The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-03 00:00:00

They now seem willing to take the first step,
and that is decidedly in the right direction,
although by no means going so far as the nation
requires. It only deals with the judicial charac-
ter of the House. It leaves its legislative func-
tions wholly untouched. We would improve
both, and, by limiting the number of those en-
titled to votes, and abolishing the proxy system,
would add to the value of those that would re-
main ; while any danger of an unconstitutional
exercise of the Royal Prerogative would be
effectually averted. Lat there be Representative
Peerages for England, as well as for Scotland and
Ireland. Let every man obtain the suffrages of
some body of his countrymen before he can par-
ticipate in the important task of framing laws for
his fellow-subjects. But, that it is essential to
obtain conflicting opinions in every deliberative
assembly, we should gladly see the election
solely. by Peers, as in the sister kingdoms.
But in this country it would be indispen-
sable to obtain enlarged constituencies, and
we believe that those already suggested by
ourselves would be the best that could be obtained.
Making the possession of a hereditary or //lie
Peerage—for no mischief could in such case be
occasioned—the indispensable qualification would
still maintain the dignity of the nobility, which
would just be as eagerly coveted by men who had
fairly earned the rank, as it is at this moment.
This day the Clomiszitteo on the Appellate Juris-
diction will commence its labours. They have many
important questions to discuss, one of which will
be the mode of obtainirg a continuous sitting of
the court of ultimate appeal. When all other
tribunals are at all times open to the public, it is
too bad that what ought to be, the most im-
portant of all should suspend its operations for,
more than half a year at a time. A con-
siderable abatement of expense should also be
secured. It may be right not to render pro-
tracted litigation a cheap luxury, but the costs
should not be so exorbitant as to amount,
in many instances, to a virtual denial of justice.
We believe that their Lordships are—thanks to
the strong hint administered by the creation of
Lord WENSLEYDALE as a Peer for life—sincere in
their effort to improve the judicial character of
the House. Let us hope that they will be
equally desirous of amelioration in their legisla-
tive capacity, and that in furtherance thereof
they will speedily initiate and pass a large and
comprehensive measure of Peerage Reform.

SIGNATURE OP THE PRELIMINARIES

OF PEACE.

(Front tha Morning Post of this day.)

We can announce positively that at the meeting
of the Congress of Paris, on Saturday last, the
Plenipotentiaries signed the preliminaries of
peace.

The conditions of these are identical with the
Austrian propositions, which were the bases of
negotiation, and to which it has been thought
advisable to affix the signatures of the Powers,
parties to the negotiations.

This proceeding, however important and satis-
factory, leaves unsettled many questions which
will necessarily be the subject of immediate dis-
cussion, with a view to the framing of a definitive
treaty.

PARIS, Sunday, 6 p.m.—Without pretending to
know the details of what took place at the Con-
gress yesterday, I am aware that some important
points were discussed and agreed to ; in fact; the
Plenipotentiaries have made the first important
advance towards peace. I believe that certain
preliminaries were signed. In fact, the main pro-
tective demands of the allies appear to be accorded
by Russia. Whether the Emperor's speeeh to-mor-
row will refer to the progress of negotiations I know
not ; but the French Government, I presume, must
now have sufficient assurance to proclaim a
belief in pacific results. The Russian Envoys, it
would appear, up to the present moment have
shown a desire for peace in acts and deeds which
justifies us in supposing that they really approach
the Congress with a sincere desire to close the war.
It remains only to be seen if they will bring for-
ward any suggestions, after the Allies have made
their full demands, calculated to break up negotia-
tions. If I may venture an opinion, I do not think
they will do so. They are aware that Turkey never
will admit of any interference with her Greek
Church population, and as all the other ques-
tions are nearly settled touching Turkey, the
original objects of the war are obtained. Iu a
word, I think I can assure you for the first time
that we are very near peace. If the integrity of
Turkey is secured satisfactorily, it is not likely that
any minor questions will demand the continuance of
the war. The very best feeling appears to animate
the Plenipotentiaries towards each other personally,
and it is sought to arrange difficulties as much as
possible before coming to the Congress table.
I presume the next meeting of the Plenipoten-
taries will take place on Tuesday next.
The Continental journals pretend to give the pro-
ceedings of the Congress ; but as I know them to
be incorrect, it is not worth while repeating their
speculations generally.

MISS EMMA STANLEY'S SEVEN AGES OF WOMAN.--
We regret to say that this lady is still suffering from
a severe hoarseness, brought on by c )Id, which for a
time has stopped the successful career of her " Seven
Ages of Woman." Should-this talented artiste suffi-
ciently recov.er, sheintesds resuming her delightful eis-
tertninment on Wednesday next.

It is said that Lord Panmure will shortly retire from
the War Department, and that tine laborious duties of
that office will be undertaken by the Do'%e of Sorner-et.
It is also rumoured that Mr. Monsell and Mr. F. Peel,
neither of whom have shone with great brilliancy in
parliament this ne,q,ion, ~U 1 also oved to other
offices.—Court Journal.
Mr. Panizzi has been nominated to succeed Sir Henry
Ellis at the British liuseum.—Court Journal.
NATIINAL REFORMATORY UNION.—A numerously
attended meeting was held on Saturday, at the offices of
the Law Amendment Society, for the purpose of for-
mally organising an association bearing the above title.
RAILWAY COLLISION.—On Saturday morning a colli•
sion took place at the Woodhouse junction on the Man-
chester, Sheffield, and Lincoln-,hire Railway. Several
carriages were smashed to pieces, but fortunately no per-
son was injured.
Orders were sent to Southampton on Saturday to
place one flat-bottomed horse-boat on board the Hy-
daspes and one on board the Queen of the South. The
boats aro sent for the purpose of landing hor:es from the
various transports now bound for the Black Sea.
EXTENSIVE BURGLARY.—On Saturday morning infor-
mation was given to the police of an extensive robbery
at Mr. Bridgman's, Cambridge-place, Westbourne-park.
The property abstracted c.msisteol of a quantify of silver
plate, marked with a griffin's head, upwards of 100 yards
of various-coloured silks, and many other articles.
MADAME JENNY GOLDSCHMIDT LIND.— %. second
and last performance of Handel's oratorio of "The Mes-
siah " will be given at Exeter-hall, on Tuesday evening,
March is, at which Madame Goldschmidt will sing for
the last time in London previous to her return from a
provincial tour. The grand miscellaneous concert of
Mr. and Madame Goldschmidt, for the benefit of the
Nightingale Fund, will take pace on Tuesday, the 11th.
THE BUILDING OF THE PARIS UNIVERSAL EXHIBI-
TION.—Workmen are now emp!oyed in removing the
wood flooring of the ground fi,,or of the Exhibiti,o3
Palace, and replacing it by a slightly slanting floor of
earth and asphalte, in preparation for the A,.4ricu'tural
Exhibition which is to be held there at the commence•
went of June next.

THE MATFEN MURDER.—The six persons charged with
being concerned in the murder of Dorothy Be cvicke, at
Matfen, Northumberland, on the 21st of October last,
were tried before Mr. Justice 'Mlles, on Friday last, at
Newcastle, and acquitted.
WIDOW OF THE LATE JOSEPH lIATDN.—The pension
of 251. per anum, which was granted to the late Joseph
Haydn, previously to his death, has been bestowed upon
his unfortunate widow. The fact is significant of a con-
velousnesa that the in?,rits of the deceased were, during
his lifetitne, but ill requited.
The Count Mederu, who bas been named as likely to
be the Russian Minister in London in the event of peace,
is at present the Czar's representative at the Court of the
Brazils.

MEDICAL OFFICERS.—We regret to hear that some,
difficulty exists in the ii,sue of the new warrant fir
eiving an increase of pay to the medical officers of the
army. It mails that a high authority in the Government
has made an objection to the proposed augmentation
of income to that branch of the service.—United Service
Gazette.

A Vienna letter of the 20th ult., in the Gerinar, Jour-
nal of Frankfort, says :—" In order not to destroy Ni-
colaieff, Russia intends to make the town its principal
place of commerce in the Black Sea. The thing, i❑ fact,
is decided : a Russian Lloyd's is to be established at
Odessa, and its dockyards are to be at Nicolaieff ; the
vessels to be constructed there are to navigate the Bug,
the Dnieper, the Black Sea, and the Meditterean. Thus
Ificolaieff will no longer be a war port or a maritirne4
arsenal, but its estahliehments will not be destroyed."
ART IN FRANCE.—A statue in marble of Baron Larrey,
the famous arn;y surgeon of the empire, from the chisel
of M. Robinet, was last week conveyed to the Academy
of Medicine. It is to be placed in the mile where the
sittings are generally held. A status, by Rude, of
Godefroy Cavaignac was inaugurated at the cemetery
Montmartre a few days back. The editor of the Tribune
and the National is represented lying on a sepulchral
stone, enveloped in his cloak, holding in his hands a pen
and a sword.

THE TIPPERARY BANE FAILIIRE.—We are given to
understand that of the 99 shareholder; in this Joint
Stock Bank more than 30 are from the town and neigh-
bourhood of Leighton Buzzard. Their claims range
from 2001. up to, in one instance, 5,0001., and the stop-
page of the bank will necessarily cause a great deal of
distress to a number of shareholders, a few of them
having invested their all in this scheme, in the vain hope
of receiving 9 per cent. for their rnoney.—Bucks Herald.
Tug CHILTON-MOOR COLLIERS.—On Saturday nearly
4,000 men employed in the collieries en Chiltonenoor,
near Durbatn, the property of the Marchioness Dowager
of Londonderry, assembled to partake of an excellent
dinner. The dinner, to which the men had been invited
by the Marchioness, took place in a large building, the
property of Mr. Hopper, formerly in the employment of
the Marquis of Londonderry, but now a manufacturer.
Earl Vane occupied the chair, having his mother upon
his right hand, and the Countess Vane upon his left.
After the accustomed toasts to the Queen, Prince Albert,
and the Royal fancily, which the pitmen received with
great applause, the Marchioness of Londonderry ad-
dressed the wserubly in very touching and emphatic
terms, assuring them that she should always take a
deep interest in their welfare. The Marchioness ad-
Terted to the bond of union which had existed between
her ancestors and the pitmen, and exhorted them to fro'
(pent reading-rooms, mechanics' institutions; and tem-
perance societie ; to avoid public-houses, and to be
orderly, industrious, and religious. This address was
received with vociferous cheering, as was the toast to
the health of the Marchioness, for which she expressed
her acknowledgments. The health of the Countess
Vane, proposed by Mr. Mowbray, M.P., was received
in a similar manner, and- after other toasts appropriate
to the occasion, Lady Londonderry retired amid long-
continued cheering.