The Sun.
London, England, 1856-03-29 00:00:00

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LONDON, SATURDAY, MARCH 29, 1856.

The Conferences still hang fire. It was confi-
dently anticipated, on the admission of the Prus-
sian Plenipotentiaries, that nothing remained but
the signatures of the parties to terms previously
arranged; and that the treaty would be definitively
completed during the present week, or, at all
events, before the "conclusion of the existing
Armistice. That, however, expires on Monday
next, and we are still without authentic intelli-
gence. It is, however, rumoured that new diffi-
culties have arisen " sufficient to retard the mo-
ment of a definitive settlement." It is very pro-
bable that such may be the case, or why the pro-
crastination ? It is better that we should know
the worst at once, that the chosen represen-
tatives of the people, or, on their refusal to
act in accordance with the exigencies of the case,
the People themselves, may understand the full
extent of the humiliation and damage to which
they have been subjected, and may learn to ap-
preciate the full advantages of secret diplomacy,
and its invariable results wherever the honour or
interests of Great Britain are involved 1

As we have already explained, the nature of
the new difficultieacan only be guessed at. Despite
assertions so positively put forward, the secrets
of the Conferences have been well kept ; and all
that can be done is to balance probabilities, and
to judge in accordance with those which present
the greatest appearance of truth. Now it is
obvious that all was suppose]. to bs arranged on
the admission of the representatives of Prussia:
Their presence was the only new element
imported, and, therefore, the chances are
greatly in favour of that presence being
the cause of the confusion ; and there
are abundant reasons why it should be
so. They would naturally be desirous of rescu-
ing their SoVereign from the degrading position
in which he had wilfully and advisedly► involved
himself. In that attempt they would be certain
of the cordial co-operation of C9uut ORLOFF and
Baron BRIINNOW, who are well aware of the highly
valuable services rendered by the " Angel of
Peace " to his brother-in-law, and his nephew ;
and would wish to make a suitable return for
value already received. Austria would support
the same views. The strengthening of the Im-
perial dynasty, now promising to be consolidated
and rendered permanent by the recent birth of a
riaali heir, might hold out an acceptable bait to
France ; while the matrimonial alliance, already
virtually arranged, would render it highly impro-
bable that L )rd CLARENDON would persevere in
any opposition which he might have felt it his

duty to offer in the first instance, after the pre-
vailing influence at the British Court had been
brought into operation, and time allowed for the
arrival of new secret instructions from Downing-
street. Under these circumstances, and with
such reasonable ohances of success, it is by no
means surprising that Prussia should endeavour
to procrastinate and delay the proceedings until
he can fully carry out her views and objects, and
that such may be the correct solution of the diplo-
matic problem.

Meanwhile, what is to be done respecting the
armistice ? If peace were really certain, as
alleged, nothing could be more inhuman than to
permit any sacrifice of the lives of our men, or
even of the enemy, when it could not be produc-
tive of any beneficial result. But, on the other
hand, if any captious difficulties have been raised
—if there be a reasonable chance of another diplo-
matic failure, through the insincerity or duplicity
of those with whom we are dealing, not a day,
not an hour, should be lost in resuming hostilities,
and trusting to the events of the War to justify
new demands that will prevent the possibility .of
the assertion, that " our victories and our undi-
minished resources" are to be their own (sole)
rewards. Much will depend on the inflexible
firmness and energetic zeal of Lord CLAREN-
DON, and in proportion as he manifests these
indispensible qualifications at the present
crisis, so high will his political reputation stand
in the estimation of his countrymen. But it will
be essential, for reasons already put forward in
The San, that whenever the proceedings be ter-
minated in any way, a full and complete publi-
cation of all the proceedings should be made
without any reservation or omission !

It is said that instructions have been trans
mitted to our military and naval commanders
" not to recommemce hostilities without further
instructions." No positive or authentic announce-
ment has, however, been made of this highly
important circumstance, which, if well founded,
should at once be widely circulated. It is
obvious that no mystery should be main-
tained on such a point, wherein not merely
generals and admirals, but every officer in either
branch of the service, and every civilian through-
out the length and breadth of the laud, must be
deeply interested. It is almost needless to say,
that such one-sided instructions, where Russia
would not be in any degree bound, would be
very injurious to this country, the people of
which are not disposed to place much reliance on
Muscovite honour or integrity when the inte-
rests of the CZAR may be placed in the opposite
scale. On the whole, it is a difficult matter to
decide correctly. We earnestly hope that Lord
CLARENDON may arrive at a conclusion acceptable
to the great body of his countlymen, and that
there may be no reason to suppose that he has
been jockied or outwitted in the matter. But if
he be, will Lord PALMERSTON consent and be
jockied too ? If so, the German has jockied them
both, and they will have their reward, unless the
Nation be jockied also.

" If it were done when it is done," why, then,
the Emperor of AUSTRIA has done it. Austria
and Hungary are turned over, bound hand and
foot, to the tender mercies of the Concordat, and
the foot of the Jesuit is on the neck of the na-
scent liberty of both countries, while the ex-Go-
vernor of Hungary perambulates our streets a
patriot lecturer, but still a prophet, and cer-
tainly not so despised a prophet as he was a year
back. The prospects of Hungary seem black in-
deed. Her soil is fruiful ; her people possess the
elements of greatness ; there are in her the ma-
terials of a powerful and independent State ; but
what are these things to a country when the
people are bound in chains?
Glory to the EMPEROR, obedient young cub
that kr. is--EilAry .e•c. 4lao Ai ulida•Looo OorHlA—
glory to the Jesuits—glory to the POPE—glory
to ourselves—the Concordat is established ; and, of
course, our "Statesmen" will be no longer bothered
with Hungary. It is not easy to rise with the
foot of a Jesuit on your neck and the necks of
your children, and so all will henceforth be peace
and tranquillity in Hungary. Te Deums then by
the hundred, catechisms of passive obedience to
the powers that be by the thousand, exorcisms
against Liberty by the million. The Red Sea is
not deep enough for her—pile Rome ou the top
of that ! and curse her, again and again, with bell,
book, and candle ! If that don't do for her, why
then she is immortal. But our " Statesmen"
know she is not, at least, in the hearts of a people.
Let her die then out of the Hungarian heart. They
will never again be asked to do what their hearts
abhor. Lend aid of any sort to an, or rather
this, oppressed people, and routine and aristo-
cratic incapacity at home are freed from another
enemy.

Are the people of England content this should
be so? Not all of them, to judge by the follow-
ing expression in the House of Commons :
"Look how the House of Austria is prepaxiug to
destroy the Protestantism of Hungary. You
may say it is a great way off, and what is it
to us ? I tell you it is some thing
to you. It concerns the religion of you all, and
all the best interests of England." Alas ! this
was not uttered in 1856, but in 1658. It was
only quoted the other day in the present year by
a poor exile, almost as shrewd, though not as
fortunate, as the original speaker, one OLIVER
CROMWELL to wit, whounderstoodEnglish interests
better than any Statesman before or after him,
and contrived somehow to leave behind him the
reputation of having been the greatest and wisest
of our rule's. Unfortunately there are no States-
men like OLIVER now, and the situation of Hun-
gary is rather worse. There are, however, we are
happy to believe, not a few in this country who
treasure his words of wisdom as veritable oracles,
and cannot look unconcerned on the prospects of
Hungary. They know that a free Hungary has
some little connection with a free England, and
that Hungary in chains is more than a reproach—
more than a subject for the sentimentalist—more
than a victimisation of a free people ; in short, is
a prop gone of their own freedom—a limb
lost of their own body. No longer can she
nurse resistance to offer it as before against
the march of spiritual and despotic domination
on the Continent, and the army of freedom is
weaker by a powerful ally. Great way as Hun-
gary is off, they fed her fate to be something to us,
something concerning the best interests of Eng-
land. Strongly intrenched as our liberties are,
they feel that there is nothing to spare, associa-
ting the strange monthings to be heard in favour
of absolutism at home with the gathering might
of despotism abroad. And they are right. Li-
berty is wounded in the wounds of every member,
and the fate of liangary deeply concerns us. Our
constitution survives her freedom because we were
the stronger of the two, but there is not a despotic
ruler in Europe but would delight in our fall.
If we cannot help Hungary, if the perjured
boy-king, with the aid of Rome, 'rust be suffered
to extinguish the last hope of freedom in that
country, it behoves us to strengthen tha cords of
liberty in this country by bringing the popular
element into freer action. Let more of the manly
intelligence and honest worth of England he

brought to bear on the management of her
affairs. Let there be a copious supply of un-
Germanised life blood into the veins of the
constitution, and England stand out a more con-
spicuous example to the nations of the world of
what can be achieved by the godlike agency of
Freedom. Let that be done, and neither poet
nor orator, however piercing be their notes of
execration, and however pathetic their words of
sympathy, will be able to approximate to the power
of that protest—the sound of which will not only
vibrate through the courts of the despot awakening
apprehension and doubt, but will reach
also the ear of the prisoner in the dungeon,
and quicken oppressed Europe into life and
action. It is not done, it may be when "it is
done," and, assured of a generous sympathy,
Hungary may, ere long, rise in her might, and,
casting to the winds the black robe and the
purple, drive her oppressors from her borders,
lay at once the foundations of freedom
and of national greatness, and lend aid in
her turn to the cause of liberty and religion,
prostituted as the latter now is to the vilest pur-
poses. Protestant or not Protestant as she will,
let Hungary be but free !

THE MILITARY BOARD OF INQUIRY.

If one thing more than another can tend to
confirm the opinion expressed in the House of
Commons, we believe by Mr. Layard, that this
inquiry would be a " sham," it is the uncertainty
in which even the initiatory proceedings are
shrouded. Many days have been named for the
opening ceremony to take place, but when the
appointed time came the public were disappointed,
and the only shadow of an excuse that could be
put forth for the delay was, that General So-and-
so was ill and could not attend. Enough has
already been said of effete Ministers, gouty
Generals, and rheumatic civilians, whose age and
infirmities prevent them from efficiently discharg-
ing their duties ; and the Government wishing,
one would imagine, to give an impetus to Admi-
nistrative reform, have, it would appear, in con-
stituting one of the most important military
boards that perhaps ever was formed, stu-
diously selected men whose age and infir-
mities prevent them from facing an easterly wind,
and thus delay their entering on an inquiry the
result of which is anxiously looked for, and which,
in justice both to those inculpated and the pub-
lic, ought as speedily as possible to be brought to
a termination, and their guilt or innocence made
manifest to the world. We cannot, however,
but believe that the Government is in earnest in
the matter, but they certainly evince a supineness
very reprehensible, and on which the public do
not hesitate to express an unfavourable opinion.
However, Parliament will re-assemble on Monday,
when no doubt the "awkward questions" that
will be put to Ministers respecting the delay will
cause them to bestir themselves, and that which
has for so long a time been a " myth" will
bec.nne a reality. The public ask if there be any
parties in the " background" likely to be incul-
pated by the inquisition ? Or is it intended to
put off the inquiry until the traitorous peace be
signed—then buike the Cjmmission and dissolve
Parliament ? Verily, the end is not yet.

COURT CIRCULAR.

WINDSOR, MARcH 28.

The dinner party, yesterday, included his Majesty
the King of the Belgians, her Royal Highness the
Duchess of Kent, the Belgian Minister (Van de
Wcyer), Lady Fanny Howard, Lady Caroline Barring-
ton, Baroness de Speth, Sir George Couper, Colonel ele
Moerkerke, Captain Prisse, and Dr. Rieken.
'l'hs baud of the 2d Life Guards played daring din-
ner. Her Majesty's private baud afterwards performed
in the Castle.

The Queen and Prince, with the Princess Royal and
Princess Alice, rode out on horseback this morning,
attended by the Hon. Eleanor Stanley, Major• General
Buckley, and Captain the Hon. D. de Ros.

Captain Dane had an interview with Mr. Secretary
LabLuchere yesterday at the Colonial-office.