The Sun.
London, England, 1849-03-26 00:00:00

517 Ns; MARCH 26, 1849.

member of the British Government. We are not our-
selves of the number of those of whom the Peel paper of
Saturday says that their whole theory of foreign politic;
consists in regarding one quarter of the globe as a field
of battle. We as little desire as our contemporary that
Russia should be impoverished, weakened, or op-
pressed. But this is not a case of the oppression or
weakening of Russia, but of the oppression and weaken-
ing of Turkey and her provinces; and it behoves the
people of England—the meanest of whose artisans, as
the late Lord Grey well said, is interested in the main.
tenauce of the balance of power—to see that neither
Turkey nor any of her dependencies are overborne,
crushed, mulcted, or filched away, under the pretence of
what is preposterously called Russian protection. We
admit, with our contemporary, that suspicion or dislike
can never be the groundwork of any system of foreign
policy—worthy of the name of British. We admit, with
our contemporary, that gratuitous incivility or causeless
suspicion is always to be deprecated. But is suspicion
causeless in this case?—for that is really the question.
To our simple apprehension—and if our contemporary
would read a course of Russian history he would
find this no " historic fancy"—to our simple appre-
hension, suspicion not only is not causeless but
is well grounded, and we have the satisfaction of
knowing that two such inconsiderable statesmen as
Pitt and Canning believed suspicion of Russian
designs to be well grounded. History, however,
speaks irrespectively of names or of persons, however
great and authoritative. From the time when Peter the
Great captured Azoff and advanced into Moldavia, the
Cabinet of St. Petersburgh has never abandoned its pro-
jects in reference to Turkey and her Danubian pro-
vinces. Tcherkask, Taganrog, and the Crimea, were
aided to Russian conquests, and by the treaty of
Kamardjee, in 1774„ a large track of land, lying be-
tween the Bog and the Dnieper was ceded to the Czar.
The foundation of Cherson was afterwards laid by Ca-
therine in the mouth of the Dnieper, on the spot from
whence Swatislas, many centuries before, had set out
to invade , Constantinople. To indicate the imperial
object in the creation of this city, the Empress, accord-
ing to Pallas (Reise durch des Russchen Retches), caused
an inscription to be placed over the western
gate in these words :—" This is the road to Byzan-
tium." Then, as more recently, the object of the
Russians seems to have been to advance in every
campaign from water to water, always securing the per-
manent possession of the places they had left behind i❑
their march. At the conclusion of the campaign in
1791, by the treaty of Jassy, Oktchakov was ceded to
them, and so they advanced from the Dnieper to the
Niester, securing all the intervening country. After the
campaign of 1812, they obtained by the treaty of Bucha-
rest the land lying between the Niester and the Pruth,
thus pushing on their territories to the latter river.
Having by these means annexed irrevocably to Russia
all the Turkish possession on the north of the
Euxine—by the treaty of Adrianople in 1829,
and by the treaty of Unkiar-Skelessi in 1833, the
Cabinet of Sr. Petersburgh obtained further ad-
vantages. In 1840 the same encroaching Cabinet pro-
posed that a Russian naval force should occupy the
Bosphorus, and a Russian military force land on
the Asiatic side of the strait. All these circum-
stances taken in conjunction with the secret article of
the treaty of Unkiar-Skelessi, against which France
protested, disclose a settled purpose justifying suspicion,
and more than suspicion—justifying vigilance, wakeful-
ness, mistrust—though we do not go the length of say-
ing actual hostility. Count Nesselrode, in replying to
the dispatch of "Viscount Palmerston, written in the past
year, stated that the moment order was established in
the Nloldo-Wallachian provinces the Russians would
withdraw. If we be rightly informed, order was never
interrupted for more than a few days, and restored tran-
quillity has now prevailed for the space of nearly eight
months. Yet the Russians remain in their winter quar-
ters, and evince not a particle of what the lawyers
call the animus revertendi. The taste of the
Russians none can dispute, for who would not
prefer Jassy or Bucharest to Archangel, to Revel,
or to Tonle ? But this is not a question of taste,
but a question of State policy, which concerns all the in-
dependent powers of Europe, and as such it should be
seriously and steadily regarded by all the Cabinets.—
Viscount Palmerston, we will do him the justice of stat-
ing, admits that the subject is of sovereign importance
—lays great stress on maintaining the integrity and in-
dependence of the Porte, whose independence he alleges
was " cared for and regulated by the treaty of 1841"
avows that he " bates not one jot" what he said when in
opposition—and proclaims that there can be no parti-
tioning of the Danubian provinces of the Porte without
a European contest—without a derangement of the ba-
lance of power—and without a detriment to those who do
not share in the spoil. But at the same time the Noble
Viscount believes that Russia has no desire to infringe
on the provisions of treaties, and no intention of perma-
nent encroachment. On these grounds, and as discus-
sions and representations were actually pending, the
Foreign Secretary objected to produce the papers re-
quired by Lord Dudley Stuart. But, in eliciting the
free expression of independent opinion, and the remark-
able avowal of the Secretary for Foreign Affairs, that
there could be no partitioning of the principalities with-
out a war, the Noble Lord the Member for Marylebone
doubtless accomplished the object of his motion. Should
the Russians not retire before the Ist of May, it will
then be competent to Lord Dudley Stuart to re-open the
subject with a stronger case than ho has hitherto pre-
sented to the attention of Parliament.

WHAT IS WHIG POLICY ?
(From the Weekly Dispatch.)
Mr. Editor,—A nation without a policy in its measures
is like a man without an object in life. An aimless
existence becomes a useless existence. The best powers
and opportunities run to waste. Semblances of grandeur
and prosperity only resemble the green foliage of the
barren fig-tree, and only deserve the sentence, " Cut it
down—why cumbereth it the ground."
Towards this condition the great and glorious British
Empire is verging. Our Government grows purposeless.
It deals in shams. Its professed objects aro continually
abandoned, and its aims are essentially imperfect. The
time was, when two contrasted systems of policy, each
upheld by a great party, were constantly before the na-
tion. One was for prerogative, and one for liberty. One
for class privilege, and the other for equal laws. One for
enforcing theological uniformity, and the other for pro
tecting the rights of conscience. One for war, and the other
for peace. They were wide as the poles asunder. But this
state of things has been quite obliterated by the practice
of each party, for the sake of retaining office, or of da-
maging what it could not prevent, doing the work of
its opponent. A Tory Minister carries Liberal
measures, enfeebled by a dash of Toryism; and a Liberal
Ministry carries Tory measures made incongruous by an
alloy of Liberalism. The confusion has penetrated into
the very souls of statesmen. No man knows where to
hove them; and they know not where to have themselves.
The faction of Trimmers formerly held the balance of
party; it has now swallowed up and absorbed the parties
themselves. Foreigner or native, nobody knows what
we are about as a nation, either in our internal concerns
or our relations with other countries.
From the Whig Ministry we had a right to expect the
re-peal of the navigation laws. It is simply a necessary
supplement to the repeal of the corn laws. Free-trade
principles make a halt in their practical application, and
become a dead letter until applied to this subject. Now
what is the conduct of the Government ? Last year,
they made, at first, big show of fight; the Free-traders
mustered around them in strength ; hostile talking was
laud, but friendly majorities were large ; and then they
denied, end procrastinated, and hesitated, and at last laid
the subject by tor a more convenient season. Of course,
their majority this year has diminished. How could it
be otherwise? Who believes them to be in thorough
earnest ? And who of their followers likes to be dragged
after them, marched and counter marched, led in single
tile, now into the new lobby, now into the old lobby, for
division after :division, at two or three o'clock in the
morning, all for a measure which, after a certain stage
has been attained, is " withdrawn for the present ses-
sion?" And what is their proposition? A nominal
freedom of navigation, which, by retaining the monopoly
of the coasting trade, injures alike the foreign adven-
turer (who must have his profit to minister to our wants)
and the British consumer who is so deeply interested iu
free, cheap, and abundant imports. What is our coast-
ing trade to that of the United States with their im-
mense seaboard? We shall lose that for our ship-
owners by our tergiversation and their own purblind ob-
stinacy. This is one great flaw in the proposed measure.
There is another, in the claim which empowers the
Queen in Council to suspend the law altogether, and to
return to the restrictive system against any nation which
is thought to deserve such retaliation by not conceding
similar advantages. Thus the free-trade principle a
the proposition is plentifully diluted, both with the
doctrines of monopoly and those of reciprocity. Then,
Sir, it is a damning fact that the Government has made
this, if not as a Cabinet yet as an Administration,
an open question. Their new colleague, Mr. Baines, the
successor of Mr. Charles Buller, at the head of the Poor-
law Department, is avowedly a zealous and firm sup-
perter of the navigation-laws. He pledged himself to
hie constituents that he should remain so, and continue
to speak and vote as formerly, at his re-election after
having accepted office. Could no Free-trader be found fit
to preside over the Poor-law Commission? Is Mr.
Baines the only man capable of the functions connected
with this department? And is he alone, of all the subor-
dinate officials, so sturdy in his principles as to be
allowed a liberty of action which they notoriously do not
possess? The supposition is absurd. Under-Secretaries,
and Lord Advocates, and Vice-Presidents, and all that
class of persons, tire continually obliged to swallow their
former votes and words, as best they may,e all
unison unison with the chiefs of the Governmeni
is generally relentless on this point, w eTever be the
i
amount of damage it inflicts on the ndivii.dual. Even
though a Ward should peril Sheffield,
a Gibson he
and 'the Board of
com-
pelled to choose between Mancheste, r
Trade, and a Hawes forfeit the representation
fur
of Lambeth,
would the support of Mr. Hume' a motion or reform be
tolerated it, any place-holder? And why, then, in a new
and untried lean, whose' name brings with it no especial
prestige of administrative ability, should this insubordi-
nation be sanctioned of opposing the repeal of the navi-
gation-laws ? Plainly because Ministers are not so
thoroughly bent upon carrying that repeal as they are
upon defeating any further reform in the representation.
I They are in no hurry. They aro not in earnest in the

[PRICE SD.

one case as they are in the other. The expectation is
afloat, not without apparent grounds, that they will,
even should the Bill pass the Commons, and that it
must, quietly submit to its rejection by the Lords. If
so, they will be trifling not only with the principles of
free trade as a national policy, but with the interests of
all consumers, and of those connected with various
branches of industry, all injured grievously by the pro-
longation of this unsettled condition. Sir, whatever the
temper of the Lords, or the diminution of the majority in
the Commons, Ministers can make this repeal law, if
they choose. They have simply to proffer their own
resignation as the alternative. They aro the " indis-
pensable men." Peel will not take office at present; Lord
Stanley and B. Disraeli cannot. The ball is at the foot
of the Whigs, though how long it may remain so no
prophet in politics can predict. To palter now will bring
upon their heads the shame and curse of neglected and
abused opportunities.

I will Cake another instance. Religious Liberty is a
portion, as well as Commercial Freedom, of their pro-
fessed and traditionary policy. It deserves, in like man-
ner, to be incorporated in a great national policy. The
practical occasion for its assertion was created by the re-
turn of Baron Rothschild for the city of London. Where
is the Baron? where the representation? and where the
Government Bill? The first was quietly consigned to
the tomb of all the Capulets. The Whig measure is
cut up into tailor's measures. What has followed? A
hotchpotch of proposed Legislation on the Parliamen-
tary oaths. The Pretender is left out, and a new clause
stuck in against interfering with the " settlement of pro-
perty." Are Members to swear against Communism and
Socialism? or against Robert Owen? or against meddling
with tithes? or against what? Who knows? Accord-
ing to the present Bill, there is to be a new Protestant
oath, and a particular oath for the Jew, and the old
Catholic oath to be retained, and also the Quaker right
of making affirmation. The members will thus be all
sorted out into their several sects. Let any one beyond
these several boundaries be returned, and all the work
(unless his religion, or want of it, be excepted as a final
exclusion) must be gone over again, and a new form
(Oath 5) be prepared for his especial use. Such is the
farrago which is put in abeyance till after Easter, when
it may, perhaps, by "double, double, toil and trouble,"
be sent into the consuming cauldron for liberal measures
"in another place," and become smoke like its prede-
cessor. This is not the conduct of true men. There is
neither faith nor honesty in it. No sterninecessity:compels
them to remain a Government without a policy. They
know, and have proved, the power of threatening to re-
sign against their liberal supporters. Lord
Alt harp worked that machinery with full effect
when he was leader in the House of Commons. And
they can, if they so will, prove the power of an alterna-
tive determination to resiga, as against their Protec-
tionist and intolerant opponents. What would happen,
even were they taken at their words? To be more
oaffled than they are ,or than they pretend to be, is beyond
possibility. With them in front of him, on the Opposi-
tio❑ benches, were Peel to consent to succeed them, he
would triumphantly carry far more liberal measures than
they even venture to nibble at. To leave their places
would instal their policy. .The world has not much
confidence in public men. Unless a prompt and ener-
getic course be taken by the Whigs, they may depend
upon it that the last rag of their character for integrity
and consistency is gone for ever.
The people themselves must fix the waverers; those
out of ,office, at least; for Dowing-street seems spell-
bound against popular influence. The people themselves
must work out their own deliverance; and the nation pre-
scribe and enforce a truly national policy. I
rejoice to see that this great metropolis is
arousing itself from slumber. Why should all the
toil, and the glory, be devolved upon Manchester and
Liverpool? The " Metropolitan Financial and Parlia-
mentary Reform Association" has some stirring themes
in its prospectus. Chords are touched on which even
the League did not play, or which it struck but slightly.
The pursuit of Representative Reform, in a business-like
manlier, joined with Financial Reform, is a novelty,
which is alike portentous and powerful. A great task
is undertaken, for it must not be forgotten that crude
notions of Protection still abuse the minds of many. The
new Metropolitan Association promisei to pursue con-
jointly the work of Economical instruction and practical
emancipation. I heartily recommend it to the support
and co-operation of all who are tired of the spectacle of
Party without principles, Government without aim, and
a Nation without a policy. It promises for the people
more of intelligence and power, which cannot fail to
bring more of prosperity and progress.

PunLicoLa.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

EAST ANGLIAN RAILWAY.—The opening of the ex•
tension from Dereham to F akenham took place last
week, extending the system a distance of 24 miles in a
northerly direction towards Wymondham, through an
agricultural country, accomodating a population of some
60,000 persons. There aro to be three trains a day to
and from London. _ _

SOUTH- WESTERN RAILWAY.—The directors have in-
timated that it is the intention of the company to com-
mence, at the close of the month, a reduction in the
remuneration of their officers and servants. They state
that this determination has been forced upon them by
the pressure on the property of the proprietors. While
they express satisfaction with the conduct of their offi-
cers, they regret that they cannot continue the rate of
remuneration of more prosperous times, but that on a
change of circumstances they will resume the higher
scale of payment.
EDINBURGH AND NORTHERN.—Tho report of the
directors, to be submitted to the meeting on Tuesday
next, states that the not revenue at the disposal of the
proprietors, including the balance from the previous half
year, after deducting working and other expenses, and a
sum of 10,499/. of interest, is 23,711/., out of which the
directors recommend that 3,6341. be paid for nine
months' dividend at the rate of 5 per cent. per annum
on the late Granton Company's preference capital; and
on the other stocks of the company they recommend
that a dividend for eight months be declared at the rate
of 2 per cent. per annum, after which will remain a
surplus of 5,3081. The amount of share capital entitled
to dividend is 1,204,5851. During the past half year
the revenue has averaged nearly 2,0001. a week, and has
not disappointed the expectations of the directors.
The expenditure has been large in proportion to the
revenue, although not exceeding 875/. per mile per
annum, which they state will bear a favourable com-
parison with other lines. In those instances where
less than one half of the amount of the shares has
been paid, legal proceedings have reluctantly been insti-
tuted. It is recommended that no further calls be made
on the 251. shares (1847), beyond 131. 155.; on the 151.
shares (1847), beyond 81. ss. ; the 20/. Granton, No. 1,
be restricted to 12/. ; and the 20L, No. 2. to 81. per
share. It is also recommended that the class of holdersG
whose payments on these shares exceed 51., Si. - os.
41.
theilr9s.,
optiona n d
t6s.par3o,suppectihi veewlyi,loslhe should have h
their
rve
arrears . d
n
e3iith is
er. 0
before the 31st of March, with interest, when their
that the
liability to further calls shall cease, or they shall consent
to the immediate forfeiture of their shares; and
class of holders whose payments do not amount to the sums
above stated shall increase their payments to the extent
of these sums respectively, on the understanding that
they shall be relieved by the forfeiture of their shares
from all further responsibility. The capital account to
the 31st January showed that 2,024,2321. had been ex-
pended, and 1,584,2641. received, leaving 439,9651. duo
to hankers and others. The revenue account showed
that 72,9251. had been received, including 19,9481. reve-
nue in hand at date of last balance, and the expenses
38,7141., leaving a balance of 34,2111.
GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY.—It appears from a re-
cent decision at the Marylebone police court, that the
shareholders have no power to inspect the books or ac-
counts of this company, except through the agency of a
committee of shareholders holding ten shares each, such
committee to be duly appointed at a half-yearly general
meeting of the company. The practical difficulty of ob-
taining a majority for such a purpose against the will of
the directors is looked upon as almost insurmountable.
The Great Western Act of Incorporation was passed in
1835, and therefore it is held that this company do not
come under the provisions of the Company's Clauses
Consolidation Act passed in 1845, which gives thatpower
to individual shareholders for a certain specified period
every half-year.
EAST INDIAN RAILWAY.—We understand that the
East India Company have at length come to the resolu-
tion to guarantee interest at the rate of five per cent. per
annum on the amount of capital, to be agreed on, which
certain railway companies may expend on the construc-
tion of railways in India. Should the workirg expenses
exceed the receipts, which is considered to be very im-
probable with respect to the lines already futureselected,time
or
should the railway proprietors at any
wish to give up the concern, they.
are
expire-
option of doing so on six month' notice,
on the
them
tion of which the East India ComPsnY a to
re to pa y have the
back the full amount of capital they
may have expended
on the railway.

THE WILTSHME Aluanee.—The High Sheriff has
taken very considerable pains in hearing parties from the
Swindon railway station, and also two prisoners now
under sentence of transportation at
Fisherton, gaol, as to
what they knew of the culprit John Smith
sstate of mind
previous
to the murder, and the same was immediately
forwarded to Sir George Grey, but without avail. A
public petition was also numerously signed at Salisbury
to spare his life, on the principle that capital punishment
should be abolished. The following is an extract from
Sir George Grey's letter:—" Whitehall, March 23,
1849.—Sir George Grey desires me to inform you, that
he has carefully considered this case, and that he finds
no circumstances which would justify him in interfering
to prevent the law from taking its course. (Signed) H.
Waddington." The culprit therefore will be executed
on Tuesday next, at twelve o'clock. The Rev. Mr. Mayo,
the chaplain of the gaol, is very attentive in the discharge
of his religious duties, devoting some hours at a time in
the cell of the unhappy man, but, as yet, without making
any visible impression on his mind.
REDUCING THE DECLIVITY OF HOLBORN-HILL.
dangerous.eo
On Saturday workmen commenced loweringw
ill
be then
of Holborn Hill, commencing opposite Hatton-garden,
roadwlitr whore
was
st
sunk
was
eighteen peculiarly
inches,steep aann(l
a
t brow
n u Theed
on a gradual incline to Fetter-lane.

S
tdeitit -c . -4,---tdri--.J41
• ~ . ,

NAVAL INTELLIGENC
ARRIVAL OF TUE SIDON AT PORTSM,
Sidon steam-frigate, Captain W. a Lien(
arrived at Spithead on Saturday, at eleven o
saluted the flag of Admiral Sir 13Iaden Capel.
Gibraltar on Saturday, the 17th, with the St.
120, Rear-Admiral Sir Charles Napier, which eip.aLeVciSi.—
towed through the Gut, and as far as Cape St. Vincent,
being a distance of about 200 miles, having a smooth
water run; she averaged with this heavy ship in tow a
rate of from seven to eight knots per hour. The Sidon
then made the best of her way to Spithead. On her
passage she experienced a succession of N.E.`winds,
therefore it is not improbable that, as the St. Vincent
could make but little progress, she may have put into
Lisbon to await a change. The Reynard and Plumper,
screw-sloops, were to leave Gibraltar for England the day
after the St. Vincent. The Sidon remained about three
hours at Spithead, and then received orders to go into
harbour and prepare for paying off, for which she is to
be ready on next Saturday. Soon after Captain Hen-
derson, of the Sidon, had seen the Commander-in-
Chief, he started for London to make his report of her
arrival and the state of circumstances at Gibraltar.
Mr. Miller, from Portsmouth dockyard, has been ap-
pointed foreman of the works in the civil engineering and
architect's department at this yard.
Henry Parkin, inspector of hospitals, formerly of the
Woolwich infirmary, but of late of the retired list, died
last week at a very advanced age.
The Vanguard, 80, Captain Rich, is to be paid off at
Devonport a day sooner than we have stated. The pay-
books were returned from the Admiralty on the 22d, and
she will be put out of commission on the 28th.
The Conflict, screw-frigate, at Devonport, is ordered to
be brought forward at that port for commission as a first-
class steamer.

The Stromboli, 6, steam..sloop, Commander Lord A.
W. Beauclerk, arrived through the Needles from Ply-
mouth, and anchored at Spithead about 4 r.iu.
THE LAST OF THE SEMAPHORES.—This establish-
ment, or at least the last remaining station, will bo fi-
nally broken up in the course of the ensuing week. The
electric telegraph line will be completed is a few days
into the Port Admiral's office in Portsmouth dockyard,
along the Fareham branch line of railway through the
fortifications of Portsea, which will supersede its duties of
conveying messages to and from the Admiralty across
the harbour. One signalman will be left as a look-out
to seaward, and to take care of the tower and machinery.
The officer and one man are to be discharged. The
officer, Lieutenant Williamson, whose services, extend-
ing over a period of fifty years, forty-two of which he
has been a lieutenant, have been exceedingly arduous,
will, it is to be hoped, receive some substantial reward
in the shape of pension or promotion. There have been
several instances of the latter qn the Semaphore bee,
and one where both were united;-in the person of the late
Superintendent of the line, Commander Jay.
The Carnatic Indiuman, Captain Nelson, embarked
Sir George Anderson, Bart., the Governor of--the—
Mauritius, from the gig of Captain Chads, C. 8., and
sailed yesterday afternoon for the Mauritius and Madras.
The Edinburgh, 56, steam guard-ship, was brought
alongside the jetty yesterday.
The Aid lighter, with stores for the Eastern yards,
sailed yesterday.

Wind N.E. by E.; strong breezes, with snow squalls
at times.

APPOINTMENTS.

Captain—J. W. H. Johnstone (1823) to the Agin-
court depot ship at Devonport, vice Mends, promoted.
Lieutenants in the Coast Guard—H. F. M'Killop to
command Bletchington station; Thomas Parry, to Hast-
ings station; S. Shairp to Babbicombe station; Charles
Antridgo to Charmouth station; T. C. Ross to Challa-
borough station.
ECONOMY.—The Vulcan revenue steamer, which for
some time past has been placed on the Isle of Wight
station, ostensibly for the prevention of smuggling, left
Cowes on Monday last for Dover, -to lse paid off, and it
is anticipated will be taken into the packet service; we
hear also that thirty nine revenue cutters are to be re-
duced, which will effect a saving of 55,0001. per annum.
Several of the first-class cutters have already been paid
off. As a further move towards economy, we under-
stand the crews will not be recompensed unless they go
into the navy.
FOREIGN SURVEY.—A letter from her Majesty's ship
Rattlesnake, Captain Owen Stanley, received by a com-
mercial house, informs us that the survey of the Barrier
reef; lying to the eastward of Australia, and the ap-
proaches to Torres Straits, was progressing very satis-
factorily under the superintendence of the above expe-
rienced officer, in November last, in tho early part of
which month the Rattlesnake was to proceed to Sydney
and Port Essington. The Bramble schooner, tender to
the Rattlesnake, Lieutenant Yule, R.N., commanding,
was at Cape York at the above time, awaiting the arrival
of a vessel from Sydney, with stock, horses, &c., for the
overland expedition under Mr. Kennedy, exreeted from
Moreton Bay. The inner passage through Torres Straits
did not appear to be so much frequented by ships as
could be expected. Out of thirty-one vessels passing
through, twenty-nine had taken the outer route, and left
their reports at Booby Island.

17