The Sun.
London, England, 1856-04-17 00:00:00

LONDON, THURSDAY, APRIL 17, 1856„

Congress has almst concluded its labours
for the time being, and it is more than probable
that the several Plenipotentiaries will before the
end of the week have started on their homeward
journeys. It is only, however, a temporary ar-
r mgernent, for several Commissions have been
appointed, the reports whereof may give rise to
considerable discussion and diff,3rences. It is
reported, on the authority of a generally well-
informed contemporary, that the important ques-
tion of the free navigation of the Danube has been
referred to a Commission named by all the Powers
represented at the Congress. That there is
a similar Commission as to the domestic govern-
ment of the Danubian Principalities, and the
arrangement of the new frontiers, save that
Piedmont has been excluded from taking any
part therein. And a third to consider the posi•
tion of the Christian snhjects of the Porte.
These' are matters that will require consider-
able time and labour before satisfactory solu-
tions can .be arrived at, even supposing that
all parties are actulted by a bona fide determina-
tion to act in a straightforward and equitable
manner. As, however, we cannot help feeling
very serious doubts on that part of the case, we
should not be greatly surprised if serious difficul-
ties should arise, requiring new Conferences, and
possibly leading to fresh complications and hos-
tilities.

It may be premature to discuss the terms of
the Treaty until they have been officially conim,_
nicated to the public. But the necessity has been
occasioned by the unjustifiable and unconstitu-
tional mystery observed, and the attempt to do_
Fr; re the ,British Parliament of one of its
most imfortant functions. It is ridiculous
to say that the People, who so cheerfully
and liberally provided for all the enormous expen-
diture occasioned by the War, have no right to
interfere in the terms
.and conditions
.on which it
has been terminated. Before any ratification on
the pert of England, every part of the case, and
all its multifarious details, should be submitted to
both Houses ; and the studied neglect of that
imperative duty must be reprcled as a gross and
unwarrantable insult to the co-ordinate branches
of the Legislature--au attempt to degrade them,
and to unduly extend the powers and prerogatives
of the Crown.

Sufficient has, however, leaked out to enable ns
to know that the stipulations already agreed on can-
not by any possibility be agreeable to the English
People. Never, in fact, was there a more un-
popular truce—we cannot call it " peace "—than
that which has just been patched up. We have

neither gained credit for the put nor security for
the future. The lives of our gallant brethren

have been uselessly sacrificed—tens of millions
squandered without any adequate re turn. There
is even reason to fear that we have been com-
pletely jockeyed in the points that were regarded as
indispensable—that it will be found that the so-
sailed neutralisation of the Black Sea has been by
no means so complete as was anticipated, and
that Russia will be permitted to retain a steam
squadron, nominally unarmed, but quite sufficient
to carry her long and fondly cherished designs
against Turkey into execution, and to transport
a powerful army to the neighbourhood of Con-
stantinople, without the possibility of interference
by the Western Powers. We have already 'seen
that the greater portion of the work for which
the Conferences were inaugurated has been
transferred to Commissioners, and it is impos-
sible to say what may be the results of their
labours. Scarcely anything has been finally sob-
tied, save that France and England are to relin-
quish their irresistible claims to indemnities for
the expenses of the War, and that Austria and
Prussia have been suffered to regain the posi-
tions which they forfeited by their own culpable
misconduct.

Meanwhile there is great discontent in many
parts of Turkey. The standard of revolt has
been raised, and both Christians and Mahomedans
are alike discontented at the changes that have
taken place. The former have been deprived of
the highly-prized exemption from military service.
A rigorous conscription will be forced on them to
which they had never hitherto been subjected,
and this by way of being a privilege and a favour,
just as. great a one, by the way, as the press-
gangs offered in the olden time to our seafaring
men. They will also be deprived of the privilege
of selecting their own spiritual rulers, who are
henceforward to be nominated by the DivAN.
The Mahomedans are equally disgusted at being,
compelled to serve side by side with Christians
in opposition to their religious principles. , The
result will be a rancorous hatred springing up
between the rival sects, that will render them ex-
ceedingly formidable to each other, although by
no means so to any enemy against whom they

may be opposed.
While matters remain in this unsettled state,
will it be possible for England to relax her pre-
parations or to receive the benefits of a real peace ?
We fear not. We fancy that the heavy expendi-
ture will be continued for an indefinite period,
until all outstanding difficulties have been over-
come ; while we can derive no possible benefit
from any course save that of .a renewal of the
War, after having surrendered all the advantages
so painfully acquired. Well may the people of
England be dissatisfied ; well may they look with
disgust at what has taken place, which has given
nothing to England save, perhaps, a Prussian
husband for one of her Royal Princesses, and the
possibility of the future government of the country
being transacted under a German viceroy. All
this may occasion joy at Coburg, but it will excite
disgust and indignation in every English breast.

A commemorative monument is about to be
erected in the county of Durham, in grateful re-
cognition of the many eminent services done to
the State during a long life-time by the late
distinguished Marquis of LONDONDERRY. By a
curious coincidence, and one in itself sufficiently
significant, within the very same week during the
course of which the public meeting was convened
in the Town-hall of the city of Durham, for the
purpose of taking into consideration the propriety
of 'raising a substantial testimonial of respect to
the memory of CHARLES WILLIAM, third Marquis
of LONDONDERRY, there was given upon Chilton
Moor, within the limits of the same shire, by
the relict of that lamented nobleman, a banquet
of a peculiar kind, and one in many respects
quite unexampled in its magnificence. A
monster dinner, at which no less then three
thousand stalwart Pitmen were regaled upon
good old English fare by a lady at once their Mis-
tress and their Hostess, the present Marchioness
Dowager of LONDONDERRY. " Imagine," says a
local journal in recording the circumstance of these
remarkable festivities, " Imagine a bill of fare to
the extent of eight fat bullocks, fifteen sheep, a
ton of plum-pudding, a ton and a half of bread,
fifty barrels of strong beer, and a hundred bushels
of potatoes." Imagine it indeed ! It is like a
banquet in the land of Brobdignag. It was some-
thing worthier than this, however. It was some-
thing better than an occasion for so much guttling
and guzzling by three thousand sturdy fellows,
seated at thirty tables in a large hall, some
two hundred feet by seventy in its dimen-
sions. It was an evidence of good-wit
between employers and employed, of genial
interest on the one part and of grateful
attachment on the other, of a perfectly amiable
and satisractory understanding between a conspi-
ceous representative of Property and three
thousand substantial representatives of hearty
and honest Toil quite delightful to con-
template in these days of Strikes, and Tiffs, and
Squabbles between Masters and Men, residues may
be of the lamentable ferment provoked a score of
years ago by the abominable Tommy-shops of
the ever-detestable and thoroughly iniquitous
Truck-system. It rejoices one's heart to pause
awhile over the particulars of a gathering like
that brought about by the munificence and bene-
volence, the frank and hospitable magnanimity of
a generous and gentle-hearted woman such as the
Lady of Wynward, the Hostess of Chilton Moor,
the owner of the Durham Collieries, the Mistress
of these three thousand Pitmen, FRANCES
ANNE Marchioness of LONDONDERRY. It was
in perfect keeping, moreover,_ with the Whole
festivities, that the lady-hostess herself should
take a personal and conspicuous share in the en-
tertainment—that she herself, with her own lips
;not through any spokesman, however nearly
related, not even through the mouth of her son
the Earl VANE, then at her left hand, presiding
over the meeting as its Chairman), bid her guests
welcome, and by a few earnest words coming
directly from her heart, and going straight to
theirs, evidence her conscientious recognition of
the heavy resionsibilities weighing upon her in
her capacity as the appointed guardian of their
bnirights,ei of their energies, of their physical wetl-
and of their social happiness. It is from
a remembrance of the manner in which all these
same weightyresponsibilities were discharged during
the period of his lifetime by the late Lord LONDON-
DERRY, that we cannot but regard with more than
ordinary interest the very noticeable coincidence
of this monster banquet upon Chilton Moor,
taking place within the compass or the Same
week
which witnessed the public meeting in the Town
Hall of the city of Durham. The meeting an-
nounced for the purpose, as we have already ob-
served, of taking into consideration the propriety
of erecting a suitable public monument, commemo.
rative of a gallant Soldier, of an able Diplomatist,
of a daring and successful Developer of our vast
national resources—resources at once Mining,
Maritime, and Commercial.

Success, say we, with all imaginable earnest-
ness, Success and Godspeed to th• project of a
Tribute like this—a Tribute so eminently and
undeniably well-deserved 1 - For the public