The Sun.
London, England, 1856-08-07 00:00:00

breach of faith !—that however questionable the
taste that sanctioned such a proceeding at such a
time, it could not be charged as a direct violation
of any contract, express or implied. But such
an argument cannot be applied to the illegal
seizure of the Isle of Serpents, and the new in-
vasion of Turkish territory by the Russian
soldiers. That, at all events, is a direct invasion
of a nation that has been formally admitted into
the concert of European States, and the integrity
and independence whereof have been distinctly and
positively guaranteed by all parties represented
at the Parisian Conferences. Scarcely has the
ink dried in which the precious Treaty was
written before Russia displays her duplicity
and insincerity in evading the spirit of that agree-
ment, and her audacity in directly violating its
provisions.

Under such circumstances we rejoice to find
that the English Government are adopting the
only course calculated to produce] a satisfactory
solution of the vexed problem. It is positively
stated, on credible authority, that the English
fleet which remained in the East has received po-
sitive orders to concentrate its force in the Black
Sea to superintend the execution of Article 20 of
the Treaty of Peace not yet carried into effect,
in consequence of the non-restoration of Kars,
and of the occupation of the Isle of Serpents by
the Russians—we may also add, in consequence
of the quibbling and evasive conduct of Russia,
in reference to the ratification of her Bessarabian
frontier. This is as it should be. It is the only
argutuvro. talat poeeeeses the elightost weight or
influence with Russia. If the Euxine be com-
pletely neutralised, and the vessels of war of the
various nations be withdrawn, so as to render
their re-admission a violation of the Treaty, the
rectification of the boundary will be adjourned
until the Greek Kalends, and Kars will practically
become a Russian town, and a new standing
menace to the Ottoman and Persian Empires,
and the Caucasian districts. It is quite plain
that Russia will only observe treaties so long al
it may be her interest to do so. She has long
acted on the Hudibrastic principle—
"'Tis he who makes the oaths who breaks 'em ;
Not him who for convenience takes 'em."

It was very convenient to tlae AUTOCRAT to
obtain the evacuation of the Crimea, but by no
means so to surrender Kars, abandoned to its
fate by the Allies, or Ismail and Reni, the
produce of former robberies. It was one
thing to stipulate for the perfect freedom
of the navigation of the Danub; but quite
another to abandon -the baleful control which
he had at one time exercised, under pretended
sanitary arrangements, and which he now strives
to retain, by the occupation of the Isle of Serpents,
which commands the debouchure. The interests
of Odessa are prominent in the Muscovite mind,
and energetic efforts will be made to retain the
virtual monopoly obtained by the uninterrupted
accumulation of sand on the bar, and also by the
artfully-framed quarantine regulations.
As we yesterday explained, it is scarcely prob-
able that Russia would so speedily enter on such a
complicated course, if she had not believed that
one of the parties to the contract had already
been made wife, and that she has, at all events,
but little to fear from the Government of NAPO-
LEON 111. The present object of theEmrEacat seems
to be rather the crushing of Constitutionalism in
Spain, and the support of the nefarious conspiracy
entered into against the liberties of the people, than
enforcing a due observance of the conditions rati-
fied by Russia within little more than three
mouth,. But if he has so suddenly become indif-
ferent, it is the moro desirable that England
should exercise extraordinary vigilance. We have
a clear right to sea that all the stipulations are
duly performed before the withdrawal of our navy
from the Euxine. The presence of that navy,
and its readiness to discover and chastise
any breach, will lend additional activity to the
Russian functionaries, and bring to a satisfactory
and early arrangement the diplomatic disputes
that may otherwise be protracted for an indefinite
period. If, then, the English Government re-
tain that pledge of good faith, we shall willingly
give them credit for desiring to enforce the Treaty,
and to take care that its provisions, sufficiently
trivial under even the most favourable circum-
stances, be not frittered away in the Russian
Alembic. It will be, at least, one redeeming
point to be dwelt on by the future historian of
the Eastern difficulty and its practical results.

In another part of our present impression will
be found a lengthy though abridged report of the
opening proceedings at the annual meeting of the
British Association for the Advancement of
Science. To this report we invite the attention
of our readers, and more especially to that part
of it which embraces a condensed report of the
address of the distinguished President. Dr.
DAUBENY, it will be seen, expatiated over the
fields of science, and vindicated its high claims
not only to the gratitude, but also to the respectful
interest and cordial co-operation alike of British
citizens and of mankind, in a manner worthy of
his high reputation. A perusal of his remarks,
we trust, will convince the most sceptical reader
of the immensity of the great book of Nature,
and the unity of design revealed in every page ;
and while it shows what deep cause there is for
reverence, shows also how incumbent it is
on every intelligent individual and good
citizen to aid, directly or indirectly, in
fathoming its mysterie3, in which are evi-
dently contained the means whereby the entire
human race may be materially benefited and
greatly elevated in the scale of being.
That the pursuit of science should ever have
been regarded as antagonistic to revealed truth
is greatly to be deplored. That professors of re-
ligion have been guilty of regarding it with an
excess of suspicion there can be no doubt. It is
equally true, however, that their suspicion has not
been wholly unwarranted. Au error on one side
has led to an error on the other, and if the one
party, so to speak, has assumed an attitude of ob-
struction, some show of reason has been given for
doing so by a daringness of speculation, a rashness
of conclusion, and an offensiveness of attitude on
the part of a few of the least philosophical of the
votaries of science. The order may be disputed,
butthe main faot we take to be indisputable. Tt
is very
gratifying, therefore, to notice the sober
Spirit of inquiry inculcated by Dr. DATJBENT, and
the reverence which pervades his remarks, which
are well calculated to open the way for placing
the pursuit of science on an altitude in general
estimation worthy of its vast importance. How
vast that is those who know the enlargement of
thought consequent on almost every fresh dis-
covery, the material benefits conferred by science
on mankind, and especially on the people of this
country, and who have obtained a glimpse of the
boundless store of good gifts, each in its turn,
awaiting the research of patient investigation, can
best appreciate. To the meanest understanding,
however, such discoveries as gas, the application
of steam to our ship and our railways, the light.
fling deipatch of the electric telegraph, and the
remedial and the fructifying aid deriied from
chemistry. speak .wAth co inconclusivd. voice,
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