the respect and
esteem, but the reverence and gratitude, of the
people whose fathers he had so long and faithfully
served. The rising generation saw in the fine
old man one who had won by his own exertions,
honour, wealth, and title—who, as the younger
son of an humble Presbyterian clergyman, had
started in life with few advantages, and risen to
the highest rank in his profession,—who was even
indebted for the means of completing his educa-
tion to the high-minded generosity of the congre-
gation to which his father had ministered, 'which
provided the means not merely of paying the
debts of their deceased pastor, but of keeping at
school and sending to the University his youngest
son, who might otherwise have had to encounter in-

•••
superable difficulties that might have led to a very
diffetent and much earlier termination of his ca-

reer then commencing than that we are now record-

ing. Mr. PLUNKETT offered the best return for this
act of generosity bythe manner in which he availed
himself of the advantages thereby placed within
his reach. It is equally honourable to him to
state, that out of the first fruits of his labours he
repaid to every subscriber the full amount that
he had advanced with interest ; not merely that

expended for his own use, but for liquidating his
father's--thus satisfying the claims of a past before
he began to provide for those of a future genera-
tion. His integrity prospered. While yet a young
man, he had elevated himself, and was deemed
worthy, of an alliance with a wealthy and highly
respectable family, and of a seat in Parliament.
There he distinguished himself by his determined
and fearless opposition to the Minister of the
day. He steadfastly and energetically opposed the
Union, braving every danger, and ready to sacri-
fice all his prospects to maintain What he then
believed to be the independence of his native land.
He subsequently saw cause to alter these opinions,
and to recognise the benefits afforded to Ireland
by that—we shall not call it connexion—but
" amalgamation"—that she was far better as an
integral portion of a mighty kingdom than a petty
nation, which must necessarily have fallen a prey
to the first aggjessor, if it had not previously been

destroyed by intestinal commotions and di ssen-

sions.

With the Union Mr. PLUNKETT lost for several
years his position as a legislator. He could not
for some time obtain a seat in the Imperial Par-
liament. He did not, however, deteriorate in his
profession, for, in 1803, he was appointed Solici-

THE SUN, LONDON, MONDAY EVENING, JANUARY 9. 1854

MONEY MARKS

AND
COMMERCIAL INTELLIGENCE.

CITY, TWO O'CLOCK.
The sales of cotton at Liverpool on Saturday
were estimated at 5,000 bales, all to the trade.
The market was very firm, without change in
prices. The sales include 300 Egyptian at 6d. to
9d., and the remainder American. Railway shares
were dull and heavy, at lower prices.
Wheat is up 3s. per quarter as compared with
last Monday, but with a slow trade.
By a direct arrival, the Ambrosine, we have
Geelong (Port Philip) dates of Oct. 13. The rate
of exchange on London was 1 per cent. discount at
30 days' sight, and for every additional 30 days 1-
per cent. This was the Bank rate of purchase,
but drafts were issued at 1 per cent. premium.
Gold was at 765. per ounce, and freight to London
41d. per ounce. Wages were high in the colony of
Victoria generally. The continued unsettled
weather had retarded the shearing operations
throughout the western district, and shearers were
more easily obtained than last year. The demand
for all descriptions of labour continued great.
Bullock drivers for the roads were scarcely to be
had, and married couples without children for
home stations, &c., were equally scarce. Female
servants for the country were also difficult to ob-
tain. Married couples for hotels, per ann., with ra,-
tions, from 1001. to 110/. ; married couples for home
stations per ann., with rations, 701. to 80/. ; ditto
for out-stations per annum, 65/. ; families taking
two flocks, per annum, 701. to 801. Shepherds,
per annum, 401. ; hutkeepers, 351. ; do. for home
stations, 401. ; generally useful servants, 70/. ;
bullock drivers for the roads, per week, with ra-
tions, 31. ; do. for stations, per annum, with
rations, 75/. to 86/. ; cooks for inns, per week,
with rations, 1/. 10s. to 2/. ; cooks for shearers,
per week, 2/. ; shearers, per week, with rations,
1/. 10s. ; do. per hundred, with rations, 11. 10s. ;
farm labourers, per week, with rations, 30s. ; farm
servants, per annum, with rations, 701. to 75/. ;
grooms, per annum, with rations, 6DI. to 701. ;
gardeners, per annum, with rations, 751. to 801.
Seamen, A.B. to run to London, 451. to 50/. ;
A.B. for coasting, per month, 10/. to 12/. Female
servants : general house servants, per annum, 251.
to 30/. ; housemaids, 201. to 25/. ; laundresses,
25/. to 30/.
The latest Geelong gold report states :-" The
intelligence from the different digging localities
continues good, although on the Ballarat side they
complain of the late rains having greatly impeded
operations. The later discoveries there have been
at a much less depth than hitherto, in fact exten-
sive surfacing has been met with, holding out some
encouragement for the digger of small means ;
the line of the last discoveries is toward Bunin-
gong. That which has been long since predicted
is now pretty well established, that all the ground
between Golden Point and Buningong was one
continued gold field. On the Wardy Yallock
a few are at work, and said to be doing
well, but the Western diggings will have a fair
chance of being fully developed this season from
the large numbers now swelling their population.
Since the last circular there have arrived by el, cort
43,582 ounces.
The revenue accounts of Victoria for the quarter
ending Sept. 30, showed that the ways and means
of the year would be about 2,846,8391. 16s. 7d.,
and the appropriations for the service of 1853 were
stated at 1,739,1152/. The ordinary revenue
amounted to 385,0321. against 190,6061. during the
same quarter of the previous year, and the terri-
torial revenue was 736,3301. against 462,3401.
The following official information is from Van
Diemen's Land :-

" The competition in the supply of food with other
countries--more especially with America—is not to be
feared ; as, owing to the distance and expense of freight,
flour can hardly be imported into the Australian colo-
nies at a rate yielding less than 6s. per bushel for wheat,
and it is evident that the risk and expense of importing
produce of a perishable nature, such as potatoes, onions,
fruit, &c. from distant countries are so great, that in
such articles there can be no competition."

The following outline of the land regulations will
show the advantages offered to emigrants :
"By the regulations of November, 1851, any re-
spectable person may select one block f land for rental,
with regard to the whole or a portion of which he will
have the power of claiming a right of pre-emption (that
is, of buying before other persons), at the upset price
of 1/-. per acre, on the following conditions :
"That the amount proposed to be purchased shall
not be less than 100 acres, and not more than 640 acres.
"That he shall declare his intention to exercise the
right of pre-emption, with regard to a specific quantity
of land, within a given time.
"That with regard to this amount' of land he shall
pay an increased rental annually of 30s. per hundred
acres, in addition to the annual rent or license-fee of V.
per, hundred acres mentioned in the rules for rental,
making the amount of the rent of the land to be pur-
chased equivalent to 21 per cent. upon the upset price.
" That he shall not be called upon to pay the upset
price of the land until ten years from the date of selec-
tion.

LATEST FOREIGN NEWS

"There are some regulations as to transfer of this
land, the object of which is merely to check or prevent
jobbing, and to which, therefore, it is unnecessary to
refer.

"The advantage which these new regulations hold
out to the settler with a small capital are ob-
vious. Out of every hundred pounds of his capital,
971. 10s. is left in his hand to clear and stock his
farm, erect the necessary buildings, &c. ; and
he is thus enabled to keep himself clear of debt
at his first outset. At the same time, he may at once
enter upon the possession of any amount of land which
the capital at his disposal may enable him to cultivate,
with the positive certainty that, at the period when the
price of land will have to be paid to the Government, he
will have no difficulty in meeting the demand made upon
him ; for should he not have saved the whole amount
from the price of the produce of his arm, yet the in-
creased value of the land, in consequence of the labour
bestowed in clearing and fencing, will be such as to
enable him to borrow without difficulty the amount de-
manded by the Government."

The railway meetings announced are the follow,

ing

Company. Date. Place.
Great Indian Peninsular .............. Jan. 11, 3, New
Broad-street.
Silk. & Gt. Sou. & Westn. Ireland. Jan. 11, 17, Grace-

chnrch-street.
London and Greenwich ... . ........... Jan. ill, 10, Cole

man-street.
London, Brighton, and South Coast Jan. 26, Bridge-
house Hotel.
Jan. 25, Stoke-
upon-Trent.
Paris and Rouen Jan. 31, Paris.
The English Stocks have been heavy again this
morning, but, upon the whole, they are not lower.
Consols have realised 92k to 4 for transfer, and
924 to 92i for account. The New 3k per Cents.
have realised 93} to I, and the Three per Cent.
Reduced Annuities 92i to Bank Stock is worth
219. Exchequer Bills are 6s. to 9s. premium, and
India Bonds par to 4s. premium. The news of
the fleets having entered the Black Sea has not
occasioned either excitement or surprise.
Foreign Stpcks have been a good deal dealt in at
lower prices. Russian Five per Cents. have de-
clined to 110 and 109. Dutch Two-and-a-Half
per Cents. have been 62k to 63. Spanish Three
per Cents. are 43k, and the New Deferred 20f.
Mexican Bonds have been 22i to 23, being one-
half per cent. lower. Equador have been at q.
The Grenada Deferred Bonds have been at 7.
Brazilian Four-and-a-Half per Cents. are.marked 92.
The market for Railway Shares has been rather
firmer, and a few purchases have given some im-
pulse. They, however, are partly the result of
speculators buying back. French shares have
rallied about 10s., and the improvement is to about
that extent in the English lines.
The Gold Mine shares have been neglected ; the
Land Companies are steady ; and in the Banks
nothing has been done.

North Staffordshire .

BRITISH FUNDS THIS DAY AT ONE O'CLOCK,
(Prom the OA-kJ Dist•)

Business done.
Bank Stock
3 per Cent. Reduced Annuities 92i i i
3 per Cent, Consols Anruities 92. 4 i x d
New 34 per Cent. Annuities
Long Annuities, Expire sth Jan., 1860
India Bonds, £lOOO ... ..... ..... ..... ....
Ditto, under £lOOO 4 p
Consols for Opening 18th Jan. 92i4ig
Exchequer Bills, ld.
•
£lOOO
6 9 P
£5OO P
Small 6 9 p

PRICE OF FOREIGN FUNDS AT ONE O'CLOCK.
Brazilian Bonds, 5 per Cont. —
Leto New, 1852, 4i per Cent 92
Buenos Ayres Bonds, 6 per Cent 62
Milian Bonds, 6 per Cent
Danish Bonds, 1825, 3 per Cent B3 44
1 Equador Bonds
Grenada Bonds, Deferred
Mexican 3 per Cent.
Ditto for the Account 23 2i i
Russian Bonds, 1822, 5 per Cent. £St llO 9 x d
Ditto 44 per Cent 9l
Ditto Small
Sardinian Bonds, 5 per Cent. ...... ..... .
Spanish Bonds, 3 per Cent 43i 2: d
Spanish New Deferred, 3 per Cent. 2O/ x d
Venezuela Bonds, 3i per Cent..... ......... -
Ditto Deferred, 1 per Cent l3
Dividends on the above payablkin London.
Dutch Exchange, 2} per Cent.' 12 Gull 624 321 x d
Ditto 4 per Cent. Certificates..,~,

HALF•PAST TWO.
Consols for Opening 18th January 924 g x(1