The Sun.
London, England, 1856-11-13 00:00:00

L9NDON, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1856,

It ia currently reported that the temporary
differences that existed between the French and
English Governments have been nearly, if not
altogether, removed, and that the alliance between
the Western Powers once more rests on a sub-
stantial basis, with but little prospect of its being
destroyed, or even materially weakened, we
gladly hail this auspicious result. "We fully al,.
predate the vast advantages attained, by a sincere

and cordial friendship between the Peoples of
France and England. So long as they are firmly
united, the traditional policy of Russia must re-
main in abeyance. That union offers the best
and most efficient guarantee for the peace and
tranquillity of Europe—of the World. While
it exists, an aggressive policy on the part of any
other Power, or Powers, must be worse than use-
less. Few will venture to run counter to the

clearly expressed wishes of the Allied Nations, who
have so clearly and unequivocally proved their
strength under the most arduous and trying cir-
cumstances. It would indeed be deplorable if the
gallant soldiers who participated in the glorious
and sanguinary proceedings in the Crimea—who,

side by side, breasted the blood-stained heights of
the Alma, resisted the Russian onslaught at Inker-
man, and Eventually overthrew the frowning

fortress of Sebastopol—should, through any party

jealousy or trifling disagreement, direct deadly

weapons against their quondam " brothers in
arms," or that the duplicity and treachery of

others should induce , those who, no longer
" natural enemies," should be faithful and firm
friend; through good report and through evil
report, for better or worse, to enter into
an internecine conflict. That alliance will
promote the common welfare and prosperity of
both nations, and themore closely it is cemented the
better for themselves, and for all the second-rate
States, whose security will greatly depend on the
knowledge that there are doughty champions
ready to come forward at any moment to resent
any infraction of the principles of truth and jus-
tice committed against even the weakest members
of the general comity of nations.
This felicitous event is partly attributable to
the return of the EMPEROR to Paris, and his own
personal supervision of the events which have
taken place during his absence from the metro-
polis. The bold and manly declarations of Lord
PALMERSTON during his provincial tour have also
exercised considerable influence in producing the
fortunate solution of the trifling difficulties that
had arisen. The EMPEROR thoroughly understands
the English character. He knows that they are
faithful friends, who never flinch from the loyal
performance of every obligation ; but he is equally
well aware of the steadfast determination with
which they resist every unfair and inequitable
demand. With this knowledge he would eschew
Lily undue attempts to assail the most highly
prized institution of the United Kingdom, or to
fritter away by specious sophistry the too lenient
terms imposed on the Power which even within
the present year was our common enemy. These
attempts might have had temporary success dur-
ing his absence, but matters would certainly be
replaced on .a more satisfactory basis on his
resumption of the control and direction of the
political affairs of the Empire.
The firm but temperate expression of the feel-
ing of the English Government must also have
helped this salutary decision on the part of the
EMPEROR. The unhesitating announcement by
the English Premier, that " the duration of the
Peace must depend on the honour and fidelity
with which its conditions are observed," greatly
contributed to a rightjudgment, and to the promp-
titude of the arrangement of minor contro-
versies. It is another illustration of the
truth of the political axiom, that a manly and
straightforward policy is always best calculated to
insure peace, or, as a Hibernian legislator de-
clared, with greater truth of sentiment than
felicity of diction, that " the best way to .avoid
danger was to meet it full in the face r
Such an alliance as that between France and
England can only be maintained by mutual for-
bearance and mutual yielding. They must be
placed on terms of perfect equality. One is not
to be leader and the other follower, but each
must slightly modify its own views so as to obtain
the concurrence of the other. This, of course,
relates only to pending questions. Where there
has been a treaty or agreement so clear that " he
who runs may read," it is only necessary that it
should be carried out in good faith and integrity,
according to the obvious interpretation of its con-
ditions and stipulations. No division could exist
on such a subject, where an equitable decision on
the point at issue would alone be required. We
congratulate the peoples of both nations on the
present auspicious aspect of affairs. France and
England united may defy the anger of " the
world in arms," and therefore their permanent
union is the best guarantee for its continued
peace and tranquillity. •

Although the Ministers of France and England
have been withdrawn from the Two Sicilies, and ,
we are now unrepresented at the Court of Naple?,,
the Neapolitan Ministers still remain in Loiactoil
and Paris, and have not thought proper tr, demand
their passports. It is said that an intimation has
been conveyed that " their preseere is felt by the
French and English Cabiwzia to be no longer
advisable, and that consequently passports are
very much at their service." But surely this
gentle hint is by no means suited to the
emergency. When we felt that our own dignity
no longer permitted the continuance of diplomatic
relations with King BOMBA. the separation should
have been clear and unequivocal. No represen-
tative of the Sovereign who slighted our advice
and answered our legitimate remonstrances with
contumely should be permit red to remain a single
hour as an accredited agent at our Courts. The
withdrawal of our Ministers from the Neapolitan
Court should have been immediately followed by
the delivers of passports to Prince CARINI and the
Marquis ANTONINI. We should, of course, display
every courtesy to these gentlemen, but it "ould
only be in their individual, not in their political
capacities. It shoilid have been t'nown that the
rupture was indeed complete; and that no pro-
spect existed of its beir4; patched up unless by
the unqualified submission of King FERDINAND
to the advice so strenuously and indefatigably
pressed upon him by France and England. If,
by a deteminatiou " to do what he will with his
own,"
asi,y
n, heeclhoor-ses to endanger the peace of
Europe, and to kindle a firebrand which
cannot
be extinguished, we should lend
no en:unt-enance to the insane and reckless act.
It is merely for our own security that we have
int'Alered, and when the propriety and expedi-
n"ontchWea courseakenits have
eth.cacybeen admitted, we
(as'hiocYtildif eiotrhintthiem/aiteioanpoli,tn An
:zove by any temperis-
ib
assadr. Of
referred tobce°l3ln.soat
the Government will well
kpnroolnwptwlyhatacctoed nursoeto adopt. But still we think
it would have been moree
regarded
aisf the
passports had been sent is the first instance, so
that the departure might b
pro-
ceeding from the Allied Government;,those aoni
not
o
partially adopted at the free will of
could be no longer receivable at the Court of St.
James's or of the Tuileries.

Now that we are in the midst of November's
fogs light begins to dawn on the Metropolitan
Drainage question. We will not interpret the
fact as a new phase of the same perverse obstinacy
which muddled the question in the dog days.
We have haver been unjust towards the Board,
and will not now —,''e are content with notioiu

it. The Board has at last had an access of
lson, and this is due to the admonitions of the
independent press, the manly and straight forward
conduct of the Chief Commissioner of Works, and
the conciliatory and very sensible address of Mr.
THWAITES. We had all but despaired of the
Board of late, our feeling towards it when most
hopeful resembling that of BURNS for auld
Nickie-ben, a celebrity with whom its quarrelsome
members arc possibly acquainted, if not on visiting
terms :

"Oh ! wad ye tak a thought and men',
Ye aiblins might, I dinna ken,
Still ha'e a stake."
Now our feeling with regard to it is still more
hopeful.

Sir BENJAMIN HALL, whose conduct through-
out is deserving of the highest praise, being
worthy of his high position as at once a
member of the Government and the tried
representative of a metropolitan constituency,
has, it will be seen, rejected, as we predicted, the
plan for the sewerage submitted to him for his
approval his rejection, to speak more truly,
by the Board. We take no credit for this pre-
diction ; it was impossible he could do otherwise
than reject it, and the Board knew this to be the
case. The Right Hon. Baronet is in the habit
of doing what the Board has not—viz., his duty,
and it was not likely he was now going to break
through the bounds in which he was circum-
scribed, as the Board knew, by an Act of Parlia-
ment. His duty was, and is, to see that the
sewage is not discharged within a certain distance
of the Metropolitan boundaries. The plan sub-
mitted to him proposed an outlet for the sewage
notoriously within those boundaries, as settled by
the Act to which the Board owes its existence.
There was no alternative left him—consequently
he has rejected it—but in such a spirit has this
been done as to nonplus, if not to conciliate, his
hitherto unconscionably stupid detractors.
Burying in oblivion the remembrance of
the ill-usage he has experienced, he, in the
most conciliatory manner, offers to meet a
deputation of the Metropolitan Board in a
friendly and business-like manner, and discuss
with it the various points to be considered in the
construction of a plan which shall be in accord-
ance with the provisions of the Act of Parliament.
Nothing could be more manly and straightforward.
In a like spirit we are happy to state he has
been met by Mr. THWAJTES, the Chairman of the
Board, to whose admirable speech we beg to draw
the attention of our readers. It will be read with
great interest, as showing, among other things,
what can be done to facilitate the general business
of the Board, instead of the members wasting
time in fighting among themselves. Addressing
himself to the pugnacious majority, he does his
best to smooth his rufied equanimity and dis-
pose it to listen to reason; and his reward is, by
unanimous consent it is determined that the olive
branch held out by the Chief Commissioner shall
not be contumeliously rejected, but that the
friendly parley he proposes shall take place. So
far well. Let the metropolitan public hope for
the best. The Board has surely had its full :wing,
and under all the circumstances may fairly be
expected to listen to reason—at all events on the
great sewerage question.
Prior to the reception of the communication
from Sir BENJAMIN Ham, the opening of South-
wark and Waterloo Bridges engaged the attention
of the Board. Of course there was a good deal of
loquacity in dealing with the subject, involving
almost equally, of course, some glibly-spoken non-
sense. No reasonable being the reader would
fancy could take exception to the Report of the
Committee on the subject, its chief characteristic
being common sense. That, however, was doubt-
less the reason why exception was taken to
the motion founded upon it' by a few of the
members. " The bridge (Southwark is referred
to)—came from no place and leads to no place"—
cries one, a rather remarkable character to give a
bridge. " I cannot easily conceive any benefit
accruing to my district from the opening of
Southwark Bridge," cries a second—"My district
is situate at a considerable distance from, the
bridge, and I must protest against any proposi-
tion by which its inhabitants would he taxed for
an improvement advantageous only to the City
and Southwark." The district represented by the
" honourable member" is Ilethnal-green, not
famous for its wealth, 1ar,..6 it is to be hoped pos-
sessed of sufficient. ',good sense to be ashamed of
its representati;e. Why, on such a narrow and
ridiculous
around he might object to nearly all
tax'Ati'u whatever. The Thames, we suppose,
L'atst be made to disobey the laws of gravitation,

and run by his door in Bethnal-green, before he
would feel justified in contributing to a highway
thrown across it. Did ho never hear of bridges
known as county bridges—structures for the
general convenience, and paid for by county taxa-
tion ? Is he really of opinion that the bridges
across the Thames are mere structures for the
convenience of people in the neighbourhood, and
that it is not of the last importance to the welfare
of the entire metropolis to have suitable ap-
proaches fer the traffic of which it is the centre ?
We find it hard to believe stich a Solomon is
to be met with at the present day. An-
other remark, and we are done. How far the
decision respcting the plan of the new street is
final we kliow not, but we deem it *very desirable
that 0-40 street should come nearer tie railway
terminus, and out at Vine street Into the York-
rrJad on to the new bridge. A hundred yards of
needless distance is mo:e than enough to lose a
passenger a train, irrespective of increased hin-
drance to traffiq arrangements.