The Sun.
London, England, 1856-05-23 00:00:00

sari enabled us to maintain our position against

" a Nv,Drld in arms."

Lard CLARENDON was not sent, or, at least,
the People of England did not suppose him to
be sent, to Paris for the purpose of frittering
away, or surrendering what have been truly
termed " our inalienable rights." He went
merely to determine what securities should be
given by Russia for her good faith, and against a
repetition of her previous aggressions. The Pre-
cious Treaty had been signed. It was on the
tenth day after its conclusion that the subject was
noticed. Great Britain had not even the credit
o making a voluntary sacrifice. We " followed
in the wake of France," which led the attack
against the freedom of the Press—and that which
mainly constituted the maritime supremacy of
England. Our Plenipotentiary asked not a mo-
ment for consideration. He had doubtless re-
ceived his instructions, and was ordered to
aasent to what would be introduced by
C)unt WALEWSKI. Even Counts ORLOFF and
Bum. were astounded at the magnitude of
the sacrifice—although it was no part of
their duty to stand forward in defence of English
interests. The surrender was, therefore, made,
although, as we believe, illegally and unconstitu-
tionally, and by no means binding on future Go-
vernments. The United States are not in any
way bound by these stipulations. Should we
unfortunately be involved in war with the
Transatlantic branch of the Anglo-Saxon race,
we should recognise a principle which they
could repudiate, and should permit the free pas-
sage of their goods in neutral bottoms, while they
might stop our trade and commerce conducted
under similar circumstances !
We believe there can be no second opinion as to
the impolicy of this most unwise concession. It
would, of course, have been open to any future Go-
vernment in time of war to have relaxed the restric-
_ tions, and abated a portion of their unquestion-
able rights, if it could be done without serious de-
triment to the national interests. But the attempted
alteration in the jus gentium, the declaration or
quasi stipulation, that under no circumstances
should these rights be enforced, was a gra-
tuitous and uncalled-for sacrifice of that which
might have proved a tower of defence in the hour
- of danger—for which the parties responsible
should be not merely censured, but subjected to
a much heavier punishment, and which the
guardians of British interests should emphatically
repudiate at the earliest possible moment.

The deep-rooted dislike always entertained by
Londoners to Sabbatarian tyranny is every-
where passing—where it has not already passed
—into the most intense detestation. The auda-
cious but successful resistance of the Sabbatarian
party to the opening of the British Museum and
other National Institutions to the people on a
Sunday, followed up by Lord ROBERT GROSTENOR'S
infamous Bill, contributed a good deal to the
existing acerbity of feeling, but in no sort of pro-
portion to what the interference with the recrea-
tion of the people in the Parks has done. This
is felt to be the most wanton piece of tyranny of
all, and every circumstance attending it has but
had the effect of adding to the general indigna-
tion. From being offensive, Exeter Hall has
now become intolerable. It is felt that the do-
mination it has attained, and is perpetually strug-
gling on charitable pretences to increase, is
becoming incompatible with the rights of free
men and with the interests of religion,
and that in common manliness and
honesty its tyranny must be met by an effec-
tive repression. Every succeeding meeting testi-
fies more strongly to the existence of this feeling ;
and the Londoners, we are persuaded, have but to
persevere to enable them to place Exeter Hall on
its right footing, or deal it a mortal blow. They
cannot be too plain spoken or too decided in the
resolutions they adopt. The animal they have to
deal with needs some cudgelling, and magnetism
would not be thrown away on it A decided ex-
pression of opinion by her MAJESTY on behalf of
the Sunday recreation of her poor subjects would
charm not a few oily and fashionable hypocrites
into quietude. Court favour is a thing which those
who can tolerate music in Kensington-gardens on
the Sunday for the rich, and not music in Regent's
and Victoria Parks on that day for the poor, are
likely to appreciate. On this ground we are glad
to find that memorials are to be addreassed to the
QUEEN, as well as deputations sent to address
Lord PALMERSTON. They are very likely to do
good. Her MAJESTY rows in the same boat with
her subjects in the matter. A band plays at
Windsor on Sundays with her countenance. She
is an admirer of both music and the drama, and
has not yet to learn that if she made the slightest
concession to Exeter Hall, it would not be long
before the more honest idolaters of Sunday would
take her to task for going to the opera or theatre
on Saturday night, or indeed on any night at all.
The Archbishop of CANTERBURY, over whom she
is spiritual and temporal head, will have hard
work to persuade her that that can be wrong and
undeserving of countenance in England to which
the Protestants of the Continent have re-
course without offence. In all these memorials
it will be well to insist not only on the beneficial
tendencies of music in the Parks, in drawing the
morally as well as physically debilitated popula-
tion from their unwholesome dwellings and the
neighbouring pot-houses to the healing daylight
and bracing air of heaven, but also on the mis-
chievous consequences of every Sabbatarian triumph
in implanting a repugnance in the minds of the
population to religion itself. So far as Lord
PALMERSTON is concerned, we trust the deputa-
tions will not mince matters with him. He has
confessedly suffered himself to be befooled if a
more active r4te may not be assigned to him. He
was afraid of offending the Sabbatarians. They
might turn him out on the first favourable division.
That was his real reason for yielding to the request
of the Archbishop of CANTERBURY "in the name
of the whole Christian community," including the
musico-ticklish Mr. BAINES. His Lordship
may be reminded that the anti-Sabbatarian party
might possibly find opportunity to do the same
thing, and also that it is a growing power which,
in the very nature of things, must ultimately be
successful. If the Noble Lord refuses to re-
scind his resolution, it may be well to ask
him whether he objects to the performance of
bands engaged by the people or not ? So far as
ownely aknczted,his Lordship's unwise resolution was
to apply to the military bands over
which Lord PANMURE, a Scotch Sabbatarian,
known to Exeter Hall as Fox Maim; had power.
Tyrannical edicts ihould never be interpreted
liberally by those against whom they are directed.
One thing may be relied on---the more resolute
the people are, the oftener they meet, protest, and
petition, the more assared will be their success.

The Marquis of Dalhousie and family have left
Clariege's Eotel for Brighton, where his lordship has
engaged a suite of apartments at the Bedford Hotel.
Tia BALLOT.—We are requested to state that Mr. S.
Ricardo voted f.r Mr. H. Berkeley's motion. By some
mistake his name did not appear in the official list.
EXTRAORDINARY STATE OF THE WEATHER.--The
tops of several mountains in the Dublin and Wicklow
range have, within the last few days, been covered with
EDO W.