The Sun.
London, England, 1856-09-12 00:00:00

Beasts

Spirit of the Public Journal 3.

(From the Daily News of this day.)
A bias has of late been given to the foreign policy
of the French Government, which is of a nature to
excite grave apprehensions for the future. The
threats addressed by Count Walewski to the Bel-
gian Government in the Conferences of Paris
awakened the indignation of every Liberal in
Europe. About the same time there were dis-
quieting rumours in circulation, of overtures made
by the French Emperor to leading statesmen, both
in Spain and Piedmont, with a view to induce
them to attempt coups d'etat in their respective
countries. In so for as Piedmont was concerned,
public opinion was reassured by the explicit decla-
ration of Count Cavour to the Sardinian Legisla-
ture that no such proposal had been made to him
at the Congress. Still there were some not indis-
posed to attach credence to the statement that such
proposals might have been made but for the
Count's reply to a fishing question of the Emperor.
It was said that his Majesty had, in the course of
conversation, asked the Count, in an of band man-
ner, what would be thought in Sardinia of a Con-
cordat like that which Austria had just concluded
with Rome I The answer was said to have been,
that a Concordat like that of 1801 would be pre-
ferred. We give the anecdote for what it is worth,
without vouching for the truth of it. With regard
to Spain, however, the haste to confer the order of
the Legion of Honour upon O'Donnell, immedi-
ately after his successful coup d'etat, has not un-
naturally recalled to men's recollection the sus-
picions entertained months ago that the Cabinet of
the Tuileries was intriguing against Espartero at
Madrid. It is impossible not to associate with this
Imperial sanction of the O'Donnell usurpation the
unfair manner in which the French Government
is at present holding the balance between Austria
and Sardinia. The Austrian newspapers are
allowed to denounce the internal policy of Sar-
dinia as not to be tolerated by neighbouring
despotisms ; the Austrian Government, by its
sequestration of the property of Sardinian subjects
in Lombardy, has de facto declared war against
Sardinia ; threatening corps d'armee are being as
sembled by Austria on the Sardinian frontier, and
Austria is fortifying Pola, and strengthening the
fortifications of Ancona, as if that place were to be
made a tete de pont to confirm her hold upon Italy.
In the faoe of these menaces Sardinia is necessarily
driven to make preparations for defence. The
Sardinian Government hasdecreed the fortification
of Alessan.dria ; and the Sardinian people have
commenced a subscription to purchase guns for the
fortress. A number of Italians resident in foreign
countries are desirous of co-operating with their
countrymen in Piedmont in this patriotic work ;
and to facilitate the realisation of their wishes, M.
Mania has announced that heis prepared to under-
take the task of collecting subscriptions in Paris.
Hereupon, the Austrian Minister calla upon the
French Government to stop M. Manin's proceed-
ings, and is informed in answer that they have al-
ready stopped them. There was no obligation on
the French Government thus to anticipate the
wishes of Austria. The object of the subscription
proposed by M. Manin was simply to aid Sardinia
in preparing to defend herself if attacked by Aus-
tria. Sardinia and Austria are not now at war ;
there can be no good reason for the French Govern-
ment's refusing to allow munitions of war to be
purchased in France and exported to Piedmont.
It is not for a moment to be imagined that the
French Government is afraid of Austria, and there-
fore the only reason that can be assigned for its
interfering to impede the defensive prepara-
tions of Sardinia is that it sympathises, and is pre-
pared to take part with Austria, if she succeeds in
fixing a quarrel upon Sardinia. In addition to
this declaration in favour of the despotic powers,
the Imperial Government is now broadly accused
of having abetted a conspiracy on the part of the
Prussian Government to wrest from the Helvetic
League, by force of arms, the district of Neufcha-
tel, which, since, 1848, has been recognised as in-
corporated into the League. But perhaps the most
revolting indication of the disposition of the French
Government to become the accomplice, or tool, of
the Despotic Powers, is its lawless and unmerciful
treatment of the Italian exiles, who have occasion
to pass through France on their way to England.
If Napoleon 111. persists in the policy which the
acts now recapitulated warrant a belief that he has
adopted, it is impossible the entente cordiale be-
tween the French and English Governments can
long continue. The rupture of this good under-
standing would of itself afford matter for regret.
The intimate alliaace of the French and English
Governments has been based upon the principles
to assert which they conjointly took up arms in
behalf of Turkey and against Russia. We have
never built undue expectations upon that alliance.
We neve: expected that the Government of the
soup d'etat the 2d December would sincerely co-
operate with England to promote free institutions
in Europe. But we sc: w that so long as the alliance
continued, the French Go,-ern. ment, like our own,
was pledged to uphold the rig: 'At of nations to r
ulate their domestic concerns free
`rem foreignin-
terference. If the French Government ...4eserts that
principle, the English Government must IL: future.
act alone, and the cause of national independb:ice
in Europe will have received a severe shock. This
will be one great evil resulting from the apostacy
of the French Government, and the weakening of
that good understanding which has so closely allied
it with our own. But a far worse evil will be the
peril to which the entente cordiale of the French
and English nations will thereby be exposed. A
thoroughly good understanding between the
peoples of France and England is of infinitely more
consequence to humanity than mere friendly rela-
tions between their Governments. Such a good
understanding has of late years made rapid pro-
gress ; but it has not yet been matured to such
an extent as to render it unassailable by misunder-
standings between the Governments. A few more
years of increased and increasing intimacy of con-
nection in industrial and commercial enterprise,
and iu social intercourse, would have assimilated
the populations on both sides of the Channel to a
degree that would have rendered it independent of
the waywardness and self-will of governments.
But at present hostility and rivalry between the
French and English Governments may still have
the power to sow discord and dissension between
the English and French peoples. Unfortunately,
priestly rancour is at this moment co-operating
with Imperial egotism to alienate the French
nation from the English. Of late years great
numbers of English children have been educated
in French seminaries. This was a powerful en-
gine for obliterating national prejudices. But a
priestly' conspiracy, of which the contemptible
machinations of the Bishop of Arras are only the
first fruits, is busily at work to destroy the con-
ciliating influence.
It is for the peoples of France and England to ,
declare that, let their Governments adopt what
policy they may, the nations will remain cordial
and faithful friends. The entente cordiale of the
French and English peoples is a guarantee for the
prosperity of both ; and it is at the same time the
only sheet-anchor of the party of enlightenment
and progress in Europe. France and England have
evidently been called by Providence to undertake
the proud task of protecting and promoting the
cause of progress and of civilisation. Their discord
would threaten that cause with destruction. To
our own countrymen we especially address our-
selves. The more the policy of the French Govern-
ment beco nes intolerable, the more should Eng-
lishmen exert themselves to demonstrate to the
French people that they can distinguish between
them and their Government. Englishmen have
occasionally neglected this distinction in their sin-
cere but unreasoning eagerness to conciliate the
French people. They have injudiciously appeared
to take a part in the internal dissensions of France
—to become partisans of Napoleon 111. against his
French political adversaries. This is a. sad mistake.
So long as Napoleon 111. retains his power, he is
entitled to deference and respectful treatment at
our hands as the representative of the French na-
tion ; but this deference and respect are due not to
his personal but to his official character. If the
will of the French
i people were to substitute an-
other government n lieu of his dynasty to-morrow,
it would be equally entitled to our respect and
deference.

(Prom the Morning Herald of this day.)

It has long been admitted as a fact beyond cou•
troversy that the genius of the people
Irish• is
essentially military. Our- own countrymen make
indomitable soldiers, and have exhibited, amid the
storm of battle, a coolness and resolution which
have attracted the admiration of the world. The
Scotch are traditionally brave, and possess a capacity,
of endurance peculiar to themselves ; and in Scot-
land is to be found in abundance the stuff of which
true soldiers aro made. But the natural aptitude
of the Irish for the profession of arms is as well
known as aro certain other characteristics less to
be prized, and which have given—in days now
happily passed away—to the fairest portion of
the United Kingdom a notoriety by no means de-
sirable. Ireland has, however, entered upon a new
epoch in her eventful history, and while her soils
retain all that chivalrous ardour and that warmth
of temperament which have half-redeemed their
follies, they have learned, from a long and sad ex-
perience, the consequences of those follies, and
afford constant and continual proof that the stern
teaching of adversity bas not been lost upon them ;
in a word, that the warm-hearted and high-spirited
nation which in war supplies our most brilliant
1 soldiers, is steadily advancing in the arts of peace,
1 and devoting its fine energies to those pursuiiswhich
conduce to national greatness and, atal)ility. It

would be strange indeed such a people should
remain insensible to the achiev ernents of their
countrymen in the late. war, elan t shonld neglect
that recognition of devoted valou or refuse that
tribute of admiration to surpassing •allaa try already
accorded in this country. In ow impression of
Tuesday last wo published the pr Geeeclings at a
public meeting held in Dublin the lay previously,
for the purpose of promoting a nati anal banqqet to
all the troops nowsserving in if,reland who are
wearers of the Crimean medal. Whether we look
to the character and position of those who signed
the requisition and took part i u the meeting, or to
the resolutions and the epee iches in support of
them, we cannot doubt that it is a national under-
taking, intended to express a national feeling, to
convoy the heartfelt feelings of Irishmen to those
who have added lustre to the Irish name while up-
holding the honour of England in the field. The
Irish aristocracy was fitly represented in the person
of an estimable nobleman—Lord Talbot de Mala-
hide. The hero of Chillianwallah was there, and
in his effective and soldier-Like speech bore the
testimony of an eye-witness to the difficulties so
nobly overcome by the Crhnean army. Colonel
Browne, commissioner of tbe Dublin police, re.
feried to his own Peninsular experiences, and tali
the meeting how Irishmen b.shaved iu the passes
of the Pyrenees and on the bloody plain of Sala.
manca. The members for Youghal and for the
King's County were also present ; indeed, from
the first, Mr. Butt's name has been identified with
this undertaking, and, as we doubt not, the ovation
will fully realise the anticipations of its projectors,
much will be due to the unassuming exertions of
that honourable and learned gentleman. We find
such names as La Touche and O'Dwyer, as repre-
senting the Irish gentry, and William Dargan, as
the representative of Irish enterprise. The com-
position of the meeting, therefore, was very perfect,
and the character of the proceedings left nothing
to be desired.

The manifestation of feeling which followed the
disclosure of the object of the meeting, and the
allusions of the various speakers to deeds of Irish
and British chivalry, were worthy of the occasion.
The Crimean campaign closes a long record of the
brilliant services, more especially of the gallant re-
giments raised and recruited at the other side of
the water. " I felt proud," exclaimed the member
for Youghal, in the course of his eloquent speech,
" that down to the latest moment—down to this
hour—wherever the arms of England have been
engaged—whether it was at the Crimea, whether
in storming Sebastopol, or whether it was on the
glorious plains of Chillianwallah, Irishmen have
given proof of their courage, and still we may in-
scribe the names of Irishmen amongst the most
honoured of the heroes of the United Kingdom."
The hon. gentleman is right. It was an Irish re-
giment which led the way through the terrible
breaches of Badajos ; and, if we remember aright,
that first planted the British colours on the walls of
Ciudad Rodrigo. It was the Irish regiments that
bore the brunt at Talavera and Vittoria. Conspi-
cuous on the field of Waterloo were those Irish re-
giments which Picton never could restrain in the
presence of an enemy. Conspicuouo, also, on that
great day, and in that superb charge which over-
threw the flower of the Frenchchivalry, and struck
terror even to the heart of Napoleon, were those
Irish cavalry that "fell like a thunderbolt on the
foe l" and in the recent struggle, they were Irish
regiments which so nobly supported the move-
ment against the Russian batteries of the Alma,
that sustained for hours the hand-to-hand fight
at Inkerman ; and that watched day and night
in the trenches, and it was a party of
the 18th Royal Irish who, on the memorable
Bth of September, first set foot within the walls of
Sebastopol : no marvel, then, that in Ireland the
soldier is had in honour, and that the appeal of
Monday last should find a response in the heart of
the Irish nation.

Another gratifying feature in the proceedings to
which we have referred is the total absence of
party spirit by which they are distinguished. Irish-
men, it is clear, can meet for a great national ob-
ject, and forget the miserable rivalries and eternal
dissensions which have hitherto prevented the
growth of anything like public opinion amongst
them, and arrested their progress as a people. We
accept the meeting of last Monday, witti its ex-
pression of generous and manly sentiment and its
tumultuous heartiness, as a happy omen of the
future peace and prosperity of Ireland—as an in-
dication that the time has come for entering upon
a new path, in which Irishmen will feel that they
have a community of interests and a national re-
putation to support—if not to create. Nor should
it be forgotten that, desirous as they are to de
honour to their countrymen who have taken part
in the late campaigns, there is as hearty an appre-
ciation of the distinguished valour of the British
troops who fought beside them, and as warm a
welcome for them at the approaching banquet—an
ovation which we trust may be in no way inferior
to the recent expression of admiration in this me-
tropolis for the gallant Brigade of Guards.

RAILWAY INTELLIGENCE.

NORTH BRITISH.

The ordinary half-yearly meeting of the proprietors of
the
.orth British Railway was held yesterday at the
London .179.yern ; Mr. R. Hodgson, chairman of the
the chair.
hoard of direct..

The report, white h has already been published, was
taken as read.

The chairman said he has great pleasure in meeting
the shareholders in London une-1 er circumstances much
more encouraging than when he last addressed them.
This day 12 months it was his duty to tell them that
the revenue of the half year must be izpplied to the
purposes of the permanent way and the liquidation of
old debts pressing heavily on their capital ; and the
shareholders, having full confidence in the direction, con-
sented to forego a dividend, lie had to thank them its
the name of the direction for that confidence, and to
show that it had not been misplaced he could assume
them that the exertions of the directors had succeeded
in placing the finances of the company upon a most
satisfactory footing. The measures which the share.
holders sanctioned last year bad placed their propf-r:y
upon a sound and substantial foundation, and their
future prospects were mutt cheering. Tee com-
pany were in possession of an undis2uted territory, with-
out having any competing interest te. contend against,
and so long as they continued to servo the district to the
best of their power consistently with the claims of the
shareholders, they need entertain no fears about their
future success. The plant and permanent way were in
a first rate condition, and with ordinary prudence and
timely repairs both might be kept so. They had a larg,
and continually increasing traffic—not increasing by Sts
and starts, but gradually and steadily. This baffles"r
it had increased 340/. per week, or 9,000/. for the half-
year, as compared with the corresponding period of last
year, while the opening up of new branches and tribu-
taries promised to bring in connections with other rail-
ways that could not do otherwise than add to their to-
ceipte. Well, then. considering that the line, plant, and
rolling stock were in good sottud working order ; con-
sidering that their debts bad been placed on a liquidation
footing, that their capital had been remodelled and
equalised ; and, considering, lastly, that the traffic of
their railway was yet far from fully developed, he thought
the shareholders had every reason to congratulate them-
selves upon their present position and future prospects.
Neverthe!ess, it was only right that he should state that
two or three shareholders bad written to complain that
the dividend was too high ; they thought it ought to be
reduced, with the view of eetabli.hing a renewal fund,
but the directors thought the more legitimate and
prudent course was to meet their renewals every half-
year, as renewals became necessary. That course
they had followed, and intended to continue, and
the ordinary shareholders might very fairly and
safely divide 24 per cent. The line could not ho ren-
dered more complete or efficient than it was rst pre-
sent, while, since 1852, the passenger traffic had in-
creased 27 per cent., and the goods traffic 53 per cent.
Nor had this increase involved an increase of expendi-
ture ; on the contrary, the engines daily in steam shwa
' 1852 had been reduced by 30 per cent., and the expenses
of other departments bad been economised as far.as was
) possible consistent with the proper working of the line.
) Under these circumstances, ho had much pleasure in

moving the adoption of the report.
The report was then unanimously adopted, after which
a dividend was declared at the rate of 5 per cent. upon
the preferential stock, and 2i per cent. upon the ordi-
nary stock, leaving upwards of 1,1001. to be carried for-
ward to the next account.
A resolution was tben passed, empowering the direc-
tors to lay down the electric telegraph upon such por-
tions of the railway as required it.
Mr. Kinlock, a director, took the opportunity of m-
ewing the meeting that the line was in perfect condi-
tion, and most economically managed. Something had
been said out of doors of the claim of the Edinburgh and
Glasgow upon this company. It had been put forth as
amounting to 65,0001,, but in point of fact it was no-
thing of the sort. The Edinburgh and Glasgow had
already received a sum of 10,0001., and work represent-
ing 10,0001. more on account of their claim, and when-
ever they could bring the balance within a fair limit,
the North British would he quite ready to pay it.
A shareholder asked when the next call would be
made upon the new 71. preferential shares ?
The Chairman hoped not for some time to come yet ;
but no further call would be made without the consent
of a special meeting convened for the purpose.
A vote of thanks was then passed to the chairman
and directors, and it having been agreed that the next
half-yearly meeting should be held m Edinburgh, the
proceedings terminated.